Chapter 16
SIXTEEN
ALEX
The world was brighter, now.
We had one day before we took off for Connecticut, one day before we would enter the Crowns Club and put my abilities to the test. My output had officially climbed to sixty percent; Joon had been at sixty-five when entered the academy.
Turns out, all I needed was a better conductor to close the gap between us.
There were moments where I wished he was still here, so he could see it.
Even then, when the grief started to roll in, I wasn’t drowning.
After three years, I finally came up for air.
My new attachments were healed; there was still scabbing around the implantation sites, still some hair shaved around them that would take forever to grow back. Luckily, mine was thick, and it wasn’t noticeable. I’d even started to accept the new, outrageously large ornaments on my head.
Okay, maybe that’s a bit dramatic.
They weren’t huge, but they were heavier, and I had resigned myself to the fact that I would never wear a hat again without alterations.
The worst part was that I’d need an entirely new, entirely specialized helmet to ride my bike.
It would cost a pretty penny, too. But I was stronger, I was sleeping better—aside from damned, evil pillowcases—and I hadn’t fallen asleep when using my ability.
It still made me tired, but I wasn’t unconscious or sniffing vials until my nose bled.
“Spin for me, darling,” Reed purred as he twirled a dramatic finger in the air. “Let’s see the full effect.”
He seemed entirely too thrilled with the idea of clothing therapy.
Don’t get me wrong, I loved a good shopping spree, especially on the VIA’s dime.
But the timing was…terrible. We were preparing to take on a Villain organization that had targeted Heroes, targeted Joon, and here we were in a little boutique, trying on dresses.
Reed swore it was imperative to the mission, but I was convinced he just wanted to goof off.
He was twenty-four, but sometimes, he reminded me of a teenager.
Reed had already picked out his clubbing outfit; it was easy for him.
It took only a few minutes for him to choose some fitted pants and a button up, only taking extra time to pick out a new watch that I was positive the VIA didn’t realize they were paying for.
I, unfortunately, was on my tenth dress change, and he was determined that every choice so far had been wrong.
“I’m gonna start considering this as harassment,” I grumbled, although I complied.
Reed balked from his chair, legs spread lazily as he clutched a hand over his heart. “Forgive me for trying to bond a little bit with my teammate.”
“I’m not going to be your teammate forever, and how is gawking at me in skimpy clothes considered bonding?”
His face turned entirely too serious as he began holding up his fingers, listing his grievances.
“One, you’re my teammate until this mission is complete.
I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but Leo doesn’t do hang-outs, and I’ve been desperately isolated.
Imagine being a social butterfly, and then having your wings chopped.
That’s been my life for two years, and I’m taking what I can get.
Also, I visited you in the hospital. We’re basically besties now. ”
I wasn’t sure whether to take that as a compliment or a slight.
“And two, I may be a flirt, but that’s just my personality.
You’re definitely not my type, no offense.
” My jaw dropped, and Reed shrugged. “Trust me when I say, this little expedition isn’t for me.
I just very much enjoy fucking with Leo’s head; it’s my tax for all the bullshit he’s put me through. ”
“How is this fucking with his head?” I sighed before tucking myself back behind the curtain of the dressing room. “You get one more; red or blue?”
Reed had gotten into the habit of making passing comments that I wanted to pause on—but I never let myself go there. He was a tease, and mischief definitely followed him wherever he went. Every word he said was taken with a grain of salt.
I could hear Reed humming before he snapped his fingers. “You’re both so incredibly dense that I want to die. And blue—it makes your eyes pop.”
“You’re the most dramatic person I’ve ever met, do you know that?” I called back.
He wasn’t wrong, though. Blue definitely complimented me, and the shade matched my new equipment perfectly.
I looked in the mirror at the final pick; a velvet, sapphire cocktail dress that ended above my knees and clung to every curve I’d forgotten existed on my body.
Rhinestone chain straps held up the swooping neck at the front, then trailed down my bare skin until the material gathered and hung just above my low back.
I pulled my hair up into a messy bun, exposing the length of my neck, and I realized I couldn’t remember the last time I’d actually dressed up, or gone out.
In my daydreams, I could wear and do whatever I wanted.
But in reality, I’d worked myself to the bone to ignore my grief over Joon’s death, and wallowed in sweatpants alone in my room on weekends.
When was the last time I’d felt pretty, or sexy?
Maybe that’s why I’d bawled my eyes out when a ten-year-old comparing me to a dragon. I sat in the cave of my apartment, horded books, and grew horns. Giant-lizard behavior was in my DNA, apparently.
When I came back out, Reed was already standing, clapping as he let out a low whistle. “Delicious, enchanting, a true seductress. This is the one.”
I threw my head back and let out a laugh—a real one, nothing fake to assure others that I was okay, nothing that screamed this-is-definitely forced-and-I-can’t-wait-for-it-to-end.
Reed was carefree, and that was what I needed.
It took too long to realize that I had friends; I had support, and they each played a different role.
Reed was the fun one; the one that made reality go away and mid-day shopping sprees sound like a good time.
Part of me wished that Leo was there, that he’d open himself up to Reed too, and finally let go.
He’d shown me pieces of himself when I was in the hospital.
There was a nervousness to him that I hadn’t recognized before; he stumbled over his words, and interacting with others outside of fighting was an entirely foreign concept.
But he was kind—he rallied my people, and stayed by my side, even when he didn’t have to.
Leo deserved a support system, too.
He just needs a little more time.
Reed gave me that Cheshire cat smile. “Don’t get me wrong, street clothes look great on you, but this is the type of outfit that will have men begging you to step on them. Splinter is going down because of a babe in blue—fucking poetic, if you ask me.”
I scoffed. “I’m not sure about that, but let’s hope so.”
“Lycean has no idea what’s coming for him.”
“Absolutely not,” Leo scowled with crossed arms.
We stood in a hotel room that overlooked a small city, more run-down brick than towering skyscrapers like Nightmyre.
Connecticut was even calmer than I’d thought it would be.
Agents with the VIA had already set up their computers and equipment, and I held still as they strung wires through my dress, watching as they did the same with Leo’s black button up.
Our mission seemed simple enough; I’d get close enough to Lycean to pull him in and get the information we needed, and Leo and Reed would be my backup, watching in case anything went wrong. But Leo was testing my patience—again. Every time we took a step forward, he pulled us back fifteen feet.
For some reason, I assumed the whole ‘being an absolute rock when I was terrified’ thing meant that we were getting somewhere.
Wrong.
I wasn’t sure what I’d expected. A compliment, a nice smile, anything but the hostility that flared in his red eyes.
It pissed me off how my own raked down his frame; Leo was huge, and his all black outfit clung to every plane of muscle.
The only color was the watch on his wrist, glowing orange with one dose of coolant in case he decided to light the Crowns Club on fire.
Accidentally. Not decided. We have made progress; he is not a monster. Don’t go into disaster-judgement-setback mode.
We were going through a phase, maybe.
“Okay, Dad,” I rolled my eyes, framed with smokey makeup that made the blue stand out even more than usual. In a perfect world, he’d compare them to butterfly wings again, and my heart would do that squeeze thing that made me slightly confused and unsettled. “You don’t get a choice.”
In my personal opinion, I was fucking hot, and I deserved a standing ovation for how well I balanced in my heels. Had I always been so praise-driven? Was I developing a new kink?
“She needs to attract his attention,” Reed sighed beside me as he held out a hand in my direction.
“That’s exactly what this will do. Alex will have them drooling, and then we’ll have the information we need.
Easy, simple, no fire involved. See how nice that is?
To not end up destroying something during a mission? ”
I put my hands on my hips, still having to look up at him even though I’d gained at least five inches with my shoe choice. Unfortunately, I was already regretting that decision. My ankles and toes were screaming.
“Can you have a little faith in me, please? I’ve done this before. I know how far I can go and when to call it quits.”
His eyes scanned my frame, and a blush crept into my chest. “How many times have you done this?”
“I’ve lost count,” I deadpanned. “So don’t worry, I won’t fuck it up. New gear, remember? I’m a total badass now.”
His jaw flexed as he breathed through his nose, wisps of smoke already appearing. The night hadn’t even started yet. “That’s not what I’m worried about.”
I waved my hands in the air before strutting by him, thoroughly done with his pouting.
“You look nice, Alex,” I mumbled to myself, making sure he could still hear as I walked away.
“Wow, great dress. Amazing effort. Ten out of ten. You’re a smoke show.
” I whipped around before cradling my hands to my chest, laying into the play I was putting on for myself.
“Aweee, thank you, Leo. You’re too fucking kind. ”
The agents around us kept their gazes fixated to the floor as I waltzed by, fury in my veins. I’d barely made it into the hallway before Leo was behind me, wrapping a firm hand around my wrist.
“Alex,” he sounded like he was in pain.
I rolled my eyes before turning on him. “What?”
Those red eyes flickered back to brown for a moment as he scanned me, and suddenly I was conscious of each curve the velvet clung to, how bare my back was, what tattoos could be showing.
He gave me a lazy smirk that sent goosebumps across my skin. “You’re a smoke show, ten out of ten.”
My spine straightened, and I pursed the lips I’d painted red, trying not to squirm under his gaze. “Thank you. Now, was that so hard?”
He rolled his eyes, and I was back to being pissed off. “You have no idea.”