SFW Hero Agency

“So, what’s going on?” Veridian, the head of Hero Agency Green, sat behind her desk, with the green ‘Recording’ button glowing,in her super suit. It was various shades of green and form fitting, her helmet was retracted but her face was still hidden by her rebreather. Across from her was a Villain in Recovery code-named Magi due to her telekinetic abilities. She was a half Asian twenty-seven year old who functioned as Team Support. She had cut almost all of her hair off, it had been a rough look at first but it was growing back and she’d taken to wearing hats. either a beanie or a flat cap. 

Veridian knew more about Magi’s past and trauma but what she didn’t know was why she had just marched herself in with the new Person at the Console, Code-named Camembert(or Cam for short). 

“I’m trying to find the right words, professional but concise.” Cam said.

“We fuck.” Magi stated.

“Well, there it is.” Cam didn’t seem irritated or embarrassed.

“You just got here.” Veridian was at a loss for words.

“We met at the grocery store about a month ago, I gave her some advice on how to get cheap but good meals. She had a basket full of instant noodles and as a foodie I had to intervene.” Cam added context.

“Okay, that does make this better. I think.” Viridian studied Camembert. He was a little shorter than Magi at five foot four inches tall with lean, toned muscles that his uniform didn’t do much to hide. He had short black hair and was clean shaven. His calm, gray eyes studied her back. He felt like the opposite of Magi. “I’m glad that you’re immediately bringing this to my attention. I have to suspend you both during the process of getting this sorted out. Magi you’re not assigned to his team and I’ll put it in your file that you can’t be so you shouldn’t be in any trouble. I am curious as to how this happened.”

“She told me about her work and I mentioned that I was applying to an agency but given that we live on opposite sides of the city I don’t think it ever occurred to either of us that we were talking about the same agency. As soon as we saw each other in the office we came to you.”  Cam explained.

“That’s an understandable mistake.” Veridian agreed.

“So, how is this going to go?” Magi was unhappy about being suspended.

“Firstly, this isn’t a disciplinary suspension so it’s not a negative mark on your record, and I’ll have to interview you both on the record individually. There will be some personal question but they are deemed relevant considering what it is we do here and the liability therein.” Veridian answered.

“Good, I’d hate to have a black mark because I got laid.” Magi huffed.

“That has happened before, technically, but it was… very different circumstances.” Veridian sighed.

“No shit? How would… oh my god! Seriously?” Magi read between the lines. Veridian nodded. “Wow and moving on.”

“Agreed.” Veridian was glad Magi had dropped the topic.

“I’ll go first, I think that will be less annoying than waiting my turn.” Magi said.

“I am amenable to that.” Cam agreed.

“I’ll let Vanessa know when you can come back in.” Veridian dismissed Camembert. He stood up and gave them both a nod and let himself out.

“What the fuck is camembert?” Magi asked.

“It’s a kind of cheese, I think. He chose the name… you know his name because you met him out in the world. I hadn’t thought of that, it should be okay.” Veridian thought out loud.

“I do have a question, can I keep fucking codename cheese?” Magi liked being crude to shift people off balance.

“Well, you're both suspended currently so I can’t do anything about what you do on your own time if it’s not against the law.” Veridian pointed out, typing on her console to bring up the needed paperwork. 

“That’s a yes.” Magi smirked. “Ask me your questions, bridge keeper, I am not afraid.”

“i’m going to ask a question early, it’s relevant and I hope you can understand that but I can explain to you why it’s important if you want me to.” Veridian gave Magi a heads up.

“That sounds fucking omninous.” Magi looked a little worried.

“Are you using any forms of birth control?” Veridian asked, seeing the understanding in Magi’s eyes.

“No, I can’t get pregnant so we stopped using condoms pretty early on, unless we have spontaneous anal… Thank you for getting that out of the way for me.” Magi was uncharacteristically nice and fidgety.

“I think that was more information than was necessary but thank you for answering the question thoroughly. And, you’re welcome. For the record Villain in Recovery Magi suffered an injury that required her womb and ovaries be surgically removed. I’m sorry but I hope that seals the issue and there won’t be any further questions about it.” Veridian knew it was a painful thing for Magi and didn’t want her to have to repeat this experience.

“Yeah, I get it. Thanks. And I’m only banging Camembert and I’m pretty sure I’m his only partner.” Magi wanted to be as honest as possible.

“Noted, I’ll put that down.” Veridian moved on to the rest of the questions in the report, which were pretty standard. After she completed the report she paused the recording.

“Off the record, walk me through what happened. Woman to woman.” Veridian asked.

“Like he said we met at the grocery store, he offered to help me get more out of my ramen and then we traded numbers. We talked for a while and then I invited him over to teach me how to cook. I made the first move while we were watching a movie one night.” Magi was oddly bashful about it. 

“That’s actually really sweet.” Veridian said. “I’m glad you found a healthy relationship, you two are dating or?”

“I don’t know, we hangout, he’s teaching me how to cook, and the sex is phenomenal but we’ve never really talked about it. I’m just enjoying whatever it is while it’s here.” Magi admitted.

“Sounds like you think it’s doomed to fail.” Veridian found that odd.

“Like you said, it’s a healthy relationship- I’m going to fuck it up somehow.” Magi’s cynicism returned.

“Only if you let yourself, Magi.” Veridian felt for the younger woman, she didn’t have faith in herself.

“We’ll see how that goes.” Magi shrugged. Veridian unpaused the recording before speaking into her intercom. “Vanessa send Camembert back in, please.” He returned and sat down.

“Wow, you look cool as a fucking cucumber.” Magi observed.

“We haven’t done anything wrong so there is nothing to worry about.” He explained.

“Am I done?” Magi asked.

“For now yeah, go ahead and get something to eat in the cafeteria. I’ll come get you when we’re done with Camembert’s interview.” Veridian answered her.

“Someone brought doughnuts in and there is hot chocolate powder in a container on my desk you’re welcome to use.” Cam offered her a little comfort.

“Thanks. I’m going to go steal a few donuts.” Magi left Veridian’s office and headed to Camembert’s desk, she figured he wouldn’t mind her using his coffee mug for her hot chocolate. After loading in too much of the powder she headed for the lunchroom and those free donuts. A blue skinned woman with horns that curved back behind her head over her jet black hair fell in beside her as she walked.

“Does that PaC know you’re stealing his cup?” Aura asked.

“Yes, I have Camembert’s permission to use his cup and drink his hot cocoa/” Magi grumbled.

“Well, if you say so,” Aura shrugged. “Were you in Veri’s office?”

“So, the rumor mill has already started then?” Magi cringed internally.

“Not really, we have nothing to go on.” Aura chuckled, “You in trouble?”

“Veridian doesn’t seem to think so. Oh thank god, there are some donuts left. There had better be a cream-filled or I’m going to throw hands.” Magi started looking through the boxes on the main table of the lunchroom.

“Of course you like cream-filled.” Aura teased her.

“Do you really have nothing to do?” Magi shot her companion an icy look.

“Don’t have a lunch so I gotta keep myself entertained.” Aura shrugged. Magi huffed and tossed her Kiosk Card on the table.

“Get yourself one of those jumbo burritos.” Magi busied herself selecting donuts.

“Seriously?” Aura was stunned.

“And a drink. Gotta get those electrolytes.” Magi wasn’t really paying attention, Aura snatched the card off the table and headed for the Kiosk and put in her order quickly, sliding the card to pay for it.

“Thank you!” Aura danced happily while she waited for her burrito to be reheated.

“You’re very welcome.” Magi put her chosen stack of donuts on a table in the back and headed to the hot water tank to fill her cup. Aura passed her the card back.

“Why are you being so nice, you’re usually kind of bitch?” Aura asked her.

“I don’t know.” Magi sighed, she really didn’t want to talk about this.

“Well, thank whoever fuck-started your heart for me.” Aura laughed, Magi twitched. “Oh, you are getting some. You go girl, get that good dick! Or pussy, I don’t judge.”

“Anyway, how is your work going?” Magi desperately wanted to change the subject.

“Wait a minute… the new guy?” Aura connected the dots. “That’s risky.”

“Today is his first day, Aura.” Magi let her head fall forward in defeat.

“How the hell are you nailing the new guy already?” Aura persisted.

“I can’t talk about this Aura. I told you Veridian is aware and she says we aren’t in trouble. Drop it.” Magi growled at her coworker.

“Okay. But only because you bought me lunch. Tomorrow is another day though.” Aura grabbed her burrito and drink and headed off to eat somewhere else. Sighing Magi flopped down into a chair and nibbled on a bear claw. She was surprised there was still one left, bear claws were usually the first to go.

Magi was halfway done with her donuts and cocoa when Aura hotfooted it back into the lunch room with a small portion of the burrito left.

“I just saw the new guy head for the bathroom from Veri’s office. He’s fuckin cute, a little young for you perhaps.” The blue woman teased her.

“He’s thirty-four.” Magi grumpled.

“That’s thirty-four? I was playing it up to tease you but damn he looks good.” Aura didn’t sound like she was teasing Magi anymore.

“He has a really good diet , I guess.” Magi shrugged.

“Hey, he didn’t look stressed or anything and you said yourself, Veri wasn’t mad at you. Relax.” Aura leaned on the side of the table. “How did you meet him anyway?”

“We bumped into each other at the grocery store like a month ago.” Magi just wanted this day to end. 

“People actually do that?” Aura was bemused.

“Apparently.” Magi was just as surprised as Aura was.

“He treating you right?” Aura asked, suddenly serious.

“Yeah, probably the healthiest relationship I've ever had, honestly.” Magi admitted.

“Good, buy a fucking lotto ticket.” Aura teased her as she started walking away.

“I've thought about it.” Magi rubbed her eyes. She wanted to go home. Eventually Vanessa came and found her and she stepped back into Veridian's office.

“So, what now?” She asked as she plopped down into the empty chair.

“His interview is done and he needs to head to lunch.” Veridian said, “He's going to stay for the rest of his shift to do training and you're free to head home. I would suggest you do any paperwork you have been putting off now because you have the time and you'll be on the clock for it. We should have this wrapped up by Monday.”

“Oh, sweet, I get a four-day weekend.” Magi smirked.

“Yeah basically. I really don't think this is going to be a problem.” Veridian said. “This will be in your files though, accessible to management. No public displays of affection at work, no quick lunch hookups. You're not in a relationship at work.” Veridian got serious.

“Not a problem for me.” Magi planned to keep her distance at work.

“I agree, we can be professional.” Cam said with confidence.