The last thing I expected was to get flashes of Paul in between camera snaps. It made me feel sick to my stomach, I was tempted to use my powers to fly off but flexing my fingertips made the flashes worse. I used my speed to go to a nearby alleyway, relieving some puke from my throat. Coughing I wiped the access off on my glove, sighing. Why was it that it was just hitting me now? Wouldn't this nightmare invaded my sleep by now? I guess my being on the street kicked it in
Crash
A man jumped out of the nearby window, flexing his super speed down the street while he stole the seasoned lady's belongings. I tripped him up and he rolled and crashed into a nearby tree. Other bystanders took the hint and gave me space, I grabbed his arm with a gun and snapped it in half. He screamed in agony punching me with the other hand. I slid back some...That hurt more than it should have. Taking his free hand I cracked two other fingers of his before sliding the glove off. It sparked dangerously. I slipped it into my pocket and flew off successfully this time. Heading into the Globe to get the glove analyzed. While the tech did their job my mind started to drift again. I just broke a guy's arm in two places and took his fingers with it...
Way too easily.
"Thunder, I've got your results here."
"What's your read?"
"It's a glove..made to injure superheroes."
"Okay. No hits on previous mafia, gang affiliations?"
"I triple-checked. I got no matches."
This was concerning. The last thing I need while running a usual night raid is to get jumped by humans. We've had hits before on other mafia and gang members making tech to dismantle superheroes, nothing stuck and they were destroyed quickly. This could grow into a bad situation if not handled correctly. I asked the tech guy to submit an official report under my name, and then go about his business. I flagged down Cleo after she finished up a carjacking.
"Hey, can we talk?"
"Of course! It's good to see you."
Nodding, we sat on a nearby rooftop. Watching different humans take pictures of us or wave and we'd wave back occasionally.
"What's up?"
"Have you run into any thugs recently with tech to injure superheroes?"
"Hmm, not really, did you?"
"Yes, today. It was in a regular burglar's hands. A glove that hurt me."
Cleo eyes widened for a second before sinking again.
"It didn't break your skin right?"
"Right. The issue is if it's in the hands of someone a little higher up on the table. Someone who knows hand-to-hand combat and how to counter affinities."
A thick silence preceded both of us before I stood up and she did too. I pulled her into a hug and she hugged back.
"Be careful, okay?"
"You too."
Once back at my condo, I changed into a black nightgown. Taking the initiative and calling Duncan this time.
"Leto. A pleasure."
"Duncan."
He was flipping through papers of some kind, most likely what I was about to ask about.
"Why did I break someone's arm today without remorse?"
"I see. That's certainly quicker than expected, but only a mild adjustment."
"Elaborate."
"Your 'explosions' do more than just damage your loved ones. It carves out a piece of you."
"I've had three..."
"Indeed."
Funny how he's only feeling them this now.
"Is the piece simply my human side or morals?"
"A bit of both."
Scoffing, I hated this cat-and-mouse game.
"You gonna tell me what's on your desk or will I have to pry it out of you."
"No need for violence. You don't just control lightning. You can control aspects of storms, power grids, the very essence of cells once you get the hang of it."
"I still don't trust you."
"If you did, you're not as smart as I take you for."
"Something big is coming isn't it?"
"Oh, it's already here. It's just a matter of where on the battlefield you find yourself in."
This little cunt-
Whoosh
"Do give Ripley my regards will you?"
Hanging up on me, I slammed the pay phone down. Ripley stumbled towards me telling me he was drunk. I'm surprised he flew here in one piece.
"I saw your handiwork today with the burglar-"
"Ripley. I'm not in the fucking mood."
I replied, glaring at Ripley with fiery pupils. Whistling Ripley approached me anyway, pulling on the strand I was desperately trying to keep from unraveling.
"You killed your pet, get over it. Stop resisting."
My eye twitched and I blinked over choking Ripley by the neck, pushing him back into the wall and starting to crack the drywall.
"Am I..supposed to be impressed? You're still sucking the titty of control-"
"For Christ's sake do you ever shut the FUCK UP!"
I threw him over my head as he rolled through the counter and into the refrigerator. I sped over to change into my suit, I wasn't fighting in a dress again, not with this creep-
"That all you got?"
Slurred words and all, Ripley cracked his neck flexing a come at me gesture. Gritting my teeth, I charged up my lightning in my palms and threw a few lines at him. He sighed easily and kicked me from the first floor up through the staircase. Groaning angrily Ripley landed next to me wriggling me up off the ground.
"Fuck YOU!"
"That's more like it!"
Spitting blood in his face, I Sparta kicked through the bedroom wall. Ripley caught himself before he rolled and I slapped his jaw with lightning coursing behind it making something burst in his face. I paused for a moment, seeing his eye was fried out but he tilted his head back to me as it regenerated.
"Don't be a fucking pussy. Laser my face."
