Kevin flipped through the shirts on the rack, his fingers brushing over the fabrics as he searched for something suitable. He desperately needed more business clothes—suits, in particular. He was on the brink of starting his own company. He needed suits to look like a preppy guy in some meetings.

Sherrel was somewhere in the women's department, lost in her own shopping spree. He had tried to join her, but his patience quickly wore thin. She hadn't even selected a single piece yet, that too after spending half an hour viewing everything.

He moved on to the next suit. He suddenly felt a presence nearby. It wasn't harmful though. More like happy at seeing him. Glancing up, he saw a young girl, about twelve years old, walking toward him. He dismissed her as someone's daughter, roaming the store while her parents shopped. But then she stopped in front of him.

"Hi, my name's Dinah Alcott," she said, her voice calm but urgent. "I need your help."

Kevin frowned, looking down at the girl. She had brown hair and quite some freckles. Moreover, her clothes indicated her from some well to do family. "What do you mean?"

Dinah glanced around nervously before continuing. "The numbers tell me you can protect me from the bad men who are going to come after me."

Kevin's eyebrows shot up in surprise. So a parahuman then. He looked around to ensure they weren't being overheard and then leaned down slightly. "Can you explain more? What exactly do you need help with?"

Dinah took a deep breath. "I'm a cape. A precog, actually. I see probabilities, percentages. The numbers say there's a 98% chance that someone will try to kidnap me in the next few months."

Kevin's frown deepened. "And you think I can protect you from this?" He asked curiously. She seemed to be receiving answers in percentages it seemed.

She nodded eagerly. "The same numbers say there's an 82.46% chance I might still get kidnapped if I go to the PRT or join the Wards. But if you protect me, there's a 72.31% chance I'll be safe. There's another option, with a 61% chance of safety. I don't know it, but you're the best option according to the numbers." She explained eagerly.

Kevin rubbed his chin. So a precog with percentages then. He decided to test her though. "Why me?"

Dinah looked at him with determined eyes. Her lips wobbled a little, but she desperately tried to speak. "Because the numbers don't lie. They point to you as my best chance."

Kevin sighed, looking around the store again. "Okay, let's say I agree. How do you know these 'bad men' are coming for you?"

"They want my power," she said simply. "To use me. To control me." She looked at him as he was an idiot. Kevin didn't have to be in him to be annoyed. The girl's expression seemed to be cute to his mind. She was a child. A child who didn't have to worry about it. But now, she was a wanted cape due to her powers to some specific individuals.

Kevin's mind raced. He knew the world of capes was dangerous, filled with people who would exploit any advantage they could find. Besides, she seemed to be a precog. They do tend to be in demand. "Alright, Dinah. I'll help you. But we need to figure out a plan. And we need to talk somewhere more private."

Dinah looked relieved. "Thank you. I can explain more once we're somewhere safe." She replied with a smile.

"Give me your address. I shall arrive at your house at night." Kevin proposed. Perhaps some tracking equipment will do for her.

Protecting a precog from people who wanted to exploit her power wasn't going to be easy. But he couldn't turn his back on her, especially knowing the dangers she faced. Oh, he would profit from her either way.

Gwen and Taylor strolled down the Boardwalk. The evening sun cast a warm glow over the bustling shops and restaurants, but Taylor couldn't shake the nerves fluttering in her stomach.

"Is it really okay?" Taylor asked in an awkward whisper, glancing at Gwen. She wanted to do it herself, but Gwen was insisting that they take some professional help with this. She couldn't begrudge that decision though. She was right. The person they were going to meet was much more experienced with fabrics than them.

"Yes, absolutely," Gwen replied, nodding firmly. "I've already texted about custom making it through PHO."

Taylor hesitated. "But you didn't tell her the whole truth, did you?" She asked hesitantly.

Gwen shrugged. "Better this way than getting a straight no from her. We at least have a chance to get an audience with her." She explained with a wince. She might directly say 'no'. Better to risk it.

Taylor sighed, kicking at a stray pebble on the sidewalk. "I just hope this goes well."

"It will," Gwen reassured her. "Parian is nice. And she's one of the best when it comes to fabric manipulation. If anyone can help, it's her." Besides, it would be better than their amateur attempts. Neither, she or Taylor had any sort of experience in making costumes. Better, let it be handled by professionals.

They continued walking, weaving through the crowds of tourists and locals alike. Taylor noticed a small group of kids laughing and playing with a beach ball, their carefree joy contrasting sharply with her own anxious thoughts.

"You know," Gwen said, breaking the silence, "this whole thing might be a blessing in disguise. Getting a custom outfit from Parian? That's huge."

"Yeah, I guess," Taylor muttered. "I just... I don't want to mess this up."

"You won't," Gwen said, giving her a reassuring smile. The girl really had self esteem issues. "You're better than you think, Taylor."

They finally reached the small, cozy shop nestled between a surfboard rental and a café. The sign above the door read "Parian's Puppets and Patterns." Gwen pushed the door open, and a bell chimed, announcing their arrival.

Inside, the shop was a colorful explosion of dolls and fabrics, with walls lined with shelves holding an array of vibrant materials and intricately designed plush toys. Behind the counter sat a giant bunny, its button eyes staring blankly ahead.

"Wow," Taylor whispered, taking in the whimsical decor. It more like a real dollhouse than shop. "This place is... something."

Gwen chuckled from besides her.

As they approached the counter, Gwen leaned over and addressed the bunny. "Hi, we're here to meet Parian. We have an appointment."

From behind one of the many shelves, a woman emerged. She was petite, with dark hair pulled back in a neat bun, and she wore a simple yet elegant dress made of finely woven fabric. Her eyes were sharp and curious from behind the mask, as she looked them over.

"Gwen and Taylor, right?" Parian asked, her voice gentle but businesslike. It was clear that she only meant business.

"Yes, that's us," Gwen said, smiling at the person dressed in a Victorian era doll. "Thank you for seeing us on such short notice."

Parian nodded. "Of course. You mentioned wanting something custom?"

Taylor stepped forward, her nerves making her voice a little shaky. "Yes. I... I need something special. Something that can help me... with my new abilities. Taylor pulled out a small bottle from her bag. "I want a costume made from this," she said, holding it out to the rogue cape.

Parian's eyes widened slightly. "Costume?" she repeated, her voice laced with hesitation. Immediately, the mascots in the shop began to stir, moving protectively closer to their creator.

Gwen quickly stepped in. "We didn't mean to alarm you. We're heroes. We just want our costumes made by you because you're the best."

Parian's expression remained guarded, but the mascots began to retreat slowly. "I don't usually do cape business," she said cautiously.

"We understand," Gwen said, her tone soothing. "But we're not here to cause any trouble. We genuinely need your help."

Parian studied them for a moment longer before nodding. "I'll think about it," she said. She then glanced at the bottle in Taylor's hand hesitantly. "What exactly is the material in that bottle?"

Taylor took a deep breath. "It's spider silk. I want a costume made out of it."

Parian's eyes widened in surprise as soon as she heard Spider silk. "Spider silk? Really?"

Taylor nodded. "Yes. I thought it would be fitting." She slowly replied to the surprised rogue cape of Brockton Bay. She was a little shocked to hear the surprise and amazement in her voice at the mention of Spider Silk.

Parian's curiosity seemed piqued. "How did you get the spider silk?" She asked curiously as her eyes flanked to the bottle.

Taylor smiled faintly a little. She was really glad that someone apart from her dad and Gwen were finding the whole thing nice. "I produced it myself. Well, through the spiders I control, anyway."

Parian looked at the bottle with renewed interest. "That's... impressive. Spider silk is incredibly strong. It could make for an excellent costume material."

"Exactly," Gwen chimed in. "We're not looking for anything flashy. Just something durable and practical."

Parian nodded thoughtfully. "I see. What kind of costume are you thinking about?"

Taylor hesitated for a moment. "Something lightweight but durable. Maybe something that can help with mobility and give me some protection."

Parian's eyes lit up as she considered the possibilities. "I can work with that. Spider silk has a lot of potential. It's light but incredibly strong. It might even offer some level of protection."

"That's what we were hoping for," Gwen said with a smile. She knew that Parian was eager to work on the material now.

Parian glanced between them, her expression softening slightly. "Alright. I'll do it. But it might take some time. I want to make sure it's done right."

Taylor let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you. This means a lot."

Parian nodded. "Just promise me one thing: if anyone asks, you didn't get this from me."

"Deal," Gwen said, grinning. "We'll keep it under wraps."

Parian smiled faintly. None of them would have been able to see that smile, but the crinks near her eye gave away it. "Alright then. Let's get started on the design."

Taylor took a deep breath and thought about it. She slowly started explaining her design, what she had on mind. "I was thinking something sleek and practical. A full-body suit, maybe a dark gray or black, with some pockets and compartments for tools. I want it to be lightweight but strong enough to offer some protection. And it should have flexibility for movement."

Parian nodded, taking notes at the diary on the counter. "Alright, that sounds doable. I can integrate some padding and reinforcements in key areas without sacrificing mobility. But are you sure, you want dark theme?"

Taylor frowned at the question. Was there going to be problems due to costume's colour?

"Well, you see. Colours play an important role in the perception of people. You normally see for yourself how happiness is associated with bright colours and sadness is by dark ones." Parian explained. "And since you're both not Wards from what I know of now, it means you're vigilantes."

"Ohh, I didn't think of that." Taylor replied a little unsure now. What she told did make sense.

"Worry not, once finished. We can overlap colours then. I may send you pictures. Confirm it then." Parian proposed with a smile.

Taylor smiled. Yeah, she could think that. A finished product would be better for colour inspection. "Thank you, Parian.

Parian glanced at the bottle again. She spoke a little unsurely. "Do you have more spider silk?"

Taylor frowned, a bit confused by the question. Gwen meanwhile knew what Parian was going at. "I can produce more if needed. Why?"

Parian leaned forward, her eyes shining with excitement now. "Spider silk is one of the strongest natural fibers. It has incredible tensile strength. If you can produce a significant amount, especially golden spider silk, it would be incredibly valuable. I'd be willing to pay a hundred thousand dollars for a considerable amount."

Taylor's jaw dropped. If anyone would have seen her, they would have been laughing at her expression. "A hundred thousand dollars? For spider silk?"

Parian nodded. "Yes. Golden spider silk, in particular, has a unique strength and elasticity. It's very rare and highly sought after for various applications. Your normal Spider silk will also be preferable for now."

Taylor was flabbergasted. "I had no idea it was worth that much." If she knew that she could earn so much. She would have started breeding spiders and all from the first day of getting powers. Hell yeah! She was going to do it now.

Parian smiled. "It is. If you can produce it, I can find buyers."

Taylor nodded slowly. "I'll see what I can do." Oh, Hell yeah! Spiders were her favourite animals now. Who knew that those little arachnids were so valuable.

Parian then turned to Gwen. "What about you? Do you have a specific design in mind for your costume?"

Gwen shrugged. "I just need something simple. I don't need much in terms of safety or durability. My powers can cover for that."

Parian raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? Even something simple can have some reinforcements."

Gwen shook her head. "Really, it's fine. My magic can protect me. I just need something comfortable and easy to move in."

Parian nodded, jotting down more notes. She wasn't going to ask about this magic which she was talking about. She had met enough people with odd views on subjects. "Alright, if you're sure. I'll come up with something that suits your needs."

Gwen smiled. "Thanks. We really appreciate it."

Parian smiled back. "It's my pleasure. Let's get started on the measurements then."