Mako's Message: Sorry for the delay on this. I had a horrible weekend and today and yesterday were just over scheduled. It's a minor miracle I'm getting this up at all.

That said, one of the things I like about writing in this fandom is that I make pop-culture references because the characters would make them.


Well. That went better than it could have.

I mean, yeah, I scouted the hospital they were keeping her in that morning, found a back entrance, went in the middle of the night and brought all of Justice Forever with me. Hell, the members of Justice Forever were the only people I told about this. But I still felt like there would Cunts, or cops, or the FBI or something waiting to jump me.

I wasn't able to pick the lock on the back door though. Little too high security for me. So Col. Stars went around to the front to get a security guard to let us in. The guard looked like he was torn between having a fan-gasm and calling the cops, but he let us in. Insect-Guy hung back in the alley watching the door and Col. Stars got back in the van to keep the engine running. The Gentleman stayed on the ground floor outside the elevator, Dr. Gravity waited outside the elevator on our floor, White Mage stationed her self at the nurses/security station.

The guard took me to Jessi's room, and said, "These rooms only open from the outside, so, knock when you're ready to come out. I'll be right here waiting."

Dave said, "I'll be right here with him."

And then I was left, standing there, about to walk into a room with one of the few people who had seen me as Hit Girl and Mindy. Well, she was about to. And I was nervous because if she figured out the girl she said she was in love with and the person who she idolized were the same person, I had no idea what she'd do.

So I took a deep breath, wiped all Mindy thoughts aside, and nodded my head for him to open the door.

Jessi was laying in a bed, and the room was mostly dark, the only light coming from outside. She didn't look up at first, and I was worried she was asleep, but then she turned her head to look at the door and she sat bolt upright. I could actually hear her stop breathing for a minute before she said, "You came."

I had to say something, and it had to be something Mindy wouldn't say. I went with, "Well, how could I not show up when you're following in my footsteps? You did good, kid."

She was smiling but it looked like she was about to burst into tears.

"Hey. I meant that. You did good. If I'd known about it I'd have done the same thing you did. Rapist pigs deserve to die. Slowly."

Jessi's smile faded a little and her eyes went distant as she said, "Dad...took a long time to die."

I kinda tripped over what to say to that. It took me a minute but I finally came up with, "It probably just felt like a long time. I heard what you did to him. He couldn't have survived for long."

That didn't seem to perk her up at all so I added, "Hey. Don't feel bad about what you did. You defended yourself from those fuckers. And about time too. Could you really imagine another four years of that?"

She whispered, "I could have run away," so quietly I almost didn't hear her.

"Yeah. You could have. And then what? Lived on the streets?"

"I could have gone to Angela's. Or Mindy's."

I couldn't miss this opportunity, "Who?"

She squirmed a little and looked away, "They were friends of mine."

That stopped me. So, I had to ask, "Were?"

"Well, I'm leaving tomorrow. After that I won't be seeing them again."

I rolled my eyes and said, "There are these things now, called 'phones', they've only been around for a hundred years or so, you might have heard about them?"

"But," and she really sounded like she was going to burst into tears any second, "I'm a murderer now."

"Kid, you killed someone. That's doesn't make you a murderer. If you were a murderer you'd be somewhere a lot less cushy than this right now."

She started to say something but I cut her off at "but" and said, "Look at me. How many people have I killed?"

She kinda stopped and got all shifty again, "A lot?"

"Damn right I've killed a lot of people. Probably three digits worth of people." And I stopped and let that sit for a moment before I said, "And you still wanted to see me."

That kinda got a smile back on her face for a minute before she said, "You're my hero."

It was strange hearing her say that. She'd said it before, like at Homecoming, but hearing her say that to me while I was in costume...it really made me happy, and for once I could really revel in it. I flicked my hair back and struck a heroic pose and said, "Why wouldn't I be?"

She giggled and really smiled at that. Then I got real serious, "You gonna be okay now?"

"I will be. Eventually. It's all a lot to deal with, ya know? It's...the way people look at me now. It's...I don't like it. It's embarrassing."

"The change in scenery will probably do you good. And the therapy definitely will. I think." She just nodded and then I said, "Well, I can't really stick around. So, good luck." and I turned to leave.

She said, "Wait!" and I stopped and turned and she was sitting on her knees, with her hands beside her and staring down at the bed and peaking up at me and she said, "Doesn't the hero get to kiss the girl at the end?"

I was not expecting that. Seriously. Like, HOLY SHIT. I can't believe she said that even knowing she leans that way. The only thing I could respond with was, "What."

And she started drawing circles on the mattress and said, "I wanted to give you a kiss. To thank you."

I shook my head in disbelief, "I don't even know you kid."

"Well, I mean...can't a hero accept a kiss from someone they've saved?"

I had no idea what to do. Sure, if I'd like, saved her from a burning building or whatever and in the moment she'd been all, "My hero!" and kissed me I wouldn't really complain, but the whole "asking permission" thing just kind threw the whole "Heroes Thank You" thing out of whack. But, I knew how she felt about Hit Girl, and I knew that this would probably be the best present I could possibly give her, so I sighed and said, "Okay. One kiss. ONE," holding up one finger, "And don't get any ideas. I'm straight. And keep your hands to yourself. I don't want to have to pull you off me."

Jessi blushed so hard I could tell even in the dim light. Probably picturing just that and more.

So I walked up and I started to lean in towards her and she met me half way and kissed the fuck out of me. She kept her hands on the bed, and she didn't try to use tongue, but she kissed me like it was the last thing she was ever going to do. She was even more serious about it then when she kissed me before. For a moment I was almost jealous that she liked Hit Girl more than Mindy, but then I remembered that A, she had her hands all over me last time and she only got to use her lips this time, and B, I'm not into girls so what does it matter which of my identities she liked more? And of course there's the whole Hit Girl and Mindy both being Me so it didn't make a difference anyway.

And then I could feel tears running down her face just before she pulled away and she smiled at me and said, "I knew it was you."

And I wanted to deny it. I should have denied it. But...fuck. She just seemed so happy and... I just couldn't deny it.

So I dropped the usually raspy hiss I put into my voice when I'm in costume and said, "Yeah, it's me." Then added, "But don't tell anyone or I'll hunt you down."

She grinned, still crying, and said, "Is that a promise?"

And I just glowered at her and said, "Jessi."

And she said, "I wont tell anyone. Ever. I swear."

I sighed and shook my head and then went over to her and hugged her, "Be safe Jessi, and good luck."

And she said, "Thank you Mi- Hit Girl. For everything."

And I nodded and turned towards the door and then she said, "I love you."

I couldn't help smiling and saying, "I love you too," before knocking to be let out.

Dave was the one who opened it, the security guard standing against the opposite wall, and I said, "White Mage! We're done here."

I heard her say, "Been nice chatting with you," before she rejoined us and we headed out.

Back in the van, Col. Stars asked, "So how'd it go?"

I said, "Not at all how I expected. But, I think she's going to be okay."

Alice and Uncle John where the only two who knew I knew Jessi personally, so it wasn't really surprising when The Gentleman said, "That was a right good thing you did, my lady. I'm quite impressed."

And I said, "Yeah, just so long as everybody who saw us go in there keeps their mouth shut. The last thing I needs it people trying to request personal visits."

Alice said, "I had a nice chat with the nurses and orderlies. I don't think that'll be a problem."

Hopefully she's right about that.

Still. Now I have face her again tomorrow in front of Angela when we say our official goodbyes. I'm not really looking forward to that. It's going to be awkward as hell.


Jessi Fact: Jessi has been jealous of Mindy's relationship with Dave, especially when it was rumored that they were banging. Both because of her personal feelings for Mindy, and because she wanted someone to love her like she thought Dave did Mindy