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Joan stepped off the bus behind Sadie. She looked so darn cute in her date night outfit of a low-cut blue dress and thick tights. Her tan overcoat covered her ass, but maybe that was for the best. Lewd acts in public could send a person to jail.

It’d be worth it, though.

Sadie breathed out a deep, contented sigh. “That ramen was so good ,” she said. She swung her small paper bag. “I can’t wait to eat my leftovers and enjoy it all over again.”

“And share with your girlfriend,” Joan teased.

“Sorry, pal. No sharesies.”

“Fair.”

Sadie tucked her arm through Joan’s as they strolled toward home. The Monday evening crowd moved at a moderate pace with those getting off work late or heading to nighttime activities. “I’d almost consider the Jewel District for my café, only I’d spend all my money on ramen.”

“And bus fare.”

“Yeah. I like it there, but it’s so far south, it’s practically not even the city anymore.”

Joan rubbed Sadie’s hand. They’d had an early dinner after checking out the Jewel District for a possible Sadie’s Café locale. The commute down there had been terrible, which was a pretty big deterrent. “I’m proud of you for taking this step.”

“Thanks.” Sadie’s lips bobbed in a feeble smile. “I’m proud of me, too.”

Talking to Perry a week ago seemed to be her catalyst to take baby action steps. Perry , of all people. It was good to know he wanted to pursue other legal business ventures. This needed to work for him and Sadie. Then all of Joan’s favorite people would be happy.

Sadie rested her head on Joan’s shoulder. She kissed the top of Sadie’s head. Being so comfortable together was awesome.

“You look incredible tonight,” Sadie said.

It was just dark pants and a white diamond-pattered shirt beneath a leather jacket, but Joan took the compliment gratefully. “I was just thinking how great you look. Good enough to eat.”

“You’re not getting my leftovers, Malone.”

“I was referring to dessert, Miss Eagan.”

Sadie chuckled. “Ugh, I wish I wasn’t on Day Two of my period.”

“I wish I had a regular cycle and could empathize with you.”

“No, you don’t. Menstruation sucks.”

Whether it was from super genetic makeup or wonky hormones, Joan never had regular periods. Not that she’d ever been able to ask a medical professional about it. Or another superpowered individual. “I’ll give you a long massage when we get home,” she said.

“I’ll give you whatever you want.” Sadie lifted her head, beautiful brown eyes filled with intent. “ Whatever you want.”

“It’s not as good if I can’t pleasure you, too.”

“Babe, I promise it will be better than good.”

Joan squeezed her arm. “You’re the boss.”

“Damn right. So think about what you want me to do to you.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Heat rose from her core, heading down to?—

A bright green flash popped in the night sky. Then a series of neon squiggles dashed through the clouds.

“What the heck?” Sadie said.

The clouds thickened and billowed, drawn together by a shimmering green glow. Eerie lightning flickered behind the cloud wall. A rumble of thunder rolled over the city.

Joan’s heart skipped a beat. Oh, shit.

The clouds lit with more intense neon lightning. The wind picked up. This wasn’t something that happened in Vector City. The only time Joan had seen it was in…

Oh, shiiiiiit .

Her stomach churned with dread. “Get behind me, honey,” she said, stepping in front of Sadie to block her from whatever—or whoever—was doing this.

A series of green flashes shot into the sky. The atmosphere hummed with thick energy, like just before a thunderstorm broke open. People stopped on the sidewalk to stare.

She felt Sadie’s hand on her back. “What is it, Joanie?”

Maybe it was a weird weather phenomenon. Global warming. Nuclear waste. Anything other than…

The air grew as humid as a sultry mid-summer night. A steady neon-green glow emanated from a singular spot a few blocks away.

She had to see it to believe it, even though the truth sank deep in her gut.

“Stay close to me,” Joan said, taking Sadie’s hand and heading toward the glow.

“What are you doing?”

“I think I know who’s causing this.”

“Who, not what?”

“Unfortunately.”

They hurried past concerned folks wisely moving in the opposite direction. Dodged people blocking the sidewalk while recording the event on their phones. The glow intensified the closer they got, along with the humidity. Her shirt stuck to her skin, and her hair fell out of its mini bun.

The faint hum was now a loud buzz. They huffed and puffed to the edge of a large park with an open baseball field. Sure enough, right there in center field, a man in a Supervillain outfit striped with shades of green held his hands up to the sky.

“Derek,” Joan said, confirming her fears.

“Who?” Sadie yelled over the noise.

“That’s Ether. He’s a Villain from Oceanview.”

“What’s he doing here?”

That was the question of the hour.

Flight burst through the low-hanging clouds, red cape flapping in the wind. A few people cheered. An off-white streak zoomed onto the field. Zee stopped a cautious distance from Derek in their Race gear.

Joan fisted her hands, fire smoldering beneath her palms.

Derek turned in a slow circle, saying something unintelligible through the noise.

Otis leaned down mid-flight. “What?” he shouted.

Derek said something louder.

“ What? ”

He dropped his arms and said it again, annoyance in his tone.

“We don’t know what you’re saying,” Zee yelled.

“Is this better?” Derek said through a muted buzz.

Zee pointed to their ear. “We literally don’t know what you’re saying.”

With a huff, the Supervillain waved his hands. The green glow dissipated around him, as did the humming. “Can you hear me now?”

“Yes,” Flight bellowed from above.

“Jesus.” Derek struck a haughty pose. “As I was saying, I am Ether, and I control your atmosphere now.”

A slinky figure in deep purple leapt from a tree. Oh, fuck. Not her.

She sprang onto the metal fence behind home plate, climbing to the top with her freakishly strong nails. Perching on all fours, she said, “I’ve always wanted to take down a city. Get ready for Prowl.”

Sadie clutched Joan’s arm. “That’s another Oceanview Villain.”

“Yeah,” Joan said, only she knew her as Ricki. Which was not her real name, but hell if anyone knew her real name.

A tall, reedy man in yellow with a too-confident swagger walked out from the grouping of trees. Oh shit oh shit oh shit.

“Cover your ears,” Joan rushed out.

“What?” Sadie looked around in confusion.

“ Cover your ears. ”

Squawk let out a shrieking wail. It was so forceful, it brought everyone surrounding the park to their knees. Several car windows shattered.

This asshole was from Destine. What the hell was a Destine Villain doing with two Oceanview Villains?

Squawk introduced himself, but nobody could hear him through the ringing in their ears. What the fuck was going on?

Joan knelt beside Sadie to wrap an arm around her. “Are you okay?”

Sadie gripped Joan’s jacket as several people scampered past. They helped one another stand, keeping eyes on Squawk to see if he’d do that again.

Derek gestured at the newest Villain. “That’s a taste of what to expect. Your city is ours for the taking.”

“Not with us here,” Flight said, swooping down on him.

Ricki jumped off the fence and tackled him to the baseball diamond. Squawk directed a shrill burst at Zee that knocked them back.

Fire crackled from Joan’s fingertips. She stepped into a fighting stance, itching for action.

“Joanie.” Sadie blocked her with her forearm. “You’re sparking. Someone might see.”

Damn it. She shook her hands to blow out the sparks.

Derek raised his hands high, then brought them down. A torrent of heavy rain struck with solid force.

People shouted and ran for cover. Sadie gasped, “My ramen!” and scooped the disintegrating paper bag off the sidewalk.

Ricki sprang onto a sturdy tree branch. “We own you, Vector City!” she declared, her diabolical laugh echoing through the rain.

It was hard to see, which was exactly Ether’s strategy. Adrenaline-laced fire pulsed through Joan’s veins, her fight-or-flight instinct firmly set to fight.

Squawk released another piercing cry. Motherfucker , that hurt. She huddled with Sadie to ride out the waves of ringing.

“There’s Catch!” a woman to her right said. “And Lunk!”

For the first time in her life, Joan was glad to see Darlene running toward Zee. Probably absorbing their super speed. She couldn’t make out what all was happening, but activity moved around the park. It felt abnormal not to partake in it. Almost wrong.

The rain stopped as quickly as it started. The park was empty, but the sound of continued action came from neighboring streets.

Sadie cradled the plastic tub of leftovers to her chest. “Do you think there’s more of them?”

“I don’t know,” Joan said, surveying the park. “My guess is no because they would’ve been a part of the splashy introduction.”

Steam rose off her from how hot she smoldered. She wiped her soaked hair back. Villains from other cities were working together? To take over her city?

Her phone kept buzzing in her jacket pocket. Most likely Mark and Perry saying what was running through her mind: Fuck fuck fuck .

“Are you going after them?” Sadie said.

“Hell no. I’m not going anywhere near them. I don’t want a whiff of guilt by association.”

“Do you know them?”

“Ether and Prowl. I’ve never met that screaming asshole. I’ve heard he’s a douche.”

“Clearly.” Sadie squirmed in her wet clothes. “If this is over, can we go home?”

Joan did another visual sweep of the area. “Yeah.”

They squished down the sidewalk, listening to water running into the gutters and sirens and a boom-thwack in the near distance. She rubbed her ear, trying to rid the last of the ringing.

“I can’t believe this crap is starting up again,” a businessman in a ruined suit said into his cellphone as he rushed by.

Sadie took Joan’s hand and laced their fingers. “It is, isn’t it?” she said quietly.

“Looks that way,” Joan grunted.

“I guess it makes sense. We’re a whole big city without any Villains. It’s ripe for the taking.”

Two young women stepped out from beneath a steakhouse entrance’s awning. “I’ve barely been here a month,” one of them said.

“So much for moving to a safer city,” the other said.

A strange queasiness filled Joan’s body. She felt…bad. Like this was her fault for leaving the city vulnerable to interlopers. When she was a Villain—if she was still a Villain—this wouldn’t be happening.

Squawk released a cry that was fortunately far enough away.

“Do you think the Supers can contain them?” Sadie asked.

“No. They’re not used to fighting these Villains. These guys had a plan. They’ll scatter.”

“How do you know the Oceanview Villains? Did you hang out, or…?”

How to best phrase it? “Professional associates. Most Villains know each other, or of each other. Derek used to host these big beach bashes that were pretty off the hook.”

“And Prowl? I’ve heard about how ruthless she is.”

Sadie looked up with smudged eye makeup. Her poor hair and bangs were smashed flat, and it had to feel disgusting wearing wet tights.

She deserved honesty always, so Joan said, “Everyone calls her Ricki. We might have hooked up once.”

“Really? The ruthless one?”

“She’s very flexible.”

“Joan!”

She shrugged. “I was a Supervillain. Those were the only people I could get with. Everyone got really drunk at those beach bashes. Things happened.”

“Uh-huh.”

“It meant nothing,” Joan said, not sure if that made it better or worse.

Sadie slipped her hand free. Okay, worse.

“She literally said it meant nothing to her. I don’t think she has the capacity for compassion. She eviscerates with her words as much as her nails.”

“Uh-huh.”

Joan started to make a joke about Ricki’s nails not being conducive to certain sapphic deeds, but this wasn’t the time or place.

Her phone buzzed in quick succession. She pulled it out to see multiple texts and missed calls from Mark and Perry.

“Let them know you’re safe,” Sadie said.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” Joan said. For everything.

“It’s okay. I’m just afraid of what this might mean for you.”

“Me, too.”

She’d worked hard to build this lovely, quiet life with Sadie, with Hot and Cold, and distance herself from villainy.

Something deep inside said it was all about to change.