Now flush with cash thanks to Shinji's intervention, Missy decided to take the next logical step with her newfound wealth.

Shopping. And by shopping she meant actual shopping with friends and not being a dress up doll for Vicky.

That's how she had found herself quickly inviting Dinah and Clara for a day at the mall. Of course due to recent events and Brockton Bay, they still had adultish supervision with Dinah's cousin Rory lurking around. Which honestly, fine, at least he knew how to keep his distance and give them their space.

"Did you really have to get a taser?" Dinah asked. "You're kinda strapped as it is." She gestured towards Missy's katanas, Evoker, and now a newly slotted taser on her belt.

"But the Taser Master 2000 is a girl's best battery powered friend!" Missy replied. She would've gone for the 3000 but only a fraction of her money was actually available in a checking account, the rest in a carefully managed trust fund, and so she still needed to have some cash for the rest of the day. "You should get one too, Brockton Bay's not safe."

"I think it's safer for some people, especially ones who aren't going out Heroing," Dinah replied, but still began to browse through some of the merchandise anyway. "Besides it's illegal for minors to purchase or carry tasers."

"Then why did they let me-"

"Cape."

"Ah. That's dumb. The laws are dumb," Missy replied.

Clara nodded. "Even my dad lets me carry around pepper spray even though it's illegal for me."

Dinah took a notable step away from Clara. "There's a reason we don't want kids to start pepper spraying each other at school because someone made fun of them. But if you wanna complain about the laws take it up to the state legislature."

"Your uncle's the mayor, right?" Missy asked.

"Missy. I'm not going to let you threaten my uncle just to change the laws. He doesn't even have that much influence over the state."

"I'm not threatening. Just giving him some reasonable advice. Maybe have your cousin over there pass it on to his dad?"

"Missy."

"Fiiiine."

"Can I have Missy threaten my Uncle?" Clara asked. "He's kind of a jerk."

Dinah ignored Clara's inquiry as they went to the next store. "Technically all we're allowed to carry are those child safety alarms."

"So everyone can hear when a criminal is beating my face in, great." Missy replied in a deadpan.

"It means they'll get you help if they see you in trouble and most girls aren't going out of their way to fight criminals," Dinah replied. "Most people like me are trying to get through school and graduate so that we can get a good job."

Missy rolled her eyes. "Alright I get it can we jus-…" she sighed.

"Just what?" Dinah asked.

Missy simply stepped to the side as she was approached by yet another set of Cape Groupies.

"Could we get your autograph?" one of them asked.

Missy gave them the best fake smile that she could muster. "Sure but it'll have to be quick. I don't get a lot of time to hang out with my friends," she said as she began signing some notebooks and even a shirt one of them carried around.

"You and your friends can hang out with us. We know what's fun round here."

Their group was all boys and several years older than they were. Missy didn't even need Clara making an X by crossing her arms to know that joining them was probably a bad idea. She had enough stranger danger lessons with Minako and Shinji already, and that was before she got powers.

"Sorry it's a girl's day. And we should really be heading out now," Missy said that as her smile widened.

Thankfully one of the boys could take a hint and they thanked for the autographs before walking away, chattering excitedly with each other as they did so.

"About as bad as school, isn't it?" Dinah asked.

Missy sighed. "In some ways it's worse."

The stares that she had been ignoring throughout the day were starting to be uncomfortable again. As were the requests for healing which she had complied with several times. So to avoid any more people, she decided to immediately go to a store that had clothes specifically for young girls. It'd be easy to point out any freaks that followed them in this very pink place. It was also a chance for Missy to get some much-needed clothes shopping done and it was the sort of thing that she could only comfortably do with her friends.

Especially getting bras. She needed bras now. That was a thing since like a week ago. She was also the last of her friends to need them so she had been prepared for that eventuality and was waiting for when it would finally happen. Of course, that meant that Dinah and Clara were very insistent on helping her pick some out, mostly by bringing them to her to show off. They were cute, but Clara did you have to raise that frilly one so high in the air for others to see?

Where was Rory again? Ah there he was outside the store at a nearby drink kiosk, making damn sure that he was looking away from them. Good man, he respected their privacy, Aaaand now he was flirting with the cashier… who was a dude. Huh. Good for him and they both kinda looked cute together.

"Missy. Bras?" Dinah asked.

"Oh right."

Missy picked out a few herself but Dinah and Clara would pick out the rest. She ended up with a significant pile of sports and training bras in her shopping basket before she finally began picking out some actual clothes.

"What was it like working at the hospital?" Clara asked her as she held up a blouse.

"Boring," Missy replied as she tugged on the legs of some pants to test out their durability. "… Until a druggie pulled out a gun." Her hand hovered over the hilt of her blade. "No one died but things got a bit messy."

Clara didn't say anything else. She put down the blouse and simply walked to hug her.

Missy sank into her arms. She was warm… and safe.

"Being a Hero is hard," Missy admitted. "I still want to be one but… there's so much I have to learn."

"Brockton Bay just isn't safe for you." Dinah shook her head. "When you can't even do work at a hospital without getting attacked."

"It's my home. I have to help," Missy replied as Clara let go. "But anyway, enough of that. I need to get some new pants."

"Get a skirt, you have enough pants already!" Clara told her while Dinah nodded in agreement.

Missy rolled her eyes. "Fine."


Clothes shopping was fun even though Missy had no idea how she was going to stuff all these new clothes in her closet. They had even propositioned Rory to carry around some of their bags in exchange for buying him lunch. Or at least that was the plan.

"I thought I said I was going to pay." Missy crossed her arms as she sulked at their table in the food court.

"Didn't hear that. Sorry," Rory said happily as he passed his portion of ice cream to Dinah who happily took it.

He most definitely did hear her. Next time, next time she'd make sure to pay first and wipe off that smug smile off his face.

"So Missy," Rory said in between bites of his sandwich. "What's it like being an Open Cape? Can't be easy since everyone just knows who you are."

"It's… taking some getting used to," Missy admitted. "Glory Girl says I'll get used to it eventually… but a lot more people suddenly wanna by my friend. Or they're angry and jealous at me for whatever reason."

"Even with a secret identity it can be hard for Capes to relate to regular people. With what w- they do every day. It's hard for either side to get much perspective on each other."

"Amen to that." Missy took a biiig sip out of her milkshake. "What about you? What's it like being the mayor's son?"

"Lot of people trying to suck up to me," Rory admitted. "Honestly makes me appreciate my job, they just treat me like one of them."

"Dinah said you were doing an internship. Where exactly?"

"Just doing a work-study through Arcadia. Going to be graduating soon. I've been prepping for that."

"What about college?"

"Not too sure if I even need it." Dinah looked at him affronted, but Rory continued speaking. "My job's paying well and they're offering me a full time position once I graduate from high school."

"Hmm. That's nice," Missy replied. She was apparently poised to make quite a bit of money herself. So long as her powers didn't disrupt an industry she could do stuff like healing at a hospital or work at a restaurant. A degree sounded nice, made her seem more official, but did she really want to put in the effort of more school? When she could focus more on helping other people once she was an adult?

"You didn't tell us where you worked," Clara suddenly commented. "Work study is kinda vague."

"Working with Fortress Constructions," Rory replied.

"Aren't they also contracted by the PRT?"

"And by the city, yes," Rory replied.

"Doesn't that mean you're also sorta working with the PRT? And don't they say that all the Wards go to Arcadia?"

Missy's eyes shot open and she immediately turned her head toward Rory who looked a bit tense at her gaze. Wait a damn minute.

Dinah snorted. "You think this dork is a Superhero? Trust me I've seen what he's like at home, he ain't doing much."

"I don't think he is Clara," Missy decided to throw Rory a lightboat, but she had a suspicion now as to who he might be. No wonder his voice seemed so familiar. "And you're not supposed to try and figure out Heroes identities. It can put you in a lot of danger and get you into some serious trouble."

"Okay fine. Sorry I was just joking around, Rory," Clara apologized.

"No it's fine," Rory seemed to relax, although Missy felt something tap the back of her hand and then pass off a slip of paper for her to carry. She looked down for a brief moment, and yep that was a phone number.

That was going to be a fun phone call.

"Not going to college," Dinah muttered. And there she was again making a big deal out of everyone's education.

"What are you doing then?" Missy asked.

"Use my grades to get through the waiting list on Arcadia for high school, then get a scholarship for a good university," Dinah replied.

"You wanna become Mayor like your Uncle?" Clara asked.

"Maybe. We'll see. But yea you two should also keep your grades up. That way we can all go to Arcadia together."

Clara nodded. "Okay!"

Both of Missy's friends then turned toward her.

"… Alright," Missy replied. Honestly she just thought she'd keep going to Immaculata for high school and make things simple, but if both her friends were heading to Arcadia anyway… Also by the time Missy got there Vicky would be a senior so they could even spend a year together in the same school. That would be cool. Vicky was cool.

They continued to eat their food, making some small talk and occasionally ignoring the flash of a picture being taken in their direction. It was just a normal day with her friends and a chaperone.

Ignore the whispering crowds Missy. Just enjoy the day off.

"Let's get some ice cream," Dinah suggested after they finished eating.

"Didn't Rory already give you ice cream?" Missy asked.

"So?"

"That's good enough for me," Clara chirped cheerfully as she led them to the nearest ice cream store.

Missy let Rory and her friends go first once inside. The plan was twofold. One, to prevent Rory from paying for everyone's ice cream by going last. Two, being the one that paid for all of them by quickly tossing the cashier her cash the second they took her order. Yep great plan, it was all coming together.

"Two scoops vanilla chocolate chip please," Missy asked politely.

The ice cream worker pulled out a very large waffle cone. Missy then stared as the woman began to put in a lot more than two scoops of ice cream in it.

"Uh, I just wanted two scoops."

"Do you like chocolate syrup and peanuts?"

"I mean yea but-"

The woman immediately poured a generous amount of both on her cone before handing it over to her. "It's free for all of you, here."

"W-why? Shouldn't I pay?" Missy asked.

"My husband was at that apartment fire. You all get free ice cream."

"Won't your boss get mad?"

"I'm the manager."

"Oh… uh thanks."

"No thank you," the woman said before Missy could leave the store.

Missy stepped out feeling much more awkward then she had before. "Does that usually happen to Capes?"

"Not when they're not in their costumes," Rory replied. "Though I think Open Capes have it different."

"Do you not want it? I can always eat it for you," Clara offered.

Missy immediately bit into her cone. No way in hell. This was hers.


It didn't take long after Missy finished hanging out with her friends for her to take out her flip phone and call the number Rory had given to her. She made sure that the door to her room was locked and that no would be around to overhear.

"Hey… Triumph"

"Is my secret identity really that bad?" Triumph said over the phone.

"Nah Clara's just weirdly perceptive sometimes. Also like no filter on her mouth so sometimes it actually gets her in a lot of trouble."

Like that time the principal. As much as it was funny at the time it probably wasn't a good idea to point out that he was wearing a new toupee right in front of him.

Triumph- er Rory breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good. She scared me a bit back there."

"Don't you guys get these sorts of questions all the time?" Missy asked.

"We do, but normally we make it point not to be around people we're associated with on that side when we're asked that question."

"Oh sorry."

"Not your fault."

"So Fortress Construction?"

"Convenient cover. One of PRTs consultants does own it."

"Does Dinah know?"

"No. And I prefer to keep it that way to protect her."

Made sense. Though it would be weird keeping that secret from her own friend. "Okay… did the PRT send you to keep an eye on me?" Missy asked.

"They encouraged it, but I was probably going to go along anyway if you girls hadn't found another chaperone. ABB have been sighted lurking close to that area," Triumph replied.

"So they actually kidnap girls off the streets?"

"Yea it's been an issue. Not an epidemic but there have been reports of it happening for a few years now."

"Should I be worried about Lung?"

"If you avoid his territory you'll be fine. He doesn't do much except when retaliating for any personal slight. He probably doesn't care about the Unwritten Rules but I don't think he'll let his people off if they cause trouble breaking it. Still I'd be careful if I were you and keep that taser close."

"Got it. Anything else I should know about the Gangs?"

"Empire activity has been picking up again in their territories. Chorus have been escalating recently. Lots of violence against civilians but it's been hard to pin them down since they move often. Mercenaries with Tinkertech have become more active around the Upper districts. Don't have a name for their group but we think they're working under a Thinker or Master."

So gang, gang, gang, and possibly more gang. "How the fu-frick do the PRT keep up with all of this?"

"We work very hard to keep the peace. Apparently the fighting was worse back when All Father and the Teeth were still around."

It was hard to imagine things being worse… but never a boring day in Brockton Bay.

"Anyway this has all been good to know. Is this number good for staying in contact with you guys?" Missy asked.

"I'm actually using a Burner right now. We'll get you an official number later," Triumph replied.

"Sounds good."

"You're not using a burner right?"

"Not really. Don't see a point cause Open Cape and all."

"At the very least get another phone for safety. Keep work and your personal stuff separate," Triumph suggested. "Keep using the same one for everything and it won't be hard for people to track you through it."

"I mean everyone's making me carry around a tracking device in case I get kidnapped or something but yea sure I'll do that." She could probably afford it anyway. Maybe get a nice new model for her Hero work.

"Oh yea Missy. I'm probably going to have to report this to my bosses and well they don't exactly like people that aren't part of the Protectorate figuring out all the identity of their Wards."

"Goddamnit."

"Language girl! You're eleven!"

"I'm going to be twelve and I've said worse," Missy replied before hanging up on him. She was a big girl now, wearing bras and all that. Minako and Missy's own mother, in a strange fit agreement, were even preparing her for when she became a woman in their own respective ways. Whatever that meant. It apparently had something to do with those sacks of red rice Minako bought recently.


"Hey Carol. You wanted to see me?" Missy asked as she stepped into Carol's office.

The woman gestured to a seat in front of her desk. "Sit down."

Most people would probably find her intimidating with her stern face, formal dress, and overall overwhelming presence in any room she was in, but Missy was used to it by that point. The woman was actually quite nice deep down. Really really deep down.

"Did Minako tell you why she sent you here?" Carol asked once Missy took a seat.

Missy shook her head. "Just that you have something important to teach me."

"Yes. Vigilante and Independent law."

"Oh. Ew…"

Carol narrowed her eyes. "All regulations are written in blood. They are why these laws exist to protect the public and us from liability. You can disagree with the severity of the punishment or the restrictions imposed by them, but not the motive or reason that many of them were created in the first place. Tell me what you know about the Vikare acts?"

"Uh…"

"This will have to be a productive day."

Carol or rather Brandish in this case spent a good chunk of day drilling basic laws into Missy's head and some of the situations she might run into. It wasn't just black and white either, there were a lot of gray area situations with stuff like hostages, self-defense against lethal force, Masters and their unwilling victims, Gangs and their more than willing minions, just so much to go through. And details of all these topics were in this giant book that had been placed in front of them and Missy apparently had to bring home with her to read.

"I'm starting to see why people need a good lawyer," Missy replied after a particularly long lecture topic.

"As much as our reputation is stained, we are a necessary part of the legal system," Carol replied.

"Even when defending criminals you know are guilty?"

"It's because they're guilty that we should work to our best ability to defend them." Carol crossed her hands. "It is through this right that when they are proven guilty, there is little chance of them to succeed in an appeal and escape their judgment. No technicalities, accusations of biased jury, or unfair trial that they can accuse the courts of."

"So if you defend a criminal well and they're still proven to be guilty, then there's less ways for them to overturn the sentence?" Missy asked.

"Yes. I am a defense attorney that specializes in general Cape law primarily with a focus on Independents, Vigilantes, and civilians caught in fighting between Capes."

"That… probably would be a conflict of interest, wouldn't it?"

"Not necessarily. I can acknowledge my biases against Villains and decline to defend them. There are other civilians, vigilantes, and independent Heroes that need a defense attorney though."

"Would what you're doing with my parents be a conflict of interest then?"

"Lawyers must remain loyal to their client's most of all while acting within the rule of law. My personal feelings on the matter wouldn't change the fact that I do wish to work with your parents to represent you in meetings with the PRT and other law enforcement agencies."

"What about… helping Minako and Shinji adopt me?"

"Like I said, I'm loyal to you, but it is a sensitive issue that needs to be tread lightly."

Missy sighed. "I know."

Brandish leaned back in her chair. "You are surprisingly patient for your age. Neither my daughter or Amy would be willing to sit here and listen to me lecture for so long."

Why the distinction? Weren't they both her daughters?

"Well what you said is important and I'm going to need to know all this if I'm going to keep being an independent Hero," Missy replied. "Also… my age doesn't matter much when I've been forced to grow up so much."

Carol's eyes softened. "Yes… you've been through a lot, too much for someone so young. All Capes have our traumas, but yours isn't even allowed to be private thanks to the Empire. Everyone knows, saw you when you were at your weakest point, and you have to live with that."

Missy's hand rested on her Evoker as she closed her eyes and remembered that moment. It dulled with time but there were still strong emotions there. Fear, helplessness, despair… they were all things that she had despised about herself. All things that she had overcome. She wouldn't let that moment with Hookwolf and Minako become a source of shame, instead it would be her proudest moment.

The determination in Missy's eyes likely caught Carol off guard with how her eyes widened. "I will live with that and become stronger because of it."

Carol stared at her for a few seconds before exhaling and shaking her head. "Sometimes I don't quite know what to think of you. If you truly wish to be an Open Cape and a Hero, then you must know and internalize the founding ideal of New Wave."

"What is it?"

"Accountability."


After her lesson with Carol, Missy had been invited to dinner with her family. Preferring that over dinner in her own home, Missy accepted and found herself alone with one of the few people of their family that she had yet to meet.

"Hi I'm Missy. It's nice to meet you Amy!" Missy greeted the younger sister while they waited in the living room.

"Yea… hi," Amy replied awkwardly.

According to Vicky, her sister was a bit of an introvert. Apparently you had to put a bit more effort to get her to open up but she was a sweet girl underneath. "So Vicky told me a lot about you."

"S-she did?"

"Yea like you're really smart and super reliable. Always there for her ya know?"

"Vicky likes to say a lot of things," Amy muttered before squinting at Missy. "And why is she telling you all that?"

"I don't know," Missy admitted. "I guess she just likes you a lot. Must be nice to have a sister, I'm an only child."

The thought of having a sibling did appeal to her, but well she didn't want another child to be born with her in that household. Maybe Minako and Shinji could have a kid once they adopted her? Oh yea, that was a great idea! She had to remind herself to ask them to make her a little sister or brother! Or adoption. That would be cool too.

Amy frowned. "So you want Vicky as your sister?"

"Eh… to be honest I don't think I could handle her."

"… What?"

"Like she's awesome and I do like hanging with her… sometimes. But she's always dragging me to places on patrols or clothes shopping." Missy shuddered. "It's not even clothes shopping it's… just dress up."

Amy sighed and nodded. "Yeeeaaa… She force you into something skimpy?"

"Skimpy?"

"Uhhh… daring. Like flashy things."

"Well she's making me try on a lot of skirts and dresses. Cute things with lots of accessories and frills." Like Missy didn't mind the frills and stuff on special occasions, but not for like everyday wear. "They kind of like they'd get in the way a lot."

"Vicky does like her jewelry," Amy commiserated.

"Oh Scion the jewelry. I don't need three necklaces, why is she trying to choke me with them?"

"I know." Amy pointed upwards. "Got a bunch of birthday gifts from her in a box upstairs."

After that Amy went silent but seemed to tense a bit less around Missy's presence, which probably counted for a win. Missy just sat there in her company until the girl decided to speak again.

"Vicky talks about you a lot too," Amy admitted after some time. "Always wanted us to meet."

"Cool. Cool. So what do you like to do for fun?" Missy asked.

"Read. Go online. You?"

"Play video games, hangout with my friends. Practice with my Personas."

"Your powers huh. Vicky's been out a lot ever since she got her Powers."

"Well there's a lot for a Hero to do in Brockton Bay," Missy replied. "She's helping a lot of people out there."

"Yeah… sure whatever."

Missy was pretty sure she had just made a bit of a mistake in their conversation, but before she could figure it out Carol called them to the dinner table. There she would end up having dinner with the entire Dallon family.

It was… different. Much quieter than dinners at her own house thankfully but less intimate than at Minako and Shinji's house. It was a bit more formal, everyone made sure to eat properly but there was some small talk being made. Well, loud talk mostly from Vicky. Everyone else kinda just nodded or quickly added their own input into the conversation.

"So after Cheryl decided we go bowling she ended up having to cancel cause her boyfriend was available, which is honestly such a bi-" Vicky glanced at Missy. "Sucky move. I mean I don't just cancel on friends even when Dean is available."

"Seems kinda weird to abandon your friends for a boy," Missy commented between bites of her pot roast.

"I mean boys are pretty cool Missy. I understand even if I wouldn't do it," Vicky replied.

Carol nodded. "Always keep your promises. That applies to all of you girls."

"Yes Mom," Vicky replied. "So anyway while we're bowling, guess who shows up?"

"Empire?" Missy asked.

"… Yea. Empire kids. How'd you know?"

"Shinji warned me not to go to the bowling alleys alone and also the badminton courts I think?"

"Huh… well not going to not have fun because of those assholes but any other places we should know about?" Vicky asked.

"The Community Center. One by the Boardwalk, not the Docks, apparently has a lot of escorts? Not too sure why you need to hire protection with the Enforcers around though."

"… Did Shinji tell you this?" Carol asked.

"Nah I was kinda hanging when I heard one of his customers talk about it. Why?" Missy asked.

Carol exhaled. "Just planning to have a conversation about the company he keeps."

"Huh? What's wrong?"

"So anyway Missy. You do anything today?" Vicky asked.

Missy shrugged. "Went shopping for stuff with Dinah and Clara."

"Wait, you went shopping without me?"

"I needed actual clothes I was going to use," Missy replied without shame. "I also got a taser and free ice cream cause I helped save the manager's husband."

"You shouldn't accept gifts from strangers," Carol warned her. "It can be seen as a bribe or you being bought out by accepting compensation from others."

"Cmon mom. It was just ice cream, not a suitcase full of cash," Vicky argued and honestly Missy kinda agreed. Was free ice cream really that bad?

"It's a slippery slope. Corporations and the wealthy often try to buy off Capes. It's why Corporate Cape culture is an issue," Carol replied with some distaste. "You might also become a Villian with some of the things they ask of you.."

"Isn't New Wave run by donations?" Amy asked.

"Partially Amy," Carol looked at her daughter sternly. "Donations run through official channels to ensure legitimacy and an obligation to ensure that all funds are used for official Hero work or emergencies. Otherwise, we don't use those funds for personal use. I thought we already explained this to you."

Amy rolled her eyes, which was honestly kind of rude. "Whatever."

Carol shook her head before continuing to eat dinner. Missy tried to make some small talk with Mark but he only seemed to be willing to speak a few words at a time. It was kinda like he wasn't really there?

Eventually dinner finished and Carol went to wash the dishes with her husband. That left Missy alone with Amy once Vicky was in the bathroom.

"Is… your dad okay?" Missy asked.

"Depression," Amy explained. "Today's a bad thing for him."

"Oh sorry."

Amy grunted before turning toward Missy. She looked less annoyed and more weary now. Like she was really tired about something. "Why you?"

"Why what?"

"You and Carol."

"I mean… because of Empire making me an Open Cape. She really helped me-"

"I know why she's your lawyer. But why is she teaching you?"

"She wants me know to know about the laws then-"

"Why, not what."

Missy paused; her mouth opened as she contemplated that question. Eventually she closed it and was left to mull over the question. "I… don't know. I know she tried with Vicky-"

Amy scoffed. "Emphasis on tried."

"But I don't know why she's giving me so much attention. It scares me a little…"

Amy raised an eye. "It scares you?"

"Yea I mean she's… always expecting so much out of me. I'm just afraid to disappoint her…"

"… Can't tell if that's better than nothing," Amy replied before she got up. "Heading up to my room!" she shouted before leaving Missy alone in that room.

Missy simply sat there until she was finally driven home by Carol. She wasn't quite sure what to make of the Dallon family on the car ride back.