Chapter Two
Shawn unlocked the door to his tiny studio apartment and whistled, “Hey, Ears, buddy, I’m home.”
There was a thunk and the clattering of dog claws on the vinyl floors before his basset hound scampered around the futon bed in the center of the apartment, ears flopping.
“Hey there, boy.” Shawn knelt and stroked Ears’s back before the dog rolled over for his evening belly rubs.
“Good boy, who’s a good boy,” Shawn cooed.
He straightened. “How about I feed you then we can walk down to the Greek place on the corner and get me something to go? Sound good?” The dog’s tail drummed against the floor.
Shawn laughed. He felt like celebrating tonight, even if there wasn’t a reason.
Yeah, he had homework from his economics class and paperwork from a DOSA training mission from three days before he hadn’t filed, but what he really wanted was a lamb gyro and maybe some baklava.
He poured Ears a scoop of kibble before sinking onto the futon to check his social media. Almost immediately his phone buzzed with an incoming video call from “Dad.”
He hit the button. His father’s face appeared on the screen.
“Hey, Pops. What’s up?” Shawn asked.
“Do I need a reason to call my only son?” Dave Park, AKA, Verve, winked at Shawn.
“I guess not.” Shawn put his feet up on his dented coffee table, a piece of furniture he’d rescued from the curb on trash day with every intention of refinishing.
The dual responsibilities of superhero and college student hadn’t given him much time for such projects, though.
Finishing his dinner, Ears wandered over and rested his head on Shawn’s knee.
“So what are you doing tonight?” Dave pressed.
Shawn shrugged. “Just got in after my last class. Going to rest up for a minute before taking the dog on a walk and maybe getting something to eat.”
“No plans to rescue a litter of drowning kittens from a rising flash flood?” Dave snorted.
Shawn chuckled. “Nah, not tonight. Maybe Friday after school.”
Dave’s mouth twisted like he’d tasted something sour.
Shawn sat up a little straighter. He knew that look. “Something wrong?”
“It’s just when we agreed to the DOSA internship, we were very clear on the parameters.
You were going to focus full time on your studies and on weekends attend training sessions.
You weren’t supposed to start actual hero work, but it seems like every time I turn on the news I see articles about College City’s rising new hero, speculation on who you could be, what your next act of heroism will consist of—”
“That’s just the press, Dad. You of all people should know how they blow things out of proportion, especially in a place like this where nothing ever happens.”
“Nothing ever happens, but you still managed to get involved with that fire a few weeks ago.”
“I was the only one close, and those pets were going to die!” Shawn protested. He switched the phone’s camera around to zero in on Ears. “Look at this face and tell me you wouldn’t have done the same thing?”
“Just because it was the right thing to do doesn’t mean it was the smart thing to do,” his father continued to lecture.
“There’s a reason DOSA heroes always work in teams. If something had gone wrong, there would’ve been no one there to back you up.
I know being a young sable, you must feel invincible, but trust me, you’re not, and if something happened to you, it would crush me. You know that, right?”
A twinge of guilt crept through Shawn. “Yeah. I promise I’m being careful. I’m not seeking out trouble, but do you really expect me to turn my back on people—or animals for that matter—when I could help them?”
“I suppose not.” Dave sighed. “So, any big plans for this weekend? You seemed chipper before I brought down the mood. Something up?”
Shawn considered this. He had been in a particularly good mood.
Not for the first half of the day, though.
Looking back, it had been one of those mornings.
Late for his first class, found out that he’d only managed a C on his latest assignment .
.. then something had shifted. Specifically at the coffee shop when he’d talked to that cute but sad barista.
“I met someone today.”
“Oh, really?” Dave leaned closer to the camera. “A lady someone?”
Shawn forced a laugh. “It was only a little flirting with a girl at the coffee shop. For all I know she has a boyfriend, but yeah, I’d lie if I said it didn’t put me in a good mood.”
“Pretty girl?”
“Yeah, actually. Red hair, smattering of freckles, kind of a quiet, shy demeanor, but she seemed really sweet.” Shawn’s whole being softened at the memory.
“Red head? Your grandma is going to be so disappointed you aren’t interested in a nice Korean girl.”
“I’m hardly in a committed relationship,” Shawn snickered. “Like I said, we talked for a minute. It was great, but that was it.”
“You going to see her again?”
“Probably. I mean, she’s standing between me and my caffeine addiction.”
Ears whined and pawed at Shawn’s leg.
“Sounds like the boss wants your full attention,” his father teased.
“Yeah, I promised him a walk after dinner.” Shawn stood. “I can talk and walk, though.”
“No, not necessary. I just wanted to check in, make sure you were staying safe. Remember, though, the phone works both ways. You can always drop me a call if you need anything.”
“Will do. Tell Mom I love her, and I’ll call her tomorrow after class.”
The call disconnected. Shawn shoved his phone into his pocket and took the leash from the hook next to the door. Ears’s tail wagged frantically.
A few minutes later, Shawn strode through the twilight of an autumn evening, stopping every few feet to let Ears sniff something, in no particular hurry.
Leaves crunched under foot. He inhaled a long draft of cold air.
Soon the smell of rotisserie chicken and lamb drifted along with the cold breeze.
His mouth watered, anticipating the tangy bite of tzatziki and the crunch of cucumbers and red onion.
His phone buzzed. He fished it out and checked the screen. The caller ID read “College Town City Hall.” His lips pursed. At this time of night? He hit answer.
“Hello,” he said, his hesitancy drawing out the word.
“Surge, this is Mayor Pendleton.”
Shawn blinked. “Uh, hi. How ...” He stopped himself from asking how the mayor got this number.
DOSA was very bad about protecting the secret identities of the few heroes who chose to keep them.
Honestly, Shawn had only agreed to the whole charade at the urging of his father.
He was under no illusion that he’d be able to keep up the double life of Shawn-slash-Surge once the press and internet sleuths caught wind of his existence. “How can I help you?” he asked instead.
“Can you meet me on the roof of city hall?” the mayor’s voice sounded eager, like a child wanting to show off a new toy.
“Now?” Shawn cast a longing look down the road where he could see the lights strung around the distant food truck.
“As soon as possible. I have something to show you. Something I think you’ll like.”
Shawn closed his eyes. Okay, Shawn, this is what you wanted, to be a DOSA hero. Just like Dad. You of all people knew that this would be part of that, juggling politicians.
“Okay, I’ll be there soon.” Hanging up the phone he glanced around.
The street lights flickered overhead, but it was overall dark.
Stepping into the shadows between two buildings, he scooped up Ears.
“Sorry, boy. Looks like the walk is getting cut short tonight.” With a deep breath, he kicked off the ground, his energy surging beneath him.
Ears tucked safely in his arms, he zoomed into the night sky.
He landed on the small balcony of his apartment a short while later and entered through the unlocked sliding glass doors.
Once released, Ears scampered immediately to his doggy bed and flopped down, looking every bit as if he’d melted.
Shawn laughed before hurriedly changing out of his jeans and hoodie into his lightweight body armor, dark blue with a silver starburst insignia on the chest. He hesitated with the mask in his hand.
This was the mayor, not a villain or, perhaps worse, a reporter.
Still, the mask was part of his persona.
Might as well own it. He strapped it in place before heading back to the balcony and shooting into the sky.
A few minutes later he alighted on the roof of city hall.
A figure cloaked in shadow stood across the flat space, standing next to something large and shapeless.
Immediately, Shawn tensed. Was this a trap?
How did he know it was the mayor who had called instead of some impersonator, and why hadn’t he thought twice before meeting a voice over the phone on a darkened rooftop?
“Hey, it’s me,” he called out.
A cell phone illuminated a middle-aged man wearing a green “Pendleton for Mayor” baseball cap.
Shawn relaxed before gliding across the remaining space towards the mayor. He glanced at the large object, just under his own height, hidden beneath a tarp beside the mayor.
“What can I do for you, Mayor Pendleton?”
“For me? No, no, Surge, the question is what can I do for you.” The mayor gave a toothy grin.
Shawn’s stomach twisted. “Uh, I don’t really need anything at the moment, but thanks.”
I mean a quiet night not interrupted by meetings that could’ve been accomplished over text would be nice.
“Nonsense. Everyone needs something.” The mayor leaned closer. “For instance, College City needs a full-time superhero.”