Chapter Text
Robert knew that his options were limited. That he was running on borrowed time.
It wasn’t long until Chase’s body started to reject the amulet, maybe a few months after Mandy had given it to him. It started with the fever-like symptoms, the sweats, the shakiness, and his complexion going from healthy to waxy, as if he was dead already. Robert tried and tried, he begged him to go to a doctor or something, anything, but Chase refused.
It was the first time in years that he felt like himself. Alive, strong, fast and capable. He was a hero again, and he’d die before losing that. So he pushed and pushed himself, until one day, he pushed himself too hard.
Robert saw it on one of the street cameras, and heard it over the comms. Chase was midair, flying back from a mission, when he suddenly dropped. His body smacked into the concrete, bones crunching, blood splattering. He didn’t even make a noise…he couldn’t move, his body going still and drooping. It wasn’t until the amulet was pried off of him that the stroke was over, but it only made everything worse. His body reverted back to its elderly state, even weaker than before.
He was rushed to the infirmary where he was treated and stabilized, but his body had taken too much damage. He was asleep, and Robert didn’t know if he’d ever wake up.
He scavenged for help, went through multiple different specialists and doctors, but none had a solution..besides pulling the plug. And how could Robert do that? How could he give up on the one person who never gave up on him? The one person who always believed in him? It wasn’t fair.
One of the doctors Robert went to encouraged talking to Chase. Apparently, it would increase brain activity and help rebuild neural pathways. So at least three times a day, Robert would sit and talk to him.
Here he sat, after a particularly rough shift, staring at Chase. Beef was curled up on his lap, snoring softly, and the soft beeping of the monitor echoed solemnly in the room. Wind rustled against the window, and the orange gold light from the sunset streaked across the room, illuminating Chase’s face. Robert watched the air puff up in his oxygen mask, followed by the almost unnoticeable rise and lower of his chest.
He swallowed the lump in his throat, forcing himself to speak. “I’m going to figure something out. You know I will. So keep fighting, gramps. Like you always do.”
A soft knock on the door got Robert’s attention. It was Mandy. He nodded to her, allowing her to come in.
“Hey.” She greeted him, soft and warm.
“Hey.”
“So, I had this crazy idea. We’ve been looking for help the normal way, from specialists and doctors and heroes, but what about villains? I mean, we’ve seen how successful from the Phoenix program and the Z-Team, so I did some digging..scoured multiple databases, and..I got a hit.”
She handed Robert the file she had been holding. Robert flipped it open, running his eyes over the multiple different papers, detailed profiles and pictures, records that seemed confidential.
ENHANCEMENT DRUG: ANGEL TEARS
RAPIDLY HEALS INJURIES RANGING FROM SMALL TO SEVERE WITHIN MINUTES TO HOURS, INCREASES STRENGTH AND SPEED
“Sounds like a scam.” Robert muttered, skeptical.
“I know it seems crazy, but I’ve done extensive research on this stuff and it works, like really works. Bullet holes and damaged organs, all healed.”
“It says here that it’s produced by the-” Robert squinted. “Los Angeles Caidos, a drug cartel from New Mexico? What are we supposed to do with that, go down there and ask nicely?”
Mandy shook her head, grinning at him. “No, I found who made it. Look at the next file.”
Robert’s options were limited. Any day now, Chase’s body could go into respiratory failure, and he could lose him forever.
He had no other choice but to take the risk.
–
You never got visitors. There was no one who could visit. No friends or family. So when you were told you had a visitor, you didn’t know what to expect.
It was your lawyer, who you never expected to see again. The last time you had seen her, was five years ago, when she lost your case after ensuring you she would win, that you would be seen as a survivor rather than a scapegoat, that the jury actually believed you. You told her to go fuck herself.
So it was quite a surprise when you saw her, an unwelcome one at that.
You reached over and picked up the phone, on the wall beside you, glaring at her from behind the glass. “What do you want? I thought I told you to never come back here.”
“Look, I know I’m the last person you want to talk to, but I have good news. I can get you out.”
You forced a laugh. “Oh, now I see, you’re here to fuck with me. What’re you going to do, break me out? I know that I’m stuck here, and I’m going to be here for the rest of my life, so, thanks for the reminder.”
“I’m serious. You have an offer that could get all your charges dismissed. You can walk out of here tomorrow, free.” She pulled out a pamphlet from her jacket pocket, unfolding it and sliding it under the small sliver between the glass and the table.
On the front stood a large, muscular man, with a bushy mustache, in a red and blue suit, standing with his hands on his hips, his cape flying in the wind behind him. A superhero. In bold red letters it read SDN — SUPERHERO DISPATCH NETWORK.
“All you have to do is sign an employee contract for them and you can get out of here.”
You stared at the pamphlet, before looking back up at her.
“I know it’s hard to believe, but I just got the call an hour ago and I came here to let you know. It’s in a branch in Torrance though, so you would be relocated to California, but overall, I think it’s a pretty sweet deal.”
Before you could answer, one of the correctional officers entered the room. “Visitation is over, ladies. Say your goodbyes now.”
You tucked the pamphlet in your bra, hiding it under your shirt. One of the officers came and cuffed you, leading you away. Your lawyer called after you.
“Call me, and let me know your answer.”
After all these years, you never thought that you would be free, you had given up..but now, now you’re saved.