Winston’s POV
“Sorry…” Winnie murmured, wiping at his face with the handkerchief and trailing after Remedy. He added a quiet “Thank you.” Moments later, choosing to walk next to Samuel, who he considered himself bonded with.
Alec’s POV
“I didn’t, I just said the only name I’ll go by.” Alec said, trying to dodge the question. “ So, if the hero organization sent you to catch little ole me, does that mean that you guys are short on heroes are something, I mean we’re practically a block away from the bank, and you were the only one who bothered showing up.” Alec tried shocking the chain again to no affect. “And why can’t I use my abilities? Is it the cuffs? Or the chains? Or you?”
Opals POV
Opal smiled more openly. “Okay, thank you.” She mentally slapped herself, she was not supposed to be thanking the villains, but once she started she couldn’t stop. “I’ve been waiting for the game to release for the last couple of months, so I’m glad to finally get it.“ She mentally slapped herself again, this was going to be a long day.
Sienna’s POV
“I’m honored to be the one to take you.” Sienna purred, a smirk playing across her lips as she spotted the mall up ahead. “I’ve been thinking about you a lot since we met.”
Winston’s POV
“Sorry…” Winnie murmured, wiping at his face with the handkerchief and trailing after Remedy. He added a quiet “Thank you.” Moments later, choosing to walk next to Samuel, who he considered himself bonded with.
Anthony’s POV
Anthony chose not to reply, falling into step with the little hero—who, of course, was his age, but was much more in need of protection. “I assume that I’ll be staying in the butcher shop while serving the Guard?”
Alec’s POV
“I didn’t, I just said the only name I’ll go by.” Alec said, trying to dodge the question. “ So, if the hero organization sent you to catch little ole me, does that mean that you guys are short on heroes are something, I mean we’re practically a block away from the bank, and you were the only one who bothered showing up.” Alec tried shocking the chain again to no affect. “And why can’t I use my abilities? Is it the cuffs? Or the chains? Or you?”
Ae-Ri’s POV
Pointedly sidestepping the first question, Ae-Ri sighed through her nose. “What do you think?”
Winston’s POV
Winnie blinked in confusion. “Do you not have a house?” He looked a bit horrified at the prospect of this. “Have… Have y’all been living in that shop back there?”
Opals POV
Opal blushed madly, causing her to look down. *She was not allowed to like compliments, or the villains who made them. “Oh, uh, really? That’s nice.” Opal stiffened realizing she had said it out loud.
Winston’s POV
Winnie blinked in confusion. “Do you not have a house?” He looked a bit horrified at the prospect of this. “Have… Have y’all been living in that shop back there?”
Anthony’s POV
The healer rolled his eyes. “Don’t look so horrified. I’m a wanted man, I can’t exactly rent a flat.” He slipped his hands into his pockets, sidestepping a rather deformed grotesque without missing a beat.
Sienna’s POV
“I would agree.” Sienna stifled a laugh, opening the door for Opal as they reached the mall. “I’ve never been in a GameGo before. You’ll have to show me around.”
Winston’s POV
“You can stay with me! My Ma won’t mind. It’s not the best place, but we got heat and electricity and stuff.” Winston fussed over the shorter boy next to him, his gaze filled with worry. “You don’t eat right either, do you?”
Alec’s POV
“Uh, maybe the cuffs. Unless you have two abilities. Which isn’t entirely impossible, but it isn’t likely, and the chain isn’t actually touching me.” Alec again tried shocking the chains, but still to no avail. Though he hoped his sudden smarts would throw her off balance, most people tended to believe he was stupid. “It doesn’t mean that I won’t keep trying though.”
Anthony’s POV
Anthony blinked incredulously. A few seconds ago, this boy had been crying from sheer terror, and now he was offering him a place to stay? It was… touching, and dangerously so. He couldn’t afford to be sentimental towards anybody at the World Guard, especially considering the fact that he was going to betray them all for the Phantom Alliance soon enough.
“I doubt your ma would want a murderer with a small army of deformed humans living in her house,” he answered carefully, his tone flat and emotionless.
Ae-Ri’s POV
She snorted loudly tugging sharply on the chain as the top floor of the Guard’s headquarters became visible above the rest of the buildings. “It’s a waste of energy. Save it, we’re almost there. Hope you like prison cells..”
Winston’s POV
“At least try it for a few days? We take people in a lot! It’s not a big deal, honest.” Winnie pleaded, uncomfortable knowing Remedy had been out on his own for god knows how long. The thought of that was awful to Winston. Even if he could only provide a little piece of it, he wanted to do his part.
Opals POV
Opal beamed despite herself, she loved to show off her gaming knowledge, even though it was an extremely niche thing. “Okay, lets go!”
Anthony’s POV
Anthony raised an eyebrow, something he seemed to be doing a whole lot around Winston. “A few minutes ago, you were downright terrified of me. What changed?”
“It’s only a waste of energy if it doesn’t work, otherwise I’m a genius.” Alec smiled, “Besides, things always seem to work out, even if it takes some trying.”
Sienna’s POV
Sienna smiled, seeing Opal’s obvious, and almost childlike excitement. “Lead the way. I’ll be right behind you.” She replied swiftly, studying Opal curiously.
Winston’s POV
“What changed?” Winston seemed confused by the question. “Nothing?”
Ae-Ri’s POV
“You’re an idiot,” she told him bluntly, turning a corner and ignoring all the attention they were attracting. “Almost there….”
Winston’s POV
“What changed?” Winston seemed confused by the question. “Nothing?”
Anthony’s POV
“Why are you no longer crying in fear?” he asked rather bluntly, taking a hand through his hair. “And inviting a murderer to stay in your house?”
Winston’s POV
“Oh! Because y’all aren’t trying to kill me at the moment.” Winnie offered him a small, awkward smile. “And ‘cause y’all need a place to stay. It ain’t right that y’all should freeze out here. Not when I’ve got room to spare.” He explained, running his hand along the edge of the file.
Alec laughed, “that’s to you, but only because you caught me. If you hadn’t, you would’ve been gritting your teeth at my cleverness.” Alec started to drag at the chain, they were getting to close for him to stay so comfortable. “So why did they send you all by yourself, surely you had a partner. I’ve never seen one of you heroes by yourselves.”
Anthony’s POV
“Mm.” I turned this prospect over in my head, admittedly relieved that he wasn’t about to cry again. Since when was I so soft?
It would be nice to have actual hearing for a change…. and a respectable place to stay…. but I couldn’t afford to familiarize myself with Winston and his mother. “Ask your mother. Then I’ll consider it.”
Alec laughed, “that’s to you, but only because you caught me. If you hadn’t, you would’ve been gritting your teeth at my cleverness.” Alec started to drag at the chain, they were getting to close for him to stay so comfortable. “So why did they send you all by yourself, surely you had a partner. I’ve never seen one of you heroes by yourselves.”
Ae-Ri’s POV
Yanking sharply at the chain, Ae-Ri pushed him in front of her, sighing through her nose. “Because I’m more than capable enough to handle you myself. It would be a waste of time and effort to send multiple people after a dimwit like you.”
Opals POV
Opal lead them through GameGo, until they found the new Call to Duty, all the while telling bits of information about the systems and games she liked. When they arrived the register, she scarcely remembered her mission. “I remember you said you wanted to go to a store too, so which one do you want to go to?”
Winston’s POV
I nodded eagerly, already knowing she’d say yes. Remedy needed protein, that was for sure, even though our apartment was drafty, some heating would do him good. With all the creatures around I’d have to cook a lot more and probably eat a bit less so everyone could get enough, but that was okay with me.
Opal lead them through GameGo, until they found the new Call to Duty, all the while telling bits of information about the systems and games she liked. When they arrived the register, she scarcely remembered her mission. “I remember you said you wanted to go to a store too, so which one do you want to go to?”
Sienna’s POV
“Don’t worry about that. I need some new clothes is all.” Sienna looked around the store, which was stil, a foreign land to her. Opal seemed to be in her glory though, and that’s what mattered.
Anthony’s POV
“But—“ Anthony lifted a finger. “Some ground rules. If you mother or try to go soft on me, I will not hesitate to force your legs to carry you into another room, pack my tiny bag, and leave. I am not your friend. I could very easily kill you. Do not forget that.”
Alecs POV
“Hey, didn’t your mother teach you not to push, that’s just bad manners.” Alec tried to slow them down again. “ OH MY GOD, THAT GUYS TOTALLY JAYWALKING, WE SHOULD GO ARREST HIM!”
“Alright, that sounds good!” Opal said, the mission of hers almost completely forgotten.
Ae-Ri’s POV
Ae-Ri’s patience evaporated like a puddle beneath the hot sun. She slapped both hands firmly over his shoulders and twisted his mind until all he was able to see was the blood-soaked street again:
Alecs POV
“HEY, THIS ILLUSION OF YOURS SUCKS, I CANT BE AFFECTED!” He tried to sound convincing, but he still felt a shiver down his spine, and to his dismay, he heard a small crack in his last few words. This was not going well for him.
