Viper: The Official Remaster

Chapter 16: Antihero

(featuring HazardForUrHealth)
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Ryker sat along the rooftop, whistling to the classic rock song quietly playing over the airwaves. The night sky was beginning to cloud. It'd be raining soon. Still, Ryker sat, letting his left leg hang off the edge as he leaned back against the air conditioning unit gently rumbling against his back.

Chicago was one of Ryker's favorite cities to visit. The city ambiance was beautiful combined with the summer sky, but the food was the main selling point. He managed a smirk, imagining Sam's disapproval at watching him engulf a Chicago hotdog. Hell, Grim would probably eat one too, if she was in the mood to let her hair down.

His phone lit up, gently prying him from his thoughts as he checked the message, accurately guessing Nøkk had messaged him. Ryker had been forced by Grim to take a week to himself. Not that he'd complain, anyway. Conveniently, Nøkk had also been dispatched. Still, he wouldn't get the pleasure of seeing her for several days.

Grim allowed him to visit the Windy City, even being so courteous as to fly him out herself a week ago. They'd talked the entire time, Ryker deciding to let his guard down and divulge his trust in her over the flight. She'd allowed him to take his knives, given the tracker remained active in the hilts.

Ryker looked down and opened the message, allowing himself to give a small smile at the picture Nøkk had taken lying on her stomach across their bed. She'd sent him another picture a day prior and the day before that. It was ironic she was such a romantic type when she allowed her emotions to show.

His eyes traced the picture she'd sent, Ryker adding an eye roll to his expression. Booty shorts. She knew he liked when she wore them. Although, he wouldn't give her points for confirming her theory. Ryker would be hard-pressed to find someone who didn't like their significant other in skin-tight clothing.

He slid his thumb across the screen and sent Nøkk a picture back of his own smile with a silly peace sign. It wasn't hard. He knew he melted around her. Sam was quick to make small quips at his infatuation, especially since the woman was a figurative ghost. Ryker didn't mind. He still missed her.

His heart beat with the tempo of the rain. He could already feel the adrenaline shaking his hands. Nøkk, Fourth Echelon, his newfound friends, each of them were important building bricks within his new life, but with it came a craving. That addiction to running along the lines of both sides of the law, dispensing his own justice to those he thought deserved it. Offing a politician knee-deep in a narcotics ring, then feeling the rush of the entire force try to bring him down. God, he missed flirting with death.

Ryker opened his messages a final time, finding her reply with a heart.

Nøkk: Cutie. I'm off to bed. Stay safe, Ryker. XOXO.

Again, that smile found his lips. He leaned back again, flipping through the small digital album of selfies and pictures she'd sent him this last week. What a beautiful tether back to reality. It was easy to reminisce about vigilantism, but conveniently forget he'd been a terrorist while doing so.

Jasmine Inari had inked onto his back that reminder of what he was. Still, he didn't think it was wrong to miss the few positives of his life under Wyvern and-

A wisp of movement across the sidewalk caught his attention several seconds later, the quiver of movement down below being enough of a reason for him to shut the radio off and focus. His target was supposed to be long dead. It only made sense he'd move at night.

The streets were quiet and empty, perfecting the stormy ambiance of silence, save for the gentle rain starting to proliferate in the sky above. Ryker stood, cracking his neck and letting out a breath, stretching his body a final time before beginning his descent down the building. His target would be only several blocks out. The rain would help with Ryker's approach. That, and the full week of planning.