Chapter 34

Author's Note:

Hello Author-san here, I've not been posting for a while. I needed to take a bit of break as I kept writing nonstop, so I needed a break of I'd burn out. Anyway enjoy your story 😜.

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Sitting alone in the dimly lit canteen, Charlotte absentmindedly stirred her coffee, her thoughts consumed by the lingering images of Reggie's brutality during their last mission.

The man who had once been her patient, supportive partner—the one who guided her through the grueling Speedforce training—now seemed distant, almost unrecognizable.

She couldn't shake the fear gnawing at her: was this who Reggie truly was beneath the surface? Was everything she'd come to love just another mask he wore?

She'd trained so hard, pushing through the pain to become someone who could stand by his side, but even with her enhanced abilities, she still felt fragile compared to the others.

Tyrone, who could transform into a scaled behemoth, and the others with their destructive powers—what was she next to them? Was she really just a burden, someone Reggie felt obligated to protect?

She was so lost in her thoughts that she barely noticed when someone sat down next to her. But the familiar scent of his cologne and the quiet slurp of a watermelon smoothie told her it was him. Reggie sat there, staring straight ahead, his expression unreadable.

"Reggie…?" Her voice trembled slightly. "I… I don't understand. I know you have your secrets, and I've never asked you to reveal them, but… Is the Reggie I know—the one I love—still the same, or is he just one of your masks?"

Her heart pounded as she finally let the question slip out, the one that had been haunting her. Was he truly the man she loved, or was she holding onto an illusion?

For a long moment, Reggie said nothing. Then, slowly, he turned to face her, his eyes softening. "Charlotte, there are things about me—about my past—that I can't share yet. Not because I don't trust you, but because I need to keep you safe. The things I've done, the skills I have… they're not pretty, and I don't want to drag you into that darkness."

He took her hand in his, squeezing it gently. "But what we have? That's real. I love you. The reason I haven't told you everything is because I'm trying to protect you from the weight of it. You might not understand now—you might even hate me for it—but I promise, I'm still the Reggie who cares about you. And I'll never stop loving you, even if I have to spank your naughty ass to remind you."

A smile tugged at the corner of her lips despite herself. His playful smirk was so familiar, so warm and genuine, that it chased away some of her doubts. She leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. "I believe you, Reggie. I just… I want to be strong enough to stand by your side, no matter what comes."

"You already are, Charlotte," he said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "You've grown so much. I'm proud of you."

For the first time in days, she felt the weight on her chest lift. Whatever secrets he was holding onto, she could live with them—for now. What they had was real, and she would trust him to open up when the time was right.

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Gathered in the training hall, the air was thick with tension as the team sat around, waiting for Reggie to speak. Butcher leaned back, arms crossed, while MM and Frenchie eyed Reggie with a mix of curiosity and wariness.

Mallory stood off to the side, her gaze sharp and calculating. Hughie fidgeted, clearly nervous, while Tyrone's tall frame loomed in the corner, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed eyes glowing gold as he was still trying to get used to being able to stand on his feet after being paralyzed.

Reggie stepped forward, cutting straight to the point. "Ladies and gents, we all know Vought is the enemy. Some of us are here for justice, some for revenge, and others because we want to see those bastards answer for their crimes. But if we're gonna take the fight to them, we need to be realistic. They've got armies of supes, some strong, some cannon fodder. We can't win this by playing nice."

He paused, letting his words sink in. "Vought's lifeline is Compound V—the stuff that makes them and their supes untouchable. They've got distribution centers, medical facilities, and labs all over, pumping out this poison. Hitting just one of these spots is pointless; the second we do, they'll lock down every other site tighter than Fort Knox and go underground like roaches. We need a coordinated strike—take out multiple targets simultaneously."

Butcher nodded approvingly, but Hughie looked uneasy. The Brit asked "So, what's the plan, then? We're just gonna waltz in and blow everything up? We're human, Reggie. We can't just go toe-to-toe with supes."

"That's where this comes in," Reggie said, holding up a vial of the temporary power capsule pills. "These give you powers for 24 hours. You'll still be human, but you'll have the edge you need when it comes down to life or death. The question is, are you ready to take that risk?"

MM grunted. "Temporary powers, huh? I've seen enough things go sideways with Compound V. How do we know these won't just mess us up?"

Reggie met his gaze. "We don't. But we're out of options, I've already got rid of most of it's lethal properties and Vought won't hesitate to use every dirty trick they've got. This levels the playing field, but it's your choice. No one's forcing you."

Butcher's grin was feral. "I'm in. About time we got a taste of their own medicine. 'Sides, I'm not about to let a bunch of Vought puppets get the better of us."

Mallory finally spoke, her voice cold and authoritative. "This isn't a game, Butcher. If we go down this path, there's no turning back. But Reggie's right—if we're going to hit Vought where it hurts, we need every advantage we can get."

Hughie looked torn, glancing between the others. "I just… I don't want to lose myself in this. We're supposed to be the good guys, right?"

Reggie placed a hand on his shoulder. "We are, Hughie. But sometimes, being the good guys means getting your hands dirty. This is about making sure people like Robin and the kids Vought experiments on get a chance at a normal life."

After a tense silence, Hughie nodded. "Alright. I'm in too."

One by one, the others agreed, though the weight of their decision hung in the air. The mission was set, but the real test would come when they faced Vought's forces—and themselves—on the battlefield.

Reggie looked at them all, a mix of determination and concern in his eyes. "Get ready. Once we start this, there's no going back."

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Reggie's words hung in the air, a heavy decision weighing on the team. The tension in the room was palpable as everyone exchanged glances, uncertain about whether to take the power pills.

Butcher furrowed his brow, examining the small vial of pills with suspicion. "For the record, I ain't one for blind risks, Reggie. How do we know these things won't just turn us into a bunch of lunatics, eh?" He finished with a teasing smirk.

Making Reggie roll his eyes at his nonstop suspicion, Frenchie's eyes darted to the vial, then back to his teammates. "Maybe it's best if we all agree before taking them. Don't want anyone going off the deep end."

MM nodded, his expression serious. "We need to make sure we're all in this together. No room for doubt."

Hughie, looking more nervous than the others, scratched his head. "Well, we could just… you know, draw straws or something?"

A moment of silence followed as everyone considered Hughie's suggestion. Butcher looking at Hughie broke the silence with a smirk. "Or we could just play rock, paper, scissors to decide. It's quick and dirty, but it'll do the job just fine."

Frenchie chuckled, shaking his head. "Rock, paper, scissors? Really?"

Hughie shrugged, trying to lighten the mood. "It's not the most sophisticated method, but it's fair."

Reggie watched with a bemused expression. "Well alright, if you guys are up for it, let's see how it plays out."

The team gathered in a circle, and Butcher took charge. "Alright, let's get this over with. Rock, paper, scissors on three. Ready?"

Everyone nodded, though the tension remained. "One… two… three!"

Butcher threw rock, MM chose paper, Hughie went with scissors, and Frenchie hesitated just a moment before selecting rock as well. MM and Hughie both won their rounds with paper and scissors, respectively.

Butcher raised an eyebrow at the outcome. "Well, looks like Hughie and MM get first pick."

Hughie and MM exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of relief and apprehension. "Guess we're up first," Hughie said, his voice wavering slightly.

Reggie handed the pills to them, offering a reassuring nod. "Don't worry, you're not alone in this. We're all in this together."

Hughie and MM following Reggie's instructions each twisted the capsules, making them glow bright green before they swallowed their pills. The effect was almost instantaneous. For a moment, there was nothing—just a strange sense of calm before the storm.

Then, as the pill took effect, a warm, tingling sensation spread through Hughie and MM, growing into a wave of euphoria. Their senses heightened, colors became more vivid, and the world seemed to slow down around them. It wasn't painful, but it was an indescribable rush, a feeling as if their very essence was expanding.

Hughie's heart raced as he felt an energy building within him. He glanced around, and suddenly, he found himself blinking out of existence and reappearing across the room. His initial reaction was one of sheer surprise; teleportation was both exhilarating and bewildering.

He struggled to control his newfound ability, flickering in and out of sight as he tried to master the skill. With concentration, he learned to stabilize his teleportation and phase through obstacles, his body becoming intangible to pass through walls or barriers effortlessly.

MM felt a surge of power coursing through him. The ground beneath his feet and all around him seemed to hum with potential energy he could instinctively absorb.

He could feel the very essence of the sunlight around him, and energy constructs formed around his hands as if by instinct. At first, his attempts to control them were clumsy, the constructs flickering and shifting unpredictably.

The first seconds of their transformations were chaotic. Hughie struggled to control his teleportation and phasing, appearing and disappearing in random spots, while MM's energy constructs morphed uncontrollably, the energy swirling around him in a dazzling but unwieldy dance.

Reggie stepped in quickly, his calm demeanor a grounding presence amidst the chaos. "Alright, listen up!" he said, his voice firm yet encouraging. "Hughie, focus on where you want to go and phase through objects with intention. It's not about running away from the disorientation; it's about controlling your movement and your ability to phase through solid matter."

He turned to MM. "For your energy constructs, focus on the sensation of the energy rather than trying to control everything at once. Picture what you want to create and don't let the energy overwhelm you—embrace it."

Slowly, Hughie and MM began to find their footing. Hughie's teleportation became more controlled, and his phasing ability allowed him to move through walls and obstacles with precision. MM's energy constructs started to take shape as he envisioned them, the chaotic energy transforming into stable, coherent forms.

As the team watched, their uncertainty turned into a mix of awe and respect. Reggie's guidance had helped them harness their new abilities, and the promise of what they could achieve began to take shape.

Reggie clapped Hughie and MM on the back. "Good job. It takes practice, but you're on the right track. Remember, these powers don't control you—you control them."

The team nodded, their resolve strengthened. The pills had given them a powerful edge, but it was clear that mastering these abilities would be key to their success.

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Hughie and MM's transformations had set a high bar, and now all eyes were on the final two.

Butcher and Frenchie exchanged determined looks. Butcher took the pill from Reggie, inspecting it with a skeptical eye. "Well, Frenchie, reckon it's our turn now."

Frenchie chuckled, his gaze flickering between the pill and his teammates. "Looks like it. I'm curious to see how this turns out."

With a decisive nod, Butcher twisted the pill making it glow very bright green before he swallowed his pill with a swift gulp. Frenchie followed suit, his expression a mix of anticipation and resolve.

The moment the pills took effect, both men were hit by a wave of euphoria. For Butcher, the sensation was an intense rush of warmth that quickly coalesced into a powerful, surging energy. His eyes glowed a fierce red, and he could feel an almost tangible heat radiating from within him.

Frenchie's experience was markedly different but equally profound. As the pill activated, he was immediately engulfed in a whirlwind of sensory overload. His surroundings twisted and distorted as his magnetic abilities and illusion powers came to life.

He felt a magnetic pull in his veins, making metal objects around him vibrate and float. At the same time, his mind was awash with the ability to create and manipulate illusions that could affect all five senses.

Butcher's initial attempts were a struggle. His heat vision erupted unpredictably, scorching a nearby wall and sending debris flying. He struggled to focus, his power threatening to spiral out of control. "Shit, need to rein it in," he muttered, his voice strained as he tried to manage the intense energy.

Frenchie, meanwhile, was grappling with a barrage of illusions. His ability to manipulate the magnetic field around him made metal objects levitate and spin in mid-air, while his illusions conjured shifting, ghostly images and sounds.

The room seemed to bend and warp around him as he created vivid illusions—phantom figures, phantom noises, and even the sensation of textures that weren't real.

Reggie stepped in swiftly, his presence calming amidst the chaos. "Alright, listen up. Butcher, you need to focus on precision. Visualize a target and direct your heat vision there. It's not about unleashing raw power but about controlling it."

Turning to Frenchie, Reggie continued, "For your illusions and magnetism, start by grounding yourself. Focus on one metal object and move it with intention. As for your illusions, pick a single, clear image or scene. The more focused you are, the more stable your illusions will be."

Butcher took a deep breath, closing his eyes to steady himself. He focused on a distant target on the wall and opened his eyes, releasing a controlled beam of heat. The beam was now steady and precise, making a clean cut without causing collateral damage.

Frenchie, too, began to gain control over his powers. He concentrated on a single metal object, guiding it smoothly through the air. Gradually, his chaotic illusions settled into a coherent, convincing image of a peaceful garden, the sensory details becoming clear and stable.

The room's atmosphere shifted as Butcher and Frenchie regained control over their newfound abilities. The initial chaos had transformed into a more manageable command over their powers.

Reggie clapped both on the back with an approving nod. "Great job, both of you. Remember, these powers are tools—use them wisely. It's crucial to stay focused and not let them control you."

Butcher grinned, the intensity in his eyes now under control. "Not bad, Reggie. Not bad at all."

Frenchie laughed, his magnetic and illusionary control now steady and deliberate. "Agreed. This is going to be quite the experience."

With their newfound powers under control, the team felt a renewed sense of confidence. United and ready, they prepared to confront Vought with their enhanced abilities, ready to face the mission ahead on more equal terms.

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