My body ached was the first thing that came to mind as I woke up in my bed, feeling like I had ran a marathon. Trying to sit up made me realize I had a steady and loud beat in my head, like oversized drums inside of it, in tune with the pumping of my veins. Groaning I just let myself lay there in unknown pain, skin feeling like beaten meat and just a tired as if I hadn't slept in weeks. Weakly wrapping my arms around myself I resigned to waiting, no idea what time it was or what happened. Actually thinking on that I creaked an eye open to see daylight.

Okay I might be missing school but that was okay because it all hurt just too much now to move. Laying here was good enough for me and the drums in my head.

My painful silence was interrupted by a small chittering noise and creaking my eyes open again I saw the brown outline of Juno. Crazy squirrel just chittering in front of my face, a paw resting on my nose before Juno darted up onto the pillow and out of my vision. Before a weight settling on my head. With a smile I weakly lifted a hand up to scratch her under the chin, I knew she liked that, because this was a nice comfort right now. Stupid little squirrel Juno using my hair as a bed again. Ha.

It was a good few minutes before Juno left my hair and returned to my face, chittering and poking at it, to try and get me up. These were the times I disliked her, because I didn't want to get up. Didn't stop her from patting my face over and over to get my attention, it being more annoying than the pain or headache I had. Dutifully for the squirrel I sat up, the pounding in my head having lessened somewhat and glared at the offending rodent. Juno just stared up at me with beady eyes, chittering a bit more, a paw brushing at the odd white strip of fur on her head. Completely ignoring whatever 'venom' was in my voice.

Which wasn't even venom, forced and failing to sound like I was angry at her. She just chittered a bit more at me and I just poked her forehead, making her just smack my finger away. Rolling my eyes I sat up completely in bed and reached for my glasses, just ignoring the pain screaming in my muscles. Even if it was hard, I did it, grabbing my glasses so I could see, just now realizing I was wearing something different than what i remembered putting on last night. Rubbing my eyes a bit I ignored that bit of confusion and stood up slowly, Juno catching onto my sleeve and climbing up onto my shoulder, still chittering at me.

I poked her again to get her to quiet down for a moment as I went to the bathroom to wash my face for the day. Juno hopped on down to get a drink as I turned on the sink and used it to wash my face. Then she hopped back onto my sleeve and back onto my shoulder as I slowly stumbled on down the stairs. I was late for school but I'm sure Dad would understand, because this just hurts so much to walk around now. The stairs creaked while Juno just kept twitching on my shoulder, but Dad was at work so no need to hide the sound of my creaking.

Just explain it to him when he gets home, I thought reaching the bottom of the stairs, then turned to the kitchen. Then froze as I saw my Dad sitting there, a cup of steaming coffee in his hands, him staring at me as I appeared in the doorway. But that wasn't what made me froze. Rather it was the two heroes sitting beside my Dad. Armsmaster in his signature midnight-blue power armor with silver highlights, a face hidden by his helmet and visor the only visible parts being his trimmed beard. Beside him was Miss MIlitia wearing her army like clothing and the american flag made scarf that hid the lower half of her face, another steaming cup of coffee held in front of herself.

All of whom were staring back at me. The silence only broken by Juno chittering in my ear, as I stare at two superheroes in my kitchen with my dad. Just casually drinking coffee. Staring back at me. This was broken as my dad practically dropped his cup onto the table and stood up, quickly striding over to me before I could really react. Before I could ask anything he wrapped me in a hug, it surprising me just as much as it comforted me. Comforted me from what I'm not sure. I just awkwardly returned the hug, him pulling my head into his shoulder and almost crushing me. It took me a moment to realize he was saying something. Or rather repeating, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Over and over.

I patted him on the back awkwardly, not sure what he was apologizing for in my life. Because he didn't do anything bad to me as far as I could remember. "It's uh okay dad." He kept hugging me anyways for a minute more before letting go, letting me see his eyes. He'd just been crying while he had been hugging me. I frowned confusedly, "What's wrong?"

He wiped at his eyes and smiled at me. "I'm just glad you're okay."

Okay what happened? I looked to the heroes in the kitchen then back to my dad. "Uh what's going on?"

Miss MIlitia spoke up from the table. "You should sit down first Taylor." I obliged, eyes darting to each member at the table, Juno chittering in my ear before leaping down onto the table and seeming to yell at Armsmaster at the table who just stared at said squirrel.

Armsmaster turned his gaze from Juno on the table to me as my Dad sat back down. "Taylor do you remember where you were yesterday at one o'clock?"

I frowned in confusion, knowing that I was at school. Yet I… didn't remember it. Just like I didn't remember changing clothes yesterday. "I uh… don't remember anything of yesterday." Okay I'm really worried now.

Juno chittered at him before running back to rest on my hand. He frowned. "At approximately one twenty eight yesterday your locker exploded with you inside it, leaving a large crater at your spot, along with you standing in the middle of it unharmed." What. "You then proceeded to, covered in blood and unmentionables." What. "Run back home at speeds exceeding that of most highway vehicles." What.

My confusion must have shown on my face because Miss Militia spoke up and asked, "Do you know how parahumans get their powers Taylor?" I shook my head. "Basically it's like having the worst day of your life, stress building up over time for some, a major event happening at one time. From what we can gather about your home life from your father," I looked to my dad, who offered me a very weak smile. "And eyewitness statements at school, we could tell you were bullied for a long time," I knew people at school knew about it, they participated half the time. "Before shoving you into your locker yesterday, full of… used tampons and other feminine hygiene products.."

I guess that would explain the blood they saw on me. But What. Juno jumped up onto my shoulder again, nuzzling up against me apparently aware of my distress. It helped a little. I was still confused as to how this had happened to me, me getting powers of all people. Why.

Armsmaster cleared his throat to get my attention. "Normally we would let new triggers decide what to do for themselves, only stepping in when they turn to more illicit activities." What was different here then? "But you triggered in school, with several dozen eyewitnesses seeing you run off, along with injuring a dozen students." ...Oh. "So your secret identity is revealed to most people and resulted in heavy damage to your school, necessitating the need for the PRT and Protectorate to arrive."

"My bad." I managed to whisper out, still not believing this was happening despite I was sitting here listening.

Miss Militia leaned forward slightly. "It's not your fault Taylor, rather we just want to offer our help since unlike most other parahumans you start off with a bad hand already. Help pay for the damages or offer you a better atmosphere for learning considering this one is what resulted in your trigger." I felt like she was giving me a gentle smile under that scarf, Armsmaster having just a set line for a mouth.

Dad patted me on the shoulder, the one Juno wasn't perched on, to try and reassure me. Armsmaster continued on. "Our other benefits would be making sure no gangs try to 'recruit' you," I vaguely noted that was important. "Along with it being easier to help you if they try anyways, a safe environment to learn how to use your powers. A job with the Protectorate once you turn eighteen. A monthly allowance as well as a trust-fund you gain access to once you turn eighteen." That all sounded important.

But even then I just blinked like an owl, Juno moving to my other shoulder, because this was too much for a morning. Even if it explained my body being sore. Even if it explained a change in clothes. It didn't make sense to me. It just seemed impossible. They both seemed to realize that as Miss Militia put down the cup she hadn't drunk from yet and nodded to me and my Dad. "I understand it's hard to get in one day considering you don't even remember it. Just think about it okay Taylor?" I distantly felt myself nod. "And Mr. Hebert please do tell us how she's doing in a few days."

I could see out of the corner of my eye my Dad nodded. "Right." He pulled me in for a closer shrug, Juno used his shoulder to climb onto my head.

Then I watched the two superheroes walk out of my house. After telling me I have powers. And blew up my locker. And ran at the speed of car. Again. WHAT.