Not gonna lie, the pictures might be fuel to the fire for the theory that Sophia does have feelings for Emma. I mean, we didn’t really hear anything about that in 9.6, but it’s still possible – it’s not like Lily’s narration screamed “I LIKE PARIAN” either, as obvious as it gradually became. Same with Taylor’s budding romantic feelings for Brian.

He found a picture of Shadow Stalker – Sophia – with her family.  Her mom looked younger and far less tired there, and was pregnant.

Four years ago, maybe?

Shadow Stalker looked twelve or so, and her brother looked sixteen or seventeen, sporting a fantastic looking afro and a less fantastic attempt at a moustache.

Nice.

They were clustered around one another, but only the mom was smiling.

I suppose smiling isn’t really this family’s thing.

Regent’s eyes fell on the man who was cut out of the photo, only his hand on the mom’s shoulder, and a sliver of his torso and leg were visible at the edge of the picture.

Ahh, I guess that would explain a bit. The dad leaving would be why the mom has to take two jobs now, which in turn is why she’s so much more tired now.

Regent found her room, then shut the door.  It was small, old-fashioned, with wood paneling on the walls.

Apparently not. Room it is, then.

The furniture was limited to a twin-sized bed, a vanity with a mirror, candles and cosmetics littering the top, a bookshelf and a combination computer desk and dresser with a computer and a printer perched on top.  The wall behind the pictures showed Shadow Stalker with a redheaded girl.  There were a lot of photos with them laughing.  Emma?

Not a bad room.

“Emma?” he asked.  That slight alteration in her heartbeat and her breathing told him he was right.

Seems they’re pretty damn close. I mean, we kinda knew that already, but I wasn’t expecting pictures in her room. Maybe that’s just because that’s not something I ever did with my friends, though.

Regent quirked an eyebrow, “Oops.”

“What are you doing, Sophia?  Do you want to go to jail?”

“I’m bored,” Regent replied.

And jail would of course be less boring…

“You do not have the right to complain about something like being bored!  I work two jobs for you three!  I put in overtime, I attend every school function, I come into the office every time you get reprimanded because you’ve got anger issues!  You aren’t even taking care of your sister, or helping out around this house!  What do you think-”

I suppose it’s fitting that Regent, the guy who can sense nervous systems and send impulses through them, knows how to hit a nerve.

“And now you’re making me even more bored,” Regent cut her off.

Holy crap.

The mother slapped Sophia so hard that her head turned to one side.  Her cheek burned.

Ouch.

“Don’t you dare,” the mother intoned.

Shadow Stalker stood at Regent’s directions, then pointed the crossbow at the mother.

Oh cod.

It’s still in character and I’m not sure that’s a comforting thing.

The woman’s eyes widened, and she hurried to back away as Shadow Stalker advanced.  They stopped when the mother’s back was to the wall by the kitchen door, with Shadow Stalker’s crossbow bolt pressed against her throat.

I mean, I don’t think the regular Shadow Stalker would do this to her mom, but it’s still eerily like her.

“I think I’m done with listening to you whinge,” Regent whispered.

“Whinge”? *looks up* Huh. Never heard that synonym to “whine” before.

“What are you doing?  What’s wrong with you?”

“Like you said,” Regent shrugged, “Anger problems.  I promise you, you don’t have the slightest idea of what I go through.”

Ahaha, the dramatic irony of that statement right now is rich.

“It’s a pain in the ass,” Regent said.  He pulled off Shadow Stalker’s mask and started tapping the edge against the table, idly.

“It’s the rules in my house!  If it’s going to keep you out of prison and on the straight and narrow, fine.  But I will not have you glorifying violence-”

The mother stopped mid-sentence as Regent opened Shadow Stalker’s mouth in a very real yawn.

Holy shit, Regent. The best part is it all sounds in-character.

Funny that his other self yawned as well, in that sympathetic reaction to someone else yawning.

Hah!

The mother slapped the mask from Sophia’s hand.  It clattered to the ground.  “Listen to me!”

“Whatever,” Regent drew a crossbow and turned it over in his hands.

Jeez.

The mother stared at it.  Her voice was hushed as she spoke, “That doesn’t look like the tranquilizer dart the Director showed me.”

…oh boy, as if he wasn’t already getting Sophia in trouble. Damn, Regent, you’re good at this.

The woman stepped between Shadow Stalker and Terry, a look of fury on her face, “Sophia!  Kitchen.  Now!”

Hm. Did she know, but not the rest of the family?

With a swagger, Regent walked Shadow Stalker into the kitchen.  There was a flurry of hissed words between Terry and Shadow Stalker’s mother.  Among them was a surprised, hurt, “You knew!?”

Oh boy, Regent’s really stirring up some shit here.

Regent sat down at the kitchen table and put her feet up.  Dirty water pooled on the table’s surface.

It was nearly a minute before the mother came storming into the kitchen.  She pushed Shadow Stalker’s feet off the table.

Yeah, we’ve got a pissed one over here.

Like mother like daughter, I guess, if this sort of temper is normal for her.

“Explain!” she demanded.

“What?” Regent lifted one shoulder in a shrug.

“We had a deal.  You could do this thing of yours, but your siblings were not to know!”

Regent fucked things up for Sophia simply by walking in the door… Maximum reward, minimum effort.

Terry moved to pick up the child, who was looking increasingly concerned over the raised emotions and the strange person in their hallway.  Regent reached out and grabbed Terry’s arm.

…I think Regent remembered the name, too, and decided Terry should be present for whatever he intends to do. Which might be taking off the mask.

“Chill, bro,”  Regent was making a guess here.  From the way the boy stared at Shadow Stalker, he knew he’d hit the mark.

Hah.

“Sophia!?”

“Yeah,” Regent grinned behind her mask.  “Duh, moron.”

Nice work.

He walked her through the front door, felt rising anger and worry from his host.

That anger and worry peaked when a young man, nineteen or twenty, stepped from the living room to the front hall, heading towards the kitchen, and saw her.  The man stopped and stared.

Boyfriend, perhaps? One who is unaware of Shadow Stalker’s cape identity, maybe?

“Mom!”  He shouted.

A tired looking middle-aged woman entered from the kitchen, holding a four-year old girl in her arms.  Regent had grown up around lots of kids.  He liked to think he was a good judge of ages.

Or maybe he’s Sophia’s brother?

That said, it seems a bit unlikely that Sophia’s parents don’t know she’s a Ward… though unlike someone like Dennis, Sophia didn’t start out as a hero. Maybe she refused to let the PRT inform her parents?

The woman stared at Shadow Stalker, then turned, “Terry, take your sister upstairs.”

“But-”

“Now!” the woman barked.

Whatever the case is, these people don’t seem to be very happy about seeing Shadow Stalker. Maybe it’s because of her reputation, or maybe there’s more to it.

But also, Terry was one of the people on Sophia’s contact list, so there’s clearly some relation.

Thirty-five, thirty-four, thirty-three.  It was a residential area.  The houses here weren’t in the best shape, and a lot of houses had trash or belongings in the yard.  Thirty-three Stonemast avenue had a toddler’s toys sitting on the front lawn.  The hedges between the property and the neighbors was overgrown, and the tree at the front of the property looked dead.

Not the best-looking of places, huh.

It might have seemed deserted, but someone had taken up the effort of picking up the detritus the tidal wave had brought in and piling it at the front corner of the lawn, by the driveway.

Never mind, it looks wonderful!