BOOM 

An all-too-familiar sight for "Mirage," or should I say Vincent Cox. His battered body lay sprawled across the backseat of the police officer's car. Just looking at him in the rearview mirror is enough to make the officer feel a pang of sympathy.

"What happened this time, Vincent?" Officer Cody Williams asked, grimacing at his wounds. "I didn't think he'd take it that far..."

"Don't feel bad for criminals, Officer..." Vincent stares up at the roof of the cop car, still dazed, and chuckles. "We're supposed to be like this after fighting a hero."

Cody looked at him with concern before sighing and focusing on the road. "You know, we are always looking for new police officers; maybe we could do a ride-along—"

"I'd rather be a stripper," Vincent blurts out, causing both of them to burst into laughter. He then sits up, leans his head against the window, and urges Cody to drive more slowly. He thinks hard, trying to remember what happened to him. One thing is clear: it was the work of Lancelot—or Russel Newman, a protected superhero recognized as a "Symbol of Peace".

"To be completely honest with you, Vincent, I'm pretty sure you could press charges against him. He went way too far and I'm pretty sure he could've—" Cody looked back at him, realizing he had slumped into his seat and was now sleeping. "Goodnight, I guess, Mirage."

The car ride was a bittersweet experience, as Cody knew their destination. He tried to prolong the journey by any means possible—driving slowly, stopping at a park to offer Vincent some hotdogs (which he reluctantly accepted), and finally arriving at sunset. To their surprise, Lancelot had been waiting all day for them to bring the prisoner.

"Tsk..." Cody lets out, pulling his cap down and averting his gaze from Lancelot as he sneaks a glance at Vincent over his shoulder. "Look alive, Mirage. Looks like we have company."

Lancelot stares at Cody, who remains calm as he walks around the car to the backseat where Vincent is sitting. Lancelot notices a hotdog wrapper on the ground by Vincent's feet.

"Hmm?" Lancelot opens the door and grabs Vincent's throat making him gasp but smirk at his face. "You filthy animal, you think you could sneak food in the jail?" 

"Hey... Lancelot, lay off. I dropped it, and I guess it landed back there," Cody said, laced with venom, seemingly fed up with his arrogance.

"Be careful, officer..." Lancelot taps on his window and grabs Vincent by the wrists, ignoring the bruise forming. "Otherwise, you might end up in here with him."

"Was that a threat?" Cody smirked at him, knowing Russel couldn't threaten a police officer with jail time for no reason. "For dropping my wrapper in my patrol vehicle?"

Lancelot sucked his teeth as he began leading Vincent to the doors of the jail. They enter the jail and Lancelot sits him down forcefully in front of the booking officer. 

"Ah, hey again Mirage" the booking officer casually says after sipping his coffee. "Woah... what happened to ya?"

"I tripped," Vincent says lacking emotion and staring at him seemingly annoyed with this conversation. "onto a dickhead—"

Vincent gets slapped by Lancelot causing the booking officer to flinch and look up at Lancelot with fear. "I-I see..."

"And it's getting hard—"

"One more word and I'll break your neck" Lancelot grabs his neck staring at Vincent with eyes filled with hate, causing Vincent to let out a forced chuckle, knowing he couldn't kill him for just that alone, but still puts his hands up in surrender.

The booking officer was about to say something but just then a prisoner busts through his holding cell staring Lancelot in his eyes. Lancelot stares back, arrogantly, like he was a mere ant in the presence of a god.

"Move... or else!" the prisoner's arms get engulfed in flames his power activating, revealing he's a pyromancer.

Lancelot lets go of Vincent staring at the booking officer. "The prisoner is threatening me... am I allowed to use lethal force... officer?" 

The officer nods, gulping, as he takes Vincent and puts him in a holding cell. He stays back there as Lancelot deals with the Pyromancer.

"Hey... come on... let me see," Vincent whined, causing the officer to sigh and allow him to look, knowing his good behavior from past arrests. 

They both go back into the room to smoke, and random gusts of wind come from the center. They both squint seeing 2 dark figures clashing, Lancelot and the Pyromancer. 

"You done with your little tantrum?" Lancelot summons his sword, Arondight, clearing all of the smoke in the room, and even extinguishing the pyromancer.

The pyromancer looks at him scared before locking eyes with Vincent smirking getting an idea that might serve him well. He grabs Vincent seemingly holding him hostage looking at Lancelot. "Hah, now you have no choice but to let me out—"

Lancelot bursts out laughing with no sight of stopping. "Y-You think I care about that cur?" He raises his sword readying it. "Call it a necessary sacrifice!" He rushes, making the pyromancer freeze and giving Vincent a chance to escape his arms before Lancelot slices his torso clean off with him.

Vincent, who is desensitized to the sight, lets out a sigh. "Thank you so much, Lancelot~," he says condescendingly, causing Lancelot to point his sword at him.

"Who gave you the order to move?" Lancelot demanded, his voice cold as steel. He stepped closer, the blade pressed firmly against Vincent's side, intimidating and searing, yet just shy of breaking the skin. The tension in the air crackled, a moment hung in stasis, waiting for a response.

"Hm? Is Lancelot about to attack a harmless criminal? Oh, how the mighty have fallen—"

"I could kill you right now and chalk it up to an accident," Lancelot smirks looking at him with a sadistic gaze. "Who'll stop me?"

"I will." A voice echoed down the hall, causing Lancelot to flinch and turn his head. It was his leader, American Eagle, Markus Wilks. "What the hell are you doing Lancelot?"

Lancelot quickly steps back, sheathing his sword, glancing at Vincent then back at Eagle. "N-Nothing, sir," he stammers. Vincent smirks at Lancelot, his expression conveying, "Someone's in trouble." Lancelot sighs and heads outside.

Eagle turned his gaze towards Vincent. "So... you're Mirage?" he asked, honestly expecting more. "I've heard your powers are above average. Why did you decide to be a villain instead of helping us?"

"I'd rather not lie to myself when I 'save people' from danger. Should I be picking and choosing based on their gender, age, or how attractive they are? Seems like a hell of a decision!" Vincent exclaims, his voice filled with so much anger that it makes the booking officer jump upon hearing him.

Eagle smirked, fully aware of what Vincent meant, but he chose not to engage in the conversation. "Enjoy your visit here, Vincent," he said, turning to head toward the front door while Vincent was escorted by a guard to a holding cell.

"Home sweet home," Vincent exclaims as he steps into the cold prison.