A hooded man wearing a black, tight fit, bodysuit with a large brown spider angled across his chest perched on the corner of the roof across from the Hightower International skyscraper. The streets of Eagle crest down below were surprisingly active for this time of night. It shouldn't surprise him though, any time billionaires show up the city puts on its best performance.
Unfortunately, the best usually brought out some of the worst as well. Typically rich people brought out petty thieves, which weren't too much of an issue. Even the rookies could handle that. People like Bruce Wayne, Patten Brent, Oliver Queen, Hank Pymm, and Tony Stark showing up brought out the bigger threats. The threats that kept people like Recluse and his team, the Outcasts, stationed in Eagle Crest. Falcons; the local branch of assassins under the rule of the shadow organization of the Followers.
"Pat's heading inside, let me know once you've got eyes on him," the man said, touching his hand to the small earpiece attached to the left end of his brown, spider-shaped mask.
"You don't have to sound like you've got a stick stuck up your -" a younger male voice started to speak with a teasing tone.
"I've got eyes on Uncle Pat," another younger male interrupted, his tone seeming to be as serious as the first.
"Geez, you two are going to die of stress if you don't lighten up and live a little," a young girl's voice echoed as the man shook his head. "This is supposed to be a party. We'll stand out like a sore thumb if you don't just chill out."
"Tell Jerren that trojan-bug is too slow. I finally have access to the camera's, so I'm sending the feed over," another girl said. "Good think my parents had an invite to this thing, or else Steph you'd be blind."
"Thanks for bailing them out, Jenn," the man said, hanging his head. He then clicked a few buttons on the wrist band on his right arm, several screens showing allowing him to locate each one of his team members.
First he located Alex Smith, the angsty older half brother to Stephanie Fields. He was dressed in a doorman's attire with his dark hair slicked back under the silly little cap he was reluctantly wearing, off centered out of protest of the goofy uniform. His weapons and protective gear underneath his faux uniform, giving off a more buff physique, which had several ladies admiring him.
He then scanned the floor locating Stephanie Fields. She was dressed as a waitress. She was much easier to spot, her short black hair was pulled back, which did match the other waitresses. What made her stand out was her awkwardness walking around in a skirt rather than her usual pants.
Jake Jones was next on the list. He was harder to be noticed, but Mick finally found him. His lighter hair spiked up, and conversing with Pat and his wife Spencer. He then noticed Jenn standing close by, figuring she used Jake's headset to update him.
The streets erupted with cheers and applause as a red hot-rod pulled up. Mick's eyes shot down, seeing Tony Stark climbing out of the driver's seat, waving at all of the swooning females. Of course he'd show up in style. Mick scanned the crowd as Tony walked into the Hightower. The cheers didn't end once Tony entered, because another person of interest arrived in a large black limo.
An elderly looking man walked around the large car, opening the door and the youthful Bruce Wayne stepped out, waving at the adorning fans. Mick's focus on the crowd was cut short when he caught movement on a nearby rooftop. "Potential sniper, targeting Wayne. Moving to intercept. You guys stay in position unless I don't reply in ten minutes," Mick said, ducking into the shadows.
He sprinted across the roof, staying low, watching that spot across the way carefully. He jumped, webs flying from his wrist, catching the edge of the building as another flew at the building he jumped from. He combined the two webs, scuttling across them, then slowly climbing onto the roof.
With slow, yet fast movements, he made his way across the rooftop to the spot he saw the movement. The glow from the H made it hard to stay stealthy. He reached the spot only to see it vacated, slightly confused as to where the assailant could've gone without him noticing. No sooner, he crashed down on his back as something hard slammed into his legs. Mick spun around, jumping back to his feet, seeing a black and blue staff as it dropped to the ground. He quickly pulled his own saber from his side, the collapsable blade igniting with its electric current.
He was glad for his quick reaction, as someone lunged at him from a higher building, another staff in hand. The staff clashed with Mick's blade, sparks flying across the roof. Mick kicked at his foe, who managed to backstep, then jump forward, Mick barely having time to block the relentless strikes. The two held their weapons locked against one another as Mick's blade arced between the two.
"Recluse?" a man's voice said from the attack, relenting as he tilted his head examining the person before him. "You're not an assassin. I think there's been a misunderstanding."
"Nightwing?" Mick's blade went dark, then he slowly sheathed his weapon. "What are you doing here?"
"Bodyguard work," he motioned toward the Hightower building. "I forgot you guys were stationed here. You know, with all those Spider-people running around Manhattan and all."
"Yeah, that's exactly why we're far away from that," Mick said with a smirk, then reached for his earpiece. "It was friendly, we're not the only ones here on guard."
"Still following the Old Man's lead?" Nightwing asked as he peaked over the side of the building as the crowd noise seemed to die down a bit.
"Yeah," Mick nodded. "Seemed to work out for you guys. I'm just not as good at picking them as he is. Although these kids are getting pretty good. I'd almost trust my life to them."
"They'll get there," Nightwing said.
"We sure did," Mick said fondly.
"You had a little bit of help," Nightwing said, looking at Mick with a coy grin.
"You said help, but I'd say hindrance. Didn't matter how good I was, the Old Man still wouldn't let me in the club because of my powers," Mick shrugged.
"He just has a thing against Mutants, Inhumans, Meta's, well anyone with powers really. He doesn't even truly trust Superman, if it makes you feel better," Nightwing said as Mick laughed.
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Steph pushed down on her skirt, still frustrated she had to wear that dreaded thing. Of course, she only had to keep pushing down on it because she refused to listen to Jake's advice to just wear leggings under it in order to stay warm. Not because she hated leggings, quite the opposite, she only did it to prove to Jake she would be fine. Now her legs would feel like prickly little cactus' before the night was over.
The room erupted into applause when Tony Stark entered. Of course it did, the billionaire-hero and leader of the Avengers, had dozens of adoring fans. Mostly females, hoping to lay a claim to the Stark fortune. There were some tech moguls who fancied some of the amazing computer innovations that came from Stark Industries. Sure Mr. Stark was a handsome man, kind of like that Tom Selak guy that the older ladies would swoon over. Problem was, he was old, as Mick says, old enough to be her father, which made it weird to see all of these young waitresses and reporters throwing themselves at him.
Not long after Tony's grand entrance, came the more mysterious man. His suave nature, slick hair, sharp suit, muscular build. Bruce Wayne, now he was something to look at, even if he was old. Steph laughed to herself thinking how Mick was probably just jealous at Mr. Wayne's physique. They were probably about the same age in her mind.
Her wandering mind quickly returned to earth when the mousy haired girl wearing a shimmering red dress happened to bump into her. "You don't look too focused there," the girl teased as Steph smiled at her.
"Mind your business, Jenn!" Steph teased. "Shouldn't you be eating caviar or something?"
"No, ew," Jenn scrunched her nose. "I slipped away from Mom and Rick. I needed some air. I don't know how Aly and El do it. I see why Mack slips away at the first chance! These things are awful!"
"Could be worse, you could be wearing this," Steph motioned at the white button down, black tie, and black flats.
"I'd almost trade you, except you wouldn't fit my dress," Jenn said, motioning toward her longer legs and high heels.
The two girls laughed, until a man with messy blonde hair in a tight-fitting green hued suit walked by them, toward Mr. Wayne. On his side was a beautiful blonde haired woman with blue eyes, in a form fit purple dress with a slit up to her thigh. Behind them walked a boy, his hair slicked back, his blue eyes shimmered. Everything about him screamed bad boy. The way he wore his suit was so lackadaisical, his hands in his pockets. He glanced over, smiling as he passed by Steph and Jenn.
"Oh-em-gee, was that?" Steph gasped.
"Roy Harper?" Jenn matched Steph's energy.
"If only I wasn't on the clock," Steph swooned.
"Thankfully I'm not," Jenn teased, as Steph looked at her with betrayal.
"You wouldn't dare!" Steph fussed as a patron walked over trying to push an empty glass into Steph's hands. "I'll disown you!" She fussed as Jenn winked at her, following after Roy.
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Jake made his way across the floor, carefully dodging the more tipsy patrons, passing out the d'oeuvre, blending in with the other waiters without a problem. His eyes danced across the room, spotting his half sister's family all speaking with Tony Stark and some of his representatives, which made sense given Sally's recent attempts to break into the App-Developer scene.
He noticed Steph tucked in a corner, stuffing her face rather than passing out the food. It made sense when he followed her eyes to see Jenn flirting with the most annoying guy he'd ever met in his life, Roy Harper. He was a rich boy and wild child. He had such an arrogance about him, he just thought when he walked into the room every girl wanted him, and believed every guy wanted to be him. Everything about that egomaniac infuriated Jake. At least there was one thing Jake had over him; Jake was a hero. He was BlueJay of the Outcast.
Jake caught himself just before he slammed into an elderly man, then apologized profusely. "Smooth moves, bird brain," Alex's voice startled Jake, causing him to spin around seeing his partner dressed in a suit, with his messy hair now parted to the right.
"What are you doing up here?" Jake was flabbergasted. "Who's watching the entrance if you're up here?"
"Didn't you hear Stephie earlier? Lighten up and live a little," Alex ruffled up Jake's meticulously fixed hair, then stole the tray of food from his hands.
"We're so getting reprimanded for this," Jake ran his hands in his hair, hoping to fix anything Alex may have messed up.
"Only if you rat us out," Alex brushed Jake's shoulders as he wandered off as a girl in a sequined silver dress passed by.
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The crowd seemed to gasp as Tony Stark stood face to face with Bruce Wayne. Both men wore a look of disdain for the other. "That's got to be the dumbest idea I've ever heard, but of course it would come from Wayne Enterprises. Bunch of governmental shills pretending to know how to avoid conflict," Tony taunted.
"Oh that's rich, coming from the warmonger who makes his millions by dragging the world into conflict, and claiming to be the hero," Bruce said nonchalantly. "Wasn't it your weapons that caused all of that chaos in the Czech uprising?"
"That's unconfirmed," Tony's smug expression became much more bitter.
"A few of my sources seemed pretty sure," Bruce said, the unrelenting smile and unshaking tone in his voice clearly infuriating Tony.
It was that moment that Patten knew he had to step in. "Gentlemen, perhaps we should take this to more private quarters?"
"No thanks," Bruce smirked as he turned away from Tony and Patten.
"Come talk to me when you figure out how to solve your crime problem in that rat-hole you call home!" Tony barked as Bruce simply ignored him. "Until then don't ridicule my Iron-Dome proposal!"
"That sounds like quite the interesting plan," Patten said, trying hard to quell the furious Tony Stark, who snatched two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter and downed them like shots.
"Better than the ludacris proposal Bruce wants to issue," Tony scoffed. "He should keep his nose in the cars and farms and stay out of big boy problems."
"Mr. Wayne does have some decent ideas when it comes to implementation," Patten said as Tony rolled his eyes, grabbing a waitress who smiled at him seductively.
"If you'll excuse me, I have some steam to blow off," Tony said playfully as Patten nodded, wishing he hadn't seen the exchange. He then shook his head after Tony was far enough away.
Spencer walked up beside him with a tall glass of white spritzer in hand. "You look like you could use a drink," she smiled at him.
"It's never dull when those two get together," Patten said.
"At least that should be the most eventful part of the night, right?" Spencer asked as Patten looked across the crowd.
"I certainly hope so," he sighed.
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A quiet city was never a good sign. Both Recluse and Nightwing knew that all too well. If it was quiet, usually someone was planning something. They weren't wrong either. About two blocks over from the Hightower building, an explosion went off. Mick looked down at his wristband, then at Nightwing. "Decoy or the real thing?" Mick asked.
"Knowing how most of this goes, decoy," Dick laughed. "But, you know it'll be worse if we don't deal with it."
"Old times sake then?" Mick fistbumped with Dick.
"I bet I'm still more agile than you," Dick leapt from the building pulling a grappling gun from the holster on his back.
"As if!" Mick flicked his wrist and let his webs fly, and the race was on.
The duo landed on the roof, overlooking the scene, seeing a car on fire and several men with weapons in hand. Nightwing, quick to react, flung one of his escrima. It collided with the unsuspecting victim, drawing the attention of the others as he fired into the air as he fell to the ground. Recluse, rather than diving into the fray, stayed perched on the building's roof. He shot a series of webs down, capturing his victim pulling him upwards, and swirling him around mid air encasing him in a cocoon of webs.
Recluse then kicked his foe against the wall, leaving him trapped there as he struggled. Mick then drew his baton from his side, his bio-electricity sparking over the weapon. He attached a web to the weapon, then flung it forward, hitting his target, shocking them as they fell to the ground. The two heroes made quick work of the criminals, landing back to back with each other once it was all over.
"I got four," Nightwing said, sheathing his escrima.
"Same," Recluse laughed, collapsing his baton as he placed it on his belt.
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Lex stood at the window in his office, smiling grimly as he looked out at the darkened skyline of Metropolis. The speakers behind him buzzed with the applause from Tony's endorsement speech for Senator Ryan Ballade, who was a key backer in the Iron-Dome initiative. The initiative being a success wasn't nearly as important as the why. Superman had to suffer. He'd already struck several blows thanks to Kara Zor El, and soon enough he'd use Tony Stark and his overzealous drive for retribution to land another.
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"Looks like you two are having fun," Batman's voice startled Recluse and Nightwing as they reclaimed their lookout positions.
"When did you-" Nightwing spun around, meeting Batman's scowl.
"There was an emergency," Recluse said, his skin crawling as the look of disappointment found its way to him.
"I heard you were playing vigilante," Batman's tone was just as harsh as his glare. "I'm not one that finds flattery so appealing. I would've thought SHIELD trained you better than to leave children unattended."
"If you don't like how he operates, you should've trained him yourself," Nightwing huffed.
"Don't think you're in the clear on this either," Batman barked. "Good thing the only negative thing that happened tonight was Tony's endorsement speech. Let's go, Nightwing."
"Catch you later," Nightwing said lightly, saluting Recluse as he followed Batman into the shadows.
Mick watched as the duo vanished before turning back to see Jenn's family climbing into their limo. He then pulled his mask off, letting his bangs fall into his face. He clenched his fists, then located his backpack stuffing his mask inside, then began to put on a t-shirt, jacket and jeans over his bodysuit. He then carefully made his way off the building. He then walked up to the Hightower building met by the usual looks of disdain and disgust, walking inside in order to head upstairs to the penthouse where he, Steph, and Alex would be spending the night.