|
Post by Ayen on Sept 15, 2024 10:11:46 GMT -6
Lady decided that she and Rose needed some much needed fresh air. So she strapped her along in her stroller and pushed her down the pavement and grassy area of the Metro City Park. A smile plastered on her face as she enjoyed the nice gentle breeze of a climate that was slowly getting cooler as Fall time drew near.
Lady came over to an empty bench in the park and set the stroller right in front of her. Rose was in a happy mood smiling up at Lady and cooing with her mouth as she clapped her hands and shook her feet. Lady played with her for a time. Wishing that her true mother could have been here to play with her. But for now she herself would have to do. After showing Rose the right amount of affection Lady gave her one of her bears and let her play with it as she sat down on the bench and opened up a book. Reading its contents as she enjoyed the peace and quiet of the city's park.
|
|
|
Post by Pietro Granitus on Sept 15, 2024 12:25:56 GMT -6
A few days had passed since the battle. Kazadus, now fully healed from the burns and injuries he had sustained, found himself back on his feet, though the weight of everything lingered in the back of his mind. The debrief had gone as expected—straightforward questions, military protocols, and then the inevitable twist. The government didn’t care about the kids, Dante, or the devastation he had caused. Their interest lay in the unknown—the thing that had scared Dante to death. And now, they wanted Kazadus to track it down.
He stood in front of the mirror, pulling on his red flannel shirt. It felt soft and worn, familiar. His black jeans fit snugly, and the brown boots he laced up reminded him of his days in the field—steady, reliable. Before heading out, he placed his eyepatch over the emerald stone eye, the glow from it barely hidden beneath the patch. He didn’t like showing it unless necessary. People had a way of staring.
Kazadus had returned to the building where he had felt that eerie, looming darkness. Where he had locked eyes with something that felt like pure evil. But there was nothing. No trace, no sign of whatever had been there. Just an empty structure and the faint memory of those eyes in the shadows. He lingered for a while, searching for any clues, but the search was fruitless.
Frustrated but not surprised, he left the building, sliding into the driver’s seat of his beat-up van. It groaned to life as he turned the key, its engine protesting but still functional. He drove aimlessly through the streets, his mind unsettled by the strange task ahead. Track down an unknown force. Something that made Dante, a man consumed by fire and power, feel dread. It wasn’t the first impossible task they’d given him, but it was the first that felt so... unnatural.
After a while, he found himself pulling into a small park. The trees were beginning to turn with the early signs of fall, a scattering of orange and red leaves dotting the ground. Kazadus parked the van and got out, stretching his legs as he wandered over to a bench by a small lake. The water was still, the reflection of the sky perfectly mirrored on its surface. The tranquility of the scene provided a rare moment of peace, something he rarely allowed himself.
As Kazadus sat on the bench, his eyes wandered across the park, taking in the peaceful scene around him. A woman nearby caught his attention. She sat quietly under a large oak tree, a book resting in her lap, her baby nestled close by in a stroller. The sight was so simple, so ordinary, but it tugged at something deep inside him. His mind, unbidden, began to reach for a memory—hazy, blurred, and just out of reach.
A woman... and a baby? The details were murky, like looking through frosted glass. He couldn’t make out faces or names, but even the faintest glimpse brought a warmth to his chest. A warmth that felt foreign, something he hadn’t allowed himself to feel in so long. Yet, with that warmth came an overwhelming sense of longing—a deep ache for something he couldn’t fully recall. A family, maybe. His family. But like so much of his past, it was lost in a fog of half-remembered images and scattered fragments of time.
The more he tried to grasp at the memory, the more it slipped away, leaving him with only that empty yearning. A life that might have been his, but one he could no longer touch. He shook his head, pushing the thoughts away, knowing that dwelling on them wouldn’t help.
Still, the feeling lingered, a quiet reminder of the things he had sacrificed, the pieces of himself that had been buried in battles fought long ago. Kazadus exhaled deeply, his gaze lingering on the woman and her child. The warmth in his chest flickered for a moment longer before fading back into the cold reality of the life he led.
He could chase shadows all day, but there were things that couldn’t be recovered. That woman, that baby—whoever they were—they were part of a past he could no longer reach. All he had now was the mission.
|
|
|
Post by Ayen on Sept 15, 2024 17:30:12 GMT -6
Lady turned the page of her book. Even though it appeared she was deeply involved in her book, Lady never once ignored her surroundings. With demons trying to take Rose and angels wanting her to reach her destiny, Lady always had to remain alert. Lady had seen the news coverage of the man named Dante. The fire starter who was taken down by the hero Gaia and an unknown male alongside an entire community. It was quite the story. Lady knew there were beings of great power here. Not just devils and angels. So she was always on the alert.
When her green eyes lifted up from the book she saw the man in question. Kazadus. Glimpses of his appearance resonated in her mind from the news report she watched the previous night. Lady didn't see him as a threat. At least not yet. But she was always weary of what could be as she noticed his stare and his longing as she closed her book in her right hand and leaned forward on her bench underneath the oak tree.
"It's rude to stare!" she called out to him. Ever the calm and beautiful smile on her face
|
|
|
Post by Pietro Granitus on Sept 15, 2024 20:54:06 GMT -6
He shifted his weight on the park bench, his gaze dropping for a moment before meeting hers again. "Sorry," he said, his voice gruff but not unkind. "Didn't mean to stare. Just... got lost in thought."
Kazadus leaned back, resting his arms on the back of the bench, trying to appear more at ease. He was still on edge after his recent assignment, and the park—calm as it was—did little to ease the tension still coiled within him. But something about the woman's demeanor was... different. Like she knew more than she let on.
"I saw you here with your kid," he continued, gesturing slightly toward the stroller. "Just reminded me of... someone I used to know, I guess."
It wasn’t the whole truth, but it was enough. He wasn’t ready to dive into whatever fragments of memory had surfaced. Not here. Not now.
|
|
|
Post by Ayen on Sept 16, 2024 6:25:01 GMT -6
Lady offered the man a kind smile to show there were no hard feelings.
"It's quite alright."
Lady knew all about reminiscing like this. Many of those she protected in the past had reminded her of Esther. That innocent little girl who showed no fear of the demon woman who fell into a random house and who had grown up to be such the woman. Lady missed her dearly but at least took solace in the fact that Esther was in heaven now. Where she belonged.
"You look familiar. Have we met before?"
Lady already knew the answer to that question. Obviously not, but she recognized him from the news broadcast.
|
|
|
Post by Pietro Granitus on Sept 16, 2024 9:18:41 GMT -6
Kazadus raised a brow at her question, not entirely sure how to respond. He gave her a once-over and then chuckled softly, though the sound carried more confusion than humor. "Unless you’re pushing 60 or older, I doubt it,” he said, his tone casual but with a hint of weariness. “Been around a long time, but I don’t think we’ve crossed paths before." He hadn’t realized the level of attention his fight with Dante had drawn, and it hadn’t even crossed his mind that someone would recognize him from the news. Kazadus shifted in his seat, his eye briefly flicking to the stroller and then back to Lady. There was something about her that felt off—not in a bad way, just different. But he wasn’t about to start diving into assumptions. He didn’t even know why he was still sitting here. Maybe it was the eerie familiarity of the scene, or the fact that, despite the chaos of the last few days, this felt… normal. Almost like a life he’d forgotten.
-----------------------------------
Metro City News Special Report Announcr: "This is Metro City News!"
**[Footage begins]**
*The screen flickers to life with aerial shots of the city in chaos. The sky is filled with thick, black smoke rising from the streets as firetrucks and police cars form a perimeter around the scene. Flames engulf the camera's focus—a massive, towering figure made of molten lava rampaging through the streets.*
Anchorwoman:"Good evening, Metro City. We begin tonight with breaking news: a violent and destructive battle in the heart of the business district has left much of the streets in ruins. Local hero Gaia, known for her earth manipulation powers, was seen fighting alongside an unknown man in an attempt to bring down Dante, the alleged leader of the notorious criminal organization, The Syndicate."
*The footage cuts to a close-up of Gaia, dressed in her recognizable outfit, controlling a stream of water from a fire hose. The scene is chaotic as civilians are seen fleeing the area. Then, the camera zooms in on the giant lava creature—Dante—raging through the streets, flames erupting from his body.*
Anchorwoman (voice-over): "In what appeared to be a fight of truly superhuman proportions, Gaia was joined by an unidentified man, whose strength and combat abilities were key in neutralizing Dante’s fiery rampage. Officials have yet to release details about this individual, but rumors are circulating that he may have ties to the government."
*The footage shifts to a shaky cell phone video from a bystander, capturing Kazadus shirtless and battle-scarred appearance, wielding what appears to be an energy sword. The camera zooms in as he slashes at Dante’s molten body, the heat from the attack visible on his burned skin. The bystander is heard saying, "Who the hell is that guy?!" as Kazadus crashes through the street into a building.*
Anchorwoman (voice-over): "The unknown figure has garnered attention not just for his heroic actions, but for whom he is. When asked about his involvement, government officials have refused to comment, sparking even more questions about who he is and what role he played against the Syndicate."
*The video switches to a clip of Gaia and Kazadus working together to douse Dante in water, attempting to subdue the molten behemoth. Cheers are heard in the background as civilians throw rocks, followed by police officers shooting at the lava giant and firefighters blasting Dante with water hoses.*
Anchorwoman (voice-over): "Dante, who authorities believe to be the head of the Syndicate, was last seen in a transformed state—made of molten rock and fire. This unprecedented transformation has raised concerns about the potential for more super-powered criminals in the city. But thanks to the combined efforts of Gaia and this unknown man, Dante was ultimately subdued."
*The footage ends with a close-up of the aftermath: Dante, now an unconscious, burnt figure bound by earthen restraints, as Gaia stands over him victorious. Kazadus is seen in the background, walking away from an Army Officer, his face partially obscured.*
Anchorwoman:"While the city repairs from the damage caused by the battle, the larger question remains: who is this unknown ally, and what connection does he have to the government? For now, officials remain tight-lipped. Gaia has been hailed as a hero once again, but the mystery surrounding her partner has only deepened. Stay with us as this story develops."
*The screen fades to black, then shifts to a news banner reading: "Gaia and Unknown Man Save Metro City from Dante's Inferno."*
Anchorwoman: "Next on our list, a lighter note, A new device that tells you when you'll have to use the bathroom..."
|
|
|
Post by Ayen on Sept 16, 2024 15:06:16 GMT -6
Lady merely chuckled at the man's response. If only he knew just how many years of life Lady had lived, but that wasn't something she told to just anyone. Many people shied away when they found out you're a demon. Even if you're a good demon which many don't believe even exist. Lady smiled again and held up a hand.
"I saw your face on the news. You fought alongside Gaia didn't you?"
She asked simply. Cheer in her voice as she found it all fascinating. How far humans have come in the war against evil. She never would've thought something like Gaia could exist in this world. Then again with angels of heaven and demons of hell what was one demigod superhero?
"Are you a superhero too?"
|
|
|
Post by Pietro Granitus on Sept 16, 2024 15:25:30 GMT -6
Kazadus raised an eyebrow at the word “superhero,” his mind instantly conjuring an image of himself in spandex, with underwear on the outside and a cape fluttering behind him. He shuddered at the thought. There was no way he’d be caught dead in something like that. His thoughts drifted briefly to Gaia, and he inwardly thanked God that the kid didn’t dress that bad.
“No,” he said with a small, almost amused shake of his head. “Just an old soldier.”
The idea of him being in the news hadn’t crossed his mind. He hadn’t paid much attention to the city’s happenings, and thinking back, he hadn’t even seen a single newspaper stand since arriving. The radio was out of the question too—last time he turned it on, the barrage of obscenities made him switch it off faster than he’d drawn his revolver in a firefight. He looked at Lady, still curious.
“Where am I supposed to get the news from, anyway?” he asked, genuinely perplexed. “Haven’t seen a paper, and I’ve sworn off the radio.”
Kazadus wasn’t one for small talk, but there was something about this woman—something calm, despite the weariness he sensed—that intrigued him. He wasn’t sure why he even cared about the news, but something in him thought it might be good to know what the world thought of the fight he and Gaia had just survived.
|
|
|
Post by Ayen on Sept 16, 2024 18:02:13 GMT -6
An old soldier. Lady had met plenty of those. They always seemed like they had a chip on their shoulder. She didn't know the man's past, but she could guess. It seemed the sight of her with the baby in the stroller triggered something in the man. Which would explain his earlier idle stare. Not that it was any of Lady's business.
"I tend to watch the news on TV back home. Carari Incorporated runs a news station from within town, though I must say they're pretty bias."
Carari was an interesting woman who hated anyone with super powers or who were abnormal. Not that Lady ever planned to get pick up on her radar. She had a life protecting and raising Rose now and that would be time consuming enough. Assuming the demons of hell didn't try to snatch her again.
|
|
|
Post by Pietro Granitus on Sept 16, 2024 21:35:05 GMT -6
Kazadus listened as Lady mentioned Carari Incorporated and its news station. The name didn’t ring any bells, but her description of the bias struck a familiar chord. He scoffed lightly and shook his head, the word "bias" making him think of the old days.
“Propaganda network, then?” he asked with a faint smirk. “Not much has changed since the Cold War, huh?”
As he finished speaking, a familiar voice echoed in his mind. "She's a demon."
Valandil’s words struck like a sharp whisper, and Kazadus felt a faint pulse from behind his eyepatch. The emerald eye hidden there glowed briefly, just enough to remind him that his companion was always watching.
He didn’t react outwardly, but his mind immediately shifted gears. A demon? His gaze flicked to Lady briefly, measuring her in a new light. She seemed calm, peaceful even, with the baby by her side. Hardly the image he’d conjured when thinking of a demon, but then again, nothing in this world ever fit neatly into the boxes he expected.
|
|