Vista caught up with us, after a few exchanged words with Stonewall. Space warped to give her something of a catch-up.

“Hey Vic,” Vista said. “You know powers, right? You studied this stuff to death.”

“Some,” I said. “Thinking about dreams?”

She shook her head. “No. Thinking about… altered mental states. Is it possible that she’s not all there because of her power?”

I sighed. “Crossed my mind. Happens a lot with breakers.”

“You could mention it, to help her.”

“Another possibility,” I said. “But she said she had doctors check her over. So the question is… was one of those doctors someone who was qualified to evaluate her mentally? And if so, were they qualified to know about parahumans and all the messes they can bring to the table?”

There wasn’t an immediate answer to my question.

There was a pretty clear one, though.

Capricorn, Kenzie, and Sveta were gathered together.

Jessica Yamada. Their therapist.

Swansong and Rain approached her. I hung back.

The others had received emails, telling them she was safe and she would touch base shortly. I hadn’t. My number had, as I’d discovered the night I heard she was back, been blocked. I’d been able to call her with Juliette’s number but not my own.

Dr. Darnall said he knew what the reason was, but had declined to share. He’d told me to be patient.

I gave them their space, feeling hurt and a little bewildered. I headed over to the corner with the concept art and the fashion, the various pieces in progress, to distract myself, at the very least.

The winter was going to get colder, and a double layer wouldn’t be enough.

The group was spaced out. Some closer to Jessica than others. Swansong hung back, and by her body language, stiff and regal, I knew she was anxious.

Sveta was as happy as I’d seen her in a few weeks.

I couldn’t intrude.

There was a stylized coat, heavy, with some built-in protection—not a lot, but in dense material and slats of metal running between layers. Not a cape, but long enough it could look like one. I tried it on as much as I could without putting it over the spikes at my shoulder. I’d have to move those.

Did I want it for what it gave me, or for what it kept away?

“—Victoria—”

Sveta’s voice. Which was followed by Jessica’s.

“Victoria.”

I saw her meet my eyes—or she looked at my mask, which didn’t have eyes.

“I’m going to talk to the group,” Jessica said. “Do you mind waiting?”

Which was telling me not me without telling me it directly.

She at least looked apologetic.

“Can we talk after?” I asked.

I didn’t miss the hesitation on her part.

I did something wrong. I failed her. She wants to see the damage before she talks to me.