Forum Thread

While Roxy was gone, the two girls talked and got a better understanding of one another. When she returned Nat was explaining her power in more detail to Angel.

Roxy could only smile as she handed out the goodies. Settling back onto her chair, Roxy listened, curious as well.

"Thank you Roxy," Angel said with a smile before returning to Nat. "So any reptile?"

Nat responded with a nod. "Yes, as long as I know some basic information about it. Now that you've learned more about my power, would you be able to tell me more about yours?"

Angel chuckled and nodded. "Of course, share and share alike. Well, by telling you about my powers I have to explain my past a little. When I was born I was terribly sick, my mother died in birthing me, and my father left to mourn and never came back. It was my grandparents on my mother's side who took charge of me and signed papers and such. I spent several days in urgent care and it wasn't looking too well for me. The doctors were losing me and my grandparents agreed to pull the plug. When they did however, my grandparents said that there was this glow that just filled the room... Next thing they see is a huge smile on my face and they heard me giggling, happy and healthy as could be. That's where my name came from actually, I was their little angel. As I grew up I learned how to control my powers, but mostly my wings," As she mentioned her wings she glanced to the covered window on the door before letting them slip out to show them. "If I wasn't paying attention they'd come out and there would be problems, however, other than that, I had a pretty normal and happy childhood. I went to school and had lots of friends, and I was the hero of the playground since I'd fix the cuts and scrapes kids would get if they fell off the swings. Of course the kids would tell their parents, but they wouldn't believe them so it worked out fine." She smiled letting her wings slide back under her shirt.

Nat was simply staring in awe of the beautiful white appendages that had emerged from the woman's back.

Roxy listened in awe. She was terribly glad Angel bad survived but for Angel's sake first. Not for what she could do."I'm sorry about your parents. I don't know where my fathers are. But I do know the woman who, for all intents and purposes was my mother and raised me is dead. She gave me letters and messages left for me from my fathers but I have yet to find them. Maybe they'd exist...all I know is they were or are rich," she said, offering up parts of her past. ""That and they lived in this city. Might I ask what drew you to this city?"

"Oh it's okay, my mother still lives on in me, and I only hope I'm making her proud." Angel said with a smile, completely leaving out her father on purpose. She didn't hate him, but a reasonable amount of dislike was there. "What brought me here was the college actually. They offered me a full ride scholarship, thanks to some awesome recommendation letters, and counselors speaking my praises." She chuckled slightly. "Can I ask how you plan to find your fathers?" She didn't seem to have a problem with her having two fathers at all.

"I am sure you are! Useing your powers to help people like you do? And that full ride? That is absolutely wonderful! As for my fathers, I'm not sure. I have exhausted all leads I had. They had powers but trying to follow that is proving highly difficult. I was hoping to maybe look into city records but I don't have last names. And with the city so big, it could take a while," Roxy explained before taking a sip of her drink.

"I'm sorry that finding them is so challenging..." Angel took a bite of her fruit before almost coughing on it as she got an idea. "What if you put out an ad in the papers? Or something online? They might see it there," She offered highly enthusiastically.

Nat was absorbed in her water and listening to their conversation. Besides, it wasn't really her place to chip in anything. Parents were way out of her areas of expertise. Her parents were test tubes. Sure they had to get the genetic material from someone, but it would be impossible to find out unless she went back to the lab, which was something she didn't intend to do.

"That might work...what should it say though? Young woman seeking fathers? I don't know if they'd be ready to see me though. I mean...it might not be safe yet...but I'm virtually indestructible so I'd be okay. What about you three? Some nut could try to attack you guys based on it," Roxy said, already including Angel in their group. They needed to stick together, in her eyes. Best way to keep each other safe and not be so lonely.

"Hmm, you have a few good points... Elvira isn't in a good position to protect herself," Nat cut in interrupting her. "I'm protecting her." Angel chuckled and nodded. "Well in that case, we're all good here. Nat's protecting Elvira, and I can heal the both of them, and myself, so all our bases are covered there. Besides, why would a nut try and attack the friends of a "young woman seeking her fathers" unless your fathers are heroes, or," Angel bit her tongue before she went further. "Never mind that last or, your fathers would definitely be heroes with a daughter like you." She smiled hoping she didn't offend Roxy with that comment.

"My mom said they were heros. So...I kind of always assumed that maybe, just maybe they were. I don't know if she told me that to make me happy or what...but based off their letters to me, I can't imagine they'd hurt people..." Roxy said, biting her lip. What if they were bad people? They could be corrupted...and they had sent her away to be safe...shaking her head, Roxy did her best to dismiss those concerns. "I don't know why someone would attack. I'm going to do it. Tomorrow, I will put it out there. Hopefully they are looking for me too."

"I hope things work out for you Roxanne, I really do. You deserve happiness." Angel stood up, a gentle smile on her lips. "I'm afraid I do have to get home since I do have some classes later in the day."

Roxy smiled, stood and hugged her. "Thank you. You deserve happiness too. I'll keep in touch and keep you posted. Goodnight, Angel. See you soon?"

"Good night you two, I'll see you both soon." Angel waved to Nat who smiled and did the same before she left.

Nat looked over to Roxy. "I like her," She grinned broadly. "She's nice and has wings."

Roxy laughed, nearly falling over before she pulled Nat into a big hug. "I like her too, hun. She is so nice, very kind hearted and I think she's a great addition to us. Whatever we are. We don't need a label. We are amazing the way we are. I am glad you like her. I think So will like her too. Sorry, babe, I kind of have rooted you to us now," Roxy said, the last part aimed at Elvira. "You gave me an inch and I wiggled my way in, not only to your heart but then brought friends. I love you, Elvira. What do you think, Nat? Time for bed?"

Nat giggled as she was hugged. She liked making Roxy smile and laugh, and she could see how lucky Elvira and Roxy were to have each other. "Yeah, I think bed time is right about now," She smiled and stretched before climbing into her bed. "Good night Roxy,"

"Goodnight Nat," Roxy said, climbing into bed with Elvira. "Night El," she murmured before falling asleep. That next day, she paid for a personal add to run, including some history while excluding vital information she'd ask potential candidates about to make sure they were her parents. She grew into an easy routine, caring for Elvira, Nat and herself while keeping in touch with Angel. About a week later, ten callers who were not her parents, five shifts at work and a whole weeks worth of late night city patrolling, Roxy was on her own for the night. Hearing a scream, she ran to the dead end alley, ready to help whomever was in trouble. What she didn't expect was two men, two men in superhero gear who looked exactly like her comic book ideals to be hanging there. Before she could react, the mage had her chained in blue magic while the blonde shapeshifter stood over her, his grip on her arm keeping her from changing. Roxanne shook her head, trying to pull back. The mage held out a piece of paper, her personal ad. "No...no, you're good guys! What are you doing? I'm one of you! I help people. Please!"

"Poor, lost little girl, don't you see? They are answering your ad. Don't you recognize them? They are quite useful, aren't they? Once I had the mage, it was too easy to make his king my puppet. They don't k ow who you are or that the other is there. They have been bent to my will, Roxanne. And you will be next. Stop putting your nose in my business, little girl or I will send daddy dearests to kill your friends. Understand? This is my world, my city. Be happy I am giving you a choice! Keep meddling and I will kill them and I will make you my puppet. You'd make such a nice trophy wife...and such a nice, convenient human shield. But then, you aren't completely human, now are you?" Their shadowy enemy asked.

Roxanne growled, beyond angry and mad. "Let them go! Stop doing this! Who are you and what do you want!?" She yelled at him.

"My dear, I am Alex. And I am your worst nightmare and best friend. Right now?" He asked, sashaying over and grabbing her chin, forcing her to look at him. "I'm your worst nightmare." She didn't she his fist coming until it had made contact with her face. Roxy grunted, but lashed out, spitting on him. A menacing chuckled grated Roxy's ears before Alex said, "Boy's, discipline your daughter. She needs to be taught some manners. Leave her when you are done. Then you have work to do." He walked off then, leaving Roxy to her fate.

Roxy shook her head and began pleading with the men, her role models, her fathers, if Alex was to be believed. But these two were a team and she didn't stand a chance. Hours later, she'd wake up, freezing in the alley, rain pouring over her. Somewhere, thunder rumbled and lightening flashed. Her head ached something fierce but she tried not to think about what happened. Trying to get to her feet, Roxy found out that wasn't happening. So she shifted into a snake, wincing at the pain. It took her another hour to make her way to the hospital and Elvira's window. Knocking on it with her tail, she urged Nat to open it.

Every day Angel would drop in to visit the hospital room, and tonight was no different. The two of them had been talking about the ad when Nat picked up on the tapping at the window. She walked over and opened it to find a snake there. She picked it up carefully and brought it in very confused as there shouldn't be snakes in a city. "Roxy?" Angel asked as she walked over taking the snake from Nat's hands, and as she laid her hands on the lithe form she could feel the injuries that were still healing. "What happened to you?!" She quickly laid her down on the other bed asking Nat to go fill her water bottle which she left to do.

The young woman shifted back to herself once on the bed. Lifting her hands to her face, Roxy shook her head. Sobs where the only thing to be heard at first. She tried to tell them, her voice breaking as she cried. It all came out in a messy, incomprehensible ball of sobs and sounds. After about ten minutes or so, she focused on getting herself under control before taking a deep breath. Tears still ran down her cheeks in rivers but she was determined to talk. "...I-I-I think-k I m-met them...m-met my fav-favorite super-erheros...the he sh-showed up. Alex. S-said....s-said they are m-my dads but he's controlling them!" She gasped the last part in a rush. "They didn't seem to understand me! Then....then...." Roxy couldn't look at either of them for this. She turned her head, shaking horribly as she whispered, "He made them b-beat m-me...a mage and a shapeshifter...I...I passed out...n-never taken this l-long to h-heal...everything was broken..." Including my heart, she thought to herself, wanting to curl up besides Elvira and just cry into her shoulder.

Nat offered Roxy the bottle of water when she got back in time to hear the story. Angel's face was firm and her body rigid as she listened. A warm glow spread across Roxy and in a moment no physical pain could be felt. Roxy was gently lifted from the bed and moved over and laid beside Elvira. "Roxanne, I swear this to you, I will help you get your fathers back. I don't care how long it takes, this Alex will pay dearly for what he's done..." The kind sweet girl wasn't in the room anymore. Instead a vengeful dark angel in her stead. "I'll keep watch at the door tonight." She looked to Nat who nodded. "I'll stay by the bed." Angel stalked out of the room a storm raging in her heart and mind. How could someone be so cruel?! This may not be my city, but these are my friends and this will not stand.

"Thank you. Thank you both," Roxy said, curled into So but her hand reaching for Nat, to reassure herself they both were okay. "...this Alex is a deadman walking....I am taking a page out of El's book....he took my favorite superheroes, maybe my dads...he's gonna get buried. Maybe his deeds won't surface but he sure isn't...he wasn't living after he attacked Elvira! This?...maybe I should get a metal helmet and attack him. Keep him out of my head. I don't think that actually works though. Just because it's metal," Roxy babbled, curling her legs right up underneath her so she wasn't taking too much room.