On the way home, something happens.

On my way home I heard commotion in the alley next to my apartment. Now, while Metropolis drew large scale crime to it like moths to a flame, the city still had its fair share of small time crime. Muggers, gangs, stuff like that. And this is what I came across, a man easily 6'6" was standing over a girl. From what I could see the girl was my age, roughly maybe a year younger. She was short, maybe 5'2" and had red hair tied up in a messy bun. She was dressed in black clothes, she went a little heavy on the eyeliner but it wasn't exactly a problem for her. She was petite, and was glaring up at the mugger with her hands on her hips as he had a gun pointed at her.

I sighed quietly and reached in my bag and slid my mask on my face. Taking my jacket off I walked down the alley, and checked my watch and noticed it said 6:42 PM.

"Hey buddy, didn't your mom tell you not pick on girls. Especially ones as cute as her." I said with a grin leaning against the building behind him.

The guy whirled around them gun turned on me, "Who the fuck are you? Another new fuckin' hero?"

I nodded, pushing the gun out of my face with my finger, "Also, gun safety dude."

I took a glance at the girl, she was eying me curiously. Noticing I had my eye on her she grinned sweetly and licked her lips.

"You should probably get out of here, it's gonna get get real messy."

Following that statement I lifted my knee up with a jump and collided it with his chin knocking him back, reacting fast the girl ran out from behind him, but didn't move much further as he stumbled into the opposite wall. I darted towards him locking his wrist up and making him drop his gun and swung my elbow at his temple knocking him lower, I then wrapped my arms around his shoulder and pulled him downwards, grappling his arm, and pushed my boots onto his face holding him like that. With his other hand he tried to move to get the gun, but I moved my foot slightly and stomped down on his face, knocking him ****.

Sighing, I stood up. Checking my watch, 6:45 PM. Not bad. How easily something can change in three minutes is baffling.

I looked back over towards the girl, she was looking back at me.

"You smell good." She bluntly said as she strode forward, looking me up and down, and added under her breath, "But only to me."

"Uh... thanks? Anyway, I want to make sure you get home safe so lead the way."

She nodded, with a serious expression on her face, "Okay done. I'm at my apartment building. Or are you gonna escort me to the door like a proper gentleman?"

"Yes. I can do that if it's make you feel safer, Miss...?"

She wrapped her arms around my right arm and grinned, there was a twinkle of mischief in her eyes, "You can just call me Thorn."

I half-shrugged, "Sure. Okay Thorn, where exactly do you live?"

"Floor 7, Apartment 303."

That's three down from mine. Oh great. I walked her up to the proper floor, still masked, hoping to not draw anyone's attention. Which as far as I know, I luckily didn't do.

Arriving outside of her home, she let go of my arm and kissed me on the cheek, lingering for just a bit too long.

"So, what do I call you Mr. Hero?"

"Azure."

"Well, Azure, thank you for the help. Good to know it's not just super-powered people in charge here."

I nodded and shot her a small smile, "Have a good night Thorn."

I then walked back towards the elevator, getting in I saw Thorn was still watching me so I went all the way to the bottom, and climbed my way up the fire escape to my bedroom again.

It was in that moment, that there was a knocking on my window, looking outside I saw...