Avengers ASSemble

[Croup]

(for Hiran)

"I say man, this mead is as fine as the choicest ambrosia, drink of the gods!"

"Heh. Yeah, I get that a lot."

It was a slow day over at O'Malley's Pub on 4th and 18th. It was midday and he'd only had one customer in so far. But that one customer could drink as much as ten men, and tipped well too. Oh yeah, and he was a member of the Avengers. Maybe not such a slow day after all.

Hercules gave an enormous belch, and then waved his flagon (he insisted on calling it a flagon) about. "Have I told you about the time I wrestled down Cerberus, three-headed beast of the Underworld, watchdog of Hades himself, and taught him how to heel on command?"

"About five times today."

"Ah." Hercules waved him off. "I can see I am boring you. I must perform new acts of heroism, so that I may have new tales to sing." He stood up, and swayed on his feet.

"'Ey, Herc. You want me to call ya a cab or somethin'? You look a little sloshed."

"Bah! If I could hold my liquor then I'd have no right to call myself the Lion of Olympus! I assure you I am fine. Besides, the Avengers Mansion is a scant handful of blocks away."

"Alright... And uhh, about your tab...?"

Hercules turned by the door and gave him a shit-eating grin. "Put it on my Avengers credit. Tony Stark has graciously agreed to pay for all sums of food and beverage whilst I dwell among you mortals."

"Uhh, aight. Cool."

Hercules left the pub, humming off-tune and mostly staying on his side of the sidewalk as he made his way down the street. Life was good. He had wrongs to right, justice to uphold, and friends to share his triumphs with. As well as all the free food anddrink he wished. But for now, he felt a mighty need to return to the mansion and sleep it off.

Of course, what Hercules did not know was that he was being currently watched from the shadows. In particular, a certain protruding part of his rear anatomy was being observed by someone... quite closely...

[Hiran]

It was from an alleyway that the lurker first watched Hercules, eyeing his prize with a sort of hunger. Of course, there were other benefits to what was about to ensue. But here and now? His target was it's own reward.

The man climbed up the fire escape with acrobatics that belied his truly human nature. Or perhaps he was more now? Whatever he was, he'd escaped from the hellhole the Avengers had forced him into. They acted as a blunt instrument, crossing international borders with impunity.

But now, he had a way to put each and every one of them in line. And Hercules would merely be the first.

He ran along the rooftops, silently hopping from roof to roof as he followed Hercules along. It was a shame he was so high up, the man's tunic was famous for revealing more than it should.

It wasn't until they'd traveled a block and a half that he dared make his move. They'd left the highly populated commercial district, instead now in a warehouse district. While the occasional people could still be seen outside, it wasn't hard to find a place where they should be alone long enough. After all, an empty warehouse had seemed the perfect place to set up his trap.

He lept from the building just as Hercules passed the door, attempting to strike at the god of strength and kick off him to land on his feet. As soon as he landed either way, he spoke to the Avenger with a taunt. "You seek a fight to truly challenge yourself?" he asked, bolting into the warehouse behind him.

[Croup]

"Now, is this the right way...? Or have I once again been turned around on these mortals' streets?" Hercules scratched his head dully as he looked about. It was difficult sometimes, adjusting to life over the many centuries. He'd never gotten lost in Athens.

When the attack came, it was a surprise to him. A base, cowardly attack from behind, trying to kick him off his feet. It didn't work—his knees buckled, but he was able to keep his footing. "And who dares assault the Son of Zeus!" he thundered as he turned around only to see a shadowy figure run into a deserted warehouse. With zero hesitation or, indeed, thought, the demi-god took off after them.

[Hiran]

"The son?" The figure laughed as he vanished into the dark warehouse. "Don't you mean a son? He's had hundreds of them." Flickers of the blood red hand symbol upon his chest could be spied as the he dashed among the scores of large cardboard boxes within.

His ensuing laugh echoed around the warehouse, making it hard to tell which direction it even came from. This was going swimmingly. And he had a few things in mind specifically for the demigod before him.

[Croup]

At the taunts to his father's name, the demi-god's face darkened. "Who dares besmirch the name of Zeus!" he demanded, looking all about. Only laughter greeted him, echoing from all directions. He began lifting crates one-handed and tossing aside, hunting for the knave. "True, much has been said of his lusty loins throughout the ages. But let it be known it has always been Hercules who is his favored son!"

Hearing what he thinks to be the strange costumed man, he whirls about and hurls a crate in that direction, smashing it and its contents completely.

[Hiran]

The remains of a tape recorder could be seen amongst the splintered wreckage of the crate. It whirred, trying for a moment to continue playing before it gave up the ghost.

An ancient metal chain whipped out, attempting to ensnare Hercules wrist from behind. If and when he looked back, he'd finally get a good look at his attacker. He was clad head to toe in skintight spandex. The black material was accented by a pair of purple gloves something strange on the palms, and we're matched with a pair of magenta boots. Emblazoned on his chest was a blood red hand with a purple eye upon it. He looked similar enough to many others Hercules had fought in this city with his garnish suit.

"Really?" The masked man replied tauntingly. He was grinning like a madman beneath his mask, even though he kept his tone calm. "Here I thought he preferred Ares or Hephaestus to you." He lashed out the other end of the chain toward Herc as well. "Speaking of which, I thought you might want to check out some of your brother's handiwork."

He'd found the chain, once forged to stop the mighty Cronos, for sale in Bangladesh of all places. The black market had proven a great place to steal from. Even without his abilities, a theft there would never be reported. But setting up a war between the head of a human trafficking ring and the druglord in question had been child:s play with his abilities, leaving him to escape scott free. Now, the question was if the chain was as powerful as had been rumored.