“You know, not that I mind the attention,” Zeke said as they walked home from the eighth public event of the week. “But shit, a guy needs a break, you know?”

  “And here I thought you were loving the limelight,” Lia said dryly, offering him a wry grin. “Come on Mr. guest of honour, live a little.”

  “A break would be pretty good though,” Joy said, giving them both a look. “I mean, when was the last time you took a vacation?”

  “Vacation?” Lia scoffed, then realized Joy wasn’t kidding and frowned. “Uh, I don’t know? Probably when I was a kid or something, I don’t really remember.”

  “I went to Boston once,” Zeke said. “But it’d be cool to go to Bermuda or Cancun or something, get some sun and surf. This place is kinda dull, y’know?”

  “Well…” Joy took a deep breath. “I’m...I’m planning on going home, to Canada. Not for good or anything, but I want to visit my family. If you guys want to come, that’d be cool I think.”

  “Canada huh,” Lia said thoughtfully. “I don’t know, might be hard to travel for me.”

  “I thought you got a pardon,” Joy said, frowning.

  “I mean, I don’t have a passport,” she replied, cheeks colouring. “Sorry, maybe our arms dealer has a source on documents.”

  “I don’t got one either,” Zeke said with a sigh. “Dammit, guess I should try and get one.”

  “Hey, I don’t have mine yet either,” Joy reassured them. “I talked to Miss Militia after dinner last week, in New York. She said she’d talk to Dragon, have the Guild reach out to the government on my behalf; technically I’m illegal, overstayed my visa a while ago. Might be a while, so I don’t know, could you at least try?”

  “I guess,” Lia said. “Do you really want your family to meet me though? I mean…” Joy reached out and wrapped an arm around Lia’s shoulders. Even after all this, she still had a problem seeing herself as anything but a monster.

  “I do,” Joy said firmly. “Both of you. You’re my friends, you’ve seen me through the worst parts of my life. Besides I…” She winced. “I could use the backup.”

  “I’ll do what I can,” Lia replied with the grimly determined tone Joy had heard too much of. “Ah, shit, I need to get a job.”

  “Me too, honestly,” Joy sighed, toying with the end of her braid.

  “You guys can crash at my place,” Zeke offered. “If Papa won’t have you anyway.”

  “We shouldn’t bother him.” Lia said. “Your place will be fine, thanks. I’ll just crash on the floor or something, no sweat.”

  “Guess I’ll have the couch,” Joy said. “Your girlfriend, she going to be okay with it?”

  “Yeah, Monica’s cool,” Zeke said with a grin. “At least, should be when she sees all the medals I got.”

  “Cool,” Joy replied, sharing his grin. “Let’s head home then, get some rest.”

  “God knows I could use it,” Lia said, sounding suddenly ragged. Joy knew, deep down, they all could.

  She was just afraid it wouldn’t come.

  “Jesus these fucking jackals,” Lia growled, pulling the curtains aside to peek out Zeke’s front window. “How the hell did they get your address?”

  “God dammit we got press on the lawn again?” Monica asked, joining Lia and looking out the window. “Zeke. Zeke! Go chase ‘em off, would you?”

  “I’ll handle it,” Lia replied, stepping away from the window and heading to the door.

  “Hey, Lia, cool it,” Joy said, rising from the couch to intercept her friend. Lia shot her a look, then glowered at the door. “Come on, they told you not to cause trouble.”

  “They’re the ones causing trouble,” she muttered as Zeke headed to the door and got his jacket on.

  “I got this,” Zeke grumbled, pulling the door open and stepping outside. “Ayo get the fuck off my property! We don’t call the cops around here, we deal with shit ourselves. Of the lawn, go on get!” He stepped back in and slammed the door, muttering under his breath as he returned to the living room.

  “They still hanging out on the sidewalk,” Monica grumbled. “I thought my man being a hero would be fun.”

  “Yeah, it’s not a business for fun,” Lia sighed, settling back down on the couch and fiddling with her new knife. Her hand twitched and it fell to the ground, making her curse viciously.

  “Hey,” Joy said with a frown. “Bathroom, I want to look at your arm.”

  “It’s fi—”

  “Lia.”

  Lia gave Joy the most petulant look she’d ever seen on the girl’s face, but it quickly faded behind her usual mask of indifference. She rose wordlessly and went to the bathroom and, after sharing a concerned look with Zeke, Joy followed. Since getting back from the Birdcage and saving the world, Lia had been quiet most of the time, and prickly the rest. She hid her emotions more than ever before, unless she was angry.

  And she was angry. As satisfied as Lia had been the night of their battle against the Slaughterhouse Nine-thousand, as the press was calling it, she clearly wasn’t happy with the outcome. And at least part of that had to do with her arm.

  “I change the bandages every day,” Lia said as she took off her shirt. She was way more muscular than ever before, her ribs no longer visible behind a set of well-defined obliques. She caught Joy’s eye and smirked. “And yes, I did somehow gain weight in prison.”

  “Impressive.” How was a question Joy would leave alone. Instead she undid the gauze around Lia’s arm and peeled it away, grimacing at the wound. “This...less so.”

  It was still weeping blood around the tightly-stitched edges, the skin looking raw and agitated. Despite that, there was no sign of infection; not that there should be, considering the antibiotics Lia had been on the last week. But no healing, no coagulation around the wound. It was the damndest thing, and Joy was certain it had something to do with Lia’s new weapon.

  “Let’s get it cleaned up,” Joy said, finishing her examination. “I should redo the stitches today or tomorrow, they’re not made to last that long.”

  “Sure,” Lia said, sighing. She looked down at the cut, then shook her head. “Annoying, should have at least closed by now.”

  “We should take you to the hospital,” Joy said. “Maybe the PRT. They know parahuman stuff better than me.”

  “This isn’t—”

  “It was Jack’s knife, wasn’t it?” she cut Lia off. “It broke your projection, that’s what you said. It might have some property that keeps your wound from sealing.”

  “Sucks to be me then,” Lia said sharply, tugging her shirt back on. She rolled up her sleeve and dug under the sink for the first aid kit, retrieving some gauze and starting to wrap her arm up again. “I’ll be fine, okay? Just give it some more time, it’ll sort itself out.”

  “And if it doesn’t?”

  “Then start calling me Lefty Lia instead of Lucky Lia.” She finished wrapping up her arm and fled the bathroom before Joy could get another word in.

  She sighed. Lia wasn’t a bad person, but she had a lot of issues and hated the idea of letting anyone help. Prison probably hadn’t helped that attitude at all, especially not from the few tidbits Joy had gleaned from Lia’s scant stories. Hopefully she’d open up with a little more time. If not, Joy wasn’t really sure what she could do…

  Her phone rang and startled her from her thoughts. Joy pulled it out and stared at the screen, frowning. ‘Unknown Caller’ usually meant a scam. Or it meant the Protectorate. She accepted the call and pressed her phone to her ear.

  “Hello?” Joy said. “Who’s calling?”

  “My name is John Fletcher, I’m with the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs,” a nasally voice replied. “Am I speaking to Joy Rivers?”

  “You are,” she said, heart thumping.

  “Excellent,” he said. “I’ve traveled up from the office in Boston. If you have time today, I’d appreciate if we could meet to verify your identity and work on getting your documents in order.”

  “That shouldn’t be a problem.” Joy hadn’t had time to start looking for work yet. Maybe she wouldn’t have to quite yet. “When would be best?”

  “I’ll make a couple calls, so I need some time.” She heard the clatter of a keyboard in the background. “Will two o’clock be alright?”

  “That should be fine,” she confirmed, checking her watch. Two hours, enough for a shower and lunch. “Where should I meet you?”

  “The Brockton Federal Building,” Fletcher replied. “They have an office set up for me. Just ask at the front desk, they’ll direct you.”

  “Sure,” she said, mentally noting it. “See you then.”

  “Indeed.” The line clicked and she lowered her phone, staring at the blank screen.

  “What’s up?” Lia asked with a look of curiosity and caution. “Who’re you meeting?”

  “A Canadian diplomat,” Joy said flatly, a complex mix of feelings making her stomach churn. “He’s going to help me get my stuff so I can go home.”

  “That’s...good right?” she said, narrowing her eyes. “Unless it’s a trap.”

  “They rescinded my warrant a while ago,” Joy replied, shaking her head. “If they wanted me, they could just renew it and kick down the door.”

  “Not with me here,” Lia said, cracking her knuckles. “It’s fine. Zeke, loan me a gun. I’ll escort you.”

  “Lia, come on,” Joy groaned, resisting the urge to rub her temple. “You’re being paranoid.”

  “Paranoia is what keeps me alive,” she said with a shrug.

  “Well you can’t come into the Federal Building with a gun,” Joy said firmly. “Neither of us need a felony right now.”

  “I’ll wait outside,” Lia promised as Zeke handed her a Glock. She checked the chamber, then racked the slide and slipped it into her belt. “But frankly, even with a pardon, or rescinded warrants or whatever, I prefer caution. Besides, lot of people in this city who hate us. Well, not a lot but enough to make me worry.” Joy winced at the reminder of the rumours of Werwolf cells making trouble even now.

  “Sorry,” she said. “I just don’t want any trouble.”

  “Don’t worry,” Lia replied, offering a smile and gripping Joy’s arm firmly. “I’ll make sure there isn’t any.”

  Despite the reassurance of Lia’s touch, something in her voice made Joy’s stomach twist.

  “Busy place,” Lia remarked as they approached the plaza of the Federal Building.

  “I looked it up, apparently it’s got all of Brockton Bay’s government offices,” Joy replied.

  She wasn’t wrong though. There was quite the crowd in the small plaza, moving to and from different wings of the U-shaped building that practically surrounded it. Some were sitting on benches, chatting on phones or drinking from steaming cups. Glancing down, Joy found Lia searching the crowd, clearly on high alert.

  “Right,” Joy said, halting in the middle of the plaza. “You wait out here. It shouldn’t take too long.”

  “Still don’t like it,” Lia said, glaring up at the skyscraper. “Keep your phone ready to dial, I’ll come running if there’s trouble.”

  “There won’t be,” she reassured her friend. “Trust me, okay?”

  “I try.”

  That hurt, and Lia clearly realized because she opened her mouth as if to apologize. But Joy turned and left her there. She’d always been standoffish, but since her return it had been that much worse. Joy wasn’t going to take it, she’d have to talk to Lia at some point.

  But for now, she had something more pressing to deal with. The air could be cleared anytime, she couldn’t let it weigh on her too much right now. Joy shook her head and entered the Federal Building, pausing briefly to glance at a glowing sign overhead before striding towards the info desk.

  The wide open foyer wasn’t half as crowded as the plaza outside. A pair of stairs curved up around the info desk to the second floor, and behind them Joy could see elevators lining the wall. A well-groomed woman in a navy blue blazer smiled with cherry-red lips as she approached.

  “Good afternoon,” the woman greeted her. “How can I help?”

  “I have an appointment with a Canadian diplomat,” Joy replied. “John Fletcher, he said he had an office here.”

  “Just a moment,” she said, rapidly typing on her keyboard and looking at her screen. “I’ll just give him a call and let him know you’re here. Could I have your name.” A niggling worm of paranoia itched at the back of her head, but Joy ignored it.

  “Joy Rivers,” she answered. “Scheduled for two.”

  “One moment.”

  The woman stepped away and picked up a phone on the back of the desk. While she waited, Joy cast her gaze around the foyer, lazily but alert. An ambush was unlikely in such a public space, but there was always a chance—

  No! She grit her teeth and shook her head. No, it wasn’t like that. Lia’s paranoia was contagious, but Joy had to keep a level head and not get caught up again. She had her own path to walk now, one that didn’t lead her down Lia’s thorny road again. She was keen to remain friends, but Joy wanted more from life than capeshit could offer.

  “Thanks for waiting,” the receptionist said as she returned, sliding a card across the desk. “Third floor, Room 322. Take a left from the elevators when you get up there.”

  “Thanks,” Joy said with a nod, taking the card. “What’s this for?”

  “Guest pass for the elevator,” she replied with a tired smile that suggested she’d answered that question many times.

  “Got it, thanks again.”

  She headed past the desk and towards the elevators, checking her watch. Ten minutes, plenty of time. When she reached the elevators, she found she needed to swipe the card she’d been given first, then call the elevator. Stepping inside, she had to swipe it again before selecting a floor; inconvenient. But the lift rose swiftly and seconds later Joy stepped out onto the third floor and took a right.

  She spun around a moment later, belatedly recalling the correct instructions. A week later and she still felt exhausted, in part because she just wasn’t sleeping right. Nightmares, worse than she’d had after the battles with Werwolf. The Nine had horrors Joy couldn’t have imagined, and yet she’d fought them, killed them.

  Lia was in the same spot, as was Zeke. They’d found each other more than once in the kitchen nursing coffee, or staring blankly at the TV in the living room. No one talked about it. But really, what was there to talk about? They’d won, in the end, and all of them had survived mostly intact. Sure Reese was still waiting on a real prosthetic, but he was getting used to his temporary well enough.

  Joy stopped abruptly at the end of the hall, sighing. Too in her head when she needed to be present. Turning around, she started back, counting down the numbers on the doors until she found the room she’d been pointed towards. Joy reached to knock and hesitated, then quashed down her paranoia firmly and knocked three times. She took a step back as she heard footsteps on the other side, muscles tensing slightly.

  “Joy Rivers?” a balding, portly man half a head shorter than Joy opened the door. She recognized the nasally voice she heard over the phone and offered a nod. “Good to meet you. Please, come in.” She stepped inside after him and sat across from a small desk set up at the center of the room. Fletcher sat across from her, taking a moment to type on a laptop he’d set up. “Alright, how are you doing?”

  “Fine,” Joy said evenly. “You?”

  “It’s been an eventful week,” he replied with a small frown. “All that business in New York had us running all over. Excuse me, you’re not here to hear me complain.” Joy offered him a half-grin as he turned back to her. “So, how long have you been living in the States, Miss Rivers?”

  “Almost three years,” she said. “I was going to school here for nursing, before Leviathan.”

  “Ah, my apologies,” he said, sounding mildly embarrassed. “I saw your visa was expired here, I suppose that’s as good a reason as any. What have you been doing in the mean time?”

  “Odd jobs,” she said with a shrug. Definitely couldn’t be honest here. “Mostly just scraping by, keeping my head down.”

  “I’m sorry our office hasn’t followed up with you before,” Fletcher said with a look of mild pain. “It’s just...we never received a report that you were in need.” No, her parents wouldn’t have reported anything like that…

  “Forget about it.” Joy certainly wanted to. “We’re here now, that’s all that matters. So...I need a few things actually. ID, passport, I sort of lost all my documents.” The house she’d been boarding in had been demolished oh so long ago. She never even tried to salvage her stuff, not that she’d been in any state to. “How long do you think it’ll take?”

  “Well, first I just need to confirm your identity,” he said. “I took the liberty of reaching out to your parents. Your mother agreed to a video call so she can make sure you’re who you say you are.”

  “Ah.” Oh good, that was what she needed right now. “Can’t you just take my fingerprints?”

  “Certainly, if you have a criminal record,” Fletcher replied. “Do you have a record?”

  “No,” Joy sighed. “Okay, fine, when will this be?”

  “I’ll give her a call right now,” he said, taking his phone from his pocket. “Should only take a few minutes to set up.”

  “Sure.”

  Joy folded her hands and forced herself to remain still, not easy with the looming notion of facing down her father or mother. They hadn’t spoken since they’d told Joy to remain in Brockton Bay, after Leviathan’s attack. It hurt a little, that they’d never tried to reach out after that. At least her grandfather would be there when she returned.

  “Alright,” Fletcher said as he finished his call. “It won’t be a mo— Ah, there we are.” His computer made a tone indicating an incoming call. He pressed a button and smiled at the screen. “Hello Mrs. Rivers, can you hear me alright?”

  “Just fine,” her mother’s voice came through the speakers, a little crackly but it made Joy’s stomach clench. “My daughter is there?” Her tone was obviously concerned, but she couldn’t help feeling it was a little put on. Fletcher turned the laptop around and Joy’s breath caught in her throat.

  Her mother stared back, the same eyes she’d passed down to Joy now boring into her. Her cheeks had heavier lines than when Joy had left home, she looked like she hadn’t been sleeping well. But when she saw Joy, she smiled, and all hint of anticipation fled Joy’s body.

  “Shé:kon, skennenkó: ken?” Mother asked, her eyes misting with tears.

  “Skennen’kó:wa ní:’i,” Joy replied, her throat tightening. “Hi Mom.”

  “My girl, are you in trouble?” She sniffed, wiping at an eye.

  “No, no I’m okay,” Joy said quickly, glancing at Fletcher. “Actually I’m...I’m getting my stuff so I can visit you.”

  “Oh? What happened?”

  Right, she’d never really explained it all… Joy started with Leviathan, being forced into a shelter with none of her belongings. She skirted around the truth of what she’d been doing, just saying she’d been involved in the reconstruction of the city. But of course, she’d overstayed her welcome, and now it was time to fix that.

  “Why so long?” Mother asked. “Mr. Fletcher? Wouldn’t your people have known?”

  “Not without a report from either your daughter or family,” Fletcher replied carefully. “And with the state of the city, immigration enforcement hasn’t been on the cards for a long time. My understanding is there’s general amnesty in place for anyone who’s overstayed their visas, given the circumstances. But actually, it was the PRT who contacted us.”

  “The hero police?” Mother’s tone had taken on a tinge of worry.

  “It wasn’t anything major,” Joy reassured her. Her mother would hate her for lying about this now, but no way was Joy speaking up about her powers here. “A scrape with a local gang, but they helped me out.” Not a total lie, Lia had been part of the Wards when she’d saved Joy after all. But the next part… “I told them what was going on, and they offered to help.”

  “I see.” There was a hint of disbelief in her mother’s voice.

  “That’s my understanding as well,” Fletcher offered. “They said their checks had come back clean, and the Border Service agreed. No wrongdoing or penalties here, just righting an error.

  “Well, that’s good,” she sighed. “How long do you think it will take?”

  “Considering the circumstances, I’ll see if I can expedite it,” he said. “I would say no more than a month.”

  “And you’ll be coming home after that?” Mother asked her.

  “Yeah,” Joy said with a nod. “Soon as I can.”

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  “Your father will be happy to hear,” she said, smiling and wiping her eyes again. “Be safe, daughter.”

  “I will Mom,” Joy promised.

  “I’ll call you if we need anything else,” Fletcher said. “Thank you for your time, Mrs. Rivers.”

  “And you, Mr. Fletcher.” There was a descending tone as the call shut off and he turned the laptop back around.

  “Thank you for your time, Miss Rivers,” Fletcher said. “As I mentioned, it’ll take some time, but I’ll be apply for a complete set of documents. A reprint of your driver’s license, birth certificate, health and status cards, and your passport.” There was a whirring under the desk, and a moment later he took out a stack of papers and pushed them her way, still warm from printing. “Fill these out as best you can. I’ll double check them before I take them back.”

  “You got a pen?” Joy asked, not wanting to waste a moment.

  He smiled and held one out to her, and she buckled in for an afternoon of grinding through paperwork.

  By the time Joy was done, the sun had nearly set and the temperature had dropped to uncomfortable cold. Despite that, and the cramping in her hand from filling out so many forms, she felt better than ever. However much she’d been worried about her mom’s reaction to all this, it seemed to have worked out okay.

  She craned her neck, looking for Lia. There, just across the plaza and approaching quick, something in her hands. As she got closer, Joy could see the nervous smile on her face, and the steaming cups in her hands. She was paler than usual, lips tinged with a hint of blue. Joy frowned as Lia came up to her, hands on her hips.

  “Hey,” Lia greeted her meekly, holding out one of the cups. “Double double, how you like it.”

  “You okay?” Joy asked. “You look cold.”

  “A little chilly,” she admitted with a small shrug. “I’ll live though. Coffee?”

  “Thanks,” Joy said, taking the cup and sipping from it. “Mmm, that’s nice.”

  “How did it go?” Lia asked, looking her over quickly. “You look...intact.”

  “It went...good, honestly,” she replied. “Should have all my stuff back in a month or so. Then I can go home…”

  “Nice,” she said, offering a smile that quickly vanished. “I’m...sorry, about earlier. Was shitty of me.” Joy’s eyes widened.

  “Uh, thanks.” Of all things, an apology wasn’t something she expected.

  “I do trust you, for the record,” Lia continued, looking at the ground and lowering her voice. “Just...what you did with the Terriers after…”

  “Let’s talk about it,” Joy said, taking Lia’s hand and offering a smile. “At home?”

  “At home,” she agreed happily.

  Joy had expected Lia to blow up about what she’d done with the Terriers, to tear a strip off her and drag them back onto the streets for another round of war, but she was disappointed.

  And so was Lia.

  There was no explosion, no fiery speech about getting back out there and finishing what little of the job was left undone. Lia cursed out the Russians for screwing things up, but she’d known as well as Joy that at least part of their forces would be leaving anyway. Instead, Lia was mostly just upset she hadn’t been in Brockton Bay to finish the job.

  Over the next few weeks, while they waited for their documents, Lia talked her into some midnight patrols through the South End. They wound up being entirely fruitless, but at least allowed Lia to feel like she was doing something. For Joy, it was just a walk down memory lane, looking at the buildings her teams had burnt out in their campaign. No wonder the Terriers were considered a dangerous group, if not entirely villainous. It was a reputation earned in blood and ash, one Lia probably took pride in but Joy certainly didn’t.

  Still, the patrols wound up being nothing but an opportunity to talk, or vent really in Lia’s case. She clearly hadn’t had anyone to talk to in prison, or at least not someone she trusted. Nothing Joy hadn’t heard before, lamentations and accusations leveled at the PRT and heroes, vicious tirades against what little remained of Werwolf and their Nazi allies.

  Still, her complaining hadn’t resulted in them increasing their patrols or kicking down doors. However Lia felt about how things had shaken out in the bay, she wasn’t about to start burning her freshly constructed bridges to rectify it. Besides, considering how little action they found, Joy’s choices were vindicated; anyone left wasn’t broadcasting allegiance to a dead ideology.

  Finally though, a package arrived at Zeke’s doorstep, addressed to her. Within, Joy found all the documents she’d asked for and been promised. Reprints of her ID, birth certificate, and passport, plus her health card. She still lacked all of her banking stuff, but that would have to wait until she got home and made it to a credit union branch.

  “Just like that huh?” Lia asked, eyeing the now-empty package.

  “Were you expecting it to be harder?” Joy said, giving her a look.

  “Yeah,” she said with a shrug. “It’s the government.” Joy snorted.

  “Usually I’d agree with you,” Joy admitted. “But honestly...this hasn’t gone too badly, has it?”

  “I guess not,” she sighed. “Well, that’s that. When are you going home?”

  “Did you get your passport yet?”

  “I can get it whenever,” Lia replied, waving her hand. “Our old supplier offered a discount, considering the volume we bought from him.”

  “You mean fakes?” Joy frowned as Lia nodded.

  “I was never getting a real one in just a few weeks,” she said flatly. “It’s fine, there’s plenty of small border crossings that won’t be able to cop it.”

  “Lia you just got pardoned,” Joy groaned. “Can’t you at least try going legit?”

  “I will, just…” Lia shrugged. “It’s not exactly easy.”

  “How are you even going to afford it?”

  “Everyone needs muscle,” she replied with another shrug. “Just guarding stuff, already did a couple shifts at a casino. Privileges of being a cape means I qualify easy.”

  “Wait, which place you bouncing for?” Zeke asked as he walked into the room, two steaming cups of coffee in his hands. He sat next to Joy and offered one to her, which she gratefully accepted.

  “Great Eastern,” Lia said. “Used to be an ABB place, but it’s gone independent, if not above board. They keep me around in case someone tries to knock them off, since they aren’t paying protection to anyone.”

  “Shit, I been there,” Zeke said, grinning at Joy. “They got good dumplings. We should check it out.”

  “You trying to cheat on me?” Monica asked sardonically, coming up behind Zeke and planting a kiss on his head.

  “Nah honey, never,” he replied. “Joy’s one of the boys, you know? Like Lia is.”

  “Oh, you into chicks too?” Monica said, turning to Joy and making her blush.

  “I mean, sure,” Joy muttered. “Guys too, but not Zeke. No offense.”

  “None taken,” Zeke said. “Anyway, you got your shit back huh?”

  “Yeah,” she sighed, happy to turn the topic to something a little more comfortable. “Got to rent a car, then I’ll head home. You get your passport yet?”

  “I mean yeah, but…” He paused and glanced at Monica. “I’m thinking of going somewhere a little sunnier.” Joy smiled.

  “Fair enough,” Joy said, her smile shrinking as she turned back to Lia. “You’re really going to use fake papers?”

  “Just this time,” Lia promised. “I’ll apply for a real one the second I get back, promise. I...probably need to figure out a way to get an ID too, something that isn’t a driver’s license.”

  “You can’t drive?” Zeke asked, cocking his head.

  “I think my mom took me out once,” she replied. “That’s it though, never actually did a test. After Leviathan, I didn’t exactly have much time to dedicate to learning.”

  “Well…” He smiled. “How about you take my car up, Joy? Maybe give her some pointers or something.”

  “Is that really okay?” Joy asked.

  “Sure, we won’t need it,” Zeke said, gripping Monica’s hand and looking up at her. “Ever been to Bermuda?”

  “Nah,” Monica said with a smile of her own. “But I’m looking forward to it.”

  “Guess it’s just a girls’ trip,” Lia said, offering a grin.

  “Yeah,” Joy replied. “Guess so.”

  Hopefully she wouldn’t need more backup than that...and hopefully Lia wouldn’t cause too many problems.

  “You ladies have a safe trip, eh?” the border guard said, returning their passports with a smile.

  “Thanks,” Joy replied, taking the papers back and trying to ignore the hammering of her heart.

  “We’ll do our best, sir,” Lia added with a hint of sarcasm.

  She shot Lia a look, but the cop just laughed and waved them through the crossing. Despite her worries, Lia hadn’t been wrong about her fake passport working at the small border here. They really didn’t have the stuff to sus it out, it seemed.

  “Easy,” Lia said as they drove along the quiet backroads of Southern Quebec. “So this is Canada?”

  “It’s a slice at least,” Joy said, her heart rate slowly returning to some semblance of normal. “Should be home in about an hour, so get settled.”

  “Cool.” She turned and stared out the window, the look on her face inscrutable. “You should brief me then.”

  “Brief you?”

  “I don’t know your family...at all,” Lia said. “Or really anything about them, besides that your grandpa fought Nazis too. Need to know what to expect so I don’t...don’t fuck it up.” Well...that was fair.

  “As long as you’re polite, it should be fine,” Joy said. “My parents are...they’re fine. Oh, if my dad starts baiting you, don’t take it. He’s...he can be a lot.”

  “Sure,” she said, pursing her lips. “Hope he won’t be too shitty…”

  “I hope so too,” Joy admitted. “My grandfather, if we see him, he’ll be okay. Respects you for what you did to Werwolf.”

  “Well at least someone’s on the level,” Lia sighed. “I’ll just try and keep my mouth shut as much as I can. Don’t worry, plenty of practice with that.”

  “Sorry,” she said, wincing. “But maybe that’s for the best.”

  “No one knows that better than I do, trust me.”

  Joy had a long time to contemplate what Lia meant as they drove silently towards home.

  “Well, here we are,” Joy said as they crossed the line into the town.

  “What-kwa-non-h…hware-aton?” Lia struggled, studying the sign welcoming them into the town.

  “You tried,” Joy said, suppressing a chuckle. “Wa’tkwanonhwerá:ton. It’s just a nice way to say ‘welcome’.”

  “I gathered.” She made a face. “Your ‘k’s make a ‘g’ sound?”

  “Not exactly,” Joy replied. “But close enough I guess. Don’t get scared off if my parents speak Mohawk, they prefer it at home.”

  “Sure,” Lia said with a shrug. “As long as they don’t expect me to respond.”

  “That’d be the idea,” she said as they passed the church. “Last minute questions? We’re nearly there.” Lia took a deep breath, drumming her fingers on her thighs as she stared out the window.

  “Just promise you won’t hate me if they do,” Lia said at last.

  “Promise,” Joy replied, giving Lia’s shoulder a brief squeeze.

  With a flutter of nerves in her heart, she made the last turn onto the street she’d been raised on. It had barely changed since Joy had been a kid, let alone since the last time she’d been home. Old Mutt, the dog who lived across the street and was once just ‘Mutt’, perked up as she slowly drove up the road. Too old now to do more then let out a half-hearted bark as Joy parked the car on the street next to her parents’ house.

  She shut off the engine and stared at the garden out front, heart starting to beat faster. It was long out of season, the various medicine herbs buried under inches of snow. The worn porch Joy had spent summers lounging on was cleared at least, and despite being nearly February there was still a Christmas wreathe hanging on the door.

  “Are we doing this?” Lia asked, sounding tense.

  “Yeah,” Joy replied, swallowing hard. “Let’s go.”

  She opened the door and stepped out, shivering as the chilly wind whipped off the water of the Saint Lawrence and straight through her jacket. Old Mutt barked again, and Joy turned to see his tail wagging lazily. With another bark, he rose from his spot in the snow and trotted up to the porch of his home; and Joy turned back to do the same.

  The walk up the path felt like the longest journey Joy had ever taken. The sound of snow crunching underfoot was practically lost beneath the hammering of her heart. Her home loomed ahead, and climbing the two steps up to the porch was like summitting a mountain.

  What would her parents say, now that Joy was back with no nursing degree? That was all they had wanted her to do after all, no matter the—

  “Joy?” her mother’s voice interrupted her thoughts, accompanied by the squeal of rusty hinges. “What are you standing out in the cold for? Get inside before the house freezes.”

  “Sorry Mom,” Joy apologized, shaking off her stupor and quickly striding to the door. Mother narrowed her eyes as Lia followed.

  “And who’s this?” she asked, switching to Mohawk.

  “My friend,” Joy said, sticking to English. “Can we make introductions inside? I thought the house was freezing.” She winced at the look Mother sent her, but she relented and let them in.

  “Your father’s in the living room,” Mother said, still in Mohawk. “Tell your friend to mind her manners. I’ll bring some tea.”

  “Okay,” she said with a nod as her mother headed into the house.

  “She doesn’t like me,” Lia said quietly as she took her boots off.

  “Just be polite, like I said,” Joy said, equally quiet. “It’s going to be fine.”

  “I’ll try to keep that in mind,” she said dryly, rolling her shoulders. “So, living room?”

  “This way.”

  The house was exactly the same as when Joy had left it over two years ago. Pictures of her and her family lined the walls, scenes of a happy childhood that seemed so distant. It even smelled the same, the pungent herbal smell of her mother’s medicines, undercut with the faint whiff of cigarette ash. The sound of the television led the way into the living room, the news from the sound of things. Her father hadn’t changed then, still plugged into the world outside from his armchair in the living room.

  He opened his mouth to greet Joy when she walked into the room, but quickly shut it when Lia followed. Father eyed her suspiciously, sending odd looks towards Joy. She suppressed a sigh and led Lia to the couch, sitting on the middle cushion and directing Lia to her far side. She turned to Father and offered a smile.

  “Hi Dad,” Joy greeted him in Mohawk, knowing he wouldn’t respond if she didn’t. Her eyes flicked to the screen; MNN, the tribe’s own news station. “Anything good on?” He smirked.

  “Never is,” Father replied gruffly. He glanced at Lia, then back to her, his expression hardening. “You’re in trouble.”

  “I’m not,” she countered. “She’s my friend, probably my closest one from the States. No trouble, we’re just...I wanted to see you, introduce you.”

  “I see.” He pursed his lips, then turned to Lia and spoke in rasping English. “Who are you?”

  “Amelia D’souza,” Lia answered right away. “I’ve known Joy for a couple years. We...helped each other a lot; she probably helped me more though.”

  “That so?” he asked as Mother returned with a pot of tea and several cups. “Ah, Mary, bless you; don’t tell me this is medicine.”

  “Don’t be snide or I’ll tweak your ear,” Mother chided him in clipped Mohawk, an impish grin on her face. She set the tea down and put her hands on her hips, glancing at Lia and switching to English. “It’s a home blend, should be up to taste.”

  “I’m sure it’ll be great,” Lia said with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Thank you, Mrs. Rivers.”

  “Ah, she has manners,” Mother said, taking a seat next to Joy and pouring some tea into a cup. “No cream or sugar mind you, spoils the taste.”

  “I’m used to stuff without it,” she replied easily. “May I?” Mother nodded and Lia picked up the cup, taking a sip and nodding. “It’s great.”

  “Taste as well,” Mother said, arching a brow at Joy and switching to Mohawk. “You picked up an interesting one. How did you get together?”

  “That’s not it,” Joy said in the same tongue, fighting to keep her tone level. God dammit why did everyone think they were a thing? “I...it’s a long, long story Mother.” Her mom’s look softened and she glanced at Father.

  “We have time to listen,” he said, his own tone gentle. He grabbed the remote and shut off the TV, leaning towards her; fully invested. “I take it school isn’t part of it?”

  “No…”

  “Well, at least we weren’t paying,” he said with a snort.

  “You were so intent on it,” Mother said with a frown. “Ever since you were a girl.”

  “Things...changed,” Joy said hesitantly, taking a deep breath. “Dad, you watched the news about Brockton Bay, right? How the gangs started taking over?” Her father’s expression darkened and he nodded slowly. “I was safe, for the worst of it. But after the worse had passed I...I got kidnapped by one of them.” The temperature in the room plummeted. In the chilly silence, Lia put a hand on Joy’s thigh and gently squeezed. She hadn’t understood a word, but knew Joy needed her. She took a deep breath and powered through.

  “Lia saved me,” she continued, throat tightening. “She broke me out, but not before I got...before I got powers.” Their eyes widened, and her mother’s mouth opened in a shocked ‘o’. “Yeah, so...so we started working together. We fought villains, we took down gangs, and...and we were on the team fighting Jack Slash in New York a couple weeks ago.” She swallowed hard. “I know it’s not what you wanted me to do...but it was something I had to. Grandfather understood.”

  “Ah, the old man knows,” Father said grimly, looking at Lia and barking in English. “What have you dragged my daughter into?”

  “Dad, she—”

  “Told you about everything, huh?” Lia interrupted, shooting Joy a look then sighing. “Well, I guess that’s fine. What do you want to know? How I saved her life, or how we got rid of a decades old Nazi problem in my city?” She rolled her neck and glared at Father. “She’s the best hero I know, and that’s saying something because I know a lot of heroes personally. But I didn’t drag her into anything; she and I are friends, partners.” The comment made Joy smile, despite herself.

  “She was going to be a healer,” Mother muttered.

  “She still is,” Lia countered. “I recall her telling me about running some community clinics. Maybe you mean something more official but...I don’t know, sounds like a healer to me.”

  “And I think I might go back to school,” Joy added quickly. “My scholarship might still be good, and if not I can always get a job. But this is part of me too and...and I won’t stop helping people with my powers either.”

  The conversation fell into uncomfortable silence. Lia had broken her vow to be polite, and Joy had pushed back in a way that usually got her in more trouble than it was worth. This had been the confrontation she’d been fearing, the thing that would get her tossed out. Brockton Bay had been a stretch as it was, they wanted her going to the college across the river in Montreal. This would be the step too far though.

  “What’s your name?” Father asked at last. “I mean in the mask.” Joy took a deep breath.

  “Nadir,” Joy said.

  “Amaranth,” Lia added.

  “Weren’t you—”

  “Yes, she was,” Father interrupted Mother, his expression softening. “The Nazi Killer herself. I thought you were in prison.”

  “Helped kill Jack Slash, they made an exception,” Lia replied flatly, shooting Joy a look. She knew what the public story was: no mention of the averted apocalypse.

  “And you were part of it?” he said, looking to Joy.

  “I was,” Joy said, drawing herself up. She wouldn’t apologize. For all the brutality...it had been a long time coming, from what she knew.

  “Daughter…” Father sighed and rose from his chair with a grunt. He walked over to her stiffly, then put a firm hand on her shoulder. “Why not tell us until now?” She felt tears pricking her eyes and hunched her shoulders.

  “I knew you’d be angry,” Joy whispered. “It’s not what I was supposed to do, what I needed to do.”

  “You’ve never been one for that,” he said with a half-grin. “But you’re still my child, my blood. I can’t say I expected you to take after my father though. He knows you’re here?”

  “I called him and let him know,” Joy said, glancing at her mother. She was staring at the ground, hands squeezed together. “Hey, Mom?”

  “A smudging tomorrow,” Mother said, giving Joy a dark look. “I assume you haven’t done one yourself.”

  “No,” she said, wincing. Lia gave her a look, but didn’t ask. “And Lia?”

  “She may watch,” her mother said, glancing at Lia. “But it’s not for her.”

  “Fine by me,” Lia said evenly.

  “Okay,” Joy nodded. “So, anyway, that’s...that’s it.”

  “How did it happen?” Mother asked gently. Joy opened her mouth to answer, but Lia was faster.

  “That’s not a question you should be asking,” Lia warned. “Contrary to popular belief, you don’t get powers from anything good. Would you be willing to tell her about the worst day of your life, when you were at your lowest and it felt like there was no way you were ever getting out?” She glanced between Joy’s parent’s, daring them to retort.

  “I see,” Mother said, her voice small. “Joy...if you want to tell me, you can.”

  “I don’t.” Joy wanted to forget everything about that night.

  “Then we won’t ask,” Father sighed, rubbing the bridge of his broad nose, the same one on Joy’s face. “We shouldn’t have let you go.”

  “It was my choice,” Joy said, shaking her head. “Nobody could have seen this coming Dad. It sucks but...I’m making the best of it. Not going to let one bad night be everything.”

  “Good,” he said, offering a sad smile. “You’re made of tougher stuff than that.”

  “What else?” Mother asked. “Besides all this...hero business.”

  “Well…”

  “Hell of an interrogation,” Lia said quietly as they got ready for bed, laying out a sleeping bag for herself on the floor of Joy’s old bedroom. “And they cut me out of a lot.”

  “Nothing special,” Joy whispered back, eyes flicking to her door. Her parents were still awake, conversing quietly themselves if the low murmurs were anything to go by. “Grilled me on who I was seeing, no one by the way. Where I’m living, finances, stuff like that. Basically just making sure I was fine, which I am.” She looked up from her blankets and smiled at Lia. “Parents, right?”

  “Yeah,” Lia said flatly. “Parents.” Joy frowned as she recalled.

  “Sorry, I...forgot.”

  “It’s fine,” she said with a sigh, stripping her pants before crawling into the sleeping bag. “My mom asked after me for different reasons.”

  “Which was…?” Joy ventured cautiously, laying down on her pillow and looking over the bed at Lia.

  “Keeping me in line,” Lia said like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Any date had to be an errand so I had an alibi, and obviously staying at someone’s place was out. The first time I snuck out was…” She swallowed. “It was stupid.”

  “I don’t know about that,” Joy said gently.

  “Yeah?” she scoffed. “It was a date, like any other. Just...that’s what led to me getting powers, eventually. A night like that.” Joy could hear her teeth grinding in the dark. “Anyway, forget it. I don’t want to talk about it anymore than you do yours.”

  “Okay.” Joy pursed her lips, then leaned over the edge of the bed and reached out, giving Lia’s shoulder a squeeze. “You ever want to though, I’ll be here.”

  “Thanks,” Lia whispered. “I hope that’s the truth.”

  Joy hoped, one day, she could show Lia it was.

  “You sure you’re good to drive?” Lia asked as they got into the car. She sniffed and curled her nose. “None of that stuff messing with your head?”

  “I’m fine,” Joy said, a little weakly. The ceremony had taken more out of her than expected, and she was still a little lightheaded. “Just going to my grandpa’s, a couple blocks away.”

  “I can probably handle it,” she offered.

  “I don’t want to risk Zeke’s car.” Joy offered an apologetic smile. “It’s fine, I feel better if anything.”

  “If you’re sure…”

  She was, and wasn’t lying either. Joy hadn’t been one for buying into the spiritual side of her heritage, focusing more on the practical aspects of her nation’s medicine. Despite her doubts, the smudging ceremony made her feel...lighter, like some imperceptible mass had been unshackled from her neck. She was curious how well she’d sleep tonight.

  But first, she wanted to see Grandfather, freshly cleansed. Mother thought it was a good idea, and Father agreed after a brief complaint about not getting to spend time with her. It wasn’t like Joy was going far though, and she was planning to spend at least a week back home. Maybe reconnect with old friends, if she was lucky…

  The drive was quick and quiet, despite Lia’s concerns. There wasn’t much traffic through the town this time of the afternoon, before the kids got out of school and their parents out of work; and besides, she could drive the familiar streets in her sleep. A few minutes later, they pulled into the driveway of her grandfather’s little house. It was more tired looking than last time she’d been here, hopefully not reflecting the man inside too much.

  “Okay,” Joy said, letting out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. “Well...are you ready to meet him?”

  “As I’ll ever be,” Lia replied with a tight smile. “If anything, we’ll get along better than your parents. After all, he knows all about how Nazis have to be dealt with.”

  “Don’t lead with that,” she said with a wince.

  “Sorry.”

  “It’s fine just…” Joy took a deep breath. “That’s not all I want to be to him.”

  “Sure,” Lia said with a quick nod. “Take the lead, it’s your family.”

  She decided to take the quick acquiescence at face value, Lia had been doing pretty well so far. She hadn’t said a word during the smudging, even though Joy had been able to see the discomfort in how she stood at a distance and watched her parents as much as her. Lia’s distrust was obvious, but she made sure it wasn’t anyone’s problem but her own.

  They got out of the car and headed up to the door. Unlike back home, no one intercepted them before they got there. Joy raised her fist and hesitated, then shook her head. He knew she was back, knew she was coming by today. And she was looking forward to seeing him so why couldn’t she—

  She jumped as Lia rapped her knuckles against the door, offering an apologetic wince. Of course she’d noticed Joy’s hesitation. Not that Joy was terribly mad, it was good she had someone looking out for her.

  She just wished she had a minute to dry her eyes from the sudden, warm tears that sprang up as the door creaked open.

  “Bear cub!” Grandfather exclaimed, his heavily lined face lighting up with joy. His smile was full of holes, and she caught the strong scent of tobacco as he embraced her tightly. “Oh I’ve been so looking forward to seeing you again child.”

  “Grandfather,” Joy sobbed in Mohawk.

  They held each other for a while, Grandfather offering quiet shushing noises as Joy cried. There had been so, so many times over the past couple years where she was sure she would never see him again. All that tension had finally broken, and the dam with it.

  “Come in, come in,” Grandfather said at last, pulling away but keeping his hands clasping her arms. “You must be freezing. Come, I’ll put another log on the fire; and tell your friend to watch her step.” He let her go and stepped inside, Joy following quick after.

  “What did he mea—” Lia yelped as she stumbled over the raised frame of the door. “God dammit.”

  “Sorry,” Joy said, suppressing a grin. “This is an old place, not the most accessible.”

  “S’fine,” she mumbled, undoing her boots and kicking them off. “I didn’t eat shit at least.”

  “Come on,” Joy said, kicking off her boots and hanging her jacket on a hook next to the door. “Fire’s this way.”

  She led Lia into the living room, where Grandfather was stooped next to a pot-bellied stove, prodding the embers before adding a piece of wood. They sat on a tired, leather couch while Grandfather slowly made his way to an antique rocking chair. He settled down and lit a cigarette, then offered one to Joy and Lia.

  “Thanks,” Lia said, taking the lighter and smoke after Joy refused.

  “Didn’t expect the kid to be the smoker,” Grandfather said with a chuckle. “I suppose you just know better, eh?”

  “Growing up around you and Dad turned me off of it,” Joy said with a shrug. “Not really something I want to pick up.”

  “Smart girl,” he said appreciatively. “And you...Amelia, is it?”

  “It is,” Lia said, a little hoarsely. “Lia is fine though.”

  “And where’d you pick up a habit like this?”

  “Combat,” she replied flatly. “Then prison.”

  “Amaranth then, if I remember what happened to the Terriers.” Grandfather’s eyebrows raised slightly. “And you got out.”

  “Perks of being useful in a pinch,” she said simply. “Led the team that killed Jack Slash, they gave me a break after that.” Grandfather let out a low whistle.

  “And you too, bear cub?”

  “I was part of it,” Joy said with a nod.

  “My grandchild, a hero,” he said, smiling as he took a drag off his cigarette. “I couldn’t be more proud, you know that? You’ve done great deeds, brought our nation honour.” His eyes glittered as he exhaled. “So my girl, what next?”

  “I...I’m going back,” she said hesitantly. “To Brockton Bay I mean.” His smile shrank, became sadder, but still he smiled.

  “I thought you might,” Grandfather said. “You take after me more than my son would like.”

  “I want to try and finish school,” Joy explained quickly. “And maybe, well, maybe keep stopping bad guys. It won’t be forever, I’ll try to visit more, call more, and—”

  “Peace, Joy, peace,” he interrupted, holding up a hand. “Young crows must leave the nest, but they will always remember their kin. It makes me happy to see you, but you have to find your own happiness. If that lies in Brockton Bay, I’ll take heart in knowing you’re only a day’s travel from me.” His eyes flicked to Lia, who’d almost finished her cigarette in silence. “Look out for her, won’t you?”

  “Of course,” Lia said, glancing at Joy. “But she’s pretty tough. I won’t have to do much.”

  “That’s good to hear,” Grandfather said, his smile widening again. “So, you’ve told me some, but all this stuff about Jack Slash...he was part of that gang of serial killers, wasn’t he?”

  “It’s a bit of a story,” Joy hedged.

  “Please,” he said, leaning back in his rocking chair. “I want to hear it all.”

  The next week passed rapidly, flitting between her parents and grandfather’s house, plus one outing to meet a friend from high school. Not as much time as Joy wanted, but she felt far better than expected. She and Lia had entertained Grandfather with stories about the fight with Jack Slash and Werwolf, and he had shared stories of his exploits in Europe seventy years before. Lia had been enraptured and asked dozens of questions, which had been almost as entertaining as the stories themselves.

  Joy’s parents had softened on Lia as time had gone on. She did her best to pick up a few words of Mohawk, but her pronunciation was mangled at best. Still, her efforts had endeared her to Mother, who’d dragged her away one afternoon to show off her medicine room; her pride and joy. How much Lia retained, Joy couldn’t say, but she was happy to see her friend making the effort.

  If only her other friend had tried. Hannah Song had been Joy’s best friend all through school, but after graduating they’d drifted apart; Joy going to Brockton Bay and Hannah to Toronto, and both too consumed by their studies to keep in contact. They’d gotten together for lunch, but it had been a distant thing, full of awkward explanations around what Joy had been up to. Hannah too had avoided details about her time in Toronto, but it was clear neither of them had a good time.

  Maybe that would have been enough, but Joy had a feeling they would drift apart like before. At least now she wouldn’t be left to fend for herself in different country where she didn’t know anyone. She’d be returning to friends, people who cared about her. More importantly, she’d be going back to doing what she wanted.

  At least, that was the plan.

  “Hey Tattletale,” Lia said as they got out of the car outside Zeke’s house. Tattletale stood in the driveway, hands in the pockets of a heavy, purple jacket worn over her jumpsuit. “Don’t tell me you’ve been waiting out here like a lost puppy, I might cry.”

  “No, I heard you were back in town and decided to stop by,” Tattletale said lightly, the usual, smug grin spread across her face. “Back from visiting family, hm?” Joy grit her teeth and pictured a circle around Tattletale’s feet. “Hey relax, I’m not here for trouble, I’m here to get what I’m owed.”

  “Owed?” Lia scoffed, hands in her pockets. “This is going to be rich.”

  “Well it’s not me exactly,” she corrected herself. “Actually, it’s someone you like a little more. You left her trapped in New York, and now you’re going to get her out.”

  “You mean Weaver,” Lia sighed, shoulders slumping. “Yeah...yeah, okay.” Joy’s eyes widened, as did Tattletale’s; clearly they’d both been expecting more of a fight. “What? She saved my life, only right that I try and do the same.”

  “At least you get that,” Tattletale said, crossing her arms. “You know more about this stuff than most capes I bet, thanks to the other girl in your head. Any ideas spring to mind?”

  “Not exactly,” Lia said slowly, a smile growing on her face. “But I know someone who might have one or two.”

  “Do tell.”

  Joy had a bad feeling about this.