Chapter 25

Megumi and Ana had continued to discuss what's been happening with the villains and when she should make her next appearance, both deciding it would be best to wait until her new costume was ready since Rob and Sanchi had said it would be quick, unless something urgent came up.

"I wanted to help, but they just kept listing off reasons why my first suit was inexpedient and but the thirteenth reason I wasn't really in the mood to keep arguing." Ana told Megumi, who snorted, agreeing that her first costume was kind of impractical.

"I'm going to the lab where the element was created, try to find any leads. I just managed to get authorized access to the facility." Megumi told Ana after a few moments of silence. "I honestly thought you would try to break in." Ana snorted. Megumi huffed. "It's a high security government funded lab that's upped its security by nine thousand since the element was stolen, there's no breaking into that. This isn't a George Clooney Movie."

Ana swung her arms back and forth as they walked. "How did you get authorized?"

Megumi felt her body sway with the wind. "I managed to pull some strings at JHU. I did a shit ton of extra credit work to prove that I was serious about wanting to intern there and one of the professors who has some connections to the lab managed to get me in."

Ana frowned. "Isn't this all incredibly high stakes though? I mean, can't they find out you interned at Zalic's lab? Won't they get suspicious?" "They already know because that same professor managed to hep me get that internship. And yeah, it's super high stakes so I can't do anything that might cause suspicion. Last thing I want is to get that professor or myself in hot water. Keeping quiet and out of sight has always kept me under the radar."

Ana felt there was anther meaning behind that last statement, but didn't say anything. She didn't exactly feel like opening up about personal baggage either.

"But if your concern is that they'll detect I'm a super, don't worry about it." Megumi continued, interrupting Ana's train of thought. Ana looked up at her, waiting for her to finish. "Margret's the only one with the science behind the amplifiers remember? And I'm not sure if you've gotten that vibe from her, but she isn't exactly the sharing type. Other scientists can only guess how she did what she did since Margret's the only one with the technology. Well, not the only one.."

"What do you mean?" Ana asked.

Megumi smirked softly to herself. "Margret's too arrogant. Thinks no one will try to take her down from the inside. I was originally collecting data at the start of my internship for my thesis, so I already have a pretty sufficient amount. It isn't much, it isn't the full formula because she rightfully didn't trust me with it just like I don't trust anybody else, but it's more than what they have, and if push comes to shove, I'm sure they'll be willing to exchange some information about the element for a bit of Margret's formulas."

Ana frowned deeper. "Aren't you worried they'll create more supers if you give it to them? You've seen first hand what this type of power can do to a person.."

The two of them walked into the outskirts of the crowded town, dusty gravel roads slowly fading into smooth concrete as they further approached the town that still wasn't winding down even though, according to Megumi's phone, it was almost half past midnight. The streets were covered in orange from the streetlights, and occasionally sported some other colors depending on the buildings they passed.

"Of course I've thought about it." Megumi said quietly, taking Ana's attention away from a small clothing store she was looking at. "But.. Sometimes you have to take risks, I guess. And I want more than anything to find that element before Margret, that's a risk I can't take." Megumi looked at Ana. "None of us can."

Ana felt her lips purse slightly, but she couldn't help but agree with Megumi. Margret getting the element was too much of a risk, and if Megumi had to sacrifice some sensitive information in exchange for classified information, who's to say it wasn't worth it.

The two of them walked down the street leading to Ana's apartment, Ana absentmindedly taking note of the closed or closing shops along the way. "When are you going?" Ana asked Megumi, still looking off at the shops. Megumi looked over at her for a moment, then turned her gaze back onto the sidewalk in front of them. "Tomorrow. Early."

Ana hummed as they reached her apartment. Ana fumbled around in her bag for her keys, swinging them around on her finger once she found them. "You know I don't ever really see you at JHU." Ana mentioned offhandedly. Megumi shrugged. "Like I said, I stay off the radar, and I don't really think you and I run in the same social circles." Ana pouted. "Do you run in any social circles at all?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes, actually." Megumi replied with a slight jut of her chin. "If I talk to myself while running around aimlessly that technically counts as a social circle." Ana let out a loud laugh, getting the attention of some of the people walking around them. Ana shook her head. "If you say so… Lone wolf."

Megumi rolled her eyes. "Don't try to make it sound edgy, I'm just not that social." She glared at Ana. "Though I'm sure you and Tiffany will try to drag me into some social group eventually."

Ana nodded enthusiastically. "And if we can't get you to join one we'll just make our own!"

Megumi was suddenly able to feel the bags under her eyes. "Sounds…greaaat.." She said drawing out the 'a'. Ana beamed at her. "Go inside and tell your boyfriend you're alright," Megumi added quickly, ignoring Ana's squawk, before Ana could suggest any group outings once she got back. "He didn't look too happy when we left earlier." Ana shook her head frantically. "HE'S NOT MY BOYFRIEND!" She exclaimed, immediately covering her hand with her mouth as she got more attention from onlookers. Megumi raised an eyebrow. "No no no, not you too! Ugh, we're really just friends, stop looking at me like that! Oh you just wait until you have someone you're interested in-!"

"I already have someone I'm interested in." Megumi said smoothly, cutting Ana off. "And re you implying that you are, in fact, interested in Dick Grayson over there?" Megumi pointed behind her. Ana practically did a 360 turn, then just as quickly turned back to Megumi, red faced and scowling.

"Not funny!" She yelled.

Megumi snorted. "It was kinda funny." "I'm leaving!" Ana shouted as she sped off to her apartment, Megumi softly chuckling behind her.

"I'll see you soon! Don't get into too much trouble while you're gone!" Ana called over her shoulder, nearing the apartments doors. Megumi rolled her eyes.

"Whatever short stack."

Ana turned back, flabbergasted. "I'll have you know 4"11 is a perfectly average height-!"

Megumi snorted and rolled her eyes then replied, "For a third grader."

"I will kick your shins, let's see how cocky you are then." Ana hotly retorted making Megumi snort.

Ana dropped her pout shortly after this and sent Megumi a final wave, walking inside of her apartment complex, leaving Megumi in the cold midnight air. Megumi turned away from the building, looking up at the night sky and taking in a deep breath. She exhaled loudly, looking up at the large, shimmering full moon. It reminded Megumi of Trina, in a way. Before she had been brainwashed into becoming a villain, Trina was a part of a young-adult drama series about werewolves, which, and Megumi will never admit this to her, was one of Megumi's favorite shows, and was rather disappointed when it was discontinued after the show didn't make enough money.

Trina's character in the show, 'Luna Rose', was adopted by a human family unbeknownst to all of them that she as a werewolf, and of course, drama ensued. The show had a lot of scenes heavily focused on Luna under the moon, in a contemplative state, feeling isolated from her family and peers, wondering why she was so different, and if life would get easier for her in the future.

Megumi looked down at her shoes, illuminated under the bright moonlight.

The light made all of the dried mud and dark stains on her white shoes all the more visible. Megumi kicked a few rocks before taking one more look up at the large moon, and making her way back to her own apartment building, mentally preparing herself for the day ahead of her.