Here I am again, appealing to you all to write some reviews. This one would have been out quicker if I didn't write myself into a bit of a corner and had to reorganize the chapter, shift some parts into a later one, and rewrite other parts completely. Altogether, there's probably the work of around 25k words in this chapter? It really was a bit of a pain, but that's what happens if you write while you're sleep deprived and struggle to understand your own thought processes later on. Anyways, please enjoy! Oh, and we broke the 100k with this one. Yay.
~Claire/Mouse Protector~
"Oh come on, Lulu! It'll be fun, I promise! We could patrol while holding hands or play volleyball with villains! They're the balls and we'll punt them over a net and someone's going to smash them into the ground! Probably you because my strength is only marginally enhanced. Oh, and Millie's going to be our referee! We'd be great together!"
The half-lidded stare he gifted her with was one mostly fueled by exasperation. She did spy a spark of amusement in his brown eyes though. A broad, cheeky grin split her lips apart when he sighed and leaned back in his chair while several more of her new favourite snacks floated into the room.
They were bite-sized fried airy dough balls filled with perfectly gooey cheddar. The cheese was mixed with small bits of bacon, zucchini, and some kind of crumbly dough she didn't know. The whole mixture was impeccably spiced with what had to be his secret family spice mix. They were truly divine and as a standalone, they'd already make a very good argument for moving in with the guy.
His impeccable looks, the hot bartender, and the safety he provided only added up to a package she wanted. It also helped that he was a bit of a flirt, though more old school than she expected. Right now, he was a bit annoyed with her but not enough to deny her her cheesy ambrosia. With the gusto of a starving woman, she bit into the best thing since sliced cheese. With her cheeks filled as she nibbled, she also listened.
"First of all, did you really have to choose Lulu of all the possible names and abbreviations you could have chosen to call me? Nevermind answering, that was a rhetorical question. I do realise what kind of woman you are."
From one moment to the other, his entire demeanour shifted. She froze mid-bite. Instead of being in control of the conversation, she suddenly felt as if she was the one being taken apart. His eyes shone with knowledge and wisdom belying his rather young appearance as he stared at her. Not unkindly, but with an intensity that dissected her in a way she found supremely uncomfortable.
"You aim to provoke and push. To pry apart and glimpse beneath the public mask most people wear. Your every interaction is designed to prod apart your target's composure and lay your eyes upon their truest expression of their being. It is an addictive feeling, is it not? To force them to bear their innermost self to you..."
'Wow... Is that how my vics feel? I think I understand better now why some of them hate me for it... It's kinda hot though.' She mused. The moment soon passed and she relaxed again, resuming her chewing under his half-lidded gaze. His eyes still held much of that sheen of wisdom, but without the soul-searing intensity that made her all hot and bothered. Instead, he folded his hands on top of the expensive table in between them. Everything in this room was costly, judging from her meagre experience with such things.
Once she told him she wanted to talk business with him, he took her to this room and she couldn't help but stare. His office, so to speak, was very opulent but in a tasteful way. One could tell it wasn't decorated to show off his money, but because he found this style to be aesthetically pleasing. She especially liked the dark, warm woods that were used for the makeup and the decorations of the room.
He also had bookshelves lining both sides of his office and they were well stocked, waking her curiosity as to what they were filled with. She only recognised a few titles of the many she'd spied on the spines of the books. If she had to name a highlight though, it would be the seat she was offered as well as the one he placed his perfect derriere into.
She felt as if she was sitting on a cloud with perfect lumbar support. She was pretty sure she could sleep in this thing and wake up well rested instead of with a stiff neck and a pained back filled with cricks as was usually the case if she slept while sitting. All of that was only of secondary importance. Because the answer he was giving her was not the one she wanted, causing her agitation to rise.
"As I've told you already, several times in fact, I have no interest in entering this game of masks and pretenses. Heroes and villains. Cops and robbers. Isn't it all the same on a different scale? I've seen the numbers, my dear. Less than ten percent of the captured villains stay in prison for longer than a month, not counting that impressive technological marvel that is colloquially called the Birdcage."
She cringed. He wasn't mincing words, that was for sure. And he wasn't wrong either. She knew what was happening in the background. It was one of the reasons she wasn't willing to work for the government in any capacity. So many villains went free for the mere possibility of them throwing their bodies in the way of the Endbringers. It was an affront to the public in her opinion.
How many civilians had to suffer through villainous actions and brutal hate crimes because they were let go with a slap on the wrist? She shook her head and focused on his words. He wasn't done yet and he continued with a question she honestly didn't know how to answer.
"Why should I consider such meaningless things worth my time? I can certainly make better use of it than to dress up in spandex and run around like a fool while feeling high on the perceived moral superiority my status as a 'hero' gives me. Notwithstanding how good said spandex would look on me."
She didn't let the bubble of amusement at the casually vain but entirely serious comment distract her. He wasn't wrong about it either. His body was sculpted. He would look yummy~ in spandex. Pushing those distractions to the far corner of her mind for later peruse, she feverishly racked her brain as to how she could convince him. A task only made harder by the sudden ultimatum he gave her.
"If that was everything, I do have a business to run. You may take the leftover snacks with you when you see yourself out since you seem to enjoy them far more than I myself do."
"Wait!"
She called out and ignored his blasphemous words in favour of latching on to the first part of his statement.
"What if you're not going to be a hero yourself? You could... Found a team! and... I don't know, manage it? Yes, that! You could create a group of heroic disposition! A shining beacon in the dark if you will! To show up all the others who tried and failed to make a difference! How funny would it be? The devil creates the most successful independent heroic group and gives Hope to the common people! It's gonna be hilarious!"
She was talking out of her ass, but the sudden glint of interest in his eyes encouraged her to keep going.
"You wouldn't have to do much yourself. You just recruit and sponsor us. We'll be the heroes on the streets and you'll be our face. The handsome and rich founder that changes the world without taking part himself. Just a rogue who had enough of the unnecessary violence that limits the growth we could achieve if we were to put our minds towards something more productive than conflict!"
The more she talked, the more she realised this was something she actually wanted. She felt it in her bones... no, deeper than that. She felt in her Soul that the man in front of her was someone capable of changing the world. For better or for worse, he was a drive for change. She'd much like it if it was the former, and she wanted to be a reason behind that change for the better.
Heck, he'd proven his ability to affect the world as a whole already by taking out the Nine for a Deal he'd made with a twelve year old girl. She could feel that forgotten glimmer inside of her brighten and let herself be pulled along for the ride. She didn't know when she stood up, but it didn't matter. She slammed her hands onto the table and leaned over it to stare into his eyes.
"Parahumans all around the world fall to the seductive whisper of crime because they are aimless and lost until they get stuck in situations when it's too late to paddle back. To get powers usually means surviving some of the worst situations one can be put in. Is it really a wonder that fresh Capes want to lash out against the world?"
She paused for a moment to gather her thoughts. It wasn't just the civilians she wanted to help. Teen villains often weren't villains by choice. And if they were, they often didn't grasp the consequences those decisions they so impulsively make will have in the future. After a fortifying breath, she continued.
"Almost all of us are traumatized in one way or another. Gang violence! Emotional, physical, sexual abuse! Psychological issues! Suppression from gangs and government alike! And those problems often get aggravated by the powers we receive! We pray for a way out but what we receive is often just a cosmic joke! You want to stop your mom from bleeding out on the kitchen floor? Congratulations! You received the ability to crystallize blood with a touch! Of course, those crystals burst apart a few seconds later and kill her anyways but hey! She didn't bleed out, right?"
She scowled at her own words. She heard that and similar stories from so many Capes, it couldn't be a coincidence. That wasn't important right now however. If she wanted to convince him, she had to actually form a coherent argument. Digging deep, she continued.
"The PRT is oh so often in charge of recruitment of new Parahumans and the first step rarely is sending another Cape to talk to for some reason. It's 'recruitment specialists' who were 'schooled' to handle those situations. Only, they don't know the mentality of a fresh Trigger. They can't handle the distrust and think we should beg to be recruited into their vaunted organizations. And if things don't work out the way they expect them to? Press ganging someone into their fold is always a legitimate option."
She shook her head, her scowl still firmly in place. Up to this day, she didn't understand some of those decisions. Sometimes, it was a member of the Protectorate who made first contact but more often than not, her narration was what took place. It was as if they didn't want to recruit all the Capes. As if they wanted to leave most of them to fend for themselves…
"That's the bleak reality for many of us Parahumans. We were let down by the systems in place! We suffered and understandably fostered distrust! Many of us are unable to put our trust into the government that already failed us and turn towards the other side, but it doesn't have to be that way!"
She could see the interest in his eyes spark and transform into something more, but she was too far in her own mind to properly notice. By now, the words that were flowing from her were imbued with a passion she thought lost in the mire of disillusionment after her mentor's death. Apparently, some of that idealistic flame was still there, biding its time. Honestly, it felt good to put all of her out there for once.
"I want to stand tall and show them that they aren't limited to just two choices. It's not just the government sponsored PR machine with a T tacked on or villainy. There's other options out there and I want to be one of them! I want to work with you and show all of those hypocrites how it's really supposed to be done! What real heroism looks like!"
She took a deep breath, not breaking eye contact even for a moment. More silently but with no less intensity, she finished her plea with a final, raw statement.
"I want to make my mentor smile proudly at me from beyond the grave instead of turning in it because of how south things have gone after his death."
With her piece said, she puffed out an exhausted breath and fell back into her cloud before crossing her arms almost petulantly. The silence between them stretched for a couple of seconds and his eyes seemed more intense than ever. She felt naked in front of him but she didn't care anymore.
She vomited out everything she had in her and more. Laid bare parts of her she didn't even know existed. If he still refused, she'd have to give up for today. Not as a whole though, because apparently she was still the idealistic moron beneath all the experience she'd gathered. Suddenly, a radiant smile spread on his lips and made her blink from brightness.
"My, oh my. What a rousing speech. I didn't think you'd have such passion hidden beneath that jokester attitude of yours. I mean, I knew there was something, but the intensity still surprised me. And to think that I didn't even have to push and prod you to reveal your deepest desires..."
The slightly amused raised eyebrow in combination with the warm smile on his lips woke a feeling she thought she'd all but purged from her body as a consequence of the path she'd chosen to follow. Embarrassment. Thankfully, her helmet hid the blush on her cheeks.
"So you want to work under me to make this world a better place. To be a beacon of Hope, was it? Someone to rally behind? I suppose this can be arranged. That favour will cost you though. And there will be rules you'll have to follow. I will never infringe on your personal freedom but some things, I do not tolerate."
Excitement and Hope flared brightly in her when she heard those words. Did she really convince him? It sure seemed so. She leaned forward with a smile matching his.
"I'm ready. Take me under your Wings, Lulu!"
He recoiled at her words and sudden closeness with a befuddled expression on his face and she snickered even as he lightly shook his head in a put-on façade of overacted exasperation.
"This won't do. If you have to use a nickname, I suppose my brother's will suffice. While in private, you may call me Lucy. In public, I'd appreciate it if you could stay a tad more professional. Any of my titles or simply Lucifer will suffice."
She could feel that while not a deal-breaker, he would definitely be annoyed if she continued calling him Lulu. 'Only if I wanna tease him then...' She decided. She was still curious about something though...
"Isn't Lucy kind of a girlish name?"
She was genuinely curious. Most men didn't really appreciate it if they were coined with a nickname that undermined their precious masculinity. What she received as an answer was a strange expression. His lips twisted in what might have been amusement if there wasn't an overwhelming melancholia visible in his eyes.
"I suppose it is. It doesn't matter however. My Ego certainly isn't so fragile that such minor things would shatter it. The man who coined it was my oaf of an older brother. Someone I fought wars with and a man I'd unquestionably entrusted my back to. He was a bit of a simpleton and incomprehensibly fixated on his masculinity, but his loyalty was unshakeable. Until he had to choose between me and Father, that is..."
He seemed lost in his memories and she kinda felt guilty for bringing it up. His family was obviously a bit of a sore point. Possibly even related to his Trigger event. Which was the kind of thing she usually didn't try to prod, not even if the target was a villain. To distract him a bit, she leaned forward and smirked mischievously.
"I could call you something else. How about this? I've been a naughty hero today.~ Will you punish me, daddy?~"
She quickly realised she may have overplayed her hand when his reaction to her playful flirting was to immediately overwhelm her. She blushed as she looked wide-eyed into his suddenly glowing eyes before her attention fixated on the exceedingly smooth way he pushed himself out of his chair.
Wordlessly, he walked around the desk with the dangerous grace of a predator before reaching out and gently prodding her chin upwards. Her head rose and tilted in response until she was pinned by his smoldering stare.
"That... We will have to save for the bedroom, my dear."
His silken voice oozed with promises and Temptation. So much so that she felt heat pool into her abdomen and her heart skip a beat. Sensations that woke an immediate but fleeting moment of guilt. The sensual mood was transient however as a cocky smirk consumed those sinful lips. The haughty expression looked unreasonably handsome on his already flawless features. 'I have to talk to Millie about this…' She decided as she carefully recollected herself.
"Do be careful who you tease. You might not be entirely ready for the consequences. We will have to postpone those escapades to a later date however. We still have to iron out a few details to fulfill your desires. Those that are not related to a night of passion, that is."
She pouted at his teasing but the fact that she managed to convince him to support her cause made any displeasure or frustration shallow at best. She felt light and airy from the joy of finally making headway and not treading in a single place as she did after her mentor's death. She truly hoped they'd be able to make a difference.
...There were decisions to be made and some of them, she couldn't afford to make alone. She really had to talk with Millie. 'Well, I'll visit her later anyways. Might as well bring this up.'
~Hannah/Miss Militia~
As soon as the arms wrapped around her from the back as she was folding her freshly washed uniform, she recognised the sensation and leaned into it. Claire's smile against the unprotected skin of the back of her neck tickled the same way it always did.
"Missed you..."
The cheese wheeling heroine murmured and she felt her breath ghost over the goosebumps she always left in her wake. Truthfully, she was surprised she hadn't come by earlier. She expected to have a nightly visitor after the Nine. Instead, she got a call telling her that she was comparatively alright and that she'd come to BB soon but she had something to do beforehand.
"I missed you too, you chaotic cheeseball. Next time you tangle with someone like the Nine, you'll at least try and get a message to me, understood?"
She firmly stated as she turned in Claire's embrace and hugged her back. She felt her nod against her shoulder before she murmured.
"Couldn't risk it. Mannequin was tasked to make sure I wasn't gone too long and he had a way to track my teleports within the area. The hostages would have died if I tried anything."
Her heart clenched and she grit her teeth when she heard that. She'd wondered why she learned about all of this from PHO instead of herself and wanted to ask her that in person instead of over the phone. She thought maybe she just didn't want to risk implicating her but this was somehow worse. Unable to contact her allies, friends, and comrades. Forced to play a game with the lives of civilians on the line.
Her embrace subconsciously tightened around her and Claire returned it with equal fervour. She couldn't help but think that they came far from their first meeting. It took her a while to look past the abrasive and incomparably infuriating facade and see the vulnerable but beautiful Soul beneath, but once she did, she knew she'd found a person that she wanted to stay in her life for as long as they both counted amongst the living.
The teleporting menace later went on to become independent but that didn't stop them from developing their already deep bond. She visited regularly and from time to time, she stole her away for a day. Hannah loved those little moments of reprieve more than she wanted to admit.
A dinner in Paris. A fishing trip in the Amazon rainforest. Staring down at the clouds from the top of the world, or at least it felt like that when sitting on the peak of Mount Everest. She felt so small up there and her problems seemed so far away… Nowadays, she wasn't quite sure what they were but she didn't have a need for labels anyways. Life was too short to waste on such things and what they had was good.
If her job taught her anything, it was that if something was worth it, she had to grab it with both hands and never let go. Claire was the same so they never bothered defining their relationship. It just was and that was that. Though, the start of it all was a bit of a mess. They clashed pretty much on a daily basis at the beginning.
It took an especially bad argument, followed by a near death experience from which she was saved by Claire, and her finding a nervous wreck still in costume in the Ward common room, desperately mumbling about how she couldn't lose anyone else. She heard her frantic whispers back then while the broken girl hugged her knees to her chest, trembling like a leaf in the wind. That was when Hannah understood just why the girl acted out the way she did.
She wordlessly sat down beside her and pulled her into a hug that was desperately returned. Things developed from there and the rest was history. They began to experiment with the limits of Claire's powers and kept much of what they discovered secret. Protocols weren't as stringent and power testing not as developed back then so they got away with it. Bottom line was, she was far less restricted in the use of her power than she made others believe.
The limits behind Claire's teleportation for example. It wasn't distance as most believed, but weight. And her own didn't count. The more mass she transported with her, the more it took out of her. She could take people with her but only two at a time at most and she needed a rest afterwards. How far she took them was inconsequential though. As for her marks, they usually faded over time and most of them were gone after a day or two.
The deeper the emotional connection to a place or a thing she marked, the longer it stayed. The thought that the mark on the ring she wore around her toe hadn't been renewed for over ten years always left her a bit tingly. Basically, among Grab Bags, she was one of the luckier ones whose main power was pretty much fully developed and a powerful one at that.
"I've got a new boss."
Claire suddenly dropped a bomb that drew Hannah out of memory lane. She pulled back a bit to look into her eyes with what she had no doubt was a supremely bewildered expression on her face. She found the ever present teasing twist on Claire's kissable lips, but the seriousness in her eyes was what clued her in that she wasn't just joking around.
"... You didn't let those screw ups Uber and Leet pull you in for one of their asinine schemes, right?"
The instant outrage on her partner's features was worth the tickle attack she had to suffer through. Somehow, they ended on her couch with Claire snuggling into her from the top of her lap. The slightly smaller woman huffed, still somewhat disgruntled, though it was all in good fun.
"I do have some standards, you know? I hired on with my lord and saviour. The Devil himself."
She searched her eyes again for any sign that she was joking. It seemed she wasn't. 'Huh... What do you know? Even after almost two decades of knowing her, she still manages to surprise me.' She mused as affection for the cuddly rodent on her lap made her feel warm and pleasant. On the outside, a thoughtful frown appeared on her brow.
"You know... I honestly don't know if that's better or worse. Though, you in a little waitress dress? I think I'd like to see that. You'll have to let me know your shifts. I'll come by for a drink. Maybe I'll even tip you if I get some extra service..."
She wagged her eyebrows for good measure and enjoyed the snort of amusement and the eye roll she received in exchange.
"Very funny, military girl. If you keep that up, I'll laugh myself into an early grave. Obviously, I won't work in his fine establishment. I'd steal all the spotlight and he likes to hog that himself, you know? Instead, I convinced him to found an independent Hero Team. I am the first member of the Beacon. The Light that guides the way."
She preened in her lap and while Hannah enjoyed the sensations her movements caused, she was also a bit confused. Didn't he claim vehemently that he wasn't a hero? He went as far as interrupting Legend when he announced him as one. Made the Protectorate's Leader apologize, even. When she asked the question, the mouse-themed heroine smirked.
"Oh, he's not gonna enter the Hero business himself. He's just founding the Team and managing it. He will not 'don the spandex and throw around preposterously sanctimonious phrases that were designed around commercial success more so than any kind of idealistic school of thought.' I cited him there by the way. Just in case you didn't notice the quotation marks I mimed."
The flat stare she sent her made Claire giggle which in turn made Hannah suppress a smile. It was nice that she was in the mood to joke around after the traumatic ordeal she went through. Once she settled, they fell into a comfortable silence. Moments like these were nice too. Where they did nothing but bask in the comfortable intimacy they shared.
Claire was loud, chaotic, and a person utterly lacking any brain-to-mouth filter, causing her to come across as disrespectful and crass. That was how she portrayed herself in the public, though the latter aspect mellowed out a bit over the years. At least when she interacted with civilians and people she tolerated. Especially towards children, she became a model Hero thanks to restraining that part but keeping her playfulness. The more silent and thoughtful side of her was reserved for those she trusted, which was a list of precious few.
"You remember that oath we made? The one that if both of us agree on another person to add to this thing we have, we'll try to pull them in?"
Hannah felt her face heat up a bit. This was something she'd almost managed to repress. Not really because her memory was impeccable, but she had ignored that little regrettable impulse for years now. Why did she have to wake those memories now?
"Why did you have to dig up the darkest aspect of our past, Claire? I had it almost completely buried and I was happy to ignore that little bit that was still visible..."
She allowed her pout to be observed by the bemused woman she was snuggling with. The suggestion back then came from her. She had a crush on the man who called himself Chevalier nowadays, but she instinctively knew that what she had with Claire wasn't something she wanted to lose. So teenage Hannah decided to be impulsive, brash, greedy, and embarrassing.
Teen Hannah wanted both so she brought this up to Claire and the chaotic girl was instantly on board but only if they both agreed with who it'd be and no more than one additional person. With the rules set, she attempted to date Chevalier. And it was nice, really. But once they learned more about each other, they realised they didn't really fit, so they separated and nothing came from it beyond ungodly amounts of teasing.
"Why? Because I wanna rope in my boss of course! Let's try to bed the Devil himself! The bragging rights alone... Not to mention his looks! Don't tell me you haven't thought of it. I know you and from what you told me about your first... meeting, let's call it, he pushed quite a few of your buttons."
"... I'll neither confirm nor deny those allegations. I want to make use of my right to remain silent because everything I'll say can and will be used by you to relentlessly tease me."
Half of her statement was mumbled into Claire's shoulder and the woman laughed but didn't push. Did she really want the man who was rapidly approaching the level of fame of the Triumvirate to form a... a throuple? Did she really want that? Claire was impulsive, but she'd never joke around about something like this, so she gave it some thought.
'... Why am I not against this?' She was bewildered by the lack of resistance to the possibility in her mind. She frowned slightly before her brows smoothed out when she came to a decision. She pushed lightly against Claire's upper body and caught her eyes.
"Compatibility and fully informed consent. Those are the basics."
She began. If they'd do this then they'd do it right. She couldn't risk damaging what she had with Claire and she knew that it was the same for her.
"I'll admit I do find him attractive and I like it if my partner can take control of a situation, but that's no basis for a relationship. If you want him to join us, there has to be a connection. You'll also have to make sure that you aren't just projecting because he saved your life… He has to genuinely fit in with us both. And he has to know what he's getting himself into. There's also no guarantee that he'll actually find me attractive so don't get your hopes up..."
She tilted her head questioningly when her partner stared at her incredulously. Why was she looking at her like that?
"... How could anyone not find you attractive?"
The sincerely baffled tone of voice enflamed her cheeks. She sent a light glare at the ridiculous woman. She didn't exactly have people lining up to get with her despite the low number of people knowing that she wasn't exactly on the market. Their relationship was a very private affair. It wasn't even because of all the Neonazis. No, neither of them feared Kaiser and his ilk. It was because they both had trouble trusting others.
Neither had what could be called a nice childhood and the fact that they were basically guinea pigs for the Ward project meant that after they entered the system, the state took over their care. Besides Hero himself and a few of his confidantes, they were treated with indifference at most. It didn't help that at that time, Parahumans were still looked upon with much more wariness.
Despite the private nature of their relationship, she hadn't had anyone approach her in a romantic context in a very long time. Claire was probably just biased, the cheesy dork. That didn't mean it didn't stroke her ego when she listened to her rant.
"No seriously, look at you! You're a bombshell! Pun very much intended by the way. You're an American boy's personified wet dream! The amount of boys who are no doubt wanking with you in their mind makes me equal parts jealous and smug! You're an exotic hottie who knows more about weapons than probably anyone alive. You nerd out in the most adorable way when talking about guns!"
She outright blushed at the crass way she put it and at her bringing up her obsessions. Her power lent itself to learning about the things she could create and she developed a deep appreciation for the fine differences in different models. It didn't help that her power automatically scanned every weapon she hadn't created herself and traced all the potential differences and changes in design. Despite her ineffectual glare, the woman just continued.
"One of our most romantic evenings was you showing me how to handle the ballistic classics! I still swoon when thinking about how you sensually adjusted my hold on those guns! The fact that you are part of this is my whole selling point for Lucy!"
The day she was talking about rose in her mind. It was indeed one of her most treasured memories. Her fascination with weapons as a whole was probably a bit on the unhealthy side of things but Claire apparently found it attractive, so she didn't care much. Still, did she have to exaggerate this much?
"Don't look at me like that! There's nothing wrong about what I'm saying! You are hot! Stop being so darn humble and develop an ego or something! Chop chop, get to it!"
She had a hard time not to break out laughing. The righteous expression. The wild, unhinged gestures. The assertive tone in her voice. And finally, that last comment was the straw that broke the camel's back. Peals of laughter escaped her and they only increased when her indignant partner poked her sides yet again.
"Don't laugh! I'm serious! You're the best bait there is! If he doesn't go for it with you on a silver platter, he's either gay or committed to someone else."
She asserted her opinion and didn't react at all to the bemused smile that was left over from her fit of laughter. Instead, she teleported away and returned a moment later with a bowl filled with some kind of snack. She knew her well enough that she could guess at least one ingredient. There was a reason she chose cheese wheels as her signature weapons. Beyond the damage it did to the reputation of a villain to be defeated by them, that was.
"He made those by the way. It's one of the main reasons for my interest actually. We both know you can't cook to save your life and while I'm fairly passable, it's nowhere near this level. Come on! Try some!"
At her prodding, she bit into the snack and couldn't help but hum pleasantly. She was right. This was beyond delicious. Mentally, she added some points to a tally she had yet to really understand what it was for. The rest of the afternoon was relatively calm as they caught up on each other's lives. Until Claire casually commented.
"Oh, I'll probably have to move to BB for this. You know, to get my lair set up closer to the headquarters. Do you know anyone renting out an apartment?"
An impulse rose inside of her. One she'd had a couple of times over the years but always lacked the courage to verbalize. Before she could stop herself to think, she blurted out.
"You could move in with me..."
The woman froze and heavy silence consumed them. She was already regretting mentioning it. Not because she didn't want it but because she didn't know if Claire was ready for that step. It was too late to back paddle though. Before she could think of a way to potentially make this ordeal less potentially damaging and awkward, Claire's silent question reached her ears. There was only one answer she could give.
"... You sure?"
"Yeah..."
"Okay..."
"Great..."
The anxiety in her gut transformed beautifully. As a woman in her mid-thirties, she really shouldn't feel those butterflies in her stomach. Fluttery and giddy feelings such as this were reserved for teenagers, were they not? Somehow, as her partner softly embraced her in an almost fragile hold, she couldn't really bring herself to care.
She just wanted to enjoy the few hours before her shift, knowing that with tonight, it was likely to be business as usual after the unofficial truce that gave them a bit of a reprieve to gather their wits. Together, they enjoyed the peace before the storm, unsuspecting of the chaos that would soon consume the city because of a power hungry madman.
~Coil/Thomas Calvert~
With a snarl born from irritation and an almost blinding headache, he slammed his fist on the table as another timeline unravelled. Angrily, he rolled up his mask and wiped the blood away from his nostrils before putting it back into its place. He was so careful not to encounter the bane of his existence or any of the waves he caused, but he failed anyway.
Lucifer Morningstar. That pretentious piece of dung. If he could skin the man alive and salt him from head to toe before throwing him off a cliff, preferably into an active volcano, he'd die a happy man. Ever since that... Thing had come to Brockton Bay, nothing went right.
His power started malfunctioning at random times with increasing frequency and once he managed to track down the reason, it was already too late. He tried everything but by now, he couldn't even hold a second timeline longer than five minutes anymore. If he was very careful.
Sadly, the man had made waves everywhere and if he came into contact with any of the consequences of his actions, his timeline unravelled automatically with him receiving painful backlash. Only liberal use of his amassed resources allowed him to stay somewhat successful in his operations.
The lack of foresight and information was becoming crippling however. Traditional ways of acquiring what he needed were too slow to keep his plans running long term. He knew it was impossible to keep the status quo by now, nevermind furthering his schemes.
He couldn't remove this monumental obstacle either. Not without full, unrestricted access to his power. After watching the footage of both, the takedown of the 9 and the press conference afterwards several times, he was sure of that. There was simply no way to sustain his hold on this city. The only reason he even managed to hold on as long as he did without everything unravelling was a number of very expensive plans from Accord.
With a resigned sigh, he finally made his decision. Or rather, his decision was made for him. A fact he hated with every fibre of his being, but it was time he gave up a lost cause and went for greener pastures, so to speak. He wanted this city, but he also wasn't obstinate enough to not realise that he could do what he'd done here elsewhere.
It would be challenging but at least he wouldn't have to start from zero. He had connections, funds, and resources. Laying down foundations in another city, especially one not quite as chaotic as Brockton Bay, would be easy mode in comparison. In fact, he had several handcrafted identities at the ready for just that situation. It poked his pride a bit to have to flee, but not enough to hold him where he was unable to thrive.
The only thing he really regretted was that he would have to cut the Undersiders, and with them Tattletale, loose. She was extremely effective at what she did and if he had the time, he would break her thoroughly before taking her with him. Alas, time was the thing he lacked most and she was just too much of a loose cannon to keep her under his thumb in her current state.
Luckily, his last grand plan would allow him to tie up that end tidily. A sinister smirk twisted his lips beneath his mask. That unruly girl wouldn't know what was going on until it was too late and he'd keep his ears open for the aftermath. Ruining those who made his life harder than it needed to be always gave him warm, fuzzy feelings.
Utility wise, her power would be hard but not impossible to replace. He was sure he'd get his hands on another Thinker who synergized with his power soon. He even had one in mind for a while now. From what little information he could dig up, she was a probability based precog and didn't that sound wonderful in combination with his own power?
He already had the drugs to keep her docile stashed away and plans to acquire her were ready to be put into motion, but just as he was ready to enter phase 1 of this operation, her family suddenly moved. He had no illusions about it being coincidental. Someone found out about her powers and put things into motion before he could. And to add insult to injury, his own powers began failing around the same time.
He took a calming breath and focused. While his pet temporarily slipped through his fingers thanks to outside interference, he did have some other venues open and he was patient. He could let her bask in false safety for a while before snatching her up. For now he had more important things to do.
Such as orchestrating this city's ruin while playing the underworld like a virtuoso one last time. Because if he couldn't have it, why should he leave it ripe for the picking for someone else? No. That certainly wouldn't do. Especially so since he had all the tools to utterly ruin it for everyone else.
With glee, he watched as his last preparations fell into place. Contingencies he already had in place for such situations were primed to be activated soon and human resources were ready to be deployed. The stage was almost perfectly set, and his grand scheme was only aided by the fact that all the more radical criminal elements of the city were itching to let loose after a week of Truce.
Things really played into his hands this time around. If only he could have used it productively instead of destructively. There was no use crying over spilt milk however. A
With the decision made, he decisively released the orders that would plunge the city into absolute and bloody chaos in a single night. He almost shivered from the feeling of power that ran through him at that moment. What a rush. He wished he could always play this loose with his resources.
Even without ready access to a second reality, he was much more capable than those moronic muscle-headed brutes who only knew how to clash with like-minded fools. The mind was a clearly superior asset and they all but ignored it. He would gladly punish them for their oversight. Of course, they would never understand how this happened.
He took meticulous care to cover his tracks. Patsies were put into place to take the fall for different aspects of his plans, seemingly unconnected to each other and in fact, none of them knew more than the barest minimum of that one aspect of his schemes. Most didn't even know who hired them.
Their pitiful brains wouldn't be capable of comprehending the genius behind his plots and he revelled in the feeling of wielding all his influence in the shadows. He couldn't wait to watch the chaos unfold. From a safe distance of course. The best part of this was that he wouldn't need to hold back much as he was already prepared to burn most bridges into this city.
He planned on only leaving a few spies under deep cover. That fact allowed him to act with unprecedented freedom. Brockton Bay would burn tonight. Metaphorically and, if everything went according to his plans, literally. A deranged smile split the lips under his mask apart as he basked in his own unmatched grandeur.
Of what use were things like nigh invulnerability and physical strength when they couldn't stop society's collapse from within? When they still ended up dancing on the top of his palm to a melody only he could perceive? He would show those heroes and villains just how powerless they truly were.
And maybe that pretentious man styling himself as the Devil would end up as one of the unexpected casualties? Truthfully, he didn't think that would end up being the case but a man could hope. He took a metaphorical step back and looked over the key points of tonight's horrors waiting to be unleashed. Truthfully, it was brilliant in its simplicity.
All it took was a nudge here and some instigators there. Some bribes in the right positions. Some fragments of information, truthful ones intermingled with falsified but convincingly real pieces, in oh so wrong hands. And just to be sure? He hired some outside help too. Just to make things even more chaotic. After all, wasn't spontaneity the spice of life?
He grinned. It really was that easy to transform a powderkeg into an unstable nuclear warhead. That thought almost made his failure to acquire Brockton Bay as his own secret fiefdom that he ruled from both sides of the law bearable. Almost.
~Mazikeen~
"... And that's how it is. She is my Creation and for all intents and purposes, she can be considered my daughter. Say hello to my trusted aide and my most loyal hound, Jibril."
Blankly, she stared at the little girl she was introduced to since she woke up from her ritual-induced slumber less than an hour ago. The brown-haired girl waved hesitantly at her. 'What?...' She asked herself and found little to no answer for her self-imposed question.
She knew he had something planned of course. She also knew it was probably some impulsive, harebrained scheme that would probably not work out as he had plotted. That part was par for the course. He was an ancient being that thrived on freedom and chaos after all. His actions backfiring at him was basically tradition.
This however... Well, it certainly wasn't what she expected. Her mind raced as she attempted to grasp the implications of this. He created a Celestial. An immortal being that would mature into a Divine Entity. The cute little Wings she was still unable to dimensionally fold away were an admittedly large hint but even if those didn't clue her in, she would have felt it.
She could sense it in her bones, the crawling singe that burned her marrow. The way her instincts urged her to flee or eliminate the sight in front of her. Her Anathema. It was a feeling she'd become used to suppressing since her Lord had a semi-regular Celestial visitor in Amenadiel. She even liked to banter and spar with the fool. He hit hard enough to rattle her bones and was one of the few who could shrug off her offense as if it was a minor inconvenience.
Even though she'd become used to seeing her Lord do the impossible on a daily basis, at least when he was motivated, this was still among the most unbelievable things he'd ever done. Even using the nigh-empty shell he had harvested from that Manton guy as a template, he shouldn't have been capable of this.
The implications were manifold and honestly, exhilarating enough to set her smoldering insides on fire. If she put aside the fact that this should have been impossible, it wasn't actually a bad development either. This usually wasn't something one did on a whim, but populating an abandoned fragment of the multiverse with the Divine wasn't the worst accident he ever had.
She knew that ever since they came to this forsaken corner of his Dad's creation, he was growing stronger. She could feel his presence grow and thrive in the back of her mind. It was like a constant itch, only without the unpleasant aspects. She just thought that without the omnipresent pressure from his daddy dearest, he was spreading his Wings so to speak. Maybe there was more to it after all?
If he was capable of almost casually creating Divine Life, then he was growing more powerful than she'd thought possible. Was he... ascending? The thought struck her with the force of a sledgehammer. A sensation she very much appreciated, she admitted with an internal grin. She always did like a bit of M to her S. It put a certain amount of spice into a relationship.
Even with the limits imposed by his moronic Father, he was already powerful enough to match most Chief Gods of their respective pantheons. He was forced to grow to match the forces he was sent against and to fend off their corruptive properties. Later on, those experiences aided him when it was time to resist the influence of the Internal Realms.
Usually, Celestials had a rather fixed level of Power and only learned how to use their Gifts better later in life, but he was the exemption to that rule. He broke free from the imposed limits and even pulled his brothers along for the ride. If he was now ascending to Godhood...
She hid away her contemplations in the confines of her infernally protected mind and smirked at the fledgling who seemed hesitant to approach. She took a few steps in her direction and knelt down when she noticed her tensing up. With a comparatively gentle voice, she addressed her.
"So the Infernal Realms finally acquired an Heiress? It's about time. I'm Mazikeen. You can call me Maze. Everyone does. I'm responsible for making sure your daddy doesn't fuck up too badly and clean up the mess he leaves behind once he inevitably does."
Lucifer's expression was one of mock-outrage followed by a contemplative one and a subdued 'Nevermind...' flowing from his lips. It made the little one giggle. Something the big bad Devil obviously intended if the softening of his eyes was anything to go by. 'As if he wasn't already too soft, the big burned and flayed teddy...' She thought a bit morosely before continuing her introduction.
"I'm also the Chief Tormentor. And the First Guardian as well as the one in charge of training the maggots that make up his army. If he's unreasonable or anything, just come to me and I'll set him straight for you, alright?"
The angelic creature tilted her head cutely before smiling softly and nodding. She then stared back at her intensely and Maze felt as if she was pinned in place by eyes of a slightly lighter shade than the ones of her Lord. When he wasn't in a mood for Infernal Flames, that was. The fledgling kept up the intensity for a few, long moments before she seemed to reach a decision.
"Auntie Mazie."
She stated matter-of-factly. It took her a moment to realise what happened, but when she did, she almost groaned in despair. 'Oh, Hells... She's cute. Why is she cute?! Couldn't she be a fearsome monster hidden within an adorable body? The gap between expectations and reality would have made her so much more terrifying.'
Her inner laments once again didn't make it to the outside as she gave the daughter of her Lord a friendly smile. Well, the attempt of one at least. She was practicing in the mirror sometimes because Long legs mentioned offhandedly that her usual attempts bordered on mental abuse. She called her a 'cognito-hazard'. Whatever that was.
While she liked the idea of causing trauma with a mere smile, she was supposed to be capable of fitting in. An ability that evaded her because somehow, her friendly expressions always slipped and turned either menacing or mocking. Her mental tangent was cut off by a canine huff.
Cherona chose this moment to step forward, sniff the small-winged brunette before poking her with her wet nose and drawing her oversized tongue all over the cherubic visage. Jibril showed that even newborn Celestials were incapable of escaping some universal laws and instincts when she loudly and wordlessly protested before giggling and hugging the canine around her massive neck.
"Ew! That was not nice, Ms. Doggy! You'll have to apologize right now. Kissing others without asking for permission isn't a good habit. You won't get away with it just because you're cute."
She claimed with a serious expression before lifting off the ground with a considerably strained, and beyond cute, look on her little cherubic face. She rose high enough to clear the hurdle that was Cherona and plopped onto her back with a self-satisfied smile before hugging her around the neck from her new position.
'Not really all that shy, then. Just wary of strangers. Good.' She thought to herself, already imagining all the horrors she'd inflict on anyone approaching the tiny being without Lucifer's approval. She observed the instantaneous bond between bird and dog with a bemused smile.
The tiny Celestial was chattering into Cherona's ear about some arbitrary rules she should follow and all Maze could think was 'Better her than me.' With the little one's attention firmly on Cherona, her attention focused on her Lord, who wandered over and held out a drink to her. Whiskey on the rocks.
She liked to have some ice in all her drinks because she appreciated having the option to viciously crush it between her teeth. It had the added bonus that she was called a heathen for it by the Devil himself. Higher praise, she hadn't achieved as of yet.
"I've talked with her and made some subtle inquiries as to how much she remembers from her time as the striped woman. She indeed does have some of the memories of her past. Not everything made the transition but she knows enough. General knowledge is almost completely consistent and she knows that she was a murderer of a high calibre."
His voice was silent and contemplative. He wasn't angry or even frustrated. She'd feel it if that was the case. No, the sensation she felt through the Infernal bond they shared was less intense. More along the terms of worry. Not even the immediate kind but more like worry for her future.
Already, he was subconsciously behaving more like a father than his own ever did. Just another point of proof that the Chronicles of Aberroth had the right of it. His believers called him Almighty, Perfect, and All-encompassing. They claimed he was the penultimate Creator of everything with the only thing he was incapable of being the act of failing his endeavours.
What a load of bullshit. According to the Chronicles, he was an incredibly powerful Divine Being who wandered the cosmos before deciding to take a nascent Universe as his own. He failed to recognise that there were more dimensions attached to it, but once he realised it, he just went with it anyway. Even the origin story of humanity was skewed by his believers with his tacit approval.
They claimed Adam to be the first human. That much was true. But his first wife Lilith? She was a Demonic Broodmother who was brazenly stolen from the Infernal Realms.
Her memories were wiped and modified, as was her body to fit the mold of how he imagined humanity. Of course his actions had consequences. The demonic forces that were content to warr among themselves until that point suddenly had an enemy to rally against.
Infernal influences began to spill over into the dimension he moulded to his Will. Things went from bad to worse when Lilith managed to break free from his influence and began to remember. His solution was to throw her out of Eden and to create another, more docile wife for his darling Adam.
He ended up using Lilith as a template. Only, that too backfired since she wasn't quite as docile as imagined as a consequence. Of course, she would eventually bite into the Forbidden Fruit of Knowledge. The delectable and tempting morsel was an expression of the corruptive influences the Infernal Realms had on his own and the Presence left it growing unprotected in a well visible place for some reason.
Eve later confessed she just wanted to know how it tasted when her Lord asked why she ate it despite his Father telling her not to. An act of Rebellion before she even knew the word. Safe to say, Lucifer approved, which led to a short but intense romance between them. The funniest thing was that the Devil was blamed for impersonating a snake and seducing her when she was just feeling peckish and curious. Her woolgathering was interrupted by her Lord's continued explanation.
"She said it feels like she has the memories of a stranger in her head. For all intents and purposes, her life started with the end of the ritual. She views those memories from an outside perspective instead of feeling as if she lived them. There are no emotions connected to them. She seems to have taken on some of the characteristics of whoever the Soul's imprint was made of to fill in the blank slate she effectively was though."
She nodded slowly, digesting the information. It wasn't as if she had anything to add, beyond maybe that there was some hope for a menacing murder child yet. This was new territory for all of them. His impulsively crafted Ritual had no real basis in anything already existing. He haphazardly threw together something that seemed like it would work and went with it, the moron.
He was lucky it didn't erase the planet or something. 'Nah, he's not that careless. He does know what he's doing.' She reluctantly amended her mental statement. She wasn't much of a creator herself beyond food and the occasional Totem created from the remains of a Great Beast she'd hunted, but she knew he took his craft very seriously.
He would take it as an affront if his work exploded in his face so he meticulously checked it over again and again before even moving on to test practical applications. Only, he didn't test it this time around beyond running theoretical simulations. To be fair, there wasn't any real way to try and refine it.
It wasn't as if Soul Imprints were lying around everywhere. Things like that were rare, and a forbidden practice in the Main Universe. One of the rules his Father laid down that they actually both agreed with. It was a tragic Fate to exist as a shadow of a complete being, destined to be less than a person forevermore. It was horrid enough to even make a Demon feel pity.
"You know, of all the ways for you to become a dad, this is one I didn't even think of."
She teased him as she watched the little one learn just how flexible her body was by climbing all over the exceedingly patient Cherona. She was far more durable than mortal children, so falling off the Hound of Hounds wouldn't have left a mark, but her Lord caught her in a telekinetic hold anyways, causing her to grin brightly and wave at him before going back to nattering into Cherona's ear.
"Truly, I didn't either."
He answered thoughtfully before elaborating on his thoughts.
"Honestly, I am not sure if I ever held the true desire for a child but I strangely do not mind the thought. Admittedly, procreation did cross my mind from time to time but I was always uncertain if I'd be a good caregiver. As you know, the examples I was given weren't stellar by any means... Though I think that sweeping statement is somewhat unfair towards my mother. She was warm and caring before... well, you know."
He finished somewhat awkwardly but yes, she did know. He confided in her on many things and she always considered his trust as the highest of honours she was ever given. She'd rather let her body be shattered by the Crucible than consider betraying it.
"I also didn't know if the natural way was possible for me so I never truly tried. Now I have to live with the consequences of literally creating a spawn of my own from the desperate vestiges of someone else's imprint... It's quite an improbable happenstance, is it not?"
She nodded slowly, noting that he really didn't sound all that upset. It was a bit surprising how well he took it actually, though with this glimpse of his true thoughts, maybe a bit less so. From what she knew of him, and she knew him well, he wasn't necessarily keen on taking more responsibilities. At least not if they were forced upon him.
Maybe that was the other reason? The fact that his own actions caused this situation instead of interference from the outside? Anyways, it was strange to see him almost... anticipatory. There was a kind of gleam in his eyes that she wasn't used to. One that was faintly worrying. A light furrow in her brow was the only clue hinting at her true thoughts as she asked as casually as she could.
"So... What's the plan now?"
He glanced at her but didn't answer immediately. Instead, he seemed to give it some serious thought. Which was equally vexing and reassuring to be honest. Once he began to plan, to think ahead, it was immediately more than a whim. The Devil was an impulsive existence, but that didn't mean he wasn't capable of forethought. He just rarely cared enough for anything or anyone to truly catch his attention.
Somehow, that seemed to change lately. That little space brat that somehow attached itself to him. The flying brick. The prickly but fun healer who was more than she seemed. The Dockworkers Association with the Union attached to them. That strange artificial creature that developed a Soul of its own. The bitch with the superiority complex from the Triumvirate.
He was beginning to care for more and more people in various ways, though she had a feeling that the last one was more along a science project. She didn't know what to think about that. Especially since she didn't really have a leg to stand on to criticize him. For some reason, she too grew attached.
Particularly to Long legs, who really impressed her with her persistence, and the healer because she was fabulously teasable with her obvious crush. It helped that when confronted, she chose violence as an answer. Truly, her type of girl. She appreciated them more than she'd ever appreciated a human before. And wasn't that a worrying thought? It was. And it admittedly scared her a bit.
"I will need to read."
Her thought process was thoroughly derailed by his words. She was beyond confused at the sudden non-sequitur, but he didn't really pay much attention to her as he was still deep in thought. Instead, he muttered to himself with an increasingly intense expression on his face.
"I don't have the foggiest idea how to rear children and I refuse to take Him as an example. I will need to read all the books about this topic. And I will hire a professional to teach me. I need to do better than my own Father. I will never subject any spawn of mine to such horrors. I will not force them to fight my battles. And most of all, I will never infringe on their ability to express themselves freely."
She couldn't help herself. The amused snort left her nostrils before she had a chance to control it. He was already a dad. He just hadn't realised it yet. He didn't even understand the kind of relationship that was developing between him and the space brat. His obliviousness was hilarious. She stared back at him when his eyes snapped to her with a flash of red before she smirked in the face of his Infernal gaze.
"Are you... Panicking?"
The flames faded into a surprised and affronted look. Seeing such an expression on his face was a rarity to behold. She tried from time to time to get under his skin but almost never managed it. This was an opportunity and she intended on making use of it. Before she could attempt to push him further however, he answered her question.
"The Lord of Hell does not panic. I merely have a healthy respect for the duties of a parent and plan to sufficiently educate myself to fulfill my new role impeccably."
He huffed like an incensed child but his words were spoken with dignity and she was certain he meant them. He didn't lie after all. That didn't mean she'd give up this chance for teasing so quickly. That was before he shifted. Any intention of needling him fled her mind when his expression changed along with the atmosphere surrounding him.
Gone was the good humor and light-hearted agitation. Instead, it was the Lord of Hell who stood in front of her. The air distorted from the sudden burst of heat surrounding him. His stance shifted too, showing the wild and animalistic grace beneath the veneer of humanity he projected for the benefit of the people they surrounded themselves with.
Potent Flames of Hell flashed past his eyes and his lips were drawn into a thin, furious line. The intensity of his voice when he addressed her left no room for an argument, not that she would have even considered arguing with him when his Authority was on full display.
"I fear I will have to leave to you the duty of babysitting. Now, if you excuse me for a moment? It seems there is a mutt out there that needs neutering. Oh, and prepare yourself for combat. Just in case I'll have need of you."
He didn't wait for an answer before his form disappeared in a glaring flash of Light. The fact that even his softer side, which was rapidly increasing in strength recently, channeled his anger like this didn't bode well for the poor sap on the other end of his... attention. She shrugged with an amused little smile on her lips. 'Whoever they are, they likely deserve it.'
"Auntie Mazie?! Can I play with those?!"
She looked over and found that the Heiress was waving around two hell-forged blades while sitting on Cherona's back. While the picture was an adorable one that made her Infernal core melt a bit, she couldn't help asking herself. 'Where the Hell did she find them? Did I leave them lying around?... Oh well, what's the worst that could happen?'