“Back off Parian,” she snapped, raising her crossbow. “And you get out of here, before I pull the trigger.”

  “Doubt you have the guts, little girl,” the gangster in spiked armour with a dry chuckle. He was flanked by two more, dressed similarly though less over the top. “What's the matter, don't want your little whore girlfriend watching you get gutted?”

  “Not leaving you, Flechette,” Parian muttered.

  “Come on cutie don't be like that,” one of the thugs behind the lead one drawled.

  “Five seconds to turn around and walk away,” Flechette ordered. “Then I get to see if I can take down all three of you without hitting anything vital.” She really didn't want a fight, let alone to hurt someone so seriously. But if she was right, these were members of the Teeth, the Butcher's crew; she knew they wouldn't back down easily.

  “I'll give you three to drop your pants and give us a show,” the lead gangster countered, pointing his knife.

  Three seconds, in the end, was all it took. None of the gangsters had powers, and they were fighting two parahumans. Flechette kicked out the leader's knee and pinned him to the ground through one of his pauldrons. She fired her crossbow at another, pinning him through his hand to the wall. Parian dealt with the last, tying her up with dozens of threads. Once they were finished, and Flechette had cuffed them all, she made a call to the PRT for pickup.

  “You shouldn't stay here,” Flechette said while they waited, keeping an eye on the Teeth members across the room. “These guys are just the first, more are going to come and they'll come with capes. It's not safe anymore.” Parian stared at the gangsters pensively.

  “I don't want to join the Protectorate,” she said quietly. “I...I know that must sound selfish, considering everything you've done for me, for my family, but I'm still not a fighter. I don't want to become a fighter either.”

  “The world isn't going to give you a choice, Ri,” she sighed. “I don't want you to have to fight either, but if you want to stay here...” Parian's hands balled into fists.

  “I hate this,” she hissed.

  “Me too,” Flechette agreed. “But...we can protect you, your family. It doesn't have to be forever but...I'd feel a lot better if I knew you were safe.”

  “Are we safe with them?” Parian asked. “The Undersiders...Skitter came by last week, after the big fight.”

  “You didn't mention that,” she replied icily.

  “She didn't do anything and we just talked,” Parian countered. “She told me about the Triumvirate, about...Cauldron. Some pretty awful things, Flechette.” She glowered and the Ward winced. “I don't want to take her word outright, but I won't join the Protectorate, I think. So, what do you have to say about it?” She swallowed.

  “I'm...I'm not a fake cape,” Flechette said, her voice small. “You know that, right? I...I told you about March and--”

  “I know,” Parian cut her off, softening her tone. “I know, that's why I want to know why you're still with them.”

  “I...” She considered it carefully for a minute. “I don't know, not exactly. I know Skitter's offer was genuine and...and she has done some good, I can't deny that. And the Protectorate isn't perfect, god knows, but I think it's still the best option despite its flaws. Alexandria said she's stepping down, there are a lot of investigations being opened, they're trying to fix things. The villains, they aren't; they just want to squeeze people more and more when they're barely hanging on.”

  “And what if I don't want either?” She shifted in place and swallowed hard. “What if...I wanted out?”

  “You're leaving?”

  “It's...” Parian paused. “We've been talking about it, about maybe going to Boston. Brockton Bay is my home, but...there isn't much left for me here. My shop's been destroyed, so has my home, my family was mutilated by Bonesaw.” She paused, taking a shaky breath. “I want...would you come?”

  The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

  “What?” Flechette rocked back slightly on her heels.

  “If I...go.” She swallowed again. “Would you go with me, with my family to Boston? It would be a difficult start, but...I think being with you would make it easier.”

  Flechette stared at the ground, clenching her fists. Truth be told, she'd seriously considered leaving the Wards and...well, she hadn't gotten far before dropping the line of thought when the Teeth started moving in. Despite all her misgivings about the Protectorate, people still needed heroes and they were heroes. Flechette could go independent, but going back to having no support system, no team, would be a hell of a time.

  But Parian wanted her to be there, and she wanted to be with Parian. The fact that she was asking Flechette made her blush, but she fought the feeling down. Yes, she wanted to be with Parian, but was that where she could do the most good? Brockton Bay was suffering badly, it needed all the help it could get when heroes were abandoning it left, right, and center. Could she?

  “You don't have to answer now,” Parian said as the PRT van's headlights swept across the windows. “Just...promise you will answer?”

  “I just need to think about it,” Flechette murmured. “I don't...please just give me some time?”

  “Of course,” she said softly, reaching out and taking Flechette's hand. “I was going to ask you anyway. We're leaving next week so...you have time.”

  “Not much.” Parian squeezed her hand, but Flechette pulled away as the door opened.

  “Flechette,” the lead officer said. “Wounded?”

  “No, besides that idiot,” she replied, gesturing to the guy pinned by his hand. “I'll give you a hand.”

  It took a few minutes, but she helped the officers wrestle the three gangsters into the back of the van. Parian declined to come with them and make a statement, giving the officers a brief one at the scene. Even when Flechette asked her to, for safety, she just shook her head and said it was safer here. The fact Parian felt that way made Flechette's guts twist.

  The ride back to headquarters was quiet. The gangsters apparently took enough licks to not want to mouth off anymore. Unfortunately, that left Flechette alone with her thoughts, thoughts filled with ideas of leaving everything behind for the girl she...cared about. Her head thumped against the side of the van, her vision shaking as it bumped and rattled over the broken roads.

  What the hell was she supposed to do? Her career, her life in some ways, had been the Wards; and a hell of a lot better than her home life, even now. Could she leave it all for a chance at happiness? There was certainly part of her that wanted nothing more. Flechette had put in her hours, fighting Leviathan, the Nine, she had earned it. And it didn't mean not helping people, just...it would be different without the Protectorate.

  She hadn't figured it out by the time they arrived at the headquarters, or by the time the gangsters were in cells. Flechette numbly went through processing, after action reports, everything with that cloud hanging over her head. An hour later, when she finally made it down to the quarters, showered, and changed, she was no closer to an answer.

  When the elevator doors hissed open, Lily flinched. She hadn't even noticed the announcement that someone was coming down. Fortunately she was around the corner in the 'chill zone', reclining on a bean-bag chair; out of immediate sight. When the person shuffled by, Lily sighed with relief. Just Amaranth.

  She looked...awful. Not like, in an ugly way, but she looked like she hadn't slept in a week. The bags under her eyes made it look like she'd had her nose broken. When she pulled off her mask, Lily could see that the skin around her eyes was bright red, compared to the rest of her face. Little blisters rose above patches of greasy acne, and Lia's hair hung limp and tangled. She shuffled along towards her room, not even looking Lily's way.

  “Lia?” she called, making the girl pause. “Hey, uh...it's been a while. Are...how are you doing?” Lia's head shifted slightly, the only sign she'd heard.

  “I'm...not doing good,” she said after a moment. “It's...Echidna hit me hard. Trying to figure things out.”

  “Um.” Lily glanced at the floor. “Can I...ask what kind of things?” There was a longer pause.

  “Me.” The answer was almost too quiet to hear. “You need anything? I'm...tired.”

  “Sorry,” she apologized quickly, then licked her lips and looked up. She was startled when she met Lia's red-rimmed, bloodshot eyes. “I...can I ask you for some advice again?” Lia sighed and leaned against a half-wall.

  “You shouldn't listen to it, but whatever.” She shut her eyes and hung her head. “What is it?”

  “Well, Parian's leaving town.” Lily swallowed. “She and her family can't deal with it anymore, and I can't really blame them but...she asked me to go with her.”

  “Okay,” Lia said flatly. “You going?”

  “No,” she replied instantly. “I mean...I don't...I shouldn't go, right? I'm a hero, I swore to protect the people who needed it and god does Brockton Bay need heroes. But Parian needs me too and...and I don't know what to do.” Lia took a deep breath.

  “You're a hero,” she replied. “You already know the right choice.”

  “But if she leaves...”

  “She leaves. She's already made her choice, you can only make yours.” Lia hung her head and added under her breath. “Like I did.”

  “Okay,” Lily whispered. “I hope you figure out...you.”

  “Me too.” Without another word Lia shuffled away, leaving Lily alone.

  She sighed and rolled over in the chair. Lily needed to figure herself out too...