For a friend




May was sobbing as Bethany led her into her apartment. "Come on, let's go
upstairs," Bethany said, gently leading May along. The red heads jean clad
legs were trembling as they moved up the stairs of Bethany's, large loft set
up apartment to her bedroom. Taking a seat on her bed, May sobbed into
Bethany's shoulder, "Why? Why is it all gone? What did I do? Bethany what did
I do?" Bethany did exactly what she needed and wanted to do, she hugged her
best friend tightly. As she did, she thought back to merely an hour ago. She
had been walking May back to her apartment after a long day at their Private
Eye Offices and were shocked to discover May's apartment blown out and on
fire. May was frantic, trying to get past the firemen and into the building.
Her entire life was in that small living space. But Bethany kept her back,
holding her friend tight as she watched her world burn. But as she did so,
Bethany inquired about how the fire got started. The firefighters had little
to go on, only that it had begun recently via an explosion and thankfully no
other apartments around it had been too badly damaged. She needed to get May
to safety, so she brought her here to her own home. May sobbed, "I've lost
everything Beth. Everything I've ever known or had in my life was in that
fire." Bethany brushed her hair, "Not everything, May." She pulled her back,
"You have me." They touched foreheads, Bethany offering her some strength.
"Now," Bethany stood up, "My home is your home. You know where everything is
so make yourself comfortable. Shower and get some rest for me ok. I'm going to
go get some extra supplies for us." May chuckled as Bethany turned to leave.
"What?" Bethany asked. "Bethany, you're my best friend. We've known each other
a long time. So I know, 'supplies' means something else. You think I don't
know when you've got that Nocturne look on your face?" "I have a Nocturne
look?" Bethany asked. "Beth, I know you," May stood up and moved to Bethany,
"If you think I'm in trouble I want to help you. It is ... was my home after
all." Bethany brushed May's cheek, "I understand. But if you're in danger,
then I need to know that you're safe May. Please stay here and promise me you
wont do anything reckless." "But ... " May wanted to argue. However, Bethany
was the pro between the two of them. If she had a hunch that this fire wasn't
just an accident, it meant things would get dicey and only the Mistress of the
Night could help her out. May looked down, "Ok." "Hey," Bethany lifted her
head up by the chin, "We'll get you sorted out as soon as I get back. I'll put
off any jobs til you're back on your feet, I promise." May offered a weak
smile and moved to Bethanys shower. "Oh May," Bethany clenched her fists,
"Whoever did this to you is going to pay." She moved to her bookshelf and
opened it up fully, revealing a similar secret closet like back in her office
incase Nocturne was needed from there. In it sat her black Mistress of the
Night costume: black long sleeve leotard top and long black cape, black
fishnet stocking, black high heeled boot, her gadget belt and black mask. "I
pity anyone who gets in Nocturne's way tonight."

20 Minutes Later, Heero Yamato's Apartment

"Ok, on it," Heero said, cracking his knuckles and setting fingers to keyboard
in lighting quick fashion. Behind him, Nocturne was waiting anxiously. "Easy,
wow not the most secure network for a Private Investigators office," Heero
remarked, "Might want to tell her to upgrade some firewalls ... or all of
them." "I'll pass along the recommendation," Nocturne said in an annoyed tone.
As Heero continued to type, he continued to pry as well, "Something's off with
you on this one." "What do you mean?" Nocturne asked, still annoyed. "Gripping
my chair pretty hard and I cant remember a time you actually tapped your foot
against the floor like that." Nocturne didn't even notice and she stopped her
foot tapping as soon as it was pointed out. "I wouldn't exactly call myself a
psychologist but whatever you've got me looking into seems different this
time, more ... personal." "Just hack the computer Heero," Nocturne replied.
Heero instead stopped and turned around, forcing Nocturne to step back. The
young hacker prodigy had his hands crossed, "Personal can be dangerous,
especially when your mind isn't clear. Could get you hurt." Nocturne let out a
low sigh, "She's a friend, a really good one." "Ohhhh?" Heero smiled
devilishly, "Like a ... girlfri ... " Heero stopped as he heard Nocturne ball
up her fists and crack her knuckles. He could not see her eyes but he could
feel a glare of death upon him, "Ok, attempt at humor not successful."
"Pervert," Nocturne replied. "I'll take that," Heero said with a smile, "But I
can tell you care about this May girl. So ok, I wont ask further. Let's see
what I can dig up from the files of ... Miss Hunter," he turned around.
Nocturne didn't bother to take full note of that. She knew that Heero no doubt
knew her secret identity. But he never pressed her on it, probably because she
cut him so much slack and kept him out of prison in exchange for helping her.
Heero was a rare breed of good guy and Nocturne respected him for that.

A couple of minutes later, "Ok then. Here's a list of all the cases Bethany
Hunter has taken on over the last year. Where would you like me to start
looking?" "Hmmmm ... Go back at least six months." "Hey how come you aren't
breaking and entering? Isn't that the Mistress of the Night way?" Heero asked.
Nocturne was looking through the files rapidly along with Heero, "May keeps
most of her data on her computer at work. But her personal information like
her address, DOB, Blood Type and other things of that nature should be nice
and secure. I get the feeling the office computers might have been breached.
Does it look like any data was accessed in any case file?" Heero shook his
head, "No, could mean it was a specific case they were looking for." Nocturne
thought on that. As Bethany Hunter, she knew off hand every single case she
ever worked on in Fortune City. If she didn't know it, it was because May
never brought it to her attention. Then it clicked, "There is no case, it
never was a case they were after, just May. Can you bring up her daily notes?"
Heero pulled up May's daily journals from the last six months. Skimming it,
Nocturne pointed, "Stop, that one. January 20th."

"Now I know Bethany isn't picky about her clients. She wants to help everyone
she can but I know there's some level of reasoning to it. And getting a
murderous gang members little brother out of prison isn't one of them. We help
the good guys, not the criminally stupid who think we'll save the day for
them. I looked into their request. This kid killed a good cop and he's doing
the time he deserves. No need to open a case, no need to tell Bethany. Doesn't
look like a new job is on the horizon today. I was hoping this dry spell would
clear up by now. I know Beth's getting antsy herself bored in her office
sometimes. Maybe we need to hang out, get some dinner. Maybe that would cheer
her up."

Nocturne let a finger gently slide down the screen and she smiled. "Does this
office has internal camera?" Heero asked. "If I said 'yes' could you pull them
up for me?" Nocturne asked almost daring him to do so. Heero sat back and
pressed one button ... and the feed from the lobby where May worked for her
was on display. Nocturne looked closely. "There. 2pm," Nocturne thought to
herself, "I was going to get coffee. No wonder I didn't hear anything." "Three
guys, bald head ... no audio so I cant use voice recognition ... but if I can
get a good ... there," Heero said, zooming in on the face of one of the thugs
furthest from May, snapping it and opening up his Facial Recognition software
ID the thug. "Interesting scale Tattoos ... wait ... oh wow." "What?" Nocturne
asked. "What do you know about a street gang known as the Balrogs?" "Low tier
street gang. Very recent and still trying to make a name for themselves ...
badly. The Mobs and gangs think they're too noisy, too messy, not even
synonymous with the word 'professional' much less 'gangster'. I can't think of
anyone who would miss them if they vanished tomorrow. Most of their crimes
have been petty stealing and even stepping on others turf. Some fatal
shootings but it's netting them bad rep rather than respect amongst the higher
tier gangs of Fortune City and ... what?" Nocturne asked. "You came up all
that pretty fast," Heero said impressed. "It's my city. If I'm going to
protect it I need to know a thing or two," Nocturne said with a confident
smirk. "Would've earned bonus points with me if you made a Lord of the Rings
reference," Heero replied smugly. "They're not worthy of being associated with
such greatness," Nocturne replied.

"Anyway, ive heard that they actually have a hacker named Gekko in their
employ but he's sloppy. He just think because he can get into a system that
means he's awesome and doesn't care about covering his tracks." "And the fact
that he has scale tattoo's isn't a dead giveaway?" Nocturne asked
sarcastically. "Just as certain as the trail I see right here in May's
computer system. This is the guy who hacked her info. But one thing still bugs
me." "And that is?" Nocturne asked. "Why target her, why not Bethany Hunter?"
"Wouldve been better that way," Nocturne thought to herself feeling some level
of guilt. "Because Bethany wasn't the one who told them 'no'. They didn't just
go right for May's boss ... " she was getting angry, "They went right for her
those bastards. Just because she did what she knew Bethany would do in her
place. Address, now," Nocturne. "Southwest Fortune City. Already sent it to
your phone," Heero quickly confirmed before turning around and seeing Nocturne
had vanished. "Hmmmm ... let me see if they have cameras in their place. This
is going to be one ass kicking for the ages," he cracked his neck and set
fingers to keyboard again.

Balrogs Home Base, Southwest Fortune City

"HAHAHAHAHA!!!!" The small abandoned living room in an abandoned house on the
decrepit west end of Fortune City was alive with laughter. The Balrogs were
tossing back beers and smashing up the place they referred to as their base of
operations. "Man Axel," one shouted out after chugging another beer and
smashing the bottle against the wall, "We did some good shit tonight huh? And
im not talking about this shit we're throwing in the bong right now." The
spikey red haired Mohawk leader Axel replied with the twirl of his knife,
"Fuck what the other gangs, the mob, the cops, anyone thinks of us. Tonight
was a warning that you so much as trip in front of us or tell us," he changed
his voice to sound like a squeaking girl, "Oh no sir, we can't get your
brother out of jail cause he offed a pig. It would mess up our nails," the
crowd laughed, "We'll blow everything you own to kingdom come
motherfuckers!!!" Cheering and a couple of loud gunshots hailed acceptance of
Axel's declaration. He plopped down in a chair fit for a king, "Heh and once
we get my brother out, maybe we'll torch her office next," Axel grinned,
"Maybe I'll give her to my bro as a welcome home gift. I can take care of the
prissy little boss she answers to." A Balrog near the door chimed in, "Yeah I
hear that Bethany Hunter is a real piece of ass." The other Balrogs laughed in
agreement. The door based thug was nudged off by a knock at the door. "Foods
here ... twenty minutes late. Give him something the doctors will have to
remove painfully as tip for his services would ya," Axel waved off.

But as the Balrog unlocked the door, his nose was crushed when a fist smashed
it's way through the weak, wooden door and impacted on him. The Balrog fell
back and the other five members took their time noticing one of their own had
just been attacked. The door was kicked open. They were too stunned,
inebriated or just too stupid to even comprehend what happened next. A black
shadow rushed in and leapt over the long couch where two Balrogs were smoking
their bong. It crashed into a third member sitting on the arm rest, sending
him to the floor. A fourth member, behind him, moved in with his switch blade.
But his arm was seized with great strength and he was flipped over before
being knocked out by a high heeled boot. A five Balrog was grabbing a chair to
try and smash over the attackers head. Quickly, she ducked, grabbed the bong
from the high as a kite Balrog and smashed it over the chair holding ones
hand. Crying in pain, he was silenced with two well placed hits to his side
then to his head, sending him into a wooden post before falling to the ground.
The two intoxicated members got up and drew guns lazily. Nocturne noticed this
and quickly broke off two legs from the chair that was used against her and
threw them crossed strike at the gunman, luckily disarming them before they
could hurt anyone much less her, before leaping between them and performing a
split kick that hit both their skulls, sending them into a deeper, drug
induced slumber.

When the dust settled, it was just Nocturne and Axel ... until she heard
whimpering behind her. Turning around, Nocturne saw a shivering, bald headed
man with scale tattoos on his face. As he tried to crawl away, fear took him
further, "YOU!!! Stay right where you are," Nocturne pointed to him. Gekko was
frozen solid. Even if he wanted to run or grab a gun or weapon, he couldn't.
"Well, well, well, I didn't order a hooker for tonights festivities," Axel
said, sounding confident despite five of his men being taken out. Nocturne
didn't reply. "Nothing to say?" Axel shrugged, dangling his blade loosely in
hand, "That's ok. I only like my bitches to scream and call me Daddy, not much
talking required really." Every word out of his mouth made Nocturne want to
hurt him more and more. "The Legend of the Balrogs you seek to build in this
city ... ends tonight." "Huh? Just cause you took us out when we weren't
ready? There's rules in this game you know," Axel boasted. "Unbelievable,"
Nocturne replied. "Yeah, what's that?" Axel asked. "You really think this is
just a game for your own amusement. Getting high, drinking, violence, robbery,
killing, it's nothing but a sick joke to you. Let me tell you I've faced some
dark men in this city ... but at least they had a deeper reason than just
getting off on their own ignorance. You just kill and hurt because you're a
selfish brat." "Huh? Is this about the cop or the girl in the office? Did you
come here because of them? Cause guess what, the Balrogs are just getting
started with anyone who crosses us, even some costumed bimbo."

"AXEL SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!" "Huh?" Axel looked past Nocturne to the quivering
Gekko. "Do you have any idea who that is who just kicked our asses right now?"
"Should I?" "Goddamn man why did I ever follow you. That's fucking Nocturne,
the Mistress of the Night. Fuck the mobs and gangs, she's the real thing we
had to worry about when starting this. You saw what she did just now, rumor
has it she's done worse to twice as many guys. And you're fucking provoking
her?" Axel wailed but he was stopped by Nocturne raising a gloved hand in a
silencing motion. "I appreciate the advertisement, Gekko. But I really think
you should stop talking right now and let me deal with your boss," Nocturne
said calmly. "Y-yes mamm," Gekko replied. "Man enough of this, come here
bitch," Axel moved with his knife clumsily aimed at Nocturne. She didn't even
have to move but quickly snatched his blade hand and broke his wrist.
"AHHHHHHH!!!!!" Axel screamed as he fell to his knees, "THAT FUCKING
HURTS!!!!" "Oh poor baby. You broke your wrist playing with a knife," Nocturne
glared at him, "A good woman lost her home trying to keep a killer in jail."
"She's just a chick man, just some desk jockey working for some snot nosed
bitch," Axel said in agony but Nocturne only yanked him up and palm struck his
throat. "One, I've had enough of your mouth," Axel fell to the ground gasping
as Nocturne spoke, "And two, that's the last time you will refer to that girl
as anything less than a very kind and hard working young woman. Thanks to
her," she peered down, "The Balrogs are finished ... tonight. No gang will aid
you, no mob boss will bail you out. Cause for once we all have something in
common ... none of us like you. So if you vanish into prison I guarantee you
there will be lots of celebration." Axel was panicked now, looking up at a
looming shadow above him, a shadow of fear ... and death. "Next time you want
to play Gangster," Nocturne threatened, "Do yourself a favor and do the smart
thing ... and make sure I'm not around." Axel curled up, defeated and broken.

Nocturne turned around and approached the still placed Gekko. Roughly, she
picked him up and shoved him against the wall, "I want your computer, or do I
have to break your fingers to make sure you don't touch another infrastructure
ever again?" Gekko led her to the kitchen and produced his laptop. As she
opened it and placed a USB drive in the side pocket, Nocturne spoke, "You're
smart Gekko. Maybe you haven't been in the last few days helping bomb someones
apartment or when you decided to suddenly remember this is my city ... but
you're a rare breed." "H-Huh?" Gekko stuttered. Nocturne looked at him,
"You're a hacker in a gang. And I think those talents could be put to
incredible use in prison if you found the right person to guide you."
"Y-you're giving me ... self help advice?" Gekko was confused. Nocturne rolled
her eyes, "Self help? No, you need help. But it is advice and I hope you
follow it. Cause right now I'm holding myself back from throttling you for one
reason ... you were smart not to attack me," she backed him into a corner,
"But the next time I find out anything in this city has happened to harm
someone, ANYONE, courtesy of intel you fed them from a laptop...well, do I
really need to even hint?" Gekko shook his head. "Good," Nocturne turned
around before swiftly knocking out Gekko with a punch. "That's for May's
apartment," she thought. Nocturne then tapped her hidden earpiece, "Get
everything you need off of the laptop?" Heero Yamato spoke in, "Yep, and the
police are almost there. Leave it for them and I'll keep this data on a spare
drive incase you need it for anything." "Thank you Heero, I'll repay you for
this somehow," Nocturne moved past the trail of knocked out and agonizing
bodies. "Actually ... " Heero started to say. Nocturne sighed, "No I am not
setting you up on a date with May. She's already lost her life, I don't think
being hit on by a fifteen year old is a logical next step." Heero sighed, "Her
loss. But when she has her life in order and wants some company ... " Nocturne
switched off her communique, "Goodnight Heero ... and thank you."

Later at Bethany's Apartment

May shifted under Bethany's comfy white sheets. Try as she might though, she
could not fall asleep. If she wasn't thinking about the fire consuming her
home, she was thinking about, "Bethany?" May shot up awake as she saw Nocturne
attempting to sneak into her own home. "I didn't want to wake you, ughhh," she
groaned. May slipped out of bed, clad in only a pair of cute pink panties and
a tight red top. She helped Nocturne to sit down at the edge of her bed,
"You're hurt." "My ribs, no big deal," Nocturne said, painfully taking a
breath. "I'll get some ice, stay here," May ran off. Nocturne smiled and
removed her mask, free to show her face to someone she trusted. May returned
with an ice pack moments later and quickly unzipped Bethany's costume so she
could slide the ice back underneath it. "Ahhhhhh ... " Bethany sighed in pain
and relief. "What happened?" May asked. "You should see the other guys,"
Bethany joked. May was tempted to poke her friend in her injured spot but
refrained from doing so, "Bethany ... " Bethany explained to her what she and
Heero had discovered about the unexpected retaliation from the Balrogs. "So
... I paid them a visit. Let's just say their legend isn't going to continue
nearly anytime soon," Bethany said confidently. "How can you be sure?" May
asked. "Because it's not everyday the gangs of Fortune City and Nocturne have
a common problem. The Balrogs will be too scared to do anything stupid if they
ever get out of jail." "Well if you're convinced, so am I," May said
cheerfully but then looked sad, "Now if only they could pay me back for
everything I lost."

"I thought about that while I was gone," Bethany said. May looked to her.
"Apartments in Fortune City are expensive. I hope you don't think it rude of
me but I did take a look at some of your rent statements and May I'm shocked
you were getting by even on my checks." "You do pay pretty well," May said
with a blush. "Not that well. You were just getting by and ... " she sighed,
"I have a proposal." May cocked her head. "Stay here, with me. Be my
roommate," Bethany said without much dramatic build up. "Are ... you being
serious?" Nocturne laughed, albeit a bit painfully because of the ice on her
side and she held the ice pack in place while she put an arm around May, "Very
serious. Think about it May. This is a big apartment. Plenty of room for two.
I would say you don't have to help with the rent but I know you will and we
can negotiate that. I wont charge you an arm and a leg like that other place
and ... oh May do I really have to point out the obvious?" "Well you are on a
roll," May was tearing up. "You're my best, dearest and most trusted friend,
my little sister. Not to mention since you know about Nocturne, I don't have
to worry about hiding things from you. And even if you didn't, id still take
you in ... cause im not leaving you on the streets May, ever." May hugged
Bethany tight ... ignoring her wound. But Bethany ignored it as well,
welcoming the hug as a sign of agreement from her new roommate. "Thank you
Bethany, thank you so much." "Always May," Bethany kissed the side of her
head. "Ok," May seemed to perk up as she broke the hug, "You go shower and
check your wound, ill order us some pizza. We're celebrating tonight," she ran
off to find a phone. Bethany shook her head, "Back to normal," she looked up
at her high ceiling and out onto her apartment, "Won't be so quiet around here
anymore ... thank God for that."

The End