Meetings 03

I couldn't stop thinking about that letter all week. The longer the days stretched, the harder it got to ignore it, to pretend that it was nothing, that it hadn't meant anything. It had meant something. Just what that something was though…well, that was what I couldn't figure out.

"So my patrol with Aegis was pretty boring."

Not even a grunt in reply. Not that I really expected one these days.

I picked up another spoonful of the gruel and fed it to Dad. His mouth closed on the food and he swallowed, his eyes not moving from the screen across from the bed.

"The researchers said they got some good data from the scanner. They might be able to figure out why I get so tired every time I buff someone. I'm not really holding out much hope. If they haven't figured it out by now, they probably won't ever. I should probably stop going back. I just get so frustrated afterwards and then I snap at the others too much. I think I'll stop. Dennis' jokes are already getting mean. I don't want to keep making things worse, because I'm snapping at him more."

More food. More lack of response.

"I have a patrol with Sophia on Friday. That will be…ug. I know Piggot is trying to pair me up with people who can protect me if the gangs actually attack us, but…I feel like the stuff I signed was worthless! I wish I had paid more attention to you when you talked about contracts. The Youth Guard were supposed to help…I don't think they did anything…"

Dad didn't move.

"We haven't heard back from the insurance yet either. The Youth Guard said they can't do anything to help with the bills until the insurance sends an official denial letter. I'm…Mr. Anderson didn't seem to think they'd be able to do anything even then…Because of the…They can't help with self-inflicted circumstances. It's in their regulations. There's apparently too much leeway for people to hurt themselves on purpose just to get money from the government if they allowed that."

I had to wipe my eyes before I could keep feeding him. Dad still didn't react.

"Kurt's trying to get you onto his insurance as a dependent though! So that's good. We still have to wait for three months before it takes effect though. And um…They weren't sure if the medication was going to be covered. Something about pre-existing conditions. I'm…"

I trailed off, my head dropping. I watched the news in silence with Dad. Uber and Leet had done a Mario and Luigi impression this time. I thought they had already done that before…Oh, no, this was Mario Tennis. I cracked a small smile as I watched them bat the tennis ball back and forth a few times before it hit the window of the jewelry store behind them, breaking it and letting them run inside.

I knew that place, it was one of the Empire's locations we were warned to stay away from. Go Uber, go Leet!

"I haven't seen Tattletale since I got the card," I mumbled. "I watched during my patrol, but I didn't see her anywhere. I know I should feel bad for using the money, but…It's really helped."

Dad didn't stir.

"I want to thank her. I shouldn't. I know I shouldn't. I know I should report it. But…It's my money isn't it? Why should I feel guilty for using it? She sent a card! No one else has sent a card…"

Why had Tattletale sent it to me? She had to be manipulating me. She had to. Right? That was what she did. She was a Thinker. Thinkers manipulated people. That was their specialty. I knew that. I should report the money. I should report the card. I should report that she knew where I lived, that she knew who I was.

But she'd sent me a card…

I fed Dad another spoonful of gruel and he just kept staring at the T.V. screen.

"Sometimes," I whispered, my hands dropping into my lap, "I wish you'd succeeded, because this isn't…this isn't living. I think that's what I hate the most about all of this. I think that's why I don't like coming here. I'm sorry…I'm…so sorry, Dad."

He just kept staring at the screen.

Friday night came all too soon. My costume was too tight, it was too hot, and it was hard to breathe. Fuck Piggot. Fuck Piggot and fuck 'protecting' me. I could just get hand to hand training or…something. A stun gun. I could get a stun gun incorporated into my costume! Or a whip. I could work with a whip. It was close enough to a rope to fit the theme. I'd have to talk to PR.

Anything to avoid having to patrol with Sophia. She was getting worse. Winslow had been annoying and draining before Emma had…gone. But Sophia had never done anything that bad before. All she'd done before was trip me and shove me and insult me.

Now though…now I knew she had pushed me down the stairs, but of course I'd never be able to prove that. And I knew she had put tacks inside my shoes too, but again, I'd never be able to prove that either. No one else even noticed me anymore. Madison had stopped looking at me as soon as Emma left town and Julia and her posse had moved on to greener pastures as well. It was just Sophia who still cared about me one way or the other.

Why was she still so mean? What had I ever even done to her?

I couldn't ask Emma. I wouldn't risk her therapy. The doctor's had said Sophia was one of the toxic influences, so I wouldn't bring the bitch up. I would not.

I could figure this out on my own. It was only a few days. Then I could go back to avoiding her again. Just a…few patrols. Three at the most. I could get off the remedial instruction easily. It was a rotating partner anyway. This was fine.

She didn't even really do anything on patrol usually except be particularly biting and…I just needed to figure out how to phrase it to the PRT that I couldn't keep buffing her for every other engagement and then I'd be fine. They already knew I had stamina issues.

I could work out the wording while we were out tonight. Maybe I'd even see Tattletale again and I could thank her. And then yell at her for putting me in a bad situation with my bosses and tangling up my thoughts in a knot all week.

Yeah. This patrol would be fine. It would be good.

I got down to the garage and sucked in a breath, my hand flying to my mouth.

"Vista?!"

"Hey, Braid. Surprise! Guess who had to call out tonight?" Vista said, her easy grin far too mischievous.

"Wh-what?"

"Stalker was coming from practice. It's a bit too far to walk, so she had some troopers pick her up. Way I heard it, they had to take a few detours, so she's gonna be a bit too late to start patrol on time. I was, you know, in the building."

"But, but…" My eyes were stinging again. I needed to get that looked at. Allergic reaction probably.

"I'm technically a senior member. I've been on the team longer than anyone. Going strictly by regs, I count. Now are you coming or are you going to stand there gaping? We don't have all night before her ride gets here so if we're going, we need to go." She inclined her head and the space between us and the mouth of the garage shortened to a few inches. I sniffled and nodded. Vista grinned, taking my arm in hers and dragging me with her into the night.

The patrol itself was mostly quiet. We walked along the rooftops, the tension bleeding out of my shoulders the more miles we put between ourselves and the PRT building.

"Thanks," I murmured.

"Don't mention it," she said, shrugging. "Nobody likes Stalker. I still don't know why she's so mean to you in particular, though. Did you piss on her puppy or something?"

I snorted, clutching my left arm with my right. "She got worse when our mutual friend left. I think Em...Red was a buffer or…something? We never really liked each other. But she was never this bad until after I Triggered."

"Yeah? What happened to Red? Why did she leave?" Vista asked, glanced towards me. "I hope she didn't just abandon you. She'd be a really shitty friend if she did."

I grimaced. "No, no, she -"

I remembered the knocking on the door as I tried to finish setting up. The knocking had turned into pounding, pounding I had continued to ignore. It hadn't mattered. Nothing had mattered at that point. Dad was basically gone and even my power had betrayed me and…

"She…saved me. She had to go out of the city afterwards though; because she was sick. Not life-threatening. Not that type of sick. Just, she had a lot of pain that she hadn't dealt with. We talked and…we met with her mom and…she left after. Her sister and I are the only people she's still allowed to talk to. Everyone else is a bad influence."

Vista was quiet for a few rooftops. "That's a good reason."

"Yeah."

"This was all soon after your, Trigger?"

I nodded.

"Do you think that," Vista trailed off, sighing. "Do you think that Stalker might be jealous of your power? That Red left and you got an ability?"

"Who would ever be jealous of my power?" I sighed. "I'm practically useless."

"Don't say that, Braid. Sure, you only have a few charges, but I mean come on, buffing me or Aegis? That's chump change. Your potential is wasted on us."

"Sure."

"You should listen to her, Braid," Console chimed in. It sounded like Chris was on tap for tonight. "Vista makes sense."

I jerked. I had forgotten that Console could still hear us. Damn. I hadn't meant for his to hear all of that about Emma…

"Thank you for the backup, Console," Vista said, standing up straighter and smirking at me as we crossed to yet another rooftop. "Think about it, Braid. If you buffed Eidolon or Legend? That would be big. Hell, even if you buffed Lung - I mean, if the asshole ever showed up to another Endbringer fight of course."

I shrugged, my hand falling away from my arm as I tried to consider the possibility and forget what I had said before. "Those…could be powerful force multipliers…Do you think they would last long enough to make a difference?"

Vista shrugged. "I don't know. Your thing seems to be kinda random. I swear you're more tired when it lasts longer though. Have you realized that?"

"Yeah, it's proportional. Sort of. It's not exactly one-to-one. I can't quite put my finger on it, and the researchers swear that there isn't an actual correlation, but I can feel there's a proportion. It's hard to meter it though…really hard. I'm…sort of starting to get the hang of it. I think. It's different for each person. That much I'm sure of."

"Cool." Vista looked like she was about to say more, but then she frowned and stopped at the edge of the room, looking down. "Hey, Braid, you said you were getting more control?"

"A little…"

"Can you give me just a small boost? Nothing major, I don't want to tire you out, I just need a little bit more control than normal."

I nodded and stepped next to her, closing my hand on her wrist. Vista's entire being, her story, her life was bare to me for a single glorious moment. I breathed it in, I experienced it, I let it go, I pushed part of myself into that golden, glorious well that encompassed everything that was her…

And my fingers released an instant later as I gasped, sucking in a deep breath of the cold night air, my chest tightening and my heart thudding. The memories of Vista were already fading away to nothing within my mind.

That was probably where the PRT had gotten my name from. I had made the mistake of telling them that I connected with people when I transferred my buffs to them. They seemed to gloss over how the instant of [understanding] faded almost immediately once I broke the link. Not that it mattered to PR.

Still, I liked my mask, so…net win? Net win.

"Thanks." The air in front of her eyes twisted in a weird way and my stomach dropped with vertigo as I glanced over her shoulder. It felt like I was looking at two places at once depending on where I tried to focus. I ended up swaying on the edge of the roof and I had to step back, squeezing my eyes shut to stop myself from falling or losing my dinner.

"Jesus, Vista, what are you doing?"

"Hmm? Oh, I shortened the gap in front of my eyes towards that alley. It's like binoculars! Pretty cool, right?! I've been trying to work it out on my own, but I couldn't get things pinched tight enough to avoid alerting whoever I was trying to spy on. With your help though, I can. And I don't have to use this if you get tired as we keep going; it's just something that's useful. We make a really good team, Braid!"

"That's, really, neat," I gasped. Oh it was hard to breathe. Really hard. I hadn't done much today, I shouldn't be this exhausted.

"Console," Vista said, "we've got two members of the ABB holding up a pair of civilians in an alley. No guns, just knives. Looks like a white couple. Permission to intervene?"

"Hang on, Vista, I have to clear this."

"It's just two gangbangers! They don't even have actual weapons and they probably think those civies are with the Empire because they're white! Why are we even out here if we're just going to sit up here?!"

"Vista, you know the rules, until there is -"

"I didn't just let Braid buff me for nothing, Console! I can run rings around these guys now and those people are in danger! This is the point of our patrols."

I clutched at the fabric over my chest. What had I done today? I had…Oh, right, I had worked with Dennis in a spar against Chris, trying to buff his power. His ability always drained me. But that had been hours ago. I should have recovered by now. I had eaten and everything!

I…had eaten…right?

"They're going to hurt those people!"

"No other visible weapons? Just blades?"

"Just blades!"

Oh. No, I had skipped dinner. I was too worried about going out with Sophia, I hadn't thought I could keep anything down. I hadn't even been able to nap.

"Vista, you're clear to engage."

"Braid, come on! Stay behind me. Watch over the civies. I'll handle the assholes."

"Got it!" I wheezed. I pulled myself up, lifting my hands from my knees. I did my best to ignore the stitch in my side and the pounding in my head. It was just for a few minutes. I could keep it together for a single fight. Then we'd be back to an easy stroll and I'd be fine.

Space pinched in front of us, and Vista ran forward. I tried to lunge after her, but I ended up tripping on the edge of the roof, gasping out the remainder of the air in my lungs as I landed on the concrete in the alley.

At least I was in front of the civilians. Vista was side-stepping around the gang members, taunting them as she moved, throwing bottles and bricks through loops in space as she moved. They already sounded like they were surrendering, but it was hard to hear over the beat in my ears.

It was hard to see too thanks to black bands closing in around the corners of my vision.

No! I was not going to pass out! I would not! Vista was counting on me to back her up. I needed to support her. I needed to help. I needed to…

My questing hand touched something warm and furry beside me. I sucked in a breath of air, pushing the weariness aside with sheer force of will as I tried not to think of what I was clutching. Lifting my hand, I stood, the pain in my chest gone and the cloudiness in my vision abated.

I set my stance, getting my baton into hand as I kicked the dead raccoon away from my feet.

I needn't have bothered, Vista was already done.

She stood at the mouth of the alley, a wide grin on her face, one foot on the back of the unconscious gang members, their hands zip-tied.

She met my gaze, arching her eyebrows behind her visor. "You alright, Braid? I saw you missed the first step, tried to keep them off you."

"I'm good. The adrenaline helped." I glanced over my shoulder at the civilians. "Are you two okay?"

Both of them nodded, seemingly at a loss for words. They didn't look much older than me.

"Console," Vista, said, smugness radiating off of her. "Two villains for pickup."

\/\/~*.' '.*~\/\/

Forward

Missy's nails bit into her the skin beneath her leggings as she sat cross-legged in the chair across from Dr. Yamada. The scowl etched on her face was probably permanent by this point. She didn't care. It didn't matter.

"Can you just sign the damn paper so I can go?" she snapped. "I need to get out there. I need to join my team. I can't keep sitting in here on lockdown!"

Dr. Yamada didn't so much as flinch. "Vista -"

"I'm not wearing a mask and you're cleared to know our actual names. Use my fucking name."

Yamada nodded. "If that's what you prefer, Missy. You really shouldn't curse so much for one so young."

"Oh? Really?" She snarled. "Well then maybe your people should listen when I say that I want to get out of my home! Most of the words I use I learn from there."

"All the same, the failings of our parents should not be our own failures. At worst, we learn from them what actions we should not emulate."

"I'm not here to talk about my parents," Missy hissed. "I'm here to get cleared again for the field so I can help find my friend. Ask whatever you have to ask so that I can get back out there."

"Why are you so eager, Missy?" Yamada asked, leaning forward with a frown, her hands spread wide. "You experienced a traumatic event. There is no shame in taking a few days to recover."

Missy took a deep breath, wishing she had the heat vision or some other form of a death beam. Yamada wouldn't have asked that if she could hurt people with a look. Of course…none of them would have been in this situation if she could have done that…

"One of my best friends is running around the city. She thinks all of us hate her. She thinks her only option is to run as far away as she can, as fast as she can. That bastard twisted her around until up was down and left was right. She didn't even seem to know her dad was still alive! I need to get back out there and help find her!"

"Missy," Yamada sighed. "There is not going to be a single thing I say to prevent you from getting onto those streets is there?"

"No."

"Very well then. Let us make a deal."

Missy's eyes narrowed. "I'm listening."

"If you can tell me what you experienced in Coil's base, I will sign your 'Fit For Duty' paperwork. Then you can join your teammates in an official capacity; instead of as a vigilante."

"What makes you think I experienced anything?" Missy asked, frowning.

"Because, I am very good at my job," Yamada said. "Your body language here and now, tells me more than enough, Missy. You were aware before Taylor revived you. Paralytics and mind-numbing drugs, I assume? It seems to be a favorite of villainous capes in this sort of situation. They like to break their new acquisitions and many follow similar patterns."

Missy swallowed hard, blinking rapidly. "I…just have to tell you what I tell you what I heard? Then I can go help find Taylor?"

"If you are still in a fit state to help find her afterwards, yes."

"That's not what you said before."

"I intend to have you talk me through a sociopath murdering a young woman in front of you, your feelings and your shock, your close friend's complete breakdown, then said friend's rampage through the sociopath's base after reviving the murder victim - all also performed in front of you." Missy wilted from the force of Yamada's gaze. This woman could give lessons on how to kill with a stare. "I don't expect you to be in any shape to go tramping about the city after we are done. But I do intend to help you, Missy. And if this is what you need - if this is going to keep you from getting yourself killed from going out there without authorization or support - then so be it."

Yamada shrugged, never once breaking eye contact. "Perhaps I am wrong. Perhaps you handle stress better than many of my other patients. I haven't worked with you before, I can't say for certain from just a few minutes of talking. We shall see."

Missy set her shoulders, unfolding her legs and setting them on the floor. Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, she nodded. "I'm going to help my friend."

"Then let us begin."

\/\/~*.' '.*~\/\/

The day after my patrol with Vista, I went shopping on the Boardwalk. Well, window shopping at least. Emma had asked me to find her a nice sweater with something related to the Bay on it. She wanted to show it off to the people was working with, show where she was from, like it was a badge of honor or something. She was supposed to send me the money for it if I found something we both approved of.

The problem was finding something. I wasn't ever good with fashion, even when we were kids and I didn't even know what she liked anymore after we had been apart for over a year-and-a-half.

I had a sneaking suspicion that this was just her way of making sure I got out of the house.

After looking in the window of the third shop and failing to find anything that seemed remotely appropriate for a curvy, red-headed, beautiful model like Emma, I was almost ready to admit defeat. Heaving a heavy sigh, I leaned my head against the window.

"Damn, I'm horrible at this," I muttered.

"Don't give up just yet, you've got at least four more stores to go before you can call it quits." I pulled back from the window, turning to find the source of the amused, lilting voice beside me. There was a dark-blonde, ponytailed girl right next to me, her hands in her pockets, a smirk on her face, a smattering of freckles dusted across the bridge of her nose.

My breath caught in my throat as I met her enthralling, green eyes.

Then I frowned, running my eyes over her figure another time.

"You should get my number if you're gonna check me out like that." Her tone was teasing, but her voice was pulling at my memory; so was that beautiful, silky hair.

"Have we…met?"

The girl chuckled, inclining her head to the side in an almost nod. "We have. Sort of."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked. Why did she look so familiar?

"It means that the last time we met you were passing out on the sidewalk."

Passing out on the…side…walk…"You!" I hissed.

"Yup. Hi. Fair's fair. I knew who you were, now you'll know who I am. Coffee? Or…no, you're more of a tea person, right? Either way, my treat. Least I can do for springing up on you like this."

"You're -" I glanced around us, before lowering my voice and leaning in, dropping down to whisper, "What are you doing here?!"

"Exactly what I said," the girl continued at a normal volume, shrugging, her vulpine grin dropping off her face. "I just what to buy you a drink and make sure we're square. Maybe we can chat for a few minutes if you're okay with that. I wasn't lying the other night when I said that I thought we could be friends if we had met under other circumstances."

I backed up a pace. My voice betrayed me, wavering as it was when I asked my question, "Why?"

"Why what? Why could we be friends, why send you the card, why forward the money, why bother at all?"

"You're…" I trailed off, my hands shaking.

Tattletale's smile had none of her teasing smirk from before as she shrugged. "I'm Lisa. I don't really have many friends, Taylor. Neither of us are on the clock, neither of us are in uniform. There's nothing that says we can't just…talk. One girl to another. Come on, at the very least, let me buy you lunch."

"You…You sent me a card," I murmured. I wasn't even sure if she could hear me, my voice was so soft.

"Yeah. I did." She stepped closer to me, her hand seeking mine. "Are you feeling better?"

"…No."

"Let's go get that meal. We can talk. Okay?"

I wiped my hand over my eyes. "Okay."