Fuse 4-3

"So why didn't you just teleport us down here?" Lisa swung our hands in time with our steps. "Then you wouldn't have to ride the elevator."

"Security asked me to stop doing it as it causes an alert every time." Sergeant Platt had been very direct with me about it.

"Oh, well, I guess that makes sense." Lisa scanned the walls likely looking for sensors or cameras or something.

"You are going to make security nervous doing that you know?"

She grinned. "Yeah, it's half the fun. Who is here today?"

"It's supposed to be everyone not still in the hospital, so no Gallant or Missy." Lisa hadn't met Dean yet as he hadn't woken from his coma yet.

"So that means Dennis, Aegis, Kid Win and Browbeat?" She asked.

I shook my head. "Browbeats's parents pulled him from the Wards and, last I heard, they were moving out of the Bay."

"Ah, that's been happening a lot." Lisa said. "The moving part I mean. I don't know much about the Wards stuff but I overheard a lot about the Bakuda situation during the trial.

I frowned. "Yeah it's not great."

Bakuda had taken to setting off weird bombs at random times and locations with mixed results. Even stranger though was little to no casualties from each event. PHO even had a brief betting pool on the next bomb type before the mods shut them down.

"When she is done testing the waters it's going to get worse." Lisa said quietly.

Well didn't that paint a pretty picture for the future. At least my transfer to Arcadia was delayed due to closure. I pushed the thought from my head and hit the button next to the door to the Ward base. The red light lit up over our heads.

Lisa quirked an eyebrow.

"It's to let us know when someone is entering that's not in the know." I explained.

"Yeah but can't they tell who are the Wards by who goes in and out of the elevators?" Lisa asked.

"Only people in the know have the code to get to the Wards floor. If you don't have the code the elevator works like normal to take you up to the upper floors. And I guess it's a thing that there are a lot of individual tours and visitors and interns and work study programs here. I don't know the full details, Assault didn't explain it very well when I asked."

"Surprise. Surprise." Lisa joked.

The light switched to green overhead and there was an audible thump as the lock disengaged and the door opened.

Carlos greeted us out of costume which made me feel better about introducing Lisa without a mask or anything to hide her identity.

Dennis too decided to forgo hiding his identity, likely due to meeting Lisa at the hospital.

Chris though wore his full Kid Win powered armor and stood feet apart and arms set in what he likely though was a heroic pose.

I frowned but Lisa's grin bloomed into a full smile.

"Please don't tease him." I whispered to Lisa. "He takes it hard."

Lisa nodded ever so slightly and stride forward pulling me along by our joined hands. "Hi, it's good finally meet the rest of you." She said looking at Dennis first.

"My lady you wound me." Dennis placed a dramatic hand over his heart. "Surely you remember me from the hospital?"

Lisa looked him over. "Doesn't ring any bells." She gave him a wink to show she was joking and Dennis being the over the top guy he was fell to the floor with exaggerated sobs of woe.

Carlos rolled his eyes and kicked him. "You know Dennis. I'm Carlos, Aegis in costume, and this," he knocked on Kid Wins armor. "Is Kid Win."

Kid raised a hand in greeting. "Uh, um, hi."

Carlos raised his eyes to the ceiling as if asking god for guidance. Dennis just started laughing on the floor.

I looked between them and then to Lisa, her eyes were lit up and she was biting the corner of her lip in the way that I was sure meant she was trying not to say something.

Then I got it.

Kid Win, Chris, was crushing on Lisa.

I squeezed Lisa's hand and gave it a small shake.

"Well my name is Lisa, and I used to be a villain but now I'm a Ward of Brockton Bay cause my girlfriend," She waggeled my arm for emphasis. "Stood up for me to the PRT. So now I get to stay here instead of getting shipped off to the west coast." Her delivery was cheery but you wouldn't know it by the way Kid just kind of shut down.

"I've, uh got to go, meeting Armsmaster." He started for the door but Dennis grabbed him by the shoulder.

"Nuh uh." Dennis spun kid around and sling an arm over the younger boy's shoulder. "All the adult Heroes are pulling overtime while us Wards are grounded. Armsmaster is probably either on patrol or asleep, best we leave him alone yeah? No need to go running off just cause you got your hopes up. Come on, before Aegis go all team leader on us."

Carlos let it slide and watched as Dennis dragged Kid off to his little workshop they had converted from Sophia's old room.

"Um sorry about that." Carlos apologized. "He's a good kid, and we told him not to get his hopes up."

"It's okay." Lisa waved it off. "Puberty is a bitch."

Carlos laughed. "Yeah, can be. But ya know as a Ward now, maybe keep from cursing."

Lisa gave him a level look.

"At least around the younger ones and tours, alright?" Carlos asked.

"Yeah sure." Lisa looked around the Ward Base, no doubt using her power to glean unknown information. "Probably won't be participating in any of the tours though. I am kinda supposed to be dead."

Carlos frowned. "I heard about that, thought it was just a rumor though. I mean I can't see the secret staying secret for long."

Lisa shrugged. "I know I know, Too many eyes and ears. But that's the story and that's how the PRT and I want to play it."

Carlos looked skeptical. "What will happen, will happen?"

"Pretty much." Lisa nodded. "Which room am I in and can I share with Taylor?"

Carlos looked uncomfortable. "Yeah, so, well, you can't bunk with Taylor due to your relationship so you will be in the room next door with Flechette when she gets here."

My heart dropped. I liked Missy well enough but I wanted to room with Lisa. More that she was my best friend than that she was my pretend? girlfriend. I was going to have to get her alone and ask about that.

"God!" Lisa scoffed. "What do they think, that Taylor and I will rip each other's clothes off as soon as we are alone?"

I felt the heat in my cheeks and I could see Carlo's embarrassed blush.

"I mean hell I've barely gotten to second base!" Lisa threw up her arms in apparent exasperation.

I touched my cheeks to make sure they weren't actually on fire.

Carlos got a weird look in his eyes before he shook his head a pointedly did not look in my direction.

"Lisa!" I hissed. "Please stop."

Lisa gave me an apologetic look that she immediately ruined with a wink. "Be honest, do you really want me to?"

"Not here!" I should have chosen my words more carefully.

"Ah well of course not." Lisa put a had to her chest. "I like attention, but I'm no exhibitionist when it comes to bedroom activities."

I gave her me best glare.

"I, uh, I'm going to goooooo," Carlos kind of awkwardly shuffled away.

I put my hands on Lisa's shoulders and guided her to my shared room.

"Keep the door open!" Dennis called.

I flipped him the finger before I shut the door a little harder than necessary.

"You aren't upset." Lisa said as she plopped down onto the twin sized bed on my side of the room. "Why the act."

"Cause it was the easiest excuse to get you alone." I debated and decided against locking the door.

Lisa raised an eyebrow at my word choice.

"Not like that." I rolled my eyes. "No, I wanted to clarify something."

"Oh, that." Her mouth twisted in distaste. "I thought it might be coming."

That didn't sound good.

"Ok." She blew out in a breath. "Sit?" She gestured next to her.

I sat. "Soooo."

"Mmmm." She hummed in agreement. "You first."

Of course. "The girlfriend thing."

She remained silent.

"Is it real or an act?" I clarified.

"First one but mayyybe it could be the other." Lisa hedged. "I mean, my power hasn't been nearly as bad as I thought, or at least you haven't been weird or mad about it. Soooo it's possible that we could work."

Butterflies filled my stomach.

"I'm attracted to you and I feel like you are attracted to me so I mean yeah, sure, why not." She met my eyes. "Go ahead. Ask me."

I sputtered. "What?"

Her freaking grin was in full force. "Well I mean you kissed me first so you should ask me first."

My jaw dropped. "You told me to!"

"And I'm telling you to ask me."

"Fine. Would you be my girlfriend?" I asked.

"What are you asking me to the school dance? Put feeling into it." She laughed.

I huffed and moved to get up but she grabbed my arm and pulled me back, pushing me down on to the bed as she did.

I didn't resist. "What are you doing?"

She pushed me until I was laying all the was back and she straddled my hips. "Saying yes." She bent down over me and kissed my lips.

.

A knock on the door woke us up, her laying mostly on top of me and head resting on my shoulder.

Another knock.

"Come in!" Lisa called blearily.

Ugh no. I wanted them to go away.

Miss Militia opened the door and we could hear Assault just beyond. "Unlocked? Kink- ow!"

Battery must be present too.

"They are decent." Miss Militia reported.

"Of course we are." Lisa sat up. "We were just taking a nap."

"Then why was the door shut?" Miss Militia folded her arms over her chest as of expecting to read a lie.

"I always shut it when I take a nap." I answered. "It wasn't locked and we didn't do anything."

In the dim light of the room I couldn't see Miss Militia's expression but her posture was one of wariness. "Any way, get up and get ready in costume Taylor. The Ward transfers are almost here."

"What about me?" Lisa asked.

Miss Militia tossed her a blank mask. "You will remain here with Battery until the newcomers can be brought below."

"Still with the babysitters?" Lisa huffed. "I get it, you fucked up with Shadow Stalker and now you want to make sure I'm a success."

"Don't use your power on me." Miss Militia growled.

"Yeah well I can't always turn it off." Lisa snapped back.

I decided to intervene. "Yeah, so do I need to be in costume?"

Miss Militia focused on me. "Yes. It is now required that all Wards wear their costumes when not on base or at home."

I shook my head. "That doesn't make any sense."

"Something happened." Lisa said. "While we were asleep."

"Do not use you power on me." Miss militia snapped.

"I told you I can't just turn it off!" Lisa's retort was heated.

"Really it not all that bad." I got up out of the bed and punched in the code to my costume wardrobe.

"That's so Batman." Lisa consented on the wardrobe.

I shrugged. I had only ever heard of the Aleph Superhero. Supposedly he had his own comic series, television shows and movies on the other side. I wonder if he even had powers or it was just an Aleph Hollywood stunt?

"Um, the costume is a little hard to put on by myself." I tried not to blush. "Is it okay if Lisa helps? Usually Vista helps."

"I can help you." Miss Militia offered.

"To be honest I'd rather it be my girlfriend." I said. While I didn't dislike Miss Militia, I wasn't about to strip with her in the room.

"C'mon M&M leave 'em be. They have been responsible enough so far." Assault drawled from outside the door.

"The transport will be landing within the hour." Miss Militia turned on her heel and left.

Assault poked his head in, winked, and pulled the door closed as he withdrew.

"Ugh, having her as a mentor is going to suck." Lisa groaned.

"Ask to switch with Missy." I started pulling my costume out of the wardrobe. "She used to be paired with Miss Militia and she said she liked it."

"Who does she have now?"

I laid the costume out on the bed. "Battery, but Missy doesn't like how Battery tries to mother her. I mean don't get me wrong the two get along but I think Missy would prefer to switch back."

Lisa came over to inspect my costume. "Looks tight."

I gave her a sideways look. "Says the former villain who wore a skin tight costume with nothing underneath."

"Not by choice." She defended.

"I didn't exactly design my costume either." I pointed out.

It was her turn to give me a look. "But you like it."

"I do like it."

She looked me over. "So which part did you need help with? The undressing?"

I tried to hold back the wave of embarrassment, but I still couldn't look her in the eyes. She was my girlfriend now. "If you want to." Out of the corner of my eye I saw her mouth drop open.

It took her a moment before she sighed. "I do, but for the sake of expediency and the fact that we just went through the whole 'we can be trusted' talk, you better do it an I'll help zip you up."

So I did, trying not to be too embarrassed by stripping down to my underwear in front of Lisa, girlfriend or not. Lisa passed me pieces of the costume as I asked for them until we got to the first padded layer.

"Holy shit." She said holding up the article. "You have an armored corset? How did I not notice at the Bank?"

"It's not a corset." I took it from Lisa.

"Oh yeah? What would you call it?" Lisa cocked one eyebrow at me as I struggled into it.

"Armored shirt." I grumbled. The damn thing was a bit heavy and stiff.

"Sweetheart, it thins your middle and accentuates your breasts. It's a corset." She said in a patient tone.

"No it also goes up over my shoulders and-" I stopped.

"And what?" She looked amused. "Tightens in the back?"

I clenched my jaw and didn't look her way.

She laughed. "Come here I'll tie it for you."

"It's not a corset."

"Sure sure. It's an armored shirt." She agreed.

"Thank-"

"That looks like a corset." She added.

I took a deep breath through my nose.

"I'm kidding." She spun me around and ran her hands over the costume. "It looks good on you."

"Still need to put on the belt and coat." I reminded her.

"Belt first." Lisa held it up. It had a few loops on the belt itself for the coat to clip onto. It helped keep the coat from billowing so much in the wind or when trying to move quickly.

Once I had put on the coat and took a moment to pull at tug at the costume so that everything was in place and comfortable.

"It really is a nice costume once it's all together." Lisa eyed me. "The corset did a lot more for your chest size than I expected."

"It's extra padded." I said, then added. "And it's not a corset."

She ignored me. "Actually, you know what? I am surprised you don't have some kind of heroic underwear or like a bullet proof bra or something."

What? "Why the hell would I have those?"

"I mean they gave you an armored cors-"

"It's not a corset!" I said through my teeth.

"Keep telling yourself that," she said airily. "You might believe it eventually."

I decided to let it go. She would only continue so long as she knew it would wind me up.

"But seriously, imagine it. Bullet proof breasts." She angled her fingers.

"Probably wouldn't be comfortable." I gave a pointed look at her chest. "Or very supportive."

She smiled brightly. "They are not that big just perky."

I pushed the thought or her breasts away from my brain.

"Sure rub it in." I said.

She winked at me. "Maybe later when we don't have a potential audience outside the door."

Damn her teasing.

She read my face, or body, maybe even my brain. "Sorry I'll try to rein it in while we are at work."

She came over and gave me a hug and, perhaps inevitably, squeezed my ass with both hands.

I made to do the same in retaliation but as soon as my hands touched her jeans my brain caught up to my hormones and I chickened out.

Lisa laughed.

Fighting the blush, I pulled away from her and opened the door.

Assault and battery were waiting for us to emerge, or perhaps burst in and separate two horny teens that they seemed to think we were.

"See told ya." Assault looked smug. "Taylor's a good kid."

Okay, so, Battery thought we were horny teens.

"Told her what?" Lisa came out of the room eyes sparkling. No doubt she sensed a chance for more of her fun.

"Nothing." Battery waved it off. "Assault and Taylor are going to the Rig and we," She gestured to Lisa and herself. "Are staying here."

"Pffff Fine." She gave me a wave and gave a little jog before doing a flying belly flop onto one of the couches. "See you when you get back." She called.

"See you." I returned.

"What no kiss goodb-uh!" Assault's teasing was cut short by Battery's fist in his gut. "Ugh...okay, see you in a bit dear."

.

Author's Note: I tried to have this out for Valentines Day but it dint come together as quickly as I hoped. though I suppose it rarely does. Any who, we finally got there. Taylor/Lisa relationship is now official! Yay now we can have relationship dramaaa…. hmmm, the down side to pairings. Fun.

Wooo, so next chapter Flechette, Weld, and a mystery Cape will be coming to town. I've only hinted at Mystery Cape's arrival but I'm pretty sure I have never referred to them specifically. I really want to know if anyone can guess who it is. You can always drop your guess in the review box below. (Behold my clever scheme to get reviews!)

Thank you to all of you whom have fav and/or followed! Hell, thanks to y'all whom have taken the time to read this far too! and super thanks to you guys who have taken the time to review! I love getting the feedback and I have been trying to respond via PM to those of you with questions, concerns or whom may want a little more depth of info about a specific part of the story.

Happy Valentine's Day...or if you are like me this year, Singles Day. You know, which ever you were celebrating.

Much Love,

K. Raiden