Bleh. Sorry this took so long to update. Next time, I have to stop cutting off plot. It makes my next chapter really, really, really long.
Long endurance sprints were Glitch's main strength, one that was able to land him the reporter job by outrunning the competition. If he was to stand any chance of finding this "Night Shade", he would have to be quick about it. Though, Glitch was forced to admit the story seemed quite far-fetched. Perhaps the officer was simply hallucinating, unable to cope with the stress of losing a convict. Yet, it was the only lead he could possibly follow.
Holding the sides of his dress up a bit higher, the raven haired boy continued to run down the street, searching (for some odd reason) the rooftops for any sign of a person. Glitch had once heard stories that an escaped convict used the shadows of buildings and his incredible muscle physique to leave the cops baffled at every turn. It wasn't long until he ran into a mob of people staring straight up the side of a building.
"Oh my god..."
"Has anyone called the police?'!"
"I tried, but they're too far away!"
"What's going on here?" Glitch demanded, the civilians directing their attention towards the boy.
"There's a child up there!" Someone shouted, pointing to a beam halfway over the rooftop's edge.
A little girl was hanging on for dear life as the beam teetered on the edge. Below her, a giant chunk of the sidewalk rose up from the ground as part of an unfinished construction project. No one would be able to catch her if she happened to fall.
A lady screamed, the board had tipped downwards over the edge, the little girl clawing at the wood desperately. She began to fall, women screaming and men holding their heads in shame.
If Glitch had blinked, he probably would have missed it.
A cloaked figure dashed across the rooftops, jumped at high speed, and caught the little girl in his arms. Glitch was awestruck just watching him move with such grace and power, as if he were simply a shadow in the night. Mentally snapping himself free from the trance, Glitch sprinted off in the figure's direction, keeping an eye glued to the skyline. A soft fluttering sound caught his attention. Glitch snapped his head towards the sidewalk, only to see a cloaked man standing next to that little girl. She was crying heavily, trying to run away from the cloaked figure.
"Get away from her, you Pedophile!" Glitch shouted, pulling off on of his high heeled shoes and chucking it at the man.
His hand went up instinctively, catching the projectile in a swift motion. The little girl ran off crying, past Glitch and towards the mob of shocked citizens still staring at the building. All the while, the figure did not once look behind him or even make a single sound. He tossed back the shoe, lifting himself effortlessly into the sky and onto the nearest slanted roof. Wasting no time, the figure ran across the roof, jumping quietly onto the next one with ease.
"Hey, wait a minute!" Glitch cried, running after the cloaked man.
It was a game of cat and mouse, the figure leaping several paces in front of Glitch as he sprinted furiously from behind. As Glitch watched him move, the criminal suddenly dropped down into a pitch-black space between the buildings. He grinned. The figure had dropped into an alleyway for cover, but his secret identity wouldn't be hidden any longer! He ran down the block, sliding to a halt in front of the alley. Glitch was surprised to find the thing completely and utterly empty. Nowhere to hide, and nowhere to run, save the looming brick wall blocking the other side.
"No way...He's gone..." Glitch mumbled; feeling deprived of energy every passing second.
He stumbled blindly into the wall, placing his hand on it's cool surface, feeling peeling paint and grainy stone beneath his fingertips. Glitch was sunk, abolished, done for. MacCoy would fire him for sure. Never in his life had the raven haired boy ever been so humiliated, femininely dressed, and exhausted.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" A coarse voice drawled from the alley's entrance.
Glitch whirled around, only to find himself faced with three vicious looking thugs. The two bigger guys were carrying clubs filled with nails, and the boss was holding a hunting knife at the ready, cigarette sticking out of his mouth.
The smoker grinned. "Boys, we got ourselves a pretty little lady tonight."
"No, you don't understand-!"
"Get her." He grinned, pointing to me.
The thugs moved slowly towards the raven haired boy as he backed up into the wall. Glitch looked to his left and right, but the cold brick walls stood, barring any escape route. He shut his eyes tightly, hoping for someone, anyone, to come and save him from this vicious gang.
"Someone help!" Glitch cried.
A loud rustle was hear above, the sound of a body thudding against the rooftops. The thugs stopped advancing and looked towards the sky. Two black boots came down upon their heads, flipping back into their rightful place on the ground. The mysterious figure had come to Glitch's rescue.
His hair was a platinum blond, streaked with silver and grey and hidden partially by a midnight black rimmed hat, ornamented with three violet feathers sewed into the side. His shirt was long sleeved, half of the dark indigo fabric making up the right arm and the stripe across his chest. The other half was black tinted with a bit of grey, contrasting against the indigo and completing the left hand sleeve. He wore slightly loose pants, tight enough not to snag on anything, but flexible for fighting. To complete the outfit, he wore gloves, slightly heeled boots, and a flowing cape, all darker than the ocean abyss.
"You should be ashamed of yourselves. Cornering and threatening a woman is simple unforgivable!" The caped man lectured. His voice was stern, but not edged, a sort of gentleness hidden within the words.
"Tch. Like I care. Get 'Im Boys!" The boss shouted, pointing to the stranger standing between the thugs and Glitch.
The burly men rushed forward, clubs poised for attack. The stranger sidestepped the first, grabbing his arm and flipping him head over heels to the ground. He bent down on the first thug's chest and back flipped, just as the second swung his club down full force on the first one's chest. The downed thug cried out in pain as his chest began bleeding from the impact.
The cloaked figure remained calm throughout the whole battle, a strange aura of confidence surrounding him. He knew he could beat the thugs, but overconfidence was never present within his fighting style. Glitch couldn't help but stare in admiration and fear. The cloaked figure was beautiful as he moved, agile and confident, with a smile that proved both pride and confidence. To be honest, Glitch was starting to consider what he was feeling for this man. Was it only admiration? Or something more?
Meanwhile, the cloaked man had jumped up, dodging the still standing thug as he punched towards him. He placed his hands on the second thug's extended arm like a support beam, proceeding to kick him in the face with his hard heeled boots. The thug stumbled back in pain, clutching his bloody and broken nose.
The smoker growled. "Do I 'ave to do everythin' myself?"
Drawing his knife, he lunged for the stranger, preparing to stab him. The cloaked man grinned and merely deflected his blows away with hand-to-hand attacks from the wrists. Every time the smoker moved to slash him, the cloaked man would perform a swift chop to his wrist, knocking the weapon off its path.
"You filthy shadow! Stay put so I can end you already!" The attacker drawled, his temper flaring.
The cloaked man smirked, placing his say in the matter. "If that is what you wish, strike me, oh wicked creature of the earth."
Foolishly, the smoker ran forward at the cloaked man, taking his words as merely an insult. The man stuck a heeled boot out, tripping the smoker and punching him in the stomach. His knife fell to the floor with a clang and so did it's wielder, mere moments after the stranger socked him square in the jaw.
Glitch stood froze to the spot, watching the cloaked man with frightened emerald eyes. He checked over the notes in his journal in hopes of an answer. Words like shadow, darkness, and criminal continued to circle his mind. If this really was the infamous Night Shade, he could possibly cause him harm as well. The raven haired boy squeezed his eyes shut, attempting to disappear from this whole situation.
"Are you alright?" A warm hand was placed on his shoulder, calming Glitch's nerves. He looked up to see calm blue eyes staring down in concern. "They didn't hurt you, did they?"
"No...I'm okay..." Glitch stuttered, enraptured by this man's beautiful eyes. His face was covered by a black mask, hiding most of his true face. Blond bangs hung down towards the middle of his face, covering a part of his right eye.
"What were you doing out here, anyway? It's not safe at this time of night. Girls are a target of many sexual predators around here."
Glitch blushed profusely. "I'm a reporter, you idiot! I'm going undercover for my paper's headlines!"
"Really? Prove it." The blond said, giving him a skeptical look.
"Here I have notes on all the leads I received today." The raven haired boy shoved a notepad into the cloaked man's hand.
Ice blue eyes scanned rapidly over the scribbled words, eyes narrowing in either anger or fear for what had been written down. The cloaked man ripped the notes on Night Shade from the small booklet and handed the book back to Glitch.
"Here, take it."
Glitch gasped, reaching for his stolen notes. "Give those back! It's my lead story!"
"I can't. If I let you publish this, I will never be able to appear again." He said, tucking the notes into his pocket.
"Let me be honest. I don't give a crap about your reputation! I just want the story on the cover of the paper!" The raven haired boy fumed, shoving Night Shade into the wall, reaching for his stolen report.
The blond saw fit to stop the incessant feud once and for all. In a mere minute, he had scooped up Glitch by the waist, secured his wrists with a temporary brace, and taken him to the rooftops. Glitch kicked and squirmed, anger by how he was being treated.
"Put me down! You can't do this to me!" The younger boy cried, thrashing around in his dress.
"You really want me to put you down?" Night Shade asked, holding Glitch over the edge of a building.
Glitch began sweating as he looked at the ground below. It was a frightening distance away, and would most likely shatter most of his bones, or worse, kill him.
"No...please don't..."
Kerith sighed and pulled Glitch away from the edge, holding the young boy close to his body. He could feel him shivering, both from the cold and the shock of being held over a building's edge. A pang of guilt racked the blond' s heart. He hadn't meant to scare the kid; he simply could not afford to let his cover be blown by a young girl.
"I'm sorry."
Glitch looked up at Night Shade, surprised to find tears forming in the corner of his ice blue eyes. He had to be the most emotional man Glitch had ever met. It was as if he couldn't control how he acted, or his emotional reactions.
"I...I didn't mean to hurt you, really! I just can't control myself..." Kerith pleaded, gripping the right side of his face in pain.
"Dude, wait, don't cry! Really, it's not your fault!" Glitch pleaded, attempting to calm Night Shade down.
"I hurt a woman in the worst way possible! God, I'm so stupid!" He set Glitch down and started pacing on his own, pulling on his hair and muttering curses about himself over and over.
"Night Shade, relax. I'm not who you think I am." Glitch grinned, pulling off his wig to reveal short raven hair with a touch of electric green. "My name is Glitch Tekuno. I'm a guy, not a girl."
Kerith stopped mid-stride to stare at Glitch. "You're a guy..."
"Um, yeah." He grinned, nervously scratching his hair through the temporary cuffs. "See, MacCoy thinks that cute girl journalists are able to get better stories, so he forced me to wear this disguise. What I'm thinking, is that he wanted to blackmail me into girl clothes. That devious pervert..."
Kerith grinned, trying to hide his chuckle behind his hand.
"What's so funny?'!" Glitch growled, trying to appear as menacing as possible.
"Nothing. But, MacCoy was right; you do look nice in a dress." Kerith said. He unhooked the cuffs and tucked them back into a holder on his utility belt. He offered a hand to Glitch, who readily accepted, glad to have found the human side of Night Shade.
"I should take you back to your home. It's almost midnight, I'm sure you're pretty exhausted from chasing me." Kerith couldn't hide a slight smile that crept onto his face. He had been chased once again, not by the police, but by a journalist. A male journalist who just happened to look adorable in girl's clothing.
Kerith was quite surprised with himself to hear such thoughts appearing in his mind. He thought Glitch was adorable? He was a boy, yes, but not young enough to be called adorable. Kerith really had no experience with teenagers, mostly because of his unstable past and situations that required him to skip an entire phase of emotional growth. It was difficult, having your mind pulling you in two different directions, attempting to aid you on how to act.
"Hey, Night Shade." Glitch yawned, sneaking a glance over the side of the building. "How exactly are we going to get down from here?"
Kerith remained silent, stepping back a few paces for greater velocity. Glitch was now eying him with utmost curiosity and a slight pang of worry.
"What are you doing? Ni-!" He was cut off abruptly as Night Shade rushed forward, scooping the boy into his arms and leaping from one rooftop to the other. He was quicker than a hummingbird, more graceful than a cat, and blended with the night better than an owl on silent wings.
Glitch had to clutch tight to the blond's shirt, deathly afraid of being dropped. The raven haired boy could feel ever muscle fiber in Night Shade's body, humming softly with power and control. His physical capacity was a work of art, perfectly tuned to itself and programmed to move like clockwork. The faint scent of Lavender caught the young reporter's attention. Glitch had this fascination with fragrances; always able to separate high quality essence from watered down liquids. Call it a fetish if you may, but Glitch was more than happy to be breathing in the scent from the hero who held him close.
"Glitch. Which way from here?" Kerith asked, stopping momentarily on the roof of another building.
The raven haired boy swiveled his head to the side, his eyes catching the signs of East District housing.
"That way. To East District, Calicur Street, 11756." The words had barely left Glitch's mouth, and already Night Shade had continued on his mission to escort the boy home.
They passed over dozens of shops and apartment buildings, Glitch staring with fascination and wonder at the light below. The city looked so different from fifty feet in the air, flying across the buildings with ease. A few minutes later, Night Shade stopped completely, standing outside a chain link fence to an apartment complex. The numbers 11750-11760 were printed on a fading sign pointing to the doors inside.
"Here you are, 11756 Calicur Street." Kerith repeated back to the boy. "Please excuse me; I must retire for the day, dawn approaches in a few hours."
The blond turned to leave, but his hand was caught by another, much smaller one. Kerith faced Glitch, once calm and relaxed, now the raven haired boy looked as though he might cry. Glitch lunged forward, burying his face in Night Shade's soft shirt. Kerith froze under the boy's sudden action, but placed his arms gently over the smaller male's back. Never before had the blond felt so compelled to assist another man, but this boy...he was different.
"Thank you. For everything." Glitch whispered. He hated showing weakness, knowing how society looked upon men who cried. Yet, something was pushing him towards Night Shade, hoping to somehow form a connection between the two.
An unnatural surge of energy rushed through Kerith's veins. Suddenly, several issues became clear. This boy was underage, a mere fourteen year-old at best, meaning he was not emotionally or physically ready for any sort of affiliation with Kerith himself. If Glitch was to be found somewhere with Kerith, he too could be charged for any and all crimes once committed in the past. He was able to draw strength from this boy as well. If they were to meet or touch hands on a regular basis, Kerith would be able to use his Night Shade abilities to the fullest.
"You're welcome." Kerith whispered softly. Glitch pulled himself away, smiling with tears in the corner of his eyes.
With a small nod and a tip of his hat, Kerith propelled himself up onto the rooftops and towards the PentHaüs, a skyscraper he shared with Jaryn. What he didn't notice, was the small flash coming from the side just before he disappeared into the night.
Glitch was grinning ear to ear. He had finally gotten physical evidence of Night Shade. There, on the screen of the camera was a pristine picture of Night Shade tipping his hat, his face slightly shaded by shadows. His cape had been thrown back, revealing a well-toned body and flowing blond hair. Really, Night Shade was the embodiment of a shadow god.
No sooner had the boy approached his apartment door, a disheveled and sweating girl was standing there, panting heavily. She had dark skin, accented by emerald green eyes and short black hair pulled into two ponytails on either side of her head. A dark green shirt and short white jacket sporting yellow sleeves rested loosely on her upper body. A pair of bedazzled skinny jeans clung to her legs, a loose white belt looping around her waist. She clutched a black and gold hat tightly in her hand, using the other to support herself in the doorframe.
"God, G. You scared the livin' daylight outta my system!"
"Sorry, T. I was busy..." Glitch mumbled nervously.
"Sorry? Boy, you ain't got no excuse! An' how many times do I gotta say it? Lil'T! Not just plain ol' T!" She groaned, pulling the young reporter inside.
Lil'T did a double take, her eyes traveling up Glitch's dress and no shoes whatsoever. She raised an eyebrow, giving her famous "oh no you didn't" look.
"-the Hell happened to you?"
Glitch groaned, pulling at the itchy fabric of his dress. "Two words. MacCoy Homes."
Lil'T burst into a laughing fit, tears pricking the corners of her eyes as she rolled onto the carpet of the entryway. Glitch blushed feverishly, feeling the embarrassment of both Lil'T and Night Shade getting to him.
"Ha-good ol' Homes! He got 'ya good, didn't he?" The teen continued to snicker, finally bringing her laughter under control.
"I should thank him. Check out what I got."
Glitch proudly presented his single picture of Night Shade to Lil'T, who ceased all laughter to stare intently at the photo. A smile spread across her face as she studied the platinum blond hair and mysterious attire of the man in the photo.
"Who's this?" Lil'T asked, tracing Kerith's figure with her pinky.
"Night Shade. Pretty cool, huh?"
The spunky teen stared in disbelief. "Cool? Dude, you gotta spill da' beans. I know more happened than that."
"There aren't any other pictures..."
Lil'T waved him off with a single hand. "No, I meant the story behind the meeting. How'd you find him in the first place?"
"Let's just say I got into a bit of a jam, and Night Shade helped me out." Glitch shakily stated.
"Aww, yea! What happened? Did you turn him in? Is he really as hot as he looks? Do you know what his favorite food is? Tell me, tell me, tell me!" Lil'T bounced up and down in excitement, tugging harshly on the raven haired boy's arm. She finally tackled Glitch so that she was able to sit proud atop his stomach.
Glitch grimaces, surprised at his little sister's strength. "I can't tell you much more! Although, he's really quick on his feet, and has greater strength hidden under that outfit he wears. And the way his eyes seem to shine with concern and care for every soul he meets..."
"Oh, I see. You love 'im, don't 'cha?" Lil'T giggled, causing Glitch to fluster a bright pink.
"What makes you say that? Are you suggesting something?" He cried, trying to wriggle out from Lil'T's weight.
She countered by leaning forward and pinning his wrists to the floor, immobilizing Glitch permanently. "I've seen the way you look at 'em girls. It's a one-time look, and then a total blow-off. You ain't interested in chicks."
"T, I don't think this is a good idea..."
Glitch felt an uneasy pressure weigh down his stomach, and he was pretty sure that it wasn't Lil'T this time. Vomit was beginning to creep up his throat, the feeling of being trapped so close to another person slowly revealing its effects.
"Glitch? You ain't lookin' so hot..."
"I think I may have to..." He wasn't able to get another word in after that. Lil'T dragged him across the floor and into the nearest bathroom, slamming the door behind her.
Glitch coughed up his lunch and that snack he'd picked up at one point. He had claustrophobia and a severe case at that. His sister must have forgotten in her excitement, as she did quite a bit. Even a few minutes of close body contact could send his stomach into a churning sea of acidic liquid. The raven haired boy leaned up against a bathroom wall, wiping a small trace of bile from his lips. He silently wondered if Night Shade suffered from a condition like his as well.
A door was opened and slammed shut, the sound of two other people's footsteps entering the apartment. The first part of their conversation was quiet, but as Lil'T and the two others neared the bathroom door, Glitch could hear the entire conversation.
"-Yeah, he's ok. Don't baby 'im Taye!"
"I just want to make sure he ain't barfin' up a lung or somethin'. You know how bad the claustrophobia can be!"
" 'Sides, you were da one who messed wit' his rhythm."
"It was 'n accident, Mo!"
"G, you okay in there?" Taye asked from the other side of the door.
"Yeah, it's chill." The way Lil'T, Taye, and Mo talked was foreign to Glitch. He was always the smartest kid in his class, studying at two grade levels higher than normal. But his family, er, adoptive family used slang terms all the time. They expected one thing from him, while the school expected another.
"If ya' say so. T! I know you got somethin' to do wit this!"
"I-it was a mistake yo, I swear!"
"Oo, burn! Taye's goin' all out on ya'll skinny little behind."
"Mo!"
The talk escalated into arguing, shouts from Lil'T, Taye, and Mo seeping under the crack in the door. With an uneasy stomach, Glitch stood slowly and opened the door to the full blown chaos.
Taye was shouting a Lil'T, who was shouting at Mo, who was shouting at Taye. In other words, the three looked just about ready to kill each other over Glitch's well-being.
"Yo people, set the anger level to chill! There ain't nothin' wrong wit me, I promise!" The raven haired boy interrupted pushing the trio apart. They all stood blinking in surprise, but gradually broke from their fits of rage, realizing just how stupid the argument was.
"Glitch, show 'em the pic of Night Shade you snatched!" Lil'T grinned, picking up the camera from its resting place on the floor.
Taye and Mo leaned in for a better look of Night Shade's figure. Glitch swore it was a trick of the light, but for a second, Mo's eyes flashed a vibrant gold. A shiver crept up the young reporter's spine, an omen of foreboding, no doubt.
"Did'ya see his face?" Taye asked.
"Naw. Dat mask of his blocked the whole thing."
Mo stroked his chin thoughtfully. "How 'bout his place? Did'ya find any personal info, like his name? Or his age?"
"No…why are you asking me?" The raven haired boy was puzzled to his mentor's behavior.
"Ah, no reason, G. Just askin'." Mo grinned, ruffling the boy's unruly spikes. Glitch grinned and pushed his hand away, Taye and Lil'T laughing over their brother's antics. It may not be a blood family, but it most certainly was a close one.
Kerith just couldn't get over the facts. Glitch. He was fourteen, yes, and a reporter. But that didn't explain his feelings for the boy yesterday night. It actually hurt to leave him. The unknown dark force that rested within Kerith's body had called out to him, beckoning the blond to capture the innocent boy standing before him. Glitch had become an alluring prize, driving Kerith to the edge of his limits, pushing and pulling his self-control into a twisted hurricane of emotion.
It was killing him from the inside.
"Kerith! We have a dance competition tonight! Make sure you're ready, or I'll fill your bed with butter again!" Jaryn yelled through his bedroom door.
He groaned and rolled into a somewhat more comfortable position over his bed sheets. Though it did little good to heal the blond's ailing mind. Jaryn's motivational messages were always…a bit strange. Kerith had no idea how she could manage to get enough butter to fill his entire bed, but he wasn't about to take chances on his mentally unstable sister.
As he changed into the Glitterati's crew look clothes, he couldn't help but to stare back at his Night Shade outfit. He sighed.
Jaryn was going to be furious if she found out what he was planning.
Glitch was super pumped to face the Glitterati. He and Mo had waited for several weeks to earn enough credit from other crews in order to face off against the top dancers. He chuckled quietly, remembering Lil'T's earlier comment.
"Those pale prima donnas don't scare me. Give it to 'em, Glitch. They ain't got nothin' on you."
"You ready, G? Those glitter freaks ain't goin' down witout one hell of a fight."
Glitch looked up to his partner, finding courage and determination in Mo's dark yellow eyes. He nodded.
"Only if you ain't afraid of getting' beat!"
"Aw, hell no!"
The two shared confident laughter throughout the tight, cramped elevator. Man, the Glitterati really needed to get a smaller building to dance on. Either that, or a new elevator. The metal doors opened with a small ding, and High-Def's crew members stepped out onto hardwood flooring, flashing lights blinding their vision. Whispers and stares came from the bystanders hanging out around the constructions site. The Glitterati were building onto their skyscraper. Again.
"Don't these albinos ever stop on a 30th floor or somthin?" Mo groaned, surveying the half constructed building.
"Naw man, they only interested in be'in the best. The ego comes along naturally."
"I dare you to say that to my face, you Korean pipsqueak!" A high and extremely pissed off voice growled a few feet away from Glitch and Mo.
Jaryn stood, hands on hips, a glare on her face dark enough to scare death away. Around her left arm was her brother, Kerith. It was strange, the way the platinum blond stared at Glitch for a few seconds before promptly looking away. He seemed a bit flustered and nervous from being around the younger member of Hi-Def. Glitch could have sword he'd seen those eyes, but no, they were to cloudy and dark to resemble a certain hero of the night.
"Now that ain't right! No one calls my man G a pipsqueak!" The breaker growled, clenching his hands into tight fists.
"Then we'll settle it right here and now." Everyone directed their attention to Kerith. Normally, he would let Jaryn do the talking, but this time he chose to speak. "Dance Battle. Let's move."
Glitch grinned. The Glitterati were so going down.
*Sigh* Weird plot bunnies took over the scene with Gltich and Kerith...
Should I put the dancing in? I have no idea.
Review please!