After School Villains Club (2)

Chance Meeting

Claire Lutre

The trip up the coast to where the Mall of Grieves was housed was short. LThe lovebirds arrived at my place prompt, just when Ray thought they might. We weren't going full supervillain costumes, not for this but we still looked recognisable. Mostly. Ray had the bird mask with him, but the hat and jacket were the only parts of his costume that clearly marked him as reviled. I was wearing a nice long flappy dress, gone was the teddy-bear themed one.

This instead had a motive of a Panda! One bear for another. I did bring the gloves, teddy bear slippers and a fold up bear hat with me in my backpack. It was a themed pafter Yogi Bear. I hoped that would be enough random Bear stuff that, when I threw on my full charm I'd be recognisable while not giving me away while I choked my powers down.

And I had to choke them down. The way my best friends were looking at each other, the way they would steal glances then look away. As far as their parents knew these two had been dating for months, in truth they had only reached that point a few weeks ago.

"I confirmed there is parking for people with powers in a secluded area of the mall." Ray explained as we fetched the hopper from the school. "There is roof access and it's patrolled by flying villains, mix of powers working for CloudCity Security. All weather themed villains!"

Penny had also compromised on her costume. Instead of the full thing, with the plastic panels strapped over it to make the suit bullet resistant, she wore the plain suit from our earliest days out. A white onesie that was tight fitting like a flight suit but still had a little shape to it. Like when we visited ChinaTown, she had her hair up in pigtails and a pair of big brass goggles strapped to her head. The suit did have wiring and plumbing on it, and came with a basic utility belt for her most common tools and weapons. Anything portable.

"Will you be alright by yourself? I kinda want to go unchaperoned!" Ray muttered to me with a coy expression.

"Oh absolutely! Don't do anything I would do!" I pushed them. They needed pushing, if these two had their way they'd actually be adults before kissing, nevermind having sex.

I had tried, goodness knows I'd tried to leed Penny down a path of carnal desire. I'd bathed with her, tickle fought her, teased her, flirted with her. Of course that didn't help, I was determined to live up to my mother's title as the most seductive woman in America but Penny and I had grown up together.

She saw me as a sister.

She saw me trying to flirt with her as just practising my powers. Which was true.

Only with Ray had I seen any indication she had a libido!

Well as much as I wanted to be her devil on the shoulder, today I had a job to do. Plus Reviled had very politely told me to keep out. I think he actually planned to conquer first base tonight!

Penny let me pilot the Hopper today, since I had most of the information and Ray explained parts of his plan. What he'd told Penny's mother was at least partly true, there would be a movie - they were sneaking into a Test Screening of the latest "Scuicide Team" - a semi-autobiographical film that supposedly featured our principal and there would be food at some point.

"I promise I won't follow, but Ray. Please tell me-"

"Oh absolutely, Penny's goggles can record video and I have a parabolic mic!"

Ah.

Not what I was going to imply, but still villainous. Good to know.

We parked the hopper on the roof of the mall before splitting up. I would have several hours to kill while they had their date, I wasn't expecting to meet my contact for another three hours. From what I heard this place had a lot of shops, and as the only team member who could freely spend the pay we got from villainy without arousing suspicion- I intended to get toys!

What I found might have been better.

They stood out so much, Robin and his little band of heroes. Well, two of them at least. Charlie and the orange girl. He stalked through the building as though expecting to get attacked at any moment, every inch of him tense. He twitched, I bet he thought he looked calm and composed but the nerves were obvious! He was on enemy ground.

Taking a breath I calmed my heart, slowed my breathing, relaxed my muscles. This would be easy, I could get in a little practice before 'work' following these idiots around. I might even hear something useful.

This wasn't like going invisible, I just wasn't important. I was nothing, not even a breath of air. I walked, not like I was going anywhere in particular, I just drifted, mosied through the crowds. People got out of my way but nobody looked at me, nobody noticed. I was unimportant.

I was not worth looking at.

I slipped past the group, they were all so distractable. Charlie was enthused by all the villain toys, there were stalls in this area selling magical books and artifacts, much like that district in china-town and occupying what by day was a Goose Juice shop was a large apothecary, selling all manner of potions. I would have to check later.

The girl was attracted to the sights and sounds more than the gadgets and gizmos.

She flittered, floated, her feet hardly touching the ground. The hair moved almost like a separate creature, catching every gust of wind and never once getting caught or tangled.

She was dressed as though she'd just come from a beach party, a flappy short skirt in a type I could admire, over a nice swimsuit and a vinyl jacket that complimented her very gifted... gifted... um.

When I felt my heart starting to race, I backed away quickly!

This girl could Notice me somehow, if I got too close she might actually see me. Report me to the boys. Charlie would be good about it but I didn't know anything about her.

Hiding behind a villain twice my height with a walrus shaped mask on his face I clutched my hands together.

"Not a time to be thinking like that!" I chided. Maybe I'd had enough practice for the day, I didn't want to give myself away. If she could sense my power, I'd just throttle it. Turn it all the way off, a different thing to not being noticed. Like the difference between putting a car in forward, reverse or turning off the engine.

The hum of normality came back to me, I breathed deep, feeling my face become more plain, my hair going from platinum to flaxen. The guy I was hiding behind moved, noticed me.

"Oh, hey there little lady. Sorry!" He stepped aside, "Didn't mean to loom!" and stalked off.

And there she was. Orange, cute. Floating a foot off the ground. Looking around, I looked too.

Where were the boys?

I gulped. Shook my head.

"This is probably the stupidest thing I've done. But..."

I stalked over to the alien and looked up. "Well Hello There!" Did my voice squeak. I felt like my voice queeked. "Do you come here often?"