Arc 3: Flames
3.1
Four Months after Winslow Fire.
"Again!" Nick barked at me as he swung with his spear. I parried, the wood shortsword making a sharp 'clack' as the practice weapons came together.
"Switch!" He yelled and I tossed the sword from my right to my left hand- using it to bat down a thrust to my right side.
Over the past month my exercises with Carlos and the diet plan forged by Miss Militia has somewhat paid off. I'm developing some tone and gaining some good weight in muscle. I began light contact weapon sparring with Nick just last week, us going through swords for what would suit best. So far, we're still in progress on what I prefer.
The scariest thing is how I've grasped the concept of swordsmanship so easily. Nick says I'm a natural. Even says I should consider going into non-powered tournaments.
I used the crossguard on my sword to my advantage, sliding it down the length of his spear to close the distance-fast- angling the weapon to place the mock-edge against his throat before he could pull away.
His eyebrows were raised when his brain finally processed that I had 'killed' him, but smiled as he backed off.
"Nice defense. You're like glue. Everything you learn is just sticking." He sighed, stretching and whipping his hands to stretch out the soreness from the ten minute bout. "That's enough for the day. I know you're okay getting a bruise here and there, but I have a patrol tonight so no heavy hits for me today."
I nodded in understanding as I used the towel to remove the sweat from my face. Sighing I followed Nick towards the door.
In terms of villain activity in Brockton Bay, things were...quiet really.
The Merchants, for one, dug themselves into a hole since losing their supply of Dry Dust this time around. Alot of their members, or clients were either in the hospital or (more likely) dead from the withdrawal.
Skidmark and Squealer were still at large though. Or at least we hadn't found them dead from withdrawal as well.
Us Wards haven't encountered any parahumans on patrols, only the run of the mill thug or ABB or E88 neophyte. Speaking of, the ABB and the E88 have remained quiet too. Outside of the Dry Dust raid a few weeks ago and the Undersider Casino raid there was very little of note. And even the Undersiders were 'small fries', barely on anyone's radar.
After we left the gym we split up at the juncture that led to the Ward dorms "Well, you have a good patrol. I have to get ready for school." I looked at the clock, it reading 6:45.
"You have a good time at school too. I'll see you around Hebert." He smiled patting me on the back before he walked off. I watched him leave...totally not looking at his ass. Nope.
I shook my head and jogged into the dorm with a swipe of my card. I saw Missy in the kitchen bringing down the cookie jar which was on top of the counter. My thoughts on Nick vanished as I laughed. "Missy." I called out. She jumped, turning around and stuffing the treat into her mouth as if that would make it so I'd never seen it.
"Mow-hwing!" She said with her mouth full. I nodded as I walked to the stairs leading up to my room, and she was kind enough to lower it down for me. I didn't hear Chris or the others around today. Wondered where they were it was rare for everyone but Missy to be home.
I wondered at that sometimes. But I wasn't gonna pry. If Missy didn't want to go home she didn't wanna go home.
Soon enough I reached my room and made quick work of closing the door stripping off the gym clothes, and got into the shower of my personal bathroom to get ready for the rest of my day.
(X)
Later
"Come on~"
"No."
"Please~?"
"Not happening."
"Seriously, you need it!"
I sighed in frustration and looked at Victoria as I ate lunch with the group. "I told you, I'm not going to the mall. I'm fine with the clothes I've got."
"Jeans and a normal shirt? Come on Tay, I'm offering you the best fashion help in Brockton Bay here." Victoria pouted. "With the right blouse and skirt you'd look as cute as a button."
I pinched the bridge of nose.
"Vicky has a point Tay-girl." Said an all-too familiar face as she sat right next to me. "Sup."
"Aisha!" Beamed the blond Dallon sister as she bumped fists with the latest 'addition' to our group. Ever since that episode with Aisha finding out who I was, she'd taken to hanging out with me, and through me the rest of the gang since everyone sort of agreed that this was a damned if you do damned if you don't situation. Keep hanging out with me, you risk her suspicion. Suddenly stop, and you just as easilly raise suspicion.
The fact that they were all Victoria's friends as well helped allay some fears...or at least mine.
I was the only one that she sort of knew at this table though...
Her foot in the door as it were…
Victoria of course took it in stride, the girl couldn't help but make friends wherever she bloody went. The two had been hitting it off for the last month and the rest of the Wards plus Amy seemed to be enjoying the new addition...or at least not minding. Chris was uncomfortable though...probably because Aisha kept on pinching him when he wasn't looking..
I felt a sharp vibration in my pants pocket. Pulling out the phone, it was a text message from Dean
'Ur getn angry. Wht up?'
I made a point not to look up at him and sighed. "Excuse me. I'll be right back gonna get a drink." I left my lunch at the table and stood. Excusing myself I marched away towards the hall where the vending machines were. I heard Dean speak up behind me "Yeah I think I want something to now that she mentioned it." I rounded the corner and leaned against the wall as I waited for him to join me.
Honestly half of me wanted to tell him everything was fine. But Dean, in the months I've known him has never really 'let something go' he always kept poking til he got an answer. It could get annoying.
That and he'd more or less been the one suggesting that I talk to someone about these things so he, in my mind bloody well volunteered.
"Okay...so what's wrong." Dean said with arms crossed.
"Well…" I sighed "Lets start out with nice things to say." I smiled, and he smirked back. "Thank you for not beaming me under the table or something."
"I was fairly confident we weren't gonna have a schoolyard fire in the time it took me to write a text." The joke probably wouldn't have fallen so flat to me if...well...I hadn't already caused a schoolwide fire to begin with.
Still I smiled for his benefit. No need to make this a dra...even more of a drag.
"Thanks for the confidence. The whole switcheroo of emotions can make a person nauseous." He nodded and smiled. "Yes...now...you were saying something about…"
I sighed. "It's Aisha."
"I gathered that...what exactly is wrong with Aisha?"
I looked away. "Its...kind of petty of me really...I can't forgive her."
"Tay...like a bandaid its a lot easier to tear it off. rather than have me pulling teeth with 20 questions." He prodded.
"She was at Winslow Dean."
He nodded. "Yes alot of people were at-" He stopped himself, his countenance darkened. "Was she-"
I rapidly shook my head, realizing where my words had taken him. "Oh no no she...not like that...she...She wasn't responsible for me 'flipping out'." I shook my head. "No...Hanah told me that she would find the ones who did and make them pay for it and I believe her. It's just that…" I shook my head my hands rising to try and help me enunciate; only to feel them useless and myself frustrated.
"Just what?" He asked, curious.
I could only imagine my expression as I tried to hold something akin to a smile on my face. "Aisha was never involved with what happened at Winslow...and that's just the problem. She never did anything. And...yeah I never saw her a lot. But she evidently saw me enough to recognize me huh? She knew who I was in the middle of Fugly Bobs' in a crowd of people. Pieced it together...So she must have known of me...of my situation back at Winslow" I spoke calmly. If it hand't been for my power, that helped me keep my emotional equilibrium I'd probably be a lot more...angry… "And even though she knew enough of me to recognize me from back then- not once did she speak up, or...or do anything to help me. And now that she deduced like half of Winslow probably deduced that I've got power she's sitting here...wanting to be friends?"
I snorted Dean looked at me sadly.
I tried to laugh, to lighten the situation but. It came out more like a cough. "Now...might just be me...but...that just seems...a little convenient…" I felt myself hiss the last word. My anger was bubbling up beyond my powers ability to suppress it...I hadn't known there was a limit.
To have gone beyond said limit...guess I still had some major hangups from Winslow. From Emma, Madison and Sophia.
I wanted to just push it aside. Let it go. But something, in this case Aisha had to drag this crap up to my face when I should have been able to just get away from it by now.
Dean took a breath, straightening where he leaned against the wall. "I understand. You're angry at the thought of someone sucking up to you now that you're 'special." His lips pursed, hands dug into his pockets.
"Not really. I can't say with a straight face that if I was a normal girl coming to this school I wouldn't be at least tempted to buddy up with Vicky knowing she's a cape...what I'm angry about is what she didn't do...if she knew me well enough to know my situation before and didn't help then she shouldn't try to be my friend now..." I sighed again and looked up.
Dean sighed through his nostrils. "Situations like these happen. People who knew a person before they 'flip out' will act differently after the event. Its happened to all of us. Even real friends act a little differently a little more...unsure." He had a point.
There was a sharp knock on the vending machine to our left. "Can I vote?" Said a voice that made both of us jump, and I turned, seeing Aisha looking at me with a neutral...well...as neutral as I'd ever seen her. The smile on her face was subdued but still there
"How long have you been there." Dean said with a narrow gaze. It was rare for anyone to sneak up on him.
Aisha's features shifted eyes going a little wide, eyebrows rising and lips pursing. "Long enough to know I probably should have been invited to clear the laundry...or the air...or the whole house." She shrugged. Stepping around the vending machines she came closer to us so she wouldn't have to speak so loudly. "Ok...look Tay. I get why you're pissed, really. Now...I can lie. But I got a feeling it'll just end up making things worse soooo...Want the truth?"
My teeth were clenched. "Go ahead I guess." I spoke up. "What's the truth? What could have been so important then that just dissapeared now?"
"Truth is Tay...you're right. I knew of you. At least I knew your face. Didn't really know your name. And everyone more or less knew helping you was a one way ticket to shits-ville."
Story of my life, I tossed Dean a look as he shifted beside me. If he blasted me with something to help me calm down...I might just forget to check some of my strength next time we sparred.
"Look, fact is you know as well as I do...to get through the day to day at Winslow was to keep your head down. My record was spotty enough as it was. Fights, shitty grades...if I stepped into the shit to help you...that probably would have meant me getting the boot out the door. And take it from me, given my situation outside of school that was not a goddamn option. No name Aisha. Vs Emma Barnes, Track star Psycho bitch and goody two-shoes Clements. How do you think that shit was gonna end?"
The acid at the back of my throat burned with the memory…
Yeah...I knew exactly how that shit would have ended.
I just barely caught Dean talking to himself. "Track Star?"
She took a breath and my focus went back to her.
"I did want to help you back then Tay…"
"But you didn't." I snarled, nearly baring my teeth. I felt Dean place a hand on my shoulder. And Aisha's shoulders slumped, looking genuinely sad. I didn't want to care about the same fucking excuses that had been plaguing me my whole time there. The same old bullshit in a different bag.
"You're right I didn't." She said sadly. "I will say I'm sorry for that...and I am. Really. But keeping...with honesty. Even if I could go back Tay I would probably make the same choice again. When I say my personal situation outside of school was that bad...it really is that bad. By helping you I'd probably have been shooting myself in both feet. And that's not an exaggeration."
"So what. You wanna come here and make nice now?" My anger was there, still simmering beneath the surface but the rage had subsided enough for my power to more effectively keep me calm.
"Yeah...I mean...you're here. I'm here...clean slate. No more Overlady Bitch Triumvirate. No more shitty school with Asian, Black, and Skinhead gangs. I want to be your friend. Leave the shithole burned to the ground where it should be." Aisha looked up, taking a deep breath. "But...if you won't, then, I can totally get that too." She looked at me.
I wanted to be angry at her. Pissed at her. To tell her to fuck off and never hang around my friends again.
But Aisha has no other friends here in Arcadia as far as I can tell. If I just tell her to buzz off, would I be any better than Emma who had isolated me from everyone in that school? Got them all on her side of the fence?
I sighed and readjusted my glasses. "Do you mean it? Are you actually sorry and not just bullshitting?"
"I am"
Dean shifted beside her. "If my word counts for something here...I believe her Tay."
I looked at him he was looking away, seemingly uncomfortable.
Dean's emo-dar does have its useful moments.
"Okay." I sighed. "Aisha...lets just...put this...try to put this behind us." I could see Aisha perk up and then light up like a christmas tree as she smiled.
"Thanks Tay. Come on, let's head back to finish lunch. I'm starving."
My phone buzzed and I picked it out of my pocket.
'You coming to the mall with us yes or yes?' It was from Vicky.
I pursed my lips in annoyance. New friend or not I knew better than to step into a mall with Victoria Dallon and its time she got that through her head.
(X)
"Come on out Taylor!"
…
"Tay-girl, can't hide in there forever~"
I mumbled something under my breath.
"What was that Tay?"
"Victoria give me back my clothes! I'm not coming out like this!"
She had the gall to laugh. "Oh Tay. Of course you're coming out. If you don't I'll just float over the door and look for myself anyway and that'll be way more mortifying."
"I'm going to hurt you...badly."
"Come on" I heard someone else speak, one of Vicky's friends. Jane I think her name is. There's like fifteen of them around here that all went off to find their own things...at least I hope so. The thought of fifteen girls like Vicky helping to look for clothes for me is something that might just be enough to make a normal person trigger… "It can't be that bad."
"Its…"
"It's what? Adorable?" Cooed Victoria from behind the door. I let out a sigh. "Ok I can't take it any more I'm gonna float over the door"
"No!" My mortified screech could have swallowed up the mall as far as I could tell. "I'll come out just...give me a second."
I opened the door, frowning and blushing hard as my current attire was displayed to the girls. I was wearing a no strap blouse, and if I ever had a chest I would be showing some cleavage. And I had a skirt that I know that if Dad ever saw it would be something he'd have burned in a furnace while making me quote bible passages like a sinner on his last day on earth.
"Ok you've seen it. Can you give me back my clothes and let me change back now?" I asked with gritted teeth. Victoria nodded.
Victoria scoffed. "Tay. That's one possible outfit. We came here to shop honey."
I noticed then, to my horror, that a chair that had been pulled up when we came in here was now filled with several articles of clothing which...Jenny? Jennifer? Whatever her name was was holding one hand over to keep steady…
Evidently the other girls were out there looking for clothes for me…
...Perhaps I'd be lucky and Lung would blow up something nearby...
Victoria eyed me up and down. "Hmmm...Well...tall, pale skin, definitely need to go with darker shades."
"Her dark hair also opens up for some nice light summer colors if we're careful." The other girl supplied...bitch.
Correction. Bitches. Both of them...All of them... Victoria and the other evil helpers were not exempt here...How the hell did I get talked into this?
Oh yeah thats right...because my perfectly reasonable excuse for saying no (IE: Work) Was suddenly not a viable solution.
Why?
Because of Victoria's blabbermouth boyfriend.
I am going to hurt you Dean...if it's the last thing I do.
"I don't like summer colors." I groused.
Victoria sighed dramatically and shook her head. "Taylor Taylor. Its not about what you like, its about looking good. You think any girl likes walking around in high heels?"
I glared. "You cheat with high heels."
She winked. "Invulnerability and Flight. Every girls best friend right after accessories.
I glared…
Bitch!
I hate you Dean.
She turned around. I hesitate to use the words "plucking" in any context but Victoria actually seemed to, quite literally 'pluck' the clothes she wanted out of the pile.
"Maybe something like this…" she quirked an eyebrow as she phantom dressed me, holding it over my chest and legs. "Hmmm...maybe... Gotta play to your strengths after all." The Dallon girl nodded then proceeded to shove the clothes in my face and push me back into the changing room. "Try this one on. By the time you walk out of here we're gonna have boys tripping in the hallways as you pass by."
I rolled my eyes, but allowed a smile at the good natured lie. It'd been a long time since I had a friend do so much tomake me feel good...I forgot how much I missed it.
"Right...anyways, is there a way I can wear something, I dunno, comfortable and not excruciatingly clumsy and painful?" I asked.
"Well...its your first time out so I guess we can make you a rockin' ballroom wardrobe later. For now we can stick with the basics. That last dress did look really good on you...maybe a different color though..."
"Do they have different colors?"
"Jenny~" I could almost swear Victoria snapped her fingers not even Jenny's 'Yeah yeah' banished the impression from my mind. It made me frown a bit. How Victoria's friends follow her every command reminds me how Emma seemed to control the school back at Winslow.
If she ever got it in her mind to be just as bad she could be far far worse…
I shook my head.
Victoria is not Emma...she can't be like that. She's a hero and she's been nothing but nice to me, even going so far out of her own time to try to make me look good...and-
Emma was like that too once
-and I was not going to let the memory of Emma Barnes control my impressions of people anymore than it already did!
"Back!" Jenny called out, having every array of dresses in varying colors. "Found every color!"
"Oh goody!" Victoria had her hands clasped. "I can't wait to see you in them Tay!"
I sighed a little. Pros and cons Taylor. Pros and cons.
This was going to be a long late-afternoon.
And it was. I managed to buy three dresses, and afterwards I convinced Victoria that jeans were what we were getting, not ridiculous skirts and denim short-shorts. I even managed to grab some good looking blouses too. Too bad this took nearly FOUR HOURS. Victoria drove me back around PRT HQ when the sun was starting to set…
I liked my purchases...though I'd probably go villain before I ever wore those heels Victoria tried to put on me.