Chapter 19

After sending a couple of hasty emails, I met Assault- or rather, Ethan, (it still felt weird using his real name) inside a bar near PRT HQ. Just from some cursory research and looking around the place, it looked like the favored watering hole of PRT agents and troopers in their time off. It was also cape-themed in general to attract tourists and customers, making it a bit of a crowded spot and one where two people in the middle of a Thursday afternoon wouldn't look too weird. Posters and signed photos of famous heroes, both independent and Protectorate, littered the walls. A damaged helmet that the bartender claimed was from Armsmaster's first suit of power armor stood sentinel over the liquor shelf.

I grabbed a couple of pints and then found a secluded booth and waited. Ethan showed up a few minutes later and eyed the beer. "It's like… two in the afternoon."

"I can heal any negative effects. Plus it's actually healthier to drink earlier in the day than the evening. Gives your body more time to burn it off before going to sleep."

"Healthier you say? I'll have to use that one with the wife." He picked up his glass and took an appreciative sip. "You have decent taste in beer, though I still say a good IPA is better than this."

"And I say you have shit taste." We shared a laugh and clinked our glasses together. "To victory."

"To victory. "

We both drank deeply before setting our glasses down. "So, not that I'm above a little day drinking with a friend, but what's up? Sam wants to do some home shopping since we're both free."

"I uh…" Damn nerves made me feel nervous all over again. "I have a date on Saturday. Except, you know, we're back to work that night and plus I haven't been on a date in like, years and I really like this girl and I really don't want to screw this up," I rambled, my leg bouncing nervously. "So, being that you're a married man, I thought you might have some pointers."

"A date huh? Nice buddy, who's the lucky lady?"

"Crystal Pelham."

Ethan let out a small whistle. "Laserdream? Flirting with the rival team? Director won't be happy about that, especially if you're planning on jumping ship."

"It's not like that. New Wave already offered me a place with them after I first triggered," kinda, "but I joined the Protectorate and I'll honor my commitment to it so long as they do the same. She just… She saved my life and is just so beautiful and brave and amazing in a dozen other ways. But she's just so out of my league, I don't know what to do."

"Mak, you just fought off the Simurgh and you're worried about taking a girl out on a date?" He asked, looking far too amused for my liking.

"I can't just rewind time if I mess up a date! Well I mean… I could, but that would feel unethical and make me feel like a creep."

"Wait, you can-"

"I'm just some dude! She's… Awesome!" My forehead hit the table. "I stumbled into this blindly."

"How exactly did you land a date with Laserdream?"

"I suggested we go grab celebratory food if I survived the Endbringer fight. She took that as me asking her on a date."

"So… you weren't asking her out?"

"I mean, as a friend, sure, but a guy like me doesn't have a shot with someone like her so I wasn't trying to make a move or anything. But she took it as a date and I mean, I'm not going to say no to a miracle like that."

Ethan sighed and finished his drink. "Mak, lemme ask you: Have you two hung out before in a non-date context?"

"Yeah?"

"And you didn't say it was a date when inviting her out?"

"No…

"So then she chose to interpret your invitation as a date. She obviously likes you enough to at least give you a shot." Ethan shook his head and signaled the bartender for another round. "God, you're dense, aren't you?"

"So I've been told," I muttered. "Is it pity maybe? It must be pity."

Ethan rolled his eyes. "Mak. Stop the woe-is-me parade. You aren't an unattractive guy-"

"Glowing endorsement."

"And that's only gotten more true as you've trained more. I mean c'mon, you're well on the way to having the muscles of a cop or firefighter and pretty soon I bet you'll have abs like a weight lifter. Comes with the territory of training the way you do. Plus you're friendly, charming, eager to help, and good with people of all ages. I've seen you be just as friendly and engaging with people your own age as with kids and even old folks. Not everyone can pull that off."

"Religious upbringing. Lots of friends of all ages."

"Sure, sure. From what I've seen, the only marks against you are that you're kind of a pushover and you have a bit of a temper."

"I'm not-" I took a breath as I realized I had begun snapping, which made Ethan raise an eyebrow at me. "I'm not a pushover. I'm just… polite. I try to be considerate of other people's feelings and viewpoints. Temper, I can't deny."

"Yeah, but you're too considerate of others. You gotta think of yourself sometimes."

"I guess… It's a work in progress."

"That's just life." Ethan gave the waitress a charming smile and slipped her a couple of twenties. "On me today. So other than being your temporary hype man, what exactly did you need to ask me?"

"I dunno like… What should I wear, how should I treat her, do I go in for a kiss or a handshake or a hug? What topics do I bring up or avoid? I'm not good at this stuff."

"So wing it. Dress based on the weather and where you're going. Just keep on treating her like a friend, but with a romantic angle too. If she gives some kind of signal with her body language, then go for a hug or kiss as seems appropriate." He gave a small shrug. "Sam and I's relationship was kind of weird, so I wouldn't exactly tell you to pursue Laserdream the way I did with Sam-"

"You mean harass her until she gives me a shot and then charm her?"

"...How the hell do you even know that?"

"Thinker powers are weird."

Ethan turned and coughed, clearly embarrassed. "Look, it was really dumb of me in hindsight and I'm glad we ended falling in love and married rather than, you know…"

"Her reporting you to HR for sexual harassment?" I asked jokingly.

"Basically."

"Okay, just treat her normally, but also maybe ask some questions to try and get to know her better, flirt a little," and that totally didn't scare me at all, "and dress nicely, but probably not too nicely."

"Don't forget to pay too," He chimed in. "And where are you going again?"

"Fancy sandwich shop on the Boardwalk. Figured we'd grab some food and just kind of wander and chat," I said.

"I've heard worse first date ideas. Better than the whole 'dinner and a movie' crap. Super over done."

"Definitely."

We chatted amiably for a few more minutes as we finished our second round, then Ethan checked his watch. "Alright, I gotta meet Sam at the furniture store in a few. Catch you later, Mak. Good luck with the date." He shot me a wink and then slid out of the booth and out of the bar.

I let a small smidgen of magic burn through my veins, purging the faint buzz I'd developed, then vanished into the shadows.

I still had a few other important appointments that day.

/
Emily Piggot was not looking forward to her meeting with Magus. Sure, the man had proved himself capable of (mostly) following orders, even ones he didn't like, but she had known the moment she'd gotten the uncensored footage and reports from Canberra that things were going to change. So when she'd received an email requesting a meeting, she'd had no choice but to fast track it, which pissed off Mayor Christener a bit, but she'd rather antagonize him than the newly minted S-class cape on her roster. She went over her strategies and ideas of how to appease him and whatever insane demands he'd no doubt be producing. She had authorization from Costa-Brown to basically give the man anything he demanded at this point.

A knock sounded from her door and her secretary peeked her head in. "Magus, here to see you."

"Send him in." Piggot drew her face into a neutral expression.

Magus walked in a few moments later, smiling politely, the little shit. "Director, thank you for seeing me so quickly."

"Once again you've proven yourself more polite than your peers," Piggot said diplomatically. "What was so urgent that you needed to speak with me about?" She braced herself for the outrageous demands for money or a promotion or whatever else her brain conjured.

"Can I have Saturday night off?"
Her brain halted. "What?"

"Well, I got put on the duty roster that night, but I kind of had plans." The walking nuke chuckled and scratched the back of his head, the picture of an embarrassed young man rather than an utter powerhouse.

"...You couldn't just email about this? Or swap shifts with one of your teammates?" Piggot asked slowly, cursing her wasted time.

"Actually, ma'am, since I'm still a probationary member, I can't swap shifts without prior authorization from you or Armsmaster. He's deep in tinkering mode and most emails from you take a while to get through, so I just wanted to ask in person so I could cancel or change plans as soon as possible."

Piggot suppressed the urge to scream and carefully took a breath. "Consider yourself a full member. You've more than earned it with your recent performance. And next time you have a request like this, just email, I have all of the Protectorate set to priority so that I can respond quicker." She eyed him for a few moments as silence settled. "Was there anything else you wanted to discuss?"

"No, that was it, ma'am. Sorry to have bothered you." He sounded genuinely remorseful. Where were the demands for special treatment now that he had more power?! "Have a good afternoon. I'll see myself out. Oh and see you at the morning briefing on Saturday."

He turned and walked into the wall, but sunk into the dark shadows beneath the windows instead and was gone. Piggot took another calming breath and then called her secretary. "See if the mayor is still free. My meeting with Magus was shorter than expected."

/
Man, Director Piggot was the best. I don't know why all the Wards were so intimidated by her, you just had to be polite and reasonable and she'd be the same!

After my rather brief meeting with the Director, I headed to my next appointment for the day, just a quick one with Carol Dallon. I had a promise to keep.

It was around four when I knocked on the Dallon home door and I only had to wait a moment before a rather tall and fit man answered the door. He blinked at me, his eyes a tad distant. "Can I help you?"

"Hey there, I'm Mak Inouye. I had just a very quick appointment with Mrs. Dallon. You must be Mr. Dallon."

Mark Dallon or Flashbang as he was known in costume, nodded in recognition. "Right, Carol has mentioned you before. Amy too for that matter." He crossed his arms and looked me up and down. "Aren't you a little old for her?"

I let out an involuntary snort. "You don't have to worry about that. I'm definitely not Amy's type." Not blonde or feminine enough I imagined.

The suspicious eye continued for a moment longer before breaking into a broad grin. "Sorry, I like messing with new friends of the girls. I know you're not like that, Carol or Vicky would've kicked the crap out of you otherwise. C'mon in. Can I get you anything?"

"I'm good for the moment, thank you. Just have to talk to your wife about a legal matter real quick. Oh, do you want me to heal your depression while I'm here?"

Mark reeled back, shock written across his features. "Huh?"

"Oh right. I'm Magus. Kind of funny you're the only member of this house that doesn't know that. Carol is the one who helped me get a contract with the PRT and I think your girls are pretty chill, so I already unmasked to them. I mean, your niece saved my life the day that I triggered and got me healed by Amy and- Sorry, I'm rambling. Anyway, I can heal too, just not as well as Amy, but I can do brains just fine."

"Please. If I can go about normally without needing to take pills that I forget half the time anyway…" He trailed off, his expression becoming desperate.

"I got you." Mana flared within me, kindling into a golden light as I shaped it. Then I simply murmured a few words and then released the power into Mark's body. The power rushed through him, though centering around his head, essentially restoring his brain to peak condition. Amy deserved at least one decent parent.

Mark blinked slowly and stretched his arms experimentally. "Seems like you did more than just heal the depression…"

"I basically just healed every imperfection in your body," I admitted. "Which includes healing old injuries. You'll be able to operate like you're young again for a while. You'll need to talk to Amy about keeping you like that if you want to stay that way. The depression shouldn't come back, but hit me up if it does."

Mark nodded, his eyes still looking wondrously at the world around him, like it was for the first time. "Thank you for this. Really. If you ever need anything…"

"I did this more for Amy's sake. Carol… tolerates her. You seem to love her, but have your own problems. I just freed you up a bit."

I left him standing there, gobsmacked and probably reviewing the last several years of his life through fresh lenses when I knocked on Carol's door. "Good afternoon, Carol."

"Mak. Glad to see you survived Canberra. How did things go?"

"Wonderfully. I'm sure you'll start seeing the news soon enough, but we were able to drive off the Simurgh before the city had to be quarantined. I haven't heard an exact casualty count yet, other than that it was lower than any other fight in the last several years."

"Excellent news. What did you want to talk about today? Are you going to be reviewing your Protectorate contract now that you've been active and proven yourself an asset?"

"No, I just wanted to give you this." I handed her a folder containing all the evidence of Taylor Hebert's bullying, sans the Sophia stuff anyway. "Member of your firm has a daughter that's out of control. Might have caused a trigger event or pulled something that was of the same caliber of messed up anyway."

Carol leafed through it and raised her eyebrows. "Barnes… yes, I know of him. Divorce attorney. Good at his job, but spoils his youngest overmuch. I'll see what I can do with this. Does the victim wish to press charges at this point? You have a lot of evidence here."

"I'll have to talk to her first, but I'll point her in your direction if it comes to that. Thank you, Carol."

"Of course."

"Oh and I healed Mark's depression. You know, as a thank you for helping me out. Toodles!"

She had just barely begun rising from her desk, her face confused and a bit panicked when I vanished once more into darkness.

My next stop landed me at the hospital I knew Amy frequented.

Only to find that she wasn't there. Weird. I stopped a passing nurse and just decided to ask. "Is Panacea around?" She eyed my costume warily and I sighed as I pulled out my Protectorate I.D. "I'm Magus. Fellow healer."

Her face lit up with recognition. "Yes of course. Well if you must know, things have been very quiet for the last few days, so we actually sent Panacea home early today. There are cases, but none urgent enough to require her healing powers and the poor girl deserves as many breaks as she can get."

That brought a smile to my face. Others were looking out for her too, where they could. "Cool, thanks."

Now let's see, Thursday night and I'm free for the first time in a while. Also I'm a teenage lesbian with a thing for my adopted sister. Goddammit, I'm never getting into that headspace.

I would have figured her to be at home if not the hospital, but I hadn't sensed any other presence when I'd stopped by the Dallon house, just Carol and Mark. It was late enough to be after school…

The mall maybe? Can't spend all their time at the Boardwalk…

Deciding to at least check, I step through the shadow closest to me and out the other side near the main entrance. I strolled in and soaked in the atmosphere a bit. I missed malls, I'd been born too late for the golden age of them and back on my old Earth they were a truly dying breed, but I still had fond memories of the local one in my hometown. I wandered a bit, allowing some of my magical senses to worm their way around the building and seek out sources of power. I wasn't disappointed. I felt a trio of them coming from the food court, so I meandered that direction. I paused when I spotted Amy at a table full of other teenagers, her face rather… neutral. Victoria was nearby and I also spotted Dean.

I was still kind of annoyed at the nosy punk, not gonna lie.

Still, I wasn't above the chance to annoy my new friends just a tad. I wove an illusion over myself then strolled over and bopped Amy on top of her head. "Heya."

Conversations died as all eyes turned toward me and Amy. I saw a few faces turn into interesting expressions.

Mak knowing Amy might have been a little weird. Magus though, another cape and speculated healer? That was perfectly normal.

Amy's face lit up with both elation and confusion. "Ma-gus, you're back!"

"Yup, kind of a long day." I saw a lot of confused faces, so I explained. "Endbringer attack."

"Holy shit, you fought an Endbringer?"

"Oh yeah, I saw something about that on the news!"

"PHO was blowing up last night!"

Heh, highschoolers were easy to impress. "Glad to see you out of the hospital for a change, Ames. Heya Vicky," I gave the other New Wave gal a wave. "How's things?"

I swear, she was practically pouting. "Boring! No crimes or anything." She backtracked hastily. "Not that I want there to be crime, but you can only fly around at night for so long without doing anything before it becomes kind of a drag, y'know?"

"Sure, sure."

"I mean, other than that Birdcage transport that got hit anyways," Dean chimed in. "There was a thing on the news about that." His eyes were knowing when he looked at me. He was trying to clue me in to something.

My blood went cold. Only one villain had been arrested lately.

Son of a bitch.

A/N: Hope everyone had a good weekend. This one was fun to write, the back and forth between Mak and Assault and then Piggot once again having her biases knocked down. Oh, btw, on a certain site for patrons of the arts (wink, wink), you can currently read a chapter ahead for as little as a dollar. Not necessary, because the chapter will still be released a week from today, but I'd appreciate any support tremendously.