I wake up to a sudden impact to my face. Not a large impact, but it -was- sudden. Seeing as how I had been asleep, a particularly enthusiastic sloth could have seemed sudden. -This-, however, had been a particularly enthusiastic Shard. Once I introduced Shard to dad last night it became a rule that she has to be out while I'm in the house unless there are guests or Shard wants to help with my training. Shard of course, took the opportunity to stay up ALL NIGHT watching crappy TV and randomly changing channels while I tried to sleep... I'd better wake up or Shard will try to get -creative-. And I'm fairly certain I don't want that -at all-.
I groan and try to sit up, only to remember my entire body is one big bruise. Sophia had done a -lot- more than I had realized. That girl is FAST. I'm almost willing to bet the PRT tried to get her to put some of that knockout stuff on some small impact revealed needles and she refused because it would mean less time punching people. I -almost- wish I had regeneration of some sort, then I could have let her hit me with some bolts and not pissed her off enough to turn my body into a geographical map.
Shard used some of my power to cast a small flight spell on me - we found out yesterday her aura and mine don't interfere so she's able to infuse me... which doesn't always go well for me. Such as this morning. I had to flail my arms to catch a lamp she hit with my head and I took the reins of the spell from her. When I crack my eyes open all I see is my teal sister standing on air triumphantly.
I set the lamp in place then float over to a place I can actually walk, then orient myself for said walking. On landing I coherently explain, "Ugh" and trudge to the kitchen to grab a piece of toast.
My mother is making eggs, and when she looks up at me she smiles "So, what did you learn yesterday?"
I mumble around munching my toast "Mother is always right, and actually -choosing- to fight a weaponized crazy girl in a fist fight is best left to the equally insane." I had told her last night I was fine. Which to be fair was true, it was only this -morning- that I felt like I'd been run over by an elephant. Bones all seem to be in place, but I'm gonna have one hell of a black eye for a while.
Shard zips over and gives mom a hug while I finish my toast.
I start heading upstairs "Alright Shard, time to go to your room. I need a shower and I'm not having you flit around the bathroom. Mom doesn't say anything about it. Having two children that can't be more than eight feet apart necessitates some rule bending. Shard shoulder checks my back which pulls a hiss from me. Stupid sore muscles and bruises. Maybe I should get some real martial arts training, I'd be in trouble in an enclosed space. I wonder if there are any teachers who would enjoy teaching a student how to fight from the ceiling?
I draw Shard back in to nestle next to my mind, and she floods me with images from all the TV she watched last night. I'm certain getting her addicted to TV is not going to end well. There was some cartoon cape show she seemed to enjoy... She wants us to have a transformation.
I start on daily hygiene "Shard, we don't 'power up', our transformation is putting on our costume."
After a series of images I get that Shard wants to only use a part of our power so we can 'fake' transform.
When Shard has a good idea sometimes I feel really stupid. Thinking back to last night I shouldn't have shown my max output in that stupid fireball. It's always a good idea to have a trump card. "Alright, we'll hold back in general but I'm keeping shields at max. But if we're against a cape - particularly an unknown we're going to 'transform' first and end the fight fast. Got it?"
She's just happy we get a transformation. She shows me an image of my normal 'Oblivium' outfit, then beside it one that has... metal armor all over, most of it too bulky for any use, wings, horns, claws, odd markings and lots of glowy bits.
I cringe "Um... we'll work on it..."
The rest of the morning was pretty straightforward. Taylor wasn't waiting for me this time, I assume she just wanted to be the one to break the news about Arcadia just to get back at me for all my nonsense. I end up meeting her at the bus stop.
I raise a hand in greeting "Hey T" I'd ask more but the other two students are here too.
She looks over and smiles "Hey Will, did your army of toasters fight back this moring?" her eyes harden, "by the way, PHO is talking about the explosion that happened last night, word is; Oblivium was out making trouble again."
I shrug "I read something on it, not much though." I still need to go take a real look at PHO. Maybe make a screen name, though I'm probably too late to get Oblivium.
She's still giving me an accusing look. I'll have to explain on the bus.
When the bus arrived and we took up position at the back I convey the story, "I needed to test my Deflection Shield and Sophia seemed like a good option at the time since she would have no problem shooting at me. Then Stormtiger showed up. I was pretty sure he wouldn't attack Wards for no reason, but I was worried the longer he stayed the more likely Sophia would -give- him a reason. He asked for a demonstration, so rather than waiting for him to force one, I hit a dead ship with a fireball. He... kinda gave me an open invitation to E88. But at least he left."
Taylor just stares at me for a second with a dull look, "Sometimes I think you do these things to yourself. First of all, you invited -Sophia- to -beat you up-. THEN you think it's a good idea to do it at the ship graveyard where -everyone- knows new capes go to test powers. OF COURSE someone was going to show up to grab the new cape. You're lucky he decided to play nice."
I can't really look her in the eyes... "Yeah... I guess I could have thought that through a little better..." I shrug it off and continue "On the -other- side of things, I've got MM looking into a possible trial run with the Wards, and getting my name on whatever list they use to call people in for emergencies. Not really sure how I'll like the group. We both know about Sophia, but I also met 'Aegis'. I don't think I'm going to like him much. Silver Armor Lad is one is I may like, he seems to temper Aegis' little 'be best buds with the new guy!' mentality. I think Vista might be scared of me, and I haven't met the others."
She nods and thinks for a moment before saying, "I... Thought about what you said yesterday. I think you're right, I want to be a 'Hero, capital H', and I'm sorry. I was trying to fit you into that mold too. I just... I feel if you have the power to help, you NEED to help. When I start to think about it though, it sounds good on the surface, but then what if your life's goal was to be a chemist, and suddenly you gained the knowledge of a world renowned doctor? Do you give up what you've spent your life dreaming of to go perform surgery because it's what would help the most?" She sighs but then looks over to me. "I'm just glad you're willing to help" The seriousness falls away as she changes topics "So, you going to be ready to help me out tonight? I don't want to accidentally get myself in trouble and have no one there to pull my butt out of the fire."
I nod sagely "It's a cute butt, if someone has to grab it, I'll take one for the team." I grunt and wince when she punches me in the side... Ack, there's a bruise there... Shard adds a helpful series of images coming to the gist of 'violence means they like you!'. I toss her one of Sophia. I can feel the pure -shock- Shard experiences. I feel a little smug, then almost choke when Shard excitedly shows me a triangle with me, Taylor and Sophia at the corners with a heart in the middle.
Taylor gives me a look, "What did Shard say?"
I shake my head vigorously "No, no no no, you do -not- want to know. Hell, -I- don't want to know. Suffice to say she was watching bad TV all night and it's given her -ideas-"
Taylor tries to hold back a laugh. She didn't succeed but it was a valiant effort I'm sure.
We started with some idle chat, though we stopped when Sophia got on the bus, at first she was glaring at the world, but then she saw me. When she saw the large bruise under my left eye and the swelling of said left eye, I swear the world brightened. It was a little frightening.
I needed to set the world right again - too much sunlight could cause forests to become deserts or something I'm sure. I raise an eyebrow then make a hand like I'm holding a teacup, pinky out and all, and take an imaginary sip. There we go. The world turned normal again. Oh and Taylor is laughing.
Everything was pretty normal until lunch. I actually paid attention in class because apparently teachers in Arcadia actually -teach things-, and I was far enough behind as it was. It had nothing to do with the fact that I was making no progress on light and lasers. Nope. Shard was bored when I stopped playing with mana so I had to revoke her power privileges before she started infusing little balls of paper and boosting them at people. She wasn't happy with me so went to beat up robots in my head.
The class with Carlos and Dean I waited for them to take a seat before sitting on the other side of the classroom. Dean apparently thought it was funny but Carlos frowned until Dean made a few comments to him. Everyone would be happier if he just accepted that leaving me alone was the best course of action.
Lunch came around and when I took my seat in a normal location (I was saving the Sophia section as a backup plan.) I noticed both Carlos and Dean sitting with their group. Oh good, now I don't have to sit with the angry devil lady. I think she'd be okay today but when my bruises heal I'd probably have to worry about finding a plastic knife connecting my hand to the table.
Sadly my peace of mind was not to be. Apparently -someone- *cough* Carlos *cough* made a comment about how I needed a friend or looked lonely or -something-, because Glory Girl appeared, golden aura spread around her. When I looked at... I guess the 'Hero Table' I could see Dean looking apologetic. I'd guess that means he tried to stop this nonsense. I made a couple of educated guesses in regards to GG's personality and started plotting a plan to freedom...
The main thought though was 'I'm still jealous she gets to fly around school while I have to deal with this walking nonsense.'... lacking the a true plan and out of time I decided a slightly aggressive response would do best, followed quickly by a tactical retreat in the resulting confusion and hope to god GG isn't like Sophia. I'm pretty sure Sophia is like a wolf, if you run she'll chase you simply because you're running.
I swallowed any resistance to the plan and grabbed my tray to stand up and 'act' like I just saw GG "Oh, hi ... erm... " Crap, I forgot her real name. It starts with a V I think... "V-... Va-.... Victoria! yeah that's it, Hi Victoria, I was just heading over to visit with my -good- friend to discuss the nuances of face punching. Goodtomeetyoubye" and I retreated.
Sophia looked rather amused at the one-sided 'exchange'... right up until she realized GG was -following- me, at which point I got her patented death glare. At least it hasn't ranked up to Mk.II yet.
I placed my tray down across from Sophia at her half empty table, and as per normal Sophia growled at me. It was almost calming. I say almost because beside the table hovered good ol' GG, smiling bright as a lamp, completely oblivious to the rage rolling off Sophia. It was interesting to note GG's aura was having a hard time infecting Sophia.
I look at Sophia with a pleading look "So, face punching. You're good at it, we should so do that again sometime."
Sophia growls out to both of us "Go away -coward-. First you run from- " her eyes flick to GG. "The guy last night, and now you're running from -her- when you -should- be running from -me-". There's good ol' death glare Mk.II
Victoria, still smiling bright as day speaks up "Hi Will, -Sophia-, How are you two enjoying Arcadia? What classes do you have? You know we have room at our table, you don't have to be here all by yourselves." and she takes a seat. I don't know if she's doing it on purpose or if she's more oblivious than I am.
Sophia looks about ready to stab one of us. I'm hoping it's GG, she's invulnerable. Shard pops in and suggests a hug. She sends me a picture of that cartoon cape and at the end apparently the bad guy became good and they hugged.
... Who needs pride anyway? I brace myself and really wish I could come up with something better.
I look at Victoria with wide sparkly eyes "Victoria! I wanted to introduce you to Sophia, I'm like your biggest fan! You saved me when you punched the pajama tinker through the wall! I kept a piece of the wall just to remember the first time I saw you in PERSON, it was -so- amazing!" and then I hugged her. I did notice the surprise and confusion before I engaged the hug. Now... how to make a hug even more uncomfortable? I don't -really- want to do this but it has to be as uncomfortable to be around me as possible so she leaves me alone. I hug her in such a way that her bust presses against my chest - and I keep the hug going for several seconds too long. Yes, it's awkward. I also got scolded by Shard - apparently she's going to tell mom I sexually assaulted a classmate to get out of a social situation.
As I let go of the hug I put the big smile I had before back on. I can tell GG's smile is very fake now. She floats backwards and up out of the seat. She says politely "Well, come by our table sometime so we can introduce you to everyone" and then proceeds to float an inch off the floor towards the 'Hero Table'.
I turn back to Sophia. She looks like she's about to crack up. She shakes her head "Okay. I'll admit, that was worth having to deal with Glory Hole."
I glare at her, "You were supposed to scare people off so I wouldn't have to do that crap."
She glares back "I'm not your personal guard dog, asshole"
I smirk, "That's right, you're just a maid, I hope you brought your outfit. I'm cashing this in after school, before I go out and beat up bad guys while you're stuck watching screens"
After a bit of back and forth I end up writing out notes and Sophia ends up fuming in impotent rage. The rest of lunch was pretty straightforward, though I did notice Dean didn't seem to be too happy with me. Oh well, he should have done a better job at keeping things from requiring me to sacrifice my pride.
A little before lunch is over I call up my mother "Hey mom, I won a bet and I need something I can 'adjust' to look like a maid outfit for a girl -exactly- Sophia's size. Think you can manage anything?"
I can almost hear her grin.