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Never Be The Same- Chapter 3:

All My Heroes

- Victoria Neuman gives Marie a ride home, taking the time to catch up. Marie finds herself in the middle of an accident once again.

(Title song: All My Heroes by Bleachers)

CW: Blood, semi-graphic injuries.

2k words

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“Neuman…”

Marie stood shocked as Victoria fucking Neuman stared at her, sitting in the backseat of this black SUV currently parked outside of a mid-city diner, and tries to process the fact that this isn't some weird dream of hers. Marie had gotten so used to the new normal that she had built with Jordan and Emma, that she hadn't really thought of the time when she had her conversation with Neuman. But how could she forget the time she had finally met someone who was just like her? Same powers, same tragic past, same orphanage. Victoria- or Nadia, she remembers, is the only one who can truly understand her. Marie slowly re-enters reality, focusing on the blue pantsuit wearing congresswoman in front of her.

“Oh my god, what- what are you doing here? Why-” Marie sputters out, but Neuman cuts her off before she can continue.

“Thought you could use a ride home, and maybe we can catch up on the way. What do you say, kid?”

Marie hesitates a bit and she isn't so sure why. Neuman was one of the good ones, right? She can trust her… right? Marie has learned that her instincts are usually correct, but in this instance, she really wants to see how this plays out. She nods and goes to open the car door, cautiously climbing into the backseat next to Neuman. The moment the door closes, they drive off.

“So, how was work?” Neuman attempts, but Marie prefers to get to the point of this sudden ambush.

“Why are you here? I mean, why now? It's been months since everything happened and you just fucking disappeared.”

“I'm a busy woman, Marie. The fall of Godolkin was a big deal and my team and I had to decide how to address it. Also, I was dealing with your whole virus debacle, which is now taken care of so there's no need to worry about that.” Neuman said matter-of-factly.

“Really? What did you do with it?” Marie asked.

“Like I said, I took care of it. No need to worry. Now, how about we talk about you? How've you been holding up?” Neuman said with seemingly genuine interest.

“Um… alright I guess. Nothing you need to worry about, really.” Marie spoke, cautiously.

Neuman sighs, “I do care, Marie. Like I said, I've been looking out for you ever since I've read your file from Red River. I've never met someone like me before, someone who can understand what it's like to have this ability. Us bloodbenders need to stick together.”

Marie stares at Neuman, looking for any signs of dishonesty or ill intent, but she doesn't find any. Her heartbeat was steady, but she could control that. “So you've been watching me over the last few months?”

“Keeping tabs on you, yes. Watching you, no. You deserve some privacy after everything you've been through. You seem good, living with your friends and all that.”

Marie can't fight the soft smile that comes to her face at the mention of her friends. It has been nice, the little life they've built for themselves. Though that could all change when their college plans come to fruition. “Yeah, it's been good. Better since we haven't had to worry about Vought constantly watching over us.”

“Oh, I'm sure they have some ideas of where you are. They like keeping tabs on their supes. But you haven't made any noise so far, so I'm sure they'll leave you be for now. And I'll obviously do my best to keep you off their radar, but I can only do so much.” Neuman says as if it's not a big deal, which Marie would disagree with, personally.

“So they know where we live?!” Marie says, a bit alarmed.

Neuman gives a look to Marie. “Come on. You didn't really think you could hide from Vought in some apartment in Brooklyn. Which belongs to one of their beloved creations, might I add. But like I said, just stay in their good graces for now and once you're in The Seven you can make some real change.”

Marie double takes at the end of that sentence. “Umm…” Marie chuckles nervously, fidgeting with her fingers as she tries to find the right words. “I don't really plan on getting into The Seven anymore. I don't think I can spend all those years working right under Vought. Or be a part of a team that's led by someone like fucking Homelander. After everything that happened at Godolkin, I kinda wanna stay far away from that shit.”

Neuman lets out a dry laugh, turning face Marie more. Her previous friendly demeanor turns more serious as she clears her throat. “Okay. I'm sorry to break it to you kid, but you can't play house forever. Especially with powers like yours, the likelihood of Vought taking their eyes off you is fucking slim. Vought will always be in control of supes like you and your friends so long as people like Homelander are in power.” Neuman takes a breath in an attempt to recompose herself. She leans in a bit closer to Marie, maintaining direct eye contact. “Which is why it is important that someone like you gets into that position of power and changes the system from within. No more big brother Vought taking young supes and experimenting on them or locking them up the moment they turn 18, because they are “too dangerous to society”. Sometimes, you just have to deal with shit you don't want to do to be a real hero. Isn't that what you want to be? A real hero? A hero that your little sister can be proud of?”

Marie stares back at Neuman, processing all the words coming out of her mouth, the mention of her sister taking her down a specific trail of thoughts. She takes a deep breath and steadies herself before she responds. “Look. After everything that happened at God U, I learned at least one thing. That sometimes being a real hero, means looking like the villain. Vought looks like a bunch of heroes, but that's just to cover up all the fucked up shit underneath. It's all about image. Looking and acting like something you're not. But I don't care about how I look to everyone, and what that makes them think of me, any more. I just want to do the right thing. I want to actually help people, however I can. Be a real hero. One that Annabeth can actually be proud of. Not some lie that I can feed to her for my own sake. So, I'm sorry, but I'm gonna get my power, my way. The right way.”

It's at that moment Marie realizes they've stopped moving. Looking out the window she sees they're parked about a block away from her apartment building.

Neuman shakes her head disappointingly. “You're being naive Marie. You might not see it now, but soon enough you'll realize that there isn't always a “right way”. Sometimes there's just a slightly less shittier way.”

Marie, not keen on continuing this conversation, takes the opportunity to get out of the car. Neuman continues to talk as she makes her way out. “Think of Annabeth, Marie. How are you gonna find her on your own? I have resources, but I can't help you if you walk away from this.”

Marie stops for a second, turning around to face Neuman before she leaves. “I am thinking about Annabeth. Always. I will find her, with or without your help. Now please leave me the fuck alone.” She shuts the car door and walks off before Neuman can say anything else.

—

Marie is about half way from her apartment as she trudged down the sidewalk, the conversation from just moments ago leaving her exhausted and a little heated. A million thoughts run through her head as she goes to turn the corner, but is immediately yanked back to the present when she sees a car chaotically swerving down the street. She watched as the gray SUV collided with a black sedan that was crossing the intersection. It all happened so quickly, as Marie suddenly found herself running to the scene. She could sense from there the amount of blood that was leaking from open wounds. Traffic had stopped around the crash scene fairly quickly, and luckily no more cars were added to the collision. Marie pushed through the crowd of people that were congregating around the scene. She made her way over to the black sedan where she saw a middle aged man with black, peppered hair, exit the vehicle, stumbling a bit as he tried to regain balance. “Hey, are you okay?” Marie said, panicked as she held her hands out to steady him.

The man looked at her a bit confused. “Not sure. I feel alright but I'm sure that's just the adrenaline pumping through my veins right now” they said almost humorously. Marie notices the huge gash on his forehead and immediately goes to stop the bleeding, doing her best to heal the wound. “Hey, what are you do-”

“I'm healing you. I think you should sit down.” Marie suggests sternly.

“Look, I'm a doctor, okay? I appreciate the healing but I need to make sure the people in the other car are okay.” He tries to go and move over to the other car but Marie stops him.

“Listen, that's great that you're a doctor and all, but I don't think you can help anyone in your condition-” She pauses as she looks him over with her powers. “Holy shit. Okay, you need to sit down like, right now. I think your leg is broken.” She doesn't wait for him to respond as she pulls him down to the ground and rolls up his left pant leg and she nearly gags at the sight. His lower leg is indeed broken, bone exposed as blood slowly flows out. Not much she can do about the bone, but she tries her best to stop or at least slow the bleeding.

The doctor looks up at her in awe. “Wow. Okay, thank you, but I really think you should check on the other car. I'll be fine till the paramedics get here.”

Marie nods, trusting the doctor on his self diagnosis as she rushes over to the gray SUV. In the front seat she sees a man, somewhere in his 40s or 50s, completely passed out behind the wheel. She uses her supe strength to pull the jammed door open and starts examining the man. She immediately realizes that his heart is not beating. He had a heart attack. That's why he was swerving like crazy. Marie takes a breath and focuses on his bloodstream. Slowly but surely she works her way around, eventually finding the obstruction that's restricting the blood flow. She concentrates as she breaks it down and gets the blood moving again. She opens her eyes and sighs in relief when his heart starts beating again.

The sound of sirens catch her attention as a couple of ambulances pull up and paramedics make their way onto the scene. She immediately steps back, not wanting to get in the way. She goes to leave but stops walking when she hears someone calling after her. She turns and sees the doctor who is currently being pulled on to a gurney, waving her over. She debates just walking away but decides to quickly walk over to see what he wanted to say.

“Hey, that was some real good work there.” He says with a smile on his face, which seems out of place with the broken leg and all that.

“Thanks. I was just walking by and realized that I could probably help.” She said a bit uncertain.

“Well, you helped out a lot. Your powers seem really useful for that. Helping people, I mean.” The Doctor's voice is filled with genuine interest and praise.

Marie looks down and nervously runs her fingers along the jagged scars that run across her palms. “Yeah… I'm not so sure about that.”

“Well, If I had those powers I bet I'd be able to help out a lot more people than I already do. That guy in the other car had a heart attack, Right?”

“Yeah, he did. How did you know?” Marie looked at him with surprise and slight curiosity.

“Well, for starters, I could see he wasn't breathing from where I was. I also saw you close your eyes and hover your hand over his heart. So, the best guess was probably a heart attack.” He said, shrugging his shoulders.

The paramedic spoke up before Marie could respond. “Sorry to interrupt but we gotta get you in this ambulance and to the hospital as soon as possible.”

“Right. Sorry.” Marie said, stepping back.

“Thanks for healing me, kid!” The doctor yelled before the ambulance doors closed.

With that, Marie made her way with a smile on her face. It felt good helping people with her powers. She actually saved someone's life today. She couldn't wait to tell Jordan about this.

This one's pretty short. Most of these beginning chapters are just setting things up, so bare with me here, lol. Hope you're enjoying it so far, there is a lot more to come. Next chapter drops next Saturday! Hope y'all have a great day! (Obligatory thank you to Venus [@paperdoll201] again, for helping me out with this fic 💜)

Much love, 😎👍❤️

-PB

#gen v #gen v fic #gen v fanfiction #marie moreau #limoreau

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