Sinner. Saint. Vigilante.

The world is different now. People need a hero, they need someone willing to fight for them. They have me. [ independent rp blog ]

[theloneandlevel-deactivated2015]

      He enjoys this little game, honestly he does,         the quaint conversation, the use of full names         and the act of keeping identities secret.               “ However, if you’re not willing to                   take a cab I’ll have to walk                   you home. “

[noctuamnoctis]

   "It's a nice night out for a walk,      don't you think?"

   There's that familiar buzz in his veins.    The one laced with eager anticipation to touch    and taste freely. Dancing about was fun and all but    Daniel knew he was only so polite for so long--

   There were a lot of dark alleys from here to there.

[theloneandlevel-deactivated2015]

      " Well we wouldn’t exactly want you            ruining your suit now would we,            Daniel? “

[noctuamnoctis]

   "Nothing a little soap and      elbow grease can't fix,      Ozymandias."

   And he's so formal, because he doesn't know who might    be listening. Daniel was always a stickler for rules.    In public was different than in private.

[theloneandlevel-deactivated2015]

      ” I would recommend perhaps taking            a taxi rather than walking this            time of night. “

[noctuamnoctis]

    "Do you tell that to all the johns       walking this late at night?       Or am I just special?"

[theloneandlevel-deactivated2015]

   His strikes are fast and true, as they always are, but Daniel is getting faster and better every time they train.  Where a punch had landed so perfectly a week ago, now it’s an inch off, he’ll had to look for new opening as Daniel begins to cover his old ones. 

   Air is expelled roughly from his lungs the first time he’s slammed down, and while Daniel can’t grapple his hands and keep him pinned at the same time, the tactic of lifting to slam him down again is proving a rather effective one.  With the air out of his lungs, the pressure put on his chest and abdomen become more of a problem.

   Were this any villain he wouldn’t mind disabling for months, he would have taken that chance to strike upwards and damage the trachea.  The heel of his palm would have met with it and he knows in his mind the sound and feeling of it snapping would have followed.

          But this is Daniel.

   So he strikes his ears instead with the side of his elbow, nearly twisting his whole body beneath the bulkier man. Intending to dislodge him while he was discombobulated.

[noctuamnoctis]

   The entire world rings out and a grunt is uttered as he's shoved off. Breath comes out staggered, rattling out, and next he knows the mats are hard against his shoulders. Adrian's hands are vices at his wrists and Nite Owl could shake it off but a part of him likes the challenge of being put down. Still his ears are ringing and immediately his brain goes and thinks of countless scenarios if this were just another thug.

   But he knows those blue eyes.

   Heel to a hip with enough force would break something, possibly dislocate it. Looking up though he can't shake off his care entirely as he lays there for the span of a second before arching, twisting up and shaking off Adrian's weight enough to curl his thighs about ribcage. Pushing away with his shoulders like Midnighter taught him puts Nite Owl on top straddling the expanse of Adrian's chest.

   Hunched over him, a breathless laugh rattles free.

   'Missed you,' fingers say along wrists where they're pinned briefly above Adrian's head. The fight becomes more of a conversation as he raises up, body shifting and moving to try and get a better hold on those agile hands.

[theloneandlevel-deactivated2015]

   There.  That was all he would be taking off for now.  Maybe the fight in restricted trousers would slow him down just enough, but he doubts it, the last time he’d fought in a suit he had dodged at least three bullets.  The fit of his trousers would make no difference.  With the smile that had been in place slowly fading to the calm straight face he wore like a mask, Adrian begins to take calm, slow strides forward, hands and arms loose at his sides.

   Anger didn’t take him.

        Anger never took him.

   Cold and calm is how Ozymandias fights, with skill, speed, and not cloud of hot rage in his eyes.  He would fight without doubt, without distraction.  Without restraint.  Slowing or hitting softer would be humiliating for both of them.  Tonight, like the last, they would end tired and bruised, but happy.

   “We’ll see, Daniel.”

[noctuamnoctis]

   Anger is a balm for him. It bleeds off into a cold silent calm in Nite Owl's veins. Normally there was a soft hum, a pulse dancing across the surface of his suit, and electricity sparked hotly in the air. Now though-- Now he has only his skin and the sweats he'd changed into before punching the hefty sandbag hanging off in the corner while waiting for Adrian to show up.

   Now the first punch feels like a whisper, like a promise.

   Adrian could've broken three of his ribs if his hands came down, using the force to jab fast and quick with his elbow before bringing his arms in to protect his body when the next punch lands. A hissing breath slips free when the next punch catches his shoulder wrong. It's enough to bruise and Nite Owl is satisfied even as he ducks and lunges forward with a snarling exhale. Adrian is light and he's spent his nights tossing larger assailants across streets.

   It should be no surprise it's easy to heft Ozymandias up and toss him to the mats.

   Following down, here is where is needs work. Grappling for dominance, forcing pale skin to twist and bend and yield. Those arms are harder to get a hold of than Adrian's torso. Small wonder really why it is when those legs catch him in a vice, he's falling to his strength to lift Adrian up and try to slam him back down.

[foxedattheedges-deactivated2017]

Phyllis ran loving fingers down Lola’s side, her touch as gentle as she would use with a child.

"Lola is special," she said, getting out of the car and shutting the door. "She was a gift. A very nice gift. But I’ve always liked classics. My first restore job I ever did with my dad was a BMW R75. I loved that bike."

Her smile was fond, and she held out her hand.

"I was told I should come to you if I were looking for custom part repair on the fly?" she asked. "Heard you were the best in the city."

This guy kind of reminded her of her dad. He looked kind, and the smell of motor oil and grease was something from her childhood.

[noctuamnoctis]

   "Customs are something of a specialty ma'am. I don't want to sound too prideful but I'd have to say you came to the right place." He doesn't dare touch the waxed and shiny paint job while his hands are even remotely greasy. But he has to admit Lola is definitely a thing of beauty. It'd be a real privilege to get under her hood so to speak.

   "I remember those," he says while taking her hand. "Twin engine. Hard to replace based on the model. My father had one rusting away in his garage years back. Could never get the damn thing to work 'cause he bought it rigged up with a R71 engine." A firm shake of her hand and he casts another look across Lola.

   "Why don't you lift her top for me so I can get a look for myself what she needs?"

   Daniel smiles a bit further.

   "If I can't help you, ma'am, I can at least point you in the right direction."

[theloneandlevel-deactivated2015]

    “Do you want me to answer that?”

    And just like that, the jacket is off, leaving him in those wonderfully fitted trousers and what seems to be an almost loose purple silk dress shirt, the golden collar hanging open to frame his collar bones in what couldn’t be anything but a purely intended fashion.  He always dressed to impress, and today was no different.

    It never was.

    The gold of the collar makes his hair look all that more magnificently striking against the pale of his flesh, and when he rolls up his sleeves, similarly colored cuffs do the same to the skin of his arms, making him appear more and more regal, despite the fact that he was becoming more and more undressed. 

    He could fight like this.

    “We have to work on your speed, Daniel.  You’re pinned because I’m much faster.  Your speed and your grapple, if you can get me down, you’ll be much more likely to win.”

[noctuamnoctis]

   "You and I both know the answer to that."

   Laughter strains the bruises fresh at his ribcage but they both know it won't stop Daniel. Hell it's less of a deterrent and more of a reason for him to shake off the pain and fight a bit harder. Adrian was quick, nimble on his feet, but lacked the power that he had behind each punch. Standing there he felt more like a street brawler than the man's lover with how painfully beautiful Adrian was unbuttoning his collar. It's an odd sensation feeling the high of a good patrol mixed with such a frustratingly rousing sight as bared collar bones.

   He was beginning to feel his age allowing himself to be riled like that.

   Daniel was just the brawler after all. A relic of a time passed. Seeing Adrian like this was a good reminder of how they fought. Grace and speed were useless once he had a good grip. "So you keep telling me," Daniel says and bounces on his feet, letting out a slow breath. "Almost had you last week." His expression sobers, turning impassive as Nite Owl crawls out like a second skin and Adrian's good looks count for nothing.

   "Maybe tonight I'll get lucky."

[noctuamnoctis]

   "You don't look like the type to drive around in a classic--"

   Greasy hands are wiped off with the rag at his side. A low appreciative whistle is given and he smiles with a friendly nod towards the cherry red beauty parked outside his garage. "--but I have to hand it to you, ma'am, you have quite the good taste in cars." Tossing aside the dirty smeared up rag, he straightens further and takes a half step closer with a friendly smile.

   "So what can I do for you?"

[theloneandlevel-deactivated2015]

   “I do have a business to run, Daniel, I hope you’ll excuse the missing minute and allow me time to dress appropriately. “ 

   Because at the moment, Adrian is still clad in a full suit, nicely fitted at the side and in the legs, perfectly formed along his arms and snug to his shoulders.  It wouldn’t be impossible to fight in this, but he’s done it before and he can never get past the feeling of a seam beginning to tear.

   Always made him uneasy.

   Adrian smiles gently to his companion and now room mate, toeing carefully out of his dress shoes before he even enters the training room the rest of the way.  By the time he’s a few steps in his hand is up carefully loosening his tie to set it aside where his belt will soon join it, sliding off with expert ease of his fingers and a well sized belt loop to belt ratio.

   “And you know I enjoy the activity.  You’re a good training partner.”

[noctuamnoctis]

   "Have you ever heard me complain yet?"

   Okay so he may have once. Possibly twice. It ended up good though between them.

   Adrian is calm in a way that should be unnerving but Daniel is used to it. Hell, they manage to balance each other out somehow and the calm is something of a tether for his newfound wellspring of rage. Sparring has helped and it staves off the amount of times Adrian comes away from breathless kisses with Daniel's teeth leaving those soft lips split and bleeding.

   Hell he'd be lying if he said he didn't enjoy the show.

   Adrenaline is hot in his veins, fresh from a night of patrol. Daniel rolls on the balls of his feet, shoulders shaking out and arms stretching. Eyes bright and smile softening, he sets aside the tape for his hands and takes in the sight of Adrian steadily becoming more disheveled.

   "The feeling is mutual even if I end up pinned more times than not."

[noctuamnoctis]

   "You're late."

   Punctuality has become his new obsession lately. A lack of social life in this new and terrifying future lead to him combing the rest of his life meticulously. Yielding to the hand of the world's smartest man lead him to thinking about things. Like how despite their differences Daniel ended up selling his flat and moving in with Veidt. Midnighter didn't approve but in the end he really didn't care.

   Instead he just finishes wrapping up his hands with a subtle smirk.

   "Makes me think you don't like sparing with me anymore."