𝕭𝖔𝖒𝖇𝖘𝖍𝖊𝖑𝖑 (SERIES)
chpt.1 FIRST IMPRESSIONS
wordcount: 2137 summary: In a world where heroes are made and not born– Some end up on front pages while others are kept hidden behind locked doors. This chapter, Payback finally meets the new girl they'll be adding onto their group in hope she’ll better the odds regarding the upcoming war. warnings: the boys typical themes/vocabulary/jokes, misogyny, cursing, violence, drugs, talk of war, fem!reader, payback era, set before the war but around that time, Harley Quinn inspired reader– original idea by @thefl3shm4id3n
Frederick fuckin’ Vought.
Who the Hell allowed that nazi dickwad to test his stupid fucking serums on people? Better question than that– who the Hell let him inject anyone who walked through his door? His poor judgement (or lack of it thereof), leads to sickos like you getting shot up and pumped full of that toxic blue shit.
Sure, compound V was amazing– greatest thing to ever happen to this godforsaken country– but that doesn’t mean it didn’t have its downside too.
When it started back in Germany– it was more of a trial and error type of thing rather than a full blown experiment. It wasn’t until the product was finally somewhat of a success that Vought-American appeared and took it into the United States. Liberty was the first ‘official’ supe– at least that’s what they showed to the public. Of course they weren’t gonna show all the failed attempts, deaths nor the people that got injured for life– those were weak anyways.
There are two types of Vought-made superheroes. The babyfaces– clean, nice, polite, prettied up for the public and made into American idols. But there were also the heels– those who were off the rails, unfiltered or whose powers were too… inappropriate for publicity.
For example, Soldier Boy was America’s favorite fucking poster boy– even though the moment cameras stopped rolling he was the biggest heel of them all. For some reason, the masses ate it up– the pretty boy persona, all american man with a charming smile and made for war. It was perfect. So perfect, that they actually made him the frontman of his own personal little freakshow, Payback. A group of supes made exclusively for the public– photoshoots, interviews, meet & greets, movies… Anything that would make even more money for the suits in charge.
On the other hand, they had a more ‘special’ place for the misfit failed attempts at heroes. There were many locations, of course, but the main one was what the public knew as Sage Grove Wellness Center. This place, was allegedly a psychiatric hospital for civillians– behind locked doors it was a whole different deal.
You know those comics with the dude that dresses up as a bat? Arkham Asylum for the criminally insane or whatever they called it? That’s the closest thing to Sage Grove you’ll get. The patients there were either completely batshit, their powers manifested wrong or simply had the misfortune of not wanting to comply with Frederick Vought’s rules.
Soldier Boy couldn't care less about the pathetic turds they had locked up in there– they could rot for all he cared. Well, that’s until he’s specifically asked to visit one of said ‘pathetic turds’.
To say he was offended was an understatement. He is the Soldier Boy for God’s sake– since when does America’s hero have to go on some shitty road trip to babysit some looney chick? Despite his huffing and scoffing– pouting like an overgrown child– he wasn’t about to dismiss a direct order, therefore he finds himself on the back of a van, his team surrounding him while they debrief their mission. Sure, he should probably pay attention (or at least pretend to be doing so), though he prefers to remain focused on the joint between his fingers– they had a four hour drive up to Pennsylvania, poor guy deserves some drugs to ease his suffering.
“Excuse me, can someone explain again why our whole team has to travel to some psychiatric ward just to meet some girl?” Crimson Countess asks with an air of utter arrogance as if this was somehow below her ‘high status’ or whatever.
The rest of the team– who were too busy doing their own thing– turn around to face her, all except Ben who’s still smoking without a care in the world.
“Something about chemistry or whatever, no?” One of the twins, Tessa, speaks up. “Yeah, like to see how we feel ‘bout her joining us– if we see it as an option or whatever” Tommy, her twin, adds.
“As if they’d wait for our opinion to decide something” Mindstorm huffs, clearly not excited about this whole ordeal.
Soldier Boy sighs loudly, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration before grunting a “Will y’all just shut the fuck up?” the joint still trapped between his lips even while talking. The team falls silent at his warning– none of them willing to test his patience– the rest of the ride to Pennsylvania falling awkwardly quiet.
By the time the van finally pulls into Sage Grove, all the supes quickly hop off– eager to escape the tension brewing inside the vehicle.
“Soldier Boy!” One of the robed men that worked at the facility stepped out, eagerly reaching out to shake his hand. (Bit starstruck but hey, Soldier Boy lived for people fawning over him…) “We are thrilled to have Payback at our institution, it’s an honor, truly” Ben forces a PR worthy smile, shaking the man’s hand, trying his best not to let out some snarky comment about how they had no other option. The man– some Dr. Gunderson– kept rambling while leading the supes down the hallways, mainly bragging about discoveries and whatnot. “Security has been doubled, of course” At that comment, Ben’s head snaps towards the man, a displeased scowl obvious on his face.
“Think we can’t fuckin’ handle some unmedicated knockoffs?” The doctor visibly pales, quickly scurrying to correct his words and settle down the supe’s bruised ego. “What? No! No– Of course not” Dr. Gunderson squeaks out, raising his hands in defensive surrender. “It’s merely to avoid troubling you and your team sir, Soldier Boy, sir” The hero seems to be satisfied with that answer, simply scoffing under his breath and starting to walk once more.
They eventually reach a locked steel door at the furthest end of the building. Unlike the other rooms, the door had no little slat for the inmate to communicate– it was fully closed off, reinforced even.
“What’s with the silent treatment?” Gunpowder chimes in from his spot behind Soldier Boy, having to get up on his tip toes to glance over the man.
“Well some patients is better to have them… ponder their own thoughts” The doctor explains vaguely, nodding towards the guards to open the door. “That way we avoid them influencing the more weak minded patients”
Crimson, once more, scoffs– full of herself and dismissive as she speaks up. “So she has some sort of vocal induced power?” At her comment, the masked guards can’t help but huff, amused at her ignorance. “Not quite” The doctor hums simply, leading into the room.
The place was painfully dull– void of any stimulation. It appeared to be an emptied out prison hallway, all cells unoccupied. Instead of its usual setup, there was a bigger cell-like cage in the middle. And there you were, swinging without a care in the world, back towards the door. Your clothes seemed to have been ripped to shreds in order to build yourself some sort of hammock-swing on which you were sitting right now, the only clothes on your body being some barely there panties and a Sage Grove tank top.
“Jesus Christ–” Dr. Gunderson quickly turns around to apologize to Payback. “I thought we talked about these… extra curricular activities” He says, walking closer to the cage, though still holding a safe distance.
“Aww c’mon– lighten up Doc” You hum dismissively, back still towards them as you hop off the swing, bare feet thumping onto the ground. “Y’all got me locked n’ here all day all alone, least a girl can do s’ have some fun” Sure, the complaints were fair and logical– it was the way you expressed them– almost like it was funny to you, that made them sound somewhat insincere. “Besides, ain’t like I needta cause a good impression on nobody” You add simply, waving him off over your shoulder. The doctor clears his throat, pointedly attempting to get you to turn around– which you do– a wide grin spreading on your face. “Well would’ya look at that, I finally got myself some company” You cheer, padding to the edge of the cell, wrapping your hands around the bars to press your face closer– trying to get a good look at the new faces.
“This has to be a fuckin’ joke” Ben huffs under his breath, voice thick with disbelief.
“Well actually patient 33 is a highly ranke–” The doctors explanation is cut short by your voice. “Now that ain’t real nice now, is it?” You protest, voice sarcastic but with a pout that made it seem almost believable.
“Sweetheart I ain’t here lookin’ to be nice, m’ here to get some fuckin’ weapon to add to my team like I was promised” Ben replies, taking a step closer to your cage– clearly not intimidated by the various warnings not to.
“A weapon?” You drawl, amused and saccharine sweet as you glance over at Dr. Gunderson, “Thought ya said I wasn’t allowed to leave ‘is cell anymore? Much less to kill n’ whatnot– the whole… what was it again?”
“The human rights decree?” Gunderson replies.
“That’s it!” You nod eagerly, nodding in appreciation at his contribution. “That n’ somethin’ bout that Freddie guy not likin’ me”
Crimson Countess glances over at the doctor, disbelief and entitlement etched across her botox-filled features. “Is she referring to Mr. Vought?”
“Why doesn’t Ginger ask me directly?” You chirp in– doing like her and looking at another person when asking it, your gaze landing upon Black Noir, who you hadn’t noticed until now. “Ooh that guy’s mysterious– what’s with the mask, you real ugly or what?” His shoulders tense up at that, hand instinctively reaching for his gun.
“I would not recommend that mister Noir, sir” One of the guards says, speaking with respect but clearly speaking from personal knowledge. The rest of the team turn around to glare at the guard– not used to being told ‘no’ –much less by some lowly prison guard.
“You’ll have to excuse him” the doctor quickly intercepts to damage control, “what my subordinate meant was that it wouldn’t precisely work on her”
Ben glares at him, skepticism etched into his every feature as he perks up. “The Hell s’ that supposed to mean?” He steps closer to the doctor, chest broad and hands hooked into his belt. “Noir ain’t no Soldier Boy but he’s still a good enough shot, he’d have her on the floor n’ seconds”
While the men– and a bitter Countess– have their little showoff, Mindstorm is busy trying to breach your mind. Once your eyes finally meet his, he’s able to take a dive into your thoughts. Unlike his usual victims– you don’t drop to the ground screaming in pain (that’s normal enough, plenty of supes could hold under his power’s strain) –what was weird is that you actually seemed completely unbothered, smiling at him. He gets flashes of your memories– bloody and violent– some of the brief life you’d had before the V compound, most of the battlefield and testing. He couldn’t quite spot any image that showed him your powers, instead, he’s cut off by a loudly thought ‘hiya’ –cheery, your voice without any doubt. “She’s dosed with V1?” Mindstorm interrupts their conversation, finally tearing his gaze from yours to look at the doctor.
“James Bond lookin’ guy went into my head” You chime in, chuckling softly at the name you’ve given the slicked back hair guy. “Bet he found real pretty things”
“Yes,” Gunderson nods sternly, “she is one of the few adults to survive the original compound V1 trials, therefore the more reinforced lockdown” That seems to at least amuse Soldier Boy, probably because of the same drug cursing through his own veins– given the hint of a smirk tugging at his lips, which he quickly schools back to his smug expression. “Patient 33 was blessed with supernatural abilities such as enhanced stamina, senses and most notably the aspect of her stubborn refusal towards death”
“Now that just ain’t true” you hum from your spot inside the cage, arms crossed over the bars to hug them to your chest, cheeks pressed to the cold metal. “Y’all just haven’t found a way to kill me yet– though I gots ta give it to ya– y’all tried real hard”
“Well gold fuckin’ star to them” Soldier Boy huffs dismissively, rolling his eyes at the whole absurdity of the situation. He takes slow, measured steps closer to your cage– almost like a predator, assessing the new hunter in their ecosystem –stopping just out of your reach. “So that’s what all the big talk s’bout, huh?” Ben’s gloved hand tentatively reaches out, tilting your chin up to look at him, your grin sweet as ever. “Doll can’t be killed”
fyi it might be absolute shit cause i didnt reread it n kinda just spewed it all out but i really wanna get started on this series n starting is always awkard💔
