omake - knightly patrols
It had been surprisingly quiet the last few days, well maybe not completely surprising, things were always quiet for a few days after an Endbringer attack. No, a week after was when things started picking up again, something would happen, a dealer would start working someone else's turf, or a pimp would try and strong arm someone else's working girl, it didn't make a whole lot of difference in the end. Something would set off the violence again, a skirmish would break out and the lines would be redrawn, up and down the country the same pattern repeated in each major cape city.
Backup from the rest of the protectorate was always thin on the ground too, too many losses after each attack, spots left unfilled, reshuffled leadership roles. Most cities had the Wards run daylight patrols only for two weeks after an Endbringer attack, always group patrols too. Brockton Bay wasn't most cities though, with one of the largest Villain population per capita in the country it was practically the front lines of the battle between Heroes and Villains. Glenn would scold her if she used those terms anywhere outside her head though.
Perpetuating the "Us vs Them" attitude, or erroneously giving an impression of villainous unity. She pulled in that special way and the neighbouring rooftop closed to an easy step and slight drop. She'd normally move faster, spend less effort on equalising height differences as precisely, well if she was alone that is. Tonight she had a shadow, in an almost literal sense. Shadow Stalker never really paid much attention to her on their joint patrols, hopping off their set route without warning. But she wasn't the problem surprisingly enough, no it was Triumph that was the millstone about her neck, the former Wards leader had never really practised any of the roof running techniques she generally used.
The last time she'd tried to speed things up with him along he'd nearly broken his neck, she'd told him to jump, shouted at him to jump, told him to fucking roll. Damn lion themed idiot. She'd had to repeat the health and safety lectures after that, all of the health and safety lectures, she hadn't been allowed to patrol for over a month! At least his presence kept Shadow Stalker from being a complete bitch.
"Console we've got an disturbance down by Ruby Dreams. Unnaturally dark fog, can I get a database search?"
Triumph's nasal tone echoed slightly in her earpiece. One look was all it took for her to identify Grue's power at work, didn't he read the briefing packets? Probably working the door, he was almost a rogue, if he had been a little more discerning with his choice of employers. He was still on the system as a rogue, with possible villainous leanings. Hmm, maybe she could convince him that the Wards were the best place to be, she could almost taste the celebratory meal at Fugly Bobs already.
Three large lizard things burst through the smoky darkness suddenly, large as horses they pelting down the street and away. What... Hellhound?
