Chapter 12: When The Heart Is Most Defenceless
Thanks to Major! My work would be garbage without him.
"It's actually Portunes." Taylor snapped, hating what was already becoming a well-rehearsed line, it wasn't that hard to remember.
Aegis paused in mid-offer, his hand hanging in the air, unsure if she would shake it.
Seeing Aegis pause Taylor realized how rude she was appearing by correcting him in such a tone.
He was the Wards leader and her equivalent of Parian and if she'd ever tried to talk to her friend and nominal boss that way...
To try and make up for it she reached out and grasped Aegis' hand, shaking it firmly. Taylor bowed her head just a little, chastising herself, it was a stupid thing to get angry over. Aegis didn't mean any harm.
"Sorry, I've been trying to correct everyone and I guess I just snapped at you." Taylor said apologetically.
Aegis shook his head and his wry grin gave Taylor the impression he was amused. Vista came to a stop next to Aegis and Taylor had to admit it to herself that the duo gave off an impressive vibe, very heroic.
Well, if nothing else the PRT's Public Relations was damn good at what they do.
"Don't worry about it, but Portunes? I guess that would be the name Assault forgot." Aegis said, crossing his arms, his wry grin stretching into a much warmer smile.
Taylor felt her eye twitch as a spike of vengeful wrath coursed through her. The man who had ruined her debut.
Assault.
Taylor would have her revenge.
She snapped back to the present as Vista also put her hand out. This time Taylor didn't hesitate to shake it. The younger girl had a strong grip and Taylor felt herself liking the younger girl's cheerful grin, her smile peeking out of the darkness in response.
Releasing her hand Vista pulled the edge of the building closer to herself, space distorting as the younger girl mad herself a seat and sat on the concrete ledge from 20 feet away. "Vista, it's nice to meet you. I hate to sound like a critic, but I really like Keynote. Portunes sounds cool, but Keynote just rolls off your tongue."
Taylor stared at the stretched out concrete and reached forward to touch it, but pulled back at the last second, afraid the affect was easily disrupted and she'd send the green clad cape sprawling. Vista laughed at Taylor's antics and patted the space next to her.
"It's fine, seriously, I've stretched my bed out for hours like this, all that space to relax. It's great!" The younger girl said with an exaggerated stretch of her arms. Taylor, with a touch of childish excitement, sat down next to one of her local heroes. Aegis remained standing and tilted his head at Vista.
"If another news helicopter catches you warping the city for fun Piggot will drag you into her office the moment we get back." He said, his voice serious, but Taylor once again felt like he was jesting. He just… lacked the spite or the apathy she normally associated with bullying. Despite his serious tone Taylor felt he sounded… nice? Concerned, that was it.
Vista just waved her hand, brushing his comment off with a nonchalance Taylor envied.
"Shush Aegis, I'm trying to impress the new girl." Vista said and shot a grin at Taylor who smiled back, even if it was barely visible in her hoods enchanted darkness. This was so cool, her, Taylor Hebert, of all people, laughing with Vista. Taylor pushed down her inner fan girl and ran a hand across the concrete where it was stretched.
"I knew you were capable of some pretty amazing things, but this is beyond what I expected. It's… cool. Really cool. Can you stretch space anywhere?" Taylor asked excitedly.
That caused a pause though and Taylor saw Vista share a glance with Aegis. Why would they need to share a secret look? What had she done wrong? It's not like she asked anything perso...
"Oh. I am so sorry! I wasn't digging for information on your powers, I was just curious and I haven't met many capes so it's all kind of new and exciting and I really think it's cool that you guys are here, I mean you're the Wards!" Taylor babbled, almost forgetting to breathe.
'Shut up Taylor! You sound like an idiot.' Her own mind hissed at her, but her mouth was just out of control as Taylor kept talking, apologizing profusely. After another few moments without any sign of Taylor stopping Vista waved her hands in mock surrender.
"I totally understand, it's exiting on our end as well. New capes that aren't trying to fight us? Who aren't hostile and all 'Authority? Must smash!' It's like Christmas." She teased and Taylor felt her face heat up, grateful her shadowed hood would hide her red cheeks.
"Is the hood tinker tech? No matter what angle I look at it remains shrouded in darkness, even with my advance eye sight." Aegis said suddenly. "Or is it another power? Some kind of darkness or shadow generation?"
Taylor felt her hands reach up and pull her hood down further, panic welling up inside her chest.
"W-why are you asking?" Taylor said, her breathing becoming more rapid. Sure she'd been asking Vista a similar question but… Was this it? The PRT information gathering, trying to find out her powers and even her identity? Would this be where they asked her to join and tried to twist her arm if she said no? Wait… He was already after her civilian identity! Why else was he trying to look past the darkness hiding her face? No, she wouldn't…
Aegis cut her thoughts off, noticing Taylor's rising panic as her breathing sped up and head darted around, as if looking for an escape route.
"Do not worry; it is just a really impressive effect and like yourself, I was curious. But I can see I have upset you. Sorry, my mistake. I know how rough it can be after… Well, you know. So, sorry if I brought up any bad memories." The red clothed ward said and stopped talking.
Bad memories? Taylor wondered what he was… Oh. He was talking about… about… Well, the second worst day of her life. He thought he'd brought that up somehow. Damn. Now she felt like an ass for worrying him, so Taylor stood and took a few steps towards the boy, letting him see the smile she forced onto her face.
"I'm sorry, you caught me off guard. I'm very happy to meet you and talk to you, but I... I haven't had good experiences with authority figures and I keep thinking that maybe... you're here to give me the sales pitch on the Wards and I'm worried that you'll take my answer the wrong way and then I'd be labelled a villain and... I couldn't deal with that."
Vista and Aegis stared at her for a few seconds before Vista snorted.
"I'm not going to lie, Piggot was very keen on us 'making a good impression on a potential recruit', her words not mine, and to be honest..." Vista trailed off and looked over the edge where people milled around, spotting the Wards entry. "Well, we'd never call you a villain just for telling us no. And, well, you look like you're doing pretty good here. So I'm not even going to pretend to give you the whole 'speech.' Like I said before, I'm just happy you're not against us. A lot of the time, we're pretty out-numbered on the cape front and, depending on who we fight, out gunned until the Protectorate sends help."
Vista trailed off there and seeing the younger Ward stop Aegis nodded in agreement before taking up the talk.
"I can see you like where you are at as well. A legitimate security job is a nice way to build experience without most of the danger being an independent hero brings. It is also a good way to get recommendations for the future, and earn money without resorting to villainy. Good on you for that. Also, as Vista said, I can see trying to give you such an obvious sales pitch would not endear us to you. Still, I would like to think we could work together in the future? I know your presenting yourself as a Rogue but having another friendly face around would be nice, especially one who is not just blowing us off because of… Ah, Shadow Stalker's… less than personable behavior." Aegis said, sounding pained at the end.
Taylor watched as the rust and silver coloured Ward drew himself up, almost standing at attention, all he was missing was the salute.
"As the leader of the Wards team East-North-East I would like to officially apologize for Shadow Stalker's behaviour and attack on you. It speaks well of your character that you have allowed us to speak with you and continue to uphold the law despite a heroes failings." Aegis said, his words backed up with confidence and sincerity that Taylor wished she had on her best days.
Despite the warm sensation Aegis's words left in her chest, Taylor felt the smile slip from her face. It was great a Hero thought she was a good person, but the mention of Shadow Stalker had rather soured the mood.
Still, he was officially apologizing for the dark-Ward's actions and Taylor would be damned if she'd spit in their face for another person's actions. Authority might have failed her but these two were at least trying.
"Shadow Stalker... is her own person. She made her choices that night and I assume she's paying the price, hopefully. I won't hold her choices against you." Taylor said, frowning as she thought of the aggressive girl. "So, apology accepted."
Aegis seemed to think about what to say next, but Vista had no such regards.
"Me and Aegis here can't really share the details since we're teammates and all, personal feelings aside. I can promise you though; Shadow is gon'na have a bad time." Vista finished with a grin.
Taylor blinked at the expression. Was that some kind of reference she was missing? Still, the bit about personal feelings seemed more important.
"You don't like her?" She asked, feeling curious at the inner workings of the Wards. Aegis remained stoic in expression, but Vista sighed, making an adorable pout.
"Not out right. Shadow Stalker just makes the small things that build relationships... difficult on purpose. 'Takes no crap' is one way to put it and Shadow sees a lot of things as crap." Vista explained and fell back on to the stretched concrete with a thump. Aegis stepped forward and pulled a card from one of the many pockets on his armour and handed it to Taylor.
"Umm... thank you?" She said as she spied several numbers typed neatly on it and two more scrawled at the bottom in pen.
"Shadow Stalker aside, this card has several numbers. Up top are the official lines for the PRT and Protectorate for emergency use and below that is the number to call if you have any questions. The bottom two are mine and Vista's work numbers when we're out patrolling the city. I would like to offer them to you in case something happens and you need back up without any strings attached or even if you would like to join us on a patrol. Maybe we can give you some feed-back on how you're doing, some tips from the pros, so to speak." Aegis said, giving her a warm smile which showed he was, if not joking, then at least not being mean spirited. He seemed like someone who genuinely wanted to help, a mythical being in Taylor's experience.
Aegis stood back after he was finished. Taylor looked from the card to the two in front of her.
This was not at all how Taylor envisioned how the PRT's approach would go. She was expecting invitations to fly down her chimney or for them to lay on dangers of potential problems that she may come across to frighten her into joining. She had pictured burly capes with angry expressions, glaring down at her, telling she'd be dead in six months, or armoured men asking if she was going to fight them.
This? Two Wards just coming by for a conversation? This was far more clever. Whether Vista and Aegis knew about it or not, the PRT was not allowing her to remain at the shop without zero pressure. They were hinting she should join, not because it was dangerous or trying to call her a villain. They were trying to play her loneliness against her. A sort of "See? We're not the bad guys, give it time and you might like us." approach.
It might have even worked if it weren't for Sabah.
Or was Taylor just reading way too much into a conversation and a card?
Vista stood, startling Taylor with the suddenness of her action.
"Well that about covers it from the political angle, so how about we get down to the fun part?" The green girl said excitedly, Aegis frowned and spoke up.
"I thought we agreed we wouldn't hassle her like this?" He said, his tone clearly disapproving. Vista waved him off and spun to face Taylor.
"Can we see your sword? I've only heard about it and I really want to see if it looks like a giant key! Please~!" Vista said, her grin infectious.
Taylor laughed and nodded, her own smile twitching at the younger girls antics. She'd been expecting this and had honestly been expecting something way worse. Aegis shot Taylor an apologetic smile, but didn't disagree anymore.
Taylor held her hand in front of her, slowly raising it and made a gripping motion.
With a flash and faint whistle the Melody of the Lost appeared in her grip, followed by the sounds of impressed 'woah's' from Vista and Aegis.
Taylor felt cool for the first time since the Wards had arrived, like finally she was the one with something to show rather than just being the newbie. Taylor held out the Keyblade for inspection as Vista came closer and looked it over.
"I have to say, it looks pretty awesome. The rose and the flute motif are kind of bizarre but it works, like a deadly musician type of thing. Beware the thorns!" Vista gushed a little before she caught herself.
"Can I hold it?" The young Ward asked, clasping her hand and looking alarmingly excited and adorable at the question.
"Vista, that's a bit far." Aegis said, uncrossing his arms and moving to cut her off.
Taylor shrugged though, not seeing the harm in it. Besides, it gave her an idea she'd been wanting to try and been unable to trick Sabah into. With a twirl of her wrist, the whole Keyblade spun in her grip and came to rest with the key-chain facing towards Vista.
"Don't whack anything to hard, it's sharp despite its appearance." She said in a friendly tone. Vista nodded seriously and grabbed the Keyblade.
With a swipe she swung it above her head and said loudly.
"By the power of Vista!" She cried, grinning up at the sword clasped in her hand. The young blonde gasped though as the keyblade vanished from her grip and appeared in Taylor's hands.
Taylor thought the top of her head might fall off her grin was so wide as she gave the Keyblade a twirl in her hands.
"What was that?" Taylor asked Vista, pointing to the Wards's still raised hand, laughter bubbling up at the Wards' shocked expressions.
The other capes relaxed when they heard Taylor laughing, realizing it was a prank and the Keyblade wasn't exploding under Vista's touch. Vista went red around the neck as she answered.
"Is this the show where the character has a magic sword and... Well it doesn't matter, you can't lose that sword? One that can only be wielded by the true king?" Vista asked, quickly changing the subject. Taylor walked over to Vista's warped space and sat down.
"This is the Melody of the Lost, not Excalibur. And, it just comes to me when I need it. I can always feel it, just at the back of my mind." Taylor explained, feeling her pride swell as Vista and Aegis paid rapt attention to her. Taylor placed the Keyblade gently down on the concrete and suddenly the space she was sitting on warped and snapped back to normal.
Leaving Taylor sitting on empty air.
With a squeak, she landed heavily on her ass.
A second passed before Vista bent over and laughed hard. Her face rapidly turning red as she fought for breath.
Aegis's lips quivered rapidly but he helped her climb to her feet whilst managing to maintain his decorum.
With a mumbled goodbye that she was sure that Aegis didn't hear over Vista's gasps for air, Taylor picked up her Keyblade and rapidly hauled ass to the door to the stairs, her face bright red.
"Keep in touch!" Aegis called as she flew down the stairs, a smile in his voice.
Taylor felt like a nerd, awkward and embarrassed but… Aegis and Vista had been fun, they'd apologized for Shadow Stalker and hadn't twisted her arm, hadn't threatened her. There really wereheroes in the world and she was one of them.
She was still smiling as she hugged a confused Parian at the bottom of the stairs.
Taylor had a problem.
It wasn't a problem Taylor thought she'd ever encounter again in her life. After all, being a Cape had seemed to make such things trivial, and yet here it was, once more rearing its ugly head.
Parental permission.
After her first successful day, ignoring her failure in front of Aegis and Vista aside, Ingrid wanted Taylor to become a part time employ and have Portunes appear whenever she could. However, unless you were the Protectorate you couldn't officially employ a Cape as legally they didn't exist. No birth certificate, no driver's license, and most importantly, no IRD number. That meant to get paid a Cape had to be employed in their civilian identity, necessitating outing themselves. It was still a major point of conflict with many Capes and the government and was part of what caused the formation of the Elite, a group of business and profit oriented villains.
Regardless of any villains though, it meant for Taylor to get legally paid she had to be on the books as Taylor Hebert, not Portunes. So in the spirit of the unwritten rules and trying to keep Taylor's identify a secret, Ingrid had left Sabah in charge of going over the fine print of her contract. Which meant she would get paid. Which meant she would have a job. Which meant she had to have permission from her guardians. Which meant she had to tell her dad.
It was kind of funny really, here she was a Super-Hero who'd fought for her life against Super-Villains, saved civilians and wowed the public… and she still needed her Dad's permission to get a job.
Capes and law were an odd couple.
More though, there were numerous additional laws that applied to parahumans and not just active capes that didn't apply to normal humans. After all a normal teenage girl couldn't lift trucks or shoot lasers from her eyes. The law made it out as the capes responsibility to always use their power safely, likening it to a live gun in their hands. The last thirty years or so had seen rapid constitutional reforms and new laws passed in response to the emergence of parahumans, particularly those with lots of power.
No one wanted a second coming of Glastig Uaine after all.
For instance, if you could fly, then nothing short of an Endbringer or another S-class threat would get you out of trouble if you were caught flying around in another country's airspace. That was one of the most basic and simple rules, Taylor could think of.
There were laws that existed for parahumans in any official sports competition. Thinkers were banned from casinos, betting agencies, politics, stock markets, and the weather forecast. Movers were prohibited from using their powers in residential zones. Blasters were treated as if they were willingly carrying around heavy weaponry everywhere. Shakers had entire laws dedicated to their violation of the laws of physics. Strangers were judged per case when, and more often than not if, they got caught.
Masters... were a whole other ball game in recent years; ever since the appearance of Heartbreaker.
The whole justice system had new rules appearing all the time for one thing or another and all them seemed designed to control parahumans, to bring them under the Protectorates control or just lock them up.
A lot of those laws were cracking down on under age capes now. As the first second generation capes began to appear, more and more younger people were triggering. This was causing an unprecedented amount of underage capes that the government was trying to herd together by making it impossible for any capes to legally use their powers for self-gain without outing themselves and for underage capes it required the further step of parental permission.
Which lead to Taylor's current problem.
"I can't tell him. Sabah, please, there has to be another way!" Taylor pleaded as houses rushed past the car window.
The sky appeared to be on fire as the sun set for the day, and it lit up Sabah's car in an odd way that made Taylor sleepy despite her racing thoughts.
Sabah looked at her as she steered them down the road, drawing closer to Taylor's street and house, which Taylor had foolishly given her the address of before she decided to ask why Sabah wanted it.
"Taylor, I'm not forcing you to do anything, I'm just going to be there in case you start to panic." Sabah explained calmly, before quickly adding in a more amused tone then paused, her lips screwing up in thought.
"Well, more panicked than you are now. I can't legally employ you at the Doll House unless we get your Dad on board. I'm not going to risk the employees or Ingrid's investments because you can't talk to your Dad. You've talked to me about him; I thought the two of you were okay?" The other girl asked her.
Taylor bit her lip as she chose her words. This was something she herself had been wondering.
"We are... it's just, he's my Dad and I didn't want him involved at first because I wasn't sure where'd I end up. I'd sort of planned on being an independent hero, not a security guard and… and… I just… I wanted to…" Taylor trailed off, unsure how to express herself.
Sabah nodded, understanding Taylor's unvoiced message.
"You wanted to keep him safe. That's not a bad thing but what's the real reason?" She said without accusation. Taylor felt her cheeks burn a little at how easy Sabah seem to read her.
"...I didn't want to share my secret. After… After I woke up, it was all I had and I just… I couldn't tell him. I couldn't. He'd worry or panic and then I get dragged off to the Wards or some other place. Dad isn't great at handling personal things… Not… Not since Mom died. Mom could just look at people and know how to act, but Dad gets angry or he gets worried. I just wanted to be it to be my secret, something they couldn't take or ruin. I wanted something that was mine and no one else's and not become part of the Wards… and that sounds really bad now that I'm saying it aloud." Taylor said quickly, the words pouring out of her at Sabah, who sat and listened with full attention.
"You were afraid. You went through hell and you finally got something to help you through it. You were worried he might take it away from you, wrap you up in so much bubble wrap it wouldn't be yours anymore." Sabah said, confirming Taylor's feelings.
"I love my Dad, but..." Taylor began. "But… when Mom died, he just… He gave up. He wasn't there when I needed him. I was crying in bed and he was just drinking! I… I wanted my dad and he was just staring straight ahead while I cooked pasta. He… I love him but he…"
Taylor stopped, surprised as Sabah lay a hand on her thigh, rubbing gently to calm her.
"Taylor… I never really knew my Dad. He died when a few years back, shortly after we came to America. He got ill and died due to stress, so my family could make the trip here and I wish I could have known him better. He was a stern man and I was too timid to try and get to know him. I don't want you to make the same mistakes that I did and end up losing your family like me." Sabah said, giving her a smile even if Taylor could see the pain behind it.
"Just try Taylor, give your Dad a chance. You can't just judge and sentenced him without ever giving him a chance to prove himself. Even if he failed when your mother died, he loves you still, right? You told me about the hospital a while back, he didn't reject you for hiding the bullying, he wanted to help you. Everyone deserves a second chance, so give your dad one okay? For me?" Sabah squeezed her hand and Taylor found her hand now griping Sabah's, having grabbed the hand on her leg like her life depended on it.
Taylor squeezed back, trying to be strong for her friend. "O-Okay Sabah. For you."
What Sabah had said sounded so logical and the older girl sounded so sure. Taylor had to agree her dad hadn't wronged her. She just didn't want him involved in her Cape identity, but why shouldn't he be? It was easy to throw herself at villains when it was just herself she was worrying about, but if she had to worry about her dad waiting up for her late at night with a first aid kit then it just became harder, more stressful.
He… He deserved that chance though, so she'd give it to him.
Sabah stopped her junker of a car outside Taylor's home, pulling up at the curb. With a growing sense of dread, despite her resolution, Taylor spotted her dad's car. He hadn't, for the first time ever it seemed, been called into work on a Sunday due to some emergency or other problem.
Taylor eyed Sabah out the corner of her eye, a terrible suspicion taking root. Did her friend have another power? Some kind of reality warping to make other people have uncomfortable situations? Taylor was almost sure of it.
Looking forwards again Taylor swallowed. Fighting with the tightening of her chest and feelings she was bottling within, Taylor got out the car and walked into the house with Sabah trailing behind her. She was home and her dad was waiting for her.
Entering through the front door Taylor put her coat on one of the hooks by the door without even looking, gazing into the house as she listened.
No sound coming from the TV, so Dad wasn't in the living room.
The shower was quiet, so he wasn't upstairs.
The coffee machine was rumbling away though. That meant her dad was in the kitchen.
So, to the kitchen then. Taylor turned to Sabah and was about to say something when she spotted Sabah looking at her childhood pictures hanging on the wall behind them.
"Christ, I forgot about them." Taylor moaned with a touch of horror. She hadn't had friends over in so long that the pictures had become benign.
Sabah giggled and pointed to one in particular.
"I like the paint job." The darker skinned girl said, her blue eyes sparkling prettily.
Taylor followed her finger and spotted her younger self covered in white paint from when her Dad had been repainting inside the house. He'd been painting her room and Taylor had tried to help but instead she'd knocked over the paint tin when she was messing about. Her mom hadn't rushed to clean her or the floor up or freak out though. No. Taylor's mother calmly walked downstairs and returned with the camera.
"I was picking paint flakes out my hair for years after that." Taylor said with a small smile as she thought back on happier times, the sound of her Mothers laughter and her Father's chuckles echoing in her ears.
"Taylor?" Her Dad's voice carried from the kitchen.
Starting at the sudden call, Taylor motioned for Sabah to follow, and headed towards the kitchen. Taylor gulped, her nerves returning as she was about to tell her Dad about her secret, her true self, and how Sabah was helping her adjust to her new situation, being in the same boat.
It sounded easy.
Taylor knew it would be anything but.
Entering the kitchen Taylor spotted her dad relaxing in a chair at the kitchen table, an empty plate from a late lunch and news-paper spread out in front of him. He stood when Sabah came in, a confused and yet pleased expression crossing his face.
"Well, hello there, I wasn't expecting anyone else besides Taylor." He said with good nature and a subtle look towards Taylor, who went pink.
Taylor hadn't told him she was brining Sabah, true. She had been too busy freaking out at the incoming bomb of her dad learning of her cape life to mention it when she'd called earlier. She was regretting that now. Still, introductions needed to made.
"Dad, this Sabah. She's my friend, the girl I've been hanging out with and staying over at her flat." Taylor said, making the introductions. "Sabah, this is my dad, Danny Hebert."
Danny's face lit up at this, a warm smile stretching his lips.
"So this is the person who's been making off into the night with my little girl? It's nice to meet you. Also, I like your top." He said to Sabah, his eyes flicking over the older girls shirt.
Taylor groaned as Sabah grinned back at her dad. She just knew her dad would take Sabah's side and soon her wardrobe of comfortable hoodies and baggy jeans would be gone, replaced with midriff baring tops, denim jackets and… Taylor shuddered, Sabah's skinny jeans.
Worse, her dad's chuckling meant he found Sabah's habit funny! Her friend had an odd habit that Taylor hadn't noticed straight away. Always, somewhere on her person, Sabah would wear something strange, something cringe worthy. Something which, while fitting, was always something that would, if not cause offense, then make people stare. Today it was Sabah's hoodie. A cartoon cat sat with its paw waving with the words "I'm Meta-fur-kitty awesome."
The pun was so bad Taylor had rolled her eyes practically back into her head when she saw it. And her dad loved it. Of course he did.
"Nice to finally meet you, Mr. Hebert, I've heard a lot about you." Sabah said with a wide smile and tilted head, the perfect image of friendliness.
"Nothing too bad, I hope." He replied lightly, shooting a grin at Taylor, who smiled back.
Sabah hummed, her grin turning mischievous.
"I heard something about a raise in an allowance..." She trailed off, seeing Taylor eyes pop out of her head at the double meaning.
"My allowance is fine Dad, she's just joking." Taylor cut off her Dad's incoming question, fresh panic rising in her voice. What if her da thought she was… No, she had to focus. Focus on telling him.
"Well at least someone here has a sense of humor." Her Dad said and ruffled her hair.
Taylor slapped his hands away lightly, struggling not to blush as he embarrassed her in front of Sabah.
"Anyone want something to drink, we've got some OJ kicking about the fridge, I think?" Both of the girls nodded and when his back was turned Sabah raised her eye brow at Taylor, a question in her look.
Taylor felt her stomach clench, churning till it felt full of froth. This was… This was the moment. Why she'd brought Sabah, or, well, Sabah had brought her here for.
When her dad returned with the glasses of juice, Taylor spoke, with a tremble in voice.
"D-Dad? We need to t-talk."
Danny looked at her, his eyes narrowing slightly at her tone and stuttering voice. But he sat, calmly sliding each of the girls a glass and keeping one for himself. Taking a sip he nodded gently to her.
"I'm here for you kiddo, is everything okay?" He asked gently. Taylor felt her tongue go dry. She couldn't do this. Panic over whelmed all thought, all the lines she had thought of, the speech she'd prepared in advance… gone. All gone.
Her breath hitched as she tried to regulate it, tried to stop the steadily increasing pace. Taylor opened her mouth to speak, but her damn tongue didn't want to move leaving her jaw opening and closing but no sound coming out.
Her Dad's expression grew increasingly worried as she continued to sit there, unable to make a sound.
Suddenly a hand grasped hers and gave a reassuring squeeze. Taylor turned her head, coming face to face with Sabah as the Arabic girl leaned close and gave her a smile, a soft one just curving edges of her lips.
"Breath Taylor, it's okay. I'm here, trust me and we can do it together." The other girl said.
Taylor glanced down at their joined hands. Sabah's fingers felt warm, comforting. She wasn't alone. Looking back up into blue eyes Taylor nodded and drew in a sharp breath, turned to her Dad and spoke at the exact same time as him.
"You're a Lesbi-"
"Dad, I'm a cap-"
There was a silence in the kitchen, except for a wooden clock ticking away on the wall.
"I'm a what?" Taylor asked incredulously.
"You're a cape, Taylor." Sabah said quickly, withdrawing her hand, her face scarlet. Taylor looked at her friend, confused by her blush. Shrugging as it didn't seem important; she turned back to her dad who was just sitting there motionless.
"...a cape?" He asked, his voice small.
Taylor hesitantly nodded.
"Ever… Ever since the Locker." She said quietly, worried any loud noises might set him off. Whilst she knew her father had a temper, he'd rarely shown it to her. Only twice she could recall. No, she was much more worried about sending him back into that pit of despair he'd been in after her mother passed. She never wanted to see him like that again.
Breathing steadily for a few moments, as if steeling himself Danny nodded, his head moving slowly. Then he looked at Sabah.
"Are you..." He trailed off, not sure how to handle the words correctly, how to voice his question without accusing the older girl of something.
Sabah also nodded. "I am. You might know me better as Parian."
Danny nodded slowly again then became still again. He sat there, silent, unmoving.
As time began to drag Taylor's anxiety grew, her stomach churning with fear.
"Dad?" Taylor finally asked, her tone uncertain, brittle. She was afraid her dad… Dad wouldn't accept her, that she'd be thrown out and the only family she had left would reject her. That they wouldn't reconnect and she couldn't give him a second chance. They'd cut ties and…
Her Dad's head swiveled up to face her form looking at the table.
"Why Taylor? Why didn't you tell me?" He asked, his voice hurt, confused, and lost. Taylor opened her mouth… And slumped back like she had been struck, her reasons now feeling stupid. She hadn't told him why? Because he wouldn't support her? Because he'd make her join the wards and she couldn't deal with more teenage drama? Because he hadn't been there for her when her mom died?
They all… They all seemed so trivial now. Not support her? He was her dad, he told her he loved every day. Make her join the Wards? He detested the government and Protectorate as much as her mom had, and she'd been Lustrum's henchwoman. So… so what if he hadn't comforted her, and had abandoned her when her mom died? He was here now, right? He'd been there for her after the locker, comforted her when she had nightmares. Sabah never got to know her dad. Taylor refused to make the same mistake and lose her's before she could. He was all she had left. She'd even climbed out of that dark place to come back to him and she was just throwing her second chance away?
To hell with that!
Sabah's voice cut across her thoughts then.
"She is, right now." Sabah said, her tone calm and firm.
Danny looked from Taylor to Sabah and back again. Then he sighed.
"That's true, two and a half months isn't so bad, but I have this feeling this meeting is more due to your influence," Her dad nodded towards Sabah, "Than Taylor's own willingness."
Danny chuckled humorlessly. "My girl is a good one, but she has independence issues that're making me go grey. Don't get me wrong, I'm still very upset that you kept this from me, Taylor, but... I understand. I don't like it, but I understand."
Then Danny raised his glass and downed the orange juice in a single gulp. Setting the glass back, he grimaced slightly, the expression showing he wished the glass had contained something stronger than fruit juice.
Still, he'd accepted her. Taylor felt something ease inside her a little. Her dad had accepted her and he still wanted her. She still had a family and home. She'd gotten her second chance… Now to give her dad his.
"So if you're Parian, I guess that makes you her new help, Keynote?" Her Dad asked and blinked when Taylor's face turned thunderous.
"I prefer Portunes, but yes that's me." Taylor muttered.
Sabah's lips trembled at this, fighting against a grin whilst the older girl's shoulders quivered holding in her laughter.
Danny blinked at the odd reactions, uncertain what he'd done to make one girl angry and the other laugh.
"So what happens now? I guess there was a reason I was brought into the fold of your diabolic plan?" He asked, a little humor returning as he watched his daughter pout.
At hearing this, Taylor beamed, her fear abated and humor returning as she pulled out the paper work from the Doll House.
"I want to become a Rogue and help Sabah at the Doll House, but I can't do that without your permission." Taylor explained, more animated than she had been this whole conversation. Sabah leaned back and smiled, watching the pair reconnect.
Taylor and her Dad made eye contact, a silent reassurance passed between them and Taylor knew they'd be okay. There was a still lot for her Dad to digest and he might eventually remember she was almost killed by the E88, but Taylor wasn't going to bring that up and just pray he'd forget.
And in the mean-time she'd make up for all the lost opportunities and tell her dad she loved him so very much.
"Sabah, did you know there is a giant yellow chicken living in your house?" Danny said as he entered the studio. Boco pulled his head from the trash and trilled it at them before he spotted a newcomer.
"Kewh?" Boco said as he looked at Danny. Sabah sighed, reaching over and pulling a banana peel off Boco's beak.
"I do. Danny meet Boco the chocobo and Mog... where ever he is. Mog?" Sabah called out and then from behind a microwave, Mog's pom-pom popped up.
"Give me a few seconds, kupo, almost done." Mog answered as the sound of electricity crackling followed his voice, coming from the kitchenette.
Sabah dropped her coat on the ground and stomped forward. Taylor took a step back. She knew that face, Sabah had made that same expression when she'd accidentally damaged the floor in her sleep. Smashing a guitar on stage was a lot cooler when you were a rock star, not just dreaming you were one and summoning your sword whilst you slept.
"Done? With what? Don't you dare blow up my microwave again, I live off that thing!" Sabah said. Danny's mouth hung open at the sight of Mog quickly flying away and out of reach.
Boco gently walked up to Danny and pushed his head under the man's hand. Danny blinked, puzzled as the… giant chicken? As the bird kept butting at his hand. Soon enough he caught on and began scratching Boco with great enthusiasm, much to Boco's delight.
"I always wanted a dog." Danny mused, shooting Taylor a smile.
In return Taylor grinned at him and quickly vanished into Sabah's bedroom where she'd left her costume. With some quick fingers, tugging, caught zippers and a few minutes, she left Sabah's room and stood before her Dad, in full garb, Keyblade and all.
Her Dad looked her down and up.
"White is going to be a pain to keep clean." Was the first thing he said and Taylor felt sort of let-down. Cleaning was seriously the first thing that came to mind? Not… Not how heroic she looked?
Chuckling Danny reached out and pulled her into a hug and held her tightly. Whilst he couldn't see her face, her drooping shoulders were clue enough to his daughters mood. Leaning down he placed his mouth next to Taylor's ear.
"My baby's a hero, a real one. You mother would be so proud of you." He whispered. Taylor was never so thankful for the hood as she was now as her face began to redden and her lips trembled with the effort it took not to cry.
"I miss her." Taylor said and Danny smiled sadly, pulling her tighter against him.
"Me too Taylor, me too."
Today had been just hell on her emotions but…
She wouldn't have had it any other way.
With a final wave, Sabah closed front door. Smiling, Taylor watched as the door was left behind, growing smaller as Danny's car picked up speed as they traveled back home together.
"Isn't this the street the E88 attacked or something?" Danny asked, his eyes roving over the remnants of battle still getting patched up as they drove past. Taylor innocently shrugged and hid her grin.
Danny eyed her, he opened his mouth and… With a sigh he let it go. His daughter had opened up to him finally and he would not push her so hard she clammed back up again.
"So, this wasn't how I planned to spend my day off, but I can't really complain. Do you think if I leak pictures of you in costume, I can earn some quick cash?" He teased her.
Taylor shot him an unamused glare which made him chuckle.
"Fair enough." He said as he turned heading along the edge of the city towards the docks and home.
"Still, it makes me happy that you told me, even if it took a little time and some adjusting. Anyway, I left the papers signed with Sabah and I'm sure she'll make sure that it isn't seen by anyone that isn't trust worthy, or stupid. Hmm. I'm kind of excited to see if I can catch any gossip about you from the workers tomorrow. I can stand around looking all smug and knowledgeable while they discuss the new Rogue in town." Danny said with a laugh.
"Noooooo! I'll be found out in no time!" Taylor wailed dramatically, clasping her hands together as if in despair while she grinned.
Danny rolled his eyes at her antics, chuckling as they drove. The conversation was actually flowing between them for the first time in years. It made him feel lighter, like some great weight he hadn't know he was carrying had been lifted from his shoulders. Life… wasn't looking up, not yet. But he hoped it would be.
The car slowed as the traffic light flashed red and they rolled to a stop. Danny began to fiddle with the radio and Taylor leaned back and watched a truck move through the center of the intersection and... stop?
The truck was stereotypical battered and red. A silver tarp covered the back of it. The driver, a man sat behind the wheel and the dark interior made it hard to make out any features, but Taylor would swear she could see a man with a huge scar down the side of his face.
Horns began to blare angrily when the truck didn't move and it only got worse when the lights changed and her dad and the other drivers couldn't go. Glaring at the driver, Taylor felt her stomach sinking as the man in truck began to cry. He picked up a radio and something else; Taylor's stomach stopped sinking then and outright plummeted. She knew something was horribly wrong.
The Keyblade flashed into her hands and Danny yelped. Taylor wasn't sure how it could help, but its weight lent her a feeling of safety she desperately needed.
"Taylor, what are-" He began, but Taylor brought the keyblade up in front of his chest in a guard, pointing at the driver with her free hand.
"Dad, back up! That man is holding a rem-" Taylor said before…
And the world exploded.
There was ringing noise and it kept going and going. It was annoying and Taylor tried to reach out and stop whatever was making the noise. Her arm didn't move. Why, what… She tried again but her arm still refused to move.
Slowly the world began to return as Taylor became conscious again. Her head felt heavy and light at the same time, like someone had stuffed her head with cotton candy then driven an axe into it. She felt dizzy and sore and… Taylor retched, spitting, desperate to get rid of the taste of blood clogging her throat. Coughing as she continued to try and spit Taylor realized there was more than just a ringing sound in the air.
There was chaos.
Screams, crying, alarms, the crackling of fire, the distant wail of sirens… Noise came from everywhere. Taylor breathed in, almost coughing again as she tried to recover her breath an d choked on smoke. The air stank, the reek of burning metal and gasoline filling nose and throat. With an effort, Taylor open her eyes and tried to make sense of what she was seeing. The… the sky was grey? Grey and covered with broken glass, red blood dripping upwards to pool… Taylor blinked, tried too. She licked her lips, almost retching again at the coppery taste. There was blood running, dripping across her face and her left eye wouldn't open.
Looking back up Taylor wondered why her blood was rising into the sky? No. It… it wasn't floating, everything was upside down. She was upside down, still held in place by her seat belt. Moaning with the pain movement caused she fumbled for the clasp and unlatched herself, flopping onto the car roof with a strangled scream. Where… where was… she couldn't see him, where was her dad? She reached for him, where he should because he was there and she just couldn't see him.
She scrambled, hand flailing amidst the wreckage. Where? Where was he? He… He had to… had to be there… Where…
He wasn't there. Looking at the empty ground her hand was scrabbling at Taylor realized he wasn't there. Looking now, really looking Taylor tried to see out of her one working eye even as she had to keep blinking blood away. Eye flickering over the damage she saw that the driver's side was ripped away, the whole side; door, wheel, seat…. They were gone. Nothing left but the bare frame of the car and melted tar studded with glass chips from the window screen.
She… She had to… find him. had to find him. Find her dad.
Taylor dragged herself out through the gaping hole and over the broken glass even as it cut her palms and knees.
She had to find him.
Finally reaching outside Taylor tried to push herself up wright, heedless of the pain and glass slicing her fingers. Something… Something was wrong though. Looking at her arms not understanding their betrayal she noticed that one of her arms wasn't right. Elbows weren't supposed to bend that way, were they?
Gritting her teeth Taylor used her good arm to force herself upright, staggering as her feet slipped beneath her. Her legs… they felt wrong but that wasn't important wright now. Slowly, she came up right and looked around.
She had to find him.
She had to find him but where was he?
She looked around, trying to see despite her pounding head and the black spots in her vision. There… There was smoke. Lots of smoke. And fire. Fires all… All around her. Car, trucks, buildings… All on fire and belching black smoke. Even the road was on fire, the tar melted and burning.
What… What happened?
Taylor gripped her head with her good arm, trying to force her brain to work. She… She had… Had to remember.
The truck… The truck. The red truck with the silver tarp. The truck had exploded. Her father's yells, her screaming, then…
Darkness.
Not… not helping. Taylor looked around again, desperate. He… he ahd to be here. He had to be okay because he promised he would be there for her. They'd got their second chance and he would be there.
Focusing, Taylor noted the street where the bomb went off was now a sea of flames, whatever the bomb was made from had managed to light things on fire that… that shouldn't be burning right? Metal didn't burn, right? The street itself was on fire and creeping towards her. She… she need to find her dad before he burned to death. Had… She had to save him. She was a hero and heroes saved people.
With frantic limps she moved forward and head darting about, searching with her one working eye.
There!
She'd spotted him a small distance away, maybe… she didn't know how far. Small. Her dad, who had been smiling not so long ago, just laying limply next to the driver's seat. The seat was on fire and the flames were climbing up Danny's legs. Her… her dad was burning. He shouldn't be burning!
With furious effort she ran towards him, ignoring the black spots that blotted her vision, the darkness filling in the edges until all she could see was her dad burning! Dad was unconscious and didn't look he was breathing. He was burning!
Slumping to her kness Taylor looked at him. Her dad had a terrible head wound.
With her arms under Danny's shoulders, she pushed at his body, attempting to roll him. That… that was… was what you were supposed to do right? Stop, drop and roll! Taylor giggled. She'd mad a funny! The pain was flashing behind her eyeballs. Pushing again and not expecting Taylor was not to make much progress, but he slide rolled fairly easily and most of the flames guttered out as they became coated in wet tar. She… she needed to get her dad away though. Away from… Away from the burning and the pain. With some effort Taylor was able to grab her dad by his shoulder and she dragged her dad a less on burnt part of the street.
Looking at him she saw there were still some of the flames on her dad. Pulling off her coat, her moth contorting as her elbow bent wrong, taylor hauled the denim jacket had given her off and beat at the remaining burny flames on her fathers legs. When they were finally all gone, Taylor put fingers to her Dad's throat and felt for a pulse like they did in all th action movies… Why… There was no pulse.
No. Had to focus, not… on her thoughts. Taylor needed to focus!
She pushed harder on his throat , desperately shifting her fingers and still felt nothing.
No, no, no.
Taylor lay on him back and put an ear to his chest.
No, no, no!
There was no sound, no thump-thump of life, no steady rhythm she drifted off to sleep with many times when she was younger
No heart-beat.
NO, NO, NO!
The fire was all around them now and as Taylor watched it was drawing closer to her dad who had no heart beat! Without thinking Taylor slashed at the flames with her Keyblade and the fire swirled, spinning around her then winking out, like it had never been. Taylor stared, then looked at the Keyblade. Mog had called it magical. If Taylor ever felt desperate enough to believe in magic then it was right now.
"Fix him, please, I need you to fix dad. Please, I can't lose him, not now, not today. Come on!" Taylor screamed as she pointed the Keyblade at her fathers... body.
This wasn't... real. It couldn't be real. She… She wouldn't let it be real!
"Fucking fix him, you piece of crap, I'm not asking, I'm telling you. To.Fix. Him!" Taylor screamed, her voice burning with rage, her words drowning out the surrounding noise, eclipsing the roaring fire.
The Melody of the Lost glowed and there was a green shower of sparks that washed over her Father's body and then...
Coughing, his chest began rising and falling, ragged breaths drawn through clenched teeth.
Taylor dropped the Keyblade with a clatter and pull Danny to herself.
Her tears dripped down her blackened, blood stained face as she sobbed in relief.
Her dad was alive. He was alive!
The thought leant Taylor clarity she'd been missing. Looking up and listening she could hear sirens approaching. By the time they got here though, Taylor knew she and her father would be dead, swallowed by the flames. She looked at the shortest path out of the flames and counted at least 20 steps before she'd be free of the fire.
Taylor couldn't carry her dad but there no way she was leaving him like this. She couldn't carry him…
With a snarl she stood.
…but she do it anyway because heroes saved people.
With rising horror and grim determination settling in Taylor picked up her father.
He was heavy and she felt her knees buckle but she refused to fall.
He was cumbersome and her arm screamed at her but she would not let go.
He was a burden and he mad it hard to breathe but she would not leave him.
Then Taylor walked forward into the fire and even as the flames swirled around her legs and her feet began to char and her calves blacken… She held her father high.
Officer Peters would always remember the day that the middle of town was set on fire.
Not because of the fire, or the agonized screaming, or the shattered buildings, or even charred corpses.
But because of the girl. He had just stepped out his car and was looking around, trying to see where he could be most useful, when he spotted a shadow in the flames.
With bile rising in his throat, he saw a girl carrying a man twice her size walk out of the roaring inferno. Her hair was flying about her head, smoldering in the heat as hot air whipped at her, her skin slowly reddening then blackening from the bottom up while blooded dripped and from a face stained red by it.
It was her expression though, that scarred him though. She didn't look hurt or in pain, not sad face was not of pain, but a terrible, all-consuming rage, as if the universe itself had offended her. She wasn't crying, she made no sound, her mouth locked in a rictus of hate, but her eyes...
They would haunt the man forever. Her eyes were unwavering, hotter than the flames that were consuming her body. He made the sign of the cross and after a moment's hesitation went for his radio, not his gun and called for an ambulance at his current location.
Later that week he retired to desk duty for the rest of his career, unsure is he could be trusted with a gun after that day as he'd nearly shot a girl for walking out of a fire. He'd nearly killed a civilian because they looked scary.
He still woke him up screaming though, her eyes boring into his soul.
Taylor sat next to the sterile bed. The switch in position was not lost her, yet the irony was a bitter pill to swallow. The repetitive beeps reassured her that her dad was still alive, the idea of his life seeming so frail now. Something that had been a certainty now seemed so fragile and she couldn't bear to lose him.
The time between the attack and being in the hospital seemed to a hazy blur. People had sat her down, talked to her, treated her burns, asked more questions and Taylor just couldn't see the point. It was her dad who'd nearly died and needed magic to bring him back, not her. Even when they'd sedated her for surgery she'd been trying to get them to treat him first.
Sitting beside his bed now, bandages wrapped around her hands and her arm in a sling after they'd put her elbow back into its socket, Taylor felt weak. Her knees were wrapped up too, the glass she'd embedded in them when she feel out of her seat thankfully removed. She looked at her dad and felt horrible because he wouldn't wake up.
At least they hadn't been in one of the other areas hit though, at least she'd been there and the keyblade had blocked the worst of the blast for her because…
It wasn't just her dad and herself that were hit. Taylor and her Dad had been two of only thirty in her area, while dozens had died. Worse, they were only one of three areas to be hit by a bomb. The entire hospital was rushed to pick up the slack at the triple digit casualty list.
In retrospect Taylor had been lucky. The bomb at the intersection she'd been at had created a fire so hot someone had likened it to the sun. It hadn't been big though and most of the damage had been caused by the air itself catching fire and exploding as well as the diesel the truck had been carrying getting thrown about.
The other streets though…
One had been snap frozen, reduced to absolute zero and everything inside the blast crystalized instantly. People, cars, the air… All reduced to frozen statues that shattered as frozen air crystals rained down.
The other street… was simply gone. Whatever the bomb had done there was a perfectly spherical hole covering half a city block that had been erased from reality. Shunted into another dimension, transmuted into air, teleported to the moon… No one knew. It was just gone along with over a hundred people.
In the aftermath of the disaster one name had circulated through the hospitals and the media, a Villain who had escaped custody in New York and come to Brockton Bay. Recruited by the Azn Bad Boyz they had shown off their new tinker. They called her the Mad Bomber of Cornnell . Her name was…
Bakuda.
Taylor didn't know anything about this 'Bakuda'. She knew capes had to go through a lot to get powers, that they all had their own stories of pain and suffering, that they'd all been forced to swallow pain and dirt but…
Taylor didn't care. Bakuda. Mad Bomber. Whoever they were… It was now pointless. Bakuda's actions had sealed her fate. No court would ever look favorably at the images of a frozen family, their shattered remains piled together as they began to thaw and the ice ran red, thawing blood trickling over a child's face. No person could look at the crater on 21st Street and forgive the person who had erased all those people, tourists, shoppers and businessmen lost forever. No Hero could forgive the monster who set a street on fire, the blackened bodies locked forever in their death throws.
Taylor couldn't forgive Bakuda. Not after what she'd done.
The internet was avoided after that, Taylor had enough crap on her plate in her own life. She didn't need to see the numbers, the images, and the pain to feel any worse about something she knew that she had no power over, but still felt guilty about.
She was a hero, she was supposed to save people, save everyone… and the only person she could save had been her dad.
Taylor wondered what would have happened that day if she'd acted differently. Could she have saved everyone somehow? Maybe if she'd jumped out and rushed the truck, stopped the driver before he could press the detonator. Maybe if she'd been closer she could have blocked more of the explosion. If she'd listened to Mog and believed in magic sooner, maybe she could have controlled the fire and… stopped it somehow.
She hadn't though. She hadn't and so many people had paid the price. She… she had barely even saved her dad. She looked at him, hooked up to a dozen machines as they monitored his vitals whilst Taylor prayed he would wake up.
He looked so peaceful as he lay still, looking like he was just sleeping. Like she could wake him with a touch… Except she'd tried and he just slept on.
Taylor scrunched her eyes, fighting back the sobs which threatened to bubble up. She forced herself to focus on his, and his own peaceful expression helped calm her. He looked fine, peaceful and pain free, thanks as the drugs working through his system. Thankfully his recovery was nothing short of miraculous and the doctors were confident he would awaken any day now.
Miraculous… It sort of was really. Though magical would probably be a better term.
Taylor was thankful this, his recovery and her role in it. That first hour, of watching her dad writhe in pain, body shaking, his burns needing attending had been unbearable. Especially after they dragged her away to tend her own wounds, stopped her helping where she could. Couldn't they tell his wounds were much more important? What did her life matter compared to her dad's?
That first day had been was the hardest, she'd felt too exhausted to do anything, powerless and unable to help. Now where the nurses finished a routine check though and Taylor could help. She summoned her Keyblade and cast the healing spell, cure, over and over again, whenever she felt like whatever pool the spell pulled from refreshed. Sometimes she would find herself on the floor, minutes passed in a blackout.
It didn't matter though, because it helped him. Her father's body healed by her power, little by little, his recovery getting faster every time.
And yet he wouldn't wake up.
Now it was day three and Taylor was sat next to his bed again, waiting for something, anything to happen.
Sabah had gently pried her away for a shower and a meal the day before, carefully helping her redress her wounds. The water felt dull on her red skin and the food tasteless on her tongue, but she'd soldiered on and devoured everything, keeping quiet the whole night, despite Sabah's gentle prodding. She owed the older girl so much, and as she'd lain in Sabah's bed having been forced their while her friend took the couch… Taylor quietly sworn she'd do anything to pay her friend back.
Looking at her father, she could see what the doctor meant. Her dad's body had been remodeled, the burnt and blackened skin now a healthy pink, but it still looked raw compared to his normally pale complexion. His breathing was much better, his lungs no longer damaged and hampered by smoke inhalation. Even his head wound had closed, not even a scar remained. The pain killers now only for the brain damage he'd suffered.
Danny's doctor hadn't been able to tell her how serious it was, only that it was there and they'd need to do a full assessment when he woke up.
Brain damage.
The words echoed inside her head. Untreatable they'd said, nothing anyone could do. Modern medicine didn't know how and the brain was the one thing most healers couldn't touch, not even Panacea Brockton Bay's own healer. The only nominal healer who could affect the brain was, to Taylor's horror, Bonesaw of the Slaughterhouse Nine and there was no way anyone would want that psychopath poking around in their parents brain.
That meant damage was permanent unless Taylor could somehow make her own healing spell help somehow. Scaring across lobes, the man in the white coat had said. Taylor and her dad would just have to live with it for now but…
He still slept and there was nothing Taylor could do about it except hope.
Taylor didn't feel angry, she didn't feel much of anything at all.
"Thank you, I know you've done everything you can. I'm going to go sit with my Dad for a while." Taylor said, her tone flat and empty. The doctor nodded but hesitated.
"I see. Miss. Hebert, I'd like to offer my assistance again or perhaps even put you on the list for Panacea on her next visit, may I please take a look at your…" He said, but Taylor was already shaking her head and he trailed off.
"It's pointless, it doesn't hurt and it's been removed. Thank you doctor." Taylor said as she entered the single room. The doctor didn't follow her in and Taylor was glad for it.
As she sat down and picked up a book that she had brought from home to pass the time, she glanced into a mirror hung on the wall. The raw socket of her empty eye stared back at her; empty and hollow amdist burn scarred flesh, accusing her of failure and yet...
An eye was a small price to pay for stopping her father's heart from dying, to get it beating again.
Taylor was starting to feel like she would pay the other eye from him to be okay.
The Keyblade shimmered into her hands and she held it over her father.
"Cure." Taylor whispered. The spell and its green sparks came easily now and as the spell washed over him, her Dad looked just that little better… At least to her mind.
Taylor then banished the sword without casting it on herself, saving her strength to use on her dad again.
When her father awoke and he was okay, then Taylor would think about her eye.
Until then she would live with her failure, a reminder to herself and motivation to never. Fail. Again.
On the fifth day, as Taylor sat their reading her book she saw her dad's eyes fluttered slightly.
The visits were growing to be a routine and it was starting to get uncomfortable avoiding questions from the nurses and doctors about her living arrangements. A few of her Dad's friends and workers had popped in and offered to bring her food and company.
Taylor smiled softy and nodded at the idea, but not agreeing.
Her stare made the softer ones flinch and that had upset her the first time. Now they had grown accustom to it or better at hiding their feelings.
Now her father moaned and he began to stir.
This was it! He was waking up! He… he would be okay now, it wasn't permanent. She had saved him!
"Hey, Dad, it's okay, you're okay." Taylor reassured him as her dad's eyes finally opened.
Danny stared around, eyes darting about the place eyes stared confused, looking at her then the room and back again. Emotions passed across his face too quickly for Taylor to read, but he sat up a little as Taylor reached out, pressing the button to call for a nurse.
Smiling down at her dad, Taylor got up and went to the door to wait. She poked her head out, looking and started as the nurse almost walked into her, saved by her messy dark brown hair shocking the nurse, expecting her to still be sitting her chair, waiting.
Pulling her head back Taylor returned to her chair and held her father's hand whilst the nurse bustled about checking readings and unplugging things. Taylor smiled as Danny began to sluggishly move his hands and feet, stretching his bed ridden body.
Danny tried to say something then, but his throat was incredibly dry and all that came out were gasps.
Taylor quickly fetched him water and, put the straw to his lips like he had done for her just a few short months ago. She smiled as her father drank with the same urgency Taylor remembered from her own stay and time unconscious.
When he finished the cup, Taylor carefully returned it to the bedside table. Turning back she gave her Danny's hand a squeeze. Danny smiled at that and fixed his gaze on Taylor.
"How long have I been here?" He asked, his tone dazed. Taylor smiled and felt relief flood her.
"Five days, you were hurt pretty badly. I was worried that you... that you wouldn't come back." Taylor said, her voice tight. Danny closed his eyes and Taylor felt panic grab her, but he quickly opened them again.
"I don't remember what happened, but its okay now, see? I'm still in one piece." He joked, wiggling some the fingers of his other hadn whilst he gave Taylor her own squeeze. Taylor felt her face become painful at the amount she was smiling, the sheer joy of her father waking up overwhelming.
"Maybe, your brain might of leaked a little, so we probably won't notice any difference." Taylor joked, making the nurse reading her Dad's vitals smile, Danny look shocked.
"Such cheek! You always knew how to wound me where it hurts Annette." He said as he got comfortable on his pillow, not seeing Taylor's face freeze.
Annette? Her mother, Annette? The damage was worse than she thought if he was mixing names up.
"It's Taylor, Dad, maybe you hit your head harder than the doctors thought." Taylor said as she let the nurse check blood pressure and heart rate.
"Hilarious joke to pull on an injured man, Anne, I'm busted up, not crazy. Where is Taylor? Did you leave her with a friend?" Danny said as he looked around the room. His eyes sweeping right over Taylor.
Taylor stood, her breathing coming quickly, almost panicked.
"Dad. Dad, I'm right here. It's me, Taylor." She said, leaning closer, hoping he was having a moment of madness or that maybe he just couldn't see properly.
Danny looked at her bewildered and then angry.
"This isn't funny Annette, what's going on? Why am I here? Where's Taylor?" He demanded and began thrashing against the hospital equipment, the nurse pushed a button and tried to calm him. Taylor stepped back.
Her chest hammered and everything was suddenly so noisy as more staff rushed into to help and her father was yelling at her and it was all so wrong and…
Taylor bolted.
She ran, she ran down the hall as fast as she could, still hearing her father.
"Annette, please don't leave me! Don't leave me alone here! Annette, please I need you!" His voice followed her down the stairs, haunting her, screaming inside her head even when she finally stopped running.
Taylor sat down on a bench and looked around.
She didn't know where she was, she didn't know where she was at all.
And she didn't care because her dad thought she was her mom and… And it was all wrong. She hadn't saved him, she couldn't heal him. It… it was all her fault and there was nothing she could do!
Taylor felt her eyes water, but only her right eye shed any tears. The left one was gone forever just like…
She swallowed, feeling like she was choking on razor blades. Her Dad thought she was her mother. Taylor had spent the last five days waiting on him, begging, praying, cursing and healing him every second she could.
Then he woke up and only saw her mother? Her mother who was gone forever just like her eye and now her dad too?!
There was laugh that bubbled up out of her throat. She laughed and it sounded like a sob on repeat and it hurt and Taylor didn't know what to do!
She want to scream, but she didn't know what words to scream.
She wanted to hit something, but mindless rage wouldn't help.
She wanted to cry, but it wouldn't solve anything, it never did.
Taylor wanted to fix this. She wanted to do something, anything. She needed to make this right somehow! There was a word, a name that sprang to mind.
Bakuda.
At once her entire body reacted like it had been shot.
Bakuda had done this, caused her misery and pain. It was Bakuda who had hurt her father, who had caused his pain and confusion.
Taylor grasped at the reasoning and used it to pull herself together.
Taylor didn't know how it would help, or what it would accomplish… But she knew who and she knew why.
Taylor was going to killBakuda!
"Taylor? Where've you been? I was waiting for you at the hospital, but you never showed and then a nurse told me your Dad woke up but you ran away." Sabah rapidly said as she open her door. Her face pinched with stress, her normally immaculate clothes rumpled.
Taylor nodded, but didn't say anything. Stepping inside, Taylor began to rummage in the living area looking under the couch and in drawers.
"Taylor? What's wrong?" Sabah asked, more quietly whilst Mog and Boco watched silently, uncertain as to what was going on.
Taylor turned to look at Sabah with her working eye.
"I need my costume, I have to get my costume." Taylor said, her voice distant and flat. Sabah took a step back at this, unsettled by dead sound of her friend's voice.
"But you Dad, don't you want to see…" Sabah tried to say soothingly, but Taylor shook her head violently.
"No! He isn't... He isn't right. It's all gone wrong!" Taylor said, her voice rising, wavering with fear. Her hands began to yank at handles and doors, too impatient to be polite. Sabah grabbed her arm.
"Taylor, calm down, what's wrong with your Dad? Why do you need your costume?" Sabah asked more forcefully, projecting authority into her voice.
Taylor kept shaking her head, struggling in Sabah's grip.
"He woke up… He woke up, and all he saw was Mom, he has brain damage and now he can't see me. I couldn't sit there and listen, I won't sit there and listen. I need to be out there. I need to do something, anything to fix this." Taylor said, her voice rapidly changing from dead to desperate. Sabah paused, her face horrified and her surprise let Taylor shake free of her grip.
"Fix what? Your Dad? Taylor you can't time travel! The best thing here is to be there for him." Sabah said as she blocked off her bedroom whilst Taylor kept rummaging.
Shifting a pile of cloth Taylor saw Sabah defending the door to her room and that let Taylor realize were her costume was. She stalked up to the older girl, glaring at her.
"No, I can't be there right now, it's too hard, I… I can go out and get the person who made the bombs or used them! Bring them to justice anyway I can." Taylor said, her face shiny with sweat, and Sabah saw droplets dripping down her friends face.
Sabah worry look transformed into horror as the state of her friend and her intentions dawned on her.
"Taylor, you... You want to kill her? You want to kill Bakuda?" The other girl's voice was quiet when she said this.
Taylor didn't move.
"I don't… I don't want to... But I… I… I need… I need to do something, I have to fix things, I have to make it right, I have to do this." Taylor whispered. Sweat was streaming down her too pale face and she was trembling all over as she tried to reach for the bedroom door but Sabah remained firm.
"I didn't make that costume for a murderer. I made it for my friend who wanted to be a hero, who valued peace and doing the right thing, who didn't want to fight but did so to protect me. Right now though? Right now I can't see my friend." Sabah said with heat as she slowly walked forward, forcing Taylor to step back with her.
"I don't want to-" Taylor began and stopped, whimpering as Sabah snarled at her. Taylor had never seen the other girl so furious.
"But you will if it comes to it? Are you crazy?! Killing is never okay when there are other options! I don't know what's going on in your head, but enough is enough, Taylor. Give me my friend back."
Sabah grabbed Taylor then pulled the her forward into a hug suddenly. Taylor gasped at the contact, the warmth and the comfort almost overwhelming.
"This isn't you Taylor, you're not a killer. You don't need to blame yourself, you don't need to make anything right. Why on earth are you doing this to yourself Taylor?" Sabah said, tears running down her cheeks as she looked up into Taylor's sweating, shivering face.
Taylor was too stunned at the sudden words to reply, her mouth just opening and closing like a fish.
"Taylor, listen to me, you are not to blame. Nothing you could have done would have stopped those bombs. Even if by some miracle you managed to stop the first one, the other two would have went off anyway. No matter how much you want to you can't save everyone Taylor! You're a victim too, Taylor, just like your Dad, you are not the guilty party here." Sabah sobbed as she spoke, still looking straight into Taylor's wild eyes.
Taylor began to shake her head again, denial on her face.
"I didn't do enough, my dad... my dad…" Taylor began to hyperventilate, her eyes roving darting everywhere while she shook her head in panic. Sabah pulled them both down to the floor and tugged Taylor's head into her shoulder, stroking her friend's long hair. The gesture, the kindness, the comfort… It was all too much and Taylor crashed over the edge as she began to cry as well, great wracking sobs that shook her slender frame.
"You saved your father, if you hadn't shielded him, Taylor, he would have been incinerated like everyone else who was so close. You healed him and stopped him from dying when you'dnever used magic before. You walked out the fire with him, even as you burned. You saved him. You were, and still are, a hero. You even went and idiotically forgot to heal your own eye 'cause you wasted all you energy on your father. If you were one of the Wards you'd be awarded a medal of heroism by Legend himself. Yet, here you are, blaming yourself for not doing more, for not saving everyone. You are a hero and don't you dare tell yourself otherwise!" Sabah's voice was watery, but chiding. Taylor would swear she could hear the love in her friends voice, it was something she'd never thought she hear again after Emma from anyone but her father.
The realization just Taylor's cry harder, great heaving sobs the shook her while she clung to Sabah like a lifeline, fluttering like a leaf.
"You're my hero, and your Dad's hero. Taylor, you're going to be okay. We'll get through this together." Sabah said as the older girl cradled Taylor, kissing the top of her head as her own tears trailed down her cheeks and Taylor wept for the first time in five days.
"...the sun set over the hill as he laid down and finally rested, his journey over." Taylor read softly. The hospital room seemed less lifeless, more homely now. Odd gifts and personal effects cluttering the room added character to the otherwise bare room.
Taylor sat in a chair next to her father, her hair tied up in a high ponytail, how her mother use to wear it. Danny rested on the bed, his eyes half closed and a smile on his face.
"You always liked happy endings, didn't you Anne?" He mumbled sleepily.
Taylor smiled softly in response.
"Who doesn't like happy endings?" She said as she closed the book, carefully sliding her mother's wedding ring back up her thin finger, Danny had noticed she wasn't wearing a ring and that had been a bad day. So she'd taken to wearing it, even if it was too large for her fingers. It was a nice memento and kept her father happy.
Taylor was learning how to have good days and bad days. The damage to her father's memories showed that they weren't lost, just extremely out of order, jumbled and his perception altered to match what he needed to see to make his memories fit, rather than what was really there.
Saying the wrong things or using the wrong time frame upset Danny greatly and it was always was painful to watch, seeing him so lost and confused. Taylor couldn't stand it, it hurt too much. So… So she pretended and hoped it would be a good day.
And today was a good day.
"I have to go now, will you be okay? Can I get you anything before I go?" Taylor asked as she stood, Danny shook his head sleepily.
"I'm fine, but how is Taylor? How's my baby? I swore I saw her yesterday, but I'm not sure."
Taylor felt a small smile appear on her face. Every time without fail, he'd ask about her. His baby girl who he loved and missed so much.
"Taylor is good, she's happy. She wants you to know that she loves you more than anything and will see you soon." Taylor said with a hitch in her voice, Danny nodded as his eyes drifted closed and he fell asleep.
Leaning over Taylor gently placed a kiss on his forehead.
"I love you, Dad."
Straitening up Taylor quietly got out of her chair and left. Turning back, she gently closed the door so as not to risk waking him. Turning again Taylor spotted Sabah waiting in one of the chairs down the hall, a bag of cookies in her lap.
Taylor felt a smile tug her lips as her friend beamed at her with that amazing smile of hers.
Today really was a good day.
_
Secret N #* Report: 9
The source still eludes me. I have searched far for any signs, my infernal prison is not limited by distance, but deprivation.
Why did it effect me so? My current state has allowed me to sense things that I would have never felt before the traitor cast us out.
But the longer I search, the more I lose. Loss Is natural, but this? This is all I have left now.
The world and its people have the answer. Kingdom Hearts is revealing itself once more, it's patterns subtle but unmistakable.
If my theory is correct, the appropriate vessel shall appear soon, the time rapidly approaching.
But I cannot make haste, I cannot move accordingly, the world still unreachable.
This barrier, this shield, this prison is a marvel of true artisan.
But all gates have a key, all keys have masters.
I have located one of them, but where is the other?
I must wait longer still. But I feel the stars quiver in the dark.
The cycle is moving once more.