Bane caught him and sat him up, looking at the wound and said “boss this is bad. He needs Iris” midnight didn’t move as she said “then get him to aid…I’m handling a pest problem…”

Bane pulled Matias up, pulling his good arm around his shoulders. “Hold on mate, I have you…”

Midnight didn’t look away and said “now…why are you here? And I will crush you if you don’t start giving me real answers…”

Matias let out a yelp as gravity pulled his hurt arm down, feeding the fire. He couldn't even open his eyes from the sheer amount of pain he was in.

"Just take me to her already!" he cried behind grit teeth, "God! It fucking burns!"

The bug seemed to be handling its own pain just fine; what it struggled with, however, was freeing its arms from the shadowy binds. Attempting to squirm only seemed to make them tighter. The huff that followed could have been easily mistaken for a growl. As a makeshift, it struggled to move its right hand under the binds, enough that whatever technology it was using to speak had something to work with.

"A-S-L," the bug's helmet droned, "I A-M M-U-T-E. A-S-L."

Midnight blinked as Bane carried him back inside. Bane carried him up the steps into the guest room. “Iris!” The doctor turned and cursed. “I barely have him stable! Why on earth did you get shot!”

Midnight nodded and said “alright…” she moved her hand, the shadows changing their spots to free his hands enough to talk but not reach anything. “I can read signs, so go ahead”

Iris's response forced Matias's eyes open and twisted them into a look of unmistakable rage and borderline hatred. He scoffed, spit escaping his mouth as he did so.

"What the hell do you mean why?!" he roared, "Sorry that I can't just tell that idiot to leave me alone! Argh, god...!"

Meanwhile, the bug felt some of the pain leave its body as its arms were freed. It took a moment to stretch out the kinks before deciding to speak.

"I WILL REITERATE THAT I WAS NOT INTENDING TO CONFRONT YOU," it signed, "NOR HAD I KNOWLEDGE THAT THIS WAS YOUR HOME. THE OFFICERS BEHIND ME WERE ATTEMPTING TO HUNT ME. I MERELY DEFENDED MYSELF."

Bane said “Iris, you are tired and stressed. Don’t let it show” Iris sighed and ran over “sorry Matias, my tiredness is getting the better of me. Lay down carefully. I don’t want his muscles damaged any more”

Bane laid him down as she moved to the wound “I know it hurts…can you tell me exactly where and how? I didn’t see the blast so I don’t want to treat it with the wrong thing”

Midnight nodded then said “I can understand that. Now why were they chasing you here?”

Matias let out a strained growl as the pressure of the bed pressed against his wound. His chest grew by five sizes and then deflated, back and forth, every time he took a breath.

"Just take off my damn jacket," he puffed, "you'll be able t... RGH.. see it... God, DAMMIT!!"

He suddenly twisted as he went to cup his own wound, a sudden rush of pain nearly driving him to tears.

The bug seemed unwilling to answer at first. It simply stared, occasionally stirring its antennae. But then its hands rose.

"I HAVE HAD RUN-INS WITH AUTHORITIES FOR YEARS," it said, "BECAUSE I KNOW AND HAVE WHAT THEY DO NOT WANT ME TO. I BELIEVE SOME OF WHAT I HAVE GATHERED MAY BE OF INTEREST TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM, BUT, QUITE FRANKLY, YOU WANT ME DEAD, LADY MIDNIGHT."

Iris looked at bane and the wolf sat him up enough to slip the jacket off. Iris studied the wound and said “liquid laser…don’t worry Matias I have just the stuff” she moved to her bag and opened it, pulling out a bright greet spray bottle. “This will take out the sting”

Iris came back over and sprayed the wound down, the medicine canceling out the string and burning.

Midnight shook her head and said “no I don’t. I was protecting my friend. If you aren’t after him, and this was just by chance, I would like to speak about maybe you joining our cause. It seems you care much about the people…and it seems you need allies right now”

The application of this liquid was like someone driving a bunch of needles into the area, and it made Matias hiss in anguish. However, just as quickly as it stung, it dissipated the overall pain in that area until it was reduced to virtually nothing. He was still breathing heavily, but now Matias felt like he could cook up coherent thoughts again.

"I... What is that...?"

He looked over, the radioactive green drawing his eye. He then fell back with a sigh.

"God, you guys are weird..."

The bug once again fell silent. A cloud of smoke formed around its mask's mouthpiece as it pondered. A hand rose but sat there for a short while, dwelling on its words. Then both hands moved.

"I HAVE NO INTEREST IN THE PEOPLE. MY INTEREST IS FINDING MY COMRADE, WHO DISAPPEARED ON THE 23RD OF SEPTEMBER, TWO YEARS AGO, AND WENT UNREPORTED. WHILE I HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THE OTHER MYSTIC DISAPPEARANCES ARE CONNECTED TO THIS, I HAVE NO INTEREST IN PURSUING THEM."

It paused.

"BUT I KNOW WHERE MANY OF THEM ARE. PROVIDED YOU CAN HELP ME WITH WHAT I NEED, I CAN HELP YOU WITH WHAT YOU NEED. I DO NOT WORK FOR FREE."

Iris smiled and said “it’s my mixture for liquid acid burns. I have a mixture for everything I can think of…”

Bane checked the wound and said “it’s working Doc. The wound isn’t burning anymore…”

Midnight smiled and said “it’s a deal. You help us and I help you find your comrade. But this means no more going after my people. No more shooting. If you hurt anyone…I take you down. Understand? And you tell me if your the one leaving the notes everything?”

Matias sighed softly as he rolled onto his good side. The one con of this was that now he could feel air going straight through that hole. Not exactly comfortable.

'Got one for killing huge bugs?"

Speaking of, the bug flicked its left antenna at Midnight's words.

"LADY MIDNIGHT, I ONLY ATTACK WHO I MUST. BUT THAT WILL BE NOTED."

Both antennae danced around as it tilted its head.

"THE COORDINATES. I THOUGHT THAT WAS FAIRLY OBVIOUS, BUT IT SEEMS I OVERESTIMATED THE HUMAN'S CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS. IN ANY CASE, NOW THAT WE HAVE OUR TRUCE, I MAY SHOW YOU MORE LOCATIONS OF INTEREST. I REQUEST THAT I BE SET FREE, HOWEVER."

Iris blinked and said “actually…” Bane looked at her and said “he was kidding Iris” she nodded and said “right…”

Bane rolled his eyes and said “pardon her. No sleep equals no humor”

Midnight held up a hand and asked “why him? You clearly showed you don’t like him…why not leave the notes with any of the team or myself,”

Matias frowned, his eyes deepening tiredly.

"I wasn't joking."

He too rolled his eyes, the lack of pain building upon his arrogance.

"The boss is on that anyway, so whatever. She's taking forever though..."

The bug tilted its head.

"I HOLD NO ILL TOWARDS YOUR HUMAN. I DESPISE ALL HUMANS ABOUT THE SAME. HOWEVER..."

Its helmet came alive, its lenses flickering. After a few moments, the bug lifted a hand. In an instant, what looked like surveillance footage was projected from its lenses for Midnight's enjoyment. The footage was surprisingly high quality. It seemed to have been taken from a rooftop, capturing what looked like a group of angry people, mostly mystics, taking the streets to fend off against the police. A crosshair appeared, focusing on a figure in the crowd that appeared to be fleeing with a few others. The camera followed, making seemingly impossible jumps across buildings.

"HIS INTEREST IN THE MYSTIC STRUGGLE WAS INTRIGUING TO ME. I WISHED TO CHALLENGE HIM, SEE IF HE WOULD COMMIT MORE."

The bug huffed, letting out smoke.

"UNFORTUNATELY, ALL I SEEMED TO DO WAS GIVE THE AUTHORITIES EVIDENCE THAT I EXIST. WITH DANTE ON YOUR SIDE, I SHOULD HAVE EXPECTED THIS. NO MATTER. I CAN MAKE THEM LOSE THAT EVIDENCE QUITE EASILY. I'M JUST TOO EXHAUSTED TO DO IT TONIGHT."

Bane tilted his head and frowned. “I don’t hear fighting…but if the boss isn’t getting rid of it…” he groaned and Iris said not looking up “she’s having the bug join us…”

Midnight frowned and said “knowing Dante he already did…if he planned on leaving he would have scrubbed everything relating to the team…including this. Alright, do we have a deal then?”

Matias's body rose from the mattress, his eyes wide and baffled. He had to blink twice to process what he just heard.

"Uh... and you're making that assumption why, exactly? Look, she's stupid, but do you really think the boss is that stupid?"

He shook his head, grumbling.

"That thing is dangerous and can't be reasoned with. Like hell it's joining us."

On the contrary, the bug nodded.

"OUR DEAL IS SETTLED ONCE YOU RELEASE ME FROM MY BINDS."

Bane growled as his eyes glowed. “I’d be a little more respectful kid…she has saved your neck a few times and she knows what she’s doing…” Iris looked up and said “easy Bane…your alpha is showing…”

Midnight nodded and said “one more thing…you need to apologize to Matias. Since you have attacked him twice and got him shot” she snapped her fingers and the shadows released him as she turned. “Coming? I can repair your armor if it needs it…”

Matias sat up more, his eyes meeting Bane's in a confused attempt at bravery.

"Don't 'kid' me," he growled back, "I'm well about to be forty soon. You have to admit that she's slipped a few times anyway. Nobody's perfect, dog man."

The bug landed on one knee, head lowered. It got up slowly, one arm wrapped around its ribs. One quick flick of its crumpled wings later, it looked up at Midnight.

"REPAIRS ARE NOT NECESSARY," it signed, "A SIMPLE REST WILL MEND MY INJURIES. BUT PLEASE PICK UP MY WEAPON. I CAN'T BEND OVER AFTER WHAT YOU DID TO ME."

It wrapped its arm back around and started hobbling towards the house.

Bane growled and got close to his face. “Your still the youngest here, kid. And she has reasons for everything she’s done…including saving your neck at the power plant…over anyone else’s. She’s risking more then anyone for this cause…time to start showing respect for that”

Iris smacked Bane and said “get off my patient. Both of you knock it off”

Midnight nodded and picked up his weapon with the shadows and followed him inside, shutting the door behind her.

Matias was about to argue back before Iris broke them apart. Instead, he scoffed and side-eyed Bane, his eyes still on fire.

"Yeah," he said, "knock it off."

It was then that the front door slammed shut, making Matias look towards the noise. While he couldn't see who was coming in from here, he had his inferences.

"She better have squashed the damn thing. Then she'll be perfect."

Once inside, the bug took a moment to observe the interior. Its lenses flickered again, making a small series of clicks and beeps as the bug scanned its head wherever it could. It stared for a good ten seconds at what appeared to be the guest room, its antennae swaying.

Iris glared at him and said “I will smack you. I don’t care if your wounded. Grow up”

Bane folded his arms and said “if she didn’t it means she had a good reason too. You never know…”

Midnight stood next to him and said “it’s alright…go ahead. You need to meet the team”

"Oh!"

Matias's back stretched out as he leaned down, glaring deeply at Bane and showing his whites.

"So now you're defending the thing that shot me! Real classy of you to think the boss is stupid enough to–!"

What sounded like a jetpack blared in the open air, followed by a familiar clicking.

Matias's face froze right where it was.

The door creaked open, and in came a long, slender antenna, followed by the rest of the moth's head. It peered at the group, only barely moving from where it stood.

"HELLO."