Photographs Tell No Truths
Chapter 2: Picture This
Disclaimer: Do You Think if I Owned TF2 I’d be Writing a Worm x Fanfic?
I mean… Probably… I own Absolutely NOTHING.
Story Start:
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Pavlov is a bastard, was the first thing that went through Taylor’s mind when she woke up. After six months being awoken at odd hours of the day, a true blue eight hours of sleep was now apparently truly beyond Taylor.
“Not this shit again.” Taylor complained with a frustrated sigh rolling over in her bed. “Oh don’t worry Taylor about your totally fucked sleep schedule. You’ll be able to sleep plenty after! Haha guess what? In my eighteen long ass years of life never before have I been fed such total bullshit. Fucking Pavlovian Programming.”
One of the great lies that had been told to her while training under her sadistic AI Overlord was that once her training was at an end she’d be able to get “Plenty Of Sleep After”.
The worst part is that she hadn’t even realized what was happening until the damn AI was beyond her reach, leaving Taylor to languish in her unsatisfying and brief half hour to two hour long naps throughout various parts of the day.
Sighing once more, Taylor rolled from her bed and stepped into a pair of running shorts, and shrugged on sports bra (Damn you Pavlov), giving a happily little bounce when said bra reminded Taylor of what was probably the greatest gift from the AI.
Taylor had boobs! Sure they were tiny, barely a handful. But! They were a handful, which was a sight better than the zero sum tits she had before.
Tying her hair up in a tight bun, and sticking a metal skewer through the whole thing, Taylor grabbed her essentials (Vitamin Water, Lighter, Cigarette Case, and Keys) and then promptly slipped out of the house.
Didn’t really matter that it was three A.M., it was the next day and her pavlovian programming had to be satisfied before she could get back to sleep, so better to get her five kilometer run out of the way so she could shower, eat, and get another couple hours in before she had to go to school.
“Damn this town is fucked.” Taylor grunted around her cigarette, she was leaning on a bit of rotting railing overlooking what was probably once a beautiful beach, which marked the halfway cool down before turning back for home, she liked it here, it was one of the few places Overlord had let her stop and rest unmolested.
Why exactly Taylor had no fucking clue, the beach was a mess, stank, and was very obviously being used as yet another illegal dumping ground, one of the many that existed in the shit hole known as Brockton Bay.
But Taylor wasn’t about to question the AI’s leniency; she had long since learned to never look a gift horse in the mouth with that sadist.
It was there staring at the rotting beach that Taylor decided to do something about it…
Not at that very moment of course, she was not nearly dressed adequately for such an endeavor. It was a goal for later, it was nice to have goals. Besides which, her exercise routine was starting to become just that routine.
Cleaning an entire beach ought to be a good workout.
Finishing her Cigarette with a longing sigh, Taylor once more became Aware.
There was no real way of explaining what that meant, but after her hellish training Taylor now had a nice little button in her mind, and when toggled on she became Aware; of people, of obstructions, and threats, and endless catalog of information pertinent and useless perpetually scrolling through her mind, hyper aware for anything and everything that Taylor might need to know or worry about.
For example, the startlingly unusual number of ABB that were out and about.
The ABB or The Azn Bad Boys were yet one of the many irritating plagues that infested her city, a collection of pseudo asian crime syndicates all rolled up under one conglomerate by the strength of an asshole who likes to pretend himself a dragon, and his pet undying suicide bomber.
Making a detour, Taylor slipped into a better mindset, and drew the skewer out of her hair. She didn’t expect that she’d need it. But better to have it in hand and not need it, than have need of it and it be temporarily out of reach.
Following the converging ABB mooks Taylor was only slightly surprised, when she ended up at The Ruby Dreams Casino.
A ferociously gaudy façade of a building that practically screamed its alliances, what with being damn near the heart of the ABB’s territory, it’s red and green themes, and the Eastern Dragon Iconography just absolutely littered Everywhere it was all horrifically gaudy.
And apparently at just that moment it was partially on fire, and had one whole wall smashed out.
“Looks like the Ruby Dream’s been turned into a nightmare, good for whoever did it.” Taylor smiled, she’d hated that place, especially when Overlord would send her there. “I do not envy their future though, oh well not my problem!”
Curiosity satisfied, Taylor started to turn away from the burning Casino only to instantly whirl around flicking her skewer up to deflect a knifed headed straight for her throat.
“You do not belong here.” the knife's owner stated softly, his voice a wispy ethereal thing like he rarely if ever used it. “Why have you come?”
“Curiosity, it is rare to see the ABB swarming like ants.” Taylor’s stated simply trying to maintain a calm composer as the masked face of Oni-Lee stepped out the shadows of a dumpster, he most likely teleported there, considering her awareness hadn’t registered him at all until the exact moment he attempted to murder her.
“And yet you have come armed.” Oni-Lee commented, nodding towards Taylor’s headpiece.
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
“It’s Brockton Bay, more the fool I’d be not to be.” Taylor shrugged unashamed of the fact.
“...Fair… Leave this place, you’re kind is unwanted here.” Oni-Lee stated before vanishing is a collapsing statue of ash.
“That’s what I was doing before you attacked me, asshole.” Taylor grunted before turning and leaving the alley behind, slipping her skewer back into her hair before continuing her run, she added an extra ten kilometers going as far as Lord’s Port just to make sure she wasn’t followed.
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“I miss that stupid AI,” Taylor decided, waking up feeling like she hadn’t slept at all… not that it actual ever felt like she’d slept at all, the concern brewing in her after her encounter with Oni-Lee.
Moving on autopilot more than anything Taylor quickly went through her morning absolutions, and wished her ever unresponsive father a good day at work.
And in what felt like moments Taylor found herself in front of Immaculata, giving herself a quick once over to ensure she was presentable, Taylor gave herself a self-deprecating smile. To think just six months ago she was almost having a panic attack over the school’s too short light blue skirt and too tight white dress shirt.
Now here she was in the same said uniform in high heels, knee socks, and a red tie for a splash of color, not a care in the world.
Well there Was one care to be had. She’d been at the school for six months now, yet still whispers and hushed conversations still followed her as she made her way through the school.
At first she’d assumed that was just life at Immaculata… all up until Overlord told her to make her way out of the school without being seen. And her eyes had been opened to the truth, everywhere else in the entire damn school, conversations were just as loud and boisterous as they had been at Winslow. A lot more orderly and not nearly as chaotic or prone to violence. But loud all the same. It was only when she was present that the whispers started and the volume died.
She still had no idea the damn AI had pulled that had caused such a reaction. When confronted, the infernal device had the audacity to laugh at her and claim that her treatment at her new school was solely the product of her own design.
Which made absolutely no sense to Taylor, but the AI refused to elaborate any further.
And her own investigations had led to nowhere, trying to listen in on the conversations after she’d passed had been fruitless as all the other students would talk about was some unknown Her, or how the Queen looked more and more amazing every time they saw her, and how they were so lucky to go to a school with such a peerless beauty at the top of all her classes.
Sometimes the gossip was about this unknown “Queen’s” lineage and how she must be the daughter of someone rich and influential to look so amazing everyday, or some other such contrivance like how she got into the school with the endorsement of the Principal himself.
Taylor honestly had no idea who they were even talking about. She knew they couldn’t possibly be talking about Her because she wasn’t that attractive, was still absolutely playing catch up with her schooling after her less than stellar education at Winslow, and most importantly of all there was absolutely no one in the entire damn school willing to talk to her.
Even the teachers seemed scared of her at times.
Which again was weird and frustrating.
The only conclusion that Taylor could come to was that this Unknown Queen had labeled Taylor persona non grata.
It wasn’t all that bad though honestly. And she vastly preferred this kind of treatment over what she’d been subjected to at Winslow any day of the week.
So honestly Taylor couldn’t say that she hated her time at Immaculata.
And there were a fair few parts of the school that she greatly enjoyed. The pool for instance was huge, heated (or cool on the hotter days), had an Olympic rated set of diving platforms, and the uniforms looked fantastic.
Honestly some days it was all Taylor could do to not stare at her classmates.
The school swim suit was tight in all the right places and didn’t just make her miniscule bust look good, but all the other girls as well, and oh how the long legs of her classmates looked just absolutely fantastic when silhouetted against the white bathing suit.
The boys looked all right too from what little she could remember seeing of them. It wasn’t her fault they kept the sexes separated during swim class… at least Taylor thought they did… she honestly couldn’t remember…
“I should probably pay better attention during swim class.” Taylor stated softly to herself with a nod. Maybe she’d spot this “Queen” if she did. She supposedly went to the same swim period as her.
And it was with these thoughts in mind Taylor felt her face fall into the calm happy face that her AI Overlord had helped her craft.
Her True Taylor.
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At swim class, Taylor learned that she did indeed go to class with the males of her school. How she had ever missed that Taylor had absolutely NO IDEA .
And it was thanks to her current high level of vigilance that Taylor saw Her .
One of her classmates was going up the high dive, and had just been in the process of running off the platform when the girl slipped and pinged her head off the side of one of the railings before flopping down into the water like a dead-fish.
Instantly Taylor was on her feet and diving into the water.
The next few moments were nothing but a jumble of confusion, as Taylor found herself going from the water back onto dry land kneeling next to the unfortunate blond, performing CPR on the girl, and that’s when things started getting even more confusing for Taylor as she found her mind lingering on the softness of the girl's lips, and the way her breasts felt against Taylor’s when she leaned down onto the girl to try and force air into her lungs and the water out of them.
After several cycles of pumping on the blonde’s chest (and trying desperately to ignore how soft and warm her breast’s felt on Taylor’s hand even through the cool wetness of the pool), and pressing her lips against Taylor’s in an attempt to force air into her lungs, that her efforts were rewarded and the girl started sputtering and coughing, working quickly to turn the girl onto her side to encourage the water out of her lungs.
She was still unconscious but at least she was breathing. Looking around, Taylor was relieved to see a teacher standing nearby with a first aid kit held limply in her hand. Snatching the kit out of the uncomfortable teacher’s hand, Taylor quickly snapped it open and pulled out an oxygen mask, and fitted it around the unconscious teen’s head.
“Did anyone call the paramedic’s?” Taylor asked as calmly as she could, currently and desperately trying to suppress the confusing feeling boiling in her chest, they were unneeded, unnecessary, and definitely wouldn’t help the situation in the slightest.
She’d just have to worry about the realization she might have just dumped on her later.
“Y-yes, they’ll be here any moment!” squeaked the teacher, well at least they could do one thing right.
As if spoken in prophecy, said paramedics pushed the door to the pool room open stretcher in tow.
What followed was quick and to the point as the paramedics took a quick statement from Taylor on what had happened and what she’d done in delivering first aid, which got her a short brisk nod of thanks before the Blonde was wheeled away.
Class was obviously canceled after that.
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The rest of the day moved in a blur, after the events of swim class. And Taylor was just absolutely sure she’d be an even bigger pariah by the next day.
Which would suck.
Oh well, Taylor wouldn’t have done it any differently, not especially with how useless the teacher turned out to be.
Now Taylor was on her way to Lord’s Street, she needed something to distract her.
“Hebert.” A voice sneered behind practically spitting her name like it was a curse, and damn her for tempting the universe today really wasn’t the day for it.
The worst part was how just hearing that voice made her feel. She wanted to sigh and curl up into herself at the voice. She truly did.
But her first lesson always rang true in her mind.
Be True To The Face You Choose To Become.
There Will Always Be Time And Need For New Faces.
But Never Forget Your Truth.
Less Others Choose It For You.
And the sad broken Taylor of the past wasn’t her truth. It was the face that she’d let Emma shape for her.
And Taylor wasn’t ever going to wear it again.
“Emma! How are you!” Taylor asked comfortably, turning around to face the irate redhead, who had once tormented her, with a bubbly and joy in her voice she’d once let be denied to herself back in full swing. “It’s been what? Oh six months since I left Winslow? How’re things? Still a decaying husk waiting to die?”
Okay so a little spite was fine. Nothing about her truth said she couldn’t harbor a bit of loathing for the sins that had been heaped on her during those horrid years at that so-called school.
“School has been fine. What’s with the new look Taylor? I know you can’t afford any of those clothes, how many gay men did you have to whore your mouth out to to afford them?” Emma sneered, and wow did it really not work with her face.
Her AI would have absolutely set off the nuke had Taylor ever attempted a sneer that poor.
“Oh no more than your dad had to get into that joke of a law firm he’s in now. I mean really? Richards and Sons? They don’t even rate a number on the firms even in Brockton Bay. No wonder he couldn’t afford to send you to even Arcadia.” Taylor shot back internally wincing at her dig at Mr. Barnes, he didn’t deserve her ire as far as she knew, “How’s life at Winslow by the way, you know now that I’m not there for you to steal from to ensure you get good grades?”
“Why you stupid Bitch!” Emma hissed through gritted teeth, her face burning redder than her hair. “I ought to put you back in your fucking place, you obviously don’t remember where you belong!”
“Oh I do wish you’d try! After all, it didn't work after two years, I’m definitely sure it’ll work now.” Taylor stated with a grin going so far as to offer Emma her cheek, she knew she wouldn’t though, they weren’t at Winslow, and Emma wouldn’t ever think to do something so stupid.
She hoped she did, after all Taylor knew something Emma didn’t.
“Fuck you Hebert. Just remember I know where you live!” Emma hissed before turning around to march off, and promptly ran face first into the chest of the Police Officer who had been standing behind Emma the whole time.
“Ma’am, is this one bothering you?” the Police officer asked softly with a hint of menace in his voice nodding his head towards Emma.
“Why yes she is Off-,” started Emma only to be silenced from a look from the Police Officer,
“I wasn’t talking to you.” Came his clipped reply before turning to face Taylor once more.
“No Sir she was just leaving, thank you.” Taylor replied sweetly giving the Officer a curtsy in thanks.
“Ma’am,” The Officer stated with a nod before turning his ire back on Emma. “Move along you, and I better not catch you trying to make another scene or I’ll throw you in a cell myself.” he growled and made sure Emma marched off, before giving Taylor another nod before moving on with his duties.
“I guess it’s never too late for it to be a good day.” Taylor hummed happily, in a much better mood as she continued her window shopping.
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Chapter End