Author's note: One thing I should mention is that, while I'm trying to make this story appropriate for teenagers (only occasional and fairly light profanity), what I consider appropriate for teenagers is probably a lot looser than what most people would. As such, expect some fairly open discussion of sex, drugs and other things people like to pretend teens aren't involved with. You see that fairly early on with this chapter. This chapter also showed the problems I'm having with Agathe. Apparently, writing a deaf person among a group of hearing people is a little awkward, especially without any personal experience with deaf people. So my apologies to any deaf people I offend. And if anyone with experience with deaf people wants to give me advice on how they usually simplify dealings with hearing people, please help me. And everyone, make sure to review and let me know what you think. All feedback is appreciated. hotwing: There was sort of a timeskip from when she was last seen in The Champions. It's possible I might do some flashbacks to show some of her adventures during that time. But probably not. And yes, she is quite badass. earthserpent: Here's the next one. And if you're wondering, Rika being a lesbian will actually come into play a bit more soon.

January 25, 2013

Rika and her friends were gathered at Zoe's apartment. She was a plump redhead with glasses. The other girls were Selene, a plain-looking blonde, Agathe, a pretty but deaf dark-haired girl, and Tasia. "God, you suck at making characters," Selene told Tasia while looking at a character sheet.

"Hey, it's all about having fun," Tasia said. "I like playing these types of characters."

"But they're so useless," Tasia insisted. "Agathe's characters can kick some ass."

"Tasia's characters can do one thing Agathe's can't," Rika said. Agathe put down her glass of water and raised an inquisitive eyebrow.

"What's that?" Tasia asked.

Rika put her hand to her mouth. "Help! Help!" she faked crying out. Agathe snorted with laughter.

"Making fun of the deaf girl?" Selene said disapprovingly. "I'm supposed to be the bitch around here."

"No, mom!" Zoe came out of the kitchen, talking on her cell phone. "We are not going to 'lez it up'. And you seriously need to stop watching American television. Mom! Ew, no, I did not need to hear that! I'm hanging up now. I love you too." She hung up. "Anyone want to trade families?"

"I'll do it," Tasia said. "Your mom's awesome."

"She just told me – again – about how she experimented in high school. God, it's almost enough to make me turn straight!"

"It's not all it's cracked up to be," Selene said deadpan.

Agathe held up a hand to get their attention as she wrote something down. She held the paper up. It read, 'I would totally go gay for your mom.'

"Ew!" Zoe cringed. "That's terrible!"

"Face it, Zoe," Rika told her, "we all love your mom."

"I can't be friends with you people any more," Zoe threw up her hands in exasperation.

"You should be glad to have a mother who's so supportive of you being gay," Rika said.

"I am. I appreciate that part. But . . . I mean, come on, she's my mom! I don't want to hear her talking about, you know, sex stuff."

"I talk about that sort of stuff with my mom," Tasia said. "All the time. Not that I've got a lot of experience yet, but we still talk about it. She even bought me my vibe."

"I think my mom would sooner jam pens in her ears than have to talk about anything uncomfortable," Selene said. "I like to mess with her by printing off dirty pictures from the Internet and leave them lying around."

"How about you, Rika?" Zoe asked. "You talk to your parents about sex?"

"That'd mean talking to my parents," Rika scoffed. "I wasn't joking when I told you I don't get much attention."

"That's so sad," Zoe said sympathetically.

Rika shrugged. "I'm used to it. It's what friends are for, I guess."

"Still, everyone deserves parents who love them."

"Of course my parents love me. They just don't have time for me. Aside from occasionally expressing disapproval in anything I do."

"That's still awful," Zoe said.

Rika shrugged. "I just got unlucky in terms of birth order. No big deal. My parents are still good, loving people. But what about Agathe? You talk to your parents about sex?"

Agathe shrugged and made a 'so-so' gesture. Then Zoe translated as Agathe signed, "A little bit. Not much. They trust me to be good."

"Their mistake," Tasia said. "You're a little hellion, aren't you? You're putting on a good-girl act to lull everyone into a false sense of security before you go wild!"

"You got me," Zoe translated Agathe's signing. "You've uncovered my secret plan. Now I'll have to kill you."

"I'm going outside to smoke a joint before we play," Rika said. "Anyone want to join me?"

"I still can't believe you've started smoking that crap," Tasia said in a disgusted tone. "Don't you know how bad it is for you?"

"Uhh . . . not very?" Rika replied. "At least according to what I've read."

"All propaganda from Big Pot, no doubt," Selene said in her typical flat tone.

"Or it would be," Rika laughed, "if they remembered to put it out."

"I'll head outside with you," Selene said as she stood up.

"You two are going to get lung cancer," Tasia said grumpily.

"I am shockingly OK with that," Selene said. "Everything gives cancer these days, I may as well at least be too mellow to mind it."

Rika and Selene went outside onto the apartment balcony. Rika took out a joint she'd rolled earlier, lit it, and took a drag. "So, not to be the voice of reason," Selene said, "But Zoe didn't mean anything. About your parents, I mean."

"I know," Rika said as she handed Selene the joint. "I'm not mad or anything."

"OK. Good. Just making sure." Rika took back the joint and took another drag. As she let it out, she chuckled. "What's so funny?"

"I was just thinking of Agathe's comment," Rika said. "'I would totally go gay for your mom.' Agathe can be pretty funny sometimes."

"Hey, can I ask you a question?" Selene asked.

"Sure, go ahead."

"Why are you trying to hide the fact that you're gay?"

"What?" Rika was surprised. "How . . . how did you know?"

"Because we're not idiots," Selene gave her a condescending look. "We all figured it out. We've seen the way you look at other girls, and it's a lot different from the way you look at guys. Then there's your 'American boyfriend' that you never actually want to talk about."

"I wanted to avoid saying something that might give me away," Rika mumbled. She smiled. "So much for that, huh?"

"So why have you been hiding it? You think we'll make fun of you? Or that other kids will?"

"No. Of course not. I'm not worried about you, or the other kids. I'm worried about it getting back to my parents. I'm not ready to come out to them yet. I'm not really sure how they'd react."

"You think they'd be mad?" Selene asked.

"I think they'd probably look at it as one more way I've disappointed them," Rika said with an annoyed expression.

"Well, if you come out, you'd make Zoe's dreams come true." Rika blushed and looked guilty. "You don't want to date Zoe?"

"Well, uh, to be honest. . . ." She sighed. "Not really. Don't get me wrong, I like her as a friend. She's really nice, and fun to hang out with. But to date? I just don't see her that way."

"I don't blame you," Selene shrugged. "I wouldn't date her either, if I was gay. She's got a bit of desperation about her. It's a real turn-off."

"Hey, come on, don't be a bitch."

"I told you, that's my job around here."

"Well, stop. You shouldn't say that about Zoe. She's really nice."

"Whatever."

"So you all knew, huh?" Rika asked.

"Yeah. But look at the bright side, I don't think the others have figured out that you're Aegis."

Rika wasn't sure she heard right. "I'm sorry, what?"

"You're Aegis," Selene repeated with a smug tone.

"You're insane," Rika retorted. "You think I'm a superhero?"

"Like I said, I'm not stupid. It's pretty obvious to anyone who really looks."

Rika laughed. "Why do I get the feeling you've just been saying this to random girls in the hopes one of them will actually be right? I don't even look like Aegis. I'm pretty sure she's bigger than me, for one thing."

"I'm pretty sure you're the same size. Because you're Aegis."

"I wish I was Aegis. She must live an awesome life. It must be so exciting, beating up bad guys. She can probably get all the women she wants. But she's probably straight."

"You're really not going to admit to it, are you?" Selene shook her head in frustration.

"It's not true, so no, I'm not. I'm going back inside." She opened the balcony door and walked in. "Hey! What has two thumbs and likes girls?" She pointed at herself. "This gal!"

"Huh?" Zoe asked.

"You were all right," Rika said. "I'm gay."

"Oh my God!" Tasia shouted. "You're coming out? That's awesome!"

"I shouldn't have lied about it for so long," Rika said. "I hate keeping secrets from my friends."