You watched the purple locks of your hair fall to the floor as you listened to the gentle drumming of the rain against the roof and windows. You were sitting in the kitchen of your fathers safe house, your older brother carefully cutting your hair as your father paced in front of you.
"What is your name?" He asked.
You state your name dryly as you roll your eyes, making your father slam his fist on the counter. Your brother and you jump as the dishes rattle under your fathers sudden blow.
"Geez dad," Mark sighed, "This isn't exactly my specialty. Give me some warning before you do that or I'm gonna accidentally chop her ear off!"
"If your sister wasn't acting like such a smart ass I wouldn't have to do that!" Your dad hissed, "Now, young lady, tell me your name!"
"Lucy Andrews." You groaned, "I'm sixteen years old and I'm moving to New York to live with my aunt because my parents died in a tragic car accident. It's totally not cause my dad's a mobster in the middle of a turf war and it has nothing to do with my uncle being the head of said mob."
"(Name)!" Your dad hissed, "I need you to be serious about this! Do you have any idea what could happen to you?!"
"I know!" You spat, trying not to move while Mark continued to cut your hair, "Do you know how many times I'm told to be careful cause I'm a girl?! Cause someone from a rival mob could mess me up just to get to you?! Why do I have to do all this and Mark doesn't?!"
"Are you really going to make me say it?" Mark asked.
You sighed in frustration as you forced the memory of your mom and twin brother away from your mind. You were fully aware of what could happen to you. On two separate occasions your brother and mom had died trying to protect you. You knew exactly what could happen to you.
"Sweetie I know you're not happy with this." Your dad said, "It's only until this all blows over. You'll be fine with your aunt."
"What was the point then?" You muttered, turning your gaze to the floor.
"Point?" You're brother and dad look at you blankly.
"I've got ten years of Ju-jitsu and boxing experience!" You snap, "What was the point of learning to fight, learning to defend myself, if you're just gonna ship me off?!"
"You also have seven years of dance training and gymnastics." You dad answered dryly, "When have you used those skills?"
"That's different!" You argued.
"I'm done." Mark said, stepping away from you and handing you a mirror.
You took the small plastic mirror and frowned at your reflection. You stared at the golden contacts that seemed to stand out more against your loosely curled purple hair that came just above your shoulders. You didn't recognize yourself looking like this.
"I just want you to be safe." Your dad said gently as he pulled you into a tight hug.
You sighed again, returning the hug. You knew he was just trying to protect you, but it still didn't change the fact that you didn't want to leave your home. It frustrated you to know it was all because of your gender.
A week had come and gone since you moved into your aunt's apartment. You paced around your new room, staring at the light green walls and framed beach photos.
"Why don't you rearrange things in here kiddo?" A voice suggested, making you jump.
"Aunt Sally!" You gasped, clutching your chest.
"Sorry Lucy." She snickered, "It's so weird calling you that. Anyways, make this room your own."
You turned your attention to the queen sized bed and looked around, wondering where to move it to.
"Can you help me move the bed?" You asked as you motioned to the corner you wanted to move it to.
"Of course!" Sally said with a smile.
As you pushed the bed across the floor your foot caught on something. When you looked down you noticed a small, loose floor board. Curious, you lifted it and discovered a narrow box.
"So that's where she hid it." Sally said with a small chuckle, "Of all the places I've looked, I don't know why I never thought to check the floor boards.
"Who hid what?" You asked as you picked the box up.
"Your mother." Sally said with a soft smile as she sat on the edge of the bed, "Before she met your father, she was a vigilante called Nightingale."
"What?!" You exclaimed as you threw the lid of the box off.
You quickly dumped the contents on the bed as you sat near your aunt. There was a simple white Venetian mask with a short beak-like nose and something that looked like two arm guards with a narrow slit that ended in two small bumps.
"What's this?" You asked as you held up the arm guards.
"Oh I remember making these." Sally said as she took them from you, "These, my dear niece, are arm mounted sling shots. You load your ammo here," She motioned to the slit, "pull it back, and release."
You watched Sally walk to the loose board and pull up a second board. There she pulled out a belt with four pouches and a small bag that seemed to be filled with some round objects. When she handed you the bag, you discovered several rubber bouncy balls.
"What the heck?" You questioned as you pulled one of the balls out.
"They may not be lethal, but they get your point across." Sally grinned.
"How come I never knew about this?" You asked, "And if mom was a vigilante then how'd she get together with dad?"
"Things can change a lot when you fall in love kiddo." Sally said as she ran her hand over your purple hair. "Your mom left this kind of life behind her once she got pregnant with Mark. You kids had enough risks what with your fathers... work. She didn't want to add to everything with her own shenanigans."
"Shenanigans?" Your raised an eye brow at the term.
"That was our code word." Sally chuckled, "Oh those were fun days. We used to spend so much time with our friends. Yoshi would train your mother while Tang Shen and I would visit." Sally sighed contently as she turned her attention to the ceiling, "We were young then though. We didn't live in Japan for long, but your mother learned so many things there."
"You lived in Japan?" You asked curiously, "When was that?!"
"It was just for a year." Sally replied, "We went there to study, but instead your mom got the idea to 'become a superhero' so she could protect people back home."
You stared at your aunt in awe. You felt as if your world had been turned upside down. There were so many things you didn't know about your mom and you had so many questions forming.
"I wonder what ever happened to those two..." Sally muttered to herself as your mind wandered.
After a moment, Sally turned her attention to you and smiled, "You know, I wouldn't tell your father if you wanted to follow in your moms original foot steps."
You stared blankly at her for a moment before speaking, "Are you serious?"
"Why not?" Sally said with a grin, "You've got the skills your mom had, more experience actually, and you're smart enough to pick your battles. Besides, I think the worse we have around here are those Purple Dragons, and you can handle one or two of them easily. Besides, maybe this will let off some of that steam you're building up."
"Huh?" You felt your cheeks heat up.
"You think I haven't noticed how aggravated you've been?" Sally teased, "Joking aside though, if you ever run into any trouble out there, you know you can call me and my partner and I will be there in no time."
You smiled at your aunt. You couldn't believe she was so willing to let you go out and do something like this. You weren't about to question her though. Excitement built in your chest as a wide smile spread across your face.
"But!" Sally stated, "I want to test you for the next couple weeks before you actually go out."
Of course there had to be a but. Though if that's all she wanted, you would gladly comply. You nodded eagerly, feeling excitement for the first time about living in New York.