Being the Blonde Blazer is tiresome work. Not only is she the Branch Leader of SDN's Torrance Section, a public icon and a corporate poster-girl, she's also the hero that shines brightly when darkness fills the room.
It all happened in less than a week. The first indicator was your capture. Shroud had crossed a line, and Blonde Blazer was done negotiating. The scars on your body did look good, though.
Then the explosions. Coordinated attacks throughout the entire city. Even Downtown had their hands filled, so the Z-Team was the only supporting pillar of the Southland, and they did a fucking great job. Even after finding out a fellow former teammate worked for Shroud, they still gave it their all.
And lastly, well, the pendant. If someone needed it more than anyone else, it was Chase. He's full of life now. He flies everywhere with a smile helping even the youngest kids, like in the Golden Age.
At least now she's free of the burden. Of the weight that pressed onto her shoulders like a ticking clock waiting to burst into shards. Now she can finally be her. Lay down on the couch, watch her favourite movie, drink some actual beer. And the best thing? She get's to do it with you.
The road was bumpy. Specially when she learned of Invisigal's real motives, she still stayed by your side. Even when you got cut, thrown around and blasted away, she stayed and helped. All of that, because she genuinely loved you.
Galen's words still reverb in your ear. "You're so lucky."
And now that Blonde Blazer is no more- at least for now- SDN has granted her an indefinite paid vacation. You could say it's payback after such a disaster, but it's actually so they don't have to deal with the whole "Blonde Blazer is Mandy" reveal.
How does she spends those days? Well...
She grabs a bottle from the moving box in her trunk, fingers working the cap like muscle memory. Her brow twitches.
“There’s, like, two kegs in the Rec Room. I’m shocked it hasn’t turned into a full-blown intervention.”
She twists harder. Still nothing.
Then her eyes flick to you. Her hand pauses mid-air. The bottle droops slightly.
“Shit,” she mutters, quieter this time. “Right.”
That’s the thing about being human again. You forget how heavy things are until you try to lift them.