The Ronin Gunman

A soft smile tugged at Wendy’s lips as the leaf fell from her grasp, falling soundlessly onto the ground in front of her. “Man, I’m sorry to hear that.” She responded, “It’s rough, isn’t it? Family stuff is the worst…”

Taking a deep breath, she looked at the foliage that surrounded them, “I’m over it, though. It happened a long time ago and I hardly remember her now. Plus, all that training did do some good in the end, so I guess it was kinda meant to be.”

After another brief pause, she turned to Clark and added, “Again, I’m sorry about your mom. I get it and totally understand how much that can tear a family apart. So, I hope you’re holding up and all that. It can be pretty tough to keep your head above water, but it does get easier after a while.”

“Thanks...it...was hard to accept,” he replied, “still is. Ever since then though, the passing months helped me realize that it’s not so much that the situation gets better, but that you do instead. That you’re able to make it through the worst of situations because you’re able to adjust. At least, as long as you take care of yourself that is.”

Offering him a sincere smile she tried to remain composed but also understanding of his motivations. True he had good intentions but that is why there were rules about civilians going on their own, it just caused more chaos despite the kind intents. “Dont worry this situation here is being handled by other pro’s in the meantime…”

Once again she began leading in a short walk with him being held by her. She saw the ambulance nearby taking care of the injured civilians, waving her hand she gave them the signal to prepair seat for them. Making sure he was comfortable while seated she sat across him with her elbows upon her knees as the paramedic began checking her shallow wounds. 

“Tell me everything, who are these people and what is their goal behind this attack?”

“...I don’t know,” he replied, “but I know it’s not good. My power’s a bit...funky you could say. I guess it’d make me a psychic since I get Visions in addition to my offensive skills. In my most recent Vision I saw a city in chaos thanks to Fire and Electricity. There was more to it but just going off of what i know, that it feels like that building was not the focus of their plans, and it’s leading into something bigger...”

IT SEEMED SHE’D startled him, but Dr. Quinzel was here to simply make sure he’d settled. Being restless in a place like this was dangerous for the patient as well as staff but getting into the minds of these patiently was the most dangerous part, uncovering things a lot of people would simply call insane.

With a soft smile, she tried to ease herself, make him comfortable around her as well as his surroundings.  “ I’m sorry, they are compulsory, I could you another size though, if that would be more comfortable to you. ” His other option was to simply take it off, but Harleen wasn’t going to propose that idea to him.  “ Patient welfare is something I do regard highly so I will do my best t’ help you see the truth, whether that’s really what you want, or something you believe in. Could you tell where you think you are, or were and why you think this may be a mistake. ”

She was going to take it one step at a time to get the male to see the reality of the situations, delusions were dangerous, and at first you had to believe in them too until the time was right to shatter them. The confusion here, however, may just make the case easier to crack.

“...why I think...?” he started as the gears in his semi-rattled mind started turning, “...oh...I see...well, for starters I don’t know where I am geographically speaking, but based on my surroundin’s I’m guessin’ this is a psych ward...and you must be assigned to me because some people, includin’ yourself apparently, think I’m nuts...”

Taking a fallen leaf between her thumb and index finger, Wendy twirled it around. A thoughtful expression had taken residence upon her face, and it was clear that she was in the midst of formulating a response. At first, she didn’t know how much she wanted to share, but something deep inside compelled her to say a lot more than she usually would.

“Basically my whole life – not even exaggerating there.” She spoke up, breaking her own silence, “Being born and raised here, things started happening to my family and I early on. I uh…I actually lost my mom and we still don’t really know what happened to her, but I know it has to do with this town. Anyway, long story super short: my dad went crazy afterwards and we would spend our Christmases doing apocalypse training instead. So yeah, this kind of thing has always been at the centre of my world.”

Boy did that strike a chord with him. It was as if that one gear turn made him better understand where she was coming from. The worst part? He could relate. He’d never wish the life he lived on anyone else, and here was the first person actively prepared for and familiar with the bizarre since that mix-up in Morioh. At that point, he wanted to be sure he didn’t say the wrong thing, even if he felt willed to reply as soon as possible.

Now that adrenaline was calming down she had to think clearly and make a rational choice. Both of them were injured, they needed to get patched up, and also he knew something more about this attack. In that case, it would be wiser to ask for further aid from the hero agencies.

Unlike him, she had a much bigger stamina and she could keep going. He on the other hand….sighing she would gently grip his shoulder giving him a stern gaze. “We will catch up to them but you can’t push yourself like this “ slowly she stood up while slowly pulling him by the hand up as well/ 

“First let’s get you to the ambulance and tell me everything you know about this and we can get other pros on this. We cant head into this alone my friend”

“I...” he started as his breathing continued to grow steadier thanks to her spelling out the situation for him. Now that he was clearer headed, all he could think about was the guilt he felt from this whole situation. She only went in after him because he darted in himself without warning. And she only needed saving from those villains because she went in after him. He damaged a burning building and was now terrified that his actions could have massive consequences, all without getting the bad guys he was after.

Wendy couldn’t stop the snort from escaping her, “Ah, I don’t think we need to worry about me – of all people – getting in trouble with the law. I’m pretty grey when it comes to morals and the townsfolk won’t rat me out, so I’m basically an open book if you want any more information.”

Sighing, she leaned back a bit and cracked her neck, “I agree with you, though. I like being able to go on adventures and stay in the know about what’s going on, but after that noise, I think I’ve had my fill of life-threatening weirdness. That’s why I’m hoping we can get to the bottom of whatever this is before it gets out of control.”

“It’s like you read my mind Wendy,” Clark replied with a chuckle.  He was glad at how smooth things were going so far, it was just a matter of playing the waiting game with his new partner.

Shooting a smile Clark’s way, Wendy said, “Thanks, man! I like to think I’m pretty good with stuff like this.”

She took a seat beside him, brushing a few fingers through her red locks before shoving them over one shoulder. Though she would never cut her hair, it always seemed to get in the way.

Clark’s question pulled Wendy out of her thoughts, and she turned to him whilst shaking her head. “Honestly, not much.” She replied, “It’s pretty quiet around here, that is, unless you go looking for trouble. The summer was crazy, but it’s been pretty stagnant now that those laws are in place. I mean, of course, us getting rid of the source also helped with that, but still.”

“Say no more,” he replied understandingly, “last thing I’d wanna do is get you in trouble with Johnny Law for breakin’ some non-disclosure agreement. At the very least sounds like whatever was makin’ things worse around here quelled things up a bit when it left...I mean, the world needs a li’l weird to keep life excitin’, just, not too much that it causes the end o’ reality...”

There was not much she could do, long-range attacks were her weakness and she always had difficulties dealing with them. However, she made sure to remember the blue haired girls face to the last detail. Number three? So this was all organized and prepared beforehand? How did nobody notice….her mind much like the event that was unfolding was a whirlpool…

Just when they launched their attack she was ready to counter it…but not before seeing with the corner of her eye what vigilante was doing. Playing it safe eh? Changing her action she reached out to grab onto his arm firmly, unlike him she still had enough strength to go on. As they began falling out the window she held him close yelling clear enough so he could hear. “I will take care of landing hold tight!” with her quirk, impact manipulation, she will make sure they come out alive from this mess. 

Falling down in full speed she managed to shift her body so that her feet would be facing the ground. The wind was hitting her hard, explosions made her blood pump in adrenaline, focus…..focus or you will get killed! And just at it seemed that they would crash into the ground they stopped….jut several inches above the ground….only to land softly with mild tumble as she fell on her knees from the stress she applied on herself. Panting she glared at him from frustration. 

“We let them go! Spit it out you seem to know what’s going on here…….tell me…will there be more attacks like this one ? “ she asked ignoring the fellow pro heroes busting around them calling for the first aid and clearing out the civilians while some even glanced over the vigilante in confusion.

“We still got time!” he grunted in vain as he attempted to struggle out of his ally’s arms (made harder with his injured ankle of course), “they can’t...the prison...they...”

At this point, all Voltaire could do is breathe heavily in reply as all of that intense activity started catching up with him.  He wasn’t superhuman, and pulling all of that stuff on the fly was messing with him.  He may be able to fly and fall through the air, but all of this without a bite to eat when waking up in this town, it took a lot out of him.

“Oh, for sure, dude.” Wendy nodded in agreement, readjusting the ball cap on her head while she looked around, “I wouldn’t want to just walk away from this, especially since that trap isn’t the most durable one I’ve set.”

Her hands came up to rest on her hips during a momentary pause, before she finally took a few steps in the direction of a heavily overgrown area with a large tree in the centre.

“Over there should be good.” Wendy gestured towards the location she had set her sights on, “It’ll hide us but also give us a great view.”

“Well all of this is pretty on-the-fly to be fair,” Clark replied before Wendy pointed to the area in question, “Well shoot, good eye you got there Wendy!”

As he walked over to the area, it was more ideal than he expected!  Instead of just a tall tree he could climb, it had shrubbery the two could hide behind.  As he seated himself, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, as if he was concentrating on something.  Opening his eyes back up, he looked to Wendy.

She did felt that her fist just barely managed to make a contact to something…before the cloaked figured vanished in front of her. Teleport quirk? Or super speed? That would be impossible if the same person could control these dreadful flames too!

Stumbling for a moment she was quick to turn around and now face two villians but at same time her corner of they eye cuaught glimps of her mysterious vigilant partner. :You holding up therem y friend? “ she asked remaining calm while considering what she had to do next.

Now she was in the crossroads, aid him or go after the two…she needed time…more time. Biting on her lower lip  she glanced around and saw a slab of concrete close by from the cieling that fell apart before they arrived. Wit hher enhanced strenght she picked it up and by using her quirk she have launched the said slab in attempt to buy her more time and scatter them.  

“Dont you dare to run scum! You shall pay for the suffering you have caused!”

“Forget about me, just do what you have to!” Voltaire replied.

He saw his partner grab the slab hoping to split them up, but despite the cloaked female figure looking out of it, she snapped back into action using both of her hands to project...something...it was some sort of force that propelled the concrete back at her, Voltaire just didn’t know what it was.  Annushka could tell very well however that it was a gust of wind, one that was even pushing her further back.

“Sheesh, you’re really going on about this whole justice thing,” she scowled as the wind had revealed her once-cloaked face, revealing a blue-haired girl with tan skin and green eyes, barely reaching her early twenties one might say, “if justice truly was that big of a deal you wouldn’t have sent her away-”

“Now you’re the one being chatty,” the cloaked seemingly male figure teased before grabbing her hand, their hands glowing as they touched, “no reason to waste our time with her, let’s really blow her away...”

As Voltaire watched the two, both of the male figure’s arms were flaring up with fire, while wind flowed from the female’s arms...but slowly and surely, the arms joined by their holding hands were clad in electricity, leaving him to realize the ambush that they were setting Annushka up for.

“Let’s make it quick,” the female started with a smirk as she held out both of her arms with her partner, “we gotta check up on number three-”

A crooked smile spread across Wendy’s face, “Thanks, dude. I guess all that survival training came in handy after all.”

Pausing, she thought about it for a moment and had to wonder if this would all turn out to be pointless. Though, in the end, she supposed they didn’t really have a choice, since the only trace of their prey was a claw that gave them more questions than answers as to what exactly they were going after.

“I’m hoping for that too.” Wendy said as she started to move towards the brush, “I guess we should wait and see, yeah? If worst comes to worst, I can always run home and grab some generic bait.”

Clark noticed the crooked smile on Wendy’s face as she stood there in deep thought.  It really put things into perspective for him: she may not have looked like a hero, or a soldier, or an average public servant, but she sure seemed like someone who was dedicated to the most just of causes.  How casually she suggested that this trapping matter shouldn’t be too difficult really brought some levity to the uncertainty of his Vision.

For a moment her eyes would glance over the terrorist shoulder assuming that the other was there.  Message?  So this was an organized attack in order to spread a message? She can’t let this person off so easy!

“Prosti my conversation skills are not the best “ she would add with a small smirk as she began clenching her fist and bending her knees readying herself to leap for the cloaked figure.

Lunging herself without warning at the figure with her fist raised to land a hit on anything that could stand in her way. Fear and hesitation were luxurious she could not afford right now.

In a faster-than-light instant, the pro hero found her target had disappeared in a literal flash.

“Gah,” the familiar feminine voice said behind the lunging hero as she rubbed the side of her face, “managed to graze me something fierce, //PANT//.  Still gonna take more than that to tire me down, //PANT//...oh hey, what took you so long?”

That last comment was in regards to the fact that a different cloaked figure had come out of the stairway to meet with the feminine figure, all the while Annushka was facing the other way.  With how high the stakes were at bringing these criminals to justice, Voltaire tried to hurry by limping against a wall quickly, sharp pains still lingering in his ankle as he tried to rush over.