Like buying a dress for prom

I pulled into a dingy apartment building according to Kenzie’s instructions. It was nowhere near the quality of the one we lived at. While Lovus didn’t really have a bad part of town, this was probably as close as it got to it. Just… poorer.

Kenzie strode to the front and hit that buzzer thing. I watched her use it, and still don’t completely understand how it works.

After a buzz, there was a voice. “Fuck off.”

Kenzie rolled her eyes. “It’s me, Bethany; Kenzie. I have another-“

Another buzz and the door unlocked. I guess that’s all it took. We went inside and climbed some stairs (the elevator was out of order), Kenzie told me that there wasn’t even an elevator in the shaft, just an empty hole. Sounded dangerous. Kenzie led me to a room on the third floor and knocked. Within moments, someone opened the door.

“Hey, Kenzie. Fresh meat?” Bethany (I presume) asked, throwing a thumb in my direction. Bethany was… wow. Tall. Very tall. She was a tall, dark woman with long, braided hair that reached about halfway down her figure. She wasn’t all too curvy, but she was almost a foot taller than me, so I imagine it’s hard to get meat on those bones, eh?

Kenzie nodded, unfazed by the giantess. They were friends, so, uh… duh? “Yes. This is Michael Chase. He’s recently discovered he’s one of the changed few in this world.”

Bethany sighed. “Kenz, I love you, but you have to find a new team name. It’s so bad.”

Kenzie huffed. “No! It’s like the title of a great novel! Right, Michael?”

I shrugged. “I’m actually not a huge fan of the name. A bit long. But, like, it doesn’t matter if we do everything in secrecy, right?”

Kenzie frowned. “Huh. I’ll need to talk to Kate about that. Shit.” She redirected her attention to Bethany. “Anyway, we need a suit for this guy.”

Bethany looked me up and down. “I’m guessing it’s not super strength, eh?”

I looked at my arms.

Bethany laughed. “I’m messing with you. Tell me about it while I get you measured.”

We entered the apartment. Again, much… poorer than I’d have expected. Everything was cheap. Let me say: I’m not hating on her by any means! I’m just confused how she could have such high rates and work for the Hero Hosts and not have a flatscreen at the very least.

“Do you know your measurements?” She asked, gathering some loose paper and beginning a sketch.

“Uh… no.”

Bethany snorted. “Yeah, I figured. Most guys don’t. That’s fine; drop trousers and stand against that wall.” She pointed to a wall with a green blanket.

“Huh?”

Bethany raised an eyebrow. “Get naked and stand there so I can scan you.”

“Can I keep my underwear on?”

“Does any super?”

I shrugged. Bethany gave Kenzie a look, and Kenzie laughed.

“The underwear is on the outside, Michael. The suits are made to fit your body exactly. Speaking of which, Beth; can you make a second version for a buffer Michael?”

“How the hell would I do that? How am I supposed to know what he would look like if he wasn’t so shrimpy?” Bethany gave her an incredulous look. “The suit should have enough elasticity to gain some muscle, but you’ll need to come back eventually if you plan on getting him on fucking ‘roids or some shit.”

Kenzie sighed. “Okay, yes; fair.”

“Am… am I going on steroids?” I wasn’t sure how that would mix with the other **** in my body.

Kenzie looked me up and down and shook her head. “No, I don’t think so. You’ll be on a rigorous training schedule, sure, but no need for ****. You aren’t fat, just… um….”

“Weak.” Bethany finished for her. “Which is fine, depending on your ability.”

“I’m invulnerable. Sometimes, anyway.”

Bethany snorted. “Okay. You may want to get in good shape, then. Do you know guns?”

“Like, as a concept?”

“No, dumbass; like, can you use them?”

I shook my head. “I went shooting once, but that’s it. I didn’t even shoot anything.”

Bethany gave Kenzie a weird look, like ‘why did you recruit this guy?’ but since she was recieving a paycheck I guess it didn’t matter.

“Just get naked, dude. I can have Kenzie step out if you’re embarrassed.” Bethany pointed to the green wall with her pen.

“Uh…” I looked at Kenzie and couldn’t bring myself to say ‘yeah, getting naked in front of my roommate is weird’, so I undressed myself and stood where I was told.

“Nice job there, Michael.” Kenzie whistled. “That thing isn’t even hard!”

I should have asked her to step out.

“I should have asked her to step out.” Bethany sighed. “I thought you were a lesbian?”

“Every body is made to love.” Kenzie said matter-of-fact-ly.

Suddenly, a large camera hooked to a crane dropped from a compartment in the ceiling. It began zooming around me, scanning my entire body.

“Do you have a name yet?” Bethany asked, still sketching away as the camera worked.

“Uh… no. Since it’s all, like, illegal I didn’t bother.”

“No, no, no; you need a name. Otherwise what do I base the costume around?”

The camera kept zooming around me, occasionally moving close and farther away. I can’t imagine it would take this long to scan me. As it swished around, I wondered about what I’d be called. I considered my ability, and ideas ran through me.

“Come on, dude, hurry it up.” Bethany interrupted my brain storm, which immediately distorted all of my ideas.

Panicked, naked, and nervous I spouted out the last idea on my mind:

“Target.”

-

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