(walking up to the tower hero floor on Mosaic’s glass platforms)
ESTEE
Y’know, Mosaic, you could use a bit of a makeover.
APOLLO
Excuse me?
ESTEE
You just look very… villainous, still.
PATRICK
Heroes don’t wear all black.
APOLLO
Hey, my mask is colorful!
PATRICK
I guess acknowledging the LGBT+ community is heroic.
APOLLO
Wha- No, it’s supposed to look like a stained glass mosaic. Did- Did you really not know that?
PATRICK
So you don’t support the gays?
JUDE
(weak laughter) Oh man, Mosaic’s homophobic now.
APOLLO
(laughing) Don’t put that on me!
ESTEE
(giggles) All I’m saying is, you’re due for an aesthetic change. (jokingly) You could even add in some Pride tchotchke to prove you’re not homophobic.
APOLLO
Something tells me you’re not going to let this go.
ESTEE
Probably not.
(they climb through the window)
VAL
What the hell was that?
APOLLO
Oh boy.
ESTEE
😅 Heh, what do you mean?
VAL
I mean, why did I just watch Mosaic let a villain go free on live television? Why did Pat help rob a fucking bank? Why is Solis- Wait, fuck, Solis, that’s a lot of blood. Are you okay?
JUDE
(weakly) Fine.
(Solis passes out, Mosaic catches them)
APOLLO
Oh, fuck.
ESTEE
Hey, nice catch! 😁
VAL
(sigh) Mosaic, DT, take them to the medical bay. There should be at least a few people there to take care of them. Sentinel… Let’s go watch the educational video about not falling for villains’ tricks again.
PATRICK
Aw, man.
(Estee and Mosaic take Solis to the medbay)
APOLLO
I- I didn’t think- I- Gah-
ESTEE
Take your time!
APOLLO
…I didn’t realize… how… dangerous your job was.
ESTEE
(laughs) What do you mean? You’re in the super business, too.
APOLLO
Yeah, but battling heroes is… safer. Heroes don’t like killing. Villains, on the other hand…
ESTEE
Oh. (solemnly) Yeah, it’s… it can be dangerous. Solis probably gets hurt the most out of all of us, without a relevant power to back them up.
APOLLO
I… I never tried to kill them.
ESTEE
(gently) I know, Mosaic. You two have always been… different with each other.
APOLLO
I… They… I don’t like seeing them like this.
ESTEE
Hey, they’ll be okay, I promise! Our medics are top-tier. Besides, I’ve never seen Solis not bounce back.
APOLLO
…I guess.
(door opens, they walk into the medbay, Jude wakes up)
JUDE
(tiredly) W-What happened..?
APOLLO
You passed out, idiot.
(Nurse walks over)
NURSE
Ah, Solis. Let me just check your chart here… Wait, why are you even here?
APOLLO
Uh, because they’re bleeding out?
NURSE
Don’t they have a healing power? (Realization) Oh, you probably need someone to-
JUDE
No! No, nope, I do not have a healing power, must be a clerical error. J-Just some bandages will do, I’m sure.
NURSE
😒 I’d say stitches, at least. Are you sure you don’t want to just-
JUDE
I’m sure!
NURSE
Right. Well, come over here, then.
(they unsteadily walk away)
APOLLO
Well, that was weird.
ESTEE
Eh, Solis has always been cagey about their power.
APOLLO
Uh, what? I didn’t know they had a power! I thought they just used gadgets.
ESTEE
Yeah, mostly. I’ve never once seen them actually use their power, I don’t even know what it is—but Val insists that they have one.
APOLLO
Huh. Weird. Well, uh- You think they’ll be okay? I kind of left what I was doing in a hurry, and, uh, I should probably go back to it…
ESTEE
Oh, yeah, go ahead! I’ll stay with them, don’t worry.
APOLLO
Thank you, Estee.
ESTEE
No problem, Mosaic! See ya!
-SCENE CUT-
(door opens)
NEVAEH
Apollo.
APOLLO
(exasperated) Here we go.
NEVAEH
Why were you arguing with Sydney? She was trying to help you.
APOLLO
She almost ruined my plan!
NEVAEH
What plan, bud? What are you actually trying to gain here? Because so far, you’ve got nothing.
APOLLO
I’ve got Double Trouble’s civilian identity.
NEVAEH
Sorry, what?
APOLLO
Yeah.
NEVAEH
Holy shit, now that’s something! Come on then, let’s hear it.
APOLLO
I… don’t actually think I should tell you.
NEVAEH
You… don’t think… you should tell me.
APOLLO
…Yeah.
NEVAEH
Interesting. Get out.
APOLLO
Wha- Get out!?
NEVAEH
Yes. If you’re going to betray your best fucking friends and your very own sister, then get the fuck out.
APOLLO
I’m not betraying you! Jesus Christ, you’re overreacting.
NEVAEH
I’m overreacting? You are pretending to be in love with your archnemesis! Tell me how my little brother becoming a goddamn hero does not warrant this kind of reaction from me.
APOLLO
It’s… It’s all part of the plan! I need to gain their trust first. If you all suddenly know DT’s identity then they’ll know I’ve been feeding you info.
NEVAEH
Apollo. What… are you trying… to gain?
APOLLO
…Solis’ identity. Once I know Solis’ identity, I can take them out at the source. They won’t be able to bother me anymore.
NEVAEH
Ha! You wouldn’t even know what to do as a villain without Solis to counter you, you’ve been fighting them since you first started. Don’t lie to me.
APOLLO
I’m serious, Nevaeh. Once I take down Solis, we’ll be at a huge advantage over the Paragons. We can take over Houridge once and for all.
NEVAEH
…Fine. Jesus Christ, fine. You’d better be telling the truth about this, asshole.
APOLLO
I am, but thanks so much for believing in me, sis.
NEVAEH
Goddammit, Apollo, don’t fight me on this, I have a right to be suspicious. You can stay, but-
APOLLO
Maybe I don’t want to stay anymore! You never admit when you’re in the wrong, you always pretend you’ve been right from the start when sometimes you simply haven’t been. Maybe I don’t wanna stay with someone who would kick me out just because of who I’m dating.
NEVAEH
(scoffs) It’s a little more complicated than that, Apollo. Come on.
APOLLO
No, fuck you. I’m crashing at a friend’s place for the night. Maybe I’ll come back tomorrow.
NEVAEH
What- What friend, even!?
APOLLO
None of your business. Bye!
(door slams shut)
APOLLO
(talking to himself) Fuck. Fuck. Who the fuck am I going to stay with?
(walking quickly down the stairs)
APOLLO
Oh god. I might have to sleep at the tower in my villain get-up. That would be mortifying.
(walking outside)
APOLLO
…I could call Jude.
(stops walking)
APOLLO
…Fuck it. I’m calling Jude.
(phone dial, ringing)
JUDE
(weakly) Hello?
APOLLO
Jude, I- It’s Apollo.
JUDE
Oh, h-hey. What’s up?
APOLLO
I, um. I know this is a big ask.
JUDE
Hey, it’s okay, you can ask me anything!
APOLLO
I… need somewhere to stay for the night. I don’t suppose you have a spare room?
JUDE
I do, actually! Um, but I’m not home right now… I can probably be home in like half an hour.
APOLLO
Oh shit, really? You’re a lifesaver, Jude.
JUDE
(weak laughter) I’ll text you the address. See you soon, Apollo.
(hangs up)
APOLLO
Oh fuck. Okay. This is… big, right? God, ey’re so nice. I have to be the best house guest. (deep breath) Alright, Apollo… You’ve got this. You’re just staying the night with a new friend. Everything will be fine.
(starts walking again)
APOLLO
Everything will be fine.
