Chapter Text
Four porcelain hands raised the decapitated head of stone. Blonde hair spilled to the side as Ranni examined the finely carved features of Marika the Eternal. Features that she could no longer deny being familiar with. Achingly familiar.
These were features she had seen countless times. In the faces of her brothers, in the reflections of her birth body. The truth her Consort had uncovered, Marika's truth, could no longer be ignored. Not in that moment.
Marika was Radagon, Radagon was Marika. The man she called father and the Queen Eternal, whom she would usurp, were one and the same.
Well, not quite the same. For one had rebelled against the Greater Will and its Golden Order while the other remained its champion.
"Was this as thou wished, Father?" She needed to know. All that heartache, all the pain and violence, could have been largely avoided. If not for a secret. If not for the Queen's schemes. "Did it go to thy plans? What did thou gain?"
Golden embers ignited behind cold eyes. A will still burned there. The will of a God-Queen shone brightly as if there was no will greater than her own.
"... Freedom…" The remnants of a conqueror whispered. "... it granted… mine own freedom…"
Freedom. All that blood and strife and destruction for the freedom of a Queen. Fitting, she supposed. And it wasn't as if Ranni could speak much against it. She too had gone to great lengths to escape the Greater Will and its Fingers.
Despicable, vile, and necessary lengths.
She glanced behind her and took strength in what she saw. Her Consort, beaten and tired, was kneeling there as quiet and patient as ever. Those dragon slit eyes showed nothing but trust in her. Devotion to her.
It steadied her in more ways than she could say. And, perhaps, softened her heart a tad more than it should. She held little love for her father, much less Marika, but there was enough there for her to pay a dab of lip service.
"Doth thou have any last words?"
She supposed she owed her father that much. While they may not have schemed together, Ranni would admit, however reluctantly, that Marika's actions had aided Ranni's own plans.
And look how those actions repaid her father. Decapitated head aside, the years in captivity had not been kind to her, and the toll was quickly coming due. With Ranni's coming ascension Marika had lost both her throne and her power. There was nothing left to hold her together.
Her father was dying. Fragmenting into flakes of gold and ash.
"I shall pass thy words onto those who would have them."
"... thy mother."
Or perhaps she owed her father nothing. Perhaps she would let these last gasps of existence fall to obscurity.
"And what doth thou hast to say to mine mother? What more pain wouldst thou inflict?"
"... only my regret. And the love of mine… no, she hast my love whole."
Ranni wanted to scoff, she managed to refrain. Barely. She had truly gone soft.
"I will consider delivering thy message."
Stone lips almost smiled as what remained of Marika the Eternal crumbled to light and ash.
"Now cometh the Age of Stars. To every living being," Ranni clenched her many fists, securing what remained within. "And every living soul, a new age."
-0-0-0-0-0-
"The internet was a mistake." Vicky decided this without exception or compromise. She simply beheld the truth and spoke it.
"It can't be that bad."
"Some jackass set up a countdown for when I turn 18."
Her sister paused in her brushing.
"Okay, that's pretty gross."
"Right?"
It had taken less than a day for the creepers to come out after her debut. Predictable but still unsettling. The Mods of PHO had been hard at work cleaning up her intro thread, but for every nail the Ban-Hammer struck down another rose. It only got worse after her first family patrol.
At the rate things were going her thread was going to be locked. Again.
She wanted to engage dang it! She was a parahuman, she had powers, and she wanted to talk about it with someone who didn't look at her as if she were made of glass. As if it were a great tragedy that she was joining the family business.
Yes, getting the powers sucked, but the powers themselves? What she planned to do with them? She wanted to tell the world what she would be. What she would do for the world.
What she'd be to the world.
A sharp tug at her scalp pulled her back to reality.
"Ow!" She shot a glare over her shoulder.
"Sorry!" Amy apologized, though she didn't stop as she twisted the blonde's hair tight. "But you said you wanted this one tight in case anything happened. Besides, aren't you a Brute?"
Brute, a classification for Parahumans with super strength or durability, often both. And, technically, she was one. Just not all the time.
She told her sister, Amy, as much.
"So try to be a bit more gentle!"
"Fine, fine." She waved off the concern. "French braid, right?"
"A side French braid."
"Well, excuse me, little miss posh… You sure you don't want to wait for Crystal? She's better at this stuff."
"Why? You got this." And she did. There was no reason for Vicky to doubt her or for her sister to be doubting herself.
There was a little mumble behind her, a thanks, and she hummed back. The two sank into a comfortable silence for a time. With Amy determinedly working on Vicky's locks as the blonde continued to scroll on her phone.
The Mods were still sorting out the latest mess on her thread. So she decided to make her way back to another recent favorite. Another debut thread for Brockton Bay in fact. The thread was a few weeks older than her own, but it drew her eye time and time again.
Which was a… problem. And part of the reason she was getting dressed in her 'work' clothes. Her family was being overactive, overprotective, and plain over the top. But she supposed she could see their point.
The thread wasn't very active, a crime in Vicky's opinion, but there was attention. Everyone loved a new hero after all. Especially a powerful one.
And how could she be anything but powerful? A Trump as powerful as her was both rare and exciting.
Oh? She changed her costume again?
Independent Capes did that all the time. They didn't have the funds that more official teams and groups would have, nor were they slowed down by marketing or power testing. So, they needed to piecemeal their costumes together. Most ended up looking shoddy, football pads and magician capes. But others managed to cobble something presentable together.
And she was VERY presentable.
Amy flicked her ear.
"Hey!"
"Get off the page."
"I was just looking…"
"And it's the whole reason why Mom set up this meeting with the PRT. Try to keep calm before you get there."
Vicky clicked her tongue but swiped off the page. "Fine. But make sure I look my best."
And she did. Or, well, she did her best.
The braid was a bit messy, a tiny bit uneven, but it was otherwise well done. In fact, it gave her a rather rakish look. Fetching even.
And it went well with her costume!
Like the rest of her family, it had a white bodysuit as its base with a main color to accent things. She had chosen black. It had been a bit controversial with her family, especially with her image conscious aunt. But just because everyone else based their main color on their power did not mean she had to. So, she stuck to her guns and fought for her vision.
She wanted her power to pop when she used them, while not blending in herself.
And it wasn't like her initial idea had been all that complicated or even scandalous. Adding in hints of gold to keep with her family tradition had been simple enough. Because that was what her costume was. Simple. She'd even go as far as to say that it was elegant in its simplicity.
The black of her costume, outside her boots and gloves, all started at her waist. From there, not only did her waist cape flare out, but the design of a large black 'V' rose. It swooped up and over her shoulders, ending in a hood that she carefully pulled up and pinned in place.
She thought it all looked good. A bit basic, but what first costume wasn't? It was the first draft for all her outfits to come. As her hero career blazed on forward, she was sure it would only change and improve as she hammered out the details.
Still, for the sake of it, if nothing else, she had to ask.
"What do you think?"
She even gave a little twirl, her waist cape brushing against her calves as she spun.
Her sister, with the most sarcastic air possible, gave a slow clap.
"Wow, so cool." She laughed as Vicky stuck out her tongue. "Seriously, you look good. Don't make a big deal out of it."
"I'm not."
"Vicky, you're wearing makeup."
"Only a little!" It was a tasteful minimalist application. Not a big deal at all.
"Uh huh. Mom's not going to be happy about it. "
And she wasn't, but it was too late to do anything about it. Not really, not without a fight that would make them late. Something that was near inexcusable in her mother's mind.
So, with little more than a quick lecture, they all left. All of them.
New Wave was arriving at the meeting location in force. Every powered Dallon and Pelham had come in uniform. The glow of their various powers set the warehouses alight as they landed.
Vicky was the last to land, her method of flight the slowest of the three at a distance. She couldn't take passengers like her cousin or aunt. Not that it mattered; she could do so much more than either. Not that she was truly jealous, more impatient. Frustrated that it took so long.
Maybe the vans would have been faster? Or, maybe, she should have let one of the others carry her? No, no, they didn't have enough hands for that.
Besides, they were there already. The PRT troopers waved them towards a condoned off building. An empty warehouse that was secluded enough for everyone's purpose.
A nice neutral ground so everyone could tiptoe around a pair of heroes' feelings.
"Armsmaster, Assault, and Battery are escorting Athena in on the other side." A PRT trooper explained, guiding them to a curtained off area. "The higher ups figured they would be the best ones to get in the way if things go south, or figure out why things went south."
"And why are we doing this here instead of the more secure PRT testing area?"
Her mother had a steely gaze, trained from years in the field as a hero and in court as a lawyer. Being a mother for the better part of two decades probably helped too. It was a gaze trained to pin a person in place and had the trooper squirming.
"I, no offense, ma'am, but I don't believe the Director wanted to risk damage to the building with the live test."
She scoffed along with her mother. Like that would happen. She and Athena were going to be fine; she could feel it. They'd see.
Her aunt, ever the peacekeeper, stepped between New Wave and the poor trooper. "What exactly will this test entail?"
"Not exactly sure, ma'am. People on my end just know we're observing a 'possible Kiss/Kill reaction between two mid-level Trumps'. That's it. For anything more than that, you're going to have to climb a bit higher than me." He shrugged. "They're right this way."
The curtained off area was filled with more troopers and agents, but there was also a scattering of scientists as well. They spoke to her parents and the rest of New Wave about the finer details of the test. About the equipment they were setting up and the safety precautions they put in place.
And, honestly, it sounded a lot like what the trooper said. They were going to throw Vicky and Athena in a room to see what happened. Again, Vicky was sure it would be fine. She was a bit sad to hear the other Cape didn't have a "significant reaction" to pictures of her in her full Glory outfit, but that was a good sign, honestly.
It could mean there was no Kiss/Kill dynamic and some other "game" was in play for their particular cluster... Or that they were simply two Capes with very similar powers who appeared around the same time. She hoped not. Otherwise, all this fuss was brought on by her crushing unreasonably hard on a Cape she hadn't even met.
The embarrassment would be nuclear in scale.
"-like her to wear the monitor bracelet at least. The data could be invaluable."
"No. This is not some experiment. This is my daughter's safety. We came here to make sure she wouldn't be in any danger, not to have her poked and prodded. If it has nothing to do with keeping her safe, then the answer remains no."
"... it has a GPS tracker in case she's teleported away?"
Her mother leveled an unimpressive stare, and Vicky bounced on her feet. She wanted things to move along, to get to the next step. It all felt like stalling at that point.
In the end, she did end up wearing the bracelet. A compromise for having the PRT and Protectorate act as the middlemen.
Athena had to wear one, too.
Vicky heard the squelch of the radio and knew it was time before the troopers spoke.
Her aunt took control of the scene, "Neill, you'll head in first with Carol. Crystal, you stay back with me, be ready to drop a shield. Mark, stuns only if it comes to it. Remember, no matter what happens in there, this is neither girl's fault."
The adults mumbled, and Vicky kept her eyes ahead. Locked on to the final curtain.
They were doing this. They were doing this.
The warehouse was empty, recently cleared out and made open. Just for her, just for them.
A small procession of heroes from the other side. Familiar colors and costumes were completely ignored as her eyes were drawn to the unfamiliar figure at the center of their pack.
She was tall.
Taller than Battery, almost eye level with Assault. Long legs had her striding between the heroes, a cane with a glinting stone held tight in her hand.
She dressed like a school teacher, a college professor's chic. Dark pants and a navy blue peacoat were pressed sharp and clean against her. A red scarf neatly tucked into the coat's collar added a wonderful splash of color to the outfit.
Most of her dark hair was tucked into a bronze barrette, the edges of the hat blending cleverly with her domino mask. Hiding even her eyes from sight.
But Victoria could feel them. She smiled as a shiver went up her spine.
"Vicky-" Someone called out, trying to slow her, trying to stop her.
She didn't let them.
She side stepped her family. Shoulderd passed her uncle and mother. Ignored all their questions as she moved forward. Moved ever closer.
"-hy we're here."
"-ld be dangerous!"
"Again, that's why-"
They bickered behind her, but they didn't matter. Only one voice mattered in that moment. And it sounded so sweet when it rang across the warehouse.
"Harlot."
The word snapped the room's attention to the other girl. Every hero tensed as the last syllable passed her lips. Such a harsh word, too. So full of spite and heartbreak.
What a reaction.
The room briefly took on red and purple hues as her aunt and cousin rose into the air, intending to intervene where they weren't wanted. It was unfortunate then, for them, that while they were better fliers, she was the better Mover.
Golden light cracked as she moved. Each step iridescent and brightening, ever forward, heedless of every warning or care.
A hand reached for her, but there was nothing for them to grab. Only a bolt of golden faith.
Lightning quick, the next best thing to instantaneous, she stood in front of the Protectorate heroes. Their eyes adjusting from the sudden flash, but what did their games matter in the face of those hazel eyes?
Hard eyes that frosted blue and swirled with starlight.
Blue knives were falling before their eyes even met. She laughed as she stepped back, the blades stabbing down where she once was.
"Glory Girl! Athena! Stand down, both of you! This does not need to escalate!"
"Don't think they can hear you, boss."
They could, but such paltry words would not stop them. Not when there were so many more important things to say.
"Adultress." Athena spat as more, many more, crystal daggers bloomed above her head. A torrent of power formed around the head of her cane.
Victoria dodged again, but these daggers hunted for her. They angled around the brave heroes who would defend her and dug deeper into the cement as she rolled out of the way. People screamed as the follow up came, a comet's tail trailing forward with all the force and speed that implied. The walls stood little chance.
"Slatten."
A third round of daggers formed, and they were answered by spears of lightning. Rougher and fewer in number, but they intercepted most of the attacks. For the remainder, Victoria had to dodge, calculating how to close the distance.
Barriers of red and purple stretched between them, trying to push them apart. To keep them apart.
Victoria wouldn't let that stand.
She unclipped the baton from her belt, snapping it to its full length. Golden energy hummed at the weapons head as she jumped, hanging in the air for an impossible moment before crashing down.
Cement cracked, and earth erupted in a wave of gold, knocking most of their feet. No barrier would stand in her way.
A streak of blue tried. It even said something like "Girls, you need to" before a transparent giant flung it away.
Athena had been untouched by Victoria's attack. Floating above it all as she summoned her minion. The transparent giant roared at the sight of Victoria, swinging its massive sword in a loyal rage.
She parried it.
Golden light washed over the giant as their weapons clashed, staggering it. Leaving it open for a new volley of lightning spears.
Athena's wide lips pulled back into a snarl as Victoria invaded her space. Eyes frosted blue met a gaze of burning gold.
"Whore."
Victoria could only smile.
"Yours."
Anger flared hot behind the girl's mask, struggling against itself even as she moved. Long fingers dipped deep into Victoria's hood, threading into her braid, wrenching her head up.
Victoria did not resist.
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"I think that's a strong yes on the Kill AND the Kiss. Ow! What?"