Chapter Text
Silence hung in the office as Victim’s words sunk in.
“Shit,” Hazard hissed. Agent glanced over at his friend.
“What? What is it, Haz?”
Hazard looked like he was about to start panicking, but he drew in a breath and slowly let it out. “I wasn’t on da case, but I overheard detectives mentioning details about it.” He paused for a moment. “Da Executioner… dey target sticks who’ve been tried and acquitted fa crimes - violent crimes, usually.”
Agent grimaced. “Like terrorism?” Hazard nodded.
“But… that’s not how the system works. Just because you’re accused doesn’t mean you did it.”
“Dey don’t seem ta care.”
“But how would this serial killer know who Chosen is?”
Victim made a face. “I think I have an idea,” he mumbled.
Agent sighed. “Y’… y’ think La Salle is workin’ wi’ a serial killer? Th’ Dark Lord’s one thing, but a serial killer?”
Victim sighed. “Chosen’s trial records obviously got leaked.”
“All da murder victims were adults, Vic. Serial killers don’t usually change deir MO, as far as I’m aware.”
“Clearly they’re making an exception.” Victim began to pace. “Chosen’s become more steady on his feet; he’s been asking about going outside more.”
Agent sighed. What were the odds of this happening right as he was getting used to walking again? “Jus’ one thing after another,” he muttered.
“We can’t… keep him confined; this’d just turn into a gilded cage for him if we did.”
“Does he know?” Alan interrupted.
Victim looked away. “No… I… I didn’t want to scare him…” He sat back down. “The poor kid…”
“If it’s a fight dey want, we’ll give dem one,” Hazard growled.
“Right…” Victim sighed heavily. “I’m going to be looking into how this guy found out Chosen was tried. I’m also getting notes from one of the detectives so we have a better idea what we’re dealing with. I’m also going to allocate resources towards finding this creep. Just like with The Dark Lord, I want one of you to be with Chosen at all times. We didn’t drive off The Dark Lord only for some bozo with a god-complex to grab him.”
“They’re a normal stick, right? No sign of powers?”
“Not that I’m aware of.”
“So it’s a fair fight if they try to go after Chosen.”
A shivering trill bloomed in Agent’s chest. Alan’s eyes were determined, but the worry of what would happen should he be the one to encounter that serial killer blossomed and twisted inside him. The correct thing to do would be to apprehend the individual, but since Chosen was the target…
He had seen how violent he could be when protecting his kids. An encounter between him and the killer would be a bloodbath.
If they cross paths, one of them is gonna be dead by th’ end of this… He frowned.
Chosen slowly reached over and gently poked Orange on the cheek. Orange grumpily squeaked and moved away, curling up further. Chosen softly smiled. He placed his hand on his brother’s head and gently ran his thumb back and forth, watching him melt into the touch as he slowly opened his eyes. “Hey.”
“Hey, Cho.”
“How’re you feeling?”
Orange hummed a bit. “S‘eepy…” Chosen carefully scooted onto the bed, placing Orange’s head against his chest. “Mmm… you give good headpats…”
Chosen chuckled a bit. “Well, I’m glad you like them.” Orange snuggled into him.
“Hmm… you’re warm again.”
“I know.” He couldn’t shake the random spikes in temperature, it seemed. But… they weren’t as bad as they’d been in the past, so the cuffs were obviously doing their job. He still wondered if he’d get better, or if this was his new normal. He hoped it wasn’t. He wanted to fly again, wanted to shoot targets again, release his lightning, spar with someone.
He couldn’t do that while his powers were suppressed.
Victim had tried - he really had - to remove the strength suppression from the cuffs, but doing so weakened the power suppression.
So, he was stuck with below average strength at the moment. In the past, the feeling might’ve caused panic to swell within him, but as of this moment, well…
For once he didn’t feel too responsible for taking care of everyone around him - he couldn’t at the moment; if he hadn’t accepted that it would have driven him up a wall, he knew it would.
He rested his head on top of Orange’s, smiling as he drifted off to sleep.
Alan pushed open the door, opening his mouth, about to call out to Chosen…
He saw him and Orange dead asleep, snuggling up against each other. Alan sighed and sat next to the bed. The two were the picture of innocence. Neither of them knew the storm clouds that loomed ahead.
He almost wanted to cry.
He watched Chosen roll over and blearily blink. “‘Lan…?”
“Hey…” He forced a smile.
Chosen blinked a bit and frowned. “You look sad…”
Alan sighed. So much for potentially keeping it a secret. “Do you… remember the man who barged in here?”
“You heard about that?” Alan nodded. “Yeah… looked like a jerk…”
“Well, he told Vic that if he won’t…” He hesitated. How could he tell his own child that some politician he didn’t even know or interact with wanted him gone? “He… doesn’t like that you’re free, bud…” His heart twisted at the look of sadness Chosen gave him.
“I’m not gonna be able to go into Netropolis, am I?” He looked like he was about to cry.
“I’m not letting some politician keep you from doing what you want… but… that’s not all…” He swallowed, hard. “There’s… someone who wants to really hurt you, bud…” His voice cracked. “They’ve already hurt others, and now they’re after you…” He pulled Chosen over to him and hugged him tight. “I love you… so much, bud…”
“What’s gonna happen?”
“I don’t know… but no matter what happens, I’m going to be there to protect you. I promise…”
God, he loved this kid… He just hoped that love would be enough to keep him safe.