"You were in a dungeon, weren't you?" Billy asked as he saw Five enter his room with a bounce in her step.
Her grin confirmed it. He could see her steps were quieter and her stance had subtly changed.
"I've maxed out the leaf exercise and the wall walking exercise," Five said proudly, dropping to sit on the bed next to him. The literal hours of running up trees and the countless times she fell in the water came to mind.
"And I've upped more skills when waiting for my Charka to regenerate." Billy smiled at her enthusiasm. Good for her.
"Also, in the ninja mobs, they can use chakra and Jutsu," at that Billy looked surprised.
"You know, I was worried that you wouldn't be able to learn Jutsu as there were no teachers but... That's actually a relief to hear." He admitted, pulling her into a one-armed hug.
Five stiffened as she realized she hadn't spoken to Billy about her decision in the hero department.
"You know, I've been thinking about what you said a few weeks back. About the gig?" His grip on her arm squeeze slightly as he listened. Her mind drifted to her files.
"She died alone. Stephanie. She didn't make it to Leslie's clinic. Bled out a few alleyways from it. She never deserved it. The bats didn't deserve her. And now I'm her. I need to continue her legacy. Forge it in steel so other people don't die as she did." Five stated, her eyes hardening along with her resolution.
"Together. We will do it together. Partners." Billy agreed calmly. Kissing her cheek lovingly.
This was point of intimacy was limited that they reluctantly agreed to.
With her biological body of a seventeen-year-old, legally it would be jailbait. Four months until she 'turned' eighteen again and she could progress her relationship more public after that. Right now, it was close but outside the house, it was arm's length.
"Yes. Together. As we always do." Her gaze softened on his green eyes. Green eyes were still weird to look at. She wasn't going to deny he was more attractive but his mannerisms and goofy smiles that reminded her he was still her Billy. And given that her current body was more attractive she held more confidence that Billy seemed to relish.
"Well on the bright side, our passports arrived. We can start traveling if you want?" He said brightly, moving the conversation onwards.
"How about in a few months, we still need to open a few bank accounts and have our money transferred over. But first, let's get a few things straightened out. Taking the hero gig means we need to train. Brains and brawn. Learn to fight and all that shit that comes along with it."
"Yes. In town there's a few dojos. We could start there and travel to, learn as many styles there are." He mused, already in thought.
Her daily tasks were to keep her body healthy and in shape. Now she needed to improve it even more.
"I'll also grab myself some contacts. I'm curious to see if my Sharingan would work while wearing them. The fatal flaw of the Uchiha Clan was how proud and arrogant they were because of these eyes. Best keep them under wraps." Five grumbled. Billy leaned back in his seat, his mind in deep thought.
"How is the ink writing... Fūinjutsu going?" Billy asked after a moment, with a frown settling on his face.
"Just dabbled. On my long to-do list. When I have time, I do a little practice in notebooks with a pen." She shrugged.
"Bunk it up higher. Could a seal be created for Anti-rape or at least a birth control. The Sharingan is genetic..." his eyes steeling at the thought of someone touching her without consent. Her jaw clips. He was right. Her mind flickering to Talia and her demon spawn- Damian's creation.
"Alright, it'll take months, but I will look into it. For the both of us." She nodded. They had time.
"I'm off. Gonna grab contacts and restock my inventory. You continuing Fnaf?" Five asked, straining her back as she got up to stretch.
Seeing his nod, Five left the mansion ruffling Ten hair as she went. Grinning at his whine of annoyance but stuffing in her ear pods for her journey.
X
"You look tired, you okay?" Five looked up to the speaker. A woman who she had befriended a few days ago. She worked at the coffee shop she had taken to. They sold proper tea here. Not the horse piss most places sold. Proper English tea.
Maggie was about two years older but was friendly and kind. It brought her some normalcy that she didn't realize she needed. Being around reincarnates 24/7 or in a dungeon was... tiresome.
"I'm good. Was up reading most of the night." She groaned dropping her pen to her open book, rubbing her temples with a small smile. Learnings new skills in electronics for the gig was tiring. To learn making gadgets for herself or at least design them and later making prototypes. The downside of having organic webs was that it was limited to one type of webbing. If she wanted electric webs or some weird type it would have to be artificial, like the original Spider-mans.
"Billy was needing help with game developments and pulled me in." Her brain felt like mush half the time. Constantly learning. Or was she putting her finger in too many pots? Both probably.
Mentally bunking up the shadow clone Jutsu up her list. Her confidence was growing now she had better charka control. Soon. Very soon.
Maggie just shook her head at that. Having met the man during shift who was buried into multiple books of programming and computer designs after Five had pulled him out the house for some out time.
No wonder Five wanted space. And an extra-large tea too.
X
"Scott Jones. A male version of myself. But with kept blond hair with a few years maturity than my current self," Five said twirling to show Billy their new look.
She decided to create an alter ego if anything went wrong, something to fall back on if her identity was compromised. Best to have that integrated into the system sooner than later.
"I'm going to upload this henge into an Avatar tab. But this is the basics." The henge popping away, revealing her blond hair was now replaced with black locks. Same cut but it was best to get the difference in early. A pair of glasses were now tucked on her nose to add to her look. Taking a leaf from Superman's book.
Hair colour and glasses can press doubt and any traces back to her when she was in the hero gig would go to a dead girl. She did already have an Avatar profile on hand for quick changes.
Where she could switch from black to blond hair with ease and the great thing about it was clothes changed too. She could in an instant change between hero and civilian. The scars she kept on her blond avatar tab. Making her current form without a blemish. Then again, she could away revert it back to basic with a touch of the reset button on the tab.
"Then I have a female one too. I will admit some... curiosity as to what it would feel like to be another gender. And the feeling of sex too..." Billy said with excitement in his eyes as he brings up a box to start a female profile tab. Okay, she was curious on the latter too. Then again who wouldn't be? But that could be explored after she turned eighteen.
"I'll see you later honey," she said kissing his temple as she headed out.
"Stay safe," he called out pressing buttons in the air.
"Will do." Or try too at least. You never know in New York City. A simple food shop could well turn into a hold-up or alien Invasion.
X
-45 HP
"Ughhhh!" Five groaned as she landed hard on the roof. Her shoulder scraping the side as she went and tumbled in a pile. Soaring high and landing hard was both fun but painful learning experience. But she was learning to stabilize her footing and pulling charka to her feet, ankles, and knees to lessen the blows of force.
"Why does Spider-man make this look so easy." She moaned staring up at the sky. Half her body was probably covered in bruises by now.
"Because he has enhanced bones, muscles and flexibility, you don't. While Steph was a gymnast. Needing to relearn her body muscle memory would hasten your stats to his level." Billy's voice echoes from the open channel walkie. She needed her concentration and couldn't use the PM at the same time.
Kayden huffed, clambering to her feet. He had a point. She would need to focus her attention more on her DEX, STR and END.
Which was why she was focusing on her webs slinging around the empty dungeon of Manhattan. Just Manhattan this time. The city did abruptly end at the boundary line. She slammed right into it by accident.
She was curious to find out at what point in the stats would be average and superhuman. If she bunked up her STR high enough, could she warp metal in her hands? There was only so much her body could adapt. When would those max out?
Billy was still pouty as the dungeon didn't spawn shit in the liqueur shops this time. Perhaps it being empty and no hostile mobs. It wasn't necessary to make Molotov.
It was good for learning the city she would one day be swinging from.
Webbing around increased her END and she was starting to experiment with a few different techniques but so far, she kept slamming into walls or breaking windows. She needed to pull back on her swings to lessen breakages and divert her force and spread it. Or risk a broken bone.
By increasing her DEX she could manoeuvre easily and strengthen her joints when she increased her STR
But her main motive was simple. She felt like she was flying. Every second her fingers let go, a thrill of excitement surged through her as the wind rushed through her hair. Bringing a newfound peace as she soared past windows, going up-down. The ach in her shoulder as her joint's minority protested the twists at sudden direction change. Her body would learn to adapt. Just keep practicing.
X
She was in a clock tower this time. Computers and screens were everywhere.
A red-haired woman was at the main section of her computer in front of her, typing away with dedication and full attention.
An open seat was available off to the side. She took the seat, noting she was wearing purple this time. Lots of it. Her Spoiler costume. Her hood was down with her face exposed.
She watched the red-haired work, her gaze looking to the screen of a map.
The was Barabra then. She wasn't impressed. Her computer skills were exceptional but that was not what bothered her.
Her eyebrows dent, jaw clenching as she remembered how let down Steph was by this woman. With an inaudible huff, she leaned back in her seat watching the screen of computers and recordings with irritation.
"...the fuck..." came the shocked voice of Canary as she entered the room to talk with Oracle. Barbara's head spun round to Dinah, double taking as she caught the familiar shade of purple that Dinah was staring at with bewilderment.
Five ignored them. They weren't worth her attention.
"Steph?" Came the meta uncertain voice as the older woman approached her slowly as Oracle wheeled herself to face her better.
"How are you here? You died?"
Five hopped out of her seat, making the woman stiffen as she walked past Canary.
"Stephanie, how did you surv-" Dinah cut herself off as her hand went through her arm. She almost looked horrified jumping back in her peripheral vision as she stood looking at the map of the city of Gotham on one of the screens.
"Steph?" Dinah's voice was higher pitch now, an arm going through her torso to be doubly sure. Fives gloved hand reached out to touch the keyboard below...
*BEEP*BEEP*BEEP*BEEP*
Five awoke with a groan as she slammed down her alarm. Resisting the urge to throw it at a wall. The clockwork dream fading as she scowls at the time. Internally groaning at her commitments, she had planned today.
Getting up with a grumble, she pulled on some clothes and took a trip to the empty dungeon to do her morning run and exercises before the day started with Billy.
Greeting One as she wolfed down her first meal of the day.
"You goin' out again?" One asked as she typed away at her tablet in her lap.
"Yeah. Slider said he was getting more ammo and shit for a dungeon crawl that Billy invited him to join later. Figured it was a good way to bond more with our housemates and gets Billy away from that PC of his, I'm meeting him for a cup of tea to explain what he would need for the trip" she shrugged. Downing her glass of OJ.
One nodded.
"What about you?"
"Ten's birthdays coming up soon, I'm getting arrangements for a birthday party. And then me and Zero will be having a privet dinner out. So, I'll be having a relaxing afternoon in the spar." One rounded up.
"Billy said he was going get his driving license sorted out so he can get lessons arranged and a car." Five said, reading Billy PM.
"Before I see Slider, I'm heading out to the library then the bank. Getting our bank account sorted out before lunch. I'll so grab Ten a birthday gift too."
X
The day was going rather well.
She got Tennerson a few video games and manga books. The manga for Billy to give to him. Grabbing a few books for general reading was a simple endeavour.
It was when at the bank things went tits up.
Five just blinked with irritation as the men waved their guns around after bursting into the room. Carefully slipping back and out of view of the cameras and people- behind a pillar.
Her hands were already hand-signing the clone Jutsu, thankfully no puff of obnoxious smoke as the clone took her place while she shifted into her avatar tab. Her hair tingled as the black shifted to blond, and her clothes turned into her training clothes. Immediately she webbed herself up like Silk, the web covering her face but leaving her eyes free but sliding on reflective sunshades.
Her Sharingan spun on as she sprung to the ceiling from behind the pillar. Charka danced on her skin as she kept low to the ceiling, ready to spring as she watched the men below harass the bank workers. Five men.
Spying a target, she quietly crawled in his direction. He was alone, far back from two of the men.
Finding a good spot and angle, a splat of web hit him in the face before he was yanked up with barely a sound. A snag of web got the gun before it hit the floor.
An elbow to his temple knocked him out as she webbed the rest of his body to the wall before moving on to her next target. His muffling could have drawn attention. Wide eyes of the hostages looked at her. Doing a little shush motions seemed to calm them from the floor.
Seeing one of the two-step forwards leaving the man with his back turned.
The robber gasped in alarm as he was yanked up but was unconscious with the other man on the wall.
That seemed to gain the three attention as they realized they were down two members. Jumping from the ceiling she aim her webs and hit her target points on the floor, used her webs to propel herself right into the man's chest, who landed hard on the floor unconscious. Springing up, her arms shooting out and yanking the firearms up and out of their hand. To avoid any potential shots to the hostages.
With the element of surprise worn off the lunged for her. The stupid idiot fell to the floor as his feet refused to budge, not realizing that the woman hadn't wasted a breath to bind their feet. The last man, who had kept his balance was punched right in the jaw, joining his fellow mate on the floor. Webs binding them down as a precaution.
Five saluted before going to the small window and dashing out with a thwip of web as she went.
Fives clone pouted as now it would seem now the bank was now to be shut for the day.
Great.
With the chaos and the cops pulling in, she slipped away out of the door and sight of people. She burst into a cloud of smoke as the original changed back to normal.
Thankfully lunch was undisturbed. Head down as she ate a wrap and some chips though her hands were shaking from either adrenaline or shock over what had happened, but the gamer's mind kept her calm enough to eat.
X
"Slider?" Five asked as she saw the familiar hunched form of their housemate behind some bins, down an alleyway close to her favourite cafe. Why was he here? Shouldn't he be already in the cafe?
"Are you okay?" She asked heading his way.
He snarled at her, blood dripping down his mouth, his red eyes completely dilated and unseeing. His arm stuck out at her with malice which she easily back backhanded as she whipped through his profile to his status.
Why the fuck was he in Gotham? He was high on scarecrow gas and drugs?!
-20 HP [Minor hit]
She yelped as his moment picked up into a blur as his nails struck her in the belly, her lower shirt shredding in the force as the thin cuts bleed.
Five initially groaned as she knew what had to be done. Her blood could easily neutralize the shit running through his system.
With great reluctance, she dropped her guard. Making a mental note to kick him in the balls after this.
-10 HP [Minor Hit]
-35 HP [Minor Hit]
Her back and head hit the floor next as Slider tackled her down with a growl, his hand clamping around her jaw and jerking her head to the side. Dazed for a moment as he yanked her collar, ripping it.
-40 HP [Minor Hit]
Her body jolted as she felt a painful set of fangs cut deep into her neck.
-5 HP
-5 HP
-5 HP
-5 HP
Alerts spammed her dazed vision as Slider was gulping down her blood with delighted delirium, his grip painful on her jaw and shoulder. After a very long few minutes Slider froze up his fangs still embedded but his frenzy subsiding.
"HEY YOU?!"
A man's voice boomed making Slider startle and look up to see a construction man in high vis charging at him with a metal work tool in his hand and a dark-skinned woman wearing a purple Benie hat closely behind, pulling out a taser gun and mace from her side bag.
Slider dropped his grip on his housemate and bolted.
Five groaned slightly as her head hit the floor again. Yep. Definitely kicking him in the groin when she saw him next.
"Is she alive?" The man's voice echoes in her ear as they head to her sprawled-out form.
"Yes I- Kayden?"
A hand touched her face gently before moving to her wrist. Was that Maggie?
Her cold hand begins to press tightly against the holes in her neck as the man fumbles for his phone.
Everything fading away as the darkness took over.
Xxx
Here we go chapter 9.
Thank you, my lovely reader, for getting this far. I appreciate the constructive criticism I have been given recently. I know not many people are a fan of the gamer abilities, but I am making sure they have a steady progression and no OP them ant time soon. Yes, both characters are aware they physically different and ages, but it's not always about looks. They are new into a new world and haven't forged the connections outside NYC yet, so their social circle is limited.
I try to be realistic with the dungeons, quite frankly who would want to spend week on their own in a dungeon, humans are social creatures by nature and the isolation would get on their nerves after a while.