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Teen And Up Audiences
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Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
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F/FGen
Fandoms:
Parahumans Series - WildbowCelestial Forge CYOA - Lord Roustabout
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Original Character(s)/Original Character(s)
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Original Characters
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SI in Brockton BayAlternate Universe
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English
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Published:2023-12-07Updated:2024-08-08Words:103,661Chapters:32/?Comments:96Kudos:283Bookmarks:88Hits:26,256
How Monstrous Is Your Heart
Zira
Chapter 2
Chapter Text
Man, it sure would be easier to find their dog if Zira had a damned clue where the fuck they were. Like, they have no fucking clue where they even are. They're mostly just skating around, yelling for their dog, calling for him, and wishing he were here. They even have a leash for when they finally get him.
Unfortunately, they have to stop when their throat gives out, long before dark. At this point, they still have no clue where they are, and have no clue how to get back to where they were. It would be nice to know that, but such as it is. They may need to draw pictures of him, or just… keep searching. People like capes, and they'll remember that Zira wants to find their dog.
They make their way to a food shop, looking at it. They can't see any Nazi memorabilia, and the gang tags look kind of old, so they feel fine walking into the place. They drop their water into the trash can outside, not really caring that it's leaking out onto the ground. If needed, they have the waterskin on their back, but otherwise, anything they pull will be clean anyway. Besides, it's not like the water wasn't on the filthy streets in the first place.
The shop looks to be a Mexican bakery, and they lick their lips, looking around in anticipation. Horchata sounds… amazing, honestly. Making their way to the counter, they try to talk, only for their voice to come out as a croak. They cough into the crook of their elbow, and say, voice rough, "How much for a small Horchata?"
The guy on the register says, "Yo, I heard about you earlier! You're the one who was looking for your dog!"
They nod cautiously. "Yeah? Did you happen to find him?" they can't help asking, ever hopeful. "He's a jerk, but he's my jerkface, you know?"
"Yeah, I get that. But no, I haven't. We can put up a description of him. You have any pictures? We can put those up, too."
They nod, flipping through their phone, and showing off various images of Chucky laying down, or sitting in the sun outside, some of him just eating treats to the various workers at the shop, and the other customers who crowd in to see, too. "And this is Spikey. He's the house panther, and loves… loves…" Zira can't help it, they start tearing up... Spikey is gone now. They won't ever be cuddled by that damned cat ever again. "Sorry, it's just been a really stressful day."
The cashier says, "Hey, no problem, man. You sound like you've been through the wringer! You said you wanted a horchata?"
They flick their fingers, removing the tears without touching them, "Yes, please. I just want something comforting, and a horchata is comforting."
The man rings it up, "One fifty."
Pulling out their card, they pause, then put it back, "Right, you won't want to use that for anything less than five bucks."
That gets a grin, "You know it!"
They nod, and check the coins in the purse. Turns out, they have a fair number of one dollar coins now, so they hand over two, taking the two quarters in change. It's kinda weird to use dollar coins exclusively, but not like they haven't used them a fair amount before. It's fun to imagine them as doubloons, anyway. They can't help the small smile that idea gives them.
Taking the cup, they say, "Thank you. I hope that you have a good day."
"No, man, I hope you find your dog. He looks like he's a good boy, even if he slipped his leash somehow."
Nodding, Zira gives a strained smile, "These things happen."
"I'll put up those pictures, though! Just text 'em over. He's a good dog, I'm sure he'll be at home waiting for you waiting on the steps. You'll see."
"He… he is, and I can only hope he will be," they say, heart hurting. Chucky won't be able to find their way home, since home isn't here. "Here, just give me your number."
He does, so Zira sends the photos. He grins, "I'll have those up before you know it. Can I have a picture of you?"
"Of course!" They move back, letting him get a good picture of their costume. They do a bit of posing with some prompting. When someone asks for their name, they reply easily, "Oh, I'm Rosu."
"Um," the person looks uncomfortable, "I meant your cape name."
"That is my cape name," Zira replies, easily. They smile, "Pleased to meet you all. Please keep my cellphone on the downlow, unless you find my dog?"
The cashier with the number nods sharply, "I can do that."
"Thank you. I'm going to go back on the hunt for my dog." They bow, and head out of the shop, horchata in hand, and taking a sip of it.
Delicious.
Taking the other waterskin off their shoulder, they scoop what water they can from the trash, clean and sparkling. It's barely a quarter full. They sigh, and sling it back over their shoulder, dumping the other one on the ground, and skating on that water.
Lesson learned. Always dump the water into the skins, even if it's all gross from the ground. Well, it is what it is.
Skating along, they keep calling for Chucky, and drinking their horchata. Every so often, they get stopped by people, asking what they're doing, but no one knows where their dog is.
Unfortunately, they have to call it quits, and go to the warehouse. Finding a hidden door isn't too hard, and Zira locks it behind them. Which is good, since there's a reach for a power and it connects.
Instantly, they bulk up, gaining muscles where none existed before. Thankfully, it seems the clothing is fiat backed, since it fits with the new body shape just fine. Which is good, since otherwise, this would be incredibly uncomfortable.
Next is the knowledge that they can just do one liners now, true zingers. That's on a toggle that will remain off, since the idea of upsetting a downed opponent is just stupid in Brockton Bay. Short of Uber and Leet, of course. For all that Zira thinks they're funny, others don't really seem to think so, if the lack of reaction to their jokes is any sign.
Another is knowing that they just no longer take explosive damage as long as they don't react to it. Putting on sunglasses will only enhance this effect. Walking away in slow motion, even moreso. It's kind of silly, but also fun, so it makes Zira smile to think about it.
But now the true prize of the power, and the fourth free perk. The real prize connects to a door Zira opens up, and walks into a room of a basement that's completely dark. Flipping a switch they intrinsically know is there, it lights the whole place up, showing it to be more of a cellar full of various canned and pickled goods.
Stomach suddenly growling, Zira doesn't think about it, just grabbing the pickled beets off the shelves. They open the jar, eating it as they walk upstairs to the main house. It's large and spacious for one person, which is understandable, since it's supposed to be cramped for ten people.
They wash their hands in the kitchen, then dump the jar of beets into a bowl and grab a fork to eat in a more civilized manner. They're human, not an animal. No need to eat half the jar with their hands.
Like they just did.
Whoops.
Eating slower, they make their way to one of the bedrooms, and find what they're looking for. An internet connected laptop. The house is the power, but the laptop is free.
Finishing the beets, they lick their lips, and open the laptop, only to groan. All of it is… garbage nonsense. Like it's made harder just so that someone trying to just use a computer in a normal way can't just browse the internet.
Still, Zira can - barely - figure out how to get their cell phone to connect to the same wifi that the laptop is using by fucking with the laptop's wifi icon. It seems to be weirdly encrypted, but eventually they get it.
It's a little embarrassing, but mostly they realize it's because the laptop is using a VPN, and Zira then has the cell phone use that same VPN. Once that's figured out, it goes much easier on them. They feel kind of stupid, but hey, nobody is watching, so they feel fine doing this.
Seriously, though. They won't be using the laptop. They'd sell it, but since it's fiat backed, that shit will only backfire on them.
They're gonna need to figure out how to make money on their own, or something. But that is not a tonight problem. That is a tomorrow problem.
Getting up, they wander to the kitchen to clean up the dishes, and put them away. Heading back to the Warehouse, they keep the door to the house open so they can keep the internet connection, and go get changed out of their Rosu outfit.
They need to sleep, and in the morning is another day of searching for Chucky.
--
Waking up early sucks, but they do it because they gotta. Zira rubs their eyes, and sighs softly and unhappily. This is their room, but not their room. It's Rosu's room, but it's their room. Shaking their head, they rub their temples, and slide out of bed, leaving it unmade. They'll just sleep in it again later.
They want another shower. They just had one last night, but they want another. They're tired, and their bones ache. Fucking fibro.
They can do that after taking care of their dog. Not before.
Getting dressed is simple, and so is food. Zira ignores Rosu's dried food, and goes to the canned food instead, grabbing sweet zucchini pickles to eat for breakfast.
Healthy.
Finishing those off, they drop the mason jar in the sink to clean later on, and grab a huge stack of dried seaweed and jerky from Rosu's house for lunch before snagging their meds. Taking their morning ones, they make sure their afternoon ones are with them this time, and head out.
Time to find their damn dog.
--
Zira does not find their damn dog.
Currently, they're sitting at a park, chewing on their jerky and eating dried seaweed. Ironically, it could do with some salt, but it is what it is. Their hands are shaking as they eat.
It hurts.
They're doing more exercise than they've done in a long time, and even with their new physique, it's an aesthetic upgrade, not a physical one. Zira isn't all that much stronger than they were before.
They take out their meds, and pop them open, taking them in a single swallow of clean water from a second waterskin. It makes them pause, and they pull out the water, using a bit of it on themselves, testing Rosu's memories on themself to heal what they can. It isn't much, but it gets rid of the worst of the ache.
They know it'll come back, since it always does, but at least they can get rid of some of the horrific pain that comes with fibromyalgia. It's like the pain of arthritis. Chronic. It won't go away. It just comes back. Period.
Ugh, a period. Zira isn't looking forward to that bullshit. Shitty younger body. They grab a sheet of dried seaweed and bite into it just as their power reaches out for another power unsuccessfully. Shrugging, they work through more of their food.
They're finishing off their jerky and about to put away their seaweed, when they've finally got to admit it. Chucky is likely with either Hookwolf or with Bitch. Or, if they're lucky, in the pound.
Putting away their food, they check online for animal rescue, or a pound. And it comes up with a few, so they check the pictures, coming up with none that look like Chucky. Still, better to go check on the places nearby, than to dismiss them as useless, right?
Right.
--
Not right!
Even showing pictures just had them cooing how cute Chucky is, and promising that the places would keep an eye out for a corgi with floppy ears, and a blue harness. And they're certain that's only because Zira is a cape!
"Fuck," they whisper softly, leaving the last place.
It's time to make a call. Search for Bitch, or Hookwolf? Biting their lower lip, Zira sits on a nearby bench and pulls out their phone, checking the Parahumans Wiki for Hellhound in Brockton. If she even exists here in November, then Zira will try to go now. If not, it's back to Empire territory, the more rundown parts, and searching for their dog.
And hoping Chucky, their poor baby Chucky who never did anything wrong in his life, is just fine and safe, maybe just hungry. … Please be okay. They flick their fingers, removing their encroaching tears, and hurry along. They need to get moving, even if they can feel the burn in their bones building to a fine roasting temperature.
Calm. Remember to be calm. Feeling anything just makes the pain worse. Stress makes it worse. … Everything but laying down and being mentally numb makes it worse. What does it matter?
They sigh, and search through the Wiki, not finding Bitch in Brockton Bay. Not as Bitch or as Hellhound. On a whim, they search for themself, and find a picture of themself, and pretty much what it says is that they use water and are searching for their dog. Using the wrong pronouns.
Of course.
They sigh again. That's the problem, going out in a skirt. And having tits. And having a feminine voice. And- they shake their head. Whatever. Whatever.
Correcting misconceptions to anyone but close friends and family only gets them hurt. Keep it quiet, keep it silent. Live with the life in the closet, since who gives a shit, no one cares other than them, anyway.
They stand up.
It's time to go find their dog, damn it.
--
Searching is hell, and asking around if anyone knows where dogfights are doesn't help. Since they only ask good people, and good people don't have a damned clue where a fucking dog fighting ring might happen to be. And anyone who might know, are scared away, since they're a six foot tall, feminine, stacked, cape!
So is it truly any surprise that they're glad when a hero shows up? Even if it isn't one they particularly like? It isn't Dauntless's fault that Zira kinda has it out for them, since the fanon is that the man used to be a cop.
ACAB, baby!
The man lands from where he's flying to right in front of them, smiling brightly, "Hello, ma'am."
And the misgendering doesn't help, of course. Still, they smile softly back. "Hello, Dauntless. Is there a reason you're here?"
"Just wanted to greet the new cape on the street. It's going around PHO that you're missing your dog?"
"Yeah."
"It's nice to meet you, I'm Dauntless." He extends a hand to shake, and I stare at it blankly. Who the fuck shakes hands with COVID and the pandemic and-
Wait, right, this is 2011.
Zira kind of chuckles awkwardly, and raises a hand in a fist bump, "I don't really… shake hands."
"You… don't?"
"Yeah," they say, making up an excuse. "People see the muscles, and seem to think it's a contest about who's stronger. It's you. I promise, it's you. You get to be the strong one. You win."
Dauntless gives them a fistbump, and Zira drops their hand as the man says, "I wouldn't do that, but if you say so."
"I do."
He smiles, still looking confused, "Still, it's nice to meet you."
"It's nice to meet you, too. I'm Rosu."
"Rosu, is that your cape name or your real name?"
"It's my cape name." And a previously real name in another life, one stuck in their head, so it rolls off the tongue with ease.
"Good to know. So, I've heard that you're on a search for your dog? Did you look in the pounds or the rescues?"
"One of the first places I looked."
"So now, why are you looking for dog fighting rings? Since PHO is insisting that's what you're looking for, and due to that, I'm certain that you won't find any."
Because they were half certain this isn't real? But mostly since they can't find their dog, and Bitch isn't here. "Well, do you know if the cape Hellhound is around here?"
"Uh, no. I don't."
"Then, I can only assume that Hookwolf stole my fucking dog to get at me, specifically."
"Why you?"
"Why not me?"
"You're white?"
"That's a pretty big assumption," they point out. "It's true, but still." They wave a hand dismissively. "There are lots of reasons why the Empire will want me dead, specifically, but I'm not going to give a list to you or anybody else."
"Are you … a lesbian?"
"No." They don't claim that label in any way, really. They are super queer, though.
"Then why would they want to go after you, going so far as to steal your dog?"
"I told you, I'm not gonna make a list."
He opens his mouth, closes it, then opens his hands, palms out in a move of surrender before returning to holding his spear. "Understandable."
Their power takes this time to reach out and catch a very small power that unfortunately brings some very large changes with it. They only barely manage to say, "Fuck" when the changes start.
The first thing that happens is they shrink, and gain fur while their clothing shrinks with them. There's a coin on their forehead, and giant whiskers on their face. They have a long tail with a curled tip, have cute brown ears now.
Yes, truly, they are a Meowth.
"Meowth," they say. 'Fuck.'
Dauntless stares down at them in confusion. "Oh… oh dear."
'No shit,' Zira says, "Meowth," coming out of their mouth.
Okay, there's a changer aspect to this, but they just need to figure out how to access it, and they'll be home free, and-
Dauntless picks them up. "Rosu. If you're aware of who I am, meow twice."
"Meowth. Meowth." 'Fuck. You.'
"Okay, good, good. Look, I need to get you to Panacea, if that's okay, say meow twi-"
"Meowth. Meowth." 'Yeah. Whatever."
"Okay, this is going to be a little-"
They swipe at him, and jump down, grabbing at their stuff. Their clothing is small, but they can't carry their water skins or pouch of food. Which smells so amazing now that they're a cat, holy shit. 'Carry my stuff!', they yell, "Meow, meowth!"
"Oh, your things. Right." He gathers it up, saying, "Huh, this is surprisingly light to carry, for how heavy it is in my arms."
They roll their eyes, and let Dauntless pick them back up.
---
Words: 3,202
Powers this chapter:
80's Action Movie
Free:
One-Liner: You now have a natural talent for one-liners. Sometimes intimidating foes, sometimes daring them to battle, perhaps just being sarcastic responses to superiors (if you have any that employ you). You have good pre- and post-mortem quotes for those you've killed, and you have a badass name. (And because I'm kind, this now has a toggle. Turn it on and off at your leisure.)
Bulging Muscles: She's a BRICK HOUSE~ Babe! You are stacked! Granted, looking hot and muscled doesn't make you superhumanly strong, it's mostly aesthetic, but hell if you ain't cute.
Don't Look At Explosions: Big Booms are your friends. When they happen, you just aren't as affected by them as everyone else. Especially if you know it's about to happen. You and your team can just walk away within five seconds, the most that will happen to you and them is a light buffeting of wind against your clothing, ignoring all damage done to everyone else is taking around you. Add sunglasses for extra 'I don't give a shit coolness!'
Laptop: You don't know how this thing actually works, but hey, it connects to the internet, has a VPN, and some weird mode that if you type in binary in a dark room, you can hack undetected into any place in the multiverse. Neat! Find someone able to do that, since you sure as shit can't.
Items: 200
Place in the Mountains: A very nice home in the mountains, well out of the way and disconnected from anything but your warehouse. Nobody can get in but you. Ten people can live there if they really like each other. Otherwise, it's just… a comfortable place you legally own in the mountains that no one can easily get to. Nothing but unmarked forest, and no trail. Truly, the way to get there is… the Warehouse.
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon:
Free
Pokemon form: Uh-oh! You're a Meowth now! Since I'm nice This is a changer form, and you can go back to your human form.
Companion: You now have a pokemon companion you can talk to! Beldum is a true sweetheart, aren't they?
Muscle memory: Allowing you to move and control your new body with ease.
Increased Physical Ability: Strength, endurance, speed, and agility are now well beyond that of a human. Congrats, you can do a good ol' fashioned beatdown on a Nazi as a kitty cat.
Combat Diagnostics: You can accurately estimate own remaining stamina and energy for your powers.
Pokeglot: You can actually talk to pokemon in their own language. Even while as a human, since I say so, who cares, it makes life easier.
Multitalent: Your endurance is enhanced, and you can use your moves more often without getting tired. Your power points are 50% larger than normal, and you can keep going longer without tiring in your pokemon form. As long as you're in your pokemon form, you only need four hours of sleep.
Rescue Badge: Twice a day, you can use this badge to go to the entrance of any building you are currently inside.
Items: Multi-Buy
(These will be bought individually, and will be taken every single time it is randomly rolled by the forge unless the owner vetos the buy. This cancels the roll entirely, so make the choice on vetoing carefully!)
Aura Ribbon 50: Ribbon that comes in the person's favorite color (if person isn't certain of their favorite color, it is very prettily patterned in their favorites). Increases attack, defense, special defense, and other pokemon specific things. Enjoy!
Free points: 150
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