Fd

The last day of school was a formality. Class, such as it was, existed only to give us an ad-hoc report card that was more or less to pretend we'd learned anything. Three weeks of classes we were graded as if it were an entire year. Sure, I suppose a few classes mattered. A refesher on math probably helped for next year. If there even was a next year. A chance to say goodbye to friends, swap numbers if we hadn't already. Schools were being reopened elsewhere soon enough that everything would be back to as close to normal as could be expected in a post-Leviathan city.

"So," I said slowly as I leaned against Taylor under what we had basically claimed as 'our tree'. "Given any thought about school next year? Or month, as the case may be?"

"Kinda," she admitted. "It's nice to have things be normal again. I was always good at school, and now I'm like a dozen times better."

"Cheaty powers," I smiled up at her. "So unfair."

"Well," she smiled back. "I can't turn a dead world green in a matter of weeks, so I have to get by any way I can."

"It's only most of North America so far. And you're as essential to the terraforming project as any of us," I nuzzled against her. "After all, you're the one who sets the spore birds on their way."

"Schoolgirl by day, superhero by night, world's worst girlfriend in the evening, and glorified cropduster pilot once every couple days," she joked.

"Oh, that's not true," I laughed. "There's gotta be, like, at least three girlfriends out there worse than you."

"Speaking of which," she said. "We're not going to stop the exercise routine just because school's out. I expect you up at the same time tomorrow for our jog."

My lungs hurt just thinking about it. "Great," I muttered.

"Don't complain," she laughed. "You're getting better at an incredible rate. We almost hit a mile today, and we started less than a week ago." RealizationWorryRegret. "Umm... must be all the fresh air you get in that tree."

I'm in such good shape because my lower half was blown off and replaced, I thought. "No sense in letting it go to waste," I agreed, avoiding the topic. Something we could avoid thinking about, so we did.

Instead, I changed the subject. "So, any thoughts on our first meeting with the new PRT director? Or our response to Emma's apology when it finally goes up. They still haven't dug all the way into mine and Clarice's backgrounds."

She offered a bit of a smile. "That's mostly Lisa's job. I prefer to wing it. More natural that way. The Director's going to be with PRT and Protectorate capes, not the general public. I doubt I'll be wowed speechless by Emma, when we get around to that. And I already know about you and Clarice. I still think you should announce that last one yourself. Girls go crazy for that whole 'dark past' thing."

"Speaking from personal experience, huh?"

EmbarrassedNostalgia. "Seems to work on you," she answered. "Also Missy. She's been spending a lot of time with Theo."

"Easily the most adorable couple ever," I agreed.

"Oh, and in other news, I think my dad's dating your aunt," she told me.

My mind went blank for a moment. "You're not kidding."

"Nope," she looked up. "I don't think either of them have figured it out, either."

"How does that even work?"

"My dad's pretty oblivious in general," she answered. "And I think Sarah isn't quite ready to look for a new relationship. I mean, sure, the 'cape' life forces you to cope with some really fucked up shit, but it hasn't even been three months. For right now, though, they seem to enjoy each others' company."

"Just don't mention this to Clarice," I warned. "After us, and Theo and Missy, I think she's come to the conclusion that she's an expert matchmaker and might try to 'speed things along'." DreadDisturbed.

"Yeah. We'll put that on the list of things that can never be allowed to happen," Taylor agreed. "Right alongside the chicken flavored crickets idea."

I shuddered.

"Looks like Dennis wants something," she said, pointing out the redhead that was Clockblocker. He looked a bit sheepish.

"Hey, umm," he said after approaching us. "Do you know where Zach-"

"Girls locker room," Taylor answered. AmusementSympathy. "You're better off just writing them off as a lost cause."

"Fuck," he muttered, leaving.

"So, do I even want to know?" I asked.

"Zach stole his underwear," she answered.

I buried my face in my hands. "Okay," I muttered. "New plan based on the chicken crickets. We forcefeed Zach some normal flavored crickets. How's that sound?"

"How about grasshoppers?" she asked. "Those fly and it'll be easier to catch him off guard."

....

"Why'd she have to go?" Zach asked.

"Other work to do," Rey sighed. "I knew she couldn't stay forever. We're going to stay in touch, see each other when we can. It's only a few hours away from Montreal."

"What's she doing up there?" Crystal asked.

"Heartbreaker's children," Lisa answered. UnderstandingWorry. "Lots of them have already triggered, almost all with master powers of one sort or another. Others probably will. They've all been exposed to varying degrees of master effects for pretty much their entire lives. There's literally no one more qualified on the planet to deal with this kind of thing than Rapture, and the second place belongs to Dragon. Who, being Dragon, is already inhumanly busy."

"That's it in a nutshell," Rey answered. "She stayed around about as long as she could get away with."

"But, we're not a priority," Taylor replied. "We've settled down into a 'known element'. Powerful, but not a threat. Haven's had its look at us, and doesn't have enough of an issue to consider it necessary to keep her here watching us."

"It helped that Rapture's been convinced we're not taking the whole 'divinity' thing seriously," he supplied. "They were worried about that. So we're in the realm of 'bad taste', instead of 'dangerous egomaniacs with way too much power'."

"I'll remember to try harder next time," Lisa commented.

"And when Dragon personally requested her help," Rey continued. "Well, it's kinda hard for anyone, especially a tinker, to turn down Dragon."

"So we're back to playing without the adult supervision?" Zach smiled. "I'll go find out what kegs cost these days."

"Do it, and I'll ask Vista and Riley to find a way to stuff you inside it," Crystal threatened.

"Yes mom," Zach whined.

"Also, why does your breath smell like grasshopper?" SurpriseAmusementShock. I smiled. My cousin always did know how to go along with a joke.