((I submitted this story for the Fanzine a few months back. It was not chosen, but I've finally decided to post it here. It's been renamed and edited a bit since my submittal, but it's largely the same. It was my first CoH story from a perspective other than Feride's, and I had a lot of fun writing it, even if Quicksilver is less interesting than his partner. Hope you enjoy!))
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Quicksilver Cure was positive that Feride Edain was the most frustrating hero in all of Paragon City.
He was never quite sure when he had reached this conclusion. It might have been when she insisted he support her unending grudge against the Rikti. Perhaps it was the time she decided she would enact revenge on the Crey Corporation on his behalf, much to his dismay. Maybe it was even as far back as their first discussion as heroes, when she stated in no uncertain terms that she would take him under her wing.
Whenever it had happened, it was times like these that reminded Quicksilver exactly why he knew this to be true.
A burst of irritation brought him back to reality. Hey QC. You hearin me? Feride asked. The heavy Jersey accent grated on his nerves, and he ground his teeth, rather than reply. QC? She snapped her fingers in front of his face, and he flinched. You there?
Do you want me to be hearing or listening, Feride? His response was more abrupt than he had intended.
Id rather you be listenin, but from the thousand-yard stare you got goin, Ill take just hearin me for now.
Quicksilver suppressed a sigh. Alright, Im listening now, Feride, he said, casting a glare at the taller lady. Are we really going to go through this again? Weve had this discussion five times this week.
Well, were gonna have it again. This could only be an exercise in futility.
This time, he really did sigh, taking the short moment to reinforce his shields against the building assault. Much though it galled him, conciliation was often the key to Ferides logic, which was rapidly disappearing. Okay, so, remind me why you want to do this?
She paused a moment, thinking, and his headache backed off. Really, she felt more than he had ever thought possible before-- These guys are a menace, QC. Surely youve seen em.
Feride had calmed a bit, and that was something he could work with. But they havent done anything to anyone. Theyre trying to help the people of Paragon. Theyre Protectors. Its in the name, he said, feeling as though he were telling little Gabriel about something right before his eyes.
She looked at him for a minute, mouth falling slack. Ever heard of false advertising, QC? People lie--even the good guys. They dont even show their faces. If her returned irritation was any indicator, the current tactic was not going to work, and his headache returned with a vengeance.
Neither do we, he said.
Feride pulled down her sunglasses and stared at him, blue eyes exposed. Really? Her accent slipped.
Quicksilver conceded that was perhaps not the best retort, under the circumstances. Other heroes keep their faces covered too, is all I meant.
They dont have any identity, she said, accent back in place. Nothing to mark one as separate from the others. Means theres nothin to keep you from doin whatever you want. No one can finger ya.
Quicksilver stepped back from the unexpected emotion and gave a thought to his shields, which seemed fine for now. I cant justify attacking these men. Any possible benefit would not be worth the cost.
Her eyes widened behind the glasses. Are you kiddin me? These guys do whatever they want, laws be damned. They only answer to one authority, and it aint the one we follow. She paused. And you know what that authority did to you, yeah? You still feel it.
He winced a bit. Her word choice was rather incisive. But no one knew the original source of that virus. Besides, it would have hurt the Protectors as much as the heroes it targeted. I refuse to help you attack these men. You cannot prove they have done anything to me or the people of Paragon, and they do not deserve our ire. He made to turn away.
So youre just gonna let me go in there on my own, is that it, QC? Feride had crossed her arms, right shoulder popped forward. Quicksilver recognized that position. That was her universal stubborn pose. She used it as Mel too; it transcended identities. Gonna let me fight it out on my own? Let me die? You know I cant take em alone.
Quicksilver bit his lip. He hated when she used that argument. It never failed to work--mostly because it was true, even if she was hitting below the belt. They both knew the move would work, even though he could feel her manipulations. That actually made it worse. Sometimes, empathy truly was a curse.
After a moment of silence, she stepped closer to him, emphasizing her height. She really was quite a bit taller than he was. You shuttin me out now, Feelings Boy? she asked. His headache was really pounding now, as his shields broke and her emotions came in unrestricted. Tryin not to hurt me? The poor little lady? He scowled mildly under her gaze. She was hardly that. Well, are you gonna do something? Or are you--
Whats all this? He and Feride both jumped at the oddly modulated voice. He supposed it was no surprise he had missed someone approaching. A glance at the newcomer showed him to be a Paragon Protector. Speak of the Devil.
After a momentary assessment, the Protector continued, A domestic dispute. Among heroes. How quaint. Quicksilver easily felt the smug smile, and he knew it had to be audible to Feride, despite the blank mask.
She stood up straight and just looked at the Protector a moment. Her eyes were shielded, but Quicksilver knew that glare. Only they could insult each other, and Feride was willing to defend that much farther than he was. Buzz off. This aint none a your business.
On the contrary, he said. It is poor form for heroes [he sneered the word again] to be fighting in public. Dont you think? The condescending question was maddening, even for him.
Hey-- Here Feride called him a word he would never have used, much less in public. This is not your problem. Get back to terrorizing some citizens, why doncha? She took a step forward, trying to use her height in her favor again.
There was a brief moment of silence. Even with his shields still down, he could not feel the Protectors emotions. He held his breath. Backup, the Protector said. Calling for backup. Have found hostiles and am preparing to engage. Okay, so, maybe her claim had some merit.
Feride swore, fear radiating freely. When they show up, Three DC. Watch my back, she said.
Then, he watched as the new enemy approached, claws unsheathed, and she pulled her rifle and took the first shot. A web grenade and caltrops kept him at a distance, but only for a while. He broke free and began to attack her at melee range.
He had to help her now, and as he raised his shields again, he gave her some improvements where he could. The Protector was relentless, though, and Feride spent all her time trying to dodge. Quicksilver rather wished there was a staff lying around, so she could fend him off effectively. He knew this guy could not beat her there. As the claws began to take their toll, he gave her another boost, and then decided to help more actively.
He stopped suddenly. He could feel them coming. Reinforcements are here. Nine oclock and closing fast! he called. Feride nodded briefly.
With the first one still distracted by his partner, Quicksilver disappeared, just in time for the new foes to arrive on the scene. There were three of them, all with blank faces and ready for a fight. One carried an impressive-looking shotgun.
They headed toward Feride, not noticing their second foe. She backed away from her single opponent and reached into a pocket for her caltrops, but the original Protector slashed her arm. She cried out, and he felt the pain but knew the body armor protected her. However, his momentary worry allowed the three newcomers to get past his planned defenses and rush her directly.
Ducking underneath the arm of one Protector and between two others, Feride slipped out of melee range and then disappeared. A slash toward her former position yielded no results, and they spread out in a defensive circle.
He felt her slide up beside him, still under the cloaking device and full of resolve. He let loose a deception, and suddenly, the original Protector attacked his three companions. Quicksilver felt a guilty satisfaction at his small revenge on the offensive figure. As the Protector unleashed his claws on his allies, he mended Ferides wounds, as she wandered around the group and gleefully delivered a few pot shots.
One went down quickly, due to surprise more than anything, but the other two put up a greater fight. The one closer to the confused Protector engaged his attacking ally, while the one with the shotgun found the slight glow of Ferides cloak and headed toward her. She hit him with a solid shot, and it blasted him hard into the ground. Seeing the threat, Quicksilver then covered him in a deception as well and sent him after the other two.
It took several minutes, quite a few more shots from Feride, and more than one reapplication of the deception on both Protectors, but finally, only the original remained standing. He looked down at his three allies lying on the ground, and the rage that simmered up overcame the illusion.
Finding the shimmer of Ferides cloak, he rushed at her before Quicksilver could warn her. He hit her several times, bringing her into visibility, until she managed to pull his arms aside and head-butt him away. As he staggered, she hit him with a grenade, almost to the face, and the Protector hit the pavement hard.
He stood slowly and tried to charge her again, but his shaky movements reflected his confusion. She let the figure approach and flipped him over her shoulder. He groaned, but did not rise.
As he lay on the ground, waiting for the final blow, Feride stood over him for a long moment. Then she kicked him in a place only a woman would dare to kick a man. Quicksilver winced. He thought that was a bit uncalled-for, but he supposed it did the job.
As Quicksilver returned to visibility, Feride turned to face him with a storm cloud on her brow. I said Three DC. You only gave me the C part. Her foot was tapping mentally.
He let out a smirk worthy of her. They seemed to be doing just fine on their own. He needed no special abilities to know she was rolling her eyes, unseen.
Quicksilver glanced around at the remaining unconscious bodies. One had already been teleported to the Zig, and the other three would soon follow, he knew.
Feride watched him, mouth twitching. Well? she said.
He looked again at all the Protectors lying around them and grimaced. You were right.
Feeling very confident, she smiled brightly, and Quicksilver could see a glimmer of his girlfriend, even through the spiked hair and mirrored sunglasses of Feride. I love you, he breathed, barely aware the words escaped his lips.
I love you too, Joseph. Her Jersey accent was finally gone. They crossed the short distance between them and kissed deeply.
Shall we depart, Miss Bradford? He presented an arm for her, an old joke and a parody of their first meeting.
I think we shall, Mr. Bryant.
Arm in arm, she put her nose in the air, and with a smile on his face, he did the same. Both suppressing laughter, they started walking toward the train station.
Suddenly, as they reached the first corner, she pulled away. Race you there! she called, taking to the air.
Quicksilver Cure laughed as he scrambled to follow, sure that Feride Edain was the most wonderful hero in all of Paragon City.
This should have been the I15 SF.