Careful consideration of your options

While not an unforseen variable, the fact that the Justice **** knows about you is worrying. Equally worrying, they already perceive you as a potential threat. Still, you're stronger and more skilled with your powers despite them. The fact that you not only didn't break, but also didn't turn into another Janice Bree is a testament to your own willpower and personal moral code than any actions taken, or not taken by the Justice ****.

On the flip side, you also tested your powers against their new Golden Boy, proving yourself to be his equal- for now. You also, likely, legitimized your status as an actual threat. Relations between yourself and the Justice **** were neutral, at best. At the very least, Ashlynn would likely remain here in New Liberty to keep an eye on you. You couldn't help but wonder if she too was a metahuman and, if so, what her powerset was. It was likely, though not guaranteed, given that she had a family member who was an actual part of the Justice ****.

It was with a grim determination that you returned to your elder sister's apartment. When you left earlier, you were angry and departed to clear your head. It is obvious, to Jen, that something happened on your walk, because your demeanor is more resigned than contented.

"James?" she asks in a careful tone.

You contemplate what exactly to tell her. In the end, you go for broke. She hasn't kicked you out yet, so that has to count for something. "The Justice **** knows about me."

"You weren't exactly subtle those first couple of days here," Allyson advocates. "Not to mention you said that new guy they just recruited is from Aurora too."

"According to him, his powers awakened before mine did. They've known about me from the very beginning," you say grimly.

"But..." Jennifer starts to say, but she obviously struggles to focus on anything that would legitimately explain their non-action in any sort of positive way. You were left out to dry, no matter how the Jay-Eff tries to justify it.

"How do you know?" Allyson inquires.

"I had a mini confrontation with Chris Grayson and his ex-girlfriend at the coffee shop," you inform them.

The girls both look at each other with worry.

"Is the coffee shop still in one peice?" Jennifer asked half-jokingly.

"Yeah, though it was a close thing. My powers are about even with his," you comment.

"So what's your next step?" Allyson asks.

"I consider moving out and leaving the city," you reply honestly.

"Where would you go? What would you do?" Jennifer asks worriedly. She looks concerned and half-panicked at the notion you might actually leave.

"Doesn't matter. Neither of you exactly signed up for this crap," you state. "It's been one crisis after another and they only seem to be escalating- with me being a potential mid to top tier threat on the Justice ****'s radar."

"James... Is there any chance you're over reacting?" Allyson inquires as she plays the devil's advocate.

"I wasn't the only newly awakened meta in the area. I was just the one they sat back and ignored, doing nothing but waiting for me to either pull a Janice Bree or become a full blown supervillain," you counter. "And let's face it, once word gets around that there is tension between me and them- no other hero team will look at me twice."

That statement was only mostly true. Given my abilities, The Radikalz would very likely take me in, but that would require moving to Champion City to join a group I probably wouldn't fit in with. My prospects were looking grim for the near future and that was only my metahuman side of things.

Jennifer was clearly at a loss to explain why I should stay other than the fact that she simply didn't want me to leave. She looked helplessly at Allyson, almost pleading for the girl with more experience with metahumans than either of us combined, to be the wise voice of reason.

Allyson sighed. "Why don't you hold off on leaving, James. Sleep on it. We don't know how bad it is quite yet, so you might be worrying over nothing. Not to mention, neither Kathy nor Anna would forgive us if you simply just left without saying 'good bye'."

Though we both pretended otherwise, mine and Kathy's relationship hadn't been the same since we broke up all those years ago. There was always a certain aura of awkwardness that was left unacknowledged. Even though the decision was mutual and at the behest of our common relative, it still wasn't easy on either of us when it happened.

Annabeth on the other hand, given her abilities, would likely be able to track me down. Whether she accompanied on my destinationless journey or tried to get me to stay with her Britney would depend on how convincing she was. Considering her devotion to me, either scenario was likely. Not that they knew this, however, as only myself and Annabeth- that I knew of- were aware of her metahuman status.

Still, it was quite the conundrum that I found myself in. Allyson's course of action did have the virtue of me not needlessly walking the earth in search of purpose should the Justice **** decide to adopt a live and let live policy. It was the best either side of this conflict could hope for. They were already wary of me and my power and while I was **** to get involved with them before- it definitely wasn't ever going to happen if I could help it. If there was ever any one thing I excelled at more than others, it was my ability to hold a grudge.

Looking Allyson in the eye, though opting out of reading her mind, I can't help but ask. "Are you certain about this?"

"My issues with my ex aren't even remotely the same ones you've been going through," Allyson assures you. "If anything happens, we'll talk about it like rational people. Until then, we'll just have to wait and see."