Crystal POV
Waking to the sound of birds chirping always made me smile, it promised a new day. With the recent endbringer fight this holds for the world, but more precisely good old Brockton Bay.
What was once a depraved hell hole, with more crime than any other city in the U.S., and a wonderful assortment of villains to choose from?
If a villain get's captured chances are you would see them out within the week, it's a stupid little game between the PRT and any cape that commits a crime.
Oh, and if the Director feels like it, then she offers said cape a job, without any restrictions.
Wow, I'm starting to sound like Eric.
Getting out of bed, I completed my morning ritual and headed to the kitchen. Walking down the steps I see mom and dad staring at the computer. Anger in their eyes. Looking at the title, I started glaring at the screen too.
7 o'clock News: Brockton Bay's golden boy is the worst threat since the Endbringers?
"...e everyone. Tonight we have a special treat for y'all. Joining us from our very own Arizona we have Dr. Robertson, professor, and researcher of parahuman abilities. Thank you for joining us this evening professor."
The thin, balding man, in the wool suit, leaned forward on the couch. "The pleasure is all mine Billy." Pushing his thick-rimmed glasses forward and gave the camera a soft smile.
"So professor, We all want to know is this hero of Brockton Bay, is he the hero that will put an end to those monsters, or is he the next endbringer?" The news host looked at the camera as he asked the question.
trying to make the viewers feel like they're a part of this stupid conversation.
"Now Billy, that is a complicated question. On the one hand, we see the economy improving for all coastal city's, especially Brockton Bay from what I hear. That doesn't change the fact that Leviathan is still alive."
"Another good question professor, Why did Mr. Pelham let that monster go? It had a foot in the grave, and then he let it a getaway. I don't know about you the doc, but if it was me I would have blasted that monster to kingdom come."
"Yes, well it could have been any number of reasons, but the one I believe is most likely is that this parahuman is a baby endbringer if you will.
"Well, that's a first. Never thought I would be compared to an endbringer." Turning around, there was Eric. Standing by the kitchen holding a glass of milk. "Eric don't listen to that crap, ok? That ass only wants to stir the pot for more views. As for the doctor, he's being stupid, they don't know what's going on. They're trying to create chaos, and then turn it against you." He just gave us a small smile.
He walked over to the computer.
"Nine hundred million views, and only three likes. I think it's safe to assume, no one believes what he's saying." Eric walked back to the kitchen. We all followed him, mom, and dad gave each other looks.
"Hey champ, we're going on a patrol today, do you want to come with us, or maybe you can go out with some friends?" Dad is a lot of things, but subtle is not one of them.
"No. I'm ok, I'll just stay home, watch TV until you get back." Our parents went back to giving each other looks, this time dad won. Mom stood beside Eric, rubbing his back.
"Eric, honey, I don't want to embarrass you, but I need to ask. Eric, do you have any friends? Because I never really see you go out. It's school, home, repeat. It honestly worries your father and me that you don't have any friends.
Eric looks at us all, he opens his mouth, slowly closed it, and looked deep in thought. "I have no friends, well I'm kind of sad now." Eric went to sit at the table and ate his breakfast.
Aw, he looks so sad. Wonder if Vicky knows any kids he could be friends with at school.
"Well now's a great time to start, go to the boardwalk, it's a Saturday morning, just go, and meet new people. Who knows you might make some friends." Dad told Eric, with an encouraging grin on his face. It was a great idea if the looks mom was giving dad were any indication.
Ew. Well looks like I can't come home till later.I look at the looks our parents were giving each other.much, much later.
"Come on Eric, I'll drop you off." grabbing my baby brother, I threw him over my shoulder, and flew us out the door.
...
Victoria's POV
Putting the finishing touches on my outfit, I picked out a pair of high heels and went to the kitchen. Walking In I saw mom talking with Amy, and dad finishing cooking breakfast."Morning." Everyone turns to me with a smile. "morning sweetheart, and where are you going dressed like that?" mom asked me in her mom's voice. "I was going to the boardwalk with Dean today, buy some clothes, eat. We might also watch a movie."
"uh-huh, and can I expect to see you back at a respectable time? mom looked at me expecting an answer.
"How come you never question Amy when she goes out with Sarah?" I couldn't help the pout that formed on my face as I crossed my arms, trying to look serious."
"Well considering Sarah's a woman, I think the chances of pregnancy are significantly lower."
"MOM! no, I wouldn't do that." I felt my face heating up with embarrassment. "Mom I am not having sex with Dean! The most we do is kiss." Mom looked doubtful, and Dad looked hopeful,probably for the sake of his sanity."Look, I get it. I don't always think things through, but I promise that we haven't done anything, and Dean is way to nice to ever pressure me, and since the battle with Leviathan he's been too scared of Eric to even kiss me." They both looked interested at that. Dad was the one who took the initiative. "Honey, what do you mean by that?"
"Hm? Oh! OK, so when Dean, and I started dating Eric gave him the shovel talk. We thought it was cute having a 12-year-old being defensive, but now that we know what he can do? Dean is worried about his jewels."
"..."
"..."
"...Goodman."
"Dad/Mark!" Amy and mom both screamed out in shock. Mom looked at Dad giving him a serious expression, but I could see her lips twitching, her eyes full of mirth. "What can I say, Eric's done an amazing job keeping Crystal away from bad men, look at her now." Dad crossed his arms, nodding sagely. "But Crystal doesn't have a-. oh, oh." I start fidgeting with my top.How did it take me that long to figure that out?
"In any case Victoria, your father and I just want you to be safe, the same goes for you, Amy. You two are our entire worlds, and we want the best for you both. So please remember to stay safe, and I don't just mean physically." Mom got out of the chair and brought Amy and me into a hug, soon dad joined in the group hug.
This is nice.
Pulling away from the hug, I looked at my watch and seeing the time I said my goodbyes to mom and dad. Once Amy and I were out the door I put her in a princess carry.
As we flew through the air I could see the difference in the city; it felt, better, hell it looked amazing.
The once unkempt streets near the docks were no longer cracked and covered in filth with weeds growing from the cracks. Now it was a newly repaired street, the broken lamp post was removed, and replaced with a modern lamp post, the kind that isn't broken nine times out of ten.
The houses surrounding said streets looked like actual homes instead of drug dens, with there windows being repaired, a fresh coat of paint, children playing on the street. I couldn't believe how much the city's changed.
"It's incredible isn't it, Eric's done the impossible, he's given this city, no the world hope." Amy spoke in my arms as we looked at all the changes happening in the city.
Flying towards the boardwalk I flew around until Amy pointed Sarah out in front of a cafe.
Dropping down I put Amy down and hugged her.
Looking back, I gave Sarah a nod before flying off to meet up with Dean. Flying at top speed towards the PRT HQ.
Landing in front of the building I walked through the glass door just in time to see Dean finishing up a tour for a group of children. All of whom had stars in their eyes with their parents looking happily at their children in content.
"And that's the tour, thank you all for allowing me the pleasure of showing you the PRT HQ. If you follow the PRT officer he'll lead you to the exit, and if you want there's a gift shop by the exit." Dean told the children the rehearsed line. Even while in his costume you could feel how much he hated these tours. Instead of being on patrol, or helping people he was here using children to get their parents money.
"Oh my gosh, Glory Girl!" Looking up one of the girls noticed me which caused a chain reaction for the rest of the tour group to notice me. Smiling at the children I waved as they ran towards me. "Glory girl can I take a picture with you, please?" looking at the young girl in the sundress giving me puppy eyes.
"Oh, of course, I'd love too." The little girl's smile grew even wider as she hopped up and down with excitement.
She stood next to me.
An older woman, probably her mother brought out her phone to take a picture of her daughter and me.
I did this a few more times for the other children that wanted to take a picture with me.
After all the children took their pictures a boy, probably a year younger than Eric asked if he could take a picture with Gallant and I.
The other children liked the idea, as they all but dragged him towards me. This followed with all the children in the group posing in between us. I won't deny having something warm and fuzzy in my chest.
After the pictures, and saying my goodbyes to the children Dean and I made it to the Ward's break room.
Inside were three Wards.
A young girl with blonde hair in a green costume, a boy in white armor with red hair and blue eyes, and last, but least was a capeless Shadow Stalker.
"Come on Vista, even you have to admit he went to fa-. Oh, hey, Dean, Vicky. Weren't you guys going out today?" Dennis got up to greet us, giving me a quick hug, and fist-bumping Dean. Dennis looked nervous, he was sweating and looked pale. It got worse when he met my eyes.
"We are, but as you can see I need to change into my civilian clothes, now what's going on? You're about to have a panic attack.
"Yeah Dennis, why not tell them what we were talking about." Vista gave Dennis a cruel little smile that said you're fucked.
"Look, let's not get into this now, go get changed so you guys can start your date." Dennis sat back down on the couch, I gave Dean a questioning look, he just shrugged. He started walking towards his locker to change but was interrupted by Shadow Stalker's voice.
"He was agreeing with that idiot on youtube saying he's a bigger threat than an endbringer." Dean and little V both looked at Shadow Stalker in shock. I, on the other hand, was in front of Dennis my hand pushing him against the wall, his armor starting to give under the force being applied, the wall being dented into a Clockblocker shaped hole.
My hand clenched into a fist, then the distance between us increased by what would have been a few blocks at minimum.
Vista had her arms stretched out towards us. Dean got in between Clockbloker, and I. "Dennis you might want to explain why you would say that real quick, and Vicky I understand why you're angry, but attacking him won't change anything, please let's just hear him out. Dennis, you better start talking and pray it's a good explanation." Space returned to its regular dimensions. Dennis slid down the wall, his body shaking in fear. Vista looked calm but was ready to separate them again if she needed to.
"Talk." My fist still clenched trying to keep my aura from going out of control.
"Look, Vicky." Dennis visibly gulped, trying to keep himself from mumbling. "SS didn't explain what I said in the conversation. I, no the whole world is grateful for what your cousin did to Leviathan. He's significantly improved the world's economy, lowered global crime rates, and is possibly single handedly responsible for lowering unemployment. All those things happened within a month of the fight with Leviathan."
"So why are you agreeing with the idiots on the video?"
"Vicky I don't agree with Eric being worse than the endbringers, I'm just saying that with all the positives happening no one is thinking about the negative aspects. Think about it, the other endbringers, the fallen, the S9, hell every master on this planet. They all now have a reason to visit the bay, that's what I meant Vicky, not that Eric is a demon, but that we should prepare for the worst."
"…Look, Dennis. Eric is sensitive, he was always distant growing up. We all assumed he was a shy introvert, but the day after the meeting with Piggot we finally learned why he has no control over his power whatsoever." I could see the looks of confusion on their faces.
"That shouldn't be a possible the Coro-"
"He doesn't have one. I remember when he was younger, around five we took him to see if he had an activated corona because aunt Sarah thought he had a stranger or master power like my aura that made him feel… different, wrong even. Turns out that's him keeping his power in check, every second of every day, holding back a supernova with a mitten."
"Oh. I-Vicky I'm sorry." Dennis shrunk in on himself.
"Look I shouldn't have brought up a family conversation to you guys, Dean do you still want to go?"
"Yeah, just let me get changed and we can go." Dean walked into the locker room, and I took a seat on the couch.
What a great way to start a date.
Eric POV
After a full day of shopping with Crystal, or as I like to call it me carrying everything she bought like a pack mule. When it was ten Crystal flew us back home. As we walked up the stairs Crystal opened the door and stuck her head inside. "Is it safe to come in or should we stay the night at aunt Carol's?"
"Haha. Come in you two, it's cold out." Walking in I dropped all the bags at the door. On the table we saw thai food take-out. After washing our hands Crystal, and I started shoveling food into our mouths.
"Hey! Eat slowly, you'll choke." Mom told us, we slowly ate. Mom sighed as her phone started ringing. She answered it, but even from a distance, I could hear the distressed screams coming from the other end of the call.
"Carol? Carol what's wrong, oh god. Ok, where? Brockton Memorial we'll be there in three minutes tops… just stay with them." Mom looked at us, a look of fear in her eyes.
My stomach was clenching, I felt sick from the suspension. "Mom, what's wrong?"
Her eyes were wet from unshed tears. "The hospital called your aunt and uncle, they found Amy and Sarah were beaten bloody and thrown in a dumpster. The only reason they found them was because Sarah triggered.
...
Staring at Amy's swollen, lacerated face. Her arms and legs in casts. She had an IV feeding into her upper arm and a neck brace.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry Amy!" Sarah sobbed out in the bed next to hers. In a better condition than Amy, if barely, the only difference was that only one of her limbs wasn't shattered.
"It's not your fault Sarah. Who did this?" My voice came out calm, My anger far surpassing anything I've ever felt.
"Empire. Alabaster and some goons just grabbed us, started beating on us, spitting on us, insulting us. I-I know I'm just another girl in the Bay, b-but Amy, she helps so many people every single day, but they just ignored her!!! Why?!"
Sarah's parents give her good hand a gentle squeeze, my family trying to comfort the girl with every syllable that left her mouth. "It's not your fault Sarah, don't blame yourself, Amy would be hurt if she thought you blamed yourself."
Walking out the door, I headed towards the stairs. "Eric where are you going?!" turning my head to look my sister in her eyes, she flinched. I can't blame her, it's taking everything I have to keep my powers in check, but it's not working, it's slipping through, I'm pretty sure the floor is slowly being erased. "Stay with Amy Crystal, I'm going for a walk."