Me: ... /emo corner/
Alfred: Uhhh...
Me: You do the disclaimer.
Alfred: Uh... O-okay?
Disclaimer: In no way does she claim to own any of the brands in this chapter. If she did, I would buy a huge pool and fill it with jello... WHAAT? Don't glare at me like that Muffin! You know you would want to do that too if you had the money!
Me: So.
.::~Matthew~::.
Matthew woke up, feeling groggy and in pain. Something was chafing his wrists as he woke. He felt around, soon finding that his wrists were bound behind him by rope along with his ankles. He was also tied to a chair, rope wrapping him tightly to the back. He blinked a few times, trying to uncloud his mind from the grogginess that shrouded it.
He felt as though his head was spinning as he tried to remember what had happened. He remembered finishing work and getting ready to leave, then suddenly he was bound, gagged and drugged. He just vaguely remembered seeing the face of his kidnapper, but he couldn't remember anything else too vividly, other than being shocked before he went unconscious.
Matthew looked around, trying to assess where he was currently tied up. The room looked elegant and expensive, the walls were a deep, blood red with a window that served as one of the walls, looking out over the city. The room was large, but had minimal furniture aside from a couch that was against the wall behind Matthew. A desk was in front of him, along with a large screen on the wall he was facing. Behind the desk was an expensive-looking black armchair, decorated with gold inlay. Matthew knew this room. He had been here before, many times as a matter of fact. His eyes widened in realization.
"Good Morning, Matthew."
.::~Justice~::.
Justicebringer was nervous. Someone knew who he was. Someone wanted to prevent him from being a hero. Someone had shot at him. Someone could hurt the people he loved. He had to get to the bottom of it.
And so, we find our young hero on the roof where the gunmen were not four nights ago, once again in one of the more abandoned districts of the city. Here he was examining the scene of the crime, looking for traces of something, anything. He was having no luck.
After looking over the scene three times, Justice sighed and put down the infrared goggles that Kiku had given him. The trail had gone cold. It was stupid of him to think that the gunmen wouldn't know how to clean up, especially four days after the crime. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to go out for the weekend, he thought to himself.
"Shit." Justice huffed as he sat on the ledge of the roof, hands in his head. "I must be the worst hero in the world."
"Well, I've seen worse." Justice jumped and looked up. Standing there in all of his winged glory was none other than Guardian.
"How the hell are you so quiet?" He asked, aggravated at himself more than the winged man.
"I've been standing here for a few minutes. You're just the most un-observant person ever." Justice just frowned and looked back down at the goggles in his hands.
"What, no witty comeback? Something the matter, Justice?" the question sounded sarcastic, but it did have some worry behind it.
"How long have you had super powers?"
"What?" Guardian asked, surprised.
"How long have you had super powers?" Justice asked again, not looking at Guardian.
"Oh, well, a-a while. Why?"
"Were you born with them?" Guardian's mouth became a confused frown.
"I-I just kind of had them one day I guess…" Justice looked at him with sad and longing eyes. The usual excited luster was gone and he looked like he was fighting and losing a battle in his head. Which he was.
"Oh, okay." Guardian frowned when the usually over-excited man looked back down at his goggles.
"Okay, something is wrong with you. You look like you're on death row." Alfred let out a small 'humph' and smiled weakly at his companion.
"Why do you care?" his words didn't have any of the malice that he wanted. Guardian's mouth twitched so slightly that one would almost not notice it if they weren't looking close enough.
"I-I don't know. I shouldn't. But I do. So, spill." Guardian sounded aggravated at the fact that he showed any sort of compassion towards Justice. Another weak smile found its way to Justice's lips.
"Someone knows who I am. And if I don't find them, then they're gonna hurt the people I care about. I thought, just maybe, if I had powers like you, I could stop them. But I don't, so I can't. I'm not a very good hero if I can't even protect the people I love…"
A loud smack ignited through the silent night air. Justice brought a hand up to his throbbing cheek.
"Listen to yourself. Who's the one always babbling to me about becoming the greatest super-hero ever? You're going to let one little threat stop you? If you are, then quit right now. Go home and find some other hobby. Because you sure as hell won't go any further than this if you're too scared."
Justice's eyes had widened as he listened to Guardian. His tone and expression never changed, he just sounded annoyed. Justice finally came out of his stupor, blinking.
"Wh-" Guardian cut him off.
"Now, are you just going to sit here and mope? Or are you going to go out and find the villains? If you want to follow the road to become a real hero, you have to learn how to deal with everything along the way. Can you do that?" Alfred nodded, feeling something building up inside of him. He was just about to speak, when he noticed Guardian's hand.
"What happened to your hand?" Guardian froze. Before he could get away, Justice grabbed the hand, examining it. The bandage wrapped around his hand looked just like…
A loud ringing stopped his train of thought. It was his cell phone, he flipped it open with his free hand not letting go of Guardian's bandaged one.
"Hello?"
"You have to come to the headquarters. Now. Hurry." Kiku sounded frozen. He wasn't even pretending to be polite. Justice heard the phone click and the dial tone buzzed in his ears.
"Who was that?" Guardian said, trying to squirm out of Justice's strong grip.
"Come with me. I'm not done with you yet." Justice grabbed the Justice Board.
"Where are we going?" Justice looked at him.
"Just come." Justice took off, Guardian following reluctantly and silently.
Justice and Guardian arrived at the secret entrance to the headquarters in Kiku's loft that was located in the alleyway behind the building. Justice led the silent Guardian to the headquarters and opened the door with a soft hiss. Kiku was sitting in front of a large screen with several smaller screens around it typing quickly, different images were on the screens.
Feliciano was hovering beside the Japanese man, clutching his hands together under his chin, staring at the screens and shifting from side to side. He let out the occasional 've~' every now and again when something that he was reading seemed to startle him. Justice hurried into the dark, almost metallic looking room that was illuminated by the computer screens, and hurried to stand on the other side of Kiku. Guardian hung back, seeming to disappear in the background.
"What is it?" Kiku hit a button and a note came up on the main screen. Alfred's face fell and his eyes widened as he read the note.
Dearest Justicebringer,
It has come to my attention that you have not heeded our warnings. This will not do. We know who you are. We know who means the most to you. You did not listen. Such a bad move on your part. You will be contacted tonight. Get ready.
Sincerely,
AXIS
Alfred's face twisted into a manic grimace, and he slammed his fist against the table.
"What the hell to they want from me?" He shouted, hunched over, his shoulders shaking. Feliciano rubbed his back is soothing circles.
"Simple, mon ami." A French voice said from the screen, "For you to be out of ze way." The trio's heads shot up. Sitting very prominently on the screen was a man, dressed in a very crisp suit (that Feliciano would later note was Gucci) his wavy blonde hair framed a pale face with a bit of stubble at his chin. His eyes were a deep blue, and a small smile was on his face. But the smile was not comforting, more evil with a hint of lust. Justice snapped at the man on the screen.
"So, you're AXIS? Well, what the hell do you want?" he barked, slamming his hands on the table once again.
"Non, I am not ze AXIS. I do some dealings for zem, but note this, they are a force to be reckoned with. Do not take their threats lightly mon ami… You will regret it." The Frenchman said, his voice serious and his expression flat. Justice backed away and glared daggers at the man.
"What do you want from me?"
"Once again, I will repeat myself for you seem to be an 'orrid listener, they want you gone. No more Justicebringer. Zey have given me the… persuasion... to present you with a trade for you to stop being Justicebringer, Monsieur Alfred." Justice stiffened.
"What's the trade?" Venom was laced into his words. The Frenchman moved away, revealing a hunched over figure tied to a chair.
"Your brother." Justice's eyes widened at the figure sitting in the chair, his eyes were closed.
"What did you do to him!" Alfred shouted, his voice raising an octave.
"Fear not, mon petit Matthew is sleeping, drugged only slightly. Arrive at ze Bel Immebule offices in 'alf an 'our. Mon petit Matthew and I shall be waiting." With that, the image closed and the man and Matthew disappeared. Justice was shaking.
"Who. Was. That." He gasped out, trying to keep from destroying something in rage.
"His name is Francis Bonnefoy, and he is one of the wealthiest men in the world." The trio turned abruptly towards the new voice that came from the rafters above them. Guardian jumped down, scaring Feliciano who jumped behind Justice.
"You must be Guardian-san." Kiku said, noting the white wings that the hooded man tucked neatly behind himself.
"You must be Kiku and Feliciano. Pleasure to meet you." His expression then turned grave again, and he locked his eyes with Justice's. "Either way, Justice, Francis is not someone to be taken lightly. Even if he is an underling for this AXIS person. He pretty much has enough power to tell the President of the United States what to do." Justice clenched and unclenched his fists.
"I'm going. I'll tell him I'm not being a hero anymore." Feliciano gasped.
"Ve~! B-but Justice! You've worked so hard!" Justice let out a strained sigh.
"What else am I going to do Feli? He has Mattie! I-I can't risk him getting hurt. He's all I have." Justice fought back tears that were threatening to spill out of his eyes. He couldn't cry. Not now. His brother needed saving.
"Justice, do you remember what I said? You can't quit. I'll help you get him back."
"Bu-"
"If you say 'but' I will kick your ass and not save that for the French bastard that so royally pisses me off. Come on." Guardian turned, his cloak flying behind him, and started for the door. Alfred bolted after him, grabbing the Justice Board and nodding to his companions telling them to keep in touch if anything happens. Feliciano saluted and Kiku nodded and turned back to the computers.
"How do you know this Francis guy?" Justice said, the two heroes flying to the Bel Immebule Offices.
"We… We have a long history of not… getting along." Guardian said slowly, pumping his wings harder to arrive at their destination faster. Justice nodded but didn't push the response further, resolving to speeding the board up instead of talking.
About three minutes later, the two landed in front of a five story office building with "Bel Immebule" written above the entrance. Every light but one was off, and the one illuminated office consisted of the only window on the top floor.
"Let's go. It's time to kick some French ass." Justice said, smirking and cracking his knuckles. Guardian smiled and followed him into the building where Matthew sat, waiting to be saved by his brother.
Translations: Mon ami= My friend
Mon Petit= My little
(Hurhurhur thanks Google translator~ /shot at by the French/)
Alfred: So, what's with the emo corner?
Me: ...I got the same amount of faves on my new oneshot as I did on this story.
Alfred: How is that bad?
Me: The oneshot got all of those faves and more in a day. A DAY.
Alfred: ... Are you serious?
Me: Nevermind. Anyway, HEY THERE. Welp, there's chapter seven for ya. Oh and know what? IT WAS BETA'D BY THE GREATEST PERSON EVER. Chea, spicyhorchata is the sickest Beta... EVER. Legit. I'm so happy she's betaing my stories ;A; THIS CHAPTER HATH BEEN MADE MORE EPIC BY HER. Anyway, LOOKIE THAR! Our first villain! WHO GUESSED FRANCIS?... Oh, no one! Guess no oneshots. Meh. I'M BUILDING DRAMATIC TENSION LEADING UP TO THE FIGHT SCENE. (/O7O)/ /bricked/ But, trust me, It'll end... WITH A BANG! Ohohohoho~
Alfred: Once again, you suck! I WAS GOING TO REVEAL WHO GUARDIAN WAS!
Me: Yes, but I am evil and you won't find out untill... next chapter? I think? Yea, let's go with that. Hm. No Alfred/Iggy interactions this chapter. BUT WE GOT DOWN TO THE REAL REASON YOU READ THIS STORY!
Alfred: Iggy's eyebrows?
Me: ... Aside from those, DEEP SUPER-HERO SPEECHES! (/O7O)/... What?... oh... That's not the reason they read it? Oh... Never mind then. AAAANNNYWAY! Thank you soooo much for all the lovley faves on my America's Nantucket story! It was legit a spur of the moment thing between me and my Beta. She had that awesome idea. /Spoils her with praise and pink unicorns/ And thank you to musicalvampire who reviewed all of my chapters so far! And no, I'm still not telling you if it's him or not. CAUSE I'M THE AUTHOR.
Alfred: Ya done giving rambly praise?
Me: ... Uhhh... Yep!
Alfred: Good. Please review, oh how we loves us some reviews! They realy DO make her write faster... It's weird to watch. But anyway, see ya next time!
IN THE NEXT INSTALMENT OF HEROES, VILLAINS, AND EVERYTHING ALONG THE WAY: Will Justice and Guardian save Matthew? Will we finaly learn Guardian's identity? Will Alfred realize his feelings for Arthur? Find out, NEXT TIME!