The meeting didn't feel routine. Justin could tell the second he sat down. Evermend stood instead of taking her seat, hands resting on the table, posture locked in. Captain Fantastica leaned against the wall nearby, arms folded, expression lighter but attentive.
Evermend looked at all three of them. "You already know the Cleaner's dead," she said. "You also know Brother Kaine made himself visible right after, during a dinner between me and Justin's parents."
Braxton shifted in his chair. "So what's the play?"
Evermend didn't hesitate. "Pressure like that means escalation. Not someday. Soon. And whether Kaine pulls the trigger himself or sends someone else, Justin's the obvious target."
Justin straightened slightly but kept quiet.
"Because of that," Evermend continued, "Fantastica will be embedded with your patrols as well as continuing with your training rotations. Full oversight. No exceptions."
Braxton nodded immediately. "Yeah. That makes sense."
Liza followed with a short shrug. "I'm good with it."
Justin frowned. "I don't love it." All eyes turned to him. "No offense, Cap, but it feels like I'm being babysat. I've handled worse than Kaine's theatrics. I can fight him."
Fantastica opened his mouth, but Liza beat him to it.
"I know that tone," she said. "And normally, I let it slide." She met Justin's eyes. "This isn't confidence. This is you pretending an elite enforcer plays by rookie rules."
Justin clenched his jaw.
"Kaine's one of five," she continued. "He doesn't rush. He doesn't posture. He wins by patience. Acting like this is a one-on-one is how people die."
She leaned back. "This isn't you against Decay. It's us against them. And not just us three. The agency's backing you. You can rely on that."
The room stayed quiet. Justin felt the weight of it settle.
He exhaled slowly. "Yeah. Alright." He nodded once. "I get it."
He looked at Evermend. "Thanks for the concern. Seriously."
Then Fantastica. "And thanks for stepping in."
Fantastica grinned. "Hey, I'd hate to let my trainees get flattened. That'd be bad press."
Justin shook his head as Evermend dismissed them, the tension from the meeting still sitting heavy in his chest. A few minutes later, the four of them were suiting up, muscle memory taking over as suits snapped into place and gear was checked without much thought.
The waiting room outside the lockers was quiet. Justin and Liza finished first. They leaned against opposite sides of the wall, both pretending they weren't killing time. Liza scrolled through her phone, wings folded tight behind her back.
"So," she said casually, not looking up. "Your parents doing alright?"
Justin snorted softly. "Yeah. They're fine. After last night?" He shrugged. "They're probably the toughest heroes in the city. A bomb threat's not exactly new territory for them."
Liza hummed in acknowledgment, still scrolling. Her eyes flicked up briefly. "Are you trying to grow a beard or something?"
Justin blinked. "What?"
She tilted her head toward him. "You've got fuzz. Right there."
He rubbed his chin instinctively. "I've been thinking about it."
"That's unfortunate," she said dryly. "You look a little ugly with facial hair."
Justin laughed under his breath. "Good to know I'm getting honest feedback."
The door slid open as heavy footsteps approached. Braxton walked in first, fully geared, tail flicking with restless energy. Captain Fantastica followed close behind, helmet tucked under his arm.
"Alright," Fantastica said, clapping his hands once. "Break's over. Let's take Haven City for a walk."
Justin pushed off the wall, a grin settling back into place. Time for them all to get to work.
The patrol rolled on without much excitement. Noise complaints. A stalled bus. A shoplifter who folded the second Braxton rounded the corner. It was the kind of day that barely left a mark.
By midafternoon, they parked themselves at a taco truck on a busy corner, heat rolling up from the pavement. Braxton and Liza leaned near the counter, deep into an argument about a TV show they both swore peaked three seasons ago. Braxton got animated about it, hands moving as he talked. Liza shot him down point by point without missing a beat.
Justin stood a few steps away with Fantastica, listening as the captain laughed through stories about his rookie days. Bad calls. Worse costumes. Near misses that somehow worked out. Justin smiled and listened, content to let the city breathe for a while.
The ground shuddered beneath Justin's boots. Subtle at first. Then stronger.
Braxton looked down. "Uh. Is that an earthquake?"
Justin didn't answer. The vibration wasn't spreading. It was focused. Coming up.
The street split open in a violent crack of concrete and dust. Asphalt peeled back as something massive punched through from below. A giant worm erupted from the ground, its body coiling as it burst into the open air. Rows of jagged teeth snapped as it roared, spraying dirt and debris across the intersection.
People screamed and scattered.
Justin lifted off instinctively. "Yeah. That's not an earthquake."
A figure stood balanced near the creature's head, boots planted like he'd done this before. Long coat. Too relaxed for the chaos around him.
Liza's voice tightened in his ear. "That's Dio Under."
Braxton's eyes went wide. "The guy with the mole?"
"Yeah," Justin said. "Looks like he upgraded."
The worm reared back, mouth opening wide. Teeth layered on teeth. Way more than any animal had a right to carry.
Dio glanced up at them, expression almost fond as he rested a hand against the creature's hide. "Easy," he said, his voice carrying easily over the noise. "They didn't mean it."
Fantastica floated up beside Justin. "He broke out of prison three years ago. Then nothing."
Justin nodded. "Guess he's done hiding."
The worm slammed its body down, crushing a parked car like it was cardboard. Dio finally looked annoyed.
Justin cracked his knuckles midair. "Looks like lunch is canceled."
Braxton dropped into a low stance, already shifting. Liza lifted off, wings snapping wide.
Dio smiled thinly. "Try not to hurt my friend."
Justin surged forward. "No promises."