Arrow Hawk: Birth of the Hockey Avengers

While Kelly Mackinnon is enjoying her date with Vladimir Tarasenko, Valeri Nichushkin sits in a chair at Tyler Seguin’s in Dallas. He is thinking about his last run-in with a villain and how Zvezda had to come and save him. Like always. He likes having her handy...but it is beginning to really bother him too.

Without knowing it, he lets out a loud heavy sigh. Instantly Jamie’s head pokes around the corner. “I heard someone sigh!” Jamie remarks. “What’s wrong Val?”

Val looks at him and shakes his head. “It nothing.”

“It’s that girl right?” Jamie questions.

“No. Nothing wrong with her...it me.” He looks down at his feet.

Jamie enters the room and sits down next to him. “What’s wrong Val? You’re never moody like this. What happened?”

“I just...I no no, I want be important. I want be strong and...not weak. I always find trouble and can no get out by self. I try and try, but...I no can.” Val buries his head in his hands.

“Is this about the fact the Dallas has a superhero and it’s not you?!”

“No. I no you no believe me and that fine.” He turns his head to the side. I also know rules for mortals knowing about heroes. Jamie Benn is mortal but no hero, nor the one needing the saving, so naturally he no no Zvezda. Also Hawkley wipe his memory.

“Come on, Val, if you’re not going to tell me what’s wrong, then I can’t help you out.” Jamie frowns and leans back into the chair giving Val a look.

Val shakes his head. “It okay. I fine. I just need talk to Evelyn.”

“So it is that girl?”

“I no can tell you Jamie. You no believe me if I do and it nothing you can do. I be fine.”

“If you are sure,” Jamie says, eyeing his linemate skeptically.

“I am. I’m gonna go outside real fast.”

“Okay.”

“Hey! If you’re going outside, take Cash please. He won’t leave me alone!” Tyler calls out from the kitchen, before he peers around a corner. He is wearing a pink apron on with a rainbow and a unicorn on it. Jamie breaks out in laughter. Tyler frowns at him. “And don’t you dare make a comment Jamison Benn!” He points a clean spatula at the man.

Jamie covers his mouth, stifling the chuckles. Val gets to his feet and snatches up the leash for the dog from its spot on a hook by the door. Then he clips it to the eager dog and disappears outside, without a word to Tyler.

Tyler wrinkles his nose up. “What’s his problem?”

Jamie shrugs. “Don’t know...I can’t help it...where’d that apron come from, one of your sisters?”

“It was a mistake that was given to me a long time ago because I couldn’t get along with my sisters, yes. Shut up.” He returns to the kitchen and Jamie breaks out in loud laughter. “I SAID SHUT UP JAMIE!”

Val walks away from the house, hearing Jamie’s loud chuckles at Tyler’s apron. He rolls his eyes and sits down on the curb. Cash sniffs the grass and then plops down next to him. Val sighs and turns to look at the black dog, who looks up at him with big eyes. Val scratches his head, behind the ears and then an idea hits him.

“ZVEZDA!!” he screams out at the top of his lungs. “POMOGI MNE!!”

Cash howls with him. But suddenly flinches as the Dallas heroine emerges in front of him, twinkling like a star. She looks at him and sighs. “You called?” Cash barks at her and growls. She looks at him and holds a hand out. Her hand begins to glow a purple color. “Is this dog the problem? Is he hurting you?” Her hand glows brighter and Cash continues to bark at her angrily.

Val gasps. “Zvezda, no! That Cash! That Tyler dog!”

She instantly stops glowing and drops her hand. “Oh! Tell Tyler I’m sorry. Also, sorry Cash. I should know who you are.” The black dog stops barking and sits back on his hind legs, calmer. “I didn’t mean to spook you. Poor puppy!”

Val pats Cash.

Zvezda scolds him, “Если нет ничего плохого здесь, почему вы кричать? Вы не знаете, чтобы сделать это. (If there's nothing wrong here, why did you holler? You know not to do that.)”

Val nods. “Извините, но Вы мне нужны для эмоционального помощи. Я устал от того, чтобы быть сохранены. Я хочу сверхдержавы, как вы или Келли! Я хочу быть кем-то и быть в состоянии бороться против злодеев с полномочиями ... не могут быть сохранены каждую минуту моей жизни. Вы знаете? (Sorry, but I need you for emotional help. I'm tired of having to be saved. I want superpowers like you or Kelly! I want to be someone and be able to fight back against villains with powers...not be saved every minute of my life. You know?)”

Zvezda looks at him. She smiles and walks up to him. She grabs his chin and lifts it upward. “Valeri, I enjoy being your superheroine but I care about your happiness. I can talk to Hawkley about it.”

“You will?!” Val questions.

“If he says no, I can always get Kelly to use telepathy on him. If gaining powers or being stronger will make you happy, I’m more than willing to help out.”

“Okay. Thanks Zvezda. I no want us to break up...but it would mean world to me. It mean more than winning Stanley Cup or Olympics with Russia!”

Zvezda giggles. “Of course. Do you have anything in mind?”

“I like archery...it something I do if I no in NHL or play hockey. Maybe I have archery powers or something.”

“Like Hawkeye?”

“No. Better than Hawkeye!” Val exclaims, finally smiling once more. Passion burns in his blue eyes as he thinks about being a strong archer hero.

“I’ll see. For now, stay out of trouble and cheer up.”

“I can do that.”

“Get back to Jamie and Tyler, I’ll handle your powers and get you when I have an answer.” She winks to him and bids him farewell, before twinkling away once more. Cash cocks his head, but he keeps silent and composed this time.

Val beams and races back to the house with Cash. He enters the house, smiling. He mutters to himself, “I’m gonna be superhero!” It makes him even happier.

Notes

Next up: Birth of Arrow Hawk