บท 5: Act 1.5
"So you guys are going on a mission?"
Brayden asked while walking beside Donna. He was still dressed casually, wearing the same pair of clothes that he wore on the day of his kidnapping, just made bigger for his size. Donna was outfitted in her costume, her bracers gleaming under Mount Justices' lights.
"Yeah, it'd be fun if you came with us."She tried to entice, "You know, bashing heads together, getting to travel the world."
"I can fly." Brayden pointed out.
"You know what I mean."
"Yeah, I do... I'm just not cut out for that sort of thing."
"I think you've got what it takes."
"How come?"
"Because you came to save the day twice, third time's the charm."
At those words, Brayden stopped and watched as Donna walked towards an organic looking spaceship. The rest of the young heroes were already boarding it as Donna walked up the ramp. She looked back and sent a wave to Brayden as he stared after her. He returned the wave, giving her a smile. As she entered the ship, it closed right behind her. Brayden watched as it ascended upwards and into the air. His navy blue irises remained transfixed on it for a moment longer before he turned and began walking back into the base. It had been a few days since the Twister fiasco, now he was just trying to figure out what all he could do and what his limits were. So far, he could fly, had super strength, speed, and stamina. As well as had the ability to conduct particles and electrons on a scale that no one knew. He could amplify himself with the surrounding particles and electrons to the point that he was as strong as Superman. Well, that was what Batman and Blue Beetle had said about him.
As Brayden walked into the Zetatube area, Red Tornado and Batman were conversing with one another. The Dark Knight looked at Brayden, then ended his conversation with the android.
"What is it, Brayden?" Batman inquired.
"I was gonna ask if i could go outside." Brayden stated.
"No."
"What? But why?"
"Because you don't have control over your powers."
"What do you mean? I have control...to a certain point."
That was Red Tornado, who spoke up, trying to mediate between the two.
"What Batman refers to is constant control.", The Android clarified, "To be able to halt yourself from harming others, whether it be intentional or accidental. We still are not sure if you have reached the full potential to your abilities, so we believe that it would be best to-"
"To keep me on house arrest." Brayden interrupted.
"We are not keeping you on house arrest." Batman replied.
"If this isn't house arrest, then what is it?"
To that, both Batman and Red Tornado remained quiet. Though, Batman did begin to center a glare to Braydens' way before speaking in a tone of authority now.
"You feel like you're being held in here? Fine, I can't say that I understand the feeling, but know that we are not trying to make your stay feel that way. We want to help you, and the best way for us to do that is if you stay put. We don't want you to go out there and suddenly lose control. It would be on your conscience and ours. So unless you have something-"
At that moment, Brayden simply turned and walked away. Batman stared after him in silence. He knew that Brayden was upset, and he knew that he was still a growing man. He was already beginning to contemplate on what he should do about Braydens' current emotional state.
"Perhaps we should allow him time to be free." Red Tornado offered.
"You want him to go out there and possibly run the risk of-" Batman started to say but was cut off by the android.
"I was referring to him heading out while being supervised."
"Who would be able to supervise him? I have to head back to Gotham, and you have to monitor Mount Justice."
"Perhaps we should have the Captain watch over him."
Batman mulled over that, then came to a decision not long after.
<Thirty Minutes Later>
"So you're sending me out with a babysitter?"
Brayden questioned with a deadpanned look and arms folded over his chest. He stood outside of one of Mount Justices' exits and entrances headed towards Happy Harbor itself. The Dark Knight stood before him with his cape flowing through the wind as he stared at Brayden.
"I am sending you out with someone who will make sure that you don't lose control." Batman corrected, "That way, you can still enjoy yourself as a young adult and-"
"And also to keep your Big Brother eye on me, got it." Brayden interrupted, and found the Dark Knight beginning to glare at him.
"Hey Batman!" A voice called overhead, causing the two to look and see a red, gold, and white costumed man. They had trimmed hair, a well structured jaw, and a beaming smile on their face. This was none other than Captain Marvel, the Superman of Philadelphia.
"So what is it that's got you-" Captain Marvel began to say as he descended onto the ground. Right as he landed, he locked eyes with Brayden and stared at him for a moment. He had a look of confusion, then slowly realization dawning on his face. Brayden, however, looked awestruck to see this man standing before him. He had looked up quite a bit for Captain Marvel, man showed up during the two years that Cadmus had Brayden. From what he's seen, Captain Marvel was a more childish version of Superman.
'Billy would love this guy.' Brayden thought before giving the man a greeting smile.
"Captain Marvel, it's an honor to URRGH-" Brayden was cut off from speaking when Captain Marvel sprung forth and picked him in a bear hug. "M-meet you?"
"Brayden!", The tall superhero exclaimed, "I've been looking everywhere for you! I thought that you got killed or worse! Do you have any idea how worried I was about you!?"
Brayden was confused now more than ever. The man before him knew who he was, but he didn't know who Captain Marvel was. Brayden just gave Captain Marvel a weirded out look, causing the Captain to realize his mistake.
"Oh, sorry.", Captain Marvel apologized while setting Brayden down, "Um...thought that you uh reminded me of someone else named Brayden. Yeah, that's right."
Batman was staring at Captain Marvel with an odd look before looking to Brayden now. Then beginning to speak before saying his farewells.
"Captain Marvel will be making sure that there are no accidents, the first sign of you losing control, and he will take you back to Mount Justice. Understood?"
Brayden let out a sigh before nodding his head. When he did that, Batman turned then marched off and back inside of Mount Justice. Captain Marvel, however, gave Brayden a soft smile before pointing at himself.
"Imma go change, then we can go hang out." The Captain stated, then rushed off inside.
'Why does he know my name?' Brayden thought with utter confusion.
<One Hour Later>
Brayden and Captain Marvel were walking down the street of Happy Harbor. It was early in the night, allowing for plenty of activity to happen. Captain Marvel was wearing a red long-sleeved shirt, tan khakis, and a pair of sneakers. His costume was hidden beneath his disguise. Brayden, however, was wearing a long-sleeved black hoody, lean blue jeans, and converses. His own suit from Cadmus being underneath his clothes, much to his annoyance. The young man didn't want to wear it, but was convinced to by Captain Marvel. The Captain believed that it would help hide his identity, even though he didn't have a mask to do that.
Brayden and Captain Marvel continued to walk in silence until the Captain spoke up.
"So, what do you wanna do?"
Brayden shrugged before looking over towards a nearby arcade. A small smile came onto his lips before he looked to Captain Marvel.
"Do you play games?" Brayden inquired.
"Do I play games!?", Captain Marvel spouted, "I LOVE games!"
Braydens' smile grew more before he pointed to the arcade and spoke.
"Then let's go."
Together, the both of them walked into the arcade. Brayden and Captain Marvel walked towards a nearby Street Fighters game. One that Brayden knew all too well. He looked over the station, fiddling with the controls a bit.
"You know a little friend of mine used to play these games with me, and I'd always beat him because I knew everyone's strengths and weaknesses.", Brayden reminiscened, "I miss that little guy. He had the most optimistic lifestyle ever even though we were orphans."
Captain Marvel looked like he was about to say something but stopped himself. Instead, Brayden let out a deep breath before looking to the Captain.
"Wanna go a round?" Brayden challenged.
"You're on, dude." Captain Marvel replied.
Both of them went to one side of the station, then began picking characters. Brayden chose Akuma, while Captain Marvel chose Ryu. The two were going to go for three rounds, so when the round started, Captain Marvel began his attack as Ryu. Brayden, however, blocked and dodged as Akuma. He kept doing so, letting the meter build up so he could use a super. However, the Captain's Ryu was about to use a Hadouken first. So, using it early, Brayden simply dodged by doing a jumping kick right into Ryu as Akuma. That was when Akuma's meter got to the highest it could be. A smirk came onto Brayden's face, knowing full well what super that he was going to use.
"Sayanora." Brayden uttered, then used Akuma's Super, the Shun Goku Satsu. The moment that Brayden used it on Captain Marvel's Ryu, the Captain let out a groan of frustration. However Brayden wasn't done, for now he started to use every one of Akuma's combos. Until eventually, Brayden won the first round.
"Aw, come on!" Captain Marvel complained.
"Giving up?" Brayden asked.
"NO!"
"Alrighty, time to bring the pain."
<Five Minutes Later>
"Dude!", Captain Marvel complained again as the both of them walked out of the arcade, "How are you so good at Street Fighters!? I couldn't even beat you once!"
"Well, there's this thing called knowing your characters." Brayden replied with a smirk while doing a mock stretch as if he were doing a lot of exercises.
"Whatever, I say you played the game too much."
"Well, I say that I'm just better than you at it."
Before the two could converse more, the sound of an explosion went off. The both of them looked at the source to find a pale purple skinned, violet eyed, red-haired, horned woman seemingly suck8ng the life out of a bystander. Brayden widened his eyes in disgust, while Captain Marvel narrowed his eyes and ripped his clothes right off of him.
"Stay here, I'll deal with this." The Captain ordered, then flew off directly for the woman. When Captain Marvel neared her, he sent a left hook right into her jaw, sending the demonic look woman flying into a nearby jewelry store.
"I don't know who you are.", Captain Marvel stated, "But you won't be hurting anyone else tonight."
Brayden rushed over, and hid behind a block corner, watching.
"I am called many things, child..", The woman uttered in a seducing yet demonic tone, "But you may call me Demonika..while you are still living, that is."
Captain Marvel bolted forward, aiming to stop her from rising up. But in a shocking turn of events, Demonika caught the Captain's fist. Captain Marvel stared at her in shock before being sent flying out of the store with a fist from the demoness. She then stalked out of the store with a sinister grin on her black lips. Staring at the rising form of Captain Marvel with a predator like glare.
"I have known many Champions of magic, boy.", Demonika uttered, "And you are quite honestly the weakest. The last one had not wasted time trying to mince words with me. He would have attacked me with extreme prejudice and have me sent back to my father."
"Well, I'm not him." Captain Marvel spat as he readied himself.
"That much is obvious."
Immediately after speaking, the both of them rushed forward and sent their fists forward at one another. Their fists collided to send a shockwave across the street, shattering windows. Brayden took cover, amazed at the amount of power being sent back and forth at each other. He watched as Captain Marvel hit Demonika again and again, delivering devastating punchs. Even going so far as to hit her with bolts of lightning. Yet, Demonika tanked each blow as if it were nothing. Her grin remained on her face as she struck back against Captain Marvel. She made her fingernails and fingers elongate, then slashed at the Captain. Her claws slashed across his chest, drawing blood. Before she sent a knife hand to pierce him through. Captain Marvel caught the Demoness' hand, then used his free hand to latch onto her face before sending a point blank bolt of lightning into her face. She screamed from pain, her body contorting from agony.
Unfortunately, her cries of pain began to turn into sadistic laughter. She used her own free hand to grab Captain Marvel's, then moved forward to steal a kiss from him. The Captain stared at her wide-eyed, then contorted himself. Brayden could see something being drained out of the Captain, as if his very life force was coming out of him. Removing herself from him, Demonika let out a blissful sigh.
"The power of Shazam...ah how I've missed this taste.", Demonika said as Captain Marvel panted to himself, "You have a pure soul, one without hate. I quite adore that innocent taste boy. I have decided...I am going to drain you dry until there is nothing but a dry corpse."
Brayden had seen enough, Captain Marvel needed help. Immediately, he tore his clothes off as fast as he could. Then he allowed the electrons and particles in the air around him to coat him like an electrifying aura. He rushed forward, dashing right at Demonika with a cocked back fist. He then sent it forward, aiming to hit her as hard as he could. The Demoness looked at Brayden, then had her jaw be smashed into by Braydens' knuckles. His punch sent her skidding across the road and pavement like a ragdoll. Captain Marvel looked at Brayden with wide eyes, then straightened himself.
"What are you doing?", The Captain berated, "I had her!"
"No, she had you, and if you haven't noticed, she can suck the life out of people!"
"I knew that!"
"Then why did you let her kiss you?!"
"I...well.."
Before the both of them could debate more, a sadistic laugh came from the downed from Demonika. She slowly sat up with a disfigured face from Brayden's punch. Then it quickly healed as if the damage that had been done to her didn't even happen.
"My oh my...a strapping young man with quite the appetizing soul.", She said blissfully, "I wonder what you taste like..."
"Okay, first of all, you are not my type." Brayden commented.
"You have a type?" Captain Marvel inquired.
"Not the time!"
Demonika rose to her feet, then crouched. She held her claw like fingernails out before rushing forward at the duo. Both Brayden and Captain Marvel readied themselves, but it seemed that after having drained some of the Captain's life force, it made her stronger and faster. She struck like a viper, spinning with her claws and slicing at the both of them. Brayden ducked under her nails, but was met with a knee crashing into his face. Captain Marvel hit her with a straight punch, but had a slash cut him at the shoulder. Brayden sent his own fist into Demonika's gut, causing her to stumble backwards. When he tried to press his advantage, she rushed forward, catching him off guard. Brayden tried to move back, but she grabbed a hold of him. She had one arm wrapped around his body while the other was sent to stab him in the shoulder. Brayden let out a howl of pain, allowing Demonika enough time to seal his lips with hers.
Brayden could feel his life being drained out of him, his very soul being literally ripped out of him. His life was flashing before his eyes, from every good memory to bad. From everything that he's done in his life up to now. His eyes were already fluttering closed, but a loud cry of effort from Captain Marvel snapped him back to reality. The Captain sent a backhanded fist into Demonika's cheek, then blasted her with an even more powerful bolt of lightning to send her away. Brayden almost fell forward but was caught by Captain Marvel. He gasped for air, finding it hard to breath.
"Brayden are you alright?" Captain Marvel asked with concern laced in his tone.
"H-how...do you already know me name?", Brayden Questioned with a weakened tone, "I don't remember...meeting you before."
"I...I'll explain after we get out of this, cool?"
"Yeah, cool."
The two gave each other a nod, then looked to see Demonika already getting back up. She licked her lips like a hungry predator before giving Brayden a lovestruck look.
"I have never tasted anything like you before...I must savor your taste before I drain you dry!" She spouted with glee, "I will save you for last. That way, i may remember how you tasted!"
Brayden cringed at how she was speaking, despite having a wound in his shoulder. He looked to Captain Marvel before speaking.
"She knows how she's sounding and acting right now...right?"
Captain Marvel looked to Brayden with a smile before speaking as well.
"She does. She just doesn't understand that it sounds too sexual."
Both shared a nod before charging forth to battle Demonika once more. The Demoness did the same with a demonic aura enveloping her. Little did they know, they were being watched by a spectator. Someone who wanted to see how this battle went down, someone who was interested in seeing the outcome.
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