Page 36

Joan paced around the small meeting room fiddling with the zipper on her Spark suit, quietly freaking the fuck out. They were holding the press conference on the steps of City Hall since there was currently no street in front of Superhero headquarters.

The past few days had been a blur of activity designed to prepare her for a life in the spotlight.

A surprising amount of paperwork, and meetings to discuss what the Supers expected of her and Mark, and onboarding about expense receipts and insurance, and information requests for SuperWatch claims, and media training that she proved to be very bad at.

Where was Mark? The rest of the Supers were in the lobby warming up the crowd to the formal announcement of Spark and Ice becoming guardians of Vector City. Mark was supposed to be hiding in here with her so he could be all “Everything’s chill, sis.”

It still felt surreal, but good. No nightmares anymore, but she supposed those had been fueled by being scared for Sadie’s safety.

She couldn’t not worry about her a little, but she trusted Sadie.

And new friends were watching over her: Tenia and Morris, Wren, Beth-Ann.

And Nyah and Amit, too. In retrospect, it totally made sense that Amit had figured out why Joan was so sketchy with the truth.

She shook her head. Her and Mark’s new best friend Kade, who gave palm-stinging high-fives every single time they crossed paths, would take care of Sadie. Plus, there was Zee. Even Darlene wouldn’t hesitate to do the right thing.

The door opened to a rush of weekday noise and Mark as Ice carrying two champagne flutes.

The second he closed the heavy oak door, Joan said, “Where have you been? I’m freaking out.”

Mark frowned. “My face is breaking out. That’s what happens when we don’t wear our masks for a while.”

“Where did you get those?” She pointed at the glasses.

“There was a little meet-and-greet for some head honchos.”

“I don’t want to do meet-and-greets. Otis said we aren’t doing those yet. And hopefully never.”

“Did I say I was invited?” Mark grinned, still her sneaky younger brother. “Here. Calm yourself.”

Joan grabbed the offered glass and chugged its contents. The bubbles fizzled in her internal heat.

“That nervous, huh?”

She began her path across the room again. It was a beautiful, sunny day outside, but the thick wooden blinds were all closed. They’d replaced most of the windows on the first floor after Squawk blew them out.

The cracks of light around the blinds were strangely comforting. Like the old days at the warehouse when hiding was an option.

This felt just like entering villainy. “I’ve been thinking about the first time Perry took us out as Spark and Ice. Those early outfits.”

“God,” Mark groaned. “Those were terrible. I looked like I was in a boy band from outer space.”

“I was terrified. You had to hold my hand to get me through it.”

“I remember.” He smiled. “But we got through it. We’ll get through this.”

Joan dragged her gloved fingers through her mask’s flowing black wig. “Why can’t we just go out and fight crime? Why the big press conference?”

“We need to start off on the right foot,” Mark said, then sipped his champagne.

“People are okay, though, right? We’ve seen the comments on SuperWatch. Some people thanking us.”

“The LARP community loves us.”

“Yeah, they do. And everyone likes a redemption story.”

“We’ve still gotta do the pressing flesh and kissing babies.” He made a face. “I hope we don’t have to kiss any babies.”

Sadie had been relatively reassuring, showing Joan positive posts on social media from people relaying stories about Spark and Ice that weren’t altogether bad.

She’d posted on SuperWatch about Spark giving money to Vector City Coffee to repair Super damage.

And Cajun Soul and Powered by Plants praised Spark and Ice’s quick thinking that saved their trucks.

Sadie. The best person in the whole wide world. Joan stopped pacing and faced the door. “I need a Sadie hug. Can she come in?”

“We agreed to keep her and Per on the sidelines so nobody connects them to us,” Mark patiently soothed. “She’s here. They’re both outside.”

But I want a damn Sadie hug and her saying how proud she is of me like she did this morning.

Joan tapped her boot heel on the scuffed wood floor. “We’re gonna be Superheroes, Mark.”

“Yeah. Weird. Do you think…”

“What?”

“Nah, just…” Mark shuffled his feet. “Do you think Mom and Dad would be proud of us?”

“I don’t care,” Joan said.

“I mean, if things had been different, and we never became Villains…”

“We became Villains because of what they did to us.”

Her brother stared at the floor. “I think they’d be glad we turned out okay.”

Joan huffed and rolled her eyes. Mark still had that soft spot, but she couldn’t give their parents the satisfaction of being proud of kids they’d kicked out. They’d probably be more proud of them running a food truck than anything having to do with their destructive powers.

“I really am sorry about Hot and Cold,” she said.

“Me, too. I really liked it.” He looked up with a grin that was maybe a touch too wide. “But like, Superheroes .”

“Right? Good thing we never got tattoos.”

“Yeah. You would’ve done something awful like get Sadie’s name on your ass anyway.”

“Why on my ass?”

Mark just shrugged.

The door opened to Kade’s deep laugh and louder noise from the gathering crowd. Fuck, there were people outside waiting to scrutinize the former Villains trying to change sides.

Ward hustled in, dapper in a dark suit and deep-purple tie.

Padma followed in a sleek red wrap dress.

Their liaison to the mayor’s office was full of energy (and buckets of caffeine) and loved using buzzwords that made Joan cringe.

She was hot, though—Joan had always been a sucker for long, thick hair.

“Ward!” Mark cheered. “I thought we agreed you were taking time off.”

“There’s so much to do this week,” Ward said.

“Not for us you don’t. We’re cool on our own.”

The overworked sidekick gave him a grateful smile. “Thank you, Mr. Ice.”

“Hi hi!” Padma sang. “Everything okay in here?”

“No,” Joan answered very seriously.

She laughed merrily. “We’re just about ready to get started.

Now, we’re going to have the other Supers go out before you.

” She consulted her tablet. “Flight will do a little light housekeeping. Give an update on Amazing Woman, assure our community of clean-up efforts, et cetera. Then he’ll formally announce you both, and we’re off to the races. ”

Joan swore under her breath.

“Remember to smile and stay positive and on point. There will be some pushback. It happens all the time. Nothing to be concerned about. Just stick to the talking points we discussed.”

Talking points? Words? What were words? Joan jutted a thumb at Mark. “Ice is gonna do the talking.”

Padma tossed her luxurious ebony curls over one shoulder. “Did you get the chance to look over the benefits package? Remember to set up an appointment with me to go over health benefits and our retirement plan.”

“You bet,” Mark said. “Hey, is it true that psychiatric services are available?”

“Absolutely.” Their liaison grew serious. “We understand the unique stress of this job. All the Supers in the country work virtually with a wonderful therapist. Her information is included in the welcome binder.”

He elbowed Joan in the ribs. “There really is a shrink who specializes in superpowered issues.”

“What else, what else?” Padma referred to her tablet.

“Oh, yes. I’m still waiting on the activation of your credit cards.

Should be done by this evening. Since you’re technically not full Superheroes just yet, there’s a five-thousand-dollar monthly spending limit.

If you have additional expenses like rent or car payments, let me know. I can get those approved.”

“We have money from running our food truck,” Mark was quick to defend.

“We pay our bills,” Joan added.

“Of course.” Padma smiled graciously. “You might find the transition a little strange. Just know that Vector City takes care of its Heroes.”

That sat uneasily in Joan’s gut. Years of griping about the Supers getting whatever they wanted, and here she was being offered just that.

Padma glanced at her smartwatch. “Oop. It’s time.” She touched the doorknob, then whirled around. “Did you have any more questions?”

“Is there more champagne?” Joan asked.

Padma giggled and shook her head. “You’re so funny. I already like working with you. Welcome to the team, Spark and Ice.”

She breezed out the doorway into the growing communal chatter. Welcome to the team. Ugh, so weird.

Ward clicked on his own tablet. “Did you get the fruit basket Blip sent to headquarters?”

“Yep,” Mark said. “That was nice of him.”

Ward nodded and clicked again.

“I didn’t see it,” Joan said.

Her brother finished off his champagne, then said, “Blip. Y’know, the Villain up in Canada who turned Hero?”

“Yes, I know. He sent a fruit basket?”

“The note said something like ‘Congrats from another queer former Villain. Life is sweeter on this side.’”

Ah. Fruit. Sweet. Got it. “I didn’t know he was queer,” Joan said.

“Yeah, he’s bi.”

“Cool.”

Mark snorted. “You know Vector City is gonna boast about having the most queer Superheroes now.”

“Something to be proud of, I guess. As long as it’s not exploited.”

Applause broke out in the lobby. Joan caught sight of Otis waving to the office workers. Padma stuck her head back in. “Okay, you two. Let’s go.”

Joan’s stomach churned. She could flee. Bust through a window and get out of there.

Her feet dragged like cement bricks. Ward gave Mark a fist-bump, then Joan.

The noise dipped the second they hit the marble-tiled lobby. Faces pinched, eyes narrowed in suspicion. Okay, so not everyone was excited. To be expected.

Kade—bless him—came over and gave them his signature high-five, thankfully muted through their gloves. Zee smirked like Get ready for this.