Another Heart: A Jail Bird Sees the Light
Paige Mcabee was sure that life was unfair. This was not a new revelation to the young woman, every choice in the last few years seem to be either very good or very bad, but mostly bad in her experience.
There was very few incidents that fell in-between, the vial was one. The ones who had offered her this temptation had warned her that results were more of a prediction based on previous results than any fact. Cauldr-
No, Paige had kept herself from speaking, talking or even thinking about them for far too long. It was one of many prices that she had paid that day.
Paige wanted to be famous. It was a simple idea as it was vague in her mind. Paige could play instruments, but not to a great deal, she could dance, but it was mediocre at best. No, Paige's best skill had always been singing, it was her pride and one skill that made her stand out.
But it wasn't enough.
There was a thousand Paiges in her city alone. Some better, some worse, all of them made her blend right in, unnoticed in the sea of talent. It was hard to keep going after you were missed again and again.
So Paige did the only thing she could think of.
She advertise on the internet on how to acquire powers.
It was met with mock, rage, questions, false leads, vague answers and warnings.
There was a whole site dedicated to learning about Capes and listing events when people became capes, oddly enough, not many people recreated them.
After a long time of relentless searching she was emailed, it was short and sweet.
" , please come to location listed below and all your questions will be answered."
The reason this stuck out was the simple fact Paige was being careful about her investigation at the time, she never used her home internet or her name, or even her real email.
The events that followed...
It left Paige in a dangerous state.
Thankfully she could afford her debt for the vial. Money was easy to earn if you were already well off.
The ability to sing, to reach into people and make them feel things they've never felt before was intoxicating. The first few months, Paige couldn't talk without trouble. The words came out in beautiful undertones that had people around her do odd things.
Asking for a cup of coffee in a public dinner had resulted in 48 cups of black coffee being put on Paige's table by every patron in the building.
It took a long time before she could efficiently turn the effect off. It was a really practised method of think, think, think and...speak to herself mostly. If she could think as if she was only talking to herself then Paige could communicate just fine.
Then, Paige, boring uninspiring Paige, had become Bad Canary, the countries growing star, like ash erupting into a phoenix. Life was finally hers, and the world was her stage.
Then... she had nothing, except her powers, a court hearing and scarred ex.
Life was unfair, for what Paige worked for and gave so much for was ruined by her golden goose.
Paige could sing about life being unfair.
Shame there was a metal gag in her mouth.
The truck around her rumbled to a stop outside a white building. Red lights blinked on as her guards looked at her through a camera to ensure her bondage was still secure in a sound proof box then the doors were flung open and official looking people with solid sound proof ear muffs were pointing guns at her, warning her.
"Enough of that. Lower your weapons before I have you all slapped with a misuse of power on an unarmed civilian!" A woman's voice snapped at them. No one heard and then suddenly a blonde woman was standing between her and the guns.
The guards all immediately lowered their guns in a practised motion. Whatever it was due to safety or the identify of the woman Paige didn't know. Paige was never that aware of major capes or authority figures outside the triumvirate, let alone in a different city.
This woman turned and Paige's first thought was that the women made her feel like she had her shirt untucked. There was a no nonsense air about her like a suit
"You are Paige Mcabee, correct? I am your new lawyer, Carol Dallon, welcome to Brockton Bay, where I will work hard to ensure you are finally given a fair trial, now I'm going to get us inside and get that death trap off your face, and those restraints are highly unnecessary as well, I'll make note of that, give me an a hour and I will have you settled with something to eat as we talk, do you mind chinese, nod or shake." Carol Dallon said all at once. Paige felt stunned.
Numbly nodding, she tilted her head in a question manner, her fingers making the universal sign on money. Carol nodded as if she spoke English.
"The chinese is being billed to the hero, Dragon, for that is who is paying my fees for this job. Dragon made some valid points when we talked and well, here I am." Carol said as she waved a hand at the confused guards and gawkers.
Life was unfair, but maybe Paige could give it another try. For one more day.
Only if because Paige was pretty sure she be dragged in by her hair if she tried to refuse the scary woman who ordered armed men to open her restraints with authority and an amazing bitch face
Another Heart: Target Acquired
The man's eyebrows arched over the rims of his sunglasses as he stared across the table, a slight frown gracing his barely intimidating features, "Do you accept?"
Buzz cut hair, growl in his voice, huge arms and skinny legs, all signs of being the smallest guy in class in more ways than one.
Seen one of these guys, seen them fucking all.
Finger tracing the empty wine glass rim. A slow smile.
Freaking out these big boys was always... fun.
"I do," a faint tinkling of bells shimmered lightly as I unfolded my hands.
"The money is generous and the job looks fucking interesting. Can't say I've ever done something quite like this. So...spit and shake?"
There was a slight tensing of the man's face, a visible grimace that brought a victorious smirk to my face . Reaching for the silver briefcase under the table, his eyes never once leaving me, he placed it gently before him and frowned, "One hundred thousand...in non sequential bills. Another fifty upon completing job."
Money was nice, but as the case was slide across the table, a single photo was placed on top, it was of a young girl in white with a giant key over her shoulder, standing on top of a building.
But some things are just better.
An almost uncontrollable urge to lick ones lips.
"Well, how could I refuse?"
"Like it was a choice, the boss wants this done." the man said stiffly.
How...cute.
"If you knew who the boss was, you be a dead man. Simple as fuck."
He was turning red. This was too easy.
"Is that a threat?" he asked, a hand towards his jacket.
Gun. Easy enough.
"No, the boss just hates idiots and you are, most definitely, an idiot. Toodles!"
The hired mouth piece for the boss
was left fuming. If he shot at me, then I was right about his stupidity and in the right to kill him.
No shot came. Sad times.
Now...
Keynote, Keynote, where are you?
Another Heart: A Shadow Off the Clock.
4 hours before the Bakuda Bombings
Dennis wasn't sure he was ever going to get to do anything exciting this week.
It was a cosmic tragedy really. He, Clockblocker, the most handsome, devilishly stylish and funny of the Brockton Bay Wards, had missed the excitement. Twice!
It was beginning to look like Piggot had finally broken out her witch wand and cursed him. A most forbidding and sinister of curses. Anti-fun.
Dennis didn't mind the woman in charge. Much. Because whilst a smile wouldn't kill her, he'd seen her smile before, she only ever smiled when someone else was having a bad day. Dennis was certain Piggot laughing was one of the signs of the apocalypse. She was as sad a sad sack as a sad sack could be. In fact, he was certain that having fun just might cause her to burst into flames!
Dennis didn't want that, so he'd better to keep pissing her off to ensure she'd live to see another day.
He was a hero after all. Which was why, dragging his thoughts back into order, these missed parties were becoming insulting.
"So, let me get this straight. In the week I was given leave to spend time with my dad, Shadow Stalker got her ass so badly burned that half the people here could see it from the Protectorate building and then a new cape, a girl even, do you know how rare those are? Do you! A girl shows up and is kicking ass with a key? Then Miss Militia marched Sophia up to the gym an hour ago and you haven't seen her since?" Dennis said, hands flailing and gesticulating wildly whilst he he paced back and forth, trying bleed his energy off.
Carlos, Aegis out of costume like he was now with his helmet left on the table in front of him, nodded.
"The doors have been locked from the inside and nobody is going to knock. I've never seen Miss Militia look so..." He trailed off looking for the right word when Missy, Vista when in costume, piped up from the kitchen area.
"Pissed?" She said with grin visible as she looked over her shoulder.
Dennis had to smile at that. Missy was so serious most of the time that when she finally acted her age or was happy… It was adorable. It was even more funny because of how badly the two girls on their team got on. Missy and Sophia were less dog versus cat and more alien versus predator.
Sophia was the predator, watching until she saw weakness and striking. Missy was the alien, looking small until she latched on to your face with her fists and it only got worse from there.
Dennis shuddered as he remembered his last spar against his diminutive team mate. He didn't much see the need for learning how to fight, one touch was all he needed. Miss Militia insisted though and Missy had been learning for a long time. She had no definite style as far as Dennis knew, but enough knowledge to make things extremely unpleasant.
Dennis swore he could still feel the bruises on his butt. So, in return, he needled her about her height so she learnt not to be offended.
The tiny jokes would stop upsetting her.
Eventually.
"I was going to say determined, but that works too." Carlos said dryly, his tone less formal outside the suit. He actually used contractions now!
Missy shrugged as she strolled over.
"I call it like I see it. She was pissed and Sophia looked... defiant, but something else as well. Shame Dean isn't here, could of used a glimpse on what Sophia was feeling." Missy said with a tone of curiosity.
Dennis nodded, he'd have liked to know as well if he was being honest.
Sophia was hard to read at the best of time. Like a brick wall that punched you, you could tell what it was… but why was often hard to come by.
"Then you two got to meet the cape girl? The one kicking up PHO and making debates as Parian's new badass 'security' cape?" Dennis asked, air quoting with excitement.
Missy looked even happier at this. God damn that girl could smile, if Dennis didn't know better he'd swear she could use her power on herself her grin was so wide. Hmm, maybe he should start calling her Cheshire? Or sell her to Nickelodeon.
"You'd like her Dennis, very nervous, but super nice. Me and Carlos..."
"Carlos and I." The ward leader murmured. Both Dennis and Missy ignored him with the ease of much practice.
"…saw her on her first day with her new costume and she was making waves. She really does use a giant key to fight, looks weird, but in a good way. I got the super dorky, but awesome vibe from her, shame she wasn't interesting in joining, it be nice to have someone else to talk to when you're away and Dean is off gallivanting with Glory Girl, Chris is in one of his tinker fugues right now and is just boring." Missy said as she flopped back into the couch.
"I feel very appreciated." Carlos said with a roll of his eyes. Missy grinned and threw a pillow at the boy who could take steel pipes to the head.
"And don't you forget it." Missy teased. Dennis smirked as he froze the pillow on its way back to the young girls face.
Dennis felt bad for Missy, not because Carlos was now advancing on her with fingers ready to induce hysterical giggles from the girl, but because deep down he was sure that Missy resented Carlos. Just a little bit.
Missy had been here the longest, most of her team grew up, like Battery who'd been the Wards leader when Missy joined. Others had been lost over the years to transfer and 'retirement'. Still, Missy had been serving the longest of any of the current team though by at least two years and being passed over for leadership again… Yeah, that had to suck. They both understood why, leadership was based on age not experience, but being ordered around by someone you helped train? Someone you considered a newbie?
That had to suck bad.
If it was Dennis in her place, he wasn't sure he could be around Carlos like Missy could. He'd have been bitching to high heaven and pushing his normal levels of bad humor and snark past what he knew was acceptable. He have tried to get a rise whenever he could. He wouldn't be able to just roll with it like her, just take the hits and insults, grit her teeth and power through.
Girl was a badass. Shame not many people knew it.
Missy, the girl who could bend space and your spine, but was wrote of because she hadn't started puberty yet and still had pigtails.
"So what was her name, Key-something?" He asked, flopping down next to missy on the couch. Grinning as he saw Carlos' predicament he swiped some of Missy's chips, grinning at her outraged expression.
Giving up, Carlos stopped floating over the kitchen table which Missy has stretched to the size of a swimming pool. Cupping his hands around his mouth so they could hear him Carlos shouted at the grinning pair.
"I think you mean Keynote. Also, she requested that we call her Port-"
Suddenly alarms went off and the light above the door went off, first red and then green.
A ward or Protectorate with no guests, safe to leave costumes off.
Sophia walked in.
If space was an elastic band then it would of snapped loudly as Missy lost focus.
Dennis couldn't blame her.
"Holy shit, what happened?" Dennis said as he slowly approached the girl.
The Wards had learnt that no one rushes at Sophia, not without good reason. Well, unless you were a masochist and enjoyed people trying to hurt you.
But... as Dennis looked her up and down, he had to get closer. He may not like her but Sophia was his team mate and fellow Ward and there were just some things you had to do.
Like help the injured.
Sophia was a mess. She had a black eye shining from amidst her own dark skin, the angry purple a poor contrast. There was a smear of blood under her nose, fresh blood oozing sluggishly from her nostrils. A fat lip that was quickly swelling and bruise so big on her cheek that it was already going funny colors and pressing on her non-black eye.
Sophia looked like she has went one to one with Lung on a bad day. Well, without the burns anyway.
Sophia walked, limped really, past Dennis with confidence, shrugging of his hand as he reached for her. Reaching the couch she took his vacated seat, sinking into the cushions wil a welcoming sigh. Looking at Sophia as Missy turned large shocked eyes on her Dennis could see a weird device around her neck. Some kind of collar?
Closing her eyes Sophia spoke with the same mixture of derision and apathy as always.
"A new thing I'm doing with Militia. Did you ever know she could dislocate an arm and reset it in the same move set?" She said, her right arm shaking a little at this.
Dennis stopped in his approach to the couch, shocked by her words.
"Miss Militia did this? You look like you asked Assault to use you as his punching bag." Dennis pointed out in case she hadn't noticed she looked like a tenderized steak.
"She wasn't going to, but I couldn't keep my mouth shut I just kept getting angry she was flipping me onto my ass, and every time I talked back, she upped the stakes. It was... somethin'." Sophia said with unusual humor sounding tired. Her whole body sagged.
"Sophia, do you need medical attention?" Carlos asked with intensity, his eyes narrowed and brow creased with worry.
Sophia shook her head, chuckling even.
"Nah full medical check after, the bruises and the lip are going to be legendary, but besides that I'm just sore. Miss Milita was just going to show me a few moves and spar with me, but you know me, I just had to push her." Sophia mumbled, more to herself than the rest of them.
Dennis winced as he saw the bruise under new light.
"Is this your punishment? How can Miss M. be allowed to do this, even if you seem strangely calm about it?" Dennis asked, surprised at how well the injured girl was cooperating. She had to be completely done in to be this chatty. Normally the best he could ever get was a 'fuck off' or 'run faster'… This Sophia was, dare he say, kind of fun?
"Mom signed some paper work and Miss Militia strongly advised her to seek some help for her problems, then I signed some things and boom, Militia was dragging me in to kick my ass. I've never been this tired and I've helped against Squealer's trucks..."
Wow, Dennis grimaced at the odd popping noise as Sophia cracked her knuckles, gingerly he pointed her neck.
"And that? Is that a tracker?" He asked, sitting on the table opposite her.
"What? Oh this? Nah, I got a tracker on my foot, this thing stops me from using my powers, Armsmaster made it. I think, Miss Miltia drilled the technical crap into my head. If I go shadow, there's no light hitting my body or something. So if this neck thing sense zero light it shocks me. Knocks me back into the real world, I have a three second count down in case I forget and then I get fried, Ifucking hate it." Sophia half mumbled half growled as she slide sideways down the couch and slowly curled up, her eyes fluttering shut.
Carlos came closer and crouched.
"Are you going to be okay?" He asked gently. Sophia didn't bother to open her eyes as she replied.
"I've never been better, can't wait to... finally, hit her, it's going to be... good." Sophia trailed off as her breathing slowed.
"That's... Wow. Just wow." Missy said quietly as they all looked down on the sleeping girl. Carlos gently pulled a blanket out from under the couch and draped it over the Sophia. Normally they were for keeping warm whilst watching TV after patrol or on the weekend, when you wanted to hang out and not worry about being heroes. Dennis thought this was a better use.
"Come on, let her sleep. We can talk as we go find Miss Miltia and find out what's happening for her. This is a bit extreme, even if Sophia messed up." Carlos said firmly, getting up walking to the door.
Missy and Dennis followed.
Looking back at the girl, Dennis thought to himself that in all the time he had known her, Sophia had never looked as peaceful as she did now. Bruised, bloodied and exhausted, she looked content.
Carlos was right, this was fucked up, but maybe not the way he thought.
Sophia was powerless and she wasn't killing anyone.
He couldn't help the grin that spread across his face as he masked up along with Vista and Aegis before the doors opened. Miss Miltia's boot camp from hell may have been brutal… but had its perks.
Another Heart: The Pom of the Matter
"We'll be home about 7, so don't get into trouble, and leave my microwave alone!" Sabah called as she and Taylor walked outside, disappearing into the sunlight streaming down the front steps.
Mog softly waved, bobbing gently in the air. Seriously, he was 800, and not a day older, Sabah mothered him worse than his own mother.
Which was an impressive statement in its own right.
"Another day trapped inside, kupo." Mog said with a sigh as he floated back into the studio. Boco warbled sadly.
Mog translated it as:
'I'm getting rather bored, good chap, what say we tally on and raise a kerfuffle?'
"Don't temp me, kupo, but I really don't want to upset Sabah, my pom still shivers when I nearly broke her 'wi-fi.' Kupo, can you imagine what she do if she caught us outside?" Mog said with a hint of amusement. It was funny really. He and Boco were envoys of the great star ocean and that of between, travellers from distant worlds, adventures come Twilight or Darkness… and Sabah had them whipped.
To be fair, Summoners always came in two flavors.
Meek and mild, the kind who asked for helped. Or feisty with a temper, who called you fight at their side.
Well... there was the third kind. He didn't like to talk about those.
With a yawn, Mog floated over to the broken machines and began to tug at wires with pliers. Lack of moveable fingers only made it more challenging for the Moogle.
An hour later, Mog pulled himself out a tangle of wires and metal. The machine groaned spluttered to life, lights blinking, power surging!
And then died.
An odd feeling bobbed around in his head, ignoring it for his work, he leaned in to take a closer look.
Since Sabah had forbidden him to touch her more valuable machines, Mog was stuck with unsuitable pieces of junk that really didn't want to work. Mog had a talent though, one for making things work regardless.
"Kweh?" Boco asked, which Mog automatically translated.
'Mog, old chum, do you feel that? I swear I know this feeling.'
Putting down the tool, Mog stared upwards. Boco wasn't the greatest at magic or mental challenges. Mog wasn't amazing either, but he was a Moogle.
The feeling was... familiar. It had been a long time since Mog had felt this.
The ping of a message.
Mog and Boco weren't normal Moogle and Chocobo, by any means, but they weren't alone in their uniqueness. But this form of contact was only used when other means were limited or impossible.
Mog understood this quite easily, this world was convoluted beyond believe. The barriers of the world behaved strangely. If not for the appearance of a keyblade, which could open all locks, even this barrier, he doubted they would have arrived here. So such a message wasn't unexpected… Yet the feeling was.
The sender felt royal. A higher Esper, one of the highest.
Mog guessed no one else would be strong enough to pierce the veil. So Mog listened, feeling the message for it wasn't in words, but intent.
Mog and Boco okay? Status report. Unimportant, no hurry. Unless aid needed. Will keep contact open on their end for a short while.
Extremely taxing.
Mog floated gently as he focused his intent through the touching of their spirits.
Safe, welcome, with new friends, curious, dangerous world, Keyblade, kupo.
Mog sent all this along with his own flavor of thoughts.
There was a paused and...
Keyblade, danger, destroy?
Mog and Boco looked at each other.
With a shake, Boco looked down. Mog nodded and focused.
No, Keyblade, friend, light, strong heart.
With a flutter of nervousness Mog waited. If the order came through and it was bad, Mog didn't want to listen, he could blame interference, but deep down Mog knew, as they all did, what must be done if such a power began to fall.
The stars were only just healing. So many Keyblades were around right now and everyone was busy keeping things from falling apart. It was why he'd come here after all. Regardless, the princesses were only just restored, they wouldn't be ready if a wielder fell to darkness. Another Keyblade War would doom them all. Worse though would be if one of the Princesses were to die...
Mog felt the words come through.
Watch, responsible, be careful, thank you, good luck.
Mog sighed and sat on the desk, feeling relieved.
The touch of magic fled from his mind and once more it was just Boco and him alone in the studio.
"Wark..."
'That was most nerve wracking, I feel the need to point out you did not mention the lass's recent problem and how she is struggling to find the light...'
Mog floated to a window and nodded.
"Kupo, I couldn't... Taylor and everything around here would be wiped out, kupo. I've never been comfortable with death, no matter how many times I meet her."
Mog held his Pom closer in gesture of comfort.
"And... she is our friend, kupo. We have to believe in Taylor, kupo, believe that she is good. Just think how many people were written off by the Espers before they saved a world or two, kupo. We will wait and see. The others are always so impatient, kupo, and unyielding in their judgement. If it is just us, we can make sure Taylor is given a fair chance, kupo." Mog said with growing confidence. Boco didn't say anything but Mog knew he liked Taylor a lot. She had kind heart, even if it was burt and marred by darkness… Mog could feel the light that only needed a chance to shine.
More, this world was too strange just to blow it up. The lack of darkness or light was interesting as it was worrisome. Worlds that fell in-between were very rare and always important. Worlds of Dawn and Dusk were always the most interesting… If always the most dangerous too.
The Heartless had been here, the world was littered in their crystallized remains. The gems of synthesis glowed like nothing else, but you had to truly defeat a Heartless to get them, which only a select few could do. Keyblade weilders, in fact, were extremely efficient at this, like no other as they could truly slay heartless.
But whole streets filled with gems, all left untouched, disturbed Mog more than anything. What had destroyed them? There was no Keyblade Master here, else they would surely have contacted Taylor by now.
That just left more questions than it answered though.
What power existed that could annihilate the heartless so easily? Was it linked to the barrier? The cause of the absence of Light and Darkness in a world that should be awash with both? Was it the source of the strange, magicless powers that ruled this world?
This world was an anomaly and Mog felt it held more secrets than he could guess.
With a distracted mind, Mog floated over to the microwave and began to strip it, his mind so deep in thought he completely ignored the note above him.
"Do not fix or tamper with, Mog. Sabah"
_
Another Heart: In Between
"Are you sure that was wise?" The knight said. His hand grasping a sword for reassurance. He continued on.
"If this Keyblader falls, then a Keyblade War is assured." He argued.
The other one... A light, a being of metal and feathers, was silent for a few second. Others in the temporal space shuffled. His words were always wise, but not always agreeable.
"Yes, I have faith in Mog and Boco, this Keyblader will have her chance, you've grown scared of the mere idea of them now that you've let fear drive you instead of logic. Mog thinks I cannot see, but I have seen this Keyblader, this girl, she is drenched into darkness, but at the same time clinging to the light."
More shuffling, another approached, wings out to their full span.
"Light can be worse than darkness at times, it blinds one to their own faults or mistakes. If she needs to survive on such a world, she will need balance or none." The creature said, scales gleaming. The white light nodded.
"That world has escaped our noticed, the lack of magics or science magic is to blame, but the Keyblade has pierced the veil and now we gain a foothold."
A woman stood next to the knight, spoke in a sharp voice.
"What if she does fall? Darkness has been shown to win more often than not."
Everyone looked to the light.
"Then I will destroy them. We will destroy them. But not a moment sooner and I think I know how to help."
A shrill cry called out as another being flew closer.
"Be careful, the more we open ourselves up to this world, the more it can effect us." It warned. The knight nodded in agreement and the light pondered this.
"If we do nothing we lose a Keyblader to darkness or they survive and serve the light. I, for one, am tired of this monopoly of the Keybladers to the light or darkness. I offer instead, to you all, to come together for a vote, I will take Mog and Boco's vote since they want the Keyblader to live."
The woman, interest peaked, walked forward.
"What does this vote entail?"
"We shall vote, for the first time since the in between was formed, to be summon again, and for this one girl alone, we shall offer a deeper service. We will cause the first Keyblader to draw from, not light or dark, but the force that born from their battle, the chaos."
Silence reigned supreme.
Then he spoke.
"I don't care about this stuff, at all, but I don't have a Keyblade for my collection..."
"If we allow ourselves to be a source of power then won't the door to chaos be accessible?" The knight asked.
"It will be. Such a thing has never happened before. I cannot say what will happen with certainty. But regardless we will now vote."
Alexander said, his white wings exploding outwards, white feathers raining down on them, some of the creatures grabbed the feathers straight away, while others hesitated.
The stars quivered.
The darkness stilled.
Chaos laughed.