Trickster of the Butterfly

Chapter 26- Street Brawl

One of the goons wore a black leather jacket in a classic greaser look. Another was in a plain red shirt, another in a black long sleeved polo, and another was in a purple unbuttoned polo and a white undershirt. They would have really passed for regular adults taking a stroll in the street but being the entourage of the masked tuxedo dude made them really suspicious, hostile even.

Michael knew he was in for another fight, right outside some park, quite dramatic as he saw it.

"Thanks for the dinner Lord," Michael muttered then threw his chicken chops to the side. He immediately got up and ducked to dodge a flying kick from Red Shirt Dude.

As he got up, Long Sleeved Guy gave him a punch straight to the face. The Red Shirt Dude behind him kicked his back and toppled him forward. Long Sleeved Guy caught him then held Michael's arm and Purple Polo Dude held the other, restraining his movements. Leather Jacket Dude and Red Shirt began taking turns punching his stomach and face. Michael began to glow intensely.

A blast of colored light threw all the goons across the sidewalk. Michael turned around and gave a mad look to the tuxedo man standing calmly still with his hands placed behind him. Leather Jacket Dude and Red Shirt sprawled on the floor, already getting up. Purple Polo and Long Sleeve made their escape and climbed over the steel fence of the park, parkour-style.

That's when it hit Michael. Apparently, some parkour-trained gang was after him and a masked dude with time powers has a vendetta too. That goon's warning to him back at December about him having to look over his shoulder from then on was no blind threat. Michael finally recognized the tuxedo dude's voice: it was the black masked man from that night. He began piecing it all together.

"So, you're the gang leader," Michael said. Tuxedo dude didn't reply. The two goons left behind dusted themselves off. Their boss snapped his fingers and the two ran toward Michael.

"One more blast should do it," he thought. The bright light around him receded. He tried to release another wave, to no avail.

"Shoot! You stop working now?!" he muttered to himself.

Knowing the masked man's capability to counter his time slow and freeze, he'd have to go hand-to-hand with the goons instead.

Once Leather Jacket got close to him, he threw a punch to Michael's chest but he blocked it with his arm. Leather Jacket followed up with a low kick that swept Michael off his feet and down on the floor. Red Shirt was about to stomp Michael's face but he moved his head to one side to avoid it. Michael punched Leather Jacket in the private area and got him to his knees long enough for Michael to roll away from the goons and get up.

"Kainis kang bata ka!" Leather Jacket was infuriated but still immobile from the pain.

Red Shirt advanced and did a high sweeping kick to Michael's face. Michael's cheek stung. Red Shirt then gave a quick jab to Michael's stomach and another to his face. He then prepared to deliver a heavy punch to his face.

Although sore, Michael thought fast. He summoned from thin air a black steel baseball bat and held it firmly to block Red Shirt's fist.

"ARGHHH!" Red Shirt pulled his hand back in agony.

Michael then did a hard swing to his head and knocked him out cold. Leather Jacket was already getting up but Michael ran toward him and swung at his head too, leaving him unconscious on the floor.

It was a little hard for him to believe, but if Michael was still the man he was three months ago, he would never would have taken on those martial arts-ready gangsters. He was now hardened, bolder, and certainly stronger than that timid college boy he was before. In that moment of victory, though, his boldness was no feeling stronger than the fact that he was weak to protect Alora when she needed it. Michael pushed back that thought for now.

"Two down," he turned to tuxedo dude just watching the scene in his formal poise.

"Oh no Michael, no need to take me out. Pero, sinong nasa likod mo?"

Time slowed down all around them. Michael turned and was boggled to see Long Sleeve about to thrust a knife to his back, but he was doing it unnaturally slow. He looked at tuxedo dude and wondered how his time slow powers were still working even though the time being was right there, unless he was deliberately letting Michael win this fight.

Michael whacked Long Sleeve on the head then willed time to flow back to normal.

Long Sleeve dropped the knife and immediately collapsed to the floor.

Michael looked around for Purple Polo. The guy might just be lurking around waiting for his turn to attack.

Tuxedo dude cursed. "How the hell did you do that?" he sounded surprised.

Michael's body glowed intensely again. Michael felt power coursing through his body. He shot a column of iridescent light at the masked man and sent him sliding across the sidewalk 10 feet away.

"Checkmate, bozo," Michael said to himself.

Tuxedo dude managed to get up albeit painfully. "Next time, Randelo," he turned and a black van arrived at that silent street.

Michael wasn't eager to fight more goons, so he stopped time and slipped away from the scene and hid behind a corner so he could still peek.The van door opened and the tuxedo dude went in. Three other guys, including Purple Polo got down from the van and carried their fallen comrades to their getaway car.

Michael watched the van leave and turn a corner until it was no longer in sight. He made a sigh of relief then leaned back on the wall and sat down.

"Home, huh. I'm starting to miss you."