Triple Play pointed a leather-gloved hand down one of the little avenues between the dormitory buildings, all too narrow for a car to fit through.

“Thanks.”

“See you around, I hope,” the girl said, walking backwards.

Crystal nodded.

Triple Play jogged a few steps, and threw her arm around a teammate, who looked as villainous as Triple Play looked innocent. Nailbat carried a bat as long as she was tall, with spikes through it. Little bat wings let her fly in short spurts, evading Triple’s affections.

Cute, but not for me.

This wasn’t a vacation spot, but it was far enough from everything that the atmosphere was relaxed. There were no imminent threats, few nearby villains. Capes were getting their feet under them, and teams were figuring out how to restructure, leaders figuring out how to lead.

Frankly, it was a pain in the ass to get out this far from the heart of Gimel’s resettlement. But it was fine.

She flew over an area of cracked ground she would have had to detour around, and looked around until she saw a balcony where a white costume with a red caduceus was pinned to the railing.

She found Amy on the roof, alone.

Amy looked at her, then looked around.

“Just me.”

“Anyone hurt?” Amy asked. She had a cup of tea still steaming, resting on the arm of a padded chair that looked like it belonged indoors. Salvage from the ruins.

“Nobody’s hurt. Your mom is recovering okay. Taking over a team for herself. I think she likes the return to the old days.”

“Then why the visit?” Amy asked.

“Because I’ve decided part of what I’m doing is taking care of people. Because family’s important to me and…”

“You don’t see me as family, do you?”

“Victoria’s family. If I keep tabs on you then she doesn’t have to.”

Amy frowned. She’d been in the sun a fair bit recently, and it brought out her freckles, dark against browned skin. Her hair was loose and shaggy. She was thin, but most people were after the winter. The chips Crystal had spilled earlier in the day had been a luxury good.

Looking at Amy more intently, she wondered if that was the entirety of it.

“Are you taking care of yourself?”

“Surviving. Going to therapy. I spend a whole day traveling, stay overnight, buy things they need here, and spend a whole day traveling back. Every week. I feel like shit for three or four days after, get a day off feeling awful, and then repeat the process.”

“Any friends here?” Crystal asked. “Girlfriends?”

“Some people I talk to. Some girls have made overtures. It’s not a good idea.”