Chapter 14: There is a Light
Beta Note: Sorry if it's a little mushy in parts. Been replaying Undertale and spent much of the time editing listening to
Great work, cheers Major
_
School was an interesting experience these days. Taylor sat in her chair listening about the theory of numbers and how they would affect the rest of her life as she idly doodled Mog on the bottom of the page, his face was a little cartoonish, but at least the pom-pom was looking good.
This week had been different though, mostly because Sophia was gone. Pulled out for 'personal reasons' or 'family matters' depending on who she'd asked. While that was good, the best part was she would likely not be returning for some time. Principle Blackwell had sounded like she was swallowing glass when she announced this at her year level assembly on Wednesday. Who knew she was such a fan of track, Sophia's sport?
In addition to removal of her most physical bully, Sophia's departure had lead to a sudden power vacuum. Emma and Madison had stuck together the whole of two days before they turned on each other. Emma was, or rather, had been, the next in line to take over. Her friendship with Sophia was coming back to bite her tough, as she currently didn't have much support, as Emma was one of the few people who actually liked Sophia. Everyone else though… Well, Sophia had been a bitch to more people than just Taylor. So, without the fear and dare she say, charisma, Sophia wielded to maintain her place, peoples dislike was finally shining through and much of that was falling onto Emma.
More though, Madison hadn't been slouching during her time as one as Sophia's second in command, and a lot of girls had sided with her out of their dislike of Sophia and pushed Emma out.
Now there were rumors spreading, Taylor suspected started by Madison and her new friends, about Sophia's vanishing act. They ranged from Sophia being murdered, hired by a villain, or taking over a chapter of the Teeth in Boston and so she had no time to continue her education as she was far too busy ruling with an iron fist.
Taylor could see the last one being true, outlandish as it was. Sophia had a real mean streak and was, to be blunt, a heartless bitch. Still, no matter what Sophia was up to, her absence meant that for the first time in forever, Taylor was... forgotten about.
No sticky seat, no homework snatched, and no mean words spoken ever so loudly in the hallways. It was bizarre, school was well, sort of decent. She could go a whole day without being bulliedonce. Taylor smiled as she finished Mog and began drawing Boco next to him. She felt great really; no teasing, no name calling, no pranking, and best of all… She had friends.
Pausing to tap her pen against her chin, wondering just how you drew birds feet she spied Emma sitting a row forward and across looking miserable, like how Taylor always used to feel. Hmm. It seemed only one of them could be happy at a given time at school. Sucks for her, as it was Taylor's turn for the first time, well, ever.
The thought made Taylor's smile stretch wider, a little maliciously but she felt justified in enjoying her chief tormentors misery while it lasted. Because, knowing her, Emma wasn't going to be like this for long, she'd start to gather her social power together again, Emma had always been good at making friends, and people would flock to her once more. Then it would be a whole other kind of gang war, filled with nasty words, bitchy attitudes and zero importance.
Emma's Empire vs Madison's Mob. There would be no hair weave left intact.
Taylor struggled to keep her smirk contained, forced to hide her snort as cough, as thoughts of a bald Emma danced through her head.
Still, the things they'd done to her, why still painful… They seemed so little, so trivial now that a crazy clown had broken in and alerted Taylor and Sabah that people were watching.
How much they knew and what they knew was still unknown. The fact anyone knew anything though… It was disturbing, especially when they considered who knew where they lived, and quite possibly their identities.
Coil.
Coil wasn't a gang leader, but he was a Super-Villain. Unlike Lung or Kaiser who used capes and people in bad places, racists and criminals, Coilemployed people. The mysterious villain employed Mercenaries for help, arming them with the best gear money could buy, including tinker made weapons. He also hired other Villains to do his dirty work. Like Circus, or Jess as he… she? As theycalled themselves, to steal her Keyblade.
Which meant Jess' lack of loyalty made sense, sort of. If Taylor was working for someone, it would be a person she liked working for. Like Sabah, who was really easy to like and she liked a lot.
The ringing of the bell snapped Taylor's attention back to the present and away from her idle drawing. Standing up with the rest of the class as the after school rush began, Taylor followed the crowd out into the halls. It was surreal almost though, that she was not checking for people trying to trip her or preparing herself for being knocked over, or something spilt on her, and left the class, entering the hallways.
As she walked though, Taylor's thoughts drifted to a far more pressing and concerning topic. A woman had asked to speak to her yesterday after school, confronting her shortly after she arrived home at the studio with Sabah. Social services, the woman in the nice suit was from social services and wanted to talk about to Taylor about her father and her situation. Where was Taylor going to live and who was going to look after her until her father got better?
Taylor had just stared blankly at her, not truly comprehending. Taylor had told quite a few of her father's co-workers and friends where she was staying and the address, so she supposed it wasn't surprising she had been found and confronted like this.
It was still unwelcome though.
While Taylor struggled to speak, just licking her lips, Sabah had handed the woman some familiar looking papers from a drawer, that made Taylor's mouth drop open. She recognized them from the day of the bombings and her father's signature scrawled messily at different places across the forms.
The woman had taken one look at them and her face had gone white. Further canning of the papers let the woman say with a strained voice that she would meet them at the Doll House with the co-managers. The social worker had then promptly backed away and up the steps before she vanished into her small comfy looking car and disappeared.
Taylor had looked at Sabah uncomprehendingly. The older girl had sighed and said it was out of their hands now, and if Circus was going to out her to the PRT, or anyone else, then they better do it fast because it looked like it would have to happen anyway.
Taylor was understandably upset that she would have to unmask to a PRT clerk or worker. This whole Rogue thing just seemed like one oppression after the other. It was almost like the government didn't want them to be Rogues, like they'd rather they were criminals instead of earning money legally.
It was disconcerting.
Still, Sabah was just a little bit too smug for Taylor's liking when she asked if the doll girl had needed to unmasked when she began the company with Ingrid, her co-manager.
"Strangely enough, the law doesn't require it if you create a company, since you're submitting the tax forms under your own name, but Ingrid took care of all that. Joining an existing company is a lot stricter; supposed to prevent Capes from building teams under a business guise, or something." Sabah had said, giving Taylor a smile she wanted to wipe of the older girls face or… or… She didn't know what.
Still, thanks to the social worker Taylor would… She would… She would have to unmask, prove she was Portunes if she wanted to stay with Sabah.
This lead Taylor to feeling like she'd had a lead weight sitting in her stomach all day, which was why any distraction was welcome, even musing on Emma's social life. Making her way out, Taylor blended into the crowd, the crush of people making her feel uncomfortable and nervous. Being able to jump twice your height or roll a street away made tight spaces seem smaller than they actually were and she already hated small spaces thanks to…that place.
So when the student population began to separate at the front door, Taylor breathed a sigh of relief as the feeling of confinement dissipated. To keep herself distracted, she wondered who would head home and who would head off to meet in some secret place, wearing gang colors.
Winslow was a good school once upon a time, back when the Docks were open and ships came in and out as fast as space could be cleared. Rebuilding New York had been the boom that kicked of Brockton Bay's shipping, as it was closer to the iron mines than Boston and cheaper for the Canadian oil-tankers. With Jobs and booming economy it had been thriving and Winslow may have been the blue collar school but it had been a good one.
Now Winslow was rotten. Just like how the shipping had died, so had Winslow's quality. As the money ran out and jobs dried up crime seeped in. The gangs and Villains infected the school and were never pushed out.
Villains only got stronger as their numbers grew, as the number of gangsters and gangs rose and persisted in any city. Brockton Bay had become such a city, kids with little to no future, problems in their lives, or even just suffering from boredom, began to see gangs as an option, as a future. Winslow had to accept those kids as they mostly came from the Docks by law that required an education. From what Taylor heard from the student grape vine, the other schools weren't as infested with gang potentials, waiting to be of age. Arcadia in particular seemed to have very low amounts of Nazi tattoo's and Asian's hiding switch blades in their shoes.
Taylor often suspected it was sort of deliberate. Why let them spread out when you can try to contain them all in one place? Still, they she supposed they had to go somewhere, and if anyone deserved a stomach ulcer because of them, it was Blackwell.
Walking through the car park Taylor spotted a spot of brilliant red out of the corner of her eye and turned to see Emma slink into her father's car. No gaggle of girls to make high pitch noises to see her off, to bid her fond farewells and make Emma feel good. Taylor wondered if her Dad noticed or was just as oblivious as he was about Emma's bullying.
Turning away before she did something she would regret, Taylor gently let her fists unclench, the Keyblade no longer singing to her, begging to be called. Walking out of the front gate and onto sidewalk, she looked down the road, smiling as she spotted a rust bucket of a car.
Sabah waved from behind the wheel and raised a bag of fast food for her to see.
No, school wasn't bad anymore. Today wasn't a bad day at all.
For first time in forever, Taylor was enjoying her life.
"Stop pacing, you're starting to freak me out." Sabah, no, Parian said from the office couch.
Taylor looked over to her and saw the older girl sitting in costume, totally composed with a magazine in hand. Taking a shuddering breath Taylor walked over to stand next to her, looking out the offices third floor window, confident in her hoods darkness to hide her face from anyone who might look up.
Distracting herself from inevitable that was to come, Taylor thought about the Doll House and its structure.
The Doll house had three floors.
On the first floor was the Shop. The sales area and clothing racks took up most of the first floor, with the remaining are given over to a loading dock and some storage for fresh cloth.
The second floor contained the private measuring suites and the main workshop area. There was also storage for the partially completed clothes as they were worked on and rack upon rack of completed clothing.
On the third floor were the offices, Ingrid and Sabah each had their own and there were more for the other roles Taylor assumed you needed to run a business. Accountants probably. There was also the break room and kitchen which took up one whole corner. Next to that was Parian's own private workshop and, because there was never enough storage, more clothes.
Finishing her listing Taylor turned back around, eye flicking over the office in search of a fresh distraction. Both of them were in full costume for the upcoming meeting, just awaiting the Social worker and PRT employee. Ingrid sat behind her desk typing away at her keyboard, frowning at the screen. They were in the manager's office, and while it had two desks and was technically both Sabah's and Ingrid's office, in reality it belonged solely to Ingrid. This was because Sabah left most of the paper work to the energetic woman while she worked on new clothes or made herself visible down stairs in the Shop, living up to the image of the Doll House having a doll inside.
As Taylor began pacing again, Parian made a disapproving growling sound, causing Taylor to stop. Nervously fidgeting from foot to foot she looked apologetically towards her friend and boss.
"Sorry, I'm just too nervous." Taylor said, finally deciding to just take a seat, slumping heavily onto the worn couch. The idea that she was about to be unmasked and revealed to everyone was... was making her sick to her stomach.
Taylor didn't want to give up being Portunes. The power, the image, the costume. It all made her feel alive like she never had before. The admiring looks from strangers, meeting the Wards and Assault, making friends with Parian and Sabah… It had all been so amazing! She felt good about herself and that her life was finally worth something by helping all these people. And yet Taylor just couldn't shake the thought that if everyone saw who was under the hood, that if they all knew the mysterious Rogue Protunes was just plain old Taylor Hebert, that it would all vanish. That the world would wake up and all her happiness would disappear and fade away like a forgotten dream. That even Sabah would leave, forced to distance herself from Taylor to protect her own identity. That if she was unmasked she would be alone again, unwanted, unloved… She could feel her empty eye sting as she tried not to cry. The idea of returning to that loneliness was more than Taylor could bare.
Quietly Taylor gritted her teeth, struggling to sniff as she struggled not to cry. She hated that woman, the person who was trying to tear her happiness away.
The social worker had quickly become Taylor's most despised enemy, even more than Circus. In her mind, this woman had come to take her happiness away, to use the law and her 'legal' right to mess with her life, interrupt it just when it was starting to get better. That the woman wanted to make her leave Sabah, leave her home, and maybe even leave Brockton Bay if the PRT felt it necessary. At least when Circus upset her life it was a proper villain who she could hate, not this… this legal crap.
"Ke-Portunes, relax. You're going to be fine. The paper work was iron clad, I swear. Besides, I fought way too hard to get you this far, you think I'm going to let some woman in some cheap, ugly, badly repaired, last season dress take you away?" Sabah said, with a highly exaggerated offended tone.
Ingrid seem to find this particular line amusing as her lips burst into a full grin while she typed, even having to stifle a snort.
That wasn't the important part though.
"You were going to call me Key-" Taylor started to accuse when her voice was cut off as three polite knocks were rapped on the door.
Ingrid look surprised and lifted the phone on her desk to her ear. Why hadn't any of the staff called to let them know the social worker and PRT representative were here? They should have been stopped on the first floor.
"It's static." Ingrid said simply, though her eyes were wider than normal as the first signs of panic set in. This didn't stop her from going to the door though and opening in with a confident posture.
All three of them stopped at that point and stared at the door.
It was filled by the armored bulk of Armsmaster.
"Hello, I have an appointment to speak with Keynote and Parian." He said, not noticing or ignoring the staring.
Taylor guessed he was used to it.
"It's Portunes." Taylor said on automatic, hearing her voice come out as a soft squeak. This was Armsmaster! She had underwear with his face on it. Taylor was so not ready for this. Where was the Social lady that Taylor was ready to freeze for her perky smile?
Sabah stood slowly.
"Did you block out our electronics?" She asked, holding up her cell phone which was refusing to turn on properly.
Armsmaster nodded, his expression hard to read thanks to his beard.
"I did. I wiped out any microphones and bugs and I am jamming electronic communications as the location is insecure. Your phones will turn back on once you charge them." He said with a straight face. Then he tilted as if listening to something.
"...I apologize for not asking for permission to do so first, I've been told that I'm often act without explaining. I shall add a note about your name to the system later." He said a bit stiffly.
Taylor looked at him, she had seen the hero in TV interviews before, most of them scripted she supposed as he'd sounded more relaxed on TV. Here he almost sounded... uncomfortable?
"It's okay, I mean, I appreciate the effort to keep this meeting, uh, private." Taylor said, gathering her courage together. It wasn't a lot, but a small smile from Armsmaster had her inner child screaming with delight. This was Armsmaster! One of the greatest Heroes in the world!
Sabah just shook her head as the older girl looked at Taylor seeing the way she was clutching her hands together. But Taylor knew Sabah well enough by now to know there was a smile on her friends face behind the mask. Still, Taylor felt her face burn with embarrassment. This was going to cause her so much teasing when they got home.
Not that she minded so much anymore, not when it was Sabah. The older girl made it so that Taylor was smiling as her friend embarrassed her instead of making her feel like crap. Sabah needled her, and said funny things and sometimes tickled her until Taylor was crying from laughing. Instead of feeling bad when she was teased Sabah made her feel… She… She wasn't quite sure really, but it was warm and she felt better and never wanted to stop it.
"It was no bother, shall we get this meeting started?" Armsmater asked, snapping Taylor out of her thoughts. The armored man walked forward into the room, moving so he stood near where Taylor had earlier, beside the window, but off to one side, just out of view from outside.
Taylor blinked at him and then at the closed door. No one else had knocked or followed Armsmaster in.
"What about Mrs. Terrance?" Sabah inquired politely of Armsmaster.
Taylor didn't know that name.
"Who?" Taylor asked quietly.
Sabah shook her head, amused again.
"You called her 'The home wrecker' and 'Satan's little helper'."
Oh, her. The social worker. Taylor thought if she was getting Armsmaster for her case instead of that woman, then it was totally okay with her.
"The PRT was given the paperwork, names redacted as per regulations, and the social worker was required to sign a non-disclosure form and the PRT took over the process. That is why I am here." He said factually, almost robotically, yet his voice held a trace of warmth. Taylor had the odd feeling he was looking at her when he said that, but the helmet was almost as good as Sabah's mask for hiding his expression. No emotion from his eyes got through and it was pretty hard to see at his face. His goatee was awesome though.
"I thought capes were the Protectorate?" Taylor asked as she settled back down.
Armsmaster nodded.
"We are, but we report to the PRT, therefore we are part of their command structure. I qualify to fill in for any PRT member excluding the Director." He replied, his words flowing more smoothly the longer he stood there. Taylor thought he didn't look like shy type of person, but then, she could hardly throw stones.
"So, I need to unmask to you and no one else?" Taylor asked hesitantly. If she had to unmask to Armsmaster, not some office worker… It was a lot better. Taylor felt that Armsmaster was much more likely to keep her secret and maybe… maybe she could keep her happy life.
Armsmaster nodded and then paused. He pulled out a phone and set it down on the table in middle of the room.
"There is one more person, but only because she's been hearing and seeing the exact same things I am as she access to mikes and cameras built into my helmet. Keynote, Parian and other, may I introduce my friend and co-worker, Dragon." Armsmaster said.
Suddenly Ingrid stood and walked towards the door.
"I need coffee, and a cigarette. I've had too little caffeine to deal with this. Continue without me, Parian is co-owner, she can do the paper work for once. I do not get paid enough for this." Ingrid said as she closed the door behind her.
The other three occupants of the room were a little stunned and unsure what to say. The pause began to stretch when a female voice came from the phone.
"Hello, Portunes, it's good to meet you, I thought you might appreciate me revealing myself, I have a bad habit of lurking in the background." Dragon said, the phone making her voice sound synthetic.
Taylor felt her inner child from earlier explode into messy confetti. Dragon? The Tinker expert on Tinkers? The woman who built mechs that helped in every Endbringer battle? The greatest Tinker in the world and who's auto-biography she'd just checked out of the library? Dragon?! In the same room as Taylor Hebert?! Taylor knew that some famous capes hadn't even met the illusive Dragon in voice and yet here she was, talking to her?
Wow.
According to rumor on PHO, no one had seen the cape in the flesh and her PHO thread was strictly moderated by Tin_Mother. Dragon contributed a lot to a variety of areas of research from reverse engineering Tinker-tech to make her trade-mark mecha. The legendary cape also organized rescues at sea, cyber-security for most of Canada and America, participated in and organized the Endbringer battles, and one rumor even had it that shepersonally moderated on PHO, searching to this day for fresh blood to drown in infractions and innocent skulls to crush with her ban-hammer.
No mod worth their salt confirmed anything of course.
Now, here was Dragon, talking like she was peeper, instead of a Hero?
Just… Wow.
"It's a great pleasure to meet you! How did you see through Armsmaster?" Taylor asked enthusiastically, she reined herself in, mortified at her outburst.
Dragon gave a little laugh.
"Trust me, the pleasure is all mine, and Armsmaster has nicely allowed me access to his wireless network that connects several pieces of his arsenal. If you recall, he mentioned having several cameras and microphones installed in his helmet." She said, the 'nicely' said with a little tease behind it.
Armsmaster turned his head and grunted.
Taylor found their interaction fascinating.
Where they friends? Partners? Tinker enthusiasts who get together once in a while? Lovers?
Taylor vowed to not go on PHO tonight, stalking her own thread be damned least she become one of the dreaded…
A shipper.
"So now that everyone has been introduced, we should perhaps get on with why we're all here. It won't be long before I'm called away. This city is never quiet for long." Armsmaster said moving to stand with his back to the window, filling the frame with his figure and dimming the light.
"Are you ready? Feel free to take a few moments and collect yourself. Unmasking is a big deal and it's not too late to back out. I would be reprimanded if I didn't at least say the Wards program is set up to prevnt such a situation as this. We protect our young capes identities at all costs and I know they would love to have you. I too would be pleased to serve with you." Armsmaster offered.
Taylor's hands stopped halfway risen towards her hood. She glanced sideways at Sabah who had frozen, sitting completely still next to her on the couch, Sabah's formerly fidgeting fingers twisted together so tightly Taylor feared they might break.
Taylor thought of what this choice would mean. If she unmasked now, her identity would still be known by the PRT but they would be protecting her instead of hindering. If she chose to join the Wards maybe she would make more friends, Vista and Aegis seemed nice enough and they didn't like Shadow Stalker. She would be an official Hero, like Alexandria , Armsmaster, and Dragon.
But…
She remembered… Laughing together as they watched movies. Cheering as Boco carried her in a mad rush to school one day when she'd over slept. Mog teaching her about Magic and all she still had to learn. Sabah frowning, tongue stuck out as she tried to make pancakes. Curling up next to the older girl as they both read on the couch. The warmth of being hugged while she cried and the comfort it brought her. That Sabah had been there when no one else had. That Sabah liked her for just being Taylor.
And Taylor realized that Sabah would never betray her. Sabah wasn't Emma, she no longer had to be afraid. That even if the whole world knew Portunes was Taylor Hebert… Sabah would still be her friend regardless.
"This is your choice, no one else's. No one in this room would think any less of you." Dragon added, startling Taylor from her momentary thoughts.
Taylor didn't even have to think about it really, a few months ago there might have been other answers, different answers, whether for or against, but now… there was only one possible choice.
With a single motion Taylor reached up and grasped her hood, the cloth feeling soft and smooth beneath her fingers.
"I'm afraid I have to decline. I'm happy working with Parian and I'm not going to leave her, not after everything we've been through together, but thank you for the offer. Things might change, the future's uncertain after all so it's good to know that I'd be welcome." Taylor said still hidden but taking deep breaths to prepare herself.
Armsmaster returned her smile, surprising Taylor. She thought maybe he would take her rejection at least a little badly. But he looked… happy. He was happy for her?
Sabah's hands were shaking, seeing this Taylor reached out and grasped her hand, squeezing. Taylor could only hope her friend knew just how much she appreciated her in this moment.
Because even now, Sabah was letting Taylor choose her own life, she wasn't making decisions for her or standing in her way. It was an act, a choice that so very few had ever given her, and in doing so, she'd only insured that Taylor wouldn't leave her. True friends didn't drop each other when newer, shinier ones came alone. She was no Emma. In that moment Taylor swore she would stay true to Sabah, best friends forever.
"I suspected as much. Being a Rogue isn't a bad thing, not everyone is in the right place in their life to be ready for the duties of a Hero. It is a demanding and often thankless job. Sometimes I even forget to take the off the mask after a bad day." Armsmaster said, more to the phone on the table than to her.
Dragon made a noise of agreement.
"I never stop, there are too many things to do and sometimes it can feel like a prison, but when I do help, deliver information in time, warn the right people, prepare the right equipment, save just one more person? It makes me feel alive." Dragon said in a wistful tone.
Taylor wondered who Dragon was. Who was the woman who never stopped trying to save the world? She sounded like a kind soul, she was glad Dragon and Armsmaster were friends. They seemed to understand each other.
"I think... one day I would like to be a hero, I've dreamed of it ever since I was little, but… not right now. I have a lot of my plate at the moment. Between being Portunes, a Rogue, a friend, and a daughter I'm really busy, but I'm also learning more about myself every day. I'm so happy being Portunes, but..." Taylor said and pushed her hood back, letting her hair spill out, her eye patch bared to the light, and a soft smile teasing the edges of her mouth.
"I'm starting to like being Taylor Hebert again."
Later that day Taylor stood up on the edge of the Doll House's roof, a sense of serenity flowing through her.
She had done it; Taylor was now a fully-fledged, legally employed Rogue. It was a lesser status compared to being a Ward, a Hero, but it was something that made Taylor's chest feel light.
The people below her were now under her protection, at least on this street. Taylor smiled as a little girl stared up at her, mouth opened wide and Taylor waved. The girl's face lit up and she waved back furiously. Taylor smiled, remembering when she too stared at heroes. She remembered thinking how far away they seemed to her, in importance more than distance, how she would imagine being as important, strong, and good as them. And now that she was one, Taylor could only hope she too could inspire some little girl to become a hero.
Taylor could barely believe how much her life had changed in just a couple of months, going from down there on the street, hating her life, where every day was a struggle not to cry… To up here, on the top of the world. It made her see things differently, see people differently.
Not that she was better than people now. It wasn't like that, not at all. Taylor saw that anyone of them could be a cape in the making, stronger than anyone else, faster, smarter, stranger and who knows what else. A woman who looked mundane could trigger and become the second coming of Scion or the next Siberian. All it would take is for one cape to give them hope or despair to change the balance, to tip scale of heroes and villains. All it would take is the right person to save the world or destroy it.
Taylor had thought she knew about potential, but staring down at the endless faces, many looking at her and each with a different expression, some happy, some awed, other suspicious or annoyed, while some were too busy to even look up.
But no matter how they saw her, every person on Earth was as important from up here. It was... terrifying, amazing.
Taylor blinked as she looked up, the night sky lightened with the touch of dusk.
They would be here soon.
Armsmaster had said that a Ward's patrol would be heading out later and offered to ask them if they would let her tag along, let her learn the 'do and don't's' of fighting and defending the city from criminals. The amount of ways to mess up a capture and arrest was staggering. Still, Taylor was just going to beat wrong doers up until they stopped moving after a few vocal warnings, it seemed to cover all the requirements really.
Clockblocker, like Vista was a common name on cape geeks lips. He was powerful striker with the ability to freeze people and objects in relative space-time, shielding them from all outside forces. Some people argued he didn't mess with time, but caused a stasis effect that put a target a in different dimension that kept them safe from any influence of Earth Bet or its surroundings.
Which the smartass reply was 'including time then?'
He was also known for his...
"So you're the new cape on the block, eh? Vista made some key notes about you on the way over. Clockblocker, resident funny guy." Clockblocker said, stepping onto the roof next to her, Vista at his side.
…charming personality. Still his voice conveyed his joking tone, almost comically so, and after putting up with Sabah's teasing, Taylor wasn't so sensitive, in fact she had learned to fight back.
"I guess your clocks aren't the only thing blocked, have you never heard of cotton buds? My name is Portunes." Taylor said, sticking her hand out.
Clockblocker leaned forward eagerly, hand reaching forward when the space between them stretched apart.
"Don't you dare pull that gag on her, and I told you about her name several times. Seriously, do you ever liste-"
"WHAT? I CAN'T HEAR YOU FROM OVER HERE!" Clockblocker shouted in the distance.
Vista looked unimpressed and then the stretched space collapsed back to normal and Clockblocker crossed his arms in mock anger.
"You can't just push me away when you're ashamed of me." He said aghast, clutching at his heart.
Vista grinned and turned to Taylor.
"Watch me, don't take too long getting back." Vista said, smirking. Then Clockblocker was suddenly a fair distance away. He waved his arms and yelled something but then dropped them to his side and started to jog towards them.
"Sorry about him, Clockblocker is a great guy, but he thinks puns are the best thing since melted cheese. Head's up, so you don't kill him, he likes to freeze people randomly, the more he does it, the more he likes you." Vista said as she watched Clockblocker run for a few seconds, seeing him build up speed, then snapped the space back to normal. Clockblocker nearly tripped and ended up skidding across the gravel roof top to prevent himself running past them and into the stairwell that lead downstairs.
"Consider me warned." Taylor said amused at Clockblocker's furious arm waving to balance himself as he nearly toppled over when he finally stopped.
"You know it's awfully short of you to tell someone not to pull a gag and then proceed to pull a gag yourself." The white dressed Ward said.
Vista shrugged.
"I'm in a good mood tonight. Speaking of, congratulations on becoming legit Portunes!" Vista said, flashing a thumbs up.
Taylor kicked the roof a little, embarrassed, and grateful to Mog for the darkness hiding her blush.
"It was Parian and Armsmaster mostly, I didn't really do much." She said as Clockblocker ambled back over.
"Don't be modest, Armsmaster spoke a whole two extra sentences about you, that's like, gushing for him." Clockblocker said.
Taylor felt herself blush a little at the thought of Armsmaster talking about her in any degree, she hadn't thought she impressed much during the meeting.
"Well, we should get going, but before we do, Portunes?" Vista said, drawing attention from the two white clad capes. Vista stretched a space next to her.
"Could you wave your sword through there? I need to make sure it doesn't disrupt the space just by being there like it did with Shadow stalker. Could you wave it through the air, avoid the roof itself." Vista asked and stared at the space, stretching it far without making it bigger. The effect distorted the air and made the patch of ground look like a bad zoom in job on Photoshop.
Taylor held one hand out and the warm light filled her.
Clockblocker whistled in appreciation as the Melody of the Lost appeared in Taylor's hand. She then swung it through the stretched air. The distortion remained and Vista nodded, smiling again.
"That makes things faster and easier. I can help us move in case of trouble without worrying that I might squish someone or leave you behind by accident." Vista said.
Puzzled, Taylor touched the Keyblade to the roof and the space vanished in a noise like a snapping fan.
Vista shivered.
"That felt soooo weird." The green Ward explained as Taylor looked inquisitively at her.
Clockblocker made a noise as he put a finger to his chin and when he spoke, it was a different tone, much more... firm. Serious. Vista noticed and seemed to listen with great care.
"I remember you saying her sword does odd things to Cape's powers." Clockblocker said and then he nodded to Taylor.
"Up for a little experimenting?" He asked, a little of his teasing tone returning to his voice.
Taylor lips twitched as she tried not to rise to the immature joke. She'd swear he was waggling his eyebrows suggestively behind his mask. Clockblocker then took out a sheet of paper the size of a kite and froze it in mid air. Stepping back he stood near Vista and erected a shield out another piece of paper and again, froze it.
"Why are you over there?" Taylor asked Clockblocker, tilting her head in confusion.
"Just in case, so when you're ready." He said with a grin at her tilted head.
Taylor shrugged and pressed the Keyblade to the frozen paper in front of her.
The sound of humming came from the Keyblade as a bright glow appeared where the metal touched paper, then sparks began to fly off and a high pitched whistling streamed out the note holes of Melody.
Then the paper unfroze and caught fire.
Panicking, she let loose a stream of ice that covered the smoldering paper.
Turning she saw Vista and Clockblocker stare at her.
Vista spoke, her tone incredulous.
"Did you just use another power?" The younger girl asked in a high pitch tone.
Clockblocker rubbed at his chin despite his mask.
"I don't really see the connection between giant key and ice, but what do I know? Grab bags are weird, no offense." He said as Taylor rubbed the back of her head in embarrassment.
"None taken, I guess it was weird." Taylor said. She was not going to admit to being taught magic by a little fuzzy, bat-like, fairy with the hankering for dismantling the microwave on a whim. She'd seen what people said about Myrddin on PHO for believing magic. For all she knew Myrddin was right and a fellow magic user. Still, Taylor didn't want to be mocked or called crazy like he was so she'd keep quiet.
"Can you do anything else, if you don't mind me asking?" Vista said, as she poked the ice and had to yank her finger off with a bit of force as it got stuck.
Taylor innocently twirled the Keyblade as she spoke.
"I can also heal light wounds..." And then a shower green sparks rained over them all in demonstration.
The other two started, stretching for a moment. Taylor knew it felt good to get healed when nothing else was wrong, it left your body feeling refreshed and relaxed, like a really good massage. Though she still didn't understand why when Sabah's had complained of having sore feet and Taylor had offered to help she'd looked so disappointed when Taylor had cast cure. It was confusing.
Looking back and forth as the silence began to stretch again Taylor started to wonder if she'd done something wrong.
Then Clockblocker spoke.
"Portunes, grab bags are supposed to grab a few powers out of the bag and run, not grab the bag of powers and keep running while cackling." He said dead pan, but then stood straight.
Vista felt down her leg and her mouth fell open.
"But, please, don't stop on my account. Maybe you could summon fast food next?" He asked hopefully, staring at her Keyblade.
"We are going to be under so many Master/Stranger protocols when we get back..." Vista said numbly.
For all of Taylor's nervousness at being on her first official patrol, nothing actually happened. No fights, no gang wars, not even a mugging. Taylor had thought crime was much more common than that that. TV had lied to her. And, while she didn't want people to be in danger, it would have been nice to see the Wards in action, to see how professional Heroes fought.
Still, the banter between Vista and Clockblocker spoke of a decent amount of time spent together and Taylor could see that despite their joking, they both kept a certain edge about them. Like, they were having fun but prepared to fight at a moment's notice.
As the patrol continued Taylor saw how the duo of time and space clicked together so well as partners and Taylor almost felt like she was intruding, not that Vista and Clockblocker let her stay quiet for long. Clockblocker's antics made her smile and respond with gusto. Vista made her feel less stressed, sharing some of her early stories, when she just starting out like Taylor was now. There had been one time the blonde girl had stretched a bench out to stop a mugger and accidentally ended up catapulting him a great distance when she snapped space back too soon.
This made Taylor feel a lot better, if Vista, the confident and seemingly unshakeable Vista, was a nervous wreck when she first started then it gave hope to the idea that maybe Taylor would also learn to act in a dignified manner.
Eventually.
When the patrol ended back across the street from the Doll House, Taylor had almost protested at the sudden end to a good night with new friends.
But both the Wards said that they were expected to report back to Director 'Piggot'. Their attitude towards the woman though, seemed... confusing.
"Piggy never lets me get away with anything after I named myself, 'immature' was said a few times in her feedback. Though I guess she's not that bad. Like, if I ever need time off for my... well, time off, she's never once given me hassle for it." Clockblocker said as he stared at the PRT building in the distance. It wasn't the most beautiful building, but it had a silent strength about it.
Vista hummed in agreement.
"Piggot is always going on about how 'dangerous' my powers are, how I need to use them 'responsibly' and all that, but she calls me in once a week or so and we talk about my family- I mean, she makes sure things are okay for me." Vista hastily changed her wording and looked away.
Taylor acted like she hadn't noticed.
"So is she nice or what?" Taylor asked, confused.
The Wards looked at each other.
"She's Piggot." Clockblocker said, as if that explained everything.
Vista nodded and then put a finger to her ear.
"Loud and clear, we're just finishing up, heading back now." Vista said, the most formal Taylor had heard the girl sound that night. It didn't seem right to have a such good spirited person as Vista sound so... stiff.
"Stalker is on the monitors tonight." Clockblocker said casually, leaning back against a ventilation unit.
Taylor for a moment thought that the boy had said Vista had a stalker, then her mind caught up.
"Shadow Stalker? Isn't she in trouble?" She asked quietly as Vista walked away to keep talking.
"Like I have never seen before. You know they stopped her from using her powers, right? Girl is completely stuck with every rule and limitation they could chuck at her and make stick. She hates it, but I think she appreciates the chance all the same." Clockblocker said, just telling Taylor all these things she thought would have been, well, classified.
"Does she deserve it? Wasn't the Wards her second chance or something? I think that's what Assault said." Taylor said with curiosity.
Clockblocker shrugged. He really put his all into being expressive Taylor noted, cocking his head, raising both arms, elbows bent, hands flat… All just to shrug.
"It doesn't matter what I think, she's getting this chance from Miss Militia herself. An opportunity like that is once in a life time and not one you can turn down. I respect Miss M. a lot, so I'm going to trust her judgment on this." He said, sounding absolutely serious.
Taylor followed the logic and decided since she didn't know Miss Militia as a person, she couldn't decide if it was a good decision or not. She'd just have to trust the Protectorate member knew what she was doing.
Vista stomped over, her smile long gone.
"The sulky one informed me that we need to head back, Armsmaster and Piggot are waiting for us." Vista said with a sigh.
Clockblocker joined her, shaking his head and shoulders slumping while he let out a heart-felt sigh.
"Joy, oh, joy. Well, catch you later Port, but before we go... you sure you don't want to be Keynote? It sounds cooler." He asked, perking back up to giver her two thumbs up and she knew, she justknew, that he was grinning behind his mask.
Taylor hoped he could feel her disproving stare. She had seen Sabah use it on Mog even with her mask on and wanted to try it. She kept staring, willing him to feel disapproved of. She frowned on his shenanigans!
Clockblocker raised his hands in defense and backed away.
Victory!
Now she could add 'glare' to her list of powers.
Vista managed a small smile at their antics.
"Portunes, it's been really good to work with you, keep in touch okay?" She said, her words ringing with resignation as she bid farewell.
Taylor nodded and before she could say anything the Wards were both a building away and then another and then gone, vanished into the night.
Taylor watched them go, feeling the silence that she was so used to before settle over her like a second skin. Now though, it was depressing. She enjoyed the quiet, knowing it wouldn't be for long until she could hear her friends voices again.
Still, Clockblocker was nicer than she had expected, not nasty like Madison had been. And Vista… Vista was something else, she'd grown to really respect the younger cape. She was really knowledgeable, experienced and had fantastic control over her power. Despite her age, the girl was a veteran and yet despite that, the younger girl just had this likeable aura that made following her commands easy. Well, except when she spoke to Shadow Stalker and Taylor saw the hints of a child still lurking in the back ground of the persona. The petulance and sullenness of youth. Ah to be nearly 16, almost an adult.
But as she turned around, Taylor made a mental note to talk about abruptly leaving her on top of a building with no clear way down. Five stories up and nowhere to go.
Taylor eyed the rust covered hatch set in on corner, or maybe there was. After all, what was the use of having a the ultimate skeleton key if she didn't use it?
With a flourish, she pointed the Keyblade at the hatch and spoke in a command tone.
"Open!" She said, putting real feeling behind her words. The keyblade glowed and then shot a blue beam out which hit the hatch.
It glowed... and turned to dust, leaving an empty hole behind.
"That's not what I meant!" Taylor said, glaring at the Melody. It just lay in her hand, looking innocent. Taylor narrowed her eye. She didn't believe it for a second.
Sweating, Taylor pulled off the oven mitts and wiped at her brow, admiring her work while Mog talked in the background. School was over for the day and she had come back to the studio to find it empty. Now a few hours later, she had almost finished her task, her mission, her plan to surprise Sabah.
The patrol with the Wards last night had left her motivated.
"I've been thinking on your lack of need for a chant when you cast, kupo, it's really impressive for a new comer to magic." He said snapping Taylor's focus back to him. She blinked at him then shrugged, turning back to check the recipe book again.
Was it really that impressive? Taylor had never really thought about it.
"I didn't know it was a big deal, I use my feelings to cast, do the words matter?" Taylor asked as she grabbed a mixing bowl.
This was a new territory for her, cooking pasta was more her forte. Still she added the butter to the bowl, diced like the recipe said before putting it into the repaired microwave to melt.
Mog hummed as he thought.
"The chant helps focus your intent and desire so your magic has a clear focus to form from, kupo, but with just feelings alone? That's a rare natural talent; a lot of practitioners struggle to stop saying the names of the spells long after they have need because they needed to for so long, kupo. You have a real knack for magic." Mog praised as Taylor pulled the bowl back out the microwave and bent her head over the bowl, a pleased smile on her face from Mogs praise and seeing the butter had melted nicely.
The other night Taylor had been worried about revealing too much of her abilities, but Sabah had suggest revealing some, cure at the very least. If Taylor ever wanted to walk into a hospital and not be arrested for summoning her Keyblade to heal her father and then be stuck for hours answering questions, then it was best to let people know Taylor could at least heal before the problem arose.
It would also help boost her reputation as a cape. While it may mean some people would try and pressure her to heal them or their relatives, as a Rogue it would act as good deterrent gang wise. Even Villains liked having a healer around, especially if she showed up to Endbringer battles to work triage like she was planning. It was safe enough and earned enormous amounts of good will from Hero and Villain alike as well as letting Taylor contribute to the battle.
She could be sort of like Panacea, respected and a no go zone for villains and vaunted by civilians. Panacea only worked four hours a week in a hospital, but she was still loved and praised. Sabah had also mentioned the healer had no contact number outside her family. No email address either.
"The girl has to be getting endless requests from everyone to heal them, from the drunk who poisoned his liver, to the woman whose baby is sick. I feel sorry for her, but I'm worried they'll turn to you next, lumping everything on to your shoulders. But... I know healing your father is important and this is the likely the best way to get practice doing it. Just... be careful."
That had been her advice when Taylor started to get serious with her magic after Mog's lesson, when she'd explained her plan to practice healing at the hospital. It would also give her good cover for healing her dad.
"Well, I can only get better at magic with your help right?" Taylor said cheerfully, Mog nodded and then Boco appeared behind the counter and bent down to look at Taylor's hard work as she carefully finished mixing the cocoa in after setting some aside for the writing and began spreading.
"Boco, you don't have a stomach, there is really no point in giving you any." Taylor said, her eye rolling as Boco squawked loudly and then sighed, ruffling up his feathers.
"We do miss having taste buds, kupo." Mog said with a sigh.
Taylor rubbed his pom-pom and planted a peck on Boco's beak.
"Cheer up boys. It's movie night." Taylor said as she finished coating her creation and began using a spoon and knife to write on top, and the finishing touch. Both of the Esper's flocked to the movie shelf and began debating what they should watch tonight.
Both of them were fascinated by movies, countless untold stories just waiting to be seen. Unsurprisingly they both liked movies with happy endings, like the big softies they were on the inside.
Both literally and figuratively.
Taylor eyed her work and felt a flutter of doubt rise up in her stomach, but pushed it down as she heard the door open and Sabah drag herself in. Looks like she'd finished just in time.
She hoped Sabah liked it.
Turning around Taylor guessed in had been a very busy day. Sabah looked rumpled and tired. Normally the other girl was so well dressed, despite her fashion quirk. Usually the fashion cape was on top of everything, but some days there was just too much, too many orders, too little stock, lack of inspiration and other things, it all built up.
Sabah fell on to the couch and put a hand over her eyes and moaned at the pleasure of being off her feet. Taylor braced herself, picked up her master piece and slowly walked over. She gulped, nervous and heart fluttering at what her friends reaction would be. Taylor really hoped Sabah liked it.
"Hey." Taylor greeted and Sabah mumbled something back, hand still over her eyes. Taylor placed the plate on the new coffee table that had turned up one day outside their front door with a note on it and receipt stuck to it.
"Sorry - Jess"
Sabah had frowned at the nice wooden table but, ultimately let it stay.
It was a nice table after all.
Hearing the clatter of the plate, Sabah shifted her hand and let one eye peek out and spied the double layer, chocolate cake with icing.
"For Sabah Only." Was neatly typed in white frosting on top.
Sabah sat up slowly, looked at it and blinked. Then the older girl carefully stood and faced Taylor.
Completely silent.
They both stared at each other and Taylor felt her heart racing, nervous and uncertain about what Sabah was feeling. She'd been sure Sabah would like the cake, the older girl loved cake, especially chocolate cake. Taylor gulped as the older girl swallowed heavily, her hands trembling and lips moving oddly, almost pouting but not and…
Then Sabah grabbed Taylor and hugged her, not her usual gentle ones either, but a bone crushing hug that made Taylor gasp but she returned it just the same, glad her friend liked her gift.
"My hero." Sabah whispered into Taylor's ear.
Feeling goose bumps run down her arms Taylor shivered slightly, but still gave a thumbs up behind her friend's back to Mog, who had Boco hide the utter bombshell that was Sabah's kitchen.
The hug was great and made her feel great, but Taylor really didn't want Sabah to turn around.
It was later than night, long after movies and good times had wrapped up for the evening that Taylor found herself lying awake, unable to sleep.
She had all this energy inside her and it just wasn't settling. Probably too much cake, though she'd had fun dabbing icing on Sabah's nose and the tickle fight that had ensued. Tossing again Taylor decided enough was enough. Getting up and dressed Taylor shot a guilty look at Sabah's closed door. Her conscience was poking her to go wake her friend up, but Taylor didn't want to be a burden so she quietly scribbled a note and slipped out the front door, her costume on and hood up.
To be fair, Boco was also out somewhere and should probably be found as neither Taylor or Sabah knew where he went. Though if she were to guess, Taylor would say causing more havoc at some fast food place. Boco was usually quite gentle, but he had a chip on his shoulder about fast food places, KFC in particular.
Mog had told them not to ask.
So if Sabah woke up, she would see the note on the shiny new table that Taylor was out looking for Boco.
Taylor did bring her new work phone with her though, just in case Sabah did get worried.
But if she was being honest, now that Taylor was legally allowed to use her powers for self-defense and protection of Brockton Bay and its people, well two little streets, but who was measuring? Taylor wanted to prove that she deserved it.
Which was why Taylor toed the invisible line between the ABB and the Empire territory Parian's neutral ground straddled. The startling cut was easy to see as minor graffiti of rigid swastikas wearing crowns or the number 88 in black morphed into explosive dragon faces, Asian symbols, and the letters ABB in green and red. Taylor reasoned out that if she was in view of both areas then it doubled her chance to find some crime and, hopefully, do her thing. To do the right thing, save someone, even if she was a Rogue.
As long as they attacked her on the neutral ground, or were actually committing a crime. Otherwise they were just really obvious gang members walking on the street and would receive a nod and 'be on your way'.
Being in a gang itself wasn't illegal, regardless of that gangs activities. Legally you couldn't punish a person for what other people of the same group did. More, unless you caught them in the act, as a Rogue Taylor couldn't legally apprehend them because even if they were wanted, she was not a law enforcement officer or sanctioned Hero.
Taylor knew this, but she also thought that if you were going to be obvious about being in a gang that is known to operate on drugs, violence and slavery in the case of the ABB, then you should be prepared to have a bad time if you came into her neighborhood.
However, there was nothing. No crime in progress, no screams in the distance, no drugs deals being made in a door frame, no gang member's playing with switch knifes in the dark, nothing.
Taylor felt like this was extremely at odds of her idea of Brockton at night, despite her experience with the Wards. There was always first page coverage on Dad's paper of major crimes or fights that happened when she was fast asleep in her bed, safe at night.
Now, here she was, looking like an idiot in a really cool coat. Taylor sighed and felt the wind pick up, making a little chill without the sun to warm her, it was only just the beginning of spring after all. Maybe tomorrow night, she hoped.
Taylor paused and thought.
Tomorrow was a school night. 'Great', she thought sourly.
With a second, heavier sigh she started to head back home.
Crash!
Taylor spun at the sudden noise, the Keyblade appearing in her hand with a flash. Behind her three large... things had crashed into street.
Looking at them Taylor felt her lip curl in disgust. The creatures looked like someone had managed to persuade a lizard to have sex with a dog then flayed the result alive and then blown them up to the size of car. Looking up Taylor spotted four people, spread across the beasts, looking down at her. It had happened so fast that Taylor was struggling to take in the details of their costumes. Who were they? What the hell was going on? An invasion? Cape battle? Endbringer?
What should she do?! What should she DO?! Call the PRT? Call Sabah? Fight? Options were suddenly shooting through her head, each seemingly more ridiculous than the last.
"We don't have time for this, move!" A male voice said, a guy with a skull helmet, he rode on one the... things by himself. The monster under him shot off, followed by the other lone rider, a person in a cheap dog mask.
The last two stared down at her and the girl, a dominio mask covering half her face with a lavender outfit that was clearly far too tight as Taylor could see her… chest, suddenly urged the dog forward, moving slowly Taylor noted the guy behind her wearing a crown on his head with a white mask like one of those ball room masks. A few steps later and the thing… dog? Lizard? Whatever, came to a stop next to Taylor.
Looking up Taylor saw the girl reaching her hand down.
"Do you trust me?" She said with a grin, a giant eye design just visible on her chest when Taylor gave her… chest another glance. Taylor looked up, past the hand into the blue eyes, or were they green?
The grin seemed to light up the girls face, what was visible anyway with her domino mask. Taylor looked deep into those eyes and opened her mouth.
"Hell no! Who are you?!" She demanded.
The other girl shrugged and looked over her shoulder to speak to the guy.
"Reg?" She asked nonchalantly, as Taylor suddenly heard a loud crunching noise in the distance. 'Reg' tilted his head.
"Up and over?" He asked amused.
The girl nodded.
"Up and over."
"Grue isn't going to like this at all, which makes it even better." He said with delight and Taylor blinked at being ignored, when suddenly her legs pushed herself off the ground, without Taylor telling them to, the purple girl grabbed Taylor by the back off the cloak and slung her onto her stomach over the beasts insanely hot body in front of the blonde girl.
Taylor was speechless, she was being kidnapped! With a grunt she was about to summon the Keyblade from where it had fallen on the ground when the beast took off in a large leap, bursting into motion. Taylor screamed in shock as the ground was rapidly left behind and buildings began to blur beneath her.
"Tattletale, what the fuck do you think you're doing?" The skull guy demanded as they paused their mad dash on a roof. The purple girl, Tattletale presumably, was about to answer when the street they were just in exploded into flames.
Taylor turned her head just far enough to see down.
A giant of a man walked out of the flames. He was almost completely naked, except for the silvery scales covering parts of him and the metal mask on his face.
A dragon mask.
"Oh shit." Taylor whispered, as she watched Lung, the Unconquered Dragon and leader of the ABB look up at them, his size growing. All three dogs suddenly took off and started to move further away from ABB territory, heading towards the Empire.
"I'm being a hero, Grue! I just saved this damsel from the dragon." Tattletale yelled over the rush of air as they landed in the street again.
"You kidnapped me!" Taylor yelled and struggled to a sitting position on the monsters back.
Tattletale shrugged, her grin making Taylor want to punch her.
"Details, details, but if you really want, we'll drop you off here?" She said as another fireball impacted where they were moments before.
Taylor looked back at the burning road as they rushed away.
"I'll pass. Why is he after you?" Taylor asked loudly, wincing as her legs began to ache. Taking the momentary reprieve she summoned the Keyblade back to her, holding it up as the other girl replied.
"Stole some of his pocket change from the casinos, got unlucky when he was at one of them, what are you doing with-"
"Cure!" Taylor said, trying this chant thing and to her surprise felt her magic much more easily respond and the ache in her legs soothed out immediately. Maybe there was something to this chanting business.
With that she turned her head back to Tattletale.
"What did you say?" She asked and the other girl's eyes focused on her much harder than before and when she spoke, it was fucking creepy.
"Light is within, dark is around. There is balance and unbalance in all things. The key to save and destroy all is the key. Find the light, chase the dark, endless stars, endless worlds, all are finite, all are powerful." Tattletale said like she was having a religious experience.
Taylor gaped at her.
Reg leaned forward and waved a hand in front of her eyes.
"I think you broke her."
_