Chapter Text
Dancing over the rooftops in the dead of night once more, green smoke following behind the figure, pouring from the mask this inphernal dawned. Their green horns protruding right above the intricate mask that hid the identity of the best— and only...— vigilante of Crossroads.
Shuriken, ah well— The Silver Shadow, the green ninja who fights crime in the dead of night... a brilliant shining star for all to see! Not really, that's what he wants to be, but in reality, the young inphernal isn't quite there yet.
Like at all.
Right... but, really, his name was Shuriken. Technically his full gear (or- name as some call it) was Silver Ninja Star of the Brilliant Light— but, Shuriken was what he goes by. As a civilian, of course!
And currently, he was the Silver Shadow... who really needed to go to bed. Really phucking badly.
It was around four am, right before everyone in the city would get up... including his siblings who both got up at 5 am. Which sucked, a lot.
A shit ton, actually, because then HE would need to get up an hour later so they all could get to work!
Why the hell do cafés have to be open so early!?
A race against time, truly. Luckily, he had his grappling hook with him, along with his AWESOME skills of being able to climb walls.
Maybe when he makes it big as a hero, he could totally like have a comic be based on him. That would be so phucking cool... maybe base him on like... a spider or something? Actually no, that sounds like a stupid superhero.
Shuriken leaped, landing on yet another rooftop with astounding balance. His geta sandles made no noise even while made of wood, after all, he was the best ninja in the world!
Grappling off and swinging again, he grabbed onto a windowsill that was cracked open, just enough.
His room...
And he heard the recording of his snoring coming from inside. It never ceased to amaze the young imphernal just how LOUD he snored. Like... it would be reaaally obvious if he disappeared if he hadn't pre recorded his snoring. Of course, he has multiple of them.
Look, it's not weird. It WORKS. It let's him change it up and—
Ah, whatever.
Shuriken slipped into his room, hopping over the small drawer that was pressed against the wall, just below his window. Said window was quickly slid shut the next moment.
A sigh of relief escaped him. Back home again, now he could totally sleep! That sounds great right now...
Actually, hold that thought.
Shuriken glanced up, looking at his reflection.
SHIT.
The young inphernal quickly kicked his geta sandals off, scrambling to the bathroom to wash off the green horn paint he always applied.
He threw his hood back, shaking out his white hair. It was getting a little long, wasn't it...?
Not now.
Quickly using a headband, he pushed his hair back before getting to work, scrubbing the paint he loved so much off of his horns.
He wishes he could keep it on forever, honestly. But... if he did. He would be easily recognized.
Shuriken dreaded that thought... his family in danger because of him...? The risks he took daily?
No. That wasn't allowed.
That's why he did this, helping the police arrest criminals in Crossroads. Stealing from the stealers so he could give it back to the rightful owners... to make this region a safer place.
So it couldn't happen.
Shuriken pushed the thought aside, a huge smile on his face as he thought of all the things he did tonight. Pinning criminals to the walls of alleys with his shurikens, saving people from being robbed, helping lead the authorities to the perpetrators.
Wasn't he just the best?
Pulling back, he grabbed a towel and patted his horns dry. He quickly threw it into the laundry basket and flashed himself a smile, snapping his fingers as he made finger guns.
There was truly no inphernal cooler than him.
But man, did he look tired... was he getting eyebags!? Seriously!?
Okay, maybe it was time for bed...
"... Shu..."
"Shuri..."
No... just a few more minutes..."SFOTH DAMNIT, SHURIKEN!"
SMACK
Shuriken found himself shooting out of bed, eyes wide as he rubbed his head. Why did it sting!? His bleary eyes adjusted to the light, seeing two figures in front of him.
A pissed off (technically) older sister and kind of younger brother. Said younger brother, Slingshot. Was holding a METAL SPATULA!? He seriously hit him right where the tri-colored dots were on his forehead!? Seriously!?
Damnit...
"Shuriken! It's seven am, and you aren't even out of bed!" Slingshot scolded, his brows furrowed. His hair was already pulled back into a low ponytail, his bandana wrapped around his head.
Next to him, Vinestaff stood. Her eye twitching. "Shuri. I woke you up TWICE. You asked for five minutes twice, I gave them— oh my SFOTH. Get UP!"
Yep... there it was. As kind as his dear siblings were... they did have their limit with his... shenanigans. Maybe they would be more kind if he told them what he had been doing—
Actually... that interaction would be more like...
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU'VE BEEN RISKING YOUR LIFE EVERY NIGHT!? SHURI!"
Or
"Shuriken... why would you do that? We don't want you to die, why are you so stupid!? Can't you see that you don't need to be a hero—"
So, maybe not.
The first one might be the most accurate...
"Okay, okay! Jeez... m'getting up... get out of my room already, I'm not a kid."
Shuriken yawned, pushing himself out of bed and scratching the back of his neck as his siblings shot eachother a look. Vinestaff gave Slingshot a nod before leaving the room.
"Shuri, just... hurry up already. We're supposed to be open at seven fifteen. Just... get over there. You're on serving duty again. But if you're late, it's dishes duty."
Said brother proceeded to leave his room, shutting the door with a thud.
Great...
Shuriken was dressed and skidding out the door in ten minutes, his shoes half tied and his hoodie being yanked over his head.
As he ran down the stairs of the apartment complex, he contemplated before deciding to straight up JUMP down a flight of stairs.
Which, mind you. He would be TOTALLY fine!
Usually...
But, curse untied shoes. Shuriken proceeded to trip and almost slam into the ground.
Like Icarus assuming he knew everything.
Okay, so maybe this was his fault.
Surely, this wasn't the end...!?
But, luckily, another grappling hook secured around his waist, yanking him back UP said flight of stairs and infront of an older inphernal, the man directly below them.
Katana.
An old man of very few words and... lots of wisdom or whatever. Not that Shuriken gave a damn about that...!
"Youngin, what foolishness are you partaking in today?" The older inphernal spoke, his voice stern as always.
Shuriken tilted his head back, his hood falling and revealing un-brushed hair.
Was this guy already wearing his mask so early in the morning...? Did he sleep in it, or something!?
"Uhhh... nothing? I'm just— trying to get to work on time." Shuriken voiced out, his voice slightly lilting, unsure if Katana would believe him.
Katana, even without his face visible, did NOT seem to buy it. The reason for that, was that the older inphernal could see. He wasn't blind, the warrior could see the bags under the younger one's eyes. Plus... he also figured out his little secret long ago.
"With your appearance like... that?" Katana asked. Though... it really wasn't an ask, it was more of an unpleasant rhetorical question in a deadpan tone.
"... yes?" Shuriken began.
"Tie your shoes."
"Yes sir..."
Being... corrected while in a stairway by your own neighbor is... certainly one way to be humbled. Severely.
And then being late to work because your neighbor made you brush your hair and straighten up.
Luckily, Shuriken didn't have to deal with dishwashing today, he had the... "Stopped By Katana" pass privilege.
Though...
It sure was hard to stay awake.
The day felt like a blur. It really did.
Faces were only blurs he had to pick from a crowd, placing orders down for the customers.
Except for this one weird guy who was about his height who was kicking his feet under the table... like... a newly spawned???
Freak...
He watched as Slingshot's friends visited, interacting with him as always.
Vinestaff and him were... different. Vinestaff was eccentric, it wasn't her fault. She wasn't socialized like Shuriken or Sling... but at least she tries. Shuri could see her desperately trying to make friends, and— slowly, it was working. Even if it was... a struggle.
But Shuriken...
He didn't want to get close to anyone, not really at least. He could be friendly, yeah, but...
He couldn't ever really settle in. Not like them. Between both jobs, he had no time.
Part of him felt... envious of his siblings. He was lonely. He could never tell anyone these things...
Shuriken yawned, placing down a hot cup of coffee alongside a fluffy pound cake for one of Sling's friends. Specifically, Skateboard.
He was pretty chill, so, whatever. Though— Shuriken was half convinced the guy was constantly high. So... eh, whatever.
"Yo, Shuriken! Thanks!" Skateboard smiled. Giving the other a thumbs up— and then paused when seeing the younger inphernal's face. "Shit dude, you look like you haven't slept in... a week!"
Well, that wasn't too far off...
"No, I'm fine! Why, you worried for me? Awww, how kind!" Shuriken responded, his voice suddenly playful just like always. A smile was on his face now too.
Maybe he was way too used to masking.
"Man... if you say so." Skateboard said, his smile a bit more... caring.
Like he saw him.
Part of Shuriken wanted to go into another phight so he could just get a kill in on Skateboard. To wipe that kind look off his face.
"What the fuck, man? Why does Skate get free shit and I don't?" Another voice spoke up.
An inphernal with dual colored horns, a crystal sticking out from the blue colored right horn... three wolf like tails that didn't seem quite like an inphernals—
Coil.
The guy that keeps pissing off his brother for laughs... which, yeah, is fun sometimes, but during work? Insane to be ragebaiting a guy who makes your food.
But he was pretty damn cool. A ripped hoodie showing off his muscles, hands wrapped in bandages, and scars across his arms.
"Cause you keep pissin off Sling, man." Skate answered, taking a bite of the cake.
Coil proceeded to ALSO take a bite of the cake, but it was just him leaning over and taking a chunk out of it.
"Dude!! What the fuck!?"
Shuriken found himself letting out a cackle, before waving them both off, leaving the two soon after.
He really wanted to go take a damn break...
So... he did! In his own way.
On top of the Thieves' Rest's awning, of course!
Turns out, he slept too long. Shuriken soon found himself being SHAKEN by a VERY annoyed— and possibly worried, Slingshot.
"Shuri! Oh thank the SFOTH— we all thought you were dead! You weren't snoring or moving— and you were sleeping for so long— you missed more than HALF of your shift as well."
Well. Damn. What the hell did he—
"Uh... wait— we?" Shuriken groaned, sitting up with a confused look on his face.
Multiple... like... multiple people saw him being a complete loser sleeping on the roof!?
"Yeah, dumbass! We!" A gruff voice responded.
Coil again...!?
Looking down over, he saw Coil, Skateboard, and Boombox. So all three Playgrounders were here today, huh...
Slingshot sighed, lowering his head a bit. "We couldn't find you, and— we were worried, Shuri. Vinestaff and I thought you disappeared on us again and would come back hurt, but—"
Shuriken watched as his brother paused and GRIMACED. Grimacing? Of all things!?
"That guy found you." He sighed, shoving his thumb in the direction of Coil who had a smirk on his face.
"You're WELCOME!" The odd inphernal called out.
Shuriken slowly nodded.
Honestly, he still felt so tired. That wasn't enough sleep... and he had patrol again tonight.
The look of utter dread must have shown on his face, and his brother (even as an avid believer of "Hard work is the best way!") seemed to take pity on him.
"It's... fine. Go home, Shuri. We're closing soon anyway." Sling offered, a kind look in his eyes.
Shuriken shrugged, a smile coming onto his face. "Sure! Sounds great! Ahhh, how kind my brother is." The ninja teased, poking said brother in his arm. Slingshot gave an unimpressed look before giving a nod to his two friends. Coil was not included in this grouping.
Suddenly Shuriken felt a wave of dread wash over him...
So... that's how Shuriken ended up being escorted back his apartment to make sure the young inphernal got some sleep. Because he desperately needed it. And that fact was... a little TOO obvious, apparently.
He was annoyed, yes, but... sleeping was great.
He couldn't wait—
"Man, you really can't hold your own weight in a café? That job seems easy."
Shuriken snapped his head up and back at Coil, eyes wide with surprise. "Dude— the hell did I do to you?"
Boombox quickly covered the younger inphernal's mouth. His visor showing an uncomfortable look. "Yo, Coil! Bro, don't say that—"
Skateboard was about to pipe up but then Shuriken sighed, waving them off as he walked away, leaving the three infront of the apartment complex.
Normally, he'd be a bit more peppy, but at this point? He was too tired to give a shit. He was off the clock and honestly? He just wanted to sleep before his other shift started.
The other three inphernals stood in silence for a moment... and then—
"Wow. What's his deal?" Coil asked, his voice muffled from behind the hand of Boombox.
Shuriken waited until that night... well— after he woke up. By the time he did, it was already sundown and his siblings were back home, asleep.
Well— probably, right? I mean, it's 10 pm. at night.
Okay, well, it's fine. He checked anyway... just to be on the safe side.
After quickly painting his horns green (which... was like clockwork at this point. He had a good bit of practice, okay?), Shuriken quickly rushed back into his room and threw on his normal clothes. Okay, maybe he should get a hero outfit sooner or later, but it was more convenient like this! But after all of that, finally he then dawned his Silver Shadow mask...
Sure, he's just a vigilante right now... but one day, he will be the best hero they'll ever see!
With that, the young ninja opened his window and grappled off into the night.