Disclaimer: I don't own Victorious or any of it's characters. Dan Schneider, Schneider's Bakery, and Nickelodeon have the rights. I own the original characters, and this story is for entertainment purposes only.
:}
Tori was panting as she practiced her fighting skills, all while waiting for her mother to get home. "Okay, again." She told the man standing only yards away. But Marty Harris wasn't too thrilled in helping his mentors daughter train.
"Look, It's getting late, and I really need to be getting home soon…." He gestured away, wanting nothing more then to place this house behind him. 'Was so thrilled when I was invited to Steel's home. But no, not some warm reception, not being asked to dinner or to meet the family. No, I'm here cause Steel's out, and his crazy ass second daughter wants to train.' His mind shifted to evaluate the training so far. 'Girls lasted, but only cause she's gotten lucky, over and over. But no one lasts forever. Especially not when they push their luck. No way she can last more then another round, and so her luck just ran out...'
"Tori, you out here?" Andre asked, walking through the open house to look in the back yard. Outside, he saw something he'd never have guessed, his own cousin sparring with the sometimes clumsy girl. "Okay, maybe I should just leave…?"
"Nah, it's all good." Marty told his younger cousin. "I was asked by Miss Vega here to help go over some of her moves, cause her dad, he's kinda a legend. Wanted to see how far his apples had fallen from the family tree."
"Yea, Tori's not the violent type." Andre said. "Course, now, if someone hurt her, they'd have to deal with her raging girlfriend."
"Girlfriend?" The concealed police hero asked. "Okay, I get why you wanted to be more sure of your combat skills, which are above average, even if you rely on luck way to much. Just, I get it, even in L.A., we still get gay bashing's. Plus, the freaks out there, and the chiz they believe..." His breath hitched as the memories of some of the horrible things he'd heard of flashed through his mind.
"Yea, probably for the best." Dre agreed. "I mean, sure, Jade's tough, and she can scare off most normal folk, but there's only so much scissors can do to dissuade those with bad intents."
"Jade, huh?" The police man asked. 'That sounds familiar...'
"Yea..." Andre's eyes popped open. "Maybe you'd know this, but Jade, scary goth girl, she's on probation..." His voice begged for more.
"Probation, huh?" The police super wondered. 'Okay, Constable, what the hell have I just walked into. Did Steel let one of his daughters date that maniac that we fought, months ago? Is that something I should worry about? Or is there a method to his madness, cause that girl, she was scary powerful, but worked her ass off not to seriousness kill anyone when we fought. Would have been so easy to do, cause she was tearing up the landscape, and that chiz was asphalt and cement. Plus, in that training, girl worked hard to be one of the good guys, so...' Thinking fast, Marty decided on his cover story. "Sorry, man, I'm doing training, for like the police Athletics league and such. Not too aware of probation kids outside the one's assigned to one of my classes."
"That's cool." Andre said. "Jade's actually kinda good, if you can get past her dark edge. But Tori here, she's smitten, and it seems like she's slipped past Jade's defenses more then Beck, Jade's ex, ever did."
"What else can you tell me about this girl." Marty asked, well aware that he may be stepping on some dangerous grounds.
"Jade's got her secrets." Andre told his cousin.
"But she's not that bad." Tori countered. "I mean, sure, she can be dangerous, and I swear, if I ever hear about some scissor based super criminal, I wouldn't be surprises. But she's trying to be better, and I make her want to be better. Cat makes her want to be better, just more in a sisterly way. Hell, as long as she has something to gain, she can be truly wonderful."
"Yea, sounds like." Marty nodded. "Tori, I'm willing to work with you, but if you wanna learn, ask Trina. Girls good, better even then me. Still, happy to help. Sometimes, I feel like you're dad keeps those of us he works with at arms distance. But today, as much of a trick as it was, asking me here under false pretenses, I'm glad to help, cause we need to be closer. And Andre, if this whole musician thing doesn't work out..."
"I should try being a cop?" Dre asked.
"No, you'd be chiz at it." The older boy said, chuckling. "Sorry, but if you hadn't noticed yet, then you should give being a cop a pass." His body shook as he laughed.
"Kay, that hurts." Andre told his best friend.
"Yea, what could he mean?" Tori's voice edged on false, as worry pushed into her mind about what The Constable might be hinting at.
"This Jade girl, she may be seriously dangerous, but she's not gonna go all dark on ya, cause you already know how protective of her friends she can be. Heck, you've told me that much, in the past, without even realizing how important that kinda chiz can be. It plays to motivation. We, as police, think about motivation all the time. Helps to catch criminals if we can think like the criminals, predict what they'd do in any situation. No, this Jade, she's not bad news, she just needed someone who could love her for being the dark girl she is right now, as well as see the bright light she could be. Yea, nothing to worry about, cause I have no intention of hurting Tori here." Mary said, and as he said it, he felt better about projects he only knew the barest details about. 'Odds are this Jade is the Black Dahlia, and if that's true, then maybe Misses V is more on top of things then I'd ever have imagined. Then again, how ruthless is a woman willing to use her own children to control a weapon like that girl. I saw the results, just a short while ago, at that training.'
Meanwhile, both teens felt oddly hurt by the older boys humor at their predicament. Still, Tori had to agree, given what Jade had been through, and what she'd found out from her parents, it was kinda surprising that none of her close friends had figured out at least some of her dark secrets. 'Then again, how much do I know about her? I know her grandfather was the villain Pandion, and that he gave the police some crown thingy that let him turn into a mythic version of dad. Other then that, don't know that much. Her mom's a manipulative shrew, her dad's cold and distant, and Jade somehow wound up full of this passion that needs direction.' Tori's thoughts turned darkly sardonic. 'Yea, no way I could have missed her turning into an uber potent mage. Not like there was a single clue.'
Trina got home, smiling about her day. "There was a sale at Marvins, and I got my hands on a new pair of Fellini boots, half off. I know, I have a pair, but not in this color, and not this seasons design. Now, I just need something to wear them with, and all's good." She was barely aware of the three people in her home. "Oh, hi Marty. Andre."
"Trina." Both cousins greeted, though Andre wasn't too thrilled about it. "Wait, you know her?"
Marty glanced at Dre. "Yea, I know her. Of course I know her. I know her like I know Tori here." Inwardly adding 'Only I know her better, cause that girl is like her dad. Fast, strong, she could be Constable next, if she wanted. Wonder why their not training her to fill her dads roll then? Or maybe they are, and I'm just not cleared to know. And why the chiz did they expose her to the procedure, when it costs like a million dollars, and she's not even a cop yet.'
Trina, for her part, was ready to just dismiss the guys. "Anyways, Tori, I was thinking, with my job paying as much as it does, who knew being adored by the Spanish speaking community paid so well, but given how much it pays, I can afford this pair of boots, as well as a couple of outfits to go with. So, I was thinking, maybe after diner, we hit the stores, and you can tell me how hot I look in the various dressed." Her smile was contagious. "Now, I know, we're sisters, so you'd never think of me that way, but given that you're into lady parts now, you'll have a better eye for what the boys might like. I mean, someone has to represent in this family, right?"
"And with that, I'm out." Marty declared. "Dre, you need a ride?"
"Nah, I'm good." The younger Harris replied. "Just came over to spend some time with my best friend while her girlfriend is on lockdown." His smile faltered for a moment. "Not saying she is, cause it looks like her life is getting better and better. Just saying that, she has to go home, right? After she finishes whatever, she has to go home, and can't just head out and hang, cause of probation and all. So you're here, without your lover, and I wanted to hang, in a friendly, brotherly, non-dating kind of way, cause even constrained, I just know Jade can hurt me in ways I never wanna feel."
Marty walked out, ignoring his cousin, cause some things were just too much, only to see the Vega matriarch arriving. "Groceries, right? Otherwise, you park down stairs, in the garage, right?"
"Sometimes, we just park out here cause." Holly informed the man. "So, what brings you here?"
"Tori wanted a sparring partner." Marty said. "She has some skills, but she relies on dumb luck too much. One of these days, sooner then later, her luck is gonna run out, and she's gonna get seriously hurt. I just, I get why, but she needs to calm down, take fewer risks."
"Tori has her reasons." The mother assured the boy. "Look, I'm home, and in mother mode now. If you wanna talk, drop by the project. Just not tomorrow, cause I have some civilian things to deal with. Maybe after, like Thursday? I have a new recruit, not a criminal, not yet, but he has potential to go either way, and I want as many good influences as I can find around him. So, Thursday?"
"One condition." Marty said. "I get to find out why Trina went through the Constable conditioning. Girls too young."
Holly warred with herself, then told a truth she knew this man could find out anyways, if he was just determined enough. "She didn't. Turns out, the conditioning, it gets into your genetics, and can pass some traits to the next generation."
"Then why isn't Tori like strong and swift and chiz?" Marty's voice had dropped, even as he felt like he was yelling.
"Because it's a random, but often beneficial, mutation." Holly explained. "Toir's powers are different, and not meant for front line fighting. It's okay, cause she has someone to protect her."
"Dahlia?" The metahuman said. "Yea, Dre was talking, told me about Tori's new girl, and I figured, given what I know already, odds are this Jade chick is Dahlia."
"You can find out anyways." Holly sighed. "Not the way I'd have planned it, but thanks to Tori's quirk, it's all working out for the best." Her eyes screamed a warning, that there was far more then she'd admit, even to this man. "So, Thursday?"
"Thursday." Officer Harris agreed. 'Man, this woman has metachildren? That's hard core.'
At school, things were progressing in the Vega's odd metahuman world. Meredith was not to thrilled to be hanging out with Trina, but figured her rep was secure, while her potential inclusion in the Blue Generation Initiative wasn't. Hanging out with the one of the only other two member she knew about at Hollywood Arts was her insurance that the older girl would keep her word. 'Even if it's a long shot, to fulfill my mom's wish, maybe that would make my life mean something...' The agreeable girl thought, even as she endured the odd looks that were shot her way. "So, Trina, any chance you could help me brush up on my fighting skills? I was thinking of going out for this part, and it requires more fighting then just our stage fighting class."
Trina tried not to be too hurt when she saw a look of understanding flash across the assembled students in the Asphalt cafe. 'Of course, there has to be a reason why someone would want to be my friend. Well, jokes on all of you, cause I have friends. Hell, when she's not busy trying to live up to far too many peoples idea of what a good girl should be, Meri here is my fucking friend, which is why she wants me to train her in hand to hand. She needs to be ready, just in case...'
"Did you see what Steve Trevor was wearing today?" Meredith asked out of the blue. "Man, talk about retro. That look went out of fashion like a century ago."
"Yea, but he thinks it works." The older girl said, enjoying an actual moment that somehow snuck through their forced cohabitation of the lunch table. "He's hot enough, but man, that look, and his attitude, as dated as his wardrobe. It makes me wonder, what is wrong with him?"
"I guess you'd have to be some kind of wonder woman to reform him." Meri noted. "Tyler was wearing black again. I'm thinking, with Jade on the out, he's thinking there's room to be goth again in this school." She flashed a smile. "Only the dark, depressing goth, and not the leather and lace, danger, you might lose something you'll be wanting down the line type that Jade represented."
"Jade was never really goth." Trina said. "Maybe one of the sub-types, but not the traditional goth. Girl was way into her popularity, and her fashion sense, and lets be honest, the only real thing about her that was goth was the pale skin and dark hair. That, and her fascination with the dark, mystic world around us. No, we just snagged onto the closest term we could find, and held on. Goths tend to be outsiders, not one of the most popular kids in school. Goths rarely are the mean girl. Jade, she doesn't really fit, but lets be honest, given her place at school, was anyone gonna argue? No, so Tyler did what anyone would, and that's try to blend in, least he draw her attention, and god she can be scary sometimes."
Meredith was chuckling at a hidden truth the two knew about said girl. "True that. But still, Jade's on the down low now, except she is making a comeback, as much as she can. That's good. I just, we're cleared, right? Maybe she could abandon the library and come eat lunch with us. It can't hurt your rep, and I'm enough of a chameleon that I can eat with just about anyone. Plus, we can get Tori to sit with us. Then, I can at least feel like I'm once again among my peers."
"Careful, Meri." Trina warned. "We don't need folks hearing things we can't hope to explain."
"True." The sweet girl agreed. "So, who among Beck's group do you think has a clue about Jade?" She glanced towards the so called main people.
"Robbie." Trina told her.
"Robbie?" Meredith almost jerked back to glare at her companion, eyes slashing back and forth to the table where Tori was sitting, Jade still in the library, but insisting her girlfriend eat with the popular kids for now. "That Robbie? With the puppet? I mean, sure, I know he was the one ythey gave that crown thingy to, but Robbie?"
"Yep, that Robbie." Trina said. "And I know cause I found out from Mister Abra himself that Rob had been looking into things and stumbled into the dark of Dahlia's history."
"Mister….?" The sweet girl wondered. "You mean Mister Cadabra's sidekick? Man, that guy had, like, a dozen sidekicks throughout his career. Mom said the guy was prolific as hell in training them, but then, one by one, they'd just go poof, and be gone. No idea why, other then the couple that died on the job."
"Graduation." Trina said while shrugging. "Mister Alexander thinks that Cadabra was training as many street hero's as he could, thinking it would make LA a safer place. And, if you recall, back in the fifties, when Cadabra was growing up, corruption in the city made the whole place kinda dangerous. Add in the gangs of the eighties, towards the end of his carer, when he had two sidekicks at once, and you can see why he wanted as many heroes as possible out there." Her brown eyes met the other girls. "At least, that's what Lane claims."
"Makes sense." Meredith said. "Michael looking nice today."
"Cross or Phillips?" Trina asked.
"Phillips!" The other girl said, making a face. "Who'd like Michael Cross? I mean, eww..."
"And here I thought you liked everybody." Trina chuckled.
"Not gonna date the ugly ones." Meredith said, her eyes catching another person watching the outdoor cafe. "Festus is still keeping watch."
"Festus is lucky he's not in jail." Trina hummed, not really caring. "Henchmen don't deserve second chances."
"God, you sound like your dad." Meri groaned. "Festus is serving his community service, and not getting paid that much for his efforts."
"I've seen his car." Trina said. "I've also seen the townhouse he's living in. Man is doing all right, if you discount his crappy car, and the other chiz the department insists he have in order to maintain the image of a simple school food truck worker slash owner."
"He doesn't own the grub truck." Meredith reminder her companion.
"Yea, the LAPD do." Trina nodded. "But he does have a useful ability, and that's why he got that sweetheart deal, with parole after such a short time in prison, as well as his records cleared enough to work around children."
"Not that potent." Meredith said. "But yea, useful." She sighed. "Wish I could do that. I mean, sure, after he eats anything spoiled, he becomes three times as strong, tough, and resilient as a normal man, if only for a little while. And yea, and that's just not that much. But it's hella more then I have."
"Whats Kalib thinking?" Trina asked, pointing said boy out.
"That Michael has a nice ass." The reader said. "And you don't wanna know which one."
Both girls made a face, then burst out laughing.
:}
More secrets told, and a bit of fun towards the end as two of the BGI kids get to bond a bit over shared secrets. Funny, in 2000, a superhero parody was made called "The Specials." It was not popular, mostly because, while it is a story about a super hero team, it was more about the lives and drama's of the hero's then them actually doing anything. I loved it, but I also acknowledge that, super hero stories, they do need some action. I'll see what I can do. However, if you get the chance, see that movie, It's different, and you'll never think quite the same things about how super teams work. Or, just watch the Boys, cause it has a lot more action, as well as… No spoilers.