He gets a datapad and types that in. "Hmm, can't find anything, what's your registry number?"

"I don't think I'm in anyone's official system, actually? There was... An accident. And I didn't, like, sign up... Anywhere..."

Gaaah this is awkward.

"Oh, so you're a rogue." His disposition turns way less friendly.

"'Hero' is an official category now? I'm going to try to help people. Am trying."

"Of course it is, otherwise it's just vigilantism."

"Yeah, but I didn't try to arrest anyone, I went there to give first aid, I brought him to this hospital. But, okay, whatever, bye."

Her suit wakes back up and she walks away.

He sighs but doesn't do anything about it.

Of course they aren't actually thankful. Nurses aren't happy someone probably had their life saved compared to if she had stayed home. And she - doesn't fit in, just like she thought. Dauntless was nice but he's just a Ward, Glam is nice but he's in the same boat as she is. The police and Protectorate are never as helpful as they're supposed to be.

At least the hospital actually helped that gangster... Back out to the street, then, to think for a minute.

"You okay?" they call from a rooftop.

She glances around, and steps up there to join him after a few moments. Long legs are handy. "Just thinking about the system."

"Oh, yes. The system. Come to any meaningful conclusions?"

They're sitting cross-legged on absolutely nothing.

"Not really. Coming back to the same old sore spots. Systems swallow people, crime pays in Brockton Bay, the police and Protectorate just can't do some things and have to be bullies at everyone else who steps out of line even a little bit."

"Ehh, I'm not sure. I mean, if you look at countries without the Protectorate, like in South America or a lot of Asia or even Africa however cliché'd the example is... They must be doing something right."

"Maybe. Probably, actually, yeah. But I'm still allowed to be bitter, I think. And I still can't really join the Wards, after the Hookwolf thing."

"Yeah, that makes sense. Did the guy make it?"

"He was still breathing when I handed him over. No idea if he'll get better though."

They nod. "You really did help a lot."

"I'm glad at least one person thinks so... Yeah, today was a good day in balance. Might make it worth some of what I've been through building up to it."

...they nod, slowly. "I'm not sure how much that's true in the general case but—even with the cost—I think it was worth it for me, too."

"I did say some. I won't ask about you, but it's supposed to always be really nasty, right? Things that make you get powers."

"Yeah, and I'd expect it usually stays nasty for a while. Nasty situations don't tend to just end suddenly."

"Mine... Is actually a fair bit better. Well, not really. It hurts to think about it. But now, if worst comes to worst, I can hit back at life."

"Yeah, now I can too. But I got my powers when I was six."

"...Christ. I got mine just four months ago."

"Yeah. I also—my power is way fiddlier than it looks, it took me a long time to learn to use it at all let alone use it usefully. And I didn't want to join the Wards because of—family stuff. So."