Of Heroes and Villains

The Chapter Where Things Get Serious

Having longer legs than Val, Don managed to reach the street beyond the two alleys before her, then went over to intercept her. As he got in Val's alley of choice, he saw her not too far away.

She saw him, too, and nearly shit herself.

Taking a rock out of her pocket, she flung it at him. He ducked to the side of the last building just as it blew up. The explosion was minor, just like the pizza and unlike the band, the boy or the gunmen.

'The bigger the object she touches, the stronger the explosion,' he figured, then got back into the alley.

Val was halfway up a series of fire-escape collection of stairs, and Don gave chase. She glanced down for a moment, saw him hot on her trail, cursed, then kept running. Eventually, she reached an open window, then got into the apartment.

'Lots of things to throw from there. Better switch it up.'

Don took a knife out of his sleeve, then laid it down on the stairs. Shedding the rest of his clothing, he turned into a crow, which picked up the knife with more than slight difficulty, then flew away from the stairs.

As predicted, Val threw a vase unto the fire-escape. It blew up as it shattered, shaking the stairs entirely, rendering them unstable and dangerous. Don could hear sirens in the background, which meant the police, ambulance and firemen were at the square to prevent any further casualties.

The few people who had remained home were peeking out of their houses to see what was going on.

Don flew into the apartment once he saw Val wasn't there. Passing through the living room, he managed to catch sight of her in the kitchen, tired and disheveled.

'Her vapor takes a lot out of her. Good.'

He landed on the floor near the exit of the apartment, changed back to his own form, then entered one of the rooms. Luckily for him, it was the bedroom. He picked a random shirt and boxers out of the closet, then went back out.

As he did, a knife came flying at him, which Don just barely dodged, earning his shoulder a large cut.

Val was glaring at him, holding another knife. "You're a persistent motherfucker, aren't you? What kind of fucking man are you, anyway? You knew I'd blow those people to shit, and yet you challenged me anyway."

Don smiled at her, then threw his knife. Val ducked back into the living room in time to dodge it, and Don took the chance to pick up the knife she had thrown before, then ran toward her. Instead of just running into the room, he got down and rolled in, which made him get under the slash of Val's knife. She cursed when she realized what had happened, then quickly turned around.

Just in time to be punched in the face again. The hit slammed her into the wall behind her.

Don came at her with his knife, but she crouched down to dodge it, then slashed at his legs. Don jumped back and avoided any damage, then threw his knife.

It hit Val's shoulder, and she released a pained shriek. Don ran at her before she could recover, and caught her by the wrist just as she tried to stab him, then punched her again. She kicked him in the knee, and he hissed. Val went for a headbutt next, which Don took as a challenge and responded with one of his own. The two knocked each other down. Don hit the floor, and Val hit the wall, dropping her knife.

As it clanked on the ground, both their eyes snapped to it. Don was the first to reach it, but Val landed right on top of him, then reached around his neck and tried clawing at his eyes.

Unfortunately for her, she put a finger in his mouth, and Don bit down on it, then didn't let go.

"You fucker!" she screamed, then forced her injured arm to move, pulling Down's hair, then slamming his head on the ground, just next to the knife. His teeth released her finger, and Val got a hold of the knife. "Die, asshole!"