Heros Are Normal

"Thanks, Archer."

On the ground floor of the Building of Tomorrow, a squad of security officers escorted a handcuffed Brook to a waiting patrol car. Director Ivan Petrov, head of the team, stepped forward, nodding his gratitude to the bow-wielding duo.

"Just doing what I can, Chief," Green Arrow replied, watching as Brook was shoved into the car, still shouting defiantly. Nearby, Hawkeye leaned against a railing with a bored expression, arms crossed, as a reporter snapped photos from behind the police line.

Since the day Tony Stark pulled off his helmet and announced, "I am Iron Man," superheroes had transformed from ghostly, unknown vigilantes into public figures, integrated into the lives of everyday people. Nowhere was this shift more visible than in Riverton, where the city had installed bat signals in multiple districts, funded by the government. The signals served both as an emergency contact for Batman and as a powerful reminder of the city's trust in its elusive protector. It was a symbol of mutual respect between guardian and city.

But if Batman inspired awe and a touch of fear, Spider-Man—who appeared on the scene later—had grown to feel like an old friend to the people. Where Batman embodied strength and command, Spider-Man represented something closer to home: the "friendly neighborhood" hero. He was the guy you could imagine sharing a laugh with or spotting on a late-night patrol.

Now, Wendelani had its own heroes. Within just a week, Green Arrow and Hawkeye had become the city's most popular figures, even surpassing prominent local celebrities. Their arrival had sparked a newfound enthusiasm for archery, with every club in the city now fully booked. A sport that had once felt almost antiquated was now all the rage, with residents young and old inspired by the elegance and skill of their new icons.

"Cigarette?" Director Petrov asked, offering a pack to Green Arrow.

Green Arrow shook his head politely, so Petrov lit one for himself, inhaling deeply before blowing out a steady plume of smoke. "You two are something else," he said, his admiration obvious. "I've been in law enforcement over twenty years, but this past week—it's been like something out of science fiction."

"One week to clean up the city, shut down four crime families, and you handed over airtight evidence for all of it? Incredible."

This sentiment had rippled across the Wendelani Police Department and beyond. Green Arrow and Hawkeye—or the team behind their intelligence—operated with an efficiency that had taken even seasoned officers by surprise. 

Following Dedalus Reed's fall, analysts had predicted a long, chaotic period, with factions scrambling for control and crime rates soaring. On talk shows, experts had warned that Wendelani was looking at months, maybe years, of strife. Instead, the anticipated gang wars had fizzled before they could ignite, thanks to two vigilantes armed with bows and arrows.

A recent poll on a popular city website showed that over 90% of residents believed Wendelani was moving in the right direction. People were once again comfortable walking the streets at night, and for the first time in years, they felt hopeful about the future.

"Oh, did you catch the new mayoral candidate's speech last night?" Petrov asked with a grin. "He said he wants to put up a statue—of a bow and arrow—right in the city center as a new symbol. You know what that means."

"It's an honor, Director," Green Arrow said, "but this was a team effort."

This wasn't just empty politeness. With Wendelani now blanketed by drones, Charlie Cooper had been able to set up a comprehensive support system, linking heroes directly with various city departments. In his mind, a hero's role was to be a symbol, something that gave people hope and courage. A city didn't need a one-man police force; it needed a protector to handle what the usual channels couldn't, minimizing risk and casualties without overstepping.

"So, that just leaves Mackenzie, right?" Petrov asked, rubbing his chin. "Last we heard, he went into hiding, probably trying to lay low until things settle down. But he's a small fry compared to the ones we've taken down. Could've already skipped town for all we know…"

"No, he's still here," Green Arrow replied. "He's just well-hidden. But we've already picked up his trail."

Petrov's eyes widened. "Already? You just took down Brook… You guys don't waste any time."

Despite having seen their efficiency firsthand, Petrov couldn't help but feel impressed.

"You mean you were tracking Mackenzie while you were dealing with Brook?"

"We're good at multitasking," Green Arrow said, pausing as if gathering his thoughts.

In reality, Charlie had muted his mic and turned away from the screen. "Friday, what's our schedule?"

"Wednesday at 3 p.m.," Friday replied in her usual calm tone.

"Wednesday? That's just the day after tomorrow." Charlie raised an eyebrow. "And tomorrow's booked up already?"

"Correct," Friday confirmed. "Tomorrow, Mr. Stark has a meeting with the Starry Sky Technical Committee, and Miss Cassandra has arranged with Director Linton to move on the local 'Blood Gang' in Grace City, including their high-level backers. Remember?"

"Ah, right."

Friday continued displaying Charlie's packed schedule for the day.

"Since Mackenzie's a low-level target, I figured he could wait an extra day without any issues. I moved him to Wednesday. Just a half hour ago, a drone patrol over the Uxar Desert flagged a high-priority target—a militant group's base. Per your instructions, I've upgraded it on the priority list."

"Exactly. Bigger targets, more weapons—that means more Hero Points and experience in one go. Better than just rounding up street-level criminals."

Charlie nodded, unmuting his mic and turning back to the game.

"…Sorry for the distraction. Our schedule's a bit tight right now. But we're looking at Wednesday, 3 p.m. Get your team prepped, evacuate the area if needed, and be ready. I'll have my team send over the coordinates and the action plan beforehand so we can coordinate like we did today."

"You got it, Archer," Petrov replied with a smile.

By this point, Hawkeye had already fired his grappling hook and swung up onto a nearby building. Green Arrow followed, shooting a grappling arrow high into the air to make his own exit.

"Hold up."

Green Arrow paused, glancing back at Petrov.

"Thank you," Petrov said sincerely. "On behalf of the whole city."

...

Once Green Arrow had vanished into the skyline, Charlie logged off, returning to the hero selection interface. After a quick switch, he logged back in, greeted by a familiar flash of blue light as the screen activated.

Within seconds, the display transformed, and he reappeared as Tony Stark, the invincible Iron Man.

In the virtual lab, the Mark 43 armor stood ready, assembling around Tony piece by piece as it came to life.

"Sir, our drones have picked up four locations of the militant group known as 'Religion' in a mountainous area of the desert," Friday reported. "I've marked all four coordinates on your display."

"So, Iron Man's leading today?" Friday asked.

"Not just Iron Man. If I recall, the First Army Corps was completed, right?"

"Yes, sir."

"Perfect. Deploy the entire corps under Iron Man's command," Charlie said, excitement gleaming in his eyes. "Time for a field test."

"Understood, sir."

The silos opened, and pairs of ice-blue lights illuminated the darkness. A legion of unmanned Iron Man suits, each bearing the Avengers' emblem, rose silently into the air, ready to carry out their mission.

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