#trickhero

Artwork by @aradchnid

Face of contusions

Jackie pulled his grappling gun from his belt, aiming it at a faraway building. He jumped off the ledge of the building he was standing on, pulling the trigger on his gun. A rope shot out, hooking onto the metal fire escape. He swung over the streets below, landing on the steps of one of the escape landings, going up a few flights. He stopped at a particular window, the curtains pulled tightly over the pane. He slid it open, quietly slipping into the apartment. He started walking around the apartment, digging through cupboards, looking for a first aid kit.

The hero felt something cold touch the back of his head, along with a click.

“Stand up slowly,” said a voice behind him, “hands up, don't try anything.”

Jackie obeyed, raising his hands above his head, standing up. The object, presumably a gun, was removed from the back of his head.

“Turn around.”

He did, slowly, not wanting to make the other believe he would attack. He wasn’t surprised to see that there was, in fact, a gun in the person’s hands, nor was he surprised that the gun was still pointed at him.

“Who are you? Why are you here? How did you even get in??” the man asked quickly, not lowering the gun at all. If anything, he raised it more.

Jackie opened his mouth to speak, his hand flying to cover his mouth as he coughed wildly, nearly falling to the floor.

“Look, I can explain this all… But please,” he started coughing again, “Please, let me have a first aid kit, I’m hurt. Badly.”

The man reluctantly lowered his gun, slipping it into his holster with a sigh. He motioned for the hero to follow him, walking down a hallway. Jackie slowly followed him, having to steady himself on the wall, careful to not get any blood on it. He finally caught up to the other, who was standing in front of a door, waiting for the hero.

“There’s a kit in the cabinet, hurry up. I want answers.” he said sternly, opening the door and stepping to the side. He leaned against the wall, crossing his arms, eyeing the red clad man.

Jackie nodded in response, stumbling into the room. He closed the door behind himself, walking to the sink and opening the medicine cabinet. He digs through the cabinet, pushing past medicines to get to the kit. He hopped up onto the bathroom counter, pulling out the kit and shutting the cabinet. He pops open the kit, placing it down next to himself.

- - - -

Jackie walked out of the bathroom, his suit hood pulled down, but his mask remained on his face.

“Okay, look, Chase-” he started.

“How do you know my name!?” The other- Chase- interrupted, taking out his gun again, scared.

‘Shit…’

The hero sighed and reached up to his face, pulling off his mask, his bright green hair returning back to its natural brown. He looked at Chase worriedly, hoping that he would recognize him.

Chase gasped, his eyes going wide as he dropped the gun. He took a few steps forward, gently grabbing Jackie’s arm.

“J-Jackie?” he stuttered out, shocked, “I…. Y-You... You’re a superhero!? Why didn’t you tell me!?”

“Chase--” he was interrupted again.

“No! Jackie you should’ve told me! You shouldn’t be out there doing what you think is best! You can’t just… You can’t risk your life like this! I was so fucking worried after you disappeared, I didn’t know where you went- Hell, I didn’t even know if you were alive!!” he shouted, his voice beginning to break. Tears welled up in Chase’s eyes, but he didn’t care. He grabbed Jackie’s other arm, shaking him slightly.

“Jackie, you left. You left all of us without e-even saying anything! You didn’t even tell me goodbye! I thought you hated me- h-hated us…”

Tears started to fall from Chase’s eyes, his sobs echoing through the corridor. Jackie slowly wraps his arms around the father, trying to console him.

“Chase… I’m so sorry… I didn’t mean to do that… I just… I didn’t want to bother you… You were always so busy with Stacy and Sammy… I didn’t think you even cared.”

“Well I did.. Still do… I always wil--”  Chase gets interrupted as he yelped, the hero lifting the father off the ground.

“J-JACKIE..! PUT ME DOWN!!” he shouted, struggling, trying to get out of the other’s arms. Jackie just hummed, starting to walk back to the living room. He ignored his wounds, caring more about comforting his friend than making sure he was okay. He plopped down on the couch with Chase, lying the smaller man on top of him. He slowly ran a hand through the other’s hair, holding him close.

“Its late, and you need to sleep. So, I’m going to hold you captive to make you sleep, and you cannot stop me.”

Jackie pulled his grappling gun from his belt, aiming it at a faraway building. He jumped off the ledge of the building he was standing on, pulling the trigger on his gun. A rope shot out, hooking onto the metal fire escape. He swung over the streets below, landing on the steps of one of the escape landings, going up a few flights. He stopped at a particular window, the curtains pulled tightly over the pane. He slid it open, quietly slipping into the apartment. He started walking around the apartment, digging through cupboards, looking for a first aid kit.

The hero felt something cold touch the back of his head, along with a click.

“Stand up slowly,” said a voice behind him, “hands up, don't try anything.”

Jackie obeyed, raising his hands above his head, standing up. The object, presumably a gun, was removed from the back of his head.

“Turn around.”

He did, slowly, not wanting to make the other believe he would attack. He wasn’t surprised to see that there was, in fact, a gun in the person’s hands, nor was he surprised that the gun was still pointed at him.