A date with Diana (part 1)

A/N what are you guys though on Sypha, from Castlevania?

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Chapter 23

Far from the vault and all prying eyes, Cain and his duplicate could be seen, hands intertwined as the duplicate employed a short-range teleportation technique to whisk them away. They moved in a blur of flashes, a shimmering dance of shifting locations.

"It seems I've landed on the radar of some rather unwelcome folks," Cain mused quietly to himself as they continued their rapid teleportation. "But then again, strength begets attention, and it was only a matter of time before I crossed paths with the wrong crowd. I can't remain concealed forever," he admitted, the world streaking by around them.

In a swift scene transition, back in Cain's hidden sanctuary, he was seen dialing a number. The person at the other end answered with familiar cheerfulness. "Hey there, my man, Wizard," Tori greeted him, his voice exuding its usual enthusiastic tone.

"I've secured the target, Tori," Cain stated, his voice laced with determination. "Now, where's my payment?" This was met with an anxious chuckle from Tori.

"Have you already delivered the target? If so, the payment should be forthcoming," Tori responded, his tone hinting at unease. However, Cain cut him off.

"Tori, I'm not a fool," Cain retorted. "The last time I trusted one of your clients, I found myself staring down the barrel of a gun. I won't make that mistake again, i never do. Until I see the payment, they won't get their hands on the target."

After a brief pause, Tori called back several minutes later. "Alright, I've managed to convince the client to release half of the payment upfront. Please, can you deliver the target now? They're growing rather impatient," Tori requested with a hint of desperation, breaking the silence.

Cain remained silent for a moment. "Tori, we've been working together for years," he said slowly, with a sigh. "I've never once broken a promise."

"Yeah, and you've always gotten paid," Tori replied, a touch of annoyance in his voice.

"Until that one time," Cain snapped back sharply. "It was one time, Wizard, just one," Tori argued.

"One time is more than enough," Cain retorted. "You've never had to doubt my performance or my word, so why should I doubt yours?"

"Listen, if they fail to hold up their end, I'll personally make up for it, double the payment," Tori offered, trying to soothe Cain's irritation. 

"Can you even afford your rent, you bastard?" Cain asked, his annoyance mounting. 

"Once we're done with this transaction, I won't have to worry about rent. Please, Wizard, trust me on this," Tori implored.

Cain sighed deeply. "This is the last time i am trusting you, Tori," he declared firmly. "The very last time." He ended the call with a heavy heart, a sliver of trust given to a familiar yet unreliable friend.

-scene change-

Belle Reve Peninsula, Louisiana was sweltering, and Amanda Waller stood resolutely in a room with several people huddled around computers. A massive screen loomed over them, displaying the image of a figure enigmatically dressed in a white robe with a hoodie concealing their identity. The robe bore armor-like plates on their shoulders, and a web of straps crisscrossed their midsection.

"Wizard emerged about eight years ago in Gotham," a woman reported as Amanda attentively listened. "In the beginning, he was a standard thief, pilfering from drug dealers and minor gangs. He was just your run-of-the-mill burglar, no powers or spells. 'Wizard' was merely his alias," she elaborated, fingers gracefully swiping on a tablet-like device.

"With time, the heists he undertook became riskier and more lucrative," she continued, "and as his skills honed, he developed a reputation for flawlessly executing missions on time, without any hiccups. He always delivers."

"It was even rumored that he was Catwoman's sidekick, a claim that turned out to be untrue," she added, but Amanda's interest lay elsewhere. She cut in with a more demanding tone. "I don't need rumors or accolades. I want his identity, every indiscretion, every detail. I want hard-hitting evidence," she insisted as the woman sighed.

"The thing is, not even his primary contractor knows his real name; he's exceptionally cautious," the woman explained. Amanda's attention now shifted. "Tell me about the contractor," she inquired.

"Tori Chase, a 34-year-old veteran who served in the British Army from the age of 21 and retired at 28 due to misconduct. For the next six years, he operated as a contractor for assassins, collaborating with various clients of all types. He's a divorced father of three," the woman detailed. Amanda took a moment to ponder before dismissing her.

"Get Tori to post a job for Wizard, and we'll lay a trap," Amanda concluded, a wicked smile forming. The woman was about to mention the likelihood of Wizard using spells or superpowers when Amanda cut her off. "Our soldiers will test, get him to reveal more of his spells. If he proves too challenging, we'll send in the Suicide Squad, along with their new recruit," she stated with a nod.

[3 weeks later]

Inside his hidden sanctuary, Cain sat in a lotus position, deeply engrossed in meditation. His eyes slowly fluttered open, and a translucent screen materialized in front of him. [You have reached Level 21.] [+1 Spell Point] A grin tugged at the corners of his lips. "That's three spell points now," he mused aloud. "Though I don't have enough to rank up the spell I want, it's high time I acquired some new ones."

With a sense of anticipation, he shifted his attention to his phone, which was flashing with a notification. "Maybe it's something that will grant me a superhuman body or the like," he mused. He called the indicated person. The phone rang, and a voice greeted him, "Hello cain"

A broad smile adorned Cain's face as he recognized the voice. "Hello, Diana," he replied warmly. "How was your day?" Diana sighed wearily, and her voice conveyed fatigue. "Oh, I'm exhausted," she admitted.

Cain suggested, "How about this? You head home now, sleep until tomorrow afternoon, and I'll come to pick you up at 9." Diana sounded playfully surprised, asking, "You're going to pick me up?" Cain chuckled and said, "Alright, I'll buy a car today, so get some beauty sleep, even though you don't need it." Her laughter was a beautiful melody in his ears. "I'll be waiting, cain" she said, doing the thing she usually does, spell his name with a tongue