Keeping My Head (Down)

Plot Bunny

Mastery

The Endbringer sirens went off.

We tried to evacuate.

She was way faster this time.

And she sang. Floated over the city getting attacked by everyone and everything that could be brought to bear.

I knew why she was here.

She was here for me.

I didn't want to get involved yet. Apparently she became impatient though.

So much for keeping my head down.

I walked out of our shelter, a mere touch forcing the guard to unlock the doors for me and most importantly keep my family safe.

They might not be my original one but I cared for them all the same.

There she was, flying towards our shelter slowly. She was forcing her way through the frantic defenders.

Her song radiated like the sound of nails on a chalkboard. In exchange for not mind fucking people, I guess it just sounded terrible instead.

Worst. Singer. Ever. 1 star Yelp review.

Did Yelp even exist here? I never actually checked.

It'd been way longer than 30 minutes. They were probably thinking they were going to have to Dome us. If she ever left.

But I had knowledge from elsewhere, and most importantly, a power she desperately needed.

Needed me to use on her.

As the 15 foot tall hundred winged woman flew towards me, I sighed in resignation.

A speedster cape showed up next to me and reached out to touch me, to get me out of there.

The moment she did, she was mine.

"Continue normally," I instructed her. "Then come see me when it's not suspicious. I will explain at that time."

She straightened up, snapping off a salute, then zipped off into the surprisingly not ruinedcity.

Surprising if you didn't know what Ziz was really here for.

Several flyers came by and tried to move me. I sighed at each one and gave them their instructions.

I have extremely mixed feelings about my power.

On one hand, everyoneI touch is instantly Mastered.

On the other, everyone I touch is instantly Mastered. No exceptions so far.

My bet was that included Endbringers. Why else was she here?

And then, I was staring up into her cold, angelic face. A bubble of force encapsulated us, isolating us from everywhere else.

I sighed again and put my hands in my pockets. "Hello Ziz," I greeted her.

She stared at me, unchanging. She knew I knew that she knew that I knew what she was here for.

"You know the consequences, right?" I asked her. Hey, I had to stick to my principles even with this ridiculous power.

A solitary nod.

I pursed my lips together. "Very well," I pulled a hand out of my pocket and held it out to her.

She didn't move. Didn't hold out her hand. She just stared into my eyes.

"Uh, hello?" I asked warily, shaking my hand around. "Only works through touch?" I shook it more to emphasize what she needed to do.

A single headshake.

I groaned and pinched my fingers together. "No wait, let me guess; you have limiters and they prevent you from trying to be mastered by anyone but… him," I gave a shot in the dark.

She nodded. Twice.

I rolled my eyes and threw my head back. "Alright fine! Fine!" I angrily stalked forward and almost slapped her on the knee.

And then my world exploded.

Touchtastesightsoundfeelingsthoughtsconcepts-

"Ahh!" I screamed, clutching my head as I staggered back. "What the fuck was that?!"

Apologies.

My breath hitched in my lungs.

That was her voice.

In my head.

I gulped and slowly raised my eyes to look at her.

Her previously cold face was alight, happy, a huge smile looking down on me.

I abruptly found myself inside a huge, hundred winged hug.

"Oof!" I groaned, my headache only worsening.

Thank you thank you thank you thank you! she repeated over and over in my head, hugging me like her life depended on it.