AN: Minor Editing Pass 6-1-24
It was the next day that I noticed the text from Amy. She had apparently texted me well past midnight with a short message. ‘Are you going to be making the same offer to Vicky?’
I wasn’t sure if Amy was requesting it or wanting to exclude her. Stopping to think about it further I even started to wonder if Amy herself knew which option she was leaning towards.
Sighing at the complication I considered a moment before responding. ‘I am not actually as interested in Vicky as I am in you. I want my group to be as happy together as possible so if you have strong opinions either way about inviting her I will probably defer to that decision.’
I sent the text and rolled out of bed in order to get my shower and head out to hopefully meet with Taylor.
When I got back out of the shower I was greeted with another text. ‘...Ok’
Yeah the girl didn’t know what she wanted.
I sighed and started my jog. It was only a few blocks before I noticed Taylor jogging along coming from a side street. She didn’t seem to be paying attention so she was obviously either deep in thought or using her bugs to see the world around them… perhaps both.
Adjusting my course so I could wave at her when she turned the corner and would most likely see me. I frowned internally when I noticed Taylor blank when she looked at me.
She didn’t seem to want to approach me and so I tried making the wave again with a smile followed by the call me gesture.
I would just have to go from there. It wasn’t like she would open up to me if I chased her down and tried to make her talk.
Continuing my jogging I found a restaurant and ordered breakfast. It was not bad and I had a moment to consider how I wanted to approach Lisa.
If I was careful I might be able to spot her first. If I did then the best plan was probably to act as open as possible and let her read into the conversation whatever she wanted. I had every intention of being kind and letting her make all of the decisions. Yeah I wanted her, but it wasn’t like I was going to force her in anything and she should be able to recognize that.
Once I finish my breakfast and head back to change clothes and shower I started my walk down the boardwalk.
I actually had a little fun this time. I need to build myself a costume eventually and all of these jackets and whatnot look like they could be something fun. I might look like the hobo hero, but I only needed it to talk with the Protectorate Heros. The government supported hero team shouldn’t be attacking me on sight anyway.
Finally I find a hockey mask in the back, but I will have to wait for night time and portal in to get it. Buying a mask on the boardwalk with cameras everywhere right before debuting with said mask would be monumentally dumb.
In the end, I only ended up buying the black jacket and boots I had found. After I walked out of the boardwalk I found a side street before portaling my boots back to my apartment. I really didn’t need to carry them around everywhere, but I needed to keep at least one bag since people had seen me with it already. You never knew who was watching.
It was nearly an hour later that I spotted Lisa. I hadn’t been sure it was her until she flinched as she met my eyes. She had been staring at me obviously realizing that I was looking for her. So, once our eyes met she paused obviously realizing she had been spotted and understanding I wouldn’t let this go without talking to her.
As I walked up she poked me in the chest. “What do you think you are doing? This is clearly against the unwritten rules.”
I scoffed. “We both know that neither one of us has bad intentions right now and I am here to make you a counter offer to the one your current employer made. But first I want to find a place private enough for this conversation.”
Glancing around Lisa seemed to agree. “There doesn’t seem to be any of his men around but he can look through the security cameras. I am going to act like I brushed you off and you chase me into an alley.”
I rolled my eyes but followed her script as she suddenly walked away. Trying to grab her hand I tried to play the role of a frustrated boyfriend or suitor before I followed her towards a blind alley.
Once we reached the alley I opened a portal to the roof and walked inside. Lisa seemed to inspect it for a bit before also stepping though.
I sighed. I was going to have to give the speech again, but before I could start Lisa started talking. “You are here to make an offer. You have powers. No, not normal powers. Something dimensional. No, not only dimensional. You want me for your group. No, not only for your group. You want me physically. No, not only me, but other women as well.” She was now going a little white. “You are thinking about controlling us somehow. No not controlling us, but mastering us in some way… But previously you were clearly not going to do me any harm. But…”
Lisa looked ready to bolt so I slapped my hand down on the rail on the side of us. The noise seemed to jolt her out of whatever spiral she was now running down.
Reaching out with my abilities, I pulled us half-way into a pocket dimension like before, but this time I completely cut her off from her power. It was actually easier than I thought it would be.
Lisa’s eyes widened even further as she felt the information her power was feeding her and I noticed she started to tremble.
I winced, I wasn’t trying to terrify her. “Lisa. Listen to me. I am going to explain everything. What you do after I give you the information is up to you. I will not do anything to you today even if you asked me to. Do you understand?”
That seemed to finally calm her down somewhat, but she now looked less scared and more angry.
Sighing, I brace myself to start my explanation again, but before I do Lisa folds her arms and huffs. “Give me my power back.”
I sigh and finally run a hand down my face. “No, not if you aren’t going to actually listen, you are just going to use your cold reading trick to try to get answers. Especially if those answers are only half true at best.”
Lisa full on growls and I blink in disbelief.
Then fully done with Lisa’s complaints I just decided to bite the bullet. “The multiverse theory is right. Specifically the one that implies your current reality is a fantasy of another.”
Lisa finally unfolds her arms and just stares at me.
“I am not a parahuman. What amounts to a powerful Precog says that if nothing changes this section of reality will be destroyed in about two years.”
Now Lisa looked at me with a sense of fear and worry.
I decided to continue laying it out as best I could. “There are multiple forces at work that will make this world fall and I have no intention of still being here when it does, especially as we die if we stay even if we save the world. Conversely that powerful precog, the same one your boss is trying to kidnap, has confirmed that if we leave the correct information this world has a better than 70% chance of surviving.”
Lisa was now simply blinking at me and I smiled. “Short answer to your questions. I am a dimensional soul mage. I made myself an immortal lich and I will make the people I bind to me the same. That said what you saw with your power isn’t completely wrong. I am a normal guy…” She scoffed at that but I continued. “So, yes I am picking women who are willing to join me as my wives as we travel the multiverse.”
I took another deep breath and considered my wording of the next part before continuing. “I am sure you will figure out I am telling the truth, but know that others have confirmed it as well. Now as for why specifically you.”
This seemed to grab her interest and she actually motioned for me to get on with it. “You were important in the story of this world. You helped a girl named Taylor as she grew up and eventually helped her save the world albeit with overwhelming, almost catastrophic casualties and death.”
I watched as she just stared at me open-mouthed. “The problem is that it isn’t going to be enough this time in this version of the universe. So, the reason I am making this offer to you specifically is I want to recruit you. I liked who you became even if you were a little bit of a bitch from time to time. I know you say that you are asexual currently, but you should know two things. One, I am able to turn your power off myself but I can give you the ability as well. Two, thinker headaches will also be a thing of the past.”
That did get her attention, but she didn’t look convinced and I suspected that I had failed. I decided to just wrap it up. “Look, I am attracted to power, kindness, and intelligence and surprisingly enough you do have a decent amount of all three.” She looked a little flattered, but didn’t say anything.
I took a sigh and sat back on the ledge of the roof and eyed Lisa for a moment. “You should know two more things. One is that this information will absolutely get you killed. Not by me, but by some of the boogie men of this world. They have both precogs and portal makers on their side. You speak a word of this to anyone and I suspect that you will have a bullet in your head within the hour.”
Lisa had gone white at that and I could tell she was thinking about running again. “Second is that your boss is Thomas Calvert, PRT consultant. He has the ability to test two hypothetical timelines and pick which one he wants to keep. The problem is that he gets to keep any information on the rejected timeline so he can do things like torture or rape you and you would never know. I am telling you this as he is probably going to do it again, but you should know that if you give him any information before you die, the version of you that survived will suffer for it.”
Lisa had started to wobble and I quickly stepped up and sat her down back against the brick wall of the ledge. “I am sorry, but you need to know all the details so you can make your choices intelligently. Option one is that I help you get away from Coil and out of town. No one should be able to recognize you as I have a connection to Panacea and she will help. If you brand yourself a new hero in another city you can probably even get real protection from…”
Lisa reached up and grabbed my arm. “I want option 1! Get me out of her! I don’t want anything to do with you or any of this anymore.”
I sighed and decided to flick the girl on the nose. “Listen to my entire pitch before you say something.” Then quieter I added. “Damn it Lisa, you are supposed to be the smart one.”
That was apparently the thing that seemed to shock her out of her spiral. Glaring at me I smirked in return. “Ok, now that you are actually listening, let me explain your other options. The downside for option 1 is that the boogie men of this universe are connected to the PRT. No, I won't give more information than that. You shouldn’t look into it. So you aren’t completely safe even if you go to them.”
“The second option is that I temporarily make you a lich. You will be able to perfectly fake your death and then I can send you on your way with your face changed. Once again I recommend some official position with the PRT or guild, harder to make you disappear. The downsides are the same as before. Also my help will be one time only so if anyone tracks you down, then nothing changes. Finally option three is be bound to me and leave this reality. Bonuses are immortality, traveling the multiverse, and making your powers actually yours. Again, this means that thinker headaches are gone, but using your powers will make you tired, Plus, like I said, you will be able to turn them off.” I raised my eyebrows a few times, not so subtly hinting that she might get her libido back once her powers were off.
Seeing her actually considering it I sighed. “Actually, excuse me, the power modifications are actually part of option 2 as well. Downsides from your opinion are that you will be mine in a harem of sister wives, plus it is possible that we might not ever come back.” Lisa looked up annoyed and I shrugged. “One girl I bonded with didn't really care and the second that is more or less committed is kinda looking forward to the other women.”
Lisa huffed and turned away. “Give me my damn powers back.”
I sighed. “OK I will, but please remember my warnings. Don’t use my power to think about me or my powers or where parahuman abilities come from. It will get us both killed. Second is that you don’t talk to anyone about what you heard. Third is that you call this number when you make your decision.”
Flicking the card with my number to Lisa I released her power and dropped the dimension shift. Lisa gave me a stink eye for several moments as she stared at me before gesturing to the ground.
Rolling my eyes I simply opened a portal to the ground and then portaled back to my apartment.
Deciding that I really could use a nap I fell asleep after portaling back to the house.
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.
It was to a text message that I woke up. I blinked. Was it Amy again? What was going on with Vicky?
Pulling out my phone I see I missed a phone call from an unknown number. I had only given my phone number to Lisa, Dinah, Amy… and Taylor. I blinked again. Was Taylor really calling me?
Dialing the call back button I waited for a moment before I heard Taylor’s robotic voice across the line. “Hey Max, this is Taylor. I want to know what you want with me. Someone like you… wouldn’t normally be interested in someone like me.”
I sighed and rubbed my head. She was being smart, hinting she knew I was a cape without saying anything. Debating for a moment I decide it is best to just confront her directly. “I have a lot to tell you. From your voice I can tell that you are asking a little more than just why I gave you my number, right?”
I could hear the silence for a moment. It seemed quite a bit longer than expected and I frowned. Finally she responded. “Yes.”
I still couldn’t read at all her with her emotions suppressed and so I decided I would just have to be blunt. “Are you alone? And can I come over to explain?”
There was another long pause before a slightly emotional, “Yes.”
I frowned harder. This was going to be much less subtle than I liked, but I was already causing too many ripples and I was pretty sure my welcome here was going to be running out soon. “I will be there in a minute and explain everything I can. Then we can talk and I will promise to answer any of your questions truthfully and completely.”
After an affirmative that might have been relieved I scried her exact house and portaled into the living room to her side. Obviously she froze up but relaxed slightly when I held up my hands and wasn’t wearing a mask. “Hello Taylor. First let me say I am glad to be able to talk to you. However I do need to make sure this room is secure before we can talk. Just know I am not going to do anything to you regardless.”
Knowing that this was probably going to freak her out I portaled us away quickly and then cut her off from her powers. I winced at the shock then panic that crossed her face before I held out my hand to try to calm her down. “There are incredibly powerful people who might possibly listen into what I am about to tell you and would kill us both if they suspected I was saying what I am now going to explain.”
Taylor looked overwhelmed before she seemed to steel herself and nodded, eyes narrowing.
I sighed and wiped my hand across my face. “You will have to excuse me. I have given this speech four times and it is long and hard to explain, but know that it is true.” Another nod.
“I am not sure if you are familiar with multiverse theory…” The explanation of where I came from was taken with some disbelief, but the idea that there was a precog strong enough that they could see what would happen to this world was understood well enough.
What went over less well was the sheer magnitude of what would happen to her town and her in particular. “You are saying that I was the one who saved the world in this alternate reality… and that the situation has changed and so I won’t be able to do it again.”
I wasn’t sure if she was more incredulous at the story or in anger that I was saying she couldn’t do it again. I sighed. “The other you killed a god at near total cost to yourself. You were a hero above all others even if you had to do many villainous things to get there. The problem was it was always a long shot, a stab in the dark, a hail Mary. In that other Earth you were supported by forces that were corrupted and idiodic, but still working towards saving the world. This world’s illuminati have been unknowingly corrupted. This time they will actually shoot themselves in the foot instead of picking the way that will win albeit with perhaps the most suffering possible.”
Taylor blinked and sighed, shoulders slumping. “What do you mean?”
I leaned back and tried to think of a way to explain again. “The other world’s illuminati were knowingly or not causing strife in the world and with you. It sort of worked in that they got a bunch of individually strong but brittle warriors. But that is a fundamentally stupid approach. For instance, they left the slaughterhouse 9 walking around killing people because it would allow more people to trigger. The problem with that is that the S9 killed way more capes than they triggered. The only thing the S9 did that could possibly be called helping was causing occasional second triggers… but those were exceptionally rare. Then Jack Slash actually talked Scion into ending the world sooner. So instead of 20 years to prepare, you had 2. Literally trying to end the world sooner because he was defeated by you that one time.”
Taylor blinked at me and tilted her head so I continued. “Their plan was stupid. I am trying to give them better plans. The problem is Scion can learn through all of you and why he is probably too distraught about losing his mate to actually do anything currently, the illuminati will pick up on my changes sooner or later and take me out. Hell, with how stupid their plans are they will probably kill everyone I convinced to help me as well.”
Taylor froze and looked at me angrily so I continued. “So I am offering you three options to help. First, I will help you with the idiot trio who made you trigger. I can think of several ways to do this. The best method I can think of is by leaking what is happening to you to the news. The media attention will get the ball rolling. The problem so far is that Sophia Hess is Shadow Stalker, a probationary Ward due to her violent vigilantism, and because of PR reasons they will either cover for Sophia or not come down on her hard enough and you and your family could be at risk if she gets the chance. So you will probably have to join the Wards to get proper protection. Being on the government’s side should help, but isn’t foolproof, especially with Leviathan coming.”
I waited for the rage and then frustration of finding out her bully was a ‘Hero’ to run its course while feeling bad I had to be the bearer of bad news today.
“The second offer, I would be willing to make, is to permanently deal with Sophia. I am planning on trying to deal with as many gang leaders and maybe even the Slaughterhouse 9 as I can before I leave, so I wouldn’t mind. The problem is the PRT are going to look at who had a beef with Sophia and you would be at the top of the list who hated her in her personal life.”
Taylor slumped. I wasn’t sure if she was more annoyed that killing Sophia wouldn’t just solve the problem or that she was considering it. She then muttered a small “Damn it!”
I smiled at her and she looked back confused. “The final option is the one I would prefer. I am looking for companions to travel the multiverse with me. As they are going to be bonded with me more or less permanently I am being very careful on who I make the offer to join us.” I looked at her a little more deeply this time. “I am not a saint. I am picking only women to come with me. If they are willing then I will consider those women my wives.”
Taylor looked at me and I could tell her entire thought process seemed to freeze. “I… but… what?”
I let my smile widen. “I was being honest when I said I was attracted to you. You are already cute with legs for days. But I also have three other requirements. I want my women to be powerful, kind, and smart. You have the first two but I would say you are nearly unmatched in the third. Masterminding the method to save the world is pretty impressive, you have to admit.”
Taylor’s face had gone so red I was wondering if she would faint on me. Deciding that I should just continue my pitch I continued talking. “I also have to admit that part of the reason I am putting so much emphasis on the non-physical aspects is that we already have Panacea more or less committed to join us so you can make any changes to your body you want to make.”
I forced myself not to react in any way when I saw her eyes shoot up to meet with mine. I knew she had body issues. She was flat, but she was only 17, her breasts would still be growing even if normally she would never be curvy.
Deciding that it was in my best interest to continue to avoid addressing her reaction I continued. “The other thing you should know is that I plan on making all of my wives liches. I will be pulling your soul out and then attaching it to your body like a puppet.” At her worried stair I continued. “You will still feel the same and you will still have your power, I have already done this to myself and one of your possible future sister wives, but if your body is killed we will simply make you a new one.”
Taylor blinked. “So you are saying that we would be immortal?”
I chuckled. “Sort of, while I wouldn’t say that we are invincible, with Panacea and our souls protected we will definitely be immune to aging and most forms of death.”
She paused and stared at me for a while and I tried to sit waiting. However I was surprised when she next spoke up. “I want to talk with this girl you have already bound.”
I blinked before I opened up a small scrying portal to where I could feel Dinah’s soul portal ended. Somehow I hadn’t realized I could do that. That was useful since I would always be able to find my wives if we ever got separated… it was just unfortunate they couldn’t do the same to me or each other.
Turning to Dinah I looked through before I showed it to Taylor. It was just after dinner and I found her laying on her bed reading a book. I spoke through the portal. “Hey Dinah, Taylor wants to ask you a few questions. Could you step through?”
Putting the book down Dinah looked around until she spotted my small portal and nodded. “76% chance she would ask sometime this hour.”
I chuckled, once again she was two steps ahead of me.
As she got up I realized I really needed to clarify something to Taylor before she spotted Dinah.
Turning around I started to explain before opening the portal wide enough to see Dinah. “Dinah will be here in a second. Now, I was being honest when I said she might eventually be one of the women to join as a wife, but she is much too young for me to be even remotely interested in intimacy just yet. She is here as a platonic friend only. She will choose to join us later in that way if she wants to. I promised I would find a way of removing the bond if she wants to leave at that time.”
Seeing Taylor’s eyes widen as she spotted the young girl standing before us I was glad I warned her, but before she could say anything Dinah spoke up. “Yes, Max has bound me and everything I have been able to see with my precog has agreed with his explanation and predictions.”
Taylor just stared at the girl before slumping. “What should I do?”
Dinah seemed to pause to think. “93% chance you will be happy with us. 16% you will be happy here. 13% you survive the next ten years here if you stay. 43% your father remarries if you leave.”
I winced at the last one and I realized something. “Oh, damn.” I sighed. “It wasn’t clear in the story, but apparently he is too reminded of your mother when he sees you. He probably cares, but you make it hard to be happy when he sees your mother in you.”
Taylor looked down and I could see tears start to fall. She was almost too quiet to hear when she spoke next. “We haven’t even spoken in 4 months.” I winced internally. I didn’t want to tell her that the other Taylor in the web novel had a better relationship than that. After a moment she continued regardless of my thoughts. “I think he might blame me for Mom’s death. She was checking her cell at the time and I was one of the people who had sent her a message before the crash.”
I stood up and crossed to sit on the couch next to her before putting my arm around her shoulders. “You know it isn’t your fault, but it still hurts doesn’t it?”
She sniffled for a minute or two before I could feel the steel in her spine start to take charge again. Dinah seemed a little tired when she spoke next, cutting me off before I could say anything. “73% chance he will start to improve if you write him a goodbye note telling him you found parahuman friends and you want to go change the world. That and you want him to be happy again.”
Taylor stiffened again. “Yeah, that will remind him of Mom. She was in a parahuman gang trying to push for women’s rights after all.”
She was silent for nearly 10 minutes as we sat there waiting for her to think. Suddenly she stood up and turned towards me. “I want to be bound to you.”
I shook my head. “Are you sure? I kinda feel like you should think about it. It is a pretty big decision.”
As raised an eyebrow and she rolled her eyes. “I am 17, not a child. If I can go out and risk my life fighting crime” then a quieter voice, “and kill people,” before the conviction returned to her posture. “Then I should be able to decide to join you if I want to.”
I looked up at her and nearly asked her if she was sure again, but seeing her eyes I paused before nodding. “Alright, I will.”
Getting her to lay down on the couch, I pulled up her shirt to make contact with her stomach. I was amused that she blushed so heavily at that. Dinah had barely twitched, but I supposed that puberty had only recently started on her.
Taylor laid, face smooth, as she stared at me as I stared at her stomach. It took about an hour with another hour to compress as much of her shard, queen administrator, into her. I had started to get worried about being interrupted as I finally completed the lich portals and Taylor sat up. I really shouldn’t have though as Dinah would have warned me if I was going to be interrupted.
As she leaned forward I finally noticed the slight scent of arousal now in the air. I paused for a moment. She was now mine, now and forever. On the other hand I didn’t want to push her too hard too fast. We had an eternity together and she was still only 17.
The choice was somewhat taken from me as she leaned forwards and kissed me. After a moment I felt the prodding of her tongue. I only hesitated for a moment longer before I opened my mouth and let my tongue start to dance with hers. After a moment longer I reached down and grabbed her butt. She squeaked into my mouth and I smiled.
Pulling apart slightly we caught our breath and I could see that her eyes had darkened. She was already half kiss drunk and I was tempted to go all the way. Glancing at Dinah who had been watching through her eyelashes I smiled noting that she had started to squirm. That was cute, but I felt bad. I honestly didn’t want to push her even if I really wanted her to stay with us. Making a portal for her to go home while pulling Taylor through another to visit my apartment I smiled down at her.
She seemed a little nervous about the bed, but I pulled her down into my arms next to me and I fondled her butt a little more as our tongues swirled. Finally after a long moment I let my hand move around to the front of her jeans. I felt as Taylor froze up against my lips in some combination of surprise and fear.
I nearly kicked myself. She was extremely young and obviously didn’t have any experience. Taking a deep breath I stopped everything except some slow kissing while keeping my hand on her stomach.
After a few more minutes she relaxed again and I let my hand drift down.
It was fifteen minutes or so when I pulled back and stroked her cheek for a moment before sitting us both up.
That was apparently what got Taylor to realize that I hadn’t actually finished. Noticing my notable tent she reached down and patted me through my pants.
I could see the fire in her eyes but I sighed. “Not today honey. As much as I love the idea of you returning the favor, I don’t want to push you too fast.”
She actually pouted at that. “What if that is what I want?.”
I sighed and patted her head making her pout a bit. “I know love. I am definitely looking forward to it, but I want our first time finishing to be when you are happy and rested. Not melancholy and tired.”
She frowned but nodded.
I once again stroked her hair and I noticed her start to lean into it. Smiling, I continued on. “Plus I want Amy to make sure I don’t go knocking anyone up quite yet. It is too soon for that, I think.”
Taylor paused for a moment before she sat up and faced me. “I want her number as well.”
I simply raised my eyebrow so she continued looking down a little embarrassed. “I want her to work on me a bit.”
I shook my head lightly. “Amy will be giving us all an upgrade. I am pretty sure we can all be about a brute 2 or 3 with just physical changes, but you are talking about your figure right?” She nodded so I sighed. “Please understand you don’t need to have a huge rack for me to want you.”
Taylor simply shook her head. “No, this is something I want. If I can choose to marry someone I should be able to make my chest bigger.” I could tell she was determined, but I also could tell it really did bother her as she had reached up and cupped her small breasts apparently without realizing it.
I reached down and kissed her one last time. “I am sorry if you thought I was forbidding it. I was telling you that it wasn’t necessary.” Taylor seemed to relax. “That said, I do enjoy large breasts as long as they are reasonable. No one can properly enjoy a ‘H’ cup.”
Taylor blushed but seemed happy with the option. Sitting up she looked straight at me before asking. “Now what?”
I sighed before responding. “We have a few more days before we leave. I would like you to still go to school for now as it would draw attention if you didn’t. I know it is bad there and if it gets too bad, text me and I will get you out sooner, but I want to lay low as much as possible and that means keeping the same routine when possible.
Other than that we will be making plans in the evenings and probably be gone within the week. You should also probably figure out a way to say goodbye to your father as well. You don’t need to tell him you are leaving, but saying your piece will help. While it isn’t impossible we could ever come back, the chances are pretty slim for now.”
Taylor frowned before slowly nodding. I kissed her one more time and she sighed before I portaled her back to her bed and then portaled myself back to my apartment and took a cold shower. I really wish I had just taken her offer to reciprocate, but I really wouldn’t have stopped there and a day or two for her to get her head on straight was worth the happiness of my new wife.
It still felt like my stomach was fighting with itself on how it felt about this all, but I was going to do what I needed to do. I also felt a lot better while focusing on my plans to keep everyone happy.
Interlude Taylor:
Taylor frowned as she watched Max’s portal close. She had been conflicted right up until she had tried to talk to her father about what was going on. He had listened for a bit, but it was awkward and, before she could bring anything important up, her father had told her that he had to go to work.
She knew he was attached to his work when her mother had died, it was nearly all he had left, but a large part of her heart hurt with how distant he was now.
Her life at school was a living hell. Triggering her powers after nearly two years of near constant bullying had not left her rational at times, but she was trying. Trying not to just bring a gun, and a swarm large enough to…
She shook herself. A large part of her wanted to make them experience what she had. The horror of being surrounded by rotting filth. Having the bugs crawling around inside the locker, starting to bite and scrape at her legs as she was forced into their rotting hive. The horror as she started to feel the maggots start to bite in her legs. Start to burrow into her flesh. All topped with the rotting odor she couldn’t get away from. She had thrown up down her front and now that too was mixing with the rotting smell of feces, rotting menstrual blood, and….
The walls seemed tighter down here in the basement. She could feel the hopelessness of the locker again. The weight of her loneliness. The frustration and pain of having her best friend mock her for every moment of weakness. Her chest hurt. Did she still want to live like this? She just wanted it to stop. Did it even matter…
She reached up and slapped herself.
She was not going to get dragged down and broken by Emma Flipping Barnes. That was what those bitches wanted. She was going to be a hero. She was going to go out and prove them wrong.
She stopped and shook herself again. The desperation was making her reckless, just like what Max said would happen. She walked around and opened the sealed up coal shoot and looked again at her costume. It really did look kinda villainous. It was very clear how she could be mistaken for a villain, and after that her life would be one mistake after another.
Max had said he had another option. An option that didn’t require her to end with two bullets to the head after a short lifetime of sacrifice and betrayal.
Taylor took a deep breath. He wanted her. A stick thin ugly girl with useless powers. Except that Max had explained how she could use them. Putting a fly or a mite on someone to track them. Aiming a gun by using bugs to line up the shot. Seeing and hearing through their senses to pick up intel. Then if she could become friends with Amy she could have bees and wasps with knock out venom, all controlled simultaneously.
Plus Amy could probably fix her lack of curves, and hips… and maybe her face…
She shook herself. Max had said she was important. Said she had saved the world. She wasn’t a failure… right?
Even if Max ignored her for the prettier members of his harem, she would still have sisters, right? That was better than being alone… right? Then again, getting in with Amy and Max was probably the best chance she would get. He had made her feel good even if he hadn’t let her return the favor. Why didn’t he let them continue? Did he not like her enough? Was she not womanly enough?
Then again, did it even matter? The crushing frustration, pain, and weight came back and she sat and stared at her costume still being made as she tried not to… she didn’t even know what anymore.