---

The old man was barely able to look up in time to see the Brooklyn descending the stairs after him, the flames that lit behind her painting a menacing image, it was like he was looking at his own demise. For a moment, he even thought the girl’s eyes were glowing red, though that could’ve just been the pepper spray still affecting his vision. When the girl was upon him again, ready to drop her fully laden backpack, the old man closed his eyes, seeming ready to accept his death.

---

The Educator Brooklyn was seething with rage as she stood over the old man, ready to end him with her thirty-pound backpack. She was so mad in fact, that she could practically feel the heat radiating off of herself. It was at that moment, however, that she noticed it was getting quite warm in the cavern. Like, really, really warm. She then noticed the orange glow that started to tint the stone nearby, looking back up the staircase just in time to see the pillar of fire that emanated from thin air. The young girl practically froze in fear as the unnatural screams began, the ungodly sound seeming to be emitted from nowhere and everywhere at the same time. A part of the girl was telling her to run for dear life, especially when a heated shockwave made her stumble a little. Another part of her, however, especially when the demonic hands and face tore its way through what she presumed to be a portal on the ground, really wished she had a shotgun. She could practically hear the soundtrack of Doom in the background.

The young girl watched with bated breath as the monstrosity pulled itself up to its shoulders before it opened its literally inflamed mouth and shook the place with its piercing cry. Brooklyn nearly stumbled again when the place shook, watching as the dust of the ancient area began to fall around her. Looking back to the monster’s gaping maw, which now had a… pathway, Brooklyn was just in time to see two very well dressed figures emerge from the flames. The first figure was actually quite handsome, devilishly so in fact. ”Holy shit he’s actually kinda hot…” She thought to herself, staring at the figure for a moment before her eyes flicked to the other person. This person though, quite literally made her jaw drop, though not for the same reason as his companion.

As the two had their conversation, Brooklyn just kept staring, trying to comprehend why THE Raymond von Luneburg was here. The man, the myth, the legend quite literally being her idol figure despite all the various controversies about him. The last thing the girl expected, however, was for him to appear in front of her in wherever they were through what she could only describe as a hellgate. A more than fitting name, she decided, when Mr. Luneburg revealed that his companion was in fact Lucifer. Wait.

Brooklyn’s mind came to a screeching halt as she took it all in. Raymond von Luneburg, her idol, coming into the room with Lucifer, as in literal biblical Lucifer, via hellgate. Right. This was all totally normal. She’s just dreaming. After all, there was no way that those conspiracy theorists were actually right and that her idol, Mr. Luneburg, had made some sort of deal with the devil for his success.

While Brooklyn was distracted with her mind going AWOL, her subconscious basically acted for her, nodding dumbly at Mr. Luneburg’s request before dropping her backpack away from the old man, causing the stone it landed on to crack. Her attention was soon diverted to Lucifer after he spoke, the rage she had before with the old man now flaring back up, her hand beginning to fish for her bottle of pepper spray in her pocket while she gave the devil a fiery glare. Before she could bring out the bottle and spray him back to hell, however, she was stopped by his hand subsequent explanation. The girl simply responded with a huff as she crossed her arms, watching as Lucifer left the scene before finally looking back to Mr. Luneburg.

The brunette’s rage was controlled, for now, simply simmering so long as no one makes any further advances. She nodded in acknowledgment as Mr. Luneburg spoke, sitting down on the staircase before letting out an exasperated sigh. ”Well, instead of explaining… whatever this was supposed to be, could you just tell me how to wake up instead? I swear I haven’t had a dream as crazy as this one in a long while but I think I’ve had my fair share of it already…” She replied tiredly, bringing her hands up to rub her temples before running one through her hair. ”Maybe I gotta stop reading about those conspiracy theories too… I mean like, Mr. Luneburg, making a deal with the devil, really? It sounded preposterous in the first place but seeing it in a dream just makes it all the more ridiculous… Oh man, I really hope I didn’t actually miss my bus stop, I really don’t wanna call an Uber this late…” She rambled on as if Mr. Luneburg wasn’t actually there.

January 1st,
Central City University, Gymnasium

He looked over the court as he watched the starters play, practicing and running drills, the main practice had ended long ago and the gym was open for people to come and go as they pleased. Some people were using a few of the other courts, others were just hanging around and relaxing. Akashi, he was watching, standing there and watching his teammates practice to get better. It's not that he wasn't trying to get better, or that he wasn't about to practice more, but he wanted to make sure they were playing flawlessly. He never worried about himself. After all, he would never be the reason they lost a game.

"Hey, hey, so this is the 'star player' that we have here at central University, I've seen you play on the television before, and I gotta say, I don't know what everyone is so hyped for." A man said as he walked up toward Akashi, "I know I'm only with the reserves and have only practiced with the reserves thus far, but I'm a future Starter, I'll be on my way to the NBA in no time. So I don't see, why you are such a big deal." The man was about 6 foot 6 and looked down upon the 6 foot 1 Akashi with a smug look on his face, a couple of other freshmen behind him as they chuckled. It was starting to attract attention and even the starters had stopped practicing and were looking at the interaction.

"Come on, little man." The man said, throwing a basketball at Akashi, "You and me, one on one." Akashi caught the ball that had been tossed at him but he did not break eye contact with the man.

"Ted, right? I've seen you in practice and you are pretty decent. But you should learn to respect your seniors and know your place. You came from a medium-sized pond to an ocean." Akashi said as he began to walk on the court as others gave him an odd look and Ted began to walk out towards him.

"I only respect those that earn and deser-" he would be cut off as Akashi turned and his two different colored eyes seemed to stare daggers into Ted, the type of look that made a chill go up Ted's spine, in fact, most people in that gymnasium got a chill up their spines the second Akashi gave Ted the look he did. Some of the people began to whisper if someone was near the sidelines where the starters had been practicing they may have heard a couple of them say. "See man, it's that look, I swear this dude has probably murdered someone" as they whispered to each other.

"First off, I will not be disrespected" he'd say coldly as he interrupted Ted. He threw the ball back at Ted as he stood at the half-court line on the court, and Ted threw the ball back at him again, as he got into a defensive position. "The only ones who are allowed to look me in the eye as I speak are those that serve me." he would say as he began to slowly dribble forward as Ted looked at him in his eyes with a confused look.

"Man, what are you ta-" He would be cut off again as Akashi, dribbled the ball swapping between his two hands with a couple easy and slow crossovers getting close to Ted and then spoke once more.

"I do not let anyone acting against me look down upon me." he'd say as he began to dribble faster now at the three-point line as Ted tried to move forward. Ted was about to open his mouth again but Akashi once more interrupted,
"Your head is held too high." He'd say as he would begin to move to his left, his eyes watched as his opponent took a step back towards the left, Akashi quickly crossed over to dribble to his right, the opponent moving; switching his balance as he did to keep up. Akashi used his right hand to dribble the ball forward towards his left hand and out in front of him, a bait, Ted reached for it and shifted his center of control once more to his left foot preparing for him to move left again. Akashi brought the ball back to his right side as Ted missed the ball, Ted now trying to move back to a central balance on both feet but he had no time to relax. Akashi moved now just as Ted had tried to center himself, and stutter-stepped and moved towards the right now. It was over, Akashi saw it all now and this man stood no chance, Akashi's eyes suddenly had a red circle around them. Ted changed his balance as he took a step back ready for the second part of the stutter-step where Akashi was supposed to drive, but Akashi changed it into a hesitation, where you fake for a moment moving towards the direction you plan to go.

Ted jumped forward after him, as Akashi's eyes went to the hoop, a fake with only his eyes. "Lower your head" Akashie said, as he quickly did one cross over, now Ted off balance was scrambling to get on his other foot, but Akashi started his spin move and Ted couldn't keep up, you could hear his shoes squeak across the floor as he dead stopped his momentum, to try and get his arms to the right and prepare to run back, but Akashi only id a half spin as he turned back around, Ted shifting back to his left, and Akashi once again, crossing over to his right, this time; Ted fell backward as he tried to adjust. In a couple of seconds, Akashi had thrown Ted off-balance, forced him to react quickly on an unbalanced center, forced his footwork to falter, and finally, forced Ted to fall to the ground.

Akashi Jogged past him and completed an easy lay-in at less than even a quarter speed. Other than a few oohs, from the group in the gym, the gym was silent and you could hear the ball bounce off the floor. "I am absolute, and I will not let you act against me." Ted got up he seemed almost stunned, he couldn't keep up with him nearly at all, but he shook his head as he got up.

Ted grabbed the ball and ran in front of Akashi, "As if I'll let one lucky time of you breaking my ankles get to me, I'll show you how we players really play!" He'd say as he threw the ball at Akashi who threw it back. What's with those eyes man? They are creeping me out he'd think to himself before shaking his head and seeing Akashi not even taking a defensive stance he growled at him and started yelling. The yelling, of course, attracted more and more people as they watched this showdown. "You better start taking me seriously!"

"If I took you seriously it'd be the equivalent of Lion killing a poor and defenseless cat." He responded.

"Keep talking punk!" Ted yelled as he began to dribble himself. The red circle around Akashi's eyes appearing again as he stared at Ted, Ted crossing over, going between his legs, hesitating to the left and crossing over to his right and then going between his legs to the left he took off moving quickly and zoomed right by Akashi. But something was wrong. He looked back, Akashi had one hand out and the ball was in it. He hadn't even shaken him, let alone stopped him from taking the Ball. Akashi had quickly grabbed the mid-air it seemed, almost as if he knew what Ted was about to do.

This sequence repeated 10, times, then another 10 more times. Each time, it took less and less moves for Akashi to drop Ted to the ground, each time he told him. "Learn your place, lower your head" After scoring the 21st point he turned back Ted looked shell shocked and the group in the gym would have dispersed long ago had they not thought they were seeing some sort of magic trick. Ted looked back at Akashi, Ted breathing heavily finely spoke again.

"How. I practiced daily, even until 4 in the morning at times for this, how are you this much better, it's impossible. You can't be this good" Ted would say. Akashi simply stared at him, with a cold stare that seemed to look right through his soul.

"Did you not hear me before? I am absolute. I do not lose at anything. I will always become the best because winning is everything"

"Damn it... I'll surpass you" Ted would say quietly as the ball rolled to him. Akashi was standing underneath the hoop as Ted picked up the ball "I will show you that I'm not too far off!" Ted yelled as he dribbled toward Akashi, he jumped, flying high, this was it, this was how he'd beat Akashi. I can beat him, in the air, where he can't r- His own thought was cut off as he felt the ball slapped out of his hands as he went for the dunk he grabbed the rim and his own momentum and surprise caused him to fall to the ground on his back.

"What a laughable attempt," Akashi said to him as he looked down on him. "You should stay where you are groveling at my feet." Ted was shocked, he couldn't believe it, time and time again, and he couldn't score a single basket. 21-0 he lost, and Akashi was as cold as ever. Akashi walked away from him as he spoke

"You are boring me. When you've seen the difference in our abilities, you should have just given up. But now, you get no dignity from such a defeat"

That was pretty harsh he is our teammate...

A teammate who is useless is nothing more than a body on the floor to take up space, and I had to remind him of that. Sure he has promise-

He had a lot of promise a lot of heart too if you do things like this more people will leave the program, that's fewer friends, less teammates.

Good, if he would leave, then he is too weak to serve under me... I am absolute.

You can't win on your own. Not everything in life is about winning at all costs when was the last time you felt the joy of victory?

Of course I've felt jo-

You can't lie to me, I AM YOU you haven't felt true joy in victory in a while, you've only felt joy that you didn't lose

And that is enough for me.

-----------------
Akashi sat in the coffee shop on Campus reading silently as he had people walk past him whisper, a few girls giggling, but he paid no attention to it. He was reading the break down of a couple of their biggest rivals, Keystone University, and Kansas City University. It was merely the preparation he needed. If he knew their tendencies, he could watch them play and the prediction became nearly 100%. Regardless of the outcome though, he wasn't worried.

Eventually, he stood up and began to walk back to the Dorm rooms, still reading not watching where he was going. A girl came running up towards him "Akashi!" She yelled out, she was a beautiful senior, blonde, slim waist, and an attractive face that reminded him of Reece Witherspoon. The main issue, she always asked him out every other week. She had her arms open and jumped towards him to give him a hug. He stopped where he was moving, she wound up hugging the air in front of him as he had stopped just in time and she fell towards the bushes and tripped into them. "Ow, you are so cold sometimes Akashi!" she'd complain as she rolled onto her backside.

Akashi lowered the book as two red eyes looked at her. and a hand reached out forward. "Apologies Katie I just didn't want you hugging me" His smile was nice and warm and friendly and it made her blush slightly.

"That doesn't make it feel any better, we are friends aren't we?"

"Absolutely we are."

"Well you should at least treat me like a friend and shake my hand or hug me or say hi at least rather than dodging me!"

"I'm sorry, I should be more considerate, I was just too much into these notes about our rival teams. What are you doing out so late?"

"Oh I was just on my way to the gym, I heard you went all freaky on someone again! Tina Texted me saying you looked like you were about to kill him"

"I just was getting into the one on one matchup, it's no big deal!" Akashi laughed.

"Well yeah, obviously you aren't going to kill anyone! Hey! Wanna go get some wings?!"

Akashi gave her a smile and nodded as she jumped with glee and pulled out her phone, "I'll call the whole gang!"

I let my guard down for one moment

Of course, is that not how this game is played?

I swear, I don't know why you insist on us keeping her around and being friends with her.

It's obvious, isn't it? She's fun and exciting and random, and she tries to surprise us.

She also fails each time at surprising us. Other than coming through in a pinch in a couple of times, and sometimes having a better eye for strategy than our current manager when he scouts other teams.

I'll tell you what, you keep thinking about winning and I'll show you what it's like to have fun, and go eat some wings.

Well, the kid had to admit it; despite all the ups, downs, assorted pratfalls and kicks to the ass, both of the emotional and very literal kind he'd taken over the years...

This, in particular, kind of sucked.

Laying there in the snow, on the side of a mountain, halfway naked and halfway drained of the red stuff all while propped up on his side by the four-foot piece of steel rebar sticking through his chest, This really was a new kind of low Malcolm had found himself in, all things considered. Not that he could really do anything about it mind you; if the trio of bullets in his gut, the femur sticking out of his thigh and the grinding that rang through his chest with every breath was any indication— His number was pretty thoroughly up.

Though contrary to what you'd think, the longer he lay there, soggy and freezing in a heap of powdery snow painted in his own blood, the less he started to worry about it.

Maybe it was the hypothermia starting to set in. Maybe it was that crack to his noggin that made his head all fuzzy and made one side of his face numb.

Or maybe, just maybe, after all the dumb shit he'd been though in his short, turbulent life... he'd just about stopped giving a damn.

...Well, save for his newly-acquired kickstand. That thing could just fuck right on off.

Letting out a slight, pained hiss as he shifted his shattered frame to try and better brace against the weight of the damned thing, an action that probably caused him more trouble than it was worth if the new wave of coppery red fluid that gargled up from his throat and also handily let him know that his left shoulder was also dislocated— Something he'd missed in the hodgepodge of everything else that was wrong with him right now. Something he only acknowledged with a weak, rueful chuckle and a little shake of his head against the snow.

So, this is how he was gonna go out, huh?

Survived all of his own shenanigans in the Blud, the night that led to his mum's death, a literal goddamn train-wreck, and all the myriad of other shit over the past two years... and after all that, he was gonna kick the bucket bleeding out on the side of a mountain in his goddamn underpants.

His train of thought paused for a second there, and his body went just a little bit more limp as something that tried to be another laugh gargled it's way up his throat.

'Yeah... that kinda checks out, in retrospect...' the boy admitted internally, as the the rise and fall of his chest steadily began to slow down, and he strained to keep his increasingly heavy eyelids open. Eventually failing even at that.

His breathing became shallow. A cold numbness began to snake it's way up from his broken limbs to his bleeding core and the world around became increasingly more muted as a growing emptiness— a gnawing void— spread steadily across his ailing consciousness, leaving him strength only for one singular thought;

'...Time to pack it in.'

That numbness worked it's way up his spine, but it didn't bother him much. Nor did the freezing cold, the howling of the wind around him or the labour of his soft, irregular respiration. All of it drowned out by an inky, black silence that consumed the world beyond his sealed eyes.

...But then, there was something else. A dim, orange hue from beyond the veil of black that was becoming his world. With some reserve of strength from an unknown place, the boy forced an eye open, one last time... followed by the other. And the call of the void chipping away at what was left of his conscious mind abruptly halted.

For there he found the first light of the rising sun.

Small threads of memories began to push their way up from the depths of his mind; of getting up extra early to sit on his dad's lap on the balcony as a small boy, of his mum coming home late from work in the early morning, passing out on the couch and him carrying her to bed in one of the few ways he had to show that he still cared... hell, even the clanging of the pot and ladle Vee used to use to get him out of bed when he was 'invited' to join her on a run at the crack of dawn.

The cold numbness receded. And an ebb of warmth slowly began to take it's place as his breathing regained it's strength.

He'd always loved a good sunrise.

His eyes turned towards the protruding bar of steel in his chest. And that smouldering ember of warmth in his body slowly broiled up in flame as he came to a particularly poignant conclusion—

That he'd like it a helluva lot better without this fucking thing sticking in his chest.

Slowly, shakily at first, his one good hand rose out of the snow to grasp it, and he began to pull. A pained hiss became a gargled cough. Then a growl. Then a scream that drowned out the grinding of bone and the mulching of flesh as inch by inch, the rebar came out the way it came in. And with one final wet 'crunch!' and a defiant roar, the offending bar of steel was dislodged from his chest and promptly tossed away with all the strength he could muster as his head rose to search the area around him, eyes coming to rest on one tree in particular.

With that one good hand, and outright ignoring or no longer giving a shit about the agony that filled every fibre of his being, he dragged his broken frame across the snow towards it. Snarling, coughing up blood and swearing the whole.

Oh, Malcolm knew he was going to die on this mountain.

But if he was going to control anything about his own life, it'd be how he met it's end.

And goddammit, he was gonna get to watch that fucking sunrise.

With one final snarl of effort, the boy closed the last of the distance between him and the tree, and with considerably more effort, hauled himself upward to rest his back against it. Chest heaving from the exertion as he finally got a chance to relax, knitting his eyes shut again for a moment, as slowly, steadily, a satisfied smile made it's way across his features.

But then... there was a crunch in the snow behind him... then another...

His eyes opened, wearily his head turned in the direction of whatever the hell that was, and then...

"SomeBODY—"

---

---

---

Keystone City, Missouri
Morning, January 1st

"—Once told me the the world is gonna roll me, I ain't the sharpest tool in the sheeeed...~"

"Mrrrngh..."

...And from under the covers, a pillow and about four hundred some-odd pounds of dog, Mal was suddenly, but only barely, awake. Clumsily and sleepily waving his free hand around in the vague direction of his alarm-clock radio in want... no, desperate need from within his cushy coccoon to shut the damned thing up. This was not at all helped by his canine blanket's sudden decision to stop faking being asleep and immediately go after him with a pair of big damned paws chaotically bapping and digging at the only thing keeping him safe from an aggressive amount of tongue and dog slobber.

This titanic struggle between a boy, flailing, half-asleep and trying desperately to slay the dread dragon of 90's Pop-Rock and his dog, who was going to love him whether he wanted it or not and would not be denied lasted for all of forty-five seconds before the latter finally locked down on the former's struggling appendage and bodily threw him from his bed and to the hardwood floor. Leaving our boy Mal juuust enough time to groan, roll over onto his back and just start to get up before being bowled over by his ecstatic pooch with enough force to send the both of them sliding across the floor in a heap and into his bathroom where his head would smack against the tiled walls, casting a definite failure upon his desperate quest to actually sleep in today.

Fortunately, the way he was now, he barely even registered the impact. Doing more damage to the wall than it did to him.

Unfortunately though, it did seem to come in time with the abrupt sensation that both hemispheres of his brain were attempting to part ways with one another as his vision flickered to some brief, incomprehensible swirl of orange and red. It passed as quickly as it came, as it always seemed to in the mornings. So fast in fact, that all he managed to get out was a pained hiss through clenched as his whole body tensed for a moment, before he relaxed resting his head up against the divot in the wall he'd made with his skull, staring at the ceiling as his now-empty lungs sucked in as much air as they could.

A few minutes of silence followed, until a quiet whine caught his attention. Wearily, his head turned downward, finding the face of his former assailant staring up at him from his lap, now very still and eyes wide and watery in a very puppy-dog expression of apprehension and remorse.

Numbly, his hand went to her fuzzy belly, giving it a tired little rub. Something he was rewarded for with a (now very gentle) lap on the chin and the light, rhythmic 'whap!' of her tail on the floor.

"So, girl... ya hungry?"

The whapping only got louder with that. And despite his current state, Mal couldn't help but smile a little and give her a wee scratch under the chin.

"Aight, alright..." He said, giving her a few more affirmative pats on the belly and starting to lift the old girl off of him "Just gimme a few minutes to get cleaned up, will ya?"

The dog, for her part, whined and wiggled a bit halfheartedly to try and get out of his grasp, but eventually gave up. Letting the lad roll her onto her feet and, with one final worried look and whine his way, slinked off out the bathroom.

Finally alone, Mal took a few more minutes to catch his breath... and wait for that ringing in his ears that'd been there since his little neurological anomaly a few minutes prior to finally wind the hell down. Before bracing himself against the wall and hauling himself up onto shaky feet in front of the sink. Opening the tap, taking a drink and splashing his face a little to help drive away those last little bits of residual nausea. Before opening up the medicine cabinet, reaching inside, picking out one particular little bottle and... pausing.

He gave it a little shake.

No rattle.

With a low exhale, he calmly dropped the empty vessel into the trash, shut the cabinet back up again and with something that sounded an awful lot like a defeated sigh, leaned his head against it.

"...Crap."

---

A quick shower, a thorough brushing of his teeth and a clean set of clothes later, Mal emerged from his lair and ambled his way down the stairs, feeling— or at the very least looking a little better for that hot shower.

...Aaaand, already the dog was upon him; More gently this time, though. Opting to just slink along next to him so her side was always touching his and rubbing her head against his chest whenever he stopped. Instead of, y'know, just leaping directly at his face like the excitable, colossal pupper she was— Something Mal quite appreciated, as a matter of fact, even if it did make walking just a bit of a chore.

'Sides, he'd only have to put up with it for a few more seconds. And then there was a leftover t-bone steak that was just calling his name, and if his supersensitive ears were telling him the truth, Grampa Duncan was still dead asleep and wouldn't be up anytime soon to tell him otherwise.

A cheeky little grin started worming it's way across his features as he opened the fridge, took out the saran-wrapped plate in question, liberated it from it's confines and left it on the counter on the way to the cupboard that Sadie's big damned bag of dog-chow called home. And only seemed to grow a little more as he had to slightly wrestle the now (understandably) excited pooch away just a bit so he could actually open the bloody thing and grab her good noms.

And then abruptly melted away in a heartbeat as he found it completely empty. Save for a sticky note in the back.

Mal froze. The dog froze.

Time itself froze.

Before slowly, deliberately the boy's hand reached inside and liberated the little bit of post-it from the cupboard's far wall, staring down at it with an unreadable expression.

"Mal, Buy more dogfood. -Grampa"

Numbly, the cabinet was closed again. And staring straight ahead, the boy took in long, pointed breath and let out a low, deep exhale. His head began to pound again. From beneath his armpit, Sadie was looking him square in the eye. Silent, motionless, waiting to see what he would do.

Turns out, what he would do was just sigh a little and scratch her behind the ear. Before his free hand rose up to the countertop, seized the plate bearing his precious, world-enhancing, big damned slab o' meat... and unceremoniously dumped it into her dog bowl.

"Bon appetit."

---

Sometime Later...
Garrison Road, Historical District, Keystone

Mal shuddered slightly as the world around him flickered back to that increasingly familiar red and orange, causing him to stumble a bit on the slush-covered sidewalk and brace himself against the red brick of a nearby building for a quick break.

These headaches of his were annoying when they'd first showed up a week or two ago. Now they were just plain getting old.

...Well, bright sides; it wasn't too bad out today, so he could get away with just a ballcap and the polypropylene neck warmer Mari had got him a few years back instead of something like a beanie or an outright balaclava (though he still wore his grampa's old bomber's jacket— less for the cold, more for the comfort). Also, he didn't exactly have far to walk; his destination— Kovalenko's Grub and Grocery— was only a block's walk away from home. And if Miss Kovalenko was still making those fried kielbasa sandwiches he'd eaten basically every damned Friday night after school when he was younger, he'd be killing two birds with one stone, then wouldn't he?

His stomach rumbled in agreement with that particular plan.

Shaking his head slightly and giving a little snort, he steadied himself back onto his feet and carried on his merry way. Head down a bit and neck warmer pulled up, keeping a low profile just like his grampa told him to. Though in reality, the old man'd probably be a bit miffed about his little adventure here, being pretty adamant that he should generally avoid places that might recognize him. At least, for now. And especially not without him or Mari nearby.

Objectively, a smart thing to do, given his circumstances. In practice however, it had become a bit of a sore spot between them; not being allowed to call Vee, Zoey or even Kara to let them know he was still alive was... well, not exactly how he pictured freedom would be like.

'Well, they've all probably moved on anyway...' The thought occurred to him, and his vision flickered a again.

It still hurt like hell, though.

The boy shoved those thoughts down. Hard. And kept on walking. Distorting vision and ringing in his ears be damned— he knew the way well enough that he could damn well find it by just counting his steps. And if the old man wasn't going to let him talk to his friends, he could at the very least let him get a goddamn sandwich while he did some groceries.

Finally finding the place and entering with a quiet, though friendly little "Pryvit.", Malcolm didn't waste much time picking up what he came for; going up one aisle to grab a big bag of Queenco dog-chow, stopping by the fridge to pick up a bottle of orange juice and then down another aisle to grab the biggest damned bottle of ibuprofen he could find. Though it was a bit of a slower going than he'd like, what with the increasingly loud ringing in his ears, that made him stop, check the prices of everything he picked up and do the math in his head when he realized he was probably going to be functionally deaf by the time he hit the register, on top of the pain in his skull and the rapid shifting of his vision between normal and something out of a bad acid trip.

...And that the store already had a few people in it, one of which kept following him around and getting annoyingly close to his personal space. Though he mostly kept his head down and ignored the guy— not that the guy'd be able to hear a damned thing the asshole had to say over the ringing in his ears, anyhow.

It wasn't until he finally got in line and felt something cold and metallic poke him in the back of the head that he put two and two together. And realized he juuuuuust might've fucked up.

The tinnitus in his ears abruptly halted just in time to hear the racking of a shotgun behind him.

"Kid... what the fuck are you doing?" A voice called out in front of him. "You do know what this is, right?"

For the first time since he'd actually been in there, Mal looked up slightly, catching sight of most of a man in some really cheap looking jungle camo jumpsuit and a flak-vest with the word 'BAMF!' crudely spray painted in red across the front, though everything above his neck (which was festooned with one or two gold chains) was obscured by the brim of his hat.

"Man, kid looks kinda sick. Maybe he ain't all there."

"Shut up, Glen!"

"...I thought we weren't using our real names?"

"Shut up, Glen!"

Slowly, Mal's eyes swiveled to the left and towards 'Glen'; a more robust man dressed in a similar fashion to the man at the counter, though without the chains or the spray paint. A snub-nosed revolver under his belt as he shoved stolen twinkie into the mouth hole of his balaclava— Not exactly the picture of a hardened criminal, by any means.

"Leave him be." The MacAodhan boy's eyes snapped towards the counter again as that familiar low, husky tone of Kovalenko's hit his ears. Though the cold growl of her tone was something of a far-cry from the usually softhearted woman he remembered. "The register is here. Take the money and fuck off."

The double click of a hammer being cocked followed that suggestion, as 'BAMF guy' whirled around on the counter again, having to aim pretty high to stick his gun anywhere near the six-and-a-half foot tall woman's face.

And just like that, something... old clicked into place in some deep, primeval part of Mal's psyche. The orange, red and now a bit of blue beginning to creep it's way back into his vision.

There was no pain this time.

"If I wanted your opinion, lady, I'd put a hole in your head and listen to the Commie lies spilling out of your dead skull!"

"...What the hell, Mitch?"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP, GLEN!"

A low rumbling growl escaped the man with a shotgun, the one who'd apparently been following the errant teen around the store trying to politely inform him that he'd stepped into the middle of a goddamn robbery as he finally spoke.

"Stop playing Hollywood, grab the money and lets go."

The fact that Mitch seemed to visibly deflate at his words spoke volumes of what the man behind Malcolm was, something he noted in the back of his head. Right around the time those familiar distorted swirls of orange and red began to stabilize into solid shapes.

Some part of him was aware that he was now looking through the visor of his ballcap, through their armour and even through the men themselves. His hearing sharpening to pick up every little detail, from the slight crackling of the knee Glen must've blown out years ago to the drippy tap in the backroom.

Every muscle in his body began to tense, eliciting a slight crinkling from the bag of dogchow as his grip somewhat involuntarily tightened

"...In a minute." Mitch said, taking a step toward the seemingly mute teenager. "Kid's a bit of a weirdo, but I like his jacket. Think I'mma take it as a souvenir."

Another step forward, and his gun changed targets from the lady behind the counter to just under the brim of Mal's hat (Shotgun Guy taking his weapon away from the back of the teen's head and putting a bead back on Kovalenko in response), pushing it upward and off so he could look him in the eye.

"That sound alright with you, Princess—"

He froze, eyes widening to saucers at what he saw and all that smug leaving his tone immediately.

"...Oh God, no."

Almost immediately, Mal's groceries spilled to the floor as he caught Mitch's gun and hand in a vice-like grip with his left hand that crushed both and the crook's collar with his right, giving a firm yank to pull him into the headbutt that'd knock him out and terminate his scream prematurely. Shotgun Dude, for his part, immediately jumped back and held his gun at the high port, unwilling to fire the damned thing with Mitch's head being right there.

Glen, meanwhile, was struggling to get his revolver out from his belt and around his fat gut.

"Jesus Christ!" The most professional crook in the room let out, a split-second before Mal spun around and swung Mitch at him with all the effort it took most people to swing a twig. Knocking him right on his ass, and only giving him a split second to look up in wild-eyed panic as the teenager wordlessly proceeded to chuck his ad-hoc weapon at him like a spear and finish the job.

And that's about when Glen shot himself in the foot. Literally. Falling to the ground with a loud scream and a chorus of swearing. But he did manage to get his gun free, and with a war cry that was equal parts anger and terror, pointed his weapon at Mal and unloaded it as fast as his stubby fingers would move— Shattering the store's window and hitting his target exactly once. In the shoulder. Which bounced off with a metallic 'Ping!' anyway.

It was at that moment that Glen pissed himself.

And Mal, looking from the now very frightened man with soggy pants and a belly full of twinkies, down to the crushed glock at his feet and back again decided to arrange a meeting between the two via an abrupt bootfuck. Smacking the cake enthusiast dead in the nose with the mottled lump of steel and plastic, knocking him out, too.

A moment of silence followed all that. Until Mal finally let out a long exhale, and the world as he comprehended it returned to normal. Dull ache down the middle of his braincase included. He also suddenly became aware of the fact that somewhere in the middle of all that, he'd popped a bit of a nosebleed, something he mended with a quick yank down of his neck warmer and a wipe of his sleeve before pulling it back up, kneeling down, dusting off his hat, grabbing his groceries and heading towards the counter.

Even with his head down fishing for his wallet, he could feel the mountain of a woman staring down at him. And, frankly, it was more than a little bit awkward; Of course he had wanted to meet her again, eat a sandwich, joke around and shoot the shit like the good old days.

This... this wasn't what he had in mind.

Maybe it was best if he just lef-

The woman in question sat down on her stool and rested her cheek in her palms, looking at him with a blank expression.

"Malo Borets', is that you?"

He froze on hearing that old number, the nickname he'd earned the last time he'd had to whoop someone's ass in her store. But obediently, his head turned upward until their eyes met.

"Tak."

Slowly, deliberately one of her hands slid out from beneath her chin and extended towards his shoulder, a finger finding it's way inside that fresh bullet hole in the fabric where it lingered for a second, until finally she withdrew it again and gave it a hard stare for a solid ten seconds before turning her eyes toward her customer and showing him the distinct lack of blood on the end of her digit.

"...Clearly, I need to charge more for the sandwiches." She said with an absolute deadpan.

There was a moment of silence. Then a snicker from him, a snort from her as she strained and struggled to keep a straight face. And then finally the both of them just burst out into a fit of laughter and she pulled him into a loose hug.

"Is so good to see you again, little one! Where have you been?" She finally asked as she released him, hands still on his shoulders.

"Oh, ya know... here and there." Mal replied with a nervous scratch of his neck, suddenly realizing that for all his earlier desire to see a familiar face, he actually had no clue what to tell them when he did.

Luckily for him, Kovalenko either accepted that answer, or was just happy enough that he was here now that she didn't really care to pry further, as she threw on her apron and tied her blonde locks back.

"So, kielbasa on white with honey mustard, tak?"

"Uhh... yeah, tak. Thanks." The teen replied as the woman suddenly became a flurry of motion at the stovetop behind the counter.

"I'll try to fry it, but might not have time. Fat idiot emptied his gun into fucking street. Police will be here soon." She called out in a... surprisingly casual fashion as she dropped a dollop of duckfat onto her pan and pushed it around with her spatula. "Speaking of, there are zipties in the far aisle, next to funnels. Would you mind making sure our idiots don't go anywhere?"

"Yeah... sure..." Malcolm said, pushing himself off the counter and doing as he was told. Still just a teensy bit weirded out by how well she was taking all of what just happened.

He didn't make it two steps before she whipped another curveball his way.

"...So when did the whole 'Glowing eyes' thing start, anyway?"

"The what?"

---

The eerie quiet and stillness of the museum still gave Samantha the chills. In contrast to the daily bustle, the place appeared dead. The only sounds of life had been Scarlet, Otto, and herself. Samantha skimmed the cases, holding everything from modern sports to ancient history, while the guard locked up. A twist followed by a click indicated the final lock for the night. The keys jingled as the middle-aged man placed the ring back onto his belt and jiggled the security bars.

"All right, let me know when you two want out. I'll be at the front desk as normal." With that, Otto gave them a warm smile and began to wobble his way back to his post.

Samantha checked for her own set of keys.

"Scarlet, do you mind being on hauling duty? I'm a little excited about designing since I've been working on this piece for a good week at least." Her eyes looked to the younger girl, partly expecting some resistance.

“Eh-...fine,” the teen said, for a moment almost hesitating before letting out a semi-defeated sigh. If she didn’t help, it wasn’t like she’d feel good about it anyways. Besides, Sam was a friend! Better to not treat her like that asshole museum director did, “I’ll gettim’ in, jus’ tell me where ta’ put them! It’s the least’ ah’ can do.”

Samantha noticed Scarlet's reaction. Her eyes softened and she forced a smile on her lips, hiding the guilt washing over her. Even if she had put all her blood, sweat, and brainpower into the display design, her friend wanted to do it more. Samantha couldn't deny the younger girl that.

Popping open her laptop, she slid it to face them. She separated the backroom key from the ring and put the rest into Scarlet's hand. When she had the teen's attention, she spoke.

"All you had to say that you wanted to set up the display instead. I'll let you open the cabinet and set up the pieces while I do the hauling." Despite the disappointment, she simply put on a smile and changed the plan.

Already she was moving toward the back room with the spare key in hand. Jiggling it a bit against her palm, she called back.

"I'll be right back." Then she vanished down the hallway.

The teen recoiled for a second in surprise, before attempting to stammer out a response as Sam was moving away.

“W-Wha-?! Wait! Sam!!! Ah’ just meant ah’d haul the heavy stuff for ya’! I didn’t mean ta’-!”

Despite her shouting as loud as she could, even if Sam had heard it wasn’t like she was nearby either. The woman had walked off, leaving her here with, ah, the display itself. For a moment the teen stood there in an awkward, and somewhat guilty, silence...but eventually let out a sigh of defeat. Sam wasn’t a confrontational person, that much she knew, but the teen felt her words had been misunderstood.

...Blast it all! Yet maybe she could ask her mom for some cash, and take Sam out for an apology lunch tomorrow? Or something like that. Crap. She’d have to work on that plan as she put things out, since she didn’t exactly have a choice to do so now if they wanted to get done in good time.

Scarlet mulled over potential ideas as she took the key, unlocking the cabinet and carefully beginning to pull out the display pieces. The Tamaranian began to do her best to arrange the pieces in the proper arrangement, or an ‘academic yet aesthetically pleasing’ manner as it were. Wasn’t the first time she’d helped place pieces out after assisting Sam in the preparation, and she at least generally knew what the Director (may someone key that woman’s car and face one day) generally liked in terms of positioning pieces at least.

What else could go awry tonight anywho? A monster emerging from the pits of hell because it was attracted to the display?

January 1st, 2020, Central City Hospital.

---

The sound of cars driving. Vehicles moving all around. People in boxes. Waves, waves everywhere. Music, words, all hissed from the scratchy metal hums of their radios. Even the clearest signals came with some distortions, however inaudible. She could hear them all.

Then came the hospital. A vast stone box which housed an orchestra of noise. The sounds of ambulances coming in and out of the garages, their engines churning with burning fuel whilst their humans press down the pedals. Doors, so many doors opening and closing, sometimes sliding with a pneumatic hiss. Footsteps, footsteps! Shoes on so many different feet clapping like thunder loud enough to sunder mountains. Beds, stretchers, wheelchairs and trolleys all squeaked along on their wheels as they rolled on and on.

The voices, oh the voices. So many voices she couldn't make out what they were saying. Like trying to eavesdrop on a conversation in a stadium but the stadium is the width and height of the moon and the sounds just keep echoing around as they build upon one another like raindrops cast into a monsoon. Each sound was loud enough on it's own but the sum was a perfect storm so much more than any could imagine. Just as the scope of the sun's vastness could rarely ever be truly imagined, only expressed in a mathematical understanding, so too was the sum of the hospital's noise so vast when viewed through the unconscious periscope that was her still listening mind.

What was not lost on her was the terrible nature of these voices. How sickly, how miserable they all were struck her unlit mind with their wrongness. For a place of healing and birth there was no shortage of misery or death about. Amidst the sea of beeping monitors were coughing and groaning, wheezing and crying. All those who suffered found themselves here and it was in these people that this building found it's true voice. The gasping voice of someone who's life is slowly leaving them, the pained groan of someone who seeks relief but finds none, the shrill cries of one who's arrived in a last ditch grasp at life and the sorrowful sobs of someone who's lost something they cannot replace.

This was the hospital's voice.

_
She might of been unconscious but somewhere deep in that region that could not tune out the sound she dreamt in a dreamless slumber. Like watching the world through smoked lenses that were only the slightest bit transparent she was aware of the fact that she was being moved into this well of suffering. Time however was no object. Seconds could have been minutes, hours, days or even years. There were no thoughts, no emotions, no sensations. Just sound.

But it all came flooding back that awful moment she finally regained consciousness. The mind opened up like a piggy bank shattered with a hammer, the senses spilling forth like so much loose change. She twitched and thrashed as the pain hit her all over again, the overwhelming force of it's magnitude robbing her of all control beyond that of a bundle of nerves hooked up to a car battery and left to jump and flail without aim or purpose.

She tried to scream but all that came from her throat was a raw wheezing rasp, her vocal cords devastated by the unholy wail she had let loose earlier. Her bloodshot eyes shot open and the sight was much too much to take in all at once. It was one thing to not only hear but feel the very sounds around you. It was another thing to see those very sounds in lieu of the proper electromagnetic radiation everyone has come to know as light. It was a barrage of colors as dull resonances that constantly thrummed through the air and surfaces were bombarded with bright neon flashes of sudden sounds like beeps and voices which ripped through the air, ricocheting off of things in rapid blurs. Everything looked just a bit slower as she was processing sound at the speed of sound. It wasn't dissimilar to an adrenaline rush, moments crawling by as though they were full minutes, constantly stuck in a state of having too much time and nowhere near enough.

She was only tangentially aware of the nurses who were pinning her arms down, preventing her from thrashing hard enough to eject herself from the bed. More than that were their voices as they shouted instructions back and forth between each other. She wanted so badly to ask them to be quiet but her throat was so raw and the sound coming from herself would only bring her greater pain. Even the very attempt at trying to lessen the weight upon her mind would only break her down harder.

They inserted a few IV's into her veins, keeping her arms and consequently torso restrained all the while. It was only when the morphine started to hit her system did clarity start to bleed back into her mind. It was slow to be sure but there was little else she could do but lay as still as her organic processes would allow and grit her teeth until she was able to start riding the minor abatement of her suffering like a life raft on a planet who's entire surface is wholly underwater.

_
No longer wholly paralyzed by the full force of her newfound power she was able to start taking in the effects this change of hers had on her senses. It was really quite strange how she could feel everything moving in the sound all around. It was like someone being keenly aware of every cell in their own body. Every change and every motion in this sort of 'Soundscape' felt as though it were all occurring within herself. Sound generated by physical friction was like skin brushing across her own. The sound of hands grasping onto another in a handshake were like if she were shaking her own hands. Then there were the sounds of harsher notes. Wheels squeaking, metal rubbing on metal, were akin to the feeling of her own teeth grinding. It was an abrasive and harsh feeling.

It was overwhelming to even try and grasp just how much was happening that fed back into all of her senses and more. Her focus turned to closer matters a deep dark violet wave kept washing across her. The beeping of the heart-rate monitor in her room. It was painful both due to it's volume and proximity even through the haze of painkilling drugs that were running their course through her bloodstream.

Not really in her best senses she felt it was in her best interest to move away from the violet sound closest to her vicinity. There was no getting away from the sound naturally, it was all throughout the hospital and sounds were bouncing off her constantly, many transmitting through the physical medium of her flesh and weaving in with the organic orchestra that played within. All the low burbling and gurgling noises flooded her form with a light red color, sharp like a cherry but with only a dim radiance, a quiet glow. Deeper shades of red resonated from the creaking groans of her mediocre muscles and tense tendons. The sources which shined the brightest were the stomach and the heart, Two organs ripe with noise. The heart pounded heavy like a drum with bright red waves rolling off it with each beat. The stomach held a more steady yet fluid pattern, it's glow like that of anemic glow-stick fluid but red.

In a way it was truly disconcerting, perhaps less so than the trauma that's been brought upon her but still disquieting. She could feel everything moving both around and inside her. She could feel her blood pumping in more ways than one. Her eyes could see through her rather translucent form like she was an anatomy class dummy, a class of dummy only slightly smarter than one of her variety.

_
THUD!

The very sound of her waifish form colliding with the smooth hospital floor sent shakes all throughout her, the pain of the sounds from her struggle out of bed greater than the impact from the fall. Even through the morphine it was enough to bring her to coil into the fetal position as her body shook uncontrollably. It was only then, so close to herself, that she noticed gross sliminess of her shirt. It was not so long ago when she first arrived at this hospital that the nurses had the opportunity to swap her clothes out into a proper patient's gown yet. There were many patients after all and with no clear visible symptoms or injuries the nurses hadn't had placed her low in their tier of concerns.

While very low in her list of actual concerns the vomit that clung to her shirt was one of the few issues she had power over. Alas, between the cloudy soft numbness that had taken hold of her body & limbs and the strain all this pain has put her body through she was barely able to muster up the strength to crawl. Despite not being able to read the sign on the door she was able to identify the bathroom by it's interior shapes painted in the echoes which flowed through the walls.

As she was about to reach it however something caught her, tugging from behind. The IV stand they had her hooked to was caught on the bed, unable to be pulled along by her IV tubes any longer. Not exactly in the most right of minds she found this impediment to her current fixation, regardless of it's intended benefits, a nuisance. Not really thinking she pulled her arm away from the stand like a belligerent mule against it's tether. The morphine buried the pain of the tubes being yanked free from her veins, blood starting to run from the apertures born from her poor logic.

_
After fumbling at the handle she dragged herself into the bathroom on her hands and knees. The room was starch white, old stains remaining despite the efforts to maintain this facility's cleanliness. It was a very bare design, only a shower head and a low toilet with a railing leading up to it. The room was obviously designed to give wide berth and offer support to whoever uses it, regardless of their condition.

The echo of her ragged breathing carried easily in this room, it's deep indigo hue bouncing about with a low rate of absorption from the tiles. It was quite awful really, this room trapping sound so well. Alas, it was still beneath her pain tolerance whilst she was still aboard the S S Morphine.

She grasped the knob and gave it a twist, unable to tell how to control the temperature precisely. In an instant the room was flooded with more than just water as the shower head hissed to life. A cascade of sound darker than any she'd heard, felt or seen so far washed over her, shortly followed by a cascade of ice cold water.

It was strange that many often referred to the sound of rain as 'White Noise'. This sound which flooded her was the darkest sound by far. It was so black it felt as though it were swallowing up the light inside her. She was drowned within this sound of water steadily raining upon her. It left her submerged in the deep darkness of the blackest rain.

It was curious though. With intense sounds being so painful to endure it was strange to find peace in this continuous blast of sensory stimuli. Perhaps it was the fact that it dulled the sounds of this sickly beast she dwelt within with it's consistent, undiluted tone. Perhaps it was because the pain was distributed in an even fashion, pressure spread equally across her mind creating a mild equilibrium, at least within this diminutive chamber.

Or perhaps it was a result of the morphine's numbness mingling with the cold water further dulling her physical sensations with it's frigid embrace. Needless to say the nurse who arrived at her room when her silent alarm went off was certainly taken aback by this unique sight. He looked into the doorway to the bathroom to find a young girl with blood leaking from her wrist knelt in a puddle of ice cold water, looking up at the shower head with a vacant stare. A more gothically poetic soul might of ruminated on the nature of the scene before him. This nurse however was less concerned with artistry and more concerned with doing his quite literally bloody job.

The black rains were suddenly silenced, only to be followed with what she could deduce to be curse words flowing freely from the nurse's mouth as he hoisted her up from below her armpits and dragged her meager form back into her bed. Consumed with the sudden barrage of stimuli her only reaction was to tense up, her teeth painfully grit as she kept from crying out. Her vocal chords were pushed well beyond their limits back when this all started, leaving her voice as little more than a raspy gasp. Not only was the act of screaming agonizing to her but at this point it wasn't even an option anymore. All she could do was rest as still as possible as she ushered pained gasps.

The nurses reattached the IV to her arm and had security apply arm restraints so she couldn't go on any more 'exciting adventures'.

But hey, at least her shirt was clean. Well, cleaner.

Workout done, and freshly showered, he flicked on the TV across from his ‘bed’ while he got dressed for the day. To his surprise, instead of the usual banal ‘Happy New Year’ stuff he’d been expecting, all the local stations were going on about an attempted bank robbery and the flying meta that stopped it. The nattering on the talking heads on the news drove Arty to mute them, but he kept watching as the pink-haired woman did her thing. ”Super cheerleader…great…” He said with a chuckle and a shake of his head. The footage stopped and a frame of her face was enlarged while the station applied some video wizardry to try and expose the back lit face.

The whole bit only lasted a few minutes, but Arty found himself staring at the screen. Why the hell does she seem familiar? The ‘cleaned up’ image was barely passable as an iffy CCTV still, but there was obliviously enough to trigger something in his memory. Firing up his laptop, he brought up the same still the newsies were using and looked at it some more; he was certain the face was familiar, but for the life of himself, he couldn’t pin down why. ”Oh this is going to bug me for a while…”

Fortunately for his own sake, the local news shifted to another story. Seeing downtown KC behind the reporter, he hit the sound. “…undreds are gathering outside in support of metahuman rights. While there are some counter-protesters and the police are on hand, the mood here is upbeat and very positive. Bac-” He shut the TV off; not having any work at the moment, he’d been wondering what he was going to do, and now he knew.
--
He parked his truck in a parkade a few blocks from the gathering and walked in. As he got closer, he saw more and more folks obviously heading in the same direction. The closer he got to the rally the more the area took on a ‘festival feel; parents with their kids, people of all walks of life, some with obvious differences, while much of the crowd looked much like Arty…just people. Moving towards the front of the crowd however, the mood got subtly more tense and folks kept giving Arty side-long glances as he weaved his way forwards.

Getting to the front, he understood the looks, and that was exactly why he’d made his way forward. Across from the pro-Meta rally was a smaller, but much more vocal, counter full of the usual religious nuts, far-right assholes and other such oxygen thieves. Much to his non-surprise he found he looked like he’d have blended in with that pack of idiots rather well unfortunately. Ignoring them, he found himself standing beside an older middle aged woman holding a sign. He lent forward a bit to read it before bursting out laughing as he read ‘You’re just jealous because my grandson can fly’. She smiled up at him as he laughed. ”To be fair,” He chuckled. ”I’m jealous of your grandson now…flying would save so much hassle getting around downtown.”

The woman laughed. ”My daughter isn’t so happy about it…you can imagine how much trouble a flying four year old can get into.” Arty laughed and feigned a shudder. ”Arthur.” He said, offering a hand. The woman smiled and shook his offered hand, though she did raise an eyebrow. ”Gloria…really? Arthur? You’re already white, no need to bleach yourself. He tried to maintain composure, but that last all of two seconds before he let out an explosive bark of laughter; it took him another two minutes to regain control. Still chuckling, he smiled at Gloria. ”Gotta admit, never heard that one before…and generally I go by ‘Arty’.”

Gloria smiled again. ”Well it’s nice to meet you Arty…and…well I gotta ask. Are you a ‘meta’?”

”Yeah, though what I can do is a bit hard to demonstrate without getting the cops all nervous.” He waved a hand towards the counter-rally. ”On the other hand it’ll be hand if one of those idiots decided to push things.”

”Hey now Arty, this is a peaceful rally…”

”Don’t worry ma’am, I have no intention of starting anything.”

The crowd at the mall was minimal. Thank goodness for that. I really just want to enjoy some light shopping. Sipping her coffee Jocelyn walked around window shopping.

The mall was small but The Judge towered over most of those he walked by. He got a few interesting looks but that could be due to the fact that he had a pink fanny pack and had his blackberry out. He walked up to a store that seemed to be selling pretzels as he did the guy selling them seemed like he had almost seen a ghost as he looked up at The Judge. “Hello! How are you today?” The Judge asked as the man just kinda coughed for a moment before speaking.

“Uh.. hi.. I’m well. Can I help you with anything?”

“Yes! In fact, The Judge would like to know if he can get one of your big pretzels please, extra salt and cheese?”
The man kind of tilted his head before nodding “Yeah… Yeah coming right up.”

A few minutes later The Judge was on his way again just looking through the windows seeing if anything caught his eye. He seemed to be completely walking without looking at anyone, but they seemed to notice him. He wore a light grey polo that seemed to be just a bit too tight for him, and his jeans which seemed to be just loose enough to not be skinny jeans, but at the same time they were just skinny enough to not need a belt to wear. However, he still wore a black belt. He had just finished up his pretzel as he threw the remaining part away in the trash can. He continued to look in the window completely oblivious to his surroundings as he walked forward, he moved at a decent pace scanning the stores for whatever might have caught his eye. *Thud* He stopped as he felt something hit him.

Jocelyn had been off in space wondering when the next time that The Judge was going to happen to be in town for a match. She was wondering if she could manage to get time off for it, when someone ran into her. She went sprawling on her butt at the feet of the person who had run into her.

Blinking rapidly Jocelyn looked up… and up… and up. She was already a tiny little thing but this made it ridiculous. Her jaw dropped as she saw the object of her thoughts materialize and with a pink fanny pack no less. "Uh… hello." She waved lamely, but it was rather cute and endearing as she blushed.

OMG!!! Seriously?! You meet your wrestling crush and "uh hello" and a lame wave is all you manage! Not to mention you're sprawling at his feet like some sacrifice to a pagan god!!! OMG!!! This is humiliating!!

The Judge stepped back, he hadn’t been paying any attention and here he was making a fool of himself. “Oh, I’m so sorry Ma’am!” his eyes fell to the woman with the blonde hair beneath him, his look of worry would change to a smile as he saw her, not because he thought it was funny, not because he enjoyed knocking her over. But because he needed to make sure she didn’t see him as a threat.

The Judge offered a hand for her to take. “I’d ask that you forgive me, I wasn’t watching where I was going at all, I was just checking out the stores in this town!” He exclaimed, he seemed to be incredibly confident with his words and a smile on his face that was a mile long; but, that wasn’t quite what was going on in his head. Watch where you’re going dumbass! You are bigger than you think, and you may have hurt her.

“You aren’t hurt. Are you? If you are, please let me know. I know a bit about first aid and taking care of injuries.” this time as he spoke his smile seemed more genuine than the one he had put on originally, there was a slight look of worry on his face as he spoke these words as well. As if half expecting her to start to yell at him to watch where he was going, but he tried his hardest to not let it show.

Taking the hand outstretched Jocelyn smiled and laughed softly. "No harm done, besides a giant blow to my pide. Apology accepted. I'm sorry I was off in la la land wondering when you'd be doing a match here in Keystone so I could call in sick at work to see you in action." She admitted candidly. "Little did I know that I'd actually get to meet you in person." Jocelyn laughed softly rising with his assistance. Dusting off her shorts and backside she stood.

His face brightened up even more as realization hit that she was a fan, it was a look of excitement, and intrigue, it was the same type of excitement on his face as a 5 year old if you told them you just got them a puppy.

After she got up he scratched the back of his head and gave a slight bow in return “Thank you for accepting my apology! I am glad that I ran into a fan! Most people would be very upset, or intimidated… or a bit of both. Which if you think abou-” he stopped himself as he closed his eyes and chuckled. “Sorry, stopping myself before I bore you with some odd talk about social reactions… If you already know who I am, please if you would I’d be happy to know who you are.”

His hand stuck out for her to shake, “Well… at least I think you know who I am, I don’t mean to speak for you, but if you need an introduction, I can oblige.” he gave her a playful grin as he spoke his massive hand still outstretched if she wanted to take it.

Jocelyn's enthusiasm was resplendent to witness. A huge grin broke across her face and she blushed prettily. Taking his hand she shook it as a giggle of happiness slipped free. "Oh I know who you are. How could anyone not!? Only like the greatest wrestler in the world! The Judge! I mean seriously who could stand up to this face? No heel that I know of! And I'm babbling. Yeah just gonna-" She put her free hand over her mouth to stop the torrent of words but her gray-green eyes sparkled and she could not stay still.

Practically hopping up and down with excitement Jocelyn attempted to regain her composure. She was hard pressed to stiffel her excitement but she managed to calm herself down to just grinning and letting out a cute giggle now and again. OMG where is my intellect? I sound like a brainless girl! Why?! This is mortifying! Say something smart! Impress him with your wit! Something! Jeebus one good looking guy and your brain turns to mush!

He laughed at her comments as she shook his hand, his eyes connecting with hers as she covered her mouth. “Well, I mean, certainly not Johnny Gargano, he didn’t stand a chance yesterday." he said with a grin as he seemed to almost flex as he spoke. But he remained having eye contact with her as his head tilted. “What was your name by the way?" he asked giving her a toothy smile and chuckle as he did

“I like your eyes by the way, I’ve never seen any like that, they are pretty.” The Judge would say nonchalantly. He looked around finally breaking his eye contact before looking back at her, that smile still wide as ever. “Sorry that might have been awkward for you, I kinda just say whatever is on my mind at the time” he seemed to scratch his head with a slight chuckle. “Well I’ll tell you what, I know you said it’s okay, but I still feel bad for essentially body slamming you, is there anything I can do? Get you some coffee, some VIP passes to tonight’s show? Both?" He brought out a ticket on the lanyard that said ‘Backstage, WWE’ and had a barcode on it, he held it out for her to take.

“And if I’m not mistaken there was a coffee shop back there.” he said pointing behind him and looking back before turning to look at

Lifting her hand from her mouth Jocelyn gaped at the backstage pass. "Jocelyn. My name is Jocelyn. Coffee is good. I… uh...You think my eyes are pretty? I… thank you. You don't need to apologize, you can body check me anytime." She went bright red. "Ohmygod that came out wrong! I mean...not that you would want to or maybe you would...oh God… I'm gonna die of embarrassment. Coffee? Yes. Backstage pass? That's really too generous. I shouldn't accept."

The Judge watched her stumble over her words and cleared his throat at her comment his eyebrows raising as he himself turned a bit red and looked up at the ceiling slightly. “Hey, that’s okay, no worries to worry, it happens. I say things that seem to just spill out as well” he’d say trying to reassure her. Man, don’t just stand there, how many times have you been in that exact type of situation not knowing what to say and the stupidest thing comes out. Come on Caleb… no, Come on, what would the Judge do?

“It’s very nice to meet you Jocelyn.” his smile to her now, desp[ite being slightly red in his own face was genuine, and warm, it would seem almost comforting to most people. “I Insist on the pass though, after all, once we get coffee we will be friends, and I always get my friends backstage and VIP passes to the show. Free of charge of course... That is, of course if you are okay with being friends for now.” As those words came out he thought to himself “You idiot, she is going to take offense to that or be creeped out! We don’t want to scare people away or seem creepy, just cause you are trying to be playful because you see a pretty girl who also likes wrestling and is your fan doesn’t give you the right to break character like that! He looked at her now there was a bit of worry in the back of his mind but he would wait to see what she said.

Blushing Jocelyn bit her lip and then smiled as his words came across as flirting. No way! I'm imagining things. He's flirting with me? Me?! Pushed by some inner demon Jocelyn flirted back. "For now…?"

Nodding she accepted the pass. "Well then coffee and you can count me as a friend. My friends call me Joss or Jossy. At least they would if I had any. Anyways..." Smirking and lifting a blonde brow. "For now, my treat on the coffee. Won't you be recognized? I'm pretty sure you're going to be beating the women off with a stick." She looked him over. "Hope you have a big one handy cause there might be more than a few."

Jocelyn groaned inwardly as she ran her hand through her waist length pin straight blonde hair. Just someone kill me now. Can you please not say the first thing that comes to mind? Think before you speak! Jeebus Joss get a grip! Stick? Big one? Could you be more crude? See this is why you don't have friends much less a boyfriend.

Outwardly he continued to grin at her as she spoke, inwardly he was literally screaming about the ‘for now’ comment. But he seemed to pause as he realized her question. Okay, maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing to say, nice job Caleb. Now follow it up, you gotta remain mysterious, after all, she is coming to the show tonight...hopefully.

“Yeah, for now. if his grin could get any farther up his face it would, but at this point it had reached its maximum height, his dimples were showing and he seemed slightly red. “After all, you never know what will happen in the future, right?” he’d respond with before standing up straight now that she took the pass. He seemed to step out of her way as he motioned for her to join him moving towards the coffee shop. “Well Joss, let’s get that coffee.” He paused for a moment almost like he was thinking about what he was about to say, the fact though was he did not think about it really the question just popped up and out of his mouth it went. “How can a girl like yourself not have any friends? Usually pe-.” Usually people like what?! Like what?! I swear you have never been out in public before, quickly think of something. People who are smart, no you don’t know that, people who dress well, no that sounds creepy, screw it, just go in for it. “People who are pretty like yourself tend to have many friends. Color me shocked.”

Smooth he thought to himself sarcastically. If he wasn’t red before he definitely was red enough for her and everyone in the mall to notice he was blushing now at her comment. “Haha, don’t worry, not too many people recognize me that often, and even if they do they tend to want a picture, or an autograph, I don’t really have to chase many people away, usually they are respectful, I’ve only had a couple people who have caused some issues… mostly press, then it’s usually parents who want me to come to a party for their kid or sign something, hardly ever do I have to worry about having a stick with me.” he was still trying to play it off as if he didn’t get the possible innuendo, but the red on his face said completely otherwise.

Blinking Jocelyn noticed he said pretty. Called her pretty. Again. "I'm not… never mind. I guess I just don't get out much. And the only people I really know are fellow scientists. Uh… I'm a geneticist. Bit of a nerd. Like Leonard and Sheldon and Amy from The Big Bang theory. Which is hysterical by the way and so very true. Did you want me to call you by your first name, Caleb? If you don't mind that is! We are friends...for now." She grinned at that last part teasing him unmercilessly.

Walking beside Jocelyn glanced up and over judging his reaction. He is quite handsome when he blushes. Very much so when he smiles too. I could get used to having a friend. At least that.

They got to the door of the coffee shop and she reached for the door handle. "I would have thought with you being as amazing as you are that you'd be mobbed everywhere you went. Do people really not recognize you? I mean I did."

His eyes quickly shifted as she began to say something that she wasn’t but when she left it alone he seemed to leave it alone, his eyes quickly moving back to straight ahead. “Ah, I love that show!” he exclaimed as she spoke about the Big Bang Theory television show. “A nerd huh? I’m pretty nerdy myself if you haven’t noticed.” he pointed to his small pink fanny pack which laughed at himself for wearing. “But a geneticist, that’s pretty awesome, so you are probably about 10 times smarter than me.” he scratched at his head again as he said that laughing the joke off despite it being self deprecating.

When she said ‘for now’ he raised his finger up to her and spoke in an equally playful tone, “For now” he had repeated that smile till on his face. “Yeah, you can call me Caleb if you want, it would make more sense than calling me The Judge, or Judge, all the time. Especially when we hang out more.” he said, giving a nod.

When she reached for the door handle he seemed to stop watching her reach for it, he wasn’t sure what he should do, afterall, he should technically get the door for her, but didn’t want to intrude on her independence, in fact she was already almost at the door!

He calmly waited for her to start opening the door and brought his large muscly arm above her to grab the top of the door after she had opened it and held it open for her offering her the ability to step in. Crisis averted, that was smooth thinking he thought to himself. “Haha, yeah I mean, I can put on a decent wrestling match, but all credit to the writers on a lot of the stuff that happens, they really are the workhorse behind the shows.”

“As far as people recognizing me, I mean it happens but not nearly as much as you would think, it’s not like I'm J-Cole, or Tom Brady, or Robert Downey Jr.” He chuckled as he watched her, to see how she reacted at this point. “It does give me a thrill when I meet someone who does recognize me, and you may have noticed me, but not everyone is as cultured and awesome as yourself.” he gave her a bit of a wink as he said that and would follow her if she walked inside.

Jocelyn noticed she was tiny enough that she didn't have to duck under Caleb's arm as she walked into the coffee shop. Inhaling deeply she caught the smell of coffee, chocolate, rich vanilla, cinnamon, caramel and baked goods. "I love the smell of coffee. It reminds me of home. They say that memories are attached to scents. This is the smell of home for me."

Walking up to the counter Jocelyn smiled at the woman behind the counter. "Do you happen to have Earl Grey?"

The woman grinned and nodded. Turning to Caleb and giving a little flourish Jocelyn reached out and pulled him closer to the counter so that the woman wouldn't have to strain to hear his request.

Caleb walked in following behind her and was looking around the shop, and then up at the board. He moved as Jocelyn had pulled him, he wasn’t expected to be pulled so he moved a bit further than expected, moving literally right next to Jocelyn as he looked up at the Menu. “Can I please, get a cold Chai tea, with milk and extra chai.” he’d say lifting his arm up and pointing at the menu for just a moment with a smile on his face. “Oh, and a medium please.” he’d add on as he looked down at Jocelyn and gave her another smile.

After taking the order he’d say to her. “That’s an interesting thought, I guess that’s why I love the smell of the rain, so much. It reminds me of my own home. So where is home for you then? Did you live close to a coffee shop?"

After they would have finished ordering he would tell her, "I appreciate again, you offering to pay for the coffee, you really didn’t have to but I feel honored that you did." he’d say following her to wherever he thought would be best to sit in this coffee shop.

Jocelyn picked a couch by a large window. Settling in she cupped the teacup and sipped sighing. "Oh no. My family are farmers in a tiny little town called Pilot Grove just east of here. Coffee was always a staple for them."

Taking another sip Jocelyn smiled at Caleb. "Please it was my treat and if it pains you that much you can treat me next time. Sound fair?"

Jocelyn leaned toward Caleb. "Let's pretend I don't know as much about you as I do and you tell me where home is and why you like the rain. Which I confess I do too." She was grinning broadly by the end of that statement and had kicked off her shoes pulling her legs under her, looking quite girlishly adorable.

Caleb took up his chai tea, the cup was tiny in his hands as he walked with her to the couch and sat down listening to her. “I see, well that makes a lot of sense. And don’t worry it doesn’t pain me, I just appreciate it, but I’ll still take care of the next one!” he exclaimed.

Caleb sat and thought for a moment before looking at her with her legs under her a slight blush hitting his cheeks before he shook it off quickly. “Well you see, I grew up in the suburbs of Portland, Oregon. Over there it rained ALL the time, and I mean ALL the time." He took a sip and grinned as he looked at the cup, “Not bad!” he’d say pointing at the cup before shaking his head, “Sorry! Focusing!” He’d say as he had obviously gotten distracted. “But we had a saying in Oregon, specifically the west part of it. You get 3 months of sun and 9 months of rain, which is basically true, but I always like the cold better than being too hot. So, then rain represents that coldness cause you can always bundle up more!”

He grinned as he spoke and stopped himself from going into another rabbit trail “But also, I think it’s just awesome, awesome to watch, awesome to listen to, and thunder and lightning are so powerful and fun to watch, it’s like watching a light show if you’ve ever seen one of those. But most of all, I like rain because.” he stopped for a moment, a smile now softer on his face as he seemed to look out the window as he spoke. “Because the rain is seen as a dark moment for a lot of people, sadness, and darkness. But from that we get life, and plants and water for our food and ourselves. So it reminds me that no matter how long the rain lasts, it rains because it will bring life.” he’d stop as he kind of blinked at her now not knowing what to expect her to say.

You just had to get philosophical didn’t ya, sappy?! Well way to go no telling how she’ll react now!

Excitedly Jocelyn leaned closer as he talked about rain. She put a hand on his arm as he blinked back into reality. "Exactly! Rain is always a good thing! Well in moderation of course. Flooding is bad. But most things are good in moderation."

Jocelyn bit her lip. "Thunder still makes me squeak like a girl. It's embarrassing!"

Oh good, she didn’t mind your little tyrade! he thought to himself.

“I’m glad you understand! Not many people do! And don’t worry! It can be scary for sure, I guess I just may be used to it. It is easier to listen to when you have someone around though!” He said encouragingly.

“But yeah, other than that, I miss home at times, after all, it’s nice, cool and it’s beautiful, has some great trails, and great food… and beer as well.” he’d look up for a moment as he sipped on his drink again and set it down. “Plus they always turned out for me, whenever I was a heel, or a face, they always gave me the best of reactions. I’m hoping for a great reaction tonight, we got some good stuff planned. But besides work." he’d say the last part with a wave of dismissing it. “Sorry about that, back on topic, honestly, I could sit under like a glass ceiling and stare up into the sky or sit in a car and watch the lightning, and rain all night. To me it’s relaxing. There was one time where I was in Seattle, and this bolt of lightning hit right in front of our van. It was super bright and loud, but it was really awesome.”

Caleb picked up his drink again as he took another sip before asking, “What brought you to leave your hometown?”

Jocelyn smiled warmly as he talked. "Sounds like you miss it. I left my hometown for school. My parents wanted me to be all that I could be. So I graduated early from high school at the very top of the class and went straight into college and did the same there. I got really lucky that I found a job here at Lexcore. It allows me to send money to my parents and stay close. What about you?"

Caleb nodded as he spoke, “I do miss it sometimes, but it’s nice here, but I really don’t have anyone to go back home to, my family moved away from each other, I don’t REALLY have a place that I call my own except a small apartment. Most of my friends have gone off to do their own lives, get married, have kids, etc. I guess I miss more the memories that once were if that makes sense. Even just gaining popularity in the indie circuit there was fun, a lot of people at a professional level they just are different. Ya know?” he’d say now finishing his chai before setting it down again.

Jocelyn nodded then looked at Caleb with curiosity. "So how come you're not practicing for your match tomorrow?" She scooted forward and felt her cotton shorts ride up. Blushing she set down her tea and attempted to regain the few inches of material with all the dignity she could muster.

Rocking back and forth attempting to slowly wiggle the material back down and not draw attention to her actions she glared down at her lap. Pulling her feet out from under her she made a disgruntled sound as her shorts went from somewhat short shorts to booty shorts. Standing she brushed the material down to its former mid-thigh starting point. Blushing bright red she mumbled an apology and sat back down.

He was about to speak but she seemed uncomfortable and as she stood up he realized why, turning away slightly he scratched his head once more laughing. “Well you see, it’s not going to be the match that what I needed to practice for it will be later in the show, I’d tell you more but I don’t want to spoil it for you.” he winked at her as he said it before continuing.

“Plus, the person who I’m going to be running with today, is someone who a lot of people have been waiting for, and we have practiced about 20 times early this morning. We are pretty confident, especially since he is a pure professional.” He grinned as he looked up and seemed to be thinking about it for a moment as he looked at her, “It’s gonna be a blast. Just you wait. What about yourself? Did you get off work early?

Jocelyn nodded emphatically. "I got the day off so I could go. And trust me that wasn't easy. No matter how I beg and plead, don't tell me what's going to happen."

Looking around Jocelyn noticed that they'd been in deep conversation for about a half hour. They pretty well had the place to themselves. "I didn't ever notice that we were all alone."

Caleb looked around, as he realized they really were alone, even the person at the counter had seemed to have gone in the back or left somewhere. He seemed to look all around him. He leaned in closer to Jocelyn, “I’m glad you got the day off then, had you not, we never would have bumped into each other! Well I guess we scared everyone off, but it can’t be helped.” he said with a smile as he leaned back and gave a chuckle, “I do have to say though, definitely worth it, little did I know I would bump into someone who would be willing to clear out an entire coffee shop with our conversations” he gave her another grin as he lifted his now empty cup into the air as if giving a toast to the two of them.

Gently clinking her cup against Caleb's Jocelyn grinned. "I have to ask Caleb, what were you planning to do today?" She pointed at the fanny pack. "Cause it looks super serious and I interrupted you plans." Her grin got bigger. "Perhaps meeting up with a girlfriend? Do I need to watch my back for some ninja girl?"

What in the world possessed me to ask that question?! I haven't seen his name linked with anyone but how is it my business?! Oh God just let the floor swallow me up!

He would look down at the pink fanny pack and laughed, “Oh I was just looking around the mall, trying to see if there was anything that I liked or wanted to purchase. I always wear this though.” he gave another smile. “Whenever I go out, it’s so off putting and makes people shocked, so they usually think I'm just some muscled dad. You could almost call it a deterrent!”

He laughed at the comment, about the girlfriend, “No, not quite, I'm single, been single for a while. No ninja girlfriends that’s for sure. Why do you ask? Are you interested?” he asked playfully.

Instantly inside he started screaming What are you doing, you just met her!

Blushing Jocelyn started to stammer. "I...you see… what I mean...umm...I… well..." She looked down at her cup of Earl Grey and her next word was practically a whisper of a whisper. "...yes." She looked up at him from beneath her lashes.

What in the world just happened! Wait what if you're not his type? Oh God it'll be like high school all over again! Not to mention the disaster of what could loosely be called your social life in college! No one wanted to date you because you were too young, too smart, too pure. This will make that look like a cake walk! You idolize him this is going to be the most embarrassing moment of your life…

Much more casually than she felt Jocelyn shrugged and managed to mentally beat a compound sentence into her brain as a response. She cleared her throat. "But of course you'd have to be interested in me and I don't see that happening. Plus you'd have your fans to consider and if you even want to be tied down to one girl. So there are a lot of things you'd have to consider. Besides you just met me and I mean what if I have some quirk that drives you bonkers like babbling on and on and on." She quickly pointed out her outfit. "Or what if I don't wear the right clothes? You have to be very picky and let's face it there is soooo much nerd here that it is amazing that they haven't consulted me on at least one episode of BBT." She was babbling and she was bluffing hoping he didn't see through it.

He seemed to stare almost blankly at her honesty, and wasn’t sure what to say as she began to speak and babble about the things that were the reasons he shouldn’t date her, simply stood up. Without saying a word he walked over to her and knelt down, there was no one else around and he looked up at her and smiled. “Sure.” he gave her a smile, his hand outstretched as if inviting her to grab it.

I repeat, you just met her, you, you know what… actually it’s been awhile, she seems fun, funny, down to earth, and she likes your profession so you won’t have to worry about that. Not to mention.. She is stunning, hell, nut up or shut up kid.

“I’m okay with us dating, only on condition though, I get to be the boyfriend.” he gave her another wink before continuing, “That is of course, if you are okay with walking around with me wearing a pink fanny pack, and sometimes having to act with other females on television. If you can be okay with it, sometimes I come home and just pass out right away. What do you say?” his voice was low, calming and welcoming his heart racing as he spoke.

Stunned. Jocelyn was stunned. "Pardon?" Out of instinct she put her much smaller hand in his and her brain seemed to stop. His hand was warm and dry. Slightly calloused and firm as she curled her fingers around it.

He chuckled as his own hand encompassed hers. “I said, sure, let’s do it. As long as you can be okay with me, you know, doing the whole wrestling thing. I wouldn’t mind you as my girlfriend, you know, I know we just met but, hey, what better time like the present to go out on a whim. I think you are funny and smart, and you are beautiful, I'd enjoy getting to know you more. Besides, for the first time in a long time. I got to be Caleb with you.”

He seemed to pause as he kind of leaned back slightly, “Unless, you’d rather not. “ he’d say with a bit of concern in his voice.

Jocelyn's hand tightened in his. "You're so not getting off that easy. Yes I'd be thrilled to be your girlfriend. We have to discuss your version of beautiful at some point, but little steps. But yes I'm totally fine with your art as long as I get to be at every show. I am a huge fan after all. And I understand if you want to keep our relationship private. As long as I know it's just acting I'm okay with it."

Pulling Caleb back closer she tapped him on the nose. "Besides I got the better end of the deal."

He smiled as she spoke the grin on his face going ear to ear. “If you can take work off I’m happy to have you fly out with me to each show wherever we are going. Right now we are just going between Central, Keystone and Kansas to help ease tensions. But, I don’t think we need to talk about my version of beautiful at all. But that’s a talking point for another time.”

He nodded as he spoke quietly, “Right, private……." he seemed to go quiet for a moment, “Nah, I don’t feel like being secretive, or private.” He would move just slightly closer to her, his other hand moving on top of hers already in his hand. “If that’s okay with you.” he’d say, giving a large red smile.

Jocelyn giggled and slapped a hand over her mouth quelling the giggle. "Okay." Looking around then back at Caleb. "I could almost accuse you of planning this but that seems far fetched. It looks like we've been deserted." Smirking Jocelyn laughed softly. "I could assume you had some mental powers of persuasion but I doubt it."

He laughed as she spoke looking around there really was still no one there. “I wish I could tell you that you were right on that one. I wish I thought that far ahead, but unfortunately, not quite. I don’t have some special power of persuasion, although I am charismatic at times.” he’d say, giving her a wink.

He’d look up at the counter and see the barista was still not there. “Well, whole place to ourselves, but..” he stopped and looked at his watch real quick. “It’s about that time for me to head to the arena…. Do you want to come along?” he’d ask standing up fully now.

He looked over and now that he was looking over the counter he could see the barista taking pictures and hiding behind the corner, “Besides; I don’t think we are as alone as we once thought.” he’d say with a chuckle watching the barista who realized she had been spotted and hid back into the break room.

Smirking Jocelyn stood as Caleb did. Nodding she replied to his question of going with him. "Of course I'd love to go with you. Sounds like you don't want this to end." She teased him just a little. "I'm all yours till ten. I might be flexible on that though since I have tomorrow off for your show."

Caleb chuckled at her teasing as he kept hold of her hand and stopped as they walked out to the parking lot. “Wait. Did you drive a car here? I definitely did.” he asked as he seemed to realize if she had driven the predicament of choosing which car and coming back for the other. He didn’t let it mess with his head too much though, he’d be pretty down to take whichever.

Shaking her head Jocelyn smiled. "Nope I walked. We can take your car." She assumed that the arena was pretty far from the mall.

He nodded as he would then walk them to his car, it was a blue 2017 Chevy Camaro, he would open the door for her to let her get in. When she would be seated he would turn the car on and off they went towards the Arena.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

At the arena, walking her in the back Jocelyn would be able to meet many people, from the Ring announcer Joseann Offerman, to Jerry the King Lawler, to Triple H, to Drew Mcintyre, Baron Corbin, Edge, Randy Orton (His mentor) even the boss himself, Vince Mcmahon. He showed her his dressing room and introduced her to multiple new people, he offered her either a place backstage or out in the front row if she wanted. But he had to get ready, he was on first. He had to go get changed.

After changing he was the first one on, after the theatrics, after the announcements and the crowd going absolutely nuts he stood behind the curtain watching the television. ‘3, 2, 1, you're on!’ the coordinator said to him. That’s when his music hit. youtube.com/watch?v=zBUx6zTxr98 As it did the crowd roared with excitement, as The Judge walked out, in the back they could hear. “We are just 24 hours removed from when The judge had the fight of his life, fell off of a cell, and speared Garganno through the cell. I’m not sure how he’s still standing but he came out on top last night, and this place has become unglued with excitement.”

The roar of the crowd surged through Jocelyn and she let go of the inherent shyness that came with her personality. No one cared, she was a fan like the rest a kinship was formed. Her seat in the front row was a coveted seat and she made sure that she was discretionary enough to not be distracting. Though she could say how long that would be true.

Her mind whirled with the names and faces of the people she met. Actually met! Not five seconds but long heartfelt conversations. Jocelyn smiled wryly and wondered how she'd keep up with them all.

The Judge came out and was giving high fives as he walked down the ramp. The crowd cheered along as he moved seamlessly into the ring. Walking up he grabbed the mic.

“Hello Central!” he yelled out as the crowd cheered once more. He spun around the ring for a moment and when he caught sight of Jocelyn, he gave her a wink, it was also right where the camera was so many people saw it on the titantron as if he was winking at the whole crowd. “Man… I feel like hell.” he laughed as the crowd as well cheered. “But, I did what I said I’d do, I took Gargano, I took the best he could give me, and I gave it twice back. I did what I said I'd do, I put Gargano.. Down, I didn’t just put him down, I put him through the damn cell! Gargano, if you are listening.... Enjoy the hospital bed.” he’d say before running his hand over his head.

“Now down to business, I gotta be honest, I’m feeling hurt, I’m feeling weak, I’m feeling…. Like it doesn’t matter how sore I am, like I want to fight. I am the most dominant force here in the WWE, there is no one that can compare to me, you set up anyone in that locker room in a one on one fight, I guarantee you, they will wind up like Gargano, so it’s about time I start doing what I’ve always wanted to do, and start cleaning up the trash of that locker room.”

As soon as he said that music hit the air. youtube.com/watch?v=hE2GN8A8ybI

Jocelyn blushed as Caleb winked at her. She hooted and hollered with the best of them. As the music started she turned to see what they had planned.

RIcochet (a 5 foot 9, 188 pound man with a tattoo on his pec and a shaved head ) stepped out of the tunnel and raised his hand up and down as the lights sparkled around him with laser lights hitting his body. The crowd once again roared for their United States champion. He began to walk out as he spoke into a mic. “Judge, I gotta say, I respect you for what you did to Gargano, and I respect what you can do in that ring. But as far as being the most dominant. I don’t know about that, I mean, I look around your waist. And I don’t see a belt.” he’d say slapping the golden United States championship belt around his waist.

Ricochet rolled into the ring as he spoke, “And until you are a champion, I don’t think you can say you’ve become a dominant force anywhere. In fa-”

The Judge would throw his mic down and grab Ricochet’s from his hand, “Fine then, put your belt on the line.” Ricochet smiled as he nodded.

After a short moment of getting a referee out there the match would start, it started pretty normally, The Judge getting Ricochet in a few head locks, slowing down the match just slightly. But it wasn’t until The Judge bounced off the ropes to try to clothesline Ricochet that Ricochet would jump over the close line, then The Judge would run back and try to spear Ricochet from behind who did a backflip as The Judge went right into the middle ropes.

The crowd cheered at the sequence of events as Ricochet said loud enough for the TV to pick up, “You can’t beat what you can’t touch.”

The Judge went ahead and locked up with Ricochet easily overpowering him once again pushing him to the ground but this time when he got up a flurry of punches went to Ricochet’s chest and face as he backed up into the corner. “This is it, kick, toss out, interference” Ricochet said as soon as he did he kicked The Judge right in the leg, then in the chest then in the face slapping his leg so it sounded like hitting skin each time. The Judge reeled back and Ricochet ran at him and the Judge bent down and with both hands lifted Ricochet in the air and tossed him outside the ring.

The second he did he ran over to the other side of the ring. And on the television you wouldn’t be able to see it, but the crowd all could, running out from the Crowd came a hooded man who picked up Ricochet and put him on his shoulders, that’s when everyone could see his face. It was Brock Lesnar the Wrestler turned MMA star, turned Wrestler again, and he F-5’d Ricochet by lifting him from his shoulders and dropping him to the ground.

The Judge, unaware, turned around as Lesnar entered the ring and would find himself with a shoulder in the gut falling onto the mat as Lesnar got up. The crowd roared with boos as the bell rang. Lesnar then picked The Judge up and F-5’d him as well The Judge hitting the ground as a rather plump man with a balding hairline came out from the crowd with a microphone. As he spoke the crowd joined in.

“Ladies and gentlemen my name is Paul Heyman, and I am the advocate for the most DOMINANT superstar in all of the WWE, BROOOCK LESNAR!!!”

Heyman got into the ring and looked down at The Judge on the ground writhing in what appeared to be pain. “Brock took special notice of your comments earlier tonight, so he figured he’d come and give you a notice. For years they have stood in the Beast’s path and for years he has beaten, battered, broken, decimated, annihilated, and conquered them all. But you, you beat little Johnny Gargano and you think you are the best thing in the WWE? Please. In the words of a washed up beaten wrestler who is now a part timer. If you want some, come get some… but I can tell you now Judge, if you come after Brock Lesnar, you will regret every second, every moment, every hour that you made that choice, because like everyone else, he will conquer you as well. And that’s not a prediction. That’s a Spoiler.”

Hissing at Heyman Jocelyn then looked over and smiled brightly at Caleb. Waiting for his answer with impatience.

Heyman would flip the mic as Lesnar’s music hit and he began to walk away youtube.com/watch?v=aG6nYTdPvTg.

The Judge would slowly get up and walk to the back. A little later in the show he would be getting interviewed by a young woman with black hair, with a tight dress that revealed a bit much. “Judge, after what we saw tonight, are you really thinking of going after Lesnar?”

The Judge simply stood there and gave a nod. “Of course I am Charli, I appreciate your concern but I’ve been in tougher situations against tougher opponents, when I find Lesnar, he’s going to realize the mistake he made.”

“But Judge, sorry if I seem worried, but have you seen what Lesnar has been doing to his opponents, he’d been putting some out for weeks, some for months he’s been beyond scary… I just..” she now seemed to start acting shy, “I don’t want you to get hurt..." She paused before adding, "and I'm sure none of the WWE universe does either!" On the titantron and on TV it would show her head moving from his face down to his muscles, a hand tightening on the mic.

“Charli, I appreciate it, and I know what he’s been doing. But this is what I was talking about at the start, I’m going to start clearing up the trash, the filth that is in this locker room. And now, that starts with you Brock Lesnar.” he stared right in the Camera as he spoke.

“When I find you tonight, I’m going to show you why you can’t beat me, because no matter what you do. You can’t keep me down. So when we finally fight, I'm bringing Judgement day down upon you!” he paused as he looked at Charli, “Oh and Charli, my eyes are up here.” he’d say before winking and walking away as Charli pushed her hair behind her ears and coughed slightly.

Jocelyn was floored at Caleb's acting skills. This is sooooo much better live than on Pay Per View!!! Seriously that was amazing!!!! Who knew?! He's so sassy! I mean if I didn't like him before then I'd definitely like him now! There has to be more! Musing about what was going to happen Jocelyn wasn't sure if she should run backstage or wait to see what was going to happen next.

About an hour further into the show right after a great tag team match. The titantron would suddenly flicker to the backstage area and show the Camera man running with noises “It’s over here, over here!”

When the Camera caught up It showed The Judge and Brock Lesnar beating on each other, throwing punches, as soon as the camera caught up The Judge would grab Brock Lesnar’s head and slam it against the wall as he grabbed Brock and started to walk him down the hall before tossing him into a trash can down the hall as the things clattered along the ground.

“Gonna dominate me. Huh?! Is that a spoiler?!” he yelled as he grabbed him and started to punch Lesnar in the head.

Paul Heyman could be heard yelling “Hey!, Brock! No!”

The Judge picked up Brock Lesnar and put him on his shoulder he then would move towards a bunch of boxes where Lesnar would squirm off the back of The Judge and shove him into the boxes himself. Now it was Lesnar’s turn, he started to punch The Judge as he was on the ground. Lifting him up and wrapping his arms around his waist as Lesnar’s front was on his back, Lesnar would german Suplex The Judge right into a metal garage door. The crowd would sound off with aloud ‘oooh’ as the sound of metal on flesh rang through the titantron.

Jocelyn winced as the clang reverberated in the arena. She watched the screen like a hawk biting her lip wondering what was going to happen next.

Lesnar would begin to pick up The Judge again as he hit him with clubbing forearms to the back. The Judge would suddenly stand up straight and headbutt Lesnar as he stumbled backwards and up some stairs. The two continued to trade blows as the Camera stopped following them.

Then they would appear, on top of the titantron and the staging lights near 70 feet in the air. The Judge would get a good hit on Lesnar knocking him back and then follow it up with a belly to belly suplex forcing Brock Lesnar to land on the top of the stage as the crowd cheered as The Judge got up and raised his arms to the sky screaming out loudly.
Of course that would only last for a moment as Brock Lesnar got up and another clubbing blow to the back of The Judge’s head sent him tumbling forward towards the edge as the crowd gasped. But The Judge got up and charged Brock Lesnar who would meet him with a flurry of blows, each person throwing punch after punch as the crowd cheered. Here was the moment, Lesnar was supposed to push him away and get speared, The Judge was ready.

Lesnar shoved The Judge. Maybe it was the shove was too hard, maybe it was that someone forgot to clear the wiring like they had during their practices, maybe it was because The Judge wasn’t ready enough, whatever it was, the shove actually caused The Judge to stumble back, his foot catching on the stage scaffolding that held up the giant red area and lights.

A gasp, a cry of fear, crying, as The Judge, fell, and fell, 70 feet down to the ground, but never hitting the ground. No, landing directly onto the barricade which immediately bent around him, then the scaffolding would fall landing also on top of him.

Jocelyn gasped as she saw Caleb fall and land. Oh God that wasn't planned!! Oh no I have to get over there! No wait… they're going to take him back to the EMT station. That's where I need to go!

Cries of horror could be heard as screams everywhere as the cameras were instantly shut off. Medical personnel rushed out; the background crew began to work to pull the lights, and parts of the stage that had been pulled down off of him.

Running Jocelyn made for backstage. She almost got stopped but she held up her backstage pass and the guard let her pass. It was simple to find the EMT station and she waited quietly in the corner of the empty room.

The crying could be heard throughout the arena as they finally moved the stage lighting and scaffolding off of The Judge, Medical personnel swarmed around him. But it only took about 2 minutes, and The Judge stood up, the medical personnel around him as they helped him into the back. He waved at everyone and gave them a thumbs up as the crowd greeted him with applause.

In the back he would be in the medical office as he sat there holding onto his stomach and ribs as the doctors argued outside about something going on. In the room.

Once the doctors adjourned outside Jocelyn came forward. "Caleb you goof, what happened? What hurts?" She came up beside him looking up into his eyes. She didn't touch him assuming that he was really hurting but was unsure if she should give herself away or not. She really wanted to hold his hand and heal him but what if he freaked out?

He looked at Jocelyn as she walked into the room, he groaned slightly, "I'm sorry, I think I screwed things up… I'm not sure how the next few hours are going to last."

He pointed to his skin where his ribs were and you could see massive amounts of reddish/purple on his skin. “I’m bleeding internally and there’s nothing they can do. They can’t take me to a hospital because they won’t be able to open me up.” he’d say slightly weakly before coughing into his hand as blood appeared on his hands as he coughed it up.

A look of worry came across her features. "Caleb you should be more than bleeding internally… does that have something to do with them not being able to open you up?" Jocelyn whispered softly in a serious tone.

He looked her in the eyes and with an almost look of shame got up slightly as he spoke walking over to the counter where there was a scalpel. "Nobody knows this. Nobody, but you are right. I should be dead, but instead I'm just dying with a punctured lung and damaged insides… but."

He took the scalpel, held it facing toward his arm and stabbed down as he did the scalpel broke off the piece flying into the air above him and clattering on the ground. "My skin can't be broken." He'd say looking away from her. He'd cough again, more blood coming up.

"I'm sorry, I know that's a lot for you to probably process right now. And without being able to be opened up the doctors are trying to figure out which hospital to go to. Since it's either they find a way to open me up. Or I die."

Jocelyn almost laughed. Instead she impulsively reached up and hesitated just before she touched Caleb's face. "Caleb you have no idea how lucky you really are." Placing her hands on his face Jocelyn reached up on tip toes and pulled him down into a kiss.

Feeling her power pull from deep within her rise in a rush to the surface of her skin and anywhere else that they were in contact. It was like a warm pleasant tingle. A tingle that spilled into Caleb and created a tingle in him as well. Well she assumed. She couldn't read minds but she hoped it wasn't painful.

Stepping closer Jocelyn's right hand slid down to Caleb's chest. She continued the kiss attempting to keep it as light as she could. She wanted to deepen the kiss but didn't want him to think her more forward than he already did.

Caleb would give her a strange look as she talked about how lucky he was, he seemed confused. “What do you mean, I’m lu-” He seemed to have been caught completely off guard as she kissed him. He would have his hands up for a moment but they would slowly go down as he closed his eyes and moved his head down as she wished.

He felt the tingling sensation spill out to his body as he seemed to tighten up at that, he felt himself feeling better with each passing second as if he was being… being healed. But that would be impossible…. Unless…

He wanted to move her, and ask her, though it seemed pretty obvious at this time, it couldn’t have been anything else. His hands began to move up but he didn’t want to stop it, her lips felt good, he hadn't actually kissed anyone in a very long time. He let it go for a couple of more seconds before putting his hands gently on her shoulders and kissed her back, for as long as she let him.

Jocelyn could tell that the healing was over but she held on for just a little longer. Breaking the kiss for air Jocelyn came down off her tip toes. She touched her still tingling lips with her fingertips and looked up at Caleb. "I uh…" She cleared her throat. "I apologize if I was a bit...forward. How do you feel?"

He sat there, seeming to be almost shocked at the situation that just played out; he seemed to stammer as he spoke. “It’s, it’s alright. You don’t have to apologize, did you… just?”

He seemed to stop as his hands came up to his lips and then went to his sides, and looked at her, “I didn’t know you could….” He paused as he moved toward her, “Oh you are brilliant you are!” he exclaimed and if she would let him he would pick her up in his arms and hug her.

Jocelyn squeaked as Caleb picked her up and hugged her. Laughing she put her hands on his shoulders. "Told you you're lucky." she put her forehead to his and bit her lip. "I wasn't sure if that would really work. Glad it did or my first boyfriend wouldn't have given… never mind." She blushed.

He would laugh with her holding her close to him, his forehead against hers, his eyes closing gently. A slight eyebrow raised for a moment but it went away. “I can’t believe it, I really am lucky… Jocelyn, you saved my life.” he’d say softly as he turned towards the bed and sat her down on it. “Thank you. For everything.” he’d say softly.

As Caleb set her down on the bed Jocelyn fussed with her hair. "Well you're welcome." She tossed her hair blushing and grinning. "Perhaps I did it for purely selfish reasons. Like I rather like keeping my favorite WWE face alive, and he happens to kiss well." She teased with a twinkle in her eyes.

He would laugh, “Well, be as selfish as you want.” he’d joke with her as he looked back at the doctors outside still discussing things with each other. The crowd could still be heard. As the final match of the night continued. Caleb looked at Jocelyn and right as he was about to open his mouth the door flung open as Vince Mcmahon walked in.

“How are you feeling?! That was a hell of a fall.”

“I’m okay Vince, thanks to some help I should be just fine.”

“Good, that had me really worried don’t do that again, and you and I will need to have a debriefing of what’s going on, someone is going to get fucking fired.” he growled out before looking at Jocelyn, he seemed to look like he was thinking looking between her and The Judge before nodding. “Anyway, you two have fun. Caleb, I will be in contact soon.”

Caleb nodded and waved as Vince left before he turned to Jocelyn, “Hey, you wanna get out of here?” he asked inquisitively.

Jocelyn nodded. "Pretty sure we both have questions for one another." She had moved closer to Caleb when Vince was eyeing them both. "Yeah let's blow this popsicle stand."

He would laugh. "Yes, I think we both have a lot to share. Let me give you a ride home and we can talk about everything."

If they got back in his car he'd turn and look at her as he sighed, "It started out slowly, at first pain was dulled. Then I was having to cut my head deeper and harder to get blood to come out. I'm not sure all of what I can do, but my strength has increased tremendously, and… my skin can't be cut, and my bones don't break." he'd share as he began driving, "I know, odd, but thus far nobody knows but you, Vince, and the medical doctors who take care of me."

"About as weird as being able to heal by touching something. Anything. Thank God I'm not a doctor or nurse. Can you imagine what would happen if I were to touch people daily? I shudder to think what would become of me once anyone found out." Jocelyn shook her head as Caleb opened her door for her. She sat down quickly and buckled her belt. "Though now that I think about it things have happening that require me to use it more often...Nah that is too coincidental."

Jocelyn smiles at a comfortable silence that descended in the vehicle and she hums along to the radio softly creating a counter melody. They quickly arrived at her place. "So this is me. You sure you're alright Caleb?" She put her hand on his arm and looked up at him. The car was dark but not pitch black so she could see somewhat decently.
“I can tell you one thing is for sure, if anyone were to find out, and if they wanted to come after me they’d find themselves having to fight me first.” he’d speak in a bit of a protective tone. “I think it’s perfect, personally, I can’t be cut and the only thing about me that gets hurt is my insides, and I find the one person who not only seems to like me, but also can keep me from dying.” he gives her a wink as he nods. “I don’t call that coincidence I call it fate”

As they got to her place he would look at her place his hand over the top of hers. “Of course I’m fine. I have you.” He would move his hand gently to her cheek and leaned in and gave her a kiss. “Try not to miss me too much, I’ll talk to you tomorrow, or tonight.” he said, giving her a wink, his hand gently moving to her hand.

---

As Scarlet predicted, Samantha didn't hear her shouts. A mixture of disappointment and acceptance plugged her ears as she continued down the dark hallway. The thumps of her tennis shoes hit the mosaic floor, distorted by the lengthy shadows and dim light. Weeks ago the museum director had insisted they use cheaper, low illumination lights for nighttime shifts. The lack of warmth caused Samantha to shiver then quickened her pace toward the back room. Thankfully, it wasn’t too far. Her heart pumped blood fast enough, it hummed in her veins.

When she reached the door, she paused. Her eyes lowered as she sifted through the numerous keys. A sense of being watched caused her to pause. Samantha stepped closer to the wall then turned about, her eyes narrowed at the darkest part of the room. Her fingers adjusted her glasses, righted them again on her nose.

She took a small step forward and addressed the seemingly empty hallway.

“Hello? Is someone there?”

Silence greeted her. Samantha lowered her shoulders and chased the tension from her posture. I’m losing my mind. The thought fluttered across her mind, her attention returned to the keyhole. She slipped the right key inside and gave it a hard twist. A muffled click indicated she had unlocked the door. With a heavy push, she entered. It swung shut behind to secure in place.

Pushing her fear and worry to the side, Samantha felt for the light switch. Her fingers pressed into the indentation. Click! Hiss, pop! Samantha cursed her luck. The bulb went out leaving her to scramble about in the darkness. Her fingers reached under her glasses and rubbed her eyes.

“This day sucks.” She muttered to herself.

Straining against the shadows, she couldn’t see a thing. Her arms stretched out to touch the wall and gradually began to make her way to the storage section. She failed to spot the plastic prop of a ‘mummy’ coffin. Her knee smacked into it causing pain to ripple through her nerve endings. The thump echoed throughout the room followed by Samantha’s small curse.

Her arm reached out to brace against the wall as she assessed her injury through touch.

From the obscure corner, a figure materialized then walked toward Samantha. Two gloved hands reached out then seized her. One snapped over her mouth, silencing her yelp of surprise. The other found her waist and pulled her against his body to fix her in place.

Akashi and Katie and a few other college students walked out of the wild wings restaurant. They were laughing and appearing to have a great time. Akashi stood there as the others were laughing about some joke that one of them made making fun of the golf coach at the university. He was giving a soft smile as he watched them. "Man, did you guys hear what Akashi did to that new guy?"

One of the guys said as he put his arm around Akashi's neck. "This man right here absolutely demoralized and destroyed him. But that's what he gets though for challenging our ace, isn't that right Akashi?"

"I mean he was never going to win, but maybe I could have done a bit more to not completely destroy him mentally" Akashi said with a soft smile as one of the girls shook her head.

"Nah, you step up you better get ready to get knocked down, not your fault, that guy was a jerk anyway."

"I swear though Akashi, it's like you can see the future or something, you almost always end up dropping folks on their ass."

"Well, I don't know about that." Akashi seemed to move his hair away from his forehead as he chuckled.

"Well, you are right, you also are just too fast especially in clutch time. It's like you flip a switch and things just start going right."

The group laughed as Akashi chuckled scratching the back of his head.
Soon the group began to slowly disperse and talk about the things that they have to do that day. "Hey, next game Akashi, I want to see you swat a 7 footer like that time you blocked that guy who was like what, 6 foot 7 or so?! That was insane to just see you coming out of nowhere and, BAM, smacked the SHIT out of that ball."

"I will try! I make no promises though! But our game in a couple of days should be a good one, I hear Kansas City University is real tough and from what I've seen they will be. It should be a solid game."

It doesn't matter though

I will win at all costs both Dagon and the Emporer thought at the same time.

"Ah, Akashi, you crack me up." Katie said as she leaned on him a bit obviously intoxicated. "You guys are going to absolutely destroy, you always do, after all 'your orders are absolute' " she said in a mocking tone as she chuckled, then others seemed to chuckle a bit more nervously at the comment as they've all heard when he had said it at them.

As the group dispersed more it eventually was just Akashi, and Katie as she used him as a crutch almost, "Akashi... I'm thirsty... can we stop somewhere to get a drink before we get back to the dorms?" Akashi would simply nod before speaking to her.

"Sure, Katie, we gotta get you sobered up anyway. Can't have you drunk and walking around campus." He'd say patting her on the back gently before bringing his hand back down to his side.
"Oh I don't have to worry about anything Akashi, not with you around, besides you'll just freak em out or beat them up, I know you will." She gave a yawn as she leaned on him a bit heavier. "You are a good friend."

What in the world was going on here this was not like Akashi, and even Dagon was not used to being complimented like that. What just an odd day, it almost as if someone had started a story about his life, but that's too ridiculous, today just felt off, he couldn't put a finger on it, maybe fate was messing with him and was about to put something in his way. He and Katie both walked into a small corner store. He walked to the back as Katie finally decided to walk on her own and start moving.

Akashi was having a bit of an issue as he grabbed his head and leaned on the glass of the fridge in the back. He seemed to take a deep breath as he shook his head whispering, "Fine, but only because you are literally relentless and I'm tired of fighting tonight but know if you mess with her or hurt her, I will hurt the both of us" He seemed to mumble right as Katie looked over at him and ran over to him.

"Akashi, are you okay?" she shook him a bit, "Hun, are you not feeling well?"

As she did this they did not have any idea what was happening up front as a man had walked in and pulled a gun on the lady at the register. The scream seemed to alert Katie though as she looked over and knelt down and tried to whisper, "SHIT Akashi! Get down!" But Akashi wouldn't go down he seemed to be struggling hard as she shook him and spoke, "Akashi you are scaring me, and I need you to get down so we don't get shot!" She exclaimed in the quietest whisper he could muster.

"YOU ARE ONE OF THEM AREN'T YOU!?" The clerk yelled as the man just spoke in a grumbled voice.

Akashi looked up now as he saw his reflection he looked into the two different colored eyes, one red, one orange, and he grabbed the Gatorade as he walked by Katie and picked up her drink. "Akashi! AKASHI WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" she began to try to yell in the quietest she could.

Akashi walked up to the counter as the man with the gun suddenly turned to look at Akashi, he was a balding man, maybe in his 40s. with teeth as sharp as a crocodile's and his mouth almost as big as one as well.

"Step aside" Akashi said without looking the man in the eye as he put his drink and Katie's drink on the counter.

The man turned and pointed the gun at Akashi, "Who the hell do you think you are; as if I am just going to say 'okay' and step out of the way. Put your damn Ha-"

Akashi's head shot up as he looked the man square in the eye, a red circle appearing around his iris' as the man seemed to stop in his tracks and staring directly into his eyes. Akashi spoke.

"You misunderstand, I was not asking, that was an order, and my orders... are absolute." he'd say as he reached up and grabbed the gun out of the man's hand by this time people were starting to record what was going on now. Akashi b brought his hand up and pushed on th3e man's shoulder, and the man began to slowly move down as Akashi continued. "Only those subservient to me can speak like that to me without lowering their gaze." he had pushed the man nearly effortlessly and slid the gun toward the clerk who had it in her hand. The man finally came to his senses as his eyes lost contact with Akashi's and he found himself sitting on the ground. He looked around and went to fire his gun only realizing it was no longer there. He looked at the clerk who was pointing the gun at the would-be robber. The robber stood up and raised his hand and looked at the two people as he opened his mouth to speak but wound up moving forward to try and bite Akashi.

Akashi moved out of the way as he simply tripped the man causing him to hit the floor. The store clerk closed her eyes and fired at the same time as it hit nothing as the man had fallen and the bullet passed right where he was originally standing. There was a loud scream as the sound of shattering glass could be heard. The robber now shot to his feet and ran out of the front door trying to cover his face as Akashi moved in front of the clerk and put some money on the front and started to walk away with the drinks and handed one to Katie who seemed to be in shock. "What..... how? But... you? Did you... what the fuckin... fuck, how the fuck did you just fuckin, fuck, FUCK" she started screaming out as Akashi turned to her and put his hands on her shoulders.

"Katie, it's alright, it's just neuro-linguistic programming mixed with a bit of hypnosis." he'd say with a slight smile, "Calm yourself. I know that was scary but you never have to worry with me around. It's like you said, I'll just creep people out... or beat them up." He gave her a comforting smile as she took a deep breath.

"You are right, that was very scary, I just... I Just was freaking out and I don't know what I thought, to be honest. I'm happy you were there to help though!" She said as she gave Akashi a hug, "Maybe you can help m-"

"I am helping you get home, don't worry once you are back in the dorm I will head back to my own place to sleep." he'd say flatly.

"Right..." She said rather in a disappointed voice. "Yeah that's what I meant after all!"

Little did Akashi know the video of him dealing with the robber was being uploaded, with full sound and everything, the police were shortly going to be heading to the college to ask him a few questions about what had happened.

Maybe you were right maybe fate really was messing with us to end up in that spot... we are gonna have to be more careful if we see things like that coming we need to try to see what it could be before being to rash.

Need I remind you who was the one that got so relaxed. Moreso than just that though, you are lucky I was in control, give up trying to handle things when it comes to people. You only are go-"

I am you idiot, don't tell me to be careful when I am literally you, and have you forgotten, I'm the one who actually keeps people liking us.

Then explain why I need you if I can comfort people like Katie who you are so intent on keeping as-

Comforting her is not the same and you know it. Jusgt accept the fact that you n feed me, or you are all alone.

I don't need anyone... I am absolute.

Kansas City, Missouri
Jan 1st, 2020 - Finnegan’s Junction

The second Rosa wrapped her hand around the door handle for her apartment she knew something was wrong. Not because of anything she could see, because Rosa Ravelo couldn’t see anything. She’d been blind for six months now and was staying here with a teacher with unusual talents, learning to live without her sight. Instead it was everything else that alerted her to the wrongness.

For starters, there were no sounds coming from inside the apartment, not even the slightest whispers in her ears or vibrations against her fingertips. She leaned in close to the door and pressed her ear to the wood, listening closer. The air inside the apartment was dead and still. No heartbeats in the normal areas, no radio on anywhere she could hear, even the usual hum of the A/C was missing.

Rosa could normally hear and feel all of those things, usually before she even got to her door. That was the thing about being blinded by a particle accelerator accident, really. Weird metahuman powers as a side effect. Her teacher, Stick, insisted they were a gift. Maybe he was right. Now if she concentrated, she could hear a whispered conversation from across the hallway, track scents like a bloodhound, taste every chemical in a soda in order of proportion and track a fly through a room by the disturbances in the air against her skin.

At just sixteen years old, she was Rosa Maria Portacio Ravelo: Blind Super Ninja!

She felt for the locking mechanism and that was different too. As she rattled the handle back and forth, the feel and sound of it put the tumblers in totally different positions. Someone changed it while she was out. She sighed. Probably another one of Stick’s tests. The old bat always thought she was too soft. Like growing up with a pitfighter for a dad in this city was easy. She pulled a hairpin out of her hair and started tapping two fingers against the top of the handle to map the inside of the lock. The mechanism was new but cheap, probably not too hard to open.

After a couple seconds spent getting a clear picture in her mind and fiddling with the lock she clicked it open. She took a second to check the door for any sounds on the other side again and repin her hair. Then she slowly pushed the door open as silently as she could even to her own senses.

As soon she stepped inside it only confirmed her fears. The air was colder than it should’ve been with another living person inside and there were no heartbeats in the rooms nearby either no matter how much she strained her ears. Besides, Stick normally stank up the place with cheap alcohol and even cheaper aftershave, like a molotov cocktail went off in an abandoned men’s cologne factory. But now it was faint, barely hanging in the air like he’d been gone for most of a day.

She tapped her white cane against the floor over and over as the sound bounced around from walls to ceiling and painted everything in a silvery rippling glow in the black canvas of her mind’s eye. Nope, no blind ninja hiding in the corners here. In fact…

There was nothing in the entryway to their apartment at all, or anywhere else the echoes could reach. No furniture, no radio or music player, even the A/C units were gone as far as she could tell. Just smooth, bare floors and walls like nobody had ever lived here at all.

She breathed in deep to double check and even the chemical scent of coolant from the fridge and the A/C unit were faded and weak along with the scent of Stick and the old musty couch he usually slept on.

Leave it to the old bat to have a team of ninja furniture movers, just to mess with her.

It was some trick or test or something, it had to be right? Get her thrown off by changes to familiar surroundings and get rid of obstacles before a fight. As a last resort she checked the soundproofed bedroom she used for herself, shivering a little as the sound of her cane and her footsteps died away against the flooring and left her breathing, heartbeat and organs as her only company. She tuned those out too. Her Eskrima sticks- training tools given to her by Stick -were on the floor in their carrying case, smelling of clean leather and smooth hardwood, but the room was still empty.

“Hey Stick?! You better stop screwing around or I’ll kick your ass!”

No response. Not even a trace of his usual smugness.

Which meant she.

Was.

Alone.

With rent due today, no job and her inheritance in a trust fund. She started struggling to fight down panic, her heart pounding in her ears like a drum solo and her body reeking of fear.

“Goddammit.”

She snatched up the sticks in their case, slung them across her back and ran out of the room faster than most people would believe a blind girl could move, letting the sound of her own footsteps and breathing echo off the hallway and down the stairs to guide her. She pushed her senses hard trying to check over the whole apartment complex. The building was pretty much empty this time of day and with her adrenaline flowing and her senses extended out to max she could already tell the only other person was...

three floors up...lone male, mid-20’s, high on weed and uh…occupied.

Nope nope nope. nope blocking that out for sure. By the time she finished tuning her senses back down and taking a hefty dose of brain bleach she’d already pushed through the doorway outside. Her brain was spinning and her feet were moving on their own. Can I find Stick? Yeah right Rosa, find a ninja master who taught you everything you know about tracking in the middle of Kansas City. Great plan. she stopped mid-step. Okay so I’m officially in ‘homeless blind orphan’ territory. At least until I can contact that lawyer in charge of my trust account. Where do I go? Paul’s pub, the Arsenal. If he’s not there maybe I can crash in the back but he’ll know what to do.” she started taking her usual shortcut through the park nearby, making sure to keep her senses dulled down and only really paying attention to the things in her immediate vicinity, feeling things out with her cane both through touch and the tap tap tapping echoes of it against the street so she didn’t get into any accidents. She had way too much internal screaming in her mind to really do anything else but go on autopilot. Where would she go from here? What would she say to Paul when she talked to him after six months out of contact with the old man? She’d followed Stick because he promised her control over her metahuman senses, but she’d also been using what he taught her for more than just day-to-day life so-

She was wrapped up in her own anxious thoughts when suddenly a tidal wave of sound and motion rolled over her from the park entrance and sent her reeling. The metahuman protest was spilling out of the park as some of the protesters jostled for space. The unexpected sound of a horde of shouting, agitated people was disorienting enough, but then someone bumped into her and knocked her over onto the sidewalk on top of that. Combined with her earlier anxieties it was enough to throw Rosa into a panic and her senses all overloaded at once.

The sounds of shouting and chanting exploded in her head. She could feel each bump and crack and loose pebble on the sidewalk like a bed of nails even through her clothes and a burning hot pain in her mouth along with a nauseating warm copper taste proved she’d bit her left cheek during the fall or maybe hit it against her teeth. The different scents of each person in the massive crowd, the acrid smell of blood from her mouth and even the chemical odor of marker ink on handmade signs nearby mixed into a nasal torture worse than pepper spray.

She wanted to scream, vomit and cry all at once but she fought it all back and did her best to dull the inputs and struggle into a sitting position. She grabbed her white cane off the ground, spat the blood out of her mouth and pushed herself up, swaying unsteadily and shaking. She was exhausted even though in reality the whole thing only took a handful of seconds at most. The protestor she’d bumped into whirled around, his heart pounding like an artillery bombardment, his muscles tensed, scents she’d learned to associate with anger rolling off of him like stench off the river at high noon. She didn’t need any of that or his facial expression to see he was caught up in the angrier part of the rally and pissed off. The shouting did that just fine.

“What’s wrong with you bitch? You blind or something?!”

So much for a Happy New Year.

@Athol

---

---

He exchanged a few more pleasantries with Gloria before falling silent to watch the Anti-Meta protesters; what they lacked in numbers they more than made up for in volume…and lack of basic empathy. Scanning the crowd he tried to single out the ones likely to actually start something; the religious fundies only fought with lawyers, and the far-righters only fought if they out numbered the other side; the crowd he was watching shifted slightly and he saw the one group he’d been hoping not to see the Asshole. They didn’t generally care what the protest was about, they just wanted to start shit.

One of them seemed to be looming over a rather small girl and was raging at her. Arty could hear him, but he could guess, judging by the asshole’s beet red face and bulging neck. The guy was screaming at the girl, and raising a hand; but it wasn’t until Arty’s own hand locked around his wrist, that Arty realized he’d just stormed across the ‘no mans land’ between the two groups to intervene. The asshole’s attention snapped to Arty, his lips curled to scream something…and then he stopped. The anger in Arty’s eyes, the same flashing anger that had parted the crowd before him as he came over, was more than the bully was prepared to face.

In the movies or comic books Arty would’ve tossed off some sort of one-liner, but instead he simply slowly let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding and looked down at the rather stunned seeming girl. Christ, I’ve seen CATS bigger than her… ”C’mon, I think we better go.” As he looked at her, he finally saw the cane. No wonder she ended up over here…couldn’t see ‘em.

Using a light touch on a shoulder, he got her pointed out of the crowd, before releasing the Asshole’s wrist and generating as much intimidation as he could to clear a path for them…which was rather effective. Once clear of the crowd, he guided her to a bench about half a block away; she still seemed so stunned by everything, he didn’t feel right leaving her until he was certain she’d gotten her bearings. Getting her sat down, he sat at the other end of the bench.

”Well then…uh…well, sorry touching without asking but I wasn’t sure how else to get you pointed outta there…” Fuck man, you need to spend more time with people…you’re awkward as Hell. He couldn’t help but chuckle at himself, his social skills were pretty shit. ”My name’s Arty…how are you feeling now?” As he said his name, he almost offered his hand for a hand shake. Real smooth there idiot.

Keystone City, Missouri
Morning-ish, January 1st

It did not take her long to locate the store she had seen on the news mere moments before. Something which she thanked her rather enhanced senses and photogenic memory for allowing. Still, hovering in the air above the store, she could tell that her… target, was not within the walls. So instead the young heroine closed her eyes and focused on the sounds of the city she had learned to tune out over the years. Eventually, through quite a bit of focusing, she was able to recognize the familiar voice of somebody muttering to themselves. The voice which belonged to her target. In a mere moment, there was a blur in the sky, then in front of the young man just after he set down the dog food to get into his home. The next thing Malcolm would be aware of, he was suddenly high above his house and being suspended in the air by the fabric of his shirt. Before him, a rather beautiful face was contorted in what was clearly rage, eyes glowing bright green in a rather dangerous manner. ”You seem awfully well for a dead man.” She growled dangerously, though there were just barely hints of other emotions in her voice. Particularly those of hurt, pain as might be expected of somebody in Kara’s current position.

Y’know, all in all Mal was having a weird day, all things considered— The dreams, waking up to an unrelenting combined assault by canine struggle-snuggles and nineties pop-rock, that whole damned clusterfuck at Miss Kovalenko’s he was still trying to wrap his head around…

And now here he was, floating over the goddamn city. Staring right down at his townhouse below and the two bags left abandoned in front of his door that’d made the whole adventure worthwhile; one filled with a big bag of dogfood and a metric assload of painkillers, the other as many pastries, meats and Slavic sweets Kovalenko could ram into there with her sledgehammer-like fists… which, as it turns out, was quite a lot.

That aside, the exact microsecond the young man registered the particularly precarious position he’d found himself in, his hands clamped down over those of his apparent attacker in a vice-like grip. Malcolm having no particular faith in his shirt’s ability to take the whole of his weight and no real desire to really stress-test that freaky-deaky endurance he’d been pondering over the last thirty minutes while taking the long way home, either. And then the orange and red returned, and for once he wasn’t too mad about it’s sudden appearance.

...And then he heard her voice.

Any and all thought came to an abrupt halt. His grip loosened, and his hands just sort of slipped down to her wrists, and his head travelled upward where their eyes locked; his own faintly glowing like amber-coloured embers in sharp contrast to the woman’s raging emerald fire.

This whole ‘glowing eyes’ thing really was starting to become a theme in his life.

”...Kara?” The young man responded, much more softly than she had, an initially happy expression giving way to one of confusion, hurt all of his own and then just a bit of sadness as he registered the way she was looking at him. Though his voice didn’t show it… not that he knew what exactly to say here. ”You’re, uhh… flying.”

He had wanted to see his old friends again. Her especially. Thought about it pretty much every day for the past two years.

This was… not quite what he had in mind.

”...It’s good to see you again.”

That one, at least, actually came from the heart. Though by the look of her, he got the impression the feeling wasn’t exactly mutual.

”That’s what you got to say, Malcolm!? You’ve been dead, and didn’t even tell me you were alive! Then you just casually say it’s good to see you!?” She shouted at him, though her eyes seemed to falter and start to fade. As if, somehow, hearing the voice of the boy she had grown a bit fond of all those years ago was managing to cut through the rage she was dealing with. ”Im sorry. I shouldn’t have done… this. Can we try again?” She asked, as her hands moved to support him better than just holding his shirt.

For a moment, Mal’s eyes seemed to glow a little brighter as Kara chewed him out, and his jaw tightened a little; Oh, he had plenty to say about, well, just about all that stuff; where he’d been, what he’d been through, that other time he died… but he bit his tongue and the glow in his eyes faded completely. Which, as it turned out, was a smart move, as the woman who’d had him at her mercy seemed to calm down a little herself.

A low, quiet sigh escaped him at that as he spoke;

”Yeah… I'd appreciate that." Mal admitted tiredly, though his eyes traveled around them briefly with a bit of silent wonder at the fact that, yes they were indeed flying. "I can- I want to tell ya everything; but it's a bit of a... long story. We're probably gonna have to sit down first."

There was a brief pause, before he added, pointing down at the abandoned bags below with just a glimmer of hope on his face.

"...I've got food and stuff too, if ya'd like."

”I… I’m gonna need to get changed first. I don’t wanna go in wearing… this. So, I’ll be back.” She said quickly, before setting Mal back in front of his house, and rocketing away into the sky. It would not even be a full two minutes later that she landed, dressed now in a more casual outfit of a green sweater, and a pair of jeans. She also has her trade mark glasses on as she looked the boy in the eye. ”So, lets go sit down and hear this story.” She said calmly.

Said boy, for his part, just stared up at the sky for a few seconds as his one-time highschool crush set him back down on the ground and then abruptly… rocketed off into the sky to go get changed. Something that, despite the day he was having, still kind of left him just a bit stunned. And maybe just a little grateful, he’d admit, gently rubbing his hands together to get some of the warmth back that the winter air had stolen from them.

...It’d be a little bit awkward trying to explain where that outfit of hers had sent all that blood that’d normally take care of that kinda thing, after all.

Wearily, his eyes scanned the rest of the street, wondering if anyone’d actually seen and let out a little sigh of relief when he found it pretty goddamn empty; a mercy he could probably attribute to half the neighbourhood still sleeping off their New Year’s festivities. Well, save for ol’ Mrs. Hess, who was just watching him from her bedroom window across the road as she did everything on the street.

Sheepishly, he gave her a little wave, even as his thoughts (and senses) turned to the house behind him.

’One pulse?’ The boy physically paused, mid-thought. ’Did Grandpa head out...?’

Not that he would complain, mind you, this would be a hell of a doozy to explain to the old man.

And besides, he realized, shaking his head slightly and letting out another strained sigh as he calmly shuffled his discarded grocery bags well out of the door’s way as Kara touched down again behind him. If what he was hearing inside was true, then he had other things to worry about.

”Alright, jus-”

Mal paused, seeing her again in her new clothes (with the added bonus of not being held up by the damned collar) and felt his cheeks grow a little flushed as some old feelings bubbled back to the surface for a second, before he averted his eyes and awkwardly cleared his throat.

”-Just give me a second, I think you may have tripped the, uhh... security system earlier.”

Honestly that was probably the best way of putting it, he surmised as he slowly climbed up the steps to his porch, unlocked the door, and, bracing himself, slowly pushed it open… only to abruptly catch [i]an enraged black-furred mass of muscle, teeth and claws[i] as it came barreling out of the house at Kara. With eyes seemingly glowing a murderous, ancient crimson as it pushed and thrashed and outright tried to climb over the boy for the chance rip the thing that had dared to even briefly threaten him limb from bloody limb.

The dog, apparently, had taken Kara’s sudden meet and greet a lot more seriously than he had.

”Sadie… Sadie!” Mal shouted, struggling to hold the thrashing, wolf-like creature that was hellbent on protecting her boy by any means necessary in place long enough to calm her down, even as her muscles seemed to bulge as she strained harder and harder to push him out of the way and a snarl that had no real place in the throat of a mere dog echoed out from her throat as she snapped, snarled and swung her claws at the woman behind him, even managing to push Mal back a step. ”It’s okay! I’m okay! She’s a friend!”

The dog paused. Snout and baleful eyes wheeling towards his face again in a way that seemed to scream 'BULLSHIT!'. Then there was a bit of sniffing, as if to make sure he was telling the truth. Then a solitary lick on the cheek as the glow in her eyes faded, her hackles went back down and her tail started a waggin’.

Finally, her legs kicked up as she forced her boy to catch and carry her, resting her muzzle in the crook of his neck and staring Kara down with an expectant look that seemed to demand affection as she lapped at the air in the girl’s general direction.

The MacAodhan house's security system, it seemed, had been disarmed.

Letting out a sigh of relief and then a nervous laugh, Mal turned back towards the girl, dog in his arms and a mildly sheepish, apologetic little smile on his face.

”...Would ya mind carrying the bags? Kinda got my hands full here.”

He asked in a… disturbingly casual fashion, as if this was just a completely normal thing for him.

She was literally bulletproof, and stronger than most things on the face of the planet. Yet, when that dog came surging out with murderous intent, Kara took a large, intimidated step back until Mal got the beast to calm itself down. As the beast seemed to change from kill to ‘I’m fucking adorable please love me.’ in a heartbeat, Sol was very confused. Still, she stepped forwards and gently pet the dog on her head, giving her a pleasant smile before stepping back and picking up the bags Mal left. Then gesturing for him to lead the way, Kara decided to let him lead the way inside.

Readjusting the grip on his dog (who in turn, readjusted his grip on him, after turning it’s attention from licking Sol’s wrist to having another go at the boy’s face, of course) and offering a slightly-muffled ”Thanks.” (again, dog) to the girl as she picked up the bags, Mal finally led the way inside the old townhouse. Stopping a minute to awkwardly shuffle off his boots with one hand while cradling his big boofer in the other.

”C’mon, kitchen’s this way.”

Not saying much else, partly due to focusing on keeping a grip on Sadie as she wiggled incessantly in his grasp as Kara stepped in behind him, intent on getting more headscratches and partly because of the general weirdness of the sudden realization that this was the first person outside his family (barring the Valinovas) he’d ever actually had over. And it just so happened to have been his almost girlfriend from way back in highschool.

Who could apparently fly.

And lift him like a piece of tissue paper.

Strange times all around.

Leading her down the main hall, past a living room in where one could find, among other things, an old Chesterfield sofa, resting atop vintage carpeting from the forties, across from a starkly modern widescreen TV, a glass cabinet containing a small shrine to his mother and father against the wall by the window containing the former’s old police cap, the latter’s green beret and a whole lot of pictures of both their family and professional lives. On the other wall, a downright ancient round shield engraved with a peculiar symbol hung over the fireplace, beneath an old Canadian Red Ensign and flanked on either side by pictures of a smirking Churchill and a grinning Eisenhower, who were themselves flanked with a on the outside by a Union Jack and Star Spangled Banner respectively. With a few other pictures and knick-nacks from that era resting on the mantle beneath it. Up to and including a smaller picture of Patton where, in the corner if someone had a particularly sharp eye, one could make out the words ‘DRINKS ARE ON ME, YOU GLORIOUS SON OF A BITCH!’ scribbled in hasty handwriting and permanent marker. Walking briskly past a few more pictures in the hall, among them a slightly yellowed group shot of a small group of soldiers circa the First World War, all drinking in a bar in Paris, and another portrait from the same era of someone who very strongly resembled someone Malcolm himself might grow to look like, they finally arrived in the kitchen, where Mal carefully set his pooch down, though he made a point of keeping her rooted to the place with some tactical belly rubs.

”You can go ahead and set them down anywhere.” He said, motioning to the room. ”Though I’ll warn ya now, the minute you sit down, Sadie’s gonna be all over you— She loves meeting new people.”

It was actually the first time she had ever even been over to his place, she realized. Seeing as they had done their tutoring at home or V’s place, she had never really been over to Mal’s house. Taking a look around, it was certainly rather well decorated and looked pleasing enough. Certainly not the eldritch horror of necromancy she was halfway expecting when walking into her dead-nearly-boyfriend’s house. Setting down the bags on the table, she did one last turn before stopping and giving Mal a hard look. Quickly, she produced her phone from her pocket and took a picture of the young man, and immediately held up a finger to tell him to wait after the picture.

Going to her favorites, and seeing those texts from Verra, Kara had a single minded goal in her head. Attaching the image to a text, she sent a simple message to her best friend.

Hey V, look who I found today. At his house. Might wanna come hear how he isn’t dead.

She texted, then turned to look at Mal. ”That was V. I think she’s gonna wanna be here to hear how you aren’t dead.” She said firmly, not exactly leaving room for protest in her tone.

---

Meanwhile across the city and over the river a certain someone was still waiting for a text back from another super-powered someone, sitting back on the couch and watching a bit of daytime television. With the exception of a thwarted bank robbery, another thwarted convenience store robbery and a metahuman rally later in the day, it was all rather boring if she was being honest with herself. Normal was boring though, and it was steadily starting to sink in that little bit. Everything was calming back down to the point that she was almost over the fact that her longtime friend had just flown through a bank and a bunch of bad guys. Okay, she was still LeagueSalty over that, but it would pass.

Then her phone buzzed and she was quick as ever to pick it up and see the texts she had just gotten. Finally, a response and maybe even a reason for disrupting her day. Oh. The image on the screen reflected in emerald eyes as she took in what she had just been sent, just about to respond with the rather impulsive congrats to Kara on finding someone that wasn't a sentient garbage heap like her last boyfriend. She paused though, scant seconds passing as she looked at the rather confused guy's face and started to put things together. He was a bit buff but the resemblance was rather uncanny…

A few things happened once it finally clicked. First, the phone left Verra's hand as she let go in surprise, excitement surging through her body just like the energy that had cursed her to an extraordinary life. Then she was up and in her bedroom, changing into something that wasn't basically pajamas and as most of her wardrobe had sadly needed to be, rather friction resistant. Jeans, pink t-shirt and running shoes back on she was out the door and had it closed with the alarm set before the phone had moved even a centimeter. Kara's text had only just loaded and been marked as sent for a few seconds when faster than anything, much less any person had any right to move, the third member of their high-school trio came bounding into the room.

One step through the threshold, foot pressing firmly into the floor to propel the second forward, and then planting a full ten feet from Malcolm to send the girl into a hypervelocity tackle-glomp aimed directly for him.

Mal had barely even processed what the previously-flying girl had said before the dog that’d been oh-so-contentedly wiggling on the floor under his belly-rubs abruptly froze in place, staring down the hall towards the front door in pure canine confusion. Prompting the boy to follow her gaze as something… odd... began hammering in his ears.

’Are those… footsteps?’ He thought, slowly getting to his feet.

It was the only warning he got.

Before an all-consuming ’BOOM!’ thundered in his ears and something came slamming into his chest at speeds approaching Mach Turkey. Knocking him well off of his feet, into the air and straight through the sliding glass doors leading to his small backyard and directly into the trunk of his grandpappy’s prized apple tree.

As well as cracking a few of his ribs, if the [i]’Crunch![‘/i] in his ears was any indication.

Hissing a little as he came sliding down the solid trunk behind him to flop on his ass in the snow, leaning up against the trunk, he remained mostly silent— save for a few ragged breaths escaping him as those cracked ribs began to snap and grind together as his body got to mending itself.

”...What in the godda-”

He finally managed to rasp out, but stopped as he opened one eye and caught sight of what, or rather who was clinging to him right now.

A shaking hand rose to lift a bit of scarlet hair out of the way, as if to confirm what he was looking at. It’s opposite coming to rest on the girl’s shoulder. Experimentally. Seemingly to check that she was, indeed, real.

Though his ribs had mostly mended by then, his breathing became even more ragged when he found both to be true. A slight tremble started at the corner of his mouth, one of those shaking hands sliding down from her shoulder to her back, the other finding its way behind her neck as, without further warning, he wordlessly pulled her into as tight an embrace as he possibly could without snapping her in half. Burying his face into her collarbone, shaking all over and actually sniffling a little, if your hearing good enough to hear it, as he finally received (via hypersonic delivery) what he’d probably really needed after all this time and all he’d been through…

A hug.

The moment, however, passed. As Sadie, true to form came trotting through the snow from whence they’d both been defenestrated. Not in her full-blown murderous rage as she greeted most intruders mind you— having caught Vee’s familiar scent before she’d even broken down his door— but cautiously tip-toeing her way toward the pair to take a few investigative sniffs of the girls face… then a few licks.

As good a time as any to regain his composure, Malcolm reasoned quickly as he snorted a little and got back to his feet, lifting the redhead back onto her’s as well with all the effort it would take a normal person to lift a piece of tissue paper and setting her down about an arms length from him, but still keeping his hands on her shoulders, before the big black fuzzball could get any other ideas and tackle them both with excessive use of her tongue and wet dog smell.

Clearing his throat and quickly wiping something from his eye, He finally spoke;

”Vee... I…”

The words died in his throat as he caught sight of the state of the house behind her— the broken doors, the picture frames in the hallway now laying on the floor, those groceries he’d had to go through all that crap for laying strewn about the place— and his brain began to register what exactly had just happened. What had all led to it happening.

That headache of his began to start up again, and a fiery orange glow began to burn in his eyes, brighter than before as he for the first time during this whole affair, he started to look a little angry as his eyes turned Kara’s way.

”...I think it’s fair to say that I’m owed a few explanations myself, ain’t it?”

On the big list of reactions that she had expected to see out of Verra, slamming into Malcolm with a hug that just about would’ve killed most people was firmly not on the list. Which of course, raised even more questions in Kara’s mind as she focused in on the fact that not only was Malcolm alive, he was getting back up. Seeing the way his eyes started to glow and he seemed a bit angry looking at her, her own eyes seemed to light up a bit with their own green glow. ”Watch it, Malcolm. You’re the one who was ‘dead’ all these years.” She said in a firm tone, a hint of the girl’s own flash temper that both parties were well aware of inching its way into her tone. ”I didn’t know she would charge in like that, but you still owe us an explanation on how you’re not ducking dead.” She said firmly, crossing her arms and looking a bit like she was once more starting to reign in that anger that always seemed to rip through her with a certain ease.

To this, Malcolm’s brow furrowed and he felt his lungs instintctively take in a sharp breath. A sign that his own ire that, while not as famously explosive as Kara’s, was a known force of nature all its own for its sheer focus and depth, was beginning to rouse. As some particularly unkind words for the blonde-turned-pink haired girl began to form in the back of his throat. Well… until his hands, still on Vee’s shoulders, almost started to involuntarily clench, stopping the second he registered the resistance of her skin. His train of thought came to an abrupt halt as his eyes snapped back to the girl before him to check that he hadn’t accidentally popped her arms off or anything crazy like that. Biting his lip a little in irritation all the same, even though she looked fine.

If there was one thing in the world he’d rather not accidentally break with his… oddness, it was probably his oldest friend.

Letting out a low, calming sigh and allowing his hands to fall off the redhead’s shoulders and into his pockets, he looked to the ground for a moment of thought, before looking back up between the two again as he spoke.

”I was dead. Died at least twice, in fact. And I’ll be happy to tell you all about it.” He said, in a flat, but still clearly irritated tone. ”After you help me clean up.”

He cocked his head to the side slightly at the girl still inside his house, as he added.

”That sound fair to you?”

All things considered she was more than fine. At the very least she had taken the revival of a close friend far better than the other, to the point she seemed unphased by the laser-eye high noon showdown she was stood squarely between. Unphased wasn't quite correct though. Seeing him again after the rather… Emotional last conversation they had, and the few days to follow that had revived many of those same feelings that she thought she had come to terms with. Just the slightest quivering of her lip, watering of the eyes and a reddening of her face began until she caught herself, taking a breath and nodding slowly.

He wasn't going to hear the full emotional explosion, not right now even with how badly she needed to unload it all, but she wasn't going to go all injustice arc on him either. Instead she reached up and gently prodded at him as she used to do when he put his hands in his pockets, showing that she was just fine.

"Hey, what did I say about hands in pockets?"

While there was a little bit of that emotion roiling just under the surface showing in her tone, evidence that she was working hard to keep from just gushing right then and there, she had that same cheer that he should have remembered. Then quickly she realized what had happened in her rush to see him. That slow turn as she looked back to see the chaos of a sonic boom contained within a house very much not built to withstand such forces.

"Right… Sorry, I got a little caught up in the moment… I'll just…"

The moment that last word left her lips she was gone again, this time at a much more controlled speed. A rush of wind swirled around them and the living room, objects disappearing from one place and reappearing in another where she had thought they had come from. Of course it was Verra's first time in the house too, though the personal connection between them had been a bit stronger than the one between her and Kara, or Kara and Mal. Here and there she stopped to look over one thing or another, distracting herself with various objects. "Ohmygosh, is this real?" She would say as she held up an antique bolt-action that had come from someplace that only her and Malcom would probably know, then it was back where it belonged. The shield rang out a couple times as she tapped on it from the middle of the room. A curious look met his eyes as she held a picture up, almost confused as she compared him to a vintage photograph.

"Unky Dunky knew Eisenhower?!" Her shout came from behind him this time, picking up the portrait from the snow, a trail melting from the intense speed and friction of her motion, then she was back in the living room.

"Hey who's Ray? Is he some kind of wizard?"
"Is this real gold? ow. Yes, that's real."
"Is this your sword? What about this?"
"Holysmokes. That's a big bullet."
"What does this key go to?"
"What about this one?"
"Hey wait, when did Unky Dunky go to Argentina with my mom?"
"Is this a key too?"
"What about…. Nevermind."
"Dog!"

In between her returning the house to something approaching normal she also stopped to pet Sadie repeatedly. As one does, of course. A pet here, a belly rub there, coming at her from multiple directions and showing the doge all the appreciation a good doggo deserves until finally when she came to a stop she was just sitting there beside her and giving her cheek squidges.

That look Vee gave him didn’t at all go unnoticed by the boy, who could do nothing but avert his eyes slightly in a fair bit of regret and shame at the sight of her wettening eyes and quivering lip. Sure, Grandpa Duncan had wanted him to keep a low profile— at least, for now— but between Kara’s omnipresent glare and that look on Vee’s face it was really starting to be driven home that he probably could’ve tried… something... to let his friends know he was very much not dead.

And then there was a wee poke in his chest, and suddenly the old Vee he knew was (mostly) back… and on top of that, she still apparently had the power to make him do shit before he even realized he was doing it, as his hands instinctively left his pockets and came to rest at his belt at her simple command.

And stand up just a little bit straighter as he turned his head back toward her again just in time to register her vanishing back into the house in a blur of red and pink.

Kind of an odd time to be dumbfounded by that— not long after taking that directly to the freaking sternum— but dumbfounded he was as he cast a confused glance at his dog who had the sense to look up at him with a small tilt of her head in a comically ‘Heck if I know.’ fashion before facing ahead again and cautiously as he tried his level best to keep up with Vee being… well, Vee.

Just at a higher Velocity.

It actually brought a smile to his face, truth be told as his earlier anger began to rapidly melt away— Another thing the redhead was still as good at as ever.

Didn’t really help him answer her many questions, though.

”Uhh… yeah.” He answered as the decidedly turbo’d smol zipped around the house plucking up all that old stuff around the place he’d seemingly been conditioned to never pay much thought to and putting them where it looked like they should go. Starting with an old Enfield. ”Grandpa kept it after the war, yer mum actually taught me how to shoot on that thi-”

Aaaand, now she was clanging on the shield.

”H-hey! Careful with that! We don’t actually know how old that i-!”

Another blur, and now it was a photograph in her hands.

”Uhh… Malcolm— the other Malcolm, my great gran-”

And suddenly she was in the backyard, excitedly shouting while holding up one picture in particular.

”Yeah, Ol’ Uncle Ike—” The boy paused for a second to cast a sidelong glance Kara’s way, as if, for the first time realizing just how weird it was to refer to the long-dead President as ‘Uncle Anything. ”—I mean, General Eisenhower bought the house as a wedding gi—”

It was after she abruptly went zooming past him again that Mal decided to just stop trying and park his butt at the kitchen table until she was done. Opting instead to watch in awkward silence, occasionally casting a glance Kara’s way that seemed to scream; [color=orangered]’What, and/or the duck?’ as the girl tore the place apart by paradoxically un-tearing the place apart. Bombarding him with questions the whole while.

Sadie, for her part and being a colossal slut for headpats and bellyrubs, did not mind in the slightest. Taking her sweet time to roll over onto her back between pets to lazily splay about the floor, just in time for Vee to finally stop and give her fuzzy cheeks some love. Leaving Mal to just stare at the pair in a few seconds of comical silence. And then cast his eyes about the place with a raised brow.

’Well… at least the Old Man can’t say I made a mess...’ He thought, until his eyes fell upon the still-broken sliding glass door. ’...Mostly.’

Eyes settling on Kara again, the boy cleared his throat.

Well… the hard part now, where the cluck should he even start?

He rapped his fingers on the table for a few seconds in thought, letting out a little breath as he did so. Casting a glance away from her and down the hallway again, where that other old picture beside his great grandfather’s still hung.

As good a place to start as any, he supposed.

”Well, I guess I should start by explaining that my family’s a little… odd… in that we tend to last a pretty long time” Mal began, pausing a minute to collect his thoughts, before pointing towards that same picture again with his thumb. ”That’s my granddad on the centre-right there, when he was around my age during the First World War.”

He then pointed to another, stuck to the fridge by a magnet showing… a guy who looked to be in his late thirties or early forties that could very well pass as his dad grinning ear-to-ear, lit stogie hanging out of the corner of his mouth and a colossal salmon in his hands.

”...And that’s him three years ago, on a fishing trip up to Anchorage.”

The girl had been about to agree and start moving to fix up the house whenever Verra just went and… Verra’d. Kara could only stare in silence, and slight amazement, as Verra went about the whole ‘cleaning and turbo smoling’ thing. Whenever Malcolm started to explain his family being a little strange, Kara’s eyes narrowed as she thought about how Malcolm had survived the hug from Velocity that very much should have killed him, and how his eyes had seemed to glow earlier. Between his explaining how odd his family was, the strange pieces of history spread throughout the house, and his apparent abilities…. Malcolm was not a normal person. Something that Kara was very quickly starting to deduce, though it was a fairly obvious thing to note. Perhaps it had something to do with why he was ‘dead’ for all that time. Shaking her head, the pink haired girl silently listened to the explanation, wanting to hear more about why he had suddenly up and died, then was magically not dead.

There was still a bit of that same anger evident in the girl’s posture as she watched with arms crossed across her chest, and her face remaining terrifyingly neutral, which was not something she often wore. Though perhaps a clear sign that she was starting to ‘cool off’ was the lack of some sort of sharp comment about getting towards the point, instead following along and keeping her tongue and anger in check.

And though Kara made a good show of keeping from verbally tearing Mal a structurally superfluous new behind, the boy did catch that look on her face. Cutting himself off midway through whatever diversion ramble about the… oddness... of his family he’d caught himself in to let his hand slowly drop down to the table and his eyes to cast down towards the floor. Suddenly looking and feeling rather tired now.

’Well… no way around it, huh?’

He didn’t particularly like thinking too hard on it, truth be told. Even as he contradictingly chaffed against the forced-limbo and monotony that had been his life in the past two months, biting down his restlessness, the rage, and increasing sense of helplessness and uselessness.

He didn’t particularly like thinking too hard on it.

He’d probably go mad if he did.

”Alright, alright… you’re gonna wanna sit down.” Malcolm finally said, resting his head in his hand. ”It’s a long story...”

---

”...And that’s about when Aunt Mari found me freezing and bleeding to death on the side of a mountain, in my underpants and weighing about a hundred and fifteen pounds soaking wet.” Mal explained, a faux-amused tone to his voice and a glazed look to his eyes as he stared transfixed to that same spot of floor he’d been for the past hour. ”Three bullets in my gut, four broken ribs in my chest, my left shoulder dislocated, all the fingers on my left hand bent the wrong way, a chunk of bone sticking out my thigh, a crack in my skull nearly an inch wide and a four foot piece of rebar I’d apparently ripped out of my torso embedded in a goddamn tree about thirty feet away from me.”

A small, rueful chuckle escaped the boy at that. As if remembering a particularly bad joke.

”That would be the... second time I died, by my count— Apparently for all that, I still kicked the bucket while my Granddad was carrying me down the mountain.” He added, head cocking to the side a little as he paused and bit his lip in thought. ”...And, apparently, my heart just... started back up again a few hours later... Which I assure you, confuses me a hell of a lot more than it does you.”

Well, that said, he still much preferred his second resurrection to his first; the details of which he’d quite purposefully omitted. Kara’s inquisitiveness or no, that was a particular memory he’d prefer not to revisit any time soon.

Still, keeping his momentum, he carried on.

”After that, I just sorta… got better. Hell, I was back on my feet in just over a week!” Mal continued, pausing for a minute and raising his hand as a physical indication he was trying to piece together the right words… only for it to just flop back down into his lap as he clearly gave up. ”And somewhere in all that, I just started packing on muscle for some reason. And then started hearing things happening miles away, then took a look out the window one day and noticed I could actually see those things happening miles away. And then came the headaches and the hallucinations that I could see through friggin’ walls... though I guess if today’s proved anything, it’s that that’s actually a real thing, too. So it’s been an interesting two months, you could say.”

Letting out a long, tired sigh, Malcolm finally raised his head and looked between his two guests, a decidedly emotionally and physically exhausted expression on his face.

”Any questions?”

After the high-velocity restoration of the apartment to mostly good as new condition, the door still a little off-kilter but hanging in there, Verra had joined her two friends for hearing the full story behind the one's rather impressive resurrection. She had thought of making the joking comment on how one could make a religion about that, but she refrained as while she sat on the floor with a dog's head lazing across her lap, it was clear that reliving all of this was straining Mal. Through everything she remained silent, only nodding to him here and there to show that she was listening through everything and offering a supportive hand on the knee when it seemed that things were particularly rough. By the end of it she had an idea on just how bad he had it, quite a bit worse than Thea it seemed, as at the very least she got out of the same rough spot without dying. Again.

As he came to the end she had very little to comment on, all her questions rather frivolous compared to having a friend back, the second in so many weeks and the reunion honestly was more than she could have hoped for. Perhaps a little more explosive than intended, but he seemed honestly happy to see her and with their last parting words before the train… Well, that was better than the alternative.

"Well." Verra said at last, that slight accent tinting her voice as it usually did in times of emotional stress. "Explains why Mom has been a little more distant lately at least, and why she skipped out on dinner a while back. Though my bet had been on her and Unky Dunky having some kind of thing together, didn't expect it to be them doing a raid on some shadow organization's secret mountain base." There was only a slight pause as it seemed she was done, a playful smile rising up to meet Malcolm as she leaned just a little forward.

"They…. They weren't like nazis were they? Like, actual nazis?"

At that, Mal just levelled an incredulous stare Vee’s way for a few seconds, before a tired little smile slowly snaked it’s way across his features and a little chuckle escaped him.

”No… no, I don’t think so.” He said with a little shake of his head. ”Not fashionable enough.”

The more the boy talked about what had happened to him, the more Kara felt that same black hole in her heart from all those years ago opening back up. She didn’t speak, or seem to have any reaction as she stared in a stunned silence for a long few moments after he finished speaking. Many thoughts tore through the young woman’s head, but the loudest of them was that same one that had been plaguing her. She had caused this suffering. She hadn’t been using the powers she had to save him or the others that dreadful day.

In a sudden move, just after the first tear fell from her face, Kara flashed across the kitchen. In a moment the distance between them was closed, and Mal would find himself wrapped tightly in Kara’s arms. He would also notice they were hovering just off the floor, Kara having stopped their momentum the best she could, yet in return this caused them to gently spin a bit as they hovered. It was at this time, her tear had finally hit the ground where she had stood, and Kara just stayed here hugging Malcolm tightly to herself. Almost as if she were afraid he’d disappear again if she were to let go. ”I’m sorry Mal. I’m so sorry.” Was all she managed to squeeze out with a tortured voice as she shook a bit from her tears. The sudden change in emotion coming from part of her realization she had been unfair to Malcolm, and the other the release of the buildup of emotion from that event which Kara hadn’t let herself feel before. Now? She was simply unable to hold it back as she held him and cried, all the while apologizing but never specifying which sin she had committed and needed to apologize for.

To Mal’s credit, he only managed to flinch a little as he was abruptly glomped at ludicrous speed for the second time that day. Making a surprised little wheezing sound as he was suddenly snatched out of his chair and left hovering a few feet off the floor in the older girl’s embrace, stiffening slightly at the sudden contact before he could really register what was going on.

Then the boy felt something wet on his shoulder, and the slight shaking of her body against his. Finally clueing him into what was happening before the poor girl had even spoken.

’Ah… there she is.’ Mal (perhaps wisely) kept to himself, quietly returning the embrace of the girl he’d known those years ago— who’d apparently finally arrived through her own metaphorical traffic jam of confusion and emotion— after a moment’s (somewhat understandable) hesitation.

”It’s alright, Kara.” He whispered, stroking her back a little and trying to calm her down as she kept on crying and apologizing into his shoulder. ”I’m… fine. You don’t need to apologize, not for this.”

Malcolm would be able to feel the girl shake her head slightly in response to him telling her that she didn’t need to apologize, as they slowly were lowered to once more be standing on the floor. Breaking off the hug, Kara stepped back from Mal as she looked at him with a pained expression. ”It's my fault, Malcolm.” She struggled out, though reading his facial features, she knew he didn’t understand. ”I could’ve saved you Malcolm, I could’ve stopped all of this.” She said, pausing as she seemed to debate something before deciding to just come out with it. ”I’ve always been like this. If I hadn’t been in some fantasy trying to be normal, I could’ve prevented all your suffering right there and then…” The girl said, her features betraying that fear inside of her over how the boy might react that she could have prevented his last two years of suffering. ”I’m sorry.” She choked out once more, before falling silent, having said her piece.

For a moment, Mal just stared at the girl, processing all of what she’d just said, his brow furrowing a bit for a moment as she physically shrank away from him and stared at him with a mixture of guilt and fear as she spoke. For a moment his eyes cast down a bit in thought, tongue running over the teeth in his closed mouth as he mulled how exactly he should respond to that in his head.

Perhaps to the girl’s surprise, instead of anger or some other biting remark, it turned out to be a solitary finger wiping the tears off her cheeks.

”Kara. listen.” The boy said flatly, looking up at her again with a cocked brow. ”...I’ve made more than enough mistakes in my life to know that regret isn’t something to be held onto so tightly.”

That solitary finger on her cheek became a hand on her shoulder, squeezing reassuringly.

”I’m not going to fault you for being human.”

She just stood there, staring in silence for a few moments as she wasn’t sure to react. In truth, it was likely because the girl had spent every day since he had died blaming herself for the fact that he had. So, when it came to him actually forgiving her she was simply unable to accept that this was the truth. It stayed this way for a long few moments before Kara finally nodded, accepting that he didn’t hate her. Instead, a different thought found its way forwards. ”Mal? Who did this to you? Who are the people who took you away from us?” She asked, her mind focusing in on that intrusive thought. ”Are there more? Like you? People who need to be taken from there?” She asked, her tone more solemn as she seemed to register how many others might be in that same spot he had been.

Quietly, Mal’s hand slipped off her shoulder as the boy took a step back, flopping down into his chair at the table again and pinching the bridge of his nose in thought.

”I… I don’t really know. They weren’t exactly nametags or anything while I was there.” He admitted after a moment, chewing his lip a little and staring a hole through the floor. Pausing for a moment as his eyes flashed a brief orange and locked on something he apparently found… particularly interesting..., but then snapping upward again to look between his two guests. ”As for any others? They came and went, some I saw a lot, others only once.”

He paused for another second, folding his arms and now outright biting his lip before he continued.

”...But the night Gramps ‘n Mari were breaking in, another group of them decided to break out. And they weren’t exactly that discerning when dealing with anyone or anything in their way. So I grabbed Thea, started running like all hell and, well… I already told you how that one went.” He said, with a little grunt and a pursed lip at his own morbid half-joke. ”So, to be fair, I was a little too preoccupied to notice if anyone else had made it out or not.”

A poignant silence followed that statement, with only the rhythmic happy panting of the big boofer in Vee’s arms to fill the room. Broken only by the crinkling of paper as the boy slowly reached his arm across the table and pulled one of his grocery towards him, eyeing the girls as he did so.

”So, uhh... on another, slightly less depressing note… have either of you had breakfast yet?”

---

The door of the lab seemed to swing open as she walked in, before she let it swing back and click shut behind her with a familiar tone. Looking down the white walled hall, however, Sophia blinked for a moment as she noted the presence of a security guard sitting about halfway down the hall. He seemed to be reading a book of some sort, but as he glanced over at her in turn the cyborg felt a ping of the familiar in her mind. She only had a moment to process things, however, as the man quickly dropped his book, jumped up from his seat, and jogged over the short distance to get to her.

“Miss Sophia, you’re alive?!”

”Mark?!”

Mark had been a member of the security staff, albeit had usually stayed for just the long night shifts back before the incident. This meant they had run into each other a lot at times, though in the end he’d become kind of a fatherly figure in her life. Usually they’d before just gab about everyday life somewhat, common and basic things, though at times she’d talk about her work and he’d talk about his many years once spent in the military. Nothing complex, thank goodness, but the older man had ultimately become a work friend of sorts.

Or however one could describe it. Frankly speaking, she didn’t feel the best for words at the moment. Though her body did go tense as Mark grabbed her shoulders and looked her over, a look of concern on his face before he stepped back. Mark’s face seemed to wash over with some sense of relief, however, as a long sigh came out from between his lips.

“I’ve seen good people go down to less than we saw ya’ like that night, Miss Sophia, but hell...didn’t think they’d put ya back together this well. Feels like some top-grade prosthetics in ya’ arms there.

But last ah’ heard was your family callin’ to say that your father had taken over ya’ care, and you’d check in whenever you were in the right shape.”

”I...after that night...yes, my father did step in to help. It’s all...complicated to say the least. I’ve been a long time wanting to get back here though,” the younger woman admitted, struggling to regain composure before she finally managed to push out a smile and a finally coherent string of words, ”Wondered if my desk had been cleaned out already to boot.”

Mark lightly shook his head back and forth.

“Well, you’ll wanna’ go see things yourself, ah’ believe. Don’t wanna hold ya’ up in the meantime...but feel free ta’ stop by for a chat if ya’ need, ok?”

Sophia felt her smile drop at the mention of ‘seeing things for herself’, though her smile would somewhat return at the offer to talk. Not like she could say everything that was on her mind, though she didn’t have the same binding legal issues as her family members in such a case, but it was comforting to know she had some kind of ally here still. At least so far.

With that, the younger woman gave a hasty nod before quickly taking off deeper into the facility.

---

By the time the young woman was passing the Cortex, STAR’s central hub, she would be greeted by the the harsh sound of a not-so-patient man’s voice turned in her direction. ”You’re late.” Came the words spoken by the owner of that voice baring not an ounce of sympathy or other emotions towards the girl. The man who spoke, a rather attractive man wearing a business causal getup with a suit jacket over it, and an unmistakable scowl on his features could only be one man, Harrison Wells. Sophia’s boss did not seem particularly relieved to see the girl, though most would chalk that up to his… poor bedside manner. For every bit of breathtakingly genius that was Harrison Wells, there was an equal amount of ego and grating personality.

Next to Harrison, another stood. A girl a bit shorter than he, with green eyes and platinum blonde hair kept at around shoulder length. She wore a full business suit, and made the look work rather well. Despite being so young, she looked every part the multi-billion dollar business woman she portrayed. Her gaze shifted to Sophia, then back towards Harrison. ”And who is this, Dr. Wells?” The young woman spoke as she looked over Sophia once more, her gaze a bit critical as something seemed… different about her. The girl seemed about her age, yet the woman just knew there was something off about her. Though she was taken from her thoughts as Dr. Wells spoke up, in his typical tone. ”Somebody who is six months late for work.” He said, as the woman looked at him wide-eyed for a few moments before turning and approaching Sophia with an outstretched arm to shake her hand. ”So she’s been missing since the explosion, hardly can blame her. She might’ve been injured.” She said as she stopped in front of Sophia, and suddenly lines of text appeared across her vision. ”Dr. Wells aside,” The woman said as a small grin grew on her features and she figured out what had been bothering her. ”Allow me to introduce myself. Thea Queen, I just recently purchased STAR Labs, I’m afraid I didn’t catch your name?” She said in a friendly tone, trying to feel out how Sophia might react to her presence.

Sophia, on the other hand, immediately flinched at the sound of Dr. Wells’ voice. It was not the first time being berated for something she had no control over, but at the same time at least the man hadn’t burnt her at the stake. Whew. Though at the same time, she felt somewhat curious about the well-dressed woman before her. Thea Queen, she had said? The multi-million dollar businesswoman?!

”It is my pleasure to meet you, Miss Queen! I am Sophia Andersen, a...member of the Engineering department,” Sophia said, taking Thea’s extended hand and shaking it as she hastily moved to get her composure back once more in the face of her...well, both her old boss and frankly her new one.

Yet as she shook the other woman’s hand...



...Wait, what?!

An internal alert from her systems rang out in her head, a type of notification that she’d at least become familiar with when becoming adjusted to her ‘new body’ over the last months. However, this was much more than a basic notification. Data then ran by her vision as she looked back at Thea, a slight surprise momentarily watching over her face as what her systems were saying was more surprising than just getting a message.

Though even as their hands came apart once more, the engineer did her best to straighten her jacket and keep up some air of formality.



”And yes mam, I have been in intensive recovery for the last several months. Was working next to the accelerator when...ahem.

A-Anywho! Apologies for my severe lateness!”

Before Harrison even had a chance to comment on her being late, Thea held up a finger in his direction. Causing the man to fall silent, more out of surprise that somebody would be so bold. Immediately after, the young Queen turned her attention back towards Sophia. ”Don’t apologize, we understand. Though, if you wouldn’t mind Sophia, I think I might ask Dr. Wells here to run some tests on employees returning who were exposed to the blast. To test your health, and of course what it might’ve changed in your DNA.” She said politely, offering a friendly smile towards the other girl. After all, she already knew Sophia’s secret. But she wanted to hear the good doctor’s take upon Sophia’s current state of being. ”After that, I think we shall bring you back to your former position. If you are interested in keeping said position, Sophia?” She asked, keeping a careful eye on the other girl.

In a heartbeat, Sophia’s face turned pale upon hearing Thea’s request. Wells was enough of an asshole, but how much of an ass would he be when she was...revealed? Albeit his new boss was ultimately seemingly ‘like’ her in some sense of the word. Had mechanical bits in her at the very least, that much the metahuman could tell, and not wanting to take chances she would assume the woman might have figured out from their handshake as well. Maybe. That or she was overthinking it all.

But all that work to appear normal, just to get back here, and then this?

The younger woman let out a small sigh. Life was going to keep pitching her those curveballs, so now she had to learn how to come to bat again.

”I am indeed interested in keeping my position, so I will submit to the tests of course.

This being noted, however, if I may speak somewhat more boldly...I would like to request to speak with you later, mam, about a matter or two.”

Rubbing the back of her head, the engineer conjured what strength she had to make her own request. It was hard enough in front of Wells, due to old habits, and frankly her new boss seemed keen to get information on her current state. Not exactly calming overall, but if she had to do this to keep her job she wanted to ‘talk’ to her new boss. Really ’talk’ about things, as it were, as both seemed to have a similar nature that piqued her own curiosity...and concern.

Thea looked over the woman for a long moment before a small smile grew on her features. Sophia had somehow managed to find out that she also had tech inside of her, Thea concluded. That seemed the most likely reason an engineer would be interested in talking with just the businesswoman owner, certainly when Thea factored in the knowledge she had of Sophia. ”Generally, the engineers don’t tend to want to speak with one in my position. But I respect it, Miss Sophia. I’ll meet you back here once Dr. Wells finishes his tests. I suggest you get started on them, however, we’ve got much to achieve here at STAR and I would love to have you back in your position.” She said, her tone betraying that while the words made it a suggestion, Thea was more telling Sophia to let the tests be run at that very moment. Then turning and walking away, Thea quickly made her way to a viewing room that had one sided glass. With the intention of watching the tests go about and figuring out of what this girl was capable. Particularly, if this girl might either be a threat or an ally in the coming crusade she had planned.

The engineer seemed to think for just a second, before giving a nod back towards her new boss. Wasn’t any use in complaining, and she’d already accepted having to deal with Wells for the tests for the sake of a job and talking to this other woman. What was she? Someone augmented due to that night’s incident like herself, an alien from outer space, something else? Perhaps the next to last thing was more ‘out there’ by a longshot, but the human imagination never ceased to leap out there. Based on the data from her readings from not long ago, though, it wasn’t like they both didn’t know what was up. Probably.

---

Sitting behind the desk in the executive office within STAR Labs, Thea patiently waited for the engineer she had met earlier to arrive. Normally, this would be Harrison’s office for typing reports and the likes, but he’d agreed to let her borrow it for her chat with the engineer. Especially when she offered him an early day as a thank you for the favor, as the man had been eager to get home to his daughter. Hopefully, the young business woman would not be kept waiting very long. She was itching to get out of here, not for business purposes, as the young entrepreneur had been planning on stopping by where her Brother was staying in Central for a surprise visit.

Eventually a knock would come at the door, however, as the now lab-coat-wearing Sophia’s knuckles rapped on it. There was a certain added gravity to it, however, something more than just bone and flesh. Usually she’d knock more lightly to sound ‘normal’, but in the case of her boss’ new boss...well there was little need perhaps to hide that bit right now.

Looking up from her phone, where she had admittedly been idly playing some stupid tetris knockoff, the Queen looked towards her office’s door. ”Come in Sophia, its unlocked.” She said, loud enough for the woman to hear as she readjusted her posture to look more the multi-billion dollar business woman she was. ”We have a bit to talk about, I think. We found some stuff in your tests.” Thea said firmly, as Sophia would enter the office.

Sophia knew something was coming when she stepped into the office, politely closing the door behind her and facing her boss as she was addressed. More so than any reactions Harrison might have had during her ‘inspection’, as it were, this was the big matter. The elephant in the room. The fact she was basically a walking talking cyborg girl with built in weapons...and that her boss seemed to be something like that too. That she was confident in for sure by this point, after further analysis of the data she’d gathered.

“I would think so, to tell the truth. Though did the test confirm what cursory data you might have gathered back there yourself?” she responded, running on her assumption and praying silently that it was correct as she fell back into a ‘polite yet inquisitive scientist’ sort of demeanor. She didn’t want to be a total fool, nor did she want to seem too...ah...passive? Yes, that was it, ‘passive’. Either way she was nervous though.

Thea raised an eyebrow at Sophia’s own responses to her. ”Bold. Considering I’m your boss.” Thea said with a light hearted smile. Then gesturing towards the seat opposite her desk, Thea spoke again. ”Come on, sit. Don’t make me feel all awkward with you standing there.” She said as she waited for Sophia to comply before continuing. ”Answering your question, yeah. It did. You and I aren’t so different, though I have a suspicion that more of you is machine than I. Though what it did confirm only gave me a few questions that I want answered.” She said as she came around the desk to sit on the edge facing Sophia. ”So I’m not gonna waste time. How were you made, and how long ago?” She asked, digging to see if a certain similarity in origin might exist between the two of them.

The woman sat there in the offered chair, though it didn’t make it any less nerve-wracking in some part as her boss grilled her a bit. Even if the initial tone was lighthearted, the matter of fact was that her new boss was understandably curious. At least it seemed like that. It almost felt like there was something more in that question of her origin, though, but even the scientist was curious about Thea’s own origins in turn. Still...to get info she had to give it, to be fair in this instance.

“How i was ‘made’?” Sophia said, a light shiver running visibly up her ‘spine’ as the memories of that night bubbled back up into her mind, though even so the woman generally did her best to hold a proper composure in the face of it all, “Well, the memories aren’t pleasant...but I have a perfect recollection of them due to my current state. Can’t say if that is a blessing or not.

I was following one of Harrison’s engineers around the inner ring of the particle accelerator, being told what to look out for and help tweak things and perform repairs as needed. A general tutorial on booting up and keeping the accelerator running, that was all it was supposed to be.

Then a warning alarm went off, and we ran over to a location on the accelerator to try to figure out what was going wrong. But when we got there...boom.”

She made a gesture with her hands, mimicking an explosion as a grimace wrote itself into her face. It was unpleasant to remember, unpleasant to talk about. Bah. It had happened a time ago, and yet she could project it from her first-hand perspective with crystal clear imagery if she’d wanted to.

“The engineer with me got turned into a pulp right in front of me, and what intact mass remained of my body got shattered on the inner wall. Point-blank. Ground Zero of the explosion. Whatever energy release occurred, though, it mutated my body at a rapid pace, more rapid than those who were farther out than myself from what information I know.

I thought I was dead, and I felt so cold I couldn’t tell how much of me was ‘left’. But that was when whatever I mutated kicked in, absorbing the debris, the remaining ‘pulp’ that resulted from the unlucky parts of me, and remnants of the particle accelerator and facility around me.

By the time they dug me up from the debris left outside, I thought it was a hallucination. They were as shocked that I was any bit alive still, and just how...how ‘clean’ the space around me was of debris and such things.

From there my mother begged my father to help, since the doctors at the hospital couldn’t do anything and had no idea how to care for me, and my father had me taken off and pulled his company’s resources to care for me. Ever since I’ve been learning how to use my new body to somewhat of an extent at least. Could only leave once I was able to go about in public ‘looking normal’ again though.”

With that, Sophia gave a sigh, letting her appearance shift back to its true form for a few moments before shifting back to her ‘human’ look. However, after all of that recollection she definitely didn’t feel the best. She could handle talking about it, and in this case somewhat had to just take the leap, but even so something had always felt terrible about that night. Like a monster under the bed.

As Thea listened patiently to her story, she nodded along to show that she was, in fact, still listening to the girl. ”So you were created by the particle accelerator exploding. Interesting.” She said softly, mulling a thought over in her head before focusing on Sophia. ”We were created under different circumstances, but I think we can help each other.” She then said, having reached her conclusion.

”I’m going on a bit of a crusade, so to speak. The circumstances of how I came to be… what I am now, are different than yours. All that concerns you about it is that I have a friend still stuck in that mess, and I’m going to get them out.” Thea explained, pushing off the desk and walking to the door, gesturing for Sophia to follow her through the labs until they were once more at the cortex. Striding in, she gently tapped a button on the main console, and the room transformed. Monitors that were showing scientific data from various experiments now switched to be monitoring the city. The back wall slid away to reveal a secret compartment with three mannequins set up, one bearing a hooded red costume and bow. Clearing meant for storage of said costumes. Another lab to the right opened up to show an armory of sorts, empty at the moment, but clearly set up for later.

”This, is Project Haven. From here I intend to run operations for my crusade, and a few others in this city as a base of operations. To that end, we will need to support to keep our gear running, mission support, the likes. I invite you, Sophia, to take part in this project of mine. As both an engineer to work with Dr. Wells and his Protégés, and to eventually use your abilities to do good for this city.” She said with a confident smile, certain that she already knew the engineer’s answer. ”Should you accept the offer, first day is tomorrow. I’ll introduce you to your coworkers then.” She added, crossing her arms and waiting for an answer.

“I...wait...what...I...but how…,”

Sophia stumbled over her words to some extent as she looked around, babbling for a moment before giving herself a light slap to her face to ‘snape her out of it’. The light clang reverberated about herself and Thea, but after a moment the scientist managed to catch her breath after some processing. Literally. Even her systems had come to the same conclusion, and to be frank she hadn’t expected this much of a surprise that to her made the looming dread of her reveal back in the office a cakewalk in comparison. Hell even Wells had some sensibility about him, at least she assumed so, and his examination was strenuous enough. But no, the biggest shocker of the day, for some reason, was this.

“You are forming a team of superheroes? As in, a wealthy businesswoman funds a superhero team and fights superpowered or other forms of crime? With gadgets and costumes and all the team dynamics and everything? Like...right out of a comic book or some manga series? And you are inviting ME to join?!”

Her more sober-minded self was trying to process it all, but her inner geek was squirming like a gleeful child on Christmas morning. Talk about a hell of a mental trip, but this had all the warning signs of danger as well. Her father and such were studying her, hell even the military in some covert manner was aware of her existence, and it wasn’t like the government was going to allow a bunch of powered people to just jot about blasting crime in the face like a bunch of well-meaning ill-guided vigilantes with an agenda! There were so many warning bells ringing in her head...and yet only one possible response she could give after all possible considerations-

“...Where do I sign up?”

She was a walking miracle, this woman was also in some part a robot as well, and if her former calculations whilst in quarantine were correct there were a lot of things that could, were, or would be happening after all of this. Hell, there could be a villain with powers like hers for pity’s sake! It was goofy, cartoonish, maybe immature, but all the same she wasn’t going to let this chance pass her by!

A smile appeared on the woman’s features as she nodded then moved towards the door of the office. ”Good. Then we’ll be seeing you tomorrow morning. Get home, get rest. I don’t intend to ease you into things.” She said rather firmly, letting the woman out of her office before allowing herself another small smile. Things were good, coming together. ”Hold on a little longer, Alex, we’re coming.” The Queen muttered as she made her way out of the labs after her new employee had already left. Next stop? Home, she wanted to get some rest for the busy day tomorrow.

Keystone City, United States, Earth
Jan 1st, 2020 - United States of America

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"Bit fancy for a meetin' to make friends ain't it?" The man spoke, looking around the rather stark office he found himself standing within. Of course, none of this was particularly bad. After all, powerful friends like these were how you moved up in the world. With that, he found himself rather surprised when he looked across the table and could only see... a figure. The man who had scheduled this meeting with him sat there, dressed in a suit much like any of those billionaires one might see on tv, yet it was impossible to discern his features. Still, in the world they lived in after that damned explosion, he couldn't really find himself being surprised by such oddities. "Some might say that, Mr. Cutlip. Though those same people would also find their friendships lacking. After all, giving people like you a glimpse of what we can achieve together, that's how you make friends, wouldn't you agree?" He asked, with a tone that one could practically hear the predatory smile upon his features, even if you couldn't make it out. Reaching out, the man picked up a glass with a very familiar brown liquid inside and swirled the liquid once before bringing it to his obscured features and taking a long drink. "Take a seat, Mr. Cutlip. You strike me as somebody would like to do business rather than sit here and exchange pleasantries all day." The man said, his tone suddenly slipping into a more professional and emotionless tone. Without waiting for the gangster he had invited into his office to respond, the man once more began to speak.

"I'm sure you've noticed, times are changing out there. With the explosion creating metahumans, those metahumans then causing such... disruption in society, then to flying women foiling bank robberies." He began, chuckling a little at the visible recoil from the gangster across the desk from him at that last comment. "When times change, the strong adapt to this new world and thrive, while the weak die. You, my friend, strike me as somebody who stands among the strong." He said with that predatory tone once more making its way forward. "Despite all the fear your... kind have been feeling. The pressure from those sudden deaths in your... frankly criminal endeavors. Despite all of those in your circle being killed of by some strange force, you still had the strength to strikeout. I can respect that. The man said, pausing to admire the way his praise washed over the other man like a wave, and visibly made him more receptive. Excellent. He thought to himself as he reached up and pressed a button on his desk. Behind them, a panel in office walls started to pull away, revealing a screen behind it that lay dormant for the moment. Though before attention could be drawn to the screen, the obscured man once more began to speak. "However, I think you won't survive this transition. Your gang is small, and while skilled, you lack the manpower or the hardware to hold on in these changing times. Certainly with self-righteous metals like Sol flying around so suddenly. Quite frankly, I think you and yours will be smashed like a bug under her boot." He said firmly, moving then to hold up a finger and silence the comments coming from the enraged gangster's mouth. His mere presence in the office enough to silence the man, despite Cutlip's tendency to back down to no others.

"That's why I am here, Mr. Cutlip. I can offer you a way through this storm, a way that will see you and yours coming out on top of whatever state this transition leaves us in. I want to help you, Mr. Cutlip, because I believe you are among the strong and have what it takes to survive in this new climate." The man said, finally pausing to let the gangster respond, though he already knew what the response was very likely going to be. People such as Cutlip had a hungering thirst for power, and even hinting that you could give them that very power was enough to leave them foaming at the mouth. To bring them closer to eating out of your hand. As he finished these thoughts, the gangster's reply came rather quickly. "An' how do I know you can even give me this power of yours, or that I need it?" Came the gruff reply, despite the fact that the body language very clearly betrayed that he was interested in the offer. "Good question. How about I show you what I can offer?" The mysterious man replied, gesturing towards the screen behind them as it flickered suddenly to life. Displaying a scene inside of what appeared to be a garage where one of the local triads was having some sort of meeting.

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”Breakfast sounds great, Mal. What are we going to ha-" The girl said, trying to wear as much of a smile on her features as she could, for her newly alive-again friend. Though she was cut off mid-sentence by an eruption of sound to her rather sensitive ears. Sounds which likely weren't picked up by her present company, as they weren't yet able to hear as much as she. Sounds which Kara knew well enough at this point, and knew what they entailed. Her eyes shot wide as she gestured a small wave towards the two. ”I'll need a raincheck. Something's happening." She said by way of poorly worded explanation. Then in a sudden blur and blast of air, the girl rocketed out of the house (though she was careful to not destroy things). Moments later, she had already changed outfits into something those who had seen the news might recognize easily and was soaring high above the city streets. Scanning the area, she identified the source of the sounds as being on the other side of the city. Gunshots, screaming. Sounds that betrayed a rather large fight going on in her city. Immediately, the girl was blasting through the sky and shortly after slamming to the ground in front of what seemed to be a rather unremarkable garage from the outside. Curiously, there didn't seem to be damage to the exterior of the building despite the violence that had very clearly been happening mere seconds before she had arrived.

Undeterred, the young heroine wasted no time in making her way to the large garage door and forcing it open with minimal effort. Making her way inside, the girl stopped as something seemed... off. Looking about the room, she noticed it after a few moments. The reason for the lack of signs of damage. Hanging in the air all about her, bullets that had already been fired from their weapons hovered as if they were on pause in some sort of film. As her gaze drifted further about, she noticed shards of glass floating in the air and debris from the shootout that had clearly been happening moments ago. Yet none of it was moving, just... hanging there. ”What the hell..." She muttered softly, making her way further into the building as she listened for any sign of somebody being present. Still, nothing. Each room she entered was just more of the same, signs of the violence from before, and debris from said violence hanging in the air. All about, she also noticed oddly shaped scorch marks on the walls, as if there had been a fire or explosion. Still, not even the hint that there had been a single living soul in the building could be found. Following the trail of debris, which at this point was starting to increase as it seemed she grew closer to where the fighting was happening before everything stopped, she was eventually led to the yard behind the garage. As she opened the door that led out into the fenced-in yard, Kara stopped dead in her tracks as her eyes shot wide at the absolute carnage in the yard. Unlike the rest of the building, the yard was anything but barren. All about there were broken forms, and stains on the ground she was certain had once been bodies.

Moments later, after Kara had finished losing the contents of her stomach all over the ground, she looked about in absolute horror as it was immediately clear that the bodies all belonged to one side of the fight. The bodies were torn apart and very clearly not taken down by the massive amounts of gunfire that she had heard. That something had taken them out, and they had been fighting against it. The girl turned to leave, now knowing that there was nothing here for her to do when she noticed a particular detail. Just to her right, the remains of a body sat in front of a scorch mark on the building's wall. The mark matching those she had seen earlier, as it became abruptly clear that all those scorch marks inside had once been bodies. Again, the girl felt tempted to lose the contents of her stomach, even as she made her way back through the building. With a simple mission, she pushed the bullets out of the air, and to the ground. Where if everything suddenly resumed, they would not go flying and hurt somebody. Then placing a call to the police, she took off and went about as high into the sky as she could. Searching for the silence and peace that would allow her to think to herself for a long few moments. To sort her thoughts on what she had just witnessed.

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Watching as the screen flicked off after that suited broad had flown offscreen, Cutlip turned back towards the man across from him with eyes wide. "You're the bastard controlling those freaks killin' us all?" He demanded, seeming incredulous as the man behind the desk chuckled. "Correct. And I want to help you fill the void that will be left behind. Having a friend who controls the scene will help my... ah, business ventures. We're going to make a lot of money together, my friend, and we're going to kill that caped "hero". Do we have a deal?" He said, standing and offering his hand to the gangster sitting opposite him, who stood and shook his hand with a devilish grind. "What do ya want me to call you?" He asked the strange man, who responded with a simple reply. "Benefactor. Now let's discuss how we're gonna get eyes off your people after that robbery, and how we're gonna clear out the competition.

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Kansas City, United States, Earth
Jan 1st, 2020 - United States of America

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"Understood. Executing." Came the clinical reply, as the figure wearing an entirely jet black armored bodysuit. Nothing, not even the face could be seen as every ounce of skin was covered by the bodysuit. Looking down on the massive protests filling the public park, the figure quietly observed as they waited for the tensions to rise to a suitable moment for their objectives. As they waited, the figure crushed the device they had been using to communicate mere seconds before. Watching as the police pressed towards the protestors, seemingly trying to force the group to go home and disperse, they noticed that the crowd seemed to pull back for but a moment before charging back towards the line with a deafening roar. Stopping before they met and seeming to decide that they were going to hold the line until their point was heard. The shouting and chanting from the crowd far drowned out the shouts and bullhorn-enhanced calls of the police forces to head home. The energy and tension seemed to be ebbing and flowing with each pseudo-clash between the two mighty forces, now seemed to be just about the time for the plan to be set into place.

The figure that had been on the rooftop just a moment before, was gone in the blink of an eye. Where they had been standing, debris was kicked off from the sudden launch. Were somebody looking at the path the figure took, they would see a blur of movement charging across the distance between the building they were on and the two goliaths that were the opposing crowds in the park. The blur, of course, moving significantly faster than anything should be capable of doing. Before one could really even register that there might be something more than a trick on the eyes, the figure had broken in past the lines of protestors and police forces. Stopping for half a second behind one of the riot shields that made the line of the police forces, the figure raised a simple black pistol, then was gone from sight once more as they sped away. Meanwhile, the plan had been set into motion. The loud report of a shot being fired ripped through the air and stilled the whole confrontation for a few moments. As both sides stopped in shock at what had just happened in those few moments, silence began to settle, though it was quickly disrupted by a distressed scream as one of the protestors fell to the floor, dead from the fired shot. With a mighty roar, the protesting crowd surged onto the officers opposite them, who themselves were caught with confusion over the fired shot. Though this soon turned to panic and fear of the oncoming crowd, as they retaliated in kind. The plan had been set in motion quite firmly, as the formerly peaceful protests escalated into violence.

Meanwhile, the figure, the catalyst that had started all the violence stood in a nearby alley, ensuring that the situation played out as they had intended. Very quickly, as both sides descended onto each other in a fury, the figure nodded as if satisfied with how it all played out. Moments later, they were a blur once more, tearing away from the scene of the crime. As the figure fled, they stuck closer to the sides of the road and alleyways, thundering past with little care for who or what might be nearby. Tossing aside the weapon they had fired into an alley, the figure continued their retreat. Not paying attention to the fact that the two sitting on the nearby bench, a man comforting a small, blind, girl might've noticed the blur that disturbed the debris in the street or the sudden emergence of an object from the blur. Which in kind, slammed into the building near their bench and crumpled into an unrecognizable shape from the force of the impact. The mission was fulfilled, and if the sounds of chaos or slowly rising smoke was anything to go off of, the plan was going perfectly.

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Kansas City, United States, Earth
Jan 1st, 2020 - United States of America

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"That is definitely smoke rising! What happened with the protests!?!" A feminine voice shouted at the three men walking around her as they tried to escort her back to her home in Kansas City. Looking about as confused by the situation as she could be, the young head of Nakamura Industries that was Fumiko Nakamura practically pleaded with her three guards to give her some sort of explanation. Yet she received no answer, which struck her as a bit odd given that her guards were usually a bit chatty with her whenever she was around them and hadn't attempted to ditch their protection. Though they did not go very long without an answer, as soon after that one of the men stopped walking and produced a firearm, shooting the other two in the back with efficient shots to the back of the head. Letting out a small squeak of surprise, the young girl turned quickly and stomped on the attackers' foot, taking off in a dead sprint down a nearby alleyway to try to get away as the whole world suddenly seemed to have caught on fire.

Then abruptly, she was slammed into the wall of the alleyway by a wall of pure force and heat. Crying out in pain, as her entire chest seemed to combust, she collapsed to the floor and found herself staring at a small sphere across from her. It lay open on one side where the blast had clearly originated and had a familiar Kanji symbol on the side. The symbol of her company. As the world around her faded, the young woman had enough of a moment to realize that she had been assaulted by her own technology, and likely was going to die to her own product. What a waste.

She wasn't sure how long it was, but eventually, she found herself swimming to the surface of consciousness. She was in a large room, with tables laying mostly barren and the room barely lit. To her side, she heard an electrical humming and looked over to see a car battery in operation. Its cables? Well, they were hooked directly to... herself? Letting out a panicked cry she went to sit up but found a firm hand on her shoulder, keeping her there. "You're only alive because of that, I wouldn't young lady." The voice said, firm yet gentle. "You've got shrapnel in you, I couldn't get it out of you. Doing that would kill you, as it's too close to your heart. Try to rest, you'll need your strength. Our captors aren't the nicest of folks." The man said, even as the girl weakly looked at him, and asked him a simple question. "W-who?" To which the man looked up across from them suddenly as the door to their room opened, and a harsh light doused the entrance. "I fear you're about to find out." Came his reply, a look of genuine pity on his face as the girl weakly turned her attention towards the silhouette entering the room...