“And in other news, the vigilantes have struck again. In recent weeks there have been several reports of masked men fighting crime on the streets of Skyehaven. We have Ryan Tomsick on the scene talking to-”

The apartment door swung open. Adem Marsh walked in exhausted. Adem was tall and lanky. When he pushed back his messy blond hair, it showed his deep blue eyes that were alive with thought but also serious and tired. He dropped his backpack on the floor and sighed. James Russel followed with his signature grin on his face, his close cropped curly brown hair mussed by wearing a hood for several hours. He was shorter by a few inches than Adem but more muscular and had a bit more of a spring in his step.

His gaze fell upon the girl who was sitting in the living room.“Ruby, how’d you get in?.” Adem said as he slumped onto the couch next to her. The girl had bright red hair and her dark brown eyes watched Adem excitedly. She was a theater student at SU. Adem had met her at the bookstore where he worked when the school year started and she began following him around like a lost puppy.

“There is no lock in Skyehaven that I can’t pick!” She announced with great pride.

Adem chuckled at her enthusiasm and patted her on the head, “Whatever you say, girlie. You know I live with a cop, right?.”

“Woah.” She said as she gently turned his head to get a better look at the shallow pink cut on his cheek. “What happened?”

Adem’s eyes darted to James who had been in the kitchen.

“Uh uh…” James stuttered out. “I hit him with the car door when we were getting groceries.” He blurted out.

Silence filled the room.

Ruby stared at James. “That doesn’t even make sense. You don’t have groceries or-”

“Hey! So what are you watching?” Adem yelled to change the subject. He shot a dirty look at James for his hasty lie.

Ruby un-muted the TV. “The news. They are talking about the vigilantes.”

Both of the boys sighed.

“We have reports saying that the vigilantes are at it again. Last night, witnesses said that the vigilantes in hoods attacked a man who was attempting to steal a car on Roberts Street. Another developing story from early tonight says that these vigilantes also engaged in defending a woman being mugged. Although the police have not released a statement, the internet is now calling them “Crow” and “Sparrow” due to the several sightings of them in black and tan. Many are saying that they are “Skyehaven’s ‘Songbirds’. Twitter user-”

“Sparrow?” James groaned and sat down in the living room with the other two. “That’s the best they could come up with?”

Ruby smiled and picked up her phone to find more pictures of the vigilantes. “Dude, it must be so cool to be a superhero.”

“They aren’t super. This is the real world.” Adem muttered.

Ruby’s eyes widened as an idea popped into her head, “I’m going to be a superhero too!”

“No.” both of the boys said in unison.

She looked up in surprise, “What’s your guys’ problem?”

“Come on, girlie,” Adem said, standing up. “Time to get you home.”

Ruby groaned, “Come on, really?”

He pulled her to the door, “Don’t you have classes tomorrow? Let’s go, I’ll walk you home.”