Possessive Behavior

"So, what do you need us for?" I asked, an odd mix of emotions swirling through my stomach.

"You..." Souto pointed at me. "Are not needed for a while. But you..." His finger moved toward Jess.

"I need quite a few different people for my plan to succeed, and not all of them I can afford with money. Some want something done for them instead. For one of those favors, I need a heavy lifter. You managed to float cars when you fought the Yellowbricks, right?"

Jess just nodded.

"So you should do fine. Can you come by tomorrow morning? 9 am? Is that doable?" By this point, he had turned back to stare at the empty canvas in front of him.

"Sure." Jess replied flatly and looked at me.

"When do you think the run will go down? Do you have a concrete time?" I asked him.

"Well, I was originally going to do it once all the prep work was done and dusted. But thanks to your help at the Club I can aim for the perfect date."

It didn't take long for me to clock which date that was. In two weeks was... "December 25th. The One's birthday." I said out loud. Back at the Tower we always celebrated the holidays and Ray's birthday together. 'Bright Christmas' we called it. What a laugh.

"Exactly! The plan was already going to be my masterpiece, but thanks to you it's going to be perfection incarnate. You're my little lucky charm."

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes again. Something didn't sit right with me.

"How exactly did me being a gate guard help you in any way?" I asked.

That was the thing I was the most curious about. Souto looked at me and for a second I could've sworn his expression was just as confused as I was before the usual smile crept back into place.

"That's not really important, is it? Just know that you helped me move things along at quite an accelerated pace. Are there any other questions?"

I wasn't really satisfied by this non-answer, but I decided that it was best not to pry. He waited for a few seconds before clapping his hands together.

"Wonderful. Now that everything is settled for the moment, why don't we table this meeting for now? Grab your prize. One of my Echoes will lead you out."

He held the stacks of cash out for me to take. I quickly nabbed them and stowed them away safely in my waist bag. As soon as I was done one of the creatures stomped over to us. It lifted its stubby fingers and indicated for us to follow. Jess approached it wordlessly while I hung back.

"I'm curious, what exactly are these things?"

Souto didn't bother to look at me as he answered.

"It's a little quirk of my Power. When I have erased enough things from memory I can create these creatures. Beautiful, aren't they? Forgotten recollections taken form."

I looked the weird being over. "So memories are people-shaped?"

He chuckled. "Oh no. They have no rigid pattern, at first. They're almost fluid. But I like to create form where there was none. Also...people-shaped constructs can get a lot more done, don't you think?"

Without another word, I joined Jess and we followed the thing back. This one took us all the way back toward the hidden entrance and as we exited into Velveteria I expected my roommate to give me her opinion on what just happened or make a joke or anything, but she was completely silent.

"Thank you for your patronage. I hope to see you again soon." the receptionist chattered in a sickeningly sweet tone as we left the museum.

The way back home was equally devoid of conversation. Jess made sure to always stay a few steps ahead of me and didn't look back once until we reached the Villain-Condo.

Almost as soon as the door to our room closed behind me she spun around to face me.

"What the fuck was that in there?" Her tone was agitated, maybe annoyed too.

"What do you mean exactly?" I asked with a shrug.

She wasted no time in answering.

"Why did ya just agree to that weirdo freak's mass brainwashing plan?"

I sighed and shook my head slightly.

"I dont really think erasing memories counts as brainwashing...."

"I don't care! Call it brain-rinsing or brain-lathering or brain whatever, this shit is insane!"

"What's the big deal? No one's going to die. Or even get hurt. It's not even like all the good things The One did will be undone. People'll just forget about them, or maybe not even that. Maybe they'll just forget that he was the one who did them. I didn't know you were such a big fan of him." I retorted, somewhat indignant.

I didn't really understand the severity of her displeasure. That she was a bit miffed, sure, but this much?

"The One is a lame-ass milquetoast goody-two-shoes snooze-inducing overhyped idiot! I don't care about him at all!"

"Then why are you so goddamn pissy right now?" I strolled past her and sat down on my bed.

When I looked back up at her she had closed her eyes and was pinching the bridge of her nose.

"Mallory......" She began slowly. "I know ya like to live in the moment. It's adorable how head-empty ya can be in between your runs. But I hope, no, I fucking know that you are smart enough to understand that shit like this will have huge ripple effects! The One is the biggest public figure of the last two hundred years. More people know about him than Santa Claus! What the fuck do ya think will happen if all memories of him go poof?"

I threw my arms up.

"So what? Do you want to stop them? Do you want us to switch capes and play heroes? Let's just do that then. Afterward, we can go move into the Tower of Light too. I can't wait to give vapid scripted interviews every few days, be up my ass in ridiculous brand deals, have little to no free time, and make anti-drug PSAs that the internet will make fun of for the next 2 decades. Sounds great."

Jess walked over to her own bed in silence and sat down before answering.

"I don't want to be a hero. I know this is going to happen no matter what....But why do we need to be a part of this?"

I took a minute before replying.

"....I need to. I just do."

"Okay. Fine. Ya can do whatcha want. Im not saying ya have to tell them to go fuck themselves just 'cause I wanna. But why did ya just decide for me too? I told ya, more than once I think, that I'm not comfortable around these guys. But ya went over my head anyways."

"If you wanted to tell them to fuck off why didn't you? Could've just done that instead of nodding along in front of them only to bitch about it in private. I don't know what you want from me."

"Are ya seriously that dense? I didn't leave ya there 'cause I wanna trust ya. I'm sure ya have some kinda reason to act like a loon right now."

"Yes. I do. Don't think I'm acting particularly crazy, but whatever..."

"Then why don't ya tell me about it? I waited the whole way back home for ya to take me aside and tell me what the hell is going on. I even gave you multiple chances right now to explain your reasoning to me. Please, just talk to me."

"Well, I..." I started, but I couldn't find the right words.

When I hadn't replied for a few agonizing minutes she continued.

"Ya wanna know what I want from you? I want that trust to go both ways. If ya don't think I'm trustworthy enough, that's fine. I mean it, too. It's not like we've known each other for years or somethin'. I wouldn't even think any less of ya for not trusting me with your personal biz at this point. But if ya don't think I'm at that level yet, then don't volunteer me for shit I am not comfortable with. Alright? I wanna think that if I had something I needed to do for private reasons, some stuff ya would find distasteful or weird or whatever, that ya'd get over that for me and help me anyways. But I'd at least tell ya what's up beforehand. I dunno. Whatever. It's your choice."

With that, she laid down on her bed and stared at the ceiling.

I stared at her for what felt like hours. Thoughts raced through my head, a heated internal debate. I couldn't let her know everything. It was too risky. If at all possible I'd prefer for her not to know anything. But...that would be incredibly selfish, wouldn't it? I sighed and laid down too.

"I...I'm not......I have history with The One, okay?"

Jess turned on her side to look in my direction.

"What kind of history?"

I took a deep breath before answering.

"The details are not important. A...and I don't want to think about that time anyway. Let's just say...I...I have first-hand experience that The One wasn't the glowing beacon of justice and nobility he pretended to be."

Jess sat up again. "Are you saying he was a bad guy?"

I closed my eyes. Memories flooded my brain. Our first meeting, me starstruck and awkward, he humble and accommodating. The first time I was injured so heavily during a villain attack that I had to be hospitalized. He visited every day. Canceled important and long-planned events just to be there for me. The first time I failed to save someone. A mom and her child. I managed to get the girl to safety. The mother.....He sat down with me all night. Told me all about his first struggles. Told me that I did all I could have. That saving one is better than saving no one. Then that night. Down in the factory. At the mercy of the Powerbreaker....

I felt someone sit down next to me. When I opened my eyes I saw Jess look back at me with a somber expression. She floated a handkerchief over to me and I took it reflexively, wondering why she thought I needed one until I touched my wet cheeks.

"Thanks." I muttered and wiped the embarrassing liquid off my face. I took a minute to get my bearings before continuing on. "I...Looking at him through an objective lens I don't think he was all bad....I....I hope so at least. But he did something unforgivable to me. And I couldn't have been the only one. Him disappearing will erase the memory of his good deeds, that's true, but....maybe his victims, whoever they are, can sleep a bit better after he can't haunt them anymore, you know?"

Jess had taken my hand after I threw the wet piece of paper away and was squeezing it softly. "Is that why ya want to be a part of this? To help others like ya?"

I had expected her to pry a bit more about the details of my and Ray's relationship, but I was glad she didn't. I thought about her question for a bit and shook my head.

"No. It's more selfish than that. Even though what The One did lead to the worst time of my life, it also made me who I am today. I can't forget him. Who knows what would happen to me? It's...., it's too risky."

"But if what he did was so terrible wouldn't it be better for ya to forget? Ya'd probably be happier at least." she said softly.

I laughed. "Oh, I have no doubts about that. But..as much as I hate him...I hate the person I was before his betrayal even more. I was weak, naive, arrogant, a thoroughly detestable person. I can't backslide. I'd rather die than be her again."

"Don't say that. And thanks. For telling me." Jess whispered.

I chuckled. "Sorry." I looked into her eyes. "And? You going to stick with me?"

She smiled back. "Of course. We're partners aren't we?"

"Right." I said, squeezing her hand harder.

I didn't know if I was quite ready yet to put my full trust in another person. But I was willing to give it a try.

"Partners."