"...and we don't seem to know if that is all of them or if they are all the same person. We have a victim of one of the triads here with us and she claims to have been saved by one of these new..' heroes' in Manhattan, conner you are on." A news reporter sitting on a table said as she transferred the camera to a man with blonde gelled back hair standing next to a woman with tear stains visible on her face.
"Thank you Sandra, Conner Corazon everyone and we are here on 3rd at Chinatown with Jenny Marson and she herself said she has seen one of these new ghosts lurking in the shadows in Manhattan." Conner the news reporter said as he walked to the victim named Jenny.
"Tell me Ms.Marson have you really seen these ghosts looming in the shadows or are they just something made up to scare these criminals?" Conner asked bringing the mic to Jenny.
"No i- it's true and their not ghosts I've seen them, I was being held at gunpoint by three guys a- and they wanted me to give them money and d- do other th- things... but that's when they showed up there were two guys who had red suit like costumes and they dropped down from above and knocked out the thugs threatening me. They were scary at first but then I heard them talking to me and smile asking if I am okay. They were so nice and I wa- oh and they said their names- or they go by the name Nightwing and Red Robin I think they helped me after tying down the thugs and they just disappeared into the night and I wondered how they did tha-" Jenny the victim talked but was interrupted by Conner.
"Ms.Marson tell me do they look anything like this?" Conner asked as he gave her picture and the TV showed three photos with Charles with his Nightwing suit on donning his usual charming smile beating up a group of criminals, Markus with a photo with his Red Hood suit on blocking a hit from a thug, and Zhang with his Red Robin suit on standing on a roof edge looking out into the city being caught off guard by the photo taken.
"Yes yes, that's them!! But the guy with the red hoodie, I haven't seen him... but when the two guys that saved me were talking they were kind of talking like they were siblings so I think they are brothers or something." Jenny said in thoughts
"Ok well that's all we got for yo-" Conner was about to cut to go to commercial when Jenny quickly grabbed the mic.
"Wa- wait I wanna say something." She cleared her throat before looking at the camera.
"Uh, Nightwing was it? And Red Robin. I just wanna say thank you for saving me, I don't know what would have happened I It weren't for you too and I am incredibly in your debt." Jenny said before a medic came and took her away.
"Well, we all know what would have happened if no one helped her but thankfully she is alright, hero or not we are thankful. Now the question of the day before we cut to commercial, Are the new vigilantes of Manhattan a good thing for us all or will they just be another few phonies running around with costumes. We'll be back with more so stay tuned." And with that, they cut to commercial and the TV that was being watched on turned off.
"Bahahhahhaah they just called you three phonies that was a good one hahahah." I laughed as the three grew more annoyed.
"Phonies?! Phonies?! The hell do they know we bust our asses for three months protecting this city and when we finally got in the news they call us PHONIES?!" Charles yelled out in frustration as I just kept on laughing.
"I will show them who the real phonies are I know a punch to the kidneys could definitely change a fe-" Markus was planning his violent revenge when he was interrupted.
"No way you idiot you can't do that, it will only bring our image to their negativity and it will get worse, and they are the news you muscle-brain you touch a hair of theirs and they spread the word of our violent methods and such." Zhang told Markus
"Huuh?! Whatchuu call me? You wanna go? Call me an idiot again." Markus got up as did Zhang ready for a showdown.
"Hey, idiots sit down." I said and Zhang giggled sitting down while Markus was fuming at me actually saying idiot again, he finally sat down again and got into planning again.
"Well, it doesn't matter we could always try the old fashioned blackmailing method. It really gets things done and- waah." Markus was saying as he rubbed his hand in an evil way when a cup of coffee came and knocked him out of his stool.
I was on the couch drinking my coffee and on the other side of the couch was a lazily lying Charles, Markus and Zhang was in the kitchen tables sitting in stools but they could still watch the TV in their angle, finishing my coffee and hearing his plans I threw the coffee cup at his forehead causing him to fall on his butt. Zhang was having an unstoppable hysterical laugh but Charles doesn't seem to be paying attention as he is working on something new.
It has been 3 months since the day they started their debut as the three night birds of prey, and today is the day they finally made it on the news, as the public wasn't sure if it was real or just people talking stories. For three months I have observed taught and guide them through the vigilante lives, how to stay off radar, how to mislead people that follow you(like S.H.I.E.L.D.), and how to apply knowledge through vigilanteing.
The most improvements they have made this whole three months is the fact that I taught them many things, it would be hard to learn things but if it is something you truly want to learn and is determined to learn than talent don't matter. Zhang wanted to learn about computer science and hacking of the likes, Markus wanted to learn about weapons mastery, escapology, manhunting, and misdirection, and these things together are part of the tree of the assassins and mastering all of them would make you a truly formidable opponent. Charles, on the other hand, wanted to learn as much as he can and ask me for suggestions on what to learn and what fit him, and so with that I taught him what he feels comfortable with and the things he quickly learned about was criminal psychology, profiling, chemistry, human anatomy, information technology, communication technology, manhunting, escapology, first aid, mechanic 101, and such as engineering.
Charles wanted to build things that would help on their journeys and make things easier, but all in all I taught them same things like escapology and hacking as one is good for many things and the other is good to use and retreat on, right now Zhang and Markus had finished their little fight and Markus seemed to have won as he had a smug look on his face while Zhang just sat and ate the rest of his cereal.
I gave Charles a project to do and that is what he is doing right now he is putting together components from a broken computer and TV and what I told him to make was a speaker and I don't know how far he is with it but he is pretty focused on it. The kids who lived with us here were not here today at the moment which explains the reasons we were talking so loudly about the fact that they are the vigilante in the TV, and I threw out all the bugs I can find from S.H.I.E.L.D. so we were a little careless but if there was anything or anyone that caught the word of theirs then that is their problem. The three decided to keep the identities of their alter ego away from the kids as they didn't think it would be a good idea to bring them into that kind of life, I didn't have a say in it or did they ask for advice on that as it wasn't my secret but I didn't care.
Today was Saturday and criminals don't take days off so says my students, so far they have only been going against thugs that don't have big connections to gangs and I thought that a change of pace would be good for them and give them another test. I tracked down a worthy opponent that would definitely rile the three up in a fight, there are some days I would just let them go out on their own as I was just too lazy to go out and the fact that I don't need to 'patrol' the streets anymore is a good thing. I never really took the patrol thing serious as I was just using it as a way to train my abilities and get experience, now that I think I'm strong enough I don't have to go out anymore.
As it got dark I told the trio to suit up and meet me at a certain rooftop. A few later you could see me sitting on top of a roof corner edge looking at a workshop building scanning the place and smoking a cigarette feeling the high, another few three shadows dropped and landed near me. Nightwing on my right Red Hood on my left as they sat near me and Red Robin standing behind me. I didn't even look at them and they didn't look at me but what I'm looking at.
"That building. A man name Lonnie Thompson is in there and he is looking to start a small business with a few bikers of his. His business consists of drugs and he is looking to also start making a new drug that would very much out the streets in many dangers. Your goal is to take him down and get evidence from his doings and destroy the new formula he is working on. Again I don't care how you do it I will just judge up here." I said as I grabbed a bag of chips from nowhere and started eating.
"Hmm" Nightwing was in thought about why it sounds easy but he knew it can't be that easy as this is another test for the three.
"Huh? Come on old man we are stronger than normal people and you want us to take down a man who is looking to start a little drug empire of his?" Markus complained
"It can't be that easy you dolt think about it it's a test there is no way the old man would give us a test without reasons behind it." Zhang said to Markus
"He is right it can't be that simple." Charles said as they jumped closer to the workshop and landed on another rood.
"Lonnie Thompson he was a gang leader of a few biker gang a while ago, but until last year he went missing and that was all anyone could know him about." Zhang said as he pulled out a phone and started typing as there is not enough tech for futuristic devices so he was using his phone.
"Missing? Then there must have been something that happens between the gap he was gone until now, Zhang what does he look like?" Charles asked
"Well, he has white hair and a scary face he is pretty tall too big figure he has." Zhang said
"Hmm, alright Markus you go and start taking out those on watch starting from the outside and make sure to get everyone you don't wanna have your back exposed and all but just stay on standby until my signal. Oh and try to do it silently." Charles started planning and gave Markus his role.
"Zhang you will be with me once we are in there get as much evidence as you can picture, data, file whatever it is while I look at this new friend of ours Lonnie." Charles was the planner and has the traits and smarts to lead, Markus just wanted to pummel his fists into his opponents and fight while Zhang was the tech guy.
"Hahaha roger." Markus said as he smiled maniacally at the fact that he will beat up a few thugs.
Markus jumped onto a street light before jumping onto the workshop rooftop and made a [Soft Landing] with KI silently as the other two followed. Markus stood on the roof edge waiting for Charles signal, the other two went through a vent. There were many bikers in here at least in the 20's and 30's and some of them are partying a little with beers and loud noises, Zhang split and went to the drug labs that the vent led the way too Charles went to the office of the car shop and looked through the vent where 3 men were sitting down talking to someone on a big chair which Charles think was Lonnie, but the thing was the chair was facing the other side so Charles can't see much.
"...and so far It's only these three but it doesn't seem like the others are really worried about the offer for the joint forces, we talked through the benefits and they sti-" one of the bikers was reporting the activities they have been through.
"Don't worry about that right now, what I need you to be in full focus on is the ingredients of my new drug. If I have the new drug all complete then those arrogant fucks would come running for a joint force." the man on the big chair said as he turned his chair and that was enough to get a silent gasp from Charles.
The surprised gasp was silent but still loud enough to be heard getting the attention of the 4 men in the office, they looked around in caution before continuing the meeting. Charles was shocked because the guy was a giant and he looked like a stone, like actual stone and he looked like a monster.
Charles hesitated about the whole thing before pressing his comms piece and whispered 'begin' where Red Hood started his silent rampage. Charles thought this has to be Lonnie and the test was taking this giant monster down, he was wondering if they could do it when the three biker henchmen got up to walked out Charles moved around to get a good angle on the three as they looked like biker gang leaders. But when he moved the vent that was holding him couldn't support his weight anymore and started creaking, creaking so loud the three henchmen froze and the man on the big seat had a twitching face of yet to be seen anger.
Then boom, the whole vent fell and Nightwing was lying in dust and smoke coughing out as the four men were looking at him in stupidity wondering if he was in there the whole time. Charles got up and patted himself of the dust and looked at the man on the big seat.
"Uh, you wouldn't be Lonnie would you? Cause if you are then I suggest doing some renovations It's really hard to sneak and spy on you with these old thing's, don't you think?" Charles asked with his usual grin and teased, while the others were just looking at him in shock.
Back to the rooftop...
I was there still observing the three war in my chips, I heard about the plans and I thought it wasn't so bad then thought about their opponent Lonnie Thompson A.K.A. Tombstone. From what I know he was an experiment of Oscorp and they ended up turning the guy into stone, I stumbled into him on one of my nights alone. I was about to deal with him when I thought of how great a challenge he would be for the kids, and then here we are. As I sat observing their operation I felt something around me I smiled.
"You know in some places It's rude to hide in the dark and spy on people." I asked as no one seems to be around, until a figure appeared in the shadows and walked out of it.
"*sigh* you know valuable time wouldn't be wasted if you would just talked to the man I assign to you." said the man who came out of the shadows.
"Who Coulson? I love the guy his funny did you just promote him? He always come to my place every week on the same day at the same time. He is very professional, but when it comes to my food I know he can't hold it sometimes." I said to the eyepatched man, and yes a couple of months after the restaurant opening Coulson who seemed to have just been promoted have been coming to my restaurant. At first he would just observe then talk to me if anything was out of the ordinary, he wouldn't eat anything or order so I decided to make a fancy dish for him. He was hesitating at first but after that meal I got him wrapped around my fingers haha.
But starting last month he has been talking about a mission that fury assigned me with, and here I thought they were being cautious with me but what do I know, now Fury is here because I have been ignoring the things Coulson told me to do.
Fury was just starting at the back of my head when I stood up and walked to him, I held up the bag of chips and offered but he just looked at it before looking back at me.
"I need your help with an assignment of mine." Fury said
"Sorry no can do I'm too busy teaching and lazing around." I said as I went back and sat down on the edge, Fury came and stood by my side on the edge.
"I never thought that the three vigilantes in the area would be your kids running around." Fury said as he looked at the workshop, and we can both see Red Hood sneak attacking a few bikers taking them one by one silently.
"Well to be honest I didn't see this as their future either as they decided this for themselves, there is a plan of mine to get them to take down 'THE HAND' but they brought up a good point in getting some practice out here." I said putting the bag of chips way and lighting up a cigarette.
"'THE HAND?! You can't be serious Green, that group is full of murderers and immortal killers you can't just pick up three punks in the street and expect them to have the abi-" Fury was in shock and tried to warn me.
"I know what I'm doing Fury and it is my business and I don't plan on them dying and I have my own reasons." I said and Fury wanted to say more but just kept silent.
"Oh and what is this assignment you are so desperate about that you would need my help with? Aren't you guys like cautious of me or something? I mean even you had to come out of your little room just to ask me." I said
"You will be going to Budapest, You will get more info when you start, and we are cautious of you but so far you don't seem to have done anything harmful. I do have to say you are pretty tricky with some things." Fury said
"Oh that is in Hungary if you are wondering, south of here. You did fall out of a giant city-wide wormhole so..." Fury said
"I may have come from the outsides but I probably know a lot then you could ever think." I said
"And that is something we would gladly like to know but since you like your secrets than I doubt I could know of them at this moment." Fury said in defeat.
"Look, Green, you will be going with an agent and he will notify you of the tasks needed to be done."
"Whoa I feel like your ordering me around I mean I don't remember working for you Nicholas." I said in exaggeration.
"No It's not an order, but I do remember you saying you owe me one so today I'm gonna cash that in." Fury said with a smile.
"Ah shitt I did didn't I? Damn I didn't think your the type to remember someones small words." I said sighing.
"And I don't think your someone to go back on your words." Fury said
"Yeaa well I guess you got me on that pa-" I couldn't finish when a big boom sounded.
We looked down and we saw Nightwing and Red Hood blown out of the walls and Tombstone coming out with anger. Fury looked at me as I was still relaxed and smoking.
"Your not gonna help?" Fury asked
"No, its their fight if they can't even take one street-level crime lord down then they won't be ready for 'THE HAND'." I said
"That is not a damn street-level crime lord, that is an experiment gone wrong criminal with abilities..." Fury corrected
"Even so It's their fight." I said
As Nightwing and Red Hood got up ready to fight in their stances, Tombstone was angry that these guys took down his goons and making a mess of his operation.
"Stay out of this and mind your own business, it is not hard to do that but you just had to be what heroes? And get involved? You sure know how to ask for death." Tombstone yelled out in anger.
"Wow hey Red doesn't this guy seem angry? I wonder if he had a bad day?" Nightwing teased asking Red Hood.
"I was wondering the same thing. Hey Gravestone did you have a bad day?" Red Hood getting the situation also teased.
"Aaaaaahhhhhh Tombstone it is Tombstone!!" Tombstone yelled out and started destroying things in anger.
A shadow passed and a leg came down axe kicking the forehead of Tombstone making him stumble back with a rocked brain.
"Took you long enough what took you?" Res Hood asked Red Robin.
"Dude you would not believe the things they have in their It's enough to-" Red Robin was about to go on a rant when he was interrupted.
"Not now Robin we have a big fish to catch... or take down, old guys must be waiting." Nightwing said as they spread and took stances
"They are good, they would make great agents." Fury muttered.
"Don't even think about it Nick, at least not yet as they are still under my wings." I said
"Hmm, I'll send you the location and info of your mission." Fury said walking away.
"Yeah sure." I said as he disappeared