Why Is It Never Simple

Chapter 12

Hello!Sorry for the long wait. I got very busy with the holidays and life happening. Not to mention this chapter was longer than the ones I've been posting recently and I wanted to write more to this one but thought you guys deserved to get an update. I'm already working on the next chapter and will updating soon hopefully, but with Christmas coming up I'm not sure exactly when it will come out. Anyways enough of that, on with the show!

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 "Are you sure about this?" Specter stared up at the large estate beyond the fence. Him and the three vigilantes hidden behind some trees and bushes nearby.

"Yes, I'm sure." Hephaestus replied with a bit of annoyance in his voice. "If all goes according to plan, Lethe will teleport us in after the cameras and alarms are down."

"This should be easy for you right?" Lethe asked. He was trying his best to boost the team's morale but failed in how nervous his voice showed him to be.

"Getting inside isn't hard." Specter hummed. "My bigger concern is that I am no master when it comes to electronics. Even with the short one guiding me through it-" He earned a headbutt in the side that sent him falling over.

"Aw he likes you." Icarus teased. Specter growled at both children while Hephaestus huffed.

"I will guide you through the security system. As long as you do everything I say, this should be no problem." Hephaestus glared at the anti-hero. "Just do everything I tell you to."

"Got it." Specter muttered. "I guess I'm also worried they would send in the heroes, not just Angel but Warden and the others too."

"Don't worry about that." Icarus grinned deviously. "We've got someone keeping them busy."

Specter looked skeptical. "Vigilantes are tougher than they look, sure. But against multiple heroes they're basically fish food. You know that right?"

"Hey!" The three chimed in unison taking offense to the statement. Specter didn't even flinch.

"Look it's handled okay." Icarus huffed.

"Icarus can you find a higher vantage point?" Lethe asked, earning a couple confused looks. "In case things do go wrong, you'll be able to help Specter out." That did calm Specter's nerves a little. Icarus saluted and ran off from the group. They saw him distantly unfurl his wings and take to the sky to a building nearby.

"I've been wondering. Why doesn't he ever pull out his wings around people? He doesn't even use them in combat." Specter asked. Lethe looked away, rubbing his arm.

"He'll hurt people." Hephaestus replied shortly.

"I'm sure he wouldn't."

"Well he seems to think so. Some people aren't gifted with powers like being invisible or phasing through walls." Hephaestus stood up and walked closer to the manor. He kept his attention focused on the screen in his hands. "Some of us are cursed to burn the people they love, blow up the things they care about, or become monsters who have no control over their actions." He stared forward with a bitter expression.

It was that last one that really caught Specter off guard. His mind flashed to Techno, to the voices and the random attacks followed by broken apologies through torn sobs. It also got to Lethe, who stood up shaking, his tail wrapping tightly around him.

"I'm gonna do another perimeter check." He muttered. Hephaestus whirled around quickly, realizing exactly what he said.

"No wait, I didn't mean- It wasn't about-" He tried to defend.

"It's fine, I get it." Lethe whispered before teleporting away.

"Goddammit!" Hephaestus hissed. His eyes threatened frustrated tears behind his gas mask.