Upperclassman's Duty

**Date Started:** February 1st, 2021
**Date Completed:** Ongoing
**Next Roleplay:** N/A
**Users Involved:**User:Starving Skeleton, User:Mr.Zeno999
**Setting:** New York City
**Characters Involved**:
* **Heroes**: Bellator , Marcus Rodrigo.
* **Villains**:

## See This License?

"Why don't you talk to her, James." Anthony said as James dug into his locker.

"I don't know what you talking about." James responded, feigning deeper concentration on finding his geometry book in the tiny Marvel High locker. For a premium school welcoming all future heroes with every type of possible quirk, they sure didn't have enough accommodations for those cursed with more *unique* mutations. Not that James saw his quirk as a curse...usually it felt like a blessing. But when one's school runs out of bigger lockers for their larger students this semester, well, he started to understand why people would consider his gift a burden.

"Mercedes!" Anthony exclaimed. He pulled out a book which read **Heroic Geometry: Projectile Angulation and Casualty Avoidance 7th Edition**. "Don't act like you don't see her over there. I saw you staring before I came."

James slammed his locker and made eye contact with Anthony. "I don't see her." He said while turning away. "And besides, the hottest girl in our class and future World's No. 1 Hero ain't gonna wanna be seen with me." He mumbled.

"Yes she would. Mercedes ain't like her friends. She's actually really nice." Anthony followed James. Standing besides the behemoth which dwarfed the average man at 15. "You just want her to be mean cause you still don't think you belong here."

James wanted to deny it. Maybe scream or pull out a Powerpoint presentations on Anthony's faulty psychoanalysts. He didn't belong here right? James was just some kid from the Bronx whose above average middle school scores got him one of those equal opportunity programs. Meanwhile his older brother, who was accepted by these very same programs, lived his life freely. Without worrying about angles and projectile casualties. But James wanted to make his father happy. Even though it meant facing an endless barrage of anti-mutant sentiments. Some more subconscious than others.

Society treated those who looked different or were born with physical alterations that seemingly regressed evolution like second-rate citizens. Or in James's case...he simply looked scary. Like a monster drawn right from a children's book. Heroes are supposed to be brave! Vibrant! A single smile that said *I'm here to save the day!*. But when James smiled, his fanged grill roared *I'm going to eat you!!!*.

"I don't know what you're talking about Ant. I don't care if she's mean or nice. Or even if she eats puppies for breakfast lunch and dinner. None of that's my business. I just wanna graduate and get my hero lice-"

"You're James right?" A girl's sultry voice snapped James out of his sorrowful rant. He looked down at the young woman who barely passed his lower abdominal.

"Y-yeah." James stuttered. He looked around and found that Anthony hid behind a corner with a cheshire snicker. Not the first time he let his friend wander while lost in thought. James growled as he realized Anthony actually *lead* him to her. "Sorry I'll get out of your wa-"

"I wanted to say thank you the other day." She said with a soft smile.

"Thank you for what?" He responded.

"The other day when you stopped those guys from following me." Mercedes stepped forward. "I know you tried to hide but...you're not the most inconspicuous person." She chuckled. "But thank you. I tried to tell you but you were gone."

"Oh that...it's nothing. I'm sure you could've dealt with those assholes." James said while scratching the back of his head. His massive crimson horns twirling upward.

"I mean I could've," She said, looking away. "It's just..."

"It's just what?" James asked.

"I-it's nothing." Mercedes looked away. "Hey! Do you mind walking me to my next class?"

"There's a big transaction going down at the Chelsea shipping port." Singularity's deep voice said into Bellator's earpiece. He wore his signature Hero costume. A red piece of cloth held to his waist by iron armor with heavy metallic rings wrapped on various parts of his legs and arms. He leaned over a tall building overlooking the shipyard. Crimson iris shining in the half-moon.

"We talking drugs or weapons?" Bellator asked.

"A weapon." Singularity responded. "Our intel couldn't get enough information about it. But it's tied to that bank attack by Toby. Matt traced several major payouts made by the bank to a couple small businesses."

"Hm. A bank giving the money it lost back to its rightful owner. Matt's sounds like the only one breaking laws right now." Bellator quipped.

"Well Matt's always breaking the law. At least this time it's to help deal with something that's bothering me. That bank's owned by WorldWide Real Estate, the company the government uses for its Anti-Casualty Tech projects. However you said you managed to cause more damage than the villain and nothing happened."

"Yeah. We crashed through several walls but it felt like the building itself was *off*."

"Exactly. You'd think that its banking company, responsible for a large portion of its financial assistance, would make sure to protect its resources with this technology. So I had No Name tail one of their representatives. She followed him to a meeting to that cafe on Beeker Street."

"Oh they make good Bacon Egg and Cheese." Bellator interrupted.

"They do. But more importantly, some suspicious men lead our guy upstairs. So she followed them on a hunch and ended up being present in a meeting about a special delivery. A weapon that'll change the world."

"But why attack the bank?"

"That's the one part I can't figure out. Whatever it is we'll find out. But for now, we can't miss this opportunity. I would've sent No-Name's squad but I'm afraid this weapon's going to be heavily guarded. Arrest anyone in charge. We need witnesses and information."

"And anyone beneath them?" Bellator asked.

"Do what needs to be done for survival."

Bellator smiled. "Noted." He reached up and clicked his ear piece before jumping from the ledge. His massive legs slamming into New York's hard concrete. Breaking through the ancient stone. He started towards the shipyard. *"Inconspicuous ain't really my thing. So I'll have to find a way to sneak in from the top."*

From another rooftop, stood the vigilante Midnighter also known as Marcus Rodrigo. His black suit and red visor glistening in the moon knight. “Seems like weapons” he said as he watched the shipments, “If I don’t figure out what there planning, it could be bad” Marcus said before jumping from rooftop to rooftop, moving closer and closer to the port with our being seen. On his way to the port, Marcus spotted the hero Bellator. “Great now I gotta deal with heroes” he said before continuing his path to the docks.

Bellator stopped quite a distance away from the rooftop. An entire street away where he his behind a light pole. The shipyard was surrounded by various guards, all wielding all sorts of guns, swords, knives, crowbars-anything they could get their hands on. Nothing new. But something stood out to Bellator. *"They aren't mercenaries."* He mentally noted. *"I've never seen that insignia before...Fuck. That means we're going to have to start from scratch."*

"Hey!" A man roared from across the road. "I can see you!" He raised his guns and stared through the scope. "You're too big to use a pole too hide!"

"Shit. You got me." Bellator said. He stepped out the shadows and stood in the light.

"Fuck it's Bellator!" The man screamed. His comrades ran from their various stations and joined him.. "Engage! Engage! Engage!" He ordered. His finger pulled back on the trigger. But his first hand was ignited. Creating a fiery wall which set the bullets ablaze as they flew forward. Another slammed his hand on the ground and Sent forth several waves of vibration. While others tossed his knives with hands which turned into blurs.

Bellator used his massive arms to take the burning bullets while starting to twirl away from the onslaught of metal. However his balance was thrown off. Causing him to rather stumble out of its path. However, he quickly regained his balance and with a powerful leap pounced forward. A thunderous charge where he slammed his fist against the guard's captain and used his body to knock unconscious the vibrating villain. Finally chopping through the super fast evildoer whose punching barrage felt like a massage against Bellator's thick musculature.

He raised his arm. Small metal clanged against concrete as the bullets fell from his flesh. His wound fully heal. He looked at the approaching guards on the rooftop. "Maybe No Name would've been better for this."

Jumping down, Marcus quickly takes out one of the guards with his staff before stabbing another one with his dagger swiftly killing him. As quickly as he killed that guard, he dodged the punch of another before kicking the guard, knocking him out. “That should be good” he said before looking at the Pro Hero.

Bellator saw the bodies fall and looked up curious to why he wasn’t being shot at, only to find bodies chopped and covered in blood. He squinted his eyes. Maybe another agency? Unlikely or Singularity would’ve warned of movement back at base.

He covered vast distance with another leap landing next to the covered warrior. “Who are you?” Bellator asked. “And what’s your business with these people?”

”I’m here to stop these people” Marcus said to the pro hero that was standing next to him, “And where’s my thanks, I saved you” he said before walking off to explore that area for weapons.

”Saved my life?” Bellator asked with a raised hand. “Excuse me brat you’re lucky I took out the majority of their outside guard-Hey!” He shot his arm out to yank Marcus back right before the dozens of guards on the other side turned around.

“You trying to get us discovered? You need to leave or I’m going to charge you with interfering with licensed hero work.”

”Ok I see how it is” Marcus said before using his strength to break free of Bellator’s grip shocking the pro Hero. “I’m not leaving till I find out what’s in the crates, where there coming from and how to stop them. So just stay on the roofs and you’ll be good” he said before crouching and walk towards the shipments, “I’m small enough to get around without being seen.” Midnighter said before continuing on his way.

Bellator let Marcus go. He wasn’t trying to hurt the Vigilante since to say he hated illegal hero work was a bit of a stretch. Who’s oppose anyone using their blessing to do food? Hell, some Vigilantes did their job better than *actual* heroes. And working them sometimes went easier since some of his own colleagues only did what made them money.

“Whatever kid. But if you fuck this up for me I’m coming for you.” Bellator turned away. He wasn’t going to sneak around and Singularity knew that. This mission isn’t a reconnaissance task. It’s to stop whatever weapon that warranted this much security from reaching the street by any means necessary.

Bellator took a deep breath and jumped high into the air. Slamming his body through the rooftop with a thunderous boom. His massive body covered in debris as he crashed the cement beneath his feet.

“Sorry to interrupt but I’m pulling the plug in this operation.”

”That was corny” Marcus said as he descended down behind Bellator. In quick succession, Marcus used his knife to stab two guards in the legs before knocking them out before turning around and kicking another guard in the face. Just as quickly, Marcus stabbed another guard in the throat.

"Oh I'm sorry I didn't know we're supposed to cut jokes." Bellator groaned. "And you're enjoying the killing part a little too much, Midnighter. How we getting info if everyone's dead!?" He swung his massive leg, sending forth condensed wind which blew away an approaching fireball. Followed by pouncing onto the arsonist quirk user. He slammed his massive fist into the man's chest. Broke giant crates thrown with mind powers with his horns and even allowed a spiked man to stab his chest. Only for the long spike to become lodge in his large pec.

"How come every time some shit goes down you're there, Spikes?" Bellator groaned.

"Because ima good businessman you overgrown goblin!" Spikes yelled. He tried to yank his horn from Bellator's flesh but it wouldn't budge. "Let. Me. Go!"

"You know how this goes." Bellator grabbed the spike and slowly pulled it out. Drops of blood splattering against the floor. "Tell me everything you know."

While Bellator was interrogating Spike, Marcus was handling the rest of the criminals, punching one in the face before slamming him to the ground while dodgeing a stab attack from a second one.

“These bastards just don’t give, up do they.” He said before knocking out a guard and then breaking the arm of another. After knocking out a few more guards, Marcus walks up behind Bellator.

“Tell the big man everything and we won’t hurt you” he said to the criminal.