by Ben Farthing
Brian lounged in the back of a third boat, while Loretta's two kids—Caitlin and Christopher—manned the sheets. After his sister's death and his temporary possession a year ago, Loretta added him to the list of people and cats who could help keep an eye on her family. Brian warmed to it quickly.
Loretta and Jose sailed on by, more skilled at harnessing the wind.
"Is she using her gift?" asked Abby.
"No," said Everard. "They're just better at this than us."
There'd been several months when Abby would only meet him for coffee, or other short, informal dates. But as she came to trust him, and as he opened up about his secrets, those brief conversations turned longer and more personal, until they were talking about moving in together.
The wind shifted, and their boat dumped them into the lake.
Brian and the kids pulled close, and Christopher leapt into the water.
"No, man, you're supposed to help them!" said Brian, but Caitlin jumped in, too.
Loretta and Jose turned around and tacked back toward them.
Soon, they were all in the water, stopping each other from righting their boats.
Everard found himself holding on to the same boat as Jose while the others splashed and squealed.
"I've been meaning to talk to you," said Jose.
"We talk all the time," said Everard.
"I know, but, I need to ask a favor. Or, I guess, just for you to think about something."
"You've noticed," said Everard.
Jose nodded. "You can sense Loretta using her bent. Your bent's coming back. Some denials don't last."
"It's coming back," admitted Everard. "I can still only manage small tricks, but it's been getting stronger all the time."
Jose paused, searching for the best words. "They're afraid of you."
"I am, too. Everyone saw the damage Mr. President caused. The whole damn city should be afraid of me."
"No," said Jose. "I mean the people who people are afraid of are afraid of you. Parents tell their kids who are afraid of the Boogeyman, 'don't worry, the rebellist chased him out of the city.' Folks walk around safer, knowing the reskinned are afraid you'll notice them."
"I've laid low for almost a year."
"You saved the city from Mr. President, and both the CEO and Undone Duncan publicly backed down to you. I don't know exactly what happened, but the rumors have grown. They say you told Duncan to go fuck himself."
"That's pretty much true, actually."
"Loretta's tired."
"Ah." Everard had figured this was coming. Loretta had devoted half her life to being scarier than the bad guys.
"People might remember you for centuries, but that emotion will change. It'll be awe and respect instead of fear. I don't know when Loretta will get another chance like this."
Everard watched Loretta throw Christopher in the air, felt the buzz of her bent as she slowed his descent before he smacked the water. Brian let Caitlin chase him around their capsized boat. He was laughing, but he kept glancing at other boats, and at folks on the shore. He was a bodyguard as much as a babysitter. Everard looked to the bank, and sure enough, a stray cat watched them intently.
Loretta's life was still one of constant vigilance.
"It's not forever," said Jose. "Once you two start your own family, someone else will come along who can take over. Eventually."
"I don't want to be Batman," said Everard.
Jose swallowed. "I understand."
"But if Loretta won't retire until someone else takes the job, well, someone's got to make her think about herself a little. Let me talk to Abby before I say yes, but she'll support me. She loves you guys."
Jose looked like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. "Thank you. You're saving my family."
"Go play with your kids," said Everard.
With the biggest shit-eating grin plastered on, Jose swam to join the lifejacket-enhanced rough housing.
Abby swam up to hang onto the boat and Everard. "What were you guys talking about?"
"Job opportunity."
"You're giving up carpentry?"
"This would be more of a side thing." He kissed her temple, tasting lake water. "How'd you feel about me going back to the Periphery?"
"You said it was dangerous."
"It is. But it'd let Loretta spend more time with her family."
"Would you be able to help Bill Bill?" Everard had taken Abby to meet Bill Bill in his new nursing home. His old neighbor had mostly stared at the wall.
"Probably." Everard had been thinking about that. Once he'd noticed his bent returning, he realized he'd be able to deny Bill Bill's senility, exactly how Mr. President had done. It would be so precise, though, that Everard worried about attempting it. What if he botched it, and the fallout damaged Bill Bill's brain? That worry had kept him from even considering what he knew Abby was about to ask next.
"What about Liz? If you can undo the damage to Bill Bill's mind, can you undo the damage to hers?"
"I don't know. I think so, once I'm good enough."
"You'll be able to help a lot of people."
"Honestly, I'd do it because it'd get Loretta to stop feeling so sorry for herself."
"You're not nearly as selfish as you think you are."
"That's why I work hard at it every day."
"Will I be part of it, when you go back to the Periphery? Or would this be some secret life you can't tell me about?"
"Entirely your decision." Everard kicked out into the water. "I'm not going to tell you what to do."
Author’s Note
Thanks for getting lost in the Periphery with me.
Want to see what happens when Everard finally decides to shut down Undone Duncan?
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Again, thanks for reading.
- Ben Farthing
