Missy left her home the second her parents started screaming at each other again. She didn't even take the time to process a single word, she just knew to leave the second her mom's voice began to get shrill. It was probably over something pointless just like every other argument they had. It was pointless but all they ever did was argue. More often than not she would simply leave the house when they were like that.

Fortunately, they wouldn't notice she was missing for a while and even better she had a place to go to get away from it all. Thank God for her neighbors. They were nice people. Nice enough to let in a girl like her anytime she needed it. To treat her better than her parents ever did.

She didn't even have to knock for the door to open and the woman in the house to greet her.

"Again?" Minako asked, a weary smile on her face. She always smiled, even when she was feeling sad or angry. It was her way of trying to keep everyone around her happy. So considerate, so different from Missy's own parents who couldn't pretend to save their own lives. To give a damn about their daughter's life.

Missy simply nodded and let the woman hold her hand as she led her inside. She was eleven now and didn't like being treated like a little kid, but she couldn't help it around Minako. It just felt good to have someone that she could be vulnerable around. If she did that with her parents, well they'd just start another argument again blaming each other for making her feel bad.

It didn't take long for Missy to end up in a blanket cocoon on the couch with a cup of hot chocolate in her hands. Across from her sat a large burly man in a frayed maroon peacoat, the same man that had made her this drink. The same man that would cook for her anytime she had to leave her own home hungry. Because her parents were too busy giving each other the cold shoulder to cook dinner that night.

"You alright kid?" Shinji asked.

Missy nodded but neither of them believed that. She wasn't okay. Not for a long time. She doesn't know what would've happened to her if Minako hadn't been there.

Her eyes became wet and they began to fall onto the blanket and into her drink. Neither of them commented on that.

Missy took a sip from her drink. It was tasty, not as sweet or chocolatey as she'd like since Shinji was worried about how much sugar she ate, but still very tasty. Comforting. A warmth in her mouth that then spread downwards through her body.

"So… how's school?"

Missy snorted. Shinji, despite looking scary, was actually a really nice guy. He was just really awkward when talking with her sometimes. At least he tried though. "It's… okay."

"Keeping your grades up?"

"…"

"Missy…"

"It's not like anyone would care."

"Minako would. What do you think she'll do when she hears this?"

A grimace made its way across Missy's face. "Guilt trip me."

Minako was really good with that. She didn't have to be scary, angry, or scream at you. You just felt bad for disappointing her.

A distant shriek filled the house and Missy instinctively flinched. She immediately turned toward the direction of the house next door.

"What the he-… h," Shinji growled as he stood up to close the window. Thankfully that was enough to block out the screaming. "Going to get the cops called on them at this rate."

"Will probably still scream at each other even if they have a bunch of guns pointed at them," Missy replied. That shriek was enough to remind her of why she was here in the first place.

Shinji stared at a moment before turning back at the house and shaking his head. "They don't deserve you."

"Shinji!?" Minako shouted as she stepped into the living room. "Leave to go to the bathroom for one minute and you're already-"

"Telling her the truth."

"That doesn't mean she needs to hear it."

"Would you have been okay with any of us hiding things from you? When we did until it became a problem?"

Minako went silent. She then sighed before sitting down next to Missy. "He's sorry by the way. He shouldn't have-"

"He's right," Missy replied. Being with them, being with a married couple that actually cared, made her realize everything that was wrong with her parents. Every failure and what they lacked. There was no love there, not even a kid. All Missy was to her parents was something else to argue about.

It was a simple moment of clarity, but one that stopped her from crying any further. It was hard to be sad any more about her parents when they weren't even her parents anymore. Were they ever in the first place?

It was hard to say, but there really wasn't any point in hoping that they would ever be better. Ever be the people that deserved her love.

"I wish you were my parents," Missy said.

A wish. A hopeful desperate wish. Oh how she wished it would come true.

Minako didn't say anything. She simply wrapped an arm around Missy and began to rub her back. Missy put down her hot chocolate so she could lean into the woman's embrace.

"Sorry Missy. I'm busy tonight. Something to do with my Uncle," Dinah said.

"That's fine," Missy replied as they left their school. "Have fun."

"It's a family dinner. Boring… but at least I'll see Rory again. He's cool."

Dinah as much as she complained actually had a decent family, it made Missy jealous sometimes but it wouldn't help either of them if she let her know this. Instead, Missy just smiled for her friend.

Once they left Immaculata they split up and Missy… didn't go home. Her parents wouldn't expect her to get back anytime soon since it had been a half-day today at her school, not that they would likely notice even if she did disappear, so she just decided to go elsewhere.

She found herself on a bus and after a few minutes found herself in front of a familiar restaurant. It was a small place, cozy and really good food. But that really wasn't a surprise considering its chef and owner.

"Shouldn't you be home?" Shinji asked from behind the open countertop that showed his kitchen.

"Was supposed to hang out with Dinah but she canceled," Missy replied as she took a seat.

"Then go somewhere else. It's not exactly safe here," Shinji replied as he immediately began to cook something on his Wok.

"It's not gang territory," Missy replied.

"It's not but I'm pretty sure they still like to drop by here sometimes."

"The food is good." And Shinji was Asian so the ABB wouldn't have much reason to go after him for anything. Missy was pretty sure even a few Empire grunts stopped by here once in a while, if only because of some of the white people with shaved heads that left the place the second they paid for their take out. Shinji's food was good, not even a bunch of racists could deny that.

Shinji grunted but otherwise didn't kick her out of the place. Instead, he finished cooking and brought her a plate of Yakisoba. "You going to head home after this?"

"I really don't want to."

Things hadn't gotten any better since last night. Her parents were just glaring at each other throughout the morning. She really didn't want to risk heading back there until muuuuch later in the evening.

"Well you can't stay here too long. It's going to get busy tonight and I can't take the time to watch a kid."

Shinji in fact would take the time to watch her and probably feed her more despite his complaints. He complained a lot but he never really meant it. Still, Missy didn't want to impose too much on him…

"Minako's school is pretty close isn't it?"

"That's even worse than this place," Shinji replied in a deadpan.

"It's not gang territory."

"Their kids go to that school even if the gangs haven't started a shootout around there yet. She's already had to fight off a couple of goons cause their kids were complaining about her."

"Did she win?"

"Of course she did. That doesn't change the fact that she's had to beat up a couple of idiots because she worked there."

"Minako says her students aren't that bad."

"She thinks the best of everyone. Always been too much of an optimist."

An optimist that he happened to marry so clearly Minako probably had some idea of what she was doing.

"I mean if you're worried about me being safe wouldn't it be better if Minako drove me back later?" Missy suggested. "Better than me taking the bus all the way back home and then just wandering the neighborhood until my parents calmed down. If they ever did calm down."

"Not exactly professional for Minako to have a middle schooler around while she was working."

"Do you think they'd even care?"

Shinji grunted before walking back into the kitchen. It didn't take him long to walk back with a lunch box wrapped with a pretty little bow. "You go straight to the school and you stay with Minako at all times. She can keep you safe."

"Thank you Shinji!" Missy gave him a quick hug that caused him to blush and stutter before she grabbed the lunchbox and made her way to the school.

On the walk there she began considering asking Minako and Shinji to adopt her, and seriously this time. Even if they couldn't really do it legally while she was still her parents' child, it wasn't like her parents would notice a bunch of things disappearing from her room and happen to end up in their neighbor's house. Just drop in occasionally and they probably wouldn't be any the wiser.

The second she did seriously think about it though made her realize how dumb that plan was. Her parents weren't that oblivious, they'd notice she would be missing from her house. There's only so many excuses she could give them even if they did happen to like their neighbors and trust them to "babysit."

Another issue was, well, Brockton Bay.

A white, blond girl adopted by a pair of Japanese immigrants; the Empire would throw a fit if they ever found out. It was a dangerous possibility in Brockton even if they weren't quite in Empire territory.

Shinji was clearly a big man and Minako was one of the strongest women she knew but could they really handle an entire lynch squad with guns?

Best not to risk their safety or take advantage of their kindness. Missy could handle living in her parent's house until she was old enough to move out.

Eventually she made it to the school that Minako worked at and honestly it looked about as bad as she imagined it.

Winslow. A really run down and decrepit looking high school that had a bit of a reputation. Not the safest place, but Minako wouldn't work anywhere else even when given offers by the other schools in the area. She was always a bit of a bleeding heart. Had to help out the disenfranchised, or at least that was what Shinji said about her.

Missy walked into the school, ignoring the stares she got from the much older students around her before she finally made her way to the principal's office. She knocked on the door and Minako opened it, her eyes wide.

"Missy? What are you doing here?"

"Shinji wanted me to drop off lunch," Missy replied cheerfully.

"Avoiding your parents?"

"Yep."

Minako simply smiled for her. "Alright you can hang out in my office then. Just need an hour or two and we can hang out tonight."

"Okay," Missy said as she sat down on a chair in Minako's office. "How's work been?"

"Busy," Minako sighed as she began to organize papers on her desk.

"Did someone get shot? Or stabbed?"

Minako gave her a deadpan look. "This school isn't that bad."

"Aren't most of these kids Empire or ABB?"

"Some of them and even they aren't dumb enough to start shooting each other in the hallways."

"Then who's the problem?" Missy asked.

"Just a bunch of bullies."

"Can't you just give them detention?"

"I actually suspended them but well one of their daddies is a lawyer. Really had to make sure I had my ducks in a row to deal with him." Minako grumbled to herself. "And then there's Blackwell criticizing my every move, even though I'm her goddamn boss."

"Sounds tough."

"Oh it's not actually that bad. Been through worse, used to be high schooler too," Minako's regular cheer returned as she began to sign some forms. "Looots of crazy things happened back then. Honestly not that different from a world filled with Parahumans."

"I dunno. Capes can be pretty crazy," Missy replied.

"At least everyone's aware of them and the danger they can be. Better than being completely ignorant of a threat that could end their very existence."

"Was… did someone try to kill you in high school!?"

"No comment."

Well that certainly explained some things. Probably was the reason why Minako was so tough and confident working in a place like this if she could survive that.

"So I'm thinking we could watch a movie tonight," Minako said as they made their way to the parking lot after she finished working for the day. There were still a few students around the area, some that looked at Missy curiously as they walked together.

"Could we watch that new Alexandria film?" Missy asked as her eyes lit up.

"You're really obsessed with Heroes."

"I mean aren't Heroes like super cool?" Missy asked excitedly. "Sometimes I wish I could be like them."

"You can. Anyone can I think."

"But I don't have powers."

"You don't need powers or a costume to be a Hero," Minako replied as she turned around the corner to the parking lot, only for her to suddenly stop. "Missy stay back for a bit."

"What's wrong?" Missy asked as she peaked around the corner, gasped, and immediately hid back behind the wall. She looked at Minako in horror before peeking over again and confirming that the Villain standing next to Minako's car wasn't just a figment of their imagination.

Said Villain of course had noticed them and immediately gestured them forward.

"Missy just stay back, okay?" Minako said as she stepped out into the open and addressed the Cape calmly. "I didn't think the Empire would send one of their Capes to deal with me."

"Not really, just wanted to see the Chink that sent a couple of my guys packing," Hookwolf replied.

"Here to get revenge?" Minako asked casually, though her hand seemed to be reaching into her purse.

"Nah. Slant eyes or not they should've realized you weren't a fight they could handle. What'd you learn and who taught you by the way? Didn't see it myself but those were nice breaks you gave them."

"I was self-taught. Had a tough childhood," Minako replied.

Hookwolf grinned. Missy shuddered at that. She didn't like his smile.

"Well that's interesting. So did I," the Villain said.

"You're going to kill me?" Minako asked.

"Nah. Not worth the trouble," he began to crack his firsts. "Have to rough you up a little though, I don't mind that much but Empire might start kicking up a fuss if I let you get away with it and that might get you shot which is a waste. Also those idiots kinda embarrassed us so I gotta make up for them. But if you're as good as I think you are you can probably handle it and getting a few good hits on me should be enough that they won't try anything again."

"Really?"

"They got to respect you if I do. And if they don't, well I don't really care much about idiots. I can toughen people up but I can't fix stupid."

"Well, don't I feel honored," Minako sighed before removing her empty hand from her purse and tossed it to Missy. She then began to take off her earrings and other accessories that could be easily grabbed on her body. "Just don't go all murder blender on me."

"Nah. That wouldn't be fun."

"Minako! That's Hookwolf, he'll kill you!" Missy shouted.

"He's telling the truth," Minako replied as she began to stretch her limbs. "Just gotta get into a little fist fight and this all blows over. Not worth letting this escalate into something worse. Besides I'll definitely get some street cred from my students when they learned I punched Hookwolf in the face and lived. Even got an audience."

That was the craziest thing Missy ever heard. Minako should be running and calling the Cops! And possibly a priest since obviously she needed someone to pray for her.

Missy looked around and noticed the kids that had gathered to watch. "B-but-"

"Just get out of here brat. This is a fight between war- Woah," Hookwolf barely blocked the roundhouse kick that would've gone for his face. In a near instant Minako had closed the distance while he had been distracted and nearly caught him off guard. Rather than be perturbed by this,his face broke out into a savage grin. "That's the spirit!"

He grabbed Minako by the leg and swung her around only for Minako to maneuver in the air, roll onto the ground, and deftly jump back on her feet. She winced a little as put weight on the leg that had just been grabbed. "Damn I wish I brought my Naginata for this."

"Oh you practice Naginata-do?"

Minako looked befuddled. "How do you-"

"Looked up all sorts of fighting styles. Have to respect them to win in the ring. Don't really got the time to get you a weapon right now, maybe next time."

"This will be the only time!" Minako shouted as she went for a punch. This time she did strike his face only for him not to even move an inch. "Well fuck."

Hookwolf punched her in the face and Missy gasped at the sight. Minako stepped back, her nose bleeding, but looking even more pissed off than before. "Bitch move!"

"Take one to know one," Hookwolf replied as he went on the offensive, throwing several punches at her.

"Fuck off! And didn't you say you wouldn't use powers? I hit a damn steel plate!"

"Not going murder blender."

Minako was strong, one of the strongest people Missy knew, but this was a cape she was fighting. There was no way she was going to win no matter how good she was. All the woman could do was hold her stance and defend herself as Hookwolf continued to wear her down.

All Missy could do was stand to the side and watch. She felt helpless and useless. She said she had wanted to be a Hero and this is all she could do?

Her hands felt weak, and she lost her grip on Minako's purse. It fell to the ground, its contents spilling from it. Some makeup, a wallet, a coin purse, and… a gun. A pistol with the word SEES engraved on its side.

A weapon. A killing tool. Something that even Missy could use.

She reached down and picked it up with one hand. It felt cold. Heavy. She felt unwieldy and clumsy holding its burden much more than she had expected. Missy looked back up and watched as Minako continued to fight.

She raised the gun but didn't point it at Hookwolf. Instead she placed its barrel against the side of her head. Her heart began to thump harshly in her chest, her breaths becoming ragged but she didn't point the gun away. Somehow, despite everything, this felt right. Despite her fear she would push forward.

Because trepidation doesn't stop death, it stops life.

"Missy, wait!"

"Per… sona."

Missy pulled the trigger and her head jerked back as the cartridge fired into her skull. The sound of a gunshot filled the air as blue and white shards came out of the side of her head. The shards then coalesced with her act and gathered together to form something in the air behind her.

Missy announced its name as her Persona manifested.

"Theia,"

A figure, an ethereal woman wreathed in a long flowing skirt and dress. Her arms were hidden, no nonexistent, instead replaced by glowing wings of light that emerged from her sleeves. The figure raised her limbs and the skies, the air, the space around them, everything that their eyes could see beckoned.

Reality warped and suddenly the space between Hookwolf and Minako twisted. When the Villain stepped forward he could no longer close the distance between him and Minako no matter how much he moved. In contrast it only took a single step for Missy to stand next to Minako's side.

"Are you okay?" Missy asked. Her head hurt a little from manifesting her… Persona for the first time and keeping space twisted around them, but she could handle the pain. For her sake.

"Missy. I didn't think you could… you shouldn't have used my Evoker," Minako whispered so that only Missy could hear.

"Is that what this is?" Missy asked as she looked at the gun, the fake gun, in her hand.

Minako reached forward and gently plucked the Evoker from Missy's hand. "The first time's rough, isn't it?"

"Can you also-"

"Damn didn't think the kid would trigger cause of me," Hookwolf said as he focused on Missy. "And the right sort too for the Empire… you wouldn't still be willing to join would you?"

Missy or rather Theia's reply was to stretch a small patch of space back with her wing and then shove it straight into Hookwolf's gut. He went flying and landed onto the roof of a nearby car.

"Never," Missy replied as her Persona disappeared and she fell off her feet. Minako's arms were the only reason why she hadn't hit the ground.

Hookwolf grunted as he picked himself off the car, a bit scuffed but not looking that hurt at all. His eyes had an almost feral look to them now, certainly eager. He looked just about ready to pounce when the sound of a siren reached their ears and apparently forced him to calm down.

"I'll pay you back next time," he replied before metal enveloped his limbs. He got on all fours and began to run away.

"Well, this is more trouble than I ever wanted, kinda made the beating I took a bit pointless," Minako replied wearily. She looked around at the small crowd around them and their phones that had been recording the entire thing. "You really had to make a splash, didn't you Missy?"

"Minako… please stay with me," Missy begged wearily as her eyes grew heavy.

"Always."

Missy took comfort in that before everything went black.

A/N

Inspiration struck and I was able to get this prompt in my head and the first chapter done really quick. And yes the title of the fic is a reference to the main theme of Persona 3 Reload, which reignited my muse and love for the series.