A Silk-like Word - or 'A listening ear can do much to a troubled girl' (Worm, Taylor's Therapist!SI)

EDIT: This begins from the very start of Worms, but the sessions have been unfolding for longer.

(Self)-Introspection 1.1

"How are you today, Taylor?"

Had this question been asked by someone else, the girl known as Taylor Hebert would have freaked out.

Not much on the basis of someone trying to coax such an important thing out of her, but rather due to how very few people deserved it and quite a lot didn't even deserve a glance from her.

The man in question was neither of those things, but nonetheless got an answer from her out of a sense of respect that was unique for him and her.

"I am… well."

A bit forceful, but not a lie. It was the afternoon, she had already shedded some of the sourness born from the bullying attempt she dodged. It's been months now since she had actively started to avoid her bullies, using her powers through 'clever ways' as the individual in front of her had defined.

That's not to say all of those worked, but Taylor had noticed a severe decrease of attempts due to how easily she could get the Trio exposed to teachers without letting them shift the pin on her. It happened twice before she 'picked up the pace', so Taylor knew better than expose herself too much around them.

"I am glad to hear that," The man before her gaze hummed with calculated delight.

When her father had started to pay this individual, Taylor had been reluctant to go along with these sessions- after all, what teen girl would go through the hassle of putting her problems through a shrink? Actually, that wouldn't be the full truth.

John was not a shrink, but a therapist. He was not a psychologist in his professional assistance, but could technically tackle that sort of matter if approached on the topic. He wasn't there to put her through a diagnosis, but to listen to what she had to say and… speak back to her.

Sounds simple and stupid, but Taylor had the opportunity to be proven wrong in a relatively acceptable way. The first session was what set up the tone with this man- she thought he would have just 'robbed' her dad with the kind of tariff he had going, but it was cheap enough to allow the always-busy Danny Hebert to keep the money flowing without denting too much on their income.

In fact, most of the cut came from her pocket money and, considering how little she got from it anyway, Taylor was not that upset by it. She would even go as far to say it was best this way.

Previously, she would have scoffed at the notion of opening up to someone like John, but the man was a master of his craft. He started to just ask about her. Not her problems, not her dreadful thoughts or even the source of her depressive self. Instead, he would focus on what made Taylor Hebert happy. And the answer to that was pathetically limited.

Nonetheless to this very trouble, her Therapist kept on focusing mostly on this. And then he started to slowly dissect the many dilemmas she had. Traumas, bullies, and self-doubt.

All at once, they were fearsome, but when tackled within their intensity, keeping track of the weakest to then work up to the strongest issue, they can falter quite easily. It all started with her first bad memory-

The 'Bus Meth Accident' was something that set the stage for her constant paranoia. The thought of being 'surprised' by the sight of something so horrendous so unexpectedly had always characterized her perception of novelty. The sight of something so scary as a child, then followed by her mother's passing… it was all so fleeting.

She was afraid of losing her own life. And John had taken some time to defuse such a fright. Time that taught her coping mechanisms to use out of school, while other mechanisms were meant for her school days. It was a lie to say she could keep quiet for long about the Trio if she was exposed so much to someone for so long.

The conversations they had every few days eventually brought that up, and her therapist gave her some 'directions'. Trusting the school was not possible, she thought it was just a matter of favoritism due to the rich status of some of the trios, but Taylor actually took a while to realize… it wasn't either Madison or Emma.

It was Sophia Hess.

How? Well, she had started to investigate the matter by John's own advice. Her investigation was kicked off when she brought up the three and… John pointed out something Taylor had missed with all the bullying she got subjected to-

"What if there is more to Sophia? She is quite the vicious thing but… why is it so towards you in particular?"

She was weak. That's what Taylor told him, but she admitted there was more to it. The bespectacled girl knew she couldn't ask around, and had to study her 'predator'. Sophia was a sports-junkie, and a very unlikable individual to those at school.

Which is why it became evident to her that it had to do with her family life. She decided to actually follow her around. Sophia was so engrossed in her own boredom she didn't pick up Taylor tailing her and… eventually the sporty girl made a mistake. She got a call from someone, rushed to a nearby alley and then proceeded to rush out as Shadow Stalker.

Taylor was stunned- no, she was horrified by the discovery as it created a new layer or two of problems. This explained why the favoritism was so prominent compared to other cases- why there wasn't much of a chance for her to survive at Winslow High without getting chewed up by the trio.

She had to leave her current school. An impossible dream at first glance, with her father's job not giving her enough to move to a private establishment like Arcadia High.

But…

"I got an answer from your application."

John offered her a chance. She first had to speak with her father about it, convince him that it was a necessity as she needed to leave that school due to something she discovered and that was related to capes (cue giving him a scare on what was going on with the real reason that was driving her to leave Winslow High), and then muster the courage to actually go through what she was given- a form to compile and then sent.

"I have some… favors to cash in with the Director of the PRT ENE, so I know she may be willing to listen to a potential Internship for you," John had mentioned back then, raising quite an opportunity for the girl to learn more about.

"Would it require my… powers?" Taylor inquired, looking back at that even older conversation in regard to her 'unique' powers. She had been forced into a trigger via trauma, the accident still a good way to sour her mood from time to time whenever she thought of it but… right now, it was fitting how this worked with her situation.

"No. In fact, I think you will do better to not use them around the director since she has a… negative perspective on some capes. She doesn't like bullies."

That! Yes, she was told that the woman known as Emily Piggot was more than just that, but this very trait gave her hope. It was enough to put her through it with the hope to no longer be subjected to this. Some months with a part-time job and she would be free for good from that nightmare of a school.

Time and patience were things Taylor could offer, so she went along with and… today was the day of answers.

"I guess you are prepared for the response," John finally said after making sure the girl was in a good mood. "Here."

Taylor dropped any hope at the earliest. Not because she thought she had failed, but to limit any potential disappointments. After all, the answer wouldn't be a good or bad one only, but it could have some severe limitations even if it was a good one.

Much to her relief, it was good. The gripe came right as she read through the lines as she saw a few things that lessened her smile. The long hours, the tiny wage, the hard work… Her father told her that working was rough early on but this felt a touch more tough than what she had at school.

Well, the school's homework. The bullying issue is another thing.

"It's… good."

John nodded and smiled. "I am happy then, you should keep track of the date listen near the end as it will be where you will go through some introduction and a bit of an interview- it is a formal thing, nothing that really changes much."

Taylor tensed up at the mention of an interview, but could tell that her therapist wasn't lying. She was happy, that was a thing, but words failed to truly capture the 'right' feeling. As, while she was happy for the news, the warmth in her chest, which had grown considerably now, was giving her some 'awkwardly wrong' for the occasion.

Still, Taylor outpaced the awkwardness just this time. "T-Thank you. For this."

He smiled, her heart fluttering and nodded. "You're welcome."

Her day was made with that. She was happy, and nothing would change that. As she left after their usual handshake, Taylor was ready to just go back to her homework and read a bit at home.

But while she was leaving, she noticed a younger girl coming through. Short blonde hair, pretty green eyes and a curious dress on her as she beamed and walked into the room she just left.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't little Missy."

"Big bro!"

…John has a sister?

AN

Starting with a loud enough bang where the 'foundation' of the canon is shaken up considerably. And no, Missy Biron is not John's patient- she is someone that John took care of extensively before starting to work by being her babysitter.