by H. L. Burke
“I’m open to any ideas,” Wildfyre grunted. His muscles strained from the effort needed to maintain his hover.
Tanvi broke away from Cromlech and pulled up her shirt to reveal a metallic waistband sitting over her yoga pants. “I remembered to bring it this time! Try to keep up.” She hit a button on the band, and her exo-armor slid into place over her body. She made a fist, shot Wildfyre a wink, and rocketed through the ceiling.
The hallway shook. Wildfyre winced then channeled his heat into another upward burst. He hopped through the hole Tanvi had left behind.
Tanvi pointed down the hall to the elevator doors. “There’s our way out.”
Wildfyre frowned. “You want to take the elevator?”
Tanvi rolled her eyes at him. She ran to the doors, yanked them open, then pointed up the shaft.
Realization crept through him, and he swallowed to moisten his suddenly dry mouth. “Uh, you know that hover trick I do is only sustainable over short bursts. I can’t actually fly.”
She offered him her arm. “Hold on, featherweight. I’ve got you.”
His face warmed. “Don’t tell Fade.”
Tanvi hooked her arms under Wildfyre’s before activating her thrusters. They shot up the elevator shaft. Wildfyre closed his eyes against the blast of air rushing around him before Tanvi slammed through another set of doors and skidded to a halt in an upper floor hallway. Wildfyre jumped to the side and steadied himself against the wall.
Tanvi tapped her comm. “Pris, Fade-o, we’re on the floor below the committee offices. What’s it look like where you are?”
Wildfyre paused, listening to his own comm. Silence.
“Not good—” He frowned.
An explosion shook the building. Dust rained from the ceiling. Tanvi gasped and pointed towards the end of the hall where a gaping hole now opened up revealing the clear blue sky beyond ... and a hovering drone.
“Tanvi, we’re above you,” Prism’s voice emanated from the comm. “Brink just escaped on a drone through the side of the building. Stop him if you can. There’s a bomb. We’re going to try to defuse it.”
“Roger. Going after him now.” Tanvi took off at a sprint towards the hole in the wall. Even knowing he couldn’t fly, Wildfyre followed. He had to do something. This was what he’d trained for—
He skidded to a halt at the edge of the hole. Tanvi rocketed past him, thrusters thundering.
Wildfyre punched forward. Flames roared from his extended hand. Brink shrieked and flattened himself against the top of the drone.
Tanvi dove for him. Brink picked himself up, brandishing an imposing harpoon gun. Wildfyre’s brain tracked its aim.
“Tanvi, look out!” Without thinking he catapulted himself into space, throwing his heat behind him. He landed with a crash on the drone beside Brink.
Brink spun around. His harpoon gun went off. Wildfyre ducked just in time. The bolt flew over his head, the breeze of its passing stirring his hair. Fire sparked around his fists as he aimed a series of punches at Brink. The supervillain cried in pain and horror. The drone wobbled, tilting violently to one side. Wildfyre waved his arms to keep his balance.
His gaze met Brink’s eyes, now glinting madly with rage and desperation. Contempt crept over Brink’s face, and he kicked out. Wildfyre dropped to avoid the hit only to have the drone shift beneath him. He slid towards the edge.
“Wildfyre!” Tanvi screamed. “Hold on!”
“I got you!” an unfamiliar masculine voice shouted.
A streak of silver and green rushed in from one side as a flash of white and hot pink came in from the other. Tanvi hit Brink in the chest. With a scream the villain toppled over the side.
The drone started to spin. Wildfyre’s grip gave out, and he plummeted through the air. The green and silver streak collided with him, arresting his fall. Wildfyre glanced up and found Glint, the newest committee member, holding him by the back of the jacket. Glint gently lowered Wildfyre to the ground as Tanvi lit beside them.
“Thanks for the assist, Glint,” Tanvi said.
Glint laughed awkwardly as he released Wildfyre. “Would’ve been more fun if I’d caught you.”
“I’m fine if you tell people you caught her.” Wildfyre grunted and straightened his jacket. Thankfully the sturdy fabric didn’t seem any worse for wear.
“I’m not.” Tanvi scowled. “What took you so long to grace us with your presence, Glint?”
Glint flushed. “Sorry, I was across the city at a ribbon cutting when the call to arms went out.” He shifted his shoulders so his cape fell better. “What’s the status?”
“Brink’s dead.” Tanvi gestured a little way down the street. “Cromlech and Crushwave are probably still in the basement and ... oh! Prism said there was a bomb upstairs.” She looked upward. “We need to get up there fast.”
“I’ll secure Cromlech and Crushwave,” Glint volunteered. “The building is already under evacuation protocols. Be careful.” He zipped off.
Tanvi wrinkled her nose at Wildfyre. “I’m going to have to carry you again, aren’t I?”
“It seems to be a running theme today,” he groaned.
“AIDEN!” PRISM CRIED in horror and knelt beside her brother.
Fade yanked her to her feet. “We need to get out of here! That bomb’s going to go off any second, and I don’t know how to defuse it.”
Prism nodded weakly. They were too high up, though, with no way to escape. Still, they had to try. “We need to take him with us.”
Fade pulled Aiden off the ground. The younger man’s eyes snapped open, and he inhaled sharply. He wrenched away from Fade and ran to the bomb.
Fade gripped Prism’s arm, his powers extending into her, ready to shield her in case of a blast.
Oblivious to all else, Aiden punched a button on the side of the bomb’s casing. A panel slid out, and he hit a series of buttons on it.
The countdown clock stopped.
Aiden collapsed, head to knees, sucking air, then lay still, quivering but silent.
Prism stared at him. All noise died from the room so suddenly it was as if someone had hit a mute button. Her hands shook. Was it real? Was it really over?
Did we actually save him?
She took a step towards Aiden, but Fade’s hand clamped down on her shoulder. She gaped at him.
The wrinkles around his eyes deepened. “Careful. We don’t know what this has done to him.”
Her stomach twisted. The trauma, the tampering within his brain, over a year of being something other than himself—Fade was right. What remained after all that might not even be Aiden. Not in the way she’d known him, anyway. Still, she’d heard his voice, sensed him fighting the haze. Something remained, and if there was anything of her brother left, she needed to go to him.
She slipped from her husband’s grasp. He didn’t try to stop her.
Prism dropped to her knees beside Aiden and extended a trembling hand. Quiet sobs wracked his body, over and over again.
“Aiden,” she whispered. “Can you hear me?”
His head shot up. Bloodshot gray eyes welled with tears, and her heart cracked open.
“Luce,” he whimpered. “Are you all right?”
“Am I ...” She shut her mouth and pulled him to her chest.
He collapsed, head on her shoulder, weeping. Prism’s hold on him tightened. Grief and joy warred within her as she rocked him like a distraught child.
Accessing their now shared powers, she focused on finding his mind, his thoughts. Overwhelming confusion and pain greeted her, but with an undercurrent of relief and hope that made it worth the agony. She pressed forward, and he let her in.
Aiden, it’s me. Lucia. Can you hear me?
Luce ... I’m so lost. Even in thoughts, tears tainted his words. What have I done? What even am I now?
You’re you. No matter what has happened, no matter what you did under that horrible man’s influence, you’re you, and you’re alive, and you’re my brother.
His arms snaked about her. “You came for me,” his words escaped in a barely audible rasp. “You found me. I had almost given up hope—” He choked.
Footsteps echoed through the empty office space, and she looked up to find Fade looming over her. He arched his eyebrows in a silent question. She forced a smile.
“He’s here,” she whispered. “He just ... needs a minute.”
“A minute?” Fade’s eyebrows shot up even further. “How about a couple years and a buttload of therapy?”
Aiden laughed.
Prism started, pulling away to see his face. “Aiden?”
He straightened enough to meet Fade’s gaze. “So you’re still hanging around my sister, Sting? I’m not sure how long I was out of commission, but I would’ve thought she’d have gotten sick of you by now.”
Prism’s insides started to untwist. If he could still snark, then maybe he wasn’t as far gone as she’d feared.
A sardonic smile spread across Fade’s face. “Man, do you have a lot to catch up on.” He held out his hand and pointed to his wedding band.
Aiden’s jaw dropped. “For crap’s sake, Luce. I leave you alone for a few minutes, and you go and marry a supervillain?” He grimaced. “What’s that make you? Mrs. Bono? Seal?”
“Still Powell, actually.” She brushed her hand through his disheveled hair. Even slicked back by sweat, it was obvious he hadn’t had a haircut since his ... death. Her stomach ached at the memory. Not wanting to break down, she forced her focus back to the happier topic. “He took my last name after the wedding.”
“Oh, heck no.” Aiden staggered to his feet and jabbed a finger at Fade’s chest. “I am not sharing surnames with you.”
Prism scowled. “If you got married would I get a say in whether your wife takes your name? Or is that just the rule for girls?” The subtext of the statement dawned on her. Aiden could get married now. He wasn’t gone any more. He could have a happy life. Father children. Raise them alongside Ruby and any other children Prism had afterwards. Joy burst within her, and she tackled him in another hug.
A shadow of grief passed over her in spite of her happiness. Grief and shame ... they pushed her back down, weighed on her. Her shoulders drooped, and she couldn’t stand anymore. She leaned into Aiden for support, her fingers clutching at his shirt.
This isn’t right. I’m happy. I should be happy.
She forced herself to examine the emotions. They carried a strange energy, not her own—
Her eyes shot up to meet Aiden’s. Behind the smile, agony flitted within his eyes.
You’re still hurting?
Displeasure and shock rose from Aiden like a slap of cold water. You need to get out of my head, Luce. Now.
She cringed. I don’t know how.
How in the world do you even have my powers?
Long story, but seriously, how do I get out of your head? But also, please stop hurting. I can’t bear it. She shuddered.
His chest rose and fell in a deep sigh. “Okay,” he said aloud. “Quick crash course in not going crazy as a mind-reader. Your brain isn’t a passive participant. You might not realize you are choosing to read people, but you are. It’s kind of like being in a crowd with everyone talking at once. You need to simply try not to hear all the voices or even any particular conversation that isn’t your business.”
Prism balked. She was a habitual people watcher. “Okay—”
“For now, just intentionally redirect your focus anywhere but in my head, got it?” Aiden’s gray eyes grew earnest. His pain simmered into a roiling worry. For her. After all he’d been through, he was still worried about her.
Okay, for him, I’ve got to get this under control.
She let go of him and closed her eyes. Behind her, she could sense Fade’s energy, but his thoughts evaded her.
His powers block Aiden’s powers. If I keep redirecting my attention to Fade, I should be able to avoid listening in on other people, right? She opened her eyes and faced her husband.
“You all right?” he asked.
“Sort of. It’s ... been a long day.”
His hand brushed her cheek. “That’s an understatement.”
The door to the conference room burst open, and Wildfyre rushed in, Talon at his side.
“Prism, Fade, you all right?” Wildfyre’s stare darted to Aiden. Flames sprang to his fingertips, and he held his hands outstretched, fire at ready.
Prism jumped in front of her brother. “Don’t! He’s not bad anymore!”
Fade turned and opened his right hand, revealing the chip. “This was what was keeping him under. We got it removed, and he defused the bomb for us.” He motioned towards the defunct incendiary device. “We’re clear.”
Wildfyre’s posture relaxed. “Brink’s gone. Glint went after Cromlech and Crushwave, and I found Shepherd and Talon waking up in the hall. Tanvi stayed with Shepherd. She was having a harder time coming out of it.”
“Thank you, Wildfyre,” Prism said. “You did well today.”
Talon, mouth slightly agape, took a step closer. “Aiden, are you ... you’re back? I’m so glad you’re alive again.”
A spike of anxiety rose through Prism. She trembled before recognizing it as originating from Aiden again.
Dang it. I need to get that under control.
Aiden shifted from foot to foot. “Yeah, apparently. I honestly don’t really remember dying, so this is ... very weird to me. I kind of just want to get home and start putting my life back together, you know, avoid the attention.”
“I understand, but DOSA is going to need to debrief you.”
Heat rose in Prism’s chest. “DOSA is going to sit on their hands until my brother is ready to talk about what happened,” she snapped. “This whole mess was caused by you letting the Adjudicator work unsupervised with a known supervillain sympathizer with a history of conducting ethically murky research. You’re not going to take that out on Aiden—”
Her brother’s hand rested on her shoulder. “Easy, Luce. I get that it will be necessary—eventually.” He focused on Talon. “Look, I’m exhausted and confused. I don’t think I could give a coherent explanation for what’s happened to me in the last ... few months?” A hopeful look crept over his face.
Prism’s face scrunched. “Almost two years.”
Aiden’s lower lip hung limp, his eyes crestfallen. “Two ... Oh, man ...” He rested his hand over his eyes. “Yeah, I need to process, find out what major world events I missed, binge watch all the television I have fallen behind on, you know?”
Talon gave a sympathetic nod. “Understood. I’ll release you into the care of your sister and the SVR. You can contact us regarding the debriefing when you’re ready.”
Aiden’s posture deflated. “Thank you.”
“Pris! Fade-o, are you in here? Are you all right?” a familiar voice echoed from the hallway outside.
Aiden tensed. Prism’s heart started working double time—another emotional response she didn’t think was her own.
Tanvi exploded through the door, soot streaking her mahogany skin, dark hair escaping her braid. She skidded to a halt, gaze locked on Aiden.
Aiden’s lower lip quivered. “Hey—long time no see.” A nervous laugh escaped him.
Tanvi’s eyes watered. She sprang across the room and tackled Aiden with a hug that momentarily lifted him off his feet.
“Oof,” he grunted. “Careful. I’m a little sore.”
“Sorry,” she said, but she kept her arms around him. “I’m just so glad you’re alive again.”
A ripple of pain crossed Aiden’s face, further twisting Prism’s soul, before he closed his eyes and melted into Tanvi’s embrace.
“I’m glad I am too,” he whispered. “I missed you. All of you.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Somehow the team managed to get through the chaotic interior of headquarters and down to the lower level where the gateway still stood, undisturbed in spite of the chaos that had gone on just above it. Gli
nt and a team of late arrival sables had already taken Crushwave and Cromlech into custody, but with Brink’s hold on them removed, the two men were simply confused and agitated. They didn’t even try to fight.
Prism’s team made their way through the gateway and then navigated Camp Pendleton to their awaiting cars. Prism sat in the backseat with Aiden who dozed off on the ride home.
When they parked in front of HQ, Prism’s brother rested with his head on her shoulder. She brushed her fingers through his hair focusing on not reading other people. She found if she turned her mind inward, or towards a specific task or line of thought not associated with the thoughts of others, she didn’t get the intrusions. She considered playing with her light abilities, trying to draw up a projection, but upon finding the first attempt painful decided to put the effort aside until later, when she was less tired.
“Aiden,” she murmured. “We’re home.”
Aiden stumbled out of the car and stared up at the building like a lost child who had finally sighted his mother.
Prism took him by the hand and led him into the lobby.
“Is it good to be home?” she whispered.
“Like I never left,” he replied.
She threw her arms around him and squeezed him close.
After a minute Aiden withdrew from the hug. “Look, Luce, as much as I just want to be here all night, I’m exhausted. Would it be all right if I took a shower and tucked myself into bed?”
Prism stroked his cheek. “I understand, but can you give me ten more minutes? I have something I really need to show you. It’s on the way to your bedroom.”
“Ten minutes? Sure.” His smile didn’t chase the haunted look from his eyes.
Prism’s hands clenched. If she couldn’t heal him, couldn’t bring him back to his old self, make him happy again, what was the point to everything she’d been through? Well, no matter what else happened, she needed him to meet Ruby.
She led him to the elevator, trying to think of how to introduce the subject. Should she just hand him the baby? No, he might be stunned enough to drop her. The guy deserved a little bit of a warning.
