[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/200427/12e716eb3fcde6923781cf99dc1a0a73.png[/img]

Grace couldn't help but blush faintly as Tom wrapped her in a surprisingly tight hug, but quickly reciprocated nonetheless, wrapping her own arms around him for a brief moment as they were reunited. [color=DarkOrchid]"I'm fine, I'm fine,"[/color] Grace quickly insisted as the two embraced, before nuzzling her head against his chest. This would spell the end for their moment together, though, as Grace sniffed in the aroma emanating from Tom's clothes and pulled away from the hug. [color=DarkOrchid]"Is that soot? Ugh..."[/color] Grace complained as she stepped away, nose wrinkled, but her good nature quickly returned as she looked up and smiled at Tom. [color=DarkOrchid]"It was nothing much. It was you guys taking out the ogres that gave me the opportunity...but yes, it was pretty cool. Not easy, either. It's difficult to calculate the malleability of an ancient Roman helmet and the properties of a portal while you're kidnapped and tied to some sort of disturbing lightning rack..."[/color] As she trailed off, she found herself grinding the bottom of her shoe against the ground. She had something on her mind. [color=DarkOrchid]"Sorry...about everything I said last night. You're not an idiot. Normally, at least,"[/color] she finished somewhat lamely. She looked down again before her eyes drifted back up. [color=DarkOrchid]"Anyway, I...well, I was an ass, so...sorry about that.[/color] She put a hand on his arm. [color=DarkOrchid]"[i]Heol,[/i] Tom, how did you get so much ass on you...[i]ash,[/i] shit, sorry,"[/color] she quickly corrected herself, silently cursing her accent as the blush flooded back to her face, and she quickly pulled her hand back (causing some soot to sprinkle through the air) before turning away and heading over to Nero's computer, which Rumi was currently manning.

Grace's eyes scanned the screen as Rumi scoured the computer for evidence. Grace had thought of that possibility, but she was not nearly gifted enough with computers to break the level of encryption on Nero's well-fortified (and very not-Roman) device. Rumi seemed to make mincemeat out of it and began to sift through the heaps of data, looking for anything that could incriminate the Wings. It wasn't exactly hidden very well. Phone call transcripts between the Wings and Nero, purchase receipts, blue bomb instructions, e-mails, and all-in-all a massive mountain of evidence against the Wings. It was clear that the Wings had overestimated Nero and vastly underestimated them, as they had been caught with their hand showing. Grace reached over Rumi's fingers, hitting a couple keyboard buttons to download the information and then clicked a few more to send it to Powers. 

[color=DarkOrchid]"That ought to do it,"[/color] she said confidently, her eyes scanning over the gang, and she felt some emotion tug at her chest as she looked at them. They had somehow done it again, come out mostly unscathed. Grace smiled weakly as she looked at them, feeling proud to be a part of this little crew of nutballs, before she heard what sounded like a fairy laughing. Her text message notification sound. [color=DarkOrchid]"Bastard has my phone..."[/color] she grumbled as she rummaged through the office, searching for her phone, as everybody else's phones sounded off like a chorus. She eventually managed to find her phone stuffed between two sofa pillows, and yanked it out, turning it on to reveal a text message from powers, which Grace inferred that had been sent to everybody (unknowingly, it was also sent to some of the newer heroes that Grace had yet to meet). The message read, very simply:

[color=lightslategray]𝙼𝚎𝚎𝚝 𝚖𝚎 𝚊𝚝 𝙲𝚕𝚞𝚋 𝟸𝟽 𝚒𝚗 𝙺𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜𝚍𝚊𝚕𝚎 𝙰𝚂𝙰𝙿.[/color]

Grace recognized the name of the club. Club 27. Kingsdale. The Wings of Law headquarters.

What the hell was Powers doing?

Grace was about to make a portal out when she noticed another individual having arrived. Tall, black, muscular, and thoroughly unfamiliar. Grace did not [i]think[/i] he was one of Nero's lackeys, considering that none of the files on his computer mentioned anything about any sort of henchman, but it was worth checking out. Grace motioned out the window before opening a portal and hopping through, leaving it open on the other end for the rest of the crew to follow out.

The other portal opened just a few feet in front of Chad, and out from the portal stepped Grace, looking a bit beat-up (and dusty) but otherwise mostly alright. She looked the taller figure up and down before asking him, [color=DarkOrchid]"Who the hell are you?"[/color]

[hr][hr][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/200414/d73049a05f8b206f6d41111d8d92386e.png[/img]

Powers' car, a custom-made Bugatti Chiron, rocketed down the side streets of Castleburg heading towards Kingsdale. Powers' ability to get from point A to point B was remarkably fast, in part because A) he knew Castleburg like the back of his hand, B) he had one of the fastest 
cars available, and C) he was breaking every traffic violation in the books. Powers' fingers were gripped tightly around the steering wheel, and his vehicle took off down the highways of Castleburg like a bat out of hell. It wasn't long before the car pulled up in front of Club 27. It was a quiet day at the HQ today, only a few expensive vehicles parked outside.

Powers swung the car door open and stormed to the back, popping the trunk to a reveal an impressive collection of weapons. Powers removed a  pump shotgun from the back, slinging it over his back, before storming up to the glass doors. He didn't even bother to knock, instead walking directly through the door, the glass shattering helplessly as the monster of a man walked directly into the club. The patrons inside (the three main Wings of Law, plus Rubber Man), quickly jumped to their feet as the alarms set up, eyes falling on Powers. Seraph was the first to speak up. [color=#FFFF66]"Ah, Director. I didn't realize you were coming. The occasion?"[/color] Seraph asked, his voice cordial and polite but eyes frosty.

Powers swung the shotgun from his back and pumped up. [color=lightslategray]"I'm here to announce your termination."[/color]

Before any of the Wings of Law could even bother to question this expression, Powers aimed the shotgun upwards with one hand and fired a round, blasting out the massive, expensive glass chandelier that hung from the ceiling. The lights quickly went out, shards of glass and wiring falling everywhere, as the room was submerged in darkness. The only light that was coming in was from the door down the hallway, and it was too faint to be useful in combat, and unfortunately, [i]combat[/i] was the only thing on Powers' mind. He wasn't there for any more bargaining and games.

After a minute of darkness, the emergency lights, a series of dim red bulbs that lined the walls of the facility, turned on, illuminating the room enough to see. Mr. Impressive was currently hung from the wall in a wedgie, hanging from his underpants, which were in turn hanging from his own sword, which was pinned in the center of an oil painting. Sea Serpent was planted face-first in the bar in a pool of liquors and glass. Rubber Man was across the room, headfirst in a fireplace. The only Wing of Law left standing was Seraph, who had a couple nasty bruises to his face. His pretty (plastic) features curved into a scowl, he flapped his wings and sent a rain of feathers at Powers, who simply walked through it like it was a light drizzle. [color=lightslategray]"Listen up here, Zhenka. I'll make this quick,"[/color] Powers said gruffly as he approached the injured (former) hero. He discarded the shotgun and lifted Zhenka by the collar.[color=lightslategray]"If I ever see your ass around HERO One again, I will make it clear who's the boss. Very, very clear. Even more clear than today. Understood?"[/color] Powers said, glaring at Seraph, nothing but pure blackness in his eyes.

Seraph muttered something about 'being the boss' and a few curse words, but was shut up by Powers' violent shaking. [color=lightslategray]"I SAID, DID YOU UNDERSTAND ME?!"[/color] Powers roared. It was a scary sight to watch, really.

Seraph nodded reluctantly.

[color=lightslategray]"Good."[/color] Powers tossed Seraph in the air like he was pitching himself a baseball, before executing a devastating roundhouse kick to his side, sending Seraph hurtling across the room into a bust of himself, shattering both the bust and likely something of Seraph's.

As Powers strolled out, Seraph yelled after him, [color=#FFFF66]"You'll regret this, Hugo! You'll regret this badly!"[/color]

Powers turned back, stopping his stroll for a moment. [color=lightslategray]"That's Mr. Powers to you."[/color]
 
[hr][hr][/center]