Good news, Missy could hear someone fighting Mush so that meant backup had arrived and Viv had probably gotten away in the commotion or at least received some help. Bad news, Skidmark was giving Missy a hell of a fight.

"Ow," Missy muttered as she was cut in the arm by some stray debris. Thankfully it was a shallow cut at best, but things weren't really going well. If she didn't have Pixie to quickly heal her wounds she'd probably have to go to the hospital for a tetanus shot with how much she was getting cut by rusty and dirty projectile debris.

Skidmark was a combination of Mover and Shaker that made him very difficult to pin down, sorta like her with Theia out. It meant that they spent the last few minutes moving around and throwing shit at each. If things continued like this then there wasn't going to be any sort of conclusive ending to their fight anytime soon.

Missy needed to change tactics if she was going to win this fight. As if reading her mind, Theia began to lift up everything off the ground into the air before letting it all drop back down. Skidmark avoided it all, but the resulting smoke was what she wanted.

She put her Evoker to her head and pulled the trigger. "Kelpie!"

A horse of Celtic mythology emerged and let out a dreadful Neigh.

"Garu!"

Harsh winds flew throughout the building, picking up the debris until the entire interior was obscured by a cloud of smoke and dust.

"*Cough* Little shit. Where are you?" The Villain growled as he stopped skating around the building. He began to use his powers haphazardly around him, not caring that he couldn't see what he was throwing or who he was throwing it at. All that did was add to the smoke and make it even harder to see.

Eventually he stopped and slowed down to avoid running into anything. "When I find you I'm going strip you and-"

He went silent as he noticed movement in his periphery. He quickly skated forward with power and closed the distance between him and the hooded figure.

"Got you dick-sucker!" as he grabbed her hoodie and pulled it by the shoulders. He grabbed and grappled with it easily… too easily in fact. He only had a second to process the mostly vacant piece of clothing, before Pixie flew out of the hood and gave him the middle finger. "The fu-"

From the smoke and debris behind him Missy emerged with both her blades drawn and quickly slashed his legs. He screamed as he was forced onto his knees from his injuries. Before he could do anything else, Missy's strike was then followed up with Theia dive kicking him like a descending Valkyrie and slamming him into the ground.

The dust settled and the Villain was down, and probably still breathing, for the count.

"Woooooooo!" Missy cheered and raised her arms as she cheered. Her t-shirt of a cartoon duckling displayed for everyone to see. "We did it! First ever win against a Cape!"

After cleaning her blades with what was left of her hoodie, Missy high-fived Theia before doing a little happy dance with Pixie. It was honestly more wiggle than dance but hey she earned it and it wasn't like anyone else was watching anyway. After their dance, Pixie landed on Missy's head as she addressed Theia. "Great job! Now we gotta go out there and help out whoever's fighting Mush."

Skidmark suddenly groaned.

Missy and Pixie paused.

Skidmark began to push himself off the ground.

Missy and Pixie looked at each other before nodding to one another. They then quickly ran over and began kicking him in the back and face respectively to make sure he stayed down.

Theia watched the beating in progress, brushed some dust off her shoulders with a wing, and shrugged. She then floated over and began stomping her foot into Skidmark's butt.

Missy ran out of the warehouse and made her way to the sound of fighting. She had just arrived when she saw a figure decked in leathers swing a giant slab of Metal at some debris Mush threw at them. The dumpster was batted aside like it was nothing as the figure suddenly reached for his face and pulled off a mask.

Wait, was that Jack!?

"Dantès!"

And was that a goddamn Persona!?

Jack's Persona flew forward and sliced an arm off of Mush's garbage body. Mush simply continued running forward past the Persona and used his remaining arm to throw a punch at Jack. The man simply raised his metal slab, or rather giant, to block the fist. He didn't move an inch despite the weight behind that huge fist.

"Burn!"

The construct was set alight in flame and Mush began to struggle to put it out and stop the fire from spreading. While the Villain was distracted Jack pulled out his shotgun and fired a shot into a leg, completely blowing it off and forcing the construct to its knees.

Mush tried to reply back with a punch again only to have Dante appear behind him and restrain him from behind. Jack then walked up, raised the spiked claw he wore on his hand, and shoved it straight into the armor's chest. He grabbed Mush from the center and tore him out, leaving Dantes to tear apart the remains.

"Purge the wicked."

Jack threw the now defenseless Cape onto the ground

"Cleanse the corruption."

He lifted his blade into the air.

"Burn it all!"

"Jack stop!" It wasn't Missy who had spoken, she had frozen watching Jack as he was about to kill. No, it was Viv who had been the one to act. To run up to him and plead him to stop. "He's done. You don't have to do this."

Jack paused. The flames in his eyes extinguished as he looked at Viv. He let growl, a deep breath, before slowly lowering his blade.

"You're right Viv," he replied, though he still kept the edge pointed at Mush in case the Villain tried anything.

Missy finally ran up to them and put her Evoker to her head. "Jack Frost!" Her Persona would freeze Mush to the ground, restraining him and allowing Jack to step away.

Once he did the man fell to his knees and wheezed as he tried to regain his breath. His costume faded, leaving him once again in his old clothes.

"Wow… hah… *gasp*… phew that was rough," Jack gasped between breaths. "Old man… like me… *cough*… really shouldn't be moving like that…"

"How the he- heck did you get a Persona?" Missy asked.

"Dunno," Jack gasped as he looked at Missy. "This hard for you getting yours?"

"It was. I blacked out," Missy admitted. "Although I never got a free costume with mine," she then replied, slightly annoyed.

"Least you don't… have to tear off a mask… glued to your face." He finally stood up and began cracking his back. "Wow. That hurts. Haven't moved like that since I was in the army."

"Well you were pretty cool," Missy admitted. Not as cool as her using her Evoker… but still pretty cool.

"Jack?" Viv said hesitantly. "I-I'm-" She froze and closed her eyes as Jack reached over and… fixed her hair. He then took out a napkin and wiped her face.

"It's my fault. Not yours," he told her.

"Are… you a Hero now?"

"Filha. I'll be whatever you need me to be."

The loud noises of an approaching vehicle could suddenly be heard by the three of them. Jack immediately forced himself straight as his costume and weapon remerged. He was clearly exhausted though and on his last legs, so Missy took front and center for whoever was coming.

Thankfully it turned out it was just Armsmaster who stepped his bike nearby, kicked out the stand so that it would remain upright, and got off to face them. His visor immediately turned toward Jack, his halberd in his hand.

"You wanna fight?"

"If I have to," Jack replied.

"Unknown parahuman. Stand down and step away from the girls."

"Wait wait- no he's a friend!" Missy quickly ran up, raised her arms, and stood behind. "We're all Heroes. He took down Mush while I dealt with Skidmark."

The two men simply stood and stared at each other before Jack finally sighed. His costume and weapon faded, leaving him again in his normal clothes though he did keep a mask on to hide his identity.

"Sorry," he apologized to the Hero. "Little wound up. You know how it goes."

Armsmaster lowered his halberd away from Jack and instead pointed it toward Mush's body who he walked toward. Once he was close enough the Hero pushed his halberd forward and jabbed something into the Villain's neck.

"What was that?" Missy asked

"Sedative. The ice isn't necessary for restraining him. Can you melt it?"

"Uh… Jack O Lantern?"

"… We'll break him out once transport arrives. Where's Skidmark?"

Missy pointed backwards with her thumb at the building behind her. "He's in that warehouse over there."

A large decked out monster truck suddenly made its entrance by cresting over a nearby road. It used some makeshift debris as a ramp allowing it to fly through the air, before gravity took its effect and it slammed through the wall of the warehouse. The wall collapsed like paper Mache and the truck disappeared within. There was a brief delay before the vehicle crashed through the wall on the other side of the warehouse before quickly driving away.

After watching all that Missy turned her head back toward Armsmaster. "He was in that warehouse over there."

"Console. Confirmed sighting of Squealer. She and Skidmark are retreating, moving to pursue." Armsmaster over his coms as he made his way back to the bike. He suddenly stopped halfway there, his fist clenched, probably not liking what he was hearing. "Director, are you sure that's-… fine."

The Hero turned back around to face Missy and Jack. "I have to get both of your statements."

"Oh well, J-" Missy froze. Oh crap he needed a Cape name if he was actually going to have a secret identity. "Uh. His name is uh-"

"Fang," Jack replied.

Missy nodded. "After Fang and I noticed Viv was missing," Missy began before giving the Hero a quick summary of what happened on her hand. It wasn't a long story but she wanted to make sure she had everything in order. "And then after we uh- subdued Skidmark we went out to check on Fang."

Armsmaster looked at Fang. "Why did you fight with the Merchants?"

"To save this kid," Fang replied.

"And how did she end up here?"

Fang shrugged. "Druggies. Merchants. You know what they do with kids off the street," he replied with ease.

Armsmaster simply started in silence, as if reading something off his visor. "Truth. But that doesn't answer my question. How did she end up here?"

Viv opened her mouth only for Fang to cover it with his hand. "We plead the Fifth. We don't have to answer your question."

"…With any Parahuman incident, an interview of those involved might be necessary," Armsmaster replied.

"An interrogation? You want to throw a kid into a cell?"

"We just want answers."

"J-Fang and I came to save Viv," Missy interjected between the two men. "We all did what we needed to do. That's it." Her chest thumped the entire time she said that. Nothing she said was technically a lie and she really didn't want to get into another fight after taking down Skidmark, which by the way she was really proud of. Too bad he got away.

"You should've called for backup sooner and waited until we arrived." Armsmaster chastised her. "It's dangerous for Independents."

"Ah, is that a recruitment speech for me and Menina here?"

"Simply a warning. Though the Protectorate would accept you."

Hmm. Fang put a hand to his chin in thought. "Maybe. It depends whether or not you can do something for me."

Armsmaster looked like he was gritting his teeth… Was he annoyed?

"What?" the Hero asked.

"You know who I am. I'm assuming."

"Jack. Your voice matches the one on the phone," Armsmaster confirmed.

"Well as Jack I have a Shelter filled with kids. They all need more beds, food, clothes, and schools to go to. If your people can provide for them then I'll have no issues with joining." Fang listed out his demands to the Hero who paused once he heard his request. "Otherwise I have to go back. Kids that I need to take care of, you know the drill."

"I don't have children," Armsmaster replied.

"The Wards?" Missy asked.

"Moved into the Rig and under the Supervision of the Director."

That fat stern lady? Huh that was interesting, you would've thought the Heroes would've been in charge of the Wards.

"I'll forward your request to my Superiors," Armsmaster said.

"That isn't a yes," Fang replied.

"I can't promise anything. Contracts and conditions of employment have to be negotiated with the PRT."

"Then tell them what I told you. They help me take care of all my kids, then I'll join. No questions."

"Making demands of the PRT won't end well," Armsmaster threatened? No, informed him. "And it's dangerous for you and the Shelter you manage."

Fang scoffed. "We live in the middle of nowhere. No one cared about us before. If they come just for me, then I'll burn them all to ashes."

"Lethal force will likely lead to an arrest warrant being iss-"

"He's just exaggerating a little," Missy quickly interjected between the two men, again. Seriously could these two not try and pick a fight for like ten seconds? "He obviously isn't admitting he'll go straight to lethal force in front of the authorities." She grinned at Fang with very large, gritted teeth. "Right?"

Fang stared at her for a few long seconds before nodding. "Yea. Sorry. Just being a bit dramatic since I got my Powers." He even tilted so he could put a hand to his forehead and act dramatic. Really hamming it up.

Armsmaster stared at Jack, then Missy, and then finally again to Jack. "I'll pass the report to the Director, see if we can start negotiations promptly. The only promise I can make is increased patrols around your area."

"You Heroes better not bring us any trouble then."

"Sooo… we just wait here until the PRT arrives?" Missy asked.

"Yes. Same procedures as always," Armsmaster replied.

And that's what they did. Stood there in awkward silence, any attempts at small talk by Missy were quickly shot down by the older men, until a PRT van finally arrived. The troops jumped out, quickly broke Mush out of the ice, and carried him into the van. Once that was done Armsmaster and the PRT drove away while Missy, Viv, and F-Jack made their way back to the car.

"Meni-… Missy. Thanks," Jack said.

"No problem. Just doing a Hero's job," Missy replied.

"Viv. Do you have anything to say to the girl?"

"… thanks," Viv muttered.

"Good." Jack nodded. "Also, you're grounded."

"What!?" Viv shouted.

"For life. Kids shouldn't do drugs."

"I wasn't doing them, I was selling."

"And there's the confession. Still grounded."

"… Crap."

Jack took a sip from the cup of coffee that had been offered to him. Decaffeinated of course, along with Missy's and Viv's mochas, they did need to fall asleep at some point tonight.

"You know I always thought that you two were rather strange," Jack said as he looked at Minako and Shinji. "I assumed that you two might've been Capes, but never tried to confirm it for obvious reasons."

Shinji grunted. "Get to the point."

Jack put his cup down, leaned back onto the chair he sat on, and let out a loooong weary groan. It wasn't until he was finally out of breath that he looked back at all of them. "What the fuck."

"There it is."

"No seriously." Jack sat up. "Personas? What have you two been dealing with?"

"That's in the past," Minako replied. "We're mostly retired from all that."

"And that's the crazy thing. Capes don't retire! They always find some reason to keep fighting," Jack argued.

"And I'm tired of it," Minako replied firmly. "Also there are no Capes in this house."

"I'm aware of that now." Jack sighed.

"Hey, is there any reason why Jack's Persona works differently?" Missy asked. "Why doesn't he need an Evoker?"

Shinji glanced at Minako who answered.

"Groups of Persona Users in different areas and times often end up having differences in how they acquire and summon their Personas," Minako explained. "You likely had to use an Evoker because of exposure to Shinji and me. Jack on the other hand hadn't spent nearly as much time around us. There might also have been outside influences involved."

Outside influences. Well the only that sorta matched with how Jack used his Persona was- oh. "Mona," Missy mumbled.

"Mona?" Minako asked.

"He's an attendant that Igor lent me. Was teaching me how to sneak around and stuff earlier today. And might've rubbed off something on me and passed it on to Jack."

"Attendants do have a strong presence whenever they do show up," Minako replied.

"Who is this Igor fellow?" Jack asked.

"Someone that only Missy and I will ever directly interact with around here due to complicated reasons," Minako explained.

Shinji nodded. "Only know as much as what she told me. Never saw the guy himself, just the dude in blue that worked for him."

Viv raised a hand. "So... could I get a Persona?"

"Persona users are sorta like Capes," Shinji informed her. "Not everyone has the ability to be one even if you are constantly exposed to them."

"Oh," Viv shook her head. "Yea that makes sense. No Powers for me then."

"You don't need Powers Viv. I'll deal with everything," Jack told her.

"You're always dealing with-" Viv grunted and looked away. She was clearly dissatisfied, but… honestly Missy was just glad she was safe. "Whatever."

"So what're you doing now then?" Missy asked Jack.

Jack shrugged. "Keep an eye on kids but I'm going to have to be stricter with them. Can't have them running off to Gangs or stealing drugs anymore. Still grounded by the way Viv."

"What-…ever."

"Although I do owe you Missy. If you need help, then call me. I'll come and make sure to burn away everything that tries to hurt you."

It was very late by the time Jack and Viv had left the house. By then Missy was very much looking forward to going to bed, especially since she had an early day tomorrow, but it was too late to have to go back to her own home and deal with her parents.

That was how Missy ended up using Minako's bathtub that night, the hot water helping to wash away the grime and stress she had gathered up that day. After warming up she lifted an arm out of the water and looked at the new blemish on her forearm. It was one of a few new small scars on her body, with another on her calf, and another to the right of her belly.

Pixie's healing was awesome but sometimes there were still scars left behind.

Hopefully they'd fade away to the point that they'd be hard to notice now that the weather was getting warmer. She didn't want anyone freak out about her injuries anytime she wore short sleeves and shorts.

The scars weren't the only changes to her body. Her stomach was smaller and firmer now, more muscle in her arms and legs too. She was also growing a bit more everywhere; in some places it was a bit strange and sensitive to the touch.

Missy let out a deep breath before sinking deep into the steaming water, until everything below her nose was submerged.

Would she end up looking like Minako by the end of it? Like Carol and the other adult women she'd seen? That would be nice. Apparently, puberty would get worse and painful, but she felt like she could handle it if it meant being an adult faster.

"Missy. Is it okay if I come in?" Minako asked from behind the door.

Missy lifted her mouth out of the water so she could speak. "It's fine."

Minako opened the door, though stayed out of sight to preserve her privacy. "Leaving you a change of clothes. Try not to fall asleep in the bath."

"Got it," Missy said as she leaned back in the tub. "Hey Minako."

"Yea Missy?"

"How did you know you loved Shinji?"

"… I think it started when he was staying in the dorms again. When I saw him cook for Koro-chan," Minako replied.

"Koro-chan?" Missy asked.

"A dog, member of SEES. Shinji never made a good impression but when I saw how sweet he was with Koro when they were alone… I was curious. Wanted to know more about him."

"You were stalking him?"

"No, not that bad. Don't ever stalk anyone Missy, but… I paid more attention when he was around. Stuck around a bit longer when he was there, see if there was any chance to hang out with him more. Either as a group or… just him."

"So how did you know?"

"It just clicked. Interest turned into affection. It wasn't like hanging out with my other friends, I just wanted to be with him even when we weren't doing anything."

"That's… cool," Missy replied genuinely. Their relationship seemed cool.

"Why do you ask?"

"Dunno… just thinking it wouldn't be bad to be like you and Shinji one day. Eventually."

Missy had heard so many stories about love at first sight. Then there were the girls in her class just swooning over pictures of celebrities or the other boys around them, even though they never actually interacted much with those people if at all. The way Minako told it, the way Minako fell in love, that seemed a lot sweeter. Something that Missy wouldn't mind going through herself one day. Affection and curiosity seemed a lot better than obsession with a near stranger.

"You'll get there. You're a catch."

Missy smiled. "Thanks."

Missy sat patiently on her chair wearing a set of spare pajamas as Minako continued to brush and blow dry her hair. It was nice to have someone helping her with this, she had stopped asking her own mother a long time ago.

"You've been doing something with your hair?" Minako asked. "Feels a lot softer now."

"Yea my mother. Some were gifts but I think she's been getting me fancier shampoo and lotion. Wants me to look my best all the time."

"Nothing wrong with treating yourself and being pretty."

"Yea I know. I like being pretty, but she's been getting really obsessed with it. You know she wants to start wearing makeup when I'm at the hospital or doing patrols."

Minako grimaced. "Lotion and moisturizer is fine… but you're too young for makeup. It's not good for you. And also, trust me, lipstick and eyeliner when you're in the middle of a fight isn't fun. Or on a hot summer day."

"Well… try telling her that. And getting her to listen," Missy sighed as Minako finished with her hair. She shook her head around, enjoying the light floofiness of her hair. "Thanks Minako."

"Ah. A budding thief rebelling against a corrupt authority, truly a wonderful sight," a new and familiar voice said.

"Don't really think my mom's much of an authority," Missy commented to the black cat who had somehow gotten up the second floor of Minako's house and opened the window so that he could get in.

"… Did that cat just talk?" Minako asked, genuinely surprised. Huh. Nice to see her off guard for once.

"I am the great Phantom Thief Morgana," the black cat proclaimed. "And my Master, Igor, has called upon me to take this young lady as my protégé!"

"Oh. So you're Theo's brother?"

Morgana paused and a thoughtful expression appeared on his face, or rather as thoughtful as a cat could look. "I guess yea technically I would be one of their brothers."

"Good then tell him to come by sometime. Do you need a room?" Minako asked.

"Oh uh… I can find a spot in your house. I don't take much space."

"Alright I'll let Shinji know." Minako opened her mouth and let out a loud yawn. "It's getting late. Both of you should go to bed now."

"… I think I'm going to like you," Morgana commented before padding off into the hallways. "Good night you two. And Missy we all expect great things from you."

"What a cute cat," Minako commented before patting Missy's back and leading her to the guest bedroom. "Need us to wake you up for anything or can you sleep in?"

"Actually I have to do some healing for the PRT tomorrow morning," Missy informed her.

"Damn. Get some sleep while you can. I'll make sure to wake you up on time."

"Minako! Missy! What did you two do!? Why is there a talking cat in the house!?" Shinji suddenly shouted.

"I'm not a- okay but I'm not a regular cat!" Mona shouted.

"Aaaand that's my cue." Minako got up and made her exit. "Good night Missy."

"Thanks. Good night," Missy said once as she was left in the guest bedroom. Honestly it was more her bedroom at this point with how much stuff she moved in there. Especially the bedsheets with their familiar feeling and smell, something that comforted her greatly as she fell on and buried herself in them. It was like home, more home than her actual home was.

The weight of something on her current bed shifted the blankets. Missy lifted her head up quickly and saw… Morgana laying down next to her.

"This is the comfiest place," he explained casually before curling in on himself. "Good night."

"Good night," Missy reciprocated before closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep.

If only she could live here forever.