Even before blowing up, Brian was having a weird day.
  He woke up at 3 AM to Jason, in full superhero garb, on the fire escape outside his window bleeding heavily. After puking into the alleyway he dragged his nearly unconscious friend into his (luckily wood floored) bedroom. Jason's face was contorted in pain, clutching his red stained side
  "Ow," Jason was muttering, his face drained of color, "watch the stab wound."
  "How did you manage to get stabbed?" Brian snatched the first aid kit he kept in his room, "blow off Night Dragon?"
  "I'd be dead then," Jason started laughing then winced, "Night got away before the grenade went off."
  "Police?" Brian searched for a way to get Jason's Kevlar off.
  "Female thief," Jason grit his teeth, "found a chink in my armor."
"Why didn't you go to your vigilante friends?"
"You were closer," Jason's voice tightened.
  Brian pulled Jason's armor and mask off, his friend wore a black long sleeved shirt under his combat Kevlar. He wouldn't admit his disappointment, though Jason wasn't his type. His stomach twisted again when he caught the scent of blood. Jason was obviously on the brink of passing out.
"Will anyone...notice a vigilante...bleeding out on your floor?" Jason coughed, his face scrunched in pain.
"Nah," Brian shook his head as he stitched Jason's wound, "my parents are on a business trip for a week."
"Where did you learn to stitch?" Jason frowned.
"I have too much free time," Brian shrugged.
"You should-"
"Stop talking," Brian held up a hand, "you're about to pass out and make this much worse. Want me to call anyone?"
"Duskfall and Night should be on their way," Jason whispered hoarsely.
Oh great, Brian thought, I need more superheroes in my apartment, why not.
"Duskfall?!" Brian screeched. "As in violent, protector of millions Duskfall?"
Jason helpfully responded by passing out. He checked Jason's pulse just to be sure he wasn't dead. Brian put a bandage over Jason's stitches, wondering if preventing his friend from dying qualifies him for the vigilante squad.
"You better not pull a Jack Dawson on me," Brian then switched to a mocking tone, "never let go!"
  He racked up all of his superhero knowledge, then placed Jason's mask back over his eyes. Brian had decided Jason's symbol was more like The Punisher, and his mask, hair, and armor was Nightwing. Of course those two superheroes would never meet because of stupid copyright and ownership. Focusing back on the matter at hand, he lifted Jason onto his couch. Brian opened his window incase one certain Duskfall or Night Dragon decided to fly into his room.
Quickly he cleaned up the red trail Jason had left on his floor, stashing the first aid kit again. He selected a comic book from his collection and lazily flipped through it. It felt..weird...to have an unconscious, wounded vigilante on his couch. Brian then realized the comic in his hands was Batman: A Death In The Family, an older comic. It showed the death of a kind-of hated superhero. He couldn't help but feel he was waiting for the day Jason inevitably died, all superheroes did.
  A figure flying through his window brought Brian out of his weird thoughts. Night straightened up from a crouching position, her eyes widening at Jason.
  "What happened to him?" Night asked, her calm tone not matching her fiery expression.
"He fell onto my fire escape with a stab wound," Brian grinned.
"I don't see why you think is a good thing."
"Oh it's not," Brian's smile didn't falter, "but I'm finally part of the squad."
"How's he doing?" Night's frown softened.
"Pulse is elevated," Brian stood and put down his comic book, "luckily didn't lose a ton of blood. He needs better medicine so he doesn't get an infection. If we weren't in a city I'd use herbs."
"If I need to go to Winster I'll take you." Night snarked.
"Aw, thanks," Brian sat in his computer chair, "their vegetation is much better preserved then ours."
"Of course it is, this is New Jersey."
Brian opened his mouth to reply, but a metal figure soaring through his window quick him shut him up. Surely nothing could surprise him after finding out his best friend was an amnesiac superhero, but seeing Duskfall in his room was shocking. The hero's silver-black armor was sleek and practically radiated power. The black glass visor that covered Duskfall's face was intimidating to say the least. Duskfall's head turned to look at Jason's unconscious form, then back at Brian.
"Who are you?" Duskfall said, his creepy metallic tone haunting, "what happened to...Black Skull?"
"Brian Danvers," he sputtered, "and Jason got stabbed by some female thief apparently."
"How do you know his identity?" Duskfall's wings folded in, the sharp metal feathers clicking together.
"Well Batman, I'm his partially normal friend in high school," Brian explained. "I'm his hacking support I guess."
"I am not like Batman," Duskfall sounded... Was it a tiny hint of humor he detected?
"I bet you're a billionaire and at least one of your parents are dead," Brian said, "give me some credit here."
"Night," Duskfall turned towards the hooded girl, "is he trusted?"
"Skull trusts him," Night didn't tear her gaze from Jason, "he doesn't know my identity."
"Ha!" Brian laughed, "you're Alina, I've known for ages. Did you seriously think I was that stupid?"
"Please just call me Night," she frowned.
The corner of Night's mouth twitched, then she yanked down her hood, however the mask on her face didn't come off. Duskfall remained silent, the metal in his armor making weird whirring sounds when he turned his head.
"You did!" Brian hissed, "you and Jason are always staring at each other at the lunch table did you expect me not to notice? Don't even get me started on the hand holding."
"You are friends with him?" Duskfall asked Night, sounding amused.
"Don't make me elaborate on this."
"Is he a popular?" Duskfall was now just trying to be irritating.
"The one emotion you do show and its annoyingness?" Night crossed her arms, "and no."
Brian didn't want to get involved in an argument that was between two superheroes, so he remained silent. He just observed that Duskfall was at least six feet tall, with the armor on. Unless he has some serious heels, Duskfall was a taller person. He set a mental reminder to cross people off his identity theory list.
Brian turned on his computer and started hacking. Immediately he realized hacking into Duskfall's armor wouldn't be that hard. The firewalls blocking his frequency were structured like his own, they reminded him of Akillah's. He actually wouldn't be surprised if his twin sister was helping Duskfall. Brian threw that into the back of his mind, breaking through two firewalls of Duskfall's coding. The last firewall was much better protected, it would probably alert the hero of Brian's presence.
"What is going-" Duskfall said behind him then Brian heard a crash.
Once he broke through the last barrier in the coding, Brian spun around. Duskfall was kneeling on the ground, his wings folding into a metal plate on his back. He felt terrified when the hero looked up at him, rage practically dripping from his gaze. Even through the visor Brian could feel the anger. He almost started giving a speech from Star Wars, cackling like the emperor, but he held himself back.
"Brian what are you doing?" Night hissed, glowering.
He reached back to his keyboard and tapped the Ctrl key, then he pressed two fingers to his com-set, "this'll make things easier won't it?"
"What is your point in this?" Duskfall stood up, now they were talking through earpieces too.
"To show that I'm not just some civilian that you can ignore," Brian smirked wickedly.
"Don't tell me you're like Vexen," Duskfall grumbled, clearly peeved.
"Nah," Brian shrugged, "I don't even know who that is, new teen heartthrob? Oh, I know! Maybe he's a new Disney Channel star! Yeah, that's probably it. That's it, right?"
"For the love of all-" Night started but Brian cut her off.
"One more guess," Brian couldn't stop grinning, "he's a new superhero that drives Duskfall nuts."
"This is a smart one," Duskfall crossed his arms.
"Can I know your identify now?" Brian joked, knowing the answer was a fist to the face.
"I wouldn't ask that-" Night chastised but Duskfall interrupted her.
Duskfall reached up to his head and pressed a metal panel in. Something clicked and the entire section of his armor - from the collarbone up - mechanically folded into the rest of his armor. A drop dead gorgeous teen stared back at him. His mind screamed that this was Derrick Payne, teen heartthrob and billionaire, but the rest of him was awkwardly staring. Derrick had slightly long, brunette hair, a white streak hanging over his left eye. Piercing green eyes stood out among his other features. It was a freaky shade, more like electric green, he could've sworn they were glowing.
  And Brian thought his dark blue he's were weird.
  "Um..." A thousand quips ran through his mind, but none registered, "hello?"
  "Surprised?" Duskfall/Derrick asked solemnly.
  "Nah, you're just hot," Brian blurted out then realized he said that out loud.
  "Oh, it's always the cute ones!" Night threw her hands up, sitting down next to still unconscious Jason.
  Brian turned back to his computer as heat rose to his cheeks. He ran hand through his hair frustratingly, he really did not want to say that, no one knew that. Sure, he was bisexual, but still, he really didn't want to discuss it. Thank goodness a fifth figure suddenly just appeared in the room in a flash of purple light. A red and black hooded figure was leaning against his wall, violet glowing symbols swirling around their feet. He almost screeched because damn that was cool.
  Brian didn't remember Jason ever brought up meeting a teleporter before. Derrick was still staring at Brian, his expression unreadable. He wondered if this was predicted Disney star 'Vexen.' Breaking the sudden awkwardness, he stood up and extended his hand towards the new hero in the room.
  "Brian," he grinned, "professional hacker and bringer of awkwardness."
  The guy with the bandanna shook his hand, "Vexen."
  He automatically recognized the voice, this guy didn't use a voice changer. Jerk move by Jason not telling him.
  "Oh, hey Vance Xavier."
  "How did you-" bandanna widened his eyes.
  "Dude," Brian sighed, "at least try to disguise your voice, come on."
  Vexen huffed and pulled down his hood and bandanna, muttering about erasing memory. Derrick was giving a look of approval, eyebrows raised. Jason whispered in his sleep about random food choices.
  "Nice purple eyes," Brian smirked.
  "I know," Vexen rolled his eyes, "it's a curse to have with red hair."
  "It's more strawberry blonde," Brian wanted to reach up and touch Vexen's curly hair for a weird reason.
  His gaze wouldn't stop focusing on Derrick, and he scolded himself. Vexen kept on swiveling his head between Brian and Derrick.
  "Can I talk to you for a minute?" Vexen said and before he could respond, dragged him out his door.
  "What is it Gandalf?" Brian questioned.
  "Could you stop thinking about Derrick so loudly?"
  Brian's heart leaped into his throat, "I um...what? Um how did you um..."
  "I'm a telepath Brian," Vexen gave an apologetic look. "But Derrick's mind is always silent. I don't think it's a coincidence his thoughts finally peek through once he meets you."
  "Ha!" Brian laughs, "that's funny, Derrick can't be- Wait, you're actually serious."
  "Yes," Vexen pinched the bridge of his nose. "I don't lie, Brian. Now please stop thinking so loudly about the teen heartthrob?"
  "No problem," Brian shuffled his feet and turned away.
  A hand grabbed his shoulder, "he likes you too by the way, his just has some trouble with emotions. The guy had serious relationship problems. You didn't hear it from me, okay?"
  "Yep," Brian walked back into his room.
  Jason was conscious now. There was something wrong though, Derrick and Night were holding him down. His friend had a knife in his right hand, a crazed look in his eyes. The bandage on his side was tinted green. Vexen stumbled in, clutching his head.
  "Knock him out!" Vexen shouted, "he's not in control right now!"
  Night hesitated, but automatically Derrick delivered a punch to Jason's jaw. Brian knew that blow would knock out anyone without armor, and Jason slumped down. Night brought a pair of handcuffs out of nowhere and cuffed Jason. He figured his friend would be able to pick them though. Derrick's lips were in a tight line, eyebrows furrowed in anger.
  "Derrick," Night started, "I know what you're thinking-"
  "I killed him," Derrick hissed, exploding in anger, "this wasn't supposed to happen again!"
  "You killed Jason?" Brian shouted.
  "No," Derrick looked angrier then anyone he'd ever seen, "Toxin. I stabbed him through the chest, he should be DEAD!"
  "Calm down," Vexen ordered, "we'll stop him."
  "You don't get it!" Derrick roared, "I made sure he was dead, Vexen! His body was burned, there's no way he's alive! I killed him so this would never happen again!"
  "You don't mean," Vexen paused, "h-he's not evil now right?"
  Derrick expression calmed, but his eyes were still burning. "No, Jason is not changed. If this was Serum Z, Jason would've had all his skills and memory. I've seen this serum before, it makes the victim bloodthirsty. It lasts around 72 hours, plenty of time to stop whoever did this."
  "You don't think it was Toxin?" Night asked.
  "Perhaps an apprentice," Derrick glared at the wall, "but not Toxin. I'm sure I killed him."
  "How do we find this person?" Vexen looked down at Jason.
  Derrick shut his eyes in what was probably sadness. Vexen, being the telepath, widened his eyes and sat down next to Jason. Night seemed to figure it out too, because she looked crestfallen.
  "We need to talk to Vortex," Derrick's voice shook the slightest bit.
  "I'll watch Jason," Night volunteered, looking down at her boyfriend.
  "I'm going to try to look into Jason's mind," Vexen added, "see how this happened."
  "I'll need backup," Duskfall's gaze hardened.
  "I'll go," Brian cut in.
  "How?"
  "Ever heard of impersonating a certain," Brian coughed and pointed at Jason.
  "You?" Night seemed amused.
  "We look alike," Brian argued, "he uses a voice changer and so can I, plus the only people that would notice are you guys."
  "You have no combat experience," Night supplemented.
  Brian opened his mouth to argue, but then a rush of information filled his brain. Vexen had two fingers against his temple, purple energy connecting Jason and Brian. He suddenly knew how to properly punch, how to silently sneak up behind someone, and countless other skills he never knew.
  "You will retain these skills as long as I'm in Jason's mind," Vexen's voice sounded far away and hollow, "please don't force me out of this state."
  With that the telepath stopped talking, a purple aura surrounding him. Vexen was eerily still, sitting on the couch with two fingers against his temple. Brian had a weird urge to go punch some criminals, he wondered if this is what Jason always felt.
  "Let's go," Derrick said.