DC: Crystalizing

The door to Lou's office was massive—dark wood with intricate carvings, polished to a shine that screamed money. Two thick-necked bouncers stood on either side, their arms crossed and their faces blank. Adrian, still in his orange mask, adjusted the straps on his gloves as he approached.

"Boss wants to see you," one of the bouncers grunted, jerking his thumb toward the door.

Adrian tilted his head slightly. "You know, usually when someone beats the champ, there's a parade. Maybe a cake. Instead, I get an invite to the principal's office."

The bouncer didn't laugh. He just opened the door and motioned for Adrian to enter.

The room was a stark contrast to the chaos of the arena. It was quiet, almost eerily so, with thick carpets that muffled footsteps and walls lined with expensive-looking bookshelves. A massive desk sat in the center, made of dark mahogany, its surface impeccably clean except for a glass of amber liquid and a slim laptop. The air smelled faintly of leather and cigars.

Lou sat behind the desk, and Adrian had to suppress a moment of shock at how much the man had changed.

Two years ago, Lou had been slick—always dressed in sharp suits, his hair perfectly gelled, his eyes sharp and predatory. But now? Now he looked… heavier. His once-fitted suits were a little too tight around the middle, and his face was fuller, with deep lines etched into his forehead. His hair was still slicked back, but there were more streaks of gray than Adrian remembered. He looked older, slower—but the way his dark eyes locked onto Adrian's mask told a different story. There was still a dangerous edge to Lou, a coiled tension beneath the surface that made Adrian stay on his guard.

"Well, well, well," Lou said, his voice smooth but carrying a faint rasp, like someone who'd spent a little too much time yelling over the years. "The man of the hour. Or should I say… mask of the hour? What do I call you, kid? You got a name?"

Adrian leaned casually against the back of a chair, his body language relaxed, almost cocky. "Call me whatever you want. 'The guy who put Danny on his ass' works just fine."

Lou chuckled, the sound low and humorless. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. Not many people walk into my ring and make a splash like that. But then again…" He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the desk. "Not many people have the balls to pick a fight with Danny and live to tell about it. So tell me, what's your deal? Why the mask? Some kinda gimmick?"

Adrian shrugged. "Keeps things interesting. Adds a little mystery. You'd be surprised how much people love an underdog in a mask."

Lou smirked faintly, swirling the liquid in his glass. "Mystery's good. But it can also be dangerous. See, I don't like not knowing who I'm dealing with." His eyes narrowed slightly. "So why don't you take it off? Let's see the face behind the show."

Adrian felt the room grow colder, the subtle shift in Lou's tone sending a ripple of tension down his spine. But he didn't flinch. Instead, he chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Nah. Where's the fun in that? Besides, it's not about me. It's about the fight, right? The crowd loved it. You loved it. Everyone wins."

Lou stared at him for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, he leaned back in his chair, spreading his arms wide. "Fair enough. You're right—the crowd did love it. And you've got talent. I'll admit, you've piqued my interest. But here's the thing…" His voice dropped slightly, taking on a harder edge. "Interest isn't trust. And trust? That's earned."

Adrian tilted his head, feigning curiosity. "Trust, huh? What do I need to do? Win another fight? Wrestle a bear? Bake you a cake?"

Lou's lips twitched into a faint smile, though his eyes remained cold. "You're funny, kid. I like funny. But no, it's not about the fights. It's about understanding your place in my world. See, I run a tight ship here. Every fighter, every bet, every deal—it all goes through me. And if someone doesn't know how to play by the rules…" He picked up his glass, taking a slow sip before setting it down with a deliberate clink. "…they don't last long."

Adrian nodded slowly, his mind racing as he studied Lou's face. You're trying to size me up. Fine. Let's play.

"Speaking of rules," Adrian said, gesturing around the room. "Kinda quiet in here, isn't it? Where's the entourage? The bodyguards? A guy like you usually has at least two goons standing behind the desk, right? Or did I miss the memo?"

Lou's eyes narrowed ever so slightly, and for a moment, Adrian thought he'd pushed too far. But then Lou smirked, leaning back in his chair again. "You're observant. I'll give you that. But let me tell you something about power, kid. Real power doesn't need a show. Real power doesn't need bodyguards. You think anyone in this building would dare lay a hand on me?"

Adrian shrugged, his tone casual. "Guess not. Still, feels a little… bold. But hey, what do I know? I'm just the guy in the mask."

Lou's smirk widened, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Exactly. You don't know me, and I don't know you. Which brings me back to my first question: what's your deal? You here to fight? Make a name for yourself? Or is there something else you want?"

Adrian paused, pretending to consider the question as he leaned forward slightly. "Maybe I'm just looking for an opportunity."

Lou raised an eyebrow. "Opportunity, huh? And what makes you think you'll find that here?"

"Because I know how this world works. You don't get to the top by playing nice. You fight, you win, you take what you can. That's what I'm here for."

Lou studied him for a long moment, his fingers drumming lightly on the desk. "Interesting. Alright, I'll bite. You've got your shot. Keep winning, keep the crowd happy, and maybe—maybe—I'll find a place for you in my world. But just remember…" His voice hardened, his eyes locking onto Adrian's. "This isn't a game. You step out of line, and I'll make sure you don't get back up. Got it?"

Adrian nodded, a faint smile curling beneath the mask. "Crystal clear."

Adrian extended his hand toward Lou. "Well," he said with that faint, mocking smile under his orange mask, "here's to a long and prosperous partnership, boss. What do you say? A handshake for the man who took down your champ?"

Lou didn't move, his dark eyes narrowing as they flicked from Adrian's mask to his outstretched hand. A smirk tugged at his lips, but there was no humor in it. "I don't shake hands with ghosts."

"No? That's a shame. I thought I earned at least that much. Or maybe you're just worried. Afraid I know too much already."

Lou's smirk faltered slightly, but he covered it by leaning back in his chair. "You don't know a damn thing about me, kid."

"Oh, really?" Adrian said, his voice carrying just enough amusement to make it sting. "That's funny, because I know about Maverick Bay. You remember that little 'incident,' right? The dock fire, the missing witnesses, the payout from Gino Carver's boys? I'm sure it's just a coincidence, though, that all the evidence mysteriously disappeared."

Lou froze, the glass in his hand suspended mid-air. 

"You worked so hard to bury that, didn't you? Must've cost a fortune to make the fire look like an accident. And those dockworkers—the ones who saw too much? What was it, three families you 'sent on vacation'? Except none of them ever came back." Adrian tilted his head. "What do you think happened to them, Lou? Did they end up at the bottom of the bay? Or did you feed them to Carver's boys to send a message?"

"Shut up," Lou snapped. His calm facade cracked for the briefest of moments, his grip tightening around the glass. But he quickly recovered, setting the glass down on the desk with a loud clink. "You don't know shit."

Adrian chuckled, leaning back in his chair, his posture infuriatingly relaxed. "Don't I?" He shrugged, spreading his hands. "Alright, fine. Maverick Bay's old news anyway. Let's talk about something fresher. Like the Briarcrest Tenants Association. Now, that's a fun one. A whole apartment block full of families who didn't want to sell to your developer buddy, so what did you do? Turn off the heat in the middle of winter. Cut off the water. Let the rats overrun the building." Adrian's tone turned darker. "And when that didn't work, you paid someone to torch the place. Twenty-seven people died. Thirteen of them kids. But hey—at least you got the land, right?"

Lou's hand shifted slightly, his jaw tightening further, but Adrian wasn't done. Not by a long shot.

"Or how about the Ravenshade Runaways?" Adrian asked, his tone dripping with false curiosity. "That charity you 'partnered' with—what was it? A foster care program for kids on the streets? Everyone thought you were a saint for funding it. Turns out you were handpicking kids for trafficking. Selling them off to the highest bidder. Didn't matter how young they were, did it, Lou? As long as the money was good."

"You don't know what you're talking about," the man hissed, but there was no conviction in his voice now. 

Adrian ignored him. "And that's just the tip of the iceberg, isn't it? We haven't even gotten to the fights—the 'special' matches you run behind closed doors. The ones where people don't walk out of the ring. Hell, I bet some of the people in your little 'VIP section' don't even know how much blood is on your hands. But I do."

Lou's mask of control finally slipped, his lips pulling back into a sneer. "You think you're clever?" he spat. "Throwing old rumors in my face like it means something? You don't know a damn thing about what it takes to stay on top in this world."

Adrian leaned back again, his smirk evident even beneath the mask. "Maybe not. But I know enough." He gestured to his still-outstretched hand, his tone turning almost playful. "So? What do you say? Maybe I'm worth shaking hands with after all."

Lou stared at him for a long moment, his eyes dark and calculating. Then, without a word, his hand moved beneath the desk. Adrian caught the faint glint of something metallic just before Lou brought his fist up into view.

The ring was thick, ornate, and made of black metal. Strange, glowing symbols etched into the surface pulsed faintly with a sickly green light, casting eerie shadows across Lou's face. 

Adrian's sharp eyes locked onto it, his mind racing. That's new. 

"Or maybe," Lou said, his voice low and laced with venom, "I'll just kill you and call it a day."

Before Adrian could react, the ring emitted a high-pitched whine, sharp and unnatural, the kind of sound that made your teeth vibrate. His instincts kicked in and his hand shot out, grabbing the heavy ashtray and hurling it into the path of Lou's glowing fist.

The impact deflected Lou's aim just enough, and the searing green beam shot upward, carving a jagged, smoldering scar into the ceiling above. Adrian's sharp eyes caught a glimpse of the exposed layers—concrete and thick foam panels lined with strange metallic strips. 

"So that's why you were so confident," Adrian muttered to himself as he sprang forward, closing the distance between them with terrifying speed as he knee slammed into Lou's chest, sending the older man crashing backward into his chair. The ring sparked wildly as Lou raised his hand again, but Adrian moved faster. His fingers wrapped around Lou's wrist, slamming it down against the desk with a loud crack. Lou cried out, his other hand scrambling for something—anything—to use as a weapon, but Adrian was relentless. He drove his elbow into Lou's face, blood spraying from the man's nose as his head snapped back.

Adrian twisted the wrist with the ring, pinning Lou's arm against the desk. He paused for a moment, breathing heavily, as he waited for the inevitable—the sound of the door bursting open, the bouncers storming in, the alarms blaring. But nothing happened. The room remained deathly silent.

"Soundproofed, huh?" Adrian said, his voice breaking the quiet like a blade. He chuckled darkly, shaking his head as he looked down at Lou. "Of course you would. Smart move, Sweet Lou."

"You…" Lou muttered, his voice low, almost to himself. "You know too much. The dock fire. The witnesses. The kids…" He trailed off, his bloodied hand twitching slightly as though trying to grab onto some invisible thread. His dark eyes locked onto Adrian's masked face, and Adrian could practically see the gears turning in his head. 

Lou's breathing hitched as a realization crept over him, slow and insidious. "The only one who could know that much…" His lips curled into something between a grimace and a sneer. "You were close to me. You weren't just some punk in a mask. You were…" 

He froze, his breath catching, as the name finally formed in his mind. His eyes widened, and his voice cracked as he whispered, "Adrian."

Adrian tilted his head, the faintest smile curling beneath the orange mask. "There it is," he said. "You've still got it, Lou. Still sharp. I wasn't sure if you'd figure it out before I had to spell it out for you." 

Lou's face twisted, a grotesque combination of shock, fear, and anger. "You're dead," he said, his voice trembling but firm, as though saying it aloud would make it true. "You're supposed to be dead. Cadmus… they told me—" He cut himself off, his jaw tightening as the full weight of his mistake crashed down on him. 

"Cadmus told you a lot of things, didn't they? That I'd never survive the experiments. That I'd never come back. That you'd washed your hands of me for good." His voice dropped to a whisper. "Guess what, Lou? They lied." 

Lou's body went rigid, his breathing shallow as the memories resurfaced. He'd thought about Adrian before, but only fleetingly—just another tool he'd discarded, a pawn he'd sold off when it was no longer useful. He remembered the decision clearly: Adrian had been too unpredictable, too dangerous. The kid was good in the ring, a real mad dog, but Lou had seen the cracks in his loyalty. He was a liability waiting to happen. 

"You sold me," Adrian said, cutting through Lou's thoughts like a blade. His voice was calm, too calm, and it made the hair on the back of Lou's neck stand up. "You didn't just throw me away. You sold me. To Cadmus. Like I was nothing. Like I was… property." 

Lou swallowed hard, the sound loud in the otherwise silent room. "You were out of control," he said. "You were a risk, Adrian! You think I didn't see it? The way you looked at me, like you were just waiting for your chance to turn on me? I did what I had to do!" 

"Did what you had to do," Adrian repeated softly. "Is that what you tell yourself? That selling me to a bunch of government psychopaths was some kind of business decision? That you weren't just covering your ass?" 

Lou's lips curled into a snarl, anger momentarily overpowering his fear. "You were nothing without me," he spat. "I gave you a purpose. I gave you power. And this—" He gestured to Adrian, the mask, the blood. "This is how you repay me?" 

"Oh, I'm repaying you, alright." 

Adrian reached out, grabbing Lou by the collar and yanking him forward. "And the best part? No one's going to hear you scream." 

The fear returned, sharper than before, as Lou's eyes darted to the door. His mind raced again, searching for some kind of way out, some kind of leverage. But the soundproofing—the same feature he'd installed to protect himself—now sealed his fate. 

"Adrian, listen to me. I— I can fix this. I can make this right. Money, power—whatever you want, it's yours. Just… don't do this. Please." 

Adrian didn't respond right away. He let the silence stretch, let the weight of Lou's desperation sink in. Then he tilted his head slightly, as if considering the offer. "You're right," he said at last, his voice calm. "You can give me something." 

Lou's eyes lit up with a flicker of hope. "Anything," he whispered. 

Adrian leaned in closer. "You can give me the satisfaction of watching you die." 

Lou barely had time to process the words before Adrian's fist came down like a hammer, shattering his nose with a sickening crunch. Blood poured from Lou's face as Adrian struck again, and again, each blow more brutal than the last. Lou's pleas turned to gargled whimpers, then silence.

Finally, Adrian stood, wiping the blood from his gloves as he looked down at the lifeless body. He reached down, sliding the glowing ring off Lou's finger and holding it up to the light. The eerie symbols pulsed faintly, and Adrian's lips curled into a smirk.

Adrian cleaned himself up as best he could, wiping the blood from his mask and gloves before stepping out of the office. The bouncers were still standing by the door, oblivious to the carnage that had just unfolded inside.

"The boss is really nice," Adrian said casually, nodding to one of them as he walked past.

The bouncer frowned, his eyes narrowing as he noticed the ring on Adrian's finger. "Hey… why do you have the boss's ring?"

Adrian stopped, holding up the ring for the bouncer to see. "Do I? Check again."

Before the bouncer could respond, Adrian flicked his finger, and the ring emitted a sharp beam of green light, carving cleanly through the man's skull. The bouncer dropped to the floor without a sound, his lifeless body slumping against the wall.

Adrian glanced at the other bouncer, who stood frozen, his face pale. "This is a nice weapon," Adrian said, his tone almost conversational. He turned and walked away, leaving the man trembling in his wake.

As he stepped out into the night, Adrian slipped the ring into his pocket, his mind already racing ahead to the next step. Lou was just the beginning.

Now it was time to plan for Cadmus.

[ Lou's Mysterious Ring ]

Author Note: More chapters on [email protected]/LordCampione.