Emery soared above the city skyline, arms held together, flying effortlessly like she owned the sky. Her voice was cool and composed.

“You’ve gotta balance your energy in the right spot,” she explained, laced with a hint of a challenge. She gestured to her core, her gloved hand glowing to outline a circle. “For example–” she smirked at her trainee. “ –If I concentrate on my legs alone, I’ll lose that balance much easier. You need to shift it to your core partially, and depending on the situation your arms.”

Juniper nodded. She was determined to improve, but her movements told a different story. She Imitated it as best she could. Bending her knees, focusing as hard as she could, launching herself into the air. The sensation of levitating was thrilling, intoxicating but her control faltered very quickly. Her legs buckling mid-flight, her momentum made her spiral into a ball of chaos.

“I guess flying is not for everyone,” she quipped sarcastically.

“Whoa–whoa–whoa!!” she yelled, wobbling wildly to the ground. Landed with a heavy thud to the ground. She lay there for a moment, taking in the pain.

A soft chuckle broke her awareness “Oof, that’s gotta hurt.” Emery said. The grin was playful, almost mocking, definitely teasing.

“Oh, you are so wrong about me,” Juniper said, brushing herself off. Taking to the air again.

She crouched, low, took in a deep breath, and launched to the sky. She faltered once again. And then again. It was an impossible task, but she was mad and stubborn, every time she crashed. Sweat went down her face, as she prepared for another attempt. Her fists balled.

[Energy +2. For learning exceptional control.]

Her heart was filled with joy. She didn’t need to check her stats; she became better, she felt it inside. Stat building was so strange– it was less about rigorous effort and more about forcing the body to adapt to foreign changes. The effects were permanent mostly. The system seemed like it wanted breakthroughs and answers to obstacles, not the traditional progression that you’d expect from a star athlete.

She flew into the air again, but this time was different. Mimicking Emery’s earlier movements. Her body flew freely, much akin to a wandering kite.

Emery smugly disappeared. “Not bad for a total rookie.”

Juniper held the smug now, finally feeling a dash of confidence.

“Ok,” Emery said. She pointed to a distant building across the city, its glass windows reflecting the neon light of the city. “See that skyscraper? It’s a kilometer away. Follow me there.”

Juniper felt unprepared. She glanced down below, looking at the impossibly far distance below her. Her rational brain screamed warnings–suicide, danger, recklessness. What if she lost control? What if she fell to her death?

“I can’t, It’s impossible,” she said quietly, her body language reflecting her fear. “I’m afraid I might just die.”

Emery hardened herself, eyes narrow. “You want to be a cape, but you can’t handle a little height scare, that’s understandable.” she looked away. “Still pathetic though, not everyone can fly.”

Juniper frowned, there it was again her aggression. Was this how she was naturally? She hadn’t been so hard when they met. She wasn’t the soft sweetheart the media portrayed.

“How about this,” Emery started, “you keep up with me and we’ll do a lesson two. You fall, no lesson, and you never show your face to me again.”

Juniper weighed her ultimatum. At this point, she may as well have walked away. But there was a trace of something else inside of her. Pride, anger, and maybe….a fire in her chest.

“Now follow,” Emery commanded, already taking the heights.

Emery zipped away, a golden streak cutting through the air.

“Already!?” Juniper shouted, scrambling to follow.

Flying was a strange phenomenon–hovering felt much more natural and demanded a slower flow of energy. Sustaining flight was like doing a sprint, you’ll go fast but at what cost? She felt like she fit on a tightrope. She gritted her teeth, pushing herself.

Juniper dashed forward, but her control was still infantile. Her momentum was waning, and it didn’t take long for her to descend. She did her best to try and climb upwards, but much like a hill, it was much harder. Gravity took hold of her and she plummeted.

“Dammit!” she hissed, she already lost focus. She shifted her power set to gravity distortion, but she felt drained. The effects she tried doing, half backfired and she sped up towards the sharp edges of the office building. Her vision narrowed at the collision point.

Then with a sudden pull, she was yanked upwards and pushed towards the sky.

“You failed,” Emery said flatly. Her grip was firm. “Hold on to me.”

Juniper clung to her, arms around Emery’s neck. Face flushing as she realized how close she was to the epitome of a tomboyish gal. She was now closer to this untouchable celebrity girl, closer than she had ever been with most people. Emery’s short dark hair tickled her face, skin reflecting the moonlight.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

They landed on the intended rooftop. Juniper let go but her cheeks were still warm, she moved a few steps away.

Emery gave her a pointed look. “You’re doing the staring thing again…”

Juniper realized she was staring too long. “Sorry, “ She cleared her throat and sat down, shaking off the awkwardness.

Juniper leaned against a vent. Emery sat down next to her. “How does your power even work? One minute you're stumbling like a wild chick and the next you know you’re flying like a rookie cape.

Juniper deflected. She hesitates. It wasn’t safe to tell anyone but her brother about the system. “It’s… adaptive,” she stated carefully. “I adjust based on what I can handle. It’s not stealing or anything like that. More like a one-to-one copy.”

Emery frowned, narrowing her eyes. “Right. Don’t think I haven’t noticed. Your physical abilities grow, too. You get better fast. It usually takes days for someone to break through a plateau, but you do it in minutes.”

“Not really,” she attempted to maneuver out of this conversation. A problem for later. “I exercise a lot.”

“Because jogging makes you durable enough to take one of my full-powered punches.”

Of course, she felt the pain, but it was the regeneration that kept her going.

“I guess. My power needs constant conflict to evolve. It’s really not simple I’m still learning.”

“The perfect weapon,” Emery muttered. Expression is stoic and hidden. After a brief moment, she glanced at the rookie cape. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask. Yesterday, when we touched and our energy overlapped, I... saw things.”

Juniper tensed. “Things?”

“Feelings,” Emery said, voice low. She made herself Vulnerable. “I felt a flood of emotions—your emotions. Affection, fear, anxiety... a lot. Her pride cracked. “And I–” she stopped herself, exhaling. “I felt much better after it. I slept well too. I’m not chasing a high or anything but I’m curious could we try once again?”

Juniper did a double take. Her humility was unexpected. She wanted to say no, but the desperation was genuine. Still, she had to be careful It felt as though she absorbed EMery’s emotions.

“Okay,” She agreed. “If that’s what you want.”

She held out her hand, and Emery took it immediately, clasping her hands. Seconds passed. And then a minute.

Emery gave her a blank stare. “Nothing's happening,”

She wished Syschan was actively paying attention; it would be clearer what was happening.

Juniper frowned. “I know…” An idea clicked. They'd been actively using powers when it first occurred. The first time they fought both both were practically supercharged. “Your power activate it. I’ll do the same.

Emery obliged. They both glowed, energy sparking and exchanging.

Juniper felt the rush coming. A flood of emotions crashed into her. Emery was teetering on the edge, very close to a breakdown in fact. Her frustration wasn’t skin deep, it was pent up like a call for help. Emery’s face flushed suddenly, cutting through her experience.

“Wait you find me attractive? She blurted, tone confusing.

Juniper recoiled, cutting the connection her face burning. “What? No! Calm down.” She exhaled sharply. “I mean, yes, I’m bisexual, but—”

Emery cut her off. “Just so you know. I’m as straight as a pole! So…so don’t be getting any ideas,” her voice cracked, and she looked away.

Well, that backfired completely.

Juniper stared for a moment, then laughed. “Noted don’t worry, I won’t court you,” she said. Voice steady, cheeks blushing. “I already have a focus elsewhere.”

Emery didn’t say anything just stared below. Then abruptly stood up.

“Well, that’s enough ‘bonding’ for one night. Don’t bother me in the upcoming week, and stay out of trouble will you?”

Of course, it was bound to happen. Every time she thought something meaningful happened, the world changed its plans. Not that she should be having funny thoughts about every hot female she saw. But it was hard not to notice the abundance of beautiful girls she had met shortly after her power awoke. Kankako, Annemarie, Heliogirl, Mila, francesca… You could even count her boss.”

Was there a hidden luck stat she didn’t know about? She debated with herself. Before she was a cape nothing like ever happened. Was this the result of the system? Pushing these people towards her. Something only sys-chan might know.

“Emery,” she said. “Am I off the hook?”

Emery's face stirred. “Not quite. My friend’s backing off for now, but you’ve caught the attention of people much higher on the ladder. Word is, that the SCRA plans to interview you once you officially join OBB. Don’t take my word for it—it’s just a rumor.”

Her shoulders sagged. “I never asked for this crap, you know. I was just doing a grocery run. Then, boom—explosion, chaos, screaming people, and that damn card. Now I’m here.”

Emery hardened. “I’m sorry for not protecting you,” she said quietly. “It’s my fault you ended up in the hospital. But don’t act like you’re innocent. You had every chance to go to the authorities, and you didn’t. Instead, you got involved with vigilantes. You need to take better care of yourself.”

Juniper sensed the concern in Emery’s words, though she wouldn’t openly admit it. “Would you help me train again? Combat and stuff? It could be fun.”

“Not if you keep staring at me like that?” Emery asked flatly, crossing her arms. “Because, for the last time, I don’t swing that way. And no, I don’t have the time—or the patience—to get involved in such matters.”

“Noted, of course,” Juniper said, feeling she had just been impaled.

“Tell you what,” she added, trying her luck. “If I paid you, would you visit my sister? She’s jealous I got to meet you. Show up as Heliogirl. It’d make her year.”

Emery raised a brow, then shrugged. “Sure. No money involved Anything for the kids. Just not right now.”

“You’ve got a soft spot for kids?” Juniper asked.

“Yeah,” Emery admitted with a smile.

Juniper hesitated before speaking again. “You know... I haven’t had a real friend since high school. Even then, I was the weird one—ostracized for it.”

“I can relate. Most of my friends drifted away when things got... messy.”

“Maybe you just hadn’t found the right ones yet,” Juniper said. “What about Team New Hope? Aren’t they your friends?”

“They’re colleagues,” Emery replied. “Not friends. And I loathed working with them.”

Their conversation stopped, and Emery straightened, her back.

“Alright, can you find your way home, or do you need an escort?”

“I’m fine,” Juniper said, though she paused. “Thanks for the lesson. And, you know... for not killing me.”

Emery rolled her eyes. “Don’t tempt me.”

She flew away, her golden glow faded as she ascended. Then to Juniper’s surprise, she came back, hovering over her.

Hold on tight,” Emery said, gesturing for Juniper to grab her.

“What?”

“Let me show you how to fly with another body in transit.”

“I won’t say no.”

"I’ll take you home," Emery said softly.

She wrapped her arms around Emery’s body, her heart pounding as she was lifted away. Emery’s warm body warmed her own. Juniper’s cheeks stayed red for the duration of the flight. She relaxed eventually, as the wind carried them both away from the inner city.