2/25/11 - Evening

Sophia reigned in her anger at the cowardice of the PRT and the Wards. Oh sure, she goes around teaching these gangbangers a lesson, and she's forced to join the Wards under threat of juvie. But someone goes around Mastering them, and they get the soft sell.

Fucking cowards. Fucking bitches.

She fucking knew that soup kitchen that recently popped up was a gang hub. She just knew it.

Hmmm...

She didn't have console duty today, nor did she have to patrol either... Officially anyway. She could stake out the soup kitchen, catch them in the act.

Ever since Taylor and Emma left the school, she hasn't been able to vent.

A grin formed on her face as she crossed over the bridge connecting the PRT and the mainland. That same grin threatened to split her face when she saw a familiar tall girl with curly black hair leave a...store - coffee shop - before going back in again.

Whatever. It didn't matter. She had a feeling she was going to enjoy tonight.

-.-

Taylor sighed before stretching her back after closing the garbage bin behind the cafe. She never thought she'd ever learn how to brew coffee, much less work in a cafe. She prefers tea, for god's sake. Yet, here she was, working at Cafe LeBlanc, and quite honestly, she didn't mind. Ren stored some tea for her, in case she wanted to drink, and would often bake her cookies that complimented the tea. That said, she did like the latte and frappe, though she could see the pain on Ren's face when she added a ton of sugar and cream. That elitist. Lisa and she would share a giggle when they ordered a pair, then they'd watch him make them. Sometimes, she'd get an Americano, put three sugar and three cream, then talk with Amy and Vicky (New Wave Heroes!) about school life in Arcadia.

Speaking of Arcadia, the papers for her transfer finally finished, and she's taking the entrance exams next Monday, the 28th. She had to talk to Ren about time-off for the weekend, just so she could focus on studying. She was glad Ren was helping her study for her entrance exams, but she wanted to also give herself some alone time to focus. She hoped Ren would understand, even if she's only been working for a month. Would it cost her a sick or vacation day? Ren did say that this place was more for her to open her wings than an actual job.

-.-

1/19/11 - Afternoon

Taylor was bored. It's been a week since she left the psych ward, and she practiced her powers at her home. Sure, she's managed to control a bunch of insects now, she wanted to explore and expand her horizons. She was also getting antsy. And so, she left her home and made her way to the Boardwalk.

But, instead of the leisurely walk she planned to have, she was running. Running away from Emma fucking Barnes. She shouldn't have left home. And now, she's here, continuing the bullying she had at school.

She tried to call out for help, but when she realized no one wanted to help, she ran. Well, more like she tried to run. Right before entering an alleyway, she tripped, and Emma caught up to her.

"Seriously?" Emma asked with a sneer. "Tripping over flat fucking ground?"

Taylor had no answer; it was pathetic, and they both knew it.

"Maybe I should drag that face of yours on the floor. It's already ugly; a scar or two wouldn't make it any uglier!"

She couldn't feel her legs, and she had to scramble back to keep the space between her and Emma. She smelled the locker again. Her own vomit. The tampons. The bugs-

She's a cape now! She had powers! Could she use her powers here under self-defense?

...No. She couldn't. She wanted to be a hero, not someone that would use her powers to hurt others.

It's just another day. She's taken this since September. There was no way Emma could have prepared something like the locker in this area. She-

"Hey! What's going on here?!" someone yelled behind Emma. Both of them looked at the man. No, he was a teen, just around their age.

Emma smiled at the Japanese teenager. "Sorry, but you should mind your own business."

The boy's eyes shuffled between Emma and her before he moved forward.

"Hey!" Emma yelled when he ignored her.

Instead, he knelt in front of Taylor.

"Hey, are you okay?" he asked.

"Excuse me, I'm right here!" Emma said.

"I don't see any scrapes..." he muttered. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine..." she managed to say back. "I just tripped over my own feet."

"Good, good, let's-"

"STOP IGNORING ME!" Emma shrieked. Taylor really hoped she hurt her own throat that way.

The guy looked at her, and she could tell how much care he had, which wasn't a lot.

"What does the harpy want?" he said. Oh yeah, he didn't care about her.

"Harpy?!"

"Whatever it is what you want, drop it," he said.

"I'm teaching her to stand up for herself," Emma said with a big deep breath. It looked like she managed to compose herself. "She's weak, you see. She needs to learn to-"

"Yeah, that's bullshit," he said, cutting her off. "There's teaching, and then there's beating someone that's already down. You reek of sadism, you know."

Emma grit her teeth. "Why do you care? I've never seen you in my life, and I'm sure she's never seen you either."

Ren stood up and put his hand out to Taylor for her to grab onto.

"Because stopping bullies is the right thing to do," he said.

She couldn't do this, not again. Someone did this same thing before winter break, and where did that leave her when school started? Locked up in a locker. No one helped her.

"And I see one right now."

So why did he appear now, of all times?

"I disagree," Emma retorted. "I'm a teacher, and I'm teaching her to fight for herself."

"Spin it however you want," Ren said, "this girl is clearly distressed and nearing a panic attack. You're not teaching at all; you're bullying her."

"How dare-"

"And for the record, Banshee," the boy cut her off again, "you know the Protectorate patrol this area, right? With how much shrieking you were doing, I'm pretty sure you've attracted one or two already." Emma's face twisted in anger and hate, and Taylor felt good about that. "So, I suggest you leave."

"I can scream you tried to rape me!"

"And the cameras around the area will testify you chased her down to this place," the boy countered.

Taylor could see the rage on Emma's face before she huffed and left.

The boy sighed, and he made sure Emma was no longer in the area before turning toward Taylor. "You know, I offered a hand earlier, but you didn't take it. Now, I'm not sure if the ground is just that comfy. Are you okay?"

Taylor's face flushed before hurrying herself up. "Sorry, I'm fine. I was just surprised." She steeled her face, taking in the pain of a twisted ankle.

The boy narrowed his eyes before he spoke up, "Your poker face isn't bad, but I can tell you lied just now." Taylor cringed. Why was she getting interrogated by a stranger? "Can you call anyone for help? Someone you trust?"

Dad. "No, no! I'm fine. I can go home on my own." The way home... She needed to do a transfer, and she had to walk a bit, too. She'd rather walk than call him.

"Then stay put," the boy said, stopping her from going any further. "Let me get my car. I'm not sure why you don't want to call for help, but I can at least get you home. Is that fine?"

It was the middle of the afternoon, so her dad shouldn't be home yet. It'll be fine.

Taylor nodded.

The boy's name was Ren, she learned on the way home. Apparently, he opened a cafe by the PHQ, and he knew a bunch of the Protectorate, which was super cool. She asked a bunch of questions about the various heroes, and he regaled her some of what he learned. It did kind of irk her that most of his stories weren't about the heroes fighting villains, but that they were more down-to-earth sides. Still, his stories helped break the awkwardness on their way home.

Unfortunately, it turned out her dad was home. Worried about Taylor and it was a slow day at work, he decided to bring his paperwork home. When Taylor wasn't home, he panicked and practically turned the house upside-down.

Fortunately, he only arrived about ten minutes before they did, so he didn't do anything drastic outside of searching the entire house. Luckily, she made sure the insects and costume in the basement were hidden before she left.

Unfortunately, Danny Hebert was staring down one Ren Amamiya, practically a stranger, in the Hebert home.

"Mr. Hebert, sir, I can assure you, I'm not her boyfriend," Ren said, Taylor's face in her hands.

"Then what were you doing with her?" Danny asked, huffing out air with a glare.

However, Ren was unphased. "I only met her today after she was being accosted by another girl. I was on my way home from shopping when I heard a scream at an alleyway. I followed and found her."

Taylor's eyes widened in horror as she realized that she never explained to Ren what happened nor that she didn't want her dad to know. Danny's back snapped straight as he turned to Taylor.

"Taylor? What happened?"

She couldn't answer; her mouth kept opening and closing, but no actual words left her mouth.

Danny knelt in front of her, Ren forgotten. "Please, little owl," he whispered. "Can you tell me what happened? Was it the bully?"

"I-It was..." she managed to say. Yes, it was Emma.

"Who was it?" he asked, nearly pleading in front of her. When she doesn't answer, he turned to Ren. "Did you recognize whoever it was?"

Before she could stop Ren, he answered. "Don't know; I've never met her nor the bully before. That said, the bully had red hair."

Danny's eyes widened in realization. "Emma? Emma Barnes?" She could sense the disbelief when he repeated the name. "But aren't you friends with her? Did she stop being friends with you because of the bullies? Is she bullying you, too?"

Taylor felt black creep up on her vision. She didn't want her dad to know. She wanted to keep it a secret.

Her breath and heartbeat quickened. She wanted to separate her dad from her school. Whatever the issue was at school, she didn't want it at home.

"Ta-!"

"!"

"-lor!"

The room started to collapse around her. Was the living room this small? She-she-she

A pair of hands resoundingly clapped in front of her. The room lit up as it opened up.

"Taylor, you have to breath!" A pair of hands reached out to hers. "Taylor, I need you to breath with me. In. Out."

She tried to follow, but her heartbeat was still so fast. She could barely tell who was talking to her.

"In." Her hands moved slightly up, and she breathed in. "Out." Her hands moved down, and she breathed out. "In." Again. "Out." Again.

Her vision cleared up. Ren held her hands, gently guiding her hands as he helped slow down her breathing. She could feel her pulse slow down.

"Let's keep doing this exercise while moving your right arm up and down, okay?" he asked. When she nodded, he let go of her right arm, his left arm mirroring. He moved his arm up, and she followed. Down, she followed. In the middle of all this, he kept up the breathing exercise, but he no longer vocalized.

"You're doing great, you know," he said with a smile. "What do you need now?"

She gulped. "I need some space..."

Ren nodded. "If it happens again, I'll step in, okay?" After she nodded, he let go of her left arm and then stepped back. "How are you feeling?"

"My heart is still really fast, but I'm no longer claustrophobic..."

"Good to hear," Ren said. "Keep your breathing steady, okay? I'll have to talk with your dad."

Secret's out. She couldn't keep them away from each other.

"No, no, I'll talk with my dad," Taylor said as tears burst from her eyes.

That afternoon... She finally told her dad about the past six months of torture, betrayal, and pain. She never heard him be so angry, so loud, when he called Alan. She felt so angry at the stranger that stepped into her life and managed to break her secrets out.

But the hug she had with her dad later that night? Nothing felt so liberating.

-.-

The next day, Taylor and her dad drove to Ren's cafe, Cafe Leblanc, to personally thank him for helping Taylor in her time of distress. As it turned out, Ren had another surprise for them.

"Y-you want to hire me?" Taylor asked, shocked.

Ren nodded. "Just part-time, or whatever works for you. In truth, I feel like I'm getting swamped with work, and it might be time to get a second hand around here."

"I'm sorry, but why?" Danny asked. "It's nice to offer it, don't get me wrong, but it feels out of nowhere."

Ren hummed in thought. "I understand what it's like to have not be accepted. Before I arrived in Brockton Bay, I was in a similar position; I was shunned out of my hometown, and the school I enrolled to after hated me. I only managed to get by because the man who took me in gave me a place to stay. It was nice," he said, taking a look around the cafe. "This cafe was inspired by his, after all."

His forlorn face surprised Taylor. She'd only seen that face on her father, when he walked down memory lane with her mom. But this time, Ren walked with his guardian.

"Seventeen years old, and it was the first place I could call home," he said with a chuckle, turning towards them. "As I stayed there, I managed to find myself friends that I could truly depend on. That man gave me a second chance. And so, just as he offered me a home, somewhere I could be safe, I'd like to extend my hand to you two. I want to offer this cafe as a safe space for Taylor, where she could grow on her own, and hopefully even find her own set of friends. Actual friends, the type that would help you in your time of need."

"It- This is a lot to take in..." Danny murmured. "We were supposed to just thank you and go this morning. Maybe even get a cup of coffee..."

Ren laughed, scratching the back of his head. "Sorry about that. I can offer a cup of coffee for the both of you, on the house."

Taylor squirmed in her seat.

"Something wrong?" Ren asked.

"I... Uh, I like tea over coffee..." she responded sheepishly.

Ren's eyes widened, and Taylor closed her eyes, ready for derision. He offered a place for her to work at, in memory of someone important, and the first thing she says is she prefers tea? God, that was such a disrespectful answer!

However...

Ren laughed. "My bad! That's my fault; I got ahead of myself. I should have asked if you like coffee before offering you to work here!"

She shook her head. "I'm so sorry! I don't mind coffee at all! It's just, I prefer sweet and savory over salty and bitter..."

"Then maybe I'll brew you something sweet then. Maybe a cappuccino... Or maybe a latte with caramel..."

Oh that, she could get behind.

-.-

Taylor wondered, what would have happened that day if she didn't get antsy? Would she still be in Winslow, taking in all the insults and harassment?

In truth, it's so hard to imagine that. Well, maybe not. Even now, she still remembered what they did to her. Sometimes, she'd still see them in her nightmares.

But now? People greeted her back! They didn't ignore her at all. Some even made conversation with her, even if it was just polite conversation. Sometimes, Ren would give her a thumbs up when she did something good.

It felt good to be acknowledged.

It-

-.-

"Prey like you don't have any right to be so happy," a horrifyingly familiar voice rang out behind her.

Taylor spun around, but the person behind her grabbed her arm, held it to her back, then pushed her onto the garbage bin.

"W-what are you doing here?!" She hated how her voice wavered. It's been a month since she was in Winslow, but the memories came flooding back in.

Sophia was going to put her in the garbage bin, just as they did with the locker. It was going to happen again.

"Why do you look so happy?" Sophia growled. "Prey don't deserve to be happy."

Sophia grabbed the back of her head and slammed it to the metallic bin.

Taylor screamed in pain. Her view started to swim. She could feel the bugs around the block, and they started to gather.

Sophia gripped her hair and swung her to the ground. At least she had some space now.

She felt something wet drip on her face. She swiped at her nose, and she could tell her nose was bleeding.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?!" Taylor asked. "I haven't been in Winslow in ages, and you start attacking me? Were you stalking me?!"

"You ran away, Hebert, but I see you happy doing whatever bullshit you found yourself in," Sophia said with a huff. "Meanwhile, I'm here, actually doing shit, getting told off! And ever since Emma left school, I haven't really had the chance to vent."

"And so, you stalk me so you can continue whatever you were doing at school?" Taylor accused her. "In what twisted perspective is it all right to stalk and attack someone because they left school?!"

"A predator, Hebert!"

Predator? Prey?

"You're crazy, Sophia," Taylor said, standing up. She took up a stance, ignoring the pains on her palms. It wasn't a good stance, especially against someone that exercised and did physical anything, but it was something. "Something is wrong with you."

Sophia's face twisted in anger. "Fuck you!"

The back door of the cafe opened. Oh no.

"Hey! What's going on here?" Ren asked, popping out of the building. "What's going on?"

"Fuck off!" Sophia yelled. "You're not part of this."

"Taylor is my employee," Ren said. "You'll find that this is my business."

"Yeah, well, she stole something from me!" Sophia lied. "I'm here to get it back!"

Ren began making his way to Taylor. "Right, like Taylor would steal anything, so stop lying. Why are you here?"

Taylor felt her eyes get wet. She ran to Ren, ignoring Sophia.

"Ren, don't-! I'm okay, so go back inside! This is between me and her!"

"You hear that?" Sophia said. "Cuz she's right: you have nothing to do with this."

She felt disgusted that she was agreeing with Sophia for once.

Ren ignored her, checking on Taylor instead.

"You've got a nosebleed," Ren said. "Some scrapes on your sleeves too, so we'll have to check if you got some scrapes on your arms. What about the palms?" He took her hands and flipped them. There were some scrapes on her palms. "I can't tell if there's anything in the wounds here, so we'll have to go in and check them."

"Don't fucking ignore me!" Sophia yelled, and she charged at them.

Taylor took a fighting pose to fight off Sophia. However-

"Taylor, you're injured!" Ren said, holding Taylor back. "Go back inside before you get worse!"

Sophia cocked a fist back for a moment and launched it forward. Taylor felt Ren push her aside. The fist connected, but not on Taylor.

Ren took the punch directly on his face. He ended up letting go of Taylor. She saw Sophia was stunned for whatever reason, most likely because she aimed to punch Taylor rather than Ren, and she took the opportunity.

Taylor punched at Sophia. She didn't have any actual training or experience, but she put all she had into it.

Sophia didn't realize until it was too late.

The punch connected to Sophia's chin, and she staggered back.

Taylor turned her attention to Ren who managed to get his footing. She held him, helping him with his balance. "Are you okay?"

Ren nodded. "Took worse than that." She saw Ren's eyes widened at something behind her. "Did she have a crossbow before?"

Taylor heard a click behind her, and she whirled around. Sophia had a crossbow nocked with an arrow.

Why does Sophia have a crossbow?

"Fuck you, asshole!" Sophia yelled. "I tried to be nice, but helping out a coward like her?"

She aimed her crossbow at Ren and Taylor, but Taylor knew she wasn't looking at her.

Sophia's finger curled and the crossbow shot a bolt. Taylor put herself in its path. She closed her eyes, ready for pain.

However...

"Huh?"

There was no pain. She checked herself; there was no bolt on her. She patted herself, but she couldn't feel anything wrong with her.

"You're next, Hebert," Sophia said ominously as she nocked another bolt.

Taylor heard shuffling behind her. When she looked back, Ren had doubled over, clutching his stomach.

A bolt had punctured him.

But Taylor was in its way. How did it hit Ren but not her?

Wait, a crossbow? Bolts that hit behind her?

Reality dawned her. It made her furious.

"You're fucking Shadow Stalker...!"

Why was she a hero? How could someone like her be a Ward?

"How the fuck are you a hero?!"

"Because I'm a winner, Hebert!"

The back door slammed open.

"What's going on here?!"

Taylor didn't dare take her eyes off Sophia, but she heard Ren move behind her.

"A-Assault...?"

A Protectorate hero?

"Assault!" Sophia yelled. Oh no. "These two attacked me on my way home! I-"

"Sophia, shut up for a second," Assault said with a serious tone, out-of-character for the jokester. He knelt down to Ren. "Shit, man, you good? Console, I need an ambulance. Shadow Stalker attacked a pair of civilians, one of them is hurt.

"And Sophia? You better not make another move."

-.-

2/25/11 - Late Night

"Alright, I fixed the hole in your stomach," Panacea said, letting go of Ren's hand. "That's really all the new things I've seen since I last saw you." Ren saw Taylor and Danny sigh in relief at her words.

"That said, you should be prepared for a meeting with the PRT," Panacea added. "A Ward practically unmasked in front of you, then proceeded to attack you."

"Is there anything we should look forward to?" Danny asked, but Amy shook her head.

"Not exactly sure. Our situations are completely different. They might force you to sign an NDA to protect the Ward's identity."

"So, shove it under the rug..." Taylor muttered. "We didn't even start this entire thing! Sophia stalked me and attacked me, but we're getting punished for defending ourselves?"

"You mentioned that earlier, Taylor," Ren said. "Why would she stalk you?"

Taylor froze when he asked.

"You won't get in trouble with us," Ren immediately added. "We just need to know why she did all of this."

She took three deep breaths before she answered, "She was part of the trio that bullied me in school."

"Oh, Taylor..." Danny muttered before hugging her.

"I haven't been at Winslow for a month now," Taylor continued, "She must have found out I worked at the cafe and decided to harass me."

"Considering that the PHQ is nearby, she might have just seen you as she left for the day," Ren said. "What is with this coincidence..."

"In that case," Panacea interjected, "the bullying might be put under the rug, too."

"What?!" Taylor asked.

"She's a Ward," Panacea explained. "The PRT and the Youth Guard all care about looking nice for the public. On top of that, Sophia bullied you in her civilian identity, so the Unwritten Rules apply."

Ren saw Taylor's knuckles turn white as she gripped on to her father's arms.

"Like I care," he said. "I'm going to press for charges, and I don't care if the PRT and Youth Guard will protect her. I'm not going to just fold because the government can't do the right thing. There's a camera that overlooks at the back of my cafe. It should have a recording of what happened. Taylor, do you have any evidence of the bullying? It could be anything at all. Texts, complaints, any sort of trail works."

Taylor's eyes lit up with hope. "My notebook! I wrote everything down on a notebook! It's in my room, too." She turned towards her dad. "Can we go and pick it up?"

"Of course! It's getting late, so let's go home for tonight. Ren, we'll come see you tomorrow, okay?"

He waved the father and daughter good-bye for the night before glancing at Amy.

"So, uh, Amy, any chance I can go home?"

"Nope."

"But you healed me already, right? I feel like I'm wasting a bed at the hospital."

Amy scoffed. "You're not, actually. A lot of the patients in Brockton hospitals are victims of gang or villain violence. Not only is Joker healing these people, but he's also stopping the gangs directly," Amy said while she wrote down on some clipboard. When she finished writing, she placed the board on the foot of his bed. "Do you know what all that means?"

"The hospitals are finally free?"

"Got it in one," Amy said, sitting with a sigh. "Why do you think I have so much free time nowadays?"

"That's good, isn't it?" Ren asked.

Amy's face switched between multiple moods, from happiness, then regret, sadness, and finally resignation.

"It is, yeah." She abruptly stood up and opened the door before continuing. "You can go if you want. I'll check if there are other patients that need my help."

-.-

The doors clicked closed behind Amy, and her footsteps carried her far from her friend.

Friend.

Friend.

Yeah, a friend.

For the longest time, she's been healing people, ever since Carol set up her contract with the hospitals. She asked for permission to heal (when these people have to come to her anyway, so they implicitly agreed to get healed), touch, then listen to their meaningless gratitude. Rinse and repeat. Maybe once in a while, she'd get an ungrateful person who thought she had to heal people.

Still, she had this incredibly strong power. She felt like shit if she didn't use it to help people. She was burdened with this obligation, forced to become a hero.

At the same time, she can't heal everyone. Even if she goes to a hospital every night, she can't heal everyone in that hospital, much less patients in other hospitals. Heal a thousand people, but there are millions of others who are terminally ill or living in a personal hell.

So, when she heard that an unknown Parahuman was healing people, she initially felt happy because it meant these people might get help when she can't help. Maybe, it meant she could take a break! But, in that moment, she felt disgust because how could she think about taking a break now? It's just one other parahuman helping, and there were still millions of patients out there. On top of that, this Parahuman was some sort of Stranger who managed to sneak in without anyone knowing, which in itself was a villainous action. What cape would need to sneak around to use their powers without saying they were a hero? That's no hero, that's for sure.

Add in Joker, a rogue Master, slowing down gang violence, which was a primary cause of injury within Brockton Bay, it meant hospitals weren't receiving as many victims as before, lowering the overall number patients from before. The result? Hospitals weren't overcrowded anymore, and she gained a lot of free time. Vicky took that free time by the reins to spend more time with her.

And that's how she met Ren, the guy Vicky met by chance when the Wards invited her to a cafe Assault and Armsmaster endorsed. Vicky brought her to that cafe when she asked no dates; just her and her sister together. It annoyed her that Vicky brought her to a cafe where the owner was a guy and someone she knew. It slightly pissed her off to see Ren and Vicky be comfortable with each other. It felt like he was just doing this to impress Vicky.

However, she was wrong; Ren was just that congenial to other people. He'd banter with those who liked to banter. He made small talk with the elderly. He gave space to those wanted to be left alone. Each person he interacted with would end up with smiles on their smiles in some way as they stayed and when they eventually stayed.

As with her, he never pushed her boundaries. If she wanted to be left alone, he did. On days when she felt a bit better, he asked about how her day went. A particular thing she realized later on, which improved her opinion of him, was he never talked about her work. Sure, he'd talk about her powers, but it was always when she wasn't down in the dumps, and it's never in the context of Panacea. Rather, when talking with him, she was just Amy Dallon who coincidentally had powers. He listened to her. Not Panacea, not Glory Girl's sister, not the Best Healer in the World. No, he listened to Amy Dallon.

And that's how she began seeing him as Ren, a friend. Someone that dropped out of high school, helped a civilian, got shot at, and opened up a coffee shop for whatever reason. Seeing Carol's face crunch up, knowing she's getting subpar coffee because she refuses to get coffee from a drop out AND Amy's friend, is just a big fat bonus.

So, when she heard her friend got hurt, she was so happy she could use her powers. Considering Assault sent him to her hospital, she was certain she'd get to work on him before Joker could. She hurried her way to him when she heard he arrived.

When she opened that door, she saw Ren lying down on a bed, undergoing blood transfusion just to keep him alive, the reality of their situation dawned her.

She was glad her friend was shot so she could use her powers.

She, a hero, was glad her friend, a civilian, was shot so she could use her powers.

What kind of fucking hero was she to think that?

-.-

2/26/11

Amy blearily opened her eyes to a set of knocks and a loud voice outside her door.

"Ames!" Vicky called out. "You're missing breakfast!"

She turned sideways on her bed, facing the wall, and yelled, "Five minutes!"

"You already said that twice! Food's gone cold, and everyone's done eating. If you're not coming out-"

Amy knew that tone. She grumbled and began wrapping herself with her blanket, pulling it over her head, making sure she stayed inside it.

"-then I'm coming in!"

Luckily, Vicky didn't kick the door open this time, otherwise she might have gotten another lecture from Carol and a dock in her allowance.

When Vicky reached Amy's bed, she began poking the blanket cocoon she found.

"Come on, what's wrong, Ames?"

She didn't want to say, not even to Vicky. This was her problem and hers alone.

"Well," Vicky continued, "Dean said that he got a message when he woke up this morning. He said the PRT is having a meeting today with the rest of the Wards. Something about Sophia being held in one of their cells?"

Amy grunted before curling into herself for a little bit. "Good, she deserves it."

"What exactly happened last night, Ames?" Vicky asked, rubbing the Amy cocoon instead of poking at it. "You were all grumpy last night. I heard Ren's in the hospital and got hurt."

"...Shadow Stalker hurt Taylor and Ren last night," Amy said. "She-"

A loud blaring siren filled the room, and at the same time, her phone rang.

Amy and Vicky glanced at each other, dread apparent in their faces.

She swallowed before opening the notification.

The Protectorate sent a message: Simurgh was seen moving towards Canberra, Australia.

-.-

Author's Notes:

And with this, there are no more backlogs so I have to work from scratch now.

Originally, the chapter was meant to deal with Sophia, and Joker would try to change her heart, but before he could, the PRT sends her to juvie. The reasoning would be that not only was she unmasked (Taylor figured out Sophia attacked them), but a Ward attacked two civilians and a black person attacked both a white girl and a Asian boy. The two crumbling racist/supremacist gangs in BB might use this as leverage and a way to rally people that are on the fence. The Wards program would lose face while possibly strengthening the finally weakening gangs in the city. The optics are really bad.

Emily would then send Sophia away to Juvie and drop her out of the Wards program.

While that's happening, Ren would raise awareness about it, and Joker would "hear" about it. Joker would try to change Sophia's heart, but since she was transferred out, it's no longer possible. Assault would catch Joker in the real world on patrol, and when Joker prods Assault, Assault would tell him that Sophia's been dropped out somehow.

That was the original draft.

But then I realized fucking Simurgh attacked Canberra on 2/24. I ended up dropping this last part as a behind-the-scenes thing and focus on Canberra.

In my original-original draft, Joker would fight Leviathan as his first EB, but here we are. In all honesty, it's actually better since thematically, the mind-controlling angel monster was a better enemy than the water-controlling lizard monster for Joker.

As for the Amy introspection, I did not originally plan for it, but after taking a break and coming back to this, I realized that this might be the perfect time for this and decided to write it.