A Villain's Hero

Chapter 42 - Rowan

Everyone was moving out of their way, and not just because they were trying to get away from the explosion as quickly as possible. Revenger was well aware of all the uncertain glances people threw at him as they tried to get past him. He didn't focus on them, though, instead trying to analyse the building in front of him.

"We'll go in from the side," Citadel echoed, snapping him out of his concentration. "There!" The villain shifted his gaze to where the hero pointed. The window on the fourth floor was still on the wall, but it was missing glass. It was both close enough and far enough away from the most collapsed second floor to be the best place to start.

"Lead the way." Revenger stepped back, letting Citadel go first. He knew best how to find the wall where they could get in, and he trusted him to get them in without a problem.

They stopped as close to the wall as they could and the blond hero held out his hand. "You have to trust me," Citadel said, as if it wasn't already clear that the villain trusted him completely. Instead of putting it into words, however, Revenger gripped his hand tightly and waited for further instructions.

"Don't let go of me and you'll be fine." Citadel took another step forward, placing one foot on the wall. Another step and he was standing completely on the wall, alternating gravity. "Take a step," he instructed Revenger. Even though they were in a serious situation, he didn't rush him, but gave him time to adjust. The villain appreciated that, but he also wanted to show him that he didn't have to go easy on him, so he stepped forward without hesitation.

The moment he placed his other foot on the wall, he held his breath. It was unnecessary, however, for Citadel had gravity firmly in his hands, or in this case, his feet, and they both stood on the side of the building as if it were second nature.

He could barely stop himself from uttering a gasp of admiration.

Luckily, he was wearing a mask over his face, so Citadel didn't see how impressed he was and just concentrated on climbing up. "Let's go."

Revenger's first steps into the heights were unsteady, but after a moment he got used to it, though he still gripped the hero's hand tightly. If it was too tight, Citadel said nothing.

Only once did he make the mistake of looking down. Not that he had a problem with heights, Cecil and his balcony were proof of that, but he was used to climbing with real gravity without the risk of flying into the atmosphere.

"Prepare for a change," Citadel warned him before he stepped through the window and his foot hit the floor. He stepped inside, then reached out his other hand to the villain and pulled him in.

When the hero let go and he stood with his feet firmly on the ground, he let out a sigh of relief.

"Are you all right?" Apparently the superhero had interpreted his silence in his own way and could see right through him and the mask.

"Fine," he assured him, clearing his throat. "Where to now?"

"You said these earpieces were unjammable, right? What about the explosion? Could it have damaged them?" Citadel tapped his ear where the tiny device was hidden.

"It should resist," Revenger replied. "I've never tested it with an explosion this big, though."

The hero nodded and, without further questions, decided to give it a try. He put his hand back to his ear and pressed the button to start the transmission. "Speedsonic, this is Citadel. Do you copy?"

"Loud and clear," came from the earpiece the villain had in his ear. While speaking only worked when the button was pressed, he only had to listen when receiving information. "How are you holding up?"