Driving her fist into the puddle of tears left by Leah's plethora of eyes, Emma used the force in her heart to create beams of the ground that went for her woman opponent. Circular beams with sharp edges, the adult superhuman sure that if she were to touch them, she'd be incapacitated immediately. Spin flip to the right was her first acrobatic move, confident in her flexible skillset that she'd be sure to be rid of these rock-made circular beams. Unfortunately, the woman underestimated the speed of the Priestess' inherited power from her mother, and her chest was pierced by the tip of one of these beams originating by the Earth's hardened soil. Entering her ribcage, piercing the bones protecting Leah's heart, the adult female had blood burst from her mouth abruptly.
"ARGH!"
Carried by the brunet-tinted spike in her chest, the young adult female was dropped by the rocky weapon used to bring her over to the Priestess. Met with a fierce bone-shattering punch to the side of Lea's face, Em screamed in anger as her knuckles let out a loud KRA-KOOOMMM! that parted the clouds away for the magenta and fiery sky to remain completely visible. As she soared over the miniature puddle of clear liquid, Leah was encased in a bubble of water, and as the oldest Rivera child closed her left fist- with a strong grunt of defiance, the water transformed to a block of ice. A breath of fresh air, blessed with the freedom of no longer having to battle such a pathetic opponent, escaped Emma's lungs. Entering the cold air, she collapsed onto the floor, for Blaire to rush over and catch her elder cousin into her arms,
"I got you..."
Walking side by side, their postures couldn't be more different from one another's. The Strength, or better yet, Beau, had held his bag over one shoulder with one hand keeping it balanced. Confidently strutting down the french sidewalk with his best friend, The new Magician. Hunched over, fingers gripping the straps of the bookbag attached to his rear, Matt halted in front of the bakery. The duo staring the neon pink sign that read, 'Abby's Bakery'. The Strength spouting out without a filter,
"Boring name-"
"Shhh! C'mon, let's go inside,"
Responded Johnson to his comrade's playful remark, the bell ringing as the metal bar was pushed against by his palm, and the two entered. Ironic, because there was a transparent projection made of a hologram on the outside that read in violet font, 'Closed'. They were greeted by Mei, and her mother, Abby,
"Welcomeeee!"
Greeted the teen to her wonderful friends, paying them each a peck on the cheek so they'd feel just at home. Matt, being the shy boy he was at the time, blushed at the feeling of lips against his skin. While Edmund just rolled his eyes at the sense of affection, throwing his bag into a boot, sitting on a stool. Behind the desk, the bar, so to speak, was a woman. Long dark brown hair, and as soon as she spun around, one hand on her hip, and another lifting the plate with a pink cupcake with rainbow sprinkles, it was clear,
"Evening, boys!"
This was Abby Romero Rivera, the crazy half of the Empress of the Stars, busy at her work at Rivera Manufacturing. Covering for her brother as he dealt with the Detective and Reaper over at his Penthouse. Swaying her hips from side to side, as if she were dancing in place, the sugary treat was slapped into the air, caught onto a tray with many numbers of cupcakes. The top row, dark purple, the middle row, purple, the second middle row, salmon pink, and the bottom row- hot pink. The song played over the P.A. was none other than one of Queen's best, 'Killer Queen'. She'd already moved her hips to the snapping at the beginning, now, she was just dancing to the beat while mouthing the words,
"She keeps her Moet et Chandon in her pretty cabinet~"
Well, she might have been singing, but that's beside the point. Placing his bag beside Beau's in a booth, Matt flopped onto a stool to the left of Mei, who wrapped her arms around the boy's neck and pressed her lips against his cheek once more. Leaving a mark of purple lipstick for everyone there to see, Abby let a chop on the peak of her daughter's noggin. No audible reprimand, the happiness in her face did not falter, she continued to sing with a loving expression, finishing with laying out the chocolate cupcakes on tiny plates in front of the trio. From what the Strength could tell, as soon as he entered this place- it would be a fun night.
Down the block from the Bakery, there was the towering building of the Rivera Penthouse. The tip of this skyscraper piercing the transparent clouds, the Eiffel Tower visible to the Emperor, who held a cup of tea beside the window. For being called 'the most romantic place on Earth', it sure as hell felt very sad at times. As the rain poured from the open vapors hovering over the planet, wetting the see-through glass mirror, his feet moved at a calm pace. Standing over a record player, a black record transformed into his extremities, and Ben gently turned on the music. Something classical, native to America only, one that Rivera listened to when he was younger. Sung by Yutaka Yamada for a certain anime about a white-haired boy, it was named 'Glassy Sky.'
The piano's keys projected by the spinning of a record, entering his ears, a sense of appreciation slowly slid into Benjamin. A sip of the tea he'd poured had caused the liquid to enter his mouth, falling through his throat. It may have been hot- but he didn't mind. Sliding the ID out of his pocket, he dropped it onto the coffee table in the middle of the living room to his left. Clattering in the middle of the chessboard, the Detective and the Reaper looking up to the brown-haired boy's father,
"The kid worked as an assistant scientist for the United States Government, for the Superhuman Project. The head scientist of that project was a man named Abaddon Kuno... he lives in Vegas. If you plan on going, then I'll get the jet ready,"
Nodding at his father, August's swiped the ID out of the chessboard and moved his rook to put Azazel's black King into,
"Check,"
"Shit... heh,"
Quirking an eyebrow at the sudden laughter, the Reaper leaned back on the couch while his rival debated his next move. Karlo flicked his wrist over the top of the board, unable to debate his next move, thinking it better to keep him talking. Glancing up at his pupils then back to the board, the Prince stated,
"There's something I just noticed when I looked up at your eyes just then... they're both different colors. The left is red and the right is green, do you mind informing me of this phenomon and how it came to occur?"
Just then, as the Detective of the Law finished his inquiry, another piece of brown hair had been replaced with the brightness of white. Celine tilted her head, mimicking August's motion a second prior. Seated beside her former lover, she lifted herself to witness his mop of hair- this wasn't the only white strand of hair. It was one in a bunch, very much visible but crowded by his brunet mop of curliness he was gifted at birth. Instinctively, she moved her hands to her long platinum-tinted hair and ran her fingers through its silkiness. Was it just a coincidence? It couldn't be, like this guy just said, his eye... is becoming like mine, thought the ghostly female to herself. Out loud, knowing that the Reaper could hear her loud and clear. Even turning to face her, with the Detective's face buried into the chessboard, he could use such mannerisms and reprimand her.
"I don't... really know. I remember I woke up one day and my left eye was like this- maybe it's linked to my powers or somethin'? I mean, Dad has blue-violet ones but sometimes they turn white, whenever he uses his power, I mean,"
"Interesting... and there are zero events that occurred during this time when you found out your eye color change, that could link to the shift?"
Rivera wasn't stupid, he knew what Azazel was referring to, the very thought sent his soul into a flurry. Tendrils ready to burst out of the hide he called his skin, he cracked his extremities into a fist, utilizing his thumb to CRACK! his middle finger's bone. Confused, Karlo rose from his hunched-over position and sat back on the chair in front of the TV, interlocking his fingers together over his chest. The way this guy sat-! He seemed so calm, so smug, and full of himself. No wonder he was called a 'Detective Prince', he'd always heard girls at school talking about this guy. Not to mention his clothing, his hair, and his sparkling azure eyes... it made him hate him. For a split second, the Reaper could see a glint of red in the sea blue of his pupils, and the moving of a clock ground to a halt.
Upstairs, Ben Rivera, sitting on the corner of his bed he shared with his darling wife, witnessed a drop of rain halt in mid-air. Tilting his head, he concluded that his eyes were playing tricks on him, and for but a split second, he felt a presence. One he hadn't felt in... decades, the signature presence that the Moon held whenever he was around him, that aura that resonated sound. But, this was different. The Emperor, for the brief time he had to move in this halted environment, could see a towering figure with a crow-plague mask concealing his face.
"Azazel-?"
"I'm assuming you felt that as well then,"
The figure disappeared as soon as the raindrops continuously went down toward the street, and Ben hadn't felt a sense of fear. He was sure of his abilities, but whoever he was- there was a fact he'd known since the very beginning. This wasn't his fight anymore, in the end, he knew his battle wasn't over... but this wasn't it. Not yet.
Downstairs, Karlo and Rivera had stood up from their respective seats, and the latter of the two had his middle finger's bone snap into position. Their auras surrounding their souls, and by extension their bodies, they were ready for anything. Suddenly, the door was pushed open by a THUD! though it was made of Konpeki metal, she was able to destroy it. Holding her cousin and sister in her arms, Blaire Rivera was in the door frame, to which the Detective inquired, stunned by her beauty momentarily,
"Who's this?"
Realizing what had happened quickly, the Tarot of Death had gently placed his older sister on the couch already. Checking her pulse, index, and middle extremities on her neck, he let out a sigh of relief. Pulling up the chair the Prince was formerly seated in, his palm radiated a green grass-like glow, and by extension, that emerald hue surrounded his body,
"What the fuck happened?!"
He cried out worriedly to his younger cousin, leaving Blaire startled in her place as she pushed her sister onto the lone soft chair. Whimpering as she snapped Mary's jaw back in place, on her knees, she explained to the Reaper,
"I... they were attacked, I guess. I was getting ready to head home since I was helping them with the petition signings, and then, I saw my sis unconscious. I was only gone for five minutes,"
"Who attacked them? Did you catch any glimpse of their face?"
Once more, she was scared by the demanding tone of the Detective Prince and handed him the wallet of the woman who'd attacked them. Sighing, he slipped the ID out, revising over the photo. Platinum blonde hair, crimson red eyes, the Prodigal Son had his tendril reach out and snatch it out of his hands. Celine could see it too- the resemblance was uncanny.
"Celine...?"
"I remember when I walked past you two in November sitting outside the yard near your window. Though it was for a moment, I could make out her red eyes and white hair... she later died of unknown circumstances. It was said to be a disease, but her parents reported there to be no problems with her heart when she was younger. Celine must've died due to a disease relating to superhuman capabilities, either she must not have held the potential, or the powers she was gifted were too powerful for someone like her. Now, it's two months later, since this woman just attacked you, and we were attacked by a superhuman as well- I can determine they've perfected it. Genesis Rivera, Beau Edmund, Matthew Johnson, Mei Rivera, they're at risk,"
August threw his jacket over his chest, pulling Blaire with him by her hand so she could use her powers to aid them. Pushing out the sharp collar of his black trench coat, the Detective adjusted his tie and exited through the destroyed doorframe. Calm as ever, with no sense of urgency.
Throwing another cupcake down her throat, the wrapper effortlessly floating with care in the world to the stone-tiled floor, Mei listened to her boyfriend's talk as they sat at the stool still. Walking by, Abby chopped her daughter in the forehead so she could sit up while she ate. Sitting across from her, the chatter of the two males beside them fading away as they decided to speak with one another,
"I just don't get 'er, ya know? It's like, one second she likes me, and the next, I'm the worst person on the damn planet- does that make sense?"
"If you're talking about Nikki, then yeah, I get it. She's just a whirlwind of emotions, but, you're everchanging, too, I guess. I mean, one day you're as hyper as yourself and then you're as quiet and reserved as me. Maybe she's just going through some shit, just like you are. Open up to her, ask to help her with her issues- maybe that'd help,"
That suggestion- it seemed simple enough, but, in actuality, it was so big. Thinking back to the past, in middle school, he remembered the kids there. And it was even worse at the beginning of high school when people didn't know he was friends with the richest boy in the World... helping people only resulted in pain for him. Some of the cuts and bruises still hadn't healed from the knife cutting his flesh earlier in his life. Nails scratching against the fabric his sleeve was made, covering his bare skin, Matt widened his eyes,
"I'm sorry... crap, I just- I didn't mean to sound so insensitive. I forgot you had- issues with that, I guess..."
Rubbing his eyes, he sighed in despair and pushed himself up from his seated pose. Walking soberly to the door, Beau tried to extend his arm out to stop his friend. But, deep in the beating nature of his heart, he couldn't, because he felt it was right... right for him to leave. That way he couldn't bother him anymore. Shaking his head, he banged his head against the metal table so a bump would form and quickly melt away. Everything he did just ruined the world around him further- sooner or later, he'd end up alone. And part of him knew that sounded sort of... appealing.
Unaware of the watching eyes, Matt held his head outside the front door to the bakery, crouched against the glass, and screamed out with all of his might. An iceberg rising him through the clouds from his feet, visible to a brown-eyed girl with a pink streak, as she walked from the school to her home. Suddenly, she was struck out of view by a clawed hand, marks visible with blood oozing from her wounds. Through hazy vision, Genesis looked up at her monstrous enemy...
The wind was elegant, the droplets of rain falling onto his cold face, it felt so... wondrous. Beautiful, was the only word he could think of. The thunder threatened to charge across the sky through the air, but none of that ever mattered to him. All that ever mattered was that he stood here forever, without anyone to hurt, without anyone else to bother him. The rain was his friend, his only friend... it didn't judge him- it didn't hurt him. It comforted him, in a way he never thought it would. A breath of fresh air brought itself visible into the air, and his eyes brightened with an icy glow. Remembering back when he was young, with the rain hitting the window, and when his vision would get hazy... he remembered his mother's words,
"As the darkness crowds over the night sky, little one, remember... the time of that darkness is only made for the light to shine its way into our life. So we remember... the good times,"
Turning his head so the other side of his face could feel the rain, he could see Genesis... repeatedly being smashed into the ground by huge bulky fists covered with her gore. There were no words to describe how he felt in that moment, cyan blue eyes lighting aflame, he was fueled by 'Dark Determination' and only that.
The man demolishing the Lovers' bones was of strong physique, huge, seemed to be 7'0 or even taller. His muscles seemed to pop out of the shirt that kept them intact, barely even keeping his abs inside. The purple energy coursing through his veins, enhancing his mere human strength, veins popping out through his throat, the Monster lifted Genesis by her throat. His hands were so big, with a simple crushing of his fingers, he could simply snap her neck... that was when she chuckled. Laughing right in his face, as blood dripped from her nostrils, whispering to her assaulter,
"Behind... you..."
Ice concealing the left half of his face, aura resonating around his entire soul and body, he snarled at the sight of this demonic excuse of a human. He who only spoke in grunts and growls, Johnson trailed his finger against his pink lips, covered with a dark blue hide, and froze them over. Cracking his neck, fueled by Dark Determination as he pushed his fingers into fists,
"Next time, Genny, honey... ask me for some help..."
Using the remainder of her strength to chuckle at the statement, Johnson moved as quickly as his retinas darted to see her weak breathing, represented in her rising chest. Lifting her from the floor, he leaped over the Monster's head, who attempted to grab his leg, watching the adolescent Magician flip over his head and land on a slide of ice.
"I was almost too late,"
Flipping over on the slide of ice so he'd be upside down, he rode through the streets of Paris, as the Monster chased after him on through the city. Johnson pushed her hand onto his arm, so she could slowly but surely use the slight of life-absorbing she could to heal her wounds. Mostly her shattered ribs, and broken arms. Those bones snapped back into place, attaching themselves, through cloudy vision, she could see her savior.
"Where the... where are we going?"
"Somewhere you can regain your strength, hang tight,"
Eventually, they reached their destination, which, lucky for them, was only a few blocks away. The Eiffel Tower's signature lights that lit up in the darkness of night were bright enough just for Gen to absorb, so, spinning on the slide of ice he'd created, he could turn and punch the Monster with a right hook. Strong enough to adjust his jaw to the side, but not enough... luckily for him, Gen had already been thrown into the lights.
The radiation her body emitted was strong enough and so bright that it blinded everyone there, those who were recording the scenario, the Monster, and the Magician. Hovering downward as her brown hair lifted into the air, surrounded by a magenta aura of power, the Lovers regained her natural composure. Throwing Johnson into a store that sold apples, ribcage shattering, Matt was able to create a quick ax of ice for Gen to catch. Which, she utilized to dig into her enemy's shoulder, then kick him in the chest multiple times, screaming out as her foot moved at lightspeed,
"ARGHH!!!!!!!!!! JUST FALL OVER, YOU USELESS SACK OF CRAP!!!"
A final kick to the chest broke his ribcage, one of the sharp ends of his bones entering his heart, causing him to step back, he whimpered in agony. Closing her fist, metal emerged from underneath his fallen over pained cadaver, losing blood by the second, and tended to his wound. Not to mention, also kept him in place. Warping over to tend to her helper, Genesis kneeled and helped him, hands interlocked together, she smiled as she saw that look in his eyes. It was the same as hers, she could feel it. As their hands slipped away from one another, and their fingers collided to spark gently, the Lovers pressed her lips to his nose, whispering genuinely,
"Thank you, Matty..."
In the Bakery, Mei's face was driven through the marble table she was seated in, and then used as a meat shield. Extending out his right leg, the Martial Artist snapped Abby's nose and knocked her out with infused super strength. Throwing his friend at him, Beau managed to catch her before she was kicked in the chest, and the male, with long blue hair and a hood shadowing his eyes, a scarf covering his mouth, ran out. Snapping Mei back into action, he grabbed hold of her and smashed through the ceiling so he could throw her at their attacker. Propelling herself forward with her light manipulation, she tackled the Martial Artist to the ground and sliced his fingers off with a laser emerging from the tips of her fingers. Just to be safe, his toes too- though she usually wasn't this brutal, in this instance, it was just to be safe. Wings of fire aiding him in his landing, he put magma cuffs, so hot that if you dared touch the rock it was made of, you'd likely burn whatever part of your body so severe, you wouldn't recover.
"Alright... let's see who you are-"
Pulling off the hood, the Martial Artist was revealed to be an ordinary dude- blue hair, as stated before. Long, like Mei's grandfather, but, there was a very unusual feature about this male. He had a third eye over his forehead, and it was open. Still looking around, and examining the duo, causing Beau to poke it, watching it melt as the tip of his extremity pressed against the orb. What was the meaning of it all?
"Jacob Neuman, Leah Parkin, Robert Robinson, and Johnny Johnson. All superhumans, all assigned to target us specifically, and all members of the United States Government. Specifically assigned to murder every one of you. Currently held in my lab downstairs, they're welcome for questioning, as every one of them has been incapacitated and threatened with death via Requiem Virus. The Detective and my son had determined the ring leader of this little parade is none other than the Head Scientist of the Superhuman Project, Abaddon Kuno. You all must choose whether to head to Vegas, bring him to justice and clear your name, or gather information here and don't risk your lives fighting that asshole. The choice is yours,"
They were all there, simply listening to the CEO's instructions, all wondering what came next as the lab below slowly had its lights turned off. A man with a plague crow mask had appeared, the light from his crimson pupils brightening through the shadow, voice modulated, he whispered to them all, held by cuffs,
"You've outlived your usefulness... the Boss has no use for any of you,"
And while the Riveras sleep, August feeling Celine's transparent flesh press against his own, a purple-eyed man with grey hair slowly smirks at the Chaos It's created.