[sup][h1][center][img]https://www.superheldenfilme.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/marvelcharakter-prowler-hobiebrown.jpg[/img][/center][b][center][color=darkmagenta] H O R N E T[/color] [color=chartreuse]H O R N E T[/color][/center] [/b][/h1][/sup] [color=darkgray] Hobie walked solidly with his hands in the pockets of his jacket as he made his way down East 138th, contemplating what he was going to say. Bigger brother still lived back in Harlem. Sure, only just on the other side of the Madison Avenue Bridge, but whilst the rest of the brothers had an affinity for repping the Bronx, their eldest still felt his roots in Harlem. He had a one bedroom apartment, no housemates, no significant others, at least none he'd ever told his brothers about, and led his very own subdued private life. Hobie understood why, the youngest and eldest had a mutual understanding and a different kind of relationship to the rest - albeit very different personalities. Both felt protective of their brothers, but longed for their own space. One sought out quiet solace to match his temperament. The other could often be too outspoken for his own good. But it was when Abraham discovered the man behind the Prowler mask that they truly became closer. Before that he'd failed to realise just how much pressure had been put on Hobie's shoulders with the hopes of college resting there. He realised how much they had in common, despite their obvious differences. Abraham had equal pressure on his own shoulders, but he'd chosen to put more on there and when he had left on his own personal journey, he was putting his own faith in his body, as Hobie had with his mind. Whilst all the brothers had an affinity for old kung fu movies, none had the promise, potential and discipline to pursue the martial arts in equal quantities to Abraham. His journey had led him to a jade tiger amulet, and once he'd made his mind up to defend his own local community, the Black Tiger was born. Adorned in a yellow gi in honour of Jim Kelly fame from [i]Enter The Dragon[/i] and sporting an even more elaborate fro, he quickly became a highly recognisable figure in Harlem and iconic defender of the local community. Outside of Harlem he was a virtual unknown, not least because of the fame of others like Heroes for Hires own Luke Cage and Iron Fist, who seemed to dwarf his own power, but he never got into this for the recognition. He was a true believer in the minimalism and discipline drilled into him by his shifu and laoshis past. Talk is for others. Let his actions speak for themselves. Let his actions protect this place. Very 'silent protector'. Laconic type. And he had a very special facial expression, reminscent of a cracked sidewalk for when he clearly felt Hobie was talking too much. Which was often. Hobie felt a vibration in his pocket, and lowered his hand from his coat pocket to his jeans, as his timbs continued to beat the pavement. The phone didn't recognise the number. Hobie considered sending it to voice mail, before remembering he could use more work on the off chance that this was a referral, so he raised it to his ear and took the call. [color=darkmagenta]"[/color][color=chartreuse]Hello--?[/color][color=darkmagenta]"[/color] With as vague an answer as that, he probably shoud have just let it go to voicemail. [color=2FBD00]"Hi, is this... Hobie Brown?"[/color] A woman asked on the other end of the line. He couldn't quite place it, but had it narrowed to a thick Queens or Brooklyn accent. Somehow it brimmed with confidence, whilst still trying to place the name on the person on the other end of the phone line. But the question itself meant that she didn't know him well enough to recognise his voice though. [color=darkmagenta]"[/color][color=chartreuse]You got him. This about work--?[/color][color=darkmagenta]"[/color] [color=2FBD00]"Good. This is Norah Winters. A mutual - I'm going to say 'irritant' - Randy Robertson won't let up about whether or not I've called you yet, so now I'm doing it to shut him up."[/color] A knowing smile grew across Hobie's face. [i]Yeah, that would be why I didn't accept your number and just said you could have mine.[/i] [color=darkmagenta]"[/color][color=chartreuse]Yeah, that all checks out. Probably a smart decision.[/color][color=darkmagenta]"[/color] [color=2FBD00]"So I suppose we should go through the motions of meeting up so that he leaves us both the Hell alone? Where at?"[/color] Hobie's brow furrowed at the following question. The twang in her intonation had changed on that part. [color=darkmagenta]"[/color][color=chartreuse]Where at?[/color][color=darkmagenta]"[/color] There was a lengthy pause, and Hobie realised he'd hit on a sensitive issue, until she regathered and expanded. [color=2FBD00]"Yeah, where do you... want to meet... at?"[/color] Somehow the confidence in her voice had been knocked slightly. [color=darkmagenta]"[/color][color=chartreuse]Well... I'm Bronx based. Where are you?[/color][color=darkmagenta]"[/color] Another pause, which suggested she was still rattled. Before he expanded further. [color=darkmagenta]"[/color][color=chartreuse]So we can meet somewhere in the middle.[/color][color=darkmagenta]"[/color] [color=2FBD00]"Oh! I'm working out of Midtown, and living in Queens. Liberty Park."[/color] [i]Liberty Park... Damn near Brooklyn. Alright, split the difference and some place in northern Queens, somewhere like Woodside or Jackson Hei--.[/i] A place came to mind. [color=darkmagenta]"[/color][color=chartreuse]Ay yo. You know [i]Sanfords[/i] in Astoria?[/color][color=darkmagenta]"[/color] There was a slight hesitation. [color=2FBD00]"That's-- Are you sure?"[/color] Hobie tried to make sense of her hesitation. [color=darkmagenta]"[/color][color=chartreuse]Look, I'd be fine with a BBQ place, but I know Rand'. Dude'll trip if I don't at least take you some place with a wine list.[/color][color=darkmagenta]"[/color] Reief and confidence seemed to be restored. [color=2FBD00]"What time?"[/color] She asked. [color=darkmagenta]"[/color][color=chartreuse]"You're the journalist, somethin' tells me your hours are harder to work around. You tell me.[/color][color=darkmagenta]"[/color] [color=2FBD00]"Eight thirty? Maybe closer to nine?"[/color] Hobie remembered what Rand' had said about her needing something away from work and held his own suspicions. [i]So we're talking nine thirty to ten.[/i] [color=darkmagenta]"[/color][color=chartreuse]Works with me. Let me know when you're on your way. Just don't forget that every day we bump this back he's gonna keep hasslin' us.[/color][color=darkmagenta]"[/color] [i]And now that he knows you actually got in touch with me, it'll start the clock on him actually hassling me as well...[/i] She laughed. But it held some awkwardness, awkwardness that he could tell was unusual for the usual confidence that she comported herself with. [color=2FBD00]"Yeah, we definitely know the same Rand'."[/color] She picked up his use of nickname for their mutual friend. [color=darkmagenta]"[/color][color=chartreuse]Aight. See you then.[/color][color=darkmagenta]"[/color] He pocketed his phone and rolled his shoulders within his jackets depths, distancing himself from the call he'd just completed. He was a block and a half from Abe's house now, but here came the tricky part. He was seldom home, and the nature of Abe's and his own 'hobbies' wouldn't always be in a position to answer their phone. He saw a familiar feminine figure walking past and took the opportunity to ask the woman he recognised as Abe's neighbour. [color=darkmagenta]"[/color][color=chartreuse]Ay yo, you seen Abe, 'Shawnda?[/color][color=darkmagenta]"[/color] [color=white]"You're in luck, he just got back in."[/color] Hobie didn't spend too long dwelling on how the local female neighbours seemed to be very on top of his much taller, more muscular brother's whereabouts. [color=white]"That thing he wears had quite a lot of blood on it, though."[/color] If Hobie had any panic at all within him, it never showed. Blood on his yellow gi was pretty much par for the course. He doubted any of it was his. More often than not it wouldn't be. His own blood seldom went beyond grazed up knuckles. [color=darkmagenta]"[/color][color=chartreuse]Word? Thanks, 'Shawnda.[/color][color=darkmagenta]"[/color] Daring to add a question was as much concern as he could muster. The only person he'd ever come across more capable of looking after himself than his oldest brother, wore blue and red tights. He kept walking and his timbs soon found the steps to his brother's place. [color=darkmagenta]"[/color][color=chartreuse]Ay yo! Abe its me! Hobie![/color][color=darkmagenta]"[/color] He called out, announcing his arrival. In this place, with his brother's identity being public knowledge, it was a whole lot safer to do so. Hobie pulled his keys, and finding the right one turned the door handle. As he walked into the apartment he heard running water and realised that his brother was having a shower. Presumably to wash off the blood that wasn't his. Hobie felt justified in his earlier confidence in his brother. Otherwise, he presumed, he'd have found him doing his own stitchwork on himself in the kitchen. [color=darkmagenta]"[/color][color=chartreuse]Ay yo. Abe, its me. Hobie.[/color][color=darkmagenta]"[/color] He called, quieter this time now that he was in the house. As he walked through the kitchen doorway he felt pressure on his throat as an arm slipped under his chin from behind. And above. Hobie didn't respond. They'd been through this enough times already. [color=yellow]"If I were a threat, you'd be dead."[/color] [color=darkmagenta]"[/color][color=chartreuse]We've been through this before. You're right, I should check the corners in [b]your[/b] apartment... And please tell me you're wearing clothes.[/color][color=darkmagenta]"[/color] The arm released him. Hobie stepped forward and turned. [i]Underpants at least...[/i] Hobie confirmed, a sense of relief passed over him. [color=yellow]"Wiseass."[/color] [color=darkmagenta]"[/color][color=chartreuse]Shower. You just getting out, or just getting in?[/color][color=darkmagenta]"[/color] [color=yellow]"In."[/color] This was how it was with Abe. No wasted syllables. So Abraham Brown had his shower, whilst Hobie updated him from the outside on what he'd found out from Big Ben Donovan's place on MGH and the potential power swings they might both be dealing with in the city. [color=yellow]"The rest know? They not about to do nothin' stupid are they?"[/color] The much taller brother asked about their brothers, wrapping himself in a towel and with one upturned eyebrow. [color=darkmagenta]"[/color][color=chartreuse]Not about the full extent and the MGH, no. Came to you, first.[/color][color=darkmagenta]"[/color] [color=yellow]"Mmm. Tombstone gonna be an issue, huh?"[/color] [color=darkmagenta]"[/color][color=chartreuse]Think there's gonna be a whole lot more issues than just that, it's why I'm telling you first. But yeah.[/color][color=darkmagenta]"[/color] [color=yellow]"How's your suit holding up?"[/color] He seemed to not understand the full gravity of the situation. As if he thought Hobie was coming to Abe more in search of help than anything. [color=darkmagenta]"[/color][color=chartreuse]It's fine. I just wanted to make sure you knew, before you wound up dealing with a whole lot more than you're used to having to deal with.[/color][color=darkmagenta]"[/color] Emphasising the need for caution. [color=yellow]"'s cool. I'm used to dealin' with a lot."[/color] The younger brother wasn't exactly sure where to go from here. He felt Abe still hadn't grasped how heavy this really meant things could get, he'd never looked Spider-Man eye to eye, or seen (or regrettably worked with) the likes of the Sandman up close. There was a whole world that Abraham Brown had never been exposed to in his own street vigilante level exploits, a level that Hobie himself generally gave a wide berth, which he had no idea about. As much as the [i]Black Tiger[/i] wasn't envious of the likes of Luke Cage and Iron Fist, there was a reason that he was only known in his own neighbourhood and they were considerably more renowned. Abe took to the world and beat it into a shape that made sense with his own hands and feet. But there was a whole level of power he'd been fortunate enough to never have to know about - power that went far above and beyond what any jade tiger amulet could give him. Hobie just hoped that he wouldn't be overly confident on the day that power finally came to his world. But for now he had time, a date, and a sometimes violent hobby to give him some things to think about. [/color]