February 2nd, 2011 - Wednesday
Afternoon

Smack.

Taylor's foot stopped inches away from Dynamic's face, his gauntlet bearing the force of her kick with about as much reaction as a brick wall. Before she could pull her foot back, his fingers wrapped around her ankle and forced it up, a sweep of his own leg catching her in the back of the knee. She hit the mat like a flipped tortoise.

"Don't do that," Dynamic chided her impassively. "Kicking above the belt is just showing off most of the time - if you want results, aim for the knees and groin." He offered his hand, and Taylor took it and pulled herself up. "Though I hope you'll understand I'd rather not have that last one demonstrated on me. Let's go again."

They continued for another hour, while Jennifer, Lim and Cameron took turns two at a time. Jen had insisted on making these sparring sessions a regular thing, and this was as good a time as they would get to start while they kept an eye on the reactions to their debut in the city. She went over the initial response, calling it "about as expected" - people were wary of the new gang of villains in town, but almost everyone who wasn't complaining about them on principle agreed that they'd prefer the Elite to the Merchants in the city. Surprisingly, some people were taking issue not with the Elite in general, but with them picking up the "murderous Master."

Most of the team was out of costume - including Taylor - but Dynamic was in full gear so Taylor could get some meaningful practice in. She had actually won the last few bouts, but that was still in part thanks to her opponent getting winded. As her teammates left the improvised gym to chat, Jennifer pulled Taylor aside.

"Is something the matter?" Taylor asked.

"Not in the way you're thinking, no. I've taken the liberty of swinging past your father's place a couple of days earlier. I'd... need to make sure, but I think the PRT's well and truly given up on keeping watch on your father. Which means... two things, really. First, you can probably visit without drawing the heroes' attention, if you're smart about it."

Taylor tried to imagine how that conversation would go. "Oh, hello Dad, it's me! I've caused a massacre in my school and joined a gang of supervillains, how have you been?"

Jennifer noticed her hesitation.

"I think you should do it. Whichever way it goes down will be better for you both than not knowing. Plus, there's a warning that needs to be delivered."

Taylor's heart skipped a beat. That sounds way too much like a "shame if something happened" line.

"With the PRT no longer keeping an eye on him and you publicly aligned with us... Going after a cape's family is a line not everyone's willing to cross, and being strong enough to retaliate helps, but he's still in danger now. He needs to know to keep an eye out, that someone might come after him."

"You didn't think of this before? Only now that it's too late to warn him in advance?"

Webweaver briefly flashed anger at that, before collecting herself again.

"It hadn't crossed my mind that you wouldn't think of it. Doesn't matter now, does it? I'd say we should visit him on Friday, gives enough time for me to stake the place out properly, make sure there really isn't anyone else keeping an eye on him."

Taylor took a deep breath. As painful as meeting Dad might be, having him only know about what she's doing from the news just wouldn't do.

"Okay."

~o~o~o~

February 4th, 2011 - Friday
Evening

Taylor skipped the broken step and stood before the door of the house she grew up in. The lights were on in the living room, but the curtains were closed. Her hand hovered in the air, and it seemed like knocking would take more strength than any of the stunts she'd pulled in fights. Jennifer's voice came in over the earbud.

"Taylor, I understand this isn't easy, but you don't want to linger in front of the door when someone looks out the window. Just knock already."

Taylor grunted in irritation, but it did make it easier to knock. After a handful of seconds, she heard footsteps approaching the door.

"Who is this? What do you... Taylor?"

The door unlocked and swung open, and Taylor was face to face with her dad for the first time in a month. After staring for a few more seconds, he stepped forward and wrapped her in a hug. Not that long ago, Taylor would've found it crushing. Then again...

It's been so long.

After a few moments, she pushed him back a little.

"Dad, I'm happy to see you, I really am, but can we get inside? It'd be better if nobody saw me."

Taylor didn't miss the sadness in his eyes as he realized what that meant, but he let her in and locked the door behind them anyway. They moved to the living room, though Taylor noticed several beer cans in the kitchen as she passed. As they settled down on the couch, Taylor began talking.

"I'm sorry, Dad. I'm sorry I didn't come back for so long, but I couldn't risk someone seeing me. I... I didn't want to..."

"Didn't want to make things worse for me? Is that why you didn't tell me about Emma?" As Danny said that, Taylor felt him trying to keep his temper in check.

"I didn't mean to - wait, how did you find out?"

"When the PRT came to search the house, they found your journal. Why, Taylor? Why didn't you tell me?"

"I... You still hadn't pulled yourself together when it started. And afterwards, it was just... the longer I kept it secret, the harder it was to come clean."

"...I see. I gave Alan a piece of my mind about that, but it doesn't matter now. What actually went down at Winslow that... that day?"

"Well, it started as soon as I arrived at school..."

Taylor went through her story, up until the part where she joined Webweaver's team. She didn't mention that Squealer had actually managed to hit her with the minigun, though.

"So that's why you joined them, then? Safety? They're not forcing you to work for them?" Taylor wasn't sure what Dad was feeling at that point. Hell, she still wasn't sure what she herself felt.

"They're not, though Webweaver seemed very convinced I'd do that well before I actually did - I'm not even sure if she actually planned it out or is just going 'I meant to do that'. And I'm not doing this just for myself, Dad. I'm an outed cape, remember? People might try to get to me through you. Just... be careful, please? And if something happens, if you see someone suspicious following you, if anything at all seems off, please, call me." Taylor grabbed pen and paper from the table and wrote down her number while she was talking.

Danny looked grim at that. Fleur's death had shaken the Bay in its time.

"I will, Taylor. But please, be careful. And... don't trust them, okay?"

Chuckling came in over the earbud. "I heard that!", Jennifer chimed in mirthfully. Damn.

"I... should probably have mentioned that Webweaver's keeping a look out on the entire street, that's how I know nobody saw me arrive. She, ah, heard that."

Taylor felt her father getting angry again. He spoke in a carefully even tone.

"Webweaver, if you hear me, then I have this to say - if you get my daughter hurt, no bugs will save you. Am I clear?"

This time the earbud rang in sincere, uninhibited laughter. A few long moments after Taylor started wondering when Jennifer would stop for breath, she calmed down. "Crystal. I see where you got your temper, Taylor. Anyway, I think you'd get a good opening to leave in a few minutes."

Taylor turned to her dad, who had been curiously looking at her expression during Jennifer's fit.

"She understands. But it's time to go, I think."

"If you have to, Taylor. But please. Come back. I can't lose you too."

"You won't." As she hugged her father goodbye, Taylor hoped she was telling the truth.