11745/By Fire's Light

By Fire's Light
Date of Scene:	09 July 2020
Location:	East Harlem, Manhattan
Synopsis:	Superman and Jessica Drew save some lives.
Cast of Characters:	Superman, Spider-Woman (Drew)

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Superman has posed:
Orange, red, and yellow light dances along a black column of smoke rising into the clear night sky. The Murphy Building in East Harlem is burning. The windows have long since given out and smoke pours out of them. Ladder crews, light by fire and also by the blue, red and white emergency lights below, pour water into the building. Harlem residents and news crews have gathered outside a perimeter set up by officer's from NYPD's 25th Precinct. The roar of the fire provides the accompaniment to the scene. Thankfully, the building was not residential. Unfortunately, it had a lot of community artist spaces and years of hard work were being lost. No few people were upset and even in tears by the police cordon.

Superman looks over at Spider-Woman and nods. Each of the heroes has someone in their arms. They carry the last of the few peopel who were trapped in the building to the ground and the waiting paramedics. A small group of others pulled from the building are being tended to. The quick action of the two heroes meant smoke inhalation was the worst of their injuries.

"Gracias... Gracias," weeps the young man Spider-Woman was carrying says to her. He throws his arms around her neck, repeating his thanks over and over. His soot stained t-shirt leaves its traces. An older paramedic gently pulls the man off Spider-Woman and gives her an apologetic smile.

"Ven," the paramedic says. He puts an arm around the young man's shoulders and guides him toward a waiting ambulance to be checked out.

Superman's charge cups the side of his face in one hand, looks him in the eyes, then wordlessly walks away with the paramedics.

"Spider-Woman, is that everyone?" comes a voice. A NYPD firefighter in a captain's helmet with "NEDRY" on his name tag walks up to the two heroes. He gives a quick glance at Superman, then back to Spider-Woman. Someone he has seen personally many times. Someone not returned from the dead, if the news is to be believed. "Did you get them all?"

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"Usted es muy bienvenido. Me alegro de que estes a salvo ahora. Deja que te traten." Spider-Woman hands off the young man to the paramedic, and turns her sooted gaze to Nedry, nodding once affirmatively. "Everyone's out. Everyone's safe." She turns her lensed eyes toward Superman, and she pulls her mask off, taking a deep breath of cleaner air. "Thanks in no small part to you," she adds, addressing the caped man who may or may not be a zombie in pajamas. She'll have to grill him later to find out.

Nedry nods to her, as he jogs off toward the other firefighters, shouting the news to their obvious relief. Jessica, now unmasked, sidles toward Superman. "Pretty good work for a dead guy..."

Superman has posed:
Superman watches Nedry lead the young man. The light and shadows play across his face as he smiles.

"Don't believe everything you read," Superman says with a bit of a smile. He eyes the police cordon. There are flashes from cellphones and cameras as people photograph the two heroes standing together. He looks back to Jessica and tilts his head with a quick glance up to the rooftop of the building across the street.

Superman gives a last glance around them, then rises slowly into the air. The heat from the fire billows his cape and for many, he is silhouetted against the moon. His trajectory shifts to the west and then he is off into the distance.

Barely a moment after he flies out of sight, Superman appears on the rooftop he had indicated. Unseen and out of sight, there is nonetheless a view of the much shorter, burning building across the way and below. The heat is not noticeable here and the air smells only faintly of smoke. The building seems almost like some impossible bonfire casting its light toward this new rooftop.

Superman waits for his colleague. He brushes some soot from his cheek and rubs it thoughtfully between his thumb and forefinger.

"You did get more of them," he says to Spider-Woman when she arrives. "If we're keeping score."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"I believe half of what I see, and none of what I hear," Jessica replies, dropping the webbing used to retreat along with Superman. "A wise man once told me that, and I wholeheartedly believe it." She winks, and circles around Superman, looking him over appraisingly. "But there were a lot of people who believed..." She arches a brow, trailing off, as her gaze returns to the blue eyes of the caped hero. "You don't happen to fancy some brain tacos or anything, do you? I'm buyin'."

It's a ruse, of course. Probably. Unless he says yes. Then, she's totally caught him.

Superman has posed:
Superman looks amused as Spider-Woman walks around him.

"No, no brains. I like tacos though," he chuckles. "Who doesn't? Maybe we can get real ones sometime."

"I'm sorry I was away," Superman man says. It is not clear if he is really speaking to Jessica or... Everyone. The caped man looks over toward the building pensively. "I think I was close, Ms. Drew," he admits. He nods then looks back toward her. "It was a clever trick by someone powerful, and nearly worked. Thankfully... I can always count on the Justice League."

He turns back to Jessica. "I owe you an apology," he says seriously. "With what happened with the oomycetans... I knew you were hurting when I came to find you, but I didn't realize what that was like. I do now. I should have checked in on you again. I hope you had some good people around who could really understand what you were going through."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"Oh, pff.../that/..." Jessica waves dismissively, and the webbing that attaches her arm to her side for gliding, flutters lightly in the breeze. "That was a million years ago. And this is now. And right now..." Jessica moves slowly to square up facing Superman, and look him directly in the eyes. Her own green-eyed gaze is a little hazy. Uncertain. There is a shadow of something there. "Right now, I'm worried about my friend. I couldn't find you and make sure you were okay. I couldn't do anything but wait and wonder. Like the rest of the world. I couldn't look into your eyes, or even take solace in knowing that you're Superman, and you're always okay." Her eyes flit from one of his to the other, and her brow furrows further. "Are you?"

Superman has posed:
Something flits across Superman's face in the uneven light.

Guilt?

Disappointment?

As quickly as it was there is gone. Superman's face softens and he holds Jessica's searching gaze. There is something hyper-real about his presence in the moment. His colours are just a little more saturated than the world around him. He seems more present and solid. Still.

"I am," Superman promises quietly. His smile is gentle and reassuring. He looks so much older than his years. "I won't let that happen again."

Superman holds out a hand to Jessica, palm up.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica looks Superman over quietly and tilts her head, taking in the moment as he speaks. "It...it isn't a matter of not letting it happen again, you know. It's a matter of you knowing that no matter what, I am here. For you. With you. This isn't a promise I make lightly." Her voice is soft and steady, as Jessica reaches out, first hovering her hand over his, and then resting hers within the solid strength of his own.

Her face alights, and her gaze with it, as she lifts her eyes again to look into his gentle visage. "You're real...you're really you..."

Superman has posed:
Superman's smile brightens at Jessica's reassurance. It broadens with her reaction.

"It is really me," he says with a chuckle, then gives Jessica's hand the slightest squeeze. "Thank you. It means a lot to me to know I can count on you."

Superman lets Jessica's hand go and his arm moves back to his side. As it does, that subtle vibrance subsides and he looks again as he was. Still Superman, but soot stained and more naturally fit to his surroundings.

He tilts his head and looks a touch playful. "Someone in some kind of armored suit is threatening a theatre up town, and there's a possible crane collapse in Bristol live on the news. I'll take the crane... See who finishes up first?"

Without waiting for an answer Superman starts to levitate slowly up and backwards away from Jessica.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica smirks, and the smirk spreads to a smile, as Superman begins to lift into the air. She glances briefly toward the theater, and pulls on her mask, only looking back at him when her eyes are covered by the white lenses of Spider-Woman.

"You got it. And when I'm done, while you're finishing up with that whole crane thing, I'll grab some tacos. Then we can compare notes!" She shouts that last line over her shoulder as she thwips out a web, and takes a dive off the edge of the roofline. Dutifully, she swings off in the direction of conflict, and those who need her.