Reborn (Supervillain Rehabilitation Project Book 3)
Page 26
“Do you remember when you ... a little while ago, Brink made you and the others attack a hospital?”
“Vaguely.” The elevator door slid open. Aiden leaned against the side of the interior and closed his eyes. “I remember resisting, but simultaneously not really understanding what I was fighting or why I needed to.”
“He was trying to have me killed. I was in that hospital,” Prism explained.
Aiden stood up straighter, his jaw dropping. “I didn’t hurt you, did I? I wasn’t the reason you were in the hospital?”
“No, you weren’t.” She put out her hand to soothe him as the elevator dinged and the doors opened up to the hall that contained their bedrooms. She led him to the door next to hers and Fade’s before putting her finger to her lips. Confusion furrowed Aiden’s brow, but he hung back silently as she opened the door.
Yui, in cat form, jumped down from the rocking chair and stretched.
“Is she sleeping?” Prism whispered.
Yui nodded before slipping between Prism’s feet and out the door.
Prism offered Aiden her hand. “Come here. You need to meet someone.”
Aiden stepped into the room, and his eyes widened. “That’s ... that’s a crib.”
A smile spread across Prism’s lips. “Yes, it is. Look inside.”
Aiden gingerly crept forward to stand above the crib. Prism eased to his side, scanning his face.
“Oh, wow,” he breathed. “Luce ... you ...girl?” He indicated the purple footie pajamas and the baby within them.
“Yes. Her name’s Ruby.” Prism put her hand on her brother’s shoulders. “What do you think of her?”
“She’s amazing.” His voice cracked. “I missed ... I missed so much.”
She put her arms around his waist and rested her head against his back. “You’re here now. You’re here, and I’m so glad Ruby will get to grow up knowing her uncle.”
He shuddered beneath her.
“Aiden?” She guided him to turn and face her. Her chest emptied when confronted with the tears streaming down his cheeks.
He cleared his throat. “I didn’t lie about not remembering dying, but I remember knowing that I was going to. Feeling Mymic’s arm around my neck, panic spiking, adrenaline surging but with no way out—” He stopped, closed his eyes, and drew a steadying breath. “In that moment, all I could think about was how I couldn’t leave you. How I needed to be there for you. At the time, I thought it was because I needed to protect you, to keep you safe, but now—I realize I meant for more than that. I needed to be here just to be here, for things like, well, this—” He placed his hand on the side of the crib, his gaze on the sleeping baby within.
“You will be now,” she whispered, embracing him again. “And I’ll be here for you, for every little moment.” Her heart ache eased as she nestled into him, but her brain stirred a moment later, prompting a mischievous thought. “And for when you have your little ones, too. Speaking of which, Tanvi’s very happy to have you back. She couldn’t stop looking at you.”
Aiden snorted. “Seeing a dead man brought back to life will do that to you.”
“It’s more than that.” She squeezed his arm. “But I was thinking, a lot of people if they have a close call, a brush with death, if you will—”
“What I had was a lot more than a brush,” he scoffed. “It was more a thirty day free trial and I almost forgot to cancel it before my credit card got charged.”
“Either way.” She eyed him meaningfully. “Doesn’t that have you thinking that maybe you should take some risks to live life to its fullest? Like maybe telling a certain someone that you have always had a thing for her and would like to see if it could go anywhere?”
“Maybe it has me thinking that most people only get one shot at life, and I shouldn’t go ruining my second chance with ill-considered impulse decisions made in the aftermath of traumatic events,” he shot back.
She clicked her tongue. “Even back from the dead, you’re still irritating.”
“Just for you.” He flicked her chin.
Ruby twitched in her sleep, legs kicking.
Prism released her brother and rubbed Ruby’s tummy. “Shh, shh.” She dropped her voice. “I don’t want to wake her just yet. Come on.” They exited the nursery to find Fade waiting in the hallway.
“You met Ruby?” Fade grinned. “What do you think?”
“Meh, she’s all right.” Aiden shrugged.
Prism punched his arm. “Hey, you told me she was amazing.”
“For you she’s amazing. For Cher here, she’s just all right.” He tried to smirk but only looked more tired. It took all of her self-restraint not to hop into his brain to check on him again.
A tremor of pain cut through her, identical to what she had felt when accessing her light abilities but to a lesser degree. Still, experiencing it while not using her powers took her aback. She sucked in a breath through her teeth.
Both men immediately fixated on her.
“You okay?” Fade asked.
“Yeah, just tired.” She forced a smile. “I’m going to make sure Aiden’s room is ready for him. Play nice while I’m gone, boys.”
Prism kept her head up as she walked away from them but leaned against the door to Aiden’s room as soon as it closed behind her.
If it hurts whenever I use my powers, how am I going to be a hero? If it hurts even when I don’t use them, how will I even live?
FADE FIDGETED WITH his powers as he watched Prism walk away. Even considering the chaos they had all just experienced, she was acting off. He needed to keep an eye on her. Whatever was going on, she couldn’t positive-think her way out of it. Not this time.
Aiden swayed on his feet and braced himself against the wall.
“Need to sit down?” Fade asked.
“In a minute ... or twenty. It’s blurry, but I think it’s been over a year since my last real hot shower.” Aiden sighed longingly.
Fade chuckled. “Yeah, I get that. There might not be any toiletries in your room right now. Prism kept most of your stuff where it was, but even she wasn’t going to be sentimental about bars of soap and toothpaste tubes. I will see if we have any extras—” He took a step in the direction of his room.
“Fade, hold up,” Aiden said, his voice oddly earnest.
Fade considered him.
Aiden let out a deep breath. “Thank you. For being here for her when I couldn’t be.”
Fade considered him. “It was my pleasure.”
Aiden stared past Fade, down the empty hall. “I kinda knew you and her ... when I was fading and reached out to you, asking you to protect her, it wasn’t just because you were the only one there. I knew somehow that you would be just as willing as I was to throw yourself in the fire for her, that you would have her back, and I am glad I was right.”
Fade narrowed his eyes. “I thought you said you didn’t remember dying?”
Aiden scratched at his beard. “Shave and a haircut, too. Got a lot to get done.”
Fade gave a slow nod. “She can take more than you’d expect. I know I haven’t known her as long as you have, but in the last two years, I like to think I have gotten a feel for how she ticks. Also, just in the time I have known her, she’s gone through fire over and over again. I wouldn’t say it’s changed her, thank God because what she is, who she is, it’s like a light to me. Every day ... but she’s stronger for the trials. She’s ... she’s amazing.”
For a moment Aiden’s expression softened then he laughed. “Man, she has you whipped, doesn’t she?”
Fade smiled knowingly. “Sure.”
The door down the hall opened, and Prism beckoned Aiden forward.
“Get some rest,” Fade said. “We can continue mocking each other in the morning.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Aiden wandered off.
Fade closed his eyes. It had been a long fight, but hopefully now they could put their lives back together. Maybe Aiden was the missing piece, the last piece, that
Prism needed to be whole.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Wildfyre thanked his rideshare driver and grabbed his backpack off the floor of the car before stepping out onto the sidewalk of a quiet neighborhood. He didn’t watch as the car pulled away behind him. He stood still, gaze glued to the red door with the wreath of dried roses. Nostalgia overwhelmed him, and for a moment he was eleven again, lazing on the front porch, reading Hardy Boys books without a care in the world.
That kid wanted to save the world. To be a hero ... and somehow my path took me in the exact opposite direction.
He took a step back, off the curb. He couldn’t do this. He needed to get out of here before someone recognized him.
Did I really come all this way to chicken out and run? If I’m going to get through this to the other side, to the man I want to be, I need to face the mistakes I made, and that means facing her.
Wildfyre said a quick prayer and strode up the path before he could talk himself out of it. Heart in his mouth, he rang the doorbell then stepped back to wait.
A tiny woman with silver-streaked black hair opened the door a moment later. He froze. Everything he wanted to say crashed together leaving his mind as mixed up as alphabet soup in a blender. He tried to find the words, the prepared speech, the apology and explanation and the promise that he was going to try so much harder, but it all collapsed on top of him, and all he could squeak out was, “Hi, Mom. I’m home.”
“Gordy!” she gasped.
Her head hit his chest, her arms squeezing into him to a painful degree. He returned the embrace, heart throbbing. It had been so long, so very long, and Dad ...
Still too late. I’m still too late.
His vision blurred, and his throat felt rough. Somehow he managed to rasp out, “I’m sorry. I should’ve been here. When I found out he ... I’m sorry. I should’ve come home so long ago.”
Her hold on him tightened. “You’re home now.” She tilted her head to look up at him. “I saw you on the news the other day, fighting supervillains in DC.”
His face warmed. “Oh, I ... didn’t realize they’d got me on camera.” He forced an awkward laugh. “I’ve been with DOSA for a little while now, with their Supervillain Rehabilitation Project. That mission was mostly my team, though. I just helped out a little.”
“A little? I saw you throwing fire around like a magician at a circus!” She beamed at him. “Oh, Gordy, your father would be so proud.”
His chest constricted. “I hope so,” he whispered.
She reached up and stroked his cheek. “I prayed so many times for you to come home again.”
“I guess it worked.”
She pinched his sides. “I can feel every rib. Doesn’t DOSA feed you?”
“I’m fine, Mom.” He let go of her. “I just have a high metabolism is all.”
I literally burn it off. He laughed silently.
“Nonsense! You’re coming in right now, and I’m feeding you.” She stepped through the door and pulled him into the house. He followed, and a tantalizing smell of pork, soy sauce, and garlic hooked him by the nose.
His mouth watered. “You’re already cooking?”
“Yep. I’m making pork adobo for dinner.” Her smile broadened. “Is that still your favorite?”
Everything within him softened. “Yeah, it is.” He pushed the door shut behind him and followed her into the kitchen. He glanced around the room at the framed samplers, embroidered with Bible verses, before sitting at the worn and dented kitchen table. He ran his fingers across it. The scratch he’d made with an exacto knife while putting together a model airplane when he was twelve was still there. So was the indent where his sister had pressed too hard while drawing, leaving a smiley face permanently imprinted on the tabletop. His heart swelled to bursting. Maybe it was possible to go back in time, if only for a little while.
PRISM RECLINED ON THE couch with Ruby nestled against her chest. The baby gurgled peacefully in her sleep. For the first time in the week since the DC attack, she felt whole and quiet. She hadn’t had any recurrences of the phantom pain, and with Aiden’s help she’d mostly mastered keeping her mind out of the brains of those around her. Of course, sometimes her concentration lapsed and she got an earful of someone’s innermost thoughts ... and she was still afraid to use her light powers for fear the pain would return. However, considering everything she’d been through, she’d count her blessings.
Footsteps alerted her to someone’s approach. Instinctively she reached out with her new powers but found them blocked by a familiar energy.
She smiled. “Hey, there.”
Fade stepped around the couch to kiss her forehead before settling in the nearest chair. “Where is everyone? This place is as quiet as a library, and that never happens.”
Prism laughed. “Tanvi dragged Aiden out shopping. She told him all his clothes are two years out of style and demanded he upgrade. Which is silly because Aiden has worn the same five t-shirts and two pairs of jeans since graduation, but it’s Tanvi, so he agreed to it.”
“The power of Tanvi,” Fade chuckled. “Keeper and Yui?”
“Bird watching.” She made a face. “I was afraid to ask what that meant in context of Yui’s preferred form.”
“Yeah, better not to know.” Fade leaned forward and brushed his fingers across Ruby’s hair.
“Speaking of absences, Wildfyre texted me asking if he could extend his leave to a full week,” Prism said. “Said he wanted to spend more time with his mom.”
“I told that idiot two days wouldn’t be enough.” Fade shook his head. “I’m glad he’s working things out. He’s a good guy.”
“Yeah, he is.” She eyed her phone, sitting just out of reach on the coffee table. “Did you see the report DOSA sent us?”
“Not yet.” He picked up the phone. “Mind?”
“You know my passcode.”
He scrolled through it for a moment and gave a low whistle. “Massive explosion of an abandoned grain elevator simultaneous to Brink’s defeat. Awfully big coincidence.”
“They’re being cagey, but I think it’s safe to assume that’s where he was ... lairing?”
“In the villain game we called it ‘setting up shop’ but lairing works too.” Fade set the phone aside. “So that’s it, then? All his work is gone forever?”
“I think it’s for the best.” Prism patted Ruby’s back, savoring the weight of her, so tiny but she held her mother’s heart in place like an anchor. “The things Brink was meddling in aren’t things I’m comfortable with DOSA having access to. Maybe not any mortal, but after what we’ve been through lately, especially not DOSA.”
“Do you think we can put that genie back in the bottle, though?” Fade considered his wife’s face. “Now that DOSA knows that it’s possible to resuscitate dead sables and increase their power levels with genetic manipulation, it’s only a matter of time until they figure it out. They have endless resources, and apparently no qualms about ethically murky research projects.”
Prism kissed Ruby’s head, savoring her sweet baby smell. “I guess not, but at least we’ve bought some time. Maybe with the Adjudicator out of the picture, the committee will be less opportunistic and more altruistic. At least we can hope.”
“Considering that Shepherd was willing to goad you into genetic experiments, I somehow doubt it.” Fade’s mouth crinkled as if he’d tasted something sour.
Prism carefully sat up, keeping Ruby pressed against herself. “We need to talk about that, don’t we. Fade—I’m sorry. I know we had a deal, but when I had the chance to help Aiden—”
“Luce, it’s not that you agreed to the experiments that I’m upset about. You were right. I couldn’t have taken your place that time, and I understand both that you were willing to take a risk to save your brother and that we’re both adults working in a dangerous business.” He let out a long breath. “What bothers me is that you switched off your phone and didn’t give me any warning, any chance to discuss it with you.” Pain
creased his face.
Guilt gnawed at Prism, and she hung her head. “You’re right. I was afraid you’d tell me you didn’t want me to, so I took the coward’s way out. I’m sorry. Even if the choice was mine, we’re a team, a partnership, and if something had gone wrong, it would’ve blindsided you. That wasn’t fair, and Fade, I am truly sorry.” Tears welled up in her eyes. “Dang it, now I feel like a terrible wife.”
“You’re not, and I can’t ...” He looked at his feet. “I made a similar choice not that long ago to do things my own way without thinking of how it could hurt you. I also think I made the right choice, but it cost you in uncertainty, and that also wasn’t fair.”
Prism searched his face. She remembered waking up in the hospital and finding him gone. Even when he had returned, he wouldn’t tell her where he’d been ... and since then no one had heard any news of Earwig—
Cold realization gripped her heart.
Do I even want to know for sure what happened? I know him. I know his heart. I can trust that he made the right call.
“I think maybe we both have learned a little bit about what it means to be two halves of a whole.” She eased Ruby off her shoulder so she could see her face.
Fade slipped out of his chair and knelt before them. He kissed Ruby’s forehead before looking up at his wife. “We have, but now, I have a request for you. I want you to take this maternity leave seriously. Me too. I’m going to take a leave of absence from DOSA until we’re both ready to return to work.”
“That’s fair,” she whispered.
“Eventually we’ll have to make some tough calls about what we want for our family, about the risks we’re willing to take.” He stroked Ruby’s cheek, his eyes softening. “We’ve both been gifted with abilities that make it hard to sit on the sidelines, but I have a feeling there’s going to be a point where we might need to make the call between what’s good for humanity at large—and DOSA particularly—and what we need to do for our family.”
Prism pressed her forehead against his. “You’re right, and we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, but for now, I have you, and Ruby, and my brother back—for a little while, I just want to be happy.”