Chapter Text
“I don’t have time. I’m analyzing security footage.” Chase tried to escape Bree’s hold on him without hurting her.
“Too bad. You are having a meal with the team. You are bonding and getting to know them.” Bree shoved Chase forward, almost breaching the entrance to the hyperlift.
“I don’t want to.”
“I don’t care.”
Chase groaned.
“Now, when we get upstairs, you will make an actual effort to bond with the team.” Bree said in her sternest voice.
“Okay, ‘Mom.’” mocked Chase.
The siblings sat at the island, while the three friends sat on the couch.
Skylar, knowing that the team shouldn’t be so obviously divided, got up and dragged her two friends with her toward the kitchen.
“So,” the alien drew everybody’s attention, “I know that tensions are a little high right now, because we don’t know very much about each other, but I thought we could all share a bit about ourselves.”
Nobody objected, so Skylar took that as her cue to go first. “Well, let's start on the basics. I am seventeen years old, from the planet Caldera, and my superpowers were stolen from me by the Annihilator.”
Bree decided to go next, “I’m nineteen. I’m from Mission Creek. I have superspeed, superagility, vocal manipulation, and an invisibility app.”
Oliver spoke, “I’m seventeen and from Philadelphia. I have ice and water powers, super strength, and can fly.”
Kaz spoke after Oliver, “I just turned seventeen. I’m from Philadelphia. I have fire powers, I can fly, and I’m immune to being burned by fire, which really helps in the kitchen.”
The last to speak was Chase, “I’m eighteen years old. I’m from Mission Creek. I have super intelligence, super senses, a force field, molecular kinesis, and a laser bo. And other boring things.”
They sat in silence for about five awkward seconds before Kaz came to a realization. “Wait, you have super senses? Like all of them?”
“Bree and I went down to Mission Command when I realized you guys were talking, I only heard your attempts at waking Skylar up,” Chase answered Kaz’s unspoken worries.
Bree cut in with a question of her own, “How does a superhero get her superpowers stolen?”
“Well, I was fighting the Annihilator, a human turned mutant, when he sucked them out of me with a weapon. Once I got them back they were tainted and turned me evil. The only way to get rid of the evil was to get rid of the powers,” explained Skylar, trying to look unbothered.
“So. You guys grew up in a huge house with piles of money. What was that like?” Kaz made an obvious attempt to change the subject from Skylar’s power loss.
“I mean, kind of?” Bree took the bait, “We grew up in the basement, we weren’t actually allowed in the house. Too many windows, someone could see us.” She cut herself off, looking at Chase to see if he wanted these new people to know that much about them.
Bree was surprised when Chase finished her explanation. “We hadn’t known anybody but us, Adam, and Mr. Davenport until Leo discovered the lab when he and Tasha moved in.”
“But why?” Questioned Oliver. The siblings came to a silent agreement to share their childhood stories. Trust has to start somewhere.
Bree and Chase launched into a short and condensed version of their lives, and waited for the inevitable questions.
“So your father was evil?” Oliver asked, hoping this could be his way to get closer to the siblings.
“Yes,” answered Chase, tentatively hoping this wouldn’t drive the trio further away.
“You guys are pretty new to living among a lot of people, too?” Skylar was thinking the same as Oliver, maybe they could bond over how difficult it is adjusting to regular life.
“Yeah,” answered Bree, getting back to her previously abandoned lunch.
“Wow,” Kaz attempted to take everything in. “You two should be way more messed up than you are.”
Bree and Chase just laughed, mouths closed around their food.