So You Wanna Be a Hero, Kid?

[Gifted]

Danielle tried not to twitch as Red healed her flesh wound. She held very still, hoping that would be the end of it.

[Raven]

"So you let a teenager get the drop on you," Red said.

[Gifted]

Danielle flinched again. "No... we had a fight. He got a bit too close, but he got injured and had to flee. I could have stayed and fought on."

[Raven]

"How injured?" Red asked.

[Gifted]

"I didn't see. I just saw him react to it. I taunted him a bit but he ran off rather than stay so I could see."

[Raven]

Red pulled his knife from its sheath at his hip. "I want a full report," he said. By this point, Danielle would know what that included, he'd long since gotten sick of listing all the information he wanted. Approximate casualties, damage done, movements against her, and now information about the new supers.

[Gifted]

"Civilian casualties: At least ten, probably more. I don't know how many burned to death, but they killed my strings. My fire destroyed several blocks of the city. No new movements except for the kids. They don't seem very bright. Even the smartest one did not pick up that I had possessed her friend. I made the fires look like poor aim and they bought that. I was trying to force them to face me up close but they ran away instead. Resentment is already brewing among them; the fire girl already harbours some towards Cassie and Xander. Xander-" here though, she hesitated. She hated thinking about her old life. It hurt. She also hated talking poorly of the man who'd helped her learn so much. It was a tiny twinge of her old conscience, of her ever present shame. Still, it wasn't that strong. She would continue if Red gave her a minute.

[Raven]

Red's knife found the soft spot between her collar bone and her shoulder bone, slowly piercing her skin.

[Gifted]

Danielle gasped and let out a small whimper of pain before finishing her statement. "-he's more cruel than before, than he was with me... please..."

[Raven]

Red pulled the knife back out, resting the tip against her chest so she knew it was there, but it wasn't causing pain. "Anything else?"

[Gifted]

"No." Danielle said. "I only possessed the one..."

[Raven]

Red's hand gripped her shoulder and he activated his power again. "If you don't start getting me information, I might start to think you don't want a partner."

[Gifted]

Danielle cried out in pain. "I'm sorry! I expected them to be there longer. They were supposed to go into my trap, not run away..."

[Raven]

"Do better next time," Red ordered.

[Gifted]

Danielle nodded helplessly, just wanting this to be over.