“Will we get to beat up some other Villains?” Teddy asked.

Emily’s heart constricted at the “other,” but she realized that Melanie would probably assume Teddy meant “other than Homie.”

“Probably not,” Melanie said. “Heroes are kinda awful at law enforcement.”

“Really?” Emily asked.

“Oh, don’t get me wrong, they act as a decent counterbalance to the police, but most don’t have training, and a lot of powers are too lethal for proper policing. Even then, most police calls are simple things. Speeding tickets, the occasional accident, some domestic disputes. You don’t need someone in a cape to show up to every fender bender.”

“Then why’re you keeping the Heroes around if they’re not helping the proletariat?” Teddy asked. Her eyes narrowed. “It’s some capitalist ploy, isn’t it?”

Melanie snorted. “Pretty much. There’s a lot of money in marketing. Lots of donations and Heroes make the politicians standing next to them look great. That, and there is a need for Heroes. Endgames can’t and shouldn’t be tackled by normal folk. Actual Villains with strong powers are downright terrifying if you’re a normal person, and some Heroes bring flexibility to situations that the police just can’t manage.”

“It sounds as if the world isn’t quite used to the idea of there being some who are just better at things,” Athena said.

Emily looked over to her little sister. That was a weird sentiment, and one that certainly didn’t mesh with what she’d been taught before.

“Something like that,” Melanie said. “It’s a weird situation to be in, but it’s not like you can just tuck away every person with powers. Some places have tried that—it doesn’t end well.”

Emily nodded. She still had a few questions, but the waitress returning with some drinks put an end to that. The girls each got a glass of juice, and then the waitress set down two very fancy glasses before her and Melanie. She left without a word, leaving Emily staring at her drink.

It had a little umbrella, and crumbs around the rim, and the drink had a few colors still mixing within.

“Neat,” Teddy said.

“Um, what is it?” Emily asked.

“You’re over eighteen, right?” Melanie asked.

“I . . . yes,” Emily said.

The woman shrugged, flicked the umbrella out of her drink, and took a sip. “Then enjoy.”

Emily hadn’t ever really tried drinking anything alcoholic before. Oh, maybe a sip from her dad’s beer when she was little, but that was so far back.

But then, she was already pushing way past her comfort zone, with acts of Heroism, and fighting, and surrounding herself with the kinds of people she’d never expected to befriend before.

Maybe continuing to try new things wouldn’t be so bad? She’d certainly dreamed of being far, far braver than she was.