Achilles smiled under his mask as Barrier Maiden hurried ahead of him. She was cute to begin with, and her uniform just emphasized that. The way her hair and skirt bounced as she ran, the decorations on her mask, the smile that broke out on her face...
It was all just way too cute. This was probably the first day she'd actually been able to patrol since Louise had made a bunch of Legion members do her work for her. Really, wasn't Louise supposed to be a professional?
At least now most of the uniforms were done. Knight had come back with his around noon, and now just Rose, Hot Rod and Alchemist needed their outfits done. Rose would continue helping out until his and Hot Rod's were done, then Louise would finish Alchemist's as she was able. Alchemist herself had insisted on it, since she wouldn't be doing much of anything outside HQ.
Speaking of Alchemist, she'd come up with some interesting ideas. She had a concoction that acted as a disinfectant, which they'd use on wounds from now on. In addition, she was trying to come up with a healing serum that would increase recovery. That one was taking a while, but somehow she'd figured out something kind of close - even if it smelled like rotten fish.
He couldn't wait to see what else Alchemist made for them.
"It's Achilles!"
Someone ran up to him with a marker and tablet, and asked him to sign the tablet case. Achilles grinned and obliged.
"Stay safe," he said. The woman beamed and nodded as she hurried off, tossing a last word of thanks his way.
"Wow, they really like you," Barrier Maiden said in awe. At some point she'd come back up beside him.
"Don't worry. Before long they'll get to know you too, Barrier Maiden. See all the curious glances you're getting? They want to know who their new hero is. Feel free to wave and say hello."
Barrier Maiden looked around bashfully for a moment, then waved and smiled brightly. Several people smiled back as they kept walking down the road.
"So this is what patrolling is like," she mused.
"Not always this peaceful, mind. It's nice when it is, but we need to be ready to arrest criminals at any time. With Team Chaos on the loose, our work is more important than ever."
Barrier Maiden nodded, looking around vigilantly. She was so cute. Way too cute. How old was she again?
No! Focus, Achilles! Just because she's a cute girl doesn't mean you can lose your head here!
He refocused on the surrounding area. Nothing was amiss. Crowds continued walking as normal, wherever they needed to go without trouble.
Good.
"Achilles." Barrier Maiden suddenly grabbed his sleeve, looking anxiously to their right. Rather than focus on the fact that she was holding onto him, Achilles followed her gaze. It looked like some kind of disturbance was happening on the other side of the street. In front of a store selling small art pieces.
"Let's go." Achilles started hurrying towards the nearest bridge, Barrier Maiden right behind him.
The crowd let them through fairly easily and the bridge wasn't crowded, so it wasn't long before the voices became more clear.
"What? You gonna call the military on me, ya little stinkweeds?"
"I've warned you to cease and desist at once, sir!"
"Words, words, words. Blah, blah, blah. In one ear and out the other. What happens if I - "
"Please don't!"
"Robbery," Achilles muttered, glancing back at Barrier Maiden. She seemed to have heard him since she nodded, a determined look on her face. Yet somehow she still looked like a delicate flower.
A small crowd was gathered outside the shop. Someone who looked like the proprietor was anxiously staring at a larger man in the center of the crowd. The large man wore a hood and mask to conceal his identity, and held a wooden sculpture in one hand. It looked quite intricately carved, the kind that would fetch quite a price. And this man was threatening to destroy it? How uncouth!
"Put down the sculpture," Achilles said firmly, stepping through the mass of people.
"Huh?" The masked man stared at him for a second before bursting into laughter. "Well, well, well. I've attracted the Legion, have I? What are you gonna do about it, Blue?"
"That's Achilles to you. You will put down the sculpture and wait quietly here. Otherwise we might have to use force."
"Really?" The masked man raised his arm as if about to throw the sculpture to the ground. "I've got more muscle than your entire Legion combined and you want me to just...surrender to you? No way."
"Do as he says," Barrier Maiden said firmly, stepping out from behind Achilles. She stared at him anxiously, but stood her ground.
"Hello. What are you, the cheerleader? Cute costume, but I really can't take you seriously." The man lowered the statue to stare at her dubiously.
Great. While she distracts him, I can get close and take him out.
Achilles slowly moved to the side, trying not to draw attention to himself while Barrier Maiden continued her conversation.
"I'm Barrier Maiden, a new addition to the Legion. And I won't let you get away with this."
"Cute. Your mommy tell you that you're the strongest specialest girl ever?"
Barrier Maiden froze for a second before she started talking again. This time her tone was much darker.
"And did your daddy tell you you're the strongest most manliest guy to ever walk the planet? Or are you just straight-up delusional?"
"Wha - you leave my father out of this!" The man raised the statue and threw it at her.
Wow. How did her dig get at him so deep?
No! Achilles had to save Barrier Maiden from the -
Oh.
By the time he realized what had happened, Barrier Maiden had trapped the statue in a barrier to keep it from breaking or harming anyone.
Great. Achilles leaped at the masked man, who no longer had a hostage statue to deal with. With a tackle, they were both on the ground. Achilles vaguely sensed people stepping back to give them space as he wrestled the hooded villain.
"You...are...seriously..."
"What?" Achilles asked tauntingly, holding the villain's arms behind his back.
"Pissing me off!" With a grunt, the villain tossed Achilles to the side as if he was a ragdoll. He hit the side of a building hard, his head spinning.
His back hurt. Like everything hurt. Achilles was a full-grown man. Nobody should have been able to toss him around like that. And yet this man just had, despite the fact that he was slimmer than Prime.
Super-strength Miracle no doubt. By the time Achilles got to his feet, he figured the villain would have gotten away, but surprisingly he was stuck. Barrier Maiden had made a small prison for him to wait in until the military came apparently.
"Let me out you little bitch!" Super-strength - no, they'd need a better name for him. Maybe Jumbo? Yeah, that'd work. He was mad.
"You can wait for your arrest in there," Barrier Maiden said firmly, though her arms shook a bit from the exertion. Jumbo was pounding the inside of the barrier and every time it did she shuddered from the force.
"Good work, Barrier Maiden," Achilles said amid the cheering of the crowd around her.
"Thanks. But it's not quite over...yet." She winced as Jumbo smashed the barrier again.
"I called the military, Miss," the proprietor said, holding his statue with gratitude. "Thank you so much for what you've done."
"Glad I can help." Barrier Maiden smiled at him so gently she looked like a literal angel who had fallen from the heavens.
"I'll be ready in case he gets out," Achilles said, shaking off the pain in his back and preparing himself.
"Thanks, Achilles. I'll hold him as long as I can." Barrier Maiden hardened her expression as Jumbo kept flailing around in the cage.
Luckily she didn't have to hold him for long. Within a couple minutes, military officers had arrived and surrounded Jumbo, pointing their rayguns at him. When he realized he'd been outgunned, Jumbo gave up surprisingly easily.
"Thanks for catching him," the sergeant said somewhat crossly, refusing to make eye contact. Seriously? How long until the military would be able to admit that they needed help once in a while?
"Thanks for taking him off our hands," Barrier Maiden said, catching her breath slightly.
"Be careful," Achilles said. "Jumbo's a real handful."
"Jumbo?" the sergeant asked. Apparently the villain had heard him too.
"Hey, not bad. Achilles is a questionable name, but I'll take Jumbo. Don't worry. I'll break out of prison to come play with you again." Jumbo stuck his tongue out at them as the military started escorting him towards prison.
"Please don't," Barrier Maiden called back at him. "I'd prefer you stay and serve your sentence."
"Don't worry, sweetheart. We'll run into each other again, I'm sure."
Barrier Maiden grimaced at him and turned back to Achilles.
"Are they all like that?" she asked.
"No. Most are more sullen," Achilles replied. "You did good today, especially considering it's your first day. We've got another hour before we're scheduled to be done, but how about I buy you dinner after? My treat."
"Really? Totally!" Barrier Maiden smiled broadly and hopped in joy. "Thanks, Achilles."
"Just doing my part as team leader."
That was the excuse he was going with.
