Disclaimer: Saban and Disney's, not mine
Notes: Katie X Trip, part one of two
She didn't want to be here.
What she wanted, more than anything else at that moment, was to leave the perch and that stupid gargoyle's grin as fast as she could and run back inside, where he was, so she could be the first thing he saw when he woke up. But... no matter how badly she wanted to, she couldn't. Not now.
Not after what she had done.
--
The fight had, for once, been going pretty easy. Whatever reason Ransik had for releasing that particular mutant, it obviously hadn't been for his superior fighting skills. So she ignored him and focused on stopping the insane amount of Cyclobots he'd brought with him. That was a mistake. She never saw their leader pulling out the weapon, or that he was aiming for her. She never even noticed something was wrong... until Trip pushed her out of the way.
What stood out in her mind the most was that he didn't even scream. Once second he was in front of her, recoiling in pain as the shot hit him dead on, the next he was demorphed in a heap on the pavement.
It was about then when things got blurry. She remembered very clearly that she was going to make the mutant pay, and she could remember charging and tackling him to the ground. After that it was nothing but fists hitting mutated flesh over and over again until her gloves looked more red than yellow, but she didn't care about that because she wasn't going to let him get away even as the others tried their best to pull her off. She didn't know how long it took for Wes's voice to break through: Katie, killing him isn't going to help Trip!
Trip. She looked over her shoulder. He was still on the ground, pale and motionless, blood beginning to stain his jacket.
The fight was over, for her at least. She barely noticed that she let the mutant go as she summoned up enough strength (she was suddenly very, very tired) to stagger over to him, collapsing a few feet away, unable to do anything but watch as Wes hoisted him up to take him home. She half-heard Lucas saying something about how he was actually glad Eric had caught the mutant this time.
She couldn't remember going home at all. Which was weird, since it must've happened since she was here, but it felt like she'd gone straight from near murder to hiding out on the clock tower's perch. Katie couldn't be sure, but she had a feeling it was because there'd been... other things on her mind. Things she had hoped she would never have to deal with again.
Like Jen said, super strength did come in handy, but it was never easy to control... especially growing up. Her parents had helped her realize it was a gift, not a curse or a random genetic fluke, but that wasn't much comfort when she had to always hold back.
And that was why she couldn't bring herself to face the others. They had seen the real her and the violence she was really capable of. From now on, that knowledge would lurk in the back of their minds under the surface of every conversation, every smile, and every pat on the shoulder or hug.
Even Trip.
"Trip's wounds looked worse than they were. He should be waking up soon." Jen was standing not too far behind her. Of course it was Jen. It made sense that out of all of them, she'd be the one to talk to her first, just as it made sense she'd give her what pretty much amounted to a progress report instead of offering the heartfelt but awkward attempt at consolation that Wes and possibly Lucas would have. "He'd probably like to see you when he does." Her voice was a little softer than before.
"I can't."
Jen folded her arms, eyes narrowing. "The reason he's lying there in the first place is because he saved your life, Katie."
"And then I nearly killed someone else."
"But you didn't." Her voice was soft again. "You let go of your anger long enough for us to get him to safety. And before you ask how the others are going to react to your behavior earlier," she continued, and this time there was an unmistakable undercurrent of pain to her words, "I think they're used to it by now. You're not the first person on this team who wanted to avenge someone she loves."
"Jen--"
"I have a job this afternoon, so I need you to keep an eye on him. That's an order." And with that, she was gone.
As she watched her go, Katie felt... a little better. Things weren't back to normal yet, but hey, when had they been? And besides, her friends would be there for her.
So she would be there for them in return.
Katie noticed that Lucas and Wes were nowhere to be found-- she imagined Jen told them to clear out before she left. She'd have to thank her if she had. She made her way to Trip's (who still was pale, but overall looked much better) cot quietly, not wanting to disturb him... although she felt brave enough to kiss his forehead. She sat down, but not before she made sure she'd be comfortable. After all, she was going to stay there until he woke up.
