“Up ahead is the team’s living area,” Beacon explained, leading Linh out of the elevator.

  “We have a communal living area, complete with kitchen, a gym and a number of rec rooms,” he continued, and Linh nodded, her ears bobbing with the motion.

  Beacon had already explained that most of the team lived on premises. In fact it had come up when he was negotiating with Mum. Linh wasn't moving in, she still had school and the restaurant to worry about, even if her Mum had been willing to entertain the idea. She would still have a room though, somewhere to get changed or to rest between missions if she needed it.

  A squeal and a flurry of heels behind her gave just enough warning before a whirlwind of blonde hair and designer perfume barrelled straight into her. “Oh my gosh, she is SO CUTE!” The woman squealed. Linh could only manage a strangled noise, the air wrung from her lungs, face drowned in the woman's cleavage as she smushed the ever loving shit out of the smaller girl.

  “Linh, meet Kestrel,” Beacon said dryly, “Kestrel, this is Linh, also known as the Jade Rabbit. She is the new rookie.”

  The woman, Kestrel, squeezed tighter.

  “Why didn't you tell me the rookie would be so adorable?” She demanded of Beacon.

  “I believe I mentioned that she was small,” Beacon said, and Kestrel glared at him.

  “You didn't say she had rabbit ears,” Kestrel growled, “I was not prepared for this.”

  “Please let me go,” Linh managed to wheeze, and Kestrel looked down at her, considering.

  “...no,” the woman said after a moment, and Beacon shook his head.

  “Please put her down,” he said, “I do believe that Linh needs to breathe.”

  Kestrel pouted, but obeyed, placing Linh back on her feet, shooting the poor girl a look that said this was only a temporary arrangement.

  Linh wheezed, attempting to regain her breath while Kestrel began to play with her ears.

  “Right, now that you've met Kestrel, I will leave you in her hands,” Beacon said. Linh whipped her head around to look at him, forgetting that her ear was currently being pinched by the enthusiastic woman in front of her. It tugged painfully, and she yelped. Kestrel to her credit, immediately let go.

  “You’re leaving?” Linh said, rubbing her head.

  “I’m afraid I have things to attend to,” Beacon apologised.

  “Kestrel, would you show Linh around, introduce her to the others?” He asked, turning to the other woman, whose eyes immediately lit up.

  “Yes!” She said, wrapping her arm around Linh’s shoulder possessively, crushing Linh into her waist.

  “We’ll have so much fun!” She exclaimed, and Beacon sighed.

  “Please be gentle,” he said, “We need her intact.”

  “No promises,” Kestrel replied, leaving Beacon to hold his head, muttering something.

  “Please don't leave me…” Linh mouthed to him, and he shot her a reassuring smile.

  “You’ll be fine. Have fun, I’ll see you in a while.”

  Beacon turned to go, and Linh watched him go with horror. He was actually leaving her with… with this walking personal space violation! Kestrel was like Jazz, if Jazz had enough enhanced strength to break Linh’s spine.

  Kestrel looked down at Linh, and Linh met her eyes. A wicked smile grew on the woman’s face, and Linh paled. This was going to be a long day.

  “Let's introduce you to Skip first,” Kestrel said, entering the lounge with Linh firmly tucked under one arm, dangling like an unruly puppy.

  “You’re a student, right?” Kestrel asked, blitzing on without giving Linh time to respond.

  “Skip is about your age, a little older. He's cute too, in a sort of dorky little brother way. Well, old brother for you, but you’ll like him, and he’ll love you,” Kestrel continued. Linh wasn't sure if the woman ever needed to breathe, as she had been talking basically non stop ever since Beacon had left.

  “Skip!” Kestrel called, the doors to the lounge sliding open before them, “Look what I found!”

  The room was sleek, stylish and comfortable, filled with couches and a big TV There was a boy, probably in his mid twenties, perched on the edge of one of the armchairs. Linh assumed that this was Skip. Kestrel removed Linh from under her arm, gripping the smaller girl by the shoulders and holding her up for inspection, like she was a painting.

  “Please put me down,” Linh said, face flushed. She wasn't sure which was more embarrassing, being treated like a doll by a woman who was wearing shoes worth more than Linh’s entire wardrobe, or the fact that someone else was watching it happen.

  Kestrel thankfully put her down, and Skip diplomatically didn't comment. Instead, he just stepped forward and offered a hand.

  “I’m Ben,” he said, “But I mostly go by Skip.”

  “Umm, Linh,” she said, taking his hand, still flushed from the treatment Kestrel had been giving her.

  “She’s the Jade Rabbit,” Kestrel gushed, playing with Linh’s ears. Linh really wished she would stop, those were sensitive…

  “You can probably guess why,” Kestrel added, and Skip looked Linh up and down.

  Hair like a night sky, big bunny ears, and a fancy Ao Dai in shades of Jade. It was pretty obvious.

  “Nice to meet you Linh,” Skip said.

  “I was a rookie until not long ago myself,” he continued, “so if you have questions, I’m happy to help.”

  His professional demeanour broke when Kestrel leaned forward to stage whisper in Linh’s ear.

  “See, he likes you,” she said conspiratorially, causing the boy to flush.

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

  “Kestrel, please…” He pleaded, and Linh got the impression that Kestrel made a sport of teasing him. Which was basically immediately confirmed when Kestrel tutted and waved a finger at him.

  “Now now Ben,” she said, “I’ve told you, out of costume I’m Vanessa.”

  Ben opened his mouth to reply, but was interrupted by one of the doors crashing open. A man sauntered into the room. Hair greased, jeans tight, shirt open, sunglasses indoors. He strutted in like he was a gift, doing a double take when he saw Linh.

  “Woah, babe alert!”

  Kestrel sighed, and placed Linh on the ground. Linh couldn't help but notice that Kestrel had placed Linh behind her, so that the woman was between her and the newcomer.

  “Nathan,” Kestrel said neutrally, in a tone that implied an entire documentary series worth of history here.

  “This is Linh, or Jade Rabbit. Our new rookie. Beacon mentioned she was coming.”

  “He didn't mention they would be a babe. About time too, we need some more honeys up in this bitch,” he replied, swaggering forward to hold his hand out to Linh. She reluctantly took it.

  “I’m Nate, but you can call me Thunderdude,” he said, and Linh fought the urge to gag, his cheap cologne burning her nostrils while he ran his eyes down her body.

  “Seriously?” She thought to herself, shivering a little under his gaze. This was definitely the most uncomfortable she had been today. Of course, he then proceeded to make it worse.

  “Linh hey?” He said, leaning in, “Never had a Chinese chick before.”

  Linh almost violently shuddered at that one, but she kept her composure enough to instead reply.

  “I’m from Vietnam,” she said, sliding further back behind Kestrel’s leg.

  Thunderdude shrugged, “Same shit.”

  “Nathan…” Kestrel said, low and menacing, “Leave the rookie alone.”

  Dude chuckled, “Yeah yeah Mumma Bear, I’m just saying.”

  Mercifully, he stepped back, cracking his knuckles.

  “Right, I gotta hit the gym. This body doesn't keep itself, and I have gains to make.”

  With that, he turned and strode towards the door. He stopped in the doorway to flash them what he clearly thought was a winning grin.

  “If either of you ladies ever feel like riding the lightning, come find The Dude.”

  With a final wink that was somehow even sleazier than his parting line, he left.

  Linh turned to Kestrel.

  “Is he real?” she asked.

  Kestrel sighed, rubbing her temples.

  “Unfortunately, yes.”

  “We call him Thunderdouche,” Skip added helpfully.

  Linh giggled, “I think I can see why.”

  Kestrel shook her head, “He is a damn good hero. I just wish he was less…”

  “Douchy?” Skip offered.

  “Precisely,” Kestrel agreed, “Although he's not that bad when you get to know him.”

  “He grows on you, like a fungus,” said Skip.

  Kestrel looked down at Linh, placing her hands on the smaller girl’s shoulders.

  “That said,” she told Linh, voice serious, “If he bothers you, let me know.”

  Linh nodded.

  “Kestrel used to date him,” Skip said, grinning.

  Linh’s head snapped up to look at the taller woman.

  “Seriously? Why?” She asked.

  Kestrel shrugged, “He has a nice ass.”

  Then she turned to glare at Skip, “You’ll pay for that, just wait until I tell Linh about your first mission.”

  Skip paled. “Please don't.”

  Kestrel grinned wickedly. “Oh but I will.” She scooped up Linh, who squeaked with surprise, then plonked herself on the couch, sandwiching Linh between herself and Skip.

  “You see young Rabbit, it was Skip’s first time in the field,” she began, and Linh found herself forgetting the encounter with Thunderdude, too entranced by this woman and her surprisingly well told story.

  “This is not protocol," Sentinel all but shouted at Beacon. Beacon had just found a few minutes between important phone calls, minutes that he was planning to spend checking on his new recruit, when Sentinel had stormed in.

  “You’re right,” Beacon replied dryly, “You didn't schedule this meeting.”

  “You know what I am referring to,” the other man fumed. Sentinel was tall, strong and powerful. Clad from head to toe in a silver bodysuit, Sentinel was the textbook super hero. He was hard working, passionate, and had a near religious obsession with protocol. He was also a huge pain in the ass.

  “I’m afraid I don’t,” Beacon replied.

  “The girl.” Sentinel spat the word like it was cursed. Beacon knew it had nothing to do with gender, Kestrel was the only person on the team Sentinel actually liked. No, it was all about protocol.

  “I assume you are referring to our new rookie?” Beacon said, his voice remaining calm and professional.

  “She is an untrained, unregistered nobody,” Sentinel growled, “She is a liability and you signed off on it.”

  Beacon leaned forward, templing his hands on his desk.

  “She is trained,” he replied, and Sentinel scoffed.

  “By her grandmother? Some two bit nobody from a second world country? That is not training.”

  Beacon suppressed a sigh, alongside the urge to throttle the man. Instead, he calmly opened his mouth to reply.

  “Training supplied by relatives is recognised by the board, and in cases where the powers in question are considered a bloodline legacy, such as this, it is actively encouraged. Or need I remind you how you got your start?”

  Sentinel winced, but recovered quickly.

  “This is not the same thing,” he said, and Beacon nodded.

  “No, it's not,” he agreed.

  “You, and the rest of these candidates,” he tapped the pile of application folders, “have had access to the best training and resources money can buy.”

  Sentinel began to respond, but Beacon cut him off.

  “Linh, meanwhile, has had nothing but instinct and some martial arts training from her grandmother. And yet she handled a dangerous situation better than any cadet on this list.”

  Sentinel scoffed, but Beacon continued. “She is rough, yes. But with the resources and training that we can provide? She’ll far outstrip anyone on this list by the end of the year. I suspect she will exceed both of us before long.”

  Sentinel shook his head in disbelief.

  “You’re gambling.”

  “No,” Beacon countered, “I’m investing.”

  Sentinel rolled his eyes. “It’s your ass,” he said, turning to leave.

  Beacon let him go. The man was right, he was gambling. Linh was a risk, Beacon had been second guessing himself all last night. But this morning? Seeing that nervous but determined expression on the girl’s face had erased that doubt. It was a look that Beacon recognised. The same one that he wore all those years ago, when he was a rookie himself.

  “Alright. Spill.”

  Linh was lying in her bed, Jazz on speaker phone as she squeezed PomPom. The rabbit accepted her role as Linh’s plush stress ball without complaint. Grandma would have chucked a fit if she saw Linh treating her sacred moon granted familiar that way, but what she didn't know wouldn't hurt her.

  The day PomPom had appeared before Linh had been the best day of her life, at least until she had met Jazz. She had been four, and hadn't understood what the Rabbit represented, she had just been excited to have a fluffy bunny of her own. Her mother's rabbit was far less tolerant of being smushed, but he was far older, with a dignity that PomPom lacked.

  “I’ve got some team training tomorrow,” Linh said, and was rewarded with a scoff from Jazz.

  “That is not what I meant and you know it,” her friend replied.

  “Now spill it sis. Is. He. Hot?”

  Linh rolled her eyes, despite Jazz not being able to see her. Her best friend could have a one track mind sometimes.

  “Not really?” Linh said, “He’s… too much of a Dad, if that makes sense?”

  “You don't get it,” Jazz replied, “That's the point. It's called a DILF for a reason.”

  Linh laughed, “Well, seeing that I don't have Daddy issues like you do, I’ll pass. He’s like, three times our age anyway.”

  Jazz sighed dreamily through the phone.

  “Such a stud.”

  Jazz had a thing for Beacon. Linh didn't quite understand it, but her friend regularly pined after the legendary hero. She even had posters.

  “Kestrel’s hot though,” Linh offered, “In a like, corporate Mum way.”

  “Mmm,” Jazz agreed, “She is pretty classy. Is she like that in person?”

  Linh winced, remembering the way the woman had treated her ears.

  “She’s uhh, kind of clingy. Like you, but older.”

  Jazz snorted, “I’m not clingy.”

  “Jazz, you’re clingier than PomPom.”

  “Whatever,” Jazz replied, then her voice dropped into a conspiratorial whisper.

  “What about Thunderdude?”

  Linh faux gagged.

  “Yeah, no. The first thing he said was, and I quote; ‘Babe Alert’.”

  Jazz giggled, “He did not.”

  “He did. He then said he’d never had a Chinese chick before.”

  Jazz laughed, “Holy shit, really?”

  “Really.”

  “You’re not even Chinese, did you point that out?”

  “I did,” Linh said, “He said ‘same shit’.”

  “Wow,” Jazz replied.

  “Yeah.”

  “I’m Chinese though…”

  “Jazz!”

  “What? He has a nice ass,” Jazz defended. Linh just shook her head.

  “That's what Kestrel said,” she replied.

  “Smart woman,” Jazz said, “I want to meet her.”

  Linh pictured it. Jazz and Kestrel together. They would probably fight over who got to hold her.

  “Not happening,” she told Jazz.

  “Aww,”

  “What about the others? What are they like?” Jazz asked, and Linh considered.

  “Well, I met the Doctor, and she is like, SCARY gorgeous,” she began.

  Linh shared the story of meeting the Doctor, going through her exam, then telling Jazz about her encounters with the rest of the team. Her friend listened, rapt, interrupting to ask questions.

  Linh relaxed into her pillow as they spoke. She was so grateful she had Jazz. She had been a nervous wreck all day and now she could unwind. They chatted late into the night until Linh dozed off, ready to face the next day.