The calm and serene forest, full of babbling brooks and peaceful gullies was quickly turned into a cracked and cratered battle zone as James and his brother squared off.
The speed of their movement was beyond the scope of the human eye, not that there was anyone else around to witness the epic struggle.
"I don't want to fight you!" James cried out.
"Then you shouldn't have stuck your nose where it didn't belong!"
James was just trying to dodge and deflect the blows he was getting rather than return them. Another earth-shattering punch sent James zipping through the air and sending sonic booms thundering out across the trees. 88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5XcXgDd7H
He came to rest in the side of a mountain after the impact tore a chunk of it from its base and down into the forest below. Jeremy now hovered in front of him with a cold, emotionless gaze.
"I'm amazed you've been able to take all that little bro. You have come a long way in a short period. It's...suspicious."
He descended onto the ledge next to where James was lodged and asked, "What could have possibly motivated you to break into HQ? Are you working with the Cleansers now"
James scowled. "No, but I'd say it's safe to say that you are."
"That's preposterous, why would you think that?"
James freed himself from the cliff wall and walked over to Jeremy. "I heard you talking about how the guild is just going to let those lunatics take over parts of the city. "
Jeremy's face became sullen, almost remorseful. "I see, I'm sorry you had to hear that."
"How could you betray the people you swore to protect?"
Jeremy shook his head. He was amused by what he perceived as his brother's lack of common sense. "You think it's that simple, do you? Wow, you truly are adorably simple."
Jeremy grabbed James by the collar and shot up into the sky. He flew full speed at the city and stopped midair once they reached the center.
"You see all these people James?" Jeremy asked as if he was about to launch into a monolog. "Every single one of these people gets to wake up every day, go to work, live their life, only because they don't know the truth."
James tried prying Jeremy's hand off of him. "Yeah, that's the problem. Instead of telling them the truth you just continue to lie to them and now you dug yourselves in too deep! Now the only way forward is by resetting the bone of the leg you broke."
"Your sense of self-righteousness is cute but if there was any other way to keep the majority of people safe don't you think we would have changed course already? A small portion of the city may have to be sacrificed but that's life. Is that really so hard for you to understand?"
"Oh please," James shouted back doubtfully. "You wouldn't change things if you could. The only reason you became a hero was to bask in the glory of the people you think are beneath you."
"And you think you are any better? Do you think that intention alone defines what it means to be a good hero? Well, guess what? Intentions don't keep people safe, they don't bring results."
James growled in frustration. Even after all this time, he felt his brother was still the heartless monster he turned into all those years ago. "You're right, they don't. But at least they show what's in your heart, they show what you fight for and give your battles real meaning!"
Jeremy smiled as he held back a laugh. "A very cute sentiment, but naive." Then, setting James down on a rooftop he asked, "So what now? Are you going to go back to your little clubhouse and tell all your friends the truth?"
"They already know the truth."
"Oh, so Sparrow told you huh? I knew we shouldn't have let her leave. I knew she would just cause problems."
James tightened his fist. "Don't you dare threaten her," he shouted.
Jeremy raised an eyebrow. "Well, well, well, looks like you got a little crush don't ya bro?"
Then, in a manner so fast James couldn't even react, Jeremy shot forwards and grabbed his collar. "Let me explain what happens now. If you say anything to the public then I'll have you and all your little friends labeled as traitors. That means you get hunted down and thrown in detainment for the rest of your life, and that's if you're lucky."
With a cocky look, James asked, "Is that a promise?"
Jeremy didn't say anything, he just let go of his collar, grinned, and blasted off back to HQ.
Kazav shuttered. "You should get back to the guild before he changes his mind about letting you go."
"Yeah, they need to know what's happening. They will be mad that I went out on my own but hopefully they will understand."
He got back and woke everyone up. Once they were gathered in the main hall he told them everything. He also put all the information he gathered on the main computer so that they could read it for themselves.
Sparrow ran her fingers through her hair. "This is so, so, bad!"
Owl shook his head. "It's so much worse than we thought it to be."
With his feet up on the table Falcon belted out, "Pshhh, I ain't afraid of no corrupt heroes, bring 'em all on right now I'll take 'em all out!"
Hawk smacked the back of his head. "Yeah, right, like you could take down the top 20."
"Well, I bet I could," Falcon mumbled as he trailed off.
"What happens now?" Super Static asked Sparrow, her bright blue eyes curled into a furl.
James slapped the table and shouted, "We stay the course. All this proves is how badly we need a new guild. One that won't stoop to such awful lows."
Sparrow nodded, adding," James is right, all this new info tells us is how badly we need to change things once this all blows over. We stick to our current plan and worry about dealing with the Heroes Guild later."
After that, the team spent the next few weeks waiting for some kind of retaliation to come from HQ but it never did. The tension was palpable and was taking a huge toll on James. After all, he was the one who broke into HQ and painted a target on everyone's back.
James became increasingly frustrated. The guilt of putting his friends in danger was tearing at his conscience. Sparrow could see what was happening and followed him to the dining hall.
"Hey handsome," She teased as she talked into the kitchen.
He smiled and replied, "What's cooking good-looking?"
They had not had as much time to spend together in recent weeks. More riots, more monsters, and the constant feeling of having to look over their shoulder's kept them from getting much closer.
"Everything Ok?" Sparrow asked as James swirled his food around on his plate.
"I guess," He replied halfheartedly. "I'm just worried about all of you. Maybe it was a mistake to do what I did."
Sparrow sat down next to him and held his hand. "Well, I don't think it was a mistake if it makes you feel better."
James smiled as he looked over at her. "Thanks, that's sweet of you to say."
He pushed his plate away, adding, "I still think it would have been better had I not."
Sparrow scooted closer and patted his back. "We would have found all that out eventually," She stated, trying to console him.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. I just hate the idea of having put you all in danger"
Sparrow gently nudged his face closer to hers. "No matter what happens I will always have your back."
She gave him a gentle kiss and rested her head against his. He kissed her forehead and held her tight. It was moments like this that made him forget all his troubles.
Super Static walked in to get an apple from the fridge and noticed the two of them having a moment. "Don't mind me," She teased. "Just getting an apple, and then you two lovebirds can go back to smooching or whatever else it is you were doing."
James and Sparrow chuckled awkwardly as Static left. Sparrow stood up and said, "Well, I need to get back to work anyway. I just wanted to check in with you and make sure you were okay."
James blushed. A fuzzy warm feeling enveloped his body. "Thank you, it means a lot to me that you care so much."
Sparrow blushed back and gave him a little wink as she left the room.
Later, when James was alone, Kazav decided now would be a good time to ask him a personal question. One that he had been waiting to ask for a while.
"Is it love?"
"Huh?" James replied. "Is what love?"
"What you and Sparrow have, is it love?"
James was caught off guard. "Oh, uh, well, what if it is?"
"There is nothing wrong with it kid, I just don't want you to become distracted. Love can make people do stupid things."
James chuckled and asked, "You speak from experience don't you?"
"That was a low blow," Kazav mumbled back.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you."
"Just stay the course is all I'm saying. Things are about to get insane and you gotta have zero distractions if you are going to succeed in changing the world."
"Thanks, Kazav, I'll be careful."
James leaned back in his chair and reminisced about their first meeting. Just him alone in his room until a freaky shadow guy pops out of nowhere and, rather than eat him alive like he thought, covers his foot with a blanket. Despite his aloof and distant attitude, James felt Kazav really did care about him in more than just a host/parasite way.
"I trust you," James spoke out into the room.
Kazav couldn't tell if he was talking to him or not. "What's that kid?"
"Do you remember how before I said I couldn't trust someone who wouldn't tell me all about themselves?"
"Yeah?"
"Well, I trust you," James repeated.
"Oh, uh, well, I trust you to kid."
James smiled and felt a peace he had not known for a long time. Even though the guild might have been untrue about who it was he knew that as long as he had Sparrow, Kazav, and the rest of the guild by his side, then there was nothing to fear.
With that, he clicked the button on the lamp next to his bed and fell sound asleep.
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