Dray slowly cut into his fried egg. It was relatively well made if not a little burnt on the edges. Lightly seasoned with salt and pepper, he could usually enjoy a simple breakfast like this if not for Talon staring daggers at him from across the table. The air between them was tenser than it had ever been. It seemed like Amirah would snap his neck if he even thought of running.
Maybe I should've just left her there to...
Dray stopped himself, some part of him refusing to finish the thought. He took a cautious glance up at Amirah only to be met with her cold brown eyes staring back at him. Dray swallowed his nervousness before speaking up slightly.
"...So, why did you help me?"
"Would you rather I hand you to the association?"
"No...but you could've. Just shoved me into an interrogation room and beat me until I talked. Why put me here?"
Amirah sighed.
"If I sent you to the Hero Association, they would control you. Not me. I would have to follow some pesky rules to listen to you. They'll restrict information going in and out due to trust issues and blah blah." She braked to take a sip of her coffee. "I'd rather just, carry you around with your connections and backdoors to find this guy. It's quicker."
Hmph...and not a single word about how I saved you huh?
Dray's mood soured further from her response which he made sure Amirah knew. He heard a scoff come from her in response but nothing else as he finished his meal. Once he was done, he picked up his plate and was about to head to the kitchen before Amirah jumps from her seat and stopped him. Their eyes meet for only a few seconds before Amirah snatched the plate from him and placed it on the kitchen counter. Guess I should've known not to do that.
Amirah returned from the kitchen and pointed a finger to Dray's seat at the dinner table. Dray took the hint and quickly sat down, his dear wife sitting across from him. After a tense few moments of neither party saying a word to the other, Amirah broke the silence first.
"Now then. Let's do a little exchange. I'll tell you all the information I know and then you will use your villain connections and whatnot to get me what I want."
"I can't guarantee that my connections would be very useful for this guy..."
"So you admit you have villain connections? Just a whole network of friends I never knew about?"
"First of all, they're not my friends. Secondly, is this really the time Mirah?"
Amirah simply looked away while shaking her head. Dray could feel his frustration start to rise but held back. He was not in any position to argue. Luckily for him, Amirah continued the conversation.
"Nevermind. From the first meeting that I had with the Hero Association, the most likely culprit is the villain group 'Skelter'."
Dray unconsciously looked up at Amirah with a look of extreme concern. Amirah raised an eyebrow at him.
"So you know them? Skelter?"
Dray cleared his throat. "Sure. I know about them. I don't know them directly. They're...they're dangerous. One of the villain groups to look out for. In fact, their crimes are consistently hidden from the public due to how...well...nerve-wracking they are. The fact that even you've never heard of them should mean a lot."
"Hm...how do we find them?"
"You can't be serious?"
"I am. How do we find them?"
Dray crossed his arms and contemplated for a moment. ...Urgh...she's gonna get us both killed. He let out a long and heavy sigh.
"...I think I know someone who can lead us to them."
~~~
After an admittedly long and awkward bus ride, Amirah and Dray got off an older bus to one of the shadier areas in the country. It was night by this point and after a long day of her keeping a watchful eye over Dray as he rested and got his bearings, she was hoping for the trip to be worth it. Amirah took a weary look around. The buildings in the area were old with filthy exteriors, rarely cleaned by their inhabitants. The distinct smell of cigarette smoke and rubbish filled the air. In spite of the less-than-ideal conditions, the place was full of life. There were crowds of people drinking, bantering, and smoking along the streets. Many of these people were also brandishing various different weapons. These weapons followed a spectrum of the standard issue taser to assault rifles. Barely any cars were diving on the roads as most people tried their hardest to avoid areas such as this.
So this is what the legendary 86 Avenue looks like huh...
86 Avenue was a well-known villain hotspot. Usually filled to the brim with nameless and up-and-coming criminals, the area was allowed to continue operations under the condition that it does not directly cause trouble to any immediate or further areas. Of course, Amirah suspected the main reason a cesspool like this was allowed to exist was for the Hero Association to constantly have an 'in' with the villain community. It allowed them to more effectively monitor the movements of larger villains who also frequented this area to make one-time hires or to buy information. The latter of which being the reason why she was there now.
Amirah let Dray take the lead as she followed closely behind, clutching the back of his hoodie to ensure he doesn't run off. As disguises, both of them were wearing long-sleeved black hoodies and black cloth masks that covered their nose and mouth. Amirah put on her standard black wig while Dray opted for the less is more approach, wearing his glasses instead of the contacts he usually put on. It was a look that Amirah hadn't seen in a while. She was disappointed that she saw it again at such a terrible time for the both of them.
Dray led Amirah to an alleyway along 86 Avenue. He checked his surroundings before knocking on a big metal door that Amirah didn't notice at first in the darkness. Someone on the other end slid open an eye slot and looked down at Dray.
"Where is your pass?" the man on the other end asked in a deep voice.
"Ah...I dropped it down the drain over at the liquor store. I'm sure it'll pop up in there." was Dray's reply. Amirah creased her eyebrows.
"Hmph. Come on in." the man confirmed before several locks could be heard undone and the door opened. Dray and Amirah walked in, past a few satin curtains and through the second pair of doors. Past those doors was a bustling hub of activity. The relatively big floor was evidently a nightclub. It had a massive bar that took the shape of a big rectangle in the center of the floor. There were plenty of people drinking and having their own fun with women and men alike. The thought of Dray spending a night out here made Amirah incredibly irate.
"So, how many times have you stepped into this place Technus?" Amirah interrogated, getting close and whispering the words into Dray's ear.
"I- I never did any of this. I just went straight to my info broker. She just happens to work here."
"Mhm."
"Look, this place only opens at night and I rarely go out at night. I- urgh, why am I even bothering..." Dray rolled his eyes and turned back around, focused on finding this 'info broker' he spoke so highly of.
...He isn't lying...maybe that was a bit unfair.
Before Amirah could attempt an apology, they both came up to some sort of office door. Dray knocked on the door and another big man came up to the door. He seemed to be around 1.9 meters tall which meant he dwarfed Dray by a good 20 centimeters but was about 10 centimeters taller than Amirah. Amirah didn't really feel too intimidated though, having defeated much bigger opponents with relative ease.
"I'm here to meet the Queen."
"She's not receiving visitors at this time." the man said, closing the door behind him.
"No, no wait!" the door slammed in Dray's face. Dray looked back at Amirah who merely shrugged her shoulders. You're in charge here Dray. This is all you. was what she tried to convey. Dray sighed and faced the door again. "Argh! Lilian! I know you're in there! Open the door!"
A woman around the same height as Dray answered the door this time. Dressed in a red satin dress paired with a leather jacket zipped up at her chest. She was admittedly a beautiful woman, with striking features, short curly hair, and multi-colored pupils.
"...Not many people know my name. In fact, very few do. Please explain before I get rid of you myself."
Dray took a deep breath. "Lilian Evergreen. You started this business almost 4 years ago. Every night you leave this place for a smoke around the building before coming back in. It's just an excuse to actually leave the building for once since you sleep here too."
Lilian's eyes widened in surprise. After a few short moments, a huge grin formed as she leaned into Dray.
"Technus? Well, well, well...I never thought this day would come. You're uhh..." she gestured to Dray's head area. "You're missing a pretty important piece of kit, aren't you? Where's Beast? And who's this chick?" Amirah raised an eyebrow at her which earned her a smile from Lilian.
"Don't worry about any of that Lilian. I need your information urgently. Please let me in."
"Hm..." Lilian pondered, looking at Dray from top to bottom. Amirah fidgeted slightly from her position. ...What exactly is she looking for? Lilian then stole a glance at Amirah before her smile widened, confusing Amirah even further. All of a sudden, Lilian took a step forward and gently tilted Dray's chin upwards to look at her. Dray froze in shock.
"Your eyes are a lot browner than I thought they would be," Lilian stated.
Amirah almost instinctually swiped her hands away, pulling Dray back. Lilian started laughing uncontrollably while Amirah cursed herself for falling for such obvious bait. Amirah looked down expecting to see Dray smiling back at her, taunting her for her stupidity, but instead saw Dray wincing in pain. Amirah realized what she was doing and quickly let go, Dray clutching his chest wound as he tried to stabilize himself. Amirah suddenly felt a sense of dread. Her hands hovered over Dray, unsure if she should help or actually stick to her guns for once. The Dray you knew is not who he pretended to be. Stop. Get a hold of yourself Talon. The man in front of you is a villain. Thankfully for her, Dray recovered by himself.
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
"Lilian, stop playing around. I need your help."
"Alright, alright...come in. Technus is always welcome here."
Dray looked back up at Amirah but Amirah already composed herself, Talon taking over for her. With a blank expression, she gestured her head forward wordlessly telling Dray to go ahead. Dray turned around and walked into the room as Amirah followed closely behind. Said room was not particularly big. It looked a lot like the standard, CEO's office of a company, complete with an office table to host the boss on one side and two guests on the other. Other than Lilian and the two of them, the only other person in the room was Lilian's singular bodyguard who closed the door behind them.
"Well Technus, you've caused quite a stir recently. If I am correct, you had a...sort of buyout fail last night due to Talon's interference. Can you confirm?" Lilian questioned as she sat at her seat. Dray sat across from her while Amirah opted to stand, crossing her arms while continuing to let the situation unfold.
"Well...it wasn't exactly a buyout. But that doesn't matter. I'm just here for one thing. I need some help finding someone."
"Uh uh uh Technus. You know the rules. Confirm the information I received. Was I right or wrong?"
"...You were somewhat right. I was promised a weapon for cooperation with the person in charge. The deal didn't go through."
"Mhm." Lilian flipped open a laptop that was on the table and started typing. After a few moments, she turned back to Dray. "It's been a while since you've entered my office Technus. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy your company but what could you need from me? Another weapons shipment? Some new experimental, material you need? Ooh, or if you're interested in getting some rep, I have this job where the client wants for someone to deliver a few 'empty' refrigerators to-"
"I need to find Skelter."
Lilian stopped typing on her laptop. She froze like that for a few seconds, confusing both Dray and Amirah. "Okay, well I guess we're done here." Lilian closed her laptop and gestured to her bodyguard. He then marched his hulking body over to Dray and Amirah.
"No, wait, Lilian. This is serious-" Dray stopped mid-sentence as Lilian's bodyguard grabbed him by the shoulders. Before he could haul Dray out of the room, Amirah stood in front of him.
"Listen, girl, before this gets any-" the bodyguard was interrupted as Amirah landed a strong punch straight to his stomach. He dropped Dray to the ground before clutching his stomach and keeling over. The incredibly tall bodyguard was now however looking up at Amirah, her fierce eyes staring him down. He tried to stand up but to no avail, coughing violently before curling up into a ball. Lilian stared at the scene in awe and terror. Her eyes meet Amirah's. She tried to put up a strong front, acting unfazed in the presence of raw power.
Lilian swallowed before reaching underneath her desk. Amirah dashed forward and caught her hand, lifting it up and away from the desk. Lilian grunted in pain before flicking her wrist. A small portal opened up in the palm of her hand and a knife popped out of it. The portal closed before the knife could fall back in. She gripped the knife and stabbed it into Amirah's arm. The knife failed to get a good hit due to Amirah wearing her armor underneath her disguise. Amirah twisted Lilian's wrist and pinned her to her desk, forcing her arms behind her.
"Woah, 'Julie' stop!"
Amirah turned around. Really? 'Julie' was the best thing you could come up with? Amirah peeked underneath the desk to see a red button which Amirah assumed would sound an alarm. She looked back at Dray who had a pleading frown on his face. He looked so vulnerable. Amirah clicked her tongue and let go, freeing Lilian from her grasp.
"Ugh...Technus, control your dog." Lilian complained, rubbing her wrist.
"I wouldn't need to if you aren't being so unreasonable right now. What's got you so scared of Skelter?"
"Don't play dumb Technus. Going after Skelter would be suicide."
"So can I take you being so scared to mean that you do know where to find him?"
Lilian glared back at Dray but he stood his ground. I never took Dray to be the assertive type. Then again...I guess I never really knew Dray all that well either.
"I do. And so do a few others. Look for Yuri Losen and keep my name out of your mouth."
"Lilian, can't you just tell us-"
Lilian teleported a pistol to her hand, aiming it straight at Dray. Amirah prepared to jump at her but Dray held his hand back, urging Amirah to stay where she stood.
"I am not taking that risk. If you want to mess with Skelter, do it through Yuri. The only reason I even told you about him is due to the good faith we have in each other. Don't mess that up. I expect to get paid for this too."
"Of course. I've always been good for the money."
Lilian slowly lowered her gun, reactivating the portal to store it away. She took one last look at the pair that caused her so much trouble and shooed them away. Amirah and Dray left the office and the nightclub altogether, making their way to the bus stop.
"...So, where do we find this Yuri Losen?" Amirah asked.
"I don't know."
"Hm?"
"I just said. I don't know. We could've squeezed a bit more out of Lilian but I messed up and revealed our cards too early. I...I'm sorry."
Don't. You just had to say that.
"Whatever. Let's ask around. Maybe one of these people would know."
Amirah and Dray spent the next few hours asking around for Yuri. Or, more accurately, Amirah demanded to know where Yuri was while Dray worriedly followed around. Dray time and time again pleaded with Amirah to stop talking so loud but Amirah ignored him. Soon enough though, Amirah's plan came to fruition. As she and a dejected Dray roamed the streets of 86 avenue, she noticed a group of people were following them ever since they started making noise. Amirah silently put her hands on Dray's shoulders and quickly moved the both of them down an alleyway, pinning him against the wall. She ignored Dray's questions, placing a hand over his mouth and a finger to her lips. Dray nodded, leaning back against the wall. The two of them listen intently as footsteps approach.
Three men dash into the same alleyway as them only for the frontrunner to be met with a strong kick from Amirah. She took the next one by the head and slammed him against the wall. Finally, before the last one could even react, Amirah swiped him at his feet causing him to fall on his face.
"Alright, boys. Why are you following us?" Amirah questioned.
"Woah relax there!... Ugh, we just heard you were looking for Yuri..." squeaked out the stalker who fell.
"And? Why are you here then?"
"We...we know where he is. Or how to find him at least. We...we can give you that info. For a price."
Amirah rolled her eyes. Dray crept up from behind her and silently passed her his wallet. After being used to her husband doing this whenever they went out, she took the wallet from him before doing a slight double take. She peered back at Dray who had such an innocent look in his eyes. He might have also passed her his wallet on instinct.
"I have...$500 in cash. I'll give it to whoever can tell me what I want to know."
"Look, we don't know exactly where he is but what we do know is...he sold a couple of criminals out. Apparently, the Hero Association got a hold of him."
"Hm...I see."
Two of the three men slowly stood back up, expectantly looking at Amirah.
"Well, get out of here."
"B-but-"
Amirah kicked the wall next to her which caused it to bend and crack, leaving a crater where the impact landed. The two men looked back at their comrade who got kicked as he was still reeling on the ground from the pain. They shakily took a few steps back before hurriedly running off, bumping into each other and nearly tripping over one another.
"...You should have just paid them," Dray piped up.
"I will not give away perfectly good money to a bunch of stalkers who didn't give us very useful information anyway... Since when did you carry this much in cash?"
"N-nevermind that. What are we supposed to do now?"
"Hm, I guess I could always pay a visit to my workplace."
"Ah, well, you can go and do that-"
Amirah looked back at Dray, raising an eyebrow.
"What, you think I'm just going to leave you at the apartment? No, as far as I know, you still can't be trusted. Whether you like it or not, you're coming with me."