Florence had always been a curious person.
Thatโs probably why she started interviewing individuals from a world that was so foreign to hers. Her quest for knowledge was always in motion, and what better way to find out new things than to start with the unknown. At first it was just an idea she had in college, then she designed the website as a side project, and then she got an interview with her first hero. Thatโs when it became something more serious to her. The internet seemed to love it too. A glimpse into the lives of powered individuals? Of course, theyโd eat that up. And they did.
She only really gained some popularity after she interviewed her first vigilante though. Heroes were interviewed all the time by reporters, but vigilantes? Unheard of. The views on her news website skyrocketed, and now she was doing this full time. Researching, filming, editing, and posting. It was all a bit of a thrill for her. When she got her first interview with a villain is when things started to get a bit hectic though. While you can find at least some information about vigilantes online, you would almost never see information about villains on the internet. Besides some mugshots and crazy fans rambling in blog posts.
She had been interrogated before, in a sense. Mostly just questions from heroes and vigilantes asking if she knew any secret identities masked behind fake laughter. She would always say the same thing, that information is confidential. But when she interviewed her first villain, suddenly the pressure was on. The police talked to her, the heroes would press her a bit more than usual, and she even had some people break into her apartment. Even some villains threatened her when she was walking down the street after grabbing groceries. They all had something in common when they asked about secret identities now. Anger was now behind their words. But Florence said the same thing, that information is confidential.
Florence's parents had instilled in her growing up the value of compassion and understanding. That you cannot judge someone because you havenโt lived in their shoes. Of course, there are always exceptions. Florence would never find herself having compassion for those that enacted cruelty for just the sake of doing it. But when she was going over the footage from her interview with the first villain she ever talked to, she found herself growing to understand. Just a bit. That she couldnโt judge this individual for wanting a better life. Sometimes you get wrapped up in the wrong people and the wrong things, and it's the only way you can save yourself at the end of the day.
Maybe that's why she didnโt think twice about sharing an apartment with Mae.
She shut her camera off, going to shake the hand of the hero she interviewed but he had already teleported away in a swirl of purple and dark blue smoke. Florence huffed, annoyed at the sudden departure, before she took the camera and her papers full of interview questions back to her room. Stuffing them away in a secret compartment under her bed. While she had definitely upped the security system around her place to keep unwanted visitors out, she didnโt exactly trust them to be foolproof all the time. She froze as she heard a jingle, and then the slam of a door.
โFlorence?โ Maeโs southern drawl called out, and Florence let out a breath of relief as she brushed the dust off her pants. She walked into the living room, eyes immediately going to the sparkling necklace perched on Maeโs collarbones. Mae saw her, and dramatically dropped down onto their couch with a grunt. โYou will not believe who I ran into.โ
Florence perked up at this. โWho did you run into?โ
Mae started to explain her night out in the city. That she was โgrabbingโ a necklace (Florence made sure to correct her on that. She was stealing.) from a rich CEO. When she ran into a vigilante breaking in at the same time as her. Mae started rambling about how annoying he was, before Florence took off her earrings, setting them down on the table, and slowly made her way over to her friend. โWhat did he look like?โ she said, trying to act as casual as possible. Mae saw through her immediately though. Her brows furrowed and she looked at Florence like that was the most offensive thing to ask in the world. Florence giggled at her friend's reaction. โOkay, I promise not to interview him. Now tell me what he looked like or Iโm going to die from curiosity.โ
After Mae explained what he looked like, Florence hummed. โSounds like Gunslinger,โ she said, before continuing. โThe vigilante you ran into I mean. I tried getting an interview from him at one point but heโs incredibly hard to get a hold of. And well, you met him. His personality doesnโt exactly scream approachable.โ Her friend only rolled her eyes, agreeing, but also very much not interested in whatever she was talking about. Mae got up, but suddenly Florenceโs hand shot out and she grabbed onto her wrist. Mae flinched, and Florence cringed. Her grip softened, as she spoke quietly, โSorry, I didnโt mean to scare you. Iโve just been thinking a lot. I need to talk to you about something, if you donโt mind. I know youโre already tired and-โ
Her roommate only smiled playfully, sitting down again next to Florence and asking her to continue. Florence let out a breath of air, before her expression turned more serious. โIโve been doing these interviews for a while, and I know that these supers donโt tell me everything. Hell, I wouldnโt be surprised if some of them lied to me. But Iโm concerned about something. It keeps coming up. After my interview today with Sinner, itโs like it all clicked in my brain. Kind of. I thinkโฆsomething big is happening. Or starting to happen, and I think someone more awful than all the villains combined is behind it.โ
Florence took in her friend's reaction and then avoided eye contact. โIโm just scared I suppose. I donโt want you getting hurt while youโre doing super stuff. I just hope my theory is false and Iโm just being paranoid.โ Mae shot out a witty remark and Florence laughed. โWell, Iโll leave you alone now. Thanks for talking with me.โ But even when Mae walked away, and even as the night stretched on longer and longer, Florence still went to her room and dug through her notes for hours and hours on end. She just had to be sure. Just had to make sure that no one was going to get hurt, otherwise she knew she was just going to blame herself.
โ
Grey can usually expect the unexpected. Itโs only inevitable with his line of work.
Thatโs why when he saw the villain Crusher, a man with the ability to turn his hands into rocks, he knew what he had to do. Defeat the villain, save the day. Itโs how it always went. Maybe he shouldnโt have gotten too comfortable with the unexpected. Grey shot through the air, the chill sinking into his skin, as his cape whipped behind him frantically. He quickly scurried backwards as a piece of gravel was thrown at his head, thankful for the backup when Rabbit shot forward, directing it into the ground with her legs so it would miss the panicking civillains. He whipped his head around in the direction of Crusher with a chuckle, โHey! You almost hit me!โ
โThat was the point!โ Crusher growled, his rock hard hands digging into the roof floor beneath him and grabbing onto another piece of gravel. Throwing it in Greyโs direction with a snarl. Grey dodged, Rabbit smashed, and Crusher only grew angrier. Rabbit looked up at him with a squint of her mutant rabbit eyes. โStop playing and just defeat him already!โ she huffed. Grey raised a brow, surprised at the irritation coming from the usually timid hero, before he shrugged his shoulders.
โAye aye, captain,โ he said, saluting her with a laugh and then flying forward. He saw the panic in Crusher's eyes, before Crusher shot forward, grabbing onto one of the civilians that he had trapped onto the rooftop of the skyscraper with him. Grey paused mid air, a gust of wind hitting him in the back as he stopped harshly. When his eyes shot to who he was holding, Grey sucked in a shaky breath. That was Georgia. Georgia the TA from one of his old science classes. Georgia who he had a huge crush on. Georgia who he couldnโt hold a conversation with without blushing like an idiot and stuttering out some excuse to leave to save himself the humiliation.
โCrusher, letโs n-not be rash,โ he said, blue eyes flickering from Crusher to Georgia from underneath his motorcycle helmet. He raised his hands in fake surrender. โThis is a fight between us two. Not GeโฆNot a random civilian.โ Crusher only laughed bitterly at his words, his eyes shining with malice. Georgia looked more annoyed than scared as she struggled in his hold. Grey could see Rabbit down below, her movements just as frozen as she stared up at the scene in front of her.
โYou think youโre so great. You heroes. Well your day is coming! The END is coming for all of you! You think you can just get away with anything, but-โ Crusher didnโt finish his sentence as Georgia managed to elbow him in the chin, and he growled. โYou little brat!โ he hissed, but the movement was enough for him to let her go. The only problem was that he let go of her off the ledge of the side of the skyscraper. He heard Rabbit yelp in terror from under him, but Grey was already on it. He shot forward, and grabbed her just in time, panting as he looked at her terrified expression.
โAre you okay?โ Grey asked, his voice probably as terrified as she looked. But then something changed in her reflection when he spoke, and Grey froze as he realized that it was recognition. She recognized his voice. He swore under his breath, and Georgia only looked even more curious as he quickly put her down on the ground. Rabbit rushing forward and tending to Georgia. Grey didnโt waste any time on leaving. He had to get back home, and now. He quickly left, not bothering to even say goodbye as he shot back into the air, his mind whirling. Surely she couldnโt have recognized him from his voice alone right? Was he just being paranoid because it was Georgia? Did she even know his name? He couldnโt think properly.
When he got back to his apartment, he popped the window to the kitchen open, ripping off his helmet with a grunt. โJasper? Are you home? I need to talk to yo-!โ he said, but froze as he looked at the scene in front of him. Jasper was in the middle of their kitchen, with a random person cuffed to a chair. His roommate gawked at him, and the person in the chair twisted her body to him with a grin. The smirk only widening as she took in his appearance.
โHello there, Skyboy,โ the mystery woman teased.
โ
When Jasper took another look at the newly developed picture, he frowned.
He had been becoming more and more annoyed with his failure to produce photos that he actually liked lately. Even with his powers, he couldnโt find the right angle in the city. He had tried high and low angles, and nothing seemed to fit what he was trying to express. He huffed, discarding the picture in the trash. He grabbed his camera and started to flip through the photos when he heard a sound. A jingle, and the door to his apartment door opening. Jasper frowned. Was Grey done patrolling already? He got up from his desk seat, putting his camera down on his desk gently before walking out. โIโm surprised youโre back already, Grey,โ he said, before he turned the corner and almost jumped out of his skin.
Standing there was a woman he had never seen before. She looked around his age, brown hair, annoyingly pretty hazel eyes, short stature. Jasper ignored the cocky look on her face, instead grabbing her wrist roughly, spinning her around, and slamming her into the wall. She yelped in surprise, the keys and wallet in her hand falling to the floor. โWho the hell are you?โ he growled. Pressing her harder into the wall when she tried to grab at him. The girl in his arms hissed, explaining why she was here. And as she did so, Jasper wanted to let her go to throttle Grey instead. This random woman really managed to swipe Greyโs wallet and keys? While he was in his super suit too? Why did Grey even keep his wallet and keys on him when he was patrolling?
โdamn it, Grey,โ he said, voice low, letting her go and taking a step back. She huffed, adjusting her jacket and smoothing out the wrinkles in her shirt with irritation, like he was the one who broke into her apartment. Jasper only scowled. โOkay, so you know Skyboys secret identity. Thatโsโฆnot great,โ he said, mostly recapping with himself than anyone else. She let out a snarky remark, and he shot back. โI donโt know what you plan on doing with this information, but you have like zero evidence to even connect Grey to Skyboy.โ
When she pulled out her phone with a smirk, showing him that it was recording, he laughed dryly. Before he shot forward to grab it. This time though, she was ready. She twirled out of the way, surprisingly agile. Jasper would be a bit impressed if he wasnโt so irritated right now. Eventually, after a painfully long time of her laughing at his failed attempts, he managed to grab her wrist tightly and she dropped the phone. He smashed it with his foot, and before she could yell at him for breaking it, he shoved her into a chair. He kicked a wood plank on the floor, and it flipped up, snapping slightly. It revealed a hidden space, where he reached in and grabbed a pair of handcuffs. She looked at him like he was insane when he cuffed her hands. โYou never know,โ he said, like it was obvious.
Also partially annoyed at having to defend his paranoid tendencies.
But Grey seemed to arrive at very much the wrong time, and in his super suit no less. Jasper only gawked at him as he climbed through a window, and the mystery woman turned in her chair to greet him cheekily. Jasper scowled and snapped before Grey could respond to the greeting, โAre you an idiot? Why did you have your ID on you when you were out patrolling?!โ
โI didnโt even know I lost it!โ Grey shot back, running a hand through his messy blonde hair. โOh god, this is not good. How many people are going to figure out my secret identity today?โ he said bitterly. Jasper bristled, โMore than one person found out today? Who?โ
Grey paused, before he cringed. โGeorgia.โ
โThe TA you had a crush on?โ Jasper hissed.
โI donโt know for sure if she found out!โ Grey defended, scratching the back of his neck.
The whole time the woman in the chair looked at the two of them amused, before she spoke up. Both Grey and Jasper gave her twin glares, before looking at each other with the same expression. โOkay, here's what weโre going to do,โ Jasper said slowly, his jaw clenched tight. โWeโre going to deal with this one first. And then weโre going to go have a little chat with Georgia and see if she actually knows anything or not. Got it?โ
Grey nodded, before he turned awkwardly to the woman in the chair. โUm, sorry aboutโฆthat,โ Grey said, pointing to the handcuffs. He knelt down, his expression growing a lot more gentle than Jasper could ever manage. Jasper rolled his eyes as Grey unlocked the cuffs. โWhatโs your name?โ Grey asked.
When the woman responded, Grey smiled shyly. โMarien is a pretty name. Youโre lucky, mine is just Grey. Boring as the color.โ Jasper only grew more irritated with the exchange of words the two were having. Like this was just another random hangout at the apartment. He clapped his hands for their attention, โAlright, alright. Enough chit chat. We have to solve this issue. Right now. What can we give you to keep your mouth shut? Not like you have any evidence anyways,โ Jasper growled, eyes narrowing at the woman rubbing her wrists in front of him.
โ
Veraโs leg bounced unconsciously as she looked at the clock hanging on the wall. He was late.
This was how it was supposed to go. Vera does a job for someone, she receives her payment, and then they part ways. And Vera was satisfied with that. It was simple, and while she did the dirty work, she got paid for it in the end. But it had been years since that was how the way things worked, and she was getting sick of it. Especially when her so-called boss decided to be late for yet another meeting. She had delivered results, of course. Another powered individual in the claws of the END corporation. She never asked where they went after she handed them over, it wasnโt her business to know. And she also just didnโt care. She was here for her daughter, and hell would have to freeze over before she stopped fighting to get her back.
Finally, the door to the office opened, and Vera sighed in relief. She stood up, turning to greet her boss before she froze. In front of her was indeed her boss, but someone was with him. A young girl who couldn't have been older than twenty. Her eyes were downcast and hollow. And she looked incredibly tired. Tired and angry. Her boss stood next to her, a hand made of shadow clasped tightly against the young woman's shoulder. โVera, how good to see you again. Did you get what I asked of you?โ her boss asked, his hand moving off of the young woman's shoulder as he walked to his desk. โI assume yes.โ
โYou assume correctly,โ she said, eyes narrowing under the black and red mask adorning her face. She sat back down in her seat. โI never come back without results.โ
He barked out a laugh, โThat you do!โ Vera shifted uncomfortably at his laugh, dark eyes flickering to the woman who hadnโt moved from the spot she had originally seen her in. She tilted her head, watching her curiously. Veraโs boss cleared his throat as he sat down, โMy apologies. This is Quake. Quake, this is Vapor. You two will be working together from now on.โ
โWhat?!โ Vera hissed, head snapping to her boss. Her boss's head tilted, like he was analyzing her reaction, or she thought it did. She couldnโt be sure, it was made of pure shadow after all. Vera clamped her mouth shut, clearing her throat. โI meanโฆwhy? I deliver results and I donโt work with anyone,โ she said slowly, carefully choosing her words. โI donโt need anyoneโ was left unsaid. Her boss gestured for Quake to come closer, and she did, her eyes slightly glaring down at where Vera sat. He cleared his throat, โWell I need results faster. Iโm on a sharp schedule after all, the clock is always ticking. And I canโt waste anymore time.โ
โBoss-โ
โVera,โ he interrupted, his voice suddenly cold. โI didnโt hire you to disagree with me.โ Vera glowered, her nails digging into the palms of her hands. He didnโt hire her at all. He took something of hers. But Vera only nodded, and her boss suddenly brightened again. โWonderful! Then for your first mission I need you to bring me back someone. I have them all picked out and everything.โ
โWho?โ the young woman finally said, and Vera almost jumped at the sound of her voice. Her boss laughed, leaning forward on the desk with his elbows and placing his shadow head into his hands. โSo eager! Oh, youโll be familiar with this one, Quake,โ he paused, voice suddenly growing cold again, โI need you to bring me Georgia Rose Lynch. Dead, or alive.โ