Disclaimer:I do not own Sky High, its setting, premise, or characters -or related characters named and unnamed. All is the property of Walt Disney Pictures, Buena Vista Pictures, Andrew Gunn, and Mark McCorkie.

From Out of Town

Chapter Four: Boss Sidao

Detective Kavanagh's car smelled of cigarette ash and stale air. Phoenix might be a superhero with fire-based powers, but that did not mean that he actually liked the smell of burned tobacco and –whatever other garbage was in cigarettes. Sitting in the passenger seat of Kavanagh's car, Phoenix rolled down the window to let some fresh air in.

A freight truck just happened to be passing them on the right and it sent a jet of diesel exhaust wafting in Phoenix's face, but even that was better than Kavanagh's stale cigarettes.

"Roll the window back up." Kavanagh ordered. "You look like a villain and I don't wanna have to explain why you're upfront instead of in the back like a perp."

Turning his head, Phoenix just looked at him. Any criminal that thought it was strange was someone they would not have to explain themselves to, and any fellow law enforcement would need the explanation that, no, Phoenix was not a supervillain. Yes, his costume was mostly black, but he was a superhero.

Instead, Phoenix asked, "Where are we going?"

"We're going to the bar where all the Song guys hang out." Answered Kavanagh.

Phoenix looked back out the window. They were driving down Man of Steel boulevard which ran between Chinatown and Chiquito Oaxaca. The hero would have assumed they would be heading into Chinatown, not skirting around the edges.

Kavanagh pulled into a vacant lot with chalk marks dividing it up into parking spaces. It could not have been a legal parking lot. But it was next to a bar. Kavanagh got out and made his way to the entrance. Phoenix unbuckled his belt and sprinted to catch up to the old detective.

There was a bouncer at the door, and he was carding people. There was no way Kavanagh could have been mistaken for a teenager trying to sneak into a bar. In fact, he looked old enough to be the bouncer's dad. The bouncer still scrutinized his badge and corresponding ID, taking note of the badge number and shining a black-light on the IC card that went with it. He waved Kavanagh inside.

Then he tried to card Phoenix.

"Seriously?" Asked the younger man. (Phoenix was still only twenty. He was just a few months too young to be allowed to walk into a bar –as Warren Peace. If a superhero, in full costume, was walking into a bar, presumably they were there for some kind of hero work, and not to get drunk. The drinking age should not be relevant.)

"Supervillains still get carded." Announced the bouncer. (Supervillains have been known to go to bars in full costume with the expressed purpose of getting shit-faced and hooking up with random strangers in the bathroom.)

Kavanagh placed a hand on Phoenix's shoulder. But it was the bouncer he spoke to. "It's okay, the kid's with me."

"You finally gone dirty?" Asked the bouncer.

"Ha! I wish!" The detective's laugh was utterly humorless. "Maybe then I wouldn't've had to take out a third mortgage and my second wife wouldn't have left me."

The bouncer laughed. Amused at the casual attitude the detective took to his troubles. He waved them both inside.

Phoenix hadn't been in many bars. After the big earthquake last year, his father took him inside Divide, a dance club owned by a neutral-super called the Broker. Since his father's return to prison, Phoenix –as Warren- had to pick his mother up from a couple of bars after she just went out to 'blow off some steam' and then Warren had to come pick her up because she drank too much and the bartender found him listed as her emergency contact in her phone.

He didn't know what to expect when he walked in.

Divide had been a shambles after the quake. It didn't really look much like a business, let alone a bar or club. There had been a dance floor, a stage, and a bar counter. And there were fallen lights and cables strewn across the floor. The bars he picked his mother up from had low lighting, tight tables arranged close together, pool tables, and either sports team memorabilia, car parts, or hunting trophies decorating the walls.

This bar also had low lighting, a bar counter, a small stage, and cluttered décor on the walls. But the tables were more spread out, so much so that if people spoke in hushed voices, no one at the table next to them would be able to hear over the music. The décor on the walls a mixture of Chinese and Mexican (not necessarily Oaxacan), all of it the stereotypical kinds of items that would pander to tourists. There was a serape hung on one wall with a Chinese straw hat over it. Above the bar was a serpentine dragon, but in its claw instead of the traditional gem, or globe, or crystal, was instead a soccer ball with the El Tri logo branded on it.

Phoenix could not help looking around, trying to take it all in. Even with the mask covering his face, he looked like a wide-eyed child.

Kavanagh grabbed Phoenix by the arm and dragged him to the bar counter.

"Hey, Rigo."

The bartender –Rigo- looked up, recognized Kavanagh, heaved a sigh of exasperation and went back to wiping down the counter. Slowly, he made his way over to the detective and the super. "Ain't you retired yet?"

Kavanagh ignored the question. "I'm looking for Sid."

Rigo laughed. "You think Sid'll talk to you? What possible leverage could you have to even barter with to get a meet with Sid?"

"None." The detective admitted. He grabbed Phoenix and pulled him closer to the bar. "But I do have someone Sid will want to meet with."

Looking him up and down, Rigo did not seem impressed. "Some new supervillain? Sorry, Sid's interested in solutions, not new problems."

"I'm not a supervillain." Phoenix growled.

Rigo did not look the least bit convinced. He just gave Phoenix a tired, unamused look. "If you don't want people thinking you're a villain, then you shouldn't dress like a villain."

Behind his mask, Phoenix rolled his eyes. He was getting real sick of people commenting on his choice of costume. Idly, he wondered how many snap assumptions and unsolicited comments his mother got back when she was his age and wearing her fist superhero costume with short-shorts that showed off her butt-cheeks.

Popping the cap off a bottle of some foreign beer, Rigo leaned against the bar. He took a sip. "And why would Sid wanna meet with a super that may or may not be a villain?"

"Because this super and him have something in common." Kavanagh informed him. "He's also wants to push the Luen back out of town."

Actually, Phoenix just wanted to make sure the Paper Lantern, Su Xinyi and her husband were safe. That, and the rest of the city. And if pushing the Luen out and ending the turf war between the two rival mafias was what he had to do to keep the city –and his little niche in it- safe, then that's what he was going to do.

Rigo blinked over his beer bottle. He did not expect that answer. He leaned back from the bar.

"Ultimately, I would assume it's Mama Mei he wants to talk to." Explained Kavanagh. "But no one sees Mama Mei without going through Sid first."

"Bù lātè shìtú zhèngmíng tāyǒu gè dàjiāhuo." (Kid trying to prove he's got a big dick.) Rigo muttered under his breath.

Now it was Phoenix's turn to lean back from the bar. Rigo did not look like the kind of person who could speak Chinese, especially not fluently enough for slang.

"Cut the potty-mouth." Snapped Kavanagh, not understanding a word Rigo said.

"Wǒbù xūyào zhèngmíng wǒde jībā dàxiǎo." Phoenix replied, leaning back against the bar, making eye-contact with Rigo. "Wǒzhǐshì zài zuò rènhé zhídé tā de miànjù chāojí yīngxióng zuò de shìqíng." (I'm just doing what any superhero worth his mask would do.)

Rigo stared at him. He didn't think Phoenix looked like the type to understand a complicated language like Chinese either.

Kavanagh was also blinking at Phoenix, as if just seeing the superhero for the first time. He did not expect Flamebird's son to be bi-lingual, or savy enough to banter with an informant. He expected Flamebird's son to be, well, like Flamebird. A hot piece, in a tight costume. that was really good at showboating it up. And maybe be helpful on cases and get the collar. But not actually have a brain behind that mask.

"Wǒméiyǒu kàn dào qítā yīngxióng zhuīsuí bàomín." (I don't see any other heroes going after the mobs.) Rigo informed him.

"Tāmen tài mángyú fātiē, wúfǎyǔfùqīn héyǐng." (They're too busy posting for photo ops with their dad.) Replied Phoenix, thinking exclusively of the Lieutenant and the Commander. As far as he could tell, Liquidator was focusing more on his education than hero work. Highlighter had the time to be a hero, but he preferred to spend it on his parents' couch playing video games. And Scurry… was doing something… No one in their friends group really knew what she did after high school, she was very secretive about it. All they knew was that she was gainfully employed and used her powers at her job.

Rigo laughed. Apparently, he liked this black-clad super's view of other heroes. The Commander, Jetstream, and their son the Lieutenant might save the city from giant robots and over-sized alien monsters. But they also caused millions of dollars in property damage, crushed people's businesses and homes, then posed for media praise when they were done. Meanwhile, tourists were getting mugged. Cashiers were still held up at gun-point. Cars were still getting jacked. Where were the Commander or his family when that was going on?

"Wǒxǐhuān nǐ, háizi." (I like you, Kid.) He announced. "Nǐjiào shénme míngzì?" (What's your name?)

"Wǒjiào Phoenix." (My name's Phoenix.) He answered.

Taking a sip from his beer, Rigo appeared to be considering the name. "Hǎo de." (Alright.) He finally nodded. "Wǒgàosù nǐzài nǎlǐgēn Sìdào jiànmiàn." (I'll tell you where to find Sid.)

He scribbled some instructions on a cardboard coaster and slid it across the bar to Phoenix.

"Can you read it?" He asked in English. Rigo had written the address and instructions in Chinese (simplified characters).

"Hěn nán ma?" (What, like it's hard?) Phoenix smirked at him.

Rigo smirked back. He still had made up his mind of this costumed kid as really a superhero, a supervillain, or actually one of the many neutrals that lived in the city, but he liked him. "I'll call and tell them to expect Fènghuáng."

A 'phoenix' from Chinese mythology.

"Those two have very different cultural meanings." Phoenix informed him. The western mythical Phoenix was vastly different from the Chinese mythical Fènghuáng. But it was better than being called a supervillain. So Phoenix just let the subject drop. "Let's go, Kavanagh."

"Oh, you're calling the shots now?" The older man scoffed. But he still followed the superhero out anyway. While muttering innapropriate and racially charged comments under his breath. "Kid speaks Chinese with a Beaner and suddenly he thinks he's the boss."

Phoenix did not hear him.

But Rigo did. "吃屎,puto." He muttered at the detective's retreating back.

Back in Kavanagh's car, Phoenix translated the address for the detective to drive them. This time taking them to a private gym in Chinatown.

It was oddly empty and smelled of disinfectant. There was one long woman in the back doing squats and wearing a shirt that said 'Training to Beat Goku' with 'Goku' crossed out with fabric marker and 'Wukong' written in next to it. The only other person was an overly cheerful receptionist that walked out from behind the reception desk with a clipboard.

"Nǐhǎo, and welcome to the Lung Chao Gym. Are you existing members?" He asked, smiling in the uncomfortable way that people who worked in retail and service jobs were required to smile. A friendly, open, unassuming, and yet utterly miserable shit-eating smile that you could just tell they were screaming internally. "We actually have a premium package available for supers, unlimited 24-hour access to the spa and sauna, and the first two months are free. After the two month trial period payments may be made in cash, no credit card necessary. To protect your identity, of course."

Phoenix just blinked behind his mask. No one had ever tried to sell him anything while in costume before.

Next to Phoenix, Kavanagh scoffed.

The receptionist's eyes –and that unnerving retail smile- shifted to the detective. "We also have a very affordable senior package. It includes cardio classes for your heart, and month appointments with our nutritionist."

"Senior!?" Kavanagh was insulted. Never mind the fact that he actually was over the age of fifty-five and, therefore, a senior. "Listen you little-"

Phoenix stepped in and cut him off. "We're here to see someone called Sid. He's expecting us. Tell him Fènghuáng is here."

The receptionist blinked in recognition, that bright retail smile melting into something more appropriate for serious buisness and contraband dealings.

"Ah." He looked Phoenix up and down. Tallish, easily over six feet. With long hair, straight but messy, tucked behind the ear on one side, two red streaks in the other side. The upper half of his face was covered by a mask, so it was hard to get a clear read on him. But between the shapde of his cheekbones, set of his jaw, angle of the nose, and general features that were visibile, he did not look Asian. The receptionist did not look impressed. "You shouldn't call yourselfFènghuáng if you're not Chinese. Some people might take offence."

"I don't call myself Fènghuáng." The super informed him. "My name is Phoenix."

"That's better." Nodded the receptionist. "Mr. Song will see you. This way." He gestured. Both Phoenix and Kavanagh moved to follow him and the receptionist paused again. "No cops." He snapped. "The supervillain only."

Phoenix mumbled something under his breath that neither of them could make out. But if they had heard, it would have sounded like an indignant little grumble. "I'm not a supervillain."

The receptionist lead Phoenix past the lockers rooms, showers, sauna, spa, and swimming pool. Down a narrow hallway that smelled of sweat of mildew. Finally stopping at a door marked with an Employees Only sign on it. The receptionist knocked in a unique pattern. Then waited.

After a prolonged pause, the door was opened by a large man in a suit. Not a tack suit, or similar workout clothing that would be appropriate to wear to a gym. A black two-piece suit. Black slacks and a black bazer over a white collared shirt. No tie. The first two buttons undone displaying tattoos around his neck and on his chest.

"Fènghuáng is here to see the boss." Announced the receptionist.

The man in the suit –presumably a body guard or hired muscle of some variety- looked Phoenix up and down. He probably thought the same thing the receptionist thoguht. That this white-boy had no place calling himself Fènghuáng. After a prolonged pause, he stepped back to allow Phoenix to pass.

The Superhero stepped inside what turned out to be a relatively spartan office. Desk. Laptop computer. Free-stadning safe. File cabinets. Neutral wall art that did not illicit any kind of thought or emotion at all. A concrete floor that smelled of beach and anti-septic.

Standing in front of the desk, leaning against it casually, his blazer thrown over their chair behind him, tie loosened and shirt unbuttoned was a man around Phoenix's own age.

"You must be Sid." Behind his mask, Phoenix narrowed his eyes at him. There was something oddly familiar about the man. Like Phoenix had met him before, but he couldn't quite place when or where.

"Only my friends are allowed to call me 'Sid'." He announced. "It's Boss Sidao, or Mr. Song to you."

"Sidao?" Phoenix echoed. Something sparking his memory. "Song Sidao?"

"Yes…" Nodded the other man stintingly, momentarily thrown by the costumed super's odd reaction to his name.

Phoenix sputtered something inconprehensable.

Song Sidao. This was Song Sidao –Sid. One of his best friends from Wātis Academy, that fancy prep-school his father sent him to. Phoenix stared at the other man with disbelief, glad for his mask hiding his shock. This was his childhood best friend.

"Was there something I could do for you?" Sidao asked after Phoenix's silence had dragged on uncomfortably long. "I'm a very busy man and don't have time for wannabe supervillains clowning around on my operations."

Finally, Phoenix cleared his throat, forcing himself to recover. "The Paper Lantern, it's a restaurant just outside Valor Heights. It's one of the businesses under your 'protection'. I want you to leave it alone. No more threats or collections." He announced. "In return, I'll help you push the Luen back out."

Sidao blinked at him, taken aback. He was not expecting a statement like that. Then his eyes narrowed.

"Jin, go back outside. Make us look like a legitimate business." He ordered the receptionist. "Lee, shut the door." He said to the hired muscle with the tattoos. Sidao came around the desk and sat down, interlacing his fingers. "Okay, Costume, you have my attention."

Behind him, Phoenix more felt rather than heard the muscle shut the door and place himself in front of it, blocking them in.

…