“Get used to it,” Melaton said. “And never slow down, or they’ll start thinking that they can stop you for pictures and autographs and all that. It’s not worth it, trust me. Even after knocking out the first ten idiots who think that being in costume means they can grab a pinch, they still don’t learn.”

“W-what?!” Emily squeaked. Did people really do that? Of course they did. She walked faster to stay close to the Hero.

“There are four paths, like I was saying,” Melaton said. “The first, and probably the easiest at the start, is to join the Heroic Response Force, the HRF. They’ve got training and all that stuff. Their contracts are kind of shit, the pay isn’t all that great, but it’s government work, so the benefits are all right. They kind of demand that you participate in any Endgame that’s in the country, though, and they’re pretty heavily linked to the army.”

“Um,” Emily said. “I thought the army couldn’t have people with powers?” she asked. It had been a big point in her history class.

“You drank the Ool-Aid if you think even a single country actually does more than pay lip service to that,” Melaton said. “If you want to actually make a difference, then the government’s a dead end. You practically need to fill out forms in triplicate to save someone from a burning building.”

“That doesn’t sound good,” Emily said.

Melaton shrugged. “It is what it is. We’re crossing here.”

The Hero stepped out into traffic, the cars in either lane slowing to a sudden stop as she just marched across the street.

Emily bit her lower lip at the casual jaywalking, but the nearest pedestrian crossing was halfway down the block and the peer pressure was mounting, and Melaton was getting away and . . . and so she ran after the Hero with one hand over her head to keep her hat on, the other pulling Teddy along.

“So that’s one option,” Melaton said. “The other big one is going corporate. Just as much paperwork, but you can hire an agent and a lawyer to do it all for you. The pay is incredible too. I pull in six figures. The problem is that the pay matches the level of risk you take, and you need to be out in public a lot. One big screwup can ruin your career, and it’s not like you can just rebrand.”

“That sounds, um, interesting?”

“Meh. There’re a lot of PR stunts and meet and greets and all that. Most corporations have entire teams that keep you looking presentable and coaches to teach you how to speak and all that. No swearing out in public either. That’s a pain in the ass.”

“Uh,” Emily said. She didn’t want to point out the hypocrisy there.