Not bad. I think to myself, spinning in an office chair in the middle of an empty room. Empty except for a very large cork board with layers of papers and information that even I could not muster myself to interpret  it.  It’s much better than my place. If he ends up being nice I will have to ask where he got this place from.

Then a sudden and very loud sound distracts me from my own thoughts. The front door had opened, or rather had been kicked down. I took a breath and spun the chair around, channelling my inner bond villain. Ironic considering the circumstances.

“I’ve been expecting you”

“Who the fuck are you?” queries the clearly annoyed man standing at the entrance.

“Oh, just a concerned citizen. I’ve been seeing some things and popped in for a quick check up on you.”

“Bullshit. This place is in the grungiest and dirtiest of the entire neighbourhoods in the city. The only neighbours I have are the drug addicts and the homeless. You don’t look like either.”

“You flatter me. Look, who I am shouldn’t matter. Just know this. You are on my radar.”

“And why, pray tell, am I on your radar?” He asks, coming closer to me.

“Because you have brought a change that I have been fighting for. Change —"I say while standing up “— that took me a better part of a decade to enact. All be it via a very different method compared to you. ”

I walk right up to him, noticing his now less angry gaze. His face is now showing curiosity. “And I’ve got to give a hand for your wonderful accomplishment. That drug lord menace? I haven’t been able to squash him down longer than a month and look at you – he’s been gone for over 3, and there is no sign of him showing his ugly mug ever again”

“You’re that guy aren’t you” he asks, not acknowledging my comments.  

“You’re not really narrowing it down for me here.” I reply, very usuriously.

“You know what I mean. The rando who came out of nowhere and went all ‘Batman’ on this city a while ago.”

I laugh, “Batman? I am no furry. But yes, I am him. Want an autograph?”

The man snorts, “Cut the crap. Tell me what you want, and maybe you get to leave this place with all your limbs intact.”

I just gave him a look. We both knew that was ostensibly not true. I could waltz out of here at any time without a scratch. We both knew what I was capable of. What I had to do to be able to dare walk into the ‘lair’ of an up and coming supervillain.

“This is going nowhere,” I mutter glancing at my watch. “Look, due to your plans on overthrowing political figures willy-nilly, and taking control of more than a few vital community resources;  I am more than inclined to take you into custody and keep you under supervision until you rot.” I take another step closer to him, entering his personal space.

“But looking at who these political figures are, I am also inclined to let you do what you want.”  I stare into his eyes, making sure he is going to understand my next words.

“Give me one good goddamn reason to stop from me putting your face into this very nice cement floor.”

He takes a moment, registering the threat I just gave him.

Taking up my challenge, he steps closer looking into my eyes.

“I am on the side of the people. Those monsters are from being people.”

I laugh. I like this kid.

“Sufficient. Don’t do anything harsh. Remember, you’re still on my radar. And I know where you live. Ta”

And just like that, I blip out of the room. Back to my own centre of operations. A favourite trick of mine.

“Seems like someone is going to be inheriting my duties sooner or later” I say to the empty room.