The next time the dot moves, I'm in the exact vicinity it bleeps in. I'm swift in looking around, making sure I get to it before it decides to pull another disappearing trick on me.

Closing my eyes, I expand my range of detection and try to find my sidekick. Yes, heroes aren't the only ones who get cool little supers screeching in the shadow of their stupid capes while they bask in the glory of shallow praises, villains do too. Except with us, we stay in the shadows together and use it to our advantage.

I find her, and slipping into her head, I call out, "Swirl, I need you."

"Ah geez, you called me Swirl. You in trouble?" She asks.

It's always fun communicating telepathically. She can't grumble or complain in her head because I'll know. But sometimes, popping into her head out of the blue makes me happen on thoughts I would rather find on my own accord.

Like discovering she still has feelings for me even after we broke up.

My knowledge that she knows I know, doesn't really help with how awkward the situation is. Good thing is, none of us has the guts to bring up that topic. Things are better that way.

"Not exactly, babe. I just need you to go downtown. 147 Alex Maple street. There's something I need you to look out for for me, okay?" I tell her.

"Alright. But I'm with my parents right now, so it might take-"

"You're Swirl," I interrupt. "Create a gust of wind, make it rain, pretend you're going to take down clothes from the drying line, take out the trash. You need to be fast, else I'll lose him."

"You didn't tell me we were going on a chase." I can hear her high-pitched squeal and even though whispers or screams made in your head are all really the same tone. My head feels like it's bursting from listening to her head-voice. "I'll get there as fast as I can!"

As soon as I catch those words, I tune out of her head. The dot alternates to the Alex Maple location and switches back to mine in the span of a minute. It's time I take a good look around.

Moving to higher ground, I let my eyes roam the area. There's absolutely nothing in my field of view which screams suspicious---well, the teens engaging in a drug deal do but who cares. The high life is a good life anyway.

After a few minutes of finding nothing, I communicate with Swirl, who gives me the exact same rundown.

"Yeah, Shinobi? I don't think we're getting your toy back anytime soon."

"We?"

"Swirl's helping out," I provide. "There's something weird going on with the compact. The dot keeps jumping locations, and it doesn't make any sense because there's no one at both places. I patrolled but I got nothing."

"Hold on."

I do, and after a few beats, Shinobi speaks again. "I had Legion triangulate the right location since it seems our thief is bouncing signals. You know Central, right?"

°°°

Legion did a good job pointing out Central because I find him with no trouble.

"You like to push people's buttons, don't you?"

From how he responds, in the deep and gravelly voice he has, it seems he knows exactly what I'm talking about. "Oh, and you would know." He cocks his head to the side, eyeing my behind his blue mask. I gotta admit, I admire the level of confidence this guy has.

"You have something I need." I circle him and his head while with every step I take.

"This?" He lifts the device. "I would give it to you, but I need it too, Ecstasy. Besides, it's in better hands."

I take a deep breath, there's no need to fight this guy. Yet. But again, he enjoys pushing buttons.

"You'll have no hands if you keep this up, Astro Boy." I don't know who he is but from the futuristic and seemingly sophisticated suit he is in, he might as well be a cyborg. Too bad he lacks the same expertise in picking out a mask.

Just like the first night, he studies my appearance, his gaze moving painfully slow. I take the chance to make my first move, aiming at his shoulder. He catches my clenched fist and throws my aim off, making me stumble.

"That suit you're wearing, it's very- distracting, you know?" He says, dodging my next punch with ease. "Why does it always have to be spandex?"

I drop into a crouch and sweep a half-circle with my right leg. Success! I catch him behind the heels and throw him off his feet, causing his shoes to dig a deep channel in the red earth before he falls on his back.

I summon a fireball, and his eyes widen as the flames lick the air above my open hand. This would be my first kill in a while and the thought of taking out this pest fills me with a new sense of joy. He looks at me with fear in his unblinking eyes.

Lips curving up in a grin, I say, "Because spandex, is mandatory." I arc my hand over my head, aiming carefully. "In your next life, try to inform the hero league about how stupid it is to send amateurs my way."

Right before I throw the ball, it goes out. A gust of wind blows and when I turn, Swirl materialises as the moving air dies down. My target is gone within the fraction of the second where my attention is divided. Shit.

"So glad I found you," Swirl breathes out with a smile.

"You let him escape. I had him but you let him escape," I spit out. Behind my mask, I feel the same heat flood my face as flames dance around my fingers. I take a deep breath and try to calm myself down. There's no use getting angry when I can't take it out on anyone.

"I'm sorry," she grimaces. "But who exactly?"

"The robot boy." My eyes trail to the spot where he laid, the spot where I almost burned his head off. I was so close. And yet, I'm not too bothered about his escape. The bomb is still with him. Unless he manages to somehow disable that thing-- which I'm sure he would have long ago-- I'll still be able to catch this guy.

And the next time I do, there will be absolutely no distractions.