The neighborhood is quiet. Not surprising, considering the sun is just starting to rise. Between the lingering darkness and the early hour, I'm not too concerned about being spotted as I teleport in.

Dad's asleep in his chair, downstairs.

Of course he is. Why wouldn't he stay there, just waiting for me to come home? I should have expected that...for a few seconds, I seriously consider just going in the front door, waking him up. Except that wouldn't accomplish anything except another argument; we're both tired, we're both angry...nothing will change except for how stressful a morning we'll have.

I move straight up to my room instead. Again.

Waking him up won't do anybody any good. So I'll just get into some clean clothes, and grab what I'll need for...school. I'll go. I'll try. It's only a couple more months, and then I can consider other options. By that point, I might even have everything figured out enough to tell dad about the cape...stuff.

After taking some time to think it over, I grab what little cash I have that didn't go to Victoria for my costume. More than enough for breakfast, since it looks like I won't be eating here...I pause, at the window, then turn back to grab my glasses off my desk. It's the little things that I keep forgetting. I should really work on that.

It doesn't take long to get back to the rooftops. The skyline. I have to smile, at that, think about how it's become such a habit now. How it drives Victoria a little crazy. It may have started as just the 'obvious' way to get around, but I actually really like hanging around up here, now. I'm not sure why. Everything always looks so...exposed. Empty.

I remember, vaguely, going backstage at...was it a play? Maybe. But it had the same sort of feeling. I think I almost wandered away, trying to explore it all. But mom…

...huh. That's something I haven't thought about in...forever. Actually, I'm a little surprised I still remember it at all.

I stop, as I 'step' up onto the edge of a building that overlooks a good portion of downtown. A gust of wind threatens to take me over, and I have to fight to regain my balance enough to step down onto the gravel. That moment of nearly-falling was good, though. Bracing. I breathe, and between the cool air and my racing pulse, I barely feel my lack of sleep.

It looks like the sun is coming up. I move across the roof, considering my surroundings. I'm pretty high up, but I could get a little higher. I've got the time to waste.

The next building over isn't much of an improvement, but the one just beyond that should do the trick. It takes a couple of 'hops', and I spend a few, breathless seconds falling through the air, but then I've got my feet under me again. My backpack is fine, I didn't lose my phone...and I've found my view.

I wasn't usually up before sunrise, before. Even after I took up jogging, I never really took the time to watch it. It just sort of happened. But I'm feeling...I don't know, thoughtful. Or maybe I'm just trying to fill the time.

Either way, it's a nice distraction. The sun is just a blur of orange light on the horizon, and the way the colors play across the sky and water makes everything look like a post-card. From this angle, most of the Boat Graveyard is obscured by some building or another, and you could almost miss the rising wisps of dark smoke from somewhere in the Docks.

Impossible to miss is the Protectorate HQ, just sitting out there. The building itself is just dark shape, but it's an iconic shape. A beacon of 'hope'. The heroes are right there, where everyone can see them. Just waiting to spring into action.

Honestly, I'd like to see a little more 'springing' than 'waiting'. Which...isn't really fair. I shouldn't think that way. They do what they can. The fact that the Villains have outnumbered them from the beginning isn't their fault.

I sigh, drop my backpack to settle down on the building's edge. Time to kill...how am I going to handle school? It's obvious (it's always been obvious) that just keeping my head down doesn't work. And the fact that I can't really bring myself to care about the classes anymore is probably just as much of a problem as the trio. I can 'consider my options' at the end of the year, that much I've decided already...but have I ever bothered to figure out what 'options' those are?

No. I haven't. I've been too busy chasing after small-time crooks and street thugs. Cracking skulls and thinking I was actually accomplishing something. And maybe I had, maybe it had helped...I hear the faint growl of an engine, even from all the way up here. A glance down at the street below, and I snort at the sight; a military truck, one of those big, canvas covered things. Idling at a stoplight. I'd heard that the national guard had been called in, but I hadn't seen anything yet myself.

I watch it rumble away toward the Docks, and shake my head. Because at this point? I can't even bring myself to be upset about the fact that things have gotten that bad.

The sun is still rising. I can almost make out the shape of it, when I squint.

"Once there was a village by the sea…and there were helpless people there."

Huh.

I stand, and brush myself off, bending down to grab my backpack again.

"We don't have to be helpless…"

xxxxxxxxxx

I'm sitting on the school's roof, trying to stomach the fast food I'd picked up for breakfast, when my phone starts vibrating. Victoria, of course...she's the only one with this number, so it couldn't really be anyone else.

'You ok? Left pretty earlier.'

'Early'. And I had. Before anybody else had been awake, definitely. I frown at the keypad, trying to get it to cooperate as I type. 'Couldn't sleep. Didn't want to bother you too much.'

I set the phone down, but it buzzes again almost immediately.

'Jfc.' I'm not sure what that's supposed to mean, but another message comes in before I can ask. 'Whatever. Wanna talk about what happened?'

I'd really rather not. 'It's a long story.'

'Tellll meeeee'

But she's not letting it go. Right. 'Later. I'm headed to class.'

I turn the phone off, and set what's left of my food aside. I'm not sure I could finish it right now even if it weren't nearly time for me to go. My stomach is twisting at the thought of subjecting myself to this crap again.

And...it's stupid. Because it's just school. I can handle school…

I'll be fine.

xxxxxxxxxx

I think I was severely underestimating both how tired I was and how irritating Winslow can be. At least the guys I beat up have the decency to just shoot you. And I can hit them in the face when they bother me.

And however appealing the image of taking my bat to Emma and her cronies might be, that's the last thing I need right now. It wouldn't do me any good except as momentary stress relief. I'd be the one paying for it though. Between the school already labeling me a troublemaker, Emma's popularity, and her Lawyer dad, I'd probably just wind up in jail. Worse, if I used my powers and got caught.

If…

No, that's not a line of thought I need to explore.

Right now...right now I've got one more obstacle to get past before I can get some sleep. I'm just really hoping this doesn't turn into another shouting match, because I don't need that right now. At all.

I unlock the door, push it open, and shut it behind me with a clearly audible thunk. "I'm home!" Yes I am. I'm home, after a completely normal day. Nothing to be worried about...I hear footsteps, adjust the set of my backpack as dad appears.

He looks...about as tired as I feel. Now I'm hoping I don't look that bad, because the last thing I need is for him to worry over my sleep sche-

"God, Taylor!" I wince as he hugs me, painfully reminded of the hits I'd taken last night. "I was so worried about you!" I don't have a chance to do more than stand there before he's drawing away. His hands on my shoulders keep me rooted in place. "Where have you been?" His focus shifts to my face, and I realize just a little too late that, yes, there's a bruise there. "What happened? Did you get...you weren't mugged, were you?"

"No." I need to put a stop to that before he gets...worked up. "I didn't get mugged." A careful shrug, and I look away, reach up to adjust my glasses. "Some idiots were screwing around in the halls and I got a little too close is all."

He doesn't believe me, but it's because he thinks it was them. Better than the truth. "You went to school?"

"Yeah."

His hands finally drop. "You didn't come home last night…"

"I was at Victoria's."

Discomfort. Understanding. "Right...right. That...that's good." An awkward silence; I have to stifle the urge to yawn. "You couldn't give your old man a call?" His smile is strained, the attempt at humor falling flat.

"I should have." That much is true. If I hadn't been out and about first, if it hadn't been so late when I actually came back...I wouldn't have thought about it then, either. I sigh. "Sorry, dad."

He sighs, rubbing at his face. "No, I...well, actually, that's good. You should have called me." Another smile, but it drops quickly. "But...it was probably a good idea. Give us both a chance to cool off a bit." He hesitates, then sighs. "I'm sorry about yesterday. I just...I thought that things were getting better…"

"And they weren't."

It stings him, but he nods. "Apparently not."

I guess it's my turn to apologize, then. "You already have enough to worry about, dad. I just...didn't want to add to it." And that turned out wonderfully, didn't it? "I was handling it. But then I missed a few days, and…"

"And you just didn't go back."

"...yeah."

He nods again. "I know that it's hard, kiddo. God, I wish you didn't have to go either."

"But we can't afford anything else, yeah. I know that too." His jaw clenches, as he looks away. I guess that did sound more accusing than it should have. "It's okay, dad. Summer break is just a couple months away, and then we can figure something out, right?"

A long pause, before he smiles...it's still a tired smile, but it's still leagues better than his last couple of tries. "That sounds like a plan to me."

Okay, great. So...that's taken care of? I guess?

I shift, reached up to tug at my backpack's strap. "Can I go to my room, then? I'm...pretty worn out."

He startles, slightly, and looks around. Maybe just realizing that he is sort of standing between me and the rest of the house. "Ah...right." He clears his throat and steps aside, looking sheepish. "Sorry, kiddo. I'll keep it down a bit, down here."

"Thanks." I nod, and make a beeline for the stairs-

"I'll come get you for dinner?"

Well, I will need to eat. I glance over my shoulder as I start up. "Sounds good!"

"Do you have any homework!?"

…

"No!"

I stop, at the top of the stairs, but I guess that was enough, because he's moved on. Which means now I can get some rest. Hopefully without the weird dreams...I kick off my shoes as I step into my room, drop the backpack as I close the door. Three steps toward the bed, and I allow myself to collapse forward into the mattress.

Not the best idea I've ever had. Not the worst, either, but I really need to keep my poor ribs in mind.

I turn on my side, pull my pillow into a more comfortable position, and let myself relax. It doesn't take any time for me to start to drift-

My phone buzzes.

I make a concentrated effort not to scream into my very comfortable pillow...and ignore it. That's easy enough to do. Just a matter of closing my eyes and pretending it never…

There it goes again. I thought I'd turned it off this morning. When the hell did I turn it back on? I guess that doesn't matter right now; I sit up, slowly, and work it out of my pocket with a bit of effort. I could...throw it out the window? That would be nice. But I might regret it, later. Dammit.

I close my eyes for a second, then sigh and check the messages. Manage to get through the first two before the third shows up.

'Hey are you free?'

'Taayyyloorr'

'You'd better not be ignoring me. ):'

Okay. I can...handle this. I pull off my glasses (should have done that before I tried laying down, anyway), rub at my eyes, and then set about getting a response typed up.

'I wasn't. Just trying to take a nap.'

The expected, short pause…

'Wake up then you should come over and explain some things to me.'

That doesn't sound like something I want to do right now. 'Can we do this some other time?'

'I have presents!'

That...wait, presents?

'and fudgesciles!'

It takes a second...but then I choke, press a hand to my mouth to stifle my laughter. Victoria does seem to be fond of the 'ice cream bribe'. It's sort of stupid, but...well, it made me smile. Which I guess might have been the point.

I'm tired, and stressed, and I know for a fact that she's just going to have questions that I don't really want to answer. But...I could go for a fudgesicle. And she's going to keep bothering me about it anyway.

'Fine.'

I stand, tuck the phone away, and take a few seconds to shake off the fatigue that had settled in from that brief attempt at sleep. Easy enough. And it's not like getting to Victoria's is going to be any trouble…

Although...this time, I think I'll tell my dad where I'm going.

That's probably a good idea.

xxxxxxxxxx

I made good time (as expected). I find Victoria sitting on the roof outside what must be her window, a tiny cooler and a cardboard box sitting next to her. She waves at me, from across the street, and I return the gesture...wait a few seconds before-

-crouching down at her side, just a couple feet away. Not quite as startling, maybe? "Alright, so I'm here."

"Awesome." She smirks, pulling the cooler open with one hand and gesturing with the half-eaten ice cream bar in the other. "I was worried I'd wind up having to eat all of these."

"I'm sure you were…" She tosses one my way, and I fumble it for a second, almost fall over before I manage to catch it and sit down properly. "Thanks."

"Hey, you caught it, didn't you?"

Okay then...I shift, edging my way over so I can put my back to the side of the house and settle a bit more comfortably. "I also could have slid off the roof. And then where would I be?"

"I'unno." She mumbles it past a mouthful of ice cream. "Righ ere?" I roll my eyes, and take the time to unwrap my bar as she worries hers away to nothing. "Mmf...but you can teleport. You would'a been fine."

I've broken my neck before, even with my teleporting. And I don't have any Charms on me, right now, so if I did, I'd get no warning. Not that I'm going to bring that up. Something less depressing, maybe. "What are you doing out here, anyway?"

Gah. Cold…

"I dunno, I figured I'd give it a shot. You seem so big on roofs, there's gotta be something about them." She shrugs and settles back, gnawing on the popsicle stick. "Besides, this way you didn't have to knock or anything. Considering how twitchy you get whenever my family comes up, I figured it'd be a good idea."

Twitchy? "I don't get twitchy."

"You totally do." She smirks again. "I mean, I get being star-struck, and all. I don't mind it."

She's messing with me. I huff and ignore her in favor of that box. "So. What's this about presents?"

"That depends. What's with you showing up to crash on my floor in the middle of the night?"

Here we go. "I went out. Stuff happened. It got late, and I needed to sleep."

She rolls her eyes, reaches up to poke the side of my head. "And why didn't you go home?"

"...I got in a fight with my dad."

She nods, holding the popsicle stick between her teeth as she picks up the box and settles it on her lap. "Why's that, though? You and your dad seemed pretty tight."

"That's part of the problem." I grumble. "He gets so worked up about...stuff. And when he gets worried...he's got a temper." She gives me a look, and I'm quick to clarify. "And I inherited it. Things get...heated, sometimes. He wouldn't let go of the issue, and I blew up at him."

"Wow." She pulls a face. "That sucks."

"Kind of, yeah."

A few moments of silence. I eat my ice cream, she picks at the tape on the box…

"Right, okay." A sharp tug splits the top open, and she offers the whole thing over. "Aunt Sarah managed to get you a bit of a discount on the costume, so we put a little money towards something else for you."

Oh. "Really?" She nods, and I take it with my free hand, setting it down and opening it up as best I can, pushing aside packing paper so I can reach the whatever-it-is...huh. Heavy, round, and wrapped up in a heavy nylon holster. "What is it?" It looks a little like one of those high-end flashlights…

"They are 'expandable batons'." She does the air-quotes and everything, reaching out to pull another one from the box, and then out of its holster. "I mean, you've got that bat, and that's great and all, but it doesn't exactly fit the 'professional' image, y'know?" When I just look at her, she rolls her eyes. "Just eat your fudgesicle and watch."

Alright then. I eat my fudgesicle and watch, as she lifts off the roof and settles on her feet. She spends a few seconds turning the baton over in her hands before tightening her grip and flicking her hand down. A sharp, almost metallic snap nearly makes me jump...she offers it over, and I set the one I'd been holding on the roof to take it.

It's still got a heft to it, but the weight has shifted...obviously. I turn it around to hold the grip, wave it a couple of times...it seems pretty sturdy, I guess? "So you're saying I should trade up from my bat?" I mean, I wouldn't mind it...but I do kind of like my bat…

"Well, like I said, these are a bit more slick. And you can carry them easier." She smirks, and moves to sit down again. "Less likely to leave one behind somewhere, when you can just stick it in your pocket."

Yeah, okay. I can see her point there...wait a second. "Why are you smiling like that? I've never just left my bat behind." That she knows.

"Really? 'Cause that's not what Aegis said."

...dammit. "You talked to Aegis?" That was only a couple of nights ago, though. How…?

"No, but I talked to Gallant. He'd been talking to Aegis."

That...doesn't make much more sense. But I get the point. "So superheros do gossip. Good to know."

She grins, and shrugs. "Well, now you've got cool toys. Less to gossip about." A pause. "Oh, yeah. Also, those aren't like a baseball bat. Like, completely different." She starts digging in the cooler, unwrapping another bar as I finish mine. "So you're gonna have to do a little work with uncle Neil before you can go out with'em."

"What?"

"Yeah, 'cause these are actually designed as weapons? Well, I mean, they're made for 'self-defense', but you can seriously screw someone up. Not that you can't do that with a baseball bat, but you have to work a little harder at it." A pause, as she gestures vaguely. "So, you get practice-time with Manpower." Another smirk. "I'll let you know when you need to show up. In costume, if you want to keep the particulars between us."

That's…

That's actually a good idea. If I'd had the money, I would have considered taking some self-defense classes anyway. "Okay. That...should work out?"

"Glad you think so." She nods, turns her attention to the sky as a cloud drifts overhead. "It'll be cool. You'll like him, I think. It's kinda hard not to."

Uh-huh. I drop my bare popsicle stick in the box that had held the batons, give the one I'm holding a closer inspection. It really should have occurred to me to find something similar, early on…

"So why were you fighting with your dad?"

Oh. Guess she wasn't done with the questions, then. I take a deep breath, let it out slowly. "It's a long story." I don't want to talk about it.

Victoria doesn't seem to care so much about that. "I don't have much in the way of homework. Free time galore."

"...yeah?" My head tips back to rest against the side of the house, and I close my eyes. "Just gonna listen to me complain about life, huh?"

"Well, I mean...this sounds a lot bigger than trouble with your dad. And I'd kinda like to know before I really step in it." A moment of quiet. "Honestly, Taylor? I'd like to say I trust you. But I haven't really known you for that long, and you've pulled some stupid shit. A little openness goes a long way."

Of course she would say that. New Wave being what it is…

She's also probably right. And while I don't think I'm going to be telling her (or anyone) about the Outsider any time soon...maybe it won't hurt to talk about it. Venting is supposed to be good for you, right?

I sigh, and let my head drop forward again.

"Alright...I guess it starts...around the time my mom died."

I talk.

And Victoria...listens.