I didn’t go straight home after talking to Ryder and having that unbelievably delicious lasagna. But I didn’t go to Wren’s shop immediately either. I let the others know I would be around in a bit and to let me know if anything about the Scions situation changed, then took a rideshare over to one of the old, fairly rundown skate parks that I knew wouldn’t be very busy. On the way, I stopped to buy a new board and some safety equipment. And for the next hour or so, I lost myself in skating up and through the concrete jungle there. I didn’t think about the Ministry, or about Pencil, Pittman, the Sleeptalk stuff, what was going on with Amber and Pack, any of that. Oh, it was all still there beneath the surface, as always. Those worries and problems were never too far away. But I wasn’t focused on them. Not right now, and not unless my phone buzzed with any more current information for something we could do about any of it.
No, I was thinking about who I was, and who I wanted to be. I was thinking about Paintball, about how relatively easy it had been for me to slip into the role of a boy despite my underlying issues with that. And about what the source of those underlying issues was. Or rather, the sources. Because that whole thing was one huge complicated Gordian knot, and I really wanted to just take Alexander’s sword to it.
I skated my way through trick after trick, lost in my own thoughts. A few times I fell down, mostly thanks to my own distraction. But I just got right back up again and fell into the groove once more. The sound of the wheels gliding across concrete, the reassuring and repetitive clickity clack whenever I went over a small crack, all of it was comforting. It didn’t exactly help me forget my stress, but at least made that stress a little easier to cope with. It helped soothe me, helped me focus on my own thoughts rather than being overwhelmed by the sheer weight of everything else going on.
I thought about Anthony too, remembering the time we’d spent together. Not those last moments, not when I’d walked out onto that patio and saw him die. I thought about my best friend, about playing outside, about… about how much fun he was. And Paige. I thought about the time I’d spent talking to her about who and what I could be. And, of course, about what had happened through all the years that those memories had been lost. A lot of it was painful, but I pushed on through and allowed the simple soothing act of skating mindlessly through those concrete ramps and loops to calm me down.
Finally, I stopped skating and simply stood there with my foot on the board. Frowning at the dark sky, only dimly lit by scattered visible stars and a sliver of moon, I gave a long, slow exhale. Only then did I consciously realize the streetlight in the distance had gone out at some point. It was almost pitch black here, and I was completely alone. I had just spent all that time skating around this place when I couldn’t see more than a foot in front of my face. That extrasensory power had kicked in again, and I had been so lost in thought that I didn’t even notice what I was doing. So it was probably a good thing I had been alone, or anyone who had seen that might’ve had a question or two.
Letting out a long, heavy breath, I stepped on the back of the board to pop it up into my waiting hand. Then I turned to walk out of the park, already sending a message for another rideshare to take me closer to the shop. I would’ve just painted my way there, but I was tired after all that skating. Besides, I was still thinking about things.
The driver who turned up was an older guy with a lot of stories about the early days of Touched in the city, back before I was born. I asked questions now and then, but mostly just let him talk. He had a whole spiel about how much better things were now, even if it might not seem like it considering the situation the city was in with half our authorities in comas, the whole place quarantined, and the Scions holed up with hostages. The word he used a lot was ‘potential.’ The city had had almost no potential in the old days before powers. It had been circling the drain in so many ways. Now we were one of the biggest cities in the country, with the most forward momentum. Things might be dangerous right now, but he had faith we would get through it and be even better. The city had life back in it, and he’d be damned if he accepted that we’d lose that life. Someone would go in and drag Pencil and his lot out of that building, we’d find a cure for the Sleeptalk, and everything would be okay again.
Honestly, his optimism and enthusiasm were infectious. He was just so nice and positive, an older black man with gray hair and a smile that lit up the car who introduced himself as Billy. I felt even better after ten minutes of being with him than I had from my whole skating excursion.
Thanking him both verbally and with a substantial tip (he tried to demur but I dropped the bills onto his seat before getting out), I left the car behind and made my way through the nearby maze of alleys that would eventually lead to the rear of the shop. On the way, I stowed the new skateboard and my equipment for it in that special bag Wren had provided, before jogging up to the building. Before I could even reach out for the bell by the door, it opened and Paige was there. “Hey,” she started, giving me a small, uncertain smile. In that position, with her blonde hair and face backlit by the glow coming from inside the shop, she almost looked angelic.
Geez, my relationship and opinion of Paige really had changed. Or maybe it had gone back to what it should have been before both of our parents completely screwed it over. Either way, I returned the smile with an ease that surprised me even in that moment. “Hey yourself,” I replied. “What’s going on in there? Any news?”
Her head shook as she stepped aside and gestured for me to come in. “Nothing dramatic yet. We think the authorities are coming up with something, but no one’s shared any plans with little old Avant-Guard.”
“Maybe they’re trying to give us a break,” I pointed out while stepping inside. “I mean, we did just go through something pretty big. We gave them Pencil’s weakness and helped make sure they didn’t lose basically the entire Minority aside from Fragile to those wannabe Scions. Maybe they think we’ve earned a night off.” Pausing, I grimaced. “Aaand now my brain went straight to, ‘what if something goes wrong while we’re just sitting around here because they didn’t include us?’ I think I might have issues.”
“Might?” Paige echoed before shaking her head. “Let’s not jump to conclusions. But in this case, you might be right. I mean, about both. They’re probably trying to solve the rest of this on their own, now that they have some idea of how to bring Pencil down. And, to be fair, we don’t really have a way through that shield either.”
“I know,” I murmured. “But that doesn’t make it any easier. Pencil’s had all this time in that building, and he has to know that there’s a good chance someone will find a way in. What if that whole thing is a trap? What if he’s just waiting for them to break in and then he’ll pull some new trick that kills… you know, everyone in there? You can’t tell me he wouldn’t jump at the chance to pull something like that off. With the city as bad as it is, teetering on the edge like this, if he could take out all the Stars they’d send in there after him in one fell swoop, it’d…” My face twisted. So much for Billy, my incredibly optimistic driver, cheering me up. Man, did I have another minor power for obsessing over doom-filled thoughts?
No, to be honest, it wouldn’t really be a minor power at this point.
Paige’s hand found its way to my shoulder, squeezing a little. “Breathe,” she urged gently. “They know what they’re doing, and how dangerous he can be. Give them time to figure out what to do with what you’ve given them.” After a brief pause, she added a little more hesitantly, “Are you okay? This isn’t just about Pencil. How’s Izzy doing?”
“She's okay, not exactly happy about what happened, but she just needs some time. And maybe a chance to hit a few people who deserve it.”
By that point, we had reached the main part of the shop, where Rubi, Wren, Murphy, and Roald were talking quietly. Fred and Qwerty were both asleep, apparently, and Sierra had gone for a walk. Peyton, meanwhile, was glued to a television in the corner where the news was talking about the situation at the apartment building. Of course, she was desperate for any news about her mom. But something told me she wasn't going to get it from there. Still, I left her alone and focused on the others.
“I don't know if I had the chance to actually say it yet with everything that happened, but thanks for everything out there. I mean, for showing up the way you did and helping make sure those reinforcements didn’t make that whole situation worse. I… I couldn’t’ve gotten through that without you guys. I was barely holding on as it was. If they’d actually had those reinforcements show up like they were supposed to, it would've been bad.” I coughed, shifting a little subconsciously as they all stared. “So, yeah thanks. I owe you.”
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“We’re a team,” Peyton announced, standing up from her spot by the television (it was on a little shelf along with other things waiting to be sold) to face me. “You don’t owe us, that’s what we do. We back each other up, right?” With that, she added a little shrug. “Besides, you saved my life a couple times before we even were a team, remember? So, as a team, please tell me you’ve heard something about what they’re doing out there?” Her hand gestured back toward the television, the pleading obvious in her gaze.
Swallowing hard, I shook my head. “Sorry, I don't know anything more than you do. I just hope if they do decide to try something, they give us a call so we can help. It's not like they have an abundance of reinforcements right now.”
“Um, about that,” Rubi started hesitantly, shifting as we all turned our attention that way. “I mean, sort of about that. And the whole team thing. I think I know the best way I can help, and, um, it's not exactly by staying here permanently. I mean, you guys are amazing, and a big part of me wants to stay where I can help Roald and Murphy.” She gave them a quick glance before pushing on. “But it's like you said, the rest of the teams in this city are being run down. They need help too. And more than that, I think I could do more good for the rest of you by being able to tell you what's going on in one of those other teams. You know, as someone you can trust to not be part of this whole Ministry group. I can help another group, still come back to back you up whenever you need it, and keep an ear to the ground for anything you need to know.”
After saying all that, Rubi hesitated before adding, “But it's about more than that. While we were waiting earlier, that Caishen lady came by the van. She offered me a position with Ten Towers, a starting salary and benefits that--” Swallowing audibly, she flinched. “I know that sounds bad, I know.”
“It doesn’t sound bad,” I assured her. “You’ve got yourself and three other people to think about. You’ve got three dependents, including a girl in elementary school. I mean, sure we've got the shop here, and we're making sure these guys get paid too. But this is a real job opportunity, one with a big team like Ten Towers. They're an international group. They can do a lot more for you and your family than we can, especially right now. No one thinks it's stupid or selfish for you to worry about keeping your family safe and fed and all that. And you shouldn't have to keep doing a shitty job you hate just to stay here.” Belatedly after another moment of consideration, I added, “Besides, you want to be a lawyer, and I'm pretty sure they can help with that a lot more than anything we could do.”
Roald nodded quickly. “Yeah. Besides, like you said, you’ll help whenever we need it.”
Rubi, in turn, pointed at him. “You're damn right I will. That means I'll be able to push them to come back you guys up too. I’ll have a whole giant corporation ready to bail you guys out of the trouble I know you'll be getting into.” Her attention turned to me. “But if I'm going to do this, you have to promise that you’ll keep me informed about everything that's going on. If you need help, ask for it. Whatever and whenever it is. Don’t block me out.”
“I won’t,” I promised. “We won’t. Just be careful in there. And this whole thing goes both ways. If you need anything, let us know and we’ll be there for you in a second.”
Murphy coughed, moving next to Roald. “Yeah, dude, you got our backs and we’ve got yours. Every single way we can.”
With a small smile, Rubi stepped that way and embraced the girl, much to Murphy’s feigned objections. Then she tugged her brother into the embrace. A weight seemed to have lifted from her shoulders. She had clearly been expecting that to be a harder conversation, probably obsessing over how to bring it up ever since Caishen had spoken to her.
Wren, for her part, bounced up and down a little. “And if you work there, that’s a whole other reason for me to go visit Lightning Bug!”
“Oh, I think you were definitely gonna do that anyway,” I pointed out with a smile. “Mostly because if you didn't, I'm pretty sure she'd find a way to break out of there and come find you, and I don't think any of us want to deal with her mom if she did that.”
We all shuddered a bit at the thought of how that would go, before the front door opened as Sierra made it back. We didn't have to update her, since Paige had been sending messages over their connection that whole time. Instead, she just shrugged at Rubi. “What they said. I'd rather have a whole Ten Towers army ready to come charging in to help deal with whatever trouble managed to chase Paintball down next time than just one more person. Even if your power is completely fucking broken.”
“Oh!” As though the bit about trouble chasing me down (which totally wasn’t a fair assessment at all) had reminded her, Wren dashed off to the front counter, digging around for a moment before coming out with what looked like a pristine version of the helmet I had left cracked and half-broken. She held it out to me. “Here, it’s an upgrade! Try it on.”
She was right about it being an upgrade. Not only was it more comfortable to wear, but apparently it would stand up to handgun fire without breaking, even if I didn't have it painted. On top of that, she had added an untraceable communicator into it that worked off the same tech as that phone we had been using to contact Pittman in Breakwater. And both the communicator and the helmet itself came with a built-in voice changer that included the voice I used as Paintball, as well as several dozen others. Including one voice for each of the others on the team both as their civilian selves and the voices they used in costume, so I could sound like any of them at any point. Just in case that happened to come up. And there were other bells and whistles as well.
It wasn’t just the helmet either. She’d provided a whole new suit. It was basically identical to the old one, except this one had some built-in padding on the knees, elbows, and chest area. The latter, Wren explained in a bit of a stumbling way, was so that I could have an easier time keeping my identity hidden even if the suit ‘pulled a bit’ as I moved around. Apparently if you knew to look for it, someone could potentially notice something there. So this was probably a good idea, and now it just looked like a slightly more padded area for protection.
Thanking the girl profusely until she was blushing red as a beet and embarrassingly insisting that it was no big deal, I took the helmet off and held it under my arm along with the new suit (that one I just trusted to be the right size). Then I looked at the assembled group as they watched me. “Like I was saying before, I don’t know what I’d do without you guys. You’re… you’re the reason I’ve made it this far, the reason I’m still alive right now. We’re gonna get through this together. Whatever happens, whatever comes next with the Scions, or this Sleeptalk stuff, dealing with Pittman for good, or the whole Ministry situation, we’ll deal with it together. You guys are amazing, all of you. Whether you’re a permanent part of the team or not.” My eyes flicked toward Rubi. “So thanks, all of you.”
Before I could get even more sappy with all of that, my phone buzzed. It was Izzy. She was awake and desperate to get out of the hospital. Apparently Simon was busy and they had to release her to a family member, so she was pleading for me to get over there and help make sure she could leave.
Promising I would be back later, or as soon as we knew anything else, I tucked the new stuff away in my bag before heading out once more to take my third Uber ride of the past couple hours. Before long, I made it to the Seraphs place and gave the driver an extra tip to wait until I got back so I wouldn’t have to call for a fourth one.
With the ride idling, I went into the facility, past all the night shift nurses and security (I had to show my identification several times), and through that secret underground tunnel, then up the elevator until I finally reached my sister’s room, putting that extra, Seraphs-provided mask on along the way.
Izzy was clearly chomping at the bit to leave, considering she was fully dressed and standing up in front of the nurse there, a younger man who kept telling her she needed to wait until someone could be there to keep an eye on her.
“I’m here,” I spoke up to draw the man’s attention. “I’m Cassidy, I can sign her out.”
“Oh good.” The man looked relieved. I had the feeling he really didn’t like telling her she couldn’t leave. “Okay, I need you to sign this thing here saying you’ll watch her just in case that stuff kicks in again. We’re pretty sure the cure worked and there won’t be residual effects, but keep an eye out for it just in case. You need to record how often and how long she needs to sleep for the next week, including any extra naps, if she talks or moves in her sleep, and any abnormal breathing, heart rhythms, anything like that.”
He handed me an electronic clipboard and a stylus to write with. Izzy, who had moved up beside me, watched with interest and clear anticipation to leave as I filled it in as best as I could. She also watched as I got to the bottom of the form, gasping just a bit as I answered the last couple questions before handing it back to the man.
The nurse looked it over real quick, using the stylus to sign his own name as a witness without even paying that much attention. He held it out for me to do the same one last time, then nodded. “Alright, you’re good to go. Just be careful out there, okay?”
Izzy promised she would be, before the two of us headed out. Her hand found mine, squeezing. “What you wrote back there--”
“I know,” I assured her. “I… I’m figuring out who I am. It’s a work in progress, but at least there’s progress.”
Together, the two of us walked back through the facility, leaving that hospital room behind. And leaving the electronic clipboard where I had filled out all the answers to who was checking Izzy out of that room. Including those three important lines, asking my name, my relation to the patient, and my gender identity.
Cassidy Sofia Evans
Sibling
They/Them