Suiting up

Who: Porter
Where: his room
When: evening

There was a faint squeak before the tiny body went still, claws no longer scratching at the palm of Porter's hand. In the wake of the mouse's struggle came just the barest hint of relief; a minute tickle of energy bleeding up his arm and into his chest before Porter turned his hand over and dropped the now-dead mouse into the garbage.

It landed inaudibly atop the still bodies of another eleven just like it, the remnants of Porter's night ever since he'd finally gotten his parents to give him some time to himself. The day had been a blur of emergency services, rescue workers, frantic questions from his parents, and the stunning news reports. Really, it was still too much for Porter to process, so he was coping with a mixture of denial and feeding.

They were alive, and he knew that was what mattered most, but there was a whole host of nagging doubts inside. What was being done about the girl who'd died? Or the demons themselves? Who was Medea, really? What was she?

As confusing as the questions were, focusing on them and the trickles of life force from each mouse kept Porter from admitting what his subconscious kept whispering. I want another demon. Somehow, for some reason, the power he drew from supernaturals was so much more potent and satisfying. He knew the moon was full, and the idea of hunting was fleetingly tempting, but for the thought that he'd be gutted like a fish when he finally found a shapeshifter.

The mice would have to do. Grabbing another from the box the pet store sold them in, Porter flinched as it chewed at his finger for an instant before his grip tightened and another pulse of life flared up his arm. Thirteen... better buy more tomorrow. Of course, tomorrow was still a ways off, and today had an agenda all it's own.

He couldn't assume that there wouldn't be another time like the hospital, where trouble loomed large and he needed to be ready to fight. Which was where the internet came in handy, at least as far as research and shopping went, it definitely did.

Somehow, he'd missed out on all kinds of things that Porter hadn't thought he'd ever ignore. Technology was always advancing, after all, so it only made sense that in some ways it would edge closer and closer to things he could connect with his superheroes. Things like body armor.

He'd started his hunt where any kid trying to be more of a badass would: with Batman. It didn't take much digging to find details about the fairly realistic details behind the armor, and with a little more Porter was able to find exactly what he was looking for. Granted, plates of kevlar bi-weave weren't anywhere near cheap, especially not for three sets, but what was money against coming out with his limbs intact?

Carter is gonna be pissed, he thought with a smirk as he punched in his credit card information, then flipped over to another site. Kaysen would probably be pissed too when she found out, she didn't seem like she ever liked getting gifts. But this was less a gift, and more a survival tool. At least Tad'll be happy, I hope, Porter mused as he dropped the dead mouse from his hand, grabbed another, and settled in for a long night of surfing.