Worm
The Grimm
Chapter IX
"Stop your own capes, before they burn Brockton Bay to the ground!" Glory-Girl's voice seethed tightly when Grimm remained in place with both feet propped up on a ledge. Boiling streams of heat shimmered around them both engulfing their surroundings, it grew dangerously closer to where they sat as an entire roof caved after unable to hold itself up. Hundreds, if not thousands of embers blew stinging across open air as they flew by two para-humans sitting in an epicenter and yet they remained above a hungering inferno.
Tinted glasses partially looked over when he chortled simply indifferent, "Convince me." He said it naturally when viewing a wall of growing fires and burning structures being consumed due to two others amidst flames themselves. The hero gnashed her teeth, "What!" An elder para-human repeated those two words clearly adding rather knowingly, "I said, convince me. Why should I help you put out all of this, which I could...if I wanted too."
For a second when another explosive tremor rocked them did a glare of light reveal eyes just enough to be visible. Is he absolutely insane? Victoria Dallon seethed as a portion of her home city turned to ash and dust right in front of herself. Gallant's warnings freshly managed in barely reigning damning temptations to crush a cape who was responsible, he'd watched it without even considering how many lives it'd ruin. Even she couldn't knock down buildings fast enough to smother out widening infernos which immediately licked across anything flammable.
"There are thousands of civilians in apartments close enough to where we're sitting!" She nearly hissed furiously when Grimm cocked an eyebrow mirroring words not even ten minutes ago, "Lives are lost everyday, Glory-Girl. What's a few thousand more?" That sarcasm she'd heard wasn't anything less than stated smoothly. Lightly pulling one some sort of small cell phone he absently flipped it in a hand chuckling to himself again.
Already when looking around in witnessing burning debris fell onto further buildings as smouldering pits started igniting naturally impossible to stop. What the hell does he want! Teeth grounded tightly when she just demanded, "Do you want me to say sorry? For hurting your feelings, or some fucked up reason you think this is funny! Huh!"
Grimm snorted in drawing out smoke through his exposed nostrils, "Hell no." Leaning forward did his voice dip quite irritated, "Does it look like I don't have a reason? Come on, hero...work with me." Every damned urge to do that opposite had was forced aside when he'd gotten closer, if only one move she'd crush his exposed neck. Yet the man grinned crookedly exposing teeth when he hinted quite expectantly, "Here's your only hint. Offer me something!"
Glory-Girl's stomach churned when his fingers made a motion akin to cash being counted, "You have to be joking." Grimm shook his head yet refused to say anything more as a phone innocently tapped against his chest conveniently. You fucking piece of work! Grounding out words when asking almost scathingly, "How much?"
That caused fingers to snap graciously when he dialed a number speaking to a Thinker who'd been far away safe, "Rascal!" Drawing out his name rather amusingly, "You still got that account number, I think Glory-Girl is going to give you her number. Make sure it matches, or else we're packing up and leaving from town." Someone's voice utterly shrieked in near disbelief as he looked to a cape wear hero momentarily.
Her hand caught the small plastic object despite nearly crushing it, "Tell my Thinker your offer, hero and then have him contact the Protectorate based here in your city." He instructed casually again if nothing were too problematic, "Wire the funds, he'll see if it's legit and once that's done. I still want to hear what you're offering me. Pretty sure money alone just doesn't cut it, I'm waiting to be convinced and that...for your information gets me to listen."
Ignoring flaming embers that were being blown over pieces of metal which expanded and contracted in conjunction to his hands idle wave. The man still spoke quite levelly, "Now convince me." His words sounded so plainly expectant, "Convince me why I should listen to a hero who thinks just one life is worth to risk thousands more? After I would let her walk, no price and no bullshit. Personally, I can see why I find that a bit doubtful." Humming conversationally while flicking ash off a cigar that burned modestly with glasses reflecting orange embers. She could see eyes partially with an open grin all, but inviting a response to prove him wrong.
He's fucking out of his mind! The caped hero immediately realized when buildings burned endlessly in choking off air. She could practically taste charred wood, "Stop wasting my time! I've already humored your god damned insanity." Grimm hardly seemed insulted considering he idly waved a hand again in allowing metal to replace unseen portions below them both. She'd felt tremors of plates and beams churning into expanding in preventing a para-human who'd be burned alive. If heat managed to continue increasing unchecked.
"I'm pretty sure you wasted time earlier, I think we have plenty of it though." He shrugged allowing himself to lean back contently, "I only wanted a girl to walk back home alive, but you thought I was bullshitting and now thousands are at risk because of your word." Lightly tapping finger-less gloves against his thigh did he ask sardonically, "And I have to listen to you, to convince myself why I should do you a favor? That sounds like insanity, to me!"
Her face twisted due to him chuckling as she whispered angrily, "What the hell do you mean?" Grimm explained rather absently as if considering options himself, "Letting an entire city burn? Must do wonders for you for all of them, as you'd say. How many would die, if I walked away and left you to stop it from all burning down?" He reasoned when pointing a cigar's burning end right at her simply amazed, "Wouldn't look good for heroes, I'd bet. And you took the first shot, whoever says greed is good needs to get bent."
One para-human sat across from another who looked over in seeing flames consuming as they dragged across igniting more material to burn away. I can't believe what I'm going to say, god damn you Gallant. Taking a shuddering intake of air she bit out, "I'll offer you a truce. You stop your capes, I'll stop mine and then you'll..." Grimm clicked his tongue while wagging a finger in silencing her immediately.
"I'll throw you a bone in asking, who's your boss?" The young woman almost nearly lost her temper when a pair of glasses tilted with their owner's face smiling, "I'm not exactly a fan, or fairly fond of the Protectorate and government, hero. But if they give me their word, after convincing me then I'll abide by your little truce...which I'm going to doubt even is allowed. Since I am a terrorist and mass murderer, right?" A lingering sense of amusement in doubting her position made it abundantly clear it alone wouldn't stick to his reasoning.
"You have my..." She stopped suddenly in cold fury as Grimm blandly retorted, "Why should I trust the word of a cape? A hero who'd left one life to die, a school girl if only to endanger thousands more because they don't trust a word of someone who has a conscious. Oh, let me think?" Humming loudly when snapping a pair of fingers in leaning forward to leer crookedly in whispering, "My, my, my. Doesn't that ring a bell?"
She wasn't going to convince a man whose smile alone seemed quite bemused. Almost as if it were practiced, as if it were just a mask in itself. Someone else has too, ah shit! Reaching down into pulling out an unharmed phone did that smile widen impeccably, "You're convincing me." Was all he said when leaning back to inhale lightly. He watched silently while crossing both legs lazily tapping air almost to an unseen impatience.
Victoria stared disbelievingly in response unable to imagine what she'd heard was being spoken by a sane para-human. As an added insult he threw in, "The clock is ticking, so make it quick or you'll really have a great big'old fire in your backyard." Visibly checking around him while pulling back a sleeve where one lone plain looking watch, "Now, I'll be listening." He said finally without ever stopping in seeing arms move gradually replenishing metallic supports underneath them and without having an issue externally in hearing buildings crumble nearby.
Glory-Girl shook out of sheer indignation when it clicked together as a phone nearly got crushed ever so slightly. You fucking piece of dog shit. And as a Thinker's voice shakily asking for information, which also didn't help a rapidly growing hatred. I will kill you both, I will never forget in begging to ask a terrorist for help. She could only play a game with another cape, who never stopped smiling once at her bemused. It'd been a trap obviously set, but instead of one life at risk it'd gone further into an entire city and no one but they themselves would ever believe it.
An inferno came spiraling towards a masked cape as Scorch frowned realizing that her adversary had all but melded underneath a roof. Hands rippling with flames rounded downwards smashing through dried out husks of wooden and metal sheets, from below an entire room caught blazing streams of yellowed orange forcing her quarry upwards. Ghost? More like an absolutely infuriating coward who hides, runs and shoots!
Sprinting quickly leaping over rising fire did she roll violently as a bolt clipped her outfits shoulder, if only cutting through leather easily. I'm getting sick of not seeing your face, cape! Flames trailed along both arms when lunging them off into spiraling coils that weaved and dug deeper into the latest structure starting to collapse inward. Sheer potency of flames unable to die, except to grow hotter and consume anything was forcing an enemy to denied all available avenues. They couldn't get too close, or else risking in being caught dying a searing death.
Around smoke obscured most of her surrounding yet standing upright while seeing one portion flicker as if someone had ran past. Gusts of wind assisted when pushing an ever alarming wall towards several crumbling stacks of brick, it didn't last long in crackling into pieces of liquefied granite and fell downwards setting more ablaze. Got you, finally! Running forward as orange illuminated steeled blue eyes when flames nimbly parted. She ducked naturally due to a glint, skidding forward and upper cutting a stream right into an enemy's crouched form.
But much to her scowling it literally went straight through a shimmering cape who fled further away. Trying to gain distance while reloading, "Not this time!" Grappling fire where it solidified into a near ball of plasma like orbs, she threw them one after another and before the masked hero had time to realize another building became an almost skin blistering wall barrier. Breathing smugly moving as the metallic masked looked akin to a woman of sorts, Scorch lightly flexed wrists when finally cornering an infuriating adversary. Try phasing into literal fire, cape. I want to hear you scream when I burn your flesh off, piece by piece!
Walls kept rising when being fed flammable material that even water boiled away visibly hissing as steam never rose. It'd been too hot, too damned hot and Scorch hardly felt anything save for a pleasant warmth underneath clothing that never burnt away. Gold metal along pitch black leather glinting when her smile turned deviously smug, "Can't run anymore, cape? I'm just getting warmed up!" She called allowing serpent like coils wrapping around her arms, as they folded behind condensing as hissing drips of blood scorching heat lazily pushed through fingers.
Temperatures behind rivaled liquid magma at the rate it'd been condensing and pushed further when she threw them akin to grenades. That caused a mask sharply realizing as diving away while firing a bolt melt flames breaking through a decaying roof top. Metallic material liquefied instantly as she nimbly caught it despite flecks of white hot embers landing on herself. Thank you, I needed some fuel anyway. Beneath boots flames expanded in a beautiful coloration of yellowed orange as they trailed outwards engulfing her harmlessly.
Nothing would satisfy that damned urge to burn the cape who dared to run away from her! No one would be standing alive, or else she'd allow it. You are an obstacle, one I'll take great joy in seeing you scream when I see those eyes pop out in that mask. Standing mid way between edges which had flames crawling upwards steadily, it boxed a hero into the literal corner she'd leisurely start taking apart. Already it had taken so long, if only narrowly avoiding bolts that nearly struck true in either arm and legs respectively.
The cape tensed expecting her to strike from below based on eyes moving rapidly. Scorch's smile curled in a gleeful leer, "Not this time." Behind a roaring inferno curled downwards as it forced shoulder rolling forward and sprinting right where she'd wanted. Fistfuls of fiery flames streaked across as a muffled yell of frustration met her ears, "Pathetic!" Barking out laughing when stalking towards a pair of glaring brown eyes which spitefully wished otherwise, if anything this was making her night all the more enjoyable.
Calling yourself his hunter, huh? She mused peering forward when flames licked around a respirator nearly illuminated the face behind it, "I'm going to enjoy watching you die, choking on your blood as it boils away and smelling your flesh turn to ash." The cousin of Kaiser whose fame and unmovable recognition made all in Brockton Bay think twice. And she'd find that stride, one day! So if killing capes made it that much closer, she decided with no doubt it'd be well worth seeing them fear her personally.
Stalking towards the left when throwing fire swiftly, a cape again managed by flipping themselves over and avoiding it barely. Pieces of a cloak smouldered yet Scorch advanced when the mask looked up, fire struck immediately. And a blond paused as a shimmering figure rushed through causing her own arm to swipe through literally nothing. She blinked until an arm solidified causing a gagging reflex when the masked cape got around a neck! You damned coward, can't take myself head on and using that 'phase' shit.
An elbow met solid contact when flipping the masked hero over a hip and swung both legs into crossing themselves. Pulling immediately caused an almost shriek when feeling a joint pop out of place, Scorch kicked twice as a mask jerked away. Grinning widely did a fist full of flame slaw downward and brown eyes were shielded by an interior mask's mechanisms. The cape phased downwards as a portion of the burning tiles caved inwards leaving only hissing embers escaping to meet gnashing teeth.
Standing upright did she unleash another spiraling mass of roaring fire tearing through an entire floor below. Immediately the support beams broke into literal ash as she lightly dropped down into an entire building being consumed rapidly. Where did you go? Breathing through filters that blocked most soot, or ash did her lenses appear glowing due to massive swaths of yellow and orange. You couldn't have gotten away so quick, unless...you're behind me.
Wood snapped underneath a weight as she sent a tidal wave of yellow and reddish flames hissing towards a masked cape who again phased behind crumbling walls. Hissing clouds of ash obscured glass lenses yet the blond didn't hesitate, "This is getting old." Slamming one flame rippling boot which caused an already strained wooden beams to incinerate quicker, gravity assisted naturally when dropping down again. Damn it, I over did it. But above overhead pieces of flaming debris started cascading downward in leaving little imagination an entire build would follow soon enough, Scorch just shoot herself free of lingering ash.
Looking towards her left due to wood breaking, "Where...shit!" She yelled when getting blind sided as a wisp of flame streamed outward when a knee phased into physical existence, it struck hard and right into a lower sternum. An almost skull jarring metal headbutting brazenly sizzled as warmth tricked down her eye. A gash had been ripped across locking a hand immediately, in staining through rasps of quick breathing as a gleaming knife tip glinted visibly.
Metal began glowering brightly before it seared gradually as the masked cape hissed when Scorch lunged, in angling a leg as she threw them both through a weakened floor. Spiraling in a jumble of fists and smashing a masked cape's chin furiously did they fall freely. Their weight couldn't make already charred flooring support it, Scorch found herself coughing as something twisted a jagged tearing sensation sent tears flowing freely. And after moment of heated air whisking by they landed rolling while she clutched an ankle.
Biting down on a tongue which stemmed yelling did little when seeing pale skin mixed with crimson as her leg shoot involuntarily. Shit, shit, fucking shit! Stumbling among embers which sizzled angrily due to liquid red meeting it. Panting did a flutter of movement forewarn her in block a half mangled knife when she got slammed backwards. The masked camouflage hero viciously using their own weight as she fought against gravity's pull, blackened marks riddled an almost sculpted mask sported blanked out eye sockets meeting her own.
Gritting teeth tightly with arms weakening as flames started smouldering due to a larger weight advantage. Fuck off! Jerking aside when a mangled metal closer to some prison shiv sliced closely on her outfit's shoulder. Upper cutting sharply in making a cape shake themselves momentarily, her fingers curled with flames as they grasped at anything to gain a grip. Sizzling digits dug quickly forcing her assailant to phase out when she grasped at nothing but air, Scorch almost considered screaming out in rage when wooden debris fell between them.
Plums of embers sizzled upward drenching what little room into a haze of orange and flickering yellow pieces. Pushing herself onto one stable leg while kneeling as another grasped bloodied clothe, if only delaying a numbing sensation. Where did you go? Stumbling backwards a few steps, she saw only flames burning as smoke darkened consistently. Lightly coughing sparked concern when whispering almost bitterly, "Fucker ripped my mask. God damn it, gotta get outside...fucking son of a bitch, where are you...John?"
Around collapsing walls fell through yet smoke streamed towards a partial glass window held together by glowering iron bars. Not that high up, if I can just... Rubble crackled forcing her to veer around when a shimmering cape came sprinting out behind a crumbling wall. Gritting teeth bracing when that shimmer outline literally thrust a knife downward, she caught a wrist just barely as it solidified yet she stumbled yelping out painfully due to an ankle's support weight. And Scorch stumbled struggling nearly desperate, especially when her back collided harshly against glass with a mask raising itself menacingly.
Streaks reminiscent of fingers clawing downward left a portion of the metal mangled and cracked a right eye glass socket. Smoke started filling an interior respirator forcing one elbow smashing backward repeatedly, it took three attempts but glass shattered freely with air howling past outward providing enough relief. But her head got jarred due to a glove roughly as she felt a stinging sensation with it being partially pressed into it. Small pieces loosely hanging dug right into leather, tearing and soon enough pin prick pains dug right into exposed flesh.
Slamming a knee into her gut forced glass to shatter when Scorch saw smoke billowing upwards as desperation started kicking in. Instinct in only feeling emptiness made herself headbutting the cape who reared backwards, "I'll mount your head on a wall." The masked cape vowed lowly before phasing through a blond's frantic grip as a sudden pull sent her yelling, she reached trying to brace herself and only shards of glass sliced through gloves when momentum acted against her. And she fell with pieces of embers falling along side her visibly.
Gusts of air howled in both ears until abruptly she cried out as a hard pressure cut the descent and she rolled over sliding off a dented up plastic cover. Blurred images of orange and gray mixed together as she crawled away for a moment, "Damned dumpster..." Mumbling out relieved slurred words despite tasting coppery like liquid, it'd been only two stories at most and yet her entire body couldn't even provide feeling. Pieces of fiery debris lingered between a narrow alleyway and another building, but she managed in getting several feet ahead.
Reaching upwards in trying to pull herself up did a whistling thump making her scream out in absolute rage and shock. Clutching a bleeding hand where one lone crossbow arrow head sticking a solid foot out had her leg kicking the ground. Turning on her side to stare right towards a burning building's shadowy corner, did a masked cape emerge walking out. A crossbow heavily burnt yet still capable to fire bolts got shouldered. The half mangled up masked hero didn't waste time running with a knife brandishing.
Damned coward! Scorch numbly seethed when a leg tensed as she waited until at the last moment. Sharply in barely planting a foot on a chest, grunting and yelling out forced her would be killer rolling overhead skidding face first. Nerves shrieked internally when she tried to pull out a bolt, but it remained stuck as blood bright and darkened red leaked out. Flame's ignited in her only uninjured hand as from behind streams of churning yellow angrily shot forward. And the masked cape scampered away towards another building's wall.
Granite and stone ignited into exploding inwards as debris fell loosely above causing another cloud of dust to spread outward. I can't breathe, I can't... Suffocating with sweat pooling internally in a cracked respirator she couldn't stop inhaling cooler air greedily. It slid off even as fire above crackled loudly, she started losing feeling when shivering started soon after. Shit, I'm going to bleed out...at this rate, I can't even walk right!
Looking over a shimmering outline emerged lazily flipping one lone knife as another mangled got tossed away carelessly. What the hell does it take to kill you! Gnashing teeth weakly as a masked hero stopped less than several meters away. Eye sockets retracted exposing brown eyes narrowing in near savage anticipation, Scorch would have done the same except a deceptive sense of lightheaded sensations almost made her pass out. The knife flipped over edge first as fingers nimbly held it firmly when preparing for an upcoming angle to throw.
"Weak." That lone word stated almost gleefully when an arm reared itself back as Scorch winced fighting back blackened edges creeping visibly. Fuck you cape, I'll die with my eyes open! Heat dimly started flowing back, but it wouldn't be time time as an arm whipped forward with the knife gleaming rapidly. She sucked in a breath braced and almost blinked in suddenly seeing a tip quivering just where her eye widened.
The knife hovered in making her fall back unable to resist closing both eyes as an urge to sleep came washing over her. What took you so damned long...John? Three shots burst outward from behind as the masked cape screamed clutching legs, slumping over biting down on a tongue as two streaming bloodied holes hitting behind knees hit keenly. And around them buildings groaned when metallic coils came tearing out engulfing a blond who smiled almost riddled with delusional relief. Darkness came and she found herself no longer resisting to pass out.
Grimm walked downwards where metallic pieces expanded and placed themselves when he descended from above. The pistol remained aimed as he moved past what sounded like a damned kid screaming, "Next time, it'll be your head." Speaking tightly when raising an enclosed fist as an entire ball of warped metal piping and sheets unfolded, it came over towards him revealing an almost torn apart cousin of Kaiser. Her hand had been impaled with some sort of arrow head, ankle slashed and most of her outfit had been shredded in places.
Son of a bitch, you really almost got yourself killed tonight. Glaring partially when using hovering pieces in managing to support dead weight, Scorch's arm was secured over his shoulder when walking past the masked cape. So that's 'Shadow Stalker', if Glory-Girl meant by a whore causing this whole situation to go up in flames. Three of them, including some other cape called Gallant...three of them for only me? I feel really flattered, if only knowing they'd have killed me considering one of them can literally walk through fucking walls!
Above fluttering sounds of a cape being blown back made him stare up an almost pleased hero who watched her counter part struggling, "Give me a minute." He dryly stated shifting an unconscious para-human over shoulders when ascending back up make shift metal pieces towards a building not consumed by an raging infernos, "You deal with your own capes, hero." Literally walking upwards past a floating Glory-Girl who glared angrily in being ordered, Grimm made it a point to stare her down quite visibly pissed in dealing with additional problems.
Metal expanded outwards from behind concrete like walls extending in supporting himself and an unconscious woman whose breathing quickened. He didn't need to see bloodied droplets streaming down in hitting his pant leg, it distinctly brought back older memories during a deployment out in unforgiving mountains and skin blistering deserts. She'll bleed out sooner than later, so I'll need to borrow your phone. Looks like Dr. Lector is coming back to my place to visit, I hope you have a number saved somewhere.
Below the cape wearing college looking hero floated just behind her masked counterpart. And as she looked up did a prominent thud of a metallic mask being dented followed a muffled thud. Glory-Girl's smile hadn't lessened when gripping a neck into flying upwards, Grimm snorted when holstering a pistol back onto his side. And she's pulling punches? How the hell would I stop someone who can literally go through walls, who can fly to take off my head and fight a third cape? No way, no way in hell I'd make it out and walk out alive.
Reaching a rooftop that wasn't consumed by raging flames which crept closer steadily made his mood deteriorate immediately. No time to stitch this up, or get you to a hospital. Oh boy, consider this even for saving my skin. Extending a hand towards burning buildings, pieces of not so charred metal or lightly glowering melded together into forming an almost slanted slope. Embers flaked off as pieces wrapped around them, using smaller stakes forming into them being cut loose Grimm just warned her regardless, "Don't scream too much!"
Swiftly pouring hot embers right onto a gash made the blond woman jerk briefly until flesh burned forced an ear ringing shriek. She tried sitting up violently, if not for Grimm's hand firmly on a shoulder simply frowning as convulsions passed. That'll have to do, or else you're dead by morning. Doing the same for her hand proved a bit difficult when he grunted due to a knee planting itself into his rib, yet he remained in place despite throbbing growing inside his thigh. His own injuries weren't healing given a time span of it lingering constantly, all too likely when he'd moving around more in weeks instead of resting normally.
Yanking roughly just to have lean against a hard ledge didn't end his night. Isolated part of Brockton Bay, is that right? Laughing sardonically when looking out in seeing fires spreading towards flickering lights as blue and red seemingly were seen along distant streets. Dockyards, cargo ships and plenty of factories, Glory-Girl. If that's not isolated, it's only a hefty price tag for this city to save it's own industry for thousands of workers who are my people's livelihoods.
Distant massive ships anchored further off shore made him grin, "That'll work." Metal started formulating underneath his feet when going upwards into gaining an aerial view of seeing massive blazes spreading building to building. Woman, I love it when your damned sense of hotheadedness just makes me have an excuse to work for a living. Because I really don't want everyone and more knowing I can do a hell of a lot more...if I wanted too.
Glimmering lights along helicopters belonging to news media thrummed in an echoing frenzy, Grimm's lips twitched irritably. Like fucking hyenas, they just can't help but be nosy! Temptation arose in simply flinging stakes, or anything large enough to send them into burning wreckage's. But he held off to instead gauge exactly who far he'd have consider. There were simply too many fires to make things extremely clear, it'd have to take a lot of effort.
"Wonder how they'll spin it this time?" Chuckling when extending hands outward where crawling sensations started acting up as Grimm started gritting teeth, "More." Building's underneath him destroyed in burning husks, partial or less effected started visibly trembling. More so with groans of metallic origins squealing audibly, they were numerous and suffocating out all other noise. Huge cargo vessels began to shift as well, several of his own fingers bent backwards in nearly breaking bone to make him growl trying to avoid pressure. Yet in a fit of anger he managed in curling them slowly, pulling and support it all despite facing innumerable force threatening to break limbs externally.
"More!" Growling out a word when his knee gave out but metal underneath kept him from swaying too dangerously off balance. Christ, I haven't pulled this much together since I triggered back when I was in a uniform. God damn it, shit is fucking too heavy already! Fingers bent inward gradually again when metallic pieces flew upwards, breaking and splintering away from anything as cargo ships lifted themselves out of water when they distinctly tore themselves apart. Hulls, cars, junk, or iron support beams and everything more flew upwards clanking together overhead in a resounding kinship to thunder itself.
An entire line curved upwards as it slopped onto an angle dipping below crashing waves in cascading over into a central dip. FUCK! Screaming that lone word mentally as his other leg bent straining underneath an incredible weight. Bones started straining when muscle spasms started rocking him into falling over, "Good enough." Angling his arm back while extending another, he felt a darkened shadow washing over him blocking out stars above. Sweat and a trickling warmth went through a nostril forcing himself to spit the mix of blood away.
Above an entire shape oval in shape dipped further beneath a bay's surface and Grimm breathed in deeply. Managing to stand despite muscles protesting he made a circular motion curling fingers into a fist as it rose slowly, but steadily expanding to encompass whole city blocks. Spotlights from helicopters visibly averted course when this mass of metallic shapes moved. It forced them to ascend yet they remained hovering with echos, "Great idea!" Finally snapping due to weight threatening in snapping an arm along his inflamed elbow.
Straining weight nearly buckled along a dipping portion when the massive object hovered well above himself centered. Pieces flaked off sporadically, if only to slam back together constantly forming a massive bowl and it covered far enough beyond most building's illuminating brightly due to unnatural darkness revealing devastation. Don't let it all pour out, do it piece by piece like a damned funnel and hope it's enough!
His index finger unfolded when an explosion of water poured underneath descending like some twisted waterfall dousing an epicenter. Millions upon millions of galleons dumped freely, as another geyser exposed along ends with metric tons relieving his aching body. They slammed downward rushing through streets sweeping up cars, or pooling into lower stories of structures dousing flames and drowning them gradually in releasing white columns of steam. And more points buckled when unseen weight had been alleviated with himself getting housed by sea water.
A small pop caused him to cry out with tears, "There goes my back! Fucking shit!" Panting when water falls descended in sweeping away fires, buildings too badly charred and burnt crumbled into mixtures of grayish sludge. Yet the sheer amount of liquid rushed through streets, which couldn't contain such extreme amounts as flames started fizzling out. Smoke and steam clashed into obscuring most visibility yet he held it all up through droplets of sweat stringing his eyes underneath glasses. Blood ran smoothy until spitting another mouthful out irritably.
After ten minutes did cascading waterfalls deteriorating into mimicking light rain as an entire overhanging metallic hulk move back towards a ball. Only small yet smoulder embers of ruins dimly struggle to remain alive. But tons sank underneath the bay's surface in rapid thunderous booms of water spraying over fence-lines. I am going to need a drink tonight, my back feels like it's on fucking fire and I can't feel any of my damned arms. I should have asked for money, I swear woman is going to bitch me out for being cheap.
Huge titanic sections collapsed when he released a fist as steam clouds vented upward until only a misty fog descended overhead. But above spotlights shined brightly trying to center around where he'd been standing mostly, Grimm only raised a middle finger at them while turning his back on light that blinded him naturally. Shakily gripping metal that floated to his hands grip, he sagged downward back onto a rooftop and collapsed kneeling trying to not vomit up half digested food. Every inch of flesh was drenched in soaking clothing and he yet a crooked grin couldn't be stopped from forming far too thrilled.
"Holy...shit!" Someone blurted out in making him gaze grinning towards a pair of capes. Glory-Girl held their masked counterpart by the scruff of clothing as an armored hero lightly jumped down carrying a familiar girl hyperventilating openly. When did this kid show up? Must've used some high ground or something, hell I'd do the same avoiding a miniature tsunami. He couldn't tell whether it was a boy, or full grown man considering the visor hid facial features. But that left only one other cape he'd been told had here tonight.
Grunting out words while standing slowly onto both legs, "Got a name?" An armored hero nodded somewhat stiffly, "Gallant." Grimm continued walking past towards a shivering blond who he knelt down next too. Straining underneath protesting muscle groups he lifted an arm so it wrap around his neck, as legs loosely dangled over an arm underneath. Let's get out of here woman, you, Rascal and I are getting out of Brockton for a weekend or two. This city is going to lose it's mind after the news plays what I just did...fucking amazing.
Metal extended when his legs reached a ledge's end before turning around facing two capes who hardly looked pleased, "This truce you offered to me?" Dubiously going over what a scowling hero wearing cape told him, "What exactly is it? What do you two want me to not do? I'm a little iffy on Protectorate and Uncle Sam looking over my shoulder."
Gallant perked up towards a tight lipped blond hero as she sharply jerked her chin to him. Grimm almost wanted to exhale tiredly, "Don't commit major crimes." An armored youth stated more simply since he'd spotted an impatience in his previous words, "Attack Protectorate sponsored capes and basically, stay out of our way and we won't look for you...for a bit." He honestly raised a hand explaining somewhat unsure, "We usually don't offer it, but we had orders to talk to you. More, or less exchanging for the girl's life...which you gave us freely?"
Grimm snorted loudly before grinning quite amused, "Free? Hell to that shit, cape." Glory-Girl scoffed drawing Gallant's gaze rigidly, "Someone wired money to my Thinker, someone whose floating and asked me to...put out a wild fire." Turning away to descend into an alleyway did his voice ring up quite pleased, "Thanks for quarter of a million, Glory-Girl. I work for a living, so next time my price goes up and maybe I'll add demands." And without hearing them, he fled with another para-human running hard towards an area where he'd hoped a getaway vehicle remained undamaged.
Above helicopters placed spotlights when two Wards could only hear a man cackling as they were left alone on a roof top. Did he just extort Brockton Bay for two hundred and fifty thousand? Gallant looked over towards Victoria who returned his stare almost pitiful, "That's all he asked for? Did I hear that, or am I going crazy?"
The armored hero only shook his head realizing either it'd be a low price tag, or the so called Grimm just sold himself short. Frowning openly when a visor retracted exposing his face to a misty fog, "Who authorized a transfer? Armsmaster?" He guessed wincing as Glory-Girl threw an unconscious Shadow Stalker to the ground loosely. She didn't answer right away in favor of crossing arms when watching emergency services arriving through near flooded conditions, it'd a long time before they could leave given they'd have to push vehicles through to sporadic hot spots inside burnt out buildings and it wasn't enjoyable work either.
"No." That lone word made him worried, "Armsmaster answered and put someone else on the line." She snapped abruptly to float down beside an almost uneasy younger hero, "The Director directly asked Grimm how much, he talked to her for a bit. Apparently they saw what was happening on live broadcasts, so he gave a number and it was approved. She wasn't happy, after he telling her what went down leading to this mess! Fucking god, I got chewed out by both of them for them being forced into an extortion situation. It was quick, thankfully because they saw fires spreading out of control, so Grimm offered to put them out and they agreed once I placed an official temporary truce."
The young man smiled smugly in pointing out, "And for that price? You saved thousands without getting yourself killed, Vicky. And we're not underneath a tribunal to revoke our licenses." Gently putting down a freed girl who sniffed painfully, "We did what needed to be done, that's it! And we saved a hostage without them losing their life. Isn't that a hero you wanted to be? Saving as many as you can without resorting to...killing? We did our best, we fucked up but at least you took charge and called in help to make sure we did our job."
Glory-Girl visibly scowled biting out words, "We let a terrorist and murderer walk free." She floated above watching ruins slowly being exposed out of fog through winds pushing it off shore, "He ransomed our city, damn it all Gallant! I was forced to beg a terrorist, some god damned racist shit and the fucker had balls to just laugh at us. At me! Tell me what kind of hero lets a monster who watches everything burn around them walk away?" She asked spitefully lashing out into kicking concrete aside effortlessly, more so in making the youth smile tiredly when coming to stand by her gently grabbing a hand.
"You did the right thing, Vicky." That hardly appeased an almost furious young woman who refused to respond, "We saved lives, we saved a city from getting anymore damaged and money is just a number. You know at least we know more about...Grimm. Honestly I'm afraid what the hell the guy thinks, I can say he's not stupid but just asking for a quarter of a million?" Suggesting quite curiously enough since more had been wasted on lesser situations, or rather ransoms were worth a lot more. Oddly despite everything Gallant couldn't help but frown about something being off.
Armsmaster wouldn't cave without risking face with the Director, but why would she agree so easily? What the hell am I missing? Facing a floating girl once again he asked firmly, "Vicky?" She partially turned when hearing his voice dip a bit curious, if anything he wanted to know what had been said, "Can you explain to me what was said between him and the Director? Please?"
End Chapter IX
Author's Note: Couple things to mention, things don't always go according to plan. There's only so much one can expect, or hope to imagine to at least go right. And you're seeing what happens when someone with a level head, arguably can do what he say's...if there's room for some sort of incentive. Grimm may not be the most powerful, or subtle among capes but he knows when, where and ironically is very self-conscious of the fact he's not invincible. He knows his limits, he's had seven years in the context to really live a life and be relatively unbothered to hone himself. Unlike someone else, who learned quite easily another lesson: Pick your battles, if you can win them and funnily enough she ended up almost in a worse off state than another who really learnt from experience.
Grimm isn't a moralist, or some bleeding heart. He simply pushed someone into a position, without really trying because he saw an opportunity like I mentioned beforehand. And again, it wasn't planned but you take what you get. Money, it's a nice touch but there's a reason why the number was set so low. Not because of loose reasoning, Grimm is playing the long game. If he's getting paid less than a million to stop a city wide inferno, that'd cost presently in the ten's of millions or not? Isn't that a curious question, of why? I'll make it funnier for people, it's a message in itself. Something like that happens, he might be on the market for a higher price, or not depending on a job.
Imagine who, or what would be intrigued. Stopping a city wide disaster for so little? It really leaves him being advertised, to an extent but not in the negative light as he's banking on media to really try to spin it. And if they do, he gain's nothing but a laugh. Or if you're seeking an answer, he's going to ignore it mainly because it'll have people be asking questions in public demands.
Also about that top portion with Glory-Girl, isn't it so satisfying when you turn someone's words against them? Again, not because he's using morals, it's simply a question of practicality. Why risk more, when one was that was needed to avoid it? Madison's life which was ignored, through Victoria set the stage for a para-human who watched it blow up in her face...via Shadow Stalker's vendetta against him, which spiraled when Scorch intervened and Grimm was wise enough to let it go. Why? Because even I doubt, he'd be able to go toe to toe with a cape who can literally walk and phase through walls...there's only so much metal and fire isn't exactly effective considering what even hurts someone in that state.
And despite being able to burn anything, mostly yet there's a flaw in that simplicity. You're not indestructible, you can easily break a limb or bleed out...as you read above. And if pain disrupts a person's concentration, you tend to see powers (shards) react accordingly. Some go further, others stop and there's an in-between when a person can't focus on what they're intending to do. Like I mentioned in another chapter, some battles aren't about letting fists fly, Grimm at least recognizes sometimes to win a war, it doesn't mean go all in in the first, or second battles per say.
Personally, it just leaves most outside himself confused and wary in what he'd set a price tag. Or at least gives a false impression he's motivated by money, it'll make them squirm, another potential cape mercenary (since they do exist in Worm), but capable to take down an entire city? Do the math, how concerned what any organization or government would know is walking around unchecked, not monitored and one whose had a history of political extremism...least in their eyes, it sets up quite a quandary.
For now, there's a temporary Truce in place and as loose as it is, what does that mean for Brockton Bay? Time to leave, let it simmer down for a bit and come back once the aftermath comes into place. And that kind of circumvents a little issue he's had with Empire, it gets him and Rascal only time for Kaiser to deliver...or, rather avoiding using him against other heroes, mainly because Grimm is getting annoyed with a pair of cousins doing power plays. It's not a matter of hypocrisy, but a method of restraint and abiding by his word, to Kaiser, Rascal and Protectorate presences in doing what he does best: observing, work for a living and simply wait it out until he's had enough.
Anyway, have a nice week, stay safe and leave a review, please.