Marcus was doing his best to stay calm as Vicky's fear aura filled the room. He hadn't been expecting Vicky to visit today, but he had to admit, her timing was rather spectacular.
Inconvenient, but spectacular.
"Vicky, it's rude to just barge in," he said calmly, even as he shifted, doing his best to look calm. He was glad that his camera was his reach, allowing him to take a quick photo of her even as he put the camera on the side.
Real-time access to her emotions was critical if he were to survive this moment without turning into a paste. He was not dating Vicky, but he had a feeling that trying to remind her that wouldn't be helpful.
No, he needed to distract her. Luckily, his first statement, combined with his forced calm, was enough to distract her, giving him enough time to make some kind of plan. Not a good one, but a plan nonetheless.
Luckily, Taylor was too dazed to react immediately, and Vicky's identity seemed to shock her enough to convince her not to attack, solving half of his problem … well, at least his short-term one.
Vicky's shock gave him enough time to tap into her emotions. She was angry, which was to be expected. Confusion was just as strong, but it was fading quickly. But, underneath both, he could sense a sense of respect, and reproach. It was weak, but it seemed like the safest angle he could push.
He needed to act completely normal.
"So, Vicky, do you mind talking about what's so urgent that you couldn't wait at the door for a minute in front of Taylor, or would you prefer to wait until we're alone," he said, doing his best to sound calm and casual, doing everything to show that he believed that there was nothing.
Hopefully, in her confusion, Vicky would play along. She was not stupid, but she didn't react to surprises well. He just needed to make her freeze rather than punch.
"I … we need to talk about the pictures … of me fighting the Empire," she said, her tone just shouting that she was lying, and quite incompetently at that. Luckily for her, Taylor wasn't in a mood to catch that. "You invited me."
"Yes, but I would have appreciated a call when you were on the way," he said, but then he decided not to push her too much. "Though, I appreciate the effort you put into your disguise. It's thoughtful. I can't handle the heat from the gangs if they knew of your visit."
"Y-you're welcome," she stammered even as her aura of fear faded completely. She was properly pacified, at least temporarily. Meaning, that Marcus wouldn't turn into a fine paste of flesh and blood … at least, not in the next minute.
The danger was far from gone.
Meanwhile, Taylor seemed to realize that she was naked in front of one of the most famous capes of Brockton Bay, and whimpered as she covered herself, including her head. He chuckled even as he turned back to Vicky. "I didn't know you had a girlfriend," she said, slightly recovered.
"Oh, Taylor is not my girlfriend," he said, though despite his casual tone, he was extremely careful, because the moment he said that, he could feel a sudden flash of self-loathing from Taylor. He couldn't risk her collapsing just to keep Vicky happy.
"Really, it didn't look like it," Vicky said.
"Don't get me wrong. Taylor is a very good friend, and and my best model. I would be proud to be her boyfriend if she was actually looking for one, and I didn't need to deal with problems like potentially turning homeless," he started even as he reached and pulled off her covers and pulled her to a side hug.
She was not comfortable with her naked display, but his words of approval allowed her to power through.
"Really, your best model?" Vicky said, her voice threatening once more as her aura radiated fear.
Success, Marcus thought mentally even as he kept his expression calm. He had deliberately mentioned all those facts in the same sentence, hoping that they would focus on different things. Taylor was happy that he declared his friendship without leaving any ambiguity, including the fact that he wouldn't be ashamed of her as a girlfriend.
As for actually being his girlfriend, Taylor didn't seem to care that part. She had enough problems of her own to make a committed relationship problematic. She just needed the affirmation … and what he had just given was enough to convince her to give him a naked hug.
Yet, at the same time, the part about the best model was bait for Vicky. She might have many admirable qualities, but she was both competitive, and vain to the point of being a narcissist. Claiming that Taylor was a better model, even indirectly, was enough to distract her.
"Well, yes," he said calmly. "Of course, you are not in the running," he said.
"Not in the running? Why?"
"Because you're not a model working for me, but a client," he said. "Completely different things. Taylor would have stiff competition if you ever decide to model for me properly." As he spoke, he could feel her aggression draining, confusion and pride enough to frame her initial reaction differently.
"Now, take a seat so we can talk," he said as he pointed to the sole chair in the room. There, he cheated again, using the model suggestion power to the limit. It was not a proper master effect, but it was enough to direct her in her confused state.
While Vicky sat, he turned to Taylor. "Why don't you take a shower while I talk with Vicky," he said, even kissing her cheek gently as he did so. Taylor blushed, while Vicky just looked at them, even more confused.
He spoke only when Taylor went into the bathroom. With her power, it wasn't privacy, but luckily, Vicky didn't know any of his secrets. "So, I'm guessing you're here about the pictures," he said. "I have already washed the films. We just need to print them. Or, if you want, I can give them to you directly."
"Really, just like that?" she said.
"Well, yeah," he said, then smirked. "Free of charge unless your mother wants to make another contract, of course. Did you know she deliberately shortchanged me five hundred dollars," he said casually, throwing even more topics at her. Her confusion worked to his benefit.
"Really! I can't believe it!" she gasped. "That's a lot even for her!"
"Don't worry about it," he said. "She clearly wanted to have the last word. I'm happy as long as it won't cause problems for you. I hope the news is good enough."
"Yes," she said, though she was more confused than excited as she answered, still unable to adapt to all those sudden shifts he introduced deliberately. "Your pictures worked even better than we expected. The whole discussion had shifted. You saved my ass."
"Of course. I have to admit, I'm rather fond of that ass, so protecting it is a selfish activity." He was happy to see his overt flirting made her blush rather than angry.
"Jerk," she said. "You have your girlfriend in the bathroom, yet flirting with me."
Her attempts to regain balance were not bad. Too bad his access to her emotions turned it useless. "As I told you, she's not my girlfriend. I can even prove it if you can handle it."
"I'm the Glory Girl, I can handle anything," she declared proudly, trying to overcompensate for her earlier reaction. He was surprised at just how easy
"If she's a girlfriend, she would react badly when she walks in and sees me taking your naked pictures, right?" he offered, enjoying her sudden blush. She wasn't the only one with that reaction. He could also feel a spike of shock from Taylor, proving that she was listening. Focusing on her, he could feel her standing behind the door, which suggested that she couldn't easily listen through her bugs.
It was good to know. However, it wasn't as important as their lack of anger, proving that his reckless request was not an impossibility. Good, because angering Taylor meant multiple bee stings at a minimum … and with Vicky, hospitalization would be getting away easy.
Even with his budding powers, he was really pushing his luck, trying to play with two capes at the same time.
But, while his actions had been reckless, the rewards were certainly spectacular. Vicky unzipped her hoodie with a smirk. His eyes widened, not expecting what she had underneath.
Or, more importantly, what she did not. Instead of the shirt he had been expecting, she revealed a sexy red bra, one that was transparent enough to show her beautiful areolas. "Oh, someone enjoys the show," Vicky said smugly as she threw the hoodie away, happy with the reaction.
He could have hidden his reaction if he really forced himself, which would have erased Vicky's smug expression, but why would he. The slight annoyance he felt under her smug satisfaction was nothing compared to solving the danger of Vicky treating the situation as him cheating on her.
Especially since it meant he was able to watch her as she kicked off her sweatpants, showing that she was wearing matching panties. He was more than happy to let her win and take a more submissive role if that was his punishment.
"I think I was supposed to be naked," Vicky said smugly even as she reached her back, then froze. Marcus felt a sharp tug of worry. "She … she won't tell anyone, right?"
"Of course not. You can trust Taylor," Marcus replied, confident in his judgment. While Taylor had her problems, going around telling stories for attention was not one of them. Particularly since it would reveal her own … indiscretions.
Not to mention, she wasn't stupid enough to antagonize a hero.
"Good," she said as she reached her back, letting her bra fall. He said nothing as he let his gaze dip down, shamelessly enjoying her impressive breasts, bare for his attention. He could have acted more cold, but why would he struggle to hide, when his aroused gaze was what Vicky wanted.
But, that didn't mean he would just play the submissive photographer. Not when her arousal was spiking enough to suggest that he could get away with some aggression. He took a step forward and grabbed her panties, pulling them down, and kneeling as he did so.
"Wait," she gasped.
He looked up with a smirk as he caught her gaze. "I thought we were doing a naked photo shoot," he said, amused by her reaction even as he caressed her thighs.
She stayed silent for a moment. "You're right," she admitted, once again unable to adapt to sudden shift.
"Of course I am," he replied even as he took a step back and grabbed his camera again. For once, he didn't want to take more photos, but he already pushed her luck enough. He just needed to restrict himself from taking photos of two sexy naked capes.
Truly a horrible fate!