You know, I'm almost hesitant to mention it, because you're already doing so many other fics, but I had a story idea that should be right up your alley
Ack.
The idea came to me after reading this chunk of story:
Ironypus's psychonautics on SpaceBattles said:
Could a parahuman even become a police officer? I didn't remember hearing if that had ever happened before. The Protectorate existed, but they were usually only called out to deal with parahuman criminals, only dealing with non-parahuman crime if they came across it while out on patrol or if it was something particularly big like all out gang warfare. I knew that some rogues had started a private investigation firm in New York, or that others were sometimes hired as security, but the closest capes got to cops were being independent heroes like Cassie and I who would go after any type of criminal. And that wasn't particularly close, we were basically vigilantes saved only by our Protectorate affiliation.
I'd have to check if there was a law against it.
The idea is this:
After Taylor Triggers in the locker, she's really impressed by the police detective that stops by to interview her at in the hospital, they form a bit of a bond.
Sophia's PRT handler steps in to derail the investigation once Sophia's name enters into things, thanks to all the laws the PRT has in place to protect the identities of Wards. No one else in the PRT finds out thanks to her meddling. The detective is left helpless to do anything, or even tell Taylor
why the investigation was halted. Taylor takes this as one more case of authority failing her.
Taylor later, but before going out for the first time, discovers through her bugs that Sophia is Shadow Stalker. She tries to go to Blackwell with this info to
finally have something done about the bullying; but thanks to Sophia's handler, Taylor's forced to sign an NDA to not talk about Sophia's identity, and left with the strong impression that going to the PRT or Protectorate about this would just get her arrested (you can see the PRT handler takes a much more active role in covering up Sophia's indiscretions in this).
At this point, Taylor's faith in the so-called "Heroes" is completely shattered, but she still wants to be a hero, a
PROPER hero.
After much research and planning, she's having a minor rant about there are NO heroic options that are actually heroic, even the normal police can't do anything, while remembering the cop that tried to help her. That's when she realizes that the PRT must have stepped in and shut down her case to protect their precious Shadow Stalker, and realizes the frustrations police like that detective must be under to not be able to actually do anything to help anyone.
That's when a plan forms.
She does some research, and verifies there's no laws against it, even though it has never been done before.
When Taylor finishes her costume (with a minor thematic change), and is ready to go out for the first time she goes to a new destination.
Wearing her costume, that's like Skitter's canon one only wearing a modified (and made of spider silk) police uniform, Skitter walks confidently in the front gates of the Brockton Bay Police Academy, and asks to join.
During the interview, which has the detective that tried to help her attending, he asks why she wants to join the police academy, instead of the Wards. Taylor (in costume) looks at him and says something along the lines of, "I can't answer that without breaking the law by revealing the civilian identity of a Ward," in a dead voice. The detective realizes who she is, and pushes for her admittance to the academy.
And thus begins the adventures of Taylor, the police officer Cape.
Imagine the scene where Taylor catches Shadow Stalker pinning someone to the wall with a real crossbow bolt, and arrests her.
