Live and Learn ((For Passionate Shadow))
 

Night has settle over the city of Skyway. People were heading home for the evening or getting some food and drinks with co-workers of a special somebody. Skyway is one of those places that seemed to never sleep. Though like every large city, there was bad parts of it. Example would be Shadow Creek on the far south side. Well known for shipping docks, it also were most of the poor and homeless people live. It had the highest crime rate and most people tend to sky away from it even during the day, but at night it was the worse. Streetlights barely worked expect at the dock where there was a group of people jumping over the fence and trespassing.

There was a total of five people, they all looked about late teens while one looked like early teens. He was short standing only at 5'3" while everyone else was about six feet. Hearing a black hoodie with the hood covering his hand, ripped up black acid wash jeans and combat boots. He follows the others in the shows over to a shipping container. One went over to the side to check out the code to see if it was their target, giving the thumbs up, meaning that it was, one had hold of a chain cutter and cuts off the locks. Inside the container were some high end products that fetch a pretty penny on the normal market.

"Um, I still think this is an awful idea. Surely we are going to get caught." the young teen spoke quietly, but loud enough to be heard. He was then smack on the back of his head. Letting out a yep for it was hard and not to mention the guy had rings on his finger. If he wasn't wearing his hood, there might of been some cuts. "Oh quit your belly aching, bitch. That's why you are here. If we were caught you can simply make them go away. Now keep watch while the rest of us load up." he tells him. As another crew member comes by in a van with a false business logo to look innocent as to not raise suspicion.

The young teen sigh sadly and looks down at his hand as a foul smelling slime like substance came leaking out. Some years ago an outbreak unleashed onto the world that caused people to have mutation in the genes to give people unnatural powers. Though it does not effect a lot of people, even today the number are small, but most are marked as dangerous and are seen as monsters. Which made things harder for him. With a deep breath he stops the flow of the slime and looks up to do his job.

Little did they know they had been monitored by a certain night time protectorate whom made the shadows his home. There were tales of this new fond 'hero' springing up every so often though the destruction left in his wake was nothing to bat an eye at. Most stories painted this night-time vigilant as dangerous, It was said he'd almost killed one of the gang members at the hospital incident when he broke his nose, another incident stated that he'd done irreparable damage to a man who was apart of the human trafficking rings. He may have started out un known but his ventures quickly made him and his team mates well known. Other stories yet still circulated about how he personally leveled an entire gang. Every, last, member. Rumor has it it was a personal matter that drove this bird monikered individual.

It was rare he spoke to the media only having two known moments and the rest of the time seemingly disappearing before they showed up or simply taking an un follow-able rout ditching nosy reporters who were rushing to the scene.


Nightingale, was what he went by. A queer sort of name in truth that now struck fear in to the hearts of criminals. Why would some one like that have a name so soft so intrinsic with a bird most known for pretty songs?


None the less he zeroed in on the small group and scouted them out. This was his partner's first night on patrol. There was months of training that lead up to this moment and he knew this was dangerous. None the less he agreed to let his new 'side kick' come along. The youth had chosen a name much like his own- though a bird of prey as if to insinuate he was to be feared far more than Nightingale.

They split and Kite went off to secure the gates to ensure a difficulty for that truck to get back out. A loud thud soon came over the large metal box they had opened.

"Tsk tssk tssk... Shouldn't you kids be in bed?" Came Nightingale's voice as he peered over the edge, his lenses glinting in the pale moonlight as his dark figure cut an imposing image over head as he peered down at the group.

Ad the heard the newcomer's voice. The gang froze in place and looked around. "Shit!" one of them hissed. For they to heard the stories of a 'hero' roaming around the city as of late. Though they all thought it was a modern bogeyman story to scare the younger gang members. Some believed in the stories and others didn't. They were the group that didn't, expect for the youngest member. He looks up at where the hero stood, his eyes widen under the darkness and hood. The leader of the gang smirks and chuckles. Standing 6'7" tall, clearly he's been hitting the gym, wearing a black hoodie with the gang's logo on the back and looks up at Nightingale.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here? The famous Nightingale has shown up? Feel like singing a little tune for us? No? Well, then we well just have to make you sing!" the leader spoke in a cocky tone and looks towards the smaller member. "Malice! Make the pretty bird sing!" he barks the order to the young lad. He had a worried look on is face but the moment he saw his boss' glare he sucked it up and aimed his hand towards him. Soon a wad of slime was coming towards him. Having a foul smile more worse then a rotting corpse on a hot summer day, but if it touched you it would be worse.

While he was fighting off the hero. the others load as much as they could into the van before the boss and others took off with the van and try to get away, leaving the younger member all by himself to fight the hero.

With a swift motion Nightingale leapt over the thick miasma-tic like substance having learned well from the Suicide King's acid spray to stay out of foreign substances. He threw a small magnet after the van just as the doors slammed shut and they sped off towards the gates.

The bird masked individual glanced back to the youth for a moment. "Some friends you have- looks like they left you here high and dry. " He started.

Kite, the unknown newcomer to this nighttime patrol had secured the gates to the dock side with heavy chains. He's found a large plank from some crates with nails still sticking right out and had tossed it before the gate to act as road spikes for the tiers. He had cleared the path keeping a watchful eye on his mentor and the new curious looking youth whom spewed out some sort of gunk? It had certainly caught Kite's attention.

He knew he was left behind, this was a common thing for him. Though usually he send the police or security running for the hills or a trip tot he hospital. Now that he was face to face with Nightingale, he knew that he was in some serious trouble. His heart was pounding fast in his chest, feeling like it was going to leap out at any second like in the old cartoon. the hero can hear some bubbly and gurgling sounds coming from the young lad. As the slime like substance was starting to pour right off of him. Forming a huge puddle under his feet. Even though they were out in the open the air was starting to become unbreathable. With a swing of his arm a large amount of toxic goo was coming his way.

Meanwhile the gang was driving towards the gate. Seeing that it was locked up, they thought of just driving through it, but that plan was out the window as the tires hit the plank of nails. Causing it to spin out of control and for them to slam on the breaks. They get out of the van and pulled out some hand guns they were carrying under their hoodies. One of them spotted Kite and points out to them. "There's another one!" he call out. "Then shoot!" the leaders shouts and soon they started to fire at the side kick.

Nightingale saw the look on the kid's face and backed up a step. " Easy now, kid... I don't want to fight you... " he stated in a lighter tone. That's when he heard the gun shots shoot off. He snapped his head aside looking off towards Kite with a moment of panic setting in. His beak mask held with in it a filter for such occasions and due to some of his own personal arsenal items... but at the moment Nightingale didn't want to terrify the child perse.

Truth be told Kite had already leaped for cover behind one of the large cargo containers.
He darted along the back side and popped across a gap tossing out a little flying star it clunk in to the side of the truck and a heated smoke started to seep out. A smoke screen to help offer some cover.

Sure he could be telling the truth and mean that he does not want to hurt him, but it can be a trick. He had heard the stories and sometimes he thinks he is worse then some of the people he had met and he has met some pretty awful people. At the same time though he doesn't really want to do this. He does not want to really hurt anyone but in the end he does. He has no other choice in the matter. It was either hurt others or be alone. Just then he heard the gun shots going off and turned away to look towards the sound. Taking his eye off of Nightingale. The flow of the toxic slime had stopped and was now open.

With his fellow game they cough as the smoke bomb went off. "Keep your eyes peel! See anything the moves, shoot but avoid hitting the van!" the leader orders out. Everyone was on the edge and had their fingers on the triggers of their guns. Looking high and low.

Nightingale picked up on the body language ques of the youth and tried his hand at talking things out. " It's okay... you don't have to do this... " He trailed gently speaking in a calm gentle tone.

The growing tide of worry rose in his chest yet he heard no sounds after the gun shots so he had to wonder if Trick was okay.

The miniature vigilante however used the smoke screen to his advantage circling around the truck and climbing in to the cab through the ajar door.

He looks at the hero as he spoke to him. Saying that he did not have to do all of this. He then looks down and sadly chuckles. "But I do." he tells him. "Once you enter this life is not like you can walk away freely. Even if I wanted to, there is nothing for me." he spoke in a sad, hurt voice. "I really don't want to do this, but-" he stop talking and his whole right arm was covered in the toxic goo. He aimed it towards Nightingale once more and soon a huge wave was coming his way.

Meanwhile Once the smoke was starting to clear, they thought that they had gotten rid of the other one. "Alright men, move out!" the leader said. "What about the brat?" one of the member asked. "If you is not arrested he knows where to go and he knows not to talk." the leader said as they open the doors to the van to get back in.

As the van doors opened Trick kicked the van in to reveres and jammed on the gas pedal sending the van speeding backwards as it turned wildly he bailed from the cab having affixed a brick atop the gas pedal.

Any of them who were amidst trying to get back in were either sent flying or unfortunately went with the van as it veered off in to a wall.


Nightingale shot a grapple out towards the lamp post over head and pulled himself up towards it with a click of a bottom and he landed up top moving to dodge out of the way.

"You really don't have to do this." He reiterated as he balanced atop the thin rod that protruded out form the base of the light pole.

"It's not easy picking up the pieces of a broken life... it's not easy to walk away... but you can do it... I've done it..."