The barber's scissors had snipped away more than almost all his hair.
Now, his white locks were short and slicked back, neat and sharp. No more tangled mess, no more shadows hiding his face. He even had his beard shaved clean off making him look his age.
Flamestar paid the talent barber before walking out with Arthur, "When you said you wanted a haircut. I can understand why." Admiring his youthful appearance.
Arthur didn't respond, but the corner of his mouth twitched.
Flamestar pressed the ring on her finger, and in a shimmer of light, her hero persona disappeared.
Her long blonde hair rest gracefully over her shoulders, while her green eyes shone brilliantly. She wore mainly light blue makeup and nail posh with tiny white stars. She slightly tugged her white dress, so it was at the very least past her knees, "For now on, call me Vanessa Star. Looks like our car has arrived."
A sleek black car pulled up to the curb. The doors opened, and two young women in crisp maid uniforms stepped out, bowing slightly.
"Good afternoon, Lady Vanessa," said Becky. One of the maids who had long black hair reaching her lower back. She had a perfect curvy figure who was in her late twenties.
"This must be young Arthur." said Cassie. A brown hair woman with an afro stood by Becky. A much leaner woman who was in her early twenties.
Vanessa pointed to them, "Arthur, meet Becky. She will be watching over you guys and acting as your caretaker. Cassie over there is my personal maid but she will also be looking after you guys on Becky breaks. And this," she faces the stern-faced man behind the wheel, "is Hans our personal driver and head of security."
Arthur gave a stiff nod.
Becky entered the front next to Hans while Cassie sat between Vanessa and Arthur, Vanessa crossed her legs and leaned back, "There are benefits of being a top ten hero. This is one of them."
Arthur glance at Becky who was staring at him in the rear window before looking away, "Not my type of car to be honest. I prefer something more expensive. Does hero work pay a lot?"
"It depends on what hero path you follow but first you should know that you are sharing a space with three others. Think of them as siblings or teammates."
Arthur stared out the window, "Teammates huh, do they know?"
"Yes they do know about you and who you are. But they not as critical as you believe. They mainly see you as a reforming hero. There are times I will ask you to go on mission together or sole, so you better be prepared." She states after sipping her tea.
"As long as they are cool with me then we won't have problems." Arthur replied
Vanessa clapped her hand together, "Super, now how many types of hero are in this world? I'm mainly referring to the superhero industry." Asked Vanessa.
Cassie passed a cup of tea to Arthur, "When did protecting lives become an industry?"
Vanessa sipped her tea before replying, "Quite a few years ago. After so many popular heroes were making a name for themselves and need funding for their services. This act of volunteering soon turned into an international billion-dollar industry. With rules and regulations that keep this business surviving."
She held up her right finger, "First the Celebrity Heroes. They sell their image and their brand. They the type of heroes that has lots of merchandise, endorsements, public appearances, for example Glamourbabe is the top selling celebrity hero for the past ten years. Their Hero identity is their mask, and their mask is their fortune. They are heroes you have seen on TV most of time. It's honestly mostly a risk less path to take especially if your powers are useless. Important note, these heroes are the only one allowed to arrest people during the day and receive a quote of arrested."
A second finger joined the first.
"Then, there are the Keepers. No fame. No glory. Just the mission regardless how risky it is. These heroes carry our industry because they upon what we call the hero code. Sadly, not many pick this path because not only the pay is little, but the risk is just way too high. They are free to arrest at night, but they are not allowed to steal arrested from celebrate hero." She explained.
Arthur frowned, "Which one are you?"
Vanessa smirked, "Both. Don't get me wrong, I'm a business gurl. I want Flamestar be the figure that keeps the people happy but at the same time I'm not bending over for my boss so they can have more money in their pockets. I become a hero so that I can protect anyone no matter what it is."
She leaned forward, her gaze sharp, "But you will be going down a different path. For now, you are a keeper."
Arthur exhaled, "I still found it hard to believe that you actually want me to work with you?"
Vanessa exhaled, "When I become the number ten hero. I was given permission to classified information about things we shouldn't know about. One of them was Empire Gold death tape."
She continues, "After analysing it, I noticed that there was a gunfire which wasn't present in news version, and it wasn't edited like the other one."
Arthur faces her immediately, "Wait they knew about the gunfire?"
Vanessa slowly nodded her head, "Which made me suspicion of the association for another reason. If Empire Gold was the number 1 hero...why did, they spread the news of you killing him instead of having Kaizer being the reason of his death. Which caused three reactions: people are mocking his death because a child killed him, some people want you dead, and finally many people actually believe it was Kaizer which made people suspicion of them using a child as a scrap goat. Not only that, Kaizer was given a lighter sentence after you were on the world spotlight. And now he is off the grid somewhere."
Arthur clutches his hand with rage burning in his eyes, "You don't mean-"
She nodded her head, "I feel like. The hero association wanted him dead, but I can't confirm that or explain why. Eventually, I'll found out the truth behind all of this."
The car slowed to a stop.
"Now then" Vanessa said, sliding out after Becky open the door for her, "Let's meet your new family." She looked at the Star penthouse.
---
Vanessa alongside Arthur and the two maids waited patiently for the elevator to reach the top floor, "Oh Arthur." Vanessa called out.
"Yeah?" He replied
Vanessa had a suspicion smirk on her face, "Just know, you can either call me mommy or mom. Since I'm taking care of you."
Arthur glare at her but turned his attention to the elevator when it reaches its final destination.
The elevator doors slid open to reveal the penthouse's lavish interior.
Before Arthur could take a full step inside, a muscular man massive fist was already flying toward his face.
A gauntleted blue hand intercepted the blow mid-air.
Arthur's spectral knight had materialized in an instant, the impact sending a shockwave through the penthouse that made the chandelier sway dangerously.
"Tch. Not bad," the man growled, his muscles bulging as he pushed against the knight's grip.
His brown hair whipped around his face.
Vanessa sighed, "Duke, we just had this place redecorated—"
Her protest was cut off as Bruce's hand touched her shoulder.
In a blink, Vanessa, Becky and Cassie vanished from the combat zone, reappearing safely on the penthouse's observation balcony twenty feet away.
"Sorry mom," a timid man adjusted his glasses nervously from his new position, "But you know how Duke gets when testing new recruits."
Vanessa's eyes twitch as she fold her arms, "Bruce, did he tell you to do this?"
Bruce nervously teleport away hiding away from Vanessa wraith.
Back in the main room, the battle escalated. Duke's second punch sent the knight sliding back three feet, the third cracked its breastplate, and the fourth—
"Enough!" A feminine voice cut through the chaos as her trigger flare.
A green aura surrounded both Duke and the knight, freezing them mid-swing.
The coffee table that had been floating toward the ceiling was gently being lowered back to the floor.
Duke strained against the invisible force, "Annie! I was just—"
"About to make me clean up another broken penthouse?" Annie interrupted, her twin ponytails swaying as she walked between the frozen combatants.
She tapped the knight's frozen fist, "Interesting construct. Feels... cold." Her blue eyes narrowed at Arthur, "And angry. Very angry."
Arthur remained silent, but his left eye's red hue deepened slightly.
Annie held up her hands, "Relax, newbie. We're all friends here." She released her hold with a flick of her wrist.
Duke stumbled forward before catching himself, while the knight dissolved into blue embers.
Bruce teleported back in, nervously adjusting his glasses, "S-sorry about that. Duke's... enthusiastic."
Duke cracked his neck, "Had to see if the stories were true." He extended a massive hand toward Arthur, "You alright bro."
Vanessa reappeared in a swirl of flames, her maid entourage following through the now-open balcony doors, "Are we done with the warm welcoming?" She clapped her hands, "Now that introductions are properly made—"
"Wait," Annie interrupted, her eyes suddenly glowing brighter blue.
"There's something else." She turned to Arthur. "Your knight... it's not just a construct, is it? It's—"
Arthur's left eye flashed red. Annie gasped as her psychic connection severed abruptly.
"Don't dwell into someone else personal matter." Arthur finished coldly.
The room was beginning to feel tensed.
Vanessa's laugh broke the tension, "Now now, Annie we talk about looking into people mind besides," She threw an arm around Arthur's shoulders, "This guy is your new little brother so best respect his boundaries okay."
Annie rubbed her temples but smirked. "You're right, sorry it's a habit of mine. Must say that it impressive that you cancel my abilities like that."
Bruce approach the group, "Um, should we... show him his room?"
Duke grunted, hefting a dumbbell, "After he lifts a few set."
Vanessa rolled her eyes, "Later. First—" She produced a sleek black card from her dress, "—we're going shopping. You really need a new set of clothes since I can't let you wear that trench coat forever."
As the team fell into their natural rhythm of bickering and banter.
Arthur sighed and quietly mutter, "This is my life now." With a slight smile on his face.