[Deleted]

The Program-funded Nanny arrived shortly after Jules’ work comms had lit up – the convenience of him being on standby during Jules’ designated Hero-hours was an absolute lifeline. It would be significantly more difficult to square up against metacriminals with a baby strapped to her, although at least Emily had already moved on from breastfeeding. …Then again, maybe the shock of brazenly displayed breasts with a suckling infant attached might have given her the upper hand in combat. Was it too late to cancel the Nanny and try the old breastfeed-surprise approach?

Yeah, probably. Maybe not the wisest of battle tactics.

She’d just finished pulling her wig into place when he arrived, immediately shushing him and motioning towards Emily’s cot. He nodded, looking relieved, and settled down on the sofa for what he hoped was an easy evening. Jules rather hoped otherwise. Emily was a pretty devious one-year-old; she’d probably wake up and start fussing the second she was out the door.

Pulling her mask over her eyes, Jules checked the details once more before setting off into the New York evening. It was getting late, but not unreasonably so. She was technically on call until midnight tonight, but not on patrol, so she was free to return to Emily once she’d disposed of tonight’s latest bad guy who thought they’d try their luck. Jules flexed her fingers – frost forming at the tips – and shook herself into the Glacia headspace. No more “mom thoughts”, time for justice!

Glacia was very, very envious of the metahumans who could fly. Or even run fast. Or bound slightly further than the average human. Glacia was limited to a rushed jog as she hurried to the coordinates where the meta attack had been reported.

New York had been on edge since the incident at Grand Central Station, with metahuman/human relations particularly fragile compared to the rest of the country. There were still plenty who adored and admired the Heroes who kept their city safe, but there were also plenty who reported just about any public use of powers they spotted just because it rubbed them up the wrong way.

This didn’t seem like one of those false reports.

Several shop fronts had been smashed in, cars too. Welp, at least Glacia knew she was in the right place.

The street was empty – clearly everyone had been scared off. But where was the meta? Glacia scanned the rooftops, trying to catch any signs of a trail, when she realised she wasn’t alone after all. A silhouette could be made out further down the street – not just any silhouette. She could tell. This was another Hero.

She pouted. “Hey!” she yelled, marching towards him. “This is my job, what are you doing here?”

There was an explosive, unnaturally powerful smash of glass just as Glacia reached her colleague and she spun to face the source. Bickering over who was in charge around here could wait.

(It was Glacia. She was definitely in charge. For sure.)

They had a villain to face.

@aaron | 504 words

LAIKA OF GS!

[Deleted]

Don't Step to Me

Post Theme

The figure she moved toward wore a black military vest. His sleevs were torn off, and what appeared to be tats were all over them. The reality was simpler- it was body paint, fine brushed. His mask covered all but his eyes, a cruel blue, while the face of the mask looked like a skull. He half turned back at the shout, his right arm holding a meta human with bone claws aloft. The meta was unconscious, his claws slowly retracting into his body having been unable to penetrate his skin. He'd drop the body and start toward the explosion, speaking gently as he passed this new masked hero.

"First come, first serve."

He'd start into the flames, stepping inside rather confidently. With the mask on, the smoke would have a very difficult time penetrating into his lungs. His clothes were also fire and heat resistant. He'd step through to the back, looking to pick up anyone who was inside- like the shopkeep behind the counter. He threw him over his shoulder and started back out when he heard a scream come from deeper inside the shop. He half turned back before he started jogging out. He set the body down on the ground, the mans hair melted to his head and his face bubbling and burned with torn flesh. The gentleman coughed out-

"My...daug-hter...."

Aaron pushed back up and would run back inside the building toward the back, shoulder checking the door off it's hinges and wincing as the flames from the main room burst out around him in backdraft, his hands coming up to block the intense warmth licking at his body. He shook his head, eyes refocusing on the man trying to jerk a little girl by the arm out of the back room. He had an M4 in his hands, and fired it a few times at the roof, screaming- "CMON YOU LITTLE BITCH!" while trying to pull her out.

Aaron walked toward him down the hall, the man turning with a sudden intake of breath and letting the girl go. He'd fire several shots, three hitting the bullet proof vest and the fourth hitting his right thigh, entering the cloth and ricocheting off into the wall. He grabbed the front of the barrel and cocked his arm back, the right straight cross smashing into the mans nose and snapping it in two, the fellow lifted off his feet and hitting the ground hard as blood spurted in a sudden gush out and over his face. The door behind him creaked open and the little girl poked her head out. Her eyes and cheeks were covered in tears as she spoke.

"Are....are you a..."

His voice came back gentle but he didn't turn around.

"Hero. Yes." He heard boards collapse in the building and spoke quickly, more urgency to his voice. "I'm going to turn around, and you'll see my mask which is a little scary. But it's only scary for the bad people, okay? Not for you. For you it's just a mask, okay?" She whimpered but let out a little okay before he turned around slowly and crouched. She stared, wide eyed....before running into his arms.

He scooped her up and turned, sprinting down the hall away from the flames before jumping out the window at the end of the hall. The girl screamed as Aaron turned in the sky, so as he smashed into the car back-first, she would be entirely protected. A cushy fall. He clutched to her as he saw two more baddies rushing toward them, guns raised. They fired as Aaron rolled away, shielding her with his body as bullets smashed into his shoulders and spine. Hopefully, whoever that other woman was...

Hopefull she was still around.

632 | @jules | notes

ulla

[Deleted]

The meta had been concealed from Glacia’s view until she got close. She noted with annoyance – and a little admiration – that this Hero had already taken care of him. A little heavy-handedly, it seemed, but effectively nonetheless. She stepped towards the body instinctively as the man dropped it, as though she could somehow break the fall, and watched as he marched towards the burning building that had burst into life.

First come, first serve. Hmm. Rude.

“Yeah, well, I can serve too!” Glacia called to his back, her words probably lost amongst the roar of the fire. She started to follow after him but stopped, conscious of the metahuman that the skull-faced Hero had just dropped on the floor. Who knew how long he could be out for? Better to be safe than sorry.

Glacia dragged the man as best she could along the pavement, propping him up rather ungracefully against the wall. Then she froze his hands together, and then his feet, making sure to coat them rather thickly so he couldn’t instantly thaw his way out. The claws would have to burst pretty forcibly from his skin to make any kind of impact on the improvised handcuffs. Glacia was confident they wouldn’t have to worry about him for a while.

The burning building, on the other hand…

The other Hero had pulled somebody out from the blaze, but it didn’t look good. The damage had already been done, and no amount of ice could help those burns. Glacia turned her focus instead to the fire itself, which still swarmed the building. The hero had raced back into it and – while she was unlikely to be able to smother the blaze entirely – Glacia could probably contain it from spreading further and causing the front part of the building to collapse entirely.

She composed herself for half a second, and then blew in large, sweeping motions. The resulting steam flooded past her – a welcome change from the smoke, she supposed. She was managing to fight this part of the fire back and keep the building from caving in, but not much else. Things felt futile – and just what was her Hero colleague up to?

The question was answered almost immediately by a loud crunch as the roof of a car caved in, followed almost immediately by gunshots. Glacia noted that he had a small girl with her and her heart panged. The poor child caught in the middle of all this. Imagine if it were Emily…

She shook Jules-thoughts out of her head, running towards the two armed men that were shooting at the Hero. The bullets were making contact, but he didn’t really seem to be taking much damage. A strength Hero, then.

“Freeze!” she yelled, cringing internally at the pun.

She didn’t have much time to reflect on her wording though. As the guns twisted in her direction, Glacia took a deep breath before pushing it all out as hard and fast as she could. The ice wall formed before her – thick enough to deflect the bullets that had been sent her way – and she took a running start at the two men, frost breath ready to engage once more. She caught the first guy’s gun in a complete block of ice, but the second guy was moving too and she succeeded only in causing him to stumble and trip over a stray icy patch as he charged towards the little girl and the Hero protecting her.

“Look out!”

@aaron | 581 words

LAIKA OF GS!

[Deleted]

I AM THE LAST ONE

He rolled off the car as she gave a perfect distraction, Tank thankful to have a moment. He ripped the vest off himself, the big man now bare chested and covered in paint that was now smearing and cracked. He opened the back door of the car they fell on, the little girl gently shoved inside with the vest. "You hide inside that. Curl up in a little ball and don't move til I get back." She nodded and did as she was told, curling up in the back as Aaron slammed the door. He walked over toward the wall, hand slamming into a drainage pipe before he ripped it off the wall with a grunt.

Now, hefting a six foot sharp pipe like a spear, he'd hurl it as hard as he could, the piece of metal embedding with a sickening thud into the man shooting at him. His teeth were bared, the light pangs of pain ignored as the bullets the man was shooting bounced off his chest like rubber. Then he ran foward, grabbing the end of the pipe and kicking out at the guy stuck to the other end. With a gaping, sucking sound the pipe was free as the mans body was blasted back, flopping about on the ground before smashing into her wall, and slumping at the base of it. Now carrying it like a bat, he started for the other one who was trying to get up after falling from the masked womans defenses. On his hands and knees, he'd take a steel pipe to the back, bone crunching as his back snapped like a twig.

"STAY DOWN!"

Aaron stood up straight after, slowly. He'd drop the pipe off to the side and look down into the lifeless face of the man with a four inch bloody wound in his chest before looking back at the woman. He'd give her a nod.

"Thank you for your help."

He'd toss the pipe off to the side and start walking back over to the car, same door. He'd slowly open it and crouch in a very measured way, the little girl looking up slowly with her hands covering her ears, the little black-haired head and body tiny in his vest. He'd offer her a hand, his eyes kind. He'd give a little encouraging nod as the girl would exit the vehicle while sirens came in the distance. He'd get out and walk over to the other masked woman, his eyes narrowing as though daring her to bring up him being super nice to a little girl. He'd speak to the child first.

"So, my name is Tank. This is my friend. Her name is...."

He'd look to Jules for that answer as cops pulled up, along with hero program recovery units.

### | @tagged | notes

ulla

[Deleted]

Glacia’s warning wasn’t really needed – it seemed that the Hero had obtained a huge sharp drainage pipe from a nearby wall and was holding it aloft like a javelin. His vest had been discarded, revealing that what had seemed to be tattoos were actually body paint, smeared from the battle. Glacia's eyes flashed further around the scene, searching for the little girl, but she was clearly hiding. She didn’t quite process the Hero’s intentions until he launched the makeshift javelin directly through the man’s chest.

While she didn’t quite scream, Glacia did feel her knees weaken and her stomach flip at the sight. Bullets erupted from the man’s gun but it didn’t do much to slow the Hero’s advance, and she watched as he tore the pipe out – kicking the lifeless man across the street. The man crumpled like paper against the wall.

“No!” she shouted, unable to stop herself.

The Hero – heavy-handed and clearly still intent on crushing the current threat – took the bloodied pipe and smashed it hard into the back of the other guy, whose gun was still frozen in a block of ice. There was a sickening crunch. Definitely broken bones.

After all that, the Hero seemed to think it apt to nod in her direction. Thank her, as though she was totally complicit in his acts.

“You… you can’t just…”

He tossed the pipe aside, focusing on retrieving the little girl from her hiding place. It was a complete shock to see how tenderly he was treating her after all the brutality Jules had just witnessed. She stared with wide eyes, her face a little pale, but did her best to pull her expression into a comforting smile as the girl drew closer, hand in his.

“…I’m Glacia.”

She bent down, putting her face on the child’s level. “You’ve been so brave, honey. We’ll look after you. Everything will be okay.”

She couldn’t tell if that was Jules or Glacia talking – probably a strong mix of both. The girl had practically the same beautiful wide eyes that Emily had; clear, bright and soulful. It was tearing her heart apart.

As the cops and recovery units arrived, Glacia busied herself with showing them to the guy that she’d handcuffed and issuing a brief report of their activities. They seemed pleased with her work but – considering the scene around them – suggested she take the rest of the night off once they had the all-clear on the situation. At the end of the street, she could see fire engines approaching to tackle the remains of the blaze.

She made her way back to the Hero, a little terrified but also strangely warmed to him. It was the way the girl had clung to his hand – surely he wasn’t all bad.

“I’m sorry if I seemed a little overwhelmed there,” she said softly, watching as he shrugged back into his vest. “It’s ’cause I was.” She laughed. “Is this… are we… done here?”

@aaron | 494 words

LAIKA OF GS!

[Deleted]

 

- TANK -

"The weight of the world is staggering, but these shoulders are broad."

Aaron turned back as they took the men away. The woman had nearly snapped at seeing how he'd handled those he'd put down. To him, that weakness would lead those who's intentions were truly evil know that the worst thing waiting for them is a cell. He had to force them to re-evaluate their priorities. To understand that the worse thing that could happen to them was him. He started back over toward the car to pick up his vest, the girl having been taken by the police, giving him the gentlest smile and smallest wave as they did. He had given her a little wave back, of course. No sense in pretense, it was pretty obvious that she was attached to him. Stressful sitautions did that to you.

As he strapped the vest on, he looked around himself. "It's alright, I get it. And actually, I was thinking you and I could go get a drink." He watched her as he started the beginning phase of befriending this one. He wasn't in cuffs, so clearly when she spoke to the police she told them the man died in self defense. And while true, it meant she had some harder stuff below the surface than she first let on. He respected that. He started back over toward her, clipping the last portion on his right side into place as he paused, scratching his hair.

"Unless you're worried about what i might see under that mask and wig...?" He cocked a brow as he smirked, the joke being that he too wore a mask, one he wouldn't remove here. There were still people around, in the apartments around them. And he doubted they'd stop staring so long as the heroes remained in place.

JUNIER of GS + Adox

[Deleted]

So they were officially off the clock now, it seemed. Jules felt herself automatically relaxing, the ice that often appeared on her fingertips in moments of stress beginning to melt and her posture shifting out of the more defensive stance that she usually adopted as Glacia. She looked up at Tank, confused for a second at the sudden invitation for a drink. Not that it sounded like a bad idea at all, but more because she was really struggling to get a read on this guy. It was such a casual, friendly suggestion that was at odds with his skull mask and aggressive approach to crime-fighting.

To say she wasn’t intrigued would be a total lie.

She tilted her head as she considered his offer, a slow smile spreading across her lips. She couldn’t help it – Jules was drawn to risk and excitement, even when she was trying her best to be a real adult. Tank definitely seemed a curious mystery to unravel; what better way to spend the rest of her night off? She had the Nanny until the official end of her shift so there wasn’t an issue with childcare, and it was pretty rare that Jules had the opportunity to socialise with other adults alone. It would make a nice change from routine.

“Yeah. Yeah, sure, we could get a drink,” she said cheerily. “I’m pretty certain I need one after that.” She laughed, still not quite having processed the events of their encounter. That was a problem for future Jules.

There was a healthy dose of humour as he continued to speak, and Jules returned the smirk with her own. “What do you think is under here?” she asked teasingly, patting her wig with a secretive smile. “Snakes? C’mon now.”

She thought for a moment. “My apartment is close by, if you want to freshen up and de-mask there,” Jules offered. “There’s a back entrance in the alley for the stairs, so it’s pretty safe in case you’re worried about being spotted. Then we can go find somewhere for me to drink you under the table – sound good?”

Jules had no right to sound so smug about her drinking abilities, but Tank didn’t have to know that yet. Maybe, if she believed it hard enough, it would miraculously come true.

@aaron | 384 words

LAIKA OF GS!

[Deleted]

 

- TANK -

"Take me to task? Them's fighting words, little miss."

He shrugged a little as he opened the trunk to the car he fell on. He pulled a duffle bag out and, at this point she'd probably realize....that was his car. It mattered little to him. A little junker without license plates he used to get to events like these as speedily as possible. It was why he was here first despite her being closer. He slung the bag over his shoulder, letting out a little laugh as he did so. "No, I don't imagine theirs snakes under there. Maybe a serious case of bed head or some gum slapped in there by an angry four year old." Y'know, if she had kids. You never knew, after all. He'd start walking, letting her take the lead.

"Woaaaah asking me to take my ask off already? I mean geez, treat me to dinner first." He chuckled a little. "But no, I'd love to get out of this getup." Tank's time was over, it was time for him to get back into the street dress that separated him from the monster behind the bandana. She made threats of drinking him under the table, to which he cocked a brow. He was very strong, very durable...and such things brought a host of positives and negatives. Drinking was a bit of both- he could drink and drink and drink and drink....so negative. But he liked the taste of Crown Royal and Jack Daniels, so positive. He'd smirk confidently, though she wouldn't see it.

"I'll take that bet. Loser gives the winner a table dance."

He laughed again- truth be told, he'd started drinking before he came here. It was how he supressed his PTSD long enough to do what was necessary for situations like this. It's what calmed him, allowed him to put it behind him. One might say he was a bit of an alcoholic, but he didn't really feel a need to drink. There were days that went by without a single drop of alcohol touching his tongue. Then there were nights where the terrors haunting him following him through the sunrise, and alcohol was the only thing he felt supressed it adequately. That and pot. And he didn't wanna sacrifice his lungs, when his liver had the fighting spirit.

"Anything I should be aware of, climbing in your window? A boyfriend with a shotgun, for instance?"

He'd been shot enough for one day.

JUNIER of GS + Adox

[Deleted]

“Shit dude!”

Jules couldn’t help the expletive – it was probably very un-Heroic of her – as Tank opened up the boot of the wrecked car to retrieve his belongings.

“Damn, I mean… excuse my potty mouth.”

She laughed embarrassedly, burying her face in her hands for a moment. Then, peeking through her fingers, she met his gaze and stuck her tongue out in defiance. “The first round’s on me – how does that sound? I don’t think I need any more dinner… although I won’t say no to bar snacks.” The second her stomach settled, that is. She was still feeling a little delicate after watching a man die, after all.

There wasn’t much to go on when it came to his expression, but Jules definitely clocked the quirked eyebrow and the eyes narrowing in some kind of cocky amusement. She did her best to return the look with her own, competitive smirk. Jules was definitely about to get herself way too deep into a drinking competition that she’d lost from the get-go.

“A table dance? We’ll see, I’m not sure I can trust you up there – we know how much damage you can do when you fall from a height.”

She gestured to his car, somewhat pityingly. Sure, it wasn’t a nice car by any means, but the federal Hero salary wasn’t ridiculously generous and it would suck to lose your mode of transport. Not much they could do about it now though – maybe it was even rescuable. Jules had no clue when it came to cars. She’d always had more of an interest in motorbikes… not that she’d ever owned one. Hmm, maybe something for the to-do list.

Jules look surprised at his question.

“No, no way. I don’t like guns – no way would I date someone who’d sit up and wait for intruders with a shotgun in hand.” She grinned. “You’ll be safe, trust me. No scary bodyguards.”

Just a one-year-old and her Nanny, but she’d text ahead and warn him that a somewhat terrifying six-foot-something man in a skull mask was about to make a quick stop for a costume change. Just in case the Nanny had a hidden shotgun Jules hadn’t been introduced to yet.

@aaron | 368 words

LAIKA OF GS!

[Deleted]

 

- TANK -

"I didn't think you had it in you."

He shrugged.

"Just a little junker for my missions. You should see my real car. Baby can puuuurr."

He'd follow her calmly, keeping his eyes peeled for other faces that would glare out from the dark. Living so long in enemy territory had forced this constant state of awareness on him. Being here, in the area of an assault on another person by those with crazy fine equipment and a reckless state of mind caused him to assume the worst. He'd say so, for this new heroes sake as they walked. "Should probably take another route home, kinda...weave around a little. Make sure we have no tails. I'd hate to lead them back to a house with children in it." his voice was measured, not elevated, so that those around wouldn't hear. She might think he was paranoid but he'd been doing this too long to be anything else. He'd give a little laugh.

"I'll never say no to someone else payin'. Though I think you might regret it. My first round is usually a fifth of jack."

He'd glance over with a cocked eyebrow at her newly formed mental image. Him, on a table dancing? Now he was a little concerned. COULD this one actually drink him under the table? Maybe alcohol didn't affect her, like it didn't affect him. Maybe her powers gave her an innate alcohol resistance far greater than his own. What could she do? Control water and ice? Maybe manipulate the structure of it inside her....he'd eyes would narrow at that. No...she seemed like she was putting on a brave face. Maybe to put him in just this kind of state of mind. He'd let out a little "Pfft" at it, responding in kind.

"I don't believe you. I think you're putting on a brave face, and you're gonna end up twerkin' for the bar before this nights up."

He'd laugh. Twerking was something new he'd discovered on coming back.

Kids these days.

JUNIER of GS + Adox

[Deleted]

“Ooooh.” Jules waggled her eyebrows. “That sounds a way more stylish way to get around – I’ll give you a call if I need a ride to my next villain ass-whup, alright?”

She nodded at his advice, cutting down the next alley and heading down a different street for a while. It would add a tiny bit to their journey, but not much, and it wasn’t like they were in a rush. They ended up making a full loop of her block before they finally reached the secluded back entrance of her building, the area smelling just a little of overdue garbage collection. She scrunched her face apologetically at the stench.

It was surprising that he’d mentioned the house as containing children. Maybe he’d assumed she was a mum… was it the short wig? She’d chosen it predominantly for its practicality but now she was worried that instead of giving off “underage adolescent” vibes as she usually did, she had suddenly ascended to The Mom Look. She’d have a word with the costume designer and ask for their honest advice. She was certainly ready to actually look her age, but she was still dismissing her impending thirties as a problem for distant future Jules.

She snorted at his idea of a first round order. “You think I’m made of money, Tank? I’ll pay for a double and you can cover the rest of the bottle.”

Jules tried to keep the confident-ish smirk on her face. It twisted a little with amusement at the notion of twerking for the bar, but she tried to play that off as a further intensified smirk. “We’ll see,” she said coyly.

They were slowly climbing the stairs now, nearly at Jules’ apartment. She had an inkling that he could have headed to the top significantly quicker than her, but she was definitely not enhanced in such a manner. In fact, she was a little out of breath by the time she reached her front door. She composed herself before announcing, “Well, here we are!” and turning the key in the lock.

“Mama mama ma!”

@aaron | 348 words

LAIKA OF GS!

[Deleted]

 

- TANK -

"I'll see you on the other side, drink in hand, smile on my lips."

"As if I'd bring it on a run, after what just happened to my junkyard reject car."

He'd follow behind her, watching her climb with some effort. He didn't really care about the smell- he'd seen much worse, and smelled much worse not too long ago. She was right, however, that climbing it with her was nothing. Like...absolutely nothing. He didn't feel it or any sort of exhaustion. He used to love things like running, biking...those endorphins got him pumped. But since he's powers came out, he very rarely got winded, even a little. The fact that she did didn't bother him though- he was pretty used to it. When she stepped through the window, he stood from the top of the balcony behind her, looking around the area one last time for a baddie check before turning and moving inside. It was probably the first time he'd be revealing himself to someone other than direct hero program dudes. Ah well- she was going to as well, right?

His hand came up as he moved through the window and removed the mask, pulling it down off his mouth and nose as he stepped inside. He'd get a little smile creasing his lips at the girl, who was absolutely ecstatic at her mother coming home. He'd stand straight by the window, knowing that his presence was probably going to be startling for anyone else in the room and he didn't want to just move into someone elses house like he owned the place. He'd wait for her introduction before doing anything.

She had an adorable daughter. And not a bad place, for a single mother on hero program wages. He realized he hadn't asked yet about the father, but at the same time, they'd just met. There would be time for that at the bar, right? Personal questions like that were best spoken after a nice buzz after listening to several rounds of smooth blues jazz set on repeat in the background. Bad bar flies, bad bar snacks. It was where all the personal drivel happened. It was the only way that the real talk could happen for some people. He, as a soldier, was considered to be pretty in touch with himself and his feelings. Suprisingly so. He didn't see them as something to be ashamed of, like most people. He'd look to Jules and gesture into the house.

"Where's the bathroom?"

Once she gave him directions he'd head off into the bathroom and remove his gear, his pants, and underwear. Reaching into his pack he removed the bottle of body paint remover and stepped into her shower, turning it on and scrubbing himself clean in two minutes flat. He turned off the water and stepped out, pulling back on a fresh set of clothes and looking at himself in the mirror. He was wearing a dark tan jacket, some deep blue jeans and his necklace. It would have to do. Stuffing everything back into the bag he'd walk out, setting it in the living room.

"I'll just...grab this when i get back. You ready to go?"

JUNIER of GS + Adox

[Deleted]

Jules rushed in and swept her daughter into her arms, holding her tight until Emily’s snuggling turned into increasingly excitable wriggles. She set her down on the floor gently, chuckling lightly as Emily danced unsteadily on the spot before falling back onto her nappy-cushioned bottom with a gleeful squeal. She blinked suddenly and looked up at the newcomer, eyes wide.

“Oh, this is Tank!” Jules said quickly, looking around for the Nanny. He was hovering at the kitchen island, bottle of formula in hand, with a rather confused but warm enough smile on his face. “He works with mommy. We’re just here to change out of our costumes and we’ll be out of your hair.”

The Nanny nodded, offering Tank a little wave.

Emily was back on her feet, tottering over to the strange newcomer who had been hanging back while Jules introduced him. She pointed her finger forcefully at Tank, a very serious expression on her face.

“Da!”

Jules’ cheeks reddened instantly. “No no, honey, Tank.” She kept her eyes down for fear of meeting Tank’s gaze – too embarrassed to make eye contact.

Emily pouted, brow furrowed. Clearly she did not appreciate Jules’ corrections. “DADDY.”

She heard the Nanny scoff with laughter, and Jules buried her face in her hand for a moment. “I’m sorry, she’s only just started talking and doesn’t have many words to work with yet. I promise she’s not demanding a paternity test.”

At that point, Emily turned to Jules with a huge, mischievous grin. There was no way she could have understood what Jules was saying, but it was hilarious all the same and she found herself laughing despite herself. Any awkwardness that had been left in the room faded away in an instant.

She directed Tank to the bathroom before heading to her bedroom to change into her civilian attire. The cursed Mom Wig came off first, then came the sweet relief of peeling off her costume and slipping into a comfy, oversized jumper and her nicest pair of jeans that weren’t covered in the usual mess that came with parenting a cuddly, sticky toddler. Jules didn’t bother to sort her hair or make-up out – pulling her hair up into a messy bun and checking the mirror quickly to make sure she didn’t have mascara smeared down her face, or anything like that. She looked solidly okay.

Jules shot fingerguns at her reflection, grinning playfully to herself, before heading back out to the main living space to wait for Tank.

When he emerged, he looked decidedly, well… normal, compared to his Hero guise. Definitely attractive now that she could see his face. Yeah, this was a good face to go drinking with.

“Sure, you lead the way! I’m just gonna give this one her night-time dose of kisses – put her to bed soon please, even if she tries to bite you,” she told the Nanny, having the grace to look a little apologetic. Then she proceeded to smother her daughter in kisses before following Tank out the door.

“Say, Tank, what’s your real name? I’m Jules.” She offered her hand as they walked. “Nice to meetcha, stranger.”

@aaron | 524 words

LAIKA OF GS!

[Deleted]

 

- TANK -

"I'll see you on the other side, drink in hand, smile on my lips."

As the child would repeatedly insist that he was her daddy, he'd laugh and crouch removing his filthy gloves and offering a hand for her to either slap or shake. He waved Jules off with his other hand, clearly not embarrassed or intimidated by the word in any way. "It's quite alright. She's adorable." He'd give her neck/jawline a little tickle with his index finger, chuckling as he did so before standing straight again. "Kids don't really understand context. I'll just consider daddy to be my nickname until she gets old enough to know better." He had too many puns running through his head at this moment, and being new to her didn't yet have a dynamic hashed out that would make comments he had floating around in his head kosher. Not yet, anyway.

If their stroll home and witty banter was any indication though, they were clearly going to have an epic go of it.

He'd look down at her hand, his own reaching up behind his head to rub his neck before he, very slowly and reluctantly, took it and shook.

"Aaron. The pleasure is mine." He gave an easy smile as he noted no energy was sucked out of him. He'd take a small, short breath before releasing her hand. "Well, it seems I like you Jules. I very rarely shake hands. Old habit." He'd indeed lead the way, offering her his arm with a small, sly smile as he did so. He was a God damn gentleman, he was. As they walked, he'd keep talking, the old air of comfort coming over him as he did so.

"So tell me, Jules. Why the program? I'm assuming they're the ones who sent you, unless you're rogue."

He doubted it. Heroes with kids were unlikely, in his opinion, to go the route of Batman. Too much risk. And doing this offered an easy and simplistic way to make money in a struggling economy. He'd give her the once over as they walked, rather impressed by her ability to freshen up. He'd face forward and chuckle to himself.

"It's strange, I must admit, to see you out of your super suit. First impressions, and all." He blinked, realizing too late how that might have sounded. "Not that you aren't absolutely stunning. Just sayin. It's like meeting a new you."

JUNIER of GS + Adox

[Deleted]

She sensed the tension in him as she initiated the handshake, immediately feeling bad for having assumed he’d be okay with it. Jules was just about to stuff her hand into the comfort of her pocket – not wanting to make him feel awkward – when his hand moved slowly down from his neck to meet hers. She smiled broadly, pleased that he’d managed to overcome his initial reservations.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know.” Her face was serious for a moment, then the broad smile returned. “Thought you might just be embarrassed about your weak handshake!”

She laughed openly at her own teasing, latching onto his arm as she did so. It was an amusingly old-fashioned gesture – and it made her wonder at his age – but she was happy to indulge him in it. Jules guessed that he was maybe ten years her senior. Aaron certainly didn’t look middle-aged, but nor did he have the same youthful softness of most men in their twenties. She quite liked it, she decided.

Jules pursed her lips at Aaron’s question. It was a good question, and not really one she could pin down an answer for. Becoming a Hero had seemed an exciting opportunity that she just couldn’t miss out on, and she hadn’t really scrutinised her own motives any further.

“Oh yeah, yeah I’m with the Program. Much shinier paycheck than going vigilante,” she said cheerily. “I’m also a writer – mostly freelance at the moment now, so I can fit it around Hero work. It’s handy being able to make money from the comfort of your couch.” Jules was silent for a moment as she tried to analyse her own reasons for joining the Hero Program. “I guess part of why I signed up to the Program because I thought it was the right thing to do once I had my powers, too. Becoming some evil Ice Witch didn’t really appeal, and I wanted to do something with ’em!”

The only downside to joining the Hero Program was their constant ‘suggestions’ that she hit the gym a little more frequently. Jules was aware that she wasn’t exactly at peak physical fitness, but she also wasn’t exactly a slacker. Couldn’t afford to be, as a Hero. Still, she resented every second she spent in the gym. It was just so much effort.

“You think? Who looks better, me or Glacia?”

Definitely not Glacia. No amount of skin-tight, meshy material could make up for the Mom Wig.

“And why thank you.” She did an awkward bob of a half-curtsey as they walked, having to rush her steps a little to catch up with him once more. “I think, in a way, I kinda do think of it as being two separate sides of me. I always try to get my head in the game as Glacia, you know? Push thoughts of diapers and deadlines outta my head and focus on being-”

Jules flexed her bicep and deepened her voice dramatically.

“-a Hero!”

@aaron | 496 words

LAIKA OF GS!