Chapter Text
Prologue…
First Person…
Everyday… It's like this every single day for me… children of different ages surround me shouting insults and frankly wrong stigmas about my race… goblins throughout many revisions have never been shown as anything more than. ‘Baby eating, thieves’...
thanks to movies, stories, and games I have people everyday clearing me a path, ‘lest they catch a goblin disease’... but truly I haven't done anything wrong, and my parents have told me that everyday I came back with tear stains on my cheeks and dirt soaked clothes.
My parents were always trying to instill the idea that one day the media and society would realize that we're not ‘ruthless killers’. But every insult and comment, every article of clothing that became unbearable for the copious amounts of dirt, and drinks smeared in the fabric.
All of those reasons made me come to the conclusion… their acceptance will take years of my life I shouldn't have to give for basic human decency… it's easier to just … branch off of their already built beliefs. So that day I swore that not another pair of feet will trample over me… nor one more grain of dirt will be hurled at me… and no one will ever mock me for my race again.
Sadly with someone like me who was raised on ‘good morals’ I couldn't sleep knowing I did anything overly heinous and detrimental. So I stuck to terrorizing citizens, stealing, trespassing, vandalism… everything like that was on the table. As I snuck into more buildings I learned that because of my claws I'm able to climb fairly well.
So whenever possible I would scale buildings and hurdle up walls. One building I found when I had just turned 15 though, would change my life forever… It was an abandoned apartment complex, nothing special. Once I broke in through an air vent and dropped out the dusty and bug infested vents I would land in one of the rooms. There wouldn't be a whole lot of light filtering through any of the windows but I could hear another set of breathing and it was a lot more frantic than my own.
As I searched the rooms I would find the source of the breathing, a little girl who couldn't have been older than 5 hunched and hyperventilating in the corner. When I realized that she was scared of me, I wasn't surprised most people, especially children, were scared of my very presence … but this felt different… it felt like she instead was scared that I broke in… I couldn't help being happy that she was scared aside from how I look.
I would kneel down in front of her keeping a healthy distance from her as I spoke softly to not scare her “hey little one, im not gonna hurt you, where's your parents, hun?” she would stay silent for a moment before shaking her head whispering, averting her gaze away from me“ they said they'd be back…a few weeks ago” I would nod sadly, this poor little girl had been left to rot by her douchebag parents.
“Do you perhaps know anyone who could take care of you?” I wanted to help her get out of the molding hell hole. She would shake her head saying “they all live too far away, I'm running out of food… I might need to go out for more” my heart would break imagining her becoming tainted by the cruel, non-nonforgiving world of the streets. “ How about I bring you some food? Would you like that?” she would nod some of the tenseness in her shoulders disappearing.
I would smile at her acceptance to my help, getting up I would walk over to where I dropped down from the ceiling jumping up and climbing out of the room. It would only take me a handful of minutes to steal some groceries for her, the problem was trying to find food that she likes, and that won't easily spoil. But after finding some choice products I would bring it to her room sneaking in through the same vent, dropping down quietly I would set the bags of food on the table before looking for her.
When I found her she would be wrapped in a blanket most likely cold from the changing climate. I would watch her thinking for a moment before walking out of the room, searching through all of the rooms in the complex. I would finally find a decent amount of blankets along with a heated blanket that had been left behind. I would bring the items along back with me to the girl who when I got back would be eating the food I brought her.
I would set the blankets on the counter “I tried finding you things I thought you'd like… how'd I do?” She would look between me and the bags before saying “um… good? I'm Stephanie… you can call me Steph though…” i would smile warmly moving to help put the door away “wow a nickname bases aren't i lucky? The name is Tara, but you can call me Tara” as I would gently hip bump her to lighten the mood. She would giggle softly before walking over to help me put the food away.
Years later…
It would be like most of the days where I stole some food and clothes, taking them to Steph and hanging out with her for a while before going home. This time I had a surprise for her, I would be moving in! I didn't have a lot of stuff, just some clothes and personal belongings, it only filled one bag so it was easy to quickly move in.
I would scale up the wall slipping into the vent I have come accustomed to going through. Once I landed on the carpet I would realize that it was pitch black and silent… odd… before I could even think about finding the light switch the lights would flicker on to now illuminating a room full of officers and Steph on the floor against the far wall from me.
The leader I presumed would step forward asking “we have accusations that you stole this little girl here fiend, so let's just cut the shit. You've had hundreds of small crimes over your head but this… this is unacceptable” my heart would drop to my stomach as I pleaded “w-wait you've got it wrong- see i found her and helped bring her food and clothes as such… l-look I have some here for her!” I would open one of the bags I had been carrying that held cereal, strawberries and some other items.
The lieutenant snarling would ask “so not only do you present us more evidence of burglary but you also lie to us? We aren't stupid… we know what your kind is capable of” My eyes would widen, they won't listen to me… they never have. “I did steal some stuff but I never stole this child, I found her abandoned here!” He would scoff, turning to face the girl asking “is this true?” Steph would go to answer but he would cut her off sighing “my god you've scared this girl to silence… you truly are a monster.
We have no choice but to take you to the station ma'am” my heart would drop lower, I couldn't be sent to jail! Steph needed me, or else they'll take her to an adoption center where she'll rot again… when I went to back up he would pull his gun on me growling through gritted teeth “ take another step and I'll open fire on you.” My body would freeze, I've never been held to gun point like this… I didn't like it.
Not because I could be shot but because if they did open fire on me Steph will be caught in the cross fire. I would put my hands up, down casting my head and be speaking “o-ok I give up but please don't sho-” “yknow… it would be an easy case if I just… quickly ended this… I mean, less goblin scum like you would only help the city” my heart would pound in my ear like a merciless drum, he didn't plan on letting me serve my time in jail, this couldn't be happening to me?!
A tear would roll down my cheek as I choked out a sob “don't do this please…ill go into hiding and I'll never go to this city again!” He would scoff, clicking the safety off of the gun “you will still plague this earth with your very existence… and I can't let that happen” my hair would bristle, there's no way that I'd let this asshole be the one who kills me.
I would quickly jump at the lieutenant, nails digging into his shirt as I shoved him away, I didn't plan on killing him, I just needed to grab Steph and go. When I threw the officer to the side the others would pull their guns out as the lieutenant shouted “OPEN FIRE GODDAMMIT!” they would do so, their barrage of bullets hard to dodge, and multiple would nick me before one hit me in the arm.
I would grunt my hand going over the bleeding wound. Through the haze of pain I would look up to see that I wasn't supposed to just get one bullet… Steph had taken a few instead. When she fell down finally the other officers would realize what they had done quickly, ceasing their shooting. I would crawl over to her, turning her body that had multiple bullet wounds peppered on her torso and the ending one… right on her forehead.
My stomach would churn seeing her like this, blood soaking her clothes and the carpet underneath us. My eyes would snap up to the now cowering officers, they weren't sad they killed a CHILD… they were scared what would happen to THEMSELVES. I didn't even realize that I had used my power of body swapping, all I knew was that I now had a gun, and I would clean out every magazine in this little batch on these MONSTERS.
And so I did just that, every reload I did I would hear more body drop, I could see they were shooting the man I took control of, but it wouldn't do them any service since I could just leave this body. Once I ran out of bullets I would snap out of my trance, my body snapping back to my original body, the officer i took control of dropping dead from the dozens of bullets his body endured.
I would look around seeing at least 6 dead body's, all of them soaking not only the carpet but my mind with guilt. I would scramble out of the apartment grabbing my backpack on the way before throwing myself through the window and out of the situation. Once I landed a story or two in some bushes, I would high tail it out of there, knowing that I could never go back there again…
4 years later…
It's been a few years since that day… I just turned 23 a few days ago, but like the last few years I celebrated alone, I found shelter on the top of a roof. It's not ideal but it works. For the past 4 years I've been trying to bulk up and train, so I was strong enough to not let another child's death be in my hands. The only taste of civilization I got to see was from above the bustling streets below and the occasional roof inspection, but even then I hid from the inspector.
There was one building I always wondered about though… the SDN building a few blocks across the building I lived atop. I had seen billboards occasionally and I've seen heroes fly past as well. But one day I felt a bit adventurous and decided to go check the SDN building out.
Once I got to the building I could see through one of the windows making eye contact with a black ponytail and a long V-neck shirt. He would look up at me with an unamused look before turning around and walking away… huh that was a surprisingly good start to socializing again. I would climb down till I landed in front of the SDN entrance.
I would walk in wearily looking around the empty waiting room before walking over to the front desk, grabbing a pamphlet that read ‘become a hero, Join our recruitment!’ Huh… I swear I've seen this dude on the buildboards… Phenomoman I believe his name is. I would hear whispering behind me and when I looked back a tall blonde woman and the man in a pony tail would be talking and looking at me, they would walk away when they realised I saw them.
I wouldn't care too much as I set the pamphlet back in the holder before walking over and sitting down in the waiting room. After a few minutes the blonde woman would walk over, moving to stand beside me asking “so… are you looking to join us today?” I would hum in thought “eh, maybe not… im not really too good at hero stuff”
she would look down at me a little annoyed asking “may I ask why you are here then?” I would stand up saying as I began to walk to the exit “ I wanted to see what this building was about” the moment I stepped outside I would get tackled by at least three police officers. They would put handcuffs on my hands and ankles and a muzzle over my mouth.
My tail would whip behind me in anger as I yelled muffled insults and questions as they put me in the back of their car. When I looked out the window I would see the blonde woman with a phone in her hand talking to one of the officers. That bitch must have called them on me… I guess a few years of solitude didn't suffice, of course they heard of my case, they're heroes.
When they started the car my heart would drop realizing how much trouble I would be in, fuck… whyd I think going there would be a good idea.
A week later…
I have been in a cell for a week… My court hearing is in a few days and they continuously talk about how they captured a ‘child murder’ . I have no idea what the officers said that got away before I went on a massacre but obviously they didn't include that they were the ones who killed her… killed Steph. I would hear footsteps and they would abruptly stop at my cell.
I would look up from my bunk to see that alone bitch standing on the other side of the bars. I would sigh sliding out my bed walking over to the door asking “what do you want… you've fucked me over enough for one month” she would sigh saying “ well maybe I can help this time, how'd you feel if instead of being sent to death row… you work under the SDN?”
Scoffing, I would ask “Are you seriously asking me to join your pussy club? I'd rather stay in here and rot” before I could turn to walk back to my bed she would say just as confidently “ I know you didn't kill her” my eyes would widen before I cleared my throat saying “of course I didn't its common sense, babes” she would raise her brow asking “ do you want to make sure that you can save more little girls from her fate?” My heart would feel heavy with guilt thinking about her death.
I would nod gently as she smiled unlocking the door, opening it up saying “ well let's get some paperwork arranged and you can help girls like her” I would reluctantly walk out the cell, following her past all of the other cells that held the actual killers and weirdos. She would lead me to one of the interrogation rooms, sitting down in a chair opposite to a second one that I in return sat in.
She would slide me a folder asking “just add some or your information here” I would open the folder that held two papers one had just normal questions like my name, Tara Gutenberg… age, 23… and where I lived I would clear my throat asking “um I don't really live anywhere, I've kinda lived on a roof for a few years” she would hum nodding before taking the paper writing down what I presumed was her own address “ you can live with me for a while”
I would nod before setting the page aside to look at the second one… this one looks more like a DND character sheet with the questions, do you have a power, um i guess ill put body swapping. how well is your power controlled, uh pretty well i supose… and lastly what's your hero name.
I would raise my brow thinking for a moment before writing down Swip-Swoo. I know it isn't the best name but I couldn't think of much else with her staring at me to finish faster. So when I closed the folder and slid it back to her she would smile holding her hand out to me saying “welcome to to the team Swip-Swoo” I would smile slightly taking her hand and shaking it.
A few days later…
I've gotten accustomed to a free room in BlondeBlazers house… I just learned that was her name, and I wonder if it was her first idea of a name, but anyway she is actually pretty nice now that I've gotten to know her.
I have also gotten to know the other heros in my team, Z- Team that is. Personally I really enjoy shit-talking with Prism, she is very sassy and honest but I do enjoy her presence. I also met Maleova, and Punchup they're both pretty chill and fun to talk with as well, I usually grab drinks after work with them.
But sadly I learned who the man with a ponytail was, Flamebae. Flamebae is funny sometimes, but he's also a total asshole too. But honestly I like this job a lot more than being in jail, and I'm not even the only reformed ‘villain’ here either, coupè was an assassin before becoming a hero. I even learned how to use and control my body swapping power a bit more too! Besides that, life was good. Finally I could be more than a goblin in other people's eyes…
3 years later…
I would walk into work like usual, a coffee cup in hand and my hero costume already on. It wasn't anything fancy but I definitely liked it and that's all I cared about. In the waiting room there would be two people, im guessing to try and join. One of them was in a black and white body suit that went up over his head like a mask, it was sleek and pretty cool.
And the other person was a taller man with a blue and yellow body suit that only went up to his neck, his suit was soaked with what I hoped was innocently water or something else. He was currently having his black tie done by the black suited man. I would smile warmly at the man in blue and yellow before going through a door into the office.
I would walk into the break room where Maleova and punch up were as I said “ I think we're getting another new dispatcher today” Maleova would shrug before punch up nodded saying “ yeah i wonder how long this one will last” I would Chuckle saying “ hah I bet only two day” they would laugh themselves before Maleova asked “ hah they just let anyone join huh?” I would snicker nodding.
The day would carry on like normal, getting sent out to do stupid jobs like conducting traffic for the third crash this week and some more serious jobs like helping people out of a building while Sonar defused a ‘bomb’ which was actually just a ‘bomb burger’ they got for lunch. Besides the honestly stupid calls we got, the day was simple and I couldn't ask for more.
But there was one new thing that happened … Well it was one new person who joined SDN, it was the wet guy from the lobby that I saw in the morning. He was currently sitting awkwardly in the corner, so I decided to try and make an effort to talk to him. I would walk over, and he would notice immediately and would stand up… DAMN this dude was freakishly tall, he would look straight down at me since he was at least twice my height before holding his hand out to me saying with a stammer “ um- ah h-hello I'm her- mean w-waterboy” his hand would shake and drip onto the floor.
He would realize his hand was wet and he would retract it quickly saying “w-well who are yo- well i mean how h-have you- h-hows you day b-been?” I would have to force myself to not roll my eyes out of pure annoyance. I would sigh saying with a forced smile “ my day has been good Waterboy, and the names Swip-Swoo, by the way” he would smile bashfully wringing his hands behind him asking “h-how long have you been here- as in like the t-team”
I would hum thinking for a moment before saying “ well if I could recall, around 3 years now” he would nod intently before looking around saying “ I really appreciate you being actually nice to me m-ma'am, only BlondBlazer and R-Robert have given me that grace” my annoyance would fade into realization, shit… he was just anxious, albeit overly anxious, but still he was new to being here.
I would nod asking “so are you a hero Waterboy?” he would shake his head saying “um no I-I'm just the janitor…” I would nod, smiling now naturally, as the alarm on the wall hit 4:30. “Well Waterboy, my shift ended but I'll see you later?” he would grin nodding while turning to walk out the break room “y-yes most probably- um most d-definitely i mean…”
I couldn't help but snicker as the door closed with a click behind me. He wasn't all that bad actually, I bet he's single too~ I would smirk thinking about how fun it would be to mess with him. I would stop before leaving fully remembering about the new dispatcher, eh I'll hear him all day tomorrow. Walking to my apartment the air would move around me as BlondBlazer landed beside me
“ Tara, it's very good to see you, how have you been doing?” I would shrug, asking “ how's one supposed to feel on rent day?” I would pull a chuckle from her as she shrugged herself, “mhm I suppose I don't know, should I be worried you don't have enough to eat tonight?” I would roll my eyes shaking my head, before I could answer her boyfriend Phenomaman would land in front of us, he would look at BlondBlazer before looking down at me, me and Phenomaman weren't the best of friends, but beside Maleova, I'm the only person who could stand him.
He would smile down at me saying “ ah hello friendly one who's name I remeber…” ah what a nice way to tell me you don't care enough to remember my name, asshole. I would remind him gently “ it's Swip-Swoo, Phenoma-” “ ah- hah I remember, Swip-Swoo! Well Swip-Swoo I regret to ask of you if I could excuse Miss Blazer, for we have a date tonight” I would hum nodding, ignoring the fact that he interrupted me.
I would just continue walking “ I don't care dud-oh” the air would split as he flew away with her in his arms. Walking down the street I would reach my apartment complex, luckily when I chose an apartment close to the SDN. Inside would be pitch black, I would yawn not bothering to turn the lights on as I walked back to my room, I would walk over to my drawer opening it up to grab pajamas.
Once I got out of the stuffy hero suit I would walk to the cage in the corner of my room that held my pet albino snake Sinner. I would lay a live rat in his cage before laying down on my bed beside the cage. Closing my eyes I would listen to Sinner play with his food before the scampering ceased into silence. Maybe tomorrow will be more eventful…