Chapter 166: The New Normal

Arms tightening around her shoulders, Rachel could never believe her parents physically laying a hand on her, much less her dad beating the shit out of her over something like that. Then again, maybe she should have gotten her ass kicked with how volatile she was; she was a complete bitch to a lot of people growing up.

"I know you said it’s in the past, but damn... You ran away at sixteen, then?"

Barbara nodded, a sad look in her eyes. "I tried to connect later when I was selected for special forces training, but he refused even to see me. I know it’s stupid. Why would I go back to my abusive father? I shouldn’t feel a thing...but it hurt nonetheless."

A lot of heat in Rachel’s belly started to subside due to the sobering topic. "People love to hate anything," Rachel mumbled as they hit a bit of a traffic jam. "What about Saint Barbara specifically, though?"

The woman hummed, a thoughtful smile now playing on the corner of her mouth. "Barbara was tough. She didn’t let criticism, an absolutely shitty, murderous father, or the fear of public punishment keep her down. She was bold, brave, and independent at a time when women were supposed to shut up and do what they were told. Her life spoke to me."

Rachel pondered her own change; it wasn’t anything like Barbara’s.

Why did I change into a lunar hare? It’s not like I have any connection to them or the moon. Yet...I changed into this. Then again, Maria didn’t have much to do with unicorns, Fiona as a fairy, or Selvaria as a giant, terrorizing sea monster. Well, at least from what I know about them thus far. There seems to be a substantial difference between what made someone a legend or myth.

"Thanks for sharing that with me... It helps me know a bit more about you. Respect."

Barbara chortled while bumping her fist as they neared the freeway. "As for when I changed. I was pretty freaked out about suddenly becoming...this at first, but he was a good friend. He got me out the other day when you were still down and out. He helped me feel a bit normal again, bumming around DC, but he left on deployment this morning to South Korea to support the wall in case anything happens."

"Huh." On the swapping topic, Rachel had to be grateful for what she had. The light turned green, and they continued their drive, the display showing they were fifteen minutes out from their destination. "Do you see all of this going back to normal?"

They both looked at the sidewalk, crowded with the people of Washington, DC, and its visitors. Almost everyone was bundled up for the chilly March weather, yet peppered amongst the crowd, it wasn’t so hard to spot a beastkin or some other unusual-looking figure. When they turned down the next street, their gaze was drawn to a three-meter-tall troll man who was wearing drapes as a robe.

Barbara scratched her temple and shook her head. "Not even close. Will we adapt? I think so. Every week, the gawking and stares will get less and less, and this will become the new normal. Look! Our first aviary meet-up!"

Rachel’s tension began to ease as she followed the woman’s finger to a pack of winged beastkin, who were hovering above a building and chatting with one another. "The bird watchers must be pissing themselves," she joked.

Falling silent for several seconds after a short laugh, the yellow-eyed woman gave her a brief glance before her smile grew. "Feeling better?"

"A little," she admitted, rubbing her elbow. "Thanks."

"No problem."

Closing her eyes, Rachel leaned the seat back. "Know what, before we get on the freeway...maybe a large, crowded area isn’t where I need to be right now... Ugh. I can hear my mom’s inner voice telling me to get my tail back into bed. Hah-haaa."

Barbara shot her a quick look before pulling into the turn lane to take them back to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. "I’ll let my friend know he won’t have a pair of beautiful women with him at the show."

"What a tease," Rachel laughed. "I guess I should have guessed a Marine could have fun, saint or not."

"Ah... Like I said, I’m pretty sure pop culture played a role in our change. On another note, I heard that you’ll be moved to the Blair House tonight—that place to the northwest of the White House. Usually, it’s where dignitaries stay. Dignitaries such as Arthur."

The news brought her mind back to the task at hand; it seemed the President was making the French and UK representatives available to her. "Sounds good."

On the drive back to the Eisenhower Building, Rachel let the soldier talk more about her experience serving in the Marine Corps Raider units. Her MARSOC stories about the hazing and fun they’d get up to helped to brighten her mood. Being the only female on the squad usually gave her a ton of power over the dudes. It was rare for her to meet a woman who was as physically active as her, and it was nice seeing things from an older woman’s point of view.

When arriving at her makeshift hotel, Rachel’s agitation had mostly melted away; misfortune was still in her favor regarding Relica; the woman was still a terrorist at the end of the day. Her time would come.

Getting out of the vehicle to plop her tired tail in the wheelchair Barbara brought out, she smiled as the legend started down a new topic. "I get the feeling you’re not the type of girl to sit on her butt, so...when you’re up for it, I’m good to go out jogging or something."

Lifting an eyebrow as the saint wheeled her toward the lobby, Rachel lifted her ears to see if her mother was in earshot; she was not, and Nia’s distance should have been a telling sign. On the other hand, her brother was in her room, and her father and grandfather were at a nearby restaurant discussing The Oscillation.

"Workout friends, huh? I don’t suppose I’ll be able to snipe you away from the Marines for the private sector?" she asked with an innocent smile.

"Haha! Nice try, but I’m afraid if that pans out, I’ll be the one keeping tabs on you."

"Fair. I had to ask because you’re too good not to receive the offer."

"Aww. Thanks," Barbara chimed, nodding at a man who opened the door for them. "You do make for a great soldier yourself."

Her gaze drifted to everyone staring at them on the way to the elevators. How many of them were spies? Probably more than a few.

"As for the exercise plans, give it a few days, and I’m sure I’ll be up to start hanging out. If you want to set something up for us, I’m sure Nia would love a good routine and to make new soldier friends."

"Just the three of us?" Barbara asked, wheeling them around a small group of people that had exited the elevators. "I could send an invitation to Jeanne or Arthur if you wanted them to join, but I expect we’ll be going out at the dead of night for you."

Rachel scratched her left ear. "I’ll probably get the chance soon to meet them one-on-one. For now, just plan on the three of us... I’d invite Scarlet, but it honestly doesn’t sound like her thing. Plus, it’s a good thing that she’s bonding with Alexa and my mom; the more people she’s around, the better."

She tilted her head to the side, thinking about the others in the group; she needed to network. "On second thought, maybe Anthony, Maria, and Fiona could join."

Barbara chuckled upon entering the elevator with her, not bothering to expel anyone since they weren’t in a major hurry. "The fairy can stretch her wing muscles. I can see it... No, I’ve heard she’s been having a rough time with not being able to contact her family. It would be good to include her. Selvaria?" she asked, pressing the button to go up.

"Pfft!" Rachel almost choked upon thinking about the leviathan girl who had dropped out of a helicopter to belly-flop in shallow waters not a few days previous. "I’m sure she’d love to if she could physically handle it."

"Haha. True. She does seem to have some issues on land, the poor girl. I’d bet a year’s salary that she’d smoke any of us in the water."

"No doubt... Maybe we can swap it up and swim for some exercises early on," Rachel offered. "It’ll be less taxing on my body than running if I can work into it."