The rain was coming down so hard it felt like it was literally pounding down on the Azure's cowl. He'd had his doubts when Tempest had threatened to flood the city if his demands for one billion dollars weren't met but it seemed he weather wizard wasn't bluffing or exaggerating the limits of his power. The Lono Amulet had truly given him godlike powers. Azure could only hope that the fiend was still growing accustomed to his powers.
Not once in his entire life had Azure even entertained the idea of surrendering to one of his enemies. He had always found away, it didn't matter if they were space aliens with orbital death rays, vampires with mind control, robots from the future sent to kill his unborn grandson or mutated amphibious reptiles out for free pizza he would find away to stop them. Only this time he didn't have any clue what he could do to stop this.
There was no need for him to scan the warehouse, he knew that it was a trap. Just on a whim Azure decided to try opening the door before resorting to picking the lock or the more direct approach of simply kicking the door down and much to his surprise that actually worked. "I'm here, there's no need for this. I came alone just as you demanded."
"And unarmed?" Tempest's voice echoed throughout the seemingly empty warehouse. Azure pulled his cape open and slowly turned around revealing his utility belt had been removed. "Good."
"What do you want fiend?" Azure spread his arms wide and slowly turned around to face the sourceless voice. "I have done as you asked now spare my city!"
"I want the same thing I've always wanted my handsome friend." A spot light appeared on Azure. " Strip down. You may keep your cape, cowl, boots and gloves but everything else must go."
"You're a monster!" Azure shouted angrily. "You swear you will spare my city if I follow your instructions?"
"I swear it." Tempest answered.
Azure refused to give this criminal the satisfaction of seeing hearing him plea for mercy. Whatever was planned he would bear it like a true hero. He was thankful that he was being allowed to keep his mask though. Asure knew that his expression would easily betray just how helpless he actually felt peeling off his custom silk woven armor. "You know you won't win don't you Tempest. In the end evil never does."
"Yadda yadda hero. I've already won and the longer you stall the more of your precious city will find itself underwater." Tempest cackled. "I like your body, you're tight. Tight like tyger." Tempest taunted. "Nice scars, did I give you any of those? I really like that one on your shoulder." Azure did his best to maintain his composure but it was difficult with Tempest's taunts. The scar on his shoulder was one he'd gotten from Tempest, specifically the Sword of Storms and it still ached during thunder storms.
Azure peeled the bottom half of his costume away. Just like his arms and back his legs were riddled with scar tissue. He could remember how he got each one. The gash on his leg when he hadn't quite cleared a wall in a single bound, a half dozen bullets that had grazed him and his personal favorite a scorch mark up the back side of his calf from a firework when he was twelve years old. "I can't wait to get a taste of you hero."
"Shut up. You know I'm going to beat you. So you may as well hurry up and get it over with you diabolical villain!" Azure put his fists defiantly on his hips. He hoped that he looked like a hero staring down a beast and not a terrified man facing what could easily be the end of his existence.