“Be a superhero,” they say. Help the world. Fight the villains of the world. With great power, comes great…you know. They should include, “Be a superhero and freeze your ass off on stakeouts!”
Flarebird rubbed her hands again in another bid to keep warm. It was a futile bid as she was in her barely there costume. Her red tank-tops and hot pants were designed to be sexy, not to keep warm. When Flarebird told the designers at the Halls of Heroics she was uncomfortable with the costume, they came out with charts after charts of how good the costume did with the focus groups. A redhead with flame powers, Flarebird was pretty but by no means a knockout. So a sexy costume was needed to ‘enhance’ her image. No masks or body armor for her. If she was cold or in danger, she could always throw up that fire shield of hers around her body. Her shield acts as a defensive shield and could also warm up her body. The costume designers said they thought of “everything”.
Unfortunately, the shield is also bright red in color which is not a good thing when you are doing a stakeout on rooftops. So Flarebird is now freezing her beautiful ass off in her costume while not even bothering to say how embarrassed she felt in it. The Halls of Heroics designers probably laughed their guts out at an 18 year old girl with a problem with showing skin.
Sighing, Flarebird hoped that her enemy would show up soon. Just like that, she saw a woman entering the room. Flarebird recognized her immediately. Dark Razor was one of the top female villains of the world. A magic-user, she was wanted in several countries for practicing black magic. It was also the reason Flarebird was alone. She might be shy, but Flarebird was also ambitious. Taking Dark Razor down on her own might just be what the doctor ordered for her flagging superhero career. No more stupid stakeouts and patrolling the city hoping for something to happen, instead she would be on special missions’ status. On standby when the city, country or world was in danger. Not only would she have better hours, heroes on special status were the ones who ring in the money with endorsements and sponsorships.
Flarebird looked at the room again. The window she was looking through offered a good view and she saw Dark Razor walking up to the alter on the far side. She was chanting some black magic verses and a red hole suddenly appeared on top of the alter. Dark Razor’s hand then reached into a bag on the floor and pulled a cat out of it. A cat in one hand and a knife in the other, Flarebird had seen enough. Diving through the window, Flarebird switched on her flame powers and threw a fireball at the witch. The fireball was right on the mark, hitting the villain right in the chest. The cat flew out of the witch’s hand into the hole and a white light exploded into the room. That was the last thing Flarebird remembered.
“What rotten luck!” the demon screamed. “An accident!” One moment, he was walking along the Mind River, the next he was on his ass in another world with 2 women laying in front of him; one of them dead! The demon knew he was summoned but do not know why. Using the mind powers his race has, he entered the mind of the woman and he was not happy with what he found.
The summoning was broken and he was an accident. Worse, he has no way home as the witch who summoned him was dead and the other woman was some sort of hero on this world. “What rotten luck!” he screamed again.
The demon immediately knew what he had to do. He used his mind to enter the hero’s mind. First he sped up her body’s healing process and then he made the necessary adjustments.
Part 1
The heroine called Flarebird came through the windows rubbing her arms. She was unsurprised by the chuckle from the bedroom. Sighing, Flarebird walked into the bedroom and saw the demon lounging in her bed. With the body of a male supermodel, the demon was a beautiful sight. In fact with not for his 2 protruding horns and grayish skin, the demon would have been able to pass as a beautiful human.
“Another glorious day in the life of superheroes,” the demon laughed.
Flarebird was too cold for jokes. “Still lounging around doing nothing I see.”
“Of course,” the demon’s smile turned slightly dark. “Are demons still illegal on this world?”
That bought her up short. They both knew it was partly her fault the demon was now struck in this dimension without a way of getting back home. That was why she was currently hiding the demon in her small flat. It was the least she could do since she would be dead if the demon hadn’t healed her. According to the demon, her injuries were that bad and Flarebird had no reason to doubt her.
Sighing again, Flarebird apologized. “Sorry demon. I just had a bad day.”
“No criminals today?”
“Not on the police scanners, no alerts, not even a potential crime in progress. A wasted day…like usual.”
“I’ve been reading and watching your television about this. Don’t you superheroes have something called “On Call” status?”
“Yes but you have to be at least a Level 3 hero to qualify for the status.” Flarebird sighed again. “I’m a Level 1.”
“What does this level means?” the demon asked.
“It’ll take too long to explain.”
“I’m not doing anything and talking will be good for you.” The demon smile while patting on the bad suggestively.
“Fine, I’m a Level 1 hero which is what we called a street hero.” Flarebird started taking off her bare costume as she explained. “A Level 1 is someone who patrols the streets and takes on common criminals. In rural areas, I would most probably have a position as a deputy or sheriff of a town but in a city like Century, there are too many superheroes already so I don’t really have a formal position.”
“So why not moved to a small town?”
“Cause to get to Level 2; you need to have some accolades. Move over will you?” Flarebird had finished taking off her costume and slide into bed along the demon. Having a handsome at home does have some benefits. “Something like stopping a bank robbery or taking down a gang.”
“You need something glorious.” The demon kissed Flarebird on the lips.
“Yeah…or at least something that will be shown on the news, but most of the known gangs in Century City
“Television? Oh, is that why you do not move to a town and wear a stupid uniform?”
“In a way,” Flarebird admitted. “It’s easier to be known as a superhero in a city than a town that doesn’t even have a television crew.”
“Wonderstar is that Level 4 superhero right?” the demon pulled the blanket over them as he slowly entered the superhero. “You haven’t explained what that means yet.”
“A street-hero patrol the city and make sure there are no simple crimes like…ah, purse snatching or muggings. Uh…theory is that once you gain enough experience, you get promoted…ah, to Level 2; a city hero.”
“A city hero is one that handles crime throughout the city right?”
“Uh…oh, yes.”
The demon slowed down his movements. He wanted the heroine to continue the explanation. He was truly intrigued. The rules of this new world were strange and perplexing to him. “Do they also have to do these stakeouts and patrols?”
“Yes, Level 2 heroes still need to do patrols. They will response to any crisis within their cities but only at Level 3 will the hero be on call.”
“Level 3?”
“They are also known as “State Heroes”.” Flarebird said. “If there is major crisis in the state or region, Level 3 heroes are the ones to call. That’s why they don’t have to do patrols.”
“So they just wait for a crisis?” The demon put his hands on the heroine’s breast and squeezed them.
Flarebird nodded her head in approval at both the act and the question. “Oh yes! More demon”
“Master,” the demon admonished. “How many times must I tell you to call me Master?”
“Right, that’s going to happen!” The heroine giggled, “I’ll make a deal with you. I will call you Master if you tell me your name.”
“Names have power over demons.” The demon smiled in return. “But we are going off-topic here. Level 4?”
“National heroes; they deal with crisis anywhere in the country. That’s why Wonderstar isn’t always in Century City
“Sorry,” and in a way he was but he has other things on his mind, “but I don’t want you to lose concentration. Stop pouting and continue your explanation woman.”
There wasn’t much she could do in this situation except giving the demon what he wanted. “Above Level 4s are the Level 5s who are global heroes. They deal with crisis that would threaten the world like that time when a huge meteor was found approaching our world.”
“So Level 5s are the “Global Protectors?” the demon heard of the name from the television. “They are the most powerful heroes known to your people?”
“They are the most powerful on the planet but not known to my people. Above them are the cosmic heroes who deal with crisis throughout the galaxy but they are very rare because their power levels need to go beyond Level 5.” Flarebird tried to remember, “Throughout history, there are only about 10 to 15 known beings above Level 5.”
“That’s what makes no sense to me.” The demon said. “If being well-known is what you need to advance to the next level, what does your power level has to do with anything?”
“Because if a hero is very powerful, advancement is almost a given.” Flarebird explained. “I mean no one want to waste your talent fighting street crime if you can stop a meteor that would kill everyone on the planet right? Where’s the sense in that?”
“So having accolades isn’t the only to advance up the ranks!” the demon finally understood. The heroes had a two-track system for advancement. “Can’t you increase your power?”
“Ha!” The heroine laughed. “That’s easier said than done. Every hero…” The demon stopped his movement. “Hey, why you stop?”
“I might actually be able to help you with that.”
“You can?”
“Yes but I need some…equipments first.”
Part 2
The heroine called Flarebird came through the door carrying 3 bags worth of items and knew instinctively that the demon was in the bedroom again. As time goes, she found that she had developed some sort of link with the demon.
Carrying the bags into the room, Flarebird saw that the demon was sewing and stitching while reading a book she bought for him. ‘Powers: Where It Comes From’, it was an expensive book. Not for the first time, she wondered if the demon has some sort of magical ability for multi-tasking. If it was playing her for a fool, she would be pissed.
“Here!” She dropped the bags on the bed. “These are the stuff on your list.”
“Ok thanks,” the demon replied absently. “Your new suit is almost done. Just a few more adjustments and it’ll be ready.”
“I still can’t understand why you think a new suit would help me develop my powers.” Flarebird hands on hips said, “My powers don’t depend on technology so a new costume is not going to help me.”
The demon sighed. Something he had gotten very good at these past few days. “Must we go over this again Flarebird? Like I told you before, when I entered your mind to help with your healing I…”
“You discovered how my powers work and how you can make it better,” Flarebird recited and then with a tone of anger continued, “Something that all the engineers, scientists and inventors in the Halls of Heroics couldn’t figure out!”
“Ask your scientists why they haven’t figured it out,” the demon said. “Besides, how much would it hurt to try out my suit?”
“Your suit is doing a number on my bank account.”
“So…it’s not worth the money to try to increase your Level?” That got the heroine to shut up and the demon continued, “Treat it as an investment.”
“Fine, but let me help you.”
“No”
“Why not?” The heroine asked in frustration. This wasn’t the first time they had this conversation. “I can sew as...”
The demon put up a hand to stop Flarebird. “I have seen enough television these few weeks to have an idea of the limits of your world’s top designers. I find them lacking. On my world, the whole lot of them would be novices.”
Flarebird can’t help but shake her head at that. “I still can’t believe on your world, only men sew and design clothes. Don’t female demons do that at all?”
“No! It is forbidden.” The demon emphasized the word “forbidden”. “On my world, females are dressed only in the garments their males make for them. They are forbidden to wear anything else.”
“Is that why female demons always dress so sexy in pictures?” Flarebird can’t help but grinned. “Because they were all dressed by their men?”
“It depends on which demon world they come from. On my world, we tend to dress our females in more…confined clothing.”
“Confined clothing?”
“Yes,” the demon said. “Well, the exact concept is “elegant confinement with full essential functionally.” Seeing the confusion on Flarebird’s face, the demon decided to give a more simple explanation. “Basically, the cloths we designed must restrict the movements of the female to show our control over them but at the same time be made in a way that allow the female to work normally. The top designers in my world are those who can design the garment in a way that restrict the movement but allow the females to work even better at their jobs.”
“Confine…is that why you are always naked? Because in your world cloths are supposed to be restrictive?”
“In a way…yes.”
Flarebird’s grin got bigger. “Let me guess; next you are going to ask me to but collars, leashes and chains for you.”
“Of course not!” The demon was horrified. “You people are so strange. There are simpler, more elegant ways to confine someone. Don’t worry. You will be happy with the results.”
“And if I’m not?”
“I’ll get out of your life, but if you are then you have to call me master.”
“It’s a bet!”
Part 3
“What is this?”
“It’s called a wingsuit.” The demon said. “It will…”
“I know what a wingsuit is!” Flarebird screamed. “I want to know why am I wearing one?”
“With it you can fly!”
“Fly?”
“Yes,” the demon smiled proudly. “When I entered your mind to speed up your healing, I got an idea of what your powers can do. With your fire shield, you can float in the air right?” The heroine nodded. “So if you get enough height, you can just dive down…”
“I can’t float that fast. I’ll be shot down before getting to a height that would make such a strategy worthwhile.” Flarebird complained. “And this suit is kind of stuffy!”
“Good.” the demon waved away the complaints and said, “First on your fire shield, like you usually do.”
Flarebird saw the demon picking up a device called the Power Calculator. The device was used to calculate the power output of metahumans powers, another expensive item she bought for the demon in the past few days. Seeing it made the heroine realized how much money she had shelled out already. It was too late for her to have doubts now. She turned on her shield…and immediately noticed a difference.
“What the…?” Flarebird was surprised. Her shield was brighter than usual.
“Just as I thought!” the demon smiled and showed her the reading on the Power Calculator. Flarebird blinked her eyes in confusion. It was higher than ever…and she wasn’t even trying!
“How…is that thing malfunctioning?”
“No, it’s just as I thought.” The demon explained, “Your powers are flame-based and heat is necessary for your flames to be ignited higher.”
“Heat? Is that why your…uh, my suit is covering every part of my body?”
“Yes! The reason why your powers levels were so low thus far is because your former costume does not trap the heat of your flames. This suit is triple layered so it should double or triple your power output.”
“Thus allowing me to float up twice or three times faster!”
“Ah, you’re getting the idea.” The demon nodded in agreement. “You can float up and then dive down using the wingsuit spreading your arms as wide as possible. Also with your increased power output, you can direct your flight by pushing flames through your hands. If you need to gain height, on your shield again to regain it.”
“But I can’t walk in this suit.”
“Limit your ability to walk for an ability to fly. Tell me that’s a bad deal?”
Flarebird couldn’t. “Okay but what about this…mask you gave me? It’s blocking half my face!”
“That’s for anyone who tried to attack you from the air. Your powers require you to point at the direction to release your fireball right?” The demon waited for the heroine to nod her head. “With the wingsuit, you can’t point upwards so use the point of your headgear as a direction focus. With some practice, it may also give you a way to attack from the air!”
“You thought of everything didn’t you?” Flarebird gave a smile at the demon before realizing the mask was blocking it.
“Of course! It’s my design isn’t it? Now go out there and start practicing!”
Epilogue
The heroine called Flarebird came through the windows of her home in delight. Sensing the demon, she waddled into the bedroom where the demon was lounging in her bed again. It was to her the perfect sight. She slowly waddled to the bed and stood beside the demon.
“Master.”
“Good day?”
“Very good Master! I was just told by the Hall I’m going to be promoted to level 3.”
“That didn’t take long.”
“My powers levels are too high to be at level 2 so I’m not surprised.”
“How do they take to the new name I choose for you?”
“Not that happy but it’s not unusual for heroes to change names once in a while so they accepted the change.”
“The Flame!”
“Yes Master”
“Well, so what do you want slave?”
“This slave asks that her master released her from the beautiful suit he created for her.”
“What for?” The demon stood up and lifted the heroine up in his arms. Carefully placing her on the bed, the demon then straddled her. The Flame couldn’t help but giggled.
“Oh Master, I’m afraid you can’t have your way with your slave while she is still in her suit.”
“Oh but you forget slave; this is my suit. And I plan for everything!”
The demon traced a finger between the heroine’s legs and a hole magically appeared. The Flame’s giggle turned into a laugh.
“Oh Master, you truly are a devious demon.”
“Thank you slave.” The demon said as he entered his slave. “I think I like you this way, helpless beneath me.”
“Your wish is my command Master.” The heroine half-joking said. “Master, please enter my mind.”
The demon looked at her in surprise. “Why?” he asked.
“Please do so Master and see the truth of my words?” The demon was intrigued and entered the heroine’s mind. The Flame could sense the demon in her mind and said, “I would never betray you Master!”
The demon sensed the truth of her words. “Yes, I know.”
“Please tell me your name Master?” The heroine asked. “I would protect it with my life.”
The demon thought for a second but even without his mind powers, he could tell that the heroine was telling the truth. She would die before telling anyone his secret.
“Artilouvio,” the demon answered. “My name is Artilouvio.”
“Artil…what?”
The demon smile, “Just call me Art.”
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