The League

Chapter 19 - Tightrope

Two days passed, and Phoenix's burner phone was still silent. Sharmistha hadn't called or texted. He was so anxious about it that he actually started hoping to see her at the motel. Her choosing to contact him in person would be better than not contacting him at all...but at the same time, he didn't want her to know where he was staying. He wasn't at a different motel each night like he claimed, he was staying at one, and he half-expected her to have figured out which one by now.

After looping around a few blocks to make sure he wasn't being followed, Phoenix drove to Walker's in the afternoon. Both cars were parked in the driveway, but no one answered the door. He knocked again, looking around for a security camera to wave at, but there were none. Curiously, he tried the door handle.

It turned.

Phoenix shook his head. Not having a gate was one thing, but leaving the front door unlocked?

The foyer was empty, as was the kitchen. Phoenix went into the pantry, by himself for the first time, and pulled the lever. As the elevator descended and opened into the basement, he saw them both. Sofia was sitting at a table, her tablet reflected as a square in her reading glasses.

And Walker was on a tightrope.

Two high poles were set up in what had been empty space the last time Phoenix was here. Strung between them was a precariously thin tightrope that Walker was a third of the way across, and underneath was a thin blue mat that didn't look like it would help at all if he fell.

"What are you doing?" Phoenix asked.

"Balance practice," Walker said, carefully putting a foot forward. "Rooftops aren't as easy of a run as you might think. Not to mention trying to stay on top of moving vehicles."

He stopped halfway through, remaining still for a full minute. Sofia noticed and started shouting words of encouragement, but Walker sighed, lowering his arms to his sides. "Good enough."

He crouched down, flipped off the rope backwards, and landed on his feet on the mat, knees slightly bent. Phoenix winced at the thud when he hit the mat, but Walker laughed off the concern.

"I don't have superpowers," he said, shrugging. "So I have to learn to do other things."

"I expect you to die within five years," Sofia commented.

It was clear she was joking, but Phoenix had to agree with the sentiment. The life expectancy for an active superhero, especially a powerless one, couldn't be very high. It was a dangerous profession.

"Any word from the Nameless?" Walker asked.

"No."

"She must be busy," Sofia said. "Give it a few days. She'll come around."

They all nodded, but without any eye contact. Phoenix stared at his hands, fiddling with his fingers. He'd hoped to have more of an update for them. As it was, he'd come here to ask what the backup plan was if the Nameless decided to ghost him.

"Can you fight?" Walker asked suddenly.

Phoenix blinked. "What?"

"You don't look particularly intimidating or capable."

"I don't think I need to?" He shrugged. "I'm decent with telekinesis."

"Sure, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to know how to defend yourself physically, too."

Phoenix realized what he was getting at and shook his head. "Is this a convoluted way of saying you want to help train me?"

Walker smiled. "Is that a yes?"