[URL=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jL2DPylmhE][INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3][color=DarkSlateBlue]C H A R L E S   M I C H A E L S:[/color][/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][INDENT][sup][COLOR=SILVER]Thursday, May 25[SUP]TH[/SUP] - 04:41 PM | Kingstown Neighborhood - New Lilith[/COLOR][/sup][/INDENT][/URL]
[INDENT][INDENT]The barbell barely budged as Chuck put all his might against the bar above his chest. Less than twenty four hours ago he had managed to stop a rampaging behemoth of a man with his bare hands. The behemoth in question had ripped the antique steel doors from their hinges on New Lilith First National. Mere seconds from what could have possibly been his own impending death, Chuck had managed to catch one of the massive fists. What followed was something he still hadn't wrapped his mind around - his feet had dug into the ground, the marble floor beneath them cracking as Chuck was able to push back against the super strong being, throwing him off balance enough for his new ally to fly into the air and deliver a staggering blow. Still imbued with his newfound strength, Chuck ran forward before sliding on his knees and deliver two super strong blows to the man's knees, bringing the behemoth to the floor as it cried out in agony.

Yet here Chuck was now, laying beneath a two hundred and fifty pound barbell, unable to budge it more than an inch. Letting out a sigh of exasperation, Chuck sat up on the bench as the garage door before him began to open. The familiar shape of his step-father's Police Charger returning from work, pulled into the drive way alongside the aged half ton that Chuck himself drove. The horn on the Dodge signaled that Landon had seen Chuck as he reached into the passenger seat, holding up bag that Chuck could recognize as Chinese from Leechee's. Feeling his stomach growling, Chuck stood up from the bench as he went to greet Landon.

[color=DarkOrange][b]"Feeling ambitious today Chuck?"[/b][/color] Landon asked as he nodded towards the loaded barbell.

[color=DarkSlateBlue][b]"Well y'know."[/b][/color] Chuck answered with a shrug. [color=DarkSlateBlue][b]"Sometimes I bite off more than I can chew."[/b][/color]

[color=DarkOrange][b]"And that's why you're serving yourself after your mother and I have had our fill."[/b][/color] Landon stated with a laugh as Chuck rolled his eyes before allowing himself to chuckle as he replied.

[color=DarkSlateBlue][b]"Make sure you leave me some chicken balls then, I know how you pack them away."[/b][/color]

[color=DarkOrange][b]"Some cops like donuts, I like chicken balls."[/b][/color] Landon replied as Chuck gave him a swat at the gut. 

[color=DarkSlateBlue][b]"Starting to show, old man."[/b][/color] Chuck teased as he ran inside.

[color=DarkOrange][b]"Careful, I can still throw you out of the house."[/b][/color] He replied in his own mocking tone as Chuck shook his head.

[color=DarkSlateBlue][b]"We both know that Mom would never let you do that."[/b][/color] Chuck stated triumphantly as he took his seat at the dinner table.

[color=DarkOrange][b]"...Damn it."[/b][/color] Landon muttered with a grin as he walked up behind the raven haired woman at the sink. [color=DarkOrange][b]"Hey, Becca!"[/b][/color] Landon said giving the woman a peck on the cheek as Rebecca turned around and pressed her lips to his. 

[color=SlateBlue][b]"How was your day?"[/b][/color] She asked as Landon shook his head.

[color=DarkOrange][b]"It's New Lilith, things just keep getting weird out there. First came the reports of the Angel flying the skies at night, now we've got some sort of mutant locked up down town. Was found in the lobby of New Lilith First National, apparently apprehending by a couple of vigilantes."[/b][/color]

[color=DarkSlateBlue][b]"Vigilantes? Like men in masks and capes, skulking the shadows and bringing justice to those who prey upon the weak?"[/b][/color] Chuck asked, the humor in his voice appeared to be disbelief in the situation. In reality it was pride towards the fake that he and the 'Angel' had managed to apprehend a dangerous Hyperhuman. An evolved human possessing abilities far beyond his own apparently human limits.

[color=DarkOrange][b]"No capes were mentioned in the report but one allegedly has wings while the other escaped on roller blades."[/b][/color]

[color=SlateBlue][b]"Roller blades?"[/b][/color] Rebecca asked, her voice filled with genuine disbelief. 

[color=DarkOrange][b]"Yep, traffic cams caught the perp using some kind of tool to slingshot himself through traffic, building speed behind a vehicle before drafting out from behind it and tagging a new ride to advance further. It'd be impressive if it wasn't so infuriating that a punk on roller blades managed to evade two cruisers."[/b][/color]

[color=DarkSlateBlue][b]"Road block didn't catch him?"[/b][/color] Chuck asked as he spooned guy ding onto his plate. 

[color=DarkOrange][b]"Escaped down the allies, best guess is he found a way into the city's old underground subway tunnels. Nearly impossible to trace anything down there. Only way we're going to catch these guys would be a proactive sting to lure them out. But there's no way that Corrotto would give the department the necessary funds for such an operation."[/b][/color] Landon lamented as he dug into his own plate.

[color=SlateBlue][b]"And yet they wonder why the city's crime rate is rising."[/b][/color] Rebecca stated as she cut into a chicken ball before dipping it into the sweet and sour sauce placed conveniently in the middle of the table. [color=SlateBlue][b]"Anyways, enough shop talk at the table. Chuck,"[/b][/color] Rebecca said as she turned towards the young man. [color=SlateBlue][b]"Any plans for this evening?"[/b][/color]

[color=DarkSlateBlue][b]"I'll be out late."[/b][/color] He managed to say with a mouth full of food. Swallowing, he continued. [color=DarkSlateBlue][b]"Have a project to work on at Slater,"[/b][/color] He stated, referring to the city's largest post-secondary institute. [color=DarkSlateBlue][b]"After that, I'm heading out with some friends. Sam and Tiff have a new bar they want to hit up on the Lower East Side."[/b][/color]

[color=DarkOrange][b]"Absolutely not."[/b][/color] Landon interjected. [color=DarkOrange][b]"Lower East Side is not a place for you, and it's especially not a place for those young woman."[/b][/color]

[color=DarkSlateBlue][b]"Relax, Bryce and Cliff with be with us."[/b][/color] Chuck stated dismissively. [color=DarkSlateBlue][b]"Besides, the club is literally on the border. We'll be good, scouts honor."[/b][/color] He added with a mock salute.

[color=DarkOrange][b]"I still don't like it."[/b][/color]

[color=DarkSlateBlue][b]"Landon, I'm twenty one, even for a cop you're being a little over protective."[/b][/color]

[color=DarkOrange][b]"I'm your father, Charles it's what I-"[/b][/color] Landon began before suddenly finding himself cut off.

[color=DarkSlateBlue][b]"You've never been, nor will you ever be my father."[/b][/color] Chuck stated as he stood up from the table. [color=DarkSlateBlue][b]"Thank you for supper, but I'm going to be late."[/b][/color] He added pushing his chair in and walking briskly away from the table. Pausing to grab an aged leather jacket, and his backpack. Chuck hurried out the front door allowing it to small behind him.

An exasperated sigh escaped Landon's mouth as he leaned back, running his hand along his shaved head in frustration as Rebecca reached out a sympathetic arm.

[color=SlateBlue][b]"I know you've done nothing but treat him as a son, but Richard and Chuck had a special bond, one that no one could ever replace."[/b][/color]

[color=DarkOrange]"Beck, I've been in his life since he was two years old, I was there for him when Richard passed. I've done nothing but treat him as my own son. Why is it so hard to at least acknowledge me as a father figure?"[/color]

[color=SlateBlue][b]"Chuck's just not programmed that way."[/b][/color] Rebecca said softly. [color=SlateBlue][b]"Give him time."[/b][/color]

[color=DarkOrange][b]"It's been nine years, Becca, nine years since we've been married. I'm starting to think he'll never accept me as his father."[/b][/color]

[color=SlateBlue][b]"And so what if he doesn't?"[/b][/color] Rebecca challenged Landon. [color=SlateBlue][b]"He doesn't respect you any less, he doesn't despise you or hold anger towards you. He looks up to you, you've inspired more in Chuck than you know."[/b][/color]

[color=DarkOrange][b]"Yeah but I wish he was the one telling me."[/b][/color] Landon stated, reluctantly resigning from the conversation as he leaned back in his chair. Suddenly he felt Rebecca's hands on his shoulder as she leaned over and spoke softly in his ear.

[color=SlateBlue][b]"Why don't you help me clean this up, and then we can relax with the house to ourselves."[/b][/color]

[color=DarkOrange][b]"That's a plan I can get behind."[/b][/color] Landon replied with a mile-wide grin.[/INDENT][/INDENT]