Clean Fall Chapter 2, an el tigre fanfic

I'm not quite sure if I like the way this chapter worked out. I wanted to show the aftermath for a number of parties here and try to develop the story at the same time, but am unsure if I've effectively done so. If enough negative feedback appears, I'll tear this sucker down and give it a second try. – The Author

Chapter 2, All That We Have Lost

Rivera Estate, 5:30 AM

Certainty.

The door opened slowly, interrupting the silence of the empty home, but not by much. In truth, the sound of Rodolfo's big bronze boots did more to pollute the room than the door's gentle creak. He and Grandpapi had spent the whole of the night scouring the streets for Manny, and when they returned home they had all but given up. Rodolfo had immediately turned towards the kitchen; it was Grandpapi who found Manny in the recliner, sleeping soundly. He left him there for a time, feeling a little foolish for not suggesting coming home earlier like he thought they should. Of course he would leave the hospital to come here. This is where he belongs. Grandpapi sat at the kitchen table, waiting patiently for a time. Rodolfo sat down opposite of him, setting two cups of coffee as he did.

"Manny's home."

"What?"

"Your chair."

"Ah," Rodolfo whispered, looking over to his preferred seat. Indeed, there he sat sleeping, neck slightly tilted and open mouth drooling. "How long do you think he's been here?"

"Oh, probably the whole night."

They took turns sipping their coffee and simply staring at the table. They were just too tired to do much more, but they couldn't very well go to sleep just yet. There was still work to do; so much work. What should be done with Manny? He was still too injured to fight… and the hospital would be the best place for him to recuperate. But suppose the enemy did not stay his hand; could they count on the authorities to defend him when they were so soundly defeated? Rodolfo finally had to acknowledge this idea.

"Papi…"

"…"

"I'm worried for my son."

"He'll be fine. He's had more crippling injuries."

"… That's not what I meant."

Manny stirred from his long nap and lifted his head, wincing as he stretched the aching neck muscles that had suffered while he slept. He wiped away the saliva that covered his chin and stood, stretching his back and arms despite the pulling of the stitches in his chest. The injury was hurting less now that he had rested, negating all that physical activity he forced himself through. In hindsight, he should've just taken the elevator. Who would be on it at midnight, really? But of course, before that, he was trying to avoid getting caught, and he didn't know his family was out in the night. Manny turned when he heard his Grandpapi speak to him.

"Good morning, Manny."

"G' morning Grandpapi. Mornin' dad."

"Hola Manny… how did you sleep?"

"Awful," he replied quietly, taking his seat at the table. His eyes pained him, and when he pressed his fingers against them he realized he had a headache again. It had just been an unpleasant twenty-four hours, and he desperately wanted to move on. "I fell asleep waiting for you guys to come home. Sorry about disappearing like that."

"It's alright, mijo…"

Manny let his head slump down on the table. The gentle thud didn't do much to change the pace of the conversation; everyone was still pained from their fatigue. But Rodolfo wouldn't let exhaustion stand in his way. There were questions that needed answering, and now that Manny was awake, he could answer them. First, the simple one.

"Manny… who is it that caused you such harm?"

He mumbled something, keeping his face pressed against the table. After a brief silence that followed the incomprehensible response, Rodolfo looked at Manny and asked him again, this time mustering some additional force to try to break through.

"Who is our enemy, Manny?"

"I don't know…" he replied, lifting his head up off the table. He propped his face up with his arms and started at the wall opposite his seat. "He said he had many names… but that one of them was M."

Without looking, Manny could tell that there were looks of tension aimed his way. Like he had told a joke that was offensive, mocked something too soon. How could he have know? M had only just infiltrated his world. Finally he decided enough was enough.

"Who is he?" he asked tiredly.

"… No one really knows, mijo. He's a villain that delights in spreading crime in his wake."

"Don't all villains like to do that? Tell me something I don't already know about him."

"Well," Grandpapi chipped in, setting his empty cup down with a heavy hand, "every time you here about something bad happening in the news in some other country, though the media says nothing about it, the authorities all blame someone named M."

"What?"

"Yes… well, that's what the crazies say. Conspiracy theorists," Grandpapi scoffed, tilting back in his chair. "What you can count on is that he's got his fingers in everything, just because every now and then crime rates go crazy in random countries already having problems."

"You certainly know a lot about this man, papi."

"Well, you know…"

"… So, what are we gonna' do? He's taking our city now."

Rodolfo stared into his coffee, sighing and swirling the liquid in his cup. It all came back to those big questions now. Would the enemy stay his hand? What sort of tricks could they expect in the future? It was times like this that made him wish he had more friends in the underworld. The enemy you know is always better than the enemy you don't.

Suarez Residence, 7:04 AM

Patience.

Frida had just begun to eat her toast, smearing a little more jelly on it when she decided it wasn't sweet enough, when the phone began to ring. She didn't really care, so she didn't bother to get up to answer it. Her father was the one who finally did, doing so in a huff. Frida chewed quietly so she could listen, hearing only Emiliano's words.

"Suarez… Nikita!"

Frida sighed grumpily; great, that's exactly what she needed. Her twin sisters Nikita and Anita. What did they want? Calling to earn more praise from their father, the esteemed chief of police? When they moved away to join some other hoity-toity police station, it was something of a happy occasion for Frida. It meant she wouldn't have to compete for her parents' attention as much. Sure, there was still the law, but at least it was one less thing to share the love with. The immediate love, anyway.

"Yes, your room is already prepared!"

Frida coughed to avoid choking on her toast. A room was prepared? When? How out of it was she that she didn't notice her parents making Nikita and Anita's room ready? That meant they would be visiting in the near future. Frida thought back to the last time they visited… they had crammed four years worth of sibling rivalry into a week, and that rivalry manifested as "friendly pranks" conveniently geared towards Frida. Great… more of that.

"Yes, she's feeling better now… I'll be sure to tell her that. I love you too. Adios."

Frida looked out the kitchen window when she heard Emiliano making his way back into the kitchen, trying her best to look innocent, or at the very least not guilty of eavesdropping. The best way to do that, of course, was to feign innocent conversation.

"So… Nikita and Anita doin' alright?"

"Oh yes."

"… And?"

"They'll be coming to stay for a while. They have officially transferred to my precinct for the month."

"Can they do that?"

The phone rang again, and both Frida and Emiliano turned to face it. The chief of police was a little busy with trying to get out of the house, so he turned to Frida and gave her that look. After the second ring she sighed and pushed away from the table, making her way to the living room, where the nearest phone waited. She picked it up at about the fourth ring.

"Hola, Suarez residence."

"Buon giorno, Frida."

"… I'm sorry?"

"It's'a me, Sergio."

"Oh, right. Sergio. How ya' doin'?"

"Oh, I can't complain."

"You should try anyway. It'll make you feel better."

"Oh ho, that's clever," he replied, forcing a small laugh, "be careful not to'a cut yourself with your sharp wit."

"Heh, yeah. Can I help with something?"

"Well, I was just wondering… if'a maybe you'd like'a to do something this week."

"Hmm, actually, I'm a little busy this week…"

"Oh…" he answered, sounding a little dejected, "but isn't that what you'a said last week?"

"Yeah, well, you know how it is, bein' a working man. Calendars fill up crazy fast these days."

"Yes, I see. Maybe next week then."

"Yeah, next week." Frida paused to look at the clock; seeing that time was slipping away from her she hurriedly finished up the call. "Alright Sergio, I'll talk to you later."

"Ah. Arrivederci, Frida."

"Uh, okay. Bye."

Frida pressed the end button and dropped the cordless onto the couch cushion where she usually "hung the phone up," turning and leaving the room without giving the call much thought. After the first week, Sergio had started calling her more and more frequently, and it was starting to get annoying. Seriously, it was like the guy couldn't take a hint. That sort of felt familiar to her, but she couldn't tell why.

Sergio's Lair, 7:20 AM

Sergio had sunk to pacing. For the better part of a month he had waited, tried again and again, and boiled over because of that girl. Now that his temper had reached its limit, he clenched his fists and turned to his computer console, taking to smashing the keyboard again and again, causing the screen to hiccup with commands and prompts. He growled violently and finally kicked his chair over, blood boiling from his growing hate.

"Frida! Damn you!"

He wound his way to a window and looked out onto the city. The more he stared at it, the more his hatred welled up. He was quickly losing patience with her, and by the same token the man who had promised Sergio that he would have her as his own, if only he obeyed every order.

Graveyard of Heroes, 8:15 AM

Innocence.

Zoe had not gone to school that morning as she promised. Instead she just wandered aimlessly, staring at the sidewalk as she made her meager advance. Minute after minute passed in the blink of an eye, and soon Zoe realized that she was no where near the high school and she had run out of time. So, she just walked away. Eventually her feet brought her to a most peculiar location: a flower shop. When Zoe arrived there, she pressed her hands against the window and looked in. She saw red lilies, freshly cut and placed in cool water; this brought a smile to her face, and immediately Zoe felt the deep urge to cry. She turned away from the lilies, which brought her back to that wonderful day in the park, to a time she would never again enjoy. That memory brought only pain now… she understood why Grandmami never wished to discuss her botched wedding. When she opened her eyes again, Zoe saw a different flower. She read the note attached to the flowers and repeated it out loud.

"Michaelmas Daisies… say farewell to friends held dear."

Zoe stood at the gate of the renowned Graveyard of Heroes, where all of Miracle City's defenders were remembered. She clutched a small batch of the daisies she bought at the flower shop, eyes red from crying and hands shaking, and as she stood there she regretted coming at all. No. She had to do this. She pushed the gate open and walked inside, unaware that she had been followed, that she was being watched from a car parked just down the street. A man opened the door and stepped out, leaving his partner in the vehicle and making his way to the cemetery entrance. Once there, he straightened his black tie, smoothed out his black suit coat, and peered through his black sunglasses, spying Zoe atop the hill, coming to a stop at a great monolithic eagle. The man in black raised a hand to his ear to hear better, fighting the strong wind that was blowing into the small communication device.

"Please repeat that, sir."

"I said let her have her moment. Then bring her in."

"Roger that."

Crying again, Zoe stared at the monument to her victims… a great eagle, carved from glimmering marble, honoring the memory of two of Miracle City's favorite young stars. It was her fault… M had machinated their deaths, but it was Zoe who had condemned them, who had bound them to their falling zeppelin. She clutched the daisies tighter, shutting her eyes in an attempt to block it all out. Once the tears were routed, Zoe opened her eyes again, reading the inscription on the monument.

Never doubted, never unloved, never to be forgotten.

She sighed, looking down at the meager flowers in her hands. This was a bad idea. As if a few daisies would ever make any of this better for anyone. It was a kind gesture, but she felt… hollow. Zoe left five flowers on each of the plagues bearing the names of her unfortunate victims.

"Carla… Carlito… I'm so sorry."

Zoe fell to her knees then, holding her hands to her eyes to stifle the tears once more. She did not notice the man in black behind her, hands folded in front and watching patiently. He followed his order to the letter, and did not interrupt Zoe's grieving. She stopped crying again and tried to stand; it was hard for her. She struggled to wipe away her tears and gasped when she heard a footstep. A hand passed her shoulder and stopped, holding a small handkerchief. She took it slowly and wiped off her cheeks, brushing away the black make-up that had streaked down her face. She sobbed a few times before successfully standing, turning to face the stranger who had witnessed her breakdown. She gasped again, seeing an American before her.

"… Who are you?"

"Agent Geoffrey, ILEA division 4."

"ILEA?"

"International Law Enforcement Agency. I need you to come with me, Black Cuervo."

She panicked and backed away a few steps. How did he…? At what point had she become so sloppy that a government agency could learn her secret identity. She turned to run, but stopped when the cock of a gun caught her attention.

"Don't run, Ms. Aves. Please, just come with me."

She was placed in handcuffs, taken to the black car, and gently pushed into the back seat. And as they drove along, all Zoe could think about was how she had failed her family. If the ILEA, whose existence she questioned slightly, had learned about Black Cuervo, it was only a matter of time before her mother and grandmother too were arrested. She stared out the window, watching the buildings pass by. She pressed her forehead against the glass and let out a low whine, which got the attention of Agent Geoffrey's partner, who lifted his glasses to look back at her; he did not speak to her, and she thus gained little comfort.

Unknown Location, 8:45 AM

Hope.

Zoe was held in the front room of this makeshift base, certain now more than ever that she was in over her head. It appeared that this building was never a base of operation for the supposed ILEA… but the agents running here and there, all dressed in the same black garb, operating government machinery… maybe she was under arrest. The agent who had not introduced himself walked down the hallway, waving another agent after him. This left Zoe and Agent Geoffrey in the front, and she thought long and hard about her fate. Finally, the silent agent waved them in, and Zoe was pushed along by her captor into a dark back room. Geoffrey and his partner followed in after her, and there Zoe saw a figure sitting in front of a series of computer screens, basking the blue light, glancing at relevant information when he could and deleting anything that was useless. Finally, Geoffrey spoke up.

"Sir… Zoe Aves."

"Thank you, Agent Geoffrey. Unbind her and leave us."

Zoe was standing in shock, staring at the man at the computers with wide eyes while the agent complied and removed her manacles. When the heavy door was slid shut, the room became even darker, lit only by the six screens. And one by one they went out, removing all light from the room. When all was in darkness, Zoe heard footsteps coming from the man's direction, and the squeak of a swiveling chair accompanied them. He stood and took a few steps forward, then around Zoe's position. Something clicked in dark, and a single light came on over her. She was still staring forward.

"Zoe… I'm very disappointed in you."

"… Who are you?"

"You mean to ask who I really am…"

"Yes."

"… I cannot tell you that yet."

"Why not?" Zoe asked, turning to where she heard M walking around her, filling the dark space with his heavy footsteps. He was again in front of her. "Are you afraid?"

"… Yes."

"Of what?"

"Losing my advantage, Zoe. But enough of that. That's not why I brought you here."

He slowly stepped forward, emerging from the shadow into the light that surrounded her. Zoe backed up two steps, sinking into the darkness opposite of M. His hand reached out and stopped her, not with a forceful grasp, but with a gentle caress. He touched her chin, and immediately she lost the will to move. He frowned at her, running his cold thumb across her jaw.

"I can feel it in you…"

"What?"

"… He has broken you."

Zoe stared at his stern face, his cold eyes. She had no words to respond with, and no will to break his contact. She closed her eyes slowly and breathed deep… she sought the calm that she so desperately needed. But her body betrayed her. Her heart began beating faster, and which each breath she whimpered a little.

"You gave him your heart."

"… Stop it."

M took his hand back and turned away, staring into the pitch black. He turned his head slowly and continued his speech.

"You told him you loved him, but he does not share that feeling."

"Stop it."

Zoe's legs faltered and she fell to her knees. She raised a hand to her mouth to stop the whimpering, trying to choke off the sadness that threatened to engulf her. She looked up at M, wreathed in light and shadow, and she saw his eyes. They seemed so… understanding.

"He broke your heart. He broke you."

"… Why are you doing this?"

"Because I need your help, Zoe. And you can't help me until you have come to terms with your fate."

She turned her eyes to floor and started to cry. She hated him now.

"You don't know anything… let me be."

She was truly crying again, as Zoe shed her tears M quietly watched, showing no emotion whatsoever. But in his heart he knew this was the moment he was waiting for; the culmination of all his efforts in managing Zoe's love life. From the very start he blessed Zoe's relationship with Manny not so that he could hurt El Tigre, but bring Black Cuervo to an entirely new plateau. He leaned close and brought a hand under Zoe's chin again, lifting her face up to meet his. She stared at him shocked, and he gazed back at her, eyes reflecting his steely resolve. M gently ran a finger across her temple, brushing away stray hair with his thumb.

"Zoe… I want you to forget. Forget. Only then will there be room for hope between the pain and loss."

And as she looked into his burning blue eyes, Zoe though for a moment, coming to a conclusion about herself… maybe it would be better if she did forget.

Several hours later

Freedom.

Black Cuervo emerged from the shadows, walking briskly and confidently through the corridors of Maxim's lair, having just finished her upgrade in his lab. She recalled what was said about each piece of her altered arsenal…

"Your arm laser was equipped with an M series power amplifier. By activating it, you can increase the concussive power of your laser blasts by as much as 30%. We have also improved the ammunition efficiency."

Her laser… she had always taken excellent care of her laser. It was small, but always a potent weapon. Now it was stronger, if M's repugnant science officers knew anything. The weapon clung to her wrist guard as it always did, but something else felt very different to her. She lifted her left hand and looked at the gaudy gauntlet that was now wrapped around it. Cuervo clenched her fist a couple times, being more accustomed to the extra weight.

"We reversed engineered a few parts of your arm laser and integrated them into this proto-type Power Fist. By activating it, you can punch with an incredible force. You can easily crack solid stone apart with a punch."

Cuervo entered the elevator and lightly touched the up button, waiting for the lift to take her to the ground level where M waited patiently. She stared through her visor and recalled what else was told to her.

"Your jet pack has been upgraded with the latest propulsion equipment. It runs quieter, faster, and more efficiently than ever before. Your wing structure has been appropriately modified to compensate. You have two small missiles attached to the jet pack, each filled with small ball bearings to cause shrapnel damage. And your flight system can now be completely managed with your helmet; you can view the status of every system at your disposal with your new digital visor."

The elevator stopped, and the door behind Cuervo opened slowly. She turned and exited the dimly lit lift, stepping out into the light of the hallway. M stood before the assembly of agents, smiling wickedly when Cuervo came before him. What made him enjoy this most was the lighting up of the iridescent purple-red paint on Cuervo's helmet, leaving a symbol shining in the light. The M drawn on her made it clear to all who Black Cuervo obeyed, and who the city would soon bow to.

Author's Note: The acronym ILEA does break down to International Law Enforcement Agency. The A stands for Academy. For more on the subject, visit the Wikipedia article and leave me alone.