You'd think an anti-villain would know how to give a speech. Self-righteous blah-blah is practically a stereotype for villains with something to prove.
I am NOT a stereotype.
My lairs are precisely designed to keep anyone but me out.
Tiny vents, numerous and widespread enough not to be noticed.
Defense systems that are tried and true and, more importantly, informative for further improvement.
Pathogen, chemical, and radiation filters.
Air conditioning!
And, most importantly, babysitting an ex-anti-villain's five-year-olds so they can point out any flaws in my design. (The little cretins can get into anywhere, I swear.)
I should check in on Mrs. Cake sometime.
I realize my state of mind is getting close to insanity only when the podium is right in front of me.
Light applause erupts, with the loudest being a group of boys who found my antics amusing.
Asshole wears a strained smile as he claps for me. "Keep it brief," he utters my way.
Thanks for the vote of confidence, asshole. I still don't know what I'm going to say, but I'm definitely not about to obey.
I lead my speech with a stomp, sending a few sparks flying out of my skin.
"Listen up, punks!"
An angry hush falls over the punks.
"Some people rise to the occasion, but most of you will sink. And what's waiting for you at the bottom?" Before anyone can answer, I do. "Training! At the bottom of your Talents is where your training counts. Raising that floor so that you don't have far to fall is why you're all here!" After all, that's what I'm doing. Falling back on my ancient habit of grandstanding before the fun begins.
A murmur begins, and one rando claps twice, shouting "Whoo!"
Asshole claps along, but...
"I'M NOT FINISHED!" The people who were about to clap, or give me the finger, stop mid motion. "That might be why you're here, but that's not why I'm here!" I point my finger up. "The only place I'm going is right to the top! While you're working on your floors, I'll be raising my ceiling starry high!" I bring my finger down, pointing at Crusader, fully aware that this is definitely being recorded by some students if not Heroics Inc.
I'm panting as a new murmur flows. Trepidation. Laughter. Disbelief. All of it will fuel my rise.
"Especially above you!" I throw the words in Crusader's stupid face, my voice taking on just a bit of the madness it took to live with him. I turn back to the audience. "And if any of you think you can get in my way, step to me and I will fu-"
"-cking end you." The mic cuts out, cutting off my last words. The strained smile on Asshole breaks, and he puts on a mask of good humor, clapping a bit too hard as he approaches me.
I try to escape, but his hand zips out and around my shoulders, just a shade under bone-crushing. As soon as he picks up the mic, and it turns on again. "My daughter, everyone! Such a kidder!" He shakes me sideways and laughs. Applause erupts from the students.
Ungrateful little-
Asshole flies me off to the side, tilting his head as the Principal takes the mic.
"Play nice, Aislin." His voice is a threat. His holding me by the shoulder less than an inch over the ground is a threat. Even his breath is a fucking threat.
"Ahahah. The ambitions of the young." The principal claps his hands in my direction. "Now, I know all of you are eager to move into your dorms. So I will leave you with this: Heroes are not made by conflict. They are revealed."
As the Principal turns my way and leaves the podium in the wake of thunderous applause. Behind him, Night Woman, with a red mark on her cheek that wasn't there before, takes the stand. "Yeah, so, um. Room assignments will be waiting for you at the first year dorm. Boys to the right, girls to the left. Enbies have their pick. Student assistants, please escort your respective groups."
I catch a flash of silky green as Jhaydun calls out amidst the sounds of the crowd.
"You must be Aislin," Principal Armitage offers me a hand, which forces Asshole to let me go. A hot flush on my upper arms tells me he's left a bruise.
"That's me," I acknowledge.
"I admire your ambition, but don't forget that this time of your life is for learning, too. I think there are still a lot of things you might benefit from. Even with a GED." He chuckled, a rumbly sound.
Guess word spreads fast around here.
"She's strongheaded, but I'll keep her in line," Asshole says.
"Oh, don't worry yourself. You're here to be a teacher, and she's here to be a student. Nepotism will only hurt your girls down the line." Armitage keeps his smile up, but I can tell there's steel in his eyes. Indeed, he's come a long way from the man I used to break the Hoover Damn.
The tension in Asshole's jaw could probably crush even his own cold nuts.
"Just make sure she minds her mouth. I won't have people thinking I raised a damn black cape."
"Oh, don't worry. We'll make the first month a trial run, and go from there." Dr. Armitage pats my shoulder, and I flinch from the pain more than the weight. Stars, this guy's hand weighs more than my body! "I'm sure Lilith will be a good influence."
"Lilith?"
He gestures widely at Night Woman, who is now asleep at the podium, her arms crossed under her head.
"She'll be your homeroom teacher."
"Oh." I should call Kora, invite her to meet one of her idols.
"Now, if you would do me a favor, please wake up Lilith and have her take you to the dorms. I'm sure you have much to discuss," he winked. "Just like I have much to talk about with your father."
The moment I approach Night Woman, I notice Fiona has tossed a feed from her phone. Just from the preview roll, I can tell I look positively demonic. Or it could just be someone's filter.
The comments are already blowing up with complaints, taunts, and jabs at me.
My inner anti-villain is grinning wide.
Oh yeah. This is going to be fun.