Nighthawk: A Superhero Story (closed for Siobhancan99)

[Halcyon638]

“I don’t know,” Gabi said, looking down at her lap for a moment. Monica’s phone chimed with a text notification. “To be honest, I wasn’t really thinking about any of those things when…when I told you how I felt. I just kinda figured we’d feel our way through it?”

“I guess…maybe we put some limits on things? Like, I think ‘date night’ is a good idea—maybe a regular day or two a week. It doesn’t have to be going out to dinner. We can go for a walk around campus or downtown, maybe…before things get too cold, anyway. We can save kissing—making out, at least--for those nights, at least until…it feels right. And the sleeping in the bed thing…we can save that if you’d like, too.”

Gabi softly kissed her forehead. “I just want to make you happy, carino.” Another text notification sounded as Gabi put an arm around Monica. Glancing over, Monica saw two texts from Melanie Howe:

Melanie: Can I see you?

Melanie: I’m on campus right now.

 

[siobhancan99]

MOnica laughed "no. I meant more like, how do we interject more of that. Not how do we keep it out of our regular lives. Like, how do we make things like watching Netflix and eating dinner seem more romantic and less... I've known you for 12 years"

She leaned in and brushed her lips softly over her roommates. "How do I make things so that you want to hold me and kiss me and be you know, lovers instead of friends." She ran her fingers through her girlfriend's hair "How do I make moments sexy instead of mundane. How do you keep the mystery alive when you live together." She brushed her nose around Gabi's "though I admit right at this very moment that's not much of a problem." She laughed and kissed Gabi softly, slipping her tongue along into her mouth. She traced her tongue around and around, gently brushing the tip of Gabi's.

Pulling back she read her texts with a sigh "well. Looks like I get to have my Shaun conversation myself. Maybe. Sort of. Melanie Howe wants to meet and frankly, you don't really say no to a woman whose last conversation with you was... hey your best friend killed your wife." She leaned in and kissed Gabi softly "Im gonna go running after that. If you're still up when I get home maybe ill let you put your hand up my shirt."

She texted back "yeah. office?"

 

[Halcyon638]

Gabi cupped the back of Monica’s head in her hand as they kissed. “Those are definitely good questions, mi vida. I think we’ll find a way.” She draped her arms over her girlfriend’s shoulders. “Or at least have a lot of fun trying.”

After Monica checked her text, Gabi nodded. “Sure, querida. You know I’m here for you if you need to talk about it or want moral support.” She smiled. “Hmmm…I was going to stay up pretty late to study, so…” She stroked Monica’s wrist. “I hope she’s okay.”

Melanie replied with a text noting she was at her office. When Monica arrived, she found the red-haired woman looking thoughtfully at her bookshelves. There were several volumes missing, and the professor was carrying a worn tote bag. “Monica,” she said, her expression a mixture of emotions that were hard to pin down. “Thank you for coming.”

She breathed deeply. “I wanted to…tell you in person. I’m taking a leave for the remainder of the semester and…” She looked down at her desk, eyes focusing on an empty red vase. “I wanted to apologize. The way I acted toward you…” Melanie looked up at Monica again. “I told myself I was providing you with an outlet and offering you support but…but my intentions…they weren’t exactly pure. I overstepped some boundaries…I couldn’t decide whether I was seeing you as a student, a patient, a friend or…It wasn’t fair to you. I hope you understand.”

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica nodded and sat in the chair, where she usually sat for these meetings "Melanie." She didn't have to call her professor any more, she supposed. "First, I understand that you need to be away from here. I don't think anyone thinks otherwise. I actually know what you're going through."

She brushed her blonde hair back, looking over at the window "I have some things to say to you. And they aren't bad things. They're good things. But they might hurt to hear. And... I don't really know how to ... be gentle. Or good with these things at all. I mean, you know from the time you were my pseudo-therapist that I'm just not... expressive. Emotionally. Like. My people aren't talkers. Not about that sort of thing. What did you do not... how do you feel. How are you going to react? Not why are you reacting. We are all bulls in the proverbial China Shop and so. Fuck. I feel like what I'm going to say might be the wrong things to say like. Maybe I should leave it but. I don't know. Maybe I need to make this mistake in the hopes that it isn't a mistake and that my instinct to finally talk about something and be open is the right one. I took a similar risk, last week. It paid off. Maybe this one will."

She looked down at her hands "First off, never think that I wasn't flattered by your attention. Or that I didn't know what it was. I know that you shouldn't have, because of your position. But. You're also a flesh and blood woman and a passionate caring person. You were... coming out of a place of not feeling and you had these feelings. For me." She didn't get into the fact that it was probably because she looked just like Paige. "The first time I saw you. Wow. just... wow I thought you were beautiful. Like beautiful and untouchable but. I mean it confirmed some feelings I had been feeling. Feelings I had ignored because of Tom or explained away. Like I saw you and I was like... that is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. You uh... inspired thoughts." She wasn't going to be crass about all the times she'd gotten off thinking about Melanie in a very motherly but sexually dominant position. Fuck. She just thought about that again. Focus Monica. Focus.

"And. So. I .. took the risk of telling my roommate. A few weeks ago. That I was bisexual. I've known her for 12 years." she looked down at her hands "I said. you know. maybe I have a shot with this woman. This like. Smart... accomplished...educated... mature...gorgeous woman. She uh... was... discouraging about it. She pointed out what you seem to be alluding to. That there were issues with it. But I was full steam ahead. The thing is is that..." she twisted her hands a little "After everything, with Hadley and Mateo. She uh. She told me that she's always been in love with me. Like. always." She looked down, not ready to look up at Melanie "and like. She asked me if I could feel the same. And you know. We're gonna try. ANd maybe its a stupid idea and maybe I'll lose everything but maybe I'll gain everything. But you know, every wonderful moment that I have figuring out this bisexual thing like... You gave me the courage to try. The fact that you were interested in some ...hick fucking farm girl. That you could be interested. Not just in my looks but in my thoughts. In what I read. In how I felt. Like... That's the first thing since Tom died that made me even think that love was possible again."

"The other... .thing is that... um. I'm the one. I'm the one that figured everything out. You know. With uh. the stuff. I had this stupid notion that I had to make sure nobody was gonna pop out of nowhere and fuck things up. And like. I can already hear the therapist part of you saying that's because of my control issues and my trauma and shit but. I looked up every disappearance of every blonde girl from Kalamazoo to Timbuktu. And because I did that...Hadley Knapp is alive. Ines is alive. My people are atheists. They don't believe in any sort of mystic bullshit or whatever. But if they are wrong, and if there is some sort of God pulling the strings well. Who is to say that what was going on between you and I wasn't kismet? That you weren't meant to do it to save two lives and countless more. I know I'm like... supervillain monologuing here. I just. I'm afraid that if I stop talking you'll go and if you go I'll never see you again and you won't..." She started to cry a little, sniffing and looking at the corner "you won't want to... be my friend. And you won't... that this is the last time I'll ever have a chance to say anything to you. And i know that's fucking stupid and I know that's such a fucking bullshit trip to lay on you right now and I know ... I know you're not gonna " Die like Tom was the unspoken phrase "I'm sorry. I'm making this about me."

 

[Halcyon638]

Melanie listened quietly, eventually settling down into her chair. Her posture was different now, more as if she was clinging to the back of the piece of furniture than her usual poised, professional body language. “I’m…I’m very happy for you,” she said as Monica revealed what had happened between her and Gabi. Tears were trickling down her cheeks. “I know I don’t…sound too convincing right now, but…but that is a beautiful thing. And if I had any part in that I’m…that’s great. I know how hard it is to admit that to yourself, to other people…Obviously, I…there is a part of me that still…wishes things had gone differently between us, but…it would have been wrong. And a disaster. And I probably wouldn’t have been good for you.”

She wiped her eyes briefly with a tissue, then nudged the box toward Monica. “I think it’s…it’s good to make our own meaning of things. That’s existentialist, right? There’s no meaning in this world except for the meaning we give it. You did save two lives. Probably more, down the road. If I helped you even a little, I think our time together was meaningful.”

The older woman seemed to be regaining her composure, as if the philosophical component had reminded her of the self she projected in the classroom. She reached over and took Monica’s hand. “I’m going to stay with my sister again. She was there for me when Paige disappeared. I…want to continue to be your friend. I probably—okay, definitely—shouldn’t be your professor or your therapist. I’ll send you my colleague in the Counseling Center’s information. But I’d like to keep in touch. Let me know how you’re doing—in school, socially—whatever. What you’re reading.” A slight smile flashed across her face momentarily. “I won’t even ask how things are going with the roommate unless you bring it up. You’re an amazing woman, Monica. So smart, perceptive—and I can say this now because I’m no longer your instructor now—absolutely stunning.”

 

[siobhancan99]

It hurt to see Melanie cry. It hurt to know she was the reason. She squeezed her hand, holding it tight "you better be my friend. I need that you know. I really do. I needed your approval for a thousand reasons that didn't have anything to do with the fact that you're you know. Smoking hot." She bit her lip "You're smart. and you know about all the things that I don't. And I liked talking to you. I liked learning from you and sharing with you and I still need that. I still absolutely do need that." She inhales, then exhales "And I promise not to inflict my relationship on you. I know that's fucked up. Like. I might be from corn country but I'm not you know... that innocent." She kept ahold of her hand "Thank you. For thinking I was interesting. I mean thank you for thinking I was hot, but... the most flattering thing you ever did for me was make me feel like my thoughts and the things inside me were worth paying attention to. That was amazing. You're amazing."

 

[Halcyon638]

“Thank you,” Melanie said. A moment or two later, the red-haired woman handed Monica her card but with the name Lindsay George and contact information scrawled on it. “Lindsay is an excellent counselor,” she remarked. The two women walked mostly silently to the nearby parking lot where the professor’s car sat. Powerful gusts of wind tossed their hair violently. “We’ll talk sometime soon. Once I’m settled at my sister’s again, okay?” She paused and just looked at Monica for a moment. “Take care.”

Melanie’s car pulled away just a little after 9 o’clock.

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica slipped into a bad neighborhood with some abandoned houses, changed, and jogged down to the park. She ran around the park, looking for guys in ones or twos, trying to steer clear of larger groups. Her goal was to get some to try to mug her or otherwise attack her, then lead them over by the toilets where the park cameras still worked. That way once they attacked her on film, they couldn't claim she jumped them instead....

 

[Halcyon638]

It didn’t take long for Monica to stumble across some kind of trouble. A trio of guys who looked as if they’d stepped right out of one of Prospect U’s many frat houses formed a half circle around a haggard, unshaven, unkempt man in dirty clothing not suited for the chill air. “I’m sorry,” the man said, eyes darting back and forth among the three youths. They weren’t far from where Monica knew there was a camera stationed, though whether they were in range was questionable.

“You’re fucking right you’re sorry,” one of the guys, a large, well-built, brown-haired man with a boyish face said as he grabbed onto the man’s dirty jacket collar, “you owe me a new window, asshole.” He unleashed a punch to the older man’s midsection, dropping him to the ground and drawing laughs from his friends. “That fucking car is worth more than your life.” He and one of his friends, another muscular bro, both sent kicks into the downed man’s body.

“Hell, that window’s worth more,” one of his friends added.

 

[siobhancan99]

Better than a camera was a witness, a victim. Someone who could tell the cops what happened. Still, this could maybe end without violence.... no. They were kicking the guy on the ground. This was going to end violently. The worst part is these fucking assholes didn't have poverty as an excuse. They just had hate. Well she had plenty of hate to work out.

Not bothering to announce her presence, she launched herself at the back of the nearest one, trying a hard kidney punch like they'd taught her in class. The faster she could take one of these assholes down the better. It occurred to her this might mean legal trouble later, as they were clean cut rich white douchebags, but... well she could always just go full Centauri on them.

 

[Halcyon638]

Two of the young assailants laughed as their kicks landed. A moment later, Monica’s punch landed, producing an agonized groan from its target and collapsing him to the ground. “What the fuck?” one of the guys said, as they both turned toward her, the duo too surprised to mount an instant offense. The homeless man lifted his head off the ground slightly and looked in her direction.

 

[siobhancan99]

"Stay down homeless dude" she called out, immediately grabbing for the one. She reached for his belt and jacket, aiming to pick him up and hurl him up into a nearby tree. These boys she wanted to hurt, and badly, so she had to take extra care not to. It would be all too busy to start punching until there was nothing more to punch. That's why she had to demonstrate power swiftly and obtain acquiescence. "You, on your god damn knees before i put you on your god damn knees" she barked at the third one, hoping he had the sense to comply.

 

[Halcyon638]

Monica easily grabbed hold of the guy closest to her, the owner of the car. The scent of alcohol and cologne on him almost made her eyes water. As she hoisted him into the air, he shouted, “Fucking do something, bro!”

A moment letter, she felt a blow to the back of her neck, but fortunately, despite holding a 200-pound man in her arms, she was able to adjust enough to make it only a glancing blow, the brunt of it being absorbed by her uniform. When Monica glanced at him momentarily, a look of fear spread across his roundish face. The homeless man had curled into a tighter ball.

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica had a new plan. As long as the dude was in her hands she knew where he was, and had a literal hold of him. She snarled as his buddy came at her, then rather than toss the car owner into the air, she swung him as hard as she could for his friend. She intended to use him as a bludgeon, figuring it was a two for one deal. he might be unwieldy but the prospect of being beaten to a pulp by your drunk friend's flailing limp body had to have some psychological effect, she hoped. Maybe she should ask Melanie. Oh wait she couldn't that bridge was probably burned. Still, she did what she could, and what she could do is try to beat this dude's ass literally with his friend.

 

[Halcyon638]

The bloodshot eyes on the face of her target ballooned as she swung his solidly built friend towards him. It took barely any effort to wield the probable frat boy’s body like a club, but the sheer size and ungainliness made it difficult to come close to connecting with the one who’d thrown the punch. “Fuck,” he exclaimed, now heading for the hills.

The guy Monica was holding struggled in vain while the first man she’d struck writhed on the ground as if he were lying on a mound of fire ants. “What the fuck?” the guy she held exclaimed.

 

[siobhancan99]

"This is how this is going to work. I'm going to put you down. If you run, I will beat the fuck out of you. If you attack me, I will beat the fuck out of you. If you sass me, I will beat the fuck out of you. After I put you down, you will slowly get your fucking phone out and your ID, you show me the ID and you will call the police. Is there any part of that that seems unclear to you, asshole?"

 

[Halcyon638]

“Fine,” the brown-haired guy said sullenly, as if he’d just been sent to his room. “You know, this asshole broke into my fucking car, okay?” He pulled out his phone and his wallet. “I’ll be happy to call the cops but why don’t you beat his ass, too?” He flashed an in-state driver’s license that read Paterson Lowell; he was 19 years old. A moment later, he placed a call to the police.

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica took a photo of the ID and waited "when they answer, you'll tell them that in exchange for this guy breaking your 200 dollar window you attempted to execute him, and the vigilante is the only thing that stopped you from killing him. Or something to that effect." She wanted that to sink in "and Paterson, if at any point your story changes... I'm gonna come visit you. If you do anything except confess to at the very least assault, and you don't give up the name of the guy that ran... I wouldn't want to be you. Paterson Because Paterson? I can find you. I imagine he will go to prison, but first he's going to the hospital and Paterson? you and your parents are going to pay his medical bills Paterson, because Paterson you don't want me to decide that you should have identical medical bills... Paterson."

She waited for him to place the call "tell them you need an ambulance for two" she was a little worried about the friend "your friend isn't doing so hot either."

 

[Halcyon638]

As Monica talked, Paterson looked at her blankly. He began calling the police. The homeless man stood hesitantly. He put his hand out and touched her forearm lightly. “Thank you. I think I’m going be alright. I been through worse.”

Paterson spoke into the phone. “Yeah, I’m calling because…I got drunk and beat this guy up. I think he may be hurt. Paterson Lowell. I’m really messed up right now.”

Before long, the police and a single ambulance were approaching the area.

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica put her hand on the homeless guy's arm "you're going to the hospital, and Mr. Paterson here and his friends will likely have to pay for it. If they don't, I'll see about some sort of gofundme or something." S he figured the guy could get checked out, have a place to stay for a few days at least. "Please stick around, please go to the hospital. I'll stay here and make sure nothing happens." Either way, she sat and waited for the police for a change. She was a little more comfortable with it and she needed to make sure the kid didn't run off.

 

[Halcyon638]

“Thank you, miss,” the homeless man said. There was genuine surprise in his eyes at her level of concern. Paterson Lowell aimlessly scrolled his phone while his friend recovered from his injury. Soon, two police officers, one male, one female, and the ambulance were on the scene.

The cops regarded Monica with caution. “Which one of you is Paterson Lowe?” the female officer asked.

“Lowell,” he corrected with a tone of impatience.

 

[siobhancan99]

Monica stepped back. It wasn't her intention to spook the cops or make them jumpy enough to draw. She took her hands and held them out about waist level, palms down, trying to signify she wasn't a threat "I was just sticking around because Mr. Lowell needs some emotional support. After you read him his rights he has some things to get off his chest. Don't you Mr. Lowell?" She wondered if he was from some important family. The way he said "Lowell" made her think that somewhere, someone was asking "Of the Connecticut Lowells?" or some shit. She knew any confession made in her presence might seem to be coerced, but she could cross that bridge if they came to it. For now she just wanted him to say what happened. "Also what hospital will you be taking this gentleman to? I might come visit him tomorrow if I have time. I only come out after sundown for obvious reasons."

That last bit was because it amused her to suggest that maybe she was a vampire. Might have to stick with that. Always just implying though.

 

[Halcyon638]

Lowell looked at Monica, a smile laced with contempt stretched across his WASP-y features. “Yeah, so…this dude over here—me and my friends Chris and Dylan were stopping in to see a friend about a block from here and we hear this guy breaking into my car,” he said, motioning to the older man. “We kinda chased after him into the park here, and…roughed him up a bit. I’m really pretty wasted. Drunk. I wasn’t really thinking straight. And then—” he motioned to Monica. “And then she comes over and starts beating on our asses. Chris took off.”

The female cop sighed. “Alright. We’ll take things from here.”

“We’ll—we’ll take him over to St. Luke’s,” the paramedic, a young guy who looked a little dazed by Monica’s presence, responded.

“I’m okay,” the homeless man said.

“We’re just going to get you checked out, okay?”

 

[siobhancan99]

"they had him on the ground and were kicking the shit out of him. Anyway... Maybe I'll see you about, Mr. Paterson Lowell, depending on whether or not you plead guilty to assault." She let the threat hang in the air, then headed back out into the night.

It bothered her that the little douchebag assumed he was going to get away with it. It bothered her worse that he might. Maybe she could make him the centerpiece of an interview. She should get ahold of that Morgan kid. Maybe give him an exclusive. If Paterson skated, there were other ways to make his life hell besides charges.

Heading home she felt a mixture of triumph and defeat. This was a case she might have to monitor. She had a few things on her plate and she needed to talk to Morgan about the dead reporter, and she needed to see what was up wwith that club shooting. Maybe she'd drop by there Monday or Tuesday night. Fuck this was eating into her time. Still.. it was the life she had chosen.

She had a quick shower, then curled up on the couch with her head in Gabi's lap, quiet.

 

[Halcyon638]

Gabi stroked Monica’s hair, her fingers tracing small circles. “So, I was talking with Nick a little about his internship at HelixCorp. He said he thought they only did internships during the summer but he sent me the contact info for a lady there in case we wanted to apply for summer! I know it’s a long way off but I figure it’s good to have a connection. Especially a couple of kids from the middle of nowhere,” she added, smiling.

“So…did you want to talk about how it went with Melanie? Or ‘jogging?’ You don’t have to.” She put a hand on Monica’s shoulder.