After flying around like a madman, enjoying the suit and how much it hugged my skin wonderfully, I flew to Toronto. I floated down the CN Tower, crossing my arms and dramatically looking out over the city as my cape flapped in the wind.
"Uh, what are you doing?"
"I'm standing, waiting for evildoers to come!"
Gavin snorts. "You look ridiculous..."
I rolled my eyes. He wouldn't get it. While I may not be well-versed in superhero media, I am familiar with posing for the unseen camera. Or as the kids in my generation called it, 'Aura Farming'. I have no clue what that means. I guess it's just standing around looking cool. I hope it looks cool.
I stood there, watching the city. Flexing my Mind's Eye, hoping to catch on to any crime. But as the seconds became minutes, I was getting tired of looking dramatic and just decided to sit down. Time passes even more, and I let out a frustrated sound.
"Okay, what is going on? Why isn't there crime happening? It's Toronto!"
"Hey, that's a good thing, fewer people getting hurt."
I sighed. He was right about that. "I know, but I want to do superheroing in this suit. And..."
Suddenly, I felt tired. The last time I went to Toronto, a bomb was dropped on it, though I saved it; it bothers me that this city was nearly destroyed. Not only that, my encounter with Emily's father resurfaced.
"I just want to make things right. The two times I was out here, I nearly killed a person, and a bomb nearly dropped in this city. I just want things to go my way for once."
Gavin was quiet, and I wouldn't blame him for being silent. I just made things awkward.
"Listen, kid." Gavin suddenly said.
"You shouldn't rush things. If you want to make things right, just wait and start small."
I grunted in agreement. I understood somewhat, I got up and dusted myself off, preparing to fly away, until something caught my eye. My SEE goggles zoomed in, seeing a lone little girl crying about the same age as Athena. I stood there frozen in place. I felt uncomfortable seeing a crying child like that. It always bothers me for some reason.
But what's most disturbing is that despite the child sobbing in the middle of a busy street, everybody just ignored her. Some looked at her with pity before turning away and hurriedly leaving the scene. My jaw tightened, I flew to her, and once I was close, I floated down gently. I ignored the widening of eyes and the pointing as I descended in the air. People suddenly pulled out their cameras to record me.
I clench my teeth. People are just going to ignore a crying child, but then only pay attention when I come. I pushed my anger away as I approached the child as gently as I could. She didn't see me as she shut her eyes as tears flowed down like a waterfall. She was small, even smaller than Athena, I dropped to my knees for my face and hers to be at the same level.
"Hey."
She blinked, surprised that I approached her. She seemed nervous and looked ready to dash off.
"Hey, it's okay, I want to help."
She seemed unsure, but visibly relaxed.
"What's wrong?"
Her eyes started to water again, which made me wince.
"I-I don't know where my mommy is..."
"It's okay, we'll find your mom!" I said quickly, but internally, I cursed.
That promise is easier said than done. My Mind's Eye could only show a person's silhouette, but not their full appearance. It would take too long for me to find her mother in a huge city like Toronto. I knew this, but I didn't want to see that girl cry anymore if I told her the truth.
"I got this," Gavin says.
Suddenly, before I could ask what he meant, my SEE goggles started to scan the girl. After several numbers and some pictures of random people flashed in the corner, it stopped at a photo of the girl, who was smiling in this one, and she was in the photo with someone else. A woman, who is basically an older version of her, must be her mother. My eyes drifted to the words in the other corner.
[Name: Clary Jensen.]
[Age: 7]
[Parents / Guardian Names: Remy Jensen (Father), Cassie Jensen (Mother)
[Address-
I stopped reading.
"What the heck, how did you get this information?" I harshly whispered to Gavin, looking away from the girl as so she would not to see my sour face.
"It can't be helped, the SEE goggles use data from the government's information, and they know a lot about everything, even private matters."
That's...really creepy.
"Regardless, we can use this to your advantage. I'll give her mother a call right now."
"Uh, mister? Who are you talking to?" The girl I know now is Clary, asked.
I flashed a smile. "It's okay, I'm going to call your mother, alright? Just wait, just a second."
Her face brightens, and she nods. I gave her one last smile before getting up and turning my back on Clary as the SEE goggles started calling Clary's mother. After several moments of waiting, someone picks up.
"Sorry, hello, I can't talk right now, I'm very busy!" Cassie Jensen said quickly, I could tell from her tone that she is stressed.
"Wait! I've got your daughter with me!" I said before she could hang up.
Then she got all quiet, before Cassie Jensen started to speak again, this time in a harsh tone.
"Who are you and what do you want?"
I cringed. Yeah, I'd better clarify before she starts accusing me of kidnapping. I cleared my throat and tried to take on a confident tone.
"M-ma'am, you don't need to worry. I'm here to help! Can I ask where you are so I can bring Clary to you?"
I can hear a sigh of relief in the other line. She gave me the address, she was in a police station, but I have no clue where that is. Thankfully, once again, the SEE goggles show how useful it is, giving me the map as well as a detailed route for me to take. I turned back to Clary, who was patiently waiting for me even though she was anxious and frightened.
"I'm going to take you to your mom, okay? But we're going to have to fly to get there quickly."
Her eyes sparkled. "Y-you can fly in the air? Like Superman?"
I grinned and nodded. "Yeah, like Superman."
Clary's face drops, and she backs away. "But what if I fall?"
"I'll catch you."
"Promise?"
I outstretched my hand to her.
"I promise."
Clary hesitates before carefully grabbing my hand, and I pull her closer for a hug. She held me tight. I started to float up in the air slowly, and the other people around me started to murmur as they pointed at me. I ignored them as I gently held Clary. The memory of hurting Emily's father came back with a vengeance. I could hurt her if I squeeze tighter.
I shake those intrusive thoughts away. I've trained for this. I won't let this girl get hurt by me. I'm not like before. I steadied my breathing, looking at her. She shut her eyes tightly and clung to me like her life depended on it, because it does.
"I'm going to fly a little faster now. Don't worry, no matter what happens, I've got you."
Clary opens her eyes slightly. "Just please take me to my mommy."
I nod as I dart forward, going quickly. Not to my usual speed, but enough to get there fast enough and also at the same time not to frighten the little girl holding me tightly. It took about a couple of minutes, but when we arrived at the police station, I could see Clary's mother talking frantically to two officers. They stopped their conversation, eyes widening as they saw me descending. Clary held on to my chest. My eyes shot open when the two officers suddenly pulled their firearms and pointed them at me.
It wasn't just them, some inside the building who saw me, rushed out of the building with their weapons pulled out. I gripped Clary tightly, ready to shield her from the upcoming barrage of bullets.
"STOP! STOP!!" Clary's mother, Cassie, shouted, getting in the way of the officer's line of fire.
This action caused some of them to lower their weapon, although some of them were still trained on me. As soon as I landed, I let Clary go, who rushed to her mother.
"Mommy!"
"Clary!"
I looked on with a smile as mother and daughter embraced. I then drift my gaze to the antsy officers, maybe I should say something.
"H-hi. I didn't do anything illegal?"
"Why does that sound like a question?"
"Shut it..." I grumbled under my breath.
My words didn't have any effect on any of the police officers as they still looked at me warily, preparing to shoot for any sudden movements. I was so distracted and tense, I didn't notice Clary and her mother embracing me.
"Thank you, thank you!"
"Thanks, Mr. Superhero!"
I hesitated before I embraced them back. The three of us were like this for a minute before we broke away.
"Who are you?" Cassie asked.
I flashed all of them with a toothy grin.
"I'm Red Justice, and you're welcome."
I took a few steps backward and shot through the air before the officers would do something stupid like fire at me. I soared to the air, touching my chest, feeling my rapidly beating and yet warm heart.
"It felt nice, wasn't it?" I could feel Gavin's smirk on the other line.
"Yeah, it's weird. I didn't do anything much, but I felt I saved the whole world."
It was truly an odd feeling, though I didn't dislike it, not at all. While I was flying around, I saw an old couple, obviously in distress, as the roads were busy and untamed even when it was their turn to walk.
"Well, shall we continue?"
"Yeah." I grinned as I flew to aid them.