"Am I a bad person?" Lilith asks from my shoulder.
"I don't think so." I respond absentmindedly while sending some Kaiju to clear the road of the mountains of snow that's been covering it. An A class Kaiju has been flying around the city for all day, summoning a city wide blizzard in the process. It's a pretty dramatic turn of events after I blew up my instructor yesterday. But I'm not that pleased because it's FREEZING!!!
"Hm. So you won't get in my way when I get back to my plans?" She asks in a strangely casual tone. Oh boy. I didn't think we'd talk about this so soon after the submarine but here we are.
"Do we have to talk about this now?" I whisper because I'm not sure if I actually want her to hear me. I just keep flying around the city to see if anyone needs help since I couldn't find the snow Kaiju. Lilith and I haven't really separated since yesterday so she's been following me around. It's silly of me, being worried about one of the strongest people on the planet but that's just how it is I guess.
"I think so. It's an elephant in the room that I can't say I care for. I thought I wasn't going to speak to you again after the mansion. That was the plan anyway.".
"Oh." I try and hide my disappointment but I don't think it works. "You didn't want to see me again?" I didn't think that would hurt as much as it did.
"I mean, taking over the government isn't the safest activity. And you had your cosplay going on so I didn't know how you'd react. Not great conditions for conversation." Yeah that makes sense. I think. Taking over the government isn't exactly something I have a lot of experience in. Though with what I've found out recently I can't say I'm entirely against it.
"But now we have to talk?" I ask with a slight resentment in my voice I barely noticed was there. "Things change quickly don't they?" I spot a man walking in the blizzard with way to few layers.
"Well we don't have to but I thought you'd want to. Friends talk about things all the time. We've done that before." She follows me as I descend.
"Yeah about normal friend stuff. Not you wanting to become a supervillain." The old man nearly has a heart attack when I make a silk scarf for him to wear. He power walks as soon as he can. "Oh right everyone thinks I'm an alien invader or something." I suddenly remember.
"Guess we're both supervillains." Lilith grins. Her pitch black eyes staring at me in amusement. I groan at the timing.
"That's different." I shoot back but she just keeps staring until I look away. She giggles which almost makes me forget what we're talking about. "Look, I don't understand why you did this. I don't know all the details and frankly I don't want to. Can you please just chill out for now? I'm tired and I just want everything back to normal for a bit." She tilts her head in response.
"Are you trying to convince me to put my master plan on hold so you can relax? I figured you'd have a more refined negotiation tactic." Well she'd be wrong.
"I'm not smart ok? I think that we can agree on that. I didn't even know we were having this talk. If I had a speech I would use it but this is the best I've got." I cross my arms both out of embarrassment and the FREEZING COLD!!!
"We've been over this. You are smart. That's what makes me being so much smarter than you impressive." She kicks my nose for emphasis. This would probably be a lot worse if she wasn't tiny. "Also, it's not like I'm not tired as well. I was in a box for a week! I couldnt even break out because otherwise they might have gone after you and Misty!" Huh, that's terrifying. "But you just couldn't help yourself could you? Oh no! You just had to go and take on the same person who broke your jaw!".
"And my arm.".
"And your arm!".
"At least I won! It could have been worse!".
"Yeah! You could have died!".
"Well so could you! Or worse!".
"Literally not possible! Your a lot more fragile than I am you dummy!" She makes an exaggerated turn away from me.
"Well I didn't feel like it when you left without telling me anything! I didn't know what would happen to you!" She's so frustrating!
"Well you didn't need to worry! I was fine!".
"No you weren't!".
"Ok! So I wasn't ok! You happy! I'm exhausted and I'm taking a break from the plan again!" Oh. Nice. We just stare at each other in confusion.
"That's good." Is all I really have to say. I got what I wanted out of this talk.
"Only because I chose to.".
"That's fine.".
"Not because of you. I was going to do it anyway.".
"Good to hear." There's not really a point in arguing at this point. "What was with all the notes on your wall?" I didn't have a lot of time to think about that before all the fighting got started.
"Oh that? That was just a trophy room I think? You know, physical reminders of each step we'd achieved." Oh like Ratman. "Not like Ratman though." Oh my mistake.
"So the epsilon thing?" I wonder what she had to do with that.
"Ok that's the exception. That was a team that went to the dark zone and didn't take kindly to it." Oh.
"What happened to them?".
"Who knows? Not even me." I don't think I've ever heard her say that before. Or maybe I have. We have a lot of talks. "But they were relived of duty. That's what got me curious about what really goes on out there." So her heart really was in the right place? That's a relief.
"So you were worried about them?" I ask while Raven lifts a car so it doesn't get stuck.
"That's pushing it a bit. I'm just not a huge fan of people in power doing whatever they feel like. Bad experiences in the past you know?" I wonder what she means. Should I push it? "And obviously something like the dark zone would require a lot of funding. So I've been trying to follow that and take anything even if it's not connected. A girl can enjoy a bit of cash now and again." She gives a genuine smile that makes her look really good. Probably could have worded that better.
"If what they're doing is that bad then we can stop them. But we should do it together. I don't want you to get hurt again." Lilith immediately snorts in an attempt to hold back laughter. "I'm serious! Can't you at least wait a little longer?!" I feel my cheeks warm up.
"You really think I can get hurt?" She continues to try and fail not to laugh.
"How is that the part you focus on?!" My wings flare up with my spike in emotion. This seems to hit her a little harder than I expected it to. She places a finger to her lips in what I assume is consideration.
"Listen…" she looks dead in my eyes.
"Would you two shut up?! Why even bother saving her if your just going to do this?!" Allister yells from the top of a car we walk past. I stare at him in shock because I'd genuinely forgot that he was here. That's so horrible of me. Wait a second…
"Why did you speak in front of her?!" My eyes shift from the talking cat to the fairy. Gosh my life is great. Wait that's not the point! "You misheard that! He didn't talk! Cats can't talk! And if a cat could talk he wouldn't be with me! Only magical superheroes have talking cats!" I throw my arms around wildly and try to salvage this.
"She knows who you are. It doesn't matter if she knows I can talk." He states simply.
"It seems I'm not the only one who had secrets Haruo." Lilith stares at the talking cat with a gentle smile. It's a little scary. "Aside from the obvious." She gestures to my outfit. "So this is a talking Kaiju? That's amazing. I didn't think something of this intelligence could exist.".
"The way you said that is really making me want to eat you." He growls at her while she giggles. I hope they can get along. "But you." He looks at me. "The boss has some words for you." Who? Louhi? Is she my boss? I don't get paid. Do I get paid?
"Oh! You have a boss?! Who is it?! You have to tell me! Do I know her?!" Lilith gets in my face with a series of questions.
"I'd certainly hope not." Allister says bluntly. They glare at each other. I'm not entirely sure where this hostility is coming from but these past weeks have made me realise I don't know much. "Time to go. You probably shouldn't fall asleep here." He turns and walks away, expecting me to follow him. I think he's still mad about me ditching him. I turn awkwardly to Lilith.
"Um, I'll see you later." I give a small wave and fly away. I didn't really know how to end that. The whole conversation was all over the place. From there it's as simple as sneaking in through my window and falling into my bed. The first thing I notice in the cabin is confetti hitting me in the face.
"Congratulations! Instead of just a hero, you've become a super cool hero!" Louhi and her mice wave some flags around. Her hair is a bright orange this time, but the ends are still purple.
"Are there levels?" I ask after my brain adjusts to this new experience.
"Well no. But it was cool for a second wasn't it?" Her hair shifts to the blue that I'm more familiar with. I wonder if that signifies anything. "Anyways, I'm so proud of you! You've learned to channel some of the voice of the planet. Not a second too late it seems." We sit down at the table to have some biscuits.
"Your not wrong there, any later and the stab wound would have killed me." I stare down at the table and try not to think about how scary that was.
"Oh that's not what I meant. That was great mind you but that's not what I'm talking about." I look up at her. What else could it be? "Um, this is a little awkward now. Two of lord star falls warriors are heading to your city." What?
"WHAT?!".
"Yeah. The nephalem of unchecked life and discord has finally begun moving." Is that what he is? Wait that's not the point!
"Right now?! What do I do?! Do I fight them?! How will I know who they are?!" I pull at my pink hair as panic sets in. I just got done with a bunch of near death fights and now I have to do it again? Seriously?!
"Trust me, you'll know them when they're there." How is that an answer?!
"Are you going to come and help?!" She's probably really strong right?!
"No sorry." She scratches the back of her head. "I have someone else I need to go and deal with." Oh boy. So it's up to me?
"Who else is there?" I'm so screwed.
"He's a man named the red knight. I can't let him reach you or things will turn really bad." Oh because that's so different from how things will already turn out! She stands up and walks over to me. She pulls my head into an embrace. "I won't pretend like this will be easy. When you wake up you may immediately have to get to the fight. But you have to. We exist to help others. That how we justify our existence." Her talons gently brush my hair. Its relaxing. "But you already knew that. That's why I know you'll be my best hero yet." Her voice goes faint as I leave the dream.