Swords and Shield

Chapter 5: Warm morning

Supervillain Thorn's attempt at terrorizing a club for superhuman, hero Supersonic saved the day

DC's hair almost burst into flames at the headline of the Castle Gazette. His eyes started to skim the content of the journal, and it was like being written about some completely different event from what he went through yesterday. The Supersonic bastard had made up an entire story about his anti-supe behaviour and his dark desire to eliminate all beings who can be superior to him. Instead of that bastard coming to that club for some shady business, it was turned into Thorn ambushing the innocent people and Supersonic came to the rescue. But he was used to that, being painted by the press to become a monster. In fact, he was happy to see the heroes started to beware of him after reading the articles. The worst thing about this was how they never mentioned Protector at all. He didn't expect the kid hero to actually say that Thorn wiped the floor with the two of them and they were only alive because he let them to, but the least he could do was saying he had some help from Protector! It's like the hero never came to aid. The picture of Supersonic grinning with fans at the club had nothing of Protector in it, and it made DC hated this bastard even more.

Not only arrogant, inexperienced and such a coward in real life, he was also a two-face, lying and ungrateful asshole. DC was a supervillain, for God's sake, and he couldn't stand that. Sure, he himself was a two-face, lying and ungrateful jerk, but come on, a hero had to have higher standard than that.

He furiously stabbed at his breakfast and brought it into his mouth, throwing the ipad onto the table. He only flinched and looked up when he saw the worried eyes of Marvel from the other side of the table.

"Hey? What's wrong?" The blond looked at him, reaching out to touch his hand. It was cool and calm, somehow making his rage disappeared within a second.

"Oh, uh, nothing. Just, you know, heroes." He rolled his eyes. "They're just bragging jerks. I'm sick of seeing them on the news."

"I don't see Protector bragging about anything." Marvel shrugged, had a bite out of his eggs and toast.

"Well, except for him." DC tried not to laugh. The blond looked like a petulant child defending his favorite artist from haters. "He barely shows up anymore. Guess he's bored of saving strangers."

"He did show up! He stopped a mugging the other day. Only three blocks from here." Marvel pouted, and DC had to hold back another laugh.

"Right, of course, I'm sorry."

"That Thorn guy was the one in hiding for days." Marvel aggressively chewed at a lettuce leaf. "The last time he showed up before yesterday was weeks ago. And the Castle Gazette's investigators said he was afraid of the Protector somehow."

"Oh, really?" Oh, really. "And why is that?"

"He had been attacking civilian non stop and eliminating superheroes, but he couldn't take Protector down like the others. He finally met someone who could stand against him. And the last time he fought Protector, he disappeared for weeks." Marvel made the funny gestures with his hands he always did when he was excited. Which was adorable. "Now he showed up but not with Protector anymore. I think he started to go after other heroes. Wherever Protector goes, he runs."

DC lifted his coffee to take a sip, hiding his grin behind the cup. He hoped Marvel wouldn't slip about the night before when Thorn left Protector alone even when he had the chance to kill, or it would be awkward. Now, when he stopped panicking, he glad he didn't hurt Marvel. "Nah, they're just making it up. Everyone knows Castle Gazette's a sensational tabloid, no more."

"Ah, so you think they're lying?" Marvel huffed. "Why is it so hard for you to admit that Thorn guy finally met his, say, nemesis? With Protector around, he didn't even dare to do anything."