Missy wasn't sure why her mother decided to take her to this gathering of older white women, most of whom were apparently married, but she couldn't say no to the woman all the time. She had to do something for her occasionally so she wouldn't cause a fuss, so this was probably the lesser of two evils. Still, it said something that these women were just a bit too affectionate for her liking. And this was after the crap that Missy had to deal with on patrol.

"Cute little thing like you shouldn't be out on the streets fighting such terrible people," one of the women commented. She was getting on in the years and a bit more on the wrinkly side. "You should be at home learning to be a proper lady like your mother."

"Do you really need to be carrying around a gun, sweetie? It's safe here," another commented. This one was younger. Middle aged like Missy's mother.

"It's part of who I am. I'm uncomfortable without it around," Missy replied.

"Compulsion from your Powers?" another girl asked. She was older than Missy was but younger than most of the women here. Close to an adult granted from looks, but still a teenager. Probably one of their daughters like Missy with her mom. She seemed a bit too young to be married.

"Yes," Missy lied. "It would cause me a lot of issues if you took it away."

"We should listen to her then," the teen backed Missy up. "Restricting a Parahuman isn't a good idea."

"Oh my. It's so sad. A young girl should've never been forced to have Powers," a woman moaned. "Even if her powers could be a blessing for the right people."

"She is helping people," another woman said. "Saving people from fire, doing work at the hospitals."

"But the hospital though? Indiscriminately healing any scoundrel that enters isn't the solution, especially when they're so dangerous or criminals. How could they let a horrible man like that in? Clearly, he was a danger to all the civilized people in the room."

"What's this about a dangerous man?" Missy's mother asked.

Oh crap.

"A drug addict with dark skin took a hostage. Your daughter was involved from what we've heard."

"Missy, why is this the first time I'm hearing about this?" her mother asked.

"I… thought you uh… would've learned about it online or in the news," Missy lied.

"Why didn't you tell me yourself?"

"I- I-…" Oh fuck she was so grounded.

"She was probably doing so much as a Hero that it all blended together," the teen replied. "She probably didn't acknowledge it as an important event compared to something like that apartment fire."

Missy's mother looked at her carefully. "Did you get hurt?"

"I left the hospital without any injuries," Missy replied truthfully. Pixie did decent work after all.

"Fine. But next time you tell me when something like this happens again."

Missy breathed a sigh of relief. She turned toward the teen. "Thanks for explaining things for me…"

"Adele."

"Thanks Adele."

"So how did you guys and my mom meet?" Missy asked.

"They approached me one day," Missy's mother replied. "I saw that they were a nice group of respectable women and we got to talking."

"That's nice."

"You can learn a lot from them Missy. Stuff like being a woman now. You're finally starting to grow your breasts."

Sure mom, say that in public in front of all these strangers!

"Oh! How old is she?" one of the women asked.

"Eleven," her mother replied. "Twelve this late summer."

"A bit of a late bloomer, but that means we have plenty of time to help her with the transition. We could even start having her meeting with some nice boys at the next gathering. Get her a nice partner."

"I'm a bit too young to worry about that right now," Missy replied, once grateful for her age. What they were suggesting, well it made her a teensy bit uncomfortable. "I'm also so busy right now with school and volunteering at the hospitals."

"Of course, of course, in time then. What do you think Adele?" one of the women deferred to the teenager.

"I think we could make a proper woman out of her soon."

Missy left that meeting feeling… dirty. Next time her mother invited her to one of those meetings she would have to find a way to get out of it. Maybe sic her father on her or something? That usually worked.

Thankfully she had a patrol with Vicky to get her mind off things.

"Didn't say it at dinner, but I can't believe you spent an afternoon with Mom in her office," Glory Girl said as they met up.

"It wasn't that bad. There's actually a lot I had to learn," Missy replied. This time her outfit was a bit more daring, mostly due to Dinah and Clara coordinating on this one. Rather than pants she went for a short skirt with a pair of knee length shorts underneath and some leggings. It would protect her modesty and be somewhat practical while also being quite feminine, or at least that was what they said.

"It's just that you wouldn't ever see me or Amy in Mom's office unless we were in some serious trouble."

"How often does that happen?" Missy asked out of genuine curiosity.

"More than I'd like," Glory Girl admitted. "So girl, ready to start flying?"

Missy flashed her fellow Hero a confident smile. "Oh I've been waiting for this."

Draw Evoker, point at head, shoot. "Theia!"

Missy lifted her arms so her Persona could grab her by her waist and hoist her into the air. While airborne Missy even let herself do a power assisted flip before landing neatly on Theia's back. "Tada!"

Glory Girl clapped. "Nice. Now comes the really fun part." She shot into the air, quickly leaving Missy behind.

"Oh it's on! Theia let's g- OH FUCK!?"

Missy nearly bit her tongue as Theia shot into the air. She would've been thrown off by sheer force had she not wrapped her arms around Theia's neck so quickly. Missy felt her full weight being carried on Theia's back, something that made the fact that she could fall off at any time more apparent and much more frightening. Her grip on her Persona got even tighter until her arms became white.

Despite all that though, despite how much her Persona had caught her by surprise by taking her along on this ride and how scared she was of falling, she couldn't help the laugh that escaped her throat. The sheer rush and adrenaline that came with the fear. It was exhilarating, addicting. No wonder Glory Girl loved flying so much.

Theia wasn't as fast as Glory Girl but with her ability she could cover more distance and quickly caught up to her. They flew high, higher than any building in Brockton Bay until it began to get cold and Missy's breath came out as a mist. Down below everything was just so small.

"Wow…" Missy let out an astonished breath.

"I know right?" Glory Girl replied. "My Power is awesome for stuff like this.."

Missy smiled as she buried her face into the back of Theia's neck. She really had the best Persona.

"Hey don't you need to," Glory girl mimed shooting herself with a gun. "Refresh her before she disappears."

"Not for a few more minutes. Theia's actually been better at staying out for longer. Also…"

Missy let go of Theia's neck and let gravity take its effect. She fell from her back and watched the sky as she hurtled toward the ground. Oh and she also saw Glory Girl freak out and immediately dive toward her.

Woops.

Missy took out her Evoker as she fell and pointed it at her head. Theia appeared once more, manipulating space to gradually slow her descent without letting her get any closer to the ground. Her Persona then caught her, this time in a princess carry.

"What the hell Missy!?" Vicky shouted.

"Sorry I just had to do it." Missy let out a woop. "That was great. Skydiving's fun!"

Nothing Vicky said could get rid of her good mood!

"What if you dropped your Evoker while you were falling!?"

Missy's smile fell off her face. That was a good question? "Maybe I should get a leash for it?"

"Ya think!?"

"Okay maybe that was a bit impulsive and dumb," Missy admitted. "But Theia, wow. As long as she's here I can fall as much as I want." She raised her arms into the sky. "Everything around me is my domain!"

"Alright enough of this maniacal monologue, we've proven that you can fly. Just be less crazy about it," Vicky suggested.

Missy saluted. "Aye aye."

"Now let's get started with our patrol. We're going to be close to the ground to get a better view of the streets."

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Glory Girl and Missy!

… Wow she really needed to figure out that Cape Name soon. But anyway yea, Missy and Glory Girl made a very impressive sight as they flew just above the roofs of Brockton Bay. Many of the people below raised their phones and began to take pictures.

"So anything to look out for?" Missy asked as Theia tossed her, and she landed deftly onto a nearby roof.

"People in trench coats, people stalking girls on the street, including possibly us."

"Does that really happen to you?" Missy asked.

"Before I got my powers. Had a few creeps approach me cause New Wave and well." Vicky gestured toward her rather… mature form. "Mostly they're stuck to watching since I got my Brute rating, but I had like one or two people still try to cop a feel."

"Were they…"

"Oh they in jail. With a broken bone or two. But yea be careful. You're kinda famous now and you don't have any Brute ratings. So don't let any creepy dudes, or girls for that matter, get close."

"I'm famous?" Missy asked.

"Chibi love child of Eidolon and the Faerie Queen," Vicky teased.

"Wait what?"

"Growing Trump, growing array of powers to choose from, and Projections that use all those powers for you." Vicky lifted a finger at each point. "It kinda fits and if you do get stronger… okay a loooot stronger and get a whole lot of new Projections, than people might actually start thinking it for real."

"I mean Eidolon is cool and all but he's like the greatest Hero and I definitely don't want to be compared to the Faerie Queen."

"They're also comparing you to Crusader, sometimes you just gotta deal with the comparisons. Every Power is unique but sometimes there is a bit of crossover."

"Ew definitely not Empire. I really don't like that I'm considered one of their poster-girl children of their Master Race."

"Girl. Preach to the party. Most of New Wave's been dealing with that for years."

Missy brushed the back of the hair. It had been getting longer now, past shoulder length and cascading on her back. Pretty but a pain to maintain without help. Thankfully Minako was usually available for that. "Should I try dyeing my hair? Apart from the Empire thing I don't mind being blonde but maybe I could do with a change?"

"I actually thought about it before," Vicky admitted. "But Mom and Amy freaked out, like woooow they snapped when they found that brown hair dye in the room. So uh probably don't want to give them heart attacks."

"I think Minako dyes her hair. I'll ask her." Or at least that was what Missy assumed. Most Asian people didn't exactly have natural Auburn hair unless some really weird genetics were involved… On that note was Shinji's hair dyed too?

"After this patrol then." Vicky put her foot on the raised edge of the roof and… posed for all the people taking pictures below. "Thinking we can do a fly around the Docks and get some shopping done at the end of the day."

"I already went clothes shopping a few days ago."

"So? Can always get more." A rather sinister and predatory smile appeared on Vicky's face, one that nearly caused Missy to shiver. "The skort and leggings combo is cool and all, but I'm thinking we can be a bit more creative with your outfits. Really make you adorable."

"I need an adult…"

Clothes shopping was thankfully interrupted by an alarm as they got closer to the mall. Wait no, it was actually from the mall.

"I'll go in in from the main entrance, you go from the back," Missy told her

"You sure we should be splitting-"

"We'll cover more ground that way and make sure no one escapes."

Glory Girl nodded before flying off to her position. Missy had Theia land neatly on the front entrance and jumped off so she could run inside. Despite the alarms most of the building looked relatively intact and most of the people inside weren't even scared. They just looked curious as they watched Missy run past them. Some had even begun recording, which of course they did.

Seriously, some survival instincts would be nice.

Missy didn't have to run long before a costumed figure stepped past a nearby corner.

Circus.

"Stop!" Missy shouted as the Villian acknowledged her presence. She already had her Evoker pointed to her head. "Arms in the air and no one gets hurt!"

Circus tilted her head at her before they lifted their arms.

"Good now get on your knee-"

Circus flicked a hand and suddenly tossed something at her direction. Missy pulled the trigger and had Theia intercept the projectiles with her body. The tossed objects collided with Theia and large swathes of smoke billowed out.

Smoke Bombs. Missy's powers were limited by her own eyesight.

Theia manipulated space and parted the clouds of smoke like the Red Sea, but by then Circus had already vanished.

"Where are you?" Missy muttered as she ran forward. Couldn't have gone straight, Missy was there blocking the way. That meant that the Villain had to have dived into one of these stores or something. But which one?

Missy heard a splash and immediately turned toward the water fountain at the center of the hall. No way.

She ran to the fountain and looked down, seeing nothing inside but a large glass marble in the water.

Wait then why-

Her eyes widened as she finally noticed the rapidly approaching reflection from above.

"Oh shit!" Missy shouted as she barely drew her Katana in time, intercepting a falling Circus that tried to strike her from above with a police baton. There was a large clang and sparks flew as metal hit metal. Missy didn't hesitate, she drew her taser and jabbed it at the Villian only for them to sidestep and snatch it out of her hands. It then disappeared with a flick of their hands.

Did they just-

Missy took out her second blade and met Circus in a dancing clash of steel and sparks. Circus though was practically playing with her, not attacking, just casually deflecting everything. They jumped off their feet and used Missy's own arm as a board to somersault off of. Missy was thrown back by the force. She rolled onto the ground and got back up into a crouching position, her arm sore.

"Pixie!" Missy shouted as she pulled out her Evoker and summoned her Persona so that she could be healed.

Theia began to twist space in an attempt to trap Circus. The Villain however was deceptively fast and very acrobatic, maneuvering past the knots in the air. The smoke bombs they continued tossing didn't help things either, forcing her Persona to part the fog before it could continue trying to entrap the villain. Circus then actually began running at Theia, getting close to the Persona and using their Power to pull out a- fuck taser!

Missy was too late to dismiss her Persona as 30,000 volts of electricity coursed through Theia. Both of them were convulsing and writhing from the pain. It hurt. So much. She fell to her knees gasping, almost grateful when her Personas disappeared and the pain finally ended.

While she was trying to recover, Missy looked up and realized that Circus was running right at her. She futilely tried to raise her Katana only for it to be batted aside. That left Missy open to getting kicked again. This time right in the chest.

Missy felt the air expel out of her lungs as she fell to the ground. Circus only paused for a second to look at her before running off, leaving her there to just gasp on the ground.

It hurt, everything hurt, but one thing was clear. Missy had fought her first Cape. And she had lost.

She caught her breath and began to pick herself up.

No, it wasn't over yet. She could still-

Her hand grabbed onto empty air. She looked down and finally noticed that her holster was empty.

"No!" Missy shouted as she stood up and sprinted after the Villain despite the pain.

That was hers! Minako had given it to her! She couldn't lose it, she needed it!

Missy pushed her legs as fast as she could until her lungs were on fire, but Circus was faster. She could only watch in despair as the villain's form rapidly shrank with distance.

And then Glory Girl like a descending angel slammed down on the ground in front of Circus. Her landing cracked the concrete and made the Villain quickly pause by instinct.

"Going to give you one chance to give up right now," Vicky replied.

Circus stood still. Before either of them could say anything or move though, Missy had leaped into the air. Circus barely had time to turn around before Missy slammed right into them.

"Give it back!" Messy shouted as they fell onto the ground into a tangled pile of limbs.

Circus was stronger, more flexible, but Missy had caught them off guard and was more than willing to start clawing and biting. She didn't care how much it hurt, she was going to get her Evoker back..

Circus took a punch to the side. They responded with a knee to the gut.

Missy took an elbow to the teeth. She responded by slamming her skull into Circus's face, cracking something in their nose.

Glory Girl took a few seconds to get over her shock and then she had to take a few more seconds figuring out how to intervene with her strength without hurting Missy.

Those few seconds though were all Circus needed to grab Missy by her shirt and throw her off. Missy landed harshly on the ground but still got up. She was bruised, cut, and bloody, but she was ready to keep fighting.

Thankfully Glory Girl took this chance, she immediately flew at Circus like a missile only for the Villian to quickly somersault over her.

The Hero reached up and grabbed Circus by the leg while they were in midair. "Hah. Bitch move." She pulled down and grappled with Circus in the air where they would have no leverage. Circus attempted to pull out a large sledgehammer only for Vicky to punch the head straight off it and leave the Villain holding nothing but a big stick. Vicky then raised her fist and hovered it right at Circus's face. "Pull something else out. I dare you."

Circus dropped the stick and raised their hands in surrender.

"Her gun now."

A familiar object fell out of Circus's sleeve and Missy immediately dived to grab it. She quickly and carefully examined it to make sure it was hers.

Missy put the barrel to her head. "Theia!"

Her Persona appeared and she let out a sigh of relief before letting them disappear.

"Should I get the handcuffs?" Missy eventually asked.

"Nah. Circus would steal them. Have to use your hands for this," Vicky informed her. "You okay?"

"I'm fine," Missy replied as she hobbled over.

"Missy, I think we should get you to the hospital."

"I said. I'm fine"

"Girl. You're bleeding bad."

Missy spat out a goblet of blood, and what was probably a baby tooth, before putting the Evoker to her head. "Pixie."

Dia wouldn't replace a missing tooth, but it would stop the bleeding and allow room for the adult tooth to grow in as replacement. The rest of Missy's wounds were dealt with easily enough even if she still felt dirty and sore by the end of it. "See fine."

Glory Girl sighed. "Shouldn't have split up."

"It was my idea." Missy put a hand to her chest. Yep, still sensitive even after healing. Getting kicked in the boobs hurt.

"Yea that's why we need good bras when we're out Heroing," Vicky replied. "Least you can heal it, otherwise your girls would've been hurting for weeks."

"Are all cape fights like that?" Missy asked.

"Usually more violent and bloody. Circus is tricky, but they don't actually stick around to fight. Would rather run away after stealing what they want."

So in a fight with an Empire Cape… things could've gotten a whole lot worse.

"I need to get better," Missy replied. "Stronger"

"You're still fairly new to all this Cape stuff, you'll get there," Vicky reassured her. "Now help me make up a report, we need to tell the PRT what happened once they come in."

"Alright."

"You seem to have a tendency to get into a lot of trouble," Dauntless commented after taking Missy's report.

"I'm aware of that," Missy replied.

"You know we have a running bet on whether the next call we get is going to be about you or not."

"I was not aware of that."

"So the Wards pitch. Still pointless?"

"Yep."

He shrugged and watched as the PRT troopers led Circus away. "Can't blame a guy for trying. Still, it was Circus, fighting them is never fun so honestly you did okay for your first official fight. Even got your first capture."

"Thanks…" Didn't really feel like she contributed much there.

"Someone like Hookwolf or even just Stormtiger and Cricket won't be any better though. Getting into a fight with them will inevitably be bloody. Very bloody." Dauntless shook his head. Even with his mask the distaste in his expression was apparent. "They won't care that you're a kid, they've already killed people."

"Are you trying to warn me?" Missy asked.

"You don't exactly make it a secret that you're gunning for Hookwolf but you have no idea how dangerous he is. There's a reason why he's Birdcage bound the moment that we're able to catch him again."

It also meant that if someone else did capture him, well there went her payback and promise. She liked to keep her promises.

"I'll keep that in mind," Missy replied.

Dauntless crossed his arms. "You say that a lot. Does it actually mean anything?"

"Uh…" Missy wasn't sure how to reply to that.

"Ah I'm just messing with you kid. Good luck out there and really, call us when you need help," Dauntless waved her off before walking away.

Missy could only stare at his retreating form before making her way back to Vicky.

"You know," Glory Girl whispered to Missy. "Heard from Gallant that Dauntless really wants you as a protégé."

"Yea he might've mentioned it. Why though?" Missy asked.

"Well he's also a growing Trump like you. They say that he'll eventually be strong enough to be part of the Triumvirate," Vicky explained.

"I think I'm very far away from being part of the Triumvirate." Recent events kinda proved that.

"But imagine being the protégé of one of their members, being paired up with them for everything."

"Huh." That was actually quite appealing. "Would they actually let me fight alongside him?"

"To be honest they'll just stick you in hospital duty until you're much older."

"Then no. I already have all the hospitals here asking for me. I'm doing enough healing. I have other things to do with my life."

"Fair enough. So Patrol's officially over and I don't think we can go shopping today." They looked around at the rather decrepit state of the mall. "Anything else we can do?"

"Could we spar?" Missy asked. "I want to get stronger. I don't want to lose to Circus again."

Vicky smiled. "Alright. I'll make sure to go easy on ya."