~*T*~

"Thank you," Harry told Alec, accepted a cup of coffee.

Alec proffered the box of hot coffee to Lung.

Lung looked at it, then nodded, "Please.'

He took the paper cup, then a donut from the box.

He pushed his mask up a little, blew on his coffee, looking around the park from his side of the picnic table.

The Great and Powerful Turtle hovered, almost on the ground, by the white van.

Shadow Stalker, as usual, was on top of The Great and Powerful Turtle's shell, looking out of the park. The Beast of Caerbannog sat on the van's dashboard, nose almost to the windshield.

Luna and Hermione nursed their cups of coffee, standing at Harry's back.

Oni Lee and a woman in red stood behind Lung.

"So, you wanted to talk?" Harry asked, after a second donut.

Lung nodded, "You took out the other gangs first. Why?"

"Coil was threatening my people. I bought off the Undersiders because one of my girls had worked with them. Nazis are a threat to peace everywhere. The Merchants had no sense."

"And us?"

"Tell the whores they can quit, and let them quit safely when or if they want. Don't interfere as we unionize the workers."

"That's it?"

"That's the big one. Make sure you're providing more protection than "We won't beat you up" to your security clients."

"Not a problem, we already do that."

"Then, so long as your activities continue to involve the informed consent of the participants, we have nothing to worry about."

"That is good," Lung finished his coffee, "Thank you for your time." He stood, and bowed.

Harry stood, and bowed back, to approximately the same depth, "It was nice to talk to you."

"Likewise. We'll be in touch."

~*i*~

"What's up with just letting them go?" The Great and Powerful Turtle asked quietly as they watched the ABB group climb into vehicles and drive off.

"Getting in a stand-up fight with those three would be," Harry paused, "Much worse than the Merchants. I think the Beast would have a hard time with Oni Lee."

"Oh."

"Yeah, and the girl in red is a bomb tinker. She can make amazing toys. She's also a bit bugfuck nuts."

"So what's the plan?" Shadow Stalker asked.

"If they abide by the agreement we just made? They get to keep playing honorable businessman, and we coordinate money-making opportunities."

"If they don't?"

"We reveal capabilities that I'd prefer to keep secret."

"That sounds fun."

"It won't be flashy, but it'll be quick."

~*i*~

"Are we there yet?" Harry asked, half whining and half laughing.

"Mt. Washington," Hermione answered, "Is supposed to be a two hour drive to the base of the auto road."

"Slow down," Luna said from the back seat, "52."

Hermione glanced at her speedo, braked, glanced again.

Luna smiled out the back window at the state trooper in the speed trap as they passed.

"Speed limit's dropping to 35, hold it until we get out of town."

~*i*~

"Do you need a cup of water?" Harry asked, as Hermione adjusted her line with a jerk.

"Maybe," Hermione answered, "I need to drive this road a few more times so it stops surprising me."

Luna laughed in the back seat, "Let Harry drive the next round, then you can pay more attention to the road."

~*i*~

"Slow down, someone's coming up and someone's five under in our lane," Luna said.

Harry downshifted, braked lightly, watched for the traffic. A pickup truck passed them going uphill, and there were the brake lights in front of them. Double yellow through the curve. Harry hugged the center of the lane, dashes ahead, downshifted again, and pulled up close to the car ahead. As soon as the double yellow ended she checked the road, signaled, and passed at twenty over, with an upshift in the pass and another one once she was back in her own lane.

~*i*~

"Hello," the tall, pretty girl with amber eyes called. She looked around the shop again, still no sign of anyone, and admired one of the costumes on a mannequin.

"Yes?" a soft, pretty voice said from behind her.

She turned, taking in the slight form before her, loligoth dress, blonde wig, white porcelain mask, no skin showed at all.

"I'm looking for a costume," she waved a hand at her current outfit, woodland BDUs and Zorro mask, "This is my work uniform, but I'd like something prettier, too, even if I don't know when I'll get to wear it."

"Oh?"

"Shadow Stalker gets to wear her own costume, but The Great and Powerful Turtle wears this uniform in her shell."

Parian nods, "What sort of theme?"

"I really don't know," she shrugged, smiled, "My last costume was," she paused, "Probably more bad than bad-ass, and certainly not pretty."

"What's your name?"

"My hero name's Yuubara, but pretty girls can call me Miya," she blushed, a tiny hint of red to her cheeks and the tips of her ears.

Parian laughed, a soft, delighted sound, "Oh, you flirt!" she said, and brushed Miya's hand with her gloved fingertips.

Miya's cheeks flared, and she looked down and to the right, "Sorry."

Gentle fingers pulled her face back up, to meet the eyes of Parian's mask, "That wasn't a complaint, so I don't want an apology. If my flirting makes you uncomfortable, I'll stop."

"It only makes me uncomfortable because I suck. I'd love," she stopped, "It was really nice."

"OK," Parian gave Miya's hand a squeeze, "From the hero name, you want a Japanese theme?"

Miya nodded.

"Weapons? Abilities you want your theme to reflect?"

"I use a kusarigama, and I agree with my team's idea that advertising abilities is asking for a sniper's bullet or sneak attack on your vulnerabilities."

"Hmm, Ninja?"

Miya shook her head.

"Evil schoolgirl? Like Gogo from Kill Bill?"

"She was pretty cool, but no."

"I'll have to do some research, then. I'll find some ideas, draw up some sketches?"

"That would be amazing, thank you," Miya had been practicing, and her thank you sounded nearly normal.

~*T*~