"Angel: Requiem For The Champions" (Cont.)

"Well, I guess so. You know, I don't think I ever came up here when the team was together. I'd like to see the place."

Warren began to show Emmitt the Champions headquarters, long since abandoned. "Once the team left, nobody wanted to rent the place. They rented out the lower floors to some businesses, but the upper floors have been empty for a decade." Warren pointed to a large hole torn in the wall. "It also didn't help that the contractors who built this place were anti-mutant scumbags who cut corners everywhere."

Emmitt lowered his gaze. "Now, Mr...Warren. You know that just because somebody in business is doing you wrong, doesn't mean that they're racist. Business folks, the only thing they care about is money."

Warren smiled and continued. "This was Ghost Rider's room. That was a great idea, wasn't it? Every team needs an Earth-bound demon."

"I never got to meet him. He didn't need to use the front door very often, what with him riding up the side of the building."

"Yeah, Blaze was always that way. I haven't seen him in a while. He wasn't Ghost Rider, but he was still mixed up in it with the new guy. He doesn't know what's good for him. I tell you, Emmitt, sometimes I think if I could just get rid of these wings..."

Emmitt's hand rested on Warren's shoulder. "Now, Warren. You don't need to think about that. If you didn't have 'em, think of all of the people you couldn'ta helped in your life. They say, if God had meant for us to fly, he'd a given us wings? Well, He meant for you to fly. And ain't neither one of us to argue with God."

Again Warren chuckled. He had been all over the planet and to the moon, but here, in an abandoned building, talking to a seventy-year-old man, was where he heard the truth, pure and simple.

The tour continued, with Emmitt and Warren reminiscing about each of the members. Emmitt didn't believe Hercules was really, well, Hercules. He said that Natasha was always nice to him, and Darkstar was rather rude. Emmitt told a great story about the time Black Goliath came to the front door to use the bathroom, and Warren laughed so hard he nearly cried.

And eventually, the tour wound up back on the balcony.

"Thanks for the tour, Warren. You've made an old man happy."

Warren smiled. "One last thing, Emmitt. I appreciate what you said to me in there. Will you do me a favor? Give me your hand."

Emmitt reached out his winnowed hand. Warren took it, and gently lifted Emmitt into the air.

He spread his wings, a living flashback to a million years prior. The gentle night breeze touched him, and uplifted him and his passenger. He cradled Emmitt under the arms, and slowly flew around the building.

"This is my world, Emmitt. Sometimes, I forget what it means."

Emmitt floated through the air, speechless. He hated roller coasters and sometimes elevators made him dizzy, but this was different. He was flying.

He was flying.

The rush of wind forced his eyes open and dared him to watch the Earth below. Down on the street, hundreds of people murmured by, oblivious to the world above them. Emmitt's world.

Into the distance he gazed. "Even my old eyes can see for miles up here," he thought. "I can see my house from here. What am I thinking, I can almost see the ocean from here."

Warren ended the tour and landed back on the balcony. "Well, what did you think?"

Emmitt sat down and pulled the cap from his head. "That was incredible," he said, wiping the nervous sweat from his brow. "It was...like a dream. Do you know what I mean? Did you ever dream you were flying...I mean, before you could?"

Warren smiled again, this time a sad smile. "That was a long time ago. I've got to go, Emmitt. I hope you have a good retirement."

"Thank you, Warren. You've made an old man happy."

Warren turned, spread his wings, and floated up onto the ledge

Emmitt scratched his head, and asked, "One last thing, before you go?" Warren paused in midair and turned to face Emmitt.

"You weren't always blue, were you?"