Richard calmly sat at the family dining table grazing on some morning toast while his mother and father cracked at the seams.
The family business was already hemorrhaging funds before Grim’s rampage, but since then, Richard’s parents have been virtually drowning. The building they leased was caught in the abrupt flooding with most of their stock either damaged or stolen in the ensuing chaos. Insurance companies were scrambling to try and cover the damages. It was an economic nightmare, and unfortunately, the insurance company Richard's parents were covered by had signed for bankruptcy before they had a chance to file a claim.
Richard finished off his piece of toast before nonchalantly dusting off the crumbs. He was beginning to grow tired of his mother’s bawling and his father’s pacing. It had been going on for so long now that it had already ruined his morning.
“Do you have any idea how insufferable you two are?” Richard asked. They stopped, turning to face him. The tears from his mother ceased as if a dam had erected in her eyes. His father, on the other hand, turned red. His body shook with anger, but no words came out. “So what? The business has been flushed down the toilet, get over it. There are plenty of ways to generate an income.”
“W-What would you have us do?” His mother asked, her voice trembling. “The shop… we’ve been running it since before you were born! It has so much—”
“—The shop is a fucking shop. You sell shit products, to shit people, for shit profit,” Richard stood up and meandered over to the fridge. He swung it open and snagged a bottle of milk. “You were about to tell me it had sentimental value, weren’t you? Am I right? Actually, don’t. I couldn’t give less of a shit,” he shook his head and sighed. “I should’ve had you shut it down months ago. An absolute waste of time.”
“You—!” His father bit his lip so hard he drew blood. “You told us to keep going.”
Richard waved him away and turned his attention to the coffee pot.
“A mistake, clearly. Now, it's ruined and neither of you have the means to provide. So, what’re you going to do about this?” With every passing minute, Richard was growing less fond of his parents. Keeping them around had been convenient because they brought in money, and earning his own income was too difficult due to his age. Sure, he could steal money, but that actually required effort. “Well? I’m waiting.”
His father growled.
“We haven’t had time to think—”
“—No time to think?!” Richard mockingly gasped. “Woe-is-fucking-me, you’ve known for days now. What, have you been sitting on your asses whining this whole time?” He turned to his mother, who shook like a leaf under his gaze. “Jesus, look at you. Get it together, you’re actually pathetic. Are your tears going to magically increase our income? Did you get powers you didn’t tell me about?”
“She is crying because—”
“Shut up,” Richard’s command washed over his father, silencing him. “I wasn’t asking you.” He turned his attention back to his mother. “Well, why are you like this? Obviously, I can feel why. Misery and panic, but seriously… just move past it. How hard is it?” He stared, unblinking, as she continued to shake. “Do you want me to take them away? The feelings that is, will you be able to function then? I don’t want to do that, cause we both know what happened the last time.”
Expression and emotion. Richard loved seeing the vast range that people were capable of reaching. It was almost intoxicating to read and even more exhilarating to change. Removing them though… proved to be dreadfully boring.
“I-If it would make you happy.”
Richard narrowed his eyes.
“I don’t remember making you retarded,” he pursed his lips and smothered her with his power. She shuddered as his influence washed over her. It was difficult for her to fight the instinct to roll her eyes into the back of her head. It wasn’t a pleasant feeling, but it wasn’t awful either. It was like stepping into a zero gravity room, her whole body becoming weightless. “No… no that wasn’t me. That’s just you. Plain old you. Not sure I can fix that.”
With his coffee finished brewing, he poured himself a cup and sat back at the table. Richard’s fingers drummed against the varnished oak, his eyes switching between his mother and father thoughtfully. They both waited for him to speak because they knew better than to interrupt his train of thought.
“Idea,” he said after a few minutes of quiet contemplation. He snapped his fingers and pointed at the two of them. “How’s this: you guys walk to the nearest Pandora church and ask to be taken in. Do the big song and dance about what happened, yada-yada our business got destroyed, nowhere to go, you want protection from the big scary moon-touched and I bet they’ll sort you out. I’m sure one of their members is looking for a new toy to play with. You…” Richard’s gaze landed on his father, a frown forming on his lips. “I don’t know about you, but I’m sure they’ll figure something out. Laborer maybe?”
Richard sipped his coffee.
The mother started shaking again while the father looked horrified.
“You… you can’t seriously mean– this is a joke, right? This is one of your jokes,” the father’s expression turned from anger to desperate pleading. “Please, Richard. You can’t mean for us to—”
“—It was just a suggestion,” Richard clarified with a warm smile. “Unless you two can come up with something better because right now it seems like I’m the only one with a functioning brain here,” he looked between them again, and the fear on their features was palpable. It was delicious but also infuriating. “No, I didn’t think so. Seems like all that meat in your heads is just that. Meat.”
“Wait– please!”
“I’ve changed my mind,” Richard waved them off. “Go now. Whatever you two come up with isn’t going to help. Pandora is your best solution now,” he smiled. “Go on. Shoo, I’ve got things to do. My girlfriend will be coming over soon and I don’t want either of you around to embarrass me.”
“I-I… Lord above,” Richard’s father performed a small prayer before meeting his son’s piercing gaze. “You truly mean this? You know what Pandora is like. They… they’ll never let us go. We’ll be tied to them like animals. Like slaves!”
“Father,” Richard rolled his eyes. “Are you going to make me repeat myself?”
Trembling, his father inclined his head and turned to leave. His mother followed after him, wiping her eyes as she walked. Richard watched them go with a smile before turning and observing the kitchen. He spotted a few dirty dishes lying on the counter, which he immediately cursed. Nikki didn’t like messes, and he couldn’t disappoint her.
“Pointless to fix,” he sneered, turning away from the kitchen. It wasn’t like there was any food in the house anyway. His parents couldn’t do this week's grocery shopping because of their sudden lack of income. If they did have money, the next issue would’ve been finding a stocked supermarket that survived the flooding. “I suppose we’ll just go out to eat.”
Richard went about his morning routine, starting with yoga and some light exercise. He found that keeping a strict regime refreshed his mind and prepared him for the day. Once finished, he took a shower and brushed his teeth, remembering to floss diligently. Next, he applied a soft facial mask to freshen up the skin and prevent acne, ran some product through his hair, and then it was time for his personally curated trio of body lotion, antiperspirant, and cologne to maintain his signature scent. It was a meticulous routine that Richard could confidently claim was the best way to start the day.
When Nikki knocked on the front door, Richard had been staring at himself in the mirror for an unknown amount of time. He barely acknowledged his girlfriend's arrival, preferring to stare at his reflection. It wasn’t because he found his appearance alluring but that the profound wisdom in the eyes gave him insight into problems he hadn’t yet solved.
“It’s time to move forward. My parents have outlived their usefulness,” Richard spoke into the mirror as he adjusted his white button-up shirt. “With them out of the picture, I’ll be able to move without restraint. There will be questions from extended family and friends, but I can satisfy their curiosity. There’s still the issue of money…”
Richard narrowed his eyes, catching the slightest imperfection around his cheeks. There was a hint of fresh facial hair, black, coarse, and hideous. He didn’t own a shaver, but he supposed now would be a good time to acquire one. For now, he’d suffer the imperfection and deal with it later.
“Money… Nikki has an allowance from her little hero group. I can redirect that into the property if I want,” Richard allowed a moment to look around the bathroom. His lips curled into a frown when the quality didn’t meet his standards. “Or I could let this place go. Abandon it entirely and move somewhere else. Apartments are small and easy to maintain, so that could be a good idea. I don’t want to put too much work on Nikki after all. Somewhere with a nice view to look over the city. I can bring some wealthier people under my influence. Nikki might know some.”
Maybe the facial hair couldn’t wait till later. It stood out like a sore thumb, and Nikki would undoubtedly notice and comment. Naturally, he could prevent that with his power, but the fact that was even an option frustrated him. He didn’t want to force her to do anything because it was much more fun for her to want to do things on her own accord.
His father had shaving supplies. He’d just use those.
The knocking on the door got louder and more insistent, forcing Richard to poke his head out the door and yell down the stairs.
Stolen novel; please report.
“I heard you the first time! If you knock again, you’ll be eating glass for lunch!”
Returning to the bathroom, Richard retrieved his father’s shaving supplies and dealt with the imperfection carefully. Once he was cleaned up, he splashed some water on his face to wash away any residue. His reflection smiled at him, a perfect pearly white smile. Today was the start of a new day, one that would yield new opportunities.
Once dressed, Richard returned to the front door where Nikki stood patiently. She brightened when the door opened, and there wasn’t a shred of fear or displeasure anywhere on her face. Richard’s smile grew as he took one of her hands and pulled her in close for a kiss. Despite her incredible strength, Nikki did not resist.
“Did they send you out?” Richard asked, brushing hair out of her eyes. He examined the visible skin she dared to show, finding no blemishes or battle damage. He didn’t expect to find anything, given her power, but Richard figured it was best to check and make sure. He didn’t want his prized possession ruined. “You look as immaculate as ever, baby.”
“Aw, thanks Richie. No, they didn’t send me out. Only Comet was allowed to go out,” she grumbled, rubbing the back of her neck. “I wanted to go out and make a difference, but the Director forbade it. He said we lacked the experience required to properly handle the situation. I suppose it makes sense, considering how young we are, especially Tricky.”
“They underestimate your talents, but I am glad they didn’t send you out. The thought of you getting hurt… it pains me.”
“I’ve yet to come across something that can hurt me,” Nikki boasted with a grin. “So, where are we off to today? You promised me lunch and a nice walk. Normally, I’d suggest we bus down to the harbor, but it’s not the nicest place right now.”
“We can find a place to eat while we walk,” Richard stepped out of the house and shut the door behind him. Nikki reached for his spare hand to hold, but he pulled away. “Not yet. I’ve had a bit of an ‘off’ morning, so to speak. My parents have been getting on my nerves, so I’ve had to scold them for their inadequacy.”
“Oh no!” Nikki proclaimed, concern spreading across her face. “Are you okay? If you want, I can make you feel better. You know how I do that thing with my—”
“—Talk like that is only for when we’re behind closed doors,” Richard warned her with a scowl. “Take better note of your surroundings and censor yourself.”
“Alright, if you say so,” Nikki laughed. “So, are we going or…?”
“If it’ll get you to shut up for five minutes,” Richard stared at her. “You know I could tell you to rip your tongue out.”
“We both know you’re not going to do that. You like my tongue, and what it can do. Besides, you might’ve forced me to love you more than anything in the world, but taking away my ability to think, feel, and express myself isn’t something you want to do. Take that away from me and I’m not me anymore,” Nikki chuckled, leaning forward to kiss his cheek. “So if you really want me to stop talking, you know what you have to do.”
Richard pulled at his collar, feeling the aggravation boil beneath his skin. He had time to come up with a punishment later.
“You sound like you want to test my patience.”
“You sound like you’re looking for an excuse to make me suffer, which is ridiculous because no matter what you do, every moment I spend with you is amazing!” Nikki exclaimed happily. “Now, are you going to stand around moping, or are we going for that date you promised me? I could really use the distraction.”
“Fine!” Richard snapped. “Let’s just go.”
Richard could still taste the ash and smoke in the air as they walked hand in hand. Grim’s downfall had come as a surprise to everyone. The whole city was still stuck in a state of shock from the events that transpired, and the names of those responsible were everywhere. Sure, the media didn’t name them specifically, but everyone knew. He didn’t buy into the borderline worship that was going on, but it was hard not to feel at least slightly intimidated by their presence here in Bayside.
Madhouse…
They came out of nowhere. Richard initially thought they were trying to claim credit for someone else’s work because seriously, who would buy that a group of nobodies could topple one of the world’s oldest, deadliest evohumans in the world? It sounded like a joke, the plot of a shitty wish-fulfillment story. The unfortunate reality was that the seemingly obvious fabrication was in fact, real.
Even as they walked through the streets, Richard could see the damage Madhouse wrought. In their efforts to conquer the reaper, they systematically destroyed a good portion of Bayside’s local economy. Many businesses —including his family’s own— were ruined beyond repair. Ultimately, not a big loss for him, but one Richard felt could have been avoided. With his parents working for Pandora, they’d have a smidgen of money to work with, meaning he’d at least have some kind of safety net should any more of his plans go awry.
“I’m starting to wish Grim was still around,” Richard sneered as they passed another boarded-up cafe. The entire street was damaged, and every store was boarded up with signs indicating the levels of water damage. These buildings would be condemned and demolished if something wasn’t done to remedy the damage soon. “We’ve only traded one menace for half a dozen more.”
“Madhouse has only four members,” Nikki informed. “Alice, Anomaly, Upgrade, and Vigil.”
“I’ve never heard of any of them,” Richard’s reply came out as a mutter, but he considered the names for a moment. One of them did sound familiar. “Actually, Anomaly rings a bell. The local eldritch horror, right?”
“No, he’s more of a big moving blob with humanoid limbs. The ECU report I was given states he’s indestructible,” Nikki replied. “Abby said she caught three of them not too long ago, so honestly they could have just gotten lucky with Grim.”
Richard looked around at the aftermath of Madhouse’s stunt.
“Luck doesn’t exist in this city.”
“Very pessimistic of you to say that, considering how we met,” Nikki said. “I remember it like it was yesterday. I was out on patrol with Sparrow when a building caught fire, and you pretended to be one of the occupants, just so we could meet long enough for you to use your power. It’s all very romantic,” she continued without a shred of sarcasm. “So much dedication! Courage! It’s probably the thing I love about you the most.”
Richard grunted out an acknowledgment as they continued walking. His focus was too busy being occupied by the ruined environment. While the scent of smoke lingered, there was also a distinct salty aroma he recognized belonged to seawater. It was everywhere, soaking into the ground and the buildings around him. Coming this way had been a mistake. If they actually wanted to find somewhere that would be open, heading towards the city center would have been a better bet.
“Let’s go back,” Richard turned abruptly, pulling her along. “We’re wasting our time. Nothing is going to be open this way. It’s all ruined.”
“Seems like it,” Nikki agreed. “Where did you even want to take me?”
“Somewhere,” Richard sighed. “Anywhere that showed even a modicum of promise, but I suppose we can’t have that given what Madhouse did. Do they even realize what kind of damage they’ve done to this city? They’re worse than Grim!”
“Hmm,” Nikki mused. “That remains to be seen. They definitely have the potential to be worse, especially with Upgrade on their side.”
“What do you mean?”
“He’s tentatively been given an S-Class rating, could be as scary as Ajax one day they say,” Nikki explained. “He also apparently has something to do with the city being destroyed in about three months, but we’re working on—”
Richard lashed out, seizing Nikki by the shoulders and pulling her around to face him.
“What did you say?! Three months until—” he cut himself off as he tried to simmer his growing anger. “This Upgrade evohuman is going to destroy the city in three months? Why didn’t you say anything? This is the kind of information I need to know. What’s the point in having you around if you don’t share important details like that? I can find a whore for personal pleasure, but you are supposed to be resourceful.”
Nikki rolled her eyes as the insult bounced off her.
“Chill, Richie. In my defense, you never asked about any of that. The last time I tried to tell you about anything ECU-related, you brushed me off and told me you didn’t want to hear it,” she casually shrugged. “Do you want to rescind that order, or…?”
“You were feeding me useless information. I didn’t care what The ECU rated Starburst or Uplink at. I’m not going to be able to do anything with that information. That’s why I told you to stop,” Richard sneered, inching closer to her. “So, if you want an order, stop being such a useless hanger-on and tell me what I need to know. That kind of information could be life or death.”
Nikki playfully flicked his nose.
“You need to give better orders then, sweetness.”
Richard lashed out again, this time striking her across the face. Nikki didn’t even flinch, let alone move. He might as well be hitting a brick wall with a ping-pong ball.
“Ow,” Nikki mumbled with zero emphasis. “My point still stands.”
“Tell me, now.”
“According to Seer, Upgrade is involved in an event that will lead to Bayside’s annihilation. It’s not clear how, or why, but we know it happens in about three months time,” Nikki explained. “That’s all we were able to get. He’s working on focusing his power on that specific thread, but in order to get a more accurate reading, we have to interact with him more. If Seer can speak to Upgrade, there’s a chance he’ll be able to extrapolate more,” she snorted and waved a hand dismissively. “Hopefully at least, his power’s a bit useless sometimes but it’s the best we have for now.”
“Convenient,” Richard scoffed. “What else do you know?”
“That’s pretty much it.”
“Anything on Madhouse?”
“Why?” Nikki smirked. “Decided you wanna play hero and go after them yourself?”
“Maybe I will,” Richard countered. “Since the organization you work for is apparently incapable of capturing them, I might as well throw my hat in the ring. With you sharing their information with me, I can hardly do much worse. All I need to do is find one of them, and I can get inside. Once I do that, I can bring them to heel, or I can have you come and snap their necks.”
“Look at you being all selfless and caring about the city!” Nikki applauded. “What’s next, a costume? I think it’s a great idea, you’ll be able to use your power for something better. Think about it for a moment, you’ll be Samael, a Hero!”
Richard felt compelled to rebuke her statement and punish her for speaking so brazenly about what he should do, but in a rare moment of contemplation, he considered her words. Taking down Madhouse and bringing them to heel would put him in the good graces of many. He’d have connections, and countless doors would open for him to utilize his power to its maximum potential. Sure, he could just walk into any old place and force his will upon others, but there was no subtlety to that. Someone would take him out if he wasn’t careful.
This way, everyone would let their guard down around him. Then he could strike.
“That’s not a bad idea,” Richard agreed, a sinister smile spreading across his lips. “A hero… I like the way that sounds.”
It rolled off the tongue nicely.
Samael.
A hero.
He could be a Hero.
He could be the best.