Cryotion City {The Ultimate Edition}

Volume 10 - [The Villain league leaves a mark]

A few months went by with silence and peace. Everything was calm too calm it was almost scary. Roman then paused one day confused at a social media live broadcast of a young woman giggling into the feed and having bright blue hair with soft brown eyes and said "Heya-Zip here-See I'm a gal of taste-I take what i want and make anywhere my canvas-" as she held up a can of spray paint which instantly caught his attention as he realized this was starting to look quite suspicious and not exactly how a young woman should be conducting herself- this was also made him curious as he wondered about what exactly she was going to do with that spray paint. He continued to watch as she said "Make anywhere my canvas" as her blue hair began to flutter in the wind as she then proceeded to spray paint on the wall behind her and Roman began to see the spray paint spreading onto the wall as she said "now watch as I make this wall my canvas" and the paint got spread across the wall in a pattern that seemed random but it was also getting quite big. Roman squinted as he saw the word "Screw heroes" in the art as he began to feel a bit of anger and irritation as he read those words on the wall as he gritted his teeth a bit stepping about the manor looking for Hercules as he felt like he had to go find him in order to see if he could handle this situation because he couldn't just let it continue like this without doing something. Zip then started to run throughout the city holding her arm out as she also began to run towards the memorial for Task force 52 the team that died in the fight against the resurrected Cosmin Borne as she giggled into the broadcast showing off her power- this was pretty interesting as this was starting to become more than just a graffiti prank at this point. Roman then jogged to Hercules handing him the phone as he snapped and said "This crazy chick is about to do something to the memorial-" as he quickly showed Hercules the live broadcast that was showing that Zip was about to do something to the Memorial site of task force 52 which was a pretty serious incident that they couldn't allow to happen without intervening. Roman then sighed stressed out as he quickly rushed to get his hero suit on while Hercules was giving out orders to the others so that they could be prepared for whatever might happen when Zip arrived at the Memorial site- they knew it was going to be a serious incident so they had to be prepared for the worst. They all showed up at the sight as a team to find that there was a woman with bright blue hair and another woman with bright orange hair arguing and bickering with one another as the one with the bright blue hair claimed she was the villain Zip and that the other one with the bright orange hair was calling the blue haired one a fake and that she had ruined her reputation as the hero Zipper. As Roman felt uncomfortable looking at the two women having a cat fight he looked over at Hercules as he tried to see if he had some kind of solution for this situation- however, the situation quickly changed as Zip decided to speed run around her with a pocket knife aiming to cut her up like a blender- this caught everyone by surprise as this was escalating further than they all had imagined and it was now getting even more concerning. As Zip was zapped with Lucious's orange electricity, he was sent to a wall knocking the air out of her which shocked everyone- both Zip and everyone else- as she needed a moment to recover which allowed roman to run over to her and to also see the person known as zipper who was bleeding and shaking confused as they tried to figure out what had happened. "The villain league is going to love you bunch of assholes-" Zip sneered getting up recovering herself as she made her hatred toward the rest of the heroes quite clear- she truly didn't like them at all. Roman looked up at the graffiti that Zip had done on the memorial and saw that she marked out with black paint where the hero league's signatures were and that she seemed to have left only Adam Legacy's statue untouched which was puzzling since the rest of his team had their statues spray painted with black paint which made him wonder what the reason was that his statue was the only one that she didn't seem to have tampered with. Lucious then stammered and seemed confused as he observed the black paint that had been sprayed on the face of each of the statues apart from Adam Legacy's- this seemed pretty weird to him as he had no idea why Zip would leave it untouched when she had spray painted the rest of them with black paint- this was pretty confusing and something that didn't make a lot of sense at first. Fue then squinted as he was confused and couldn't figure out why Zip would do this and seemed to be trying to find some kind of logic to the whole situation. "The fuck..." Lucious stammered looking at the statues. "Even comets face is painted black... Why..." Fue squinted confused as Roman knelt at Zippers side staring around at the damage done while Hercules was inspecting around. Hercules then walked back over to Zipper helping her up and taking her to a super-abled hospital so that she could get treated as they started looking around for any kind of clues as to what was happening and why Zip would do such a thing which seemed to make sense since she did seem like she was trying to target the hero league for a specific reason... Roman snapped up and seemed quite angry and frustrated as he was talking and stated "Villain league?!?" As he seemed concerned about it and was wondering if the villains were actually going to be a big threat and problem for them- this was a pretty serious situation as they hadn't really dealt with a giant threat and problem like this before. Hercules crossed his arms over his chest deep in thought. "Villain league huh... We should start investigations instantly. We will start patrols at eight pm.' Hercules ordered as he left to the training hall. "Great... Patrols..." Nathaniel groaned with angst busy texting on his phone. It was now 7:50 as Roman,Fue,and Lucious got ready for the patrol as they were going to meet Hercules in the training hall at 8 in order to begin the first patrol- they all got their superhero suits on as they waited for Hercules to arrive which was probably already going to happen soon since it was almost time. "Where is Nathaniel-" Hercules questioned as he walked into the locker room annoyed as he looked through the whole locker room for Nathaniel as he noticed that he wasn't there which was a pretty serious concern as he was supposed to be here- this was the patrol and they couldn't exactly begin without him so they needed to find him as soon as possible. Hercules then paused rubbing his temples when he saw a note from Nathaniel duct taped to his office door. "Sorry bro, May invited me for dinner and like- we don't get to hang enough because of her father. Bow chicka bow wow am i right-? hit ya later-! -Nathaniel, pidge :D :)" was written on the note Hercules read the note and found himself more and more frustrated as they read through it and realized that Nathaniel had gone out for dinner with his girlfriend which was upsetting as the patrol hadn't even started yet and he had put it off because he wanted to go hang out with his girlfriend instead of going on the patrol mission- this was definitely not what Hercules had expected and now it had put the patrol in a bind as they couldn't start without him...which only made Hercules shake his head furious punching a hole into the door crumbling it as he walked off to the training hall to proceed the patrol mission. Hercules came in the locker room where he saw the trio of Roman,Fue, and Lucious who were all waiting for him in their gear- this caught Hercules off guard since he had hoped that they were all already at the training hall ready to began the patrol but as he saw that they were still here it seemed like they were waiting for him- this was slightly concerning but also frustrating as he wasn't trying to run late for the patrol. "You boys ready..." He sighed looking to the trio who were waiting for him in their gear. "Ready to rock and roll" Lucious chimed up as he wondered if Nathaniel was joining them or not- this was a fair question since Hercules didn't seem to get any answers from his note. "Why must you be such a brat" Fue shook his head as if he was trying to brush the thought of Nathaniel and his behavior off to the side. Roman flew off carrying Fue as usual- this was quite common since he relied on him for transportation which was a fair reason since Fue was the only one of them that could fly but it was still pretty funny to see the dynamic between the two. "So- you think the villain league is as bad as the kind of supers my father fought?" Roman asked as he asked Fue curious of his opinion of the villain league considering he likely had some experiences that were related to them. "I would hope not" Fue responded as he got slightly anxious and laughed as the wings on Roman's back were flapping- this always seemed to catch everyone's attention whenever they were flying around together since it was quite the spectacle. "Hey- land down a moment" Fue asked up at Roman as he asked him to land since Fue had been alerted to a lady talking about vampires below them- this seemed pretty serious and so they decided to go see what it was about and to try and investigate it themselves. Fue runs over to lady who was hysterical and certain about a real-life vampire as he tries to gather some information from her on what she has seen and what she experienced regarding this supposedly real-life vampire before they could start investigating the case- this was pretty serious since a vampire was something that you wouldn't expect to see in real life, so it was definitely concerning for everyone. "You think it's a lead" Roman questions as he approached Fue as his wings fold back towards his back. "It could be something worth investigating so let's check it out" Roman continues. Fue then begins to ask the lady a few questions in an attempt to get some information about the supposed vampire- he asked her things like where she saw him and what time she saw him last as he began to write down the information in his notebook. "Do you have any idea of what time you saw him" Fue asks the lady as he writes down the information she gives him. "i saw him around eight when i was out on a walk near the park" the lady responds. Fue writes down what the lady told him in his notebook as he continued to ask her about where she saw him more specifically, what he was doing, and what he was wearing or if he was doing something specific. "Where exactly were you in the park" Fue asks the lady as he writes down what she says in his notebook. "i was near the big pond close to the playground- i was just walking my dog when i saw a man in a black cloak and hat sitting on a park bench and i started to get close because I wanted to see what he was doing and then I saw his teeth...and eyes..." the lady says in a hysterical manner as she describes how she saw this vampire. "His teeth..." Roman commented concerned looking around the area. "Yes...his teeth were long and razor sharp" the lady says as she continues to describe the vampire she had presumably seen. "I swear e-ever since we lost t-task force 52 this city h-has fallen-" The woman cried out before she ran off hysterical. "Sheesh lady..." Roman rubbed at his hair annoyed as he followed at Fue's side. "i know right- i mean i understand that she's traumatized but come on- she could've stayed for me to finish up with the questions or at least stayed and answered some before she ran off and i would expect this from someone but not this lady- she seems like one of those tough and determined ladies" Fue said as he scratched his head thinking that the woman could have stayed for him to finish up but chose to run off instead. "i know right- a vampire in Cryotion- i mean seriously? do we even have to deal with stuff like this- I thought only those old supers had to deal with stuff like this while we dealt with stuff like bank robbers and such like that" Fue said as he seemed a bit uneased by the whole situation as he continued to speak through. "hmm- you do have a point- we should go check out the Cryotion gardens- hopefully maybe she actually was wrong, and we could find a normal guy instead of a vampire and you're just overthinking this." Roman nodded firmly in agreement pulling his phone out to call Luciano. "Hey guess what, We got a real lead. Meet us at the Cryotion gardens." He said flashing a wide grin a bit excited. "Oh great- okay I'll be there soon-" Lucious said on the phone before Roman hung up. "Looks like Lucious's going to come over here soon to meet us at the Cryotion gardens- apparently its where she saw the vampire and where we should start our search" Fue continued to explain as they headed over towards the Cryotion gardens to meet Lucious. "Shall we my angsty torch-" Roman put a hand to Fue laughing as his wings opened offering to fly them. "hahaha- you're a jerk but yeah- let's go dirty chicken-" Fue joked as he put his arms out to Roman with a smirk on his face so that Roman could give him a ride to Cryotion gardens. Roman started to carry Fue as he soared through the clouds. As he was flying his eyes caught a glimpse of a woman he hadn't seen before in the gardens almost causing him to drop Fue due to getting eye wide. Marrow who had copper colored hair, large dark red wings, and dark brown eyes with a copper plating for protection as her costume had steampunk like elements. She truly was an interesting sight and he couldn't take his eyes away from her beauty. Roman almost forgot about Fue in that moment as his eyes were still glued on Marrow and didn't even realize it until he dropped him in the bush. "What the-" Fue said as he saw that he was in a bush before he got up and brushed dust off his costume- he saw that he was dropped because Roman was too busy looking over at Marrow who was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen and was now caught up on her while Fue was getting annoyed at being dropped. "You are definitely your fathers son..." Fue snapped huffing. "w-wait- hold on- what are you doing?" Fue snapped out as he watched Roman land on the ground slowly only to proceed to start walking up towards Marrow to talk to her which prompted Fue to become a bit anxious as he proceeded to catch up with them. Fue stood there watching as Roman began to talk with Marrow and they had a conversation- he couldn't hear them but he could see the conversation and he saw that Marrow's expression was serious and slightly intrigued by the conversation as Roman's expression was similarly slightly intriguing and he looked completely engrossed in the conversation with Marrow. "So- Vulture wings huh... Dope- I got owl genetics... It's cool and stuff- My dad he actually uh was the hero killer Screech." Roman confidently stated. "huh- I guess that the genetics for bird wings are more prominent than I thought...It's cool to meet someone like me in the city-My father was also a hero killer he went by the name of vulture- though I never met him sadly." Marrow calmly responded back to him as they continued the conversation but were completely unaware that a furious Fue was watching them silently and his anger kept growing as time progressed and as he continued to watch the conversation between the two. "yeah-I'm in the hero league as well-I go by the name copper knight." Roman said to her as he leaned closer to her which intrigued her as she proceeded to lean closer to him as well. Fue was still watching them with his arms crossed at chest height and a frustrated expression on his face and he was starting to really feel annoyed by it-he felt jealous, but he wouldn't let it show. "Roman... the lead-" Fue tried to get his attention only to be ignored. "Familiar is my hero name-" Marrow spoke up before looking to Fue. "Your here about the villain league too?" She asked. was slightly frustrated but also surprised when marrow suddenly talked about the lead- he looked over at her suddenly being alert at her curiosity. "Um...yeah- a lead- What do you mean by Villain league." "Wait- villain league-do you know what's going on?" Fue said as he suddenly seemed concerned and curious about this since villain leagues are not something that are seen around. "well-yeah-there has been a sudden rise of villain league activity in the city and there is a possibility that there could be something going... There was an artifact missing in the cleanup of the wreckage when task force 52 died... The amulet of Galivant was gone." Marrow said. "hm- Galivant you say- The amulet of Galivant?" Fue said as he thought about this amulet and it's strange appearance in the story. "That is the same amulet core tried to use to resurrect Cosmin... Who could possibly have it-" Roman asked. "who knows- the amulet could have been found by any number of people and they could be using it- which means that we have potentially an extremely dangerous situation on our hands- especially if someone knows how to properly use it" Fue continued to explain. "yeah-the amulet is extremely dangerous- it could be in the hands of an evil person as we speak-" Roman said while he crossed his arms and had a concerned expression on his face at the thought of the amulet being in the wrong hands. "You two really don't know- There was a flyer for it. This man called Spectre is running this group of younger chaotic villains-" Marrow explained to Roman. "really- a flyer for this group and a man named Spectre... This is getting worse-" Roman said as he had an even more concerned expression on his face as he continued to listen to her explain. "Looked like he was recruiting-" Marrow then paused confused as her phone buzzed showing the Cryotion news broadcast of the former hero Zip was found deceased. "Isn't that the speedster hero we helped-" Fue spoke concerned to Roman. "yeah...yeah that is her that hero we helped- Zip- what the hell- why is she-" Roman said in a concerned tone as he had a very concerned expression on his face and was confused as to why Zip was dead. Fue loomed over Roman's shoulder to Marrow's phone curious getting eye wide at the sight. It was definitely the villain Zippers doing. "She really wanted to be the only speedster in Cryotion- This is insane-" Roman snapped. "what-seriously-this is insane- seriously the city's going downhill and fast- this Zippers person is literally insane... what the hell is going on-" Fue said as he had a panicked expression on his face and was trying to wrap his head around the news. "seriously...first it's Galivants amulet going missing and now Zip is dead-the city's completely going downhill- who knows what could happen next-" Roman said as he was feeling tense and worried. "I do know that Viperous Jane is working for this Spectre... I also know he has two more spots for his little league- We should stay alert- We don't know what kind of trouble will come to Cryotion to prove themselves to him." Marrow spoke urgently. "really- Viperous Jane is working for this Spectre huh... What other villains does he have and you're right- we should stay alert and I agree- we really need to stay on our toes if we want to stop this group-" Roman stated as he had a focused and determined expression on his face while he continued to listen to her speak. Fue nodded in agreement. Roman and Marrow continued to discuss the details they had learned about the group while Fue sent a text message to Hercules, Nathaniel and Lucius about the situation and what they had learned. Hercules was intrigued by the information that Fue had sent to him as he processed the details of the situation and what was happening in the city. As the trio met up with Lucious at Cryotions gardens they paused at the sight of a young teenage boy swaying his legs spinning a remote. "The fuck-" Lucious muttered getting off his bike approaching. Lucious approached the young teenage boy who was spinning a remote and had a perplexed expression on his face "who the hell is this kid-" he muttered as he and the others approached the boy. Fue kept a keep eye about pausing and nudging Roman's arm to a man across the park fitting the description from the woman earlier. The teenage boy just snickered laughing a bit. "Wanna play a game old man-" Nikola chimed. Roman paused as well and glanced over where Fue had pointed out and saw the man who fit the description the woman gave them. He watched the boy snicker and laugh for a bit before he spoke. "What kind of game..- kid?" Lucious asked with a hint of skepticism in his voice. "Easy- a scavenger hunt. Find the explosives before the innocents go KA-BOOM." He hummed clapping his hands as he tossed the remote up catching it shifting it in his hand to twirl it in his fingers. "a scavenger hunt- with explosives...seriously- you can't be for real-" Lucious said with a raised eyebrow and tone full of skepticism, as he looked at the boy and wondered if he was telling the truth. "yeah- this has to be some kind of sick prank or something- right-" Marrow said with a similar expression of skepticism as Lucious, as she looked at the boy and was trying to figure out if he was serious or just messing around. Roman and Fue kept a close eye on the figure who they had seen earlier, who was now glaring back at them with their yellow eyes. Roman felt a sense of unease at the sight of the figure's gaze and tensed up slightly from it, while Fue remained focused and alert. "You think i'm kidding?" Nikola gasped playfully. "well- yeah- I mean you can't be serious right- this has to be some kind of sick joke-" Lucious said with a skeptical tone and expression as he continued to look at the boy and trying to determine if he was serious about the scavenger hunt. "Let me motivate ya-" Nikola cruelly grinned brightly pushing one of the buttons on his remote combusting a whole block of parked cars. The explosion from the parked cars going off caught Lucious and the others by surprise and caused them to jump back a bit, the sound of the explosion rang through the air as the cars combusted. Lucious was stunned for a moment before he quickly composed himself and looked at Nikola with a mix of shock and anger. Roman's eyes widened as the explosion went off and he quickly looked back and forth between the blast and the figure, realizing that it was most likely Viperous Jane. He tensed even more at her presence and realization that she was likely there to recruit Nikola. Marrow, Fue and Lucious also noticed the figure's appearance and immediately realized that it was Viperous Jane as well, and they quickly went on guard at the sight of her. "Right- No time to waste, Lucious you and Marrow handle Nikola- Me and Fue will take Viperous-" Roman spoke up causing Fue to snicker. "You sound like your dad-" Fue commented. "yeah- don't remind me-" Roman muttered as he rolled his eyes slightly at Fue's comment and prepared to face Viperous with him. "sounds like a plan to me-" Lucious said as he nodded and agreed with Roman's plan. Marrow also nodded and agreed with the plan, and got ready to face off against Nikola. Nikola hissed annoyed adjusting his sitting position to focus. Viperous took his hat off slowly. "Now you kids should run along home now, Let me handle things-" Viperous insulted at Roman sizing him up as his southern drawl came out. Fue stood beside Roman, looking equally defiant and ready to face off against Viperous if needed. Marrow also stood ready to face of against Nikola and was focused on the task at hand. "Awh cmon now... You two are cute and all, But i have been in this city far longer than the two's of ya." Viperous spoke his fangs flashing as i stalked at the two. "Lucious i need to get you close enough to zap the kid- Just don't overdo it-" Marrow spoke up trying to strategize as Nikola was setting off various explosives planted around the area. Lucious nodded in agreement with Marrow's suggestion, understanding the need to get close enough to use his powers on Nikola. "Yeah- I'll try to get close..." he said in a focused tone. Fue and Roman continued to face off against Viperous, both of them getting more tense and ready for a potential fight. "We've got bigger concerns than you right now-" Roman stated firmly as he continued to stand his ground. "We're not scared of you-" Fue added, joining Roman in standing his ground and staring down Viperous defiantly. Marrow continued to try and devise a plan to get close enough to Nikola, while also keeping an eye on the explosions going off. Lucious also remained focused on the task at hand and watched the explosions carefully, trying to find a safe route to get close to Nikola. He knew that he needed to be careful and precise in his approach. "You two are cute trying to be all big- bad-" Viperous snickered, clearly not impressed by their defiant stance. He continued to stalk towards them both, sizing them up with a hint of condescension in his tone. "Hey maybe we can come to a peaceful solution-" Fue suggested, trying to keep the situation from escalating further. However, Viperous just chuckled and shook his head, clearly not interested in any type of peaceful resolution. "Sorry kids, but a peaceful solution is the last thing i want-" Viperous drawled out, his southern twang ringing even more as he continued to stalk closer to the them. Roman tensed up even more as Viperous continued to stalk closer to them, clearly not planning on backing down anytime soon. He clenched his fists, ready to defend himself and Fue if need be. Fue, feeling increasingly nervous, continued to look up to Roman, hoping he would somehow step in with a heroic solution. He knew that they were in a tough spot, and didn't know how to defuse the situation. "Look- if we give you something, can you just back down- please?" Roman begged, starting to get desperate in trying to find a way out of the situation. Viperous chuckled, clearly amused by Roman's plea. "And what exactly do you have to offer me?" he drawled out, pausing in his steps but still maintaining a menacing stance. Roman's mind raced to find anything that would be valuable to Viperous. "Anything- whatever you want- just name it-" he tried to bargain. "Hmmm....Anything huh..." Viperous hummed, clearly intrigued by Roman's offer. He twirled the hat in his hands as he mulled over his options. "Yes- anything- just name it-" Roman repeated, hoping that he could diffuse the situation with this offer. He cast a glance at Fue beside him, silently praying that he wouldn't do or say anything stupid. "How's about your soul boy-?" Viperous hissed smirking wryly. Roman's heart sank at Viperous' response. "My..my soul..." he repeated, his face going pale. He glanced at Fue again, silently hoping for some kind of suggestion. Fue looked just as shocked and scared as Roman, having no idea how to process what Viperous had just said. He looked up to Roman, silently pleading for him to say something, anything. "You can't be serious..." Roman said weakly, attempting to remain composed despite the fear that was coursing through him. He looked back at Viperous, trying to assess if he was bluffing or not. Viperous chuckled, clearly enjoying seeing them both scared and confused. "Oh i'm quite serious kiddo. Your soul for Nikola to stop and we leave." "The hell you mean by soul-" Fue snapped up defensive for his friend. Roman's heart quickened at Fue's question, he too wondering what exactly Viperous meant by "soul". He felt a mix of relief and worry knowing that Fue was defending him but at the same time, hoping he wouldn't say anything to further anger Viperous. Viperous smirked at Fue's outburst, clearly amused by his defensiveness. "You know exactly what i mean kid. Your soul- your very essence, your life itself-" he drawled out with a dark tone. Roman felt a chill go down his spine at Viperous' words, his mind racing as he tried to process the gravity of what he was saying. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, the thought of losing his soul sending a wave of fear through him. "Pas une chance psychopathe-" Fue insulted irritably. Viperous' smirk grew at Fue's insult, he clearly didn't take kindly to being called a psychopath. "Oh feisty one ain't ya-" he drawled out, his tone laced with a hint of annoyance. Fue tensed up at Viperous' response, his defiance faltering slightly in the face of the villain's reaction. He cast a glance at Roman, silently pleading for backup. "Je vais brûler ton derrière du sud en un croustillant" Fue hissed with venom as he exhaled large clouds of smoke. Viperous chuckled at Fue's threat, his annoyance now replaced with amusement. "Big talk for such a small kid-" he retorted, not in the slightest bit intimidated by Fue's display. Fue scowled at Viperous, feeling increasingly frustrated that his attempts to intimidate him were not working. He looked to Roman, silently pleading him to do something. Roman was at a loss, completely unsure of how to handle Viperous and his demands. He looked down at Fue, silently pleading for him to calm down and stop antagonizing the villain. Fue was clearly not going to back down easily. He stood there, huffing clouds of smoke defiantly. Despite his efforts to appear tough, the fear in his eyes betrayed his true feelings. "We have to flee- w-we have to go back to the manor-" Roman shouted urgently. Fue looked reluctant to leave, but he could see the urgency in Roman's tone. He nodded in agreement, knowing that they were in over their heads. "Yeah- let's go-" he said, his voice slightly shaky. Roman looked to Marrow and Lucious. "Marrow can you fly and carry Lucious and follow me-" He pleaded to her. Marrow nodded quickly, understanding the urgency of the situation. "Yeah- I can carry Lucious- we'll follow you-" she confirmed. Lucious looked nervous at the idea of being carried, but he knew that they had no other choice. He nodded in agreement with Marrow and Roman. Roman felt a wave of relief wash over him knowing that they had a plan in place to escape. He looked back at Viperous, who was still standing menacingly before them. "Come on!" he shouted to the others. The three quickly started to run away, with Marrow carrying Lucious. As they fled, they could hear the sound of Viperous and Nikola chasing after them, his footsteps and taunts echoing behind them. Roman took a deep breath as he carried Fue flying into the sky beside Marrow as she held Lucious soaring away from the two villains who went back to their reign of terror. Lucious clung tightly to Marrow as they flew through the air, his heart racing as he looked back at the villainous duo below them. Marrow continued to carry him, her wings flapping quickly to keep up with Roman and Fue. "I'm sorry we dragged you into all this-" Roman spoke to Marrow as they flew. Marrow shook her head, not blaming them at all. "Don't apologize- I wanted to help" she replied, her voice kind and understanding. "Hey i- uhm- i didn't say it before- but uh i'm Roman- Roman Brady." Roman spoke up trying to sound smooth causing Fue and Lucious to both roll their eyes. Lucious couldn't help but snort at Roman's attempt to sound smooth, finding it humorous. "Smooth one man..." he said teasingly. Fue chuckled, agreeing with Lucious' comment. "Oui..real smooth-" he teased, clearly amused by Roman's attempt. Marrow smiled slightly at Roman's awkward introduction, finding it endearing. Roman blushed slightly, realizing that he had failed at his attempt to impress Marrow. He nervously focused on flying, embarrassed by his failed flirting. Lucious and Fue continued to chuckle softly, enjoying watching Roman's failed attempt. They whispered comments to each other, clearly amused by their friend's awkwardness. Marrow glanced sideways at Roman, noticing how flustered he was. She smiled at his attempts, finding his awkwardness endearing. "My name is Marrow Fynn~" she reassured him, her voice kind and gentle. Roman was surprised by Marrow's kindness, not expecting her to be so understanding. "Marrow Fynn... nice to meet you" he said, the nervous feeling in his chest fading slightly. Lucious and Fue, still in the background, watched the exchange between Roman and Marrow. Lucious rolled his eyes at Roman's obvious infatuation with Marrow, while Fue smirked, finding the whole thing amusing. Marrow flew alongside Roman, her wings moving elegantly in the air. As they continued to fly, Lucious and Fue continued to whisper and laugh at Roman's attempts to flirt with Marrow, clearly enjoying the show. As they arrived at the manor Hercules approached the group as they arrived, immediately noticing the new face among them. He looked Marrow up and down curiously, waiting for an explanation of who she was and why she was here. Roman, Lucious, and Fue all stopped as they saw Hercules approaching, bracing themselves for what was to come. Marrow smiled awkwardly at the sight of Hercules, feeling intimidated by his large and muscular presence. Hercules looked at the group quizzically. "Who's this?" he asked in a deep, gruff voice, gesturing towards Marrow. "I invited her- She's with me-" Roman spoke up trying to impress Marrow with bravery only to look like a moronic jackass like his father a bit causing Hercules to sigh shaking his head. Hercules, used to Roman's attempts at bravado, sighed heavily. He turned to Marrow and spoke in a stern tone. "Is that true?" Marrow looked nervous but nodded in confirmation. "Y-Yes- That's true..." she spoke softly, feeling intimidated by the large and muscular hero. Hercules scanned Marrow's face, still looking slightly suspicious, but he relaxed slightly when he saw that she was telling the truth. He turned back to Roman and the others, his expression stern. Lucious and Fue were both trying their best to hold back their laughter at the whole scene unfolding before them. They whispered to each other, clearly amused by Roman's failed attempts at bravado and Hercules' stern expression. Roman could feel his cheeks heating up with embarrassment as Lucious and Fue continued to snicker behind him. He shot a quick glance at them, silently pleading for them to stop making fun of him. Lucious and Fue just grinned mischievously at Roman, clearly enjoying teasing their friend. They knew how much Roman wanted Marrow to be impressed by him, and they couldn't help but laugh at how spectacularly it was failing. Hercules, still standing before the group, cleared his throat loudly. "Enough," he commanded, his voice authoritative. Lucious and Fue immediately stopped laughing, their grins fading as they faced the intimidating hero. Roman, meanwhile, was still feeling embarrassed and sheepish. He knew that he had messed up in trying to look cool in front of Marrow, and now he was being scolded like a child by Hercules in front of her. Marrow, sensing Roman's embarrassment, gave him a sympathetic look. She could tell that he was clearly feeling uncomfortable being called out in front of everyone, and she felt bad for him. Marrow stood in the background, feeling a mixture of amusement and pity for Roman's situation. She couldn't help but find his attempts at bravery charming, even if they were failing miserably. Hercules looked at the whole scene before him, shaking his head again. "Roman- A word." He said, gesturing for Roman to follow him aside. Roman gulped, feeling a wave of dread go through him. He knew that being singled out like this by Hercules was never a good sign. He obediently followed Hercules aside, leaving Lucious, Fue, and Marrow behind. Hercules led Roman to a quieter spot away from the others. He looked at Roman with a stern expression, clearly expecting an explanation. "What were you thinking?" he asked, his voice low and serious. "She knows about the villain league and saved our behinds back there- plus... I might stand a chance-" Roman spoke up trying to act a bit macho yet again being a spitting image of his father. Hercules shook his head, sighing heavily at Roman's attempt at bravado. "You know, you really need to stop trying to act like your father. It's not becoming" he said bluntly, his voice firm. Roman's confidence faltered slightly at Hercules' rebuke. He knew that his attempts at being charming and heroic always failed miserably, but he couldn't help himself. "I-I'm not trying to act like my father-" he replied weakly, trying to defend himself. Hercules crossed his arms, looking at Roman with a mix of disappointment and concern. "You are. You're putting on a front, trying to impress that girl out there-" he gestured towards where Marrow was waiting with the others. Roman's face turned red as he realized that Hercules had seen right through him. "I-I-I'm not trying to impress her-" he protested, but even he knew that he was lying. "Roman focus- we are handling an entire league of villains... This is hard work- Kaden isn't here anymore neither is your father.... their on the island- we cannot rely on the Feathered Kings that are now disbanded... Even Cal doesn't do the intel work all the time anymore since her and Joseph settled down..." Hercules sighed trying to be fair with Roman. Roman's heart ached at the mention of Kaden and his father's absence, but he knew that Hercules was right. "I know.. I know.." he mumbled, his confidence faltering even more. "I know your struggling without your father and Von's passing... We all are... But we have to keep moving forward." Hercules spoke trying his best to give good guidance. Roman nodded silently, feeling a mix of sadness and determination at Hercules' words. It was true that he missed his father and Kaden more than anything, but he knew that he had to keep pushing on for the sake of Cryotion City. Hercules could see the mixture of emotions on Roman's face and placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to offer some comfort. "I know it's hard. We all miss them too. But we have to stay strong, for the city, and for each other. And that means focusing on the task at hand, not trying to impress some girl" he said sternly. "When your father returns to deal with his brother... and he will... Don't let it be seeing his son get the city hurt by the villains. Your father left knowing you were apart of this team because he believes in you." Roman felt a stirring of determination at Hercules' words. He knew that he had to step up and handle the responsibility that had been placed upon him. "You're right. I need to focus on the villains, not try to impress some girl." He looked up at Hercules with a newfound resolve in his eyes. "I'll set my priorities straight. The city comes first." "That doesn't mean don't go for the girl... But cmon- bucking up at your teacher? Your a good kid, Be yourself not something your not." Hercules spoke up trying to ease up on him a bit over Marrow. Roman blushed at Hercules' words, feeling a bit embarrassed at being called out for his attempt at bravado. "Yeah, I know... I just don't know how to talk to girls without messing it up somehow..." he admitted sheepishly. Hercules cracked a small smile at Roman's embarrassment, amused by his honesty. "It takes practice, kid. You'll get there." He patted Roman on the back reassuringly. "Just remember, being yourself is the most important thing. Women like authenticity." Roman nodded, taking in Hercules' advice. "Okay... be myself, not act like someone I'm not... Got it." He took a deep breath, steeling himself. "I'll give it a shot... with her, I mean." He gestured towards Marrow, who was still waiting with Lucious and Fue. Hercules shook his head as he gestured for Roman to go along as Lucious made his way to Hercules to fill him in on the information of the villain league members they encountered. Roman took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he was about to do. He slowly made his way back to Marrow, Lucious, and Fue, his heart beating loudly in his chest. Lucious and Fue snickered as they saw Roman approaching, clearly amused by his situation. "Good luck, Romeo~" Lucious teased, unable to help himself as he slipped by to go inside with Hercules. Fue himself smirked a bit saluting as he headed inside taking the hint of the situation. "Verse ton cœur mon amie." Fue chimed heading inside. Roman shot Lucious and Fue a glare. "Shut up, you guys." He grumbled, embarrassed by their teasing. He then turned his attention to Marrow, trying to act casual. Marrow smiled as Roman approached her again. "Everything okay?" she asked, noticing the redness on Roman's face. Roman cleared his throat, trying to sound cool and collected. "Yeah, everything's fine." He paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts. "Look... I want to apologize for before. I was trying to act all cool and tough, and I know I probably looked like an idiot." Marrow chuckled softly, amused by Roman's attempt at bravery. "You didn't look like an idiot," she reassured him. "Just a bit... over-zealous, maybe." Roman blushed even more, feeling embarrassed. "Yeah, over-zealous... That's a nice way of putting it." He ran a hand through his hair, feeling a bit sheepish. "I guess I was just trying to impress you. I tend to do that when I get nervous..." Marrow smiled warmly. "You don't have to try to impress me, you know," she said. "I like you just the way you are." Roman just grinned a bit looking at the view of the city from the balcony spot as the sun was setting causing a soft red ish purple tone to the sky as it darkened. Marrow followed Roman's gaze, taking in the beautiful view of the city bathed in the glow of the sunset. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" she mused, her voice soft. "Yeah, it is," Roman agreed, feeling a sense of peace wash over him. The city looked so different in the evening light, as if all the hustle and bustle had faded away, leaving only a sense of calm. He admired at the view as a cold breeze blew causing his wings to ruffle lightly hitting hers as he stood beside her. Marrow felt the unexpected touch of Roman's wings against her own, sending a flutter through her veins. She glanced over at him, noticing the peaceful expression on his face as he admired the view. The cool night air blew the scent of his cologne towards her, and she couldn't help but to inhale it. She looked up at Roman through her eyelashes, admiring the sharp lines of his profile against the backdrop of the city lights. Roman was lost in thought, admiring the view and feeling strangely calm, when he suddenly became aware of Marrow's gaze. He turned to look at her, meeting her eyes for a moment before his own flickered down to her lips before snapping back up to her eyes. Marrow's breath caught in her throat as their eyes locked, and she felt a wave of flutters erupt in her ribcage. Without thinking, she took a small step closer to him, their bodies now only inches apart. "The others claim i have the same problem my father has..." Roman softly murmured gently touching at her face leaning to her. "I tend to act without thoughts-" He drifted off as he softly kissed her. Marrow's heart fluttered as she felt Roman's fingertips against her cheek, his touch sending a warm shiver through her body. And when he leaned closer and their lips met in a soft kiss, something in her shifted. All coherent thoughts fled her mind, replaced only by the feel of his mouth against hers. She reached up to gently touch the nape of his neck, her fingers tangling in his hair, pulling him closer. The kiss deepened, and for a moment, the only sounds were their breathing and the soft rustling of their wings. Roman's mind was clouded with a haze of desire, his body responding of its own accord. His hands moved to her waist, pulling her even closer, his lips moving against hers in a tender yet hungry dance. Meanwhile Hercules stood at the computers doing research beside Lucious for anymore information on the villain league or their head boss. Lucious froze like a statue when Hercules found a criminal record connected to the villain Zip's showing the file for Lou Reese. Hercules noticed Lucious's reaction and looked over at him, raising an eyebrow. "You okay over there?" he asked, his voice low. Lucious nodded, his eyes wide as he looked at the screen. "Yeah, I'm fine... just... surprised." He pointed at the file open on the computer, the name 'Lou Reese' displayed in bold letters. "You know that man?" Hercules questioned. Lucious nodded, a mix of shock and disbelief on his face. "Yeah, I know him... or at least, I used to..." he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. Hercules looked at him, his expression growing serious. "What do you mean by that? What's your connection with him?" he asked, his tone firmer now as he watched Lucious's reactions closely. Lucious took a deep breath, clearly uncomfortable talking about this. "Lou Reese and I... we used to be friends. We grew up together, actually. He always was a bit of a trouble maker... but I never thought he'd turn to villainy just had a big ego. He was talented... His music- his voice- " Hercules listened intently to Lucious' explanation, his expression grave. "So you knew him before he became 'The one and only'?" he asked, trying to piece together the puzzle. Lucious nodded again. "Yes, I knew him before all of this. We used to be close... But something changed. He started getting into trouble, making bad choices. And before I knew it, he was gone. I didn't hear from him for years... until now" he said, gesturing to the file on the screen. Hercules took in this information, his mind spinning. "So, he was always a bit of a rebel, huh?" he mused, leaning against the desk. "And now he's the running off with the villain league... Interesting twist of fate." Lucious nodded somberly. "Yeah, it is... I never imagined he'd end up like this. It's..." He paused, struggling to find the right words. "It's just... shocking, I guess. I can't believe the person I knew, the boy I grew up with, could do something like this." Hercules could sense the conflict in Lucious' voice, the mixture of sadness and anger that comes with finding out someone you cared about had turned wicked. "People change, Lucious," he said gently. "Sometimes for the worse." Lucious nodded, a bitter smile on his face. "I know... It's just hard to accept, you know? I always hoped he'd find his way back, that he'd realize the error of his ways." He let out a humorless chuckle. "Guess I was wrong." Hercules placed a comforting hand on Lucious' shoulder. "Hey, you can't blame yourself for this. People make their own choices. You couldn't have known he'd end up like this." Hercules then paused stepping off to answer the phone when it rang for the third time back to back. "Hello- Kash? Is everything alright... What do you mean Eric is headed for us?" Hercules questioned as Kash warned of his brother returning for another attack after getting a warning threat in the mail on the island house he had been living in with Kaden. Kash then explained how Eric will likely throw a tantrum to try and draw Kash to Cryotion. Lucious watched as Hercules' face grew serious, listening to the phone call. He had a feeling he knew what the conversation was about, and his heart sank a bit. Hercules' eyes widened at Kash's warning, his grip on the phone tightening. "Great... just great..." he muttered. "Any idea how long we have before he arrives?" Kash's voice crackled through the speaker, the tension palpable in the way he spoke. "Not long," he said grimly. "He might already be on his way. He's not exactly thinking straight right now." "Of course he isn't," Hercules replied sarcastically, rolling his eyes. He had dealt with Eric before, and he knew just how unpredictable the man could be. "Any idea what he's after?" "Me, I will be there with Kaden soon- We are packing two backpacks and will be flying our way there- should take me an hour." Kash spoke into the phone. "An hour," Hercules repeated, already mentally calculating their time frame. "Alright, we'll be ready for him when you arrive. Just... be careful." "Yeah, yeah, I will," Kash replied gruffly, his voice betraying his own worry. The line clicked off, signaling that he had hung up. Hercules set the phone down, letting out a heavy sigh. "Great. Just what we needed," he muttered, running a hand through his hair. Lucious looked at him questioningly, waiting for a more detailed explanation. "That was Kash. His brother, Eric, is on his way here. Sounds like he's in a bad mood too," Hercules explained, his expression serious. "As if the city needed more with this villain league..." Lucious sighed. Hercules nodded in agreement. "No kidding. Between them and Eric throwing a fit, it seems like trouble is coming our way." He paused, crossing his arms as he thought things through. "We'll need a plan," he declared, his mind already trying to work out the logistics. "First things first, we need to assess the situation and figure out how to handle Eric when he gets here. I'd rather not have him tear half the city down out of anger." "Right," Lucious agreed, his own mind racing with possibilities. "We could try to contain him somehow, maybe talk him down? Or, if worst comes to worst, we might have to fight him off..." "Kash would likely prefer that than harming him." Hercules nodded thinking deeply over the idea for a moment. "Yeah, he'd probably want to avoid a full-on brawl if possible," Hercules agreed. "But we can't underestimate Eric. He's got a short fuse and powerful abilities. We have to be prepared for anything." Lucious nodded, a serious look on his face. "Agreed. We'll need to be on our guard. We don't know what tricks Eric might have up his sleeve." "Exactly," Hercules said, leaning against the desk. "We'll need a plan b in case talking him down doesn't work. And we'll need to warn the others, too. Everyone needs to be on standby in case this goes sideways." Lucious nodded again, appreciating the level-headedness of Hercules. "Right. We should also make sure everyone's equipment is in good condition, just in case we have to spring into action quickly." "Good thinking," Hercules complimented. "I'll check the weapons and armor, make sure everything's up to par. You let the others know what's going on and make sure everyone's prepared for a possible confrontation with Eric." "Be easy with Roman over this. It is his Uncle." Hercules nodded firmly to Lucious as he spoke. Lucious nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "I will. I'll make sure he's informed and ready to handle this... family affair. You handle the weapons and I'll handle the people." "Sounds good," Hercules replied, already mentally running down the list of weapons he wanted to inspect. "We'll get this handled, one way or another." Lucious gave a quick nod and set off to find Roman, leaving Hercules to his task. The air in the room was tense with anticipation, the upcoming arrival of Eric hanging over their heads like a dark cloud. Roman stood with his fingers entangled into Marrow's hair whispering at her as they both stood close to each other in the courtyard. "Hate to uhm ruin your- fairytale moment... Roman i need to talk to you-" Lucious's voice cut through the garden as he walked out. Roman looked over, a hint of annoyance on his face at being interrupted. He raised an eyebrow at Lucious. "Can't it wait until later? I'm kind of in the middle of something right now..." Lucious looked apologetic, but his expression was serious. "I'm afraid it can't. It's important." He darted a glance at Marrow before looking back at Roman. "Can we talk... privately?" Roman's annoyance turned to curiousity at the tone of Lucious's voice. He looked down at Marrow, his fingers gently running through her hair. "I'll be back in a minute," he told her, planting a soft kiss on her forehead before following Lucious a few steps away. "What's going on?" Roman asked once they were out of earshot. "You're looking all serious, which is never a good sign. Not to mention you are being a major mood killer-" Lucious took a deep breath, steeling himself for the conversation. "It's about your uncle..." he began, choosing his words carefully. "Eric?" Roman asked, his expression growing more guarded. "What about him?" "He's heading this way right now," Lucious explained, watching Roman's reaction closely. "Your dad called and warned us. Said Eric was in a dangerous mood and could cause quite a bit of damage." Roman's expression darkened at the news. "Great. Just what we need. A rampaging Uncle Eric on top of everything else we're dealing with." "Yeah, not ideal," Lucious agreed. "That's why we need to be prepared. We don't know what he's planning to do or how far he's willing to go to get to you." "So what do you want me to do?" Roman asked, a hint of sarcasm in his tone. "Play distraction while you all take him down?" "You know damn well i would never request that of you. Just- stay low profile okay...Preferably inside." He gave a side glance at Marrow. "So you seal the deal or what?" Lucious wryly grinned. Roman couldn't help but roll his eyes at Lucious's attempt at humor. "Oh yeah, super romantic," he quipped back. "Nothing says romance like hiding inside while my mad uncle rages outside." Lucious chuckled softly, understanding Roman's sarcastic response. "Hey, I'm just trying to keep you safe, alright? I don't want Eric getting any bright ideas about using you as leverage." He gave Roman a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "As if I can't handle myself against my own uncle..." Roman muttered, but there was a hint of worry in his eyes. "But yeah, I suppose staying indoors is for the best. For now at least." Lucious gave a wolfish grin dragging Roman by his shoulder back to Marrow. "I think Romey here should show you his room." Lucious declared. Roman shot Lucious a look, a mix of annoyed and grateful. Marrow tilted her head, curious and slightly amused. "Is that right?" she asked, looking up at Roman with a playful smile. "Well, I guess there's no harm in showing her around," Roman replied, playing along with Lucious's ploy. "Come on, follow me." He led Marrow away, giving Lucious a grateful yet slightly exasperated glance over his shoulder. Lucious simply smirked in return. "Roman safe, Check... Now for preparations..." Lucious sighed heading back inside checking doors sealing them. "Yo Nathaniel... You here?? Fue?? Any of you dorks..." He called for. Nathaniel poked his head out of another room, a puzzled expression on his face. "What's going on?" he asked, noticing Lucious's tense demeanor. "Eric Brady is returning to Cryotion city... Means Kash and Kaden are too." Lucious spoke sternly showing how serious the situatuion is. Nathaniel's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, Eric is coming back? And Kash and Kaden too?" he repeated, a hint of disbelief in his voice. Lucious nodded, his expression confirming the news. "Yeah, that's right. And apparently, Eric's in a really volatile mood. He could cause some serious trouble if we're not prepared." Nathaniel's gaze hardened, his mind already in strategy mode. "Alright, then we need to get the team together and prepare for the worst. We don't want to be caught off guard." He looked at Lucious with a determined expression. "We have Roman on the downlow so he should be safer out of sight." Lucious explained pausing a moment when a familiar laugh echoed the halls of the manor. The sound of Kash's deep laughter echoed from the front area where the old clock always stood. "Place looks the same still don't it Kade-" Kash commented. "Looks more empty to me," Kaden retorted, his voice a bit more with sass than Kash's. He followed after Kash, each step a heavy thump that reverberated through the hallway. "it looks like how we left it-" Kash mused. "Now where oh where is my son-" Kash hummed. Kaden shrugged, his hands stuffed casually into his pockets. "Probably off studying or training somewhere." Kash rolled his eyes going through the familiar hallways. When he paused at Roman's room he ignored the blaring music as he pushed the door open quickly closing it in regret. Kash stood frozen like a statue looking to Kaden. "Perhaps we should return later..." Kash cleared his throat collecting himself from catching his son with Marrow. Kaden let out a snort, barely containing his laughter as he tried to keep a straight face. "Seems like our timing could have been better," he remarked, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Not funny Kade..." Kash shook his head speed walking down the hallway. "Where on earth is Hercules?...." Kash grumbled embarrassed. Kaden followed after Kash, a hint of amusement still lingering in his voice. "You'll survive the embarrassment, old bird. Relax," he teased, earning an unimpressed glare from Kash. "You know if i didn't love you, I would have beaten you up by now..." Kash murmured under his breath as he moved through the hallways catching sight of the stairs going down to the training and equipment room. Kaden chuckled at Kash's grumble, a small smirk of pride on his face. "You wouldn't dare. You like my pretty face too much," he quipped, following behind Kash towards the training room. "Do i...?" Kash paused mid step looking to Kaden with a mocking tune in his words. Kaden feigned a look of offense, his hand on his chest. "Oh please, don't even try to deny it. You love my face. You'd be a mess without it," he said with a exaggerated dramatic flair. Kash rolled his eyes, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth despite his best efforts. "Oh, spare me your theatrics. I could survive just fine without your pretty face, thank you very much." "I used to be a lady slayer in my prime if you do not recall." Kash chimed proud heading down the rest of the steps. Kaden snorted at Kash's proclamation, a teasing grin playing on his face. "Used to being the key words, old man. You'll break a hip if you try to sweep someone off their feet now," he taunted. "And yet you fall for me..." Kash playfully teased. Kaden's smirk widened, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Oh hush. Like you didn't fall first," he retorted, gently nudging Kash with his shoulder. Kash chuckled, feigning annoyance at the nudge. "Watch it. I'm still able to kick your ass, pretty boy," he warned, a playful jab of his own. "I was wondering when you crows would get here..." Hercules grinned warmly greeting them. Kash and Kaden turned their attention to Hercules, both of them returning his smile. Kade spoke up first, his voice friendly. "Hey, big guy. Been awhile." "How is the island?" Hercules questioned as he was wiping down a damaged chest plate from one of Fue's suits. Kash leaned against the wall, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "Island's the same old, same old. Hot and humid as ever." Kaden rolled his eyes, folding his arms. "And still crawling with tourists and wannabe influencers." Hercules chuckled at their response. "Sounds like you fellas haven't changed much either," he said, setting the chest plate aside. "Still causing trouble in paradise?" "Who, us?" Kash feigned innocence, a cheeky grin on his face. "We never cause trouble. We're just misunderstood angels, right Kade?" Kaden let out a snort, shaking his head. "Yeah, angels with a taste for chaos, maybe." Hercules chuckled at their banter, clearly amused by their antics. "Right, I've heard that one before. 'Misunderstood angels' my ass. Anyway, good to see you both. Now for business, Eric and the villain league." Kash's expression grew serious at the mention of Eric and the league. "Yeah, we figured as much. I take it you're all on high alert?" "You could say that," Hercules responded, gesturing to the rows of weapons and armor laid out across the room. "Lucious has us preparing for a potential showdown. We're not sure what Eric has planned, but we sure as hell ain't going to be caught off guard. With Eric after Roman and the villain league... things are rough." Kaden nodded gravely, his eyes scanning the array of equipment. "Yeah, we expected as much. Knowing Eric, he's likely got some sort of scheme cooking. We'll do everything we can to help, of course." "Kash, Are you certain your brother is not connected to this villain league. I spoke with Lucious on the idea of capturing your brother. I did research and discovered information about a bounty hunter super abled man called Mason Taz Davis. This Taz could help us." Kash sighed heavily, the mention of his brother bringing a shadow over his features. "I can assure you my brother has no connection to the villain league. He may have his own moral failings, but he would never associate with the league. He has his own code of honor." Kade raised an eyebrow, a hint of skepticism in his voice. "How can you be so sure? He's always been a wild card. He could be hiding something." "Because I know my brother," Kash insisted, his tone firm. "Despite his many faults, he's not the type to associate with the league. He has his own goals and his own way of doing things. The villain league is an entirely different beast altogether." Hercules listened to the conversation, his expression stoic as he weighed on the matter. "You both bring up valid points," he chimed in. "Your brother might not be directly connected to the league, Kash. But it's also true that he's been somewhat of a loose cannon recently. It's not impossible that he could be involved in some way." "I think getting Taz to assist in capturing your brother into custody is the best action." Hercules spoke firmly. Kash's expression darkened at the suggestion of getting Taz involved. "The very idea of having that roughneck hunt down my own brother... I don't like it," he said, a note of frustration in his voice. Kaden placed a hand on Kash's shoulder, offering a moment of support. "It might be our best option though," he said, his voice gentle but firm. "We have to think about the safety and security of the city." "This is for his safety too Kash." Hercules looked to Kash's eyes. Kash paused, the words hitting home as he considered Hercules' point. He closed his eyes for a moment, a mixture of frustration and resignation on his face. "Fine. I don't like it, but I understand the necessity," he muttered, his voice low and weary. "Safest we can do for him is sending him to Cryotion's holding block cells at the CCPD." Hercules sighed to Kash. "Those cells are designed to keep the Dallas family contained." Kash nodded, his jaw clenched in apparent reluctant acceptance. "Yeah, I know. I've seen the cells myself. They're not exactly a vacation spot, but they'll keep him contained." He let out a heavy sigh, running a hand over his face. "Just... make sure Taz doesn't rough him up too much, alright?" "I will be sure the arrangements are settled. Nathaniel will be taking another vacation leave." Hercules nodded firmly. "Nathaniel? Vacation leaves?" Kaden questioned. "May herself requested this vacation, Ever since Von's death he never really recovered the same. Even Komo Hiyota has been giving the boy guidance." Hercules explained. "So Nate's taking a vacation, huh? About time that kid took some time off. He's been working himself ragged lately," Kaden mused, his hands in his pockets. "But Von's death... it shook him. I don't think he ever fully recovered from that." Kash remained silent, his expression contemplative as he absorbed the information. "None of us will." Kash spoke up. Kaden nodded in agreement, a solemn expression on his face. "Yeah, you're right. We all carry that weight. Losing Von... it changed all of us." Kash exhaled heavily, a mixture of sadness and anger in his eyes. "I just wish we could've been there. Maybe we could've done something, anything to prevent it." "it wasn't in our control my dear..." Kaden rested a hand to Kash's shoulder. Kash closed his eyes, swallowing hard against the knot of emotion in his throat. "I know," he said, his voice thick with a mix of frustration and grief. "But I can't help but feel like I should've - could've done more." "You and Roman both fought heroically after Von fell. He is likely still beaming in pride from above as we speak." Hercules nodded confident as he stepped to a computer typing away to the keypad pulling up files working on locating Mason Davis the bounty hunter Taz. Kaden gave Kash a comforting squeeze on the shoulder, offering a reassuring smile. "Hercules is right. Von would be proud of both you and Roman. You both did everything you could." Kash took a moment to compose himself, nodding slowly in agreement. "You're right. I just... I miss him is all." "We all do," Kaden said softly, his voice carrying a hint of shared grief. They stood there in silence for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts and memories. Hercules continued working at the computer, quietly searching and tracking any information on Mason Davis. "Looks like our man Taz likes the local bars." Hercules spoke up. "Of course, he does," Kash said with a hint of a smile, a flicker of his usual lightheartedness returning. "Taz is likely propping up the bar at some dive as we speak." Kaden raised an eyebrow at the news, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Sounds about right. The guy probably considers a barstool a throne of honor." "Shall we pay some bar's a visit like old times?" Kash suggested at Kaden.  Kaden grinned, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "Oh, you know it. Old times indeed. Let's go see if this Taz is as much of a tough guy as he's cracked up to be." 

{To be continued}