AN: Thanks again to my beta Grey Raven 09 for his assistance!
Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Worm. If I did, I would be FAR more productive.
AN: These x.5 chapters will likely be a tad bit shorter than the main group's since they focus more on Team B. Please enjoy and let me know what you think in a review if you feel like it!
Invigoration 2.5
Firelight cocked her head back and stared up at the clouds visible between the buildings as she and Spitfire walked down the street. She didn't really need to lean back so far anymore. They had long since left the nicer areas of the city behind. Still, it felt nice to be able to look up and pretend that the world was vast and the people were tiny; that their problems were never so insurmountable. And maybe these days they really weren't after all.
"Do you know if they headed out already?" Firelight murmured.
Spitfire shrugged. "Yeah, about an hour ago I think. We could've stayed you know. Instead of going on a patrol I mean."
"No, this is better. I tried to time it right; I'm glad I was correct." Mimi let her head fall back down so that she could focus on street level and gave herself a quick shake. Her fingers drummed against the tiny tinkertech flamethrower strapped to her wrist under her long sleeves. The integrated fingerless gloves/sleeve combination, held her fire, which was all it needed to do; the fact that it looked awesome was secondary, even if it was welcome. It was perfectly positioned so that she could use the barely concealed bit of tech with just a quick flick of her fingers if she needed a flame. Though, with Spitfire here, that was hardly necessary. Still, it felt nice to have the reassurance.
She scowled at herself. She didn't need fire for reassurance anymore. Firelight forced her fingers to extend and remain straight. She didn't need fire anymore. It was helpful, it was kind, it was pleasant. It was not a crutch.
"Time it for what, Firelight?" Spitfire asked. Unstated was the small swallow at the end of the sentence. She knew where they were. She had a good idea of what Firelight's intentions were. She just didn't want to state it out loud. That was probably smart. There was a time - before the Nine - that Firelight would have run from this as well. But not now. Now, she was stronger and skilled.
And she always had Taylor's calming presence at the back of her mind. Taylor would stop her if she ever went too far again, if she sunk too deep. Taylor was good. Taylor was dependable. Taylor was a much better person than Mimi had ever been, than Burnscar had been. But Burnscar was dead now; because of Taylor she was Firelight.
That was why Mimi was here now. Taylor was gone, and someone had to make sure that Taylor's city remained safe while she was away.
"I need Lung and Bakuda to know that Queen might not be here, but that I'm still here. Queen's influence isn't gone just because she is," Firelight replied softly. She's already seen the ABB members running to get their leader a few streets back. It wouldn't be long now before he turned up. The only unknown was whether they would have to fight or not, although that wasn't really in question. This was Lung after all.
"Yeah. Yeah, I was afraid you were going to say something like that…" Spitfire muttered. "Should've let Clockblocker take this walk into Hell."
"We'll be fine."
"Or we'll be dead and revenge will be had later."
"Or that."
"Careful, your roots are showing," Spitfire commented with a soft chuckle and a wry smirk that Firelight didn't have to see under the mask to know it was there.
"Sometimes, one should play up the crazy angle. It helps that I have crazy from a few different sources to draw from." The rumble of an engine petered to a halt as a very nice Lincoln stopped ahead of them and deposited two individuals from the back. Firelight smiled and nodded ever so slightly. "Time to dance."
"I really hate my life sometimes," Spitfire mumbled as she fell into step with Firelight, the two of them walking to stand across from Lung and Bakuda.
The Dragon of Kyushu stared at them through his metal mask, his eyes roving over Spitfire before settling on Firelight. "So the rumors are true. She did take in the stray."
"Yes. My name is Firelight now." She picked at her new purple and orange jumpsuit. It really was quite stylish and it was so nice to actually match her teammates.
"This is ABB territory. Why do you rouse me from my den, little flame?"
Firelight laughed. "A 'little' flame am I? I am not so little, Lung."
He crossed his arms as his height seemed to grow an inch before her eyes. "I see why a refugee from your particular group would feel that way, but every flame is little compared to mine." He smiled, the edges of his lips showing around his mask and he grew another inch.
Firelight just shrugged as Spitfire swallowed hard. "I'm sure you can guess why I'm here."
"They think you can stop my flames. Keep me docile," he growled.
"Flames, yes; docile, no," she scoffed. "I'm arrogant, not an idiot. Your flames are dangerous but I can control them if we start fighting yes, however we both know that your fire isn't what makes you big or fuels you. You are not like me."
"Dangerous words."
"Also true ones." She cocked her head to the side and shrugged. "You are not a true pyrokinetic, you just can create flames and breath fire. You fit a theme. I control fire. That is the point of my power, not a byproduct. That's a big difference. You know this, you're trying to pick a fight because Queen has left."
Lung chuckled and grew two more inches, a small pattern of scales seeming to appear on his bare arms. "Yes, your little leash is not here. How very correct. I wonder how she would react were she to return and find parts of you in my possession? A dragon must grow his hoard after all, and sending you limping home to your healer would be…satisfying." He nearly purred the last word.
Firelight just sighed. "Jack was much better at threats than you. I'm just saying, you could certainly try, but I'd give you a very good run for your money and property damage would be minimal since your fire tends to be the worst part of the problem for the city as a whole."
Spitfire cleared her throat and glared at Firelight. No, it wasn't time yet.
"You are a brave little flame." The scales grew metallic and Bakuda hurriedly backed away towards the car. "I have it on good authority that you cannot use the majority of your power as it is. You are chained."
There. "I am." She smiled.
Lung frowned at her reaction and the scales slowed in their spread. "Queen is not here. She cannot stop you. You cannot fight me without risking yourself."
Her smile widened and she tapped the side of her head. "Queen is always here. As she herself said, I could be on Mars and she'd still be right here with me. I'm never alone anymore Lung. She's always there to support me and keep me - and everyone else - safe."
Lung scowled and his arms dropped to his side, the claws his fingers had turned into flexing. "Why are you in my territory, Firelight?"
"I'm a reminder that we are still present in this city, even if Queen herself is away. But also to show you that I'm not afraid of you, or anyone. I have my friends, and my Queen, if needed." She smiled and there was nothing forced or theatrical about it this time. "If push comes to shove, I will be there in your way. You should be aware of that."
He nodded once. "I can respect such directness." The scales started to recede back into his skin and he narrowed his eyes at her as he shrank an inch. "You truly enjoy the gilded cage. I would not have expected this from one such as yourself."
Firelight nodded, her smile never leaving her face. "I've never been more free."
Lung scoffed, but shook his head and turned on his heel as he stepped towards his car. "Leave my territory dancing flame. I am growing quite tired of the tediousness of this entire city."
Spitfire sucked in a breath as she stared at his back. She leaned forward before he could vanish into the back of his car. "We know a good moving service if you need it. Just call and we can get you a really good discount. Endbringer, The Nine…You'd qualify for everything."
Lung laughed and lifted a dismissive hand towards them. "Do not push your luck child. Leave. Do not make me say it again."
The car sped off as soon as the door closed and Firelight turned to Spitfire, all smiles. "Well. That went well!"
Spitfire laughed and clapped her on the back as the two started to head home. "You, hun, are definitely insane."
Vista stepped off the roof and made sure her feet were firmly planted on the next building before she let the space behind her fold back to normal. She strode normally across the rest of the rooftop until she reached the gap and folded space again to cross it. Then she paused to look down the alley and shrugged as she moved on.
"Not worth the time?" Battery asked beside her.
"I've seen those two before. They're harmless, just a couple of homeless guys. They go to the shelter on 9th usually, they're only out here when it gets full or if the weather is nice. I think they have a problem with Maria, who runs the place, but one of them has family nearby so they don't go to any of the other shelters further away."
Battery looked at her, the lines around the mask lighting up which Vista knew meant the woman's eyes were widening. "You really do know this city well."
"I patrol a lot," she said shrugging.
"Yes, yes you do." Battery frowned as they stepped across another building. "I never quite added up the time like Miss Militia, but…Vista, how often are you out here? I know you used to pull double shifts before…"
Vista shrugged again and stopped to stare down at one of the shapes in the next alley. "I tried to do at least three shifts if I could. Sometimes I got caught, but as long as I rotated the oversight carefully enough, it was pretty easy to make sure that no one noticed how rarely I went back to base or how little I left the base to head home instead of going to another patrol." She shifted space just enough to warp the alley into a better view, essentially giving herself telescopic vision. "Oh, that's Nicole. Damn, I thought she had gone home finally. Do you have any food? I usually leave her something when I see her around."
"Yes…" Battery handed over three ration bars and Vista smiled. She stepped down to the ground and tapped the garbage bag covered shoulder. Nicole shook herself and sat up, her eyes focusing on Vista a moment later. A huge smile lit up the woman's face and she spread her arms.
"Mini-Green! You're wandering around again! How goes the hero gig?" She stopped and frowned, "Not so green anymore apparently."
Vista chuckled. "Nope. Orange now. Well, purple and orange."
"Nice. Love the new digs."
"Thanks. Are you fighting with Ray again?"
Nicole sighed and nodded. "It was easier to get out of the house than to crawl back to my parents."
"You know it's not safe on the streets in the city, Nicole," Vista chided.
"Actually, it kinda is now," Nicole rubbed the back of her neck. "Don't have to worry about the Empire anymore, the ABB doesn't kidnap us girls these days, the Merchants are gone…streets are pretty safe since the Outcasts took over."
Vista blinked at that, but shook her head and opted not to comment. "Still, it's not just gangs. There are mundane people around too who cause problems. At least go to a shelter."
"Okay, okay. I have a friend I can probably try and bum a couch off of too." She frowned and looked closer at Vista. "Hey, those colors…aren't those Outcast colors?"
Vista smiled and held out the ration bars, which Nicole hesitantly took, still frowning. "Why yes, yes they are. Go to your friend's house Nicole. I don't want to see you around this area again, okay? I may just have to call my friends to force the issue if I do," she finished in a sing-song voice.
Nicole chuckled and rolled her eyes as Vista stepped backwards and landed on the roof again. They waved to each other and Vista was next to Battery an instant later.
Battery just smirked at Vista. "The girl who knows half the homeless population of the city wanted to abandon these people to go galavanting around Texas to fight a giant monster that clones people?"
Vista glared. "Shut up. You were complaining ten minutes ago about letting Assault out of your sight."
"That's different. He's my husband, I'm allowed to complain."
Vista crossed her arms. "Yeah? And who would watch the baby while you were both gone?"
Battery grimaced. "Why do you think I'm here? He won rock-paper-scissors. We really need a better method of deciding arguments." She sighed and the two walked to the next building to continue their patrol. Battery frowned as they paced on. "Actually, now that I'm thinking of it, Vista, you've been staying at our house almost every night. Clockblocker I understand. His father is in the hospital and going home to an empty house is difficult for him. But you…"
Vista stayed silent until they reached the waterfront and Battery thankfully didn't push further. As the Boardwalk came into view Vista sat on the edge of the roof, letting her feet hang over the side. She stared towards the edge of the crowded area, where it was still sectioned off around the hole that Lung had created and the rest of the damage from the battle with the Slaughterhouse Nine.
Finally she murmured. "I hate my parents." Battery didn't say anything, just sat down beside her. "Not everyone gets powers related to their trigger, I know that. But mine…mine were almost spot on. They were arguing. I don't even remember what about. It's not like it matters, all they ever do is argue. I just wanted them to stop. I thought if they would get away from each other maybe they would stop. The next thing I knew, the room was almost a mile wide with Dad on one side and Mom on the other."
Battery nodded. "I remember MM talking about that."
Vista scowled and picked at her costume. "Yeah. Militia was good to me. She helped out a lot. Managed to get a megaphone or something and talk me through calming down so she could get to me. You would think that whole incident would be a wake up call for my parents. That maybe they would start getting along after that. Or at least fighting where I couldn't see them."
"I take it they didn't?" Battery murmured, laying a hand on Vista's shoulder.
She scoffed. "I think it's gotten worse. It's to the point that sometimes I wish one of them would die. Then at least the other would stop yelling and fighting and start caring about me."
Battery sucked in a breath. "You don't mean that."
"I really do. When I went home after Leviathan and no one was there, I was relieved, because I thought maybe, finally, I could have peace. But no, they both showed up again." She looked down to the scar on the boardwalk and a small smile ghosted across her face. "And then I started hanging out with Queen's group and they let me stay around without forcing me to go home like the Wards did. They treated me like my opinions mattered and they didn't ask questions when I stayed late. They didn't bow to 'regulations' just because some jerk had decided he knew best. When I showed up with wet eyes, they didn't pry, they just gave me a tissue and sat me on the couch instead of forcing me to go talk to the therapist. They gave me what I needed."
Battery squeezed Vista's shoulder and swallowed the lump in her throat. "And when Clockblocker moved to our place…"
"Their house was nice, but I didn't want to spoil things by overstaying my welcome. You guys…you treat me like I'm your own. I feel like I have real parents again."
"And your Mom and Dad," Battery managed to squeak out through a rapidly constricting throat. "They don't care that you're barely ever home?"
"I haven't been 'home' in three weeks. I originally told Dad that I was staying at home with Mom. Then I told Mom that I was staying at a hotel with Dad. Then when they both went home, I told them I was staying with a friend. Then…I stopped telling them anything and they didn't even notice. There's a reason I love being a hero. There's a reason I made sure that I could keep my Ward name if I branched off. I was prepared."
"Yeah, yeah I guess…I guess you were…"
Vista wiped at her eyes and kept her gaze resolutely focused on the boardwalk below as she murmured. "Can I…stay with you full time? You and Et-Assault?"
Battery's voice nearly failed her. Thankfully, as she wrapped an arm around Vista and pulled the younger girl against her side, she was able to whisper, "You can stay with us for however long you want, sweetheart."
Fanfic Rec: 'Taylor's Dress-Up Adventures' by kamenhero25. On Ao3 and QQ. Currently halted after Amy and Taylor are official and Vicky has finally realized she is both bi, and into Taylor and Amy, and freaking out over it. Hopefully the author comes back to this because it is glorious. In a Scion/Endbringerless world, Taylor takes a part-time job as a house-cleaner for the Dallons and makes friends with Vicky and Amy. Vicky proceeds to introduce her to Parian and gets her to dress-up in all manner of amusing clothes over the course of their friendship while Amy is mostly just amused. Very little naughty stuff so far (really only one very small part of one chapter); it's mostly just character interactions and hilarity. Fantastic.
