Chibiyu: Time for some fun.

Nick: *sigh*

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"Necrophere," the name was breathed out the girl's lips, Nick's head turning at the name, fear engulfing his entire frame.

And hanging from their chest, was the Four.

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Chaos erupted when the hooded figure raised his arm. Nick found himself thrown back, landing hard on his back, Lilith in the same position next to him. Paragon skid even further – her tiny form getting buffeted against rubble. Nick pulled himself off the pavement, ignoring the burn that was bound to be a forming bruise. Hands found his arms and for a moment the disarrayed teen struggled against the hold until a voice cut across his shock induced stupor.

"Come on, Nick!"

The Normal shook his head in attempts to clear it before running off, the arm pulling him fiercely. He looked to Kevin, unsurprised to see his elder brother pulling him along while Joe flanked behind. He looked up, watching Paragon flap her sturdy wings, eyes never wavering from the new Villain. Lilith wouldn't budge from Nick's side, a snarl on her face though interest was alight in her eyes.

The odd group stopped when they rounded the corner of a building. The eldest shoved his shaky brother down, Nick sitting easily and leaning against the building. Paragon flew back off towards the impending fight, Joe hot on her tail. Kevin crouched in front of Nick, ignoring the dark red-head next to him.

"You ok?"

"We need to retreat, Kev."

Kevin blinked at this, not understanding. "It's just a new Villain, Nick. We can handle it."

Kevin jumped when Nick's hands were suddenly fisting his shirt and pulling his head down so they could look eye to eye. Kevin was met with a fierce stare of pure terror. Nick was met with confusion. "It's not the Villain I'm worried about. You felt that power he emanated before he concealed it. You saw the pendant around his neck. Nothing can beat him."

Kevin shook his head. "We can. You're just thinking irrationally right now. You're scared. Just breathe. Everything is going to be ok."

"Oh, you couldn't be more wrong." The Hero looked to the fragile looking girl, glaring at her ruining his attempts to placate his brother. "You will be useless in this fight, Kevin. He is concealing himself from everything but the five senses. In this situation, you are as powerful as a Normal." Nick didn't even scowl at this; the conversation was lost to him as his attention was solely focused on the unseen.

"Really?" Skeptical was the dominant tone in the elder's voice.

Lilith nodded and stood, brushing off her dress. "Really." She walked over to the corner, touching Nick's shoulder lightly. The Normal nodded, taking a breath and shifting so he would have a better escape route. "Sit back and watch how a real fighter stalls."

Kevin and Nick both peeked over the corner, watching the girl strut over, her fingers brushing against the shadows. Only Nick saw the change. The masked man seemed unperturbed by the girl's approach, him choosing to lower his hand and point his mask over to her. The Heroes around him were either still in shock, or nursing heavy burns on their hands.

"Necrophere," Lilith called, not pausing her step when the hideous mask features were fully turned towards her. She did not stop until she was within his reach. "You really shouldn't let a girl approach you." With these words, the Villain screamed in agony, stepping back and revealing the long needle-like object poking out of his lower chest.

She twirled away when the man swatted at her, his hand a cherry red, searing with heat that made the air wave. Her spin had sent her right into the shadows, the Heroes gasping at the sight of the older woman with tangled black hair. She just smirked, opening her palms, something silver dropping out of her sleeves. "I may be the queen of light, but I am the demon of night."

With this said, she charged, her bare young feet nimble to dodge the fire shooting from the masked Villain's hand. "You don't know how to use that, do you?" Lilith taunted, flicking her arm out, the spikes shooting out. One missed, one impaled itself in the man's hand. Only her, Nick, and Paragon knew what she meant by 'use that.'

Joe started forward at the sight of the Villain, not trusting her enough to join the fight. The other Heroes stood; Ray teleported to the Council, no doubt alerting them of a new 'super-powered' Villain. Nurse stood off to the side, waiting to heal those who came to her. Macy shouted out when the masked was about to attack, using her power to do what she could through the concealment. Stella saw through the mask, identifying the Villain as a man, but she could do little else.

"Joseph, redeem yourself here and now." Joe jumped at this, disturbed by the hatred in Lilith's voice. But he bolted over to her side, unsure as to what to do. "This man has little knowledge of his new abilities. Looks like he can only conceal and use small amounts of the fire. This is good for us. Try to take that pendant and he will be powerless. Got it?"

Joe nodded, feeling numb with confusion. Powers came from genes, not jewelry. The two ran forward, vaguely hearing Kevin call for Nick to stay down.

Lilith pushed Joe to the side when Macy yelled to 'watch it!' Joe bit his lip to stop the scream from erupting from his throat when the sheer heat of the fire ball scorched his right side. He flexed his fingers, the skin already tinted pink. He kept running, watching Lilith fling another spike at the Villain deemed Necrophere, distracting him easily.

Nick watched, a small smile of hope forming. One could have all the power in the world and still be defeated by their own incompetence and ignorance. Kevin's hand pulled him back again, for he had wandered into plain sight. But Nick didn't care. This person seemed to only be focused on the Heroes; he wouldn't be bothered with a Normal.

Paragon finally appeared when both Joe and Lilith stumbled after a narrow miss. She dove from the sky, beak down, and drove right into the man's skull. He howled in pain, unable to recuperate before talons ripped through his hair. Spikes missed the man by a hairs breath and the bird by even closer. She got the message and backed off, keeping the Villain from moving when he tried to take a step, blood already staining her talons.

Joe's heart pounded as he ran forward again, his legs aching from their already exhausted state. He still pushed, managed to get within scratching distance of the Villain only to get slammed back by some unseen force. The Hero managed to land on his feet, skidding back, and balance miraculously kept. His chest ached from the impact with what had felt like a brick wall.

"Careful, cretin. He just learned a new power." It took Joe a moment to realize that it was him being addressed by Lilith. They both watched Paragon get swatted to the side and land heavily on the ground. The girl had been quick, however, and turned into the tabby cat. She flipped in the air and landed on her paws, growling and hissing lowly at the figure, showing him that she can't be tamed. But she didn't charge him again.

Kevin stepped away from Nick, focusing on the man. When the Villain discovered a new power, his concealment weakened enough. Kevin sensed his over-confidence and the feeling of invulnerability. He had forgotten one crucial detail; he is a human, therefore, he is mortal.

He was about to voice his findings to Nick, but when he turned, he found himself addressing an empty wall. He wanted to swear, to scream and to kill his brother when he saw him running forward recklessly.

Paragon saw his actions and charged, getting the guy's attention by pouncing as a cheetah. She was swiped aside but didn't give up. Joe did swear at Nick's actions and ran forward as well, narrowly dodging a fire blast and managing to punch the guy's mask, leaving a dent in the cheek and the guy with a broken jaw. The Hero was soon bashed aside, his side blistered in burns, his screams echoing through the streets that couldn't find silence. Lilith was the only one smiling as she knew the youth's plan. She shot her last spike at the man, hitting him squarely in the leg.

The Villain shrieked the sound detached and inhuman from the sheer amount of pain. Nick made it up the diagonal metal beam, the Villain not caring enough to react. After all, who would think of a Normal as a threat? He realized his mistake too late: Nick's hand closed around the pendant and yanked, the chain snapping. Silence seemed to break the mold; everyone could hear the tinkle of that chain link breaking in two.

The hooded man's costume vanished, blown away with the wind, when the Four's touch left his skin and entered another's hand. Both were thrown back violently by an unseen force. The man, weak-kneed and shocked, fell off the beam, landing squarely on his neck. The snap was heard by all ears, Paragon wincing from the sound. His identity would forever be unknown. For the second time in an hour, Nick slammed on his back, his vision spotting for precious moments.

Joe hovered over him within a second; fists raised against something Nick couldn't yet see but knew well enough. As his brother tried to regain his breath, Joe faced the monster. Never had he faced anything like this – he knew deep down he wouldn't be able to do crap against it. He knew he was, in all aspects of the word, a Normal. But he stood his ground, looking the fanged serpent directly in its malice filled eyes. Its head flicked to the side, its tongue tasting the air, as if telling Joe to move aside before it decided to get mean.

Joe shook his head, knuckles cracking from the way he was holding his fists. Nick slowly stood, stumbling back a step when he misjudged his footing. He met the Guardian's gaze, swallowing heavily. He couldn't help but think: we meet again.

The pendant burned in his hand, pulsing as if it was a heart. Nick's own heart slowed to match the beating as he choked down the fear and stood his ground. His hand shook as it rose and landed on Joe's shoulder. Joe did not move.

The serpent spared Ray no attention as she teleported from behind it, trying to smack it with a brick. The projectile sailed through the shadows, no damage done.

Joe tried to keep Nick from walking out from behind him, but his efforts were futile; his brother had easily knocked down his shaking arm. Joe felt his eyes widen when he saw the lack of fear in Nick's frame. How could his brother be so calm in the face of something that gave off such an evil aura and everyone knew was invulnerable.

The Normal held the pendant up to the snake and Joe could only stare at it. Depthless and black, its fangs as sharp and white as the snake facing them. It's tail long and curved below the ruby which was tightly clutched between the two fangs. The ruby…inside of it was alive with movement.

Every eye was drawn towards the Four, every eye but Nick's and the Guardians. Nick took a breath and stared into the eyes of intimidation, hoping that his unspoken message was clear.

I have no intention of abusing you. No intention of personal gain. None at all to use you.

The Guardian of Kumori's Four reared its head, ready to strike. It hissed low, no one else shivering from the angered sound. Nick bravely, or foolishly, kept staring right into the monster's eyes.

I will not hoard you either. If you wish to go, who am I to stop you?

'You are no one,' a low rumble sounded deep in Nick's mind, him flinching from the power that shattered through his carefully built walls. He vaguely heard Joe calling his name, but he couldn't risk responding.

Though I am a Normal, I am hardly no one. I am hardly weak.

The Guardian put its head down, leveling with Nick's. Joe was once again ignored when he tried to shove his brother away, looking only at the fangs that were dangerously close. If the monster decided to, nothing would stop it from biting the Normal.

'I never have been defiled by the grubby hands of a useless one,' the deep voice rumbled. Again Nick winced, needles stabbing into his conscience with every syllable the Guardian spoke.

My hands are the least of anyone's worries. Nick replied, trying to keep his thoughts calm, though the anger of being degraded bubbled up making his fingers twitch. It is my brain that poses a threat to anyone who crosses me.

A laugh shook the ground, everyone throwing out their hands to balance themselves from the tremors. No one questioned the action; everyone was too transfixed by the beast and how Nick was standing his ground.

'I can see what kind of brain you possess, young one. I can see how useful it would be to whatever side you choose.'

If you can see my brain, surely you can see my side.

The snake lifted its head, the anger riddling its frame coming back. 'Don't test me, boy.' Nick finally lowered his head, unable to look anymore as fire ignited inside the rubies that served as the Guardian's eyes. 'As powerful as I am, I cannot see the choices you have yet to make.'

Nick remained silent, feeling this was the best tactic to keep his life.

'I will permit you to carry me as long as your desires do not change.'

They won't.

The snake said no more. Light filtered through its shadowed body, it disintegrating in seconds. Nick's free hand found Joe's shoulder again as he breathed out. The Normal finally allowed himself to look at the object dangling from his hand. If by anything more, he was astounded by the weight of the small thing – it had to weight about a pound. He slowly curled it into his palm, aware that it fit into the faint burn from their first encounter.

"Nick?"

Nick just nodded, tearing his gaze from his closed fist and attempting a smile at his brother. Joe's scowl only deepened when the smile failed.

"I'm fine, Joe."

"Nicholas Jerry Lucas," Joe began, fisting his brother's shirt and pulling him so their noses nearly touched. "You are the biggest idiot I've ever met." But despite the insult, Nick had to smile when Joe pulled him into a hug.

"We probably wouldn't be standing here if he wasn't an idiot." Paragon joined the pair, limping slightly but the smirk on her face covered the slight twinge of pain. The Heroes who remained stared at her, some moving forward, but others turning away. None of them questioned her when Nick grabbed her hand. They just didn't know how.

Joe let go of Nick, opening his mouth to ask if he could see the necklace again, but something stopped him. That something was a spike sticking out of his shoulder from behind, the thrower strutting away with a satisfied smile on her dark face. Before she left their sights, she looked over her shoulder and threw a wink at Nick, sending a message no one but him understood. Nurse was over in a second, having already healed Joe's burns and ready to take out the spike. Joe, however, waved her off, saying he deserved this. Only Nick understood why.

"You," Kevin started as he walked up, poking Nick in the arm and sending Joe and sympathetic look when the brother's hand went to the being-bandaged hole, "Should begin talking."

Nick opened his palm, showing the Four to the sun. "I don't think I can."

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Chibiyu: I like this story. My favorite character is Paragon by far. Until Next Update!