[Smells Like Teen Spirit]—❈—00:: The (potential) New Teammate

Carlos (Aegis)

“I can’t believe they got all of us to show up on a school day just so we can woo some guy with cold feet,” Dennis said, slumping heavily onto the couch and drawing an irritated side-eye from Missy, its sole occupant.

“Well, he said he wants to get to know the team before signing up so…” Carlos shrugged.

“I just can’t believe Piggot actually agreed to it,” Chris said. “I mean, none of us got to meet the team before we signed up.”

“None of us asked though,” Carlos pointed out and both Chris and Dennis got an “ah” moment of realization.

“Yeah,” Missy said, “and none of us are grab-bag healers either.”

Every ward in the room (which was all of them with the exception of Sophia) perked up at those words, but none more so than Dennis, and it broke Carlos’ heart a little bit as to why.

“Healer?” Dennis asked, trying (and failing) to not sound hopeful and interested.

Missy nodded. “Supposedly he can heal anything with a touch, but it takes a long time.”

“Wait, anything anything?” Chris asked.

Missy shrugged.

“You said he’s a grab-bag,” Elias, the newest member of their team said, speaking up for the first time. “What other powers does he have?”

“I don’t know all of them, but I know he has short range teleportation and a sword that, according to him, can cut anything,” Missy answered.

“A sword?” Chris asked, interest piqued even higher. “He’s also a tinker?”

“I don’t think so. I think the sword is some sort of projection.”

“Wait, how do you know all this?” Carlos asked, finally unable to hold back his curiosity. Even he didn’t know some of what Missy had just shared, and he was not only the leader of the wards, but also the one Armsmaster had personally informed of the potential new recruit.

Missy’s answer to his question was a simple; “Rory told me.”

“Wait, what? Why?” Dennis asked in surprise.

Missy gave the boy an annoyed look. “Because unlike some people, he actually respects the fact that I’ve been here longer than the lot of you,” she said.

Dennis rolled his eyes.

He wasn’t being dismissive, Carlos knew; they all knew the pain of not being taken seriously because of their age.

No, Dennis just did that because he knew it would piss Missy off even more.

Ever the peacemaker, Dean stepped in before Dennis could rile Missy up.

“If the new cape is this powerful, then he’s going to be a good addition to the team,” the handsome boy said. “We should do our best to make him feel welcome.”

‘Make him feel welcome’, those were the words Armsmaster had used too.

Carlos could read between the lines though; the new cape was a steal, and The Protectorate wanted him.

‘Make him feel welcome’ was basically code for, do whatever it takes to make sure that Musa (the potential recruit’s placeholder handle) will be gladly signing the wards contract by end of day.

To be honest, Carlos didn’t mind it too much. If this Musa was as powerful as it seemed, then, as the leader of the wards, it was his duty to bring the boy aboard, since, in the end, it will be to their own benefit.

The Protectorate could use all the help it could get.

Carlos only hoped that this new cape wouldn’t be another Sophia Hess. One was more than enough.

As though the boy could hear his thoughts or something, Dennis said; “You know, if the plan is to make this new cape feel welcome, then I don’t think letting him meet our resident Lady of Angst is a good idea.

“Speaking of,” the redhead continued, “where is she? Is she seriously going to blow this off?”

“She wouldn’t dare,” Chris said. “Armsmaster would probably kill her.”

“If Sophia was scared of Armsmaster she wouldn’t do half the things she did,” Missy said.

A rather familiar alarm began to sound through the room then; an alert for them to mask up, because someone without clearance to know their identities was about to enter.

They were all done within seconds, their masks having been made for difficult removal, not putting on.

The elevator door opened, and through it stepped Miss Militia of The Protectorate, accompanying a slim, bronze-skinned boy with hair like glimmering waves of black ink.

His eyes were a warm brown, like pools of chocolate that you could sink into, and even though from the little of his face that Carlos could see with his cheap domino mask on, he was clearly very young (fifteen at most), the boy was incredibly fit. Certainly fitter than Carlos had ever been, even after he got powers.

Both Musa and Miss Militia’s eyes took in the assembled wards, and Carlos didn’t miss the slight frown that flashed across MM’s for a split second at Sophia’s absence.

That girl just always had to cause trouble, didn’t she?

The moment passed, and MM spoke; “Wards, meet your potential teammate. He’s using the temporary name of Musa. Musa, meet the wards.”

“Hi,” the new cape said, voice soft and warm, “I’m Musa, and no the name isn’t temporary. If I sign up with you guys that is definitely what I’m going with. Nice to meet you.”

Vista stepped forward. “Hi, I’m Vista,” she said, holding out a hand to shake.

Musa took it. “The Shaker 9 of Brockton Bay,” he said, smiling slightly. “You know, I’ve seen some of your videos; you’re terrifying.”

“And don’t you forget it,” Vista said, looking pleased.

Musa’s smile grew, and despite the mask, and being as straight as anyone else, Carlos damn near swallowed at the boy’s beauty.

What the hell? Was that another of his powers? It had to be, right?

No guy had the right to be that goodlooking.

Clockblocker stepped forward next, holding out a hand too.

“Clockblocker, hope you join the team.”

Musa reached out a hand, and Carlos’ eyes began to widen at the realization that Clock might be about to play his stupid shake/freeze prank.

But then Musa took Clock’s hand, and nothing happened.

Carlos blinked in surprise. Had Dennis finally decided to be mature? Or did Musa have some sort of trump power on top of everything else?

“Musa,” the new cape said in polite introduction. “And I still don’t know how you managed to get away with a name like Clockblocker.”

Clock smiled. “Well, Musa,” he said, “join the team and maybe I’ll share my secrets with you.”

Musa smiled back. “Tempting.”

It clicked then; Musa hadn’t frozen because Dennis hadn't tried to freeze him, and Dennis hadn’t tried because he didn’t want to risk poisoning their relationship.

He wanted Musa on the team. And he wanted Musa to like him.

And there was only one reason why that would be.

The introductions continued after that, and one minute in Carlos had to admit that things were going well.

He should have known better than to let down his guard.

The elevator to the wards area opened. No alarm this time, since it’s occupant was someone who very much had clearance to be there. Someone, in fact, who was not only expected but late.

Shadow Stalker walked out of the elevator, costumed and masked, and all eyes turned to her.

Then, Musa, apropos of nothing, said; “Wow, you’re a psychopath.”

All eyes turned to him now, including Stalker’s, through her creepy mask.

“The fuck did you just say to me?” Stalker asked.

“I said you’re a psychopath,” Musa repeated calmly. “You torture people.” He sniffed. “For fun.”

Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit oh shit.

“Um, Shadow Stalker used to be a villain,” Carlos rushed to explain, hoping that that would be enough to dissuade Musa from whatever his thinker power (because that is what this had to be) was picking up.

“No,” Musa said, “this is recent.” He sniffed again. “Right before she came her actually.” Another sniff. “She abuses people. She gets off on it. She’s a sadist” One last sniff. A frown. “Is that a hint of murder I’m getting?”

Shadow Stalker stood still, her body vibrating in rage. “You piece of shit,” she began. “I’m gonna—"

Musa pretended like she wasn’t speaking.

“Um, Miss Militia? Yeah, this isn’t going to work; I’m not getting on a team with a sadistic psychopath.” He turned to the wards. “It was nice meeting you guys, but I guess this is it. Oh, and you really should reconsider working with her—” he pointed at Stalker who only seemed more pissed off at being largely ignored by Musa “—because, from what I’m getting she despises all of you, and will gladly watch you die if the opportunity ever presented itself.

“Take care.”

And with that, Musa teleported twice in rapid succession, appeared in the elevator one last time, and pushed the button.

He waved at them as the doors closed.

Stalker screamed. “Hey, get back here, you piece of—”

“Sophia!” MM screamed, and from the storm in her eyes to the rapid morphing of her power, it was obvious that she was incensed. “You and I have a lot to talk about.”

Stalker took one look at Miss Militia, and in that moment she tried to do something incredibly stupid. She tried to run.

Tried, being the operative word.