Chapter Text
The ceiling began to crumble behind him and Joel stumbled forwards, already feeling weak and drawn out from this battle. He thinks, distantly, that Joe or Keralis should still be in the building. Unless they left without him.
Joe was helping to get civilians out, unseen due to his invisibility, but the building should be cleared by now, so he could be gone. Keralis was more than capable enough to flee given his power of shapeshifting, and Joel couldn't spot him anywhere.
It's a shame Joel wasn't as experienced as Keralis in situations like these. He'd kill to not be left alone right about now.
He might've had a concussion or something. That'd be a good explanation for how dizzy he is. Or blood loss. Maybe blood loss.
The villain—Someone that can manifest and control water—was surprisingly strong. They pulverized the building with just a few rough waves. They even got a few rough blows on Joel—made him lose balance, and then he lost his axe.
It was obvious they had some sort of tie-in with the watcher group, given their strength and the fact they went after Joel without a second thought.
Sure, he could still power up, could still use brute strength to overpower the villain, but he was still so dizzy. How'd they get the upper hand so quickly? Would Keralis leave him behind on purpose?
Footsteps closed in on Joel as he turned around, the Villain finally making themselves known.
They were mostly covered with a sleek material, one that water might just slip off of, just underneath a coat that was attached to the hood overtop their head. Not to mention the mask(s) that covered their face. A skull for the upper part, and a normal face mask beneath.
They looked like something out of a cliche adult fantasy novel, actually—the fully turquoise hair that peaked out from under the hood really tied it all together.
“Is the blue hair nec’ssary if it's jus’ gonna be c’vered?” Joel slurred with a cheeky grin, shaking his head to get his hair out of his face, yet the Villain just stood there. “Would r’lly make you known.”
They seemed to look Joel up and down, as if scrutinizing everything about him. Joel felt his side throb annoyingly. If he could just find his axe…
Stepping closer, they finally replied, “It matches the water, don't you think?” Joel thinks they might've been grinning back if not for the mask. Maybe he could rip it off of them and reveal their identity. Real badass like.
Joel's earcom buzzed. “nary…Shur....the way…” It might've been hit by water or something (which was the most likely case) because static was the only thing that was really made out beyond that. Maybe he should bring up waterproofing them to Xisuma. Or maybe one of the more techy guys, like Etho and Tango. Maybe Mumbo.
The Villain raised their hand, water forming in their palm in a bubble like circle, slowly but surely growing. Could they make him drown with something like that? Joel didn't want to find out. He needed to get out quickly.
Before Joel could make a move to run like a bloody coward, the water solidified in a weird way he couldn't explain, wrapping around him to throw him to the rough floor. It was like chains, almost.
More of the building fell apart nearby.
“Stratos. The so-called Manic Hero. News outlets call you that—Really, you do all of this,” they gestured up and down his injured form, “for them, and they return you with such little gratitude.”
Joel grit his teeth, struggling against the odd restraints. The civvies had plenty of gratitude. The agency being full of letters and donations from people saved by them was proof of that. What was this guy trying to prove?
The water tightened, somehow. Joel had no idea how any of this worked—How was he going to report this to Xisuma? Was this damaging him in some way? Did it have acidic properties?
Jeez, he really hoped this didn't somehow hurt him beyond the whole keeping him restricted thing. What if it left marks? He couldn't really see in this position.
“Yet again,” and the Villain sounded downright delighted now, “perhaps the agency would be better off with such a villainous wannabe-hero like you dead.”
Joel breathing stuttered as a loud noise echoed somewhere beside him, a quick flurry of movement. He squinted his eyes shut, inhaling shakily, still trying to process.
When he opened his eyes he realized Jimmy and Etho had come to save him. So he wasn't abandoned?
Etho had teleported in through a new hole in the wall, Jimmy swooping in close behind through the same hole. Jimmy focused on restraining the Villain, the binds on Joel slipping free as the Villain was startled. Meanwhile, Etho crouched down in front of Joel, looking him over for any injuries.
The worrying amount of blood seeping through his clothes seemed to be proof of an injury enough. “I'm taking him to Deer!” Etho called and Jimmy nodded curtly despite being caught up with trying to fight the Villain.
Joel felt a whole lot more drowsy. Content. He was safe. Etho was so, so cool—It was obvious why he was a fan favorite.
“Hey, hey, no!” Etho chided, tapping Joel's face. He hardly registered being picked up, let alone being teleported back outside. Away from the rubble. In fresh air. “Don't fall asleep on us. You did so good, just gotta stay awake a few more minutes.”
Etho's voice dropped, hardly audible, a meek whisper. “How did you even stand upright like this?”
Etho was cool. Joel was definitely cooler, though, if he could impress Etho like this.
Another voice was heard, more feminine this time—Gem, Joel realizes—quickly closing in. She skidded to a stop, kneeling down in front of Joel with her supplies. Giving him a quick once over, she sighed.
“I'm gonna cut his suit open to look at the stomach wound. He's already lost a lot of blood, so we can't waste a single second.”
Etho perked up, pressing a finger to his earcom. “Shuriken to Angel, I've got Stratos. Deer is patching him up. He's lost a lot of blood, how far away are you?”
“Angel to Shuriken,” Skizz began, sighing, “I won't lie to you, buddy, Puppet and Eldritch kept me a bit behind. I'm being as quick as I can.”
Etho grumbled, but he understood. Gem had already pulled out a pair of scissors and began cutting a hole in Joel's shirt, moving the fabric off the wound slowly just in case.
Joel shivered as the gash in his side was revealed to the cold air. It felt cold against him, but he wasn't sure if it was actually cold.
“Gem, I'm going to go check on Jimmy.” Etho prompted, turning to look at the rubble of the building. Gem simply hummed in reply.
Etho teleported away as Gem pulled out alcohol wipes to clean off and disinfect the wound. Joel sobered up quickly, eyes widening at the sting. His hand shot up to her wrist and Gem leveled him with a look. “Joel,” she warned. “I need to clean this. You don't want leprosy or something.”
Joel didn't really register what she said, (he wasn't sure if that could even happen from a stomach wound) but let go anyway because he trusted her. And he was still really tired. He didn't want to fight his friends today. Tomorrow, maybe.
Gem rubbed down his side with the wipes, cleaning the blood and disinfecting the cut just in case. “Skizz should be here soon. He's probably speeding to make it to you, you can't let him down by falling asleep.”
Etho had teleported back at some point, holding Jimmy this time. He had a cut on his cheek and his wings were wet, hindering his ability to fly. Joel furrowed his brows.
Gem glanced over at the other two, but didn't move from where she was sitting. “I'm almost done with Joel, Jimmy.” She pulled out the gauze from her kit, cutting more of Joel's shirt to wrap the bandages around his midsection.
Joel blinked and she was finished. Staying awake was growing increasingly frustrating. Still, he was as stubborn as he always was. He could fight it off. “Jim...” he muttered, blinking away blurriness as he searched for the avian.
Etho stroked over his hair. His head was in his lap, now. He had no idea how that happened, but it was better than resting on the concrete. (If you asked Etho, it was because Joel looked like he needed a pillow, y'know?)
Jimmy sat criss-cross applesauce as Gem swiped over his cheek with the disinfectant wipes, his wings fluttering behind him like how a wet dog shakes. Joel would say as much if he wasn't slipping in and out of consciousness.
Jimmy waved a bit awkwardly at Joel, giving him a sympathetic look. Gem poked his cheek to get his attention back.
“Is… he ‘kay?” Joel struggled to get the words out, head tilting back to look up at Etho from where his head was resting on his lap. Etho chuckled, though Joel wasn't sure why, and nodded. “Yeah, Jimmy’s alright. We're more worried about you.”
Joel made a noise of acknowledgement, turning to look at Jimmy again. Jimmy got hurt protecting him. Joel's head repeats what that Villain told him. The agency would be better off with such a villainous wannabe-hero like you dead.
The others shouldn't have to get hurt for him, he decides. Etho seems to notice a shift in his expression, but he can't comment on it as Skizz pulls in.
“I’m so so sorry!” the pigeon avian yelled as he scrambled out of the heroes ‘ambulance. “Traffic was totally kickin’ my butt!”
His wings puffed up behind him as he made his way to the other four, but he paused as he looked at Joel. “Yeesh, you don't look good, buddy.” he cringed, pulling at his shirt collar. Joel could thank him for being oh so kind later.
Etho and Gem turned to level Skizz with a pair of scowls and he giggled, holding his hands up placatingly. “I'm sorry, I'm sorry.”
Gem finally let Jimmy go and he took the opportunity to sit by Etho, and by addition, Joel. “How're you feeling?” he murmured to the half-ogre.
Joel blinked at Jimmy. “...‘m blummin’ tired, Jim.” he decided, rather than the plethora of curses and synonyms for agony that came to mind.
Jimmy nodded solemnly, gazing into Joel's eyes rather strongly. And not in a romantic way.
“...You have a black eye, by the way.”
Joel perked up at that, eyes wide like a threatened cat as he turned to look fully at Jimmy, laying on his injured side. Skizz took that as his cue.
“Okay, buddy, take it easy. We're taking you back to the tower now.” His wings stretched out behind him, shielding the sun from Joel's eyes. “Etho, Gemmy, both of you pick him up for me and put him in the back of the ambulance.”
As they got to work, mostly with Gem gently easing Joel up and off Etho, Skizz continued to no one in particular. “Gem will sit in the front with me, so that leaves Jimmy and Etho in the back with Joel.”
“Bloody awful.” Joel murmured in response. The two men the most obsessed with him stuck with him the entire ride back to the agency, really? Disgusting.
Etho chuckled at that and Gem let out a small giggle. Jimmy looked insulted, letting out an offended squawk; “Hey!”
Joel was in Etho's arms now, Gem hovering just in case. Honestly, it would be a lot more embarrassing if it wasn't so comfortable. They meandered their way into the back of the ambulance, setting him down on the bed (It was able to be pulled out in case of emergency, like a stretcher, but Doc and Cub, with surprising kindness, wanted it to be more cozy for the heroes.)
Joel had time to think now that they were driving back to the tower. Meanwhile, Gem hopped out of the back and walked to the front as Jimmy jumped in, wings fluttering behind him as if he had to fly to reach it.
Joel let his weight fall into the bed, grumbling under his breath. That Villain called him a villain. Do they not see the irony in that? Really? He's allowed to be a bit pissed off over that, right?
It's better than being sad over it. If they had said that to Grian—and with all due respect—he'd probably break down and be emotional for a week, requesting mental health leave.
Joel was used to the discrimination by now—being called a savage, cruel monster. A demon.
He literally has horns and a devilish little tail. Not to mention his fangs. It's no wonder people would jump to conclusions and try to accuse him of being a literal demon. His power-up didn't help either, only served to make him look more beastly.
It was no wonder why people assumed he was a villain. Before he made his name known. Joel was used to that treatment—but he was respected now. As a real, full fledged hero. In the top agency in the world and everything.
That stupid little Villain had no idea. Joel was calling first dibs on smacking away their smug demeanor.
“Joel,” Jimmy poked Joel's cheek and the man jolted, peering up to look at Jimmy from where he laid on the bed, “what are you thinking about, bud?”
Joel narrowed his eyes at the canary avian. “Tha’ stupid blummin’ villain! They called me villainous, as if that isn't their whole gimmick!” Joel grit with a newfound burst of energy, voice growing just a tad bit squeaky around the edges. If he wasn't so weak, he'd probably throw around his arms.
Jimmy blinked, Etho staring at Joel with as much intent as he had been before. As if he was pulling apart the layers Joel hid under.
“And that didn't bother you?” Etho prompted, his expression holding just a tad bit more sympathy and Joel wanted to throw up.
“Of course I'm upset ‘cause of that idiot! But ‘m not like you guys. 'm not upset upset.” Joel stuck his tongue out, rolling his eyes. He wasn't as emotional as them, so what? (Others would argue he's actually more emotional than most—what with his rage induced breakdowns on the battlefield.)
“It's okay to be upset about it, Joel.” Jimmy began, and Joel threw a hand up to shush him, hissing at the strain it caused in his side. Jimmy held his hands out to try and ease him, Etho perking up, and Joel growled.
“I know.”
Etho huffed. “Let's just let him rest, Jimmy.” he said, and Joel felt both relief and anger boil up. Good, no more poking and proding and talking about feelings. Bad, talking about him like he wasn't there and treating him like a petulant child.
Taking a deep breath, he felt his heartbeat slow, his body calming down. He always had problems with adrenaline. Those problems were only made worse after the whole boogeyman thing with the Watchers.
They definitely targeted him even if the others dismissed the topic entirely. They didn't want to listen to him ramble about something that had traumatized them so deeply, and that was fair. Joel still had nightmares about being controlled sometimes.
Joel sighed, easing into the thin mattress. Meanwhile, Jimmy played with Joel's curls idly, one of his wings cradling his head almost subconsciously. Like making a little safety bubble around the two. Etho crossed his arms over his chest and continued to watch.
At some point, Joel had fallen asleep. He was properly bandaged and the wound didn't look fatal nor infected, so Jimmy and Etho let him rest for a moment.
“He's too stubborn for his own good.” Etho murmured. Jimmy hummed, nodding. Only halfway listening.
“Joel didn't know to evacuate because Joe and Keralis left without him—why do you think that is?”
Etho paused, turning to look at Jimmy with a raised brow. “Surprisingly smart, coming from you.” He joked, but Jimmy only furrowed his brows at the other man.
Etho leaned back, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand. “I'm not entirely sure. His earmic might've been damaged given the nature of the villain's power being water and all.” Etho thought for a moment, continuing, “He didn't seem all that surprised to see us though—the Watchers might've cut his contact to the coms briefly somehow?”
“Not being surprised to see us also could've been chalked up to his delirium..” Etho muttered, Jimmy's wings twitching in unison.
“I don't… I don't want to say it was the Watchers, but what if they wanted to get Joel back..?” Jimmy stammered, looking away shamefully. Sorrowfully. None of them wanted to be reminded of what the Watchers did to Joel and some of the others.
Before Etho could reply suddenly the ambulance stuttered to a stop and Skizz hurriedly opened the back doors. “Hey, sorry to interrupt ya Jiggles, but we're here and we can talk about all of your theories later.”
Jimmy winced, nodding. “Yeah, um, sorry.” His wings retreated into himself, trying to appear smaller.
“No worries. Just… bring it up to Xisuma, maybe. At a better time.” Skizz gave Jimmy a small, reassuring smile.
“I'm going to unclip the bed from the wall and floor. Gem and I will bring him to the medbay via the emergency elevator. You two can go talk to Xisuma if you need to or rest.”
Etho and Jimmy stepped aside to let Gem and Skizz work. They were gone in the blink of an eye, as efficient as ever.
“I don't think… I don't think what you said is that outrageous.” Etho glanced at Jimmy and then back at Joel as he was carted inside. “The Watchers see him as a valuable asset. But we can't go around saying that as if it's true—Joel hates when people give him sympathy over a paper cut, letting a rumor like the Watchers want to kidnap Joel again spread will only leave him feeling suffocated.”
Jimmy stared at Etho for a moment. “I, uh… I'll bring it up to Xisuma when we write the battle report.”
Etho nodded in reply, leaving Jimmy behind as he walked into the agency without him.
Joel, Jimmy thought, glancing at the sunset, please don't leave us again.