Page 35

Sadie followed Ward into the back entrance of Superhero headquarters. He’d had to come out and allow her through the blockade surrounding the area. A few texts and a quick call from Joan had not been enough to squash her nerves. She needed to see everyone.

“How’s Gus?” she asked.

“As far as I know, she hasn’t woken up yet. It’s been…”

“I’m sure it has.”

They passed the kitchen where a man and woman in pantsuits murmured over coffee mugs. The gray-haired man looked familiar—spotless in a politician way.

“Is that Mayor Thorpe?” Sadie said.

“Yes, with our liaison to his office. We have some other key civilians milling about. They have seen our Heroes without their masks but don’t know anyone’s real identities. Please refrain from using their names outside of where we’re going.”

Ward approached a closed white metal door. It led to a large hospital room with one empty bed and one surrounded by Heroes old and new in their civilian clothes.

Joan turned, her face softening. She took big steps across the room.

Sadie hurried to meet her, heart about ready to leap from her chest. “Oh my god,” she exhaled, crushing Joan in a hug. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

“Are you all right? And Tenia and Morris?”

“We’re fine.” She squeezed tighter. “I’m so proud of you.”

Joan had been a force of nature. She’d worked with Darlene. Taken on Prowl. Did not back down from Quake to defend Gus.

“Is Gus doing any better?” Sadie said, pulling back.

“She’s coming in and out of consciousness.”

They walked to where Gus was hooked up to monitoring equipment. Perry sat next to the bed, holding her hand, looking more distraught than Sadie had ever seen. The whole group looked worried.

She gave Mark a quick hug, then squeezed Perry’s shoulder. Glancing around, she asked, “Is everyone else okay?”

“Bumps and bruises, but otherwise fine,” Mark said.

Her gaze lingered on the woman she didn’t recognize in bright florals. Aura? “Hi, I’m Sadie,” she said.

“Aura. Or Sherrelle, I guess. I heard you already know everyone.”

“Your secret’s safe with me.”

Aura/Sherrelle studied her, then nodded. “You’ve got good energy.”

Gus lightly stirred. Perry jumped to his feet and brushed the hair off her forehead. “We’re here,” he said. “We’re all here, waiting for you to wake up and boss us around.”

A smile tugged at Sadie’s lips from his sweet concern. Then she got a good look at Gus’s face. There were more wrinkles, or maybe deeper existing wrinkles? Her cheeks had sunken in a bit, too. And actually, her hands and arms were more gnarled, more aged. Even her hair appeared to be dulling.

Footsteps from a little desk nook startled Sadie. A brown-skinned man with short-cropped hair, maybe thirty-ish, in sky-blue scrubs. He gave Sadie a brief smile. “Hi, I’m Dr. Justin Devers. You can call me Justin.”

“Hi.” Sadie started to say more, then realized there were no masks, no…

Justin chuckled. “It’s okay. It’s in the oath I took not to divulge personal information. Plus, I have a vested interest. My aunt was a Superhero.” He held up a smooth hand. “Can’t tell you who or when or where. She’s retired.”

“He specializes in treating the superpowered,” Joan said.

“Really?” Sadie leaned close and murmured, “You can ask him stuff.”

Joan nodded. “Like about wonky menstruation.”

“Superpowered people typically don’t have a normal menstrual cycle or menses flow,” Justin said.

Joan’s face tightened in embarrassment. Guess it was too quiet in there.

“You didn’t know that?” Darlene said.

“How would I know that?” Joan countered.

“Are you seeing new clients, Doc?” Mark said. “My sister needs to learn more about her menses.”

Sadie smacked his arm and shifted the focus to the medical emergency. “Is something going on with Gus? She looks different.”

Justin studied his patient. “Treating her has been a bit of a mystery. She doesn’t get injured, but her body does experience wear and tear. My best guess is it’s repairing itself after taking so many hits today. That could be drawing away from bone density, skin elasticity and the like.”

“It’s aging her,” Otis said.

That’s what it was. She was aging right before their eyes.

Joan laced her fingers through Sadie’s. “We can’t put an IV in her. Or do a blood draw.”

“Yeah.” Justin chuckled again. “Her skin bends needles.”

“We took x-rays, though.”

“So she’ll be okay?” Sadie asked.

“Her vitals are strong. I’m optimistic for her recovery.” Justin gestured back at the desk, which sported a small Trans Pride flag. “I’ll be over here if you need anything.”

The room quieted again other than occasional beeps and clicks. Joan had told her bits and pieces of what went on during the fight. Sadie would get the whole story later, but she had to know, “What were those things the Villains were using? Their powers came right back.”

“Something that deflected the frequency,” Zee said.

“Quake had one that boosted his,” Otis added. “We have them in our possession. We’re going to study them and then destroy them.”

A small flame flickered from Joan’s palm. “Just say the word.”

Zee tilted their head. “Maybe no open flame near an oxygen tank?”

“Sorry.” Joan mashed her fingers on it.

“Where are the Villains right now?” Sadie asked.

“Contained in the basement,” Otis said.

“Here?” Her pulse jumped. “Like, here here?”

“They’re secure,” Zee said. “The power blocking is cranked up high down there. We’re waiting for the team from the prison facility to come get them.”

“I’m going with,” Aura/Sherrelle said. “Make sure no shenanigans happen.”

“Me too,” Kade said.

Darlene crossed her arms. “And me.”

“Is that a good idea?” Sadie couldn’t help giving the norm perspective. “I mean, there was just a huge battle. Having half your Heroes leave town, even for a good reason…?”

Zee raised their eyebrows at Mark.

Sherrelle waved across the bed. “There’s five of you. That’s more than enough to start cleaning up this mess.”

Sadie’s breath stilled. Joan’s fingers went slack. Five Heroes. That includes Spark, Ice and Breeze.

“You’re right,” she said, squeezing Joan’s hand.

Joan met her gaze, brows quirked, asking permission. Sadie smiled and gave an encouraging nod. Go for it.

Joan cleared her throat. Looked at Mark, then Gus. “I want the city to know how much Gus has sacrificed. Her whole life. What she went through before, and hiding out all those years so Quake wouldn’t find her.”

“She’s so brave,” Kade said.

“Running headfirst into danger to help people. That’s the sort of person I want to be.” Joan paused, then added, “That’s the sort of hero I want to be.”

The energy palpably heightened in the room.

“I know that sounds cheesy, but…”

“That’s what a hero would say,” said Darlene.

Joan gave her a look. So did Sadie. Darlene of all the Supers giving support?

Drawing in a deep breath, Joan said, “I want to join you. Officially. I want to be a Superhero.”

Sadie felt her brace for the response. It could be denied, laughed at, anything. She stepped closer to show her support.

Mark looked back and forth from his sister to Perry. “I do, too. It’s nice to be the good guy for once.”

Kade grinned and said, “That would be so cool!”

The others looked more skeptical, but not completely dismissive.

“What about you, Perry?” Otis asked, crossing his arms.

Perry gave him the stink eye. “God no.”

Sadie leaned into Joan’s side, telling her no matter the outcome, she’d be there for her.

“And I want Gus to paint my portrait,” Mark said.

Otis tilted his chin down. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. You assisted well with this latest Villain apprehension. You could contribute to society in a positive manner. However…”

“Come on, Otis,” Zee said. “They have a perspective we don’t. And they’ve proved they care. Give them probationary status or something.”

“Is that a thing?” Mark said.

“It could be.” Zee swung their gaze to the senior Super.

Otis stared at the twins. “It isn’t easy. Villains get to pick and choose their battles. We do not.”

“I know,” Joan said.

“We wouldn’t be in it for the fame or the glory or the free shit,” Mark said.

Joan nodded in agreement. If anything, she was in it for people to not be afraid of her anymore.

“Gus?” Perry rushed out.

Gus’s head rolled side to side. She smacked her lips and her eyelids fluttered.

“Doctor!” Perry called. “I think she’s waking up.”

He murmured close to her ear as Justin rejoined them. “Ms. Abernathy? Can you hear me?”

Gus coughed and struggled, but eventually said, “Did we get him?”

“We got him,” Perry said.

She nodded faintly, then closed her eyes. “Asshole.”

“Ms. Abernathy, I’m Dr. Devers,” Justin said. “Can you tell me what day it is?”

“The day we beat that asshole.”

“She’s fine,” Mark laughed.

Gus tried to sit up. Perry got all awkward like he wasn’t sure if he should help or prevent her from moving too much. “I’m thirsty,” she rasped. “Tired. So tired.”

“Just rest,” Perry said. “Sherrelle, hand me?—”

Sherrelle passed him the plastic cup filled with water. Gus took a few drags from the straw.

“You need to stay hydrated,” Justin said. “I’m not able to administer IV fluids.”

“I break needles. I know that.”

It was nice to see her grouchy because grumpy Gus meant healthy Gus.

After another sip, she said, “I assume since you’re all here, we got all of them.”

“We did,” Darlene said. “I’m sorry you had to take the brunt of the assault again.”

“I did my part. You got your justice, kiddo.”

Darlene broke into a soft smile.

“Why am I so tired?” Gus fell back against the pillows.

Justin repeated his theory about her body repairing itself while Perry fluffed her pillows and pulled up the blankets. Fussing over her in a very un-Perry display of affection.

Sadie whispered to Joan, “He really loves her.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Yeah.”

Gus mumbled to Perry. He turned to the group and said, “Give her space. She wants to rest.”

The Supers backed off with words of encouragement. Joan looked like she wanted to say something, but followed Mark instead. Sadie let go of her hand, quietly saying, “Thank you, Gus.”

Gus regarded her before her eyes closed.

Perry returned to his seat as Sadie rejoined Joan. “I didn’t talk to Per about this being a Superhero thing,” Joan said. “I hope he’s not mad. We made him open the food truck, and now…”

Mark shoved his hands in his back pockets. “Is the food truck totally off the table?”

“I don’t see how we could do both.”

“Yeah. For sure.” A murky gray clouded his eyes for a brief moment. Aww, poor Markie. He’d really blossomed at Hot and Cold.

Joanie’s worry lines deepened across her forehead. Before she spiraled out with her fears, Sadie rubbed her back. “Perry’s gonna be busy helping me find another café location. And taking care of Gus.”

“I’m glad she’s getting better,” Kade said.

Zee planted their hands on their hips. “Should we get back to discussing Spark and Ice’s future?”

“Look, I know we have a long way to go to gain the public’s trust,” Joan said. “Especially me. Fire is so destructive.”

“It’s efficient,” Darlene said.

Joan blinked, clearly surprised by that. “It is?”

“I’ve found it works well in short bursts. Efficient and effective.”

“O…kay.” She shared a What the hell? look with Mark. “We’ll do what we have to do. Go to Superhero training or whatever. If that’s a thing.”

“We have media training.” Kade rolled his eyes.

“Regimented workout programs,” Darlene said.

“We love to work out,” Mark said. Did he shift his eyes toward Zee?

“Mandatory weekly meetings,” Otis said.

Sadie, Joan and Mark snorted. “We’re used to meetings,” Joan chuckled. “That’s Perry’s favorite thing.”

“We could do with less meetings, more doing.” Mark glanced over at Gus. “She was right about sitting around too much. We like to act.”

“It would be probationary,” Otis said. “You wouldn’t be granted full access to anything. You would need supervision.”

The twins nodded. Sadie wanted to wrap her arms around Joan and cheer.

Someone cleared their throat. Ward. The sidekick had been hanging out by the door. Panic practically vibrated off of him. “Will you be taking a formal vote? Are you—” He gulped. “—adding two more Superheroes to the roster?”

“Ward, buddy,” Mark said. “We don’t need a sidekick. We’ve done just fine without any help.”

Ward’s wide eyes said he wanted to believe that, but there was much more to the equation on this side of the Hero/Villain conflict.

Sherrelle wiggled a finger at Joan and Mark. “I wasn’t sure creating an alliance was a smart move, but they proved me wrong. You’ve got two good ones here. One of them’s even in a committed relationship.”

She gave Otis a pointed gaze that he avoided.

Ward went over to a laptop on the counter. “If this is going to be an official vote, I need the exact wording for what you are proposing, please.”

“That Spark and Ice join us on a probationary basis subject to terms to be decided upon,” Zee said.

“That was good,” Kade loudly whispered.

“I vote yes,” Darlene said. She nodded at Joan. Joan smiled her gorgeous smile and nodded back.

“I vote yes,” Zee said.

“I vote an enthusiastic yes!” Kade pumped his fist.

Everyone looked at Otis. He crossed his arms, very Superhero-y, and addressed Joan. “What changed for you?”

She turned to Sadie, the love in her eyes shining amber and bright. “I have something to fight for.”

Sadie’s heart melted. She was gonna fight just as hard for Joanie—for their relationship and their dreams.

Otis considered her answer for a long moment. “Then I vote yes.”