The smell of the cigarette made Victoria's nose wrinkle which Emma thought was rather funny if she had to be honest. There was something funny about a superhero who could toss cars around making a face at the smell of cigarettes. How simple something could fuck up someone so impressive.
Truthfully Emma hadn't liked smoking at first. It hurt her throat, tasted terrible, and made her stink. But it also made her look more mature, gave her a bit of mystique, and didn't hurt her status at school. So she continued to do it. Besides Amy was there to make sure she didn't get cancer or something.
Victoria put down the magazine she had been reading. On capes given the cover if Emma had to guess. Why was beyond Emma. Victoria was a cape, and a somewhat famous one. What was the point of reading through science magazines on powers when you could literally fly? It was like if you owned a nice car and decided to then read a hundred papers on how engines worked.
"Do you have to smoke that in here?" Victoria asked, raising an eyebrow as the lights of the tv highlighted her face. "I thought your dad put the fear of god in you when you got caught." She said to Emma. Emma gave a shrug and passed it to Amy who declined it, focused more on the game they were playing than it.
Emma figured it was only fair to offer after all. Amy was the one who had said she thought Emma would look cool if she did it.
"What my parents and your parents don't know, won't hurt them." Emma said, coughing slightly. The talk from her dad had been an incredibly unpleasant one that ended with her nodding solemnly and swearing on the bible she'd never do it again.
She went about an hour before smoking her next one.
In any case she really didn't see the big deal. Her aunt did it, lots of other people did it.
"Besides, Amy isn't going to be getting in trouble. First off she doesn't really smoke and second your mom is way too pissed at that psycho cape or whatever she was ranting about." Emma said, letting a puff of blue gray smoke cloud over her face and rise to the roof of the room.
Amy nodded. "Mom isn't going to notice anything for at least another month with how fired up she was talking about that poor nurse. I thought she was going to start punching the table." Her eyes didn't leave the game more focused on beating Emma, who could care less, than actually holding a conversation.
"Eh it doesn't sound right to me, a cape doesn't have that many powers you know? Some grab-bags have some associated powers but usually there is some connection. What that nurse was describing isn't what a normal cape-"
"Jesus, you're a nerd Vicky." Emma said cutting her off not wanting to hear another hour lecture of cape physics.
Emma had gotten to hear about the case by virtue of having been invited over for the evening. Something about some nurse being beaten into a coma and paralyzed by a villain and being stuck in NDA's and unable to pay for treatment. It was interesting but in truth Emma was just happy it wasn't an hour of eating quietly while hearing the occasional barb directed at her aunt.
She loved Auntie Annette but wished she wasn't quite so embarrassing sometimes. She also wished Ms. Dallon would shut up about her aunt. It wasn't Auntie Annette's fault what happened to Uncle Danny and their daughter. Not everyone could be as perfect as Mrs. Holier than God himself. Not everyone could get superpowers from their issues and act like nothing happened.
She focused back on the game, it was a basic fighting game of some more popular capes from Brockton and surrounding area. It was fine but the version from last year and the year before it had been more or less the exact same. Still it was kind of cool to see friends of hers in an actual video game.
Victoria gave a shrug at the statement, not particularly caring at the barb. "Anyway you probably should stop smoking and actually study, you know the thing that we are already supposed to be doing?"
"We studied enough, it's not like the test will be hard." Emma said not wanting to mention the way Amy helped her cheat by making the answers appear on her arm when she twisted it the right way.
"Why don't you just do one round with us Vicky?" Amy asked, smiling at her sister who seemed to realize neither intended to study. The offer was one that if Vicky accepted Emma figured she'd kick their asses. She had put far more time into it than either of them.
Plus Amy always picked Glory Girl. Who truth be told had some of the worst moves in the game so beating her was always guaranteed.
"Pass. I, unlike you two, do not want to fail." She said laughing and leaving the pair alone.
Alone now they played part of another round before Emma pressed the butt of the cigarette into the solo cup she used as an ashtray.
Lighting another one she flopped back on Amy's bed like it was her's and ignored the still in progress match. "So, are you up for going to the boardwalk this weekend?" She asked, already planning on inviting some other girls from her friend group. She was of the opinion Amy needed to socialize more. She was a superhero yet you'd think she was some nobody from the way she acted.
Amy sat on the edge of the bed and gave a noise that could be yes or no. "I mean we could. But I probably should be working or doing the homework we are actually putting off." Emma reflected that given her powers it was almost unfair she couldn't affect her face. Not that she was unattractive but she was a mousy freckle covered girl compared to the likes of Victoria or in Emma's humble opinion, herself.
"Well that still leaves a good portion of the weekend to doing things that are actually fun. It's nearly Christmas already. We might as well go get ourselves early gifts and try to avoid thinking about finals. I've got a family dinner to go to on Saturday but otherwise I'm free. You?" Emma asked and she wondered if her aunt would actually show up. Annette had been missing multiple dinners with Emma's family these last few months. Emma was somewhat worried for her.
"We've got another one of those dumbass sponsorship parties to go to. So an evening of smiling, taking pictures with people three times my age, and hoping the food is actually good and wishing I could drink the shitty champagne."
"Only you could turn a party with the rich and famous into something boring." Emma quipped.
"You say that because you don't have to go." Amy paused as she leaned back on her bed with all the ease of a geriatric. Her head laid on Emma's shins like they were some kind of pillow. "Actually, we are allowed to bring guests. Want to come as my date?"
Emma giggled slightly. "No offense but you suck at asking someone out." She said not really having any romantic feelings for Amy but liking the idea of getting to hang out with the rich and famous for an evening.
Amy gave a hmph. "Well you don't have to come. I was just trying to make the evening slightly more bearable for myself. If you come I'll owe you."
"I'll think about it. It might be nice to come and spend time with the little people." Emma teased already wanting to accept. You had to seem like you were disinterested at first Emma had found. Then when you did accept you made it seem like you were the one doing the other a favor.
Amy lifted her head and looked at Emma who was taking a long inhale on the Marlboro. "You know, if you dyed your hair blonde, you could probably pass for a member of the family." Emma grinned imagining an evening of people asking her what superhero she was. "I could change it for you if you just want it for the evening." Amy added in a slight rush of tumbling words. She considered the offer. Amy could do it, and that way it only be for a night. Deciding to tease Amy she answered.
"I think I'll pass, maybe some blonde highlights though." Emma said surprised at how Amy furrowed her brows at that. "What? Don't think I'd look good looking like a campfire?"
Amy gave a snort. "No. So you'll come?"
"Wouldn't miss it." Emma said breathing out smoke and giving her friend a smile.
oOo
Armsmaster hated this. The false smiles and laughs at poor jokes. The socializing and mingling elbows with people who stared at paper and did nothing. The ones who held things up because they wanted to be a pain in the ass.
The meeting had gone well in his opinion. He had stressed how the tinker tech of the sub, or bathysphere going by Ms. Hebert's titling, was more likely to break down over time and that the sooner the mission could be done the safer it be.
The mention of a Biotinker kidnapping children was enough to get asses in seats in the first place and he was proud of how many faces had shown for the meeting. Multiple PRT Directors, Navy, and Coast Guard officers, and several heroes. It felt good to be back on track.
He made a note to follow up with talking to Director Ramirez about collaborating with the Atlanta Tinkers. Atlanta wasn't New York or Houston but it was still a major city and one where he could get a lot of attention for himself.
He saw Admiral Newstal approaching him. The officer was a fit man in his mid 60's with a scar over his cheek. Checking his files Armsmaster saw that the scar was from an accident with a pinball machine of all things. Wondering if it would be rude to bring that up to find out how it happened, Armsmaster stuck out his hand. "Admiral. You seemed rather interested in my proposal."
"Whitley had told me that your plan was good and I'm glad to see it seems to be so. You think you can pull it off?" The man asked, his dull gray eyes widening slightly. Armsmaster smiled. The Navy was something of a joke in Washington. What could it do against Leviathan? Most capes were land based so there was little to do there. With the global shipping lanes so untrusted the Navy had little to guard. A nice win like this would be good. Perhaps they could avoid another budget cut.
"Yes sir. Once the mission launches with your support, I believe we should be in and out within three hours. At which point the USS Kentucky," The sub that had been offered to aid them, "may torpedo the base to hell." Armsmaster added the expletive based on how often the admiral had sworn during the meeting. "With a backup team of the local protectorate on standby we should be able to handle anything that we face." He had no intention of calling for the backup team. For one, he didn't intend to risk any more people than he had to by assaulting a biotinker base. He would get glory for this but he wasn't going to get his friends and colleagues killed.
"Fantastic. The Kentucky will be in the bay within the week. After that it'll tow the tinker sub out to the water and follow behind you. Are you sure you can get the teleporter to open wide enough for her?"
Armsmaster nodded. "It shouldn't be to difficult." He hoped. He had a good idea on how to do it, but theory and practice were very different. Worst case he'd activate the tracker and let the sub follow after wherever he ended up. "Can you make sure that a ship will be ready in case we find survivors?" He asked. Piggot had made that a priority. To ensure that if any other victim was in the lair that a medical team would be ready for them.
Newstal nodded. "I can. How long do you reckon until the operation begins?"
"With the Kentucky soon to arrive? Before the weekend." Three days. Three days until he got a new laurel and people started to pay attention to him again.
OoO
Annette found her least favorite part of the asylum to be the check in. X-rays, guard dogs, inspecting every item in her purse. All while in the snow with wind's cutting through her jacket. It was a bitch of a time. One not made easier when some sharp faced woman with a severe expression and black hair, cut in front of her with a large covered cart and handed something to the guard. "Thanks Mike." The woman, who Annette assumed was a nurse, said to the guard before walking in.
When finally allowed in, Annette passed the numerous armed guards to the interior of the asylum. Guided by one of the nurses she found herself wanting to sprint ahead. It had been less than 24 hours since she had last seen the pair but she wanted to make up for time she had lost over the years.
She was proud of how Taylor was progressing even if it was slow. And while Rosie wasn't her daughter she looked so much like Taylor in a way and was so close to Taylor that Annette couldn't stop herself from thinking of Rosie as hers as well.
Entering the dark room Annette saw the two sets of glowing eyes peering at her from behind the thick goggles they wore. Despite the months so far spent here they still had yet to adapt to the light of the surface.
"Mama!" Taylor said, pulling herself up from the crouch she had been in. Rosie was behind her in the cage thing that was attached to the suit Taylor wore when in her room. Rosie pulled one of the blankets in the cage over her head to hide from Annette as Taylor wrapped her long spindly arms around her mother in a bear hug.
Wheezing Annette returned the hug and looked up at her daughter. "I heard someone was burning snow?" She asked, having laughed at the report she had been given on Taylor attacking a snowman for getting Rosie's hands cold. The pair had only recently been allowed to the small courtyard outside and only at dusk due to the sun's brightness.
Taylor blushed, her cheek's going a darker yellow. "Um… maybe."
"I'm sure you can tell me all about it later." Annette said untangling herself from her daughter and pulling out two vhs tapes from her purse. "Now, what movie should we watch first?" The girls had turned out to adore any animated show or movie they could get their hands on. Annette had been slowly going through the half forgotten box of old vhs tapes of disney movies Taylor had watched as a child.
The two movies this time were Hercules and Lion king. Personally she hated Hercules for looking at the myth of the demigod, deciding to use none of it, and changing every character to resemble nothing like their mythical depiction. Lion King was more or less Hamlet so she had fonder feelings on it. Despite her thoughts overall on the movies it wasn't for herself. It was for her daughter. The pair decided to do Lion King, which Annette was glad about as she remembered when she had watched the Hercules movie with Taylor before everything. Annette had been told more than once to be quiet by her then 5 year old daughter as she had been quite open about her opinion on the changes.
As she put it in, she asked, "Taylor, are your friends visiting today?" referring to the wards.
"Elle and Mimi aren't. Oh you mean the soon to be friends. Mhm. Later." She said laying on her front and kicking her legs as Annette rewound the tape on the ancient tv.
"What time?" Annette asked, hoping to have time to watch both movies with the pair.
"I dunno. Before dinner." Taylor said and Annette had the thought that Taylor probably didn't know how to read a clock. Her heart hurt thinking about that. Her thoughts went back to when Taylor had bragged about reading to Rosie and Annette had brought a host of books for them to read, only to realize that Taylor could do little more than the picture books. If there was justice Annette would be able to strangle the bastard who had stolen her child.
"Well in that case let's just play it by ear." She said as Taylor cocked her head in a heavily exaggerated way clearly not understanding.
As they watched the movie and ate the candy Annette had brought, which Rosie had hoarded like a dragon in her nest of blankets, Annette felt content. When she felt a hand holding her own she had thought it to be Taylor's at first. But the hand was far too small to be Taylor's and when she looked over she saw Rosie had pulled herself out of the cage and was sitting on top of it and holding her hand.
Annette gave the tiny hand a squeeze and Rosie had looked over and squeezed her eyes shut in the way she always did when she thought she was breaking a rule. Slowly, with obvious reluctance Rosie pulled her hand away from Annette's. Smiling at the girl who didn't look away, Annette found herself happy to have this time with both her daughters.
When it came time for Taylor and Rosie's 'playdate' with the two wards, Annette expected it to be low key and had asked to come, which Taylor had gladly accepted.
So when the alarms went off and speaker's blared declaring intruder's on the asylum grounds Annette felt her heart stop.
/\\\
Bum Bum Buh!
AN: Thanks for all of the support and I'd like to thank BigBadBen and Veriseple for all of their help!
Next chapter will likely be over the descent to rapture and whatever is happening at the asylum