"This is… humiliating."
Alex mumbled, rereading his status over and over.
" B-Class rank 130: Hero identity - Livepink "
Under any other circumstance, something like "rank" or "position" wouldn't hold any real weight over Alex.
' With everything that's happened so far..'
Watching out his window he continued pondering, leaning against the cool glass and staring at the sky.
' I may not have gotten what I wanted, but I have the sense that I got what I needed. If I can climb up the ranks it could help me undiscover the truth behind my powers and that girl. Finally, a reason to go along with all this mess..'
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"Everything's gonna be okay, alright?"
Hazel handed the restless, mewing kitten to an elderly woman near her. She had been called and asked to retrieve the young tabby from high off in a tree. It wasn't much effort and the kitten was alright, much to the elderly woman's delight. For her work, she received a kiss on the cheek and a hefty thank you.
"Hard at work Lady Mana?"
Hazel turned to face the origin of the voice, immediately recognizing it as her publicity agent. All heroes of the coalition are assigned an agent to work with once they reach a certain level of publicity and rank. Those combined factors, plus how the specific person is viewed, determine whether or not a hero is worthy to excel to the next step. For someone like Stefani, ranked third in the B-class, her agent was earned. Such was the case with Hazel, or "Lady Mana". Because of her humble and kind nature she was immediately revered as a worthy hero.
"No way!" She laughed, jogging up to the agent. He stood, leaned against the very same tree she had rescued the feline from moments ago.
"Lloyd! I thought you were on vacation!"
She practically leapt into his arms, hugging him tightly. He was only a year older than her, 20, so to her he was much more of a friend than a coworker.
"Well I'm back now, I hope you didn't struggle too much while I was away. I'll get started on any paperwork as soon as I get back to the office."
Hazel stood back, nervously scratching her neck. She'd forgotten to inform him of the team and the events that all took place over the past few days.
' He's such a lenient guy though, I'm sure he'll understand..'
"Um, about that Katz,-"
"Katz? Uh oh, what'd you do this time?" He teased, beginning to walk with her to his assigned car.
"What's that supposed to mean! Jeez sorry for showing you a little respect!" She bit back, flustered. He howled in laughter as she tried to hit him in an attempt to quiet him down, which only sent him further into a fit as he towered over her small figure.
After buckling up and settling down, Hazel continued as Katz began driving off to HQ. "What I've been trying to tell you is that i'm part of a hero team now.." She fumbled with her seatbelt, too nervous to make eye contact. The agent was silent as she spoke. "Do you remember Liberty? Well...She more or less hired me, Jetfade and another into this hero squad…"
"Why?"
"I'd like to know that as well, but I'm guessing it's for her own personal reasons." She whispered.
Lloyd furrowed his eyebrows. "Teams are rare, if not unheard of-" He paused. "Actually I don't think there's any other in the industry right now." His eyes glinted behind his dark glasses.
"I haven't heard or seen anything about a team in the news yet, so I'm guessing you- well she hasn't decided to debut yet."
While he had been speaking Hazel replaced her outfit with normal clothes, all back into the sealed case. He'd seen her do it many times before but was always taken aback by how she could be in uniform one second and a t-shirt and jeans the next.
"That's right." She elected to leave out the Dante incident.
"Okay, well good. Hazel..Listen." He began slowly. "A team is certainly..Unique. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, I mean who knows? Maybe this'll change up the stupid ranking system."
' Stupid..? ' she thought.
"Just...Be wary. You only know Liberty as a coworker, and even then it's like.." He adjusted his glasses, feeling her eyes on him. "How come you don't know why she made a team? It's like when you go to apply for a job and they say 'Hi! We're thrilled to make you a part of this company" so you ask, 'Well why?' And all they say is, 'Oh ya know, 'cause!"
"Lloyd, don't be unreasonable. I know as well as she and the others do that a team can totally benefit each member. Why are you being so suspicious?"
"Because Hazel, she could be putting not only your life but the life of others at risk! Do you not get it?" He shook his head, grip on the steering wheel tightening. "This job..This whole fucking career is nothing more than a death trap, a ploy. They hype up superheroes as beacons in society when in reality you're all nothing more than martyrs in waiting."
Her eyes widened slightly at his words, never seeing this side of him before.
He took a moment to collect himself, sighing as he did so. " I don't want that for you, Hazel. I know I can't convince you to drop the hero's life but at the very least..Leave the team." Looking at her as they pulled into her apartment's parking lot. "If not for yourself, then do it for me."
"I…" The photo of her and her father flashed in her mind quickly, the calm expression on his face clear in her mind. "I can't. I have a duty to fulfill, and this team will help me achieve that."
"But why?!" He argued, voice raising with desperation. "You don't get it! Somethings coming, something big, something terrible! You need to abandon this stupid team before you get yourself killed!"
Staring at him, blank faced, eyes dark with a frightening level of calm, "I don't know why you're trying to threaten me. But if you, or anybody else, gets in the way of my ultimate goal, then I have no choice but to cut you off. Goodbye Lloyd."
Getting out of the car and quickly shutting behind herself she made her way towards her apartment, ignoring his pleas. She got inside and locked the door behind her, falling back against the door and letting out a shaky breath. She held her head in her hands as she began to sob, sliding down and onto the ground. Nothing he said to her sounded like the Lloyd she knew, what had happened to her old friend? Why the sudden animosity towards heroes?
' Dad….If you were here, what would you say? I miss you.. '
She slid her phone out of her pocket, unlocking it and opening her photo album. It only has a few photos within it, mainly of birds or insects she found during her weekly nature walks. Eventually she came upon what she had been looking for, the very same photo of her and her father that was hung in her car.
"You'd know exactly what to say to me that'd make me feel alright….I hope you're happier wherever you are.." She sniffled, new tears welling up and streaming down her face.
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"Headquarters? My my, what a development."
Jason sat, once again opposite of his mother, in the lone, suffocatingly isolated dining room. He sat adorned in suit and tie, his hair neatly combed back for the evening. He had sought her audience to gain approval for his idea of an HQ. Ever since he had practically run with his tail between his legs from Dante, the guilt had been eating away at him. In an attempt to redeem himself in the eyes of the three heroes, he decided he'd surprise them with an HQ built into a secluded mountainside for them. In his eyes, this was the most logical move.
"Yes mother. I understand that I may be dropping all of this on you at once but please understand. When Liberty approached me with her offer of a team I simply couldn't refuse. And now, well, I need to repay a debt. Please.. I know it may be pricey to construct something like this but it's such a small fee in the big picture."
"Don't offend our brand, Jason. A project so simple as this isn't costly at all."
"Project?" He replied. "If anything we should be looking at this as a means to an end. I don't mind working with others but we have to face the facts. Alone, I did no good." Clenching his fist, he lowered his head. "Our family name isn't enough."
"If that's how you feel.." Pouring herself a glass of red wine. The liquid sparkled so sweetly in the dim light of a small fire nearby.
She curiously swished the drink in her glass around. The awkward silence was enough to irritate the young man, his patience growing thinner by the minute.
"Okay, I approve. Go ahead and craft your hero base. Shouldn't take too long anyway."
"Thank you."