Hey guys! Welcome to my newest short story. If everything goes according to plan, this story will count around seven-eight chapters. Also, I should probably tell you it's about my OC, but I promise he'll see a familiar face every new chapter. This story starts right before "Lair, Lair" and that's all, I guess. All I can do now is hoping you'll enjoy the story. Also, Merry Christmas!

-Writer207

My name is Kenny Gordon. When I turned eighteen, I got into trouble real soon. I would've gone to prison if it weren't for my savior and mentor, Machine. She taught me everything I needed to know and now I'm one of the few Normo villains. With Machine and her crew, I'm wreaking havoc throughout Philadelphia and I'm having the time of my life. Love and lust come do interfere with my life, but I don't mind. I'm the human flamethrower. I am the Incinerator.

Stupid cops. They had no idea who they were dealing with. They reached out for their guns and shot in my direction. I ducked behind the counter. An old man was sitting next to me, terrified of me and what I've done since I arrived. The bullets flew over my head, missing me with one or two inches. Man, I disliked those guys. Arrogant men who thought they could stop me. Too bad my natural enemies will make them forget the lesson I'm about to teach them.

I grabbed the old man and held him in front of me. He couldn't escape – I made that clear. "You run and I turn you into a pile of ashes." He trembled a lot, but he did follow my commands. We stepped forward until we had reached the front door, which was made out of glass until I broke it. From outside, I could hear several cops shout. "He's got a hostage!"

The old man moved his arms, as if he wanted to hold them up, to tell those cops not to shoot him. He couldn't – I wouldn't let him. The cops held their guns, safety off, ready to shoot me when they saw their chance. I almost laughed out loud. Those idiots did not have any chance of hurting me. My bulletproof armor underneath my suit would protect me from their projectiles. My fingers searched for the triggers close to my thumbs. To the outside world, it could look like I'm making fists for a short time.

I pushed the old man to the ground and pressed the buttons on my thumbs. From under my wrists, the small flamethrowers were activated. Soon, flames lit up the night and the cops were too surprised to react these first seconds. While they were distracted by my awesome invention, I got the time to kick their butts or push them on the ground. I opened my hands and the flames disappeared.

Two minutes later, I beat all the cops and reinforcements were on their way. This was the perfect moment to take the money and go. That's why I came in the first place: to steal some money. Even villains have to live, but we don't get paid. Why do you think we steal anything that's worth a lot?

I grabbed the bag and ran away. The superheroes would reach this place sooner or later, maybe sooner than I thought. They would interrogate the cops, then erase their memories of tonight. They would look at the footage and then they'd know I was the enemy of today. I wasn't afraid – I've fought them many times before – and all I wanted was to go home and be safe. For Bianca.

I turned to my right, into an abandoned alley. I parked my motorcycle here before I did what I'm good at, but I couldn't find it. Unbelievable. I was gone for fifteen minutes, how could someone have taken it? Then I remember it wasn't this alley, but the next one where I parked it. I was about to turn around when the sight of a familiar person stopped me. The pretty blonde with the blue lips and mask appeared from the shadows. I smiled.

"Hello, Snowstorm," I greeted one of my main enemies, "Nice to see you again." I put the bag on the ground. She was looking at it and I guessed she was going to bring it back to the bank I just robbed after trying to kick my butt. I leaned against the wall, towering over the bag. If she wanted the money, she had to pass me first.

"So it's you." she said, crossing her arms. I nodded and stepped a little closer to her. In the meantime, I looked at her to see if any improvements were made. So far, nothing has changed since the last time we spoke and fought, but she did look better than our last time.

"Yeah, it's me. The Incinerator, at your service." I took a bow, never breaking eyes contact with the hero. Looking away definitely meant you could lose the fight. Everyone can do something surprising when the enemy looked away. If she did, I would make her melt.

My hands were ready to go back to fighting and sending some fire in her direction. The buttons haven't been pushed for a second time. For now, the flamethrowers would still shoot flames when I wanted them to do it. They were hidden in the sleeves of my awesome fireproof suit, close to my wrists, and I controlled them with my thoughts. It could shoot long flames and quick destructive fireballs. One of the newest upgrades allowed them to shoot toxic flames and fireballs as well, which just was awesome. The buttons are there to make sure I don't accidentally hurt someone I care about. The best part is that it will look like I'm one of the supers myself. The only risk I'm taking is burning my hands. Those flamethrowers in combination with my awesome fighting skills are the most ultimate weapons anyone could ever fight with.

"Hand me the bag or I'll take it," Snowstorm warned me. I laughed and glanced at the bag. Nobody ever came in this alley. I had to be home in only an hour and I had no idea about Snowstorm's schedule.

That meant there was time for a talk between enemies.

"You look like you're in a hurry," I said, and Snowstorm glared at me. "I understand, you can't let Zero wait for you. Are you guys going on a date tonight?" It was one of the best public secrets. Snowstorm liked Absolute Zero, and Absolute Zero liked Snowstorm. For a long, long time, they denied ever being in love with someone. They always said their profession could endanger their loved ones. Everyone knew a beautiful relationship was blossoming - villain, hero and civilian alike. Everyone, except Snow and Zero themselves. I have no idea how their relationship was at this point, but Snowstorm's cheeks had gone from the natural pale color to red. Blushing did mean the hero was either embarrassed or that she now shared a romantic relationship with someone, presumably Zero. I'd encourage it any day. Everyone deserved someone to love, plights or not, risks or not.

"Did Machine sent you?" she then asked, avoiding the question. I shook my head and my smile faded away. Machine… I shook my head again, this time to stop thinking about her.

"I have nothing to do with Machine anymore. I quit her crew weeks ago. We're through." When one relationship blossoms, another turns to ashes. As soon as I started seeing Bianca, I knew I had to choose between the two girls. I chose the civilian I wanted to protect from the villain. machine wasn't like Bianca and she didn't like that I was seeing another girl. Then I quit.

Don't get me wrong. Machine and I, we were never a thing. I just flirted with her and while she enjoyed the compliments I gave her, she always rejected me. I stayed for her and when I left and didn't come back, I guessed she realized she'd lost me. I haven't seen her these past few weeks, which I'm grateful for. Then again, there's a big chance she'll find me and then I don't know what she'll do to me.

I walked back to the bag and grabbed it. I wasn't in the mood to talk with her anymore. Besides, she couldn't let Zero wait and I couldn't let Bianca wait. I walked away from her, on my way to the next alley and my motorcycle. Unfortunately, Snowstorm wanted that bag of cash I wanted to take home with me and hide in the bushes. She ran to me and kicked me in the back of my knee.

I sank through my knees. Bulletproof, yes, but I still was vulnerable against any melee attacker. I dropped the bag, which Snowstorm took in her hands. I turned my head to her, eyes on the bag. She would bring my money back to the bank. That's so unfair! I needed that money. I extended my arm in her direction and shot her with one big flare which could even make me sweat. The red and yellow flames reached her and hit her in the back. She cried out in pain and fell on the ground. She stayed there longer than I had expected, which gave me time to get the money and get out of here. I stood up and limped towards the money bag. The place where she kicked me still hurt, but at least I was able to walk.

I kneeled and grabbed the bag. I swung it over my shoulder and was about to leave when I noticed that Snow still hadn't gotten up. This was too suspicious, so I stayed a little longer. Normally, she would have already kicked my butt and taken the money back to the bank. She's a fighter, I know it, so there's no way she'd give up out of free will. And the wound I gave her wasn't covered with a small layer of ice – she used to do that every time I burned her. It did help her, as I've never seen burn wounds.

"That's it?" I said, a little disappointed in her, "You're not gonna fight back?" She did move, luckily, though not that much. So far, she only turned her head and tried to look at me. Her lips moved – she was trying to tell me something. I had to come closer to her until I heard what she wanted to tell me.

"The Annihilator…" her voice was weak. She must've put most, if not all, of her energy into saying that one name. She did not move after saying this. I stayed and listened to her heartbeat, confirming she was still alive. I was left to wonder about why she would mention the big bad mutant nemesis of Skylar Storm.

Then it hit me. There have been rumors about him and his wicked ways of evilness. These rumors said the Annihilator liked to collect heroes' powers as throphies before killing them. Only half of the heroes he stole from were alive, including miss Storm herself. I guessed it meant my colleague also stole Snow's powers, and that she survived that attack.

I panicked. If she had lost her powers to the Annihilator and wasn't faking it, my invention had the potential to kill her. The fact that she was lying motionless at my feet proved my point. And without her freezing ability to heal her… oh no.

I killed a superhero. Well, she wasn't dead yet, but I feared that I had taken her life, maybe right after admitting her feelings for Zero. "I'm sorry," I muttered before turning around and walking towards the next alley. My motorcycle waited for me. I couldn't stop thinking about my nemesis. I shook my head. You're a villain, Gordon, I told myself, she's a hero. They'll pick her up soon.

I took a turn to the right and I sighed in relief when I saw my motorcycle. It was my only way of teleportation and maybe even my most prized possession. It's been with me for six years and I've really grown fond of it. It reminded me of better times before I got into this business. I could still imagine my baby brother sitting there, pretending to be driving it.

Unfortunately, Titanio blocked the way. I sighed and gave him my most annoyed look. I should've known someone else was coming for me. They wouldn't let a powerless hero run around the streets and fight crime on her own.

I'd come back for my motorcycle later. I turned around and was about to run away when Blue Tornado came walking into the alley. The tin can and the twister had trapped me in the middle. Stupid heroes. They came closer to me. I could already guess how this would end. We'd fight an unfair battle with two against one, which I'm bound to lose, and I'd have to go back to Mighty Max.

I wouldn't let that happen. I dropped the bag and placed it between my feet. Then I aimed at both heroes and large flames shot out of my weaponry. They were smart enough and stayed at a distance. The fire burned five seconds before I put it out.

"Stay back!" I yelled. If the tin can or the twister came closer, I wouldn't hesitate, "Don't waste time on me. In another alley, Snowstorm is dying. I'd hurry if I were you." I had to add that. I didn't want to run around feeling guilty about killing her. Being a villain was much more fun with a personal nemesis.

The twister made a mistake. He took one step in my direction and I reacted immediately. I extended both hands towards the hero in spandex and gave the silent command. The flames shot in his direction. He avoided the flares and lifted his hands, sending mini tornados in my direction. I sent some extra firepower in his direction.

I may or may not have gotten used to fighting one hero at a time, which was why I left my back unprotected. Then, something hit my neck. I lost my concentration and the flames stopped coming out of the flamethrowers. My hands reached the spot where something had stung me. I pulled a small cylinder out of my neck – it looked like a small blue dart.

Before I realized what was going on, I was having a hard time standing up. I stumbled forward and tried to get back up, but for some reason it was harder than it usually was. My senses were fading – I felt like I needed glasses and a hearing aid while my strength failed me. Why was it so hard to get up?

"What was that?" It was the twister who said that. Or the tin can. I couldn't tell because their voices seemed so far away. I had to concentrate to hear Titanio's (or Blue Tornado's) response.

"A new weapon for minor villains. That way, we'll have more time to fight the biggest threats." He said. At least, I think he said that. I wasn't really thinking straight at that point, fighting to stay awake. I already guessed where they would take me, but I didn't care about me. I'd break out of there in no time. No, I cared about my nemesis and Bianca. What would life be without those two women in my life? One made me feel at ease and the other one gave me a reason to do better than the last time.

I lost my concentration and I stopped fighting whatever one of the two men had given me. I would've lost the fight anyways, but I didn't want to be seen as a guy who gave up too soon. I still had a reputation to uphold.

My eyes closed and I accepted the darkness that surrounded me, knowing I would wake up in a high security prison, wondering whether Snowstorm made it.