Chapter Text
He hates this. Hellboy had just gotten news that his next mission was to investigate the many disappearing people in the alleys. The wrong fat cat had lost someone down there, that's all that meant. It was probably a troll, for God's sake. Why did they have to send him? Well, he knew the answer to that question, to show that the bureau was worth keeping, and that they were putting in effort for the people who donated to them. The answer had always been the same; he was the top agent, so he was their show of strength. Manies' show of control, that's the truth, and-.The alarm blares through the halls, telling the agent that it is time to head out once again. Hellboy headed for the exit route, sticking to his favorite path as agents filled out of whatever room they had been in to follow him down the hall. Damn, that was a lot of agents for one little show of power wasnt it? When he reached the garage entrance, he saw Abe sitting in the back of their usual garbage truck, waiting for him.
“Hellboy, were off to fight what I assume to be a minor hell minion, they said if you can get it to corporate, we get to keep it,” Abe said
“So basically there's no chance this thing has human intelegcene and I'll have to kill it,” Hellboy says, picking up on his friend's usual dry humor.
“Well im not joking this time, the patterns this thing is displaying are somewhat human-like, and it may be able to hear reason.”
Hellboy looked back at Abe in utter disbelief, waiting for him to laugh. Every time the brief said that they might be able to get a new teammate outta a mission, Hellboy had had to kill it. This time, if Abe agreed with the brief, he might just believe it, and he might not need to go in with the mindset of killing someone. Truth be told, it never really bothered him, after all, the usualy tried to kill him first. No, that wasnt the issue; the issue was that Liz also read these briefs, and every time, he could see the gleam of excitement at the possibility of getting more people into their dating pool.
“Really think so?” he said in an attempt to break out of his own thoughts, “This time might be different?”
“Yes, not only do these types of patterns indicate it, but I've got a feeling, ya know? That gut one you like.” Abe responded
Well, it was true, he did like when Abe had that particular gut feeling, and he was usually right to, like that time in Budapest. And that would be good for Lizz, too. The poor girl didn't have a lot of friends down here, and after a few months, when Myers got transferred to the Arctic, they broke it off, both agreeing not to deal with a long-distance relationship. If the boy came back sooner rather than later, they might get back together, might being the key word. He never did like that kid. Before he could go any further down that rabbit hole, he was pulled out of that train of thought when the truck started moving,
“Abe, brief me, would ya?”
“Hellboy, you never pay attention during the briefings, do you? Anyway, we are dealing with what seems to be a hell denizen, lower ranking, living here on earth for the last few months.”
“First of all, why did no one lead with that? And second of all, I do pay attention, just not to Manie.”
“He does all the talking, though?”
“Yeah, I know that’s why I hate those things.”
Hellboy and Abe fell into their usual comfortable banter for the next half hour before Hellboy began to wander back to his own thoughts, like what would it be like to have someone else from hell in the bureau, that is, if he could get them to join him, and that they aren't brainwashed too badly. What if he has to kill them, too? What if they are devoted to hell, or something along those lines? Eh, it's not like he hadn't done it before, that's what he keeps telling himself, anyway. But he would trust Abe's fish guts, after all, they had saved him more than a few times. But that little curl of doubt still lingered inside him.
Hellboy was alerted to their arrival by a few things, first of all, the conveniently placed pot hole, placed right there so the truck would jostle, and second, by the all to trigger happy agents in the front, hoping into the back to set up the restraints.
“Remember, bring this one back alive if you can; these are here if you need them,” said the first agent.
“Yeah, yeah, I'm aware, it's not my first rodeo, kids.” his tone must have come off more rude and less sarcastic than he intended, which was fine, but he didn't want to hurt the rookies' feelings. “m’sorry” he muttered, climbing out of the open side of the truck. Outside, a man waited; he clearly lived in this alleyway, and he'd seen better days.
“So, I guess you're here to see Al?” the man questioned
“Sure, I am, just want to chat with him,” Hellboy says, knowing it's not quite true.
The man leads Hellboy back into the alley, further and further until it's apparent that this alley connects to others. Finally, they reach a camp, fire blazing in the middle. The fire is surrounded by people roasting whatever food they can to eat, and for a second, Hellboy takes a moment to mourn how the system has caused people to be homeless. One of the figures, though, is obviously Al. Hellboy can't tell quite how tall the man-like figure is, but his giant red cloak gives him away almost immediately.
“Al, I think you have a visitor,” the man beside him says
Al, as the man calls him, looks up at Hellboy, staring him down. He stands, about 6’2 (the cannon height for spawn in both comics and show), a bit shorter than Hellboy, and looks up to meet his eyes. A mask covers Al’s face, white patches surround glowing green eyes, and the red cloak comes up to further conceal his masked face.
Al sighs, “Come on, let's take a walk.”
Hellboy gives him a nod and follows him further back into the alleyways. He quickly realizes his mistake as his back hits the wall, and the man's cloak lifts him higher up, pinning him there.
“I already told hell, I won't be coming back without a fight, and I won't bend to your will, imp boy.” Al says, “I might just let you go, that is if you don't come back, and take a damn message for me, don't send anyone else.”
“Hey, bub, there is so much wrong with that statement, for one, I might be from the place, but ive never been.” the capes grip on his shoulders loosened, and let him land on the ground,
“Explain.”
“Well, got brought to earth as a kid, nazis, it's complicated. I'm no hell messenger. Im acctualy from the government. They sent me here to deal with you, but I‘m not here to kill you, just here to offer a place with the BPRD, and technically, I have to bring you in one way or another, so I suggest you come willingly. That way, I won't have to use force, and you might just get to negotiate some terms of your own. ”
Al tilted his head, thinking it over, weighing his options, then said
“Fine. I'll come. But I don't want people in this alley, and I want it protected.”
“Just know that Beuro is a bit odd. If you cooperate, it'll get better, but they will still ask a lot of questions at first.”
The man didn't respond, but nodded. They walked next to each other on their way out, and Al stopped when he got to the camp of people.
“I won't see you for a while, thank you, for all that you have done for me.”
And with that, they were out of the alley and walking towards the truck. The side slid open, revealing Abe sitting there,
“And just what the hell are you?” Al asked
“Well, for starts my name is Abe, and to be honest, I have no idea.” Abe responded, “But judging on how fast that went, I'll say you're coming with us?”
“Yeah, I guess I am.”
“Let's head back, get you some paperwork, make sure they don't fuck you over.”
The truck started up with a rumble, but aside from that, the drive was oddly quiet, the reality of a new teammate settling in.
“What do you wanna be called?” Hellboy asked, and after a moment of silence,
“Spawn.”
“Thats an interesting name,” Abe responded, “may I ask-”
“No”
“Ok, ok.”
The rest of the drive was silent except for the sound of breathing and the occasional rattle of chains from under Spawn’s cloak. Soon enough, they got back to the compound, a small dispatch of agents waiting to let them back in. One stepped forward, going through the motions of opening the doors and unloading some of the gear. Hellboy and Abe stepped out, and Spawn followed after. Waiting near the exit to the garage stood Manie, Liz, and Hellboy's favorite medic, Jen. Jen stepped forward first,
“First things first, anyone hurt? At all?” She adds shooting Hellboy a scowl.
“Nope, not this time, thanks, Jen.”
“Well, you better sit down with us and explain who the fuck this guy is,” Manie added in reference to Spawn standing behind Hellboy and Abe.