Zelandra/Christmas in Paragon
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
The holiday's were in full swing as Z sat in Pocket D, watching preparations being made for the opening of the Ski Chalet. There wasnt much to be thankful for this year ... except for Spiro. He'd come to her aide on more than one occassion. More than that, he awakened something inside her that laid dormant ever since Alex died. She wasnt so sure what to make of that.
A few weeks ago, Z decided to test her theory on whether or not Spiro felt the same. One night, while at Pocket D, after an evening of non stop missions, Z drummed up the courage to place a kiss on his cheek. Hind sight being what it is, she had no clue what the hell had gotten into her. But there was something in his reaction that made her think that she wasnt very far off the mark and that he did feel something for her as well. This both bolstered and frightened her.
Z's time in Paragon also led to her meeting up with a few allies. There was Missy Parker Flambeaux; an interesting character, way too shy sometimes for Z's liking but a very talented girl indeed. A married mother of one, Missy's talent with weapons are comparable only to her powers as a psionic. Then there's Karli, a young cute and very powerful Kheldian and Liberty Vanguard, a very work oriented hero who may come off as being way too uptight at first. Finally, there was Suzzy. Suz was a warshade by nature, merged with a reformed Nictus and as bold and daring as they come, both on the clock and off the clock. Z had come to confide in Suzzy most of all, especially when it came to the subject of the one man who was never far from Zelandra's mind; Spiro.
All of a sudden, Z turned around and jumped. Spiro was standing right behind her. "What? How the hell do you do that? You just pop up out of nowhere and dont tell me you teleport because the D has a dampening field." Spiro made the motion of what looked like a chuckle and said, "I took the back way, jumped the stairs going up and you were so preoccupied with whatever's on your mind that you just didnt see me." He might have smiled at the humor his statement packed but given that he was behind a mask, Z couldnt tell.
Suddenly a flash of light came from the red side of the D and beyond the floating truck appeared a snow capped mountain of sorts. Suddenly the main area began to empty as heroes and villains alike flooded the entrance to the Ski Chalet. "Shall we?" Spiro asked and Z nodded.
The Chalet was a winter wonderland indeed but it wasnt without its fair share of trouble for standing by the upper lounge was old father time pleading for help in finding baby new year. Spiro grumbled, "Damn kid gets lost every year, when the hell will he learn?" Z just raised an eyebrow in response.
After spending some time in the Chalet, Spiro and Z returned to D major. Z looked at Spiro and noted that he seemed a little pensive. "Something wrong?" she asked. "No, " he answered, "It's just that, you're starting to learn your way around quite well now and you dont really need me anymore ..." Z was taken aback, apparently he was trying to get rid of her before things got complicated.
"I do need you," Z replied indignantly, "I still get lost in this damn town. Yeah I've upped my clearance several notches but I'm nowheres near where I should be. How can you say I dont need you?" Could he really be trying to run from the feelings she knows they're both experiencing?
Spiro sighed in apparent frustration "This isnt coming out the way I envisioned it ... Z ...As much as I enjoy spending time with you, you dont need me. It's been that way for a while now. And we dont really team well together ... our fighting styles I mean. It's not like this is a bad thing, we barely know each other ... hell I dont even know what to call you besides Z ... but that's besides the point. It's just that you've come far in your short time and as much as you dont want to admit it, you really dont need me. Anyway, listen ... I got you something. Dont get all emotional or anything ... but, here. I mean, we are friends, even if we might not be working together often. Maybe one day you'll even begin to trust me ... as a friend"
Confused, Z took the box Spiro handed her, she opened it and found a pair of blue braces, much like the ones that went with her favorite outfit. Those braces got damaged, singed while she attempted to sneak up on a small band of clockwork, while in her civilian clothed no less. Z thanked Spiro and silently handed him an envelope she had tucked in her back pocket. He opened it to find a gift certificate for dinner at a cozy restaurant in Talos. "Thanks," he said, "I suppose I should find someone to enjoy this with. There is someone who comes to mind." Z looked at him silently. To break the silence Spiro added, "I want you to check out Freedom Factor. I think it's time you found a supergroup to call your own. People to take you under their wing as it were. They can do more for you than I can."
"Thanks," Z said simply and turned to leave. But something about Spiro's words stopped her and she turned back to face him. "Actually, I have another gift for you but dont open it here. I dont want you to open it unless you're prepared, really prepared, to know what's inside. It means a lot to me that you promise you wont lose it and you'll only open it when you're ready. Promise me." Spiro promised and Z went behind the bar of D major to grab paper and a pen. She wrote down her real name and folded it several times over, using the remaining papers on the pad (leaving no paper through which to see any impressions). Z taped the folded edges over each other and handed the make shift mess of a gift to Spiro. Spiro put it away and with that, Z said good night.
