Annemarie dragged her down the apartment stairs; they had passed Kanako briefly through the hallway, a small moment that was well-charged with tension. Kanako had given her a small, but had said nothing about her ‘date’. Their eyes met for a second before both looked away again, a boil sour was welling up in her stomach.

Annamarie had noticed it and tightened the grip on her arm. “Hey, tension isn’t lost on me, don’t know who that was but don’t overthink things,” she said softly. “Let's hang out. I’m kinda lonely right now.”

She nodded but felt uncomfortable inside. “Okay.” If Annemarie had come to her for emotional support, she came to the wrong person.

Strolling through the neighborhood, Annemarie knew how to kill a silence by initiating an unending stream of chatter, she’d go as far as pointing out quirky details. Juniper would never have even paid attention to. Such as the haunting tower that overlooked her neighborhood was actually a pigeon tower.

“You think the person that owns that birdhouses, uses it to spy on people?” she questioned curious.

“I didn’t even know that was a birdhouse, that’s a fresh dose of paranoia I guess.”

They passed a corner store, Juniper hadn’t entered in a while, an old man leaning out a window. Waving at her, she waved back.

“Someone you know?”

“Eh, kind of. Used to give us stu–uhh, it’s a long story never mind.”

Anne didn’t pry any further.

It was hard but Juniper did start loosening up, little by little. She started dropping her guard, her shoulders shrinking, and even her tone became louder as she started speaking about random thoughts.

“Speaking of pigeons, you don’t play games do you, there’s a visual novel where pigeons are the desired love interest, sounds dumb but the writing is kinda good,” she poked out.

Annemarie gave her a questionable look. “Sometimes, though the games I like to play are more ‘action-oriented.’”

There was a momentary silence, and then annemarie knocked against her stomach, grinning.

“You’re kinda weird Juniper,” she said.

“You’re one to talk!” she countered.

The moment they entered the inner city her senses were overpowered by the smell of gas and exhaust smoke. The air was a lot more intense, the neon lights were blinding to be honest.

“Where are the flying cars when you need them,” Juniper blurted, knowing full well it’s impractical.

Anne pranced ahead, her boots battering the pavement. Like a panzer in motion, she moved like she owned the city.

“So,” Juniper called after the strutting girl. “What’s the plan? Did you abduct me to drag me into the depths of the city or do you have something more sinister planned?”

“You’ll see,” she teased, spinning around her, and dragging her by the wrist. “Let’s ease into the moment.”

“O..k..” It was a bit weird for her. Why did she choose her of all people to go out and have fun with? She preferred being indoors anyway. An indoor date would have been better.

It was strange being singled out for a date, she’s never even dated a boy and girl asking her out. She didn’t know how to feel about it. She was very cute indeed. She didn’t want to disappoint her, but most of her feelings resided with Kanako.

‘Okay jun, don’t mess up this girl's day, play it out, then calmly reject her. With a hug or something.’

“Well tell me, were you even planning to call me? Or did you deliberately ghost me? Annmarie pressed, trailing behind her shoulder and then her back.

Juniper shifted, stumbling “First of all, I was kinda busy with domestic ‘stuff’, secondly how did you even find me.”

“Company secret.” Anne winked.

As they moved across the street, a car swerved sharply, nearly speeding into them, the screeching of its tire triggering her. ‘Not again!’ Ann stumbled back, she misstepped her boots catching the curb. She nearly collided with a large metal post. Juniper reflexes kicked in.

With crazy speed, she caught her mid-fall, arms wrapped around her waist, almost bridal style.

“W-woah,” Annemarie whispered Their faces were close, and she could feel her breath against her skin. “You’re… fast.”

Her cheeks flushed, as she stammered, “A-are you okay Anne?” her voice evaporated.

“I’m fine, and you’re fast. Almost superhuman, amazing ” Her lips curled into a smile.

Juniper sweated, ruffling her hair in response... “It’s nothing…what an asshole though,” she remarked about the driver.

“Thank you,” Anne said. “For catching me.”

Juniper looked away as Anne's eyes stared into her soul. She nodded but looked away.

The neighborhood park was sprawled out before them, eerily quiet, but unsurprising considering the rise in super-criminal activity. Almost no children were out here. Effy would like such a place, she knew she couldn’t bring her here. The last time they had been in such a place her parents, weren’t locked in a state-organized labor camp.

“Jun! Come one!” Annemarie called out, dragging her towards a set of swings. She hopped on of them and gripped tightly on it.” push me!”

“Huh. What?”

“Don’t be shy, people give a damn!” she said kicking her legs dramatically, nearly toppling off.

She stepped behind the swing and gave her a gentle push. The laughter that bubbled out of her was childlike and unrestraint, it was given a little joy. Still awkward though.

After a while, they had moved toward a pond, Annemarie claimed she could skip a stone forever. Juniper naturally refuses to believe this.

“Watch!”

“With a slight twist, she sent it skipping on the water the rock bouncing unnaturally far, but landing on the soft sand on the other end of it.

Did she have an unconscious superpower?

“Wow that’s actually impressive.” she gawked.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Annemarie simply closed her eyes and basked in praise. “Why thank you, madame.”

They eventually came to a bench, sitting next to each other, their arms brushing and touching.

“Um…” Annemarie began. “May I hold your hands, she asked Juniper.

“U-uh sure...” she hesitated.

Their fingers slid into the others. Her face burned with embarrassment again. Annemarie let out a soft breath.

“You ever feel like this city takes it all away from you, on the surface everything is nice, but before you know it, it swallows you in. whole.”

She looked down on the ground, fixated on the little dirt molecules.

“yeah…I do…I’d leave if it was legal.” her chest tightened. She thought about seeing her parents again, they were closed off somewhere outside the city.

“Who wouldn’t, that’s why I come here to places like this,” she said, there was a hint in her voice that screamed. I’m not okay “It drowns out the evil for a while.”

Anne played with her fingers, Juniper was not used to it but was slowly getting comfortable. “What's Keeping you here,” Juniper asked.

“My brother’s illness, He’s in a coma”

“Oh, I’m really sorry,” she said, afraid she opened a touchy subject. “My brother is sick as well. Some kind of Psychic sickness, after ‘that’ incident happened. I still don’t have money to cure him.”

“That makes us kindred souls I guess,” Anne said, letting go of her hands, looking away, hiding her face. Her nose was reddish.

Was she crying?

She moved in to comfort her, but the girl sprang up.

“Ice cream!” she squealed.

Anne spots an ice cream cart standing in the distance and shoots up like an excited child. Rushing over and dragging her like a reluctant parent.

“Come on, my treat.”

Juniper rolled after her, unable to keep pace.

Nearing the cart, she nearly fell to the ground. Her heart sank as she saw the vendor. The ice cream man, she recognized him. It was the one she met in the ‘Silkroad’ area. Vincenzo, she believed. She kept her head down.

“What can I get ya ladies.” the burly man smiled, mustache grinning with his face.

He didn’t seem to recognize her immediately, but his eyes darted all over her. Scanned her with an unnerving intensity.

“Say, miss, you seem familiar. Have we met before?” he asked, his eyes flicking like crazy.

I doubt it.” she lied, knowing she was one moment away from disaster.

“Hmmm maybe not,” his tone switched up. “What do ya fancy?”

“Oooh, ooh.” Annemarie started picking several, nearly a dozen of flavors but eventually settled on the mint chocolate chip. Juniper realizes if she chooses vanilla again, she’ll be in the red. What was surprising was his prices were normal compared to the midnight premium.

“I’ll have what she’s having.”

“Your wish is my command.”

As they beckoned to leave. Anne was already scuttering back to the bench.

Vincenzo whispered to her. “I do in fact remember you miss, you caused quite a stir, don’t worry I’ll keep your secret what you did back there, that was brave. Do me a favor and keep a low profile, yeah.”

“Yeah.”

He handed her a piece of paper with a number on it. “If ya ever need something from this uncle, let me know.”

She nodded but didn’t say another word dashing away.

“That man seemed to know you.”

“Yeah, –”

“Not something you wanna discuss?”

“No.”

The girl didn’t push, that was relieving at least. Focusing on the ice cream she accidentally smeared a dollop on her nose. Ann pounced licking it off her nose.”

“Hey! Juniper said, caught off guard. “That’s definitely a weird thing to do.

Annemarie giggled innocently.

“Said the weirdo.” Anne said.”

Juniper shook her head, letting the moment wash over her. Anne did have a presence that grounded her and made her happy even a little bit. She made the right decision by coming out with her today.

Perhaps?

No.

They left the inner city, and Anne dragged her towards an old abandoned building. The roof on top was strange. There were pots and plants that despite the desolated area were still alive, someone was nourishing them, with water. Sunlight alone would have dried them out and rain was infrequent.

“So what are we doing here.? Juniper asked, glancing around. If you wanted to do an underhanded illegal deal this was definitely the place.

“This is where we end our date?” she said softly, arms raised.

“That was surprisingly fast,” Juniper said. A bit disappointed. She hoped to go to more places for once.

“I know, I’m sorry.” She replied. Her gaze locked on her. “But I have been watching you for a while. You make me feel all fuzzy inside, you know? But I can see you have your own issues to deal with than silly old me.” she turned around staring down the building at the roads.

She didn’t know what to say or what to feel.

Annemarie dragged her closer leaning against her arm, as she pointed the view of the city. “It’s beautiful up here ain’t it? But it’s a lie, below on the surface, monsters and devils dwell”

Juniper stayed silent. She was taking this somewhere. But where.

“You're so uptight Juno, do you let anyone inside that head of yours? I was hoping you’d open up a bit more.” she teased almost seductively. Her hand trailed along her arm.

"Wait, Anne-"

Come on Juniper,” She said, stepping towards the end of the building. Twirling around in a circle. “Enjoy life a bit. Feel the wind, the air, the fear of falling, living on the edge.”

She hesitated, staring at the sprawl of buildings below them. Almost afraid She would fall down or something.

“I try to…” she admitted. “but I don’t know how to handle it. Everything is so damn much.”

Annemarie shifted away, towards her. Stepping just below her face, a voice in a dropped whisper.

“You take it slowly Jun…. You’re different Juniper, Special you know? I know this is sudden but…” Annemarie hesitated. “I know this sudden, but…”

Annemarie kissed her mouth before she could say something. The moment felt like static electricity, Her hands took her's. It was deliberate action, Annemarie lingered, she was savoring her mouth.

It made her feel tingly on the inside. It was weird, but it was nice, sensual, and soft but her heart lay with Kanako… she shouldn’t–

Something in her mind screamed for her to pull away, but Ann held on, exploring the halls of her mouth. She freezes.

[Mimicry skill activated. ]

[Mimicry Analysis ]

[Gravitational distortion Lvl 1- Distort, warp, and manipulate ravity around any space user]

[Limited to 1 M]

[Fucking finally. ] sys-chan quipped out of nowhere.

Juniper stumbles away, Annemarie, refusing to let go of the kiss, fell on her butt.

“You.. you’re…”

“Voidwalzter?” She finished. Annemarie grins wickedly. “Took you long enough Juniper. What gave it away?

“Wait this was all a trap, playing with my feelings to lure me here?”

“Not quite. Maybe.” Annemarie said. Maybe I just wanted to play a game.”

Juniper tensed, furious, muscles clenching. “I don’t have time for your fucking games!”

“You know where I live, you know about my vulnerabilities, you know about my brother. You've been stalking me!”

Her face was filled with anger. “You…you bitch. That kiss was reserved for someone else.”

“Let me guess the Japanese chick,” Annemarie taunted. “yeah she’s hot, I saw how you looked at her, maybe I’ll sleep with her to tease you.”

“Fuck you! You manipulated me.”

Annemarie didn’t care, unbothered.

“Cry me a river, Juniper. You know you liked my lips. I felt it down there. Admit it Juniper, I made you wet? Do you want to go another round? I don't mind. We can take it a step further. Or we can play...”

Annemarie laughed and tossed her a balaclava. Then, with a dramatic flourish, she pulled on her own signature mask. “Now, come on, Juno. Don’t make this boring. Let’s play a little game. Let me hunt you.”

Juniper’s blood ran cold as she reluctantly donned the mask. Her mind raced, torn between fury and panic. “And if I refuse?”

“Well,” Annemarie said, tilting her head, “who knows how the superhero agencies would react to your little… abilities? I’m betting they won’t take kindly to you. Might even take you away from your siblings.”

Juniper froze. “Siblings? I never mentioned my sister. You didn’t see her earlier.”

"I've been watching for a while Jun-chan..."

Juniper puts it in mind going crazy, hastily. Her mind not deciding how to react. This puts Kanako's life at risk. She needed to resolve this really quickly.

“I’ll make you regret this, you made a big fucking mistake by kissing me.”

[mimicry: Ability to copy the powers of an individual if they are weaker or in a psychologically vulnerable state]

Is that how it worked? Why was it explained to her now?

[Get her juno. Kick her ass.]

“You shut the fuck up Sys-chan you abandoned me here.” she snapped.

[Abandoned! What are you talking about I’ve totally just been giving you space, darling]

Lies, her system picked up that Avaree was a cape without her input, and warned her of it. Yet did nothing to warn her about Annemarie. Was sys-chan sabotaging her.

[Pfft, don’t be so delusional. I knew you needed to get stronger. And guess what? Mission accomplished. You’re welcome. New power. No thank you bitch]

“Who are you talking to!” Annemarie shouted!

“The voices in my head!” she shouted body moving with newfound energy.

“God you might be even more nuttier than I am.” Annemarie giggled, laughing obscenely. “I love every moment of it!”

Juno activated [Gravitational distortion] Feeling the air shift around her unconsciously, she stepped forward her body accelerated by lightweightness. And punched Ann in the gut, sending her flying towards the ground.

“I’m mentally stable! You’re no hero! Much less a vigilante! Deranged Creep! Prepare yourself!”

Annemarie coughed, holding her stomach, but grinning. “Oh Jun, You have no idea how hot this is.”