Robbie sighed as he looked out the window. He has been an Avenger for almost a a year and a half by now. You would think he would be used to being this bored. He almost missed Felicia's non stop training sessions and the seemingly never ending missions the Strikers went on. Those days were behind him now. He almost felt stuck in this tower.
He turned back to see Katie still packing for her trip. It was mostly the things she needed most. Clothing, toiletries, hair products. Ok. Maybe not that last one per say. He could only image how bored he was going to be without her here to keep him company. Unlike most of the new Avengers, he didn't have friends outside of the base. Hell, there were times he could barely stand the people in the base. He didn't hate them, they can just get annoying after a while.
Robbie: When will you be back again?
Katie looked at him and smirked teasingly.
Katie: Are you already missing me?
Robbie rolled his eyes before turning back to the window.
Robbie: I'm not that much of a sap.
Katie hummed before wrapping her arms around his shoulders.
Katie: Sure. I'll be back in a few days if everything goes well.
Robbie sighed.
Robbie: A few days?
Katie nodded. She kissed his cheek before returning to her bag.
Katie: You know how much this means to Felicia. She needs the support.
Robbie: I know.
He came to think of Felicia like a sister almost. After you left, she stepped up and took over leadership. Robbie, being the second oldest, took her spot as the co leader and the Strikers became the Black Ops team Fury always wanted. When Robbie was offered a spot in the Avengers after the Strikers disbanded, he took it to look over Molly. What happened to the others? Tyrone and Tandy dissapeared, Molly joined the Avengers like him, and Felicia and Doreen became full time SHIELD agents.
He wanted nothing but the best for all of them. If Felicia wanted to take his girlfriend across the country to LA to find her father, then so be it. Robbie was sure he could work on the car some more or something. He felt Katie's hand on his shoulder as it turned him around so she could kiss him directly. The two fell into the kiss as Katie found herself on his lap.
Katie: I'll see you when we get back. It'll be before you know it.
Robbie smiled a bit.
Robbie: Take your time. I ain't going anywhere.
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Robbie leaned against the doorway as Felicia and Katie finished stuffing their stuff in the back the beautiful red car Felicia "barrowed" from Carson. Felicia turned to Robbie and gave him a quick hug.
Felicia: I'll bring her back in one piece.
Robbie: You better.
The two smiled at each other before Katie gave her own hug. She kissed his cheek and turned back to the car.
Robbie: Take care of each other. If things get to crazy...
Felicia: We'll call!
Katie: Love you!
Robbie smiled as the two girls drove away. He sighed before he turned back towards the base. He entered through the lobby and started his way back to the living space that was made for him and Katie. Before he could get passed the first door, he was stopped by the receptionist.
Receptionist: Mr. Reyes? You have a letter.
Robbie raised a brow. Who would be writing to him. He looked at the letter the lady held and took it.
Robbie: Thanks.
He walked away and headed to his space. Once he got there he set the letter down before looking for his jacket. He might as well go for a drive since everyone else was out. He found his jacket, he had gotten a new one from Katie for Christmas, and threw it on before grabbing his keys.
He was about to leave before he looked back at the letter. He couldn't explain it but, it seemed to be calling out to him. He reached for it and flipped it over to see the wax seal. He looked at the envelope closer and saw no name or address. Only his name in the front. He filpped it back over and broke the seal. When he did, he felt something otherworldly hit him. He opened it all the way and slid the letter out. He looked at it before unfolding it and reading it over.
Robbie Reyes,
You don't know me but I know you.
You don't know my power but I know yours.
You are a Spirit of Vengeance and so am I.
Let's talk.
Meet me at the remains of San Venganza.
This was weird. What did he mean by the being a spirit of vengeance? Robbie pulled out his phone and entered the name of the place the letter mentioned. It was some place in Mexico. Robbie hesitated for a moment before he slid his phone into his pocket and folded the letter up. He then tossed it on his desk before heading out.
He made his way to his car and unlocked the door. He sat down and started it up before he heard something in the seat next to him. He looked over and found the letter. He picked it up and looked at it.
Robbie: What the hell?
He tossed it out the window and drove away. He listened to the radio as he drove down the private road that would lead him onto the highway. He enjoyed the fresh air as he passed by cars and people who would stare at his. He suddenly found his mind on that letter. Who sent it? Suddenly, something landed on his window. It was the letter. His eyes stayed on the location. San Venganza.
Robbie: God damnit.
He turned off on the next exit before he hopped out and picked up the letter. He looked at it some more before sighing. To hell with it. He got back in the car and grabbed the wheel. He sat there as the flames surrounded him.
A family going on a trip to visit a relative drove on the highway. The little boy played with his action figures, one of Cap and one of Hulk, before he saw something else through the window. A flaming car that drove down the street at high speeds.
Boy: Woah. What's the Hero daddy?
Father: I have no idea son.
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Robbie pulled up to the remains of a small Mexican village before he stopped the car and returned to normal. He stepped out and held up the letter. Time to meet the man who sent this. The other "spirit of vengeance". Robbie wondered around aimlessly and admired the ruins.
He had always wanted to take Gabe to something like this. He never had a chance to unfortunately. As he looked around, he suddenly heard something in the distance. He looked around and found nothing. It sounded like a low hum that was gradually getting louder. Suddenly, he heard it. An engine. He rushed out of the village towards his car and saw something in the horizon. A man on a bike. No. It wasn't a man. It was a devil.
Robbie transformed and summoned his chain ready for combat. The bike got close enough and came to a halt. The man looked at Robbie before he dismounted his hell cycle. He then walked over to Robbie before he slowly turned back to normal.
???: You Robbie Reyes I presume?
Robbie slowly transformed back to normal.
Robbie: You send the letter?
The man nodded. He looked at Robbie's car and whistled.
???: Nice ride.
He turned back to Robbie and crossed his arms.
???: The old man was right. You really aren't like us.
Robbie: Old man? Who are you even?
The man shrugged.
???: The Rider. The Devil's Bounty Hunter. The Riding Ghost. I have a lot of names kid.
Robbie: What's your birth name.
The man smiled.
???: Johnny. Johnny Blaze.
Robbie looked at the man for a moment.
Robbie: What did you mean by I'm not like you? In the letter you said I was a spirit of vengeance. What does that even mean? The hell is going on here.
Johnny lifted up a hand.
Johnny: We don't use the H word. Unless you've been down there, Hell is off limits. As for what I said, I know what I said. I wrote the letter.
He walked over to Robbie's car and reached in through the open window. He pulled out the letter and lot it on fire. He tossed it to the ground and lokked back to Robbie.
Johnny: I'll wait for the old man to get here.
Robbie: Who's the old man?
Johnny looked to his right where the sun was setting. He then pointed towards the horizon.
Johnny: That would be him.
Robbie: Holy shit.
Johnny chuckled.
Johnny: Ain't nothing holy about us kid.
----------
Robbie sat on a piece of stone that used to be a wall as the third rider tied his horse down. Johnny was leaning against a nearby wall with his arms crossed before the man turned back to the two.
???: You must be Robbie. Pleasure to meet ya. My name is Carter Slade.
Robbie: Likewise. You two mind telling me what's going on here?
Carter looked at Johnny.
Carter: You didn't tell him anything?
Johnny: I figured you would want to. You did tell me everything.
Carter sighed.
Carter: I reckon I aight to throw you back into that hole.
Johnny laughed sarcastically. Carter turned back to Robbie.
Carter: Let me start by saying, it's nice to meet another rider. This one over here was starting to get on my nerves.
Johnny: Goes both ways old man.
Carter shot him a look before continuing.
Carter: As I'm sure you might of figured out, we're riders like you. The only difference is you ain't made a deal with no devil.
Robbie looked between the two men surpised.
Robbie: And you did?
Carter nodded.
Carter: For me, it was a selfish request. For that one, a bit more nobel.
Johnny: I traded my soul to save my dad from cancer. Ended up dying from a stunt anyway.
Robbie: I didn't make a deal any demon.
Carter nodded.
Carter: Consider yourself lucky. You still got a spirit in ya. Just not one like us.
Robbie looked down at his hand.
Robbie: It was my uncle. Never knew the guy but he was a serial killer. Ended up reviving me after I was shot up in LA. I managed to suppress him with the help of my brother.
Johnny and Carter looked at each other. Seems they were slightly jealous.
Johnny: He gets the power and doesn't have to fulfill a contract? Lucky ass.
Carter turned back to Robbie who was still confused about the whole situation.
Robbie: So why did you call me here? Was it just to meet me?
Johnny: It was so you could meet us. When I first became a rider, I was honestly scared. I thought I was alone before I met the old geezer who explained everything.
Carter: We wanted to let you know that you ain't alone in this. I know you've been a rider for a while now but, well, better late than never.
Robbie nodded. It was nice to know that he wasn't necessarily alone in this aspect. Having people who knew how it felt to have this power could be useful.
Robbie: So what now? You guys teach me how to use my powers? Tell me tips and tricks?
Carter: Only if you want us to.
Johnny: Maybe even share some stories.
Robbie gave it a thought. He had time. Plenty of it. Katie wasn't due back until the week was over and everyone else was off doing their own thing.
Robbie: Alright. What do you have to teach me?
Carter: Strap in kid. This could take a while.
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Katie was sitting on her and Robbie's shared bed when she heard the familar roar of an engine return to the compound. She looked out the window and saw Robbie park the car before stepping out. She looked at his new attire, a black leater duster coat with his normal jacket design and some new boots, before she noticed the smile on his face.
She looked at the car and noticed two new markings on the side. A horseshoe and a motorcycle wheel. Robbie looked up and saw his beloved.
Katie: How was your week?
Robbie smiled even brighter.
Robbie: Don't I have a story for you.