Violet stood outside of the estate in her full WatchDog outfit as she waited for the arrival of Lillian Thomas. She had managed to get Buddy to be onboard with the guardianship of the orphaned super but she wasn't going to hold her breath on it being a permanent thing. Not so much because Buddy might turn 180 on the humanitarian mission, but because of the possibility that someone more equipped to care for a kid might come along.

Violet didn't really know if she wanted kids as Buddy had boldly assumed. At one point in time, she might have, but between the whole being dead to the world thing and general life conditions, she didn't see parenthood as a real possibility.

What was possible was that they could help the orphaned super. Provide a roof over her head, safety from the outside world, and find the bastards responsible for her family's murder.

"I hope you know what you're doing," Buddy muttered as he came up behind her with a coffee in hand.

"Which part do you think I'm inexperienced in? Childcare, or tracking down killers?"

"I'm more concerned about the kid part because if it wasn't obvious before, I'm not going to be of any help in that arena."

Violet nodded. Much of her childhood was spent looking out for her brothers, in and out of her super gear. The main difference here was that they would be looking after a little girl.

That, and the reality that the kid was more likely than not traumatized.

"For someone who was an only child, you're not too shabby in the compromise department," Violet insisted. "Not great at it, mind you. But certainly not the worst."

"Yeah, well, it's a skill set I had to learn rather painfully," Buddy muttered as he leaned against the stone wall, raising the mug to his lips but paused in mid-sip as the motorcycle helmet turned to him.

"Is that in reference to dealing with me or your old evil buddies?"

"... Yes."

Violet smirked underneath her mask and looked back to the driveway again to see the black luxury car make its way up the way. Now the nervous butterflies began to fly.

"What if she doesn't like us?"

"You don't have to worry about a thing, Parr. Your first edition WatchDog action figures sold out in 48 hours of being on toy shelves. Kids love you, a lot of women think they want to make love to you, and men would love to be you."

"But-"

"Nuh-uh, no, we aren't playing this game. Even without the whole badass vigilante persona, you are the coolest super out there."

"You're just biased," Violet teased, her voice lowered as the car came to a rolling stop in front of them.

"Maybe, but the kid has two options for socialization, and out of the two of us, who is the more personable?"

"I don't know, Buddy. You seem to be pretty popular in the ladies department as of late."

Buddy rolled his eyes and remained silent at the accusation. She wasn't wrong, but there was something rather odd about people throwing their name into the hat to date a confirmed serial killer. But trying to garner the attention of a super wasn't that much brighter.

The passenger door opened and the couple stiffened to see Mirage step out. Neither of them knew what agent was going to be responsible for the transfer, they only knew that it wasn't going to be Dicker.

"Be nice," Violet warned, earning a scoff from him.

"I appreciate the professionalism, Violet, but the helmet isn't necessary for me nor is it appropriate for this mission," Mirage called as she sent her gaze to the inside of the vehicle. "Lillian? Would you like to come out and say hello to my friends?"

Violet removed the helmet quickly, tucking it underneath her arm as she saw the sneakers hit the gravel driveway. Once out of the doorway the child remained somewhat out of sight, hiding behind Mirage's gray pencil skirt.

Lillian's brown hair was up in pigtails making the young girl appear even younger, though Violet's attention was mostly consumed by the fact that she was wearing a yellow raincoat that had a duck head as the hood.

Taking a few steps forward, Violet dropped to a knee and offered a gentle smile. "Hey there Lillian, my name is Violet. I really like your coat."

You- you do?" Lillian asked, peering from behind Mirage's form and Violet nodded enthusiastically.

"I sure do. It's a little warm for that today though, do you want to come inside and settle in? You must be pretty tired from your trip."

Lillian was hesitant but she gave a single nod before venturing out to meet the leather-clad woman. Once out in the open her expression quickly turned to horror as she made eye contact with Buddy who had yet to introduce himself. Violet looked back at Buddy briefly before turning back to the child.

"Hey, it's okay! That Buddy, he's-"

"That's the monster who killed my dad's friends," Lillian uttered softly but loud enough for everyone to hear. Violet and Mirage both widened their eyes at the child's knowledge, but Buddy was hardly phased by the statement.

Unable to deny the past crimes of her fiance, Violet glanced back to Buddy for assistance, hoping his silver tongue could smooth over the situation but Buddy only had eyes for Mirage. Very critical eyes.

"Hey, babe. Why don't you give Lillian the tour while I talk to the boss lady here, yeah?"

Violet pursed her lips but didn't disobey the suggestion as she held out her hand to the child, hopeful that she'd take it. The kid clearly knew the sounds of an argument before it took place as she grabbed Violet's hand and practically led her inside the chateau-style house. This interaction also displayed that Lillian had already picked up on Violet's own powers as the child became a ghost before everyone's eyes.

Once Buddy was somewhat confident that Violet was no longer within earshot he approached Mirage, tossing his mug and the contents of it without care. "You must love this. Here I am trying to reform myself, be the person that handlers tell me I need, and I get you and every other beatnik reporter reminding me who I really am."

Mirage folded her arms as she cast her gaze away from him looking off towards the forest. "I swear, Buddy, I didn't know she was aware of you. She's a kid and kids don't tend to-"

"What the hell do you know about kids?! Do you think they are like pets of some sort? No! They are developing people, able to form their own thoughts and ideas!"

"She's eight-!"

"Who is a super! Who had super parents! My coming back from the dead has been the biggest political circus since Winston's sister tried to make bail using Voyd's mishap of losing a school bus full of kids. Of course the power-runt is going to be aware of me, her parents probably cursed me out every time I showed up in the news!"

"Please don't bring up Ev. I get it, alright? I should have vetted her before we got here, my apologies, but you've clearly got a talent for looking out for younger supers."

Buddy gritted his teeth. When the day came that he cracked a tooth he was going to send the dentist bill straight to her office.

"I'm sorry, but is Winston's money not keeping you warm enough these days, because you are riding me pretty hard right now," Buddy replied in bitter retaliation but Mirage hardly wavered at the blow. She had her own money now. Maybe not billionaire funds, but the six-figure income along with the political power of being one of the top dogs of the NSA satisfied her enough, and she had Buddy and Violet to thank for that promotion.

And how did she treat them after clearing out the competition? She put them on babysitter duty.

The pair were silent for a moment. Not sizing each other up but focusing their wrathful gazes everywhere but each other. They had tried reconciling a number of times before yet they always managed to leave each other in worse states than they had started. Had it not been for Winston being the neutral party neither of them wanted to upset, they'd likely take their fights to the next level.

"Why is Evelyn a touchy subject?" Buddy asked. He hadn't wanted to break the silence but curiosity always got the better of him.

Mirage shifted her eyes back towards him and quickly flashed them away the instant that they made contact. Tapping her toe on the gravel she shook her head and nodded to the house.

"This might be a conversation WatchDog should be in on too," Mirage said, glancing at the tinted windshield of the vehicle that had escorted her and the child to the estate. She gave a nod and the agent stepped out, waiting patiently for his orders.

"We're going to be staying a little while longer. If you can make overtime happen it'll be an easy bump in your paycheck- otherwise head on back to your base but radio for another car to collect me before you go."

"I'll be outside waiting ma'am," the agent said curtly and Mirage nodded before looking at Buddy expectantly.

"Oh, he's more than welcomed to join us inside. Only if he doesn't have a problem watching the kid while the adults talk."

"Like I said before, Buddy. I want Violet to hear this too," she said before letting herself in, leaving him to wonder if she was always so spiteful.

...

Violet stood in the archway of the kitchen, her head turned over her shoulder to watch Lillian who was sprawled out on the living room floor, coloring to her heart's content with Agent Ramirez sitting nearby.

She had to admit, they didn't make the first impression that she was hoping for. She had been optimistic, but Lillian knowing about Buddy's deeds had ruined what little progress could be made. While Mirage and Buddy were testing out their voice boxes on each other, the young super had clamped up tight, her vocabulary consisting of one-syllable words.

Turning her attention to Buddy and Mirage in the dining room, Violet made her way deeper into the room to take a seat beside Buddy, placing her hand over his briefly.

"So, what's up Mirage?" Violet managed to croak. As strong as she was, there was always something deeply intimidating about the platinum blonde woman.

Mirage wasn't blind to the super's nervous demeanor. She was keenly aware of the hesitance in the younger woman and she had no intention of removing that fear. Picking up the mug of caffeine before her, Mirage debated how to open up the difficult conversation.

"Evelyn Deavor is rumored to be released on good behavior this week," Mirage said simply before taking a sip of her espresso.

Violet held her breath. Her disdain for the woman was not a secret, though it was rather hypocritical for her to curse one of her family's attackers while being in bed with another. Biting the inside of her cheek she nodded in understanding.

"... Right. Good behavior. And is the NSA taking her on indentured servitude too?" Violet managed to ask. Buddy lifted an eyebrow as he hadn't considered the possibility of competition within his department but Mirage shook her head.

"No. That is not an option I'm willing to explore considering the last time she had tech on supers it nearly brought about a new world order. Just a very strict probation that won't expire until she does," Mirage reassured giving the super a momentary pause of relief. Buddy on the other hand seemed to have no conflict with the upcoming release. In fact, he seemed to be rather pleased with the news.

"Is there anything we can do to appeal this?" Violet asked, moving closer to the edge of the table. "There's no way that she's sorry for what she's done!"

"Sorry or not, she's done her time in the eyes of the law," Mirage said with a shrug.

"How's Win taking the news?" Buddy questioned making Mirage arch an eyebrow. She had been expecting him to pitch a fit over the news on some level given that the Deavor sister was getting out without having to lift a finger for the public.

"He's… conflicted," Mirage admitted. She only had that chat with him over the phone, but there would likely be some more details to grow when she stayed the night at his place. "He loves his sister, but I don't think anyone loves supers more than that man does."

Violet leaned back in her chair clenching her fists. "She can't be trusted-"

"We are aware of that, which is why the lifetime probation is in place."

"Well she was supposed to get 25 to life, yet got out in less than 15? How is that fair?"

"I'm sure some people are asking the very same about Buddy, or myself for that matter," Mirage countered as she set her empty cup down. "It's better to not be too vocal on this topic, but seeing that you're supposed to be dead, I can't imagine that your debut Op-Ed would win any real traction with the public other than conspiracy theorists- and don't you dare make me muzzle WatchDog for good."

Violet cursed softly under her breath, tucking her arms tightly against her chest. She had walked right into that one, even after fighting against herself to not go down that road.

Seeing the fighting spirit leave the super's body, Mirage glanced at her ex-lover, ex-boss, and now subordinate. "Anything else to add or ask before I take my leave?

"Any update on the investigation with Carbon Copy and Lady Fantasia?"

Now it was Mirage's turn to cast her gaze away. The case was as cold as it was as when they arrived on the scene. What little evidence the killer or killers left wasn't enough to get the compass to budge, let alone provide a potential perp.

"At this time, no. And against better judgment, we think it's best to recruit your expertise on this, Violet," said Mirage as she rose to her feet. "We'll be forwarding you two everything we have in the coming days, but just be smart about this case. And I don't mean the investigation itself but more about making sure little ears don't hear you talking about anything you may find."

Violet and Buddy nodded in agreement. Satisfied with the visit, Mirage left the room, leaving the pair to debate if they should chase the NSA Director out or remain where they were to wait for the woman to let herself out. It was a split between the two. Violet stayed planted in her seat and frustration as Buddy moved to stand in the archway but kept his distance as he watched Mirage get to Lillian's level.

"I'm going to get going now sweetie, but I promise you that you are in good hands here, okay?"

Lillian gave a pout as she sat up. "Do I have to stay here? That man-"

"He's not going to hurt you. I know it doesn't feel like it, but this is the safest place you can be."

Lillian slumped forward and nodded in defeat. Just as Buddy believed that Mirage's maternal instincts were dead he watched in slight awe as she gathered the small thing into her arms and provided a hug that looked like it could break both of them. If Mirage truly felt like this was the best place for the kid even after their little blowout then things must have been sketchier than he imagined.

Only when the front entrance closed did Violet venture out from the kitchen to go to Lillian, but she didn't pay either of the adults any mind, investing all of her attention to the drawing materials that Violet had insisted on picking up before her arrival.

The rest of that day had been carried out with the same level of silence and indifference, the only one willing to put any effort in was Violet. She hadn't managed to get Lillian to open up any more than she had when she first arrived, but she did win a smile at the suggestion of making pancakes in the morning and that was a win in her book.

After tucking the super child to bed, in the bedroom that she once considered part of her own prison, she set her sights on Buddy. Not before picking up one of Lillian's drawings, however. She examined the picture without criticism for the sloppy and harsh lines, but rather fascinated by the child's silent obsession for space and the planets. Maybe Buddy could find common ground with the kid after all.

Finding him in his safe room that was disguised as a den, Violet leaned herself against the frame of the doorway and eyed him with a question in mind. Problem was she didn't know how to ask. Not because she didn't know how to word it, but because she was scared about the answer.

It took the engineer a few minutes to notice the woman's presence but upon looking at her face he recognized the questioning view instantly. Releasing a heavy sigh, Buddy swiveled his chair around and crossed one leg over the other.

"Can I help you?"

"You didn't seem that upset over Evelyn getting out."

"Because I'm not."

Violet swallowed her anger for a moment, and only for a moment. Bitter tears of rage were already seeking to show themselves, frustrating her further. She didn't always cry when she was mad, but it was growing more common. Buddy realized that too, and he knew much better than to take those tears for weakness as he motioned her to come over.

Wordlessly, Violet crossed the room and allowed herself to be pulled into the lap of the man she was in disagreement with. After taking the drawing from her hand and placing it onto his desk, Buddy wrapped an arm around her waist as the other hand moved up to brush a few strands of her hair behind her ear.

"I'm not upset with the news about Evelyn only because I know that it'll take some heat off of me for a bit."

"If you actually tried to make amends you could keep the heat off of you," Violet muttered. Buddy arched an eyebrow at the statement but Violet shook her head. "I know that it's not going to get everyone on board, but would it kill you to actually make an honest effort? The NSA has been purged of the problem, supers have been warned to not make any more threats against you and for the most part have listened, I don't get why you still have to put on the act that you do. And before you tell me that it's who you really are, you can't honestly tell me you don't want to flex your inventions on the world."

Buddy rolled his eyes into the back of his head. Yeah, she caught him there. He hadn't been producing all that much for the government agency aside from slight modifications that belonged to others as of late.

"If Mirage did let Evelyn Deavor start building tech for supers, would you be willing to test it out?" Violet's furrowed brow was all that Buddy needed to see he was right on the issue.

"It's different-"

"How? Because let's look at this objectively. Yes- Evelyn Deavor is, by all legal terms and definitions, a terrorist. Which doesn't sound as glamorous next to the title of former villain, but it does spook more people-"

"Exactly!"

"Ah, ah, ah! But what has she done that outshines me? How many lives has she taken compared to me and my inventions?"

"Okay but-"

"And how much damage has she caused to structures? Essentially zero when we bring in Winston's charitable donations to fix and improve the areas she affected."

"It's different!"

"How?"

"Because you can actually help people Buddy!" Violet shouted. "You have helped people! Evelyn is just so damn focused on the worst parts of humanity when you are able to accelerate the very best parts of it!"

"Your bias is showing, Parr," Buddy mused, modifying her quip from the beginning of the day.

"Maybe so, but you haven't really applied yourself yet! Sure the Super Transition Devices haven't picked up the attention of those who could use it. Rebranding the name could help with that-"

"I'm not going to apologize for the NSA handing out STDs, because that's just funny."

"And while we are at it, you could use some rebranding yourself, mister! Or at least do a collaboration with someone who is trusted…" Violet suggested as she lowered her head but lifted her eyes, delivering a very telling look of the dreadful things to come.

"You're not seriously suggesting what I think you are," Buddy groaned, throwing his head back as Violet sat up and straddled his lap to grab his face.

"Come on! Edna could really help in the publicity department! Nobody is more trusted in the super arena than her and who knows how much longer she'll be around and willing to give her expertise," Violet urged, winning another groan from the disgruntled man. "What's the worst that could happen anyway?"

Buddy removed his hands from his favorite super of all time and placed them over his face, trying to contain himself. Spreading the fingers on one of his hands he came eye to eye with the positively brilliant yet naive woman he had shackled himself to. With a sigh of defeat, he slumped deeper into his seat and dropped his defenses.

"Fine, but you owe me for this!"

Violet laughed before kissing him deeply. Buddy returned the kiss with chaste because while he was implying intimacy for his payment he knew he wasn't going to be getting much more than a kiss tonight.

"You owe me a lot more than that, super, but it's a start."