Dai-chan

(26yrs, He/she/they/them) Kim Dokja, Han Yoojin: Main BABYGIRLS; rest is random content. Ao3: Daichan795 ✨ Twitter: @BabieJinnie795 (both 🔞)

[ravingblack]

lets eat shit with mama

[daichan795]

The Sight You See (BBS Superhero Au)

Ch1 Ch2 Ch3 Ch4 Ch5 Ch6 Ch7 Ch8

Chapter 9: The Beginning of the End (Also on Ao3)

The night sky was too clear for Evan’s taste. 

If it were a different time, he would have appreciated the crisp air and the abundance of stars colouring his vision, those pretty lights usually blocked by Los Santos’ cloudy skies and occasional city smog. 

It was a refreshing kind of night that would have brought him a resemblance of peace, but now it only served to mock him as he flew in the air, his fingers slightly trembling over his communication device. 

“Vanoss is now online. Tell me what’s going on.” 

His tone was monotonous and cold, devoid of emotion as he stared into the endless sky.

The communicator went static for a second before picking up. 

“Vanoss.” Brock responded. He sounded tired, voice slightly ragged, “Vanoss, we have our hands tied.” Faint explosions could be heard, followed by beeping alarms and very loud curses from a few of his fellow teammates. “Two robots were reported near Vinewood Hills causing massive damage. We came to investigate but-” a loud crash interrupted him, making Brock curse softly,“as it turns out the reports were wrong.” 

Evan frowned, growing concerned, “how so?” 

Brock huffed, “It’s not two, but three robots wreaking havoc. All three are twelve feet tall and heavily armoured, thankfully they don’t seem to be equipped with any exterior weapon but they’re still capable of destroying buildings and throwing cars at us. I thought it wouldn’t take long to shut them down but they’ve been tanking our attacks pretty well. Even Panda has been unable to smash one to bits, and he slammed one of those robots repeatedly into concrete. Seriously, the street has a perfectly shaped hole of that piece of junk.” 

Evan huffed out a laugh at that, “if Panda can’t even put a dent on it, then Wildcat and the other’s must be having a field day.” 

The communicator went off again. 

“Oh, I’m having a wonderful time. Thanks for asking,” Tyler answered, his voice unmistakingly haggard, “who wouldn’t be happy to keep whacking at a piece of metal that won’t. FUCKING. BREAK!” The mic captured Tyler’s scream along with clear thwacks of a pole, more than likely Marcel’s weapon, beating against solid metal. “I fucking hate this thing!” 

“Shut the hell up and move out of the way, Wildcat! The only thing you’re doing is getting in my way!” Marcel shouted. 

“How about you eat my ass?!” 

“The only ass Wrk should be eating is mine.” Scotty butted in. 

From the comms, Evan could make out Marcel and Scotty taking turns attacking one of the robots with their weapons, egging the machine before resuming their attacks. 

“Seriously, if we don’t take out at least one of these things in the next five minutes, I’m killing Nogla.” 

“I haven’t even fucking said anything?!” 

“Obviously! If you have, then maybe one of those things would have already exploded from your loud ass voice. Scream already, bitch!” 

…Hah, it looked like things were going well. 

It usually took a bit longer before his team were up in each other’s throats from all that adrenaline pumping through them. Those robots must be giving them more trouble than they thought. 

His teammates continued to argue with one another in the comms with Brock being the only one to try and keep them on track. The familiarity of it all should have helped Evan enter his Vanoss mindset easily but strangely enough, his mind struggled to do so. 

Ah, seriously, why was the sky so lovely today? 

His wings glided smoothly through the air, a sea of stars meeting his gaze. He has flown in these skies hundreds of times and has seen plenty of night skies just like the one before him, and yet today of all days, the view mesmerised him. 

If Jonathan looked out the window of that busy restaurant, would he also see the same sky? Would he be just as transfixed in the view as he was? When all of this was over and if Jonathan magically decided to see him again, would he be opposed to stargazing together? 

Just thinking about him made his heart clench. 

“Do you think those robots belong to Terroriser?” Evan asked. He had to clear his mind. He has a job to do. 

“It does have his bullshit written all over it-” 

“It’s definitely not Terroriser’s work,” Brock replied instantly, making Tyler tsk, “the robots lack any defining traits other than their strength and durability. If these robots really belonged to Terroser, we would not only be hearing his gloating by now but also be dodging so many lasers that I would be needing a new costume. Again.” Brock groaned, “not to mention at least one of these machines would have his logo somewhere. These things are too bare and boring to be his work. I'm confident it’s another kind of gadgeteer we’re dealing with.” 

Brock, who usually stayed quiet during such matters, spoke with great confidence, like it was common knowledge everyone should know. It was a little amusing to hear him be so passionate. Though, it did make sense. Terroriser was Brock’s nemesis; if anyone would recognise that rat’s handiwork, it would be him. 

Scotty snickered, “So what you’re saying is, these robots are weak sauce?” 

Brock chuckled, “More or less. They’re just taking a bit longer to take down than planned.” 

“If they take any longer, Wildcat’s gonna need new legs,” Panda quipped. 

The communicator filled with laughter as Tyler screeched back. The sound lessened the tightness in Evan’s chest. It felt a bit easier to breathe. 

“Sounds kind of annoying,” he slowed his flying speed, keeping just above the roofs of the surrounding buildings, “are you sure you don’t need me there?” 

The laughter faded away and the sound of explosion and metal returned. It took a moment for Brock to respond, his voice slightly breathless. “While it would be nice to have you here,” his words broke into a hiss, followed by a quick flutter of his own mechanical wings, “the situation in Little Seoul is just as dire. Buildings and roads were reported to be destroyed by an unknown entity and have been steadily making their way deeper into the city. The police have already evacuated most of the citizens in the area but they won’t have enough time to do the same if the situation gets worse.” 

Evan could practically picture the grimace on Brock’s face, “to be honest, I want to respond to this situation myself based on the report alone. But, we were already engaged with the robots when we received the call. So. sending you out is the best we can do currently. Sorry that you’re on your own.” 

Evan smiled to himself, “it’s fine. I’m sure it’s just some rando trying to make their debut.” 

Brock huffed out a laugh, “I wouldn’t be surprised. Either way, once we settle things here we’ll quickly join you. So, don't get into trouble.” 

“And for the love of God, don’t blow anything up! If we get charged for unnecessary property damage one more time just because you want to try out a new explosive, I’m taking Nogla outside and blowing his brains out with a shotgun.” Tyler threatened. 

“Seriously, did I piss in your cup or somethin’?! What the fuck?!”  

Evan broke into a laugh, “fine. I’ll keep the damage to a minimum… maybe.” 

“Don’t you FUCKING DO IT VANOSS--”

 “Alright, Vanoss out.” 

Without the loud chatter of his teammates, the flight turned silent. A mixture of emotions settled in his chest.

 ‘Guess I’ll be going solo for now.’ 

It was not nerves that bothered him, he had done plenty of solo missions in the past such as during patrol or situations just like this one where he and his teammates were separated. 

No, it was the aftermath that made him dread being by himself. Reporters would descend upon them like vultures the moment the danger subsided, regardless of safety protocols or regulations. Without his teammates to keep them in check, they would swarm around Evan and bombard him with questions, demanding an interview on the spot. His opinions or comfort mattered little to the reporters and journalists, too blinded by their greed to get a juicy story about Los Santos’ Golden Hero. 

Those articles were never accurate; it would glorify Evan’s achievements regardless of his contribution, overshadowing the rest of Team Seven’s efforts with plastering his name and face all over the news. 

He was showered with praises. ‘Valiant Hero Vanoss Saves the Day,’ ‘Villain Cowers Before Vanoss’ Might’ ‘Vanoss Single-Handedly Captures Notorious Villain;’ those types of articles were the norm for them. 

His teammates would be lucky to get a single paragraph. It was not “Team Seven” for the public, it was ‘Vanoss and Others: the Vanoss Crew.’ It made him sick. 

Sick enough that Evan tried to avoid being by himself, opting to have at least one person partnered with him during missions and patrol work. It wouldn’t stop those vultures from writing their articles or taking their pictures, but at least they’ll have a more difficult time getting solo shots without his teammates in frame. Especially with Tyler or Nogla hanging off his shoulders. 

Although, despite his efforts Evan still developed anxiety whenever he couldn’t avoid working alone, hyper-aware that his every action was waiting to be viewed and documented. Unfortunately, it was just another thing for him to get used to. Like everything else in this life. 

Evan shook his head, internally sighing, ‘I’ll deal with it if it happens, for now…’

Flickers of smoke wafted in the air as he descended into Little Seoul, the damage clear even from his height. Brock did inform him that something had already caused some wreckage before they received the report. The broken pavement and buildings were to be expected, the smoke and flickering sparks of torn wires just as so. 

However… 

Evan frowned, hovering over the major street lights as he took in the sight. Multiple cars were crushed together in a mangily pile, sharp metal pieces sticking out in every direction. Random chunks of the road were elevated off the ground, like something personally pulled the gravel up and left it dangling apart, concrete and all. The chunks were barely holding on by clumps of left over rock, slowly crumbling away from the weight. But, these observations were not the reason Evan paused. 

No, it was the random rock formations littering the area that caused him concern. The formations were solid pieces of rock of various shapes and sizes; one formation he found interesting was shaped like a hand, its form jammed firmly onto a crumbling building. Its sturdy position was the only reason the wall hasn’t caved in. 

Others just like it were embedded on the roads and sidewalks; the further Evan went the more dense and intricate the formations began. He also observed patches of sand around formed rock pillars and ramps. 

“What the hell made this crap?” he muttered to himself. There’s no villain that came to mind that had this kind of ability. “A new baddie, huh? Great…” 

He continued to follow the trail, keeping a bird-eye view in case the perpetrator was near. His frown deepened the further he went, his confusion increasing. The rocks continued to grow more elaborate and grand, descending down poles and connecting to broken pavement and debris. He faltered mid-flight when a piece of rock the size of a boulder came into view, its massive size  blocking the backway to the beginning of Rockford Hills. 

“Seriously, what is going on?” He crossed his arms in frustration, confusion turning to annoyance, “all this damage and still no signs of who or what caused all this.” 

The fact the damage reached outside of Little Seoul made him worried. He needed to find who’s responsible before they cover more ground, who knows how far the police issued the evacuation and he’s not keen on finding out. 

“I should call this in, maybe Early Bird or 407 have more intel for me.” He reached for his communicator, finding a crooked street post to temporarily land on. 

He pressed the button and opened his mouth to make the call, before something dark and fast quickly darted past his vision. He immediately jumped back into the air, zeroing in on the running figure. 

“Shit, is that our guy?! Fuck, hold on!” He took chase, his large wings taking large powerful glides to catch up. 

The figure nearly escaped his view from how fast they were running, the hazards in front of them not stopping their momentum in the slightest. They zigzagged over the ragged roads, jumping over the random rock formations and chunks of road with ease. 

Mildly impressed, Evan followed suit. 

The damage around them would give even the most athletic of his team some trouble; Evan had the advantage of being in the air. Although it didn’t feel like an advantage anymore with how much ground the figure has gained over him. 

Evan cursed, wings flapping harder as the stranger came into view again. He can’t afford to lose them! Gaining traction, he shouted out, “Stop where you are!” 

Surprise, surprise, the perpetrator did not in fact stop. 

They did, however, offer him a slight glance back. 

His eyes widened, his body nearly freezing from the shock once the figure finally became clearer. 

“Is that…? What?” 

He went faster, fully propelling himself towards the stranger. Once he was a yard away he lifted his leg, hurling himself full speed with a snarl. 

“DELIRIOUS!” 

Delirious dodged the kick with a flip of his torso, dropping into a handstand before flipping back up onto his feet. Evan slowed his momentum with a powerful flap of his wings, turning around in the air and falling into an offensive position. “Of course you would be behind this, I should have known!”

 He glared, anger coloring his tone, “this has your stench all over it.” He readied to attack again, “this time I’ll take you down- wait, huh?” but dropped his stance in confusion when he realised that Delirious wasn’t in front of him. 

To his shock, the hockey masked villain was already down the block, his blue hoodie barely visible in the increasing distance between them. 

What? He kept going? 

Delirious hadn’t stopped like he usually did when they encountered each other. Whether he was running away from the police or if it was one of their battles on the field, the bastard loved to raise Evan’s blood pressure with his nonsense dribble. Evan would bet his life savings that the little shit lived off of teasing and wasting his time, even if he was seconds away from bashing that infuriating mask into the concrete (ignoring the annoying fact that the fiend would escape his grasps before he could). 

So, Evan was absolutely dumbfounded that Delirious had continued to run after he dodged Evan’s kick. Without a single comment?! 

“Motherfucker…” A vein popped on his neck. “If you think I’m going to let you ignore me like this, you’re more stupid than I thought.” 

Evan’s form became a blur with how fast he ascended into the air. He cut the distance in half with the sudden burst of power, his wings occasionally flapping before pressing tightly by his sides to give him more aerodynamic and speed. 

He should have reached him in seconds but Delirious annoyingly kept his lead. The road obstructions did little to slow him down, and when the rock formations became too much to dodge Delirious took to hopping on top of the roof tops. Evan would have been impressed with how much stamina the other had if he wasn’t filled with bridle rage. It felt like the universe was mocking him.

 Like a rat, Delirious managed to wiggle out of every single attempt he made at trying to catch him. He dodged his attacks and swerved to the other side if Evan got too close. Evan would dive and Delirious would jump away, rinse and repeat. It truly felt like a shitty version of cat and mouse, and to Evan frustration, this chase lasted long enough to lead him out of Little Seoul and directly into the middle of Rockford Hill. 

“Seriously! What is-” he swiped at him, snarling when Delirious merely jumped over his arm, “-with you?!” 

What’s getting to Evan the most is the fact that Delirious hasn’t spared him an ounce of attention. He just kept running, ignoring Evan’s existence entirely. What, was he not good enough for the bastard’s attention anymore? The man who would talk a mile a minute even when he had one of Evan’s bombs hurled at his face? The same guy who crashed one of Evan’s villain arrests just to tell him that his costume looked ugly? Him? 

“Fuck!” He growled after another failed attempt, readjusting himself in the air and continued the chase, “let's see how long you can ignore me when I got your throat wrapped around my fingers, you...” 

However, the moment he caught up to Delirious, a loud crash and multiple screams stole his attention. 

They reared around the corner, his eyes widening his horror to see people still in the streets. The rocks were more dense than ever in this area, sharp and jagged in shape with sand covering the ground. A few buildings were struck by the pillars, the walls caving a little from the blow. 

Evan internally cursed. 

This area should have been informed about the evacuation, why were there still people outside? 

“Everyone, please leave the area immediately!” Evan ordered, “it isn’t safe! You need to-!”  

“Ah! Someone help! Please help us!” 

He jerked his head towards the sound of the cry, immediately darting to the source of it. 

“Here, in here!” 

He reached one of the tall buildings damaged by the pillars, hovering over a slightly parted window at the top roll of the apartment complex where he could see a hand poking out. 

“What? Are you trapped inside?” Evan asked in alarm. 

“Yes!” Someone, a young woman, cried out, “the walls in our room fell over and we can’t get through the door!” 

“How many of you are in the building?” Evan asked, prying the window fully open. The woman nearly pulled him into her arms the moment he did; he had to steady himself with his wings. “Woah, woah!” 

“There’s four of us! Me and my three siblings, I-I don’t know if any of my neighbors got out,” she shakily replied, visibly relieved at his presence. Evan could see three small children behind her, two of them doing their best to hide from his gaze while the smallest looked at him with wide, curious eyes. 

The building groaned, he could hear more walls crumbling from the inside. The damage didn’t look too drastic from the outside but the pillars must have been more powerful than he thought to impact the integrity of the walls. He needed to act fast. 

“Okay, I’m going to get you out. Are you able to climb out the window?” Evan tried to keep his voice calm, aware of the small eyes watching him. He didn’t want to scare them any more than they were. However, the sound of the walls crumbling further made his heart quicken. 

“Yes I can, but the children first,” the woman said firmly, despite looking just as scared. 

“Okay, but quickly.” 

With a nod, she ushered the children forward, lifting each one over the window edge and into Evan’s arms. 

“Hold onto me tight, I won’t drop you,” Evan said softly as tiny arms wrapped tightly around his neck and shoulder, trembling from fear. 

The second child hiccupped, tears sliding down their chubby cheeks. His mask covered most of his face but that didn’t stop him from giving the child a reassuring smile, “it’s okay, I got you. You’re doing well.” 

The hiccups didn’t stop but the child gave him a small nod in return. He carefully rearranged them in his arms so there was room for the last sibling, then offered out his hand, “I think I can carry you and your other sibling as well. Come.” 

Whatever bravery the woman had seemed to fall apart at his words. She shook her head, face pale, “n-no, carry my siblings first! We’ll be too heavy, I’ll just wait here for you.” 

The walls cracked louder.  

Evan frowned, “no, I know I can carry all of you. Let me-” 

“No!” 

She lifted the last child and thrusted them at Evan, lips trembling. 

But, just before she was able to put them in his arms, the window sill broke underneath her feet as both the outer wall and the floor crumbled. 

She briefly made eye contact with Evan, both gazes wide with horror as she fell along with her sibling. 

“Fuck, no!” 

Evan zipped down after her, tightly wounding his wings around him to make himself go faster. However, the force of the descent loosened his hold on the children in his arms. The children screamed in fright, clutching desperately at his shirt. The feeling jolted Evan and he quickly fixed his hold around them, but the action slowed him down. 

“Shit, shit, shit!” He cried out, gritting his teeth as the air striked cruelly at his face. 

The woman didn’t scream as she fell, instead she clutched her sibling tightly to her chest, gasping quietly to herself with her eyes closed shut. The debris of the building fell along with her, cloaking her in a sea of plaster, stone, and wood. 

He’ll reach her. He has to reach her. He will reach her. 

He won’t. He can’t. 

He’s not going to make it. 

“No!” 

A blur of blue flickered at the side of his vision. It jumped on top of one of the street lights and used the momentum to propel itself into the air. 

Like time had stopped, Evan watched as the blur reached the woman and caught both the siblings, gently cradling them in his arms. 

“Delirious…” Evan breathed, stunned. 

He didn’t realise Delirious was still there. He thought the villain would have used this opportunity to escape while Evan was distracted. But, there he was, in the flesh. 

And he was… 

With the two siblings, Delirious landed on the ground, stumbling a little from the sudden landing but otherwise safely. 

“Watch out!” Evan screamed. 

While Delirious was faster making it to the ground, the falling debris was not far behind. However, Evan’s concern was for not when the piping of the damaged building broke open, a gush of water springing forth and striking the debris head on before it reached the three below. It washed away all of the broken pieces, including small rock formations and sand left over. By the time Evan landed, the water flow slowed down to a small trinkle, leaving that side of the building stone free. 

“Are you okay, ma’am? Small one?” Delirious asked, carefully setting the woman down on the ground. 

“Ah… Ah…” she couldn’t respond, her entire body trembling. She still had a death grip over the child, only loosening her hold when she spotted Evan walking towards them. 

The children in Evan’s arms practically bolted out of his hold, openly sobbing the moment their feet touched the ground. They flung to her side with wide arms, their cries just as loud as hers as she hugged them tightly. 

Delirious took a step back to give them space, tilting his head to side, with what Evan could mistake for, as a kind gesture. 

Only a second later did Delirious move. 

“H-Hey! Where are you going?” Evan asked, confusion only growing when he realised the other was heading towards the apartments. 

Those glowing eyes finally, finally, turned to him. He didn’t expect him to respond back. 

“I’m gonna check it out one more time,” he replied, the lightness of his voice sending Evan a slight shiver, “there might be people still trapped inside.”  

“Wha… huh?” Evan dumbly replied back, feeling his brain short-circuit while Delirious used a hole in the building to jump back inside. He slowly blinked, as if thinking that if he looked at that spot long enough, things would start to make sense. 

He’s… he’s helping?? 

Huh? Seriously? 

“Why is he…?” 

What kind of ploy was he making? What does someone like him have to gain from all this? 

“No, no, this is definitely a trick. Definitely…” he tried to justify to himself but then doubt began to linger in his thoughts. 

‘But if it's really some kind of ploy, why would he go through this much effort?’ He could have ran away at any point but he chose to stick around. No, not just stick around. He decided to help. He saved that woman and her sibling from their fall when the commotion would have been the perfect opportunity to escape. 

Instead of running away, he chose to check if there were more people that needed help. None of this made sense. 

“What the hell is his problem?” Evan mumbled, dumbfounded. Unease of the situation settled deep in his thoughts, only growing stronger the more he gazed at the spot Delirious stood. 

Wow., Delirious, the most notorious super villain of their generation, was helping people.

The building groaned from its straint, not in danger of collapsing on itself, but of its inner walls becoming more unstable. Evan stepped forward out of concern for Delirious the residents but as he took another step a familiar mask popped out of the hole. Delirious emerged with two elderly people hugging him at each side. 

With both gentleness and grace Evan didn’t know the other was capable of, he held the two close and leaped off the broken hole, landing safely on the sidewalk. The sight jolted Evan from his inner turmoil and he jogged forward, “are there any others?” 

He internally kicked himself. Seriously, was he so lost in his thoughts he forgot what he’s supposed to be doing? Who he was?  People were in danger! What the hell is he doing? 

His face crumbled from self-loathing, for once thankful that his mask hid his features. 

Delirious shook his head, “no, it was only these two.” The two elderly people, possibly a couple, hugged each other tightly, lost in their own world. “Most of the residents made it outside when the first attack hit, these guys were just unlucky with their rooms.” 

Evan felt a little helpless at the situation. He was thankful the civilians were safe but… what now? Does he still try to arrest Delirious? Catch him? He should, right? Regardless of the confusing events, he;s still an extremely dangerous villain. Los Santos’ number one priority. 

Swallowing his resolve, Evan silently reached behind him to his utility belt, grasping around the specialised handcuffs issued to the team. These handcuffs were specially made to cut out the energy input so people were unable to activate their powers. 

Based on the current file they have of him, Delirious doesn’t have any kind of enhanced ability. But, Evans’ not going to start underestimating him now. He rather be excessive in his arrest than blindsided by that slippery bastard. 

The fact that he’s so dangerous without any powers only strengthened that thought. ‘He’s dangerous, I can’t let an outlier like this cloud my judgment,’ he thought firmly, eyes narrowing. ‘If I capture him now, then not only would I put someone like him behind bars, I can leave early…’ 

The sound of his heart beat filled his ears. 

‘Jonathan…’ 

What’s he doing now? He’s probably still at the restaurant cursing Evan till his voice goes hoarse. His fingers clench around the handcuffs. He hoped Jonathan would still wait for him. 

“U-Um…” a shy voice spoke out, shocking him. 

He turned his head, surprised to see the young woman approaching them with her three siblings. It looked like she finally gathered her bearings. “T-Thank you, thank you for saving us,” she bowed her head, voice trembling but her gratitude shined through, “if you two weren’t here I-I don’t know what…” She stopped herself, unable to say it out loud. 

Her siblings followed suit, their gratefulness just as bright, “thank you!” 

Their gratitude only made Evan feel awkward, “it’s… it’s fine. I’m glad no one was hurt.” 

The younger siblings, satisfied with the response, turned expectantly at Delirious. Especially the youngest, whose eyes sparkled at the blue hoodie villain. Delirious seemed not to have been paying attention because after a minute of silence, he slowly pointed at himself. “Oh, were you thanking me too?” 

All four siblings nodded enthusiastically. 

“Of course,” the young woman exclaimed, surprising Evan with how loud she suddenly became, “ I- you caught us when we fell, and,” she gestured towards the elderly couple, “you also saved my neighbours when I hadn’t realised they were also trapped inside.” 

The elderly couple were visibly worn out, opting to sit on the floor to recuperate their energy. Despite this, they lifted their heads long enough to give Delirious a grateful smile. 

For the first time since the attack, the young woman smiled in turn, “really, thank you for everything.” 

Those glowing blue orbs of light blinked, as if in disbelief. 

It still surprised Evan how expressive that mask allowed the villain to be. Though not as much as he was at that moment. 

The hold on the handcuffs loosened. 

A second later, Delirious erupted into giggles. 

The sound would have usually filled Evan with dread, hairs standing on edge while waiting for the fiend to strike. Now, it only made the confusion more louder. Oddly enough, the giggles themselves had a familiarity to it. 

Almost pleasant. 

Evan wanted to sit down. 

“No problem! This was nothing!” he replied, a grin in his voice. 

He placed a gloved hand over the smallest child and lightly ruffled his hair, the usual teasing in his tone switching to something light. Soft. “You were really brave, too! You held on really tight to your big sister that I almost didn’t need to hold her at all,” he laughed, “make sure you keep looking out for your three older sisters, yeah?” 

The sparkle in the child’s eye grew brighter and he nodded, cheeks flushed. 

Evan watched them with conflicted emotions. Delirious was a villain. Delirious was a danger to society as a whole. Delirious has hurt so many people and killed just as many. He has to remember that. He has to etch that deep into his heart. 

He took a deep breath. 

“Make sure to leave the area the second you can,” he said, only slightly regretful to break the wholesome atmosphere, “it’s dangerous to linger here for too long. The damaged buildings could collapse further and the culprit is still on the loose,” his gaze briefly flickered to Delirious, “if you look up your address on your phone’s map, it will guide you to the nearest evacuation center. Once you find your strength, please go to that location as soon as possible. We… have to go now.” 

Evan would like to escort them there himself, but he can’t risk letting the bastard out of his sight. 

The younger siblings grumbled in protest but the young woman only nodded, “I understand. Thank you very much.” The four siblings went and joined the elderly couple, likely informing them on Evan’s orders. 

‘Right, no more distractions.’ 

He forcibly cleared his thoughts, smothering the unease and confusion into the bottom of his mind. This wasn’t time for any hesitation. He had to act fast while Delirious was distracted. He cautiously made his way closer, keeping his gaze glued on the other’s form who had his face facing the other side of the road. 

‘This time, you won’t slip away,’ Evan vowed. 

There was only a foot of distance between them. Evan pulled the handcuffs off their slot and let them dangle behind his back. He swallowed. 

Remember, Delirious was a criminal. One incident where he pretends to be kind doesn’t change that. 

‘I have you now!’ He raised his hand, wings flaring behind him. 

Delirious… 

Delirious lifted a finger and motioned at him to come closer. 

“If we’re done here we should leave now, they shouldn’t have gotten too far,” Delirious said, gaze still glued to the road. 

Evan froze, brain halting. The handcuffs hovered just above Delirious’ wrist. Just an inch away. 

It glinted in the sunlight. 

“...What?” Evan mumbled, dazed. 

Delirious scoffed, “what the hell do you mean ‘what’? The bad guy!” 

Delirious turned his head and in panic Evan jumped an inch back, quickly hiding the handcuffs behind his wings before the villain could spot them. “I’m guessin’ you were chasing them too, right?” 

Evan opened his mouth, but no words came out. 

Huh? 

HUH?

Delirious tilted his head and although he couldn’t see it, Evan could tell the other was frowning. “What’s wrong?” 

Oh, fuck it. 

“ISN’T IT YOU?” 

Is what exploded out of Evan’s lips. 

The blue lights of those eyes glowed brighter, as if in surprise. 

“Isn’t all this,” Evan gestured vaguely to the broken buildings and crumbling rocks,”because of you?” 

His wings flapped anxiously, but Evan couldn’t be bothered. Sorry, but he was feeling kind of hysterical at the moment. Sue him. 

Delirious was silent for all but a second before he aggressively pointed at himself, “ME?!” 

Evan’s hysteria grew. 

Why did this asshole have the nerve to sound shocked? Him of all people? 

“What the fuck, of course it’s not me! Why would you think it’s me?!” 

Evan’s jaw dropped. “Jee, I wonder why? Who else other than, oh I don’t know, the number one super villain?! Who the fuck else can cause all this mess?!” 

Delirious stomped his foot, “I didn’t do this shit! I’m not a bad guy!” 

Evan broke into laughter, “oh wow, I didn’t know you could make jokes like this.” 

“I’m not, though!” 

“Oh fuck, seriously, my sides hurt.” 

Delirious stomped his foot harder, hissing, “I haven’t done anything! I was actually having a nice day before-” he broke off with a nonsensical groan. He shook his head with a growl, “fuck you! I’ll show you I’m not lying…” 

Before Evan could blink, Delirious took off running. 

What the hell? 

“What the fuck?!” Evan screeched, immediately taking off after him, “where the hell do you think you’re going?” 

“To find the REAL bad guy!” Delirious shot back. 

He used one of the rock pillars to reach the rooftops, letting out a laugh when Evan joined him from up above. Evan scowled down at him, gliding down to Delirious’ eye level but staying a few seconds behind him. Unlike before, Delirious kept a fast but even pace, jumping over gaps with that annoying laugh of his. 

“This is…” Evan groaned. This is so stupid! What the hell was he doing? 

“Is this really my life?” he mumbled to himself. 

The biggest idiot was himself, because despite finding the whole thing ridiculous, he obediently followed along. This alone made him want to curse himself out. 

Why? Why didn’t he handcuff him right then and there? There was no excuse for his hesitation, now the opportunity was lost and it’s becoming uncertain if another would ever present itself again. 

But, the most absurd thing of all was the curiosity that seeped into his mind after Delirious’ outburst. 

He internally frowned. This man kept bewildering him with his every action. Evan had every intention to subdue him but that one word, the use of ‘we,’ froze him in his tracks. The more he thought of it, the more his unease grew. 

‘Delirious… he hasn’t attacked me at all.’ 

From their first encounter in Little Seoul to now, not once has Delirious shown any hostility towards Evan. 

In fact, the villain has shown little interest with Evan since the beginning, only changing his tune once they worked together to help the residents. 

Hah. Him and Delirious, working together. 

He could laugh just thinking about it. 

This weirdo, just because Evan hasn’t kicked his ass yet he fully expected the hero to cooperate with him. 

Evan gazed at Delirious, perplexed. 

Did… Did Delirious not see him as a threat? He went so far as to have his back turned to Evan when he surveyed the possible routes the ‘real’ culprit took, his guard completely down. His pace was more forgiving as well, still fast and urgent but just slow enough that Evan could easily keep up with him. 

It’s suspicious. 

It’s ridiculous. 

Evan was just so goddamn curious. 

What was Delirious planning? 

‘He’s not hurting anyone right now, so it doesn’t hurt to observe the situation before I apprehend him… More information is always good. Yeah, yeah!’ He thought, happily deluding himself. 

But one thought still plagued him. If he really doesn’t see Evan as a threat, what does he think of him? What does the most notorious villain Los Santos has ever seen think of ‘Vanoss?’ 

“What, tired already?” A teasing voice asked, and Evan blinked, scowling. Delirious tilted his head to him, snickering. “Are your wings cramping or something? You slowed down~ Oh wait! Can your wings get cramps?” 

The question reminded Evan of their usual banter during their battles, but this time it lacked the mockery and coldness he usually felt when the villain spoke to him. 

It almost sounded friendly. 

He hated it. 

“Shut up and keep moving,” Evan ordered, eyes hardening. “If we don’t find anything in the next five minutes I’m taking you down,” he warned. 

Delirious comically jumped higher in the air, squawking,” what the fuck? How is that fair? We don’t know how far he’s gotten!” 

“That’s not my problem.” 

“It is! You're the one who took his sweet time flying here!” 

“Can you shut the fuck up?” 

“You shut up!” 

Evan’s lips twitched. 

He really, really, hated it. 

The trek led them down Rockford Hill and ending up at the border of Vinewood Hills. On the way, Evan infomed any citizens he encountered still lingering in the streets, reminding them of the evacuation sites. Thankfully, they dutifully listened to him, with only a handful doing a double take upon seeing Delirious. It was not hard to recognise him with how often his picture showed up on the news. However, with Evan’s appearance and Delirious sticking close by, their fears were eased and they quickly left the area. 

The more ground they made the more Delirious’ ridiculous claim seemed true. 

The damage to buildings and cars decreased but those blasted rocks only increased. It felt like his destination was the beach and not a busy neighbourhood. 

The rock formations were deliberately complex, as if someone personally carved out the odd shape they formed. He couldn’t make sense of it or the reason for such creations. Or for the attacker’s intent. 

From what he’s gathered, other than the people who got trapped in the building, no one has been targeted. It was just a senseless show of abilities. He’s never seen anything like it. 

He hated to admit it, but Delirious definitely wasn’t the cause of this. He doesn’t have the capability to perform such abilities, even with the help of equipment or tools. While it doesn’t rule out the suspicion of the other man being involved with the matter, it does clear him of the recent attack. 

Evan dutifully ignored the relief that briefly filled him. 

“Vanoss. Come in, Vanoss.” 

His communicator beeped at him and Evan quickly responded. “I’m here, what’s up?”

 Brock’s voice came back clearly, “we have successfully destroyed one of the robots. The dumb things tried to make a run for it once one of their buddies died. Almost succeeded, dragged us out of Vinewood Hills and into the mountain ranges. Wildcat is not happy.” 

“Damn right I’m not, I’m so fucking done, dude.” 

Brock chuckled, “Either way, We were right on the money. They’re all defense, no juice.”

“I was wondering about that, I’m actually close to Vinewood Hills and haven’t seen you. I was about to call,” Evan said. “Though, it’s nice to hear we got one down. Which is a shame because I was kind of hoping we’ll be able to replace Nogla.” 

“Fuck you and your muther.” 

“Anyways,” Brock laughed, “it’s good that we’re not that far from each other. Now that our hands aren’t so tied we’ll be able to afford to send you reinforcement if needed. How’s it going? You haven’t reported to us at all.” 

Hah, as if it was possible for Evan to scratch the surface on what’s happened the last hour and a half. 

He mulled over what his response would be, gaze lowering down to Delirious’ form as he ran across the rooftops. How does he break it to Brock that he’s currently on neutral (?) ground with his mortal enemy? 

He had a feeling mentioning Delirious at all would cause more chaos than he could handle, and that’s something coming from Evan who loved nothing more than being a nuisance for his teammates. He couldn’t wrap his head around it himself. 

He sighed to himself, shaking his head. Whatever, it’s not like he could explain anything either way. 

“No… No, I think I’ll be okay.” 

“You sure? We could send Wildcat or Wrk if you say the word. Panda and 407 have figured out a strat to take out the last robot so we’ll be fine losing a hand or two.”

Delirious jumped particularly high at that moment, twisting his body so it was angular to Evan’s. Evan blinked in surprise when in that brief second in the air Delirious sent a peace sign over the mask, landing gracefully back onto his feet with a joyful skip before continuing to run. He was probably grinning under that ugly mask of his, that stupid laugh flowing freely in the space between them. 

Evan snorted in disbelief. He should make an appointment to the doctors after this mission, he definitely needs it. 

“Yeah. Yeah, I’m sure. I haven’t found the cause of the attacks yet but thankfully no one has been hurt. I’ll let you know if anything changes.” 

Brock hummed in agreement, “alright. I’ll be on standby if needed. Let’s get home early today, yeah?” 

“YEAHHH!!!” 

A chorus of agreement pierced his ears, making him laugh. The cheer lightened his mood and he smiled to himself. He went to make another comment, to tease David about owing the team dinner, but was stopped by a tearing sound. Like the ground itself was breaking apart. He snapped his head in the direction of the sound, pausing mid-air. 

“Delirious,” he called out. 

Delirious also slid to a stop, staring intensely. Another tearing sound followed by the crash of metal smashing together caused Delirious to burst into full speed, Evan flying right behind him. 

The sound came right at the middle of Vinewood Hills, just beneath the wealthy homes Tyler jokingly said he’ll own one day. Police tapes were set out around the main streets and entrances, thankfully there were no people walking around. That told Evan that the police were at least aware that the perpetrators were on their way to this location, though the lack of any personnel at the scene worried him. 

Besides him, Delirious scoffed, “of course they would block out this area already. Gotta protect money makers first…” 

Evan frowned at his words but decided not to comment. He was probably right anyway, the fact that many citizens were still out on the streets in Rockford Hills and not here sort of proved it. 

He’ll make sure to add this to the report once he is done. But for now… 

CRASH! 

BANG, BANG! 

He had a job to do. 

Delirious hopped over the police tape with an exaggerated flip, yanking the tape mid-flip rather viciously. He let it slip between his fingers, the yellow strip flopping pathetically onto the ground. “Useless.” 

Evan didn’t know if he meant the tape or the police in general but judging on Delirious’ overall taste for the police force, he meant both. 

The noise grew louder and louder as the two got closer. Metal clashing. The ground tearing apart. Rock grinding together. A boisterous laugh, too loud and too gravely. 

They turned the corner, Evan quickly landing in a defensive stance. 

Though, nothing really prepared him for what greeted him. 

Those rock formations were everywhere; they tore the gravel and pavement like paper with an endless sea of sand beneath them. Cars were pierced in the air by sharp pillars of earth, others were deliberately twisted around rock that shouldn’t be able to be shaped in such ways. 

One of the homes was leveled to the ground, the rubble and debris crushed down perfectly flat. Standing in its place was a large chunk of rock with the same height and width of the fallen home, its surface smooth and flat. There, right in the centre of that rock stood a lone man with his arms held wide. His smile was equally so, that boisterous laughter he heard before now crystal clear and just as irritating. 

Evan tsked, “a crazy one, huh? Just my luck.” He let out a chuckle, “I guess you were telling the truth. Though, don’t think this lets you off the hook. Once this is over, I’ll- uh?” 

Evan paused, eyebrows furrowing at Delirious’ odd silence. 

No, his entire reaction was strange. 

He hasn’t moved since he slid next to Evan, the knives he twirled in his hands went stock still at his sides. The usual snide comment the hero expected him to say was completely absent as well. Instead, his gaze burned brightly, zeroing solely on the figure on top of the boulder. 

The weird reaction made Evan anxious. Delirious had been nothing but unusual all day but this felt ominous. 

“Delirious?” he asked, uncertainly. 

Delirious didn’t answer. 

The man on the large rock continued to laugh, clearly having the time of his life. He flung both hands in the air and at once, sharp shards of rock ripped out of the ground, creating a jagged line that ultimately collided into a gated fence. The gate collapsed onto itself, the laughter growing more giddy with each tang! of the fallen pieces. 

He was youthful in appearance, perhaps in his early twenties or younger with short brown hair and sides faded into a taper haircut. His build was average with decent sized arms, the biceps more prominent with each flex of his arm. 

With his loose t-shirt and baggy pants, Evan would expect someone like him to be somewhere in the club or drinking himself stupid at some college party. 

Not decimating some rich person’s gated front yard. 

More shards pierced the fence, the metal bars snapping cleanly off and flying randomly throughout the yard.

 Evan snapped out of stupor. “Hey!” he called out, “I doubt the council gave you permission to renovate here.” He hopped back into the sky, hovering just above the large boulder. 

The young man jolted in shock, eyes blowing wide at the sight of Evan. He blinked slowly, the realisation turning the shock to glee. “No way… Vanoss? THE Vanoss? Come to stop me? Aww, this is the best!” 

The response made Evan awkward, the absolute giddiness radiating off the young man made him hesitate. Was this just a misunderstanding? The boy didn’t seem like a villain. Not with the way he was dressed and acting, though Evan knew not to judge a character with such simplicities. 

However, he didn’t have time to dwell on his thoughts. 

He opened his mouth to comment, gaining some hope that he could convince the man to give up quietly and explain himself… 

Only to be met with a slab of hard rock hurling at his face. He dodged it with an inch to spare, shouting in surprise. “What the? Hey!” 

He barely had time to readjust himself before another slab flew towards. One became two, two became six, and before he knew it, it became an onslaught. A barrage of stones of various sizes raining upon him without mercy. 

Evan flew with precision, blitzing to and thro to each second of open space. He surged to the side, the bombardment of stone following right behind him. He gritted his teeth, flapping his wings more harshly. He had to find an opening to get closer, he couldn't keep dodging forever and with that wide smile the young man shot him, they also figured that out. 

The young man switched from waving his hands to stomping his foot on the stone, breaking a chunk of rock beneath him and kicking the propelled rock with great force towards Evan. He showed great accuracy and stamina, happily jumping side to side to break more pieces to kick. 

Irritation bubbled beneath Evan’s skin. There’s no way he was gonna let this little shit make a fool out of him. 

He zipped to an open space and gained distance, twisting his body so he was facing the stones face on. He opened his wings wide and with great strength he sent a burst of wind with each thrust of his wings. The force broke the momentum of the stones, stopping the larger rocks in their place while the smaller ones were hurled back to its owner. 

Startled, the young man moved his arms in front of his face as if to block the attack. Instead, the small rocks froze in the air before impact, twitching for a second before promptly falling to the ground. Although surprised, Evan didn’t waste time in the momentary ceasefire and swooped down. 

Scrambling back, the boy stomped his foot down, creating a large pillar of rock. Once formed, he slammed his fist against it, sending it tumbling down on Evan. 

“Son of a bitch!” 

He angled his body and flew sideways, the pillar grazing the tip of his nose before it fell past him, crashing harshly on the ground. It broke into large chunks, creating a dent onto the already damaged street. 

The young man sneered, an arrogant smirk only a teenager could pull etched onto his face, “I thought someone like you would be better than this?” 

The broken pillar shifted below. 

Evan groaned, “oh fuck, not again.” 

Once again, hundred shards of stone shot at him. It became more tricky to dodge with the larger chunks of the pillar shooting at his face, however it was nothing Evan couldn’t handle. “This won’t work twice!” He opened his wings again, ready to send a burst of air to propel the shards back. 

The young man grinned, as if waiting for it. He lifted his left arm up and flicked a finger. The rumbling grew louder but Evan was too preoccupied in the storm of rocks to take notice. He deflected the stones with another powerful flap of his wings, shooting forward directly to the young man the moment the pathway became clear. 

But just then… 

“Vanoss! Move!” 

Delirious called to him. 

He felt his body move before his thoughts caught up to him. He glided down automatically at the sound of his voice, eyes blown wide when the moment he did, a wall of sand shaped like hands clasped around the spot he once was. 

Evan nearly crashed onto the pavement, wings flaring behind him to catch himself. 

“Holy shit?!” 

Above him, the young man screamed at him. “Hey, that’s not fair! I didn’t know you had your teammates with you! You should have been the only one to fight me!” He childishly jumped up and down in indignation, pointing rudely at Evan. He scowled, “but I didn’t see them! Where are they- hueckk?!” 

Delirious appeared next to him, kicking him squarely in the stomach. The force sent him smashing into his own rock formation, mouth falling open in a pained groan. The young man stumbled out of his crater with jittery legs, the joy he felt before wiped clean off his face. “Aghhh, who did that…? Oww…” 

Clearly unfamiliar with pain, the boy’s lips twisted in anger. “Sneak attacks are not allowed you-” though his haughty words ended with a squeak when he finally looked to see who kicked him. 

Delirious peered at him from his perch, those glowing blue orbs just as imposing as Evan remembered. All the colour drained from the young man’s face. “Delir-? What? No! D-Delirious?” He fell to his knees, eyes impossibly wide. “W-W-Why? Why are you here?!” 

The only answer he received was another kick to the chest. He crashed right through the rock, skidding across the pavement. He barely stumbled back onto his feet before Delirious was upon him. Delirious didn’t waste any time, immediately following up his kick by grabbing the boy’s arm and throwing him over his shoulder. 

In panic, the young man finally broke out of his stupor and formed a bed of sand beneath him, cushioning the fall. “N-No, stay away!” 

A thin layer of earth formed from the ground and shot up at him, forcing Delirious to jump out of the way with a tsk. 

It didn’t let up. 

The young man slammed his hands on the ground and at once, multiple thin slabs of earth broke free and followed Delirious’ path. Lines of rock shaped the street as Delirious ran, destroying everything in its path without thought. The villain did not make it easy for it, darting around street poles and crushed cars with ease. His blue hoodie was practically a blur from how fast he ran and jumped all over the street; he went as far as taking advantage of the rock’s formation by waiting at just the right moment the jagged rocks formed to use its force to propel himself further away. 

The young man gnashed his teeth together, desperation leaking from his face. “Stop moving! Dammit!” A particular thin rock grew larger than the others, breaking through the street with great speed. “I understand a hero facing me but why you?!” 

Delirious twirled his knives into his hands and crossed them together, blocking the attack. Although the block was successful, the brute force still allowed it to move, taking Delirious with it. 

“Is this your territory or something? Agh, I don’t care! Just leave me alone and let me fight a hero!” 

The rock took him across the main street and directly towards one of the stone pillars there, its speed only growing faster the closer it approached. Delirious held strong, sparks flying around the knives as he continued to block. 

Despite all this, a low cackle released in the air. With a twist of his shoulder, he rolled his body and rode the side of the rock. He used his knee to slow his slide and find footing. Planting his feet firmly on the surface, he pushed himself off the side just as the rock collided with the pillar. The two burst in a great explosion of earth, raining heavily all around them. 

“...! Hah, I got you now!” The young man threw his arms up with a wide smile. 

The falling earth stilled for a second before changing its course to Delirious, smashing together and moulding into a large ball of rock. Delirious dodged it, but to his surprise the rock merely changed its pathing and whirled back around. It chased him obsessively, its size only growing larger as it collected more dust and stone in the air. The larger it grew, the harder it became for Delirious to escape it. 

But, the boulder couldn’t keep up forever. 

“Hahhh… hahhhhh…” the young man gasped, arms shaking from the exertion. He snarled in frustration. “Ugh, how about this?!” 

In a last ditch effort, he ignored increasing the size of the boulder and instead increased the speed, fully intending to flatten the villain in one final attack. 

“Hahaha! What a little bitch!” Delirious cackled. 

Flexing his legs, he thrust himself into the air. 

The young man smirked, “that’s not enough for you to dodge!” 

It’s true, the mass of the boulder could rival one of the homes on that street; Delirious powerful jump only let him score just over half its length. 

However, only a haunting laugh responded. 

“You really do suck.” 

In the air, Delirious slid his knives back into his pocket and then lifted his hands up high. 

Beckoning. 

Waiting. 

“Shouldn’t you be doing your job?” 

The boy sneered, “what are you- agh?!” 

A flash of feathers. A suit of gold and black. An owl symbol proudly on his chest. 

Like a comet, Evan soared in the sky and swooped down before the young man could even blink. And he did the one thing he never thought he would do. 

“Fuck, you’re so annoying.” 

He answered Delirious’ call. 

Their hands clasped together and Evan felt the way those gloved fingers wrapped securely around his own. 

Resolutely, confidently; as if there wasn’t any doubt Evan would be there to catch him. 

The realisation made something clench unsurely in his chest. But, he couldn’t dwell on it now. With a shout, Evan lifted them both out of the way. 

The boulder zoomed beneath Delirious’ feet, narrowly missing them both. The young man couldn’t stop the boulder in time and the sphere of rock met its end by crashing into another wealthy home, absolutely obliterating it in its wake. 

Evan kept them hovered in the air, watching the aftermath with wide eyes. “Holy fuck. I’m so glad everyone was evacuated.” 

Delirious laughed below him, “yeah it’s lucky. But, I don’t think they’ll be too happy when they come home.” He tilted his head up, “do you have a budget that handles all this?” 

“...We usually let the government handle the cost.” 

“Seriously? Oh, they must love you.” 

Delirious seemed incredibly pleased at hearing that. However, the commotion below made him shift his head, the mirth from before disappearing. 

After the failure of the boulder, the boy had managed to stumble out of his perch and reach the ruined street below. He made it to the crumbled piles of cars twisted together and put his hand on it, suddenly standing still. 

Evan grew wary, “what is he doing now?” 

“…” 

Then. 

The metal of the cars broke apart with a horrible screeching sound. 

Like snakes, scraps of metal and wires coiled around the boy’s arms and legs. They clicked together seamlessly, shaping and combining until it became solid armour. He lifted his hand to admire the newly formed gauntlet, the gleam of the metal catching in the sunlight. 

“Holy shit? Holy fuck? How?” Evan asked, jaw dropping, “how many powers does this fucker have?!” 

“… Just one.” 

“Huh?” 

Delirious kept quiet for a second, the glow of those eyes intensifying. Evan noticed he took a deep breath, the hoodie rising and falling steadily. Then, his voice came softly. 

Tiredly. 

“He’s an elementalist.” 

Evan let the word jumble around in his head. An elementalist? 

Evan frowned, “I… I never heard of that kind of power. What kind is it?” 

Delirious snorted quietly, “I don’t think I have time to explain everythin’ to you but it’s a huge deal that we catch this guy.” He jerked his arm in a shrug and Evan momentarily realised their fingers were still tightly clasped together. 

He could have grabbed him by his wrist or arm, why did he go for his hands? 

“For now, all you need to know is that there are six types of elementalist who specialise in six types of elements. This asshole is a rock type; an earth elementalist. So, he can control and conjure up anything that has earth in it. Including…” An iron bar was hurled in their direction, forcing Evan to fly them out of the way. Delirious chuckled lowly, “including metal.” 

Evan cursed loudly, “how is that fair? That’s like multiple powers wrapped in one!” 

Having an ability like that was absurd. There’s no way someone should be able to control more than one power. Evan has faced villains with earth type of abilities before. One could make the ground soft enough for them to dig underground and use the holes they left behind as sinkholes. Another could touch a rock surface and copy the hardness into their body, making them resemble a chiseled stone man. 

So, it's not like Evan wasn’t familiar with powers that can manipulate earth. But, to do all that in one body? Those villains only had that one ability. Evan couldn’t believe that the human body could withstand that much power within them. And, you’re telling him there were five others just like that boy? 

Six elements, six elementalists… 

“That’s… that’s dangerous,” Evan murmured. 

People like that cannot walk the streets without supervision. The crushed vehicles that littered the streets. The torn off roads and sidewalks. The fallen buildings that were once homes now destroyed beyond repair. Vinewood Hills that once held history and wealth now resembled a desert; mountains of rock and a blanket of sand. 

The destruction around him proved what elementalist were capable of. 

Evan clenched his fists. 

Worst of all, everything around him was done by a teenager who hasn’t taken any of his actions seriously. Evan fixed his eyes on the elementalist, “we have to stop him.” 

Delirious nodded, “and fast. The police are not aware yet what kind of person we’re dealing with. If those guys find out he’s an elementalist-” he cut himself off. He sighed, shaking his head. He looked different for a second, a muted type of aura seeping off of him. It disappeared as fast as it appeared.  “Let's just get this little bitch.”

Evan grinned. “Now we’re talking!” 

He lifted them up higher before pitching forward and diving straight down, a perfect blur of gold and blue. 

The elementalist shrieked upon seeing them and crossed his arms in front of his chest like an ‘x.’ The metal crawled from his gauntlets and moulded into a large shield, the bottom clanking on to the ground firmly. Sand whirled around him listlessly, shifting the stones and chunks of rock left behind from the pillars. The elementalist was ready for them, the arrogance he held before twisted in anger and swallowed down fear. 

If the situation had been different, his steady resilience would be admirable. In reality, it was nothing but foolishness. 

Evan soared unwavering, their direction unchanged. At the right moment, he released Delirious with a “Hah!” flaring his wings back to stop the oncoming wave of sand and stone. Sharp knives collided head on with the shield, sparks flying between them as the elementalist was pushed back from the force. Gravel crawled up and engulfed the elementalist’s feet, stopping him from going forward. 

With a shout, he broke free from the clash and swung his shield wildly. Delirious parried the attack with a thrust of his knives, sliding his body downward to slash at the young man’s chest. Metal from the shield abandoned its shape to protect the chest, blocking the knife from cutting his skin. 

The villain did not falter. He began an onslaught of attacks, crowding in his space unforgivingly. Tried as he might, the elementalist could not increase the distance between them. All of his concentration filtered around keeping the shield intact from Delirious’ devastating blows. The villain kept the gap small, the opportunities to strike back even less so. 

In frustration, the elementalist placed the palm of his hands at the back of the shield. Delirious striked at the shield but jumped back in surprise when the middle of the shield broke apart and shot out tendrils of metal. 

Lightning fast, the tendrils darted out. It impaled right through the place Delirious stood, lifting itself out just as quickly before chasing him down. Delirious flicked his knives and struck back against the tendrils, meeting the hits head on. He hopped out of the way when needed but chose to block the attacks personally, determined to keep in close proximity. 

Sweat dripped down the elementalist’s chin, lips curled in a grimace from desperation. “Just. Get. HIT!” 

He abandoned the shield shape to use the entire mass instead, the tendrils growing both in numbers and density. The extra metal strips became more apparent to Delirious with each swipe of his knives, forcing him to move back to avoid the more heavy blows. He only jumped a few feet back but it was enough for the elementalist to gain some confidence. 

While the tendrils kept Delirious occupied, the sand shifted beneath his feet. It built up at his sides, silently following with each jump and lunge. When Delirious regained the distance he lost, the elementalist striked. 

He flicked his index finger up and at once, the sand built beneath his feet shot up, entrapping Delirious’ right arm. With a jerk, it yanked his arm to the ground, forcing him on one knee. The sand hardened around his forearm, keeping him trapped. Delirious struck heavily at the sand with his free hand but every crack and chip quickly fixed itself with more sand. 

The elementalist grinned. “Yes, yes! I got you.” 

The tendrils lunged at him all at once, victory within reach. 

However. 

Boom! 

Boom! 

The tendrils exploded before it ever reached him. 

“What?!” 

Evan swooped from above, the moonlight behind him casting a long, dark shadow. The width of his wings only made it more imposing, the shadow encompassing the entire area. One would mistake him for an angel… 

If it weren’t for the two grenades in his hands. 

He plucked the pin off one of the grenades and threw it with great accuracy, the bomb exploding upon impact with the reforming tendrils. The elementalist scrambled back, calling the remaining pieces of metal back to him. 

“Oh, no you don’t!” 

In haste, the elementalist created a dome of rock around him, forming three layers around the first dome before Evan tossed the other grenade. The explosion broke through the layers and managed to damage the remaining one. The rock began to fix itself at great speed but Evan didn’t let it get far. He reached into his utility belt and pulled out a smaller bomb. 

With a quick turn of his wings, he flew close enough to stick the bomb onto the forming layers. Three seconds later it detonated, breaking through the remaining layers. The impact flung the elementalist out, his body smashing twice on the ground before he righted himself with shaky legs with the help of the tendrils. 

“Fuck,... fuck fuck fuck!” He whipped his palms forward, the irises of his eyes glowing a light green. “Just go away!” 

The wisps of sand grew violent, spinning faster and faster until they became small whirlwinds. The pull of the sand tugged fiercely at Evan, forcing him to use more strength to keep him in the air. As the sand drew closer, a pillar of rock shaped like an arm carved itself out from the ground, needle-sharp pieces of rock littering the edges of it. 

Evan laughed in disbelief, “seriously… now that’s just bullshit.” 

The arm rushed up once the elementalist gave a shout, palm open wide with its jagged thorns. Evan threw a bomb at it, body jerking from another harsh pull of the sand. The sudden jerk messed with his aim and the bomb detonated on the side of the arm instead. It did cause some damage, a chunk of its ‘wrist’ blown off. 

To Evan's frustrations, the damaged area quickly reformed, vines of earth connecting together until the hole was filled. He darted around the arm and threw three more bombs, shouting in shock when large ‘fingers’ surged from the cloud of smoke the explosion created. Evan tried to dodge but the whirlwind of sand crashed into him point blank, the strong winds rendering his wings useless. 

“Agh!” 

Those fingers enclosed around him with an unforgiving grip and Evan shrieked, clenching his teeth as those jagged rocks pierced through his suit and into his skin. He thrashed around in vain, hoping to somehow reach his utility belt or his communicator but the grip of rock kept his arms tightly by his side. 

The elementalist grinned victoriously, staggering forward in glee. “I… I did it! Hah. Hahahah!” 

He flicked his finger up and the hand squeezed tighter, ripping another scream from Evan’s lips. “If I defeat you, then I’ll be recognised by everyone!” He laughed loudly, “now my parents will finally have a real reason to fear me!” 

Evan thrashed harder, legs kicking out viciously under him. His foot scraped at the side of the rock feebly. ‘No! I won’t fall here!’ He rubbed his backside against the palm, biting his lips in determination. If he can get the angle right enough, he can use the rock to detonate one of the bombs he has on his utility belt. 

The recoil and injury from the explosion might be severe for him, but it would still give him a fighting chance. As long as he gets out of this alive, he’ll gladly suffer any injury. 

As long as he gets to see him again, then what’s a little explosion? 

The hand grinded around him, the needles digging deeper into his skin. Evan braced the searing pain and continued to wiggle around. ‘A little more! A little more!’ 

Evan felt the bump of one of his little bombs come loose and he grinned. 

‘Jonathan!’ 

“...! Ungh?!” 

The elementalist suddenly fell forward, pressing his palm over his throat in confusion. In less than a second, that confusion morphed to fear as he began to claw at his throat. “Hrk! Ungh!” 

Without him controlling it, the arm made of rock stilled and the whirlwinds vanished. Evan took deep breaths of needed air, gasping loudly. 

‘What? What happened?’ 

“Vanoss!” 

Suddenly, the wrist of the arm slowly started to fall apart. The once smooth and hard surface turned to mush, sliding off like sludge. As if it was made from sand that has touched the ocean. 

It continued to deteriorate until the hand fell off from the wrist, the rest of it crumbling away and turning to mush as it fell. By the time it touched the ground, the formation no longer held its shape and crumbled into muddy heaps. 

Evan didn’t fall along with it. 

A blur of blue used the pillar of rock to propel into the air and with another shout of “Vanoss!” caught Evan mid-air. 

Eyes blown wide, Evan could only stare as Delirious landed on the ground with a slight skid. The glowing eyes of that mask met his. 

“Holy fuck, are you okay? Is the bleeding bad?” Delirious asked, circling around Evan quickly once he set the dazed hero down on his feet. Evan’s wings stretched wide and fluttered, chasing away the strain from being crushed. 

“I’m, uh, I’m fine,” Evan said uncertainly, mind slightly blank. 

So many thoughts rushed in at once that it became static. He decided to deal with this later, when he wasn’t bleeding all over his body. 

“The rocks didn’t puncture anything. In a little bit the bleeding should stop.” 

Delirious made a sound of disagreement, “still-” 

A loud shout ripped their attention from the conversation. 

The elementalist crawled on the ground, his throat scratched raw with angry, bloody lines. Rock formations formed randomly around him, out of control from the elementalist’s hysteria. 

Delirious flicked his knives into his hands. He tilted his head at Evan, “we still need to catch him. What’s your call?” 

Evan blinked, “huh?” He furrowed his brow, “you’re asking me?” 

Delirious snorted, rolling his shoulders, “you usually have a plan, but from what I hear during our fights, your teammates usually hate it.” 

The elementalist finally took a gasp of air, violently heaving. Drool dripped down his chin.

Delirious stared. “So, do you? Have a plan?” 

Evan touched the back of his utility belt. His fingers ran over the handcuffs, frowning. These were supposed to be used for the man in front him. The man who has tormented Los Santos since the beginning of Evan’s hero career. They should have been used long ago. Delirious should have been handcuffed and taken into custody hours ago. 

And yet, for once Evan didn’t feel so guilty. 

Delirious saved those people without complaint. 

He saved him. Not once, but twice. 

And now, he was willing to follow Evan’s lead in fighting a villain that could endanger the people if he wasn’t stopped. 

Delirious could be caught any other time. Evan still needed time to resolve his racing thoughts and doubts anyways. For now, there wasn’t any hesitation. 

“Keep him occupied. I’ll get close and pin him to the ground.” He clasped around the handcuffs and held them forward. “With these, his powers will be useless.” 

Delirious silently looked at the handcuffs. 

He turned his head away, chuckling. “Figures you have that shit,” he replied, voice slightly dull. He tossed one of his knives in the air and caught it, casting his gaze at the elementalist. “But, it’s exactly what we need. Alright, I’m in.” 

Delirious crouched low, giggles erupting from beneath his mask. The elementalist lifted his head towards them, eyes glistening with tears. The sight made Evan a little sad to see but he easily shook off the feeling. A bastard who tried to kill him didn’t deserve his sympathy. 

Evan raised his arm. “Go!” 

With a flex of his calves, Delirious burst forward, his laughter echoing around him. He slashed through every rock formation in his path, creating a narrow line of crumbled earth behind him. 

“N-No! Don’t come any closer!” the elementalist cried out hoarsely, crawling backwards in fear. The pavement broke into large tendrils and attacked wildly, running solely on instinct. Delirious had no trouble fighting it off, his laughter only growing more haunting the closer he got. 

Evan flew at his side, evading every swing of the rocks with quick speed. If it got too close to him, Delirious would jump out and destroy it with a quick swipe of his knife. If the boy tried to use the sand on Delirious, Evan would flap his wings and send a gush of wind before the sand could take shape. They worked together seamlessly, filling in gaps Evan didn’t realise they had and elevating each other further. 

Colours of gold and blue filled the space, not clashing but blending together in harmony. As if he fought alongside Delirious all his life. Like the villain was meant to fight by his side. 

The distance between them was filled in seconds, the attacks from the rock formations growing weaker and moving without reason. The elementalist waved his arms frantically, no longer looking at what he’s doing or what he’s creating. The cocky teenager full of confidence they fought before was nowhere to be found. 

The teenager looked up with a hiccup, the glow of Delirious’s eyes reflecting in his trembling pupils. 

He managed a little “help!” before he was pushed to the ground with a cry. Evan sat on top of him, forcibly grabbing his wrists and placed them behind his back. 

“That’s enough of you.” 

He clicked the handcuffs in place and at once, the rocks crumbled to the ground and the sand seized. 

Silence filled the air. 

Evan gasped softly from exhaustion, relief filling his chest. Finally, it was over. 

The teenager continued to hiccup beneath him, burrowing his face into the ground. He was mumbling to himself, most of it nonsense or too jumbled for him to make out. 

Evan did make out a few words. ‘Throat’, ‘Frozen’, and ‘I’m scared,’ but decided the boy was in too much shock to pay attention to. 

He left him be, falling back onto his butt after reassuring himself the teenager wasn’t going anywhere. The results of the night caught up to him and Evan winced, rubbing sheepishly at his arm. Most of his wounds have closed up but his suit and parts of his wings were caked with dried blood. It was going to be hard to explain this to Tyler and the others once they saw him. 

He groaned to himself just thinking about it. Why didn’t he call them? Maybe it could have saved him all this body ache. “Wonder if they finished up the last robot?” he mumbled to himself. 

Despite all the pain, Evan found himself smiling. They finally caught him. Nobody was hurt and most of all, no casualties. Once the police come to take the elementalist away, he could finally leave. He’s sure his team will give him a mouthful (and a few punches) for leaving them to deal with the cleanup afterwards. The reporters were definitely going to be more vicious due to all the damage their fight caused. The roads need to be repaired and the possibly million dollar homes need to be rebuilt. It’s going to be chaotic and incredibly, incredibly annoying. 

But, Evan would gladly shoulder all the hardship he’ll face. 

‘Just a little more and I’ll see you soon. I hope you’re still there.’ 

Evan sighed loudly, “maybe if I report it to my comms, they’ll come sooner.” He said out loud. Then, he paused. “...?” 

Wait, Delirious was still here. Wasn’t this bad? If the police see him, it’s not going to be a pretty sight. No amount of bullshitting from Evan will convince them that Delirious had helped. 

Evan abruptly sat up, “Delirious, you need to…” However, he blinked in confusion at the sight of Delirious suddenly picking up the teenager. The teenager let out a sob of, “wait, stop!” but Delirious ignored him and threw him over his shoulder. “What are you doing?” Evan asked cautiously. 

Delirious offered him a glance before turning his head, “what does it look like I’m doing? I’m getting him out of here.” 

“What?” 

“It’s dangerous for him to be here now that the fighting is over. Those fucking rats should have caught on already. He can’t be here when they arrive.” 

Delirious made a move and Evan flared up, immediately grabbing Delirious’ arm. “Wait, wait! You’re not taking him!” 

“Vanoss, let go.” 

“Wait dude, stop! You’re not making any sense!” 

Evan gripped harder when Delirious tugged his arm, eyes narrowing. What the fuck? Now that the threat is dealt with, he’s showing his true colours? Was their time together really just part of a bigger plan? A trick? 

“He’s not going anywhere until the police arrive.” 

“Vanoss, I’m serious!” 

“No, why are you trying to take him? What are you going to do to him?” 

“I’m not going to do anything to him! Vanoss, just-” 

A blaring of sirens broke the tension and Evan instinctively pulled Delirious closer, one of his wings flaring out to block him from view. 

As he hoped, the police were aware that the threat had been captured and had departed immediately. More than thirty police cars surrounded the area, forming a circle of flashing lights around them. Dozens of policemen crowded out of the vehicles, crouching low and weapons readily drawn. 

It was almost suspicious how fast they stationed themselves, the fight only ending fifteen minutes ago. More surprising, he spotted a few vans behind the wall of cars, the special forces also a part of the crowd. 

Nonetheless, Evan was glad to see them.

He could see one of the captains from the Los Santos police department walking in front of the brigade with a megaphone in hand. The captain pressed the button on the megaphone and held it to his lips. 

“Thank you as always for your help, Vanoss.” The captain said calmly, his stance composed. “Bring him to us and we’ll take it from here.” 

Vanoss frowned at the order. 

The police were supposed to investigate the area and wait for confirmation from Vanoss before taking the culprit into custody. Of course, this was usually after Vanoss gave them a brief report so they could have an idea on what they were dealing with. But, now they’re choosing to ignore all of that and demand the teenager directly? 

Evan’s frown deepened when he spotted a familiar pair of suits behind the captain, whispering directly in the captain’s ear. Why were the FBI here? 

“Vanoss. Bring him immediately. Let’s not waste time,” The captain ordered once more. 

The crowd of policemen grew, the volume of them made Evan uncomfortable. Something didn’t feel right about the situation but there was nothing he could do at the moment. 

Vanoss nodded, “okay, I understand.” 

He pressed gently at Delirious’ side, voicing dropping to a whisper, “Delirious, put him down. I’ll kick up some dust while picking him up so when I do that-” 

But, he doesn’t get to finish his sentence. 

In a flurry of movements, Delirious jabbed him with the handle of his knife. Evan lets him go with a cry, his wings jerking back in surprise. He heard a collected gasp from the police and an outraged cry of “What the-?! Delirious?!” from the captain before Delirious took action. 

Instead of fleeing like Evan thought he would, he clenched his knife and struck fiercely at the handcuffs. The handcuffs fell off after the third strike. Evan’s eyes blew wide at that. The handcuffs were supposed to be made out of extremely strong material. How did he do that?

 “Run!” He spat at the teenager, kicking the handcuffs away. 

The teenager looked at him with wide, watery eyes, clearly confused and visibly scared. Delirious tugged him to his feet, “I said run!” 

Evan snapped out of his shock, “what are you doing?!” 

The teenager, upon realising he was being let go, did not hesitate to run. The floor beneath him gave way and he plunged himself underground, the pavement cracking as he moved beneath. 

Evan went for his utility belt, “Oh no you don’t! ...! Shit!” but abandoned it to block Delirious’ sudden attack. His arms met the bluntness of the knife’s handle. He grimaced, arms slightly shaking from both exhaustion and from the blow. 

“Turn around, Vanoss. Just let it go.” With a grunt, Delirious pushed Evan away. 

Evan skidded to the side, his teeth baring into a snarl. “What the fuck is your problem?!” 

The split second of space created was enough for Delirious to make a run for it. He took off in the direction the teenager went, leaping over the stunned policemen blocking the back entrance. 

“What the hell are you doing?! Shoot him!” The captain screamed. 

Bullets started to fly but Delirious was already too far away to be a threat. 

Evan growled, irritation clear in his stance.  “Ah, shit!” He took after him without a second thought, pushing up dust as he soared into the air. He heard the captain barking out orders but he chose to ignore it, his mind occupied with more important things. 

Why? Why does he have to be so confusing?! 

If the plan was to take the elementalist from the beginning, why did he wait so long? Why waste so much time working alongside Evan when he could have blind sided the elementalist at any given moment? Why did he help those people then? 

Why did he help Evan? 

He was tired of things not making any sense. 

Evan felt more angry as the thoughts festered in his mind, picking up speed. He caught sight of that ugly blue hoodie in no time, the rat bastard was following the rock trail left behind by the teenager. 

“Delirious!” Evan yelled. He sped up, gasping softly from exertion. Despite that, he refused to slow down. He won’t let him get away without some answers. 

Delirious continued to run, only sparing a glance upward when Evan finally caught up, soaring above him in hearing distance. 

Evan glared at him. “Why are you letting him escape?! After we worked so hard to catch him?” 

He did not answer. 

“Is this some joke to you?” he spat. 

He flew closer down, uncaring that Delirious could easily attack him if he wanted. “Or was all of this part of some sick plan?” He sneered, hurt anger coating his tone.

To his surprise, Delirious reacted. The villain shook his head, keeping his head facing the trail, “of course not.” 

Evan huffed in frustration, “then why? What’s the point of this?” 

Delirious stayed silent for a moment. 

Unlike Evan’s mask, Delirious’ mask hid all of his emotions. A blank canvas except for the deep blue orbs encased in the darkness of the eyes. He loathed that mask with a passion; he couldn’t get a read on the villain at all. 

This time was no different. 

“…You were going to give him to the police,” Delirious suddenly replied, his voice low enough Evan had to strain his ears to hear him. 

Evan nearly rolled his eyes at the response. “Well, duh? That’s what usually happens when a bad guy gets caught. He goes to prison, dude. What, did you expect a little scolding and a slap on the wrist?” he said sarcastically. 

It happened too fast for him to react. 

One moment he was angrily gliding above and the next thing he knew he’s forced to the ground, coming face to face with the mask he despised so much. 

“You really don’t know shit!” Delirious hissed at him, a gloved hand yanking harshly at the collar of his suit. “Do you have any idea what happens to an elementalist when they are caught?! What the government does to them?!” 

Evan looked at him with wide eyes, stunned. He didn’t expect Delirious to sound so furious, the blue orbs in that mask positively glowing beneath the shadows of the moonlight. 

“That boy would be lucky to even see a jail cell!” He shook Evan roughly, as if gearing up to hit him. 

However, his fingers trembled once, twice, before he released Evan’s collar with a shaky breath. The fury drained from his shoulders, leaving Evan feeling oddly cold. 

“Fuck this.” 

He took off running after the teenager, leaving Evan stiffly on the ground. He watched his retreating form with blank eyes until even his footsteps faded away. He felt heavy, Delirious’ words echoing in his head. 

No, Evan didn’t know what happened to them. He’d never encountered an elementalist before today, had never even heard of them until now. 

“What the government does…?” 

Those annoying agents were at the scene, he recalled. The more he replayed the memory of the scene, the more the questions gnawed at him. Why the hell were those bastards here? And the captain, Evan definitely felt he was acting odd as well. Were they acting like this because of the elementalist? 

Was there something more at play here that Evan wasn’t seeing? 

“Aghh, I don’t know anymore!” Evan yelled in frustration, his wings flaring out behind him as he pushed himself off the ground and launched back into the air. “I’m going to lose them if I stay here any longer.” 

He took chase once more, chest feeling heavy with conflicting feelings. 

Delirious felt strongly about this, enough to release the elementalist and be chased by the police. He wanted to believe the villain was lying to him, trying to play with his emotions so he could steal the elementalist away. After all, Delirious was a villain- a murderer. Evan had seen the blood on his hands, the way he showed no remorse for the lives he took. 

But the way he spoke to him, the way those hands he's seen time and time again kill others without remorse trembled around his collar; he couldn't. 

His breath came in quick, shallow gasps as he pushed himself to go faster. He can’t let this go without knowing the truth. 

A crackling sound pierced his thoughts, and his comms suddenly flared to life. “Vanoss. Come in, Vanoss.” 

It was not the voice of his Team, but of the captain at the scene. 

He didn’t want to talk to the captain now, not when everything felt so wrong. But before he could stop himself, his fingers moved, clicking the communicator on with a sense of numb obedience. “Yes, what is it?” 

His own voice sounded hollow, distant, as if someone else were speaking through him. 

“Have you located the elementalist yet?” 

“Yes, I’m on his trail.” 

“And what of that fiend, Delirious?” 

Evan paused, mouth twisting into a grimace. Talking about Delirious to the captain felt wrong. He didn’t want this man to talk about the villain at all. “I’m… I’m not sure. I haven’t seen him since he escaped the circle.”

 He heard the captain click his tongue. The sound made Evan flair up in irritation, his jaw tightening in frustration. He didn’t want to answer to the captain right now. He didn’t want to follow these orders, not when everything felt so muddled. 

“Forget about him. Your main focus is the elementalist. Nothing else matters.” 

The orders made Evan’s thoughts still, a horrible sinking feeling filling his stomach. “…What?” Evan’s voice was barely a whisper as he tried to make sense of the captain’s orders. 

“These are direct orders, Vanoss. Catch the elementalist at all costs.” The comms continued, the next orders making his stomach plummet further. “Worst case scenario, if the elementalist refuses to cooperate or proves to be difficult- kill them. They’re too dangerous to let live if they’re not going to be useful- for the good of society.” 

Evan reeled back as if he was struck. 

He felt himself grow pale as the realisation sunk into his chest. Everything became clearer. 

The captain, the government- they were willing to do anything to control the elementalist, even if it meant murder. 

Is this what Delirious meant? Would they really go that far? 

Evan felt his heart pound in his chest, his wings faltering for just a moment as the weight of his sworn duty as a hero clashed with the gnawing doubt within him. He turned off his communicator, unwilling to listen to anything anymore. 

“No, this is fucked up. I won’t!” 

Evan forced his wings to go faster, exhaustion be damn. The cold air nipped at his face as he flew, darting through buildings and street lights with blind speed. He passed through the apartment complex he helped before, he bleary observed the destruction and crumbling rock formations familiar as he flew by. 

The teenager- right, the elementalist, was using the same path he used before to reach Vinewood Hills. The thought spurred him further, his body slightly protesting from the action. He’s reaching his limit soon, Evan could tell. His injuries were making his joints stiff, dull twinges of pain ignited in his veins with each breath he took. 

‘A little more, just a little more!’ 

He heard the burst of rock before he saw it. 

The entrance to Little Seoul could be seen in the distance, blocked by the remaining rock pillars left behind. Evan caught sight of the elementalist crawling out of the ground, his chest heaving. Delirious was crouched besides him, a hand held out to help the elementalist out. Cars and other vehicles were turned upside down, pushed all the way to the edge of the street. Pieces of earth were also destroyed, slashed in half and kicked to the side. 

Evan had seen similar sights on his way over. Delirious must have helped clear the path for the elementalist, using the debris to block out other entrances the authorities could use. 

“Delirious,” he called out, rushing over. The anxiety and confusion that suffocated him dribbled away to relief at seeing the villain. 

If he was in his right mind, he would have realised how ridiculous he was reacting. But, nothing made sense anymore. And the captain’s orders still left a chill in Evan’s spine. Right now, Delirious was his beacon. 

He flew to him without hesitation. 

“Delirious.” 

His fingers barely brushed the fabric of his hoodie before Delirious reacted. He swung around, the metal handle of his knife striking squarely at Evan’s chest with brutal force. Evan took the hit with gritted teeth, planting his feet firmly on the ground to keep him from skidding too far. His injuries screamed at him in protest but he stubbornly held on, keeping a firm grip on that familiar hoodie. 

“Wait, wait! I’m here to help!” Evan cried, his voice frantic as he braced himself for another strike. He was ready for it, expecting Delirious to lash out again without hesitation. 

However, Delirious visibly faltered. 

“…Huh?” 

Evan felt a wave of relief wash over him. It was absurd and Evan knew for certain he was losing his mind, but for now, it didn’t matter. 

“I’m here to help,” he repeated, placing his hand over the knife handle. “To be honest, I don’t even know what’s going on or why I’m doing this,” Evan admitted, a humorless laugh escaping his lips, “especially trying to help someone I definitely shouldn’t trust, but…” 

He flicked his eyes to the elementalist greedily gulping down air. His face was pale, entire body stained with dirt and dust. The poor kid must have been digging the entire time without any break. Elementalist or not, it was someone who clearly lost their will to fight back long ago. 

His resolve only solidified. 

He met Delirious’ gaze, “but, I rather listen to a villain than listen to an order that forces me to hurt someone who has already given up.” 

He felt vulnerable, saying it out loud. As if he was confessing all of his conflicting feelings he kept inside, the same ones threatening to spill over ever since he heard the captain’s orders. He couldn’t believe what he’d just said, but it felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulder. 

Delirious didn’t move at first, his gaze fixed on him intensely, but Evan refused to waver. It felt like a door would close shut forever if he backed down now. He swallowed down his nerves, meeting the haunting lights with as much sincerity as he could muster. 

When the anxiety threatened to spill over, Delirious finally moved, flicking his knives back inside his sleeves. 

“So stupid…” he muttered under his breath, but Evan heard it all the same. 

He hovered for a second, then a third, before he turned away and walked back to the elementalist. It was barely an agreement, but it was enough for Evan. He jogged forward, slowing down to match Delirious’s stride. 

The elementalist breath hitched at Evan’s presence, fingers thrumming together nervously. The more Evan looked at him the more it felt like he was looking at two different people. The boy who mocked and pierced him mercilessly with his creations could barely look at him in the eyes. 

Delirious kept walking, gesturing at the elementalist to follow, “let’s go, those assholes will catch up if we give them the chance.” 

Reluctantly, the boy obediently stumbled onto his feet. There was an obvious stagger in his steps, his eyebrows pinching together as he stubbornly walked faster. At least that part of his personality stayed the same. 

The thought made Evan smile a bit. 

“Want me to carry you instead?” he asked lightly, slowing down to match the other’s uneven pace. The elementalist flicked a wary glance at him, eyes narrowing with suspicion. It was clear that the boy didn’t know whether to trust him or not. 

Evan pressed his wings more closely to his sides, hoping to make himself less intimidating. He gave a small smile, “it's only until we get you safely out of the city. Clearing the path of all the damage would take too long.” 

Evan cocked his head slightly, a thought coming to him. “Do we have a destination?” 

It was Delirious who responded. “He’ll be coming with me.” He turned his head half way, one glowing eye glinting menacingly, “I’ll hide him until things settle down.” His tone came out cold, as if daring Evan to protest. 

In all honesty, the hero wanted to. He couldn’t bring himself to give the villain any more trust than he has and leaving an already dangerous person with an even more dangerous guy spelled nothing but trouble. 

Despite this, Evan kept his mouth shut. It’s not like Evan could hide him instead. There was no way for him to explain everything to his teammates and with their headquarters practically a vacation home for those annoying agents, it would only be a matter of time before they got caught. 

He sighed in resignation, giving Delirious a nod. “Okay, I get it.” 

Delirious kept his gaze on him for a second longer, as if scrutinizing him. He let out a huff, “maybe you should carry him out after all. It’ll make things much faster. Once we leave Little Seoul, the police’s intel will run short.” He kicked another fallen piece of rock, “ it’ll beat running on foot.” 

The elementalist shook his head, opening his mouth to protest, but Evan beat him to it. “Sounds good,” he said with a grin,” I’ll carry you both out in no time.” 

Delirious replied with an exasperated, “what the hell, I didn’t say me too,” but Evan ignored him, instead extending his hand to the elementalist. He smiled reassuringly. “Come here.” 

The elementalist visibly hesitated. His eyes darted between Evan’s outstretched hand and Delirious, biting his lips in contemplation. The urgency to leave had Evan growing anxious but he refused to rush him, patiently waiting. His distrust was understandable. Not too long ago they were enemies, it would be hard for anyone to change that kind of mindset in that short amount of time.  

Then, Evan realized something that made him pause. He hadn’t asked for the boy’s name. It felt odd, considering how absurd the situation became, but after everything that’s happened, it also felt right to ask. 

“By the way” Evan said lightly, his tone almost casual to mask the tension in the air, “what’s your name?” 

The elementalist tensed, practically freezing in place. His eyes grow wide, comically so. “Huh?” he stammered, clearly caught off guard. 

Evan smiled, “your name. After everything you put me through, I deserve at least that much, right?” He cracked a grin, “your villain name works too, it’ll probably be better than Delirious, anyway.” 

The elementalist hesitated, his lips pressing together tightly, as if trying to decide whether it was better to answer or keep silent. The silence stretched between them for a short moment, but then, he took Evan’s hand. “…Jayce.” 

“Jayce,” Evan repeated, gently pulling the boy close, “nice name.” His wings extended to their full wing span. “Let’s get you out of here.” 

He extended his hand once more. “Both of you.” 

Delirious stilled, the lights of his mask glowing brighter. Perhaps Evan was more tired than he thought because he could swear, in that brief moment Delirious’s gaze fell to his hand, the notorious villain looked soft. 

Vulnerable. 

Human. 

Of course, Evan knew it was impossible. The villain was anything but. He was dangerous, unpredictable; he couldn’t fully be trusted. He had to remember that. 

Before Evan could analyze it further, Delirious moved his arm, and a flash of hope curled in his stomach. 

However, not a second later, something shifted. Delirious twitched. 

“Vanoss. Fly, now.” 

Evan blinked, “huh?” 

Before he could process the words, a sound, sharp and jarring, cut through the air- a blare of sirens, louder and closer by the second. 

And then, the gunfire. 

It rained down on Delirious, the sharp crack of bullets splitting the air. Delirious leaped out of the way, hissing angrily. Colourful lights surrounded them, the blaring sirens just as daunting. Instinctively, Evan spread his wings wide in a desperate attempt to shield Delirious, but it was no use. Delirious was moving, already too far away. 

“I said, fly!” 

The lights only got brighter and soon a thundering of footsteps surrounded them. Words were being shouted but Evan couldn’t hear it through his own heartbeat pounding in his ears. Delirious ducked behind one of the remaining rock pillars, using it as cover. He pressed low to the ground, his body fluid and quick. 

“They probably think you’re still following orders, so they’re only after me,” Delirious said, tone sharp, “while they’re busy with me, fly Jayce out of here.” 

“What? Are you crazy?!” 

“Obviously!” 

As if to prove it, Delirious hopped over his hiding spot, running straight for the source of the gun fire. Shouts of surprise rang out, followed by another barrage of bullets, but Delirious remained unfazed, zig-zagging in an unpredictable pattern underneath the intense heat of their spotlights. 

From somewhere amid the chaos, the captain’s voice cut through the noise, barking orders into a megaphone. Evan’s name was in the mix, a jumble of accusations and commands blending together hideously in a muted haze. He couldn’t understand a single word but Evan didn’t want to. 

Delirious. 

Why does he keep doing things that make no sense? 

The villain made contact with the police directly, kicking a rifle out of the hand of one and slashing a pistol in half of another. He remained constantly moving, jumping over the police cars barricading the street and breaking off the doors to use as shields against the bullets. The officers behind Evan abandoned their post to help with the chaos, leaving Evan to himself. Delirious deliberately moved a yard away each time the heavily armed forces striked, baiting them away from the hero and the elementalist. 

It was stupid, it was reckless; it was everything Evan knew the man to be. 

“Fuck… Fuck!” 

He gripped Jayce close and with great reluctance, he took off into the air with a powerful beat of his wings. Jayce clutched onto him with a shout, the wind whipping harshly against their cheeks from the force. Evan cast a final glance down to Delirious, chest twisting uncomfortably. 

The villain was doing his job well as a distraction, running circles around the police and playing them like the fools they were. However, there were many missed calls. A bullet chipping his mask. A baton narrowly bashing his skull. A heavily armed vehicle gunning straight for him. 

It was like he was dancing with death, not taking the lead but allowing himself to be guided along the correct path. 

Evan hated it. He hated it and he hated Delirious. 

He didn’t care about Delirious. Not after everything. Not after the countless times the villain had made his life more difficult. 

But somewhere deep down, there was a flicker of something he refused to acknowledge. 

He hated Delirious so, so much. 

He tore his gaze away and pushed his wings harder, forcing his racing thoughts to remain blank. They needed to get out of Little Seoul, fast. The original plan had been for the elementalist to hide with Delirious until things calmed down but he didn’t know where to go until then. Was there somewhere in the outskirts that he could hide for a while? The beach? Maybe a random shop? Surely, they wouldn’t think to look there. 

Maybe… maybe a restaurant… 

Fuck, he can’t do this. 

He has been gone for so long, he couldn’t muster the courage to see what time it was. Jonathan must have gone home by now, hasn’t he? The police should have blocked the appropriate streets and escorted the people from their shelters at this time. 

Evan took a shuddering breath. Relief, disappointment, sadness, acceptance; which one was he feeling? 

The city lights showered him in a warm glow as he flew by, but it was the stars that Evan’s gaze lingered on. 

Even after so much time had passed, the sky was still clear and the stars were still abundant. 

Evan smiled. 

The universe was truly mocking him. 

He flew on, his wings moving through the air with practiced ease. The sirens were only a buzz in his ears, the distance too great for the authorities to dare follow unless they deploy helicopters. But they seemed unaware of his disappearance, the night air eerily calm. 

“Do you have a place to go?” Evan suddenly asked Jayce, breaking the silence between them. Jayce twitched in his hold. 

A beat, before a small “no,” left his lips. He shook his head, “any place I once thought safe disappeared yesterday, I have nothing.” 

The bitterness in his tone spiked Evan’s curiosity. Other than his name and abilities, he knew nothing about the boy in his arms. Why did he suddenly go on a rampage? Why did he show himself after never appearing on the scene before?  

He wanted to know. 

“Jayce, um, so, why did you-” 

Then something struck him. Evan didn’t see it coming. 

It was invisible to his eyes, a force unseen but powerful enough to send him crashing into a nearby building.The impact was brutal. His body slammed into the side of a high-rise, shattering the concrete as he created a hole in the wall. He barely had time to react, his mind spinning, disoriented from the shock. His wings felt like dead weight, and before he knew it, he was tumbling through the debris, thrown from his position. He gritted his teeth as he fought to regain control of his wings. 

“Jayce,” he called out, voice slightly hoarse from the dust, “Jayce!” He scanned the area, relief flooding him at the sight of Jayce a meter away from him. 

A hand made out of the concrete of the building had caught the elementalist, cushioning him from the blow that sent him flying out of Evan’s arms. 

Evan exhaled, “nice! Just stay there, I’ll-” 

But the words died in his throat when he saw something -or rather someone- on the ledge above Jayce.

A figure. Dark. Ominous.

The mysterious person stood silhouetted against the night sky, their entire form cloaked in shadow. A face plate covered their features, the rest of their body wrapped in a thick, dark fabric that seemed to blend seamlessly with the night. They peered down at Jayce silently, observing him without moving a muscle. 

Evan’s head swam, still dizzy from the strike. ‘What? Who the hell is that?’ 

He tried to fly forward, but his body refused to cooperate, the effects of the attack still lingering. He barely managed to keep himself in the air, wobbling and struggling to stay steady. “Ugh!” 

The attack, whatever it was, has left him dizzy, weak. 

The mysterious figure didn’t even acknowledge his presence. They didn’t react at all. It was as if Evan wasn’t even there. As if his presence meant nothing. 

Jayce was shaking, clearly terrified, but the figure was speaking to him in hushed tones. Evan couldn’t make out the words, his dizziness clouding his hearing, but he could tell that Jayce was losing his composure. 

"Stay away!" Evan shouted, his voice hoarse and full of desperation, but the figure didn’t even flinch. Not even a sign of recognition.

Jayce jerked back suddenly, a scream ripping from his throat. “Go away!” 

He raised his hands, summoning tendrils made of concrete to lash out at the figure. But the dark figure didn’t appear fazed, they didn’t move an inch. As if they were waiting for it. 

The tendrils struck with force, hitting the target dead-on. However, the tendrils hit something solid, like an invisible wall between Jayce and the dark figure. Jayce jolted, clearly shocked that his attack did nothing. 

Evan’s mind raced, struggling to focus as he saw the figure step back just slightly. What was happening? The figure suddenly raised their arm, and in one fluid motion, they pulled something from under their cloak. The object was small but shiny, the light from the city lights glinting off of it ominously. Evan couldn’t make out what it was but he knew it wasn’t anything good. 

‘Move, move! What are you doing?!’ his mind screamed, and he pathetically began to glide, using all his might to fight off whatever was affecting him to keep himself in the air. 

“Jayce!” he yelled, “get out of there!” 

It was too late. 

The figure flung the object in a sweeping motion, sending it hurtling toward Jayce. The teenager quickly creates a wall from the hand to block it but the object completely ignores it. It broke right through the wall, sending debris flying everywhere. In an instant, it collided onto Jayce’s neck, snapping shut with a loud click. Jayce jerked back from the impact, his body stiffening as if the force had drained the energy right out of him. He tugged at the object now tied around his neck, scowling. Evan’s confusion and panic deepened when he caught sight of the object. 

A green collar. 

The green band sat innocently on the boy’s neck no matter how hard he pulled at it, sturdy and firm. 

What the hell is going on? 

Jayce fell to his knees, his expression twisting in both pain and confusion. From above, the mysterious figure watched on. Silent. Observing. Beneath Jayce's insistent fingers, the collar suddenly glowed and made a short beeping sound. It was only then that the figure stepped back. 

As if satisfied. 

 Fuck this. Dizziness be damned. 

Evan shot forward with a grunt, his view blurry but none of that mattered. He staggered upward, reaching his arm out to the teenager. 

Nothing. 

Nothing mattered. 

Nothing. 

Nothing.

Nothing. 

An explosion. 

A wave of heat washes over him as a shuddering force sends him back. Evan instinctively shielded his face, gritting his teeth as the heat scorched his skin even through his suit and mask. His wings snapped back, stopping him from flying too far away. He forced his eyes open, ignoring both the smoke that hit his face and the pain that flared up from his reopened wounds.  

He wished he hadn’t.

Blood. 

There was so much blood. 

It painted the walls, the ledge, and the deteriorating hand of concrete. Bile rose up his throat. He couldn’t look away. 

The night sky had been too clear for Evan’s taste. 

Now, smoke blocked the night sky, the stars nowhere in sight. 

Red dripped down the decaying concrete, leaving behind a stained, green collar. 

And nothing more.

OoOoOoOoOoOo

A fork clattered to the floor. 

It bounced innocently, stopping just at the foot of the kitchen counter. Smitty leaned down and picked it up, staring at it curiously. A shuffle of feet followed after and soon a heavy head laid against his back. 

“You’re loud,” John grumbled, voice slightly muffled. 

Smitty lightly chuckled, reaching back and patted the messy locks of hair with his free hand. “You’re the one who wanted water this late at night,” he teased. 

John grumbled some more. “Still loud,” he replied snidely, refusing to give up his snark. 

“Are you going to get some?” 

“I don’t want it anymore.” 

Smitty gave up with a laugh, already used to his new roommates' antics. John’s arms snaked around Smitty’s waist, grumbling intensifying. “Why are we still here when we could be in bed?” 

“We don’t sleep in the same room.” 

“We could if you weren’t a little pussy.” 

Smitty bit back a smile, leaning into the comforting warmth of John’s body. He naturally ran warm despite the occasional iciness of his hands. He suspected it had something to do with John’s powers but he hasn’t yet tested his theory out. Regardless, the warmth swept away the chill of the night so Smitty wasn’t complaining. 

“Sorry, we’ll go back in a sec. I was just distracted.” 

John lifted his head slightly to peek over Smitty’s shoulder, scoffing in disinterest at seeing the fork. “With a utensil? I'm better than a fake piece of metal.” 

Smitty nodded with a placating smile, “you are. It’s just, I got a strange feeling.” 

John perked up. “Oh? Did your prediction ability activate or something?” 

“You really need to stop listening to the office gossip.” 

“I would if it wasn’t the only thing to do there.” 

Smitty sighed at that. He couldn’t blame John for his boredom. Since his new assignment, the department has been determined to keep him at his desk. Stacks of reports that need to be filed, simple civil cases that suddenly became extremely urgent, and new hires that should of course be trained specifically by the Chief instead of an actual trainer. 

He knew Robert had something to do with it. The bastard even kept him from participating in the attack that happened in Little Seoul and Vinewood Hills. Just to stay in the office then go home. 

He was the Chief for fucks sake! Was his title just decoration? It must be at this point. 

John dropped his head on Smitty’s back, huffing, “so what is it, then?” 

Smitty rubbed the fork between his fingers thoughtfully. “...It’s probably nothing.” 

He placed the fork back into the kitchen drawer, briefly wondering why it was left out on the kitchen counter in the first place. “Though, if I were to take it seriously,” Smitty began with a light, joking tone, “I would say we will be getting a visitor soon.” 

“A visitor?” John muttered, expression twitching in distaste. “It better not be your coworkers, I can’t stand them.” 

Smitty stepped out of the embrace, fighting back a round of giggles at John’s disgruntled glare. “I don’t think so, but it might be someone familiar though.” He thought quietly to himself before shaking his head. He grabbed John’s wrist. “But, like I said. It’s probably nothing. It’s only a superstition, anyways.” He tugged lightly, “let’s go to bed, yeah?” 

He guided John out of the kitchen, the blond man obediently following with a happier prep to his steps. 

The fork lied in the drawer, the incident forgotten.

[daichan795]

I love ur writing sm but are we ever going to see The Sight You See chapter 9? I loved following ur story and even based off some of my writing off urs bc it was a huge inspiration for me. I’m not trying to idolize u as an author or anything but I really love ur story. I’d hate to see it end without ever finishing

Wow, can you believe I found my password again let me just blow the dust off this blog, phew.

In all seriousness! Hello! Yes! I will be coming back and updating by 2025! I have drafts written up so maybe earlier if possible but there WILL be an update the following year.

I never abandoned it, but I left it on hiatus for much longer than I wanted so I'm deeply sorry for that. Seeing people still so invested and enjoying my work both fills me with deep happiness and equal dread. I just wanted to crawl somewhere and die when I realised I left so many asks unanswered and in the dark. Please don't forgive me for that, I'm overly grateful that anyone would have me in their thoughts at all to send me a message.

So for anyone who has read, commented, messaged, and have thought of me; I will use this ask to tell you I love you deeply.

It may take a long time once more, but let's finish this story together and make it the end with no regret.

The Sight You See, chapter 9 soon :)

[dogposts]

a chihuahua shower

[absolem0]

Kim Dokja energy

[zevveli]

I still think that my favorite urban legend/folklore fact is that there are certain areas in New Orleans where you cannot get a taxi late at night not because it isn’t safe, but because taxi companies have had recurring problems of picking up ghosts in those areas who are not aware that they are dead and disappearing from the cab before reaching the destination and therefore stiffing the driver on the fare causing a loss for the company.

[elsajeni]

An occupational hazard of cab driving I had not previously considered

[princessnijireiki]

I love that the nola problem here is not “ghosts in my taxi cab,” but “ghosts are FUCKING BROKE DEAD BASTARDS & I GOT BILLS”

[siderealsandman]

Horror is when ghosts get into cabs and scare drivers Magical realism is when cab companies have to develop policies to prevent ghastly fare-theft

[kc749]

In a book about the tsunami in Japan in 2011, the writer talked about how there was a huge increase in reports of ghostly activity. Apparently in Japan treating ghosts rudely is basically considered the stupidest thing you could possibly do. For months after the tsunami, taxi drivers would pick up a passenger only to have them give an address in one of the devastated areas. The cab driver often looked up halfway to the destination to find their fare had disappeared. Not wanting to be impolite to the person (even if they were dead) they’d drive to the address, open the door to let them out, then drive away.

[qwertyu858]

[worldheritagepostorganization]

World Heritage Post

[randomingoftherandomness]

Honestly this is every Hungry Ghost Festival season in Asia. The cousins need a ride to and fro the concert and we’re gonna give it to them ya hear?

[tiktoks-for-dead-pope]

[geiser]

[divorceddadrock]

[tiktoksforlosers]

X

[jeanjauthor]

There is so much going on here, the fact she made a laptop mockup for her own cat, the fact that she put the “google images of birds” on it, the fact that the cat KNOWS it’s the cat’s “laptop,” the fact that the cat is UPSET WHEN HER LAPTOP IS MESSED WITH...

12/10 would watch again

[tianella]

So great lol

[daichan795]

Plz whatever you do don’t look up vanoss on Pinterest,,, I made the mistake,,,

A-Anon... what does this mean? What am not suppose to see?

[no-longer-another-bondi-blonde]

“In 1984, when Ruth Coker Burks was 25 and a young mother living in Arkansas, she would often visit a hospital to care for a friend with cancer.

During one visit, Ruth noticed the nurses would draw straws, afraid to go into one room, its door sealed by a big red bag. She asked why and the nurses told her the patient had AIDS.

On a repeat visit, and seeing the big red bag on the door, Ruth decided to disregard the warnings and sneaked into the room.

In the bed was a skeletal young man, who told Ruth he wanted to see his mother before he died. She left the room and told the nurses, who said, “Honey, his mother’s not coming. He’s been here six weeks. Nobody’s coming!”

Ruth called his mother anyway, who refused to come visit her son, who she described as a “sinner” and already dead to her, and that she wouldn’t even claim his body when he died.

“I went back in his room and when I walked in, he said, “Oh, momma. I knew you’d come”, and then he lifted his hand. And what was I going to do? So I took his hand. I said, “I’m here, honey. I’m here”, Ruth later recounted.

Ruth pulled a chair to his bedside, talked to him

and held his hand until he died 13 hours later.

After finally finding a funeral home that would his body, and paying for the cremation out of her own savings, Ruth buried his ashes on her family’s large plot.

After this first encounter, Ruth cared for other patients. She would take them to appointments, obtain medications, apply for assistance, and even kept supplies of AIDS medications on hand, as some pharmacies would not carry them.

Ruth’s work soon became well known in the city and she received financial assistance from gay bars, “They would twirl up a drag show on Saturday night and here’d come the money. That’s how we’d buy medicine, that’s how we’d pay rent. If it hadn’t been for the drag queens, I don’t know what we would have done”, Ruth said.

Over the next 30 years, Ruth cared for over 1,000 people and buried more than 40 on her family’s plot most of whom were gay men whose families would not claim their ashes.

For this, Ruth has been nicknamed the ‘Cemetery Angel’.”— by Ra-Ey Saley

[macaronsandfries]

She’s 60 now, she’s still doing activist and advocacy work, and working on a memoir.

[afronerdism]

She published her book November of 2020

[saint-batrick]

even all the way in dallas, gay men in the late 80s/early 90s said her name with reverence.

[daichan795]

To elaborate on my comment about the recent chapter being a Mitski song come to life: “So please hurry leave me. I can't breathe. Please don't say you love me.” LIKE!!! Evan being anxious and worried about his date, Evan having to leave Johnathon at the restaurant and his fears coming to life when he has to go back go being Vanoss. I’m kinda reaching BUT!!!!! ITS THERE!!!!!

Thank you for the clarification! I got scared for a second that I somehow made a similar chapter to another person's story and I was like "oh my god how?????"

But I'm even more happy to see that it's a song!! I'm genuinely honoured that something I wrote made you think of a song 😄 I actually looked up the song and listened to it on repeat for an hour to try and get a feel to how it related to the story and where you're coming from.

And wow!! I'm shocked, it's very similar to the vibe I'm going for Evan's character and you saw that so well. Even if it didn't, the fact you took your time to see a connection between two different mediums is really freaking awesome!

Thank you so much for this little discovery 💕💕💕💕💕

[itzbatz-deactivated20240722]

I feel like I just watched a whole movie

[mousathe14]

This poor man, only crime was eating his melon at the wrong place and time

[alrtist]

[daichan795]

I love the new chapter so much, thank you for continuing it. I am so happy, but I also want to make sure you're taking care of yourself and doing well. Please, remember to sleep, eat, and drink. ILY, I offer all my love for you and your work❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍

Anon, come here so I can kiss you plssss 🥰💕 Thank you so much for your concern and that you enjoyed the chapter. after being gone so long I was afraid it won’t reach anyone anymore so this means a lot!!

Please do the same! Be healthy, safe, and that you are doing things that bring you happiness. I missed all of you 🥺 ❤️💖💙💜💛🖤💚🧡🤍🤎

[lgbt-tiktoks]

[zanahoriabaila]

When your friend has so much himbo spirit he rigs himself a gaydar to be a better wingman.

[official-lucifers-child]

my man here m a d e his own gaydar. he. he fucking. he made a gaydar. he made a gaydar, thought this through and put together a system specifically to find gays. he made

[daichan795]

The Sight You See (BBS Superhero Au)

Ch1 Ch2 Ch3 Ch4 Ch5 Ch6 Ch7

Chapter 8: Existence of a Fool (also on Ao3)

Jonathan took one good look at the three men standing in front of him, with their too-tight suits and ugly sunglasses that barely fit their faces, and he laughed.

He ignored their offered hand and closed the lid of his dumpster before hopping on top of it. He sat down with crossed legs and leisurely leaned back, cocking his head to the side. “You want to talk to me?” he asked with a tilt to his head, smile tight.

Out of all of the people he could have come across, it had to be the ones he despised the most.

He rested his hands on the edge of the lid, stealthily pressing his thumb beneath the lip of the lid where a secret panel lied. He feigned getting comfortable on top of the hood and pressed the panel during the movement, hiding a smirk beneath his wary smile as the panel activated the defence mechanism in the dumpster. If the blasted agents somehow get the idea to search his dumpster they won’t be able to find the entrance to the hideout even if they dismantled it piece by piece.

The man who first spoke to him- agent dipshit- as Jonathan liked to call him, pursed their lips. “Yes, but it would be best that we speak at a more… private location. If you could follow us, please?” They gestured down the alleyway twisting around the crowded buildings where a parked car was more than likely waiting for them.

Jonathan peered over to the path and scoffed loudly, turning his head back with a glower. “No thanks, we can talk here.” He lifted his arms and spread them wide, “or, are you guys too afraid to speak out in the open?” he mocked.

The two agents behind agent dipshit (agent asshole and agent dumbfuck respectfully) stepped forward, clearly displeased. “With all due respect, we do not want to participate in these games you are so fond of playing, Mr Voorhees.” The way his name slipped past their teeth held venom and disgust despite their attempts to keep their tones monotonous and blank.

‘Respect,’ like they ever gave that to him before.

Jonathan grinned sharply, “you guys never want to play along. You’re all so boring.” He relaxed his legs and idly swung them up and down, humming to himself.

To the agents, it was annoyingly clear. He was not moving.

The agent to the left narrowed their eyes, “it would be in your best interest to cooperate with us, Mr Voorhees. It’ll make the whole process much easier for all of us involved.”

The three crowded Jonathan around his dumpster, one flashed his hoister on the side of his hip while the other two not so discreetly reached for their own concealed weapon. If anything, their attempts only amused him.

“No one comes down here, especially with suspicious-looking men in suits walking around, so really, we can’t get as private as this.” He dragged his gaze over the agents one by one, smile sharpening, “or, should I be taking this as a threat?”

Instantly, the agents paused, frowns clear on their lips. Jonathan’s smile turned victorious.

“Of course not,” agent asshole replied, lowering their hand from their hoister, “we merely wanted to have a chat.” It almost looked like it pained them after all three lowered their hands, palms empty from the weapons Jonathan was certain they desperately wanted to use.

“I don’t see why we can’t have the chat now. So, let’s talk?” he replied sweetly, gesturing towards the smaller trash bins behind the agents. He bit the inside of his cheeks to stop himself from cackling at the flash of anger passing through their expressions. God, he enjoyed making them break from their carefully crafted expressions.

He was only slightly disappointed when the agents came forward instead, too proud to actually sit on top of the trash lids. They all probably made such a silly sight. Three men in dark suits crowding over a soft-looking boy clad in only a hoodie and ripped jeans on top of a trash hood. If it was anyone else, Jonathan would have made a crude joke by now.

“We like to discuss your recent activity this past month,” agent dipshit began, giving in to Jonathan’s demands. It took them long enough, really. “We have been informed that your visits to your father in solitary confinement have increased to unusual amounts. Very suspicious behaviour, if you don’t mind me saying.”

Jonathan blinked slowly, taking in their (incredibly stupid) words. He held in a sigh, deadpanning, “um, I actually haven’t been visiting dad as much I want to this month. I have been too busy with personal stuff to go visit him. Whoever has been monitoring me at the prison is doing a pisspoor job, you should fire them.”

Agent dumbfuck crossed their arms, “oh? And what is the personal stuff you are referring to?”

Jonathan snickered, waving his index finger from side to side. They all knew those types of tactics won’t work on him. “They’re personal stuff for a reason. It’s not like you guys tell me what you’ve been up to every day. Not that you do anything other than watch me like the creepy little fuckers that you are.”

He felt satisfied at the way their jaws tightened.

“Is that so? Then what about work? How has that been treating you? Surely by now, you would have made enough to step back into the civil world?” agent dumbfuck asked.

Jonathan examined his nails with a hum, biding his time, “what about you mind your damn business. Yeah?”

The air around them grew thick with tension.

“You should watch your tongue,” agent dipshit warned, “we have the power to take everything from you.”

Jonathan raised an eyebrow, lips curling ruefully at the way the man scowled. He dryly tapped his dumpster, relishing in their tightened expressions. “I don’t have much for you to take from me, but by all means, take my dumpster. I’ll just find another trash heap to call home,” he challenged.

Agent dipshit closed his mouth with a click. Out of the three, he was the one struggling the most to keep their expression and voice void of emotions. “We have offered to provide you with housing for both you and your guardian numerous times. The offer still stands.”

He fought the urge to roll his eyes. Instead, Jonathan shook his head with a scoff, “I would rather sleep on the rat-infested floor than to step foot in any home you give me. Do you think I’m stupid? The place would be mic'd up like hell and monitored 24/7. I wouldn’t be surprised if the toilet had a camera installed in it.”

He could see the agents growing listless. They knew they were on losing grounds.

“What about your guardian, Luke Patterson? What are his whereabouts?”

Jonathan narrowed his eyes, “that’s also none of your fucking business. It’s not my place to tell you anyway since I’m a fucking adult now and Luke’s no longer my guardian.” Jonathan shrugged his shoulders with a sigh, “really, you’re just wasting your time here. Why don’t you crawl back into the hole you came from and we call it a day? Yeah?”

Perhaps he shouldn’t be antagonising the scary government agents but honestly? Jonathan was tired of them. He has been dealing with their meddling since he was a child. Even then, he was never afraid of their cruel tactics and even crueller words they spouted at him. The three before him were nothing more than the common cockroach scurrying on the dirty floor.

“It would be in your best interest to cooperate with us, Mr Voorhees,” agent asshole warned, anger lacing his tone.

“Or what?” Jonathan spat back, “if you do anything to me I will have you reported for harassment and threats.”

The three agents shared a look before openly laughing. Even their laughter was clipped and bland. Jonathan merely smiled, waiting patiently for the laughter to die down. “You will not make it far,” agent asshole replied smugly, “your report would be deleted along with the rest of them.”

“Is that so?” Jonathan mused.

The confidence in his tone made them still.

“I wonder, what would happen if I mention who is being harassed?”

Their mirth disappeared, lips thinning.

“If I remember correctly, your precious boss had specifically ordered you to drop all cases and investigations towards the Voorhees family since I was first placed in foster care. And, didn’t your boss have to order you for the second time to leave me alone after they found out about your little investigation on me when Luke gained full custody of me when he turned eighteen? I can only imagine how angry they were after realising you three blatantly disobeyed their orders. So, I wonder how they will feel after they discover you disobeying for the third time? The consequences waiting for you would be… very bad, don’t you think?”

Jonathan wished they weren’t wearing those sunglasses because he was sure their glares were priceless.

“You dare threaten us?” agent dumbfuck growled, “do you need a reminder that we are the sole reason you have access to see your father at all? We could take that all away with one simple phone call.” They snapped their fingers for emphasis. Honestly, Jonathan thought it made them look even more stupid. He felt like sighing.

‘I just wanted to see my dad. Is that too much to ask?’

“Like you gave that access from the goodness of your heart,” Jonathan retorted, “you gave that order after I threatened to rat you out to your boss the second time you got caught. If it wasn’t for that, you wouldn’t have given me access at all.” He slammed his hands against the dumpster and hissed, pleased by the loud bang that echoed in the empty alleyway, “you have nothing on me. At this point, you should have left me alone.”

Their expressions didn’t change but he could hear their teeth grinding together beneath their clenched jaws. Not admitting defeat, the three agents puffed up their chest, meeting Jonathan face to face. “We know you are up to something,” agent dipshit growled, slamming his fist on the side of the dumpster near his leg. Jonathan internally smirked. The bang was significantly less loud than his own.

They sneered when Jonathan didn’t so much as flinch. “Knowing you, it probably has something to do with that thing currently locked up. It would only be a matter of time before you slip up.”

Jonathan glowered at them, tightening his grip on the lid. He wanted nothing more than to punch their infuriating faces until they were nothing but a stain under his foot. But, now was not the time. Attacking them would only play in their favour. He couldn’t afford to give them any leverage against him.

‘One day,’ he vowed to himself as he released the tension in his fingers. Levelling his glare, he crossed his arms and turned his head to the side, clicking his mouth shut. He was done with their little ‘chat.’

He could sense the urge to murder him rolling off of their tense bodies in waves, if not for the way the sound of their teeth grinding together grew louder and their sneers turned nasty. He knew that the only thing stopping them from up-handing him then and there was the knowledge that they had more to lose than he did.

And that knowledge must infuriate them to no ends.

“Are we done here?” he asked, head still turned.

The agents tried to compose themselves, the familiar stoned expression Jonathans’ use to falling back into place. The three realised just as quickly that they couldn’t get any more out of him. At least, for now.

“We are almost done here,” agent asshole muttered before snapping his fingers. A figure in the dark corner quickly walked forward with a small box carefully tucked under his arms.

Jonathan bit back a scoff. Of course, those three weren’t truly alone. ‘A place more private,’ his ass.

As much as Jonathan railed on them, he wasn’t dealing with amateurs. ‘Attacking them definitely wouldn’t have ended well for me,’ Jonathan thought with a quiet snicker.

“We have one more thing that needs clarification before we take our leave,” agent dumbfuck said, lowering his head. The nameless person quietly walked in front of the agents and presented them with the box.

Stray light reflected from the top of the box and Jonathan knew instantly what that box was. Or rather, what was inside. His already sour mood dropped further.

Agent dumbfuck popped the lid of the box open and reached inside, taking out a round device no bigger than a plate, blinking lights of red and green flashed obnoxiously on the side of a machine. Such a small thing for one of the biggest banes of Jonathan’s existence.

“I’m sure you already know what this is?” agent dumbfuck said, a little too sweetly for his liking. Jonathan wrinkled his nose at the offending device, lips curled in utter disgust.

He didn’t give them a response.

Agent dumbfuck reached back inside the box and pulled out a test tube no bigger than their hand, the tube itself clear and slim. The agent tossed it to Jonathan who begrudgingly caught it, rolling the tube harshly between his fingers. “You already know what we need from you,” agent asshole said.

Jonathan held the test tube tightly in his grip, eyes flashing in pure disgust. He hated being anywhere near these men to begin with but this, this is what he hated the most about their ‘little’ interaction.

The ‘power test,’ an irritating test that analyses the small strands of DNA in people’s saliva. As of now, saliva has been the only current component in the human body where researchers have found the same mutated DNA that all people with enhanced abilities had in common. Jonathan hadn’t figured out yet how scientists had found such traces of DNA or how they narrowed it down to saliva, but knowing the government, it was not done with care for the people. Or even less, humanely.

Nonetheless, the power test that had been created over twenty years ago with the little research they gathered was quickly given to the public. Everyone by the age of eighteen was encouraged to take it, the latest age in which abilities had been studied to manifest, the earliest being eight.

However, the test was not mandatory, something the government has been fighting to implement. They did not have enough public support nor enough evidence of its importance for the president to send out an executive order. It was this lack of public support that had Jonathan suspecting the ‘Superhero team’ the government frantically put together had little to do with actually keeping the peace and more to do with boosting their future propaganda.

It made him sick.

Unfortunately, while the government could not forcibly make anyone take the test, they do have the right to give ‘random’ searches without a warrant if they have a reason for suspicion. For Jonathan, his relationship with his father was more than enough reason to keep hounding him for his saliva.

If the father had abilities, surely his spawnling would as well? The notion alone showed how incompetent and stupid the agents and their precious government truly were. None of them knew anything about his father.

“Get on with it, Voorhees,” agent dumbfuck growled.

Jonathan took the test tube and held it an arm’s length away from him. Smiling, he began to hack and thump his chest with his free hand, making a show of building up the spit in his mouth. The saliva sat on top of his tongue for a few seconds before he ‘accidentally’ swallowed it, causing him to clear his throat with exaggerated coughs and heaves.

The agents' non-existent patience grew thinner with each gurgle of his throat; it’s hilarious how easy it was to piss them off with his little display, knowing full well they couldn’t do anything to him less it disturbs him and Jonathan would have to start all over. He performed for a full minute, gurgling and hacking with everything he had before he deemed that enough spit had gathered in his mouth. He carefully guided the test tube below his chin, aligning his mouth with the lip of the tube before he lolled out his tongue.

Only for a small, pathetic amount of saliva fell out and dribbled down his tongue. It fell soundlessly into the tube, hardly filling up the bottom at all. He licked up the small trail of spit connecting the two together with an overly loud slurp and swirled the tiny amount of saliva in the tube with a satisfied grin.

From the corner of his eye, he could see how white their fist became from how hard they clenched. He could practically hear their teeth grinding together once more. It was music to his ears.

Agent asshole yanked the test tube away from Jonathan’s lax grip, giving him a curt thank you before jamming the tube into the slot beneath the machine. They refused to waste any more time with him.

The machine whirled into life with a loud beep and the test tube was suddenly sucked inside. Clanking and random puffs of smoke slipped out of the cracks as it analysed the saliva. Jonathan swung his legs calmly from his place on the dumpster while the machine did its thing, grinning from ear to ear as the little thing continued to make the ugly popping noises. The machine eventually stopped a few seconds later and it dings, the sound bouncing off the walls in the open alleyway.

To no one’s surprise, the screen on top displayed a bright red circle. Negative.

“Well, would you look at that? I’m a normie,” Jonathan crowed, slowing down his legs, “what a shock.” He hopped down his dumpster with an oof, meeting their hard glares with a smirk. “It’s not like it has been red since I was a child. When will it get through your thick, brainless skulls that making me take this stupid test is wasting both our time?” he replied with a shake of his head.

The agents snarled at him, their carefully held composer finally breaking apart. “We know you’re up to no good,” agent dipshit all but yelled at him, jabbing their meaty finger on his chest, “it will only be a matter of time before you slip up.” All three of their faces turn sharp, smiles wide with all teeth, “and we will be there when you do. It will be a pleasure to break you apart and lock you up alongside that pathetic excuse you call father.”

Their laughter blended together, just as bland and gravelly as the rest of them. Jonathan didn’t budge as the agents eventually took their leave, their stares heavy on his shoulders before they disappeared into the shadows of the alleyway, leaving Jonathan alone with his thoughts.

Fucking assholes.

His fingers twitched by his sides, he wanted nothing more than to enter his dumpster and hide from the world for the rest of them.

He wanted… he wanted to go to Luke.

His chest felt heavy, throat too constricting. He wanted to fall into Luke’s embrace so bad, be held by the same strong arms that protected him all these years ago. The same arms that continue to protect him when everything just felt too much.

But, he couldn’t. Not right now at least.

Not when the agents were still in the area, probably will continue to be there for the rest of the evening. Jonathan pressed a shaky hand over his heart, releasing a staggered breath he didn’t realise he was holding in.

“I guess I won’t be seeing you today after all, father.”

OoOoOoOoOoOo

Evan loitered awkwardly outside the coffee shop, shuffling his feet from side to side while people passed him by.

Evan, in a lighter manner, had been an idiot. He had forgotten to plan a proper meeting place with Jonathan when he asked him out that day. It was only on a Thursday night, a whole day before their date, that Evan realised in horror that he never told Jonathan where they were going to meet up. His horror only increased with each passing thought, realising with a cry that they had not specified on a time either. And to add to his distress, he had been too embarrassed to ask for the others' number so he couldn’t contact them to fix his mess.

It was thanks to David that things didn’t get any worse. The man had taken the liberty to visit the shop the day prior to Evan’s hysteria to buy some blueberry pastries that Squirrel had promised to make him. While he was there, he had asked about the outing to Squirrel, hoping to hear some juicy information he wasn’t aware of yet. It turned out, to both Squirrel’s and David’s amusement, that Jonathan had realised the same thing moments before and freaked out in the kitchen.

Some teasing and an exchange of numbers later, Evan’s phone lit up with the new date plans and Jonathan’s contact information. Meet him at the coffee shop at 5 p.m. What you want to do is up to y’all. I did my part.

To his annoyance, David kept hammering him about changing the date time to 8 pm instead of 5 pm. “It’s stupid to go so early,” David argued, taking up all the space on Evan’s sofa, “everyone knows you have to go around eight. That’s when the fun happens! It’s a rule, Evan! You can’t break it!”

Evan had no idea what the ‘8 pm rule’ meant nor why it was a rule in the first place, so he opted to ignore David’s prattling. It’s stupid to rely on some imaginary rule anyway, he thought 5 pm was a perfect time. The rush hour ends right before so there will be no traffic and there’d still be sunlight out at that hour, meaning they could be out for longer without worrying about it getting dark.

And, in Evan's opinion, the most important thing was that if the date goes well into the night, it will give them the chance to see the sunset at its prettiest.

Evans’ not exactly the romantic type but he couldn’t shake off the urge to have that kind of moment with Jonathan. Walking together around the city while the sun slowly disappears beyond the horizon and the stars come to life.

Yeah… that sounded nice.

In the end, Evan gets to the shop fifteen minutes early, brushing his long locks of hair to the side for the umpteenth time that day. He battled with whether to put his hair up in a stylish ponytail or leave it down.

He had taken an embarrassing amount of time in front of his bathroom mirror messing with his look. He tied his hair up in a soft-looking bun before yanking the tie down, scowling as his locks flopped all over his face only for him to re-due the process all over again. Eventually, he gave up entirely on taming it and swept the unruly hair to the right side with quick swipes of his hairbrush and called it a day. He felt a little ashamed to admit that he spent way more time on his hair than choosing his outfit.

The weather outside was slightly chilly despite the sun beaming down on them so Evan had settled on a comfortable white sweater and black jeans. Now that he was standing outside the shop waiting for Jonathan to arrive, Evan suddenly felt underdressed.

He felt silly for worrying about something so trivial, he didn’t need to dress fancy just to impress someone. But, for some reason, he really wanted to make a good impression on the other man. He didn’t want anything to mess this up for him. What ‘this’ is, he wasn’t too sure yet. But, he really wanted to find out soon.

He leaned against the wall with a huff, the weather cold enough to see the puff of air leave his lips. He reached for his phone to pass the time while he waited, mentally scolding himself for coming so early due to his stupid nerves. He unlocked his phone, smiling to himself at the onslaught of messages popping up on his screen, all from his very nosey friends.

The messages just kept coming, making the phone vibrate continuously in his hand. Evan read through them with a roll of his eyes, laughing to himself at the silly crap sent to him. Mostly from David and Tyler, who had spammed him with that stale Lenny face in both text messages and in their group chat. The rest of those assholes had joined in, sending kiss emojis and those stupid eye emojis along with equally suggestive gifs.

He shouldn’t have felt fond but he was. They may be assholes but dammit, they were his assholes.

He sent them a quick thank you (along with a few middle fingers for good measure) before he went to his settings to put it on silent. He didn’t want his phone to disturb them during the date.

He did, however, make sure not to block out emergency numbers or the stress call in case something happened. Evan knew his members would handle any crisis that was bound to pop up but he still couldn’t stop thinking about it. David’s advice to enjoy his date helped him calm down the guilt and worry bubbling in his stomach.

“Alright, we got this. It’s just dinner,” Evan muttered to himself, pocketing his phone with a sigh.

Five minutes had passed with Evan fretting over his clothes and hair before he heard a thunder of steps coming his way. Smiling widely, he propped himself off the wall and turned to the sound. From the end of the street, he could make out Jonathan running towards him, the other’s wide smile becoming clearer with each step.

Evan had enough time to back up before Jonathan slid to a stop in front of him with a laugh, dirt puffing up into the air from his quick stop.

“Made it!” Jonathan cried, raising both his arms up in victory.

Evan patted the dirt off his jeans with a laugh, “why did you rush? I wouldn’t have minded waiting for a bit if you were busy with something.”

Jonathan shook his head and waggled his finger at him, “no way was I going to be late on our date! That’ll make me look bad. Besides, if I came late, you would have been picked up by some hoochie who complimented your watch. That means I would have been alone.” Jonathan pouted his lips after saying that, genuinely upset by his random scenario.

Evan barked out a laugh, both eyebrows raised at the creative description. “What? Where did you get that idea?” he asked between breaths, cheeks already hurting from his mirth, “‘hoochie?’”

Jonathan looked up at him with a grin, “I saw it happen on some tv show Squirrel was watching. The guy was only sitting there drinking coffee waiting for his date to show up before some random high school girl came up to him and complimented his watch. The episode ended with the two making out in a closet at his fancy company. And I was like, ‘that shit could really happen?’ I was so shocked!”

To Evan’ surprised, Jonathan reached over and grabbed his wrists. It was embarrassing how the simple touch sent his heart racing.

“But you’re not wearing a watch! Good, I don’t have to worry then!” Jonathan chirped, lightly turning Evan’s wrists during his inspection.

The whole thing was so ridiculous that any anxiety he had washed away. His stomach hurt from how hard he laughed. “What? Are you an idiot?” he asked, breathless.

Jonathan puffed out his chest at the jibe and whined, “who are you calling an idiot! I was actually scared!”

He hasn’t let go of his wrists yet, Evan helpfully observed. Instead, the two twisted their hands until their fingers rested comfortably against each other’s wrists. ‘He’s very warm,’ Evan noted, feeling his cheeks heat up at the discovery.

It was surreal to see Jonathan without his work uniform, too used to the white dress shirt and baby blue apron that greeted him on his visits to the shop. Instead, he wore a light green hoodie that definitely fit too big on him, and ripped blue skinny jeans that exposed his knees. The hoodie pooled a bit over his waist and bunched up at the ends, making him look soft. To make matters worse- for Evan that is- the front pocket had a white teddy bear head on the centre with a pawprint on both sides.

It’s not fair, how can someone be this cute?

“So, what’s the plan?” Jonathan suddenly asked, snapping Evan out of his thoughts. “Huh? Oh, I was thinking we should go eat lunch to start off,” he said.

“Start off? Do you have more things planned?” Jonathan asked curiously, tilting his head.

‘He still hasn’t let go of our hands!’ Evan’s treacherous mind helpfully reminded him, not that the constant warmth pulsing between his fingers weren’t reminders enough. “Well… to be honest, I haven’t thought that far ahead yet,” Evan admitted, proud that his voice didn’t stutter.

Jonathan smiled, “okay, we can decide what to do after lunch then.”

“Sounds good,” Evan confirmed, matching his smile.

A particularly strong breeze blew past their cheeks, ruffling their clothes and swaying their hair. Evan combed the stray strands of hair away from his face, annoyed that his hard work from before had been ruined in seconds. Jonathan didn’t seem to mind the sudden wind, instead allowing the breeze to blow through his short hair with a giggle. Once the wind had passed, he freed one of his hands from Evan’s wrist (unfortunately) and threaded his fingers through his own dark locks and calmly ruffled it back into place.

Evan was enthralled by the way his fingers guided through his hair, combing the silky strands carefully until his bangs fell attractively over his left eye. He dropped his hand once he finished, satisfied with the final result. Evan followed the movement of his bangs, smiling to himself at the few strands of hair that stuck out behind the other’s ear. The little observation also revealed that Jonathan had piercings, two on each ear: one on his lobe and a helix just above it.

Evan felt his brain short-circuit, mind halting at the discovery. He had piercings? Evan didn’t remember Jonathan wearing them at work, at least not to his knowledge. And Evan definitely would have noticed if he did.

That, with the cute outfit and bright smile beaming up at him, has officially made Evan's heart flutter.

God, they haven’t started the date yet and Evan was already whipped.

A loud bang beside them jolted Evan from his thoughts and he snapped his head towards the sound, frowning at the retreating shadow behind the window. He was about to lean over to see who it was before he heard Jonathan snort.

“If Squirrels’ going to spy on us, at least not make it that obvious,” he groaned. Jonathan used his free hand to knock on the window, snickering when another bang was heard. “We’re leaving now, asshole. Stop being a fucking creep.”

It was that comment that made Evan realised with growing horror that because he got lost in his admiration, the two of them had been standing in front of the coffee shop that entire time.

And… Jonathan was still holding his wrist.

Cheeks burning, Evan cleared his throat. “Should… Should we get going? My car is parked on the other side of this block,” he offered. He really had to get a hold of himself. They haven't had dinner yet and he was already making a fool of himself.

Though, when those pretty eyes looked up with him with growing excitement, Evan decided that he didn’t mind at all. In fact, he could probably get used to it.

“Yeah, lead the way!”

-

The restaurant Evan decided to take them to was called La Spada, an Italian seafood restaurant that Anthony couldn’t stop raving to him about. Apparently, it had the best pasta and seafood in the whole city. The best part, according to Anthony, it had all-you-can-eat shrimp and breadsticks. While he was not particularly fond of seafood (or the rather strange addition of bread) he figured it wouldn’t hurt to listen to his friend's positive review, seeing as everything was so last minute, and quickly reserved a table for two.

The restaurant lied not too far off from the outer part of Vespucci Beach, just shy from the edge of the beach. Anthony claimed that while the restaurant was popular, the staff did a great job of spacing the crowd out so the rooms were not stuffed with too many occupants.

That gave Evan another reason to favour the restaurant, he was not fond of people too close to his personal space. Too many memories of innocent people at the wrong place and the wrong time during attacks weaved fear into his heart. He would get antsy seeing too many people in one place, mind racing a mile a minute at the possibilities of things turning ugly at any moment and he would be too slow to react. It has happened before, and Evan knew it would happen again.

Even if the random bad guy of the week didn’t come crashing through, Evan’s own insecurities and fears about being in public hindered him from fully enjoying being out as a civilian.

Walking around as Evan didn’t really mean he actually felt like Evan.

The ‘Vanoss’ title haunted him everywhere he went, when he went to the store to pick up groceries or drove his car around town to finish up some errands, or just being in his own home; the weight of something possibly happening pressed heavily on his chest, waiting for the final push to fully crush him. Always on edge until the time finally came for him to dawn the suit and jump into action.

The city needed a hero, not… not Evan. He’s not sure who ‘Evan’ was anymore. He’s just Vanoss.

Vanoss. Vanoss. Vanoss.

Always have.

And alas, always will be.

“... Evan? You okay?” Jonathan’s voice reached his ears and Evan jolted forward, eyes going wide.

“O-Oh, sorry! What’s up?”

Jonathan raised an eyebrow at him, lips curling up into an amused grin. “What do you mean, ‘what’s up?’ You’ve been staring at your steering wheel this whole time.”

Evan rubbed the back of his neck, ears burning, “oh shit, really?”

Jonathan laughed, a sleeve-covered hand coming up to stifle it, “yeah! Are you doing okay?”

Evan felt like banging his head against the steering wheel but he embarrassed himself enough as it is so he held the urge in with a whimper. “Ah,” he eventually replied, releasing his surprisingly steel grip on the wheel. “Sorry about that. I was kind of… lost in thought for a second.”

“Yeah? What were you thinking about?” Jonathan asked as he took off his seatbelt. Evan did the same with a grimace, the urge to bolt out the door growing every second they were still in the car. He heard the other laugh besides him.

“Am I already boring you?” he asked with a tilt to his head, grin growing as Evan’s face contorted in horror. “

What, no! That’s not- wait!”

Jonathan burst into laughter, pointing obnoxiously at Evan’s face while holding his stomach at his panicked expression. The laughter only grew louder the more Evan stared at him, horrified expression falling into a displeased frown.

With a roll of his eyes, Evan opened the car door and stepped outside. “Why are you laughing? It wasn’t even funny,” he muttered, closing the door behind him with a little more force than necessary.

“It was hilarious!” Jonathan snickered, nearly tripping over himself in his haste to follow the other out, “your face looked so funny. Why did you react like that?”

Evan rubbed his face with a groan. “I just don’t want- I don’t want you to think… ugh! Whatever, let’s just get inside, it’s freezing out here.”

He ushered the two inside with urgent steps, nearly tumbling into the main doors from his haste. Thankfully, the receptionist made quick in finding their reservation and politely guided them to their table without a hitch. Jonathan observed the other patrons around them with a sparkle in his eyes, stopping from time to time by random tables and hovered over their shoulders in amazement. Evan had to drag him away every time, offering a quick apology to the disgruntled patrons before scolding the other under his breath.

That didn’t stop him from doing it the entire time they followed the receptionist to their seat, to Evan’s embarrassment.

The moment she gestured at an empty table Evan shoved Jonathan forward and forced him onto his chair with a little grunt. Jonathan didn’t fight it, falling onto the chair with a smile on his face. Evan sat down more gracefully, giving Jonathan a pointed look while the receptionist left and the waitress came to their table and asked for their drinks.

“A coke for me, please. For him, uhh…”

“Only water, please!” Jonathan smiled.

Once she left, Evan leaned over the table, eyes squinting. “You’re definitely a weird one,” he said.

“What? Why am I weird?”

“Only a weirdo drools over people’s shoulders when they’re trying to eat,” Evan playfully accused.

Jonathan huffed, “hey, leave me alone! It’s my first time being in a restaurant.”

Evan raised an eyebrow, “you mean a restaurant like this or…?”

Jonathan suddenly looked bashful, “I only ever been into cafe’s or small owned food shops,” he looked around again, the same sparkle entering his eyes, “they’re just like cafes but bigger! And shinier.” He eyed the small glass centrepiece decorated on the middle of their table. The small vase held tiny white roses with glittering gems adorned around the petals and an equally glittery ribbon tied at the base of the vase. He poked at it. “Hmmm, but I think restaurants try too hard. You ain't never catching me spending this much money on some flowers.”

Evan barked out a laugh at the way Jonathan poked the flower with a disgusted look on his face. “What? Not a fan of flowers?”

“Not ones with weird rocks in them, no.”

“You do have a point,” Evan agreed, eyeing the encrusted flowers. The flowers looked pretty but the gems were a little too much, especially the ones with obnoxiously large gems on the stem. Remembering the other’s comment, he looked up, “but, were you serious? About this being your first time in a restaurant?”

Jonathan cocked his head, confused, “yeah? Is that a big deal?”

Evan waved his hand, “No, no! Just surprising, is all. I thought that everyone has gone to one at least once in their life.”

Jonathan hummed, looking thoughtful. He tapped his chin, “well, maybe I did when I was younger… but I don’t really remember.”

His gaze turned wistful, “if I had, I hope it was a good memory.”

Evan suddenly felt like he stepped into something he shouldn’t have. “Oh, uh, me too,” he offered weakly. The mood around them did not change but Evan still felt uncertain. He did not know how to continue from there. Any conversation starters failed to come into his mind. Jonathan didn’t help either, seemingly lost in his own thoughts to mind the silence between them.

Evan quietly reached over and plucked up his menu. ‘Come on, think of something to talk about!’ he frantically thought, flicking through the pages hastily. The waitress brought over their drinks and he politely thanked her as she set them in front of them. “So…” he started off, searching desperately in his thoughts for something to talk about, anything. Jonathan looked up at him, making him flounder even more.

“So…” he said again, eyes travelling over Jonathan’s attire. His gaze landed on his jacket. “...Do you like teddy bears?” he asked eventually, mentally face-palming after the question left his mouth. Goddammit, how many times must he fail as a human being today? That was the only thing he could come up with?! He silently berated himself as Jonathan stared at him.

“Teddy bears?” Jonathan repeated, eyes wide.

Evan hesitated, “uhh, yeah? Your hoodie, uhh, it has a teddy bear on it so I thought… ” He felt himself stiffen when Jonathan suddenly stood up and slammed both hands on the table. The hit rattled the table, nearly toppling over their drinks. He backed up in his chair, eyes growing wide.

“Do you like teddy bears?” Jonathan shot the question back, leaning over the table until he was practically hovering over Evan. His tone was dangerously low, almost threateningly.

“Uhhh well-” Evan squeaked, dumbfounded. Are teddy bears taboo or something, what the heck did he do?! The other observed him with a scrutinizing glare, the complete opposite to the friendly gaze he was used to. He felt cornered. ‘What is the correct answer here?’ he thought frantically.

“Well?” Jonathan probed, his tone just as serious as before. Evan kind of wished the awkward silence from before would return.

“Y-Yes?” Evan answered, voice high pitch.

“Yes?” Jonathan echoed back.

This is a trap, this is a trap, this is a trap, this is-

Evan had no choice but to take the gamble. “S-Sure, teddy bears are alright…” he said, darting his gaze to the cute bear on the other’s jacket. “They’re very cute!” he added, for good measure.

Jonathan’s eyes narrowed further, making him sink into his chair.

He wasn’t expecting the brightest smile he has ever seen to suddenly beam at him. “They’re the best, right? Teddy bears will never steer you wrong!” Jonathan said in glee, his whole face glowing with happiness.

A breath he didn’t know he was holding escaped his throat as Jonathan sat back down. He felt like he dodged a bullet. A fluffy, cute, but threatening bullet.

“It’s a good thing you told me that! Otherwise, Luke would have had to break your knee caps.”

“Wait, what the fuck?”

OoOoOoOoOoOo

The date’s going way better than Evan could ever imagine.

Jonathan, for lack of words, was nothing less than amazing. Handsome, funny, and easily one of the most interesting people Evan has ever met. He could never tell what was going to come out of the other’s mouth. Every sentence was a new experience alone; from a scramble of garbled words Evan had trouble deciphering to a random story tumbling from his lips based on the strangest of things.

He even managed to make a story about a trip to the grocery store feel like a scene from a novel; wild hand gestures and facial expressions playing an equal part in his storytelling. In all honesty, Evan might need a new pair of lungs by the end of the day; he just couldn’t stop laughing. His cheeks genuinely hurt from how much he was smiling that day.

He felt refreshed, rejuvenated. He felt free-er than he has ever felt before.

Was this… Was this what normal people felt all the time?

Were they always able to be around someone without feeling like the world was going to crumble at any given moment? Did they only have to worry about not getting any food on their shirt or if they had enough money to pay for their gluttonous date instead of imagining every single thing that can go wrong? Or to laugh freely without having to worry about your every action and what that might mean to the safety of the people around you?

To just, live?

Evan couldn’t even fathom having such carefree thoughts. To just exist with only the point to exist.

And yet, here he was, searching around his shirt for any food stains after coughing up his food for the umpteenth time from laughing too hard. It's amazing. It’s freeing.

“I’m sending you my cleaning bill,” he muttered, dabbing his napkin on the hem of his shirt.

“It’s not my fault you dropped it,” Jonathan snickered. He leaned over and plucked a fallen pasta noodle on Evan’s helpless shirt, meeting his questioning stare with a smirk before popping the noodle into his mouth. “Still tasty,” he offered, munching happily.

“You really are something else…” Evan breathed, incredulous.

Jonathan simply grinned, happily leaning over to pluck more pasta from Evan’s plate and the few remaining on his shirt. Evan quickly fought away the offending hands, laughter bubbling out of his throat, “hands-off, you little shit.”

Their forks clashed together in an epic battle, the teeth of the forks snagging between each other as Evan struggled to keep him at bay. Jonathan used both hands to force the fork downwards, making him scramble to keep them from smashing onto the table. “You little- fuck off!”

He couldn’t stop the huff of laughter that slipped through his lips at their ridiculousness. He broke the forks apart to catch his bearings only for Jonathan to clash them together again with a war cry; Evan barely stopped him before the threatening utensil touched his (now cold) pasta.

He probably should have cared more about the amount of ruckus the two of them were creating in public, he’s sure the entire restaurant was watching their dumbasses having a miniature war with their damn forks. He could see from the corner of his eye their waitress hovering near the kitchen door, whispering frantically to her manager while a plate of fresh pasta rested hesitantly in her hands; more than likely arguing whether or not to bring the two of them more food to stop the ‘fighting.’

But, for once, Evan didn’t care. He couldn’t care less about the attention they were getting or the disgruntled whispers coming from the other occupants in the restaurant. The judgmental stares were nothing compared to the euphoria he felt coursing through his skin at that moment.

“Your food tastes better than mine! Don’t be stingy and give me some!”

Evan let out a snort, blocking another jab of a fork. “It only ‘tastes better’ because it’s MY food. Order some more if you’re still hungry, you gritty bitch. This one is mine.”

“What’s yours is going to be mine eventually so just give it up,” Jonathan whined.

Evan loved the sound of that. “Yeah?” he grinned, scissoring the forks together and lowered them down, “and why is ‘mine’ going to be yours?”

Jonathan frowned, eyebrows furrowing. “Huh? Well duh, because you’re going to be-” he stopped himself with a hitch of his throat, eyes growing wide as heat suddenly flushed his cheeks.

Now, Evan really loved that. Pink looked amazing on him.

The forks were abandoned as Jonathan decided to fiddle with the strings of his hoodie instead.

“Going to be…?” Evan pressed on, leaning forward with a smile on his face. He watched in pleasure as the other’s cheeks darkened. Oh, pink definitely was a good colour on him.

He floundered for a moment, words fumbling out in an incoherent jumble. “Shut the fuck up, I meant nothing by it,” he eventually grumbled back with a cross of his arms, making Evan laugh.

The pasta besides Evan didn’t really matter anymore, having gone cold long ago during their intense battle. He lost his appetite anyway, finding teasing Jonathan was a much more worthwhile use of his time. So, he pushed his plate forward with a joking sigh. “Well, if everything of mine is going to be yours then it’s only right if you have it.”

Jonathan quickly reached for his fork and stabbed happily into the shredded remains of his once steamy pasta. Evan watched him with a little smirk, baiting his time until he caught Jonathan’s gaze. “But, only if you agree that you’re going to be mine too.” He dodged a dangly noodle with a burst of laughter.

This was the most fun he ever had.

He has flown across the entire city more times than he could count, beating up countless villains and destroying hierarchies of mob bosses and drug rings. He has met famous celebrities and important people of power just by walking around with his costume on. Disarming bombs, crashing million-dollar cars and equipment, sky diving off of Mount Achilles; he’s done things that only a few people could ever dream about.

And yet… Here, right now, with his good shirt stained with sloppy food and a huge dent in his wallet for the trouble they caused; he chooses this moment as one of the best things to happen to him.

His fingers thrummed with the possibility of having many more days like this. To just be Evan.

Especially, if it meant more days like this with Jonathan.

“...Ringing…”

“Hm?” he mumbled, blinking back from his thoughts. He focused back on Jonathan with a smile, who merely huffed at him with an exaggerated pout.

Evan shamelessly zoomed in on those lips, distracted by the way his bottom lip jutted out. The strongest urge to touch them rose within him. The new but warm feeling fluttered comfortably under his skin and his fingers twitched below him from a fleeting thought of actually acting on these new urges.

Preferably with his own lips instead.

Those distracting lips parted with an amused laugh. “Are you listening to me?” Jonathan asked, eyebrows raised.

“No,” Evan answered honestly, blinking up from those pretty lips.

Jonathan poked him with his fork, “I can tell! You’re not even picking up your phone.”

Evan furrowed his eyes, “My phone?” He reached down and patted his pocket. Sure enough, his phone vibrated furiously in its confined place, a generic ringtone beeping loudly for all to hear. “That’s weird,” he mumbled, sliding out his phone with a frown. “I had it on silent, it shouldn’t be-”

Oh. OH.

Evan swore loudly, jumping up from his seat.

“Oh fuck, what? What’s wrong?” Jonathan said in alarm but Evan didn’t hear him in his panic to answer the call.

“Talk to me,” he said the moment the line connected.

“Evan,” Brock spoke, tone urgent but apologetic, “I’m really sorry to bother you on your date but we have an emergency. We’re getting major reports on a disturbance near Little Seoul. Roads and buildings are being destroyed and we have no idea what is causing it. We tried to send Wildcat and Panda to check it out but unfortunately, we have our hands tied with some fucking-” An explosion was heard. “-robots attacking near Vinewood Hills.”

“Got it. On my way.”

He knew it. He fucking knew it.

“Jonathan I have to go. Something came up.” He hated how clipped it came out, how dull his own words sounded in his ears.

“Came up? What?” Jonathan asked but Evan was already placing money on the table.

“It's really urgent for me to leave and I’m-” He’s sorry, he’s so, so sorry. “Look, I swear I will make it up to you next time but I really have to go.”

If there ever was a next time. Why? Why now of all times. He knew things were going too well. Knew that nothing good could happen to him without the universe taking it back in an instant. He couldn’t be selfish and be Evan for a day.

He’s… He’s…

“Oh, that’s okay. I totally get it,” Jonathan said with a comforting smile, voice soft and filled with such understanding that it kind of made Evan want to cry. God, he couldn’t do this.

“Let’s go together! Here let me just-”

Oh fuck, Jonathan was getting up.

“No!” Evan shouted, snatching his wrist. “You have to stay here!”

Evan can’t let him leave. The attacks were too close to their location. If the attacker decides to travel over to the beach… the thought itself made his grip tighten over Jonathan’s wrist.

There’s no way in hell he’s going to put Jonathan in danger. He won’t let him get hurt. “Stay here. Please.”

“What? Why do I have to stay here? I understand if I can’t come with you but still… “

Evan shook his head, “it’s dangerous right now to go outside. Something… something is going on near here and I need to get there before things get worse,” he took Jonathan’s hand into his own and squeezed, “I need you to trust me and stay here. I need you here, okay?”

“Evan,” Jonathan began, eyes blowing wide, “ I-I don’t know what the fuck is going on and you’re starting to scare me. If it’s so dangerous to leave, why the hell are you leaving-?!” he stopped himself with a gasp, skin suddenly going pale. “Wait, fuck… is this about your job? Are you an enforcer? A cop?!” He placed his free hand over Evan’s, looking uncharacteristically distraught, “don’t tell me you work for the police force?!”

Evan wanted to wipe away the panic colouring Jonathan’s face, reassure him with comforting words and gentle touches, but the heavyweight of his phone in his other hand reminded him coldly that time was running short.

Reluctantly, he let go with a frustrated groan. “I do. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner but I’m not actually proud to be a government dog. More like a nuisance, really.”

Jonathan let out a laugh in disbelief. Evan allowed himself a little smile at the sound. “I have to go but please, promise me that you will stay here.”

Jonathan looked up at him with conflicted eyes, “Evan, I don’t-”

“I’ll be back,” Evan suddenly declared, cutting the other’s words. “I’ll come back here to you. So, wait for me here.” He reached over and cupped Jonathan’s cheek. “Wait for me, please.”

He sounded desperate, he was desperate. Brock hasn’t informed him of everything yet. He doesn’t know what he's up against or how much damage has already been done. Keeping Jonathan here is the safest bet until he’s dealt with the situation and the police force can take over the rest.

The commotion attracted the rest of the occupants in the restaurant, he could clearly hear them whispering to themselves, some even raising their voices from their growing panic from Evan’s words.

Jonathan opened his mouth but it clicked shut a second later, eyes shifting down to his hoodie. Brock’s voice filtered through the phone clenched around his fingers, too low for Evan to make out what he’s saying.

He has to go. They need Vanoss.

Something changed in Jonathan’s depression, but it disappeared as soon as it came. “...Okay.” Jonathan nodded once, his stare growing hard, “okay, I’ll stay.” He gently placed his hand over the one cupping his cheek. “But, you better come back. I won’t wait for you forever, Evan Fong. My time is too valuable.”

A surprised laugh left Evan’s throat. “We’re using full names now?”

Jonathan only grinned back.

He didn’t want to (god, did he not want to) but Evan let go of him and quickly gathered his things. He already missed the warmth.

“Everyone, stay where they are!” he shouted to the rest of the people in the restaurant, who at this point have gotten up from their seats. Flashing his ‘badge’ to the startled staff members crowding around him, he wasted no time warning them. “No one leaves this building until notified by the police. We have a situation dangerously near this area so if any staff members have an emergency plan or protocol, please put it in place now.”

The room erupted in screams of panic, questions and demands were thrown at him left and right but Evan didn’t have time to explain further. With the hope that the staff had their own plan to follow, he burst out the doors in haste.

He didn’t dare look back.

He couldn’t bear the sight of Jonathan watching him leave. God, his date was never going to talk to him again. It was stupid to even try being ‘normal.’ He’s fooling himself. That was not him. The person who was laughing and smiling and enjoying himself; that’s not him.

Never was. Never will be.

The weight of his forgotten responsibilities slid back onto his shoulders like it never left, heavy enough to not fully crush him, but just barely. Firm. Familiar. A reminder.

“Focus… Focus…” he reminded himself as he quickly ducked into an alleyway to change. Right now, Los Santos needed him.

They needed Vanoss.

“Vanoss is now online. Tell me what’s going on.”