I fumed silently as I quickly fixed the tea. I was still struggling with returning from the dead and Lung had to complicate things by invading my home. Luckily things hadn't changed much in the month I had been away, and the cupboard was still stocked with a variety of teas. So I begrudgingly played the hostess, heating up the water all while keeping Lung in the corner of my eye and one hand on my weapon.
"I must confess, that your visit isn't entirely welcome." I began, as I reached for some mugs. "I've recently learned that there are some sort of unwritten rules among capes, and while I don't want to accuse you of anything it would seem to me that you would be in violation of them by coming here."
"A flimsy shield for the weak to cower behind." Lung grunted. "They are easily forgotten guidelines, that many on both sides ignore when it's convenient. Regardless it is easy to manipulate the rules or topple their ideals, all while still adhering to them."
"How so?" I questioned as I gathered all the tea essentials onto a serving tray.
He grunted again as he reached up to his mask and with a few clicking noises he removed it to show a harsh but distinctive angular face looking back at me. "By showing my face to you it could be viewed as satisfying the rules, I broke into your house so this could be considered compensation."
"Ahh." I nodded understanding his simple point. I was distinctively reminded of the Silver Millennium, and the power games some of the nobility like to play at court. "Currently your identity is worthless to me. Like when Fleur was murdered by a member of the E88 and while the murderer was killed to satisfy the rules, the exchange was still severely in the E88's favor."
The tattooed man's only response was a sharp nod as I set the tray between us and took a seat across from him. We spent a few moments in silence as we prepared our own tea. I knew that if this meeting had been proper I should be preparing my guest's tea, but I could hardly call him a proper guest. Instead I spent the short time I had studying him. He was physically quite impressive, but it was his mannerisms that I focused on. He seemed to be rushing himself as he prepared his tea, and while he kept his eyes on me his head twitched to listen to every sound that filtered in from outside. As best as I could tell he was on edge, and not just from me.
"So, you wished to talk." I said crisply keeping my weapon firmly in hand.
"Yes, your power is too great for you to be ignored." Lung spoke as and took a draft from his steaming teacup that would have likely scalded my mouth. "I have been in a similar situation, others will promise you much if you enslave yourself to their cause. Next they will attempt force, and you will either bow or fight; you will never be free. However, if you follow me I have experience keeping at bay those that would put you in chains."
"A gracious offer." I nodded amicably. "However, I am not planning on joining any faction at this time."
"You do not have time to waste." He said glancing up at the window. "They are already moving, making plans."
"Forgive me, I don't know the details of cape etiquette and interactions. Currently, I am in a position where I can hardly trust anyone, yourself included."
"Wise." Lung grunted, and took a breath. "But, you will join me."
"So your request is actually a demand then?" I asked narrowing my eyes, and tightening my grip on the Silence Glaive. "It seems foolish to try and force me to do something against my will, as you said I either bow or fight. I killed what you couldn't, not even when you were at your peak strength, why would you risk my wrath?"
"Do not try to trick me." Lung growled, but I could see a spark of jealously in his glare. "The price to triumph over Leviathan was great, and I know that as you are now; you are weak. I saw your fight with Rune, you could not defeat me unless you were to pay the same cost from before. But, we need not be enemies, my strength can protect your from those like the E88."
"So this is all for my protection?" I asked with a hint of sarcasm in my tone. "Forgive me if you do not strike me as a benevolent leader."
"I protect what is mine." He stated gruffly.
"That isn't what I've heard." I countered. "You've been losing to the heroes, and-."
"I do not lose!" He snarled. "I have only suffered some setbacks, and will return as I have always done twice as powerful as before."
"Then why do you need me?" I shot back and noticed that the temperature I the room was hotter than before.
"As I said, I saw the recording of your fight with Rune, I was unimpressed; I do not need you." Lung stated. "Without your final power, your strength is average at best."
"So you noticed my weakened state from earlier." I said trying to both obfuscate the truth, as well as fan his ego so I could get more info. "So your power hasn't faded completely, you must still have plants inside of the PRT?"
"Yes." He stated quickly, too quickly. Something told me that there was more that he didn't want to mention when he could be bragging about his influence. "I grow tired of this, there is no more need for discussion, you will join me or suffer my wrath."
"I am still having a difficult time understanding why you think I should be subservient. Do you really want to risk death if I'm forced to activate my final power?" I asked taking a sip of my tea. Something about our interaction was odd, and it tickled at my memories. Saturn had been playing court games from a very long time, judging people's reactions to learn hidden meanings had become second nature. If I could ask the correct question and read his reactions I might be able to find out why he was really here. "All this just seems foolish, are you being forced to come here?"
"No one has the power to force me to do anything." He bristled and the skin under his shoulders shifted slightly.
"So did someone else give you the idea to come here?" I asked on a hunch that if he wasn't forced to come here, the idea might have been suggested to him.
"Enough of your questions, there is no time! Get up, you are coming with me!" He growled as he stood, but his body language gave me insight to his state of mind. Lung was obviously angry, but he used that as a cover. The way he stood showed that he was tired, and his eyes glancing to the door said he was also worried.
"Oh, I see, you're desperate." I said, pausing for a moment to drink the rest of my tea as things fell into place in my mind. "I was wondering why you would make such a bold move to forcefully recruit me, it didn't really make much sense. Of course now it's understandable since you aren't acting completely sensible. You've been losing so much ground recently that it should just a matter of time before the heroes move to capture you despite your fearsome reputation, and you're not confident you will win this time. If you flee the city, you would lose your reputation that you've spent your entire time in Brockton Bay building, so your pride wouldn't allow it."
"If you wish to live, do not speak another word." Lung hissed.
"Please excuse my rudeness, but unless you care to correct me I think my conclusions are sound." I reply meeting his glare with my own. "You need me to join you, so that I can be your shield from the heroes. However, if I don't submit, you can kill me and the great Lung defeats the girl who killed Leviathan. If you push me, and I use my Final Power you would die in glory, taking me with you."
The temperature in the room had risen to uncomfortable temperatures, and wisps of heat were rising from Lung's form. "You talk far too much. If what you say is true you are left with two paths, either you bow or you die!" He growled his voice noticeably deeper.
"I see, however I will have to ask you to leave." I said standing with my weapon close. "A princess does not bow to the likes of you!"
He moved to strike just as I expected, throwing his body behind his fist, swinging to hit the side of my face. Pushing backward, I leaned back causing my seat to tip back; allowing me to roll and bounce to my feet. My maneuver gave me some space and readied my weapon as he thrust his hand and a stream of red flames billowed toward me. A swift sidestep allowed me to avoid the danger and I closed in, thrusting, I cut into his extended bicep causing him to yell in pain. In the confined space of my living room I couldn't properly use my weapon but I could still spin horizontally. Pulling the Silence Glaive back I spun it around my body, cutting a deep line near Lung's hip and sending the haft toward his cheek.
I had hoped a solid hit to his head would either stun him or render him unconscious so I wouldn't have to worry about his power growth. However, Lung proved to be just as tough as reported, and he took my strike like a champ. His head only jerked an inch or two before he glared and lunged at me with his uninjured arm. I wasn't able to pull back in time as he grabbed my lead arm at the wrist, before I could react he pulled me toward him, and kicked my legs out from under me.
There was a tussle for a few moments as he yanked me around keeping me off balance, all while trying to strike me kicks and knees. I wasn't going to simply let him pummel me as I twisted my body around to avoid any solid hits all while using my free hand to swing my glaive wildly at him. I must have grazed him with my blade, because he yelled and spun, pulling me off me feet causing me to smash a lamp before he thew me away. With a wave of confused vertigo I couldn't recover as I hit something with a shattering sound. I landed and rolled a few times before I pulled my feet under myself, and back flipped a few times to stop my momentum.
"You ass-hole!" I yelled, now that I had a moment to gather my wits, and I saw that Lung had thrown me through my front window! I had a few shallow cuts on my legs and upper arms where I wasn't covered, but it wouldn't slow me down. I was much more concerned by the 7 foot tall scaled Lung glaring at me from my living room.
Luckily for my house, Lung stepped through the broken front window to confront me on the lawn. Unluckily, I noticed a flickering light from behind him; my house was on fire. However, I couldn't do anything about my home as Lung charged me bellowing a war-cry. I stayed silent as I flourished my blade, setting myself in a stance prepared to meet him.
I sidestepped a gout of flame, and with a few quick paces I slashed at his hand. My blade cut with almost no resistance as I lopped his hand off, and continued my attack twirling around to cut of a leg at the knee.
Lung surprised me though, as with a small hop he pulled his legs up to his chest and dropped kicked me with both feet. I exhaled with a shrill squeak as I was launched back landing in the middle of the street and tumbling to a stop. I gasped, and with a cringe I forced myself to take a few steady breaths, Lung was most certainly strong. Jerking my head I flicked my hair out of my face as I got to my feet, Lung had grown another foot, now nearly 8 feet tall.
"Saturn, get clear!" I heard a voice yell, and noticed that my suspicions about the van had been correct. Three PRT agents were rushing over, while one yelled on his radio. "NEED BACKUP, ASAP! LUNG IS ATTACKING V.I.P, MOVING TO EXTRACT!"
One agent had a backpack that I recognized as a containment foam launcher and he sent a thick stream at the rapidly growing dragon-man waving the ejector back and forth in a wide snaking pattern. Lung avoided most of the fluid but a few globs landed on his legs, causing him to yell out in annoyance. The closest PRT officer reached me and pulled me toward him when Lung responded with his own ranged attack, his entire upper-body flared as he send a wave of fire at us. I was confident that I could evade but the troopers wouldn't have my speed, shaking my arm free of the well meaning officer I brought my weapon vertically in front of me.
"Silence Wall!" I chanted and a faint translucent purple wall intercepted the flames. As the fire swirled and slowly dissipated on the other side of my defense, it gave me a few seconds to decide on what to do.
"RUN!" I ordered, turning to the PRT agent that had tried to pull me away. Luckily he complied as Lung charged through the last wisps of fire and raked his now clawed hand across my defense. My magic easily held and I pulled back giving myself some more space. Lung was ramping up at a faster pace than I had heard on news reports, and I could now understand Lung's fearsome reputation. The hand that I cut off was already partially regrown and metallic scales were appearing all across his body.
Dropping my defense I rushed in ducking below his arms and running past him swinging. As I moved by I brought The Silence Glaive slicing across his upper leg, easily cutting through his femur. With a snarl he fell to the ground, only an inch of flesh holding his leg together. Before I could fully turn to attack his exposed back his form exploded, and I brought my arms up defensively. I stumbled back from the heat as fire flared brilliantly around him, and I saw him grasp his nearly amputated limb; pulling the slice together.
"Lung stop this, before I have to kill you!" I yelled my order, once I had escaped the oppressive aura of heat around him. I was slowly growing more concerned as Lung grew more powerful, if he wouldn't stop I would be forced to use my magic against him with all of it's inherent lethality.
"I KIRR OUU!" He growled while stumbling to his feet, the cut limb partially healed enough to put weight on.
Taking a deep breath I gathered my magic, causing a shimmer of purple light to surround me. "Death Ribbon!" I yelled, swinging my blade in a banishing motion that caused a streamer of purple energy to coil away from it.
Lung tried to avoid my attack but was still unsteady on his legs and my magic hit him slightly off center. The death magic wrapped around him before sinking into his body. As the light of my magic disappeared the fire surrounding his body sputtered out, and Lung fell to his knees. With a pained shaking hiss Lung fell forward and while he tired to catch himself his hands didn't stop him and he landed heavily onto his elbows. My boots clicked as I cautiously circled him, keeping my distance in case he was able to release any more bursts of fire. His body shook with the effects of my magic, and I found it ironic while he had come to make me submit, I wasn't the one bowing.
"Words can't truly describe what you just felt; can they?" I asked, my voice containing hints of anger, spite, and pity. "There's that cold emptiness, draining you of everything; that's what death really feels like. I won't need to become Death like I did with Leviathan in order to push you into that abyss; give up."
I was still pissed at Lung but the part of me that loathed my power kept me from striking him while he was down. I couldn't really read his scaly expression, but his eyes still held sparks of emotion as he raised his head and looked at me with fear and uncertainty. I was hopeful he would stop until I saw the fear in his eyes replaced by stubborn pride. With a deep rumbling growl fire sparked to life surrounding him and twisted into a swirling tempest.
I took a few cautious steps away as the ground shook as Lung roared in rage, and the red fire-storm brightened into a yellow-orange before a blast was sent in my direction. Rolling away I avoided the blast only for an unfortunate shrub behind me to catch fire.
"Death Ribbon!" I chanted sending another attack at Lung's form outlined by the flames. To my surprise Lung's shifted to the side dodging, before lunging toward me. I was barely able to bring my weapon up in time to catch his claws along the middle of pole's shaft. While I was uninjured the force behind the hit sent me stumbling back. Setting my feet I set the haft of my weapon on the ground and vaulted backward gaining more distance between my foe. Looking up, Lung was closing the distance at a worrying pace, so I turned tail and ran.
I needed to get somewhere were I could hit Lung with something he couldn't dodge, if my memory was correct there was a closed corner store about two blocks away. I didn't want to have any collateral damage, but it was a better option than someone's home. As I ran between two houses I felt a bloom of heat behind me, throwing myself into a roll a tongue of fire passed through where my head had been. I completed the roll and patted at my hair as I smelled an acrid scent and heard a faint crackling noise.
Glancing back I noticed that Lung was keeping pace with me, he even looked to be faster than me in a straight line. Pushing off a tree I passed I changed directions, using my momentarily superior agility to shake him off. I had to bat a few fireballs with a twirl of my weapon as he slowed digging his clawed feet into the ground, tearing up both dirt and rock as he followed.
A flicker of movement in the corner of my eye distracted me for a moment as I saw what looked like a group of people riding some sort of mutant dog lizard hybrids. I only caught a glance before a building obscured my line of sight, but it looked like they were following in a parallel path. I didn't have time to worry about them as I jumped over a shed only to hear a smash as Lung plowed through the little outbuilding.
I pushed myself, moving as fast as I could as we neared the corner store. I entered the store's small parking lot when something hit me from behind, knocking me clear off my feet. A spray of black rock scattered around me as I ungracefully flopped onto my stomach, and I only had a moment to realize that Lung had hit me with a chunk of asphalt that he had dug out of the street. I pushed off the ground but only made it onto my knees as I turned just in time to see Lung baring down on me. He was ten feet tall with sliver scales covering his large form, and he used two small, newly sprouted wings to increase his speed. They didn't look large enough to fly with but he still flapped them to help increase his speed.
"Silence Wall!" I yelped a millisecond before he would have crashed into me with enough force shatter my bones. As it was my barrier sprang into place just in time for Lung to flatten himself on my magical shield, and there was a loud whumph sound accompanied by the unpleasant noise of popping bones and cracking metal.
Scrambling to my feet I backed away as Lung slumped down as my wall disappeared. Lung's body was somewhat misshapen but from the rippling under his metal skin he was quickly recovering. As he pushed himself upright I jumped onto the corner of the store's roof.
"Lung!" I yelled at him, and despite my elevation his head was nearly at the same height as me. "Last chance! Give up or what I do next could very easily kill you!"
His only response was a deep roar as he straightened his arms and flared his wings. He wasn't going to stop unless I stopped him.
I took a deep breath and absentmindedly noted the sounds of sirens approaching. "Silence Glaive Surprise!" The head of my weapon glowed brightly as a bloom of purple light surrounded me spreading out to encompass the entire lot. Through the light I saw cracks forming along the building and surrounding cement and asphalt. Paint peeled and flaked away as my death magic sapped energy from everything it touched. Lung wasn't immune as he fell back to the ground and curled into a fetal position. While I didn't put much worth in the unwritten rules I still didn't want to deal with the complications of killing him. So as I saw Lung's bright metal scales dull I relaxed. The sphere of magic faded away and I hopped off of the corner of the building right before it crumbled under my feet.
Slowly walking forward I ignored the sounds of the store collapsing behind me. Lung was shaking and his breath was short and halting coming in an odd mix of gurgling growls. He shrinking slowly but surely as I walked closer, and while he was still much larger than me it looked like the fight was out of him. However, he surprised me and before I could speak he gave a frightened groan and pushed up himself up enough to raise a clawed hand at me. Reflexively I sprang forward and I drove the butt of my weapon into his midsection with as much force as I could. The dull scales I struck shattered and fell away, as he curled back on himself. I was not going to give him another chance as I spun away and raised my glaive high above my head and brought it down on his now exposed back.
The blade easily cut though the weakened armor on the back of his neck, and with a twitch he flopped motionless as I cut though his spinal cord. I made sure to keep the cut shallow and took a moment to examine the placement of my strike and to check if he was still breathing.
"If you can hear me do not try anything!" I hissed noting that he was still breathing, though it was even more ragged than before. "As long as my blade stays where it is you cannot regenerate, and so you will remain paralyzed. I don't know if you can still use your fire, but if I even feel a bit of heat I will not hesitate to decapitate you!"
He did nothing that I could interpret as a response, so keeping a hand on my glaive to keep it in place I looked around. My magic had done a number on the surroundings. The market's roof and most of the walls had fallen in, leaving only a skeleton of cinder blocks and steel struts remaining. The decorative bushes around the lot had died, drying up and turning brown.
In the distance I noticed a splash of color that stuck out from the surroundings. There was a girl in a purple bodysuit that had a camcorder pointed in my direction. She noticed my attention and gave a wave before she turned away stepping behind a building and out of view. It annoyed me that I couldn't follow because I had to keep my blade in Lung. However, I made a mental note to find out who she was and what she was doing here later.
Turning back to my foe I adjusted my weapon since his shrinking body complicated my initial cut. The sirens were louder now and I could hear them getting closer by the moment.
"Saturn!" A familiar voice yelled from above me and Legend swooped down his eyes filled with concern. "Are you hurt?!"
I looked down at myself and noticed that I was looking a bit worse for wear. From what I could see my hair was a mess, and my costume was scuffed with dirt and scorch marks. "I should be alright." I grunted, trying to reign in my frayed emotions as well as down play that now that the rush of adrenaline was fading I could feel all the aches, bruises, and minor burns I had received in the fight. I was a bit surprised when a waved of tiredness pulled at me, my arms and legs were heavy like I hadn't slept in two days. A stray thought occurred to me that I hadn't ever used my magic like that before and it had taken more than I was prepared for. The day had been long and my magic felt stretched, making me feel a tiredness that seemed to drag at something deep in my gut.
"Uh, good, and I guess excellent work dealing with Lung." Legend muttered as he looked around at the devastation my magic had wrought. "Is he going to live?"
"I'm not completely sure I care, he is quite tough. I figured he can't regenerate if something is keeping his spine severed." I say and adjusted my weapon again as he continued to shrink, looking more human as the dark scales were swallowed by dirty flesh. "I think he unconscious though, so I'm going to take this out?"
"Alright." Legend muttered uncertainly. "Beside, since I'm here if he does get up we should be able to deal with him together."
"Yes." I agreed crisply and carefully pull the blade out of Lung's spine. I frown in annoyance and embarrassment as I looked away from Lung's naked body. He looked so pathetic lying face down, his hair had turned bone white and his muscular frame from before seemed smaller. Flicking my weapon free of his blood I stepped away and remembered something important.
"My house!" I yelped and another rush of adrenalin shot through me and I took two quick steps back home before the jolt of energy faded and my legs turned to jelly. I ungracefully stumbled forward a few paces before I regained my balance using my glaive to help me stay upright. I wasn't going to make it back with any speed, and I looked back desperate for help. "Legend my house is on fire! Can you- or- I need- please don't let it burn down!"
"Wait Taylor!" Legend cut me off before I could work myself up further. "I would go if I thought I could help, my powers can extinguish flames but I would likely do just as much damage. Besides, there's already a fire truck on its way there already, hopefully it will arrived before your house suffers too much damage!"
"Oh... um, thank you." I muttered and looked down with a mixture of anxiety and embarrassment. I took a breath and walked over to a pile of cinder-blocks, that looked solid enough to not crumble if I sat on them.
"Are you certain you're not hurt?" Legend asked again as he stepped into arms reach, his hands out and readied in case I fell.
"I'm tired, I'm not dying!" I snapped and my boots kicked decayed chunks of asphalt.
"Sorry, I just-" Legend twitched and pulled away.
"No it's not-" I started, before I sat down and took a few moments to breath trying my best to sink into the mindset of a princess. "Forgive me, you do not deserve my ire, but as you know I've not had a good day."
"No it's alright." Legend nodded. "Lord knows I've had a few days where nothing goes right."
"Thank you." I said, trying my best to give him a small smile, although I'm sure I looked terrible.
Legend took a few steps away crouching over the downed villain. "Lung looks terrible, what did you do to him?"
"I hit him with my magic." I answered plainly. "Honestly, I'm surprised he's still alive, he's quit hardy."
"This is the result of your- um death magic?" He asked looking around at the ruined lot. "Will he recover?"
"My magic isn't very nice." I answered honestly, and I decided that I didn't need to explain any details from my fuzzy memories. I knew that I could have pushed that spell, and almost guaranteed his death, but there was a danger that I would have been swept up in the death magic as well. It wasn't a spell I wanted to use often. "I would think it depends on how his regeneration works, but if he doesn't I don't really care; he attacked me in my house."
"Yes,-" He frowned and anything else he was going to say was interrupted as the sirens that sounded to be coming up the street were suddenly at the street next to us screeching to a stop.
The doors in the back flew open and several PRT officers stumbled out in a less then professional order. "Dang it Vista!" An annoyed male voice yelled from inside as the troopers spread out securing the area. Some of the troopers moved over to me and Legend, and the veteran cape started to yell some orders about securing Lung. In the hubbub I patted at my skirt and ran my hands through my hair to assess how bad the damage was.
"What!?" I heard a young girl's voice gruffly question as I found the charred ends of a lock of my hair that hadn't survived Lung's flames. "You said you wished we could get there faster. It was a straight shot and I knew nothing alive was in the way."
"Whatever, at the very least warn the driver next time." The first voiced said as four capes piled out. Clockblocker, Vista, Assault and Battery looked around and started jogging over to Legend all while shooting glances my direction. After the heroes had a quick conversation with the Protectorate leader, Assault and Battery split up moving toward different PRT teams around the lot, Legend, Clockblocker and Vista walked toward me.
"Hello." I greeted as they neared, then quickly covered my mouth as a yawn escaped.
"Tired?" Vista questioned.
"Yeah." I answered, and a part of me recoiled from my lack of propriety. However, I was so worn down I was finding it difficult to stay in the mind frame of a proper princess. "I had intended to go home and rest. As it is I might need to find a sleeping bag and a lot of extra blankets, although I don't think a bath in liquid methane would be very relaxing."
"Wait, you don't plan to go back to Titan do you?!" Legend yelped, and registered that I had voiced my rambling thoughts.
"Excuse me." I mutter upon seeing Legend's shocked face as well as Vista's gaping mouth. "It just seemed to me that even if my house only receives minor fire damage I don't think it would be wise to go back there."
"You could come to the Wards HQ!" Vista interjected sharply. "We have everything you would need there, and it would be secure enough that you wouldn't need to worry about idiots like Lung!"
"Thank you for your offer." I nodded gratefully. "However, I really don't want to think about joining the Wards right now."
"You wouldn't need to agree to join." Legend interjected. "I'm mostly concerned about your safety, and I bet the Wards would be more than happy to accommodate you for an evening."
"Of course we would!" Vista cheered. "Right Clockblocker?"
"Princess Saturn, it would be our great honor to have as our guest." Clockblocker said stoically as he kneeled and bowed. I was thrown off by his action, and while I greatly suspected that he was joking, the royal in me appreciated the gesture.
I was so uncertain what to do, my mind was so scattered that I couldn't focus on any one line of thought; in the end I was left indecisive. Taylor knew that these were the good guys, and I should be able to trust them. However, Saturn's experience with politics and the conversation with Lung made me cautious of potential subterfuge. While I could potentially teleport out of any dangerous situation I didn't want to be put on the back foot, then thought occurred to me of a way to decline without being rude.
"Thank you very much for the offer, however Laserdream of New Wave already invited me to her house. I would be rude of me to take your offer, when she already invited me." I said succinctly, trying my best to slip deeper into my princess mindset. "I fear I might have to beg her cousin, Panacea for a checkup, Lung may have cracked a few of my ribs."
"Does my devotion mean so little to you my princess?" Clockblocker moaned grasping at his heart, and looked like he would continue when he yelped as Vista elbowed him in the shoulder.
"Lay off the ham Clock!" Vista hissed.
"How bold of you Clockblocker." I smirked at the interplay, and the tug of nostalgia reminded of when Saturn had been approached in similar overenthusiastic ways. "I don't think my father would approve of the ratio of boys to girls if I were to spend the evening with The Wards."
"Tell me about it!" Vista sighed, and then began to complain at length about how she was surrounded by testosterone all while dropping hints that she would be eternally grateful if I join her in The Wards. Clockblocker didn't let Vista's complaints about the team's gender imbalance stand without countering with his own thoughts. While I listened to the two I noticed that Legend had walked away, all while having his hand up to his ear. I knew plotting when I saw it, and it was dripping off of him.
"Princess Saturn's presence would always be appreciated, she doesn't need to join just for you." Clockblocker said, as he seemed to express himself in grand gestures since his face wasn't visible.
"Clock, I'm going to push you off a cliff!" Vista growled. "And before you ask what cliff, don't worry I'll make one!"
I couldn't help but smile from the other girl's threat when Legend returned. "So I think I have a solution that everyone should be happy with." He said, a confident smirk on his face.
"What do you propose?" I asked, unsure how I should handle the situation I was currently lost in.
"I was in contact with New Wave and they are more than happy to offer Panacea's services. I also mentioned that you were considering taking them up on Laserdream's offer and they were more than willing, but there was a slight concerned about security." Legend said not specifying whether it was him or New Wave that was concerned about security. "So I suggested that Panacea, Glory-Girl, and Laserdream all spend the night with the Wards. This way you can get Panacea to help any injuries and your father wouldn't have to worry about the ratio between girls and boys. Everything is covered, and you would have someplace secure to rest that isn't several million miles away."
The others looked at me expectantly and it seemed that Legend had covered everything. I would be hard pressed to think of an excuse that wasn't rude or would make me look unreasonable. There was also the fact that I was tired and in need of a shower, and a part of me did think that the idea sounded very nice. I didn't have the other guardians to fall back on, and spending some time with people that could partially relate with me was tempting. Eventually I sighed, I didn't want to fight, and would have to risk a bit of trust.
Before I could answer, Vista seemed to notice my indecision and spoke up. "Did I mention we have a jacuzzi bath?"
"Very well." I nodded, and couldn't help but smile because that did sound very, very nice. Using my weapon to help push myself to my feet, so I could take a short curtsy. "I will be in your care."