.
The door creaked open and the bell clanged as the leader of the villains, Tidal Wave or Orpheus, entered the restaurant. He strode in with such intensity that two customers sitting near the door jumped up in surprise. The waiter that greeted him had an innocent yet fearful look on his face.
'I'm looking for someone,' Orpheus said. His voice was low, menacing.
The waiter pointed to the back where Skyler was cleaning the tables, her long blonde curls held back with two pigtails. As he got closer, he saw the pink streaks in her hair. She was preoccupied, picking up chairs and straightening napkins and wouldn't have noticed the mammoth of a man that had entered the restaurant without the waiter's warning.
Orpheus grabbed her arm with an iron grip and practically dragged her out of the restaurant. She yelped in pain and fear; the other workers scattering out of his way.
'What are you doing home so late?' he demanded, his voice echoing down the alleyway.
'I...uh...I was late,' Skyler stammered.
'Late?' Orpheus scowled. 'Why didn't you tell me? I am your uncle. I have been worried out of my mind. I haven't heard from you in a week!'
Skyler shuddered as he shook her.
'I'm sorry,' she squeaked, tears streaming down her cheeks.
'Sorry isn't good enough! I should be your puppet, able to move you any way I want!'
Skyler was shaken, but there was something else that quivered too, an understanding of where this was coming from. He was her uncle, not only her boss, and she had been a child when he had taken her in after her parents had died. He had protectively raised her as his own.
'I got scared,' Skyler whispered. 'I didn't want to trouble you.'
Orpheus's voice softened as he said, 'Skyler I am disappointed in you. I am not letting you on patrol any time soon.'
Skyler nodded, wiping her own tears. Orpheus wiped a tear that had escaped down her cheek and gave her a squeeze.
'Now make sure to inform me if you'll be late from now on,' he said sternly.
Skyler smiled nervously and nodded.
'I will, I promise,' she said.
Orpheus smiled, gave her one more squeeze, and made his way back to the hideout.
