Worm Power Quest by JPublic

[ECSNorway]

One of the things about the story that has a hard time coming through at this point is that Taylor has an incredibly difficult time trusting authority. Her mother is dead, her father has effectively deserted her (retreated into himself/work because he couldn't cope with losing his wife). Teachers and school staff have almost universally supported the "popular kids" who are tormenting her and blaming her for the problems they cause.

The PRT and Protectorate are, in her view, utterly useless in doing anything about the gangs. The city government is useless in doing anything about the economy - they can't even get the port open or the ferry running (there's a whole thing about her father trying to get that done because it apparently makes it easier for people to get to the other end of the city, apparently Brockton Bay is built around a very wide crescent and the ferry is quicker and easier than driving... I chalk it up to a "wildbow didn't do the research").

So her inclination to go "whee, I got powers, be a hero, join the team!" is kind of... not happening. She's convinced herself that she has to prove herself to them first, and still isn't sure about the Wards because it's "just more high-school angst". She has a VERY hard time trusting anyone or any outreach of friendship - she's been betrayed too many times.

It doesn't help that the apparent ringleader of her tormentors was her best friend, practically a sister to her.