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Yet Another Worm SI Fic
Colonization 3.3

Colonization 3.3

A knock at the door interrupted what had, so far, been a quiet morning. I spooned the last of my oatmeal into my mouth, grimacing at the flavour or rather the lack thereof. No brown sugar or maple syrup luxuries here, for good reasons but it made for a lousy breakfast. I should have asked for flour and yeast but...I had time. I donned my hoodie and wrapped my kerchief around my face. Damn, maybe I could see about some kind of real mask too. I went over and opened the door, freezing at the sight.

“Good morning.” It was Gallant, his silver armour gleaming. “Amaranth, right?” I barely managed to nod, rather than slam the door in the face of a ghost. “I'm Gallant, one of the local Wards. Mind if I come in?” Another nod and I stepped back, allowing him to come in.

“Make yourself at home,” I said numbly, nearly stumbling as I walked past him and sat heavily at the kitchen table.

“Are you okay?” He asked, coming over. I waved away his concern and shook my head.

“Sort of,” I replied, swallowing heavily. Gallant was supposed to be dead, wasn't he? Why was he here? “Are you?” I winced, but he didn't seem angry as he sat in the chair opposite me.

“Just a little tired,” he replied easily. “Things are getting rough out there and they need us on the streets to try and keep it from boiling over.”

“Sorry,” I apologized, hanging my head.

“For what, not joining the party?” Gallant asked with a hint of humour. “No offense Amaranth, but I heard you got your powers the day before yesterday?” I shook my head.

“Day before that.” He threw up his hands.

“Exactly my point.” He pointed at me with an armoured finger. “How long do you think it was before my first patrol?” I blinked. Why was he asking?

“Uhh, a week?” I hazarded.

“Try three.” It felt like he was smiling, but I frowned. It had been three weeks for me too... “And that was pretty quick, just so you know. You're new, take some time, relax.” I narrowed my eyes.

“Relax?” I snapped. “Relax? The world's falling apart literally around our ears!”

“It is,” Gallant agreed, snatching the wind from my sails. “And no one knows it better than us. You went to an Endbringer fight after having powers for one day. Why?”

“I had to,” I answered instantly, blushing at how weak that was. “I...I have powers, the ability to help. I couldn't just...”

“Walk away?” Gallant finished and I nodded, feeling a knowing smile in his voice. “Yeah, I know. So now you're feeling guilty because you're sitting around while we're out fighting crime and helping people.”

“What are you, psychic?” I asked bitterly, regretting the question as soon as it left my mouth. My shoulders hunched and curled in on me and I looked down at the table.

“Just an empath,” he said gently. “I can see you're not feeling great, but I've got to puzzle out why myself. And how to help you.”

“You can't,” I said quickly. No one could. “It's just...yeah.” I sighed. Gallant did too.

“Sounds familiar,” he said dryly. “I...don't agree, no offense.” Some taken. “But I don't want to crowd you either. If I can't help you, maybe we can, as a team.”

“The Wards, you mean.” I didn't really feel like starting my day with a recruitment speech from the shittiest child therapist.

“I do,” he replied, without shame. “I know, I know, you aren't convinced and I'm not here to convince you. Miss Militia would shoot me if I tried.” I glanced at the door, just in case she burst in and proved him right. “It's just...it's lonely here, right?” I stiffened, glaring at him silently for a second before rising.

“Thanks for visiting,” I said a politely as I could manage. “I'm gonna shower so...see you.”

“Wait, Amaranth, I'm sorry,” Gallant said quickly, rising and raising his arms, palms out. “I didn't know--”

“You didn't,” I confirmed tersely, gesturing to the door. “And that's why I'm asking you to leave instead of ineffectually punching you. So.” I gestured again, more pointedly.

“I'm sorry, I'll go,” Gallant reassured me, hanging his head. “I just...before I go, I wanted to thank you.”

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“Thank me?” I was freeloading in their base. Well, the price was this shit, but still.

“At Leviathan,” he explained. “You...you're the one that saved me before the wave, right?” I blinked, and thought about it. I'd saved someone, had it been him?

“I don't know,” I replied honestly. “If that was you before the wave and with Narwhal I--” I took a deep breath. “I couldn't just leave you, them, whoever.” I saw Skitter's back turn on me and flee as we tried to save a man.

“That already makes you a hero,” he said, and I could feel the smile in his voice. “Remember that, Amaranth.” He turned and left, the door shutting with a click behind him.

I sighed and pulled down my mask and hood, running my fingers through my hair. God dammit, of all the people to send it would be him. The one guy who could stick his foot in his mouth like no other. I hadn't enjoyed therapy when it had been a professional doing it, I sure as hell didn't want it from a kid.

I probably shouldn't have been so shitty. He was trying to be nice...and it had felt nice to be called a hero. I breathed deeply and walked over to the small loveseat that occupied part of the room. I didn't turn the TV in the wall on, I didn't really want to see how bad off the city was. It would just make me want to get out here.

I sighed and curled up on the couch, shutting my eyes. I should get out there, should help. Just because Gallant was a twit sometimes didn't mean I'd hate the rest of the Wards. But...anchoring myself to them, to the Protectorate? I wasn't the biggest fan of cops as it was, and knowing where the Protectorate came from? Yeah, I wasn't eager to jump feet first into that shit.

Working with them as an independent though...well, there were pros and cons. Pros: they wouldn't arrest me, I could almost guarantee I was helping people, and I would be more secure in this little slice of relative heaven. Cons: I was still going to be an affiliate, I'd be working against the Undersiders, and I'd have to go through power testing.

The last part wasn't really a con, I was just worried it would kill me...somehow. Dump me out five days ago and kick me while I was down. The second part though... There was no love lost between me and their little gang, not anymore. Sure, once upon a time I had liked them, even would have tried to be friends with them. Now that I knew them a little more personally, I'd rather punt them into the bay. But it was still the Undersiders. Getting in their bad books seemed like a bad idea.

A knock came at the door and interrupted my thoughts. I sighed and pushed myself up, rising from the couch and walking over to the door, donning my kerchief again. If this was Gallant I was going to find a seam in his armour and push til it fell apart. Maybe then he'd learn not to disturb my fucking mo--

“Hey,” Amy greeted me in a ragged voice. “Can I come in and...talk?”

My anger was replaced with hidden embarrassment and I nodded slowly, opening the door further. She looked somehow more haggard than ever. Her eyes were bloodshot, her lips chapped and bloody. It seemed she hadn't slept in days. She walked in, eyes fixed firmly on the floor, and found her way to the loveseat. Amy practically collapsed, a little huff escaping as she hit the cushions. I ambled over and sat in the remaining space, crossing one leg over the other. She didn't say anything, so I took a deep breath and a wild guess.

“Did Gallant put you up to this?” She flinched and I sighed. “It's fine if he did, I won't blame you.”

“Sorry,” she groaned, turning her head til I saw her face. She didn't meet my eyes. “Said something about you...needing someone.” I grit my teeth.

“How much did he say?” There must have been something about how I said that because she flinched again.

“Just...that you were alone, and feeling it,” Amy replied hesitantly. I nodded.

“It's true enough,” I said with a shrug. “But it's fine, I'm...coping.”

“Well, good.” There was a pause long enough that I thought Amy had fallen asleep. “Are you...joining?” I grimaced.

“Not sure,” I replied honestly, sighing and pulling my kerchief down. It didn't matter, she knew my face anyway. “It's uh, a lot.”

“I guess,” Amy said. “But they're the good guys, you know? Either you're on their side or...”

“I hope it's not that cut and dry,” I said, toying with my hair. “Parian didn't choose sides, did she?”

“Parian was a rogue.” There was a certain edge to that that I didn't quite get. “Outside the Protectorate but technically not a villain. It's...not ideal.”

“Maybe not,” I agreed. “And I do want to help people. I just don't know if I'll...fit in.” Amy nodded at that.

“Probably won't,” she said without inflection. “Sorry to say but...yeah. They just got a new guy and it's...going.”

“Ah.” Weld, right. Was he still in charge with Gallant breathing? “How um, how are you?” She chewed her lip and got a distant look in her eyes.

“My cousin died,” she said after a moment. “I uh, we weren't close but...you know?” Her voice was barely a whisper, but I nodded.

“I know.”

We sat there quietly for a while, neither of us wanting to disturb...whatever. Despite Gallant's earlier bumbling, and his hand in Amy's visit, this was kind of nice. She wasn't the sort of start prying when it was uncomfortable, which considering everything was kind of welcome. No danger of being called out as crazy here because I slipped and said I came back every time I died.

“I have to go,” Amy said after a few minutes of comfortable silence. “Lots of uh...work.”

Right,” I replied, standing from the couch as she did. “Thanks for uh, for coming by.” She shrugged.

“I was in the building anyway,” Amy replied, combing through her hair with her fingers. “You good for like, healing and stuff?” I nodded.

“Just fine, thanks,” I replied, then as an afterthought: “Amy?” She paused, hand on the doorknob. “Thank you, you're a good person.” I winced, regretting the idiot compliment as Amy stiffened at the door. She nodded once, then left.

I sighed as the door shut behind her. Fuck, I was no better than Gallant, trying to make her feel better with bullshit I shouldn't know. Again the temptation tickled me to go and reset, to make it all up but...no. I wasn't doing all that again. I'd live with my mistakes, like I always had. It was just too bad I was still making stupid ones. Well, since I was already making stupid choices today... I grabbed my phone from the bedside table and dialed Miss Militia.

Enough sitting on the sidelines.