Derrick Payne, the original teen heartthrob and teenage billionaire. Skull knew that Duskfall was one the best at protecting his secret identity, and acting as the polar opposite of his superhero counterpart. He didn't know one girl at his High School that didn't have a crush on Derrick Payne. Even people from Eximius City knew the teenager from Taropolis. What the girls with a crush on him didn't know, is that there was a very slim chance Derrick would even look at them.
He observed that Derrick's dark brown hair had not changed color in the years. A white streak hung from the single bang on the right side of his face. Derrick had intense green eyes, the color stood out among his other features. The eighteen year old had a strong complexion and high cheekbones. He noticed Night taking a shy interest in the ground. Jason didn't blame her, Derrick made some girls faint looking at him. He should introduce Brian to him, they would probably be in the same teen magazine. Vexen was standing silently, his face a mixture of shock and curiosity. He took this time to clear his throat, gaining the attention of the other three heroes.
"I suppose masks can come off now?" He said, half asking a question.
"Fine," Night replied first, her tone surprisingly controlled.
Vexen pulled down his hood, untying the bandanna around his mouth and nose. Jason shrugged and simply reached up and tugged off his domino mask. Night hesitantly discarded her mask and yanked down her hood. Derrick stood placid, his face not showing any sign of emotion. He knew that Derrick tended to block out all emotions, it seemed to help the hero in some ways.
"Normally I would go back to Taropolis," Derrick said, his voice was still monotone and calm. "However, with Black Skull back and this new high tech villain, I will remain in Eximius City for the time being."
"Your absence in Taropolis will raise suspicion," Skull added, crossing his arms.
"Hailstar can protect Taropolis until I return-"
"I'm not talking about Duskfall's absence, Derrick."
"Ah," Derrick nodded, "I arranged a business trip here, to meet with the CEO of Johansen Industries-"
"You have got to be kidding me!" Vexen spit, "you do realize that she is-"
"Conducting illegal human experimentation in multiple compounds across the country?" Derrick finished. "Yes, I do."
"Then why do you set up a meeting with her?" Night questioned, her pale blue eyes narrowing.
"I intend to find out what other projects she is conducting," Duskfall answered, "while breaking into her office would get more solid information, that is my Plan B." The hero glanced towards him, concern flashing across his face, "do you ever intend to go public again, Jason? With Johansen in charge of your parent's company, she is putting your parent's legacy into ruin."
"I've been wanting to charge up to a news reporter and tell them that I am alive," Jason sighed, "but I've changed. I'm not the same anymore, not my appearance or my mind."
"Your morals seem to be intact," Derrick said blankly, "and that seems to be doing the job. Sure, you do not look the same, but you are still the same on the inside."
Vexen muttered something from his left, it sounded like 'this is way too emotional'. He sighed, running a hand through his raven hair.
"Okay," Night spoke up, "how on Earth are you Derrick Payne? What death caused you to become a superhero?"
"You assume I became a hero because of death?"
"It's basically a requirement."
"Then yes, you are correct," Derrick's lips twitched upwards, "it was actually my father to blame."
"You're pretty open about your backstory," Vexen commented, his indigo eyes flashing.
"I know all of yours," Derrick shrugged simply. "Except for your former companion's."
"How did you know abou-"
"Can see it in your eyes," Derrick's face contorted for a brief moment, "all of yours actually, but yours is the most pained."
"Then tell me," Vexen said, stepping forwards. "What's my story, Duskfall?"
"You don't have much emotional experience," Derrick started. "The experimentations in Johansen's lab left you scarred, but with no memory beyond that which is programmed into your mind. I'm guessing you escaped with your partner, she didn't die escaping, unless you would be further into the stages of grief. You also have a problem with threatening people that could punch you."
"I get that," Vexen frowned, then pointed at Skull. "What's his?"
"Pretty simple," Derrick started, "he was a douche then realized how much good he could actually be doing, after a small emotional push. Mind wipe at age... sixteen. He lived obliviously for a year and a half. Memories were triggered."
"Wow," Vexen whistled, "are you the leader of all the superheroes or something?"
"Basically," Derrick replied, "Jason and I anyways."
"Care to explain, Jason?" Vexen's expression lightened immensely.
"I think this is the most my name has been used in a conversation so far." Skull chuckled, "anyways, Derrick is usually in contact with the powered heroes, and I deal with the human ones."
"I still think that should be my job," Night muttered.
"Why?" He stared quizzically.
"Out of everyone in this room, who has no powers."
"Um..."
"Thought so," Night snickered lightheartedly.
"Here," Derrick handed him a circular disk, "use this if you need to contact me, I will be patrolling until I leave."
"I'll update you on anything we find on Psihcra," Skull nodded.
"See you around, emotionless," Vexen waved to Duskfall.
He cheered mentally when Derrick gave a half smile. Derrick rarely smiled when he wasn't acting for his secret identity, so it was nice to see his friend's real grin. Metal folded out of Duskfall's back as the sharp steel plates formed into large, deadly wings. No matter how many times he saw it, the sight still amazed him. Duskfall's wings were epically awesome in a majestic, deadly sort of way. The thin metal feathers easily could be launched as blades, and hit a target from kilometers away. He watched Derrick put pressure on a part of his hawk-like cowl, and then the black glass visor formed into place.
  Night pressed a panel on the wall, then instantaneously a port in the ceiling opened up, spiraling outwards. He recalled adding that for when heroes that could fly visited their base, it came in handy often. Duskfall gave then one last nod before taking off into the sky, a gust of wind following his ascent. He put his mask back on out of habit, covering his light brown eyes. Night also yanked up her hood, but yielded to put on her mask. Vexen had his hands on his hips, staring up at the now empty sky.
  "You sure know how to pick friends," Vexen commented.
  "Is it bad I barely know anybody normal?" Skull asked jokingly.
  "Normal is boring," Night answered, yawning.
  "I'm going to go pass out now," Jason yawned, his eyes slightly watering.
  "Me too," Vexen grinned sleepily, "hey, at least it's Friday."
  "Saturday and Sunday are sleep recovering days," Night said, turning away.
  "Correct," Jason added, "I suggest you sleep a lot."
  "Mm'k," Vexen waved inattentively, trudging towards his room.
  Jason and Night made eye contact, both tired expression meeting each other. He managed to smile, walking towards his bedroom. Footsteps echoing from behind him confirm that Night followed. After bypassing the heavy security surrounding the bedroom, he collapsed onto his bed. Exhaustion overtook his mind, and he fell asleep to fingertips tracing his cheekbones.

-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-••-•-•-•-•-

He was doing his nightly patrol, the hot summer making the air unbearably humid. It was a full moon, so his freaks abilities weren't going crazy. The darker it was, the more he tended to accidentally go right into shadows. Skull had just stopped a bank heist, hanging the perpetrators upside down from a lamppost gleefully. When he jumped over an alleyway, movement caught his eye. Black Skull stopped and peered down into the space between buildings.
A girl no older than twelve was walking down an alleyway, her black hair patched brown with dirt. The girl's clothing was old, tattering in some places. Her face was tired and sad, but full of fire and determination. As she walked down the alley, a trio of mobsters approached her. Before Skull could jump down to help her, the girl had punched one in the face and was advancing on another. One whipped out a knife threateningly, taking a jab at the girl. In a swift movement, the girl countered the jab into the third man, now two were unconscious on the ground. The last gang member dropped the red stained knife and ran away, disappearing to the night.
  Skull stood shocked on top of the roof, he had never seen someone so young fight so well, besides his newer powered friend Derrick. The girl probably didn't have professional training, her clothes gave away that she was homeless or poor. He jumped down into the alley, his feet barely tapping against the ground.
  "And Dad says I'm useless," he hears the girl mutter, kicking a dumpster, "this'll show the bastard."
  The girl's light blue eyes reflects her anger like fire, her gaze terrifyingly scolding. He watched from the shadows, still not saying a word, though it made Jason feel like a stalker. A sigh came from the girl, her eyes pooling with tears. The girl walked down the street past him until she reached the walled end of the alley. She crouched down next to the wall and placed a pale dandelion.
  "Mom," the girl said, her voice resigned, "it's been a year now, Dad hasn't gotten any better. I've been learning to fight like you told me to, its helped a lot. I would've gotten you a rose, but I couldn't buy one. You told me not to steal anymore, so I haven't, because I promised not to. I want to leave the house, but I can't bring myself to, I don't know where to go. I stopped going to school last month, after the water stopped running in our apartment. Dad hasn't paid the bills in nine months, so they cut our water and electricity. I wish you were here, I don't know what to do, should I go to...," she paused, sighing, "an orphanage? I want to leave home, I really do, but there's nowhere safe to go.
  "I should go now, Mom," the girl choked, "I'll find a way to live, I promise. Remember that vigilante guy that you always talked about? Yeah, if only I could be like him. Ha, one of the good guys. Hope you're happy where you are now, in a better place and all. Bye."
  The girl straightens up, wiping tears out of her eyes. He wants to walk out and hug the younger girl, and maybe help her. As the girl takes a step forwards, he walks out of the shadows. Almost on instinct, the girl raises her fists into a somewhat fighting stance.
  "What are you doing here?" The girl hissed, she glanced at the symbols on his shoulders.
  "You took out two mobsters," he said, shrugging, "I'm just gonna tie up the one still breathing."
  "Were you watching me?" She snapped at him, he almost winced at her glare.
  "Sorry," he frowned.
  "If you weren't cute I'd stab you," the girl slowly lowered her fists, "and if you weren't that Skull guy."
  "Black Skull," he extended his right hand, "professional vigilante, law breaker, and police vexer."
  The girl considered his armored hand, then shook it with a sigh. He raised his masked eyebrows as to say 'well aren't you going to tell me your name?'
  "I don't like my name," the girl narrowed her eyes, "it's been used at me too many times."
  "Well tell me it, then how about we change it for you," he gave a small smile.
  "Why are you helping me?"
  "You have potential," he scratched the back of his neck, "and I feel like you want to do more than what you are doing."
  "Potential," she snickered then her gaze turned serious, "you're not kidding."
  "Nope, one hundred percent serious."
  "So what if I want to join you on your path of truth and justice and all that, I don't have money, and I certainly don't have armor or anything."
  "Let me put this a different way," he sighed, "do you want me to help you?"
  "I'm not one to refuse help," the girl said with a huff.
  "Can I learn your name now?"
  "Raina."
  "Raina what?"
  "Knight," the girl snapped.
  "What do you want your name to be, Raina?"
  The girl looked bewildered for a second, as if she'd never been asked what she wanted. He felt a large amount of pity for the girl, but he knew it wouldn't be appreciated.
  "Night."
  "Like your last name?" He questioned, slightly confused.
  "My last name starts with a 'K'," Raina explained, "I've always liked the word, and I'm not a day person. I'll wear it like a scar, to remind me of who I am."
  "For a twelve year old you're wiser than most adults...Night."
  "Tell me about it," Night smiled a soft smile for the first time, "can I learn your real name?"
  Jason Parker! his mind screams, "I'm sorry, but I can't tell you."
  "It's fine, I guess," Night shrugged, "losers can't be choosers."
  "I don't think that's how it goes."
  "Well it's my version, so too bad Skull."
  "Thanks for calling me Skull and not Black."
  "I feel like that would be racist."
  "I'll have you know I know several African American superheroes."
  "Don't tell me you have superpowers," Night crossed her arms.
  He smirked, leaning against the brick wall.
  "You've got to be kidding me."