Archive of Our Own

Vintage's hacienda was a valuable place to this vigilante. It used to be his personal hideout, even if the rest of CA’s were welcomed and knew where it was, but it never meant to create such a big issue after secretly partnering with one hero.

It never meant to lead to such a problem, and it was for CA’s to deal with.

New Hermit Order was an awfully temporary alliance, members made it clear from the start, clear enough between each other. Of course, they haven't had any issues with each other at the time, but their ways of doing things were always conflicting, it never worked out.

Still, back in the day the villains were growing strong, there had to be a solution, especially since most heroes worked separately, there weren't many teams to stop such an issue. That's when four heroes came together under the guidance of the government… Actually, more like being forced to work together by said government.

They never thought of themselves as of strongest heroes, though there was enough fear and concerns around the villains about them even separately. Together they could take on an army if they tried. Even if they had to be working mostly in the daylight, as Solar's powers were so limited in the night.

Goatfather declared himself as a team leader, even though half of that team couldn't care less about any commands he would give. His ability was strong, many feared him for it, including some civilians. Blast Manipulation was terrifying, but his explosive powers were fairly simple.

On the contrary, Solar was always good with everyone on the team and the heroes outside of it. The ability he possessed turned out to be very different. Solar Aid, yes, he took the name from it. This level of healing made this team twice as scary, though only in the sun.

Breach and Vintage were the vigilantes of the team. Many could argue that they weren't anymore, they joined a team under command of the government, but that wasn't a choice.

Ability of Breach was called Soul Flame, blue fire, fairly destructive, though not as destructive as Goatfather’s power.

With that, Vintage had Form Replication, he could clone alive beings, though they were on a “timer”, there was no timer for cloning himself, but the more there are the more difficult it was to maintain.

—

Not only were they forced to all work together, but also heroes outside of the group were also very confused why vigilantes would be among them. They weren’t in the system, they were fighting villains, sure, it didn't mean they weren't going against the law.

“Come on, maybe they’ve changed, they could be legal heroes now!” Solar reassured Goatfather before they had to go and get their contract with the vigilantes. “Don't do anything irrational on me.”

“Sure, fine. Let's just get this over with and go our separate ways.”

“Separate ways?!” If Goatfather didn't know this hero well enough, he would have thought that Solar was genuinely upset. “Absolutely not! We have to work together, you didn't even talk to them yet!”

Fate decided for him, it seemed. There were no arguments to be made. Technically, CA members or Solar didn't choose this either, but from what he's seen, the sun hero wasn’t upset, he was kind of on friendly terms with Breach.

The meeting over their team contract was as awkward as it gets. They were contracted only for a year to work together, but then were obliged to come together if government officials ever requested of them even after this year was over. 

There was also a line saying about how Team Canada would be recognised as heroes and will be left alone, even if they were definitely still not in the system as heroes.

“Is the third guy included in the deal?” Goatfather asked with suspicion, as Pause was not present for the signing process.

“The whole Team Canada, meaning Pause too.”

“Why isn't he here then?”

“He's busy.” Breach glared, first words exchanged between him and Goatfather. “He's not with the nHo, but he's included in the deal.”

It turned into an uncomfortable staring contest, and the room became very silent, but they carried on despite the clear disappointment of the hero. Just twenty minutes the four spent going through the paperwork and making sure they were all in the clear.

It was going to be a long year…

—

Just the first week of them being an active group was breaking the news. Solar and Goatfather were popular and kind of old heroes, now with Breach and Vintage, who have been around for ages as well, not as good guys.

And it for sure got quick to villains, as the big and strong groups they had to be against suddenly decided to switch to nighttime work, forcing three people who cannot be civil together outside of combat to fight without their mediator.

As expected, it had gone poorly, but not for the Order, they put up quite a fight. No, the civilians around were harmed, not fatally, not many, but they were harmed, no matter how much Goatfather tried to keep combat out of their reach.

What was worse, is that Breach only shrugged it off, and left it to Solar to deal with, Solar, whose powers were so limited in the night, so he couldn't do too much. Neither did Vintage acknowledge it.

It got to the point of the first bad disagreement within the nHo.

"Breach, Vintage, I may put up with you being here at all, but what part of “making sure the civilians aren't harmed” do you not understand?! You've been around for long enough!”

And that was one of the problems. First to answer was usually quiet Breach.

"You lose a few, you gain a victory. Solar is around to take care of their protection." 

"Solar can't have his power on all the time in every direction! Ugh, why did I agree to this…”

“Maybe because your only choice was either agree or be thrown out of the hero system. And he very much can.”

“Not at night!”

Yes, beliefs and priorities are different in the group. While Goatfather and Solar spent extra efforts to make sure no civilians are in range of the fight and are safe before doing anything, Breach and Vintage were less careful. 

Not like they didn't care, it's just the lack of caution, assuming that others are around to take care of it, and priorities of defeating villains before anything further was destroyed. Not the worst take, but it infuriated Goatfather.

"Goatfather, our contract is about defeating villains and taking orders from government officials in our sphere of work, there wasn't a word demanding outstanding efforts of fixing buildings or saving every civilian in the way." Vintage stated rationally. Well, as best as he could without putting another argument on the table.

And the air started to smell like gunpowder, so he really did a poor job. He really hated to be next to Goatfather in these moments, anyone would, the blast radius was a mystery each time. 
Solar got up from the ground in an instance, calming his colleague with what little power he had during night time. Which wasn't much, but the effort was appreciated.

This was going to be just one of their many banters.

—

CA’s really did care most about getting to the Evil Emporium. Well, mostly Vintage. The Emporium wasn’t a new group, actually they were never a group, just two villains who happened to work together, but it had a new member, which caused a name change.

This new person, who never supposed to exist, brought destruction of Vintage's hacienda. Not exactly him, but this was the real reason behind Team Canada signing a contract to be in a hero group. They kept it low.

“Pause would have been handy here.” 

“I miss him too, Etho. He won't be back for a long time… At least as far as I'm aware.” Vintage answered, which caused a sigh from Breach, as the two sat on the roof near the nHo building. It was kept low, but not like they used it a lot. “Should have dragged Knight into the Order…”

“Maybe. I think it is a solid group. Destructive, but not the priority.” 

“Etho, only you and Goatfather are destructive.”

“True, true.”

Of course, there were much more suitable vigilantes to be paired with heroes, they admitted that much. Breach hated the extra attention it brought, even though CA’s did have a reputation over the years with or without the Order.

While the nHo worked strictly on government dispatch, they were usually separated any other time. They were also civilians and had lives, so it isn't a surprise.
Only one who hardly showed up in public even out of being a hero was Goatfather. His features were too hard to hide.

"Rough day, Doc?" Ade Hound was already in his hideout upon return. The annoyance in his friend was clear enough to probably just about anybody. 

"Yeah. Vigilantes…”

"That makes sense." The hero with dog features hummed, already setting a coffee down on the desk. "Void came by earlier, said your communicator doesn't accept messages and you forgot to add him in the data after reset."

That Doc forgot about completely with the errands of nHo. But the communicator had been fine before... Whenever he tested it last time. 

"Man... You could've let him in if he wanted a visit. X is fine."

"Couldn't be sure with you."

"You know he is a good friend," Goatfather sighed, taking off some heavier pieces of the costume, and grabbing his white coat, "I trust him well enough, can't believe he's still solo."

"Now, excuse you, not only you and Solar were put in a team, Xisuma and I are actually another one.”

"Sure, at least you two weren't with vigilantes, way less for me to worry about.”

"Dang, my dude.”

No further comments were made on this matter, as Doc has decided to move onto actual work. Being in some hero organization with only contracts keeping them together doesn't free him from his own matters. It never did, and he wasn't complaining about work, only about nHo's existence.

“At this rate I don't even know how to approach this team, and I'm the one actually keeping them together!” 

“Guess nHg is not going well.”

“nHg?! It's nHo, New Hermit Order!”

“If it makes you feel better, we have no problems with the Z.I.T.S.” 

“It- alright, I’m glad, sure.”

Yes, Solar was over at ConCorp at this time. Scar was one of his close friends, and Cub tolerated him. It was easy to rant about this team to someone who has no deal with them.

“But it's just so infuriating! It's been a bit more than a week, but it feels like months already, they hate each other.”

“They’ll learn to work together sooner or later, there's no way Goatfather hates them more than he hates Poultry Man and that says a lot.” Scar replied.

“Scar!”

“It's true.” He shrugged, leaning back in his chair. 
Cub, hearing the talking, came over to them with a skeptical look.

“It's only a year, Solar, you've got it.” 

Yeah, maybe it was merely a year, but it didn't change the vibes in this team.
“Maybe it won't be as bad.” He then turned to Scar. “And you, mister, be careful!” The hero said that often to the man. 
Well, in his defense, Scar was rather reckless.

—

After a month of them working together it was a miracle they didn't kill each other. A month was nothing compared to a year, and it was still a miracle. 
Popularity from the New Hermit Order made the public accept their vigilantes as actual heroes. They weren't hate-free though, those fights usually leave bystanders hurt. Which was still an argument nearly every day.

“Dang it, why does Black Knight stay away every time we see Evil Emporium?” Vintage was not pleased with that in slightest, and they already made it clear with the Order that they got a target for that villain team.

“You hype this guy up a lot, sounds scary for someone who has never appeared anywhere before.” The sun hero responded. “Even Doc can find nothing, are you sure he's real?”

“He is.” 

Actual names were a normal thing to be thrown around now, well, not by vigilantes really, but Solar already began to be casual around nHo.

“There are 11,2% of the population in the city on average without abilities, this one rip-off of White Knight appeared overnight and took position in this infamous villain team, and still hasn’t shown up.” Doc turned from the monitor to face the other members. “Tell us it sounds real.”

“Yeah, for once you've got a point.” That response from Breach made Goatfather look slightly angry, but no smell of gunpowder yet. “We promise he exists. Isn't Doomsday a kind of Void rip-off appearing overnight and there's next to nothing gathered about him?”

“He actually appears and fights and not this urban legend you've got going on. You also know awfully a lot here.” Goatfather didn't sound impressed, but he never bothered to ask why or how they knew. “The only evidence is a name change. Can't exactly make an Emporium with two people.”

“Can't exactly make an Emporium with three people either…” Solar whispered.

“What dangers could this new villain bring?”

It took another month before that villain decided to show up in public and clear out suspicions from the heroes that Breach and Vintage made him up in their head or something.

They still weren't sure how dangerous he was, they didn't get a chance to fight him, he was quick to get away, leaving all the fighting to Doomsday and Slime. And he was a copy of White Knight, his colors were different, but he was so similar. 

The Order couldn't do anything based on such little time. His team had also fled from the battle not too long after, they knew they couldn't take nHo in the daylight, no villain could manage that as far as they are aware. No villain would try.

“Technically, he did nothing.” Solar said when they were out of the paparazzi range. “Why do you need him again?”

“Reasons.” Vintage responded.

“And these reasons are?”

“Unimportant.”

Unlike Solar, Goatfather wasn't interested in finding out whatever the CA’s are getting out of that contract. He couldn't bring himself to care at this point, it's only been two months and he wanted to save his nerves for the rest of the time.

Well, Solar and Breach knew each other before this mess, it has been mentioned. The sun hero accepted vigilantes as part of the hero system, even if they helped illegally, he never had anything against that - they still fought the same villains as heroes do.

Maybe it’s the reason he never gives up on the topic, if any hero gets through to Breach, it would be Solar.
And yet, Breach wasn't even aware of why they were trying to get Black Knight in the first place.

—

Their first meeting was just after Breach fought a villain and got away. He had already gotten himself on a government watchlist after a little time of being a pretty competent vigilante, and hasn't been caught.
By that point, Solar was a famous hero, it's been three years since he became one officially. And, technically, they started around the same time.

“Wow, you were not careful at all.” The hero approached him in an alley. “Those might leave scars.”

“...”

“Look, I’m just here to help! Honestly, I think you did a good job, and- Hey! Where are you going?!”

Conversation didn't go well at this point. Breach didn't trust him to not hand him over to the government officials, he was also silent, unlike the loud Solar. It made this all more awkward.

“Let me help! You shouldn't be reckless like that, especially since you are outside of the law.” Solar tried getting to him again without progress.
Luckily, it was daytime, the sun was out and bright, so his power was at full capacity. 
“You're welcome!”

Just like that, they parted ways the first time.

They basically repeated the situation on their second meeting, not too long from the first.

And on their third, fourth. Though, eventually, they got used to the company of each other, talked a little, shared experiences. And the public noticed. Breach avoided Solar for some time after the first articles, even if the hero never saw it as a problem. It was a constant chase, until they finally started talking again and more.

Even shared contacts. Solar became his emergency number for a while, a healer that would come running whenever something was wrong. It was like that over a few years, more rare when Team Canada came to be. Sometimes the vigilante would come to his location no matter where he was.

Yes, Breach knew him as a civilian by that point. They were on a first name basis. They were good friends, never anything else, even if some people liked to spread rumors whenever they were seen together, because it was illegal.
Vigilantism is illegal, heroes are supposed to be against that. 

But then again, Solar was high on the hero board even for the government, so they cared little, as long as he was present and fighting on their side. 

It was Solar who worked out part of the nHo contract. He didn't know Goatfather would get involved, it wasn't in their plans. But there isn't anything to do about it.

“Your idea is to put vigilantes on a team with heroes so they can prove themselves and then be legal without becoming heroes? How absurd does that sound, Solar?” And nobody was happy about this suggestion.

“They don't mean harm, even if it's outside the law they must want to be anonymous, as heroes require to hand every bit of information before-”

“Heroes also require years of verified training, we do not approve of sending unprepared people to die in battle, most vigilantes haven't had this training.”

“Team Canada was around for more than some of the heroes, they have experience and chances to improve.”

It was an absurd request, sure, but he won the argument in the end, a few months after bringing it up, when they needed forces and strong teams and the vigilantes were an option.

—

Three months with the order had gone by, and they still surprisingly didn't kill one another, even if attempts existed. Sort of, there was a time Vintage threw an axe at Goatfather. Not on purpose, but it is safe to say the hero took it as an attempted murder.

After four months the situation changed little. Mostly with Goatfather accepting this fate and actually trying to make tactics for the four to work as a team and create less conflict. He also took a role beside Breach to research everything about Evil Emporium. That being said, their teamwork was still far from perfect, but progress was made.

On their fifth month… It wasn't a good one, they lost their first villain fight as a team. It didn't happen before, they were basically considered to be undefeatable. But they were caught at their weakest.

It was the Undead Queen and her minions, or however she wanted to call them; Sirius and Orion.
The Order had already taken care of a few decent villains, it was night to top it off, and the Queen attacked out of nowhere. 

Orion was a less known villain, but they had to admit he was pretty good, though his power was a total chaos, the noise it made was unbearable in their ears. Sirius has already made a name for himself, he was basically the opposite of Breach when it came to abilities.

Yes, they lost. The Undead Queen had strong villains, who were ready to fight on her command, and she was dangerous on her own. Escape was all they could do. Goatfather had to organize a retreat with minimum damage done to his team. And he did just that.

“Both of you, out.” He hissed, as the explosions blocked their voices, he held the villains back for as much as he could. “No negotiations, get to Solar.”

“Are you serious?!”

“Dead serious, Vintage!”

Maybe it was a moment where their team began to get along to an extent. As the vigilantes left, Goatfather unleashed so much explosives, blocking the view and any sounds for the villains. It was enough for them to escape, but he stayed back to put up a fight.

Not so put up a fight as to wait for other heroes to get there. Only after that happened and he made sure they will be alright on their own, did he retreat. 

On any given day he would just leave Team Canada to deal with it on their own and maybe die in the process, but they were his team now. Goatfather couldn't do such a thing to his team, even if they are vigilantes.

“Doc! Don't ever pull a stunt like that again, you hear me?!” He was immediately scolded by Solar in their base, it was expected. “We were all worried sick! Breach was about to go back to you!”

“Couldn't leave the villains to do what they wanted.” Goatfather said calmly, sitting down next to his fellow hero, who began looking all over him for any injuries. Breach and Vintage were already treated when they got here. “This was embarrassing.”

A moment of silence followed that.

“Dude, we thought you died there.” Vintage let out a breath, the feelings seemed genuine, even when Breach was silent and his emotions were impossible to read, it seemed like even he was concerned enough.

—

Their failure was a news topic at the time, but neither cared. Actually, they were doing better than ever. 
Well, there were fights where it got close, and fights where it seemed impossible for them, but the teamwork continued to improve. 

At some point they were in no position to win against a strong team of villains, when a hero joined in out of nowhere, assisting greatly. The one Goatfather got to know very well already.
They continued to show up when the Order needed some help.

Symmetry had no team, though certainly a strong hero. And that's when a suggestion appeared for them to join.

“I think you would benefit greatly.”
Solar was the one to indulge in the idea, the others were not fans of it, including the one being suggested to join.

“I can assist, but to make it clear, I do not wish to join your nHo.” Symmetry answered. “By all means have your team, but not for us.”

“What about just an alliance? You are not in a team, so we can cross paths and help each other without you joining us officially.”

It was a good compromise, sure. Not like their team would be together for much longer.

“...” She was silent, and the Order was ready to accept and go. “Sure, we can try.”

And it was like that. Symmetry saw every flaw in the teamwork, in their synergy, but only brought it up with Solar sometimes. It was obvious that outside of the contract such a team would never work out, and without knowing, the girl already understood that it wouldn't stay for long.

She stepped in to help, the public dismissed her a lot at first, they weren't famous, not like the Order. This hero was in nHo’s shadow for a while before being recognised for her own abilities.

It's been a while since they saw Black Knight, once again, the guy operated behind the scenes and never showed up. It was bad for the CA’s. 

Neither of the nHo expected to see him again, the public already starting to forget, even if the quality of work from Evil Emporium increased the moment he theoretically appeared, meaning he was supporting from the shadows.

“Doc.” Breach called out to him when they were in nHo’s base one day. “Void is looking for you, said it's urgent.”

There were three heroes Goatfather would not hesitate to help. Three heroes, which if in serious danger - he would destroy the city in the process of getting to them. 
Maybe not literally destroy the city, but there was nothing that would stop him. Words “Void”, and “urgent” had him running.

It took very little time to get to his own hideout, where Void was currently at. 

“Xisuma, what's wrong?” He was quick to get to the point, as always. And he was already close enough to examine for any injuries, though he knew Void would go to Solar for those.

“I wanted to talk about the Order. And about Evil Emporium.” Void started off, having Goatfather confused, but not opposing.
“Do you know why Vintage is looking for Black Knight?”

“Is that… urgent?”

There was a sigh, “of course…”
“Doc, I want you to stop focusing on Evil Emporium. To stop digging for their files and if other heroes got it, then don't even fight them.” That had Goatfather even more confused, as he was about to argue.
“You don't know the full story. None of you know except for Vintage and White Knight.”

“What does White Knight have to do with it? You aren't making sense."

“We had a talk, he told me the details.”

—

“Is vigilantism still outside of the law?” That was a topic White Knight was caught on by paparazzi. “What is your opinion on the New Hermit Order?”

“They are doing their own thing. But it is, it's outside of the law.” The hero in armor answered. 

White Knight was involved in this mess, but it was also confidential. Not so involved, more so he started it. Along with Vintage.

Evil Emporium didn't appear just because. Doomsday and Slime didn't have a new teammate just because. Truly, they didn't need to have more hero groups, that part was fully the government's contribution. But it happened because there were many villains around that time.

Doomsday and Slime were already a pain, a massive problem they needed a solution to, but with the Evil Emporium becoming a thing, everyone became on edge, they didn't know what to expect, that's why the Order was created.

Yes, heroes couldn't help or team up with those going against the law. It was his first mistake too. The moment Vintage and him got closer was already bad news, but the moment they decided to experiment with their abilities was the doom.

Cloning could only go far, but they were determined to find a way to make it last longer without being too exhausted. White Knight’s power was not as suitable, he was able to summon weapons and equip different armor, but it wasn't really what they were looking for.

Form Replication did have a way of making it happen, only when it came to cloning the user of the ability. So they decided to trick it. A terrible idea.

And trick it, they did! It took so long to pull off, but there was eventually a clone of White Knight, who hasn't disappeared after two days, who was responsive and moving… Who looked and felt different to the hero, no, they were identical in every way but eyes and armor. The hair was also slightly darker.

Not perfect, but they achieved it. It would be White Knight's little helper and sidekick when they find it stable enough to fight, as clones weren't usually very resistant to attacks.

There were many experiments done, something the hero wished wasn't a thing. Black Knight, as they called it, didn't manage to do it's purpose before the villains found Hacienda and took their creation away with them. Vintage couldn't get rid of the clone, their hard work. 

They kept it a secret, not from the team. But even then Breach only knew that villains stole important things and there's a new villain Vintage wanted to catch for whatever reason. His colleague didn't question much, as Vintage clearly didn't want to elaborate.

Somehow, that's where they were now, with the nHo. White Knight wasn't even invited to attend when they assigned a few teams, but not that the government needed to know about a hero working with vigilantes to just get him in there. He didn't have nearly as much authority and trust as Solar.

White Knight still had guilt from how much his clone suffered during the tests, it wasn't heroic. He didn't actively search for him because of that, but would look out for whatever Evil Emporium got up to. Knight didn't think he could fight the clone.

He communicated with Vintage sometimes, but it seemed that the vigilante just wanted his creation back. Back, so he can put Black Knight through more experiments, to verify and repeat it all with more clones.

“Clones are supposed to be soulless, they aren't real people, they don’t feel pain or emotions… But he's just a human, a person! Like- he's like a part of me.” White Knight found himself opening up about all that to a hero. “I just feel like I owe him an apology. He didn't choose this.”

—

Void couldn't stand and watch like that. It's been two months since he was told, and he was given a green flag for telling Goatfather. Just avoid sharing with Vintage. Of course, not all little details were shared either.

Goatfather was silent for about two minutes. The loudest silence. It was when Void stepped away from the familiar smell of gunpowder, silence ended. He wasn't scared. Doc would never hurt him on purpose, even if his ability often reacted to anger.

Then, Goatfather turned and left for another room. His base of operations wasn't huge, but it had all he needed. And right now, he needed to let off some steam.
For Goatfather, it all proved that at the end of the day vigilantes were no different from villains.

Luckily, there were just two months to go in this team. But Solar couldn't know. He would question Vintage immediately. 

“I hate this team. I hate the vigilantes…” Goatfather whispered to himself.

“You always did.” 

“And all of the people I'm trying to protect keep dealing with them! Ren, Bdubs, you.”

“...” Void wanted to add about not every single one of them being bad people, but his friend wasn't in the right mind for it. 

All the progress they've made is gone. Solar couldn't believe it, he thought they were doing so well as a team. Now Goatfather all over again stared at the vigilantes as his biggest enemies and stopped them using his name.

It was even more tense than the first time. 

Maybe Goatfather often closed eyes on vigilantes not caring about civilians during the battle because they never listened. Now the argument over it happened on the battlefield again.
Again, they all were close to fighting each other, and again the nHo’s headquarters were mostly empty.

Breach told him this happened after Void talked to Goatfather about some urgent matter, but it made no sense.

“They are insufferable!” The hero crashed into Scar's office in ConCorp when he visited with Breach. Vigilante being away with Cub to see the weapon choices.
“Arguments after arguments, it's like we're back at the start…”

“Wow, you've had a day.” Scar sat straight in his chair to take a better look at Solar. “Maybe you can camp here and wait for your nGy to get along again?”

“It’s nHo, Scar… They'll kill each other. Especially Vintage and Goatfather. Something about these two specifically got way worse. There are also constant arguments about Evil Emporium, Goatfather all of the sudden waits for other heroes to fight them.”

“At least it's just two months left?” Scar reasoned. “You've got Allium Alliance, if anything. Symmetry seem to keep it together well.”

“I just can't understand what in the world happened and it drives me crazy.”

It wasn't any awkward with Cub and Breach. Except for two of the team ConCorp had a contract with being there, who weren't too happy with him around, but said nothing. Or maybe they weren't happy with their contract, Breach couldn't tell.

“We have new developments, although I know you like making your own gear and weapons.” 

“Kind of, yeah. It's still good to take a look… You guys still sell to the villains?” Vigilante asked casually.

“Not to Evil Emporium, if you are worried about that, they might as well have negative reputation points after last week.”

“Good to know.”

It wasn't his business, really, but he wanted to see if Black Knight was a buyer. ConCorp didn't change much since the last time he was here, and it has been a while since Pause bought himself weapons, not him or Vintage.

—

Next month was intense. 

Solar thought he wouldn't make it another week with their attitude towards each other.
Breach and Vintage were slightly confused at first, but they didn't care much.
Goatfather got to speak to White Knight outside of it all for a full picture.

Then last month… Truly, they accomplished next to nothing. They stopped many villains, sure, prevented a lot of bad situations and did good things, but it wasn't a lot for the whole year.

This month, Symmetry left them too. 

It was nearing the end of their contract, even if they would be getting together when needed by the authorities.

“You are no different from villains.” Goatfather said that in a cold tone to the vigilantes- no, specifically to Vintage. It only further broke down every bit of respect in this team.

“I see.” Vintage could only answer, getting the full picture, his butcher's axe was thrown so close to Goatfather at this moment, just barely missing. It was entirely on purpose. Gunpowder smell was in the air.

“Vintage!” Solar was the one to jump between them now, like usual these days. “Both of you, that's too far!”

Neither answered, as Goatfather walked away to not blow up the entire place. 

“Injure him, and we're gonna have a problem.” Breach was one to scold his fellow vigilante this time. He was not taking that these days, all the arguments were too much. “Why does he hate you this much? It's never directed at me nearly as bad.”

There was only silence, followed by a sigh of Breach, along with a short: “There it is again.”
Then, he left. Only Solar and Vintage were standing in this place now.

It was so unbearable that Solar stuck to the old alliance girls most of the time this month. And they decided what to do after the Order would split. They knew what they wanted to do, as the girls were content to stick together further on, while Solar had no idea about the future.

“You want to team up? You'll make a good support.” Symmetry was one to suggest. “After your contract you'll be free to do your thing, so we can form a team.”

“That does sound nice, False.”

“But, maybe not right after the split though, wait a few weeks, team up frequently, let the public know where we stand.”

Solar found himself being a lot more comfortable with the Allium Alliance, which wasn't much, as the New Hermit Order was a big mess that never should have existed. 
Yes, he wanted to legally team up with those vigilantes and Goatfather was his good friend, but all together it turned out horrible.

Ade Hound was there at the hideout with Void, both waiting for Goatfather, as their contract was also ending, even if they would continue to work together. But it wasn't the only reason they were here.

“You've given your team a really hard time. Bdubs was genuinely upset the time we spoke.” The dog hero said. “I know you don't like vigilantes, my dude. And I know it's X’s fault too, but the team must at least be bearable.”

“Our relationships were never going to be good even without it. They are vigilantes.”

“Not all vigilantes are bad, you know.” Void stepped in hesitantly. “Most of them are trying to help just like us. There are reasons.”

“White Knight was also all about reasons and look what happened.” 

His temper could've been better on any other day. Their recent villain fight was stressful. But it wasn't what the heroes were there to tell him.

“After all this, maybe we can get together like before? Maybe White Knight can join us too. We aren't talking as a team, dude, just casually.” Ade Hound said. Void and him thought of it as a good idea for a while.

And that was reasonable to Goatfather. He actually trusted these people with his life. Not White Knight yet, but White Knight was a hero he could tolerate at least. That was the plan after the Order split.

“So will you tell me?” Breach questioned yet again. “Tell me why Goatfather took a turn and what's up with Black Knight. Without lies this time.”

“...”

It was getting him nowhere. It didn't get him anywhere in the past year. Team Canada was supposed to have absolute trust in each other. Breach couldn't understand why Vintage was so insistent on lying about this situation.

“I will tell you when Pause is also here.”

There was his answer.
“So never, huh?...” And there goes Team Canada. The oldest and most stable vigilante team. “He's not coming back.”

“He will.”

“Beef… I can't do that, you can't do that to yourself. Pause is not coming back, he's gone.” It was painful to admit. “After the nHo, team CA won't be around anymore, you know it.”

He did, Vintage knew it, but didn't want to acknowledge. All his efforts, his longest friends. Breach and Vintage would still team up, they would still get together with nHo due to contact when needed, but it felt awfully like the world had collapsed.

And maybe the real reason he wanted to seek out Black Knight was to make a perfect clone of a CA team member, someone who wouldn't disappear. It just felt so empty without Pause.

—

After the contract had passed, they all went their own ways. Sticking to plans and what they did before. Of course, this contract will forever haunt them by bringing them together sometimes, but at least they won't be constantly forced together.

Yes, it was an experience, but the four had to admit that this team was unbearable, broken, just the worst mentally.

Team Canada never returned, the vigilantes worked separately since nHo's split, except for the third team member, who never showed up in a year and after.

Goatfather would assemble his own hero team in the future, with the people he trusts, and Team STAR would become one of the strongest around.

And Solar will soon find his place with Symmetry as an Allium Duo, a perfectly healthy team to stop villains, usually active in the day.

The New Hermit Order was an awfully temporary team, it never should have existed in the first place, no matter how much the public overreacted at their split. It was an ongoing topic for weeks.