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Rating:
Not Rated
Archive Warning:
Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Category:
F/F
Fandoms:
Parahumans Series - WildbowX-Men - All Media Types
Relationship:
Victoria Dallon | Glory Girl | Antares & Taylor Hebert | Skitter | Weaver
Characters:
Taylor Hebert | Skitter | WeaverVictoria Dallon | Glory Girl | AntaresMadison ClementsJean GreyColin Wallis | Armsmaster | Defiant
Additional Tags:
Alt-Power Taylor HebertWhat Was I Thinking?Phoenix Force (X-Men)
Language:
English
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Published:2025-08-09Updated:2025-11-02Words:248,706Chapters:39/?Comments:242Kudos:457Bookmarks:258Hits:29,966
Firebird
chibipoe
Chapter 18: Dreaming 2.8
Chapter Text
I stood above the same slanted roof high in downtown Brockton Bay as last night. Like yesterday, the location was effectively inaccessible to anyone who wasn't a flier. Sure, it was possible there were entry hatches if someone needed to come out onto it, but without the ability to fly, or telekinesis to create a flat surface beneath you, there wasn't anyway for a person to replicate what I was doing right this moment, which was standing on air.
"Believe it or not, I'm walking on air~" I mumbled in an off-key imitation of a theme from a show that my dad had really enjoyed when he was younger. I released a short laugh at the thought of that show. It had been about someone given super powers by aliens and having no clue how to use them. That had been when comics and TV shows could still do super-heroes and villains and not seem odd in a world where they already existed.
"Having superpowers ended up being nothing like that," I muttered with a grimace, glancing at my phone. Vicky had said she would be free in a bit and that left me just waiting around for her to show up. Provided, it was giving me time to practice a new-found facet of my abilities as I tapped my foot against the surface I had created to stand on, bemused as it was stopped by apparently empty air.
"Powers," I said to myself, "are bullshit."
"Your powers are bullshit, you mean," A voice behind me said. Female, and half-heartedly petulant. I smiled at the thought of who had arrived behind me and was floating in the air. "Now you're making surfaces to stand on?"
"You can put your feet down if you want," I told her without turning around. "I extended it when you got here." Vicky made a face but cautiously lowered herself, her eyes widening as they came into contact with the platform I had shaped using my telekinesis. There was nothing visible, though if you squinted, you could see the faintest hints of red swirling beneath our feet.
"That is so cool," she said, tapping her foot experimentally. "Directing it into shapes?"
"Just flat surfaces so far," I said, turning around fully. "Something simple like this, just a single plane held in place is all I can do right now. To be honest, I only figured it out the other day."
"Definitely bullshit," Vicky whistled, then spun in place with a laugh. "So, what's up?"
"Well, I wanted to talk to you about some stuff," I explained, scuffing my foot against the platform and frowning when it didn't produce the appropriate sensation. It was too smooth, like textured glass. "Has to do with things we talked about yesterday."
Vicky crossed her arms behind her back and leaned forward slightly, peering at me. "Still stressed, I take it?"
"Kind of," I looked away, trying to put my thoughts to words.
"I'm going to guess that sorting things out with your dad didn't work so well," Vicky observed, nonchalantly sitting down and kicking her legs over the invisible edge while motioning for me to do likewise. "I've got time, if you want to talk about it."
"You're willing to listen?" I asked, surprised. "I've kind of dumped a lot on you since the other night."
"Why not?" Vicky asked. "We're friends and you're having problems. The least I can do is listen. And, like I said last night, I've got your back."
For a moment, I just stared at her uncertain of what to do. But it wasn't from lack of something to say, but rather the feeling of honesty from her. She did want to listen. I looked away and shook my head with a sigh, and started. "Well, after I left the Fugly's, I went home," I began, taking a deep breath. "My dad was waiting for me. At some point, while I was out with you, he had gone to the PRT and he had papers for joining the Wards."
"Wait, wait," Vicky said before I could go on. "Are you saying he was planning to sign you in without even asking?"
I nodded, unsurprised that she had figured it out. "That was the gist of what he told me. He was signing the papers, and I was bound for the Wards. I kinda get he wants me to be safe but…" I ran my fingers through my hair. After I composed myself again, I continued. "I stormed out on him after arguing about that and I was working my way up to going into round two on the graveyard when I got a visit from Armsmaster and Miss Militia."
"They showed up again?" Vicky interrupted once more. "Geez. No isn't enough for them?"
I shook my head. "Apparently. I'm not entirely sure, but I think my dad phoned them."
Vicky frowned, looking thoughtful. "Well, I guess they could make a case for a your-own-good sort of situation. I don't think it would hold up under any serious scrutiny though. I'd have to ask my mom to be certain, though."
I nodded. "Anyway. They made their pitch, again. Or rather, Miss Militia did. Armsmaster kept his mouth shut, for once." I paused for a moment, frowning.
"Well, not exactly. Miss Militia tried to get things sorted out. I figured getting them off my back was worth at least hearing her out," I continued. "So, I went to the PRT headquarters and met with Piggot."
Vicky made a face. "How did that work out? I've met her a few times. Can't say I like her."
I snorted. "She was honest, at least. After I got the chance to sleep and then look over everything I had and what she'd told me… well, my opinion changed. Sort of. Still honest, but only in the direction she wanted me to see things."
"Yeah, she's got an agenda," Vicky said with a nod. "Always has. I think she made a pass at New Wave once to try and get us to join, but I don't know. Before my time. But I do know that she isn't popular with the Wards, although the PRT seem to think she's good at her job. I guess since nothing has blown up in the PRT's faces while she's been charge she's doing something right."
I looked upward, kicking my legs absently. "Well, I definitely figured hers. She wants a new Ward. She all but said it point-blank. She wants more Wards. I tried talking to my dad this morning, but that went all of nowhere. I can't find a good argument that will convince him and so my reasons why not come down to 'I don't want to'. Which, as you might imagine, isn't good enough at all."
"It should be," Vicky said, slamming a fist into her palm. "But I hear you. Still trying to find something that will, I take it?"
"Well, that was my plan," I said in exasperation. "But while I was at the library… something weird happened."
Vicky turned her head to look at me, her expression serious. "Like what, exactly?"
I fished in my backpack for the picture I had sketched and held it out, holding it firm to prevent the wind from snatching it away. "Well, I was attacked, sort of, by these guys."
Vicky looked shocked at me, then focused on the picture, frowning as she tilted it left then right. "They look kind of familiar, I guess, but the library, seriously? I didn't hear anything about this. You ok? I mean, you're here. But…?"
"I'm fine, I think," I said, holding up a hand to halt her rambling words. "And that's why you didn't hear anything about it. It happened, but it didn't."
"And now you've lost me," Vicky said. "It happened, but it didn't?"
I made a frustrated sound. "I don't understand it entirely. I was sitting there, looking at legal texts until my eyes spun and then I got hit with some kind of tranquilizer dart. Then these men stormed in and had weapons. I attacked them and then passed out.. but then I was back at the table, like nothing had happened. I could feel where I got darted though and it was too real not to be. But there was nothing there. It had happened, but didn't."
"And you're sure it happened?" Vicky asked, looking at the picture again. "I'm not doubting you, but if it happened, but didn't, that makes it hard to find who is responsible if this is all that you have. Looks like standard tactical gear. The PRT wear similar stuff if they're moving into a hostile situation. The guns… tinkertech, I guess. They don't look like regular guns, at least. They kinda look like…" Her forehead knit and she made a frustrated noise similar to one I had made earlier.
"Ugh, I can't place them. I know them though, I swear," she finally said, handing the picture back. "When you want to remember something, you never do, right?"
"I guess," I shrugged. "Anyway. I don't know who they are yet. I have a theory about why they came after me though." I tapped my precognition, following what Vicky would be doing this evening once we parted ways. I felt heat flood my face for a moment and I pushed that line of imagery away. Far more than I needed to know about what she did with Dean when they were alone.
"And that is?" Vicky asked when I didn't go in. I opened an eye to see her eyeing me curiously. Probably wondering what I was blushing about.
"You're having mashed potatoes, sliced turkey with gravy, carrots, and some rolls for dinner tonight," I said, picking something more mundane to tell her about, while letting a faint grin surface as I amused myself with visions of her reactions if I had told her the other things I had seen.
"What does that have to-" Vicky began before her eyes widened. "Oh. You figure they're after you because of your precognition?"
"I don't know any other reason why they would be," I said, a bitter edge entering my voice. "It's not as if I'm anything special outside of my powers, after all."
"Hey!" Vicky said, rapping her knuckles against the side of my head. "No talk like that. I know you're down on things, but there's no tearing yourself down in my presence!"
"Okay, okay," I said, ducking away from another assault on my skull. "Anyway. I was trying to figure out what to do about this whole Wards thing. I can get my dad to stop, but what I would have to do and say… I just can't. If I don't figure something out, the only option I see right now is walking away. So, was trying to figure out something that would convince him while at the library and this happened."
"Oh, come on!" Vicky burst out. "You can see the future. So what? You don't like what you see, then change it!"
"I don't know what other people with precognition see, or how their powers work," I said quietly. "But I know how mine does. And I tried, Vicky. I looked and looked until my head began to hurt, considered other responses, changed things I would say. I can't find one where I convince him reasonably."
"Wait, wait," Vicky interrupted. "How does your foresight work, exactly? You're seeing things that will be? Or things that might be?"
"I'm not really sure anymore. It started like the first, but lately...," I said, staring at my hands. "Lately it seems like it can do more than just that. It's like my other powers, in that it seems like it's getting stronger. I can look farther, see more. I used to be able to just follow myself, but now I think I can follow others with it. Then there was the other day. Usually, I just see what is going to happen. Or maybe most likely to happen. But last night it changed. I was just thinking, and then everything splintered and I could see other possibilities. I have to be careful with that, or it could get out of hand if I'm not focused."
Vicky whistled. "I've heard the PRT has a few, but none of them are really that in-depth. That sounds like you're describing something really strong."
I laughed. "I can tell you what you are planning to do this evening. I could describe that in detail, if you'd like. I can also tell that your sister's going to help six different people in the next twenty minutes and that there's going to be a group of Merchants intimidating some shops for money three streets away in the next thirty minutes. Hitting up for drug money, I guess?"
Vicky's cheeks turned slightly pink and she glared. "Okay, okay, I get it. Crazy good at seeing the future. Tell anyone about that first thing and I'll hunt you down."
"Relax," I said. "That was just to make my point. Back to the topic on hand, though. I've tried… am still trying, to find a solution. I'm not going to give up, but it does seem as if some things can't be changed. Like my dad's mind."
"Well, we'll need to figure an answer to that and prove you wrong, oh all seeing one," Vicky said, leaning over to nudge my shoulder with her own. "For now, I have an idea for how to take your mind off things."
"Oh, this is going to be good," I remarked, checking the possibilities for what she was going to suggest. "What's your idea?"
"You get your costume on, we go out and see who we can teach a lesson," she said, grinning. I ducked my head for a moment, then returned the grin, her enthusiasm infectious.
"Alright, alright," I finally agreed. "Let me find some place I can change without someone else finding out I'm a cape." I climbed to my feet and stretched, glancing toward Vicky, who pushed off the platform and floated in the air.
"I know a place that should be clean and private," Vicky said. "Race you?" She twisted in midair and shot off in a flash.
"Cheater!" I shouted and dropped the platform, giving chase to the sound of her laughter echoing on the wind.
~~~~~~~~
"What's up, boss?" Lisa asked, pitching the tone of her voice to carry the same note of irreverence that one of her favorite cartoon characters had when asking almost the same thing. There was a pause and she knew he was composing himself. He took himself very seriously and this was one of the few ways she had to needle him at the moment. He allowed it because he thought he had her under his thumb, but it still rankled.
"Your observations?" he asked simply.
Popping a cube of gum into her mouth, she began chewing. "Honestly? All over the place, boss. She's focused, but very aware of her surroundings. Caught her eyeing me while she was researching the Wards enrollment you told me about, but I just gave her a friendly smile and she went about her business."
"Any useful observations?" he corrected.
"Unpredictable," she finally said after blowing a bubble and letting it pop. "That's the only consistent thing I've noticed. Sometime she's withdrawn and sullen, other times outgoing and confident. Almost like two different people at times. Lots of things change, mood, the way she carries herself. I haven't heard her talk enough to see if speech patterns change."
"Like two different people?" he asked, falling silent for a moment. "Multiple personalities?"
Lisa made a noncommittal sound. "Possibly. This is something else. I can't pin down why, though. There's no reason that I've observed to the changes, no obvious trigger, but I'm not a shrink, so who knows? Sometimes she's passive, sometimes aggressive. It switches at random. She herself doesn't even seem to notice it, like it's natural for her. Or it's something she can't notice."
"Mastered?" he asked and the emphasis he placed on the word conveyed that the prospect alarmed him. "Someone has already gotten to her?"
"It's possible, I suppose," she drew out, popping another bubble. "What I find from the reports you gathered and a few people I asked some questions of, suggested that she did have something of a personality shift after that stunt in January. I don't think someone else has gotten to her, though. If someone else had their hooks in her, they'd have acted by now."
"I see," he said. "Anything else?"
"Nope," she said, careful not to speak too quickly or hesitate too much. "She did her research on legal stuff, parahuman law and then took off. I didn't follow for long because I didn't want to be noticed and risk her catching on."
"Very well," he said. "Your usual bonus will be in your account shortly. Well done on this matter. I trust you've got everything in place with those candidates I provided?"
"We've got a test run for tonight," Lisa told him. "Do you have a preferred task?"
"I've arranged for PRT resources to be occupied with a disturbance in Empire territory," he said. "There's a Merchant storehouse near the waterfront. It will be lightly guarded as the Merchants are having a… party, and will be otherwise occupied. I want you to clean it out. Whatever you find is yours to do as you wish with. I will compensate for any drugs you find and see them properly dealt with."
"Can do, boss," she said.
"Very well. I'll forward all the information to you," he told her. "Try not to disappoint." The line went dead and she glared at the phone, seeing the call ended message.
Fuck you. She thought sourly, closing the phone and sliding it into her pocket, relieved. At the least, he didn't appear to have caught on that she had withheld anything. No one was bearing down on her at the moment, so she had that as proof.
Her mind drifted back to the library and the way the girl had reacted, as if something had happened, but all she had seen was her reading and then apparently spacing out before complete flipping out in a full blown panic attack. Something had disturbed her, but nothing had visibly happened.
Sensory input heightened, terror. Increased heart rate, blood pressure. Breathing escalated. The girl had behaved as if she'd been in a fight and then wasn't. Skittish, expecting to be attacked, confused that there was none here.
Lisa's lips pursed. Good, but not what she was looking for. What was the reason? Someone didn't just flip out over nothing. What had been the triggering event. A mental attack? Her boss was a parahuman, that she was certain, but she hadn't pieced together what his ability was yet.
Flip it.
Heads, just as I promised. Care to try again?
The words from shortly after her forced recruitment came to mind, when she had tried to escape and he had demonstrated that she couldn't get away from him. Lisa frowned, wondering why they had come to mind while she was contemplating the girl. Alright. Run through what she did at the library and what you know about her.
Single parent left alive, a father, he discovered she had powers by being informed by the Protectorate, intends to force her to join Wards. Looking for a way out through legal means to avoid more extreme actions. Lisa nodded slowly, that was a good start. She turned her thoughts forward a bit, to when the girl had spaced out.
Precognitive perception; seeing something visible to only her. Lisa frowned, running the entire scene through her mind again, considering what could be the cause for her actions. What was she seeing? Affected by another's power, perceiving actions that could have occurred, but did not. She bit her lip, mulling that over. Was his power some sort of precognition as well? That would explain how he knew things that he shouldn't, how he had always had a counter for her early attempts to escape his grip.
No, that didn't feel right. If his own power was straight precognition, it wouldn't account for the girl's odd behavior there. She had behaved as if she had experienced something entirely different from what Lisa had observed. Interaction of her abilities with his in a manner that he was unaware of? She took a deep breath, feeling that she was close to figuring this out and understanding what had happened there. There was a headache building, but she was so close. She just had to push through it.
Precognition...no, the ability to perceive time along multiple timelines. Alternate futures. Alternate dimensions and universes. Can see other uses of precognition? Coil using binary choice...can perceive the future of both choices?
Perceives two actions simultaneously, able to choose one and discard other? Hebert aware of the discarded action. Lisa stopped on the sidewalk, ignoring someone's disgruntled exclamation as they veered around to avoid running into her. Eyes wide, she stepped closer to the edge, to avoid anyone else possibly colliding with her. That was it. She bit down on her lip enough to cause pain to dampen the rush of elation as she suppressed the flow of information.
She started walking again, stopping at a coffee stand for one of her favorite drinks, savoring the mix of sweet and bitter. It wasn't a solution yet, but now she had something to build on. Her lips twisted in a grin briefly before fading as she thought of the girl. Taylor Hebert. Likely to be his next target to 'recruit', if she was any judge of the situation. And the one who had, indirectly, allowed her to solve this problem by giving her something to compare Coil against.
Is he aware that she perceives his discarded actions? She paused with that thought. None of his questions had given her that sense, but he could have asked different ones of her and discarded that. He would retain the knowledge and she would be unaware. That was why he was always one step ahead when she tried to escape. He had the benefit of taking one given action with the benefit of all the knowledge of his other choice.
It let him send his men out and give them advice on situations, knowing that if something went wrong he always had an alternative option. Every dramatic loss could be a minor setback instead. Success could turn into total triumph. That was why he kept their contact to primarily phone calls and the intimidation of his men. He didn't want to risk much direct contact, to minimize the chances of her finding out what his power was.
Not just her, though. His appearances were few and far between, likely to keep anyone from finding out or gaining any clue. His men had success after success and he made no apparent displays of his power. An image carefully cultivated to present the appearance of infallibility. But also of minority. Even with his successes, the other gangs still looked down on him as a threat due to his lack of parahumans.
Lisa let herself smile again. Whatever his reasons, she knew now. She reaffirmed her promise to herself, to make him regret holding a gun to her head. And now, at last, she had an idea to start with, when the best moments to strike might be. First, though, there was Taylor Hebert. She knew a great deal about the girl, that she was a target of Coil's chief among them. But more so, she now knew that she was able to see Coil's split actions. That was something she would need.
She would need to go over the information he had provided on the girl, to get a better sense of the full depth of her powers. The girl had unknowingly provided her an answer to one dilemma, perhaps she was also be a solution to her other ones?
~~~~~~~~
Battery leaned against the light post, remaining perfectly still while she waited for her partner to finish talking with the police. They had been called in on the aftermath of a Merchant altercation. No capes involved on the Merchant side of things, a fact that ordinarily meant they wouldn't have given this a second look. There had been, though, capes involved in the takedown, which meant they had to collect info, and if necessary, have a stern talking to with the ones responsible.
Assault's familiar laugh reached her ears as he said something to one of the police officers before they separated with a wave and he started over toward her.
"What's the situation?" she asked as he reached her.
"As reliable as the 'witnesses' are after something like this? It's like we heard, Merchants are throwing a party," he snorted. "Skiddie is celebrating his birthday or something, I guess? Cops couldn't make out what exactly they were celebrating since no one can speak english here without slurring through a few other languages, if any of them actually count as a language."
"Alright. Better question. Any word who busted this up?" she asked, an eyebrow curiously raised.
"Barbie, and and a new girl. Merchant's said something like Skipper which I kinda like," he said with a shrug. "Glory Girl's picked up an understudy, it looks like. One of the beat cops said that they know a new cape by the name of Sirin that was apparently seen with Glory awhile ago, but no one is sure if it's the same one."
"Sirin…" Battery frowned as she stared off into the sky in thought. "I think I heard about her the other night. Friday. Busted up some Merchants. I remember because it passed by while I was on console. Didn't have much information from them, though. I don't think I had heard the name before then."
"So, newbie cape and Barbie's her first contact. Can't say I'm not thinking what you're probably thinking. We don't need another another one who plays rough." Assault said.
"Was anyone hurt with this?" Battery asked, looking to the line of Merchant's being marched or dragged towards police vans..
"Nah, puppy," he answered cheekily. "Usual case of her being rough on the scenery is all. Place has a nice new sun-roof that probably gave it's property value a huge boost."
She rolled her eyes. "Be serious."
"I am," he shrugged. "She did her usual dynamic entry through the roof, then tossed them around. Funny thing is… some of the damage is weird. Did you hear anything on this Sirin as far as powers go? Some of the damage didn't match Barbie's usual m.o. at all."
She shook her head. "I didn't pull her file or anything. We usually get the run down on those in the Wednesday meeting."
"Hm," he stretched his arms. "C'mon, puppy. Biggs said that it wasn't more than ten minutes since they left. If there's more Merchant parties like this, maybe we can catch up to them. Our civic duty is to discourage Barbie's rampant property destruction after all."
She struck his arm. "Try not to call her that to her face, Ass."
"I'll be the picture of discretion and sincerity, swear on my soul, love." he said, taking two steps and launching away. She shook her head and followed after her husband. A whole block had gone by when she finally caught up to him, lightly swatting the back of his head as she fell in beside him.
"What was that for?" he asked, idly veering towards her and bumping their shoulders together.
"I need a reason?" she retorted with a grin. "Besides your blatant lies about how you'll talk to Glory Girl. You've probably already decided to call the new girl Skipper, regardless of what her name is."
"Oh, woe is me, you've found my nefarious plan out," he grinned, bouncing between two buildings and off of a light pole before skidding to a halt.
"We've got reports of another Merchant disturbance at the waterfront," Gallant's voice crackled over their earpieces. "Assault, Battery, your location puts you closest. It's in some of the warehouses there. Closed down place called Concordia Shipping."
"Any word on who's there?" he asked. "Because I'd hate to deal with the walking trash pile. I just washed this uniform."
"Mush may be there," Gallant replied. "The reports so far are short on details. I'll let you know as soon as I know something more."
"Well, crap," Assault said after the connection went silent, looking at Battery with a grin. "Looks like my plans to get my uniform dirty with you after we get home are being derailed."
Battery flushed underneath her costume and slapped his bicep. "Not the time, goof."
Assault coyly waggled his eyebrows with a devilish grin. "When is it ever? And when have we cared?"
"I do take my job seriously," she rolled her eyes, but grinned in spite of herself. "Now come on, we've got to make sure Collateral Girl and her new sidekick don't make too much of a mess."
"Barbie and Skipper," Assault said, laughing. She rolled her eyes again and exerted her powers, charging ahead of him. He laughed again and cheerfully followed, bouncing off several buildings in hot pursuit.
They had gone only four blocks when a frustrated female voice shouted somewhere nearby. A moment later there was a thunderous sound as a gigantic pile of what could only be described as garbage tore through a storefront window, crashing into the street haphazardly.
"Oh, look, we're too late," Assault deadpanned as Glory Girl appeared, flying through the space that she had presumably just sent Mush through and hovering above the ground.
"Gods, would you stay down!" she shouted at the disorganized pile of trash, that had begun to knit itself back together into something vaguely resembling a humanoid shape, started moving again "How many times do I have to… Oh, hi, Battery!"
"Glory Girl," Battery said neutrally, looking from the broken storefront to where Mush was gaining his feet again while trying not to wince at the lecture she was sure they were going to face about this. Especially as she laid eyes on the path of destruction that had gone through a building or two by the looks of it to get from the warehouses to here. "Do you require assistance?"
"Oh, no, we've got this," Glory Girl answered with a cheerful look, the frustration fading quickly from her face as she looked off to her left. "But feel free to take a turn now that I've softened him up if you want."
For a moment, Battery thought she was talking to her, but then the other figure came into view. They had missed her against the backdrop of shadows, given how much of her costume was black, with only bits of gold here and there. Most notably in an emblem emblazoned on her chest, visible between the open jacket she was wearing.
She could fly too, it appeared, hovering not far from Glory Girl. The mask covered most of her face, leaving her eyes and mouth visible, but she couldn't get much of a feeling for her from this distance.
"Glad you finally decided I could have a try," she said to Glory Girl, making it clear that the question had been directed at her. "I was beginning to think you were going to smack him around all the way across town."
Glory Girl shrugged. "I got a bit carried away."
"Oi, Barbie, Skipper," Assault called out and Battery closed her eyes, counting from ten a she heard Glory Girl make a vocal protest. "Your playmate is trying to get away."
"No, he isn't," the new girl said, showing no signs that she was offended by his labeling her Skipper. From one step to the next, the garbage that made up Mush's armor was torn away without any visible force, sailing across to a nearby dumpster that opened with a screech of metal. It left behind a stunned, filthy man who crashed to the ground in a graceless sprawl.
"Oh, you gotta be fucking kiddin' me!" he shouted as he started to push himself up and found he couldn't move. "What kind of fucking cheaty bullshit is this!?"
Glory Girl smiled warmly at the question even as she shrugged patronizingly. "What kind?" She raised her hands, her tone mocking. "The kind that leaves you whining in the dirt."
Assault laughed and moved forward to secure Mush. "I'm all for mocking someone, but we need to get him secured. Whatever nonsense the Merchants are up to won't last forever. Surprised Mush is off by himself, honestly."
"Why is he off alone, anyway?" Battery asked, looking toward Glory Girl.
The blonde shrugged. "No idea what the walking trash heap was doing. Maybe between parties or he went out for a beer run? Your guess is as good as mine."
"Doesn't matter, really," Assault said from where he was restraining the man, who was still pinned against the ground and squirming by something unseen. "We've missed how many chances to bring him in? Guy always slips away leaving us digging in a trash pile. Thanks for saving us the trouble, Skipper!"
"Her name is Sirin," Glory Girl said, a note of irritation in her voice. "Not Skipper. And I am most certainly not Barbie!"
"He's only joking," Sirin said with a weak smile. Her attention seemed mainly focused on Mush, staring intently as Assault finished subduing him and the restrictive force on the cape vanished. "Although I'm not entirely a fan of the new name."
"You didn't strike me as the Ken type," Assault said to her, then flashed a grin at Glory Girl. "Besides, I think she already has someone to fill that role, right?"
Glory Girl flushed, then glared at him. "My personal life is not your business, jerk!"
"Speaking of personal lives," Battery chimed in with a pointed look toward the two girls, while rolling her eyes. "It's starting to get late and it is a school night. Shouldn't you, Glory Girl, at least be heading home?"
"...Right," Sirin said abruptly, her demeanor seeming hesitant for a second before she nodded. "Nice to meet the two of you." She started to fly off and Glory Girl looked perplexed for a moment before turning a smile toward Battery.
"Gotta run," she said. "Nice to see you again, Battery! See you around too, jerk!" She stuck her tongue out at Assault before flying off as well.
"Well, that was weird," Assault said as he began punching a message to the PRT to arrange for pick up of their prisoner while keeping a foot planted square on Mush's back to keep the cape on the ground. "Not the talkative sort, is she?"
"She didn't seem too bad," Battery remarked, eyeing the rubble left behind from Glory Girl's fight with distaste. "A bit reserved though, you're right on that. That was some sort of telekinesis, I'm guessing?"
"Yeah, I'm going to say a big no to talking about Skipper in front of the guy who just got busted by her," Assault said, grinning and leaning over to lightly rap his knuckles against the top of her head. "You know better than that, puppy."
"And you," she said, poking him in the chest, "should know better than to call me that while we're out!"
"Okay, okay," he said and then leaned down close to her ear. A moment later, she smacked his chest, looking flustered.
"Later, maybe," she finally said, glancing up at him with a look that he dearly wished she wasn't wearing her mask for.
"Fair enough," Assault replied easily. "Anyway, we shouldn't have to wait too long on pickup for this loser. Cards?"
"Ass," Battery snorted, punching him twice in the chest, just for good measure.
~~~~~~~~
"Wait up!" Vicky called out, pushing more speed to catch while wondering how Taylor was managing to stay ahead of her. The girl was going full tilt and it was taking effort to keep her in sight. Thankfully, Taylor must have heard her, as she began to slow down.
"Geez, why the rush? I had to actually work to catch up." she asked as she drew even with her friend. "I mean, I get that you're ticked at Armsmaster, but A&B are pretty cool."
"It wasn't that," Taylor said after a moment. "She was right, at least. My dad's probably going to pitch a fit when I get home. He'll realize that I was out in costume and get on a tirade about this again."
Vicky winced, then frowned. "Okay, I can get that. Want I should try talking to him?"
Taylor looked like she was considering it for a moment, or looking to the future to see what might happen. Precognition was such bullshit, Vicky thought, before giving Taylor her attention as she spoke. "Thanks, but no. I'm not seeing him taking it well no matter who talks to him. Me, or you. He isn't home yet, so if I am fast, I should be able to beat him back and get changed and he'll never know."
Frowning, Vicky peered at her friend in worry. "Taylor, I know it isn't my place to say… but are you sure you want to lie to him?"
The smile on Taylor's face was anything but happy as she answered. "It's better than the alternatives, trust me. If I am lying, it's because saying the truth won't change anything. I'll see you around, okay?"
"You're sure there's nothing I can do?" she pressed after a moment, her thoughts racing as she tried to figure out a way to help Taylor. Lying to her dad… that she felt she had to… bothered Vicky.
Taylor roused her from her spiral of worry by floating close and hugging her. After a moment, she returned the gesture."Don't worry about it, Vicky. It probably isn't the best thing to do, but it'll prevent things from getting worse. And thank you."
"I'll see what I can figure out to help," she said as they separated. "Give me a call as soon as you can, alright?"
Taylor nodded. "Have a good night, Vicky. Be safe." She turned and shot off at the same speeds she had been moving before, leaving her floating there alone. After a moment, Vicky took a deep breath and twisted as well, heading towards her home, resolute.
No matter how she approached this, this wasn't a problem she could solve. At least not in the ways she was comfortable with. But she did know someone who had experience in these kind of battlegrounds. The issue was, would Taylor let her help? Sighing, she reached into her waist belt for her phone, flipping it open to make a call.
Several messages were waiting for her and she winced, seeing they were from Amy. Damnit, I forgot to come pick her up. She dialed Amy's number and waited.
"Finally," her sister's voice sounded over the connection, exasperation clear. "I've been waiting for you. Where have you been?"
"Sorry, Ames," Vicky told her. "Taylor needed me and we got caught up in things and lost track of time."
She waited a moment as there was no reply. "Amy?"
"Taylor," her sister's voice came over the line, with an inflection she couldn't identify. "You were with Taylor?"
"Yeah," Vicky answered. "She needed someone to talk to about something, and afterwards I took her out with me on a flight around town. Busted up some merchants and Mush. Do you...do you still need me to pick you up?"
There was silence, where it was like the other end of the line seemed to go dead. Vicky tentatively spoke. "Amy? You there?" The silence continued, and Vicky grew worried. She couldn't tell what Amy was thinking. Finally, an answer came. "You'll have to make up for leaving me here waiting, got it?"
"Ice cream's on me," Vicky said, relieved. "I'll be there in just a sec." She adjusted her flight and ended the call, tucking the phone back into her pouch as she saw the hospital grounds come into view beneath her. Adjusting, she started on a downward arc, landing easily in her usual spot.
Amy was waiting a short distance away and she started walking toward her, arms crossed. Yeah, Vicky thought, she was angry.
"Let's go," she said curtly and Vicky sighed internally, before lifting her sister and taking off.
~~~~~~~~
Taylor Hebert was acting odd again, Madison thought, staring toward where the girl sat alone in the library, apparently engrossed in a really large book. She couldn't tell what it was, but every time she had seen her today, the girl had seemed distracted. Presently, though, she was alone, her two guardians or whatever were otherwise occupied.
She could approach her now, if she chose. It had been something that she had considered more than once since Sophia and Emma had been removed from school. Each for different reasons, but they were both gone. That left a void for the position of the Popular Girls at Winslow. Emma had held that position quite firmly along with herself and Sophia, before leaving. Now it had become a question of who was going to fill the shoes Barnes had left behind. Surprisingly, Taylor Hebert had the best chances. Without Emma to hold her down, the girl had shown some surprising skill when it came to socializing. With her friends, they were effectively poised to take the spot with little effort. There were differences, certainly. She and her friends both lacked the intimidation factor that Sophia had provided, but the result was the same. The only thing wrong was that they hadn't.
This fact perplexed her. Madison knew the social structure of the school well enough, knew how the students were likely to respond to the void created by Emma and Sophia's absence. Had she exerted herself, she herself could have been the one to fill Emma's place, as the closest person to the old power structure. Her own reputation was damaged by the association though, and while she could, it wouldn't be with the ease that Emma and Sophia had held control. One of Emma's outer circle, Julia, for example, could have taken the reins as well.
But that had not happened. Taylor Hebert's star rose and it was like none recalled that not even two months ago, the girl had been ostracized and outcast. But she didn't take the position that was just waiting for her. It was like she didn't care about it at all. Madison glanced toward Taylor's table again, trying to understand the girl and what she was thinking.
No answer came to her and she sighed, considering her next move. She couldn't approach, even though she wanted to. It was too early to try and attach herself to that rising star, old enmity still likely fresh with Taylor.
Which was troublesome. Of course, it hadn't been personal for her, but for Hebert it was. She couldn't help but sigh again. Why couldn't people just not hold grudges and take things professionally? She closed the book she had been pretending to read as a pretense for being in the library and stood, leaving it where it lay. There was nothing else for her to do here now. The hallway was sparsely filled, a few juniors and seniors wandering to their next classes. The seniors didn't pay her much attention, but she caught a few dirty looks from the juniors.
Madison ignored them. Her reputation had suffered in the wake of Emma and Sophia's fall, but she could rebuild it. That was one lesson she had from her parents. There was always a way to reposition yourself when you suffered a setback. This qualified and she was nothing if not a good student for their lessons.
And to be truthful, she had never invested anything in the pairs little group that she hadn't been readily prepared to lose. She had seen the potential self-destruction coming. It was a testament to her skills that she had come out of the whole thing with only a loss of reputation and some minor punishment. Now she simply had to negotiate past the minor blemishes and eventually settle herself into the new order at school.
She had laid the groundwork, even if Taylor was unaware for the most part. Moving the weapons Sophia had planted was one step and one she had to consider how to reveal the fact so that she could get the most benefit from it. Stopping the things she had done was another, and demonstrating at least some degree of amicability toward the other girl. It had all been to advance her own position, hadn't it?
That was what she didn't know. She remembered what Armsmaster had said to her in the wake of Sophia's removal, what he had gotten her to admit. Was that true? Had she done that with any thought of how it would benefit her, like she had told him?
"You're wasting your breath telling me that," The words that Armsmaster had said to her after she apologized rang in her mind. She hadn't approached Taylor to say those two words, both because it was not time yet and because she'd been instructed to keep her distance recently. She wondered if her putting it off was because of waiting for the opportune moment or because she didn't want to face what Taylor was likely to say.
The answer to that was still absent as she reached her locker and sighed. Stuffing her books in, she locked it and turned, narrowly avoiding a tittering group of girls moving down the hall. Several of them gave her unfriendly looks and then whispered to one another, laughing at some private joke.
"Bottom feeders," she muttered, identifying them as a group who had never gotten to work their way into Emma's good graces. None of them had anything worthwhile to offer and even she herself was hard-pressed to think of what benefit there was to bother with them. Apparently, they had decided that they were contenders for Barnes' throne.
Madison shook her head and started toward the parking lot. Like they had any chance, really. If she didn't push forward and take the spot, then the most likely candidate was still sitting there in their way. And judging from what she had seen so far, Taylor Hebert wouldn't even blink an eye while stepping on them. If she even noticed that she had, for that matter.
There was still one period remaining, but her desire to be here had completely evaporated, Madison thought as she got into her car. They might complain, but wouldn't refuse if Browbeat wanted to go out on an early patrol. Perhaps Missy would show up early as well. Talking to Vista might help her sort her thoughts out on a lot of things. Her thoughts turned back to Taylor as she drove, confusion resurfacing as she tried to make sense of the entire affair.
By the time she parked in her place, Madison Clements' appearance had been replaced by the almost as familiar frame of Browbeat. She reached into the back seat for better fitting clothing. Thankful for the privacy of the parking garage, she quickly changed into things more suited for this body before heading inside. The routine would let her clear her head, at least. Maybe figure out what she was supposed to do about this whole business.
Browbeat stepped into the elevator to start another day of work, whistling softly.
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