Chapter Text
"Mon amour, I think your son has a nest of rats in his room." Constantine scowled and peered through Calls doorway. He tried to shut it on Constantines face, but his shoe caught it. He scowled deeper at Call.
He most certainly did not have rodents in his room, but even if he did, Constantines said it like it would be a bad thing. Con was just over dramatic, yes, Calls room was certainly messy, but who was he to comment on it? Especially when Call knew his dads garage was way worse.
"The only rat in this room is you." Call bit back, shoving Constantine out of his room, "now shoo."
Alastair materalized in the hallway, Havoc trailing behind him. "Callum, Constantine is trying to do something nice for you."
"He just wants to be nosy and poke through my stuff!" He threw his hands up in frustration. "Shouldn't you be at church or something? It's Sunday, the Lords day."
"Don't mock me."
"I'm not, just pointing it out."
"Service was earlier. Some people don't sleep till noon, you know." Constantine tried to sneak past Call. Call leaned to the right and stopped him. Con growled in frustration, and Call was pleased with himself.
It didn't matter how many times he told Constantine no, he was persistent in trying to get into Calls room. And when he did, he immediantly whipped out the extra sturdy trash bags and scoured Calls tiny room. Call watched from his swivel chair as Constantine rattled through his drawers and poked underneath Calls bed.
Call couldn't tell if Constantine was actually interested in cleaning his room or if he wanted to snoop, it was hard to tell with the act he put up when Alastair was around (he'd been lingering in the doorway, eyes fixated on Constantine like he'd just hung the moon and the stars. Call wanted to gag).
He'd checked his phone awhile go, with messages in the CSA group chat still flowing in consistently. Tamara had asked them all to meet at 4pm. Call wondered how he would explain that to his dad, that a girl wanted to hang out with him (well, not just him. He knew that would be the part they fixated on).
Coming out to his dad wasn't an issue, in fact, he never did come out. It was just something that he silently figured out. But still, that wasn't the point, Call has never had friends before. So how was he to explain that he had a whole group of them now (well, not really. They were less of friends and more of blackmailers forcing Call to take pictures for them).
Constantine had began to poke through his desk drawers down and Call felt the hair on his arms rise, it wasn't that he was hiding something (yes he was, he was hiding cigarettes and the spray paint he used for his insignia and possibly razor blades, but that wasn’t Cons business), he just didn't like Constantine poking his things.
Call slapped his hand away, "Quit it. I can clean my things just fine."
"Hiding something?" Constantine smiled. Call scowled. "There's no need to be defensive."
"I'm not defensive." He muttered and looked up at his dad with pleading eyes, Alastair just shrugged.
Then he sighed and approached Constantine, placing his hands on his shoulders and massaging them slightly, "Just leave him be, he's just being a teenager."
Call scowled, he wasn't just being a teenager, this was Constantine invading his privacy. And if you're wondering if Call would be stupid enough to keep his costume just laying around in his drawers or under the bed, he wasn't. He hid it in an old bag in the closet, somewhere he knew not even Constantine would dare to go.
Constantine leaned into Alastair's touch, exhaling a sigh through his nose. When he got like this, it was when Call wondered if everything wasn't an elaborate plan to get Call in his control and he really did love Alastair and he wasn't just a manipulating freak.
This wasn't Constantine. Constantine was a stone cold man that had taught Call how to take the air right out of a person and choke them until their eyes bulged. He was the man who had broken Calls wrist over and over again when he couldn't get the air to move the way he wanted. He was the man who pit Anti- G and Call together, and made them spar until one of them was a broken heap on the ground.
He wasn't the man in front of Call. He wasn't the man who laughed and playfully swatted Alastair's face away when he kissed Constantines cheek repeatedly.
Call gagged and rolled his eyes, "Y'all are gross."
"Nuh uh, kiddo." Alastair reached over and ruffled his hair.
"If you say you're in love, I will actually throw up." Call said and Alastair laughed.
Call didn’t know whether or not it hurt him seeing his dad happy, especially since his grins had always been so scarce. He knew it wouldn’t last.
It seemed like a pretty good time to bring up the fact that Call had to leave. Before, it didn't matter. Call could just leave a note and slip right on out, and Alastair wouldn't care. But Constantine constantly wanted to keep tabs on Call, and he wouldn't let him leave without permission from him. Despite the fact that he didn't even live there half the time, and wasn't even his actual step-father.
Call stood up and stretched out his leg, "I, uh, gotta go."
Alastair stopped laughing, "What do you mean?"
"Some kids from school, we're working on a project and they want to meet somewhere." Call responded. He didn't know what was the point of lying, he could've just said he was going to hang out with some friends, but that seemed wrong to say.
"How interesting." Constantine replied.
Call scoffed and turned his back to Constantine, and slipped past Alastair and into the hallway. Havoc whined. It was almost as if he could sense the impending argument that just might occur if Call pushed Constantine too far.
He could hear the clatter of footsteps behind him as he slipped on his Converse near the doorway. Constantine was frowning, he hated to be ignored as easy as Call ignored him.
Call sucked in a breath, “I’ll be back soon.”
”Well, I just don’t know if we should allow you out.” He huffed, “Especially with the recent crime and what happened at your school.”
“Who’s ‘we’? My dad is fine with it.” Call rolled his eyes and undid the deadbolt on his door.
“We’ll see about that.” He murmured. “Alastair, do you want Call leaving?” Constantine shouted over his shoulder and Alastair briefly appeared in the doorway.
”It’s dangerous, Callum.” He ran his hands through his hair.
Call rolled his eyes. If only he knew what he really got up to in his spare time. Maybe his brain would implode, or worse, he’d actually ground Call and that would be the end of Black Magic.
“I have my pocket knife and pepper spray.” Call flipped out his knife and dangled the pocket pepper spray he had on his lanyard along with his house key.
Then Alastair shrugged, and pinched the bridge of his nose, “It’s up to Con.” Alastair disappeared around the corner into the living room. Call heard the vacuum start up.
Constantine reached out and touched his shoulder, Call flinched as if he’d been burnt. It was a thrilling stand off, really, but Call had places to be— and Tamara seemed like a girl who would not like to be kept waiting.
“Don’t go.” Constantine hissed.
Call felt as if his throat was constricting, and his eyesight was becoming fuzzy. His heart beat loud and then louder.
”No.” He said more meek than he’d imagined in his head.
Consdantines hand traced Calls shoulder, then his neck, and it rested on Calls cheek. “He said it was up to me, and I say no. I don’t like you where I can’t see you.”
”Controlling much?”
He turned the knob on the door and Constantines grip became tighter, “You know he worries about you enough. Don’t give your father grief over something so little.”
The door swung open, and Call backed out of it, making sure to shrug off his hand in the process ”This isn’t about my dad, and you know it.”
“Callum, darling,” Constantine cruelly smiled. And suddenly the tension in his chest snapped and his heart dropped to the floor. He felt sick.
“No, do not darling me,” he hissed out, “Your little act may have worked on my dad but it won’t work on me. I’m leaving.”
“Callum don’t you dare,” Constantine’s expression twisted into anger.
It was just what he expected to happen. Call turned on his heel and ignored how Constantine shouted at him. He took extra care to slam the door as hard as he could. Then he finally took a clean breath of air.
With shaking hands, Call took his key and locked the door, out of muscle memory and to take comfort in a familiar routine.
Call usually didn’t take the subway places, it was a confining space and it was like practically asking to get captured. But he had to today, considering how far away the Smoothie Shack was in comparison to Calls house— and how sore his leg still was from the attack at the school.
Like usual, the train was packed like sardines and Call had to fight his way into it. Some nice lady gave up his seat for her, which he begrudgingly took and gave a small thank you to her.
It was only when Call stepped off the subway and back into the streets did he realize something. This was the first time he had ever hung out with someone from school. No, nevermind that. This was the first time he ever hung out with people in general.
What was the protocol for this sort of thing? They were all friends with each other, but were they friends with Call? No. It was going to be awkward, and they’d leave Call in the dust.
In the middle of the sidewalk, Call made a split second decision to spin around on his heel and walk back towards the subway. He’d embarrass himself, mess something up, and leave them hating him.
That day in Biology class was a total fluke, there wasn’t anything there to build a friendship up off of. And sure, Aaron smiled at him and Call smiled back, but that meant nothing. And sure, Tamara gave Call a granola bar because she noticed he didn’t have a lunch. But that was all purely courteous.
It didn’t mean anything.
Maybe this whole thing was fake, and they hadn’t actually wanted Call into the CSA. As soon as he’d get there, they’d jump him and kick him while he was down.
(He doubted that, why would anyone go to such a length?)
Someone shoulder checked him as he walked past, and Call turned around and sneered. But then he felt as if all the air had been sucked out of him.
”Oh sh— I’m sorry.” Aaron stared at him. “Oh! Call!”
“Watch it.” Call grumbled and rubbed his shoulder.
Then he smiled that stupid like puppy dog smile, “You’re kind of going the wrong way, you know that right?”
“Yes, I know that.” Call rolled his eyes. Aaron cocked his head at him, and Aaron had this weird effect on Call, where he could actually make Call feel bad about making him feel bad. “I just, I thought I forgot, you know what? Let’s go.”
If possible, Aarons smile got wider and he started walking alongside Call. He talked animatedly with him, chatting about soccer (Call knew nothing about soccer), and then a stray dog he’d found on the field one day after practice. Call tried to feign interest, but the mention of puppies was a hard thing to ignore.
It was easier than he’d thought it was going to be. And by the time they’d walked into the Smoothie Shack, Call was nodding along to Aaron’s anecdote of his old baseball team. Apparently, he’d moved around a lot become coming to Magista, and he had some borderline scandalous stories to share about other schools.
He cracked Call up, and soon he found Aaron laughed along to his jokes too— which was new. The only person who’d ever laughed at Calls jokes was Alastair, and even then they didn’t always land.
Tamara waved them over to a table in the corner, she had set up base there it seemed, with two computers and a green smoothie she sipped on. Jasper sat next to her, his face twisted into a scowl when he saw Call. He returned an equal scowl.
”Hey,” Tamara said, obviously distracted by what was going on on her screen, “The wifi in here is equivalent to a bag of rocks.”
Call slid into the seat next to Aaron. He snorted and leaned over to get a look at Tamara’s laptop. The CSA website was loaded up, but all it presented was a spinning circle.
Jaspers face was twisted more than usual, so there was some semblance of annoyance in it, “I keep telling her it shouldn’t be doing that! It should just display a blank screen, not the spinning wheel of death.”
“That just looks like normal buffering.” Aaron replied, leaning away from her laptop and back into his seat, “Why is your smoothie bright blue?”
”It’s blueberry.” Jasper said, as if it wasn’t the most obvious thing in the world.
”I think it’s more dye than blueberry.” He snorted, “Let me see your tongue, I bet it’s stained.”
”No way!”
”Do you think if we dump it on him he’ll look like a smurf?” Call elbowed Aaron and he gave a boyish giggle.
Jasper looked outraged and he turned to Tamara, “Do you hear this?”
”I think if there’s ever a live action smurf movie, Jasper should be Papa Smurf.” She replied, barely looking up from the screen of her laptop. But then she did a double take, and fully whipped her head around. “Oh my God! His tongue is bright blue!” She exclaimed, a mischievous light shining in her dark brown eyes.
Jaspers mouth snapped closed and he glared at her, probably wanting to reply with a comeback but not wanting to put his blue tongue on display for everyone.
”Two things,” Aaron held up two fingers, “One, I told you so. And two, there already is a live action Smurf’s.”
”Why do you know that?” Call side eyed him.
“It was a good movie.” He shrugged and Call restrained the urge to roll his eyes all the way to the back of his head.
She rolled her eyes, “Boys.” Then she moved her laptop further down the table and got out her phone, “I was going to show you it on my computer, but I guess not. This my friends, is from Alex Strike himself.”
”Who?” Call found himself saying, even if he already knew the answer. His brain had already tried to block out that encounter, shoving it into the redacted corners.
“My sisters boyfriend, self appointed sexy man.” She shook her head, scrolling through messages on her phone, “Found it!”
She flipped her phone around and Call felt his stomach do a flip, no, not a flip, a whole tumble. There was a photo of him and Golden Defender, looking sopping wet and annoyed.
Call couldn’t pinpoint when Alex had taken this photo, it was after he had taken his cloak off, but before Alex had began trying to interview them.
Then Tamara swiped, and she played a video. All it was was a black screen, but it was the audio that stood out.
Golden Defender: "I never heard about that."
Alex: “Yeah, I'm not supposed to know. But my dad works for the mayor and he tells me things, y'know?"
Golden Defender: "I guess it's a good idea. It'd make our jobs a lot easier to have less people around, and it would make people safer."
Black Magic: "It makes you wonder why it wasn't always there."
Alex: "People fought back. And I mean fought back. It would mean working overtime for the police. Since along with the curfew, theres gonna be police officers patrolling practically every street to enforce the law. Apparently Chief-of-Police Jericho bribed his mom on the Board to try and fight back the curfew law. Sketchy Shit.”
Jasper gawked. “That’s— I thought you were messing with us. He’s not even wearing his cloak.”
”He has the only known recording of Black Magic speaking.” Aaron murmured.
“I know!” Tamara said excitedly, “He’s been trying to get in contact with news stations and newspapers but they’re just ignoring him. Man if this— wait I haven’t showed you it yet.”
”It?” Call questioned, feeling his nerves rise a little. He picked at the remaining nail polish on his fingers as Tamara swiped wildly through her camera roll for something.
Then, she showed a photo of Golden Defender very obviously with his hand on Black Magics thigh. Call cringed intensely.
“Oh god.” He said, “Gay people are real? Someone call Channel 7.”
He felt Tamara kick him from underneath the table, and at first he thought he had done something wrong, but then he heard her small snicker and felt a small rush of pride.
“Shut up.” She rolled her eyes, “It could mean two things, either Black Magic and Golden Defender have worked with each other longer than they’d let on… or they know eachother in their civilian forms.”
”Leaning towards the latter.” Aaron replied without missing a beat.
”What makes you say that?”
”Well, for starters, don’t you think the press would’ve noticed a guy with a cloak hanging around one of the most easily identifiable person in Magista? People practically eat up every sighting of Black Magic,” He said, “For example, Black Magic had never allowed himself to be caught on camera for more than a few seconds before he saved Golden Defender on the bridge. And, it was only after that he was seen doing what I can assume is patrol with them.”
This was true. He’s actually gone on patrol with them again after that, but it was harder now, with Constantine spending nights at the Hunts instead of going back to his apartment (Call envisioned a golden pent house, especially with how much money he was presumed to have). The villains had been dead silent, along with the wolves after the attack on the school.
It left a lingering sense of dread in him, knowing that they were probably regrouping and planning at that very minute.
“Hmm.. true.” Call said, trying to make his voice even, “Or maybe, the image isn’t showing the context behind it. For all we know, Alex could’ve brought up something that related to Black Magics super traumatic back story. Like, orphans or something. And Golden Defender was trying to comfort him.”
”Why are you assuming he’s an orphan? He’s not Batman.” Jasper scowled.
Call kicked him from underneath the table, “It was just an example.”
”Whatever it is, it’s still a sighting of Black Magic.” Tamara clapped back. “I just find it odd no one’s taking the photos from him, I mean, I granted him access to an account on the CSA, but none of his posts are getting traction.”
”Maybe Black Magics some tech genius and fucked with the algorithm.” Call said, and let a small ironic smile slip. He was anything but a tech genius, he could barely operate his phone past the bare necessities.
Tamara shrugged and scrolled to another video, this time with actual images instead of a black screen.
It was of Call and Golden Defender, practically scurrying out of there. He saw himself cast a final glance over his shoulder before exiting out the door. The video stopped.
”Maybe people don’t believe it.” Aaron tried, “Jasper said it, he’s not wearing his cloak.”
”Golden Defender is very obviously standing right next to him.” Jasper said.
Behind them, a lady dropped her phone. It fell to the ground with a clatter and she hastily picked it up, sliding back into her seat. Her mop of mahogany hair was tied up into a bun, and her glasses slipped down her face haphazardly.
The first thing Call noticed about her was that she was young, but not so young she’d be in high school, she looked to be around college age. The second thing, was how uncanny familiar she looked. Like he’d seen her before, but only in a passing glance. For all he knew, she could’ve just been standing right next to him on the subway. But it wasn’t that. He knew it wasn’t that.
And it appeared to him that this girl was watching them, eavesdropping even. But it was too hard to tell.
”All I know is that they were very much there, and that Alex scared them off.” Tamara pouted. “He went into full conspiracy theory mode.”
Jasper and Aaron nodded solemnly, as if this was a regular occurrence for Alex. He hoped it wasn’t, and then he felt a little bad for his girlfriend if it was a regular occurrence. Call looked around at them confused.
”He does this often?” He asked. Call was still eyeing the girl behind them out of the corner of his vision.
Tamara nodded dramatically with wide eyes, “Yeah. It’s why he keeps losing these internships. He scares off anybody he’s interviewing.” She shook her head, “This isn’t even the craziest thing he’s said about the superheroes. He had a theory that Golden Defender and Goldi were the same person.”
”Was it because of the name?” Jasper asked.
”Yeah. Only difference was that Goldi was a girl, but Alex chalked it up to him pretending to be a girl.”
”I feel like Black Magic would’ve noticed if Golden Defender showed up at a fight.” Aaron reached over the table and grabbed Tamara’s smoothie, taking a sip. “And I feel like he’d be less concerned about taking a video and more concerned about helping out.”
”That’s what I said!” She exclaimed.
Now that he knew someone behind him was watching them, he could feel eyes being drilled into the back of his head. All he needed was a better look at her.
For once, he had an idea.
While Tamara and Aaron droned on about Alex and his internships. Call set his phone down on the table, and then swiped it off, letting it go flying behind him. Jasper snorted.
”What the hell are you doing?” He laughed.
Call glared at him, “Shut up.”
He stood up out of his seat and turned on his heel to grab his phone. The girl who had been watching them previously was staring at him with wide eyes, giving a deer in the headlights look. Call bent over to get his phone. He grabbed it, then made eye contact. Then it clicked.
It took all his willpower to not snap his head up, instead, he just calmly looked away and sat right back down in his seat.
Goldi.
He remembered the fight in the warehouse. Anti- G swooping in, asking Call for a rematch, still bitter than he could never win at sparring. Call have him that rematch, and it turned out the Anti- G was stronger than he remembered, or maybe, Call was getting weaker.
Whatever the case was, the fight was just them going in circles over and over again. It was quite aggravating, then Call used a sharp and fast gust of wind to knock a rafter down, and send it tumbling onto Anti- G. That was that. That was all. Until he saw a girl go flying out from behind a pillar, making a beeline for the door. Call had tried to stop her, but she was too quick.
And that’s why he returned in his civilian identity, because maybe she was just afraid of Black Magic, but she wouldn’t be afraid of Call. He never found her, and then he took the photos he later uploaded to the CSA.
And then he had lied to both Golden Defender and Alex, saying he never knew anyone was there.
Sure, you could argue that the girl may just be a lookalike to Goldi, with the same hair and same deer in the headlights look when she’s startled. But being a superhero and being Constantines apprentice had caused him to have eyes for this sort of thing. He just needed to jump start his brain to get all the memories flooding.
“I guess that’s why no one’s believing Alex,” Aaron said, snapping Call out of his reverie.
”Huh?”
”He’d done this before, lying in interviews. That’s why he’s lost so many internships and is being denied them now.” Aaron sighed, “It’s like him to do something like this.”
”I thought you said it was because of his conspiracies?” Call questioned.
”Well that’s only part of it.” Tamara has her laptop in front of her again, and it seemed like she was fed up with the wifi and rebooting the whole computer. “He treats these conspiracy theories like they’re facts, and basically deludes himself, convincing himself that they’re real. He’ll do anything to convince everyone of it, even lie, and it just makes employers get frustrated with him and let him go. He’s got, er, some anger issues.”
Call understood. Constantine had some serious anger issues.
Jasper scrunched his nose up in thought. Aaron nodded. Some silence fell over them, and it was what Call had feared— awkwardness. Was he supposed to fill in the gaps of the conversation? What was there more to say?
It didn’t matter, Tamara spoke, “I think it’s the website thats down.”
”What?” Jasper said, “Give me that.” He took the computer from her and began typing rapidly.
Call couldn’t see his face, but he could certainly see Jaspers face. He began to bite his bottom lip and squint his eyes.
”It’s not responding.” He murmured, “It’s all jacked up.”
”What’s all jacked up?” Aaron asked.
”The website!” He hissed, “Nothing I do is fixing it. It’s like it has a mind of its own, and that mind is choosing to make the whole website commit suicide.”
Call casted a short glance behind him, feeling itty bitty pricks of dread begging to take root in his stomach. ”Jeez. Dramatic much?”
Tamara looked like she was having an epiphany. Her face set and she turned, “What if… the website does have a mind of its own.”
“You sound like Alex.” Jasper deadpanned.
”I think I phrased that wrong.” She said. “I meant as in: someone else is controlling it.”
“Well that’s impossible, I put up several safe— safe guards.” Jaspers voice trailed off.
Call didn’t like the sound of a scared Jasper, and apparently neither did Aaron, because he abruptly stood up and walked over to behind Jasper, so he could get a look at the screen. His green eyes went wide. Call figured he had to stand up and investigate too, so he crowded around Tamara’s laptop.
At first, Call didn’t understand what made them so scared. But then he realized, their website had been hacked and in place of the website was a video.
Tamara reached over and pressed play.
“Greetings there. I am the Enemy of Death, and this is my accomplice, Joseph.” A man in a dark cloak, with a stark silver mask to contrast it, said. He gestured next to him to an older man, in the same type of cloak, just missing a mask. “We are the two individuals that organized the attack on Magistas high school. And we will do it again, perhaps not to your feeble high school, perhaps somewhere larger, somewhere of more importance, if you do not listen to me.” His voice was smooth, like butter.
”We’ve put this video across the web, hitting Magistas most famous news stations and web pages, just so our message can be heard.” Joseph began to speak, “We are going to take control of the mayors office, using any means necessary. And if you try and stop us, we will wreak havoc in your city.”
”I assure you, we do have the means to tear your city apart.” The Enemy picked up where Joseph left off, “The attack on the high school was merely childs play, we gave your children our mercy— but we will not give it to you if you refuse us.”
”Try and stop us as you might, superheroes. But we know you, perhaps better than you know yourselves.” Joseph laughed, a bitter sound, “We’ll be waiting—“
”—And watching.” The Enemy said, “Good day, citizens of Magista.”
And just like that, the screen went dark. The whole screen, Tamara’s laptop completely shut down— making mechanical sounds of struggle as it attempted to reboot. Tamara slammed her screen shut, and winced.
”It’s overheating.” She explained. “What should we do? The city is in danger.”
Jasper gave her a look, “Nothing. We’re not superheroes. I’m not risking my life for some attempted power play on the city. And besides, you saw how the superheroes took down the villains at the school. It’ll be no problem for them.”
”Cant you listen, Jasper?” Aaron snapped at him. Call cheered him on in his head. “We need to stand up as citizens and help them, this won’t be a foe that they can face alone!”
”I agree!” A girl shouted.
The girl— Goldi, Call had assumed— was standing up from her seat now. She pushed her glasses up and her face flushed when she saw the expressions on their faces. Jasper snickered.
“I mean, well, I was listening from the video from over here and I’ve witnessed a villain attack myself,” She said and began to walk over there, “Black Magic could barely beat one guy alone, and the way the Enemy talks makes me think he has a whole army. We need to stand together as a—“
”Hold on, backtrack,” Tamara held a hand up, “Black Magic?”
”My name is Verity Torres, but I’m Goldi online. I posted that video, I let the world see Black Magic.” She said, “But then I cowered, living in fear that Anti- G might find me, or some villain will get me because of what I did. Silly fear, I know.” She blushed. Call felt his chest get tight again and his throat constrict, just like it did with Constantine. Bad memories floating up to haunt him. “It was after that moment, when I saw him fight, it was when everything felt so real to me. But I won’t cower any longer! I’ll do anything to help!” Verity slammed a hand onto the table.
“You’re.. you’re Goldi?” Jasper looked like his was in disbelief.
”Yeah.”
“And you want to help?”
”Yeah!”
The four of them looked at each other simultaneously, well, Jasper was mostly just scowling at Tamara probably trying to ask her with his eyes why she would ever bring this up and have a crazy lady come over here.
”There’s charities and donations to superhero funds.” Aaron tried.
”No! I want to get out there and— and really help people!” Verity cried.
”Then start.” Tamara stood up, “Make an organization, rally people, go to 5ks in honor of lives lost during superhero battles, you don’t know how much a little helps.”
She nodded slowly.
”Guys, I have to go.” Tamara’s voice quivered a bit, “My parents.. they’re on the Board. My sister says they could be in danger. Apparently this video got broadcasted on the news.” She shook her head, “And Verity? Go big or go home.”
Tamaras dark locks swished as she made her way out through the door with practiced ease. She left the three of them staring at each other, and Verity looking in, as if she was watching them through a window.
Then Verity nodded her head, as if she was thinking to herself about something important. Her eyes lit up like the fourth of July, and she bounced out of the smoothie shack.
It made Call a little worried what she might do, like maybe run at the Enemy with a baseball bat and start swinging wildly at his head. These people didn’t know what they were dealing with. Who they were dealing with. If they got too close, they might end up just like the wolves.
Call half considered running after her, but then he realized he couldn’t and would just make a fool of himself. And besides, a girl like that with so much fire in her would need more than just Call to stop her.
Jasper took a long sip of his smoothie, “Well? Gonna run after her Captain America?” He looked up at Aaron.
”Shut your mouth.” Aaron shook his head, “I’m leaving. Just think about it, both of you.”
Aaron was still shaking his head in disappointment and disapproval when he walked out the door.
”Are you crazy too?” Jasper asked.
”Aren’t we all?” Call said, already walking away from Jasper.
He had a mayor to save.
——
Turns out, saving a mayor was way more uneventful than he had imagined. The biggest conflict that had happened was when Call was leaving and Constantine stopped him.
Call practically had his whole costume on when it happened. Constantine knocked on his door and Call had ripped off his shirt and stuffed his cloak under his bed with such swiftness, it even surprised Call.
”Mon fils, where are my keys?” Constantine said, opening the door without Calls permission.
Call pulled his best scowl on him, “Why would I know?”
”Why are you standing in the middle of your room shirtless?” He asked, giving Call a weird look. He waved him off, “Oh, well you’re always touching my things, I figured you’d know where it’s gone.”
”I don’t touch your stuff!” Call was offended.
Constantine merely shrugged and turned to shut the door, his eyes narrowed, though, and he stopped, “Callum, darling, what is on your wrists?”
”Ugh, just get out.” Call felt his mouth dry out and clam up a bit.
They were just old wounds. But it still hurt when people pointed them out. That was all, and frankly, it was none of Constantines business. It was just another way to get Call to stay longer and let Joseph capture the mayor.
Speaking of which, why was Constantine even here still? He should’ve been out playing supervillain. Maybe he actually couldn’t find his keys.
”Excuse me?” Constantine crossed his arms.
”My bad, please just get out.” Call corrected himself with a sneer, “It isn’t your business.” The door slammed loudly. Havoc, who was laying on his bed(and occupying all of it) whined at him.
“Callum!” Constantine growled. Then he heaved an exasperated sigh.
For a moment, Call held his breath, heading Con shift his weight from behind the door. Then, footsteps. He was in the clear. With renowned speed, he put on the rest of his costume and leapt out the window, bouncing from roof top to roof top, letting the wind support his leg.
Call lurked in the shadows of roof of the building next to city hall, he saw as Golden Defender and the rest of his team met at the bottom.
It made Calls stomach lift a little as Golden Defenders head immediately snap up and scour the rooftops for him, it made Call feel wanted. Which was definitely not an emotion he had time to dwell on.
When he felt the eyes of Golden Defender on him, he gave a small wave. Blaze looked over and waved too, but she was waving him down.
Call sighed, wondering if he should really be doing this. But he did it anyway, he vaulted down the roof, manipulating the air around him so he could land softly onto the ground. He wasn’t an idiot, and he always lead with his good leg.
“Good to see you,” Blaze gave a nod to him.
”Mhm.” He responded.
At the bottom of the building, it was louder than Call expected. There was a crowd of people at the bottom, most of them police officers, but some looked as if they could be on the Board. They had the whole road closed off, with bright big barricades sitting at the end of either side of the street. As if that could stop the Enemy!
Call hadn’t fought with him in years. Technically, he hadn’t fought with him at all. He’d gotten spared. Or maybe he was just lucky his dad was hot enough for Constantine to not brutally murder and steal Call. It didn’t matter, he didn’t have a time rewinding superpower.
He didn’t know how this fight was going to go, if this fight was going to happen at all. He was clammy with anxiety again.
A hand clapped his shoulder and he flinched, it was Golden Defender, “Nervous?”
“Aren’t we all?” He breathed out, keeping his voice monotonous.
Blaze shifted her weight, she’d traded her tank top for a long sleeve to accommodate for the cooling weather, “I’m not. I’m ready to kick some ass.”
”You know you can’t just set the building on fire, right?” Golden Defender retracted his hand from Calls shoulder, “That’d be arson.”
”I have other ways to fight!” She exclaimed.
A group of people began to make their way over to them, Call noticed two familiar faces: Jericho Madden and Eliza Madden (who he had only met once, and she had brutally insulted their apartment). Jericho was in uniform, directing the officers around him to go to place from place, Eliza seemed to be telling him where to place who.
“Superheroes!” A man called out, “Thank you for coming!”
Golden Defender flashed this man a smile, “It’s not an issue, Mayor Graves.”
So that’s who he was. He was short and had a little of a belly, not only that, but he had a remarkable bald spot. Call figured if there was a competition for best bald spots, he’d get first place.
Mayor Graves came over and shook Golden Defenders hand firmly. “We appreciate all that you’re doing for this community. This Enemy of Death will be no match for you three.. er.. four.” He gave a nod in Calls direction, “It’s pleased to meet you.”
Call nodded dumbly. Was he supposed to say something? He looked over at Blaze for insight, but she was too busy nodding along to what another man in a suit was saying. He had his hand clasped firmly on Eliza’s shoulder. Call deduced that must be Augustus Strike.
Alongside the mayor was Jericho, who was staring into Calls eyes, “My name is Jericho Madden, and I’m the Chief of Police currently.”
“Uh huh.” Call managed out.
Despite being fraternal twins, one thing that Jericho had in common with Constantine was his eyes. It made Calls heart beat faster and faster, and he felt as if someone was sitting on his chest.
“We’d like for this to go as smoothly as possible, so let me make something clear,” Jericho began, making sure he had all of their attention, “The police have right of way in this situation. Yield for them, that’s all I ask. It will cost you lives if you interfere with our work.”
”With all due respect sir,” Insight started, and that made Call jump. He had been so quiet, so lost in thought. “This won’t be a situation best handled by police. I’ve got a read on what’s to come. Wolves are coming down broadway, Crimson and Anti- G are leading the pack. I can only presume that the Enemy and Joseph will be taking advantage of Joseph’s power and teleporting in.”
”What about Obscurity?” Asked Golden Defender.
Insight shook his head. There were beads of sweat on his forehead, and he looked flushed from what Call could see on his mask. “No sign of him, I can’t deduce whether or not he’ll show up later though.”
”The police force don’t have the power to deal with Obscurity.” Blaze said firmly, “His only weakness is fire. And unless the police have flamethrowers, leave him to me.”
Jericho raised a single eyebrow, “Well from what we know right now, he’s not coming. The right of way still belongs to the police.”
”Don’t care.” Call said, then he turned to Insight, “I’m checking Broadway to see their progress so you don’t strain yourself too hard.”
”Report back.” Golden Defender said.
Jericho held his hands out in front of Call, “Hey now—“
Call pushed off his good leg and let the wind take him. He pulled his power out from his core, heading the whooshing wind as he hopped onto the top of the City Hall building. His eyes scoured the ground below as he continued onward.
And sure enough, as he landed on top of the tailors shop, he began to see the onslaught of wolves making their way through the streets. Four, maybe five wolves if there were some stragglers behind them Call couldn’t see. They were baring their teeth at civilians, but they didn’t attack. Thankfully.
Among them, Call spotted Anti- G and a man in all red. He assumed that was Crimson, and he knew little about him other than what the team had told him. By now, he’d figured out that the villain with the fog had been him. But they were getting close, faster than Call had thought they would.
Call had no choice but to retreat, diving off the building and practically catapulted himself back towards City Hall. His heart thrummed from behind his ribs, he couldn’t tell if it was from using his power or if it was from nerves. Maybe both.
He let himself take a breath as he landed, letting his feet get used to the ground again.
Then Call spoke, “They’re coming rapidly. Approaching to the West.”
“Down North?” Blaze asked. The irony that North street faced West wasn’t lost on Call. “Insight you said they were on Broadway.”
”They were!” He threw up his hands, “They move quick. Jericho, you need to—“
”You don’t get to call the shots.” Jericho announced. He got the same pissed off look on his face that Constantine always did. “You directly disobeyed the law by sending What’s-His-Face off to go investigate.”
Mayor Graves had been nodding along to Golden Defender, but he had stopped to look over at Jericho. Maddens had a tendency to talk loud. And to their luck, Eliza had noticed them.
She began her approach toward them, heels clacking. Mayor Graves wasn’t far ahead of her, alongside Golden Defender.
”What’s the issue?” Eliza said cooly.
Jericho glared at Call, “They’re disobeying the law.”
“We’re trying to stop the mayor from being killed.” Call retorted, taking a step towards Jericho.
“Have some faith, Jericho.” She softened her look at him. Call resisted the urge to gag because she looked just like Constantine. All the Maddens looked eerily similar to each other in their own ways.
“When has having faith in superheroes gotten us anywhere? Crime is still rampant!”
“Well, you’re the police chief.” Blaze glared.
Jericho returned an equally icy glare back, “I don’t have time to argue with you. Just let the police handle this for once!”
Call felt his anger boil over and he snapped, he whirled on Jericho, “Do you even know who we’re dealing with? Do you even know what he did to those wolves? Do you even know what he can do to you?”
Does he know?
”Can we all stop being vague and actually explain what he can do?” Insight yelled. He wiped a bead of sweat off his forehead and bounced on his toes a little bit. He looked amped up.
He glared at Insight, “Mind control, he’ll root himself into your brain then—“
Shots began to get fired. Golden Defenders head snapped over to the source of the sound. They’re here.
It was a little late for shooting, though, because their bullets did nothing when gravity got twisted and all their bullets did was fall to the ground. Wolves began to jump the barricades, jumping on police officers and scrabbling towards the building.
Crimson ran in, knives in hand, while Anti-G covered for him, making sure no police officer would be able to get a shot on them.
“How did they move so quick?” Golden Defender gasped, before he began sprinting like a mad man towards the wolves. A stop sign dislodged itself from the ground and was rammed into the side of a wolf, all by his doing.
“Protect the mayor!” Blaze shouted, she ran after Golden Defender.
Insight nodded, taking the mayor by his shoulder and into City Hall. Augustus and Eliza ran in after them, before two police officers intercepted them, dragging them into their cruisers and speeding off. So much for the extra help.
But where was the Enemy?
Where was Constantine?
All the hairs on Calls arm stood up as he watched the wolves break through the masses of officers. Jericho could handle the job. He floated down the steps, weaving in between the people rushing inside to escape the onslaught of attacking wolves.
With a gust of wind, he pinned a particularly rabid looking wolf against a building, he felt it struggle against the brick— growling and panting. It’s be easy to just end the fight right there by taking the breath away from all these wolves. But Call swore he wouldn’t, not unless he had too.
Another wolf pounced on Call, and he felt his leg twist out from underneath him. But one does learn how to break a potentially incapacitating fall, so he slowed himself with wind— no matter how much focus it took out of him.
Sharp claws dug into Calls chest, it stung and he could feel the rush of warm blood beginning to spill out of it. Call brought up his leg and kicked with all his might onto the wolves stomach. He was only satisfied when the wolf rolled off of him, curled into its stomach and whimpering.
Wolf #1 was back on him again. Call questioned just how he was able to even tie up these wolves last time. He also questioned his sanity, but that wasn’t important.
Circles and circles.
“Damn it.” Call hissed out, trying to not curl into himself as the pain of his injury pulsed throughout his body.
Call stirred up the debris on the ground, launching an onslaught of dirt, pebbles, and even some bigger rocks towards Wolf #1’s eyes. He took the opportunity when it was on the ground, shaking its head with its eyes squeezed shut and snarling, to land a few good kicks to the face.
But it was a wolf, a particularly large wolf at that, and a feeble human couldn’t overpower it with a kick.
The wolf caught his legs with its teeth, and he was dragged to the ground. Luckily, the wolf released its grip and instead pinned Call down, properly invading his personal space. He twisted his body in attempt to get away, but the wolf lazily swatted towards Calls neck and placed its paw down.
And to make matters worse, Wolf #2 was up again and wolves definitely held grudges.
Call had kicked again, and again, but it seemed like that would only work once with the wolves. He could try and use his power, but there’s no telling where the wind might end up considering both his hands were practically pinned behind his head. The wolf growled in his face, and Call saw as Wolf #2 circled around them.
He was shaking, he knew that much, the wolf inched closer to Calls neck with bared teeth. And Call hated this wolf, he hated his leg, he hated the wolf behind him, he really hated his leg, he hated Constantine, he hated how useless he got, he hated it all.
Call squeezed his eyes shut.
Several gunshots rang out and he felt the heavy pressure of his chest lift. Call wrenched open his eyes and leapt back, far away from the staggering wolf. Crimson blood spread across the pavement, and the wolf was whimpering and whining. Wolf #2 scrammed quick, running back into the direction of City Hall.
Jericho had shot the wolf, but Call wasn’t looking, he was thinking. The whole plaza was a mess, Anti-G had disappeared, Blaze barely held her ground against a wolf or two, they moved too quick for her to strike a match for her control, or better yet, set the wolves themself on fire. Insight was fending Crimson, swinging punches and landing less than he swung. But hadn’t he gone inside? Where was Golden Defender?
His brain buffered and then came to a conclusion.
One beat, two beat, Call couldn’t afford to wait there any longer, he had to get moving. He moved as fast as his leg would let him, balancing himself with the wind, but his good leg had been damaged when the wolf bit down on it earlier, so he was fighting a losing battle.
It was a holy shit thought when Call realized Golden Defender had made the same acute observation. The wolves had run into City Hall, and dogs (wolves and dogs were the same thing, right?) always returned to their masters. Therefore, Insight was actually right (of course he was).
Call slammed open the doors to the City Hall, expecting a commotion, but inside, it was dark and quiet. He could hear his own labored breaths as he began his descent indoors.
The mayors office was on the floor below, so that’s where he had to go. And as he flew down the stairs, blood rushing in his ears and panting, he figured that’s probably why it was silent upstairs.
After the old heroes, the city made some major improvements around town, such as; heavier doors, thicker walls, not so break-in-able bank vaults. Turns out, City Hall added in steel doors to the more important offices.
If Call could dramatically kick down doors, he would. But he couldn’t, so he had to settle for pushing open the steely door into the corridor below. He knew he had the right door when he found the one with scratch marks on it.
Then came the chaos.
It was a lobby room in utter disarray, the reception desk tipped on its side, pictures ripped off the walls, and light fixtures haphazardly hanging from the ceiling.
Golden Defender and Joseph were circling each other in the middle of it all. Golden Defenders lip was split and blood trickled down his face, he could assume Joseph would look just about the same.
Joseph delivered a sharp kick to his gut, and Call could watch no longer. He sent over a sharp burst of air, knocking Joseph off his feet once more. He fell to the floor with a dull thud. Call joined Golden in the center of the room.
”Ah, the prodigy. Hello again.” Joseph said, as calmly as ever.
Golden Defender looked wildly infuriated with Joseph, “Where is he?”
”Where is who?” Call said, “The mayor? You lost the mayor?”
“Me and Insight swapped places, and in the 30 second interval we did so, the mayor disappeared into thin air.” He explained without taking his eyes off Joseph.
“Just like a certain someone’s power.” He murmured.
Joseph just sighed and wiped blood away from his nose, Call was pleased to see it continue to dribble down. “I don’t know where Mayor Graves is, I assure you though, my master is taking good care of him.”
Good care. The longer those words echoed in Calls brain the more it turned into: “I’m taking good care of your son.” and, “He will be in our good care,” and, “Constantine will be gentle, I swear, he’ll take good care of you.”
White hot rage formed in Calls gut. He punched Joseph in the nose, as hard as he could. Joseph made a disgruntled noise and gritted his teeth. He slammed his boot down on his chest. Joseph crumpled to the floor.
“Where is he?” Golden Defender asked again, not raising an eyebrow to Calls beat down.
Joseph laughed cruelly, “I’ve told you again and again. I don’t know.”
Call felt a cool breeze in the room, at the time he was unable to tell that he had brought on the breeze, but Joseph could. He raised his chin and gave a very pleased smile.
”You wasted your time.” He said, and Call felt himself slipping. Another gust of wind tore through the room. “Careful now, little dove, you’re causing a stir.”
Call felt a cold flash in his body. He was acutely aware that he was trembling again, from rage. Just who did Joseph think he was?
”We need to tie him up,” murmured Golden Defender, “do you have any rope?”
”Why would I carry rope on me?” Call replied, his voice came out more strained than he thought.
”It seems like a useful thing to carry.” He said.
”Then why don’t you carry some?” Call grumbled, “we should just break his legs and be done with it.”
Now Golden Defender gave him a look. It wasn’t like he could do much, Joseph was on the floor, panting and broken heap.
And then he wasn’t.
How was this possible? What even was the science and logic behind his power? He vanished into thin air, Golden Defender swung around with widen eyes. Call felt a sharp kick his left leg, his bum leg, and then a bloom of pain before he fell to the floor.
His head got all fuzzy from the pain, and Call felt like he couldn’t move. He really didn’t want to move either, knowing that if he tried, he’d be in for a world of pain.
For an old guy, Joseph was surprisingly agile in a fight. Golden Defender swung for his head and he ducked under, sending a punch towards his solar plexus. When he was doubled over, Joseph grabbed his hair and threw Golden Defender to the floor— much like he had done with Call.
Joseph held his boot to Golden Defenders throat, and that got Call popping right back up on his feet, no matter how heavy he seemed or how bad it hurt.
”Never let your guard down, that’s the number on rule in fighting,” Joseph said, more pressure was applied to Golden Defenders neck, and he heard a choked gasp from him. “Tsk, tsk, this was even easier than I thought it would be.”
“You haven’t accounted for me yet,” growled out Call. He was shocked his voice could even go that low.
He shifted his weight to take the strain off his leg. Golden Defender was breathing erratically as Joseph held fast to him.
”Haven’t I?” He shook his head, “I know all about you, Black Magic. I know more than you, I know everything.”
Call ignored how his words stirred up dread deep in his gut, “You’re such a corny villain, you know that right?”
”Don’t ignore it,” he sneered, “Come with me. Aren’t you curious? Don’t you want to know? Don’t you want to remember who I am?”
”Not particularly.” He said, trying to will some evenness in his tone.
Call was curious about what he could mean, but at the same time, did he really want to know? Nothing good could come out of knowing. He figured it would just add more onto the pile of trauma Constantine had made for him.
He had to move this along, Golden Defender was choking on air now. Joseph was pressing so hard he was cutting off the flow.
It strained his body, and sent shockwaves up his leg as he moved, tackling Joseph to the floor. He could’ve used his power, but he was getting exhausted, and he couldn’t risk accidentally passing out in the middle of a fight.
Joseph rolled. Call didn’t let up.
“You’re a liar.” He hissed at him, “Tell us where Mayor Graves is.”
”Or what?”
They rolled on the floor again and Call was able to knee Joseph in the gut. He had the advantage then, and Call threw Joseph off of him. Not that Call had the strength or energy to get up. Call looked to his right, Golden Defender was still on the ground, but he saw the subtle rise and fall of his chest. That was all that mattered.
Joseph caught his breath before shakily standing, “I said, or what? Answer me when I speak to you!”
”What— What happened to keeping me in good shape, huh?” He rasped out, feeling the pain in his joints as he rose to his feet, “Did your master give the order to beat me into a bloody pulp?”
”You provoked me first, it was fair game.” Joseph spat out.
Call shook his head, “he’ll be so disappointed in you.”
It was risky for him to push at Joseph’s buttons like this, because who knows what would happen? The people that Constantine pick to train, the people he picks to be close to him, they’re all similar. They always have one thing that makes them tick, something exploitable to Constantine.
”Stop that.”
”I can’t believe an old geezer like you is afraid of disappointing a 30 year old twink.” Call snorted, taking a step towards Joseph.
He ignored how every muscle in his body screamed for him to stop. How all he wanted to do was collapse to the floor, or rather become one with the floor.
“That isn’t it, you're too naïve, Little Dove.” He narrowed his eyes at Call. “You and I are one and the same, but we are different too. Oh, so different.”
“How so?”
”Wouldn’t you like to know?” Joseph laughed drily. Call figured knowing would come with knowing who exactly Joseph was. “Keep your friends close, but your enemies even closer.”
”You repeat yourself a lot,” Call replied.
“I need to. You’ve got a thick skull,” he took a step back.
Call lunged.
With swift swish of Joseph’s robe, he disappeared into a black puff of air. And Call fell to the floor, hard. At least this time he fell onto his stomach and not his leg.
The tile felt cool against his skin, and it cooled the stinging sensation from the long and deep cuts from the wolves. He could fall asleep right there, in fact, he just might.
He was so sick of Constantine and his games, he was so sick of it all.
Someone rubbed his back gently, “Come on. We have to go.”
Call didn’t move. He felt like he couldn’t move.
“We have to go! Get up!”
He turned his head so he could see who was speaking to him. It was Golden Defender, of course it was, who else would it be?
Call let himself get yanked by the hood of his cloak up. Golden Defender grabbed him by his shoulders and looked Call dead in the eye with a determined look.
”I know where the mayor is.”
He blinked a few times and then sputtered, “You do?”
Golden Defender nodded, “I think.. I think he might be on the roof.”
That was all Call needed to hear. He was already flying on his feet and out the room, Golden Defender coughed a little as they ran up the stairs. Turns out being choked doesn’t do well for stamina and air flow.
As they returned to the main floor, Call allowed for him to catch his breath. Then he whirled on Golden Defender.
”The roof?” He asked.
Golden Defender nodded again and cleared his throat, “Joseph commanded the wolves to go to the Enemy, and then we began to fight. But the wolves would be in here right now if the Enemy was up here.”
”How would the wolves get onto the roof?”
”Anti-G, obviously.” Then Golden Defender pointed, “See that? It’s an open window.”
The window was less open more than it was completely shattered. It had to have taken up more than half the wall it was on. Call wondered how oblivious he had to be to miss this earlier.
He walked over to the window, glass crunching under his boots as he looked out and up. Then Golden Defender nodded and motion for Call to come over too.
“Think you can give me a boost up?” He murmured and Call nodded.
He wondered why he was unable to make himself float with his telekinesis. Golden Defender precariously made his way out the window, being as silent as he possibly could, and held out a hand to help Call out as well. Gratefully taking it, he stepped out.
”I see shadows,” he hissed out, “and I hear growling. From the wolves.”
”I assumed,” Call replied.
With a great big push, Call created a gust of wind large enough to knock Golden Defender onto the roof as he jumped. Call did the same for himself, the act of straining his leg muscles making him wince.
Once on the roof, he didn’t have time to think before the jaws of a wolf was on him.
With a swift, instinctual motion, Call twisted his body to evade the ferocious jaws of the wolf. The wolf pressed on, recovering quick and snarling close to Calls face.He swiftly countered the attack by summoning a swirling vortex of wind around him. The gust whipped through the air, forcing the wolf back and temporarily disorienting the creature.
Before the wolf could get more ground in, another wolf slammed into it, Call figured it was due to Golden Defenders telekinesis as he laid on the concrete, attempting to catch his breath. Call held out a hesitant hand, and Golden Defender took it.
“I guess we can say we’ve both saved eachother asses now,” he said with dry humor. Golden Defender cracked a small smile.
He turned quickly however, the smile erased off his face. The wolves were now in a crumpled pile in the corner, and normally Call would feel bad about harming animals, but it was hard to when they had been trying to kill you moments earlier. Logically he knew it was because they were under the influence of the Enemy, or rather Constantine, but things were moving too quick for Call to think logic.
Golden Defender leaped up onto a ladder, and Call followed despite the aching pain in his leg. Yeah, he complained a lot, but it hurt so damn much. As soon as Call made it to the top, he went rigid. He saw as Golden Defender did too.
Three people.
Anti- G had the Mayor, all wrapped in silver chains, slumped over, crimson blood leaking onto the concrete of the roof. Call saw the faint rise and fall of his chest, but he hardly registered it.
Because next to him was the Enemy of Death. And it appeared they had walked right into his trap.