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Patricia blinked, stunned. Grace’s offer was unexpected, and she didn’t know how to respond. She simply stared at the portal for a moment. Of course she wouldn’t leave Castleburg. It was her home. She had only suggested going to Chainstown because… well, she had been hoping it would all blow over. That everything would go back to normal soon, because, well, there were other heroes in the world- ICOSA would certainly fix it, bring Seraph to justice so that they wouldn’t have to. But Patricia was wrong. The entire world was against them, against [i]her[/i]. There was no one to save them but her and her friends, and the possibility that they might be wrongfully imprisoned and never exonerated seemed to be… too high for comfort. But she could leave. There was an opportunity, right here, and it might be her only one- to say goodbye to Castleburg, to this nightmare, for good. She could walk free. She could become a new person, unburdened by the crimes of her father and her own power. The idea was tempting.

But Patricia couldn’t imagine living out the rest of her years without the people she loved. Without the job she loved. Without the city she loved. And her mom… Patricia’s heart broke to think of what would happen if she left. So it wasn’t even a choice. 

Patricia wiped her teary eyes, as Grace had said, drew herself up, and spoke again. [color=MediumOrchid] “You’re an idiot if you think I’m leaving now,”[/color] she told Grace, trying to sound as strong as possible. [color=MediumOrchid]“I- I couldn’t go to [i]Australia[/i] while you and everybody else are fighting those bastards. No way.”[/color] Patricia grasped Grace’s hand in hers, squeezing it. [color=MediumOrchid] “I’m not about to leave all the people I love. My mom, my girlfr- I-I mean, Eliza, you, Brie… you’re all here. If I left, I’d never be able to see any of you again. I love you all too much to just- to just up and leave. I couldn’t give up hero work, either. I couldn’t stop using my power.”[/color] 

[color=MediumOrchid]“And you’re right, Grace. I did make a commitment. And maybe it wasn’t meant to last through a coup and being framed for mass murder, but I wasn’t planning on breaking it today. So close that damn portal, because I’m not leaving. I’m scared, yeah- terrified, really- but I’m no coward. You can count on me.”[/color]

Patricia’s eyes welled up with tears again, and she tackled Grace in a full-force hug. [color=MediumOrchid]“Now let’s beat those bastards. Together.”[/color] Patricia held her there for a moment, squeezing the skinny girl hard. Then, she separated herself from her friend, and wiped her tears from her eyes. [color=MediumOrchid]“Now, before we do anything else, we probably need to deal with that cop downstairs before he storms up here and arrests us. What should we do?”[/color] Patricia looked up at Grace, eyes still scared but with a determined glint in them.

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