Keeper stared and Silver stared back.

"Can I...pet him?" he finally asked and Taylor looked at Silver, who panted.

"Up to him, he can think for himself." she said and Keeper held out his hand to the wolf who sniffed at it before licking it, looking delighted at a certain spot.

"Ah the good old 'pizza sauce on the glove' trick, gets them every time." he explained and sat back in his office chair, calmly sweeping paperwork off the side, where it joined more on the floor.

Taylor took the time to really look at the man, the leader of Australia's cape force, which on the way down from the roof, didn't look like much.

Keeper's hockey mask was wide at the eyes, letting far more expression through than a normal mask which was odd, if anyone knew Keeper in civilian guise, then they would be able to spot him easily.

His suit was a dark red with yellow gloves and boots, a small bandanna tied around his forearm completed the look, thankfully he wore cargo trousers.

No skin tight panties in sight. Which was a bad thing, Taylor told herself.

Keeper's tight suit top showed off some rather impressive effort in self-care.

"So, your face is all pinched, so I gotta assume you need the bathroom or you're thinking too hard, come on, I invited you here to get assurance and feel better about not blowing us up, so ask away." he said and his voice was kinda gruff, but in a amused way.

"This place seems small for the entire Australian cape hero population. Does this country not get many triggers?" she asked, the first thing popping into her mind.

Kisara was fascinated by a snow globe on Keeper's desk. She was making little noises of delight each time she turned it upside down but paused to looked up, waiting for the answer.

Atlas was...well, he was raiding Keeper's waste bin, the man didn't seem to mind and he dropped the bug a pizza crust.

Atlas nearly squealed in delight at the offering, he clicked for more and Keeper obliged, pulling out an alarming amount of crusts from his desk drawer, Atlas went still in anticipation.

"Hm people notice that but no, not really. Half the paper in this room is applications for the Guardians. We have options but..." he trailed off as he stared off into the distance, sounding a bit odd.

"We tried the American route once, The Defenders program, we accepted most who came...but it ended in tears and blood, too many unsolved problems, broken people coming to find something to mend themselves and we didn't have what they wanted. The system quickly became a thing of corruption, people were getting away with things because they were heroes, people ignored they were humans under the costume." he said and leaned back further in his chair.

Taylor tried to think of a hero getting away with something in her city...nothing jumped out but if it was all swept under a rug...then how would she ever know?

Then again if she started thinking like that, she could easily start to distrust anyone in spandex.

"What happened?" she asked and Keeper blinked, looking like he forgot Taylor was there for a second.

"I arrested three members of the Defenders, people I trusted to watch my back in a fight, when I dug a little and found out they were taking over investigations, taking over cases they had no right to, ignoring any bargaining or surrender orders and just blasting their way into a fight, coming out bloody, mostly on their fists, and roaring at the cameras...they loved it." Keeper said and Taylor stared as he looked at a symbol in a picture frame, hanging on the wall by its lonesome.

A shield with arm and sword crossed over it.

"I beat them all down and handed them to Dragon myself, knowing only the Birdcage could handle them, they refused to back down and there was a lot of damage...some that could never be paid back. Handy since the prison is international, not that the Americans like to spread that about, which is funny since Dragon claims she's based in Canada. I told the Governor-General to tear the program down, I could see others had already done the same, and any threats or attempts to strip them of that power would end up with more fighting so the whole thing was disbanded, people scattered." he mused and Taylor sat there, not sure what to really say.

Keeper's eyes brightened.

"About 5 years ago, I convinced powers that be, we should try again but this time, we do it our way. So we created a new system for the entire country, the Guardians obtained the powers of the old Defenders, high government access, cushy paycheck, yadda yadda but to join, you have to complete a course in the local police academy or station if the town is small and move up like a normal officer but in costume." he told her, looking excited at the history lesson.

Taylor leaned forward and tried not to smile at his enthusiasm, it wasn't annoying like some people could get, but this was Keeper's passion.

"Did it work?" she asked and Atlas squirmed under Taylor's legs, his tiny head resting on her shoe.

"A lot better, because we fixed one little thing, we added the human element, the Guardian force has a sister force called Watcher, this is where we send our thinkers, some tinkers and strangers, which gave me the idea of how to stop capes, heroes, from becoming gods in their own mind," Keeper sounded like he was grinning, "From signing up to the Guardians program, all capes have non-cape partner until they graduate, a two-year program that educated and lets them get practise in handling the public, the law, and emergencies. A thinker or ranged fighter would get a cadet, training to be a police officer or a brute would have a dispatcher or a sniper from the army covering them." he told Taylor and a woman walked in.

"You texted, oh great and mighty one?" she said and looked casual in her dress suit and heels, the domino mask framing her face was simplistic and black, her hair a blonde knot.

"Tartarus, meet my partner from my own stint in the program, code-named for her safety, Book." he introduced dramatically and Taylor waved a little hello and Book stared at her, then at the monsters.

"Hello. One second sweetheart." she said politely and walked up to Keeper before grabbing his shoulders and began shaking him hard.

"Hey, ass! I sorted this paperwork this morning, and where is it? On the fecking floor! Seriously, do you think I have nothing better to do than clean up after your sorry ass, ugh you piss me off, I want a pay rise for dealing with you." she growled and Keeper gave her a thumbs up.

"If you want to sleep with the boss for it, I'd be happy to oblige." he flirted, making Taylor turn slightly red and Book put her heel on his yellow boot.

"Keeper, oh sir, how about you kiss my ass and hope my gun isn't loaded instead?" she sneered and Keeper looked back at Taylor.

"See, I am all humble pie, other partners have varied results. Some part pretty quickly and others stick together. Book and I have been kicking ass from when the Guardians first formed.

Book was picking up the paper on the floor and growled.

"When they announced I was working with you, the ex-leader of the Defenders, top tier cape and tactical genius, I was excited." she grumbled and Taylor petted Silver's hair absently mindedly, which felt oddly smooth, had to ask.

"What happened?"

Book looked up at Keeper who was spinning in his chair.

"I met him..." she whispered, sounding defeated and then stood, putting the pile of paperwork back onto the desk.

"Don't mess these up and don't summon me to show me off, I have better things to do." Book told Keeper who shrugged.

"As thy command oh hot one." he bowed and Book made a noise of disgust and left the room. Taylor felt bad for smiling.

"So every cape has a human partner? To...encourage relationships between capes and non-capes?" she asked and Keeper nodded and began flicking through the paperwork.

"Pretty much, if the cape tries to solve a crime by themselves in an exam and the partner is left behind, we usually fake a kidnapping or injury or something, informing the cape they failed by rushing in or trying to click their fingers and blowing something up. The partner system is more than to show a good sign of working together, its to help dozens of normal people, share a room, eat, bathe, survive in the wilderness, share a bank account with and succeed together with a cape. To show that capes are not beings of some untouchable level, and for capes to see that people...even one is worth fighting for." Keeper told her and Taylor imagined Armsmaster or Shadow Stalker being tied with someone, have to put up with it to be someone fmaous...

It was funny.

"But what happens if a cape thinks its too much effort or they think they don't need the training, or their power isn't safe to use around people?" Kisara asked slightly amused, making Taylor jump and go red when she looked at the woman

She hadn't been petting Silver.

The wolf looked at with sad eyes and drooped at the lack of pets.

Taylor quickly remedied that.

"Hm happens a lot, but we offer other deals. Government bodyguards, tourist protection on the wild life walks, construction, business plan predictors, and even a school teacher once." Keeper said, and Taylor felt impressed.

"What about villains?" she pushed and Keeper sighed.

"Sadly, we have our fair share of-" he began and the door burst open showing the bird woman from the island and the roof, Blue had made her shut up but it seemed she was braver down her, Taylor noted.

Atlas hissed at her and she glared at him, which made Taylor want to deck her.

"Sir, I have to object to this." she said and Keeper calmly looked at her and nodded.

"I hear your objection and have decided that it's immature and lacking any reason and thus will choose to ignore it, please file a complaint form at your own discretion." Keeper said and Osprey glowed red, with a full on second skin almost stretching over her.

"Keeper, this girl blew up a city! She's shown no restraint in her whims and has also hurt and fought Slinger, twice, without any consequences. I have to object that you are ignoring her crimes because she has potentially strong powers!" she stated and Keeper stood very slowly.

"Osprey...enough. Come with me, this is becoming an issue and I really...don't want an issue. Since you're so keen, let's do it your way, meet me in the arena in five. You even touch me and I'll take Tartarus here somewhere else and explain things, and I'll let Slinger try for the exam...if..you touch me." he offered and his gruff tone had dissolved into a blade's edge.

Osprey's jaw tightened and she turned on the spot.

"Fine." she spat and Taylor looked between them, Atlas curled around her leg as Kisara moved aside from Taylor's back, where she had leaped to protect her.

Even Silver's fur had bristled.

The room darkened suddenly and Taylor stared with everyone else as Blue's head, upside down peered in at them from outside the window, checking up on the source of Taylor's sudden alertness.

After a second, Blue snorted, steaming up the glass and pulled her head back onto the roof, vanishing from sight.

"Come Tarus, might as well give you the tour as we go." Keeper sighed and walked out the room, Taylor followed, fidgeting, her monsters on her heel.

"I don't know what I did-" she began but Keeper suddenly stopped walking.

"You did nothing, ya hear me little miss? Osprey would have found someone later to chew out, you aren't was got her panties in a bunch, so don't sweat it." he promised and Taylor nodded, not sure if she believed him.

But he looked so...relaxed.

"Taylor...I think we are about to see a child put in her place." Kisara remarked and smiled a little viciously. Taylor felt that too.

But not even getting hit?

That was a big claim.

Atlas chittered and Taylor picked him up, letting him wrap himself around her torso for support. She was ready for anything, except for the man in the Hyena mask to run through the hall hollering at the top of his voice in every direction as he went.

"FIGHT! Keeper is fighting Osprey! Place yer bets now! One, two or three minutes? How long will the lady of the skies last?" he belted out and people rushed him from every cubicle and door.

Keeper ignored them all.

"-and this is our kitchen, it has a mini fridge!" he claimed with a happy tone.

Taylor saw Book approaching with murder in her eyes and she took a step back.

"Huh? What's up kid? Cat got your- OH GOD I NEED THOSE!" he screamed and Book leaned close.

"Not when I'm done with you." she promised.

-