Swarley - Issue 3: Validation

"What if I had superpowers?" Ryan asked suddenly, interrupting Tobey Maguire in his on-screen conversation with Kirsten Dunst. Without bothering to shift her attention from the movie, Aimee gave a short, humoring laugh and said nothing.

"I'm serious Aimes," he prodded, "what if I were Spiderman? Would that change anything between us?"

"What are you on about?" she retorted, shifting on the couch to look him in the eyes. "Of course it wouldn't change anything, you nut. I might prefer it actually, " she smirked, making a game of it, "at least our dates would be more exciting. Never done it on top of a skyscraper before."

"I love when you take a perfectly normal idea and make it dirty," he quipped in return, putting his arm around her.

"Hold your horses Spidey," she changed gears, "I'm not in the mood."

Ryan sighed and turned back towards the movie screen.

"Why you asking all of a sudden?" she pried, "been shooting webs from your hands by accident lately?"

"Not exactly."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing."

"You are so weird sometimes, you know that?"

"I know."

He knew exactly what he meant though, he just wasn't ready to tell her. Lately he'd been struggling with having to keep his powers a secret from everyone. For the first while, the discovery had been enough to keep him entertained, but now he wanted to be able to brag about it. Having power wasn't enough - he needed others to acknowledge it. He had an idea, but he wanted to discuss it with someone first, so he went to one of the only people he knew he could talk to: Ryan Seguin.

---

Ryan was always a little taken with the sound of the Seguin's doorbell, and today was no different - he couldn't help but laugh as the jolly sound rang through their house. He didn't need to ring it he supposed, most people would just walk in, yet Ryan had never really been the type of person to barge into a house unannounced. So, he waited until he heard the clicking of the door being unlocked and a saw a familiar head poking it's way through.

"Sup man," Seguin chimed, looking a little caught off guard, "didn't know you were coming over."

"Yea, well it's important."

Seguin's eyebrows arched a little in curious response before he moved aside, welcoming Ryan in.

"A'ight man, c'mon in."

"Thanks, your parents home today?" questioned Ryan as he stepped in and took off his shoes.

"Nah, they're out for awhile doing some shopping. Why, what's up?"

"We better sit, this is going to take awhile," offered Ryan, as they walked downstairs and took a seat on the couch. "Alright, so, where to begin."

Seguin laughed.

"What?" asked Ryan, "I haven't even started yet."

Seguin merely smirked.

"You're doing it again, aren't you? You're reading my mind."

"You want to become a superhero? Oh that's classic. Didn't really pit you as that type though."

"Guy, are you going to let me tell the story or what? You know how long it took me to figure out what I was going to say?"

Seguin laughed again before giving the thumbs up. "Ok, no more interruptions, pitch your idea to me. I'm all ears."

"Doubtful."

"Serious!"

Ryan rolled his eyes. "Alright, here goes."

"You're not content with just having power, you need other people to know it?"

Ryan glared at Seguin, who burst out laughing in response.

"Sorry, sorry, last time, I promise."

"You know, I could use my powers too," offered Ryan as he glanced at the steaming cup of coffee in Seguin's hand.

"Point taken."

"Glad we understand each other. Now, where was I?"

"Power."

"Right. It's killing me not being able to tell anyone about this power. I've gotten almost everything I wanted since I learned about it, except this. I need people to know, and I want to feel their jealousy - it's like I need to show the world that I've become better than them. Does that sound weird to you?"

Seguin shrugged. "It's not like anyone else can do what you do."

"Exactly."

"So this is where the superhero thing comes in?"

"Well, yes, but I doubt it's what you're thinking."

"No tights?"

"No," remarked Ryan with a smirk, "definately no tights. If I'm going to do this, I have to enjoy it. I'm going to save people, but in my own way."

"And what's your way?"

Ryan smiled a mischevious little smile before continuing. "I need to take power from those who perceive themselves to have it. Killers, thieves, and assholes who think they've got one up on society because the law can't touch them. They run amuck doing whatever they please, but soon, I'm going to make them wish they'd never been born. Just imagining the look on their faces as they realize that they, the hunters have become the hunted will be enough for me."

"And that's where I come in," mumbled Seguin.

"Precisely. You can find anyone right? I need you to be my training wheels and help me find the first few, and set up news crews to be there. The world needs to know that Vengeance comes for those who dare warrant it."

"And you're Vengeance?"

"Yea, what do you think? Sweet name, huh?"

"I guess so."

"Oh come on, it's better than 90 percent of superhero names out there."

"Well, guess I can't argue that. What about your costume though?"

"You'll love this. Loose fitting black robe, with a black, hooded cloak overtop. Pair that with red contacts and a face mask of some sort, and we've got a winner. Oh, and don't forget the handblade on my left arm."

"You have TK, what the heck do you need a handblade for?"

"Because it's cool, that's why."

Seguin shook his head in mild disbelief.

"You laugh now, but when you see it, you'll think it's cool too."

"Where the hell do you plan on getting a handblade anyhow?"

"Uh, I was hoping you could help me with that too."

"Of course. Trying to be the most powerful man on the earth and you still need to ask me for help with everything," Seguin mocked.

"Well, you're like my sidekick."

"Sidekick? I'm like your fullkick. Better half even."

Ryan laughed. "Easy there tiger. I'll settle for partner in crime."

"I can dig that."

"You know, I know you could just help me out from the comfort of your own home, but it might be fun if you came with me when it goes down."

Seguin thought about it for a moment before answering. "Alright, but I'm staying in the car where there's heat, and music, and food. Can there be food?"

Ryan smirked. "There can be anything you want. We are afterall, probably the two most powerful people on the planet. I'm sure we'll manage something."

And they did. Seguin ensured he had all manner of different snacks to choose from on that night, courtesy of course of a very willing convenience store worker. In fact, most things came easy for the two of them. Ryan had to hand it to Seguin, his power came in useful all the time for practical things while being able to stay off the radar. Tracking down the pieces that made up Ryan's costume had been easier than expected, and after only two weeks, they had fully assembled the suit - handblade included. It even retracted when not needed; a perfect design from a norwegian blacksmith and mechanic that Seguin had convinced to do a rush job. Wearing it all and seeing himself behind the mask and cloak made Ryan feel powerful, like a legend among men - the desired effect.

The stage was set, and the news crews of Toronto were already on their way. Seguin had located a particularly violent first victim for Ryan, a man who was in the act of kidnapping a young child for intents that were more vile than he wanted to think about. It was a part of his power that he found himself regretting, whenever he touched the thoughts of someone who was what society would call deranged, or sick. The slew of disgusting imagergy and feelings was enough to almost make him vomit sometimes, but fortunately for him he had learned to quickly separate himself before ever letting it get that far.

"In the building across the street, top floor," stated Seguin, pointing towards it as Ryan stepped out of the car and closed the door. He watched him walk slowly for a few metres, his cloak blowing lightly in the wind, the darkness of his guise blending him into the night, before deciding to view the scene from Ryan's eyes. He concentrated for a moment, and then in an instant, was seeing as Ryan saw, and feeling what he felt. It was a strange sensation, getting into the mind of one of your friends, because often it surprised you what they actually felt. Today was no different, as instead of the anxiety he had been feeling before, Seguin was now greeted by an overwhelming sense of something more potent, and more lustful. It felt heavily of impatience and excitement, a burning desire for what was to come. Best of all, it felt good; Seguin felt as though he were in some sort of movie scene as Ryan forced open the building door with a small blast of telekinetic power.

As Ryan continued inside the building towards the stairs, Seguin suddently noticed that his legs weren't moving; he was floating. The feeling of freedom and weightlessness was incredible, and he was only levitated a foot or so from the floor. It was beginning to feel a bit surreal, this having been the first he'd ever experienced so many of Ryan's powers, and he was really starting to enjoy it all. He looked on with anticipation as Ryan reached the door that held the man and his captive inside, then paused. He needed only wait for a moment before he heard the sound of vehicles pulling up to the building, the news crews exactly on time. Smiling in realization of his great moment, Ryan blasted down this door with a larger burst of telekinetic energy that knocked it off its hinges, set down from his levitation and walked in through the doorway.

Inside, a scruffy looking man stared back at him with angered eyes, as a young child lay bound and bruised on the floor, tears rolling down her eyes. Seguin felt a bout of nausea hit him from the sight of it all, but resisted the urge to disconnect from Ryan. Then it hit him; anger poured out of Ryan like a fountain as he stood there staring back at the man, hate portrayed in his now artificially redenned eyes.

"Who the hell are you!?" screamed the man in a slurred and drunken state as he turned his body towards Ryan.

Ryan laughed for a moment smugly and it chilled Seguin a bit. "Look at yourself, filth," started Ryan in a cold tone, "Look at what you've done. Look well, for it may be the last thing you see."

"I'll say it one more time," the man shouted again, pulling a gun from his pocket and raising it towards Ryan, "Who the ***** are you?"

Seguin was caught off guard by what he felt next. He felt a genuine feeling of satisfaction rise out of Ryan as the gun was pointed at his head, and when he laughed again, he knew that Ryan was really enjoying this.

"And what do you plan to do with that?" Ryan mocked as he started walking towards the man.

With a look of annoyance, the man pulled the trigger and a loud bang echoed through the room as the bullet left the chamber. Seguin almost pulled away again, but was reassured by the feeling of a large surge of energy that moved through Ryan in a split second. Suspended in midair, the bullet sat motionless, the man's look of confidence now shattering as he faced the impossible.

"What's going on," he cried as he started to back away towards the wall.

Ryan laughed again, all the while continuing his slow walk towards the man while he let the bullet drop to the ground harmlessly. Seguin was unsure what would happen next, as inside Ryan were a turmoil of emotions battling for supremacy. One thing was for sure though, and that was that Ryan continued to grow more and more excited with each step, to the point that it was almost unnerving for Ryan to continue feeling it. It was almost as if he were experiencing a fit of controlled insanity.

"Silly man," Ryan started, still maintaining the distinct mocking tone, "You thought you could do anything and get away with it, did you? Thought you were a real badass did you? Well I've got news for you."

In an instant, Seguin felt energy flow out of Ryan again, as he tossed the man's gun aside and raised him into the air, lifing him over to in front of the window. The man struggled against the force but could not say nor do anything to help himself.

"You know nothing of power, fool," Ryan continued, a dark tinge of hate now affecting his voice, "you will pay for what you've done!"

What happened next was almost a blur for Seguin. The pane of glass that used to be the window shattered to pieces as the man was propelled through it towards the building across the street. Without hesitation, Ryan chased after him, levitating himself in a straight dash out the window, and extending his handblade in preparation to strike. As the man hit the wall of the building with a large thud, he was met a moment later by a blade piercing his shoulder. Seguin was now met by the horrified look of incredulousness on the man's face, as Ryan held the two locked together against the building, staring each other in the eyes. Seguin was unsure if Ryan had just killed the man or not, but when he smiled and that same feeling of satisfaction washed over him again, Seguin disconnected himself from Ryan by reflex, as one would normally look away, despite his training not too.

It was a minute before Seguin reconnected himself to Ryan, feeling that he needed the time to brace himself for what he might see. Fortunately, when he once again saw as Ryan saw, he was no longer staring at the eyes of a horrified man, but hovering above a crowd of reporters who were now gathered around the body of the man who was cowering and holding his shoulder where he'd been pierced, and the crying, battered 10 year old child. Many snapped pictures up at him as he floated there, gazing down at what he'd accomplished, before finally he levitated himself out onto the rooftop and out of sight of the public.

Seguin sighed as he disconnected himself once more from Ryan. God only knew what the newspapers would say tomorrow.