Chapter 10

Levi didn't like flying in the day. He knew people were watching him but he had no way of knowing who and where. It made his skin crawl. Sometimes it couldn't be helped though. Today was one of those days. He tilted his wings and took a sharp turn as he neared New York. The city suburbs blurred past. It was one of the few places that had rebuilt to a level comparable to the world before everything had fallen apart. 

People were bustling on the roads and people were going about living their lives. It was funny that everyone was just living their lives, not worrying about war of violence… just living. Even as he thought that Levi saw a distant building burning and he heard the sound of gunshots. People were living their lives.

Levi glanced at the train, Nora would be arriving soon. He'd sent her on the train two days ago. A little time to rest before they had to dig into whatever muck was waiting for them. Levi hadn't spared that much time for himself. In those two days he'd fixed his apartment, met with business partners and busted a Blackbird operation that Hammerhands had been too drunk to take care of. 

Levi suddenly felt exposed again. 

He'd stayed out of Blackbird's business for as long as he could manage. It wasn't worth the bounties. Just two weeks ago he'd gotten news that Blackbird had taken out the aging Typhoon. That didn't surprise him. Typhoon had been poking into Blackbird's operations for years. It was just a matter of time before they took her out. 

Up ahead of him the city skyline was getting closer. Two fighter jets flew out ahead of him. The radio piece in his ear started beeping. He answered. 

"What's your code?"

"1-8-1-6-2-0-1-5"

Static. Levi flew past the jets. The train station zipped past in a gray blur. He kept flying for a second and then remembered he had to meet Nora. 

"You're clear."

Immediately after getting the green light he dipped towards the earth. It flew at him like a wall and only feet away from the wall did he bank to the side. There was no reason to fly so close, no reason except his own satisfaction. Life hadn't taken the joy out of flying. 

As he spread his wings to stop papers and hats on the train platform were sent flying. He dropped onto the concrete and stuffed his hands into his pockets, trying to ignore the disturbance he'd caused. 

The train had just arrived and people were still pouring out of the cars. He glanced around the platform for Nora. Nothing. People were bustling past him, a few whispering and muttering as they realized who he was. He did his best to ignore it and pulled his phone out of a zipped pocket. 10:30. He was thirty minutes early. 

There were a few benches on the platform. Once he sat the rest of the benches around him remained empty. People did their best to avoid looking towards him, but he still felt the occasional glance. He expected it. It was only natural to be curious, to be drawn to the mystique the Watch had created around him. Yes it was natural, he still hated it. 

The train hissed to stop and people started flowing out. Nora pushed her way through the crowd looking for him. He raised one arm for her, she didn't take long to notice. "Welcome to New York." He said dryly.

"What time did you leave this morning?" 

"Around six."

"Six?"

He nodded. "Come on. We have somewhere we need to be."

+ + +

Levi walked the streets at a brisk pace. He would've flown if not for Nora and the restrictions on deviation usage in the city. Once in the grimy belly of the urban jungle people hardly paid him any attention; he wasn't worth their time anymore. He smiled in spite of himself. It brought him back to memories of crowded streets he'd done his first patrols on, and little moments of peace on train rides or sitting in some hole in the wall Chinese restaurant. He wasn't headed towards any place of peace. He was headed towards the Watch's North American consulate. Nora grimaced at the sight of the steel monolith; it was only natural.

She'd grown up in the massive tower, same as Levi. 

He caught a look of distaste on his own face and quickly blinked it away. Now wasn't the time to dwell on the pains of the past. Nora swallowed and put on a diplomatic smile. A swipe of his key card opened the lobby doors, and they stepped into the consulate.

By title, the building was a consulate that gathered the Watch's most important executives, operatives, and developers to decide on policies to enforce and create. That was only part of its importance. The consulate was also the training center for all promising Watch trainees, and it employed over a hundred retired operatives and a hundred more actively serving operatives to teach these future figure heads of the Watch. And of course, it served as a place to impress clients and the public.

The lobby Nora and Levi stepped into had a vaulted ceiling that was some sixty feet tall and had a number of fine crystal chandeliers that were suspended from the curving white. The floor was patterned by an intricate tile design, and at the head of the room was a mammoth mural that depicted the triumph of the Watch's founder and most famous operative: The Mighty Fist. 

Levi struggled to keep himself from glaring at the likeness. 

He walked up to the line of desks at the base of the mural and called for a secretary. It didn't take long to check in and find the location of the meeting, in that short time he felt like the mural was staring down at him and peeling away the layers of his mind. "You're all set… Miss Inkstone. Miss Inkstone." The secretary repeated more firmly.

It took Nora another moment to realize she was being spoken to. Levi felt a stab of guilt. He was supposed to help her get used to the moniker. The guilt was certainly not strong enough to convince him to start using her codename. "Yes mam?"

"You'll need this visitor's bracelet."

"Oh yes mam."

Levi nodded curtly and set off towards his appointment. His hands curled into tight fists at the thought of meeting with his contractor. At best it was a needed steppingstone to Levi's retirement, at worst - and in complete honesty - it was more akin to a parasite that had latched onto him. He pretended that that wasn't true. It was all just necessary, and harmless. Yes, necessary.

The door to the office was open and warm air flowed out of the room. Nora paused at the door. He looked back at her and gave a small gesture to pull her forward. Her eyes were glued to the man waiting inside the office. That wasn't a surprise. 

Old, and far from decrepit, the founder of the Watch sat waiting for him. Even in his advanced years, he still had the same undeniable power about him. He rested calloused hands on the desk. Those hands could easily crush that desk, and not just the desk but the entirety of the Watch's consulate.

"Mr. Armstrong." Levi said with a curt bow. Nora rushed to give the same gesture.

"Good to see you, Levi. How've you been? Have you found a wife yet?"

Levi took a long breath in. "Not yet sir."

"Then who's this you've brought with you?"

He was taken aback for a moment; he couldn't tell if the man was being serious. She was clearly a child. He glanced at Nora to be sure. "No sir. This is my apprentice: Nora Ferris."

"It's an honor to meet you sir." She said and bowed for a second time.

"Ferris. That name's familiar."

"Why was it you wanted to see me?" Levi was quick to change the subject.

Mr. Armstrong grunted. "To put it simply: I need you to handle a certain crime boss that's been causing trouble. Usually, I'm all for staying out of that type of shit, but they've been a bit to bold; last week they attacked one of patrols unprovoked. I need you to infiltrate their ranks and break down their operations, nothing too much for an operative with a resume like yours."

"Anything else sir?" He found himself growing more and more tense.

"Yes. There's one more thing. Ms. Ferris leave us for a moment."

She bowed again and shuffled out of the room. The door clunked shut. "Sir?"

"I know that Ferris last name is familiar. And I know you recognize that name as well. Your old master had that last name. Valery, right? Valery Ferris-"

"Sir, my choice to take her as my apprentice has nothing to do with my personal history."

Mr. Armstrong glowered at him. He stood to his feet. His back was straight as he adjusted his cuffs. "It isn't good to let your feelings get involved in these things. There's a letter on my desk with all the information for this job. Don't mess it up."

"Yes sir." 

Armstrong shoved open the door and left without another word. Nora peered back into the office; Levi caught a nervous look. "Was that really-"

"Yes." His answer was blunter than a bat. 

They walked in silence for a while. Levi looked at the letter in his hand. There was more to the job than some cleanup. If it were nothing more than a couple disrespectful punks the Watch would've already handled it. There shouldn't have been a need for his skills. Unless of course Armstrong was just messing with him. He didn't trust the man. He couldn't, not after what had happened to Peter, to him. 

A group of young Watch trainees pushed past them in the halls. Levi's gaze drifted towards them. Nora made no effort to look away. "They're probably headed to the game room for free time."

Levi nodded. He wondered how much the program had changed since his time. It couldn't have changed much. He suddenly found himself thinking about Peter. On second thought, they had to have changed a few things. Nora looked down at the ground after a while, her feet shuffled a bit. 

"Levi?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you ever talk to the trainees you grew up with?" She was fidgeting and her eyes stayed on the ground.

"Not as much as I'd like." He did his best to not think about his old friends.

"You were close then?"

"Very… they were like family."

"Oh…" She didn't look up.

Levi took a long sigh. "Do you ever reach out to yours. I know you haven't been gone long but have you checked up with anyone."

"No." 

He caught some spite in her voice and didn't push the matter.

As they stepped back out into the city, they were greeted by the cacophony of city sounds and smells. He had to admit it was a bit nostalgic. "Nora. What do you say to a nice dinner?"

"Really?"

"My treat."

The restaurant they ended up at didn't seem like much, but it was quiet, and the food was good. He'd promised a nice meal but wasn't sure if what they'd got counted. Nora seemed content with the salmon filet she'd ordered, that was good enough. "Is it good?"

"Wonderful. Aren't you gonna eat?"

Levi looked down at his untouched steak. "In a bit." He looked around the room. Two other people had walked in just as they'd gotten their food, and from his first glance Levi felt something was off. They chatted with each other and ordered without a single problem; still, Levi felt something was wrong. 

He finally started cutting into his steak. It was good, perfect medium rare and the sauce hit the balance between being overpowering and too watery. Even as he ate he kept glancing at the other diners. One man, one woman. They were just on a date. He was just being suspicious of nothing. It really was nothing. After a few minutes he finished the entree. Nora had ordered a slice of cheesecake. "You want some?"

"That's all right." 

"I'm gonna get some air."

"Alright."

He stood. The woman followed. Nora didn't notice. That was good. Levi pushed open the restaurant door and stepped to the side. The woman stepped out right after him. "What is it you want?"

She looked at him, there was surprise on her face. "Me? I don't know-"

"Get lost right now."

"But my husband-"

"Go get him then."

She hesitated to move. Levi kept his expression blank. "I'll walk you back if youre uncomfortable. 

"Oh no that's alright." 

"It's no problem. I have to grab my apprentice anyways."

He opened the door for her. She was slow to move, her right hand reached across towards her left side. Levi shot one feather out as she swung a knife towards him. The knife came clattering out of her hand and five more feathers leapt from beneath his coat to push her towards the wall. He kept her there as he walked back towards his seat. Nora was still finishing her cake, and the man hadn't moved from his seat.

Levi put one hand on his shoulder. "Would mind coming outside to speak with me sir." He didn't give him the luxury of answering. He shot one feather out and pressed it against the nape of the man's neck. 

They didn't question of resist. Even if they'd taken a stupid job they at least had some level of wisdom. "Don't worry I only have one question for you."

They glared at him. "What?"

"Who hired you?"

"Why the hell should I."

The feather pressed against his neck. "If I killed you, no one would know."

"Go to hell."

Levi sighed. He put a hand on the man's shoulder and started pulling him towards the door. The woman was still held against the wall. Levi pulled back all but one of the feathers that held her there. He leaned towards the man and whispered, "If you don't tell me… I'll kill her instead."

He let the words sink in. There was no answer, so he shot out one of his feathers and pushed it against her side.

"It was the Tigers."

"Don't lie." His feather started cutting the fabric of her blouse.

"Damn you. It was Lloyd Moord."

He pulled all his feathers back. "Thank you for your help. For your sake, I hope to never see you again."

The woman gave him the finger and then they were gone. 

Always something…

Nora was just finishing her meal when he finally got back to the table. 

"Who were they?"

"Not sure."

There was a span of silence, one Levi wasn't sure how to cross. He flopped onto his chair and took a long breath. A waiter came wandering into the room and he flagged them down to get the check. Nora rested her head on her hand.

"Hey, Levi. Where're we staying anyway?"

Levi suddenly found himself thinking about his old home. Memories of late nights talking with friends, messing with his old friend Eric as he tried fixing Levi's tech, helping Eve cook dinner for everyone. The memories were more bitter than charcoal and all he could manage to say to Nora was, "You'll see."