Chapter Text
"Care to explain?" Richard asks. He slides the piece of paper across his desk close enough for her to read.
INCIDENT 108-C: Reported by Addison Montgomery (Dispatcher).
During a verbal disagreement between Dispatcher Montgomery & Operative Grey Ghost, the break room table was ignited by Dispatcher Montgomery's powers. Fire put out by Operative Glacier, who was present during the verbal disagreement. Table was superficially burnt - no major smoke or fire damage worth recording. Superficial water damage likely.
She presses her lips together, "She disobeyed a direct order, Richard. Yeah, it worked out but it was reckless. She could've gotten herself seriously hurt - she could've gotten the cashier seriously hurt, too."
"Look, I agree that the call didn't go well - but I'm not very fond of the fact that you're already setting tables on fire on your first day."
"She's a liability, Richard."
He frowns, "I've known Grey Ghost for a long time. I worked with her mother - I used to babysit her. She has a good heart. She cares about people." He sighs, "She's been through a lot."
She rubs her eyes, "Richard..."
"That incident notwithstanding though, I think that was one of the team's best shifts."
"Seriously?"
He shrugs, "The bar isn't extremely high for this group - you should be proud."
She pouts, "Well, I'm not. I'm a professional, Richard. If you want the team to succeed, we need to raise the bar."
"...What did you have in mind?"
"I need to be around them. I need them to see that I'm taking this seriously - this only works if they trust me."
A pause.
"Alright - I'll set up a meeting on Monday. You and the team are doing a double so I'll just schedule it between shifts." He declares.
She leaves his office, the rays of the setting sun streaming through the window. The light bathed the bullpen in a golden hue as people pile out for the day, ready for the weekend. When she turns the corner to her desk, Teddy is still standing in front of the cubicle next to her.
"How'd your meeting go?" She asks.
"Well apparently that was one of their best shifts - which worries me considering what Grey Ghost did. He also wasn't pleased about the table fire."
"Grey Ghost is... a lot. But she's she's smart, and kind, and very stubborn. She reminds me of you, actually."
"Me?"
"In the early days, rushing into problems headfirst, thinking you were invincible."
"I have powers, she doesn't. It's different and you know it."
"Then show her what to do. You've been doing this for fifteen years and she's been doing it for one. Help her."
Addison sighs, "She doesn't seem very willing."
"You never know until you try."
"Okay. I'll try - but no promises." She resigns.
She comes in on Monday with a different approach: more confident, more assertive - less Addison, more Red Rocket. She struts down the hallway to her desk confidently, the clicking of heels echoing as she goes.
Teddy leans back in her chair, "Is this the new strategy to get the team to take you seriously? The sexy librarian look?" She jokes.
She takes off her glasses, wiping them and putting them back on, "It's all about the way you carry yourself, Teddy."
"Whatever helps you sleep at night." She teases, picking up and taking a sip from the mug on her desk.
Richard strides over to their corner of the bullpen, "Addison - I wanted to discuss something with you."
"Go for it." She says, walking closer over to where he stands by the wall.
He gestures to the large frames in front of them, "By now, I'm sure you've seen the leaderboards."
"I have - not sure how I feel about ranking heroes, though."
"It's based mostly on their track records - successful calls add points, collateral damage reduces. It's all in the name of friendly competition."
She bites back a reply, her eyes scanning the names and numbers across the leaderboard, settling to the last eight positions.
"As you can see, though..."
"My team's dead last."
By a large margin, too; Golden Guy - the highest score of the team (150), was still behind the person ahead of him by 200 points. Grey Ghost sat at the bottom, with a score of 84.
"You said you wanted to raise the bar, right? Here's the first step."
Her brow furrows, "And how exactly am I supposed to do that?"
"Oh, I already let the team know - it's a competition now - whoever has the most points by end of day wins."
She nods slowly, clenching her jaw, "What's the prize?"
He grins, "It's a surprise."
"From me as well?"
"From you as well."
Teddy ends the conversation for them, "Hey Addison? You're getting a distress call."
She gives Richard a strained, closed-mouth smile before returning to her desk.
"Why is it that when there's a problem it's usually you?" She bites, taking in the security feed in front of her.
Grey Ghost pulls on the handcuffs around her wrist, chaining her to the squat rack in the gym, "In case you didn't notice, I'm actually the wronged party here."
Brightburn steps forward, coming into view of the camera feed, "You sent a distress call? Seriously? Seriously?"
"Brightburn, please tell me why the hell Grey Ghost is handcuffed right now." Addison groans.
"It's nothing, seriously. Just a little spat between roommates."
Phantom's voice fills her ear, "Grey Ghost used up all the hot water this morning."
Addison scoffed, "Brightburn - you have fire powers."
"Even if my powers worked that way - which they don't - it's the principle of the matter, Addison! It's like, roommate 101."
She sighed, "She better be un-handcuffed before shift starts - I mean it." She takes another moment to collect herself, "Look, I know Richard's set up this competition with the leaderboard but try not to let that get in the way of doing your jobs, okay? No doing anything stupid or restless just for a couple extra points."
Grey Ghost's rasp sends a chill down her spine, "Why do I feel like that's targeted?"
"Relax, Grey - I'm this tough on everyone."
As Addison expected, the competition clouds everyone's judgement. In the effort to make themselves look better and score higher, the team is unfocused and uncooperative. It starts when Glacier accidentally freezes Virtue in place while trying to redirect traffic; then Phantom and Hard Head spend so much time arguing that a jewellery thief gets away. Brainwave tries to show off while cleaning up debris from another team's fight with a villain and Brightburn threatens to kick her "pampered, Beverly Hills ass.". She doesn't have much hope when she sends Grey Ghost and Golden Guy to break up a brawl at Seahawks Stadium - she has even less hope when they somehow manage to escalate the brawl by refusing to work together and do it themselves.
"You know, this is really immature guys - you're not going to win this way. This competition is really stupid." She groans, massaging her temples.
Golden Guy comes in over comms, "No, it's not stupid. It's exactly what my mother had in mind when she came up with the leaderboard. Find some way to keep heroes motivated, make them take it to the next level - even if they're already at the top of their game. That's exactly what it's doing today."
A moment of silence, then Brainwave speaks up, "This message was brought to you by Superhero Dispatch Network. For more information, please go to www dot nepotism dot com."
Golden Guy groans as the rest of the team laughs. Addison suppresses a chuckle of her own. The remaining laughter dies down until Grey Ghost is the only one left giggling at the joke; Addison finds herself softening at the sound.
"Seriously though, I want that prize."
The channel is flooded with overlapping sounds of agreement.
The lack of team synergy continues - to even more disastrous results. Brainwave traps Golden Guy in one of her barriers on the way to a call (which she then fails on her own) and Virtue accidentally makes Phantom have a panic attack when they phase through a wall together. Her sanity was slightly restored when Brightburn and Glacier get in each other's way trying to catch the same perp that got away from Phantom and Hardhead, the fire and ice combining to create a very anticlimactic puddle that the fleeing drug dealer slips on. Her sanity is just as quickly taken from her when she sends Hard Head and Grey Ghost to resolve a burglary at end of shift.
The call initially goes fine: Hard Head charges in from the front while Grey Ghost sneaks in from the back to flank the burglar. Blows are quickly exchanged - Hard Head is far stronger but the burglar is far more agile. Grey Ghost inserts herself into the fray - overwhelming the criminal now that he had to deal with two attackers. It all goes wrong when a knife is pulled out. Hard Head incapacitates the attacker but only after Grey Ghost gets in over her head, reaching to strike and getting sliced as a result. She flicks through cameras anxiously, failing to get a good view no matter the feed, "Grey! Hard Head! What happened?"
Hard Head swings the burglar over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, scrunching the knife into a ball with his free hand, "Guy had a knife. He got Grey."
"I'm fine." She spits, clutching her forearm, fingers digging into her skin.
"Dude, your blood is on the freakin' carpet."
"It's just a flesh wound."
Addison groans into her hands, "Everybody in the conference room in twenty minutes."
She takes off her headset in a huff.
Teddy leans back in her chair, "Want me to get the first aid kit for Grey?"
"Please."
"They'll be fine - you just need a reset... A very hard reset."
The team is already seated at the table when she arrives - Teddy comes in just after her with the first aid kit in hand, Richard following at the more leisurely pace.
"Can we start already? There's like, 3 hours until our next shift and I wanna use that time doing something useful." Brainwave drawls.
Grey Ghost is seated next to her, tightening the bandage around her forearm, blood slowly trickling through the dressing, "Yeah - what's this even about?"
Addison rolls her eyes, "Look, I think we could all agree that this shift didn't go so well-"
"We weren't that bad." Glacier argues.
"No, we were pretty bad." Golden Guy laments.
Addison nods, "Exactly - you're all so caught up in this contest that you're forgetting the bigger picture here. This contest & this prize mean nothing if you're not out there doing your best. Fighting and trying to one up each other keeps everyone from doing their jobs and it puts lives at risk."
The room is silent, Addison continues.
"Most people would look around this room and see amateurs. Rookies way too in over their heads. I'd guess that's what your last three dispatchers saw. Lucky for you though, I'm not them; because when I look around this room... I see potential."
"Here we go." Phantom remarks.
"The bad thing about potential is that it's often put to waste, and people never forget it. It follows you when you leave the room, 'They had so much potential, it's really a shame'." She feels her throat tighten, she looks at Grey Ghost, "It follows you forever. I'm here to make sure you use that potential, and the best way you can do that is by working together."
Virtue raises her hand meekly, "But what about the contest?"
Addison grins, "I'm so glad you asked, Virtue." She turns to Richard and winks, "We've discussed it and we've actually decided to change the conditions."
Richard blinks, "We have?"
Teddy elbows him gently, "Oh, yes! We have!" Richard lies.
Addison turns to the window behind her and picks up a whiteboard marker. She writes a number.
"This is your combined score on the leaderboards."
She writes another number - a much higher one.
"This is the combined score of the next team up. If you want to win, your score needs to be higher by the end of the day."
"Then who wins?" Glacier asks.
"You all do. By sharing the prize as a team."
A collective groan is echoed through the conference room.
"Or we just stop the competition now. Your choice. We can give the other team the prize instead." Addison declares.
A collective "No, never mind." is uttered at once.
She smirks, "Good. Have a better second shift."
Teddy hands her the first aid kit with a smile as she, Richard and the team begin to filter out.
"Grey, stay for a minute."
The other woman walks over to her slowly, "What is it now?"
Addison looks down at her arm, the bandage almost fully red, compressed against the wound, "You're hurt."
"I'm fine."
"You need stitches."
"I'll just get Brightburn to seal it shut."
"If it's bleeding that much cautery's not ideal, come on - sit. That's an order."
Grey Ghost sighs, sinking into the nearest chair as Addison grabs the suture kit and snaps on a pair of gloves. She gently unwraps the bandage - the cut is deep, but didn't hit any major arteries.
"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" Grey Ghost asks.
Addison gently dabs the wound in disinfectant, "I went to medical school, so yeah - I am."
A pause, "You're a doctor? What the hell are you doing here, then?"
"They don't let walking fire hazards work in hospitals."
"Oh."
"Yeah."
Addison sutures in silence.
"Ow."
"You took the cut, you can take the stitch."
"Fantastic bedside manner, Dr Montgomery."
A glare, "How did this happen anyway?"
She sighs, "It's not as easy as it looks. I don't have powers to rely on. I can't just set tables on fire and fly away. I'm not Red Rocket."
Addison freezes, turning her head up to face Grey Ghost's smirking face.
"I knew it."
"Who did you tell?"
"No one, because I wasn't sure until now."
"Good. Keep it that way."
"What's the big deal? You're retired."
She returns to suturing, "You literally cover your face, Grey. You know just as well as I do how important it is."
A short, mirthless laugh, "This is just tradition. I practically am the mask."
Addison shakes her head, "You don't mean that."
"It's true! I mean, I kinda had a life before all this - I was distancing myself. But then... you know."
"You didn't have to do this, no one was forcing you."
A shrug, "This is the only thing I really know how to do. Not that I'm any good at it."
Her gaze sharpens, "You're doing fine. Reckless, but fine."
"What happened to me being an asshole?"
"You're still a complete asshole - but who cares as long as you get the job done?"
"You know the whole pep talk doesn't really work when you practically had a perfect career, right?"
"I wouldn't say perfect."
"Right - that Godzilla guy. I mean, you didn't die in the suit at least. That's good."
She scoffs, "The press would beg to differ."
"Fuck the press. They called me a legacy killer. They think I don't know my mother was a legend? The first hero without powers, without a mech suit, without anything. It's hard to live up to as is - I don't need other people telling me I'm doing it wrong, too."
Addison sighs, "That was different and you know it."
"Was it? From where I'm standing it's just more judgement."
"I have experience, they don't."
"So you can judge me and they can't?"
"So I can help you and they can't. If you would just listen."
They sit in silence.
Addison ties up her stitch and rewraps the wound, "Try not to get into any more knife fights, Grey."
She winks, "Don't worry, I like playing with fire better."
Addison takes a deep breath, cooling the inklings of flames as Grey Ghost strides out of the room, fighting the heat threatening to spill over.
To her relief, the second shift goes far better: Golden Guy & Hard Head prove themselves effective bodyguards for a foreign diplomat, Virtue & Brainwave de-escalate the second brawl at Seahawks Stadium. Brightburn successfully manages to disperse a cult gathering (by accidentally convincing them she's the devil), Glacier helps an old woman cross the road & Phantom tries (but fails) to scare a juvenile pickpocket straight while escorting him home.
"I'll take Golden Guy." Brainwave says.
"My money's on Glacier." Hard Head replies.
"I think I'll go with Brightburn on this one." Phantom chimes.
"Aw, thanks."
Addison chuckles, "What are you betting on?"
"Who gets the winning point this shift - winner gets like, 20 bucks." Golden Guy answers.
"What about the person who actually scores the points?"
Grey Ghost clears her throat, "They get free drinks tonight. We're not animals. Also, I'll bet on Hard Head."
"Addison, making any bets? Golden Guy and Virtue are boring so we've got room in the pool." Brightburn asks.
"Uh, I'll go Grey Ghost, I guess."
Hard Head scoffs, "You better hope that 7/11 gets robbed again."
When the call lights up her monitor, she grins.
"If I didn't know any better Hard Head, I'd say you were psychic."
"No way." He groans.
"Yes way. Grey - get over there. Don't worry, no guns this time."
The attempted robbery this time is much cruder - two attackers with metal bats, far more manageable.
Grey Ghost stands outside, hidden from view behind a car in the parking lot, "Any suggestions?"
"You're listening to me now?"
"Only if I like your ideas."
Addison rolls her eyes but can't help the smirk creeping up on her face, "What's in the utility belt?"
"A little bit of everything, really. Pepper spray, caltrops, a smoke bomb-"
"Use the smoke bomb."
"I have tear gas, too."
"The smoke bomb. Try to avoid harming the poor cashier."
"Aye-aye."
She watches as Grey Ghost approaches the store, bowling the small device into the group as the doors open. She loses her view.
"Grey! What's going on? I lost my visual."
She hears the sound of grunting and clattering, "Yeah, that's kind of the point of smoke bombs, dummy."
"Then tell me what's going on!"
More crashing, a yell and glass breaking, "One of them hit the other."
"That's good, that's-"
A loud thud.
"Grey!"
"I'm okay. That was the other guy."
It takes a few minutes for the smoke to clear, but when it does Addison sees it. Both attackers, unconscious and tied together.
"Good job, Grey."
"Couldn't have done it without you - those dummies couldn't fight blind."
"Most people can't."
"Did I get us over the point goal?"
Her eyes flick over to the leaderboard and watches as Grey Ghost shoots from eighth to third on the team.
"You did."
The rest of the team huddles around Addison's desk, waiting for Grey Ghost.
"Was it really fair to let Addison bet? She is the one controlling who goes where." Brainwave complains.
"You're just mad you're not getting anything." Hard Head remarks.
Grey Ghost saunters into the bullpen, the rest of the team greeting her enthusiastically.
Brightburn claps her on the back, "Come on, let's celebrate! Drinks tonight?"
"Not tonight - I'll cash in those free drinks later."
Virtue pouts, "Really?"
"Yeah. Not feeling it."
Phantom clears his throat, "Addison? You wanna grab drinks with us?"
"I'm okay, thanks. Still need to file some paperwork." She lies.
The rest of the team walk away from the two of them, the sounds of conversation slowly fading.
Addison coughs, "Happy?"
"The call went well - but the last time I thought that you set a table on fire."
"That was because you made a bad decision."
"I still disagree."
She takes a deep breath, forcibly extinguishing the embers beginning to dance on her skin, "Look, you had a good call today - take the win."
Grey smacks her lips, "You have serious control issues, you know that?"
Addison chuckles - quickly, mirthlessly - "And you have an attitude problem."
Grey steps closer, "Is that so?"
Addison enters her personal space, "Oh, I know so."
Grey's eyes flit down to her lips.
"Don't even think about it."
"About what?"
Addison works her jaw, "Are you capable of listening to me or was that recent display an exception?"
Grey's eyes remain on Addison's lips, "I don't know, you tell me."
She realises that they are the only two left in the building.
Grey bites her lip when she kisses her, she can taste the iron filling her mouth. They knock teeth as Addison pushes her against the desk.