Juniper’s head was turning as Emery thrusted her into the sky. The wind was tickling her face, she struggled to breath as the weight of being powerlessness gnawed at her. She felt like a lump of potatoes or a sack of flour, clumsy and small.
“Look, let me clear. We need to make this pitstop quick. I got pyros to beat, and you’re in a deteriorated state.”
“I-I don’t understand,” Juniper answered, confused as to why Emery would look for her in the first place when chaos reigned in the street.
“I told you before, you got eyes on you now. The city’s surveillance drones are almost everywhere, at least during the day. Someone saw you rush into a building, and fend off those lunatics.”
That wasn’t comforting at all, she knew Evelyn spied on her, like an obsessive mother did, she however didn’t want the state to look through her underwear.
“Relax, once you get official status, they’ll stop monitoring your ass,” she said with glee. How very reassuring. “At any rate, I’ve been asked by my higher-ups to give you a little something. Your effects this morning were seen as nothing but positive.”
A little what exactly? She wouldn’t say no to some relief. Emery was clearly…wobbling through the truth. It’s more than likely. She was being seen as a loose cannon and they wanted full control. They, as in the POP and the SCRA. If only Evelyn would pick up the damn phone.
Landing on Heliogirl’s personal tower, it was slender, high-rise, but extruded outwards in a bulbous shape at the top. All glass, bar the frame. Cameras and other tech-related devices were also present, as top-of-the-line security.
Her lifestyle must have been extravagant.
“I need to be clear,” Emery said, voice cutting away Juniper’s thoughts. “My superiors wanted to drag you into the Paragon Headquarters, but they’re scared your boss might throw a fit. Good thing, they’ve decided to maneuver through a ‘personal connection.’”
Every word from Emery felt like a hook in deep waters sinking deeper and deeper, she didn’t want to touch it, because it screamed bait. The Paragons weren’t giving out free candy–It sounded like they wanted to lace with drugs, making her addicted to their support.
“Can you elaborate?”
Emery broke a sigh, rubbing the bridge of her nose. “No. Because I have little time, because it’s bureaucratic bullshit, and because it’s tied up in some inter-agency drama that’s way above my grade, now hurry up.”
Juniper hesitated, but Emery’s sharp glare sent her scrambling forward. Her wounds from the fire ached, and her collar bones still hurt. Whatever POP had in mind for her, it was for their benefit not her’s.
The rooftop door opened with a Wave of Emery’s hand, electronic whirring echoing underneath it, it slid open. The faux-blonde nudged her inside, brisk and impatient. They descended down narrow wooden stairs that cracked slightly under their weight.
The air was cool, fragrant, and refreshing. It smelled like a mixture of fruits and lavender, just briefly she felt her tension ease. Then inside the inner penthouse, it was replaced with discomfort.
The space was amazing yet suffocating. Windows–as tall as three people stacked together–light beams bumping off marble floors, sterile and designer. She looked at herself, charred and ash covered, she stood out like oil in the sea.
Emery didn’t seem to care. She was dashing up and down, shouting. “Lilia!Lilia!”
A woman appeared, moving with light precision, crisp and quick. A dark brown ponytail swaying behind her, her outfit minimalist–a crisp pastel pink button-down and a sharp pencil skirt–it looked like it cost more than Juniper’s rent.
“Do you know where my fourth suit is? The black one?” Emery’s tone was antsy, demanding it.
“Yes, I’ll grab it,” Lilia replied smoothly, moving past Emery and vanishing into another room.
Juniper shifted around awkwardly, waiting in the middle of the penthouse like some statue. She avoided looking at her reflection as it gleamed off the surfaces of the room. Studying patterns of the marble underneath her sneakers. EMery rushed in, brought her a glass of orange juice, then sped away.
She sipped on it. It was cold, and supernaturally sweet, and tasted very expensive. She chugged it, not wanting to be rude.
While the two had disappeared, her eyes wandered around. One framed photo caught her eyes, next to a monitor on a sleek desk. She approached it but was reluctant to touch anything.
There was a photo with a group of three, a woman with tired eyes, a man whose face was scratched out, and a little clutching a teddy bear. She inspected it. It had to be Emery, with dark brown hair, and thick glasses.
Next to the older lady's face she assumed had to be her mother: was scribbled small and in cursive. “-Rest in peace Mama”
Her throat was heavy. Is that what Emery meant with her power being tied to trauma, what was the story here?
[You could just ask her.]
The voice in her head was clear, quieter than usual.
No. That would be...insensitive.
She, ‘Sys-chan’, piped down when in the presence of other capes. Juniper wondered if it was the ‘drawn to fights’ thing.
Emery burst back inside, making her break her thoughts.”I’ve found it!” She exclaimed, suit in hand. Sleek and black. She tossed it over, Juniper barely caught it. It was heavier than it looked.
“Strip,” Emery ordered like it was nothing.
Juniper froze, wide-eyed. Emery knew about her sexuality—why would she say that? She took a step back.
“Right now!” Emery shouted impatiently.
“What...what are you asking me?” Juniper’s voice wavered, her face burning.
“Oh, come on. What, you’re scared of something?” Emery teased, you have something to hide? She turned to Lilia without waiting for a response. “Grab her something to wear underneath it. We’re close enough in size, it should work.”
Lilia returned shortly after, a thin tank top and briefs in her hands. Juniper trembled as she took them against her will. She turned away, shielding herself to her best capacity from their views as she undressed. Her bareback prickled while she was being watched.
She fumbled as quickly as she could, pulling on the underwear very stiffly, with erratic movements. Her cheeks were red. Emery didn’t care about her discomfort, already distracted elsewhere.
Lilia’s gaze lingered on her. She stood off at a distance, her eyes cold and unreadable. Yet, there was a faint trace of something familiar, curiosity perhaps. Juniper made the mistake of looking at her, their eyes splitting together for a moment.
Her face burned even more, and she yanked her head away, exposed and vulnerable.
Emery’s hands suddenly grabbed her back from behind, without warning pulling her close. At that moment she felt small and vulnerable. Emery’s fingers traced across her bag, and then her grip settled on her shoulder, she felt shivers going down her spine.
“Hey, hold still,” Emery murmured, tone annoyed. She opened a small container near the desk, Juniper caught the faint scent of something herb-like and medicinal. She dabbed the ointment onto Juniper's bare skin, smearing it into the open cut.
She yelped in pain. Emery held her tight, in her impossibly strong grasp.
The cream melted inside, it was cool and soothing. The pain dulled and then like nothing was there, the wound closed. Her skin was left smooth.
“Regenerative cream,” Emery explained, her voice flat. “Expensive as hell, but it works. Perks of doing a daily death battle I guess.”
She barely moved. Waiting like a hare in a snake's nest. She stood still as they fitted the black suit over her, it tugged and slid into place. It fit alright, the fabric shimmery under the light. Lilia, who she’d come to assume was Emery’s assistant, moved with delicate efficiency, as Emery only muttering commands.
She felt like a dress-up doll, pushed around and pulled by two women.
“Wow,” Emery said, stepping back to admire her look. “You look almost as good as me, almost.”
Juniper forced a strained giggle.
She looked at her in a mirror’s reflection. The suit was lightweight but insanely durable, composed of some kind of super-durable mesh, it felt less like armor and more like thick skin.
The only thing she felt really bad about, was that two women who she wasn’t intimately involved with had just touched her saw her naked. Boobs and butt. She barely got to this stage with Kanako.
Emery clicked her fingers, grabbing her attention. “Man, you doze off like it’s nothing, don’t daydream in a fight.”
Juniper shook her head.
Emery handed her a molded eye mask. Its design was minimalist, with ventilation holes around the edges. Juniper slipped it on, it fit like a snug pillow.
Mentally, The mask felt heavier than it should, like it carried the weight of expectations she hadn’t agreed to.
“Do you need a wig?” Emery asked casually, breaking the silence. “You could be a whole new person.”
“No,” Juniper said, her voice firmer than she expected. “I’m fine like this.”
Emery nodded, satisfied. “Good. Now, just so there’s no confusion, you’ve been temporarily registered as an SCRA-affiliated cape.”
Juniper froze. “Wait, what?”
“It’s for your protection. More capes are going to come after you like that drunk did. This stops them from claiming you as a rogue threat.”
[Looks like the new Wild West, if you ask me]
“And I didn’t get a say in this?”
“It’s complicated,” Emery admitted, her voice lowering into something almost conspiratorial. “If I didn’t push for you to suit up with me, you’d have a dozen capes breathing down your neck by tomorrow. I don’t have ulterior motives. My superiors, though? I can’t promise the same.”
So I’m free reign until someone claims me.
[You’re basically free-range chicken until someone slaps their brand on you, or you need to escape the slaughterhouse. Before you get slaughtered by hungry agencies]
Thanks for your ‘moral’ support.
[All the more reason to get cozy with OBB. Big Sis, she plays nice at least with you.]
The buzz of Emery’s phone broke the tension. She glanced at the screen, her expression hardening. “Damn it.”
“What’s going on?” Juniper asked warily.
“They’re asking me to assist with setting up a camp in the Garnet District. Nothing glamorous. Are you coming, or are you going to wander off? Do your own thing?”
The offer felt like an opportunity to glimpse Emery’s world, a chance to understand her better. Yet the lack of control she had was depressing.
Still, she followed Emery toward the window exit, the suit clinging strangely to her. Lilia stood nearby, her gaze fixed on Emery with a strange expression. Juniper knew what that was, her eyes said it all. It was longing, yearning, lust maybe. Her assistant had a thing for Emery. Emery was either dense or uninterested.
She did say she was straight.
[Uh-uh. Then she touched you–like icky school ground cheese. Face it, you’re trying to make everything gay]
Juniper ignored her.
“Stay safe, Emery,” Lilia said softly, her tone carrying something Juniper couldn’t quite place. Concern?”
If Emery noticed, she didn’t show it. She waved absently, already halfway out the window.
Juniper lingered for a moment, turning to Lilia. “Thank you,” she said quietly, her voice almost lost in the space between them.
Lilia’s lips twitched—almost a smile, almost nothing. She stepped out the window, the world below greeting her.
“Let’s move,” Emery said. “I hope this shit is done by tonight.”
Juniper didn’t know if she was supposed to be here, tangled up in Emery’s chaos. What was done is done.
She took a deep breath, tightened her grip on the mask, and nodded. Then she followed Emery into the city.6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGH0jr5Yawm
