2.1

"So, let's see if I've got this right..."

"You stumble across a monster who can take on the biggest heroes of the city and win, but for some reason on your first outing as a cape you feel compelled to attack him, despite having what have been tentatively classified as Brute 2, Master 3 powers?"

Seemed important at the time.

Nod.

"But before you can do that, the ABB gets sliced and diced by these other freaks, who then get destroyed by Lung, who in turn gets cut down by an alien-insecto-creepy-thing?"

All the eye-bleach in the world isn't going to erase that memory.

Nod.

"Then, after a commissioned hero arrives, Armsmaster no less, you manage to put said hero offside with a combination of poor planning, bad timing and miscommunication?"

If him being an asshole counts as miscommunication, then yeah.

Nod.

"Then, in your own words, to prevent the death of the aforementioned hero, you attack and incapacitate him by choking him with a swarm of insects?"

Nod.

"Best. Debut. EVER!" Clockblocker whooped, clapping me on the shoulder.

I slumped in the chair, dropping my face into my hands. Well, my mask into my claws anyway. I had just come into this room to have a moment to think, but I guess word had got around that there was a new cape in the building. Even at six in the morning.

"Forget about it," another one said, holding back laughter. Kid Win, I think. I was pretty sure he was the one with the female mosquito sitting on his shoulder. "That's coming from a guy who named himself 'Clockblocker' on debut."

Vista reached over and put her small arm around my back. "Don't listen to them, they're just stupid boys," she said with an overly serious expression and a nod. That seemed to crack Clockblocker up even more, at least till Aegis cuffed him on the ear.

The only one that wasn't laughing and joking around was Shadow Stalker. I was cool with that, I liked quiet, but there was something disturbing about the way she kept staring at my claws.

Aegis sauntered over with Clockblocker tucked under his arm in a headlock. "So, since you're here, does that mean you are joining the Wards?"

I looked up, flinching at seeing all the interested faces. Definitely not in my comfort zone here. I had to remember that taking out a big-name cape makes you the centre of attention, if only to avoid it later. I couldn't even imagine how bad it would be if it had been a member of the Triumvirate.

I shook my head slowly. "No, I'm not sure. They offered, but it came with a lot of strings. I'm still deciding."

Vista pouted to my right, crossing her arms in a faux-huff. "Awww... but we need more girls around here, right Stalker?"

The cape in question looked up briefly, shrugged, and then returned to focussing on my hands. Creepy. I experimentally drummed my claw-tips against the table and I was pretty sure her pupils dilated.

Not gonna think about it.

"I don't want to pry, but I don't think any of us felt like the offer had 'strings' attached," Aegis said.

Shadow Stalker looked up and scowled. "Well, I bet you Glenn wouldn't let her keep those claws," she muttered. What was it with her and claws?

I shrugged. "Well, yeah, it would be a hassle to redo the costume and they said it needed to be more 'kid-friendly', but..."

They were all looking at me expectantly.

"Really the problem was I would have to tell my dad I'm a cape."

Vista's eyes widened under her visor. "You mean your parents don't know?"

I shook my head, unsure why I had told them in the first place. One of the lesser known negatives of social awkwardness, I was always just as likely to overshare as I was to shut people out.

"No, my dad doesn't. My mom died a few years ago and it almost killed him so I don't want him worrying about me."

Annnnnnd there's the oversharing thing. The group shuffled uncomfortably, except Shadow Stalker, who didn't seem to be paying attention, or was paying too much attention, or something. Vista looked like she was about to cry and tightened her hug around my shoulders, which I had to admit was kind of nice.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to pry," she sniffled into my shoulder.

"Nah, it's cool. Stuff just happens, right?" I said. "It was a while ago."

It seemed dismissing the recent death of a loved one wasn't the best way to restart a conversation.

The silence stretched out, accompanied by a growing weight in my stomach. I knew that most people were okay with lulls in conversation, but I wasn't one of them. It unsettled me like fingernails on a chalk board. I tried changing the subject.

"So," I ventured, "how did you all get your powers?"

Apparently it was the wrong thing to say. Even Vista flinched away a little. Well, three more points on the "ruins social interactions" scoreboard, minus one to the probability that last night was all Armsmaster's fault.

Gallant, true to his name, was the first to step in. "We don't really talk about how we triggered," he said quietly.

Oh. Okay?

"You really are new aren't you?" Kid Win smirked. Something of my building distress must have shown in my body language because Aegis slapped him on the back of his head.

"Don't worry about it," he said good naturedly, "we kinda keep it quiet from the public, but most trigger events are a bit ... traumatic."

So they don't talk about it because they all had something bad happen to them?

Oh. OH.

I just asked them about their own versions of the locker. My face burned under my mask, tears stinging my eyes. Yet another point in favour of the full face covering. If I kept this up I would happily brave vomit and snot for the emotional anonymity it provided. I certainly seemed to need it.

"Who gives a shit?" Shadow Stalker suddenly voiced. "It isn't like it's even off limits, everyone just pussyfoots around it so the adoring public doesn't realise we're all damaged goods."

I looked up in shock. That was the more than I'd heard her say all day.

She leaned towards me across the table, eyes intent behind her mask. "We should be proud of who we are," she whispered.

Oooookay. I felt the sudden urge to say something. Anything. To anyone else.

"Well, I guess it was pretty bad, but I don't really remember most of what happened to me," I admitted. Shadow Stalker deflated a little, slumping back in her seat. "I think I passed out, and kinda just woke up in the hospital with powers."

There were nods around the table.

"Sounds pretty par for the course," Aegis said. "Some people say they got visions, but most people just have a blankspot during the trigger itself. It is what happens before we trigger that usually isn't very nice."

Vista nodded into my side and hugged me tighter. I could relate. It was honestly shocking that all the heroes I looked up to had been through something like I had. Why were all these people so normal? Well, other than Shadow Stalker.

To be fair, I hadn't been normal before the locker either. Maybe that was my problem?

Here, surrounded by these teenagers who probably wouldn't even notice me if we were out of costume, one part of me felt happier than I had in a long time. Especially with the hug. But the other part of me knew that nothing had changed. Superpowers didn't fix me. I still kept saying the wrong thing, freaking them out, and they were putting up with me because the bosses wanted me on the team.

Just like Emma or Sophia acting nice when the teachers made us work together. At least while the teachers were watching.

I suddenly felt claustrophobic.

Aegis frowned minutely, before regaining his gentle smile.

"Look, we don't want to force you into anything here," he said. "Sure, we would love to have you on board but you're right it is a big decision. Take your time."

I nodded. And he had reminded me about the time. I really needed to get home before Dad realised I was gone. I could probably still pretend I had been on a morning run before school.

Vista finally returned my shoulders to me, only to grasp my hands instead. She looked up at me with an earnest expression.

"Can we hang out again? Not to make you a Ward or whatever, but just to catch up?

I wasn't quite sure if she was starving for a female friend, or if she thought I needed one. Probably both.

Aegis chuckled. "You know, it isn't a bad idea," he said. "You could go along with Vista on patrol when you are free, see what you think of the work. I am sure she would appreciate the company."

Vista nodded emphatically at that.

I still needed time to think, work through all the conflicting experiences of the last 5 or so hours, but Vista actually seemed interested in spending time with me. And I probably did need that. That hug had reminded me how much I missed that sort of company.

I nodded.