Chapter 5

Taylor had never been more terrified in her life as she faced off with Glory Girl. Hanging there over the tall highrises while a brute stared her down had her breaking in cold sweats. Yes, she had Mew with her, but that didn't change the fact that she had nothing on her to break a possible fall down. One small misstep and she might find herself splattered across the pavement below.

"Oh really?" The cape quirked her brow at her, making her flinch as they cracked their knuckles, "All I see here is a classic case of biothinker Animal Abuse."

She felt her mouth grow dry at the cape's accusation. She knew was going to be mistaken for a villain one of these days, but why did it have to be Glory Girl who did it? It also didn't help that a lab gown and a respirator didn't exactly scream heroic by any measure of the word.

As she stuttered, trying to find her words, Mew would answer for her, "Ok look, I know you want to do the ole classic shake up perp to get them to admit something, but can we not do that now!?"

"Bwah!?" Taken aback by Mew's sudden speech, they reared back as they pointed at her companion, "It talks?!"

Glowing a harsh pink and sporting a glare of his own, Mew looked just about ready to throw hands but she still had enough presence of mind to stop him before things got ugly. Tugging on his hands, she shook her head at him, pleading silently for him to hold back. She didn't want any trouble, not from one of the heroes protecting the bay.

Mew opened his mouth before he caught himself and looked away. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, before looking back at the cape as he winded down. "I know you wanted to investigate but we're not doing anything illegal, we're just passing through," They assured the cape, trying to reason with her.

"Also, I'm not an it, I am Mew," Mew then calmly added before gesturing down at her, "And this is my partner," introducing both of them to the cape. With a pleading look on their face, Mew pleaded, "While I'd love to explain why we're flying here we really don't have time for this so please, please let us pass," and all but begged Glory Girl.

Nodding along with her partner, Taylor apologized as well, "We're really sorry about flying overhead Glory Girl, but please believe us!" She was begging the cape so she'd listen, "I wouldn't be flying with Mew if it wasn't for my father!" She tried to explain, "I need to get to him before they do!"

She hated how she had to apologize, but she didn't want to see her father hurt. She wasn't sure what she'd do if she lost him now. Thankfully, her pleas would not fall on deaf ears as the cape's glare lightened.

Holding up her hands, Glory Girl replied, "Ok, let's back up for a bit." Taking in deep breaths, Taylor nodded. "Good," the heroine started before she started questioning her, "Who are 'they'?" Though their eyes would widen as they suddenly asked, "Wait, is your father in danger right now?"

Taylor couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief at her words, "Yes!" She'd never felt so relieved as right then, "I need to warn him, now!" She then told her, trying to get her to see the urgency of her situation. If it wasn't for Mew's inability to teleport anywhere they haven't been before, she wouldn't be flying over to her father in such an obvious manner.
"Damn it, you should have just told me that earlier!" The Cape gritted out before gesturing to them over, "Lead the way, I'll cover you two!"

With Glory Girl as their escort, they reached Fortress without any further trouble. Walking up to the bastion-like building and passing over some concerned guards, Taylor marched inside and headed straight for the desk. Immediately, the woman manning the desk tensed up but relaxed at the sight of Glory Girl behind her.

"Oh! Glory Girl! And Company?" She greeted rather stiltedly as the woman eyed her and Mew wearily. Sporting a strained smile, they nervously asked, "Is there anything I can help you with?"

As Glory Girl nodded at her, Taylor stepped forward. "I-I need you to call Danny Hebert. He's currently meeting with the CEO right now," She told the woman before pausing briefly as she considered her next words. Time was of the essence, however, so she threw all caution in the wind as she added, "Tell him that his daughter is here. It's an emergency."

The woman blinked, mouth open as she gazed at her and Glory Girl, before a look of understanding washed over them. Nodding swiftly, the woman reached for the phone by her desk as she replied, "Alright, just give me a minute."

Taylor felt her knees grow weak and light headed as she stood there, worrying for her father, before she saw the woman smile. "Your father's fine, dear. He'll be down here in a minute," The woman assured her and Taylor released a breath she didn't know she was holding. "Just wait there while they get here," She instructed as she gestured at the sofa in the lobby.

"Thank you," Taylor replied as she walked off, still feeling a bit light headed from the rush. She got here before anyone could get to her father. All she needed to do was now wait… before she had to tell him the terrible news she brought with her.

Sinking on the soft plush chair, Taylor buried her face against her palm. She still couldn't quite believe how terribly things were going. Feeling Mew's hands on her shoulder, she then heard him ask Glory Girl, "Can you watch over Taylor for me? I… don't want any surprises heading her way. Going to be on the lookout outside"

Glancing over her shoulder, she saw the teenage cape nod before Mew winked out of existence. She knew her partner was close by, but seeing him no longer hovering around her made her feel cold and vulnerable. She never quite realized how much her mood had lightened up with him around, and now he was somewhere else…

Shaking her head, she refused to go down those dark thoughts any further. She simply sat there, tapping her feet as Glory Girl sat across her.

"This must be quite an emergency if you're not even trying to hide your identity, huh?" The girl pointed out, making the weight in Taylor's stomach grow heavier. Already, she was fucking up further, adding to the mess she had caused. Looking over at her with concern, the girl asked, "Mind me asking what got you all riled up? Maybe I could help."

Taylor pursed her lips as she looked down on her hands; where was she going to begin? Running her hands across her hair, she admitted, "I… I fucked up," Gesturing at her hastily cobbled up disguise, told her, "As you can tell, I'm a Tinker and like all Tinkers, I had to start from scratch, so I go around buying stuff."

She did her research, but it seemed like that wasn't enough. "The problem was that I got so excited about it that I didn't really think about where I should buy my stuff," She admitted, remembering how she didn't even bother covering her tracks.

"Wait, did a shop owner try to blackmail you or something?" Glory Girl shot up standing, fist clenched and rearing for a fight.

"No! No, Mr. Walter is a good man, a friend of my family actually!" Taylor hastily corrected, not wanting the old man to wake up with a flying brick at his doorstep. As she got the girl to sit back down again, Taylor sighed, "But the problem is only bought from him and only him…"

Glory Girl stared at her for a bit before a dawning sense of horror washed over her face, "Oh… ohhhh, fuck."

"I… really fucked up," Taylor groaned as she tucked herself into a tiny ball, just wishing that the earth would swallow her, "Every gang in Brockton probably knows I'm a Tinker so now…" She muttered, dreading what lay in store for her.

"You're joining the Protectorate?" Glory Girl asked as she stood up from her seat and moved beside her. Taylor tensed up at the close contact, but as she felt the girl's warmth and her soothing hands behind her back, she loosened up.

"Yeah…" She nodded, feeling her mood lighten at her heroine's comforting touch, yet the lingering feeling of dread still remained. Holding herself tighter, she replied, "But I'm still afraid. I'm not exactly the best kind of Tinker!" Biotinkers like her never had the best of reputations. Nilbog, Blasto, and Bonesaw; these were the names that come to mind when people thought about capes like her. What if they confiscated Mew?

As much as she wanted to keep her father safe, she didn't want to lose Mew. He could be annoying, and a bit too excitable, but he had been nothing if not a good friend to her. She might've hated her gifts, but without them she wouldn't have met him. She was glad that the Golden Llama sent the pink goofball over.

"And then, there's the Wards," She grimaced as she touched that particular landmine. As she was underage, she was most likely going to be placed under that program. Tucking in her head against her knees, she choked out, "I've never been popular, or even wanted in school." Letting out a bitter chuckle, she whispered, "I always have problems with people and I'm afraid that it'll just be the same thing over there."

"High School's already tough enough… but the Wards?" She asked, feeling such ugly emotions as hate and fear well up her chest. Perfect people with perfect powers; Why would they want someone like her? "What if they hate me…" She whispered as she felt so raw and naked.

For a moment, Silence reigned in the lobby, only broken by the news flashing over a nearby TV. Taylor felt tears welled up in her eyes as she clenched her eyes shut, scolding herself for opening up like that. Glory Girl probably thought she was a pathetic loser or like some disgusting freak fishing for sympathy.

But all would melt away as she felt warm hands wrap around her.

Taylor choked, freezing up from the contact, before she heard the girl whisper into her ears, "It's ok. No one's going to hate you for who you are." Taylor knew a lie when she heard one, yet tears kept falling down her cheeks. "You'll be alright," The hero reassured her and Taylor felt the dam holding back her tears finally break.

Sobbing, she reached out to the cape and pulled her close, holding on to her for her dear life. It took her a bit to gather herself. Pulling away, she apologized, "I'm sorry."

"It's ok, really," Glory Girl replied, "Looks like you needed that weight off your chest." Shifting in her seat, Glory Girl let out a wry smile as she told her, "I'm really not the best girl to tell you this, cause there are better people out there to give you advice, like your dad, but maybe joining the Protectorate wouldn't be that bad."

Pursing her lips, the heroine admitted, "Look, I'm not going to tell you the Wards and Protectorate are perfect, they have their faults, but,~" Looking up to the cape's beaming smile, Taylor felt weight on her shoulder lighten, "If there's one thing the Protectorate is good at, it's helping people in need."

She nodded back hesitantly. Yes, maybe… she was overthinking this. The PRT wouldn't hurt her just because she was a Biotinker right? "Trust me, I've been tempted plenty times by the benefits they have and I haven't talked about all the offers they made to Amy," The older teen added, chuckling as she glanced over to the news showing the local Ward Team, "But if it's the Ward's you're afraid off, don't be. They're an awe inspiring sight just like their older counterparts."

Leaning closely, Glory Girl whispered conspiratorially, "Just between you and me, aside from Shadow Stalker, the Wards are really just a bunch of goofballs." Grinning at her, the girl then teased, "Heck, I think the boys would probably fall heads over heels over your goth vibes."

Taylor felt her cheeks turn crimson at her words, yet a shaky smile slowly wormed its way into her cheeks. It was embarrassing, but it felt good being praised for once. Maybe meeting Glory Girl wasn't such a bad thing after all.

"But if you're still that worried," the New Wave Cape hummed as she pulled out her phone, before suggesting, "I can call the PRT, give them the good word about a friend of mine?" Seeing the PRT number on speed dial, Taylor realized the girl wasn't merely joking this time.

"Thank you Glory Girl," Taylor whispered, admiring the girl even more now. She truly was a heroine to look up to and not just some model with powers. If this was how all the heroes were then… maybe the Wards wouldn't be that bad.

Glory Girl flashed a grin at her as she slung her strong arms over her shoulder, "Just call me Vicky, cause I think you and I are going to be great friends." Ruffling her hair, she mused, "Heck, maybe we could patrol together. Just you, me, and that adorable little fuzz ball!"

"His name is Mew," Taylor chuckled as she felt her worries melt away. With Glory Girl and Mew with her, maybe she'd get through this. All she needed to do now was talk to her dad. Thankfully Mew would come back with a pop and for some reason, he was holding a jar of candy? Where did he get that…

"Sorry about that! Had to do a quick snack run," Mew chuckled as he rubbed the back of his head, "Anything I missed? Just want to check on you before I go back out there again." Mew came back just in time and not a moment too soon as she saw her father marching over to them with a tall, well dressed man on his heels. With the way the secretary greeted them, she realized that they might be Mr. Calvert.

"Taylor?" Her dad asked as he gazed at her in concern. Feeling her mouth dry up, Taylor gulped as terror filled her veins once more.

"Hey Dad…" Waving back at them, Taylor gathered her courage as she broke the terrible news, "I fucked up?" It was going to be a long day but, thankfully, she didn't have to do it alone.

A/N:

Vicky is all heart. She's might not be the best and brightest, but I think we can all agree that she means well. Funny how she might just be the girl that Taylor needs right now to calm down. She's also one of the best heroines to defend Taylor. No one likes dealing with the flying brick. Now where Mew went... that's for next chapter~ Let's just say that Mew can be quite proactive with defending those close to him if he wants to and none would be the wiser.

Anyways, I'd like to thank vyor once more for making this possible. I swear those tenses trip me up so much. If I could just deal with those...

Now if you want to support me or want to read some fic chapters in advance, consider dropping by either Pa treon or Ko-Fi. I couldn't have done this without the support.