Lucas watched it with Venus. She had long crossed the line from loud anger into stone-cold rage, and it showed.
"I will kill him." - Said Lucas, as if discussing the weather - "I will kill him and nobody will be able to punish me for it."
Venus had to refrain from stepping back.
"Lucas, calm down."
Venus this time sounded ancient, powerful and eldritch, having released some of her own power to contain Lucas's own.
It did what it had to, which was give Lucas pause.
"First of all, you and I both know you wouldn't do it. There's a reason I entrusted you with that sword, and it's not because you would, as you put it, use it like a club. Second of all, trust me, he will get his comeuppance, maybe even with your help, but, though it may hurt, and though it hurts me as well, for that mermaid, like all women, is my daughter, we must know when not to act."
"But..."
"Lucas, his father is a high-level employee of a powerful media corporation. He, like his son, fears the changed for their power. The only reason that mermaid is even allowed in his pool is that Razor's mother is more open-minded and the mermaid's sister is a friend of the family. Suppose you, a changed, go there and harm his son. What then? Would you protect all changed from the backlash he'd make sure would ensue?"
"Dammit..." - Lucas muttered.
"The power of the element of Water is one of potential, yes." - Said Venus - "With it, with work, you can bring about the world you wish. But the question is... What world do you wish to see? I believe you want a free world. Not a world that is under your control..."
"Why should I allow people to suffer?" - Asked Lucas.
"Because many other people might if you don't, Lucas..." - Said Venus.
"That kind of thinking was once applied to me. I didn't tolerate it then and I don't now..." - Said Lucas, though her anger, by now, was much more subdued.
"Them, Lucas, you will later be able to make reparations and retributions to your heart's desire, but, for now, you must let this play out." - Said Venus - "Lest you wish to leave the world in fear of what the changed in general and you in particular might do. Lest you wish to become the Superman of this new era, the one everyone calls to for help, whatever the reasons. The one charged with ensuring the rest of the world 'plays nice'. The world's babysitter."
Lucas sighed. The power she now wielded felt heavy, much more a burden than anything else.
"You were powerless once, Lucas. You know what you do when you cannot or should not use direct power." - Said Venus - "You plan."
"I am sorry." - Said Lucas sighing.
"Don't be. It is true that I did not give you this power for you to use it indiscriminately. However, I did make sure to grant Excalibur itself to someone that would react strongly to injustice and oppression. I cannot fault you for a characteristic I sought."
"I still don't think I'm worthy of this power." - Said Lucas.
"And that's what makes you worthy of it." - Said Venus.
"Thanks..." - Said Lucas as she sat, pensively.
Planning.
