Chapter Text
Golden eyes regarded the black suited human with dark shades in the alleyway far below.
Foolish human, the small, shadowed figure mused with derision before it leapt across to the next roof, their landing silent and swift.
They needed to keep their target close.
XXX
Seriously, Sherman bemoaned in his mind as he walked down the sidewalk alongside his friends, can that guy be any more obvious?
Of course, the others hadn’t noticed, too focused on their current conversation. However, Mr. Peabody had taught his son how to keep his senses open to suspicious details without giving himself away.
Unfortunately, Sherman was still only a kid, and like all kids he could only keep his attention up for so long before something else caught his attention.
Namely Penny shouting.
“LOOK OUT!”
Sherman couldn’t say for sure what startled him more: Penny’s shout or the skateboarder that recklessly rushed between them, his sudden appearance enough to spook the boy into stumbling back.
Right into the street – and into the path of a moving car.
Time seemed to slow down for Sherman as his mind registered what was about to happen. How ironic considering his father’s greatest invention.
But then all of a sudden, he’s flying in the opposite direction, far away from the car and flat on the safe ground. He barely even registered the brief feel of something grasping the back of his shirt.
He does, however, register the faces of all his friends above him, all filled with shock and concern as they ask him if he’s alright.
Most of all, though, Sherman noticed a pair of amber-colored eyes right before it quickly receded into the shadows of the nearby alleyway, and perhaps a long tail if one looked hard enough.
Only one thought dominated Sherman’s mind as his friends helped him up.
Who was that?
XXX
Hector Peabody had a hunch or two.
No, that wasn’t to say the beagle had been spying on his son by any means like a drone or anything of the sort. After the WABAC incident, he’d been making strides in giving his son a bit more independence (or at least more space to be himself).
Unfortunately, that’s also why he’s so unprepared when his son returns home from school.
Ever since his son’s tenth birthday some months ago, Hector had started allowing his son to venture to school without him, provided that Sherman always be accompanied by someone, be they his friends or said friends’ parents.
However, the beagle was no fool. He was well aware of the sorts of “people” that, ever since the time debacle, had been stalking his family under the pretense of “government work”. That’s why he made a point to notify all the parents of Sherman’s friends of this development and keep all their contacts for in case.
In short, you’ll forgive him for reacting the way he did once Sherman finished relaying what happened this afternoon after the boy returned home.
“YOU WERE ALMOST WHAT?!”
Run over. His child was almost run over! All because of some errant skateboarder!
Who and where was this punk Hector needed to sue for child endangerment?!
“Emphasis on ‘almost’, Mr. Peabody!” Sherman tried to assure him, hands out, though his words did little to assuage the dog. “Somebody saved me by pulling me back onto the sidewalk!”
Though vague, the answer at least settled Hector’s nerves enough for the dog to regain his composure with a deft clear of the throat.
“Ah, well, it’s good to hear that there are still decent folk in this city. I take it this was an adult?”
Not that Hector doubted Sherman’s friends, but he could imagine the fright caused by that punk had startled them long enough at that critical moment for injury to be a real possibility.
Sherman shrugged. “I guess? It didn’t feel like someone grabbed me though.”
Hector furrowed his brow in confusion, not quite getting what his son meant.
Sherman, noticing, screwed his face up in an effort to remember. “What I mean is…it felt more like something latched onto me, y’know like one of those toy crane games! Penny even said that’s what it looked like when I asked everyone.”
So, this person had used some sort of gadget to do the deed rather than stepping out in public themself.
In other words, whoever just saved Sherman did not want to reveal themselves, as well as had access to special tools. Highly unlikely to be one of those government agents.
Hector set his hands akimbo and hummed in thought before he regarded his son once more. “So, you’re saying you never saw your rescuer in any capacity?”
Sherman opened his mouth to answer, only to shut it back closed with an awkward glance to the side, rubbing his hands in embarrassment.
“I, uh, I don’t know.” However, he quickly perked back up. “Oh, but I do remember seeing amber eyes right before the person disappeared. Oh, and maybe a long tail too? Kinda looked like a cat’s tail now that I think about it…”
So lost in thought in his attempts to remember, Sherman failed to notice the way in which his father’s jaw set, or in how his gaze hardened.
Because now Hector no longer had any doubt as to who had saved his son.
“On second thought, Sherman, feel free to put what happened out of your mind.”
Hearing that elicited a confused gaze out of Sherman. “Wait, what? Why? Shouldn’t we – I don’t know – look for them so I can thank them?”
Hector shook his head and schooled his son with a patient look. “If this person chose to avoid revealing themselves publicly, we can only assume they want this good deed of theirs to remain anonymous. It’s only fair that we respect their wishes and refrain from exposing them. Not everyone likes being in the spotlight, Sherman.”
Darn, that was a pretty solid point.
Still, Sherman sagged with a pout as he’d really been hoping to give thanks to this stranger. After all, they saved his life, so wasn’t it only far they at least get some appreciation in turn?
Noticing his son’s downturn in mood, Hector gave what he hoped to be an assuring smile. “See it this way, Sherman, is not the point of doing good the deed itself rather than the reward? If anything, this person’s wish to be unknown is more admirable than anything else.”
“I guess you’re right,” Sherman conceded with a reluctant sigh.
Hector nodded in satisfaction that his point had gotten to his son before patting the boy on the back.
“Why not unwind with a little television? Normally I wouldn’t allow it before you do your homework, but considering the excitement you’ve had today, I’m willing to make an exception.”
Hearing such leniency took Sherman by surprise, the boy gawking at his father in wonder before averting his eyes as if to ponder the offer over.
Then a smile took over before Sherman looked back to his father. “Thanks Mr. Peabody, but I think it’d be a better use of my time if I focused on my homework first. I can always watch TV later.”
Something in his son’s expression threw Hector off at first, but the beagle was quick to shake his head and dispel the suspicion. He didn’t want to risk falling back into old habits by jumping to conclusions and micromanaging his child again.
Besides, thought the beagle. It isn’t as though Sherman has any means of finding this person.
With that assurance in mind, Hector returned the smile with a nod. “Well then, Sherman, I’ll leave you to it then. I have some affects to tend to myself, but don’t hesitate to ask for my aid if you need it!”
At this point, Sherman was already trotting away with his trademark grin, a pep in his step as he disappeared around the corner into the hallway. “I know, Mr. Peabody!”
Hector perked his ears to confirm the fading footsteps of his son.
Once he ascertained Sherman to be out of earshot, the beagle finally let his smile drop into a frown. A severe frown.
His green eyes, solemn, shifted to the window and city’s skyline, both tinted orange by the encroaching evening.
“If that was truly your doing,” he growled, “what could you be playing at this time?”
XXX
Within an alleyway far from Peabody Tower, a shadowy catlike figure with amber eyes sat atop a trash can, pondering the same question, albeit from a different angle.
How was she supposed to salvage this?
She had no regrets saving that kid, oh no. Hell, it had been imperative that she save him, but that’s neither here nor there.
The real problem lay in the fact that she let the kid see her. OK, not all of her, mind you – she did well to keep to the dark, a cinch thanks to her dark fur, but no doubt that kid would get curious now and want to find her.
Assuming his dad allowed him to, of course.
And if the news press and other articles about Mr. Peabody were correct, especially that one about the incident with this so-called WABAC, then chances were he likely wouldn’t.
Still, kids are like cats in a way: can’t always count as them to do as they’re told.
In which case, there might need to be a change in plans, at least so far in how to keep tabs on the kid without risking further exposure.
Especially with all these government goons around. Seriously, was there even more than usual?
The figure shook her head with a grunt before hopping off the trash lid and beginning her trek down the alleyway to return home.
The goal’s the same either way, she mused. Keep that kid safe, no matter what.