Jusker tentatively picks up the communicator. So I'm part of a team now? "I... didn't expect this either." He stops himself from saying more when Wingblade snaps at Silver Shadow. Sounds like these things are important to her somehow. Well I'm sure not getting on her bad side. "Uh, yea, sure. Good idea." He turns it over in his palm. "I can see it's an earbud. Can I talk into it too?" He fits the device into his ear.
Apex sighed, his clown act clearly failing to get through the two terrified boys. "I need you to stay here for a second. I'm going to get someone to make sure everything is okay." His tone hardened slightly at his personal failure, but he tried to keep a positive bent to his words.
Making his way quickly out to the group of young supers, a glance gave him enough for a quick assessment. This practically looks like the image in a textbook for reading body language. Something is wrong here.
Snatching an earbud from Wingblade's hand, Apex turned his head slowly to ensure his gaze passed over all of them. "I'm glad you're all having a grand time chatting it up, but there's clean up to be done and we still don't know what caused this. Bran, I can't get the two boys in there to stop shaking in front of me. They're clearly at the center of this and hopefully someone with a face will have better luck comforting them, could you go check on them? Shadow, since you don't seem to want to actually investigate anything how about you coordinate with the first responders to give us a little coverage while Wingblade can see if Whippoorwill can grant us some legitimacy here."
Reaching into a pocket, he pulled out a white domino mask, really little more than a piece of cloth with eyeholes cut out, and held it towards Jusker. "This may not do much, but a little bit of anonymity now can give you a lot more freedom in the future."
Apex panned his gaze back across the young supers, "Any problems with this or can we go back to being heroes instead of whiny teenagers with too much power?"
Wingblade calms a little bit when Jusker seems interested in the communication device. "Sure. One tap turns the mic on, and everyone can hear. Two taps gives you a private line to the master device. I'm wearing that one. Three taps and you have a private line to the last one who spoke."
Wingblade arches an eyebrow severely at Apex, then finally shrugs. She starts walking in the direction the authorities are coming and taps hers twice, giving her a private line to Whippoorwill. "Alive and well, boss. Missile's in the drink, rest of the robot went boom and made a mess. There's some new supers here, and we're all a bit worried about that stupid law. Can you help us out?"
Apex's comment about the shaking children struck home. No matter that without Gae-Dearg to grip, his own hand would surely tremble. These kids still need help. And whether Apex knew it or not, there was almost nothing that helped Bronwyn power through a bad situation like piling on. It could obviously go too far, but for now...
Bran hadn't interacted with children, but Bronwyn was great with kids; she'd babysat for all of her nieces and nephews over the years. So she put her kindest smile on his face, spoke quietly and soothingly, made sure not just that they were safe, but that they felt safe. They weren't alone. The monsters were gone. Everything would be okay.
Only once they were calmed, each of them sprawled across and arm in the boneless way that only young children and kittens could manage, did he ask, "And you saw nothing, heard nothing strange before you began playing your game?"
These... are left over form the old team. Right. how many of them are lefts, anyway... The shadow takes the comms device without comment.
At Apex's Don't want to investigate comment. I was prioritizing, Apex. These guys kinda have a time limit, or did you forget that most of the people here are acting in defiance of the SIDEKICK laws. The investigation can wait 2 minutes. A bit of organization can't. But You're right. you guys did your job, time for me to do mine.
She walks over with Bran, watching him talk with the Kids. damn, hunky and sensitive, damn. She thinks, before refocusing. the kids. they're witnesses. let him ask the questions, but watch them.
Holding his hands up in the air, Shadowboxer's gesture doesn't match his cold angry mask. "Hey, I wasn't judging you. You did a good job, I was just curious. Here." the Asian teen reaches out for a communicator, placing it just behind his mask.
Apex's short monologue causes Lee to chuckle, doubly so when Silver Shadow mentions the sidekick laws. "Do you mean heroes as the law defines it, or paragons of justice? Because I don't qualify for either, and yet somehow despite my lack of a license a city block still stands."
Watching Bran take care of the children and Wingblade prepare to talk to the authorities, Shadowboxer turns and starts to leave. "Well, there's not much for me to do now, and I got my exercise for the night. I best go return to my whiny life as you so eloquently put it." Twisting to face Jusker, he adds, "If you were smart, you'd get out now before you get caught in bureaucratic tape. "
Jusker takes Apex's cloth mask. "Thanks," he replies coolly. "But I'd rather use my own. Mask me." Opaque pink energy appears and conceals his eyes and nose. The gem in his amulet, the light from which had faded and gone out when he hit the ground, glows softly at the same time.
He likes giving orders, this guy. "So you two have worked together before, I take it?" he asks Apex and Wingblade. That girl is new, the Silver Shadow. He turns to Shadowboxer. "I was just leaving. You with them too?" Didn't catch Spear Guy's name, and I don't know about Goddess Girl either.
"We..." Apex paused and glanced at Wingblade. "No, this is our first outing together. I've encountered Bran and Thor Girl before though."
Collecting himself, he turned back to the the street, assessing the craters, the warped asphalt, and most importantly the holes in the buildings left by shrapnel. "Speaking of, I think she has the right idea. The punching may be done but there are still plenty of people to help. I can't stop you two from leaving, but I don't think you were offered a communicator just because you have a strong right hook."
Apex walked away from the two, making his way toward a building that the first responders hadn't entered yet. This is going to be a long night.
"I believe that we were fortunate not to have had any deaths, officer, although I know that there will likely be people who have no place to go tonight. Let me know how I can assist."
Skuld spoke to one of the officers for several minutes, before rubbing one of her rings and asking "Is there a place of commerce nearby where one might be able to exchange their belongings for wealth?"
-------
Shayera looks at Skuld incredulously. "My words?!? I hurt Bran?" Her whole body trembles, and her lower lip quivers.
"Skuld, I didn't hesitate. I saw that rocket going toward the apartments and I just acted. I was on it before I realized what I was doing. I was so scared."
She looks away, hoping the goddess doesn't see the tears beginning to well in her eyes. "I wasn't scared for myself. I was afraid for everyone else. That I was going to die again."
She turns back to face her. "Whip had been training me. What to do if I ever faced that situation again. The training took over, and I did what I had to do. I made it safe, and forced it down where it couldn't hurt anyone.
"So, what am I supposed to say to you? To Bran? To Bronwyn? I don't know. You're all going to be furious with me, and I can't blame you! So tell me, Skuld Tordottir, what do I say?"
Skuld smiled at Shayera and said "I am, indeed, not furious with you; you are a warrior, and thus you think and act as one. Indeed, that fateful day, I would have done what you had, had I not been overcome with my own shame. As I said, it is not what you have done that worries me, it is what you said immediately afterwards to our friend and the new mortals that concerns me. I see these emotions bristling inside you, and I have to admit that I am concerned that you might be....I know that Midguard has a term for this....suicidal, or perhaps 'doubt your life has meaning'; or worse, you believe that the rules of life and death no longer have sway over you."
Skuld holds up a hand to pause Shayera's vociferous response and says "perhaps it is something that you do not mean, but your (Skuld speaks a word that in Aesiri means 'inside voice') leads you to act in such a manner; or, perhaps I am just overly concerned for a sister. I will, however, offer you something my grandfather once told me, and he is a very wise man: 'weight carried alone is always heavier than weight carried by a group'."
Many wise words...
Shayera's protests and reactions are cut off and forestalled by Skuld's insistent words. Finally, what was going to be a scathing rebuke ends up dying on her tongue. Her hands drop to her side and her wings fold up.
Opening up, sharing, still felt unnatural to her. She shrugs, but it sure seemed like Skuld was offering to listen. "I just want to put it behind me. I don't want to always be thought of as that girl who got blown up; I want to be Wingblade! I heal fast and pain barely bothers me." She holds an arm out and her bladed feathers rake across the forearm. Blood sprays for a moment, slows, then stops. In a moment, she wipes the blood off revealing unblemished skin. "See? But because I died once, everyone's all worried about me. And I just want it all back like the way it was."
She leans in and her voice drops low. "You know, Whippoorwill's died too. Lots of times, actually. She was abducted a few years before she found me, and forced to fight in some extradimensional deathsport. It was always to the death, and they brought the contestants back to life so they could keep fighting. She doesn't talk about it -- I think it was way worse than she lets on -- but that's how she became such a great fighter seemingly overnight. For her, it was years, while for Earth, it was like a couple weeks she was gone.
"Anyway, she told me that after I came back and I was freaking out. She says that death will change you, but life will keep you from being too far gone. Friends, and stuff. So, you know, um, like Bronwyn, and you."
When you share a vulnerability or weakness with someone, tell them a secret about your mentor (including your feelings towards them). Give them Influence over you and add 1 Team to the pool.
Bran: The greatest danger is the currently incoming sirens. Due to recent laws, all of you are technically committing crimes, and while some on the force may respect and thank you for your assistance, there is a sect that definitely thinks its too dangerous for teenage supers to be doing stuff like this, or even look down on your non-professionalism. Definite wildcard.
Apex: Your initial overtures of soothing comforting does not really phase the shock of the two kids who have suddenly found themselves surrounded by supers and the wreckage of the destruction.
Silver Shadow: Just judging from their shocked faces and the general outcome of events, the best thing to do would be to give them time to process. As much as getting info now would be better and convenient, shaking it out of kids who are still trying to process it themselves is a bit harsh.
When the sirens finally do arrive on the scene, they are actually preceded by a sudden van that appears out of nowhere. The hexagonal paneling seems to ripple into being at the same time the doors fly open. Three people wearing what can only be described as high-tech hazmat suits jump out each also wearing a large backpack device connected to a hose of some sort. At the same time as the purple spray begins pouring out of the hose, slamming into Shadowboxer, the flashing LED lights of the van light up announcing their presence loudly.
SUPERS CONTAINMENT AGENCY
Shadowboxer, as the foam hits you, you can feel your enhanced strength begin to fade away. The parts where the foam is touching your shadow covering begins to dissipate, and you can feel the foam begin to congeal and harden.
The three agents finish securing Shadowboxer from the shoulders down, just as a half dozen police cars arrive on scene, officers climbing out and hands on the ready to draw their weapons if needed. Unlike normal handguns, it seems that each is wearing an enhanced firearm that fires specialized ammunition, most likely for stunning or restraining.
"Stop and lower your weapons!" The officer in the front yells."You are in direct violation of the SIDEKICK laws! Any manifestation of power will be seen as a show of force and you will be detained by force if necessary."
Apex raised his hands and slowly turned to face the police officers.
"I understand and will turn myself in. I have no superhuman capabilities and intend no harm. I am however trained in emergency medicine and some people in there," Apex paused briefly and jerked his head to the building he'd been approaching, "may need assistance. Can we do this later?"
Despite his request, he slowly lowered himself to his knees and moved his hands behind his head in preparation for being handcuffed.
Bran gently put the children down before rising to his full height to look out over the scene.
Turning to the Silver Shadow he puts a heavy hand on her shoulder, needing the distance of his full arm's length to be able to comfortably look her in the eye.
"I would not have you risk your relationship with the authorities unduly, but it is not just that Shadowboxer be imprisoned for battling such a threat. I hope they will not hold my actions against you."
With a weighty thud and the rustle of mail he dropped to the ground, striding forward with a look of determination upon his face.
"Skuld, if I keep their device from you, can you secure Shadowboxer? I fear even Whippoorwill's patronage may not extend to shield us all."
Picking up speed from his booming walk into an alarming run, Bran began to spin Gae-Dearg rapidly before himself, haft and blade blurring together in a shield, waiting only for Skuld's move to interpose himself.
Oh hell no. "It's been fun, you guys, really, but that's my cue. See ya." Jusker whirls to face away from the police and the strange van. I've never really tested how fast my flight speed is. Time to find out. He crouches, springs upward...
...and promptly lands again. "No." He tries again, with the same result. "No. Get me out of here now, I don't care if they're the proper authorities!" He tries to manifest his powers in other ways, thrusting his hands forward or making a throwing motion, with no better results. Then he tries to run, but with no powers manifesting he is quickly caught and subdued. Jusker stops struggling. "Thanks a lot," he tells no one in a defeated tone. "No, we need to not be in this mess at all. How am I supposed to do the hero thing now?"
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Okay.... Hold up there, Sparky Alexandra says, holding up her Police consultant badge and approaching the police cars.
I'm liscenced to act as a costumed investigator, and have an exception from the SIDEKICK laws. she turns and Jestures toward Jusker and ShadowBoxer Those two aren't costumed Vigilantes. look at them. they weren't patrolling. they're Gifted who appeared at the fight to stop loss of civilian life. Pretty sure there were "Good Samaritan" protections in the law.
As for those guys She gestures to Apex, Wingblade, Bran, and Thor Girl Wingblade says Whippoorwill worked out a licence for her, like I have. Apex over there did't engage in fighting, he was evacing civilians, legal under the laws so long as he didn't try to fight the giants. and those two are both over 18. Thor-girl by a couple hundred years she finishes as she gets withing a meter of the shouting cop.
So chill out. And tell Quinlan that I'll explain to ehr whenever she's ready.
"Whippoorwill, Code: Blue," Wingblade says into her communicator as the containment agency and the police show up. "You'd better get here quick, I think some of us are about to do something stupid."
Shayera strides forward towards the cops to stand next to Bran as Silver Shadow is laying down the law. "And while you're checking out our credentials, why don't you cut the gestapo crap. You're acting like we caused this mess," she says toward the SCA goons. Her wings bristle, spread out wide defensively. "You lower your weapons."
Preparing a rebuttal, Shadowboxer is caught unaware at the arrival of the super containment team and their immediate focus on him. Despite the loss of his super strength, the asian teen immediately attempts to break his way free. "あなたの汚れた手を私から奪いなさい!" Superhuman powers or not, Lee was still a lean teen, and already in a fisticuffs sort of mood. Slamming his elbow against the foam, he roars as he fights against the foam.
As the foam hardened around his lower torso he snarls. "Excellent encouragement, I'm surprised there aren't more people willing to help out during superhuman crises. I give it a 10 out of 10 for civil rights violation." At this point, it becomes obvious that the moment Shadowboxer is free, he's going to deck the nearest SCA
As the others start to rally around him, Shadowboxer chuckles. Heh, maybe it might not be bad to have this much power at my back. Dad is always going on about forming a reliable group. Aloud, the blackout brawler gives the nearest agent a withering stare, his mask giving the reaction a murderous vibe. "I don't need superpowers to leave you a bloodied mess."
As Bran begins to move, Skuld says "Very well." over the comms.
As Bran began to move, Tornado strength wind surrounded everyone who had fought together in a group (but not yet left), lifting them into the air.
At the same time, a wall of hurricane strength wind sprung up between the officers and the fleeting young superheroes.
Moments later, the wind was gone.
Skuld did not carry the group an exceptional distance, not trusting her control to hold. She landed them in a parking garage without incident, then turned and immediately left without further comment from there.
As each of you try to defuse the situation in your own way, whether that was: running away, a show of authority, and gallant displays of protection, not much prepares you for the very wind itself to lift you up and away from the threat.
The panels of your armor glow, as the solar energy stored within it begins to cycle the wind out into what is normally used as a personal hovering device. However, with enough funneled power, the lifting winds pick up not only you but your entire group as well, whisking you off. Still, the control is shaky at best and you're on top of a parking Garage roughly ten minutes drive away.
Still, it isn't hard to see the flash of police lights in the distance where you roughly were.
As the floor of the parking garage rushed towards her, Wingblade angles her wings, orients herself, and lands hard on her feet. She sighs, looks at Thor Girl and taps her communicator again. "Too late."
She turns to the other, non-sanctioned heroes and holds up her hands. "Um, sorry. I thought that would have gone way differently. Look, out of any of us, except maybe Shadow, I'm not going to get arrested if I go back there and try to smooth things over. Whippoorwill should be inbound as well, and they'll all listen to her, if not me."
She hems a bit, then her shoulders slump. "I guess I wouldn't blame you if you all took off. Probably should, now that I think about it. If you get in trouble, those earbuds can break off, and send out a distress signal. So, um, keep that in mind and be careful pulling them out. Don't set it off by accident."
She turns around and spreads her wings to take flight, angling a bit to come at the series of flashing lights from a different approach to better hide where the rest of the heroes were. She swoops in and decides to land on top of the containment van.
"So, uh, did you all have time to think about what I said?" she asks the assembled officers.
As the winds lift up the constrained brawler, panic rushes his system. If I go down, there's nothing I can do. My strength is gone, and I don't have the mobility to minimize my impact moment. As he lands shakily on the rooftop, teetering back and forth, Shadowboxer lets out a breath he didn't know he was holding. "I don't suppose someone can break me out of this garbage."
At Wingblade's comment, Shadowboxer grunts angrily. "I wasn't being aggressive in any way until they decided to dog pile me. If you think it's worth the risk, take it but they don't seem to be worth bothering with. Don't get arrested just so you can play by their rules." Using his arms, he hammers at the foam keeping him restrained.
Bran slung his spear across his back, fetched a broad-bladed dagger from his belt, and began to slice Shadowboxer free.
"Your concern does you credit, but Wingblade is not one to submit lightly to mistreatment. Though these fools lash out in fear against those who would be their allies, they are not so lost as to attempt anything truly unwise."
He turns to the rest of the group with a warm smile upon his face.
"It seems we are not destined to find answers tonight, but if we remain vigilant, our chance will come. I only ask that if any of you discover what lies behind tonight's chaos, or if you find yourselves in need, that you face these troubles with the rest of us at your side.
"But for tonight, I believe we should adjourn."
After all, tonight's been crazy enough!
Wow. Alexandra says That was... not gonna lie, loved it, but, do you think it was wise? She asks We just basically fled the sene of a crime, after Wingblade and I were getting us all off. Quinlan is gonna kill me
She walks over to Bran It's good to meet you. hope I can see you again sometime soon. She says, patting his hauberk twice
hope you guys are around next time s%!$ hits the fan. till then, stay out of trouble. and Thor-girl, Bran, if the police ask, you're both over 18. 'kay?
after they reply, she will head back toward the police, to talk this out with Quinlan.
As Bran moves to help out shadowboxer, Skuld also begins trying to remove the foam without touching it.
When Silver Shadow makes her statement about Skuld's age, she says "I am over 400 Midgard years old."
Wingblade, as you descend, you see only a few police cars and no sign of the SCA. The officers at the scene immediately take notice of your return. Though they don't draw their weapons they still maintain their distance as you descend.
"To be clear," one officer (nameplate reading McKinney) says as she steps forward, her hands up in a non-threatening gesture, "The SCA is not an official part of the police force. They have tech that our enhanced stun guns can't even match. What I wouldn't give for a car that can cloak..."
"As far as I know, they were following their procedure, as were we. Anytime we arrive on site with an unlicensed super, we are to detain them until they're cleared to leave, are identified, or whatever headquarters decide."
It seems the officers are amicable, and while most are busy cataloging the "crime" scene, a few stay by and ask for your version of events.
For those still at the parking garage, it takes considerable effort to even begin removal of the containment foam. As Bran digs his knife into it, you're surprised as a shadowy surface seems to coalesce and blunt the cutting edge. As you rip the knife away, the shadow covering seems to seep back into the foam.
Eventually, and it does take a while, you manage to get Shadowboxer free.
As he rolled up on all fours, Apex shook his head slightly tried to clear the dizzyness. "Thanks for the lift, Dorothy, but maybe next time ask first."
With his wits back about him, he looked to the rest of the group. "Shadow's right, until she or Wingblade get things cleared up, we're technically fugitives. Which is a real shame, considering we wouldn't have even been unmasked. SIDEKICK laws are there to protect us, and misguided as they may be, tend to favor getting us training over a prison cell. Unless Foster Care or Mob Ties over there have any major crimes with their finger prints attached, we probably would have gotten a debrief and a slap on the wrist. Now though, we're potential supervillains." While the brief tirade was directed at all of them, his gaze kept returning to Bran.
"What's done is done, and it's late enough that it's getting early. Bran, we need to go over the specifics of that agreement we were discussing before the city was almost leveled. Do you mind walking with me back to the park?"
"Yeah, detain, not smother the first super you see with that crud," she says somewhat testily, though not necessarily directed at the officers who stuck around.
She lingers as the scene is processed, and explains the sequence of events as Whippoorwill taught her. Wingblade stays if she gets an indication from her mentor that she's inbound. But if she's too busy elsewhere, Wingblade takes off and heads to her apartment to catch what sleep she can manage before Tiffany arrives in the morning with another fashion consult.
Ugh... fine.
Bran looks warily at Apex's assessment. "It may be that you are correct, Apex. But I believe you have only to look at the way they attacked Shadowboxer unawares, in order to understand what ideals lie behind their helmets.
"But as you say, to the park."
Once the two heroes moved out of earshot of the rest of the team Apex began speaking. "I think you're smart enough to realize that I don't need to talk to you about joining the team. Yes, we should work out a time to train as a team and learn each others limits, but I've got an earpiece now, we can figure that out later. More immediately though, I'm concerned."
Apex took a deep breath and removed his mask. If I'm going to say this I need him to know that its the truth.
As he continued, the harsh overtones of Apex began to give way to the softer, more earnest inflection of Kenneth. "You just threatened bodily harm to officers of the law in process of performing their duties for a stranger. I'm not saying they were right, but I need you to understand something, when I agreed to join your team it was because I felt that I could contribute and help you stop the threats you regularly come across. But it was also because I am afraid of you. You and Thor Girl, and even Wingblade have so much more power than the average person walking down the street and its only really kept in check by your impulse control."
"I don't know what happened tonight, and I don't need to if you don't want to tell me, but I get the sense that how the SCA treated Shadowboxer isn't what set you off. Think about that, and what might have happened if Thor Girl didn't get us out of there. Because if you meant to attack those officers that's one thing, but if you think they might have become collateral damage because you were upset about something else... well hopefully then you'll understand why I'm afraid."
"Never will I turn down advice meant to keep me from a darker path, and I thank you. But my actions towards those men were but feint and pageantry, only intended to give Skuld the time and freedom to remove us. I would not truly harm another in such pursuit, no Warp Frenzy held me in its thrall." Bran claps Apex on the shoulder, sliiightly too hard to be comfortable.
"My shoulders are broad enough to manage the burdens of both mercy and opposing injustice, but again, your concern does you credit."
Please let me sleep
"We will see each other anon, but until then, good night."
Mary-Beth definitely would've hit the buzzer on 'anon,' but I think the rest of that went pretty well. Okay, the slight panic attack wasn't great, but I got myself under control pretty fast. What a night for my helmet to be out of commission... I don't think most of them noticed though.
***
After a quick jog, far and fast enough to make sure Apex didn't do something silly like follow him, Bran turned into an alley, planning to transform back to Bronwyn for the rest of the trip home.
Nothing happened.
Oh no. Oh God.
Nothing happened.
He replaced the communicator in his ear, and in a nearly subsonic rumble called out, "Shayera? Oh God I hope you can hear this... Something's wrong with the spear. I need help. "
Wingblade had just finished with the officers, using the universal, "It's late and it's a school night," reason for cutting things short. She was idly wondering what she would use when she became an adult hero that would work so effectively, when her communicator beeped.
She was anxious about getting home and getting some sleep, since she was still pumped up about the shopping expedition with Bronwyn and Skuld. She almost ignored it, figuring someone was likely testing it out or had accidentally turned it on while messing with it.
Bran's deep, scared rumble banished that notion.
"What? Br-- okay, I'll be right there."
She angled her flight towards Bronwyn's home in Northside, figuring he'd be somewhere in that direction. That gave her just enough time to think. Her spear? It's broken? What am I to supposed to do about that? Well, she'd better get it fixed before it ruins our shopping trip!
After a couple meggages to coordinate where Bran was, she drops into the alleyway and lands with a thud. "Um, hey." She looks up into Bran's face puts a brave one on herself. "So, never a dull moment, huh?" she says trying to bring some levity to the situation.
Jusker tries to run, but having seen the kind of tech those agents have, he knows that without his powers he doesn't have much hope of escaping. Fortunately, he finds himself swept up by a sudden rush of wind.
As flying methods go, he isn't a fan of this one; he hasn't the slightest idea or control over where he's being taken, and it's hard to stay upright while being constantly buffeted by winds. But he can't deny its effectiveness. About halfway to their destination, he notices that Skuld has managed to pick up the whole team this way. So she can fly too... sort of. At least I'm not the only one who hates cops. He's all too happy to touch ground again. "Thanks."
He straightens his clothes and watches Wingblade fly off. "Any of you know how to get one of those licenses? She seems to have one, and Whippoorwill too, whoever that is. Looks to me like getting one's a pretty smart move-- I don't want have to do this every time."
"Not lately, no.
"I can't change back, Shayera. The spear still has its magic-" Gae-Dearg shrank down to the nearly toothpick size that she used to hide it and then re-expanded. "- I think something's wrong with me.
"It's not something I've really looked into before, but... other people have picked up the spear. Whoever took it to the museum, Mary-Beth's had it, even Scythe took it for a while. It's not like those comics where only the Worthy can pick up Artemis's bow. I'm the only one who brought Bran out of the spear, and now I can't put him back."
"Shayera, what if I'm stuck like this?"
"Thanks." Lifting his arms up as Bran approaches, Shadowboxer listens to the man's words before slowly shaking his head. "You have too much faith in people. It's going to burn you someday." Strangely, the tattooed brawler's words are not condescending, but muted and matter of fact, like telling someone the sky is blue. As his powers cling to the blade in service to the foam he grinds his teeth. Innovative, I have to give them that at least. Power stealing is not an easy thing, especially to pack into something already capable of enduring super's strength. I'll have to keep that in mind next time they appear.
Breaking free of the last bit of the irritating foam, Shadowboxer feels his shadow's comforting chill return. Pulling up his doppelganger, the tattooed brawler runs through a quick form, his double keeping pace. Good to see all that pain didn't go down the drain. As Apex mentions mob ties, for a moment it's Lee in that costume rather than Shadowboxer, afraid that someone knows.
Bristling with his fists clenched, the tattooed brawler turns on Apex, his anger from the previous encounters bubbling up. "I'm sorry I decided to help, only to get restrained like I was a damn weapon. I didn't pick to be a silhouette from people's nightmares, black and featureless." Jabbing his finger towards the pile of broken foam, he continues, "Have you considered why they instantly foamed me? Or are you leaping to the same conclusion as them, that just because I honor my heritage," Shadowboxer gestures to the ink trailing across his torso and down his arms, "I'm some wild mobster, out for blood?" Laughing, he shakes his head. "For a someone who's supposed to use their brain, you don't seem to think things through."
Walking past Jusker, Shadowboxer gently lays a hand on his shoulder. "Don't let the hero thing ruin your life. There's more to life than self sacrifice and good deeds." Stepping onto the edge of the parking garage, Shadowboxer coats himself in his shadow before jumping down. It's late, and I have to get some sleep. Wait, all my stuff is at the fountain! Keeping his shadowy cover on, Lee works his way to where he left all his normal clothes.
Shadowboxer, your angry words hang in the air as you leave to collect your things. The night is quiet with the lack of lava monsters and giant robots parading around the neighborhood. When you finally get back to where you stashed it, you also come across a scene. It seems a homeless man had found your hoodie and had stuck around to look through the nearby trashcans. He's the kind to be avoided by the normal populace, invisible to the eye as he asks for charity.
He seems tired.
"くそ" Shadowboxer's curse is quiet, as he holds his face in his hand. Approaching the man slowly with his hands help up, the teen calls out, "Hey man, I hate to be that guy but I need my hoodie. Surely we can work something out?" Oh if Father could see me now, he'd be furious with me. Asking the homeless for aid instead of giving it.
"Not lately, no.
"I can't change back, Shayera. The spear still has its magic-" Gae-Dearg shrank down to the nearly toothpick size that she used to hide it and then re-expanded. "- I think something's wrong with me.
"It's not something I've really looked into before, but... other people have picked up the spear. Whoever took it to the museum, Mary-Beth's had it, even Scythe took it for a while. It's not like those comics where only the Worthy can pick up Artemis's bow. I'm the only one who brought Bran out of the spear, and now I can't put him back."
"Shayera, what if I'm stuck like this?"
Wingblade steps back, eyes wide. Why am I thinking about the shopping trip being ruined??? She shakes her head, blinks, and reasserts control over her thoughts.
"Oookaaay, I'm going to assume that's never happened before. But... you're not going to be stuck," Shayera says with as much confidence as she can muster. Damn, I know so little about magic. This is not my wheelhouse.
She tries to ignore the fear on Bran's face while putting her mind to work on the problem. Trapped as Bran. Trapped as a boy, er, well, a man. That's got to be weird. I never asked if she has a -- well, of course she'd have to. Quit. Stop, problem at hand.
She looks him over and watches the spear go small and big. "That's promising! It still works, that means, you'll be able to go back. That's all there is to it," she says with forced cheerfulness.
Shayera thinks back to the battle; what she saw and noticed of Bran. She'd known he could hold his own in a fight, and had surprising resilience, so most of her battle focus had been on the new heroes. But she did remember a glance of Gae-Dearg on the ground glowing red-hot. It was why she hadn't been overly fond of the idea of putting her wings into the lava monster.
"So, the spear absorbs energy, right? Where does it go, exactly? I know magic ignores a lot of the conservation of energy rules, but maybe Gae-Dearg is so supercharged that you need to expend a bit more energy as Bran before you're good?"
She glances away suddenly as another idea strikes her. "And if that doesn't work, I've got one more idea."
Bran's mouth twists into a sour not-quite-a-frown. "Gae-Dearg has absorbed that much before while you were
gone.
Heat enough to ruin a true-forged gauntlet and- Sorry. Habit. Whenever I'm this tall I just default to... anyways. I've literally cooked my hand on Gae-Dearg without it malfunctioning from that energy, and I didn't feel anything weird when I absorbed that big blast either I-" His eyes widened.
"I should have just cooked my hand again. Not carrying the spear is why- Sorry, you were off risking your- You weren't there. From the beginning.
"When I went inside the mech I found out it was powered by this crazy glowing orb. I wasn't sure what to do, and I could feel that you were- I knew that we had to stop this thing fast, so I just sort of hit it. I think I must have somehow tried to absorb its energy, but without Gae-Dearg to ground me...
"Well, it really hurt.
"I was able to draw its power off into the spear once I got out, but I think that's what whammied me, not the lava monster."
For the first time, Bran's eyes aren't shrunken from worry, instead carrying the same brightness that shone from Bronwyn's whenever she untangled a particularly thorny problem. But then they dimmed again.
"Not that that tells us how to get me back... We could try to work off the energy somehow, but Gae-Dearg doesn't feel all charged up. What was your other idea? All I've got is try harder, and that seems like it could go badly. Probably it wouldn't, but... Well I'm open to ideas."
Shayera throws her hands up. "Crazy glowing orb has energy, right? And it's just that! Energy! You absorbed entropic energy (which is really an oxymoron when you think about it) fighting Balor, so who cares where it's from."
She glances away again, then looks back up to him. "So you just gotta really, really want to turn back to Bronwyn," she says while tucking a bit of hair behind her ear.
"Here goes," she says, cheeks reddening.
Shayera jumps on top of Bran with a glomping hug and gives him the most passionate kiss she can muster.
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Bran brought his arms up to catch her before he knew what was happening. Then as Shayera's lips met his, he put one hand on her shoulders, holding her to carefully push her away.
Or that was the plan, but...
Oh my God.
It was hard to notice anything besides the kiss, but slowly she realized Shayera was pressed against nylon and flesh instead of cold steel. Bran's gloves were gone; she could feel the small of of Shayera's back; it was her own fingers digging into Shayera's shoulder, still rough with the soot from the earlier fire.
Oh my God... It worked!
Somehow Bronwyn pulled away, setting Shayera back on her own feet. Her eyes darted back and forth between Shayera's face, and her own body, still not quite believing... anything!
It took a moment to form her words, to catch her breath. She raised her hand towards her lips: To wipe them clean? To feel if they'd somehow changed, as if they'd never be the same? Whatever it was, she stopped, hand hovering around her chin, eyes still wide as dinner plates and asked, "Well why the Hell did you think that would work?!"
As soon as Shayera was back on her feet instead of hanging off an ancient warrior, she breaks off the kiss and takes a step back. She rubs her own mouth vigorously, trying to get the taste and smell of Bran out of her nose, though she couldn't stop her beaming smile for it having worked. A giggle even escapes her throat.
Bronwyn, though, almost seemed upset that it had worked. Granted, it had to have been a surprise, shocking her, but Shayera wasn't expecting that reaction from Bronwyn after it had worked.
She takes another step back, waving her hand at Bronwyn in a "ta da" motion. "It was easy," she starts, still not sure why Bronwyn wasn't getting it. "You're straight. And I can, well, smell arousal, so I know you as Bran have never shown... interest in girls either. So, I figured that I would surprise you enough to snap you back."
The corners of her mouth turn down as she has a thought. Is she going to think I've got a thing for her or <shudder> Bran? She pauses and studies her own body's current state, and comes to the conclusion that she hadn't reacted physically to the kiss. "Oh, and don't worry; I don't see you that way. Bran either. You're not my type."
Bronwyn took off running, fast as she could, maybe faster, and not even a little in the direction of her home.
She knew it was a stupid thing to do, a pointless risk, but sometimes outrunning cars had been one of the only ways to quiet her demons and get to sleep when Shayera'd been gone, when everything was wrong and she needed to do something wrong too.
But her eyes were too filled with tears; she could barely see where she was going. And it wasn't working anyways. Even though her hair was short now, didn't stream behind her when she ran like this, all she could think about was how much it felt like flying, and how empty that felt right now.
I need help.
She'd just been running away, but now she had something to run towards.
She'd known that the church would be closed, but a part of her had still almost expected that the doors would somehow be open.
They weren't.
Some dark corner of her mind wanted to rage and to break things, maybe kick down the door so she could walk right down the nave and ask Him face to face "What the Hell she was supposed to do!"
But that wasn't what she really wanted, that was the problem. With a great heaving sob, she sank down onto the steps and began to weep in earnest.