“After the bombings, Amy healed Glory Girl and we went back to my house.” I shifted in placed as sweat soaked my back. I wasn't sure why they brought Legend to my debriefing, but here he was, staring me down with the weight of every hero in the Protectorate behind him. “Amy ended up curing me of Bonesaw's plague, then we spread it. After that, Jack found and confronted us, tried to kill us, but we survived thanks to some assistance from a local.”

  “Which local?” Piggot demanded instantly.

  “Skitter,” I replied hesitantly. “The Undersiders and Travelers saved us from the Siberian, as I mentioned. Considering the circumstances, I felt working with them was better than losing more fingers, or my life.”

  “She's been reported with a new bug, a giant one,” Assault said, voice tense. Most of his red costume had been replaced by spares. “What do you know about that?”

  “Field emergency defensive measures, to couch it in PRT terms,” I explained. “It won't be around long and, if you're really worried, it isn't bulletproof.”

  “The concern is where it came from,” he bit back. I sighed.

  “Panacea.” I tried my best not to wince at the collective reaction from the room. “Under my instructions, I asked her to help. That bug plus some that are able to extend Skitter's range, made to find and kill the Siberian's master, are it. I doubt any of them will last out the week, but if you're really worried you can ask Panacea and she'll tell you a real expiry date.”

  “So you decided to use this emergency to empower a villainous warlord?” I shot Legend a glare. The look he gave me made my alarm ring loudly in my ears.

  “No,” I spat, a pulse of anger overriding the fear. “I did what I had to to survive, and what I thought was the best way to stop the Slaughterhouse Nine. If it means Skitter's more of a bitch to deal with, then fine, I'll take the blame for that. Considering only four or five of the Nine made it out of Brockton Bay, I'd say it was worth it.”

  “Only three,” Piggot corrected me, clearing her throat. “Jack Slash, Bonesaw, and the Siberian with her master are the only ones unaccounted for; the rest are dead or...accounted for.” I felt myself relax fractionally.

  “Then it was worth it,” I replied. “Unless you think screwing with the team responsible for at least half of them was a good idea, I didn't, I don't.”

  “Please continue,” Legend said a moment later.

  “Well after Jack escaped,” I said. “We stayed the night at my house, then yesterday we came back here. Brings us to today, which I don't think you need a debrief on.” I swallowed against my dry throat and sat down, slowly so my shaking knees didn't give out.

  “How much contact did you have with the villain Regent?” Assault demanded. Gallant looked sideways at him.

  “Almost zero and-- shit, sorry,” I apologized at the immediate glare from every adult at the table. “Sorry I just remembered that he's controlling Shatterbird. We should do something about that sooner than later.”

  “We're aware of this and are taking measures,” Legend replied evenly. “Gallant?”

  “She's telling the truth.” He sounded exhausted, voice quiet and hoarse. I couldn't imagine what he looked like behind the helmet. “No sign of influence.” I felt a spike of annoyance; this had just been a test?

  “Thank you Amaranth,” Piggot said, nodding to an officer dressed in a suit who was seated next to her.

  The man got up and walked out the door, followed by Assault, then Legend. A pinch-faced woman, vaguely familiar, came in and sat next to me, offering a brief nod before staring down Piggot. Gallant shifted from his seat to one next to the director, his head barely raised. Just the four of us now.

  “Okay let's get this over with,” I said with a sigh as the door clicked shut.

  “What do you mean, Amaranth?” Piggot asked, like she didn't know.

  “I mean the part where you punish me for saving people,” I retorted, getting a look from the woman sitting beside me. “Come on, Gallant said you wanted my head, so here it is director, on a platter even. I won't fight, just make it quick so I can take a nap.” I hadn't been sleeping well, barely at all really.

  “I feel like I'm missing something important,” the pinch-faced woman said dryly. “Amaranth, how are you?”

  “Bad,” I snapped, making her lips quirk down.

  “Director, would you like to bring me up to speed?”

  “This meeting is exactly what I told you Stanford,” Piggot replied with a frown. “Amaranth abandoned her duties and actively worked with local villain groups, some of the worst ones in the city.”

  “Yeah besides the Nazis you're ignoring,” I interjected.

  “And we need to determine the terms of her probation going forward,” she finished, ignoring me just like the fucking Nazis. “That's all.”

  “Wait, you're with the Youth Guard, right?” I asked, the name Piggot said finally ringing a bell.

  “I'm your Youth Guard advocate, yes. We met just last week, remember?” No.

  “Oh right, I remember,” I lied through my teeth. “Sorry, it's been a long week.” Her look softened and she slowly nodded, then turned back to Piggot.

  “Want to give me the full story?” she asked, casting a sidelong glance at me. “You'll pardon me if I don't believe a young woman went out on her own in this city without a good reason.” I bit my lip and looked over at the director, and Gallant next to her.

  “I...” I sighed. “I don't know how much I can say, sorry. I knew something bad would happen to someone I cared about, knew it, and I went out there to help them.”

  “Did you succeed?” I gave Gallant a plaintive look. After a moment, he slowly nodded.

  “Yeah, she did,” he said, voice only just carrying across the table. Stanford's brow creased.

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  “Are you alright Gallant?” she asked. “I'm sorry Holly hasn't been around to check in, her husband is still--”

  “I'm okay,” he cut her off. “Just a little tired, haven't had a chance to catch up on missing sleep yet.” Stanford sigh and nodded once.

  “Alright, the matter at hand then.” She tucked a stray hair behind her ear. “What Amaranth has told me is she did her job as a hero; dangerously, foolishly, but still. Gallant agreed with her assessment. I certainly hope you'll keep that in mind while we hash out her probation terms.”

  “We know her side of things,” Piggot retorted, sliding a piece of paper across the table. “Here, itemized and in simple terms.” I grabbed the list and took a look.

  Well, it wasn't quite as bad as I expected. No solo patrols, obviously, a hefty fine for being AWOL, annoying but what the fuck could I buy in the ruins of Brockton Bay? Aaand they'd finally had enough of housing me in separate quarters, now I was getting mandated to bunk with the rest of the Wards. That was going to suck out loud, but all of it was...well I could cope.

  “Looks fine,” I said with a shrug, holding out my hand. “Pen? ...What?”

  “You're alright with these terms, Amaranth?” Stanford asked.

  “Sure, they're whatever,” I replied, still holding my hand out. “I knew all this was coming, not my power but I knew what I was doing, that there would be consequences. So give me a pen so I can go pack my shh—tuff, move in, and take a nap.” There was a beat of silence.

  “You're sure Amaranth?” Gallant asked, making me narrow my eyes. The man could see it and didn't believe me.

  “Yes. Pen. Please.”

  Reducing it that much finally got a writing implement in my hand and I quickly signed the sheet, then pushed it over to Stanford. Piggot was eyeing me for some reason, but accepted the paper quietly when it was returned to her. After they made sure I understood it was all to take effect immediately, which like...obviously, I was dismissed to go move; under Gallant's supervision of course, they weren't taking chances anymore.

  The walk back to my quarters was quiet. I didn't want to talk to Dean, and he clearly didn't have the energy to do anything with me. That was alright, both of us had had enough of trouble caused by me, we were pretty sick of dealing with it. Well, it wasn't like I had any more good reasons to, so we'd both be getting a break now. When we finally arrived, I opened my door and let him in.

  “Hey Amaranth, how-- Gallant?” Amy looked and sounded confused. “What's going--”

  “I'm moving,” I said quickly. “Probation terms, I'm bunking with the Wards now. Uhh, I guess I can come and visit, if you want to hang out or anything.” She grimaced.

  “And can I...stay?” Amy glanced between us.

  “Director's given you a temporary billet,” Gallant explained. “Two weeks no questions asked, after that...we'll have to talk.”

  “I assume she could negotiate terms for her stay, right?” He shot me a look, but nodded. “Well, there you go Amy. Told you; golden calf.”

  “Doesn't feel like it when I'm getting told there'll be conditions,” she countered. “Are...are you going to be okay?” I shrugged.

  “It's just dorming,” I replied. No point in making a mountain out of it now. “Sure the bed probably sucks and my roommates may be annoying sometimes, but that's how it is. Hell of a lot better than the alternative.”

  “Which is...?”

  “Leaving the Wards and trying to make it on my own, or joining a gang.” I held up a hand when Gallant's head snapped towards me. “Relax, those are pretty dogshit options Dean. If I was taking either of them I wouldn't be here, would I?” He sighed.

  “You need to stop saying stuff like that,” he groused. “You know Piggot considered putting out a warrant for you right? Legend had to be the one to nix that idea. People are looking at you like they looked at Shadow Stalker and you haven't even been here a week.”

  “Hey Lia actually did some good!” Amy snapped, drawing my eye. She looked genuinely pissed, why?

  “Amy, chill, seriously,” I said over my shoulder as I went over to the closet and grabbed a duffel. “I knew what would happen when I went out.”

  “It's still bullshit,” she complained. “Like, you know don't you Dean? Why didn't you say some--”

  “Amy,” Gallant snapped. “I've been a little busy dealing with the consequences of both your actions to try and play devil's advocate. Do you want me to tell the PRT what you did to Victoria? Because that's probably the only excuse Piggot will accept: saving two capes for the cause.” She flinched and turned away. “I thought so.”

  "Don't be an asshole,” I said as I stuffed the few clothes I had into my bag. “I don't think any of us want that shit airing, right?” I took their collective silence as a resounding yes. “Great. So Amy, shut up and let me take my licks, deserved or not. Dean, get off Amy's back, she's good enough at beating herself up.”

  “I'm not 'on her back',” Dean countered. “You guys caused a lot of problems, you know?”

  “We're plenty aware,” I bit back, bending down and retrieving the pistol from the pile of costume it landed in yesterday. I made sure the safety was on, then turned and held it out to him, grip first. “How about not giving us shit for trying to stop?” He eyed the gun, then took it and slipped it into his belt. “Check it,” I snapped. He seemed to glare at me behind his helmet, but did.

  “Whose pistol this time?”

  “Skitter's,” I replied, crossing my arms. “You're welcome, by the way.”

  “You brought this into the PRT building?” I rolled my eyes.

  “I was exhausted yesterday,” I said. “Didn't remember I had it til I was taking my costume off. You'll notice I'm giving it to you, Dean; could you maybe accept that I'm trying to follow the rules and not give you grief?”

  “I'll believe that when Behemoth dies.” Oh fucking get ready dude.

  “Whatever,” I spat, returning to packing. It didn't take me long to finish, and soon I was standing by the door. I cast a brief look over my shoulder. “Hey Amy?”

  “Yeah?” She asked, glancing up.

  “I meant it, about hanging out I mean.” I tugged at a piece of hair that had escaped my hood. “Don't know how much time I'll have, but I'm just down the way, you know? If you want to just have some alone time though, that's cool too.” I felt like an idiot and turned away.

  “Sure, maybe,” Amy replied quietly. “I'll uhh, think about it?”

  “Cool,” I said, slinging my bag. “See you.”

  Gallant led the way out and down the hall, and I trudged along behind him, slowing us down. It wasn't really my fault that I hadn't been sleeping, given the last week or so. Gallant was probably in the same boat, part of why I wasn't being as shitty as he sort of deserved. That, and I meant what I said about not causing problems. I could deal with the Protectorate and their crap, because I knew what my other options were.

  “I don't get you,” Gallant said quietly as we got in the elevator.

  “Gallant please don--”

  “You know what she did,” he cut me off. “Knew it before anyone, and you're offering to hang out? I've got some problems with that, Amaranth.”

  “She fucked up.” I sighed. “Not going to argue that point. But hey, so have I, so has everyone. I'm not saying turn a blind eye or anything, but she did unfuck her fuck up.”

  “That doesn't change what she did.” I frowned.

  “Gallant, imagine you have a secret,” I started slowly. “A secret that's so deep and dire that you know it wouldn't just hurt you if it came out, it would hurt the people you love. Now imagine it comes out in the worst way possible, your secret harms the person you care about the most.”

  “What do you kn--”

  “We're on opposite sides of this disaster,” I cut him off. “You love Vicky, I...feel some way about Amy; I don't want her to be alone and miserable anyway, because I know what it's like. And, I guess, she's my friend. So you help your girlfriend, she really, really needs it Gallant. I'll...I'll do what I can.”

  “Fuck,” he swore as we stepped out into the Wards quarters. “I don't know if I can look past this...this.”

  “Then don't,” I said simply. “Just promise you're not going to stab me in the back or give me shit duty because you don't like who I hang out with.”

  “I wouldn't do that,” Gallant retorted as we stopped by one of the doors. I stretched up and looked into the retinal scanner and glanced inside as the door opened.

  “Great,” I said, stepping in and throwing my bag on the bed. It was clean, at least, but a bit cramped. “Anything else, or can I try and fail to get some sleep?”

  “You have a meeting with Dr. Yamada in three hours,” he said. “Nothing until then though. I...hope you can get some sleep.”

  “Yeah,” I said as I shut the door and laid down on my new, lumpy mattress. “Me too.”