-In other news today, known businessman Midas Polyxena was found dead this morning in an abandoned hotel building after police were called to investigate gunshots heard from neighboring buildings. Midas was found with six gunshot wounds to his face under a large refrigerator surrounded by armed men thought to be his guards. None of the men found on the scene besides Midas were in any life threatening danger, though many were found with broken bones and concussions. Some evidence shows signs of a break in, and a bloodied armored vest suggests an organized attack on Midas. Bryan?-
The news went on, but Eddy didn't watch. He gulped down a large glass of milk as Cadhla watched the tv, the girl obviously not liking what she saw.
"They both got away..."
"So did we. Be glad we weren't caught. In THAT place, no telling what they would have thought we did."
"Still... We'll have to find them."
"Agreed... but I've been thinking..." Eddy sat down, cringing as his arm sling shifted into his lap. The mutt's face was bruised and cut a bit, but his arm had been stitched well together by Cadhla's skilled fingers. "Nnn... I've been thinking that I need to go home."
The girl turned her head to face Eddy. "Why?"
"Well, after last night, I've decided that I'm meant to be doing what I'm doing. Fighting crime, being a hero... But since I've run away, I feel like I've left my own city to fend for itself. You've shown me how important it is to stay true to yourself, and my life belongs to my own city." Eddy grinned over to his new friend, leaning forward in the chair. "But I'll always be ready to help you, if you ever need. You're an amazing hero, and I'd be lucky to have someone like you watching my back."
"You're a good hero as well."
The two remained silent for a while, and Eddy finally stood to break the silence. "I should leave as soon as I can. I need to call ahead and see if i still have a room at my old place. I had my roommates watching it for me, i'll probably own quite a bit of rent."
Cadhla nodded and stood up as well, standing in front of Eddy as she rubbed her arm, for the first time in a long time not knowing quite what to say. "You'll go back to being the Watchdog?"
"Yes. I won't leave that name behind again. I've learned my mistake, thanks to you." They were silent again for a moment, but Eddy finally held out his good hand for Cadhla to shake. They felt each other's strength in their hands, and both grinned. "We'll keep in touch. Partners?"
"Sure... Partners."
Eddy turned and headed for the door, opening it halfway before turning back once more. "I'll miss you."
"Just go..."
And with that, Eddy left. He needed to find a way home, back to his old life, where the Watchdog was needed once more.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Eddy first watched the over-priced taxi turn down a quiet street, the suburban neighborhood lit only with a few dim street lamps. He turned towards the large house he had been dropped off by, one of it's windows lit and a shadow moving around what the mutt knew was the kitchen. The mutt cringed as he lifted his new second-hand backpack full of clothes and cans of food, a slightly red bandage stretching under his white teeshirt. He gulped and scratched his head, feeling more than a little nervous about coming back home after such a long time, but he approached the front door and gave a gentle knock before simply letting himself in.
Eddy looked up the stairs and into the kitchen where a large brown stallion with a heart-shaped marking on his head stood at the counter. The horse was topless and wore only a pair of boxer-briefs as he went to the stairs to look at whoever was coming inside.
"Hey..." The horse's voice was hushed but slightly threatening given the size of him. "Who you, just coming in... w...Eddy?"
Eddy grinned and put down his backpack to the side of the door. He must have looked like a mess, bruised and beaten with the bulky bandage around his shoulder, more than a little scruffy around the face and wearing clothes that could use a decent wash. "Hey Jace..."
The stallion looked stunned for a moment, but then grinned wide to show his perfectly white and squared-off teeth. "Hey. Come on up, I was just making some tea."
Eddy went up the stairs, leaving his backpack where it lay. As he looked around, he noticed that very little about his old home had changed in the time he had been gone. He leaned on the counter as the nearly naked Jace went to the stove to check if his water was boiling. Eddy cleared his throat, almost surprised how easily Jace had accepted him back after so long. "So, were you able to get by while I was gone? I'm sorry I put my share of rent on you like that..."
"Shit happens, babe. You've been taking rent ever since Benny and I left for London, it's only fair." Jace poured two cups of tea and slid one over to Eddy. "We just caught a few creeps needing a couch to crash on and made them pay. Heh."
"Yeah, thought you'd be able to take care of it." Eddy gave a wag, glad his old roommate still had a good spirit. "And speaking of Benny..."
Jace grinned again and took a long sip of his tea before clearing his throat and calling across the hall, "Benny! Come out here please!"
Eddy raised his eyebrow as he looked down the hall, seeing his own bedroom door open and a very tired looking deer stumble out, his hair matted over his face. "Wuuugh... whaisit?" Benny rubbed his eyes and yawned before looking into the kitchen at his roommate. Jace just turned to look at Eddy, tempting Benny to do the same. There was a long hesitation, but in an instant Benny's eyes widened and he ran at the mutt and jumped at him. "Eddy!!"
"Augh!" Eddy fell under the loving tackle the little deer gave him, even though the deer was a good head shorter than himself and weighed barely 120. "B...Benny, yes, hi! Ow!"
The deer pushed his face to Eddy's cheek giving him kiss after kiss as the stallion simply watched and sipped his tea, but finally sat up straddling Eddy's abs. "Oh my God where have you been? What did you do to yourself, you look awful, we need to give you another make-over..."
Eddy simply sighed and let himself lay on the ground, trying not to smile but ending up laughing. "Oh God I've missed you guys..."
"Well if you miss us don't just up and leave without saying goodbye!"
Jace put his cup down and sat up on the counter, spreading his legs as he looekd down at the two. "Benny, if he'd said bye, you'd STILL be clinging to him begging him not to go."
"I knooooooow!"
The stallion shook his head and drank his tea before looking over to the downed Eddy. "So, are you back for good, or just dropping by?"
Eddy looked over to the serious looking Jace, and then to the puppy-eyed Benny before laying his head back again and looking at the ceiling. "Here to stay if I still have my room." After a small cheer from Benny, Eddy was allowed to stand up. He grabbed for his tea and gave it to Benny so gave little sips as the mutt sat at the kitchen table. "I made a few mistakes, but I'm ready to do good on it. I'm ready to get back to work."
Jace rose his eyebrow and looked away clearing his throat before Benny chimed in with, "Oh! You're going to be a super hero again?" The deer's tail wagged fast behind him as Eddy looked at him in confusion and then to Jace for an explanation.
"Well... he asked."
"Benny asked? What did he ask?"
"Uh..."
Benny rose his hand excitedly. "I asked where you went!"
"And then you told him all about me? Not too good at keeping secrets, are we?"
Jace scratched at his mane with an awkward smile on. "Well, he's very persuasive, and wouldn't shut up about it. He said he wouldn't tell anyone..."
"I won't, I promise! Oh oh, I wanna be a hero to, Eddy! Jace won't let me, but i've got a mask and everything!" Before Eddy could even argue, Benny had run off into his room... his being Eddy's. Eddy looked over to Jace, who was rubbing his eyes in slight embarrassment, and he feared what was to come. "Reeeeady?" Benny jumped out of his room wearing absolutely nothing but a mask he had made out of black satin. "Buck-Naked!"
"No."
"Awwww... what if I wore pants?"
"It's bring your chances up to No."
"Awwww.... you suck."
Eddy rolled his eyes and then finally had to ask, "Benny, what are you doing in my room anyways?"
The deer looked off to the side rubbing his arm. "I had a nightmare..."
"And?"
"And your bed smells like you."
Eddy sighed and rubbed his eyes just like Jace. "You are hopeless."
"Can I sleep with you tonight, pleeeeease?" Benny was putting on his pitiful adorable deer look, and it usually just melted Eddy's heart, but the mutt was just plain tired, though he still didn't want to argue.
"Let me shower first. And you put on some pants."
Benny hopped up and down for a second, grinning from ear to ear. "Yay! And no way, you've been gone, I deserve naked time." Without a moment of hesitation, Benny ran back into Eddy's room.
Eddy turned to Jace as if looking for sympathy, but the stallion just shrugged. "I've dealt with it all since you left. It's your turn to tame that boy."
Eddy sighed and walked to his room to find some clean clothes to change into after his shower, and his personal life was all but back to normal. He knew he would wear his mask again soon to protect his home and his city, and in the coming months he would begin to find more and more people who shared his sense of justice. Some of these people would ask to join him, and soon they would come to form a league of heroes spread across multiple cities. This league would fight against all forms of evil, calling on each other and planning their actions to best spread their talents to where they were most needed. This league would stand vigilant against any threat, and would protect the people from the shadows, only finding themselves printed as mysterious masked men and women attacking the scum of the night. They did not fight for pride, they did not fight for honor, they fought for what was right and just. They were the League of the Watchdog.
