SSV 3 Chapter 19 (Patreon)

“This tastes so good.” Amelia was having trouble not drooling on the table with just the bread and butter.

“It’s just the bread.” I chuckled as our waiter came by.

“Can I get you all started with something to drink?” The waiter asked.

“We’ll take two bottles of champagne. The D’ore Fleur.” Technically, we didn’t have access to France after the titans had shown up, but that didn’t stop anyone from making champagne. “We’ll take one of each appetizer, too.”

I supposed some supers could fly across the world, but even with The Roc gone, there were still incredibly powerful monsters out there. It would be an incredibly dangerous journey, and we didn’t even know how Europe had fared since the global transit systems went down.

“Miles.” Ivanna hissed, getting my attention.

I shrugged, realizing she was embarrassed about the order. “The BSH is paying, and I don’t often get to go here. Stella likes an Italian place, which means that’s most of where we do our eating.”

Both of the women shook their heads at the extravagance, but I just leaned back and smiled. I was playing it up a little, but sometimes it was fun to get to splurge.

The waiter came back quickly with the bottle of champagne and three flutes. He popped the cork and quickly filled our glasses before stepping away with a knowing smile.

“To two new heroes joining the finest in the city.” I raised my glass to the two of them.

We clinked our glasses, and something about the first sip relaxed the atmosphere around the three of us. They leaned slightly more towards me as I sank into the back of the booth.

“You know. My mother would be so happy to see this moment.” Amelia had a sad smile as she stared at the bubbles in her glass.

“She’s passed on?” I asked.

Amelia nodded. “Used to be a hero twenty-five years ago. She wasn’t anything special, but that monster that killed Fortress killed her.” She gripped her glass hard enough I thought it was going to shatter for a moment.

I paused in my sip, realizing the problem it could cause, but continued anyway.

“Didn’t Kim recant her previous statements at a press conference?” I tried to push her towards a different conclusion.

This was a huge problem for me and her continued involvement in my team.

But Amelia was stuck in her way of thinking. “Now that Void—“ she said the name like it was toxic sludge. “—is back, Kim has to try to make peace with him. He’s just too strong. Sometimes strength is what matters most.

“It’s stupid. The strong don’t have to follow the rules. He killed dozens of the city’s finest that day and gets to be forgiven because he’s strong.” She drowned her sentiment in a gulp of champaign before refilling it.

The bubbly hero she’d been a minute earlier faded, grief replacing it.

She sat for a moment quietly before she tried to shake it off. “But that’s the past. Now we are heroes and working for the best team in the city.” She raised her glass. “To joining Miles’ team.”

I drank to the toast to buy myself some time. Suddenly, I was regretting bringing her onto the team.

My fated, we can just remove her. Mona had been listening in, likely to know if she needed to start her Void impersonation.

No, I thought mentally. I feel like I should correct this. Not just avoid it.

Very well.

“What about you, Ivanna?” Emma had been right, at least about Amelia having some darkness inside of her. So what about Ivanna?

She shook her head, making her blue curls dance on her head. “Nothing so dramatic. I had a good life.”

Amelia reached over my back to pat Ivanna’s head. “She’s been bullied a lot. But don’t worry, that’s over now that Miles is here. I have a feeling that he’ll never let something bad happen to us.”

The quiet girl blushed and quickly grabbed her glass again, raising it. “To a better future.” She stared into my eyes, and I had to admit, I saw a little of darkness in them.

Like Emma said, they were like moths to a flame, being drawn in by me to be consumed.

“To a better future.” I agreed, clinking my glass with hers and then Amelia’s.

Amelia giggled as I finished my flute. “We can’t have our boss having an empty glass, have some more.” She pulled the champagne out and filled my glass again. “Maybe if we give him enough toasts, we can get him drunk.” Amelia leaned around me whispering conspiratorially with Ivanna, who blushed in turn.

“You two.” I rolled my eyes. “No getting me drunk.”

Reaching out with my power, I once again tried to search for Melody. And I sobered up a little as this time, my power found her nearby.

***

Melody took several deep breaths outside of the bar, patting her own cheeks as she tried to give herself a pep talk. “I got this. I got this.” She was Velody, a villain.

“It’ll be fine. It’s not like this is somewhere pompous. You just need to get a drink and show yourself.” Obsidian was by her side in black leathers that made her look like a badass.

Melody eyed the outfit, wishing she had something similar. Give her an outfit to make her feel tougher. 

She tried to reignite that spark that gave her an edge of villainy. The one that set her off that first day in the jewelry shop, but she couldn’t find it.

“It’s confidence.” Obsidian reminded her. “You have to feel it, or everyone in there is going to think you are weak and eat you alive.”

“If there is one thing I’m not, it’s weak.” Melody blew out a breath. After monster fruit, she wasn’t weak. It had changed her power in a wonderful way.

“Good, then let’s head in.” Obsidian pushed her way through a line at the front of a club.

“Watch it.” Someone shouted, but Obsidian ignored them, plowing through the line up to the bouncer, who took one look at her and at Melody behind her and stepped aside for them to enter.

“Damn.” Melody whispered as Obsidian pushed her way inside through the crowd.

“Just stop giving a fuck about everyone else. We need to head to the balcony.” Obsidian continued through.

She had figured it would be more of a seedy dive bar with quiet brooding patrons hidden in shadows rather than a loud, bouncing night club.

But as she passed another bouncer and headed up to the balcony, the vibe changed. The lights danced up in the more secluded area, but the sound was heavily muted by the shape of the opening beneath.

Women in darker clothing lounged around in the space, some of the outfits decorated in spikes or skulls. More than a few had a man entertaining them, one that was clearly not entirely sober.

It almost felt predatory as they sat above the dance floor, perusing the men dancing down below.

“Obsidian. Who is your friend?” A big woman who radiated violence with her neon red mohawk walked up to Obsidian and Melody.

It took Melody a moment to recognize the woman as Wrecking Ball.

She was a decently famous villain in the city that had some power over momentum and durability off the charts. She could run through multiple concrete walls without even missing a step.

“This is Velody.” Obsidian made the introduction.

“I’ve seen some of your work. Though the name sucks.” Wrecking Ball wasn’t against speaking her mind. “But I’m curious if you are really up to snuff. Killing a little wanna-be doesn’t mean much.”

Wrecking Ball blew out a puff of air through her nose at Melody’s face.

Melody flinched, but otherwise, she stayed put.

Suddenly, Melody began feeling like she’d just dropped chum deep in shark-infested waters. Villains all over the balcony were noticing and watching the interaction.

Her flinch hadn’t gone unnoticed.

Even Obsidian stepped aside, but she was watching, waiting to help if needed.

Straightening her chest, Melody stared back at Wrecking Ball. “If you are feeling so confident, why don’t you see for yourself?”

But before she could prepare herself for the fight, Melody found herself flying through the air before she could blink.

She crashed into a couch, narrowly missing a patron. She brushed off shards of glass from the table she’d gone through before clearing the couch as she stood. “You are going to pay for that.”

Two other villains were on her in an instant, grabbing her arms and jerking them back behind her head. A third was ready and waiting to keep her down.

“No. I don’t think I will. You look like a lovely new pet to me.” Wrecking Ball stood tall over Melody. “Might have power, but you don’t have villainy in you.”

Before Wrecking Ball could plant her fist back in Melody’s gut, the purple elf’s eyes glowed and threw the two off of her. “Fuck you, bitch. You think you’re something because you got a cheap shot in?”

Melody’s right hand caught the head of the remaining villain that had tried to hold her down. A black hole opened up for just a moment and ripped his head apart, sucking it into her hand. She dropped the headless corpse to the ground.

The dark spark lit within her again. The rush of taking a life. She had complete control. It was intoxicating as she took a deep breath, reveling in it for just a moment.

Then Melody threw out her left hand, blasting Wrecking Ball back before she used two gravity wells to rip into the villains that had tried to hold her down. They really should have known better by that point.

Wrecking Ball was picking herself up off the ground, looking at a hole in her shirt and an angry red patch on her stomach.

Not waiting for another quick hit this time, Melody strutted forward, watching the villain carefully.

She added a little sway to her hips as her lips curled up in a vicious smile. “I think you’ll become my little pet.” Gravity wells popped up all around Wrecking Ball, stopping her in her tracks and tugging the huge woman down to one knee and then the other.

As Melody reached Wrecking Ball, the villain’s head was near her hips. Melody grabbed her mohawk and yanked her head back and forth for a moment before grinding herself against the big super who had decided to pick a fight with her.

“I’d take you for a pet, but I think I have much better options at home.” She could see the surprise in several faces before her right hand that had been holding her mohawk was replaced by utter darkness for a moment. Wrecking Ball’s head disappeared, and the big woman’s body fell to the ground.

Melody turned as if it was nothing, grabbing Obsidian and strutting over to the couch where Wrecking Ball had been sitting. She sat down, crossing her legs comfortably. “Waiter.” She raised her hand and dragged the hapless man over to her with her gravity. “Two drinks. Make them strong.”

He nodded quickly and scurried away.

“Interesting.” Obsidian leaned back, completely comfortable with the present situation.

Melody came down from the momentary high, seeing the mess around them and imagining it from another point of view.

She wondered what Miles would think about the situation, her body growing stiffer.

“Stay relaxed. You did well.” Obsidian put her hand on Melody’s thigh. “You did exactly what you needed to do and what he would have done.”

“Don’t tell me you are secretly a mind reader, too?” Melody shook her head, hoping the others in the bar hadn’t read her as easily.

Obsidian leaned back in the booth. “No. But that’s about the only thing that would bring you out of that high. He’s likely well aware of what is happening over here. Given that he can see across the city now, I doubt he’d be ignoring what happened here. He didn’t lift a finger to stop you. Hell, I’m sure he’s done worse.”

“Is it strange that I really want to know what he was like as a villain?” Melody asked as the waiter came back at a near sprint to hand them both two martinis that tasted like they were mostly top shelf vodka.

The waiter didn’t even ask for payment and hurried away. Melody decided she liked that part of being a villain. Finally, a little damn respect.

“Miles pastes people even when he’s trying to be good. Just think about how many people have been turned to mush and swept into drains. It makes a pretty big impact too. Imagine if you just snapped your fingers and blew Wrecking Ball into mist.” Obsidian commented, taking her drink and wrinkling her nose at how strong it was.

Melody chuckled into her next sip. “Too strong for you?”

“Tastes like a bad hangover.” Obsidian said before going back on topic. “Think we could convince Miles to come out sometime as Void? Hit the club with us? Then you could see just what it would be like. I bet he’d just start walking towards one of these couches, and anyone who didn’t move for him would be turned into paste.”

Melody gawked at her. “Really?”

“Oh yeah. He has the power. That’s why he has that feeling about him, the kind that makes you either get down on your knees to suck him off or get the fuck out of his way.” Obsidian laughed.

Melody just nodded along. Obsidian wasn’t wrong.

Though this wasn’t a conversation they’d be having if he was here.

Miles was handsome, but it wasn’t just his looks that drew her to him. There was a dark magnetism about him that made her knees weak even that first night when she picked him up at the bar. He was powerful and protective.

It wasn’t like he had tattoos or a bike that made him seem edgy. There was just something about him, a confidence and a look in his eyes like the world was beneath him.

“It’s in the eyes, I think. Something to do with his past experiences.” Melody agreed with Obsidian. “I want to see him being a villain.”

Melody was relaxing, feeling better among the villains at the club. They seemed to have fallen in line after her earlier display, none interested in picking a fight with her. At the moment, they were keeping their distance.

“So, why didn’t you need to kill anyone?” Melody asked.

“Oh. Because I’ve done that enough. I have a reputation.” Obsidian replied cryptically.

Melody couldn’t help herself. “Have you killed?”

Obsidian put down her drink and crossed her legs as she tapped at her lips. “Yeah. I haven’t kept count. Maybe a dozen.”

Melody licked her lips, wanting the high again, the attention and power. The room had watched her, just waiting for what she would do next.

“Then let’s go out to another place tomorrow. For tonight, let’s enjoy the club.” Melody leaned back and closed her eyes for a moment before something blocked the lights.

“You just killed Wrecking Ball.” The super stood above her.

Melody remembered what Obsidian had said about how Miles might react. A little shock and awe might not hurt.

Melody increased the gravity around the super’s ankles to hold them still and then forced their arms out to the side. “You are ruining my night.” She unfolded her legs and glared before pulling hard. They screamed for a moment before they were bent forward so that their head was within her reach.

Cleanly, she sucked them into her right palm, feeling a little bloated for not releasing them. She’d just have to do it later when no one was looking.

Maybe she couldn’t become a villain, she’d just need to keep on killing, ride the high of feeling powerful the whole way.

Once again, the room was hers. There were those avoiding her eyes, hoping not to be caught in her crosshairs, and those watching her warily. She picked her glass back up, grabbing the toothpick with the olive and taking a slow bite, pulling it off with her teeth.

Then she motioned to a waiter to get her another and clean up the mess at her feet.

Melody stole a glance at Obsidian, getting a subtle approving nod.

Scanning the club, Melody ignored the men now becoming like groupies around them, drawn by her power. She already had somebody so much better. So instead, she perused the women, wondering if she could find a few underlings.