The car wasn't turned on right away. Instead, as Conner sat down he wrapped both of his hands around the wheel in a ten and two position. He sighed to himself, resting his head against the top of the wheel. I'm trying my best, I'm trying my best, I'm trying my best. Only god knew what tomorrow would bring. There's no way it could be worse than two super villains at once, a bombing and mass shooting attempt, followed by having your secret identity spoiled to a stranger by some disrespectful Renaissance fair reject. For the first time in ten years, Conner just wanted a day to himself where he could catch up on some sleep, maybe go bowling, and then fight off a giant rampaging teddy bear who wants to smother the world in hugs and affection. Why is that too much to ask for.
After a deep sigh, Conner slid the key in the ignition. Once the car was turned on, he made sure to turn the volume on the stereo system all the way down. "Yeah," he nodded his head as he looked over in Blair's direction. "I just need some warm apple pie and I'm sure I'll be fine. Anybody hurt?" Now the car was finally moving, leaving it's spot in the parking lot. As the headlights lit the way down the road, Conner couldn't help but feel his stomach churn at the prospect of being referred to as The Night Watcher while he wasn't bearing the mask and cape. Conner enjoyed pie, and fried chicken, and bowling. He was a care free slacker who sold games of mini putt for a living. The Night Watcher, on the other hand, moved through the night swiftly being guided by the hand of Lady Justice, cracking the metaphorical skull or evil and foiling the plans perpetrated by the malicious minds of malintent. Conner and The Night Watcher were two very different people, it wasn't even a blurry line between the two. It was a fairly fine line that both personalities always took caution to stray away from when it comes down to it.
The ride toward Ma's Diner was, sadly and uncharacteristically, a quiet one. There wasn't much that could be said that absolutely needed to be said. At least, the silence came from the closed mouth of Conner. He was stuck in his mind, trying to connect the dots and figure out how he was going to avoid letting what just happened happen again. There is no doubt that he would run into that guy, Fang, again at some point. Odds are, tensions will be high and hostilities will be open. That other 'hero', the one that dropped out of no where and made her presence obnoxiously known. Now that she knew what hid behind the mask of The Night Watcher, could he truly trust that she won't say anything? His work was apparently big around her school, which meant that she had the perfect opportunity to talk about how she met The Night Watcher, and brag about how she knows what he looks like under the mask to all of her friends. It was cool to have fans and all, don't get me wrong. Fans should never see the face of a superhero, unless, of course, they prove themselves enough to be a trusted, valued ally.
The car soon found itself parked in the empty diner parking lot. Conner turned it off and slid the key out as he excited the vehicle. He made sure to hold the door open for his pie enjoying comrades, and let them lead the way to whatever table they wanted. The server, Dot, only brought two menus to the table. She hardly even acknowledged the fact that Conner was even there. That was a normal thing, though. He'd been coming to Ma's since he was even a kid, and used to bring his own family here on Fridays. The Lockheart Family. Conner reached down his shirt, pulling out the pendent he wore around his neck. It had a metal sculpture of the same crescent moon design that was on the chest of his Night Watcher costume.
Three Years Ago
The Lockheart Residence
7:03 AM, December 25th
For about five days now, The Night Watcher had been dormant. There was no sign of the crime fighting powerhouse, and the theorists were beginning to speculate. Had the cities' hero abandoned them? Did he die in some fateful battle? Did he move on to somewhere else and hung up the cape? The answer really wasn't difficult to figure out if someone were to just look at their calendar. Evil took time off if they have families, and so did superheroes these days. Julia never liked it when Conner kept disappearing throughout the night to thwart evil plans, but she knew that he's been doing it long before the two of them got hitched. She always knew he was keeping a secret from her, but didn't realize exactly what it was until she dropped a hardcover book on the coffee table, causing a secret compartment to slide out and reveal the tactical hiding place he had installed for a sawed off shotgun. That was when he was forced to tell her everything.
That's not the point, though. The Night Watcher was on vacation, and Conner was with his family. Julia had crept down the stairs, tying her white house coat closed. She looked over at the beautifully lit, and carefully decorated tree that stood over the ocean of presents and gifts -which, for the most part, Julia had to wrap because Conner couldn't figure out how to wrap a present without accidentally wrapping his own hand. There was a smell that filled the house; freshly cooked eggs and bacon, with the scent of something sweet baking. As Julia made her way into the kitchen, it was almost as if Conner was making up a Christmas feast. There was hash browns frying in a skillet with green peppers and onions, bacon and sausages sizzling together on the burner beside it, and Conner had his back turned, facing the sink as he whisked away into a measuring cup.
"You weren't supposed to see this," Conner said over his shoulder, not even looking behind him. "Go lay in bed for ten more minutes, I'll come get you and then we can wake Hannah up."
"I don't think you need to worry about her." Julia smiled gently, listening to the sounds of pitter pattering across the hallway up above, as a very excited seven year old thought she could get the jump on her parents and wake them up. The way her little mind worked, she figured that her parents were too old to wake up early anymore.
Conner turned around to face Julia, taking a few steps closer to her. He leaned toward her, which caused her to close her eyes and lean in for a kiss. A devilish laugh came from Conner as he tapped her on the forehead with his index finger, reaching across her to the counter and grabbing a pinch of freshly grated cheddar from the bowl instead of kissing her, turning back to face the sink as he dropped the cheese into the measuring cup with the eggs and spices. "Merry Christmas," the still laughing Conner let out. "I'm mad at you still, for ruining my surprise, but I'll forgive you."
"Oh, you're so generous." Julia rolled her eyes as she came behind him, wrapping her arms around his stomach. She reached up on her tip-toes, kissing him on the cheek. The sounds of feet could be heard running back down the hall, and then the stairs began to thud-thud-thud as Hannah ran down the stairs. The audible sound of her expressing her excitement and bewilderment at the ocean of presents caused Conner to look down at Julia with a smile, who looked back up at him with an expression of grateful happiness that matched his. Once breakfast was finished, and Conner's Christmas tree shaped pie (that he had been spending all night trying to figure out how to make) was out of the oven, it was time to give Hannah what she was waiting all year for. She was a great kid, would never hurt a fly, and left the pranks to her father. She always went all year going out of her way to stay on the nice list, which was a great start for teaching her the behavior preferred by her parents, but Conner knew that soon he would have to nip that materialism that they were programming into her brain quite soon.
It was a tradition for Conner to grab and hand out the presents, while Julia took pictures and threw playful jabs at Conner. He wasn't allowed to go a single Christmas without his Santa Clause hat on, which made for a very jolly loser of a husband. It was cute, seeing the world's greatest superhero in footie pajamas and a flannel t-shirt, turning him into the world's best dad instead. Conner picked up a small present that had been placed on top of a much bigger present that had Julia's name on it. The small one was to Conner, from Julia and Hannah. "If it's another pack of hair ties, you know I'm just going to lose them all." He smiled as he pulled the paper off, looking at the crescent moon pendant that was attached to a piece of high quality, black string.
"You know what that is?" Julia asked as she aimed her camera up to him.
"I'm no expert, but it looks to me like a necklace of some sort. It might be a friendship bracelet, or maybe the key to the city of Ohio."
"You've told me that the moon gives you hope, and makes you feel safe. So when you're out at your second job, I wanted you to be able to wear that and know that Hannah and I are always by your side, giving you hope." That was the last thing Conner had ever heard Julia say. She brought her camera up to her eye, but never got a chance to snap the picture of Conner putting it on. The explosion started at the window behind the Christmas tree, the fire bursting the glass and engulfing the tree, the presents, and the heroes' wife who sat beside the fireplace near the window. Before Conner could even realize what had happened, he was already cradling Hannah, his back to the fire to try and protect her. The front door blew open as all of the windows surrounding the house exploded in a raging fire. Conner's eyes darted around, looking for the safest way out. Holding his crying daughter, he made a break for the front door, only to be greeted by him. Despite the glare from the fire, Conner could recognize that blue suit and double swords from anywhere.
How the fuck did he find me.
The figure reached down to his hip, pulling a gun. Conner slid his hand under Hannah's back, and hooked one hand under her legs as he tossed her to the side, watching as she went over the railing and landed hard on the stairs. Conner didn't want to give him any opportunity to fire his weapon. He darted forward, grabbing one of the kitchen chairs from the table. He held it by where someone would rest their back when they sat down, and swung it like a baseball bat. As the man kicked it out of Conner's hand, Conner knew he had to move fast. He wrapped his arms around the man's waist and pushed him outside into the snow.
Bang.
The gun had been pressed directly against Conner's shoulder as he mounted himself on the fallen figure, preparing to pummel him with a myriad of punches. Conner knew that gun all too well, and he knew that the gun was so technologically advanced that it locked on to a specific target. The worst case scenario hit Conner like a light bulb lighting up, as the bullet tore clean through his shoulder and whizzed into the house.
