~No More Time~ (EraserMic)

Two A.M. Prologue

Darkness bathed the back alleys of the city, a light drizzle of rain pouring softly from the black sky stained with small dots of white, glowing faintly over the light clogged jungle of cement, a place that is always alive with sound, unless you were unfortunate enough to find yourself in this world's underbelly, the dark labyrinth of interlocking streets and shadowed midways that connected this hell to the outside, merging them together.

This was were the outcasts prowled, where villains hid and plotted free from watchful eyes, where drug dealers, gang members, thugs, thieves, and other criminal scum resided, lurking unchecked in the shadows of filthy alleys and broken windows.

In a way, this was his home.

High above the dirty streets of this hell he crouched, perched like a gargoyle on the harsh cement of the building's rooftops, his lithe body tensed and ready to pounce at the first sign of trouble, his usually tired black eyes glinting with an almost wild, untamed excitement. His heated breath spiraled up as milky white vapor, floating away with the breeze that blew through his feathery strands of ink black hair, obscuring the pair of golden-bronze goggles that rested over his now half closed black pupils, their lenses tinted and dark.

The scruffy shadow inhaled deeply, feeling the icy air sting his lungs while his heart pumped diluted adrenaline through his veins, a small flicker of excitement sparking in his chest as he rose from his watchful crouch, the wind tearing at his baggy black clothing. He yawned, clasping his hands above his head and leaning backwards slightly, satisfied when he heard his bones give several cracks as the night air surged through him, bringing with it a new energy.

This was what he lived for, these few, fleeting hours of pure, absolute darkness that coated the rooftops and blanketed the alleyways that lie hidden behind the lights of society.

When night fell, the world was his.

The alley cat smiled in spite of his usually emotionless attitude, taking a running start and launching his shadowed body off the rough cement of the rooftops, his feet hitting the next without a sound as he dashed through the night. He reached the end of the street without a sound, ducking back into the comforting shadows of a dilapidated billboard as he settled back into his usual watchful crouch, letting himself relax for a moment. Sighing quietly, his slid his hand into his pocket and pulled out his phone, checking the time.

1:59 a.m.

His shift was over for the night.

He rose to his full height, running a hand through his hair as he strolled down the rooftop, torn between his desire for sleep and the intoxicating lure of the night air.

Maybe I can stay out for just another hour.....

He stood there a moment, the phone in his hand as he debated his options, leaning towards another hour of hero duty, before a sudden thought entered his mind, reminding him that someone would miss him if he stayed to long. A soft sigh slipped past his lips, a smile forming as he dialed a familiar number and waited patiently as the dial tone rang out, replaced by a slightly electronic voice.

"Go for cowboy. Problems, Kitty-boy?" The alley cat growled at the name as the distorted voice crackled through the receiver, sounding a bit amused when it spoke to him. "Or, did you get your self into some trouble and need me to bail your emo ass out?"

He sighed in annoyance, keeping his voice level as he hopped up to the roof's cement curb, stopping directly on the edge and letting the toes of his boots hit the open air, his heels still planted firm.

"No, Snipe. I don't need you to bail me out, and I never will."

He heard the Wild West Hero chuckle into the receiver, the sound of swishing fabric echoing through his ears.