Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Date: January 15, 1999

Location: London, Night Streets

David, now well-established as the Shadowflame, prowled through the quieter streets of London, cloaked in the familiar darkness of his attire. The city felt different when he was in costume, as though every street had its own heartbeat, guiding him toward the places he was needed most. Tonight, he used his command "I have pyrokinesis" as he moved, the heat of controlled flames barely visible in the flickering streetlight.

He'd made an impression, no doubt about that. Each time he intervened, every encounter, London was coming to expect him—a dark figure who could manipulate fire, appearing suddenly in its darkest corners. He didn't care if people thought of him as a hero or a menace, as long as crime was deterred and lives were saved.

An alarm echoed nearby, snapping David out of his thoughts. He turned sharply, focusing on the distant sounds of glass shattering and shouts.

With a swift command to increase his speed, he moved swiftly over rooftops, the leather of his jacket glinting slightly as he navigated the cityscape. He arrived just as a pair of masked men tried to escape from a jewelry store, bags filled with valuables. Without hesitation, David hurled a wall of flame in their path, stopping them in their tracks.

"[You can leave the loot, or you'll get a lot warmer,]" he warned, his voice low and distorted by the voice changer.

The robbers, visibly shaken, dropped their bags and ran for it, leaving the stolen items behind. David extinguished the flames and vanished into the shadows before the authorities arrived, leaving the valuables untouched and the shop intact.

---

Location: S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters, Classified Office of Director Nick Fury

Nick Fury sat alone in his dimly lit office, leaning back in his chair with a frown as he reviewed the file in front of him. The name "Shadowflame" was typed in bold on the first page, underlined with details and various reports. Grainy photos showed a figure cloaked in black, manipulating fire with eerie precision.

Fury scanned each line carefully, his mind racing with questions and possibilities. "Pyrokinesis" was written in several places, leading him to question if this Shadowflame could be a mutant. As far as Fury could tell, the figure seemed unregistered, operating outside the bounds of any known organizations or teams.

He tapped a finger on the desk, considering the potential. If Shadowflame was indeed superhuman, he could be an asset. The Avengers Initiative was still in its early stages, but the world would need powerful allies soon, allies capable of handling extreme threats. But was this vigilante up for it? Was he even the type to follow orders?

Fury leaned back, thoughtful.

"Well, Shadowflame," he murmured to himself, "if you're really out there playing hero, maybe it's time I find out who you are. And see if you've got what it takes."

End of chap.