Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“We need to get out of here!” One of the criminals yells, a large bag filled with money like they’re some sort of cartoon villain. “We’re gonna get spotted-”

They were interrupted by the sound of footsteps. Burning Beacon stood in the clearing of the alley, tapping his foot like an impatient businessman.

“Let’s just get this over with, shall we?” Quicker than any of the “villains” could react, a fire raged from the vigilante’s hands and towards the leader's clothes, setting it on fire.

The leader screamed and dropped the bag in a panic to put out the fire. The others, deciding it was not worth getting burnt alive, booked it. The leader put himself out and followed the others, screaming about betrayal. Burning Beacon rolled his eyes.

Well, he thought, that was quick.

80 - Burning Beacon, 0 - Robbers.

As quick as he came, he disappeared into the shadows. He barely had to use any fire this time! He sees this as a total win.

He soon makes it to his shared apartment (not without calling the police on the robbers, he doubts they will make it far) and slips into his window quietly. Winnie is probably still sleeping..

Quickly, he puts away his costume, getting undressed and slipping in his PJ's.

He’s done a lot today, and Augustine is quite proud of himself. But the use of his power always makes his mouth dry, so he goes to get a drink of water as quietly as he can.

Clearly, he didn’t do it quietly enough, as Winnie comes into the kitchen not even a minute later.

Whoops.

Winnie stares. “You’re getting a glass of water?”

“Sorry Winn’.. Didn’t mean to wake you up.”

Winnie’s eyes soften. “S’okay.” Winnie yawns, leaning slightly on the kitchen door. “I know you didn't mean too.”

“You should go back to bed. You have to get up at six AM, right?” Augustine looks at the time. 3:25 AM.. It’s pretty late.

Winnie nods, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. “Yeah, I do. But I'm okay. I was just worried.” He glances at Augustine, his eyes searching. “Everything alright?”

Augustine tries to hide his fatigue, forcing a smile. “Just had a bit of a nightmare.” A little lie won’t hurt. “Couldn't shake it off.”

…Great, now Winnie looks worried.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“And keep you up all night? No thanks. I'll tell you some other time, 'kay?”

“Auggie, you know-” “I know.” Of course he knows. He knows how much Winnie will sacrifice to make sure he is okay. But as his best friend, Augustine cannot let Winnie have another almost sleepless night. “Just go back to bed, okay? If it's that bad, I would've woken you up myself.”

Winnie nods, but hesitates before leaving. “Alright, but if you need anything-”

Augustine rolls his eyes. “Just go, Winnie. You can barely stand.”

With a final nod, Winnie turns and pads back to his room. Augustine hears the door click shut, and the mattress squeaks as Winnie's weight settles into it.

Augustine leans against the kitchen counter, sipping his water and listening to the distant wail of sirens growing closer. He knows the police are on their way to the scene of the crime he'd just left. It's a sound that brings him a mix of satisfaction and dread.

He should probably get some sleep, too.

Augustine heads back to his room.

Chapter Text

Augustine wakes up to the sun shining into his eyes.

He grumbles, but opens his eyes to look at the clock. 5:51 AM.

Augustine is a bit surprised he woke up before Winnie, but decided to use the time to go make breakfast for his roommate. Winnie would probably make a sandwich and leave, in a rush to get to his work.

Going into the kitchen, he then grabs eggs and bacon to start making a quick breakfast. It's a classic.

As he watches the sizzle of the egg he put in the pan, the piercing sound of Winnie's alarm clock starts to blare through the apartment. It's the same obnoxious tune every day, a mix between a rooster's crow and an explosion. He winces at the noise. Couldn't Winnie have chosen ANY other alarm?

Winnie stumbles into the kitchen, his eyes half closed, yet his hair was still perfect, somehow. The scent of sizzling bacon and eggs has long since filled the air, causing Winnie to stop.

"Wha... Auggie, did you make breakfast?" Winnie asks, tilting his head slightly.

Augustine looks over his shoulder, his spatula in hand. "Yeah, figured you could use a good meal before you go out and save the city."

"Thank you, Auggie." Winnie has that soft look in his eyes again, and Augustine's stomach does a flip. 

Winnie sits at the kitchen table, his eyes lighting up when the plate is placed in front of him. He starts devouring the bacon quickly, to the point where Augustine wonders if Winnie would choke.

Augustine can't help but watch regardless, his heart skipping a beat as Winnie's eyes flutter closed with every bite. The way Winnie savors the food is like he's savoring every little thing in life, and it's adorable.

Stop staring Augustine, it's weird. "You like it?"

Winnie nods, his mouth still full of bacon. "Mhmm," he says, chewing and swallowing. "They're perfect."

"I'm glad." A soft smile appears on his face before he can stop it. "How much time do you have before you leave?"

Winnie glances at his phone. "Thirty minutes. Just enough time to eat and get ready." Winnie says, moving on to the eggs.

Augustine sighs as he pours a cup of coffee. "You know, it's not right that they have you working these insane hours."

Winnie swallows a mouthful of eggs, his expression contemplative. "It's not ideal, but the system is there for a reason, Auggie. Without the heroes, the city would fall apart."

"I know. Doesn't make it right... I can barely spend time with you anymore."

Winnie looks up, his expression sympathetic. "I know, Auggie, but we're doing what we can, right?"

"Right," Augustine echoes, though the doubt lingers in his voice. "But it's still tough. I don't like seeing you so tired."

Winnie pauses, his fork hovering over his plate. "I know, but we're making a difference." He looks up, meeting Augustine's eyes. "And I'm not alone in this, you know."

“Yeah, Yeah, the other heroes who are in the same state as you. I know.”

“Auggie, it’s fine. I’ll survive.” Augustine watches as Winnie pulls out.. Something. Did Winnie always have that on him?

“What’s that?” “It’s my new case.”

“New case?” Sure, the hero organization often gives Winnie new cases as Winnie is in fact the top Hero, but… Given the amount of paperwork for that one file, it’s clearly a big one. “Did you get that yesterday?”

Winnie nods, his smile fading slightly. "Yeah. They want me to track down a vigilante. Some guy who's been stirring up trouble, calling himself the 'Burning Beacon'." He takes a deep breath, and Augustine's heart sinks. "They say he's dangerous, operating outside the law. They're worried about the image it sets, and no other hero has succeeded in catching him."

Augustine's hand tightens around the coffee mug, the warmth seeping into his skin. They’re sending Winnie after him.

It's not the first time he has been hunted down by the Hero committee. Burning Beacon's been around for two years, using his fire powers to do the little things Heroes can't while going against the flawed system. He managed to escape the other heroes with his quick thinking. But he guessed the committee was getting desperate to catch him, now that his popularity with the public was going up, if they were setting Canada's number one hero after him.

He tries to keep the tension out of his voice as he asks, "What's wrong with vigilantes?"

Winnie shrugs, his expression conflicted. "It's complicated, Auggie. The system's not perfect, but we have rules for a reason. They're worried that if people start seeing vigilantes as heroes, it'll just lead to more chaos."

“Chaos?” Augustine repeats “But they are helping?”

“Yeah… it’s just-” Winnie gets cut off from his alarm - it reads 6:30 on it. Winnie’s eyes fly open.

“Oh my gosh- I need to go!” Winnie runs to his room to change into his Hazy Hailstorm outfit. Augustine watches as Winnie almost runs out the door. “Thankyouformakingmebreakfastitwasdeliousandanywaysimgoingbye-”

Winnie then slames the door.

Augustine knew Burning Beacon was now going to have to watch his back.

Chapter Text

"Here you go."

Burning Beacon watched as the kid jumped out of his arms and ran up to their mother.

" Thank you, thank you so much for saving my sweet baby-! "

"It's no problem." Burning Beacon said, eyeing the previous burning building he had to put out. T he good thing about Burning Beacons fire powers was the fact that while he could create fire, he could also remove it very easily.

The mother hugged her child tightly, her eyes filled with tears of gratitude. "I don't know how I can ever repay you," she whispered.

Burning Beacon's gaze softened. "Just keep him safe, that's all the thanks I need." He turned to leave, the crackling fire behind him slowly dying down.

But just before he does, he feels a shift, the air getting colder. He knows why before he can properly think about it.

He waves goodbye, quickly leaving the scene, hopping onto a nearby building.

But as he reaches the rooftop, he sees a figure standing at the edge, silhouetted by the early morning light. Hazy Hailstorm.

Winnie , his mind supplies.

"Well well well. About time they send another Hero after me." Burning Beacon quips, tilting his head to the side.

Hazy Hailstorm's silhouette straightens, his voice carrying the same calmness it always does on TV. "Burning Beacon, the Hero committee has received numerous reports of your unlicensed vigilantism."

Burning Beacon sighs. "Oh really? I couldn’t tell." Burning Beacon replied, sarcastic.

"This isn't a game," Hazy Hailstorm's voice is firm, but there's an underlying concern that echoes in the cold air.

"I'm not putting anyone but myself at risk. I am helping people - for free! And the Hero committee is mad at me? Sorry for not taking your claims so seriously." While Burning Beacon hates being so mean, he needed to act like Hazy Hailstorm was just like every other Hero, even if he was far from it.

Hazy Hailstorm's voice is tight. "It's not about money, it's about order. The system is in place for a reason, Beacon."

Burning Beacon's jaw clenches. "And what about the people the system fails? The ones that slip through the cracks?"

Hazy Hailstorm doesn't flinch. "We're working to improve the system, but taking matters into your own hands isn't the answer."

"Actually.. I disagree. Nothing's gonna change. They say they are gonna ''improve the system'' but have they? Has ANYTHING changed?"

"Things do change, Beacon, but it takes time and effort from all of us."

Burning Beacon snorts, his flaming hands lighting up the rooftop. "Time and effort? Tell that to the people who are suffering now, Hazy. I know more about the Hero committee than they think. Tell me, how many hours do you Heroes normally work?" Burning Beacon's first meeting with Hazy Hailstorm was NOT going well..

Hazy Hailstorm steps forward, his eyes glowing a faint blue. "We work as much as we have to."

"And that's just it," Burning Beacon says, his flames flickering in the wind. "You're all overworked, underpaid, and exhausted. And for what? To keep a broken system afloat?"

Hazy Hailstorm's eyes flash with something like anger, but his voice remains level. "We're not here to debate, Beacon. You're breaking the law, and you need to stop."

"Okay, then. I will stop-" Burning Beacon hates that he has to do this. He clenches his fists, and they light on fire. It's not the first time he has fought a Hero, and it probably won't be his last. 

But he knows who is under that mask, and that makes it all the more difficult. "-If you can catch me, that is."

Hazy Hailstorm sighs, his posture shifting. "This doesn't have to end in a fight."

"So you'll be willing to let me go, then? Because looking at your expression, I don't think that's the case."

Hazy Hailstorm's eyes narrowed, the blue glow in them growing brighter. "I'd rather not, but I'm here to uphold the law."

"Then catch me if you can." Burning Beacon took a running start and leaped off the building, his flaming hands igniting the sky. He heard the sound of ice crackling in the air as Hazy Hailstorm summoned his own power to give chase.

Burning Beacon's fiery form weaved in and out of buildings, anything to get away. Hazy Hailstorm followed, his icy gusts leaving a path of frost. The citizens below watched in awe, not quite sure who to cheer for.

This was familiar, like when he was running from Unseen and Rosethorn, two other top Heroes. But there was something fun with it being Hazy - probably because Winnie's powers were a perfect polar opposite of his own.

"Burning Beacon, you're only making this harder on yourself!" Hazy Hailstorm called out, his voice strained as he tried to keep up.

"Maybe," Burning Beacon shouted over his shoulder, a smirk playing on his lips. Not like his mask showed it, though. "But at least I'm making it interesting!"

He could feel the tension in the air thicken as they sped through the cityscape. The flaming vigilante knew he couldn't keep this up forever, especially not with Winnie's unyielding determination - he needed to hide.

Augustine ducked into an alley, his heart racing. He had to think fast. He couldn't lead Winnie to his true identity, but he also couldn't let him catch the Burning Beacon. He had to find a way out of this without compromising either of them.

Augustine locked onto a dumpster in the alleyway. He shot a burst of flame at a dumpster, sending it hurtling towards the mouth of the alley. The metal screeched and bounced as it collided with something solid - hopefully giving Hazy Hailstorm a moment's pause. He hoped he didn't hurt Winnie too badly..

Burning Beacon sprinted to the end of the alley, hiding into a small crack in the alley's side. How the Heroes hadn't found it, he didn't know.

He waited, his heart beating a thousand times a minute as he listened to the sound of ice breaking and sliding, getting closer. He could feel the cold seeping into the alley, the air getting denser.

But then, it stopped. Burning Beacon's heart thudded in his chest as the alley grew eerily silent. He waited, his breath held, for the sound of Hazy Hailstorms's footsteps… But there was nothing. He cautiously peeked out of his hiding spot, the flames around his hands fading to embers.

The alley was empty, save for the overturned dumpster and the steam rising from the melted ice. Hazy Hailstorm walked right past his hiding spot.

Burning Beacon couldn't believe it. He'd actually managed to escape. He let out a sigh of relief, his heart slowly returning to a normal rhythm. He waited a few more moments, just to be sure, then made his way back home. He knew Winnie would probably be out for a few more hours, but after that chase, he just wanted to relax at home.

Chapter Text

Drug dealings were not common. But when they DO happen, it means there is more than just that one dealing under the surface.

Burning Beacon shows up to the scene, landing on top of an old building. The stench of alley way was harsh, but not enough to get him to leave. Men in black suits whispered in low voices, afraid to be heard from the outside world.

As much as Augustine would love to stop it before thinking ahead, he knows that his flames would make a big scene. A big scene could act as a warning signal and he didn’t want to lose any of the hidden criminals behind the stage. But Augustine doesn’t think he could do such a thing alone.

Which is why he isn’t. He lifts up the walkie-talkie.

“Blink?” Burning Beacon’s eyes darted around from the alley to the abandoned building not far from it. He hears a click, immediately followed by a tap on his shoulder. He gets startled before calming down at bright blue eyes locking with his. Blink was here.

Augustine didn’t normally work with other vigilantes, but for something like this he feels he needs to. Plus, they make crime fighting much easier.

Blink, with her powers to teleport, will be very helpful. Normally she works as a duo with Phantom (previously named ‘Angle’ but the name was so dumb, no one was taking him seriously. Blink made him change it) But for now it was just going to be Burning Beacon and Blink.

“In that building over there,” Burning Beacon gestured over to the abandoned building. “Are more people a part of an illegal business. I am too well-known. If they see flames, they will run.”

“Obviously.” Blink nodded. She looked down at the felons in the alley. “You go over there and deal with sneaking into the building, I will join you after dealing with this.” Burning Beacon nodded. He quickly hopped down the other side of the building, eyeing the other surroundings for hiding spots. He sprints across the street hiding in another alley.

He catches sight of the main door to the building. A person in dirty clothes is laying next to the door- they look homeless but Augustine knows it's a decoy. A hidden guard cosplaying as a homeless person. They will make sure to point out any suspicious activity.

It’s too risky for Augustine to just take out the guard. He needs a distraction… Ah-ha! Taking another look at the building, he also notices a back door, giving him a plan. He sneaks just close enough to reach out a hand, and the old wooden door bursts into flames.

Augustine uses his powers to slow the burning just a little, giving him time to go to the front door safely. The panic inside causes the guard to check the commotion, giving Augustine the chance to slip through.

The place inside isn’t very lit, but the light is enough to see. There is one ladder that leads up, a hallway that leads to somewhere else, and spilled boxes all around full of stuff that is definitely illegal.

It reeked of unknown substances, making Augustine wish he could plug his noise. But since he is wearing a mask he sadly can’t.

He makes sure to give barely any sound, even as he feels himself gag. He pulls himself up the ladder, ducking behind the boxes. He hears an annoyed voice.

“What do you mean the back door was on fire?” The voice was piercing, even though it wasn’t loud. That was probably the ‘manager’ of sorts. If Burning Beacon can get them arrested, then the dealing will temporarily stop.

As much as Beacon wishes he could get the big boss, they are often kept in a separate place, and they are rarely there for the deals. So he has to settle for the manager.

“I-It was! We don’t know why, but-” The other voice was cut off. “Did anything get damaged?”

A quieter voice spoke next. “No.”

Burning Beacon was about to get up to stop them before Blink appeared beside him. “You’re quick.” Beacon mutters. Blink smiles at his words before Burning Beacon turns away.

“I’m going to cause a scene. Try teleporting the manager to the police while they are distracted by me.” Burning Beacon takes a breath before stepping out into the open.
“Hello there, what a nice day it is, isn’t it?” His voice startles the criminals, who quickly turn around in surprise. The manager glares. “How dare you come in here!”

“How dare I?” Burning Beacon grunts. “You are the ones doing something illegal! Selling drugs, really? Couldn’t you get a normal job like the rest of us?” Augustine pulls out his flames. The building is quite old, and the wood is easily flammable, but Augustine trusts his control of his flames.

One of the managers' lackeys lunged at Burning Beacon with a knife, but it wasn’t hard for burning Beacon to dodge. His flames caught onto their shirt, causing them to panic trying to put it out.. Augustine could see the other lackey's fear on their face.

In under a second, Blink appeared behind the manager, surprising them. She ties them up with hand-cuffs before teleporting away with the manager in tow. Now that the manager was out of the way, Augustine left to stop the other exits.

The other ‘employees’ were still unaware of what was happening. He left the building, only to be met with Blink. They did it.

“The police are on their way,” Blink said calmly. That means they should get goin-

All of a sudden, both Blink and Burning Beacon shivered at the random breeze. Oh no.

“Wait, stop!” That voice… It was Hazy Hailstorm. Blink seemed to recognize it too, turning towards the voice.

“Hazy? What do you want?” Burning Beacon was ready to book it.

“I want you two to turn yourselves in.” If Burning Beacon had a loonie for every he had been told to turn himself in, Augustine would be filthy rich.

“Yeah like we would do that,” Blink chimed in, annoyance clear in her tone. “Lets get out of here.”

Before Hazy Hailstorm could do anything, Blink grabbed onto Beacon's shoulder and teleported them far away, onto a rooftop.

Augustine stumbled a bit, dizzy. “Thanks for that.” Burning Beacon mumbled. He was definitely going to have a headache by the time he got home… “...and also thank you for working with me. I couldn’t have done it all on my own.”

“You’re welcome. I won’t mind working with you again some time in the future.” Blink smiled, before she disappeared. Augustine should go home now.

Winnie has his only day off tomorrow. And Augustine has got something planned…