The chapter title says it all. I decided to give a little focus to my villain OCs! Mallory has a lot I want to explore and Chloe…she's fun to write getting dunked on. Anyways, let's begin.
Mallory Blackburn entered the main Teen Ninja headquarters with a stoic face and a sigh. A few teens exchanged idle greetings with her, but Mallory barely paid them any mind. She'd always been an anomaly in the Kids vs Adult war-she would openly disobey and disrespect many adults, yet would often battle or sabotage the Kids Next Door. In truth, Mallory didn't care much for either side. She viewed herself as superior to both sides, in the long run.
However, with the Kids Next Door cracking down hard on her, she knew that, as strong as she was, she would need back up or at least other people who could get caught in place of her. Hence, her choice to join up with the Teen Ninjas. Most of them had enough respect for her and her skills to not try to get on her nerves and to follow her lead when in combat, especially considering the amount of times she'd lead them to victory or managed to help salvage a losing battle. As she headed further into the base, two teens who were supposed to be the guards jumped to attention when they saw her.
"At ease," Mallory assured them. "Is the Steve in? I have a request from Father for him."
"He's in his office," One of the teens replied. "Although I saw Chloe go in about ten minutes ago, so you may be waiting a bit."
"Of course…" Mallory groaned. Everyone and their grandma knew that the only reason the Steve even bothered to keep Chloe around was because of how she was able to get her hooks into his heart. There was even a running theory that she had no real interest in the Steve and merely wanted a position of power. No one was exactly willing to test it, however.
"You could probably chill by his office if you get him as soon as Chloe comes out," The other guard offered. Mallory just nodded and headed in the direction of the Steve's office. As she walked, she couldn't stop herself from thinking about just how much she loathed Chloe. The amount of missions that girl had screwed up just by being present. Whether she loved the Steve or not, Mallory knew for a fact that all the girl wanted was the important title. The extra work was something she didn't care about. It didn't matter that every single one of her screw ups only allowed the Kids Next Door to gain a bigger foothold in their war with the adults. It wasn't Chloe's problem!
"Stupid bimbo!" Mallory roared as she punched a wall. The few teens who had been nearby promptly scurried off and Mallory internally groaned. While she preferred not being too close with the other teens, she didn't need them freaking out just at the sight of her. It would make it too hard to get work done with them.
"Mals, are you okay?" A very welcome voice asked from behind her.
"Maurice…" Mallory said with a coy smile. "Sorry you had to see that. I was just thinking about how Chloe keeps botching up missions."
"I don't even know why she bothers to come," Maurice admitted. That wasn't even a lie. For someone that didn't like getting her hands dirty, Chloe came on a lot of missions that would often put the Teen Ninjas in direct conflict with the Kids Next Door.
"I think she just likes to watch it when we beat up all of them," Mallory replied as she wrapped an arm around Maurice. She liked Maurice. Even back when he was in the Kids Next Door, she couldn't help but admire his determination. He wasn't all that bad looking either, which was a nice bonus in Mallory's eyes. Sure, he was a little young, but that wasn't that big of an issue.
"Of course, then it's our fault if the Kids Next Door attack her, even when she can't defend herself," Maurice noted, a hint of genuine disgust slipping into his voice. Again, he didn't even have to fake it. His time in the Kids Next Door had given him a heavy distaste for people in leadership that wouldn't join their fellow soldiers on the field.
"Aw, you crying to your boy toy, Mallory?" A voice taunted from behind him. Both whirled around to see Chloe smugly standing behind them with her arms crossed. "I don't even know why Maurice drools over you when I'm way prettier!" Mallory didn't care, but she also knew that Chloe was more traditionally pretty than she was, with Mallory's black hair being in a short haircut and her outfit consisting of a gray tank top, camo pants and armor boots. Still, Mallory wasn't one to care what someone she didn't remotely respect.
"Chloe, I couldn't do that to the Steve," Maurice spoke up. "You're his girlfriend and even if I did think you were pretty, I don't think I could take you from the Steve."
"Hmph," Chloe huffed as she crossed her arms before heading off. As she headed off, Maurice and Mallory could spot the remains of the unpoppable pimple the Kids Next Door had infected her with. Clearly, unpoppable didn't mean that it would be there forever. "At least I'm pretty!"
"It's kinda sad how much stock she puts into her looks," Maurice admitted. "It's just so…shallow."
"Just wish she wasn't so annoying about it," Mallory grumbled. "Anyways, I need to go. Father wanted me to pass a message on to the Steve."
"See you later?" Maurice offered.
"I'll see you later," Mallory said as she allowed herself to smile again. She planted a quick kiss on Maurice's cheek and headed off to the Steve's office. As annoyed as she was about the wait, she still knocked, wanting to make sure that her boss was decent before she went in. She didn't want to know what Chloe was doing to him.
"It's open!" The Steve yelled out. Mallory opened the door, revealed to see that he wasn't a mess.
"Sir," Mallory greeted him with a nod as she shut the door.
"Aw, don't be like that, Mallory! The Steve is fine! I'm not Father!" The Steve replied with a wave of his hand and a laugh. "But whatcha got for me?"
"Father wanted me to pass a message on to you," Mallory explained. Almost instantly, the Steve's usual "surfer/bro dude" nature seemed to vanish. He sat up and his laid back smile became a serious neutral expression.
"What's the big man want from us?" He asked, his voice taking a rarely heard serious tone.
"He's plotting a major adult meeting in a few months. He wants you to know that several teen ninjas will be working as guards to keep the Kids Next Door out." Mallory revealed. She didn't misspeak and the Steve knew it. If Father wanted the Teen Ninjas helping, then they were going to help, whether the Steve liked it or not.
"Just tell him to send me the roster," The Steve said with a nod. Mallory merely nodded as she took her leave, leaving the Steve to steady his nerves. As she walked, Mallory thought about the big man himself. While she considered herself to be above most of the adult villains, considering how childish they could be, Father was an exception. Dare Mallory say she admired him. While he had his own childish habits, Father commanded respect in a way Mallory hoped she could do one day. Father seemed to view her just as highly as she viewed him, much to her joy. While she knew he trusted the Delightful Children a bit more, Mallory still took pride in being his personal apprentice.
And when Father's time was done, Mallory Blackburn would be the name everyone would fear.
So since I keep forgetting to do this, here's who I headcanon would voice the major OCs:
Firecracker/Numbuh 451: Erica Lindbeck
Mallory Blackburn: Jennifer Hale
Chloe Reginason: Selah Victor