The public is, in general, rather accepting of this new vigilante team. Cadmium City has long since been protected by superheroes–the consequences of also having so many super powered criminals–and this new team is, if not the same, then similar.
It’s not a secret that Zenith is the son of Apex, or Starling the apprentice of Firefly. And while Thunderbolt’s powers are nothing like her aunt’s, and Goldheart is very obviously a lion not a wolf shapeshifter, these are familiar to the citizens of Cadmium. Understandable.
The fifth member of the team is… less so.
For one, the media can’t really seem to figure out what her power is, or even agree on whether or not it’s powers at all. A speedster, maybe, or a teleporter? But obviously not a very skilled one, or one with a very limited scope. In which case, why would she be on the team at all?
She might be a regular baseline human with some kind of gadget. But if it were a device, then surely it’d be of better use with Starling–with someone better trained–her fighting is amateurish when she’s not pulling whatever trick she does, and frankly, almost embarrassing.
Also, she doesn’t have a name. A name would help–either in figuring out what her abilities are, or even to organize public opinion. Trying to report on the team’s heroics for the day while referring to one of the members as “the green haired one” or “the other girl” is unprofessional.
No one is sure how exactly she joined the team. Or why.
—
It’s not that Leanne isn’t serious about being part of the team–it’s both dangerous and important work that they do, stepping in whenever the police force is overwhelmed (although, that happens less often than it did in decades passed, now that the department is hiring more meta-humans)–it’s just that, unlike her teammates, it isn’t her life.
There’s a very distinct line drawn between her life as Leanne and her life as… whoever she is on the team. Not distinct as in secret–her family knows what she does–but distinct as compartmentalized. It’s as if being a vigilante is just an extracurricular activity. Like volunteering for extreme community service.
But that’s all it is to her. She’ll answer the call, put on her ridiculous costume, and go out and save the day, but as soon as she comes home it’s back into normal clothes. No more mask on her face. Even though she carries the watch with her everywhere, she doesn’t do the same with the job.
The watch came first–a family heirloom, a promise, a gift–the job is just an opportunity for her to use it.
—
After her first real fight, Leanne spends a week trying to hide an absolutely hideous bruise on her face with make up. Unfortunately, she is terrible with make up and, moreover, has to borrow some from her sister. Faye not only has a different skin tone than Leanne, she also has a sharp eye.
“You’re doing it wrong,” Faye says, while Leanne fumbles with all the brushes and containers and it’s just ridiculous. The sound of plastic against the sink countertop echoes maddeningly against the tile.
“People at school already know you’ve been hit in the face,” she adds, and suddenly Leanne is worried that everyone at school knows she’s a super hero and what’s even the point of wearing a mask if it’s not going to protect her face or her identity?
“Relax,” Faye says, gently turning her sister’s face so she can apply foundation properly, “Mostly people think you walked into a sign post or something. Of course, others think maybe you’ve gotten into a shitty relationship.”
“Well, I kind of did,” Leanne finally says, because being on the team is a little like dating four overpowered adrenaline junkies who have convinced her to join their dangerous hobbies.
She doesn’t know why Dr Kaiza didn’t choose Faye–Faye who would probably be able to keep up with everyone else and wouldn’t end up with stupid bruises on her face.
“Hey, no crying,” Faye murmurs, wiping away tears before it reaches her hard work, “It’s only the first week, you’ll do better,”
Leanne cries harder. It’s an ugly thing, sloppy, she’s babbling on and on about how she’s useless. She didn’t do anything in the fight but get caught off guard and punched in the face. The robber actually looked surprised when she fell, as if he wasn’t actually expecting to succeed.
He didn’t, of course, but only because less than a second later, a lion rammed into him full weight, top speed.
“What am I even doing?” Leanne blubbers to her sister, sitting on the toilet lid and weeping her eyes out.
“You don’t have to do this,” Faye says, unsure, but offering nonetheless, “Kaiza doesn’t own you. If you don’t want to do it anymore, she can’t make you.”
Leanne is silent.
“But if you do want to do this, I’ll help you,” Faye says, “and so will Victor. You’re not alone.”
This is one of the moments Leanne will carry with her when she’s years and decades and even centuries away from everyone she loves.
~
A/N: Just look up the Leanne Peridot tag for previous installments of this… “series”
JackSGreyson Says 