Chapter 16

All I could do was stare at the man in front of me with my mouth open, trying to make a sound but unable to do so. Admittedly, a lot of unexpected things were happening to me lately, so I shouldn't be as surprised as I was, yet I still was. Not only did it seem like I was not in trouble for what amounted to being a vigilante, but he was commending me for it as well?

"You seem surprised." Clyde said, a puzzled look on his face.

"I, uh, yeah. I mean... well, I've been sweating bullets about this ever since I was told to come here. I basically committed a crime." I replied, yet I did not faulter, and I continued.

"And I'd do it again. Those people needed help. I couldn't sit there and do nothing."

Clyde actually nodded along with me, and smiled when I said the last part.

"What you did could be seen as a crime, but no one here sees it that way. And in fact, since this branch of the police department, as well as the paranormal doesn't technically exist in the eyes of the public, I don't see any wrong doing here whatsoever." Clyde responded, causing me to just blink rapidly.

Once again, this was not going as I expected. I was relieved of course. I figured that they had already assumed they couldn't just lock me up, but I at least suspected I would be getting into some kind of trouble. Without any prompting, he started the video again. He paused at a part that made me grit my teeth. When he threatened that poor little girl.

"This is my favorite part." Clyde said as he pressed play.

The scene made my blood boil until me in the video crashed through the front of the bank and decked the guy in the face. I didn't notice at the time, but lightning was trailing through the air behind my fist, and the air distorted with its passage. Clyde rewinded the video, played it again, and paused it the moment my fist introduced itself to the cock bag's face.

"I felt that. His kids, if he has any, will feel that." He said, and it sounded like he was in full admiration of me.

I won't lie, I was feeling slightly embarrassed over this. All I did, and all I have ever done, was the right thing. Anyone who stands by and lets people, let alone children, get hurt, is a piece of shit. That's not nor will it ever be me.

Honestly, the more I think about it, the more I realize that it's going to be harder to hide my powers than I first thought. This video of me was no doubt only the first of many things that will happen, because I would do something like this again without a second thought. And I'm sure more people that didn't even know about the existence of the paranormal would be seeing more and more.

"Now that I actually am thinking about it, it's something that would be pretty hard to miss. Then again... I'm almost 24 and didn't notice anything. Well, I am kinda dumb." I thought to myself.

"You are truly incredible." Lina said, and it must have been my imagination, but she sounded like she was short of breath.

I looked at her, and realized that it was definitely not. She was red faced, cheeks flushed, and she was looking at me like an stoner looks at a buffet.

"Uh... it was nothing. Really. I was just doing the right thing." I said, my clothes suddenly feeling very constricting.

"And that's why you are here." Clyde said, a glint in his eyes, "You acted without pause, and without a second thought in your actions. You are what this city, no, this world could use right now. And now I will ask you what I called you here for. Osidious Vanir, how would you like to work with the paranormal division? How does becoming a hero sound to you?" He asked me, and that honestly made all my thoughts stop.

A hero? Me? Like the stories? That was... not what I was expecting him to ask. The part about it though, was that what he was asking somehow felt right to me. What he was suggesting resonated with me. More so, my weird ass ego, which felt like me as much as I did, was all in favor for this, but I wasn't too sure. I didn't feel particularly like a hero. Again... I just did what anyone would do.

"Huh... is that really true? Would just anyone truly do what I did? Even in a regular situation, most people these days would prioritize themselves over a stranger. Plus, there was the added caveat that the dude I took down was a super powered popsicle. I remembered the looks on those people's faces. They were scared, but also confused. They couldn't comprehend what was happening, seeing a guy fling around ice like some kind of frost mage from a video game. No one but me, or someone like me, could have stopped him, so maybe...

"In fact, I would like you to work with others that are like you. Those with abilities that wish to do good with them. You'll pretty much be the country's, no, the world's first hero team. Nothing like it has ever seen before, and while some would like to keep the paranormal world be kept a secret for longer, I think people's lives are more important than something that should have already been made known long ago. You could make a real difference here, Mr. Vanir. Of course, we'll try to keep it under wraps for now, but mark my words. A time will come when it'll all be out in the open, and the world will need your help."

All I could do was blink rapidly at what he just said. A fucking team of super heroes? I wasn't gonna lie, it sounded cool as hell. And they wanted me to be a part of that? I didn't even know how to respond.

Clyde just smiled at me in a way that reminded me of a kind father, and then, he opened a drawer at his desk, and removed an envelope.

"You have that excited look in your eyes. Like a kid in a candy shop." He said, sliding the envelope over to me, "But this is just in case you aren't convinced."

My cheeks burned with embarrassment as I took the envelope. I thought I was hiding my child like emotions pretty well, but I guess not. Seriously, what kind of guy wouldn't sound excited when basically asked if he wanted to be a super hero. The envelope was thick, but it felt like paper. Must be a lot in there. I opened the envelope, and then my mouth when very dry.

"Holy..." I said, as I pulled out the fattest stack of money I had ever held.

As I did this, he pulled out another envelope, and then another, and another still. My shocked expression must have said it all, because Clyde laughed.

"It's pretty damn hard to fit 570,000 dollars into one envelope."

I coughed and spluttered. I was actually sure foam was coming out of my mouth, and my eyes hurt from opening up so wide. Clyde started laughing boisterously, and even Lina was losing her cool in the background. Her giggles were kinda cute, but feeling like I was about to experience cardiac arrest was not as cute for me.

"That is the bounty for killing Iceblood. You would have gotten a bit more for him being alive, but he was honestly bad enough that we just wanted him out of the picture. On top of getting paid by the hour, myself and the board of directors occasionally put out bounties on the high value targets. The true assholes, if you will." Clyde said.

I had calmed down enough to listen to him speak, but my mind was still racing. It wasn't really a hard choice for me, as my current job was not my favorite thing in the world. I was a little hesitant to leave Liz and John, but I see Liz enough for it not to matter. She was talking about trying something new soon anyways.

Now, saving those people at the bank, and taking down those criminals? It just felt right, and it was something I felt honored to do. Helping people just felt like my calling. That being said, I'd definitely be an idiot to turn down getting paid to do that very thing. No matter what else he told me, my answer was going to be yes. I wanted to do this.

"You completed this bountry yourself. There were others there, yes, but they did not have the opportunity to do anything. That sick bastard loved taking hostages, and taking advantage of people. Good riddance... anyways, a lot of powered here do work together to take down criminals, and the money is usually split between all of them. Trust me though, you'll be making so much that that'll just be a bonus." Clyde continued, and really, he was just furthering the deal for me. People who work together should split the rewards.

He looked at me curiously once he was done, but I didn't make him wait too long.

"Sign me up." I said, and he grinned at me, and then nodded to Lina.

"Excellent. Lina there will handle the paper work. I just did the interview, and I say you passed kid." Clyde said.

Lina handed me a few papers and documents to fill out. I was pretty surprised that they seemed just like the standard ones you fill out at most jobs. It was smart in a way. What better way to keep it hidden then to act normal? All in all, it took me roughly 40 minutes to fill everything out.

"I thought what you did was incredible. You have a good heart." Lina said as I handed her the completed papers.

I actually felt like I was in one of those cringey animes with how much I was blushing recently. Beautiful women complimenting me was still one of those things that did it for me.

"I have two fucking girlfriends. Stop it!" I thought to myself.

The smile that Lina gave me did not help matters. It was... goddamn sexy. It caused my penis to awaken from its slumber. Nope, definitely not helping matters.

"Oh, y-you know. I just..." I started, but I paused, and just thought about nothing but the words she said to me. Really, that was the part to focus on, "When I saw what he was doing, and how he threatened that poor girl, it was like something inside of me broke. Before I knew it, the dude was already flying through the wall. It angered me, and I just acted on instinct. He has abilites like that, and that's what he chooses to do? Fucking pathetic and cowardly if you ask me."

Lina's smile grew more and more as I spoke, but despite my hormones trying to take over, I simply willed them to fuck off, and they did. When you payed attention to her, she was completely earnest and sincere in her words, and that made me respect her more. Her being beautiful was also a nice plus. I paused at that, and then snorted.

"Was something funny?" Lina asked, genuinely interested, and the face she gave me made my heart surprisingly warmer.

"I was just thinking about where my life is now. Plus, talking to you is nice, and you deserve some praise too. The fact that you even recognize what I did means you too are a good person. You seem pretty great." I said, although I soon wondered if I had said too much.

Her cheeks flushed, and then, her eyes began to water.

"I'm sorry I-" I began but she shook her head and smiled at me.

"No, your words were just very kind. Thank you, Osidious." She said, and I couldn't held but smile back.

"Lina, just call me Sid, okay?" I replied, and her cheeks turned red again, and then she nodded and smiled brightly.

"Yes, of course! Um... thank you, Sid." She said, suddenly sounding meek.

"You truly are a great kid. And thank you for being kind to Lina. What will you do now?" Clyde asked, rejoining the conversation.

What was I going to do now?

"Well... I should probably tell my boss that I'm quitting my current job, I want to see my parents again at some point and then... I think I'll spend more time with Liz and Nadia." I said, and just thinking about those two made my heart flutter. They were truly becoming more and more important to me with every passing day.

Clyde smiled, and Lina did too, although she looked... was that jealousy?

"Sounds like a great day to me. Don't let us hold you up any longer. Please, do enjoy your day. You start next week Monday." Clyde said, and then he clapped his hands, "Take my number in case you need to reach me."

I did so, getting his number, then I stood, and saluted, then felt like an idiot, and just nodded.

"Thank you. You both have a good day." I said, and made for the exit with a smile on my face.

"I'll show you out." Lina said, and together, we left and she saw me out of the building, wishing me a good day.

○○○

Lina rejoined Clyde after showing Sid to the door, a smile on her lips. Clyde chuckled.

"You like him, do you?" He teased, and Lina flushed.

"What... no, of course not, he's just really nice and sweet and kind and-" She said, then she cut herself off as she listened to herself.

Clyde just laughed again, and then his face became slightly more serious.

"He was able to control himself around you, even when you gave off subtle suggestion. Very impressive. I like the kid." Clyde replied, looking fondly at Lina.

She tucked a strand of hair back behind her ear.

"I... like him too. I think he'll do good." She said, and then realized the fond look she had on her face, "In his job, that is, sir!"

Clyde laughed and then held his arms out.

"No one is here. Now, cut that out and give your dad a hug." He said, and Lina turned into a little kid again, and happily walked into his embrace.

While not blood related, he didn't see her as anything less than his little girl. The day he found her seemed so long ago, but it lead to one of the best decisions he'd ever made. He wondered if she would ever open up to anyone else, and share what she truly was with someone else. Maybe this Osidious... then again, maybe not. Still, the fact that he kept himself in check was a good thing. It meant he had good control over his emotions. That and anyone looking at his Lina like a piece of meat was going to find out very quickly how bad of an idea that was.

"Here's to a long and healthy work relationship, kid."