Chapter Text
‘Inez Castillo, hero name: Piper. Her quirk: Earth Song. She hears the vibrational frequencies of all matter as music, and when she sings along, she can manipulate just about anything to her will!’
Japan, Musutafu, UA campus, Inez Castillo’s dorm. She layed on her bed, her dark eyes boring into the ceiling, contemplating how her life was falling apart. The plan had been simple. Well, as simple as international espionage could be. But it sounded so… intense to talk about it that way – so heavy. Really, she was just helping her sister. Inez was a good sister. Now everything was gone, though, destroyed, and no one would be left unharmed. How did she get here?
Had you asked any of her classmates, none of them would have guessed that she was born to two loving parents. The Castillos had good jobs, a nice house in the suburbs of Chicago, two beautiful children and a 401k. All that was missing was the white picket fence. They had worked hard to get where they were in life, and aimed to pass it all on to their children: Inez and her older sister Odette. Odette was ten years Inez’s senior, and was as doting as a big sister could be. The girls were shadows of each other. Odette constantly hovered around little Inez, adoring her chubby tan legs and the dark curls that grew to frame her face. Odette had inherited their mother’s waves, and was always a little jealous of those curls. Inez was adorable and as good tempered as a baby could be. Odette wanted the world for her baby sister and would do anything to give it to her.
Inez and Odette inherited unique quirks from their parents: Inez’s was tied to her hearing, and Odette’s stemmed from her voice. For as long as she could remember, Inez could hear music no one else could. It hummed all around her, constant,. She didn’t know at the time how how this quirk could be implemented. All she knew was the world sang to her. Odette’s quirk was… different. A villainous quirk, or so people told her.
‘Odette Castillo, quirk: Siren Song. When she speaks or sings with a certain tone of voice, she can make people do her bidding!’
The tone – the frequency she could brainwash people with, was discovered by accident when Odette was quite young, and because she was so young, it was hard for her to control. It was so natural for her to slip into that voice, especially when there was something she wanted. She knew from a very young age that, with the right words, she could get just about anything she wanted.
Of course people treated her differently. They joked how she’d be a great villain one day, though all her friends had aspirations to be heroes. The Castillos wouldn’t hear it, though. They were outstanding people, well respected in their communities, and they made sure to teach and show their daughter that she could only be whatever she decided to be. She belonged where she decided to belong. With their guidance and support, she strengthened her quirk and learned to use it responsibly.
These halcyon days were doomed not to last. It was a bright, sunny day in August and sixteen year old Odette was watching over six year old Inez while their parents were out, running errands downtown. It all happened so fast. A villain attacked, heroes rushed to the scene. The fight was quick, vicious, lots of collateral damage. Inez’s parents were crushed in the debris. It was unclear whether their deaths were the fault of the villain or the heroes, so no official action was taken. These things happen. So it goes.
Things moved quickly from there. The funeral (closed-casket) took place within the week. The girls stayed with a family friend in the meantime, but as much as social services tried (which really wasn’t that much), there wasn’t any immediate family to take them in. They hardly had time to grieve as they were shuttled into the foster care system. They learned quickly that not every family was as loving as the one they came form – that not all adults had childrens’ best interests at heart. Odette bore the brunt of the abuse. She was careful to shield Inez from the worst of it.
The father was a large man, ex-marine, no tolerance for disrespect, and he was liberal with what he deemed disrespectful. The mother was quiet but equally cruel. They took pride in taking on ‘problem children,’ ‘difficult cases.’ Scaring children straight. Putting them on the straight and narrow. He’d yell, intimidate, throw, hit. She’d belittle, demean, withhold. Their home was a machine that took in hurting children and churned out broken spirits.
It was at this juncture that Odette learned just how much her quirk could do. She could freeze a grown man mid-punch, she could make antagonistic foster siblings simply leave the room. Where they went or what happened to them when they were out past curfew was none of her business. Her parents teachings didn’t leave her; she was determined to use her quirk for good, but things had changed. Odette had to protect her sister. As she grew more confident with her quirk, her foster parents grew more inventive. She can still clearly remember the first time her mouth was duct taped shut. This was not the world Odette wanted to give her sister. Such a sweet little soul deserved so much better, so she numbed her from it. She told Inez, in that special tone of voice, ‘sit,’ ‘stay,’ ‘be quiet,’ ‘hide,’ ‘sleep.’
‘Forget this.’
At only sixteen, Odette quickly became jaded. The bubble of her childhood had burst, and she wouldn’t lie to Inez the same way she had been lied to. They were snuggled together on the twin bed that creaked when either of them so much as breathed. They had their own beds, but for safety, Odette insisted they sleep in the same bed. Inez curled herself into her big sister’s side.
“He almost hit you again,” she whispered.
“Yeah,” Odette said and tugged Inez closer. “But he didn’t. He’s slow and stupid. He’s got nothing on me.” She tried on a brave smile, trying to convince herself more than Inez. Of course she was stronger than him, she had to be. Inez frowned.
“Why does he do that? He’s… Everybody’s so mean.” Tears welled in her eyes. Odette let out a heavy sigh and she lowered herself to look at Inez properly. Her under eyes were so dark for someone so young. Odette cupped Inez’s cheek and ran a thumb under those eyes. Inez sniffled. “He shouldn’t h-hurt you.”
“He didn’t, Babybug, he didn’t,” Odette cooed, trying and failing to soothe her sister. She hadn’t yet left that bubble of childhood. Better that Odette popped it than anyone else, so, she sighed and held Inez closer. “Listen, Bug. There are a lot of people who are mean just because they can be. They wanna be big by making everybody else feel little. They are cruel. The world is mean. And that’s why,” she took Inez’s hand and squeezed it, “we have to stick together. Okay? Cause I’m gonna love you no matter what. And I’m gonna keep you safe.” Inez wiped her tears with her free hand and nodded. Odette pulled her close and kissed her forehead. “You stick with me and everything’s gonna be alright.”
They had been in foster care for a year when Inez got hit for the first time. A slap across the face. Odette wasn’t quick enough to save her. She ran into the room.
“What did you do?!” she bellowed at the father.
“Your brat sister finally got what was coming to her.”
Inez wailed. The father stormed out of the room.
“Shut her up, will you?” He called over his shoulder.
Odette ran to Inez and scooped her up in her arms. “Hey hey, shhh shhh shhh. It’s okay. I’m sorry, Babybug, I’m so sorry.” Odette’s throat burned with tears. Inez was inconsolable. She could feel the father’s anger silently growing, even from the other room. “Bug, shhh, shhh.” Odette cast a worried look over her shoulder. He wasn’t approaching. Yet. “Shh, shh… Inez, be quiet!”
Inez’s mouth snapped shut. Tears still rolled down her face, which of course Odette wiped away, but she was silent. Inez looked up at Odette, fear in her eyes, not understanding why she couldn’t cry.
“I’m sorry, baby, I’m sorry. But I need you to be quiet, okay?” Another look over her shoulder. They were alone. “We’re not gonna stay here anymore, okay?” She said it before she meant it. “We’re gonna – gonna go somewhere else, okay?” Odette nodded, and Inez started nodding in turn. They were gone before nightfall. They didn’t have to fight or sneak. Odette spoke, and they simply left. Seventeen and seven, alone in the world. Free.
Or so Odette had hoped. So she thought. They disappeared into the city, where the eyes of the system and the law lost sight of them. Odette began to build the life she knew Inez deserved, or tried to. She went around, trying to find a job, but it was nearly impossible to find one that wouldn’t leave a paper trail. That wouldn’t alert the authorities to there whereabouts. They were runaways. So, by day Odette investigated every Help Wanted sign she saw, carefully avoiding cops, dragging Inez behind her. ‘Be quiet.’ ‘Be still.’ ‘Follow me.’ By night, the sisters hid away in 24 hours stores and diners. They avoided – Odette avoided – shelters. Law enforcement had orders to be on the look out for the Castillo girls, and the shelters were mandatory reporters. They couldn’t risk going back. Odette never found stable income, and they had to steal most of what they needed.
The weather started to turn cold, and Odette was becoming more desperate. No home, no job, hardly any food, and a sister who was almost always catatonic from her own quirk. Little Inez was lost in the fog Odette cast over her brain. She wasn’t herself. Wasn’t anyone. This wasn’t any way to live. Young girls in a vulnerable position in a big city. Word got out fast. It wasn’t long at all before they were scouted by a villain organization.
It was one particularly bitter October afternoon. The sun hadn’t been seen in weeks, and the wind cut through coats, sweaters, gloves, hats, scarves, though the Castillo sisters didn’t have any of those. They were bulky and hard to steal. Odette sat in an alley to shield Inez and herself from the wind, trying to figure out what to do about their situation. They couldn’t go on like this; they’d freeze to death. From deeper in the alley, a dark figure made itself known and started a slow approach. Odette sprang to her feet and dragged Inez close to her side. She glared at the figure, who stepped into the light and revealed himself to be a young man, about Odette’s age. He held his hands defensively in front of him.
“Hey, hey. I don’t want any trouble. I just thought you two looked cold. My apartment’s just on the other side of the alley. You could come warm up for a minute. Get something to eat.” He spoke in gentle, placating tones. Odette squinted suspiciously at him, but he seemed genuine. Inez was dazed at her side, shivering through the fog. They were both worn thin. Odette looked hard at the guy.
“You mean it?” She hated how juvenile she sounded, but she thought she should put up a bit of a fight. The guy nodded.
“Just tryin’ to do my good deed for the day,” he said with a smile. He was kind of cute. Odette wasn’t aware she was capable of finding people cute anymore. Of course, that didn’t actually mean anything, but it made him seem more trustworthy. Odette nodded slowly.
“Y-yeah, alright.”
The guy, whose name they learned was Jacob, took them to his apartment, which, as promised, was just across the alley. They followed him up to the third floor, down a hall, and into his nice, warm, comfortable apartment. The door opened into a living room, with a kitchen around the corner, and a bathroom and bedroom presumably beyond that.
“Nice place,” Odette said emptily.
“Yeah, in-unit laundry and all. Make yourselves at home; I’ll get you something to eat.” And with that, Jacob disappeared around the corner.
Odette didn’t need to be told twice, and Inez didn’t need to be told at all. Odette urged her forward, and she mindlessly folded herself over onto the couch cushion. Her small body trembled at the sudden warmth. Odette snuggled in next to her, rubbing her arms to warm her up. After a few minutes, Jacob emerged again, carrying two small bowls of soup. It was something from a can, but heartier than either of the sisters had had in a long time. They ate greedily. Jacob ate nothing; he just sat and watched them, brow wrinkled. His pity made Odette’s stomach twist.
“You guys have had it pretty rough, huh?” Jacob tried for gentle.
“What’s it to you,” Odette shot back. Inez was only half there, so she said nothing.
Jacob shrugged and held his hands up defensively. “Just saying, this doesn’t have to be a one-time thing. I mean, you’ve got her to take care of, right?” He nodded at Inez.
There it was. The other shoe dropped. He wanted something. She had heard all kinds of horrible things people had demanded in exchange for food and a warm bed. Odette properly glared at him now, and Jacob took a defensive stance.
“Okay, okay, hear me out! There’s just this group I’m in – me and a few of my friends. We’re looking to make some real change around here. I don’t mean any disrespect, but somebody doesn’t get to where you are without something going wrong, right?” Odette couldn’t argue with him there. “Right. Well listen, this time last year, I was in a pretty similar place to you. I didn’t have anywhere to go, no friends, no food, no job. But this group, my friends, they helped me out. Now I’ve got this place. Y’know, it’s not much, but it’s warm and safe and it’s mine. You and your… sister? Your sister. You deserve to be safe.”
It was a sales pitch, and Odette knew it. She wasn’t stupid. But even still, it sounded appealing. It wasn’t like anyone else was extending them any help, and honestly, they needed it.
Odette gave a small nod as she spooned up the last of the soup. “So, what’s this group, then?”
That encouraged Jacob, who continued eagerly, “We’re called Black Aconite. Have you heard of us?” Odette shook her head. “Well, we believe that there are specific groups that are purposefully disadvantaged in society. We’re pushed down and suppressed or left behind by the system, and it’s not right. Black Aconite wants to give power back to the people.”
Odette nodded slowly. “And how do you plan to do that?”
Jacob had the script memorized. “Protests and demonstrations, mainly. We’re big into activism. Networking is really important, too. Obviously, I’m a scouter.”
“So, you’d take me and my sister and just set us up in a better position? For what? What’s in it for you?”
“The love of the game,” Jacob shrugged. “It’s a very fulfilling gig.”
“What a humanitarian,” she drawled.
“Some might say.” He smirked. Odette melted. Just a little. She didn’t really buy into this whole thing, but she figured she didn’t need to. If they’d feed them and give them a place to stay, maybe a few connections, that was good enough. Odette set her bowl down on the coffee table.
“So how do we join?”