Page 23 of Flash Fire (The Extraordinaries 2)

Pyro Storm.

Except his helmet was removed, and it was Seth smiling down at him, cape fluttering around him, his feet dangling as he kicked them out.

“Texting is a thing,” Nick told him. “You could have warned me you were coming over, so I didn’t think I was about to be ambushed.”

Seth laughed, a sound Nick dared anyone to try to say wasn’t the best thing in the world. Nick gasped when Seth pushed himself off the roof, floating down until he was in front of him, the tips of his ears and nose pink from the cold. No matter what he’d seen in the last few months, Nick still wasn’t used to the sight of Seth Gray being able to fly. He’d asked Seth repeatedly if he could carry him and fly around the city, to which Seth reminded him he didn’t have superstrength, and Nick was heavier than he looked. That had led to an argument where Nick declared it wasn’thisfault he liked shredded cheese on most things, to which Seth replied he didn’t mean it likethat, and then they’d somehow started making out and things had gotten a little hazy after that.

Still. A sight to see.

“At least you’re prepared,” Seth said, a few feet away from the window.

Nick glanced down at the Mace before shrugging. “Gotta be. It just so happens the hero of Nova City is my boo, and I—”

Seth groaned. “I told you not to call me that.”

“Yeah, dude, not gonna happen. That’s what you are. My boo. My superpowered love button. My—”

Seth said, “I got you a Valentine’s Day present as a way of saying sorry we didn’t make it to dinner.”

Nick, knowing he was being distracted, said, “What? Give it to me now. Please.”

Seth flew a little closer. Nick could feel the heat radiating off him. The snow hissed as it melted against Seth’s costume, rivulets of water falling down his broad shoulders and strong arms and—

“I’ve had wet dreams that started just like this,” Nick whispered.

Seth dropped a couple of feet.

“Um,” Nick said. “Pretend I didn’t say that.”

“I don’t know if I can,” Seth said faintly as he rose back up.

“Present,” Nick demanded, holding out his hand and wiggling his fingers.

Seth rolled his eyes but did as he was asked. He reached out with a gloved hand, setting a plastic package against Nick’s palm. He looked down. Mango-flavored Skwinkles Salsagheti.

Nick—in a choked voice that he’d deny forever and ever—said, “This is the nicest thing anyone has ever gotten me. Thank you.” He looked up at Seth, narrowing his eyes. “Are you trying to buy me off for leaving me behind to answer invasive questions by accountant hippies and rich parents?”

Seth grinned at him. “Maybe. Is it working?”

“Barely,” Nick said. “And I’m not happy about how easy I apparently am, but that’s another matter entirely.” He batted his eyelashes. “Perhaps you’d like to come inside and see just how easy I am.”

Seth stared at him. “Wow. That was … something.”

Nick groaned. “It sounded sexier in my head. Let me try again. Hold on.” He stood upright, puffing out his chest, hands on his hips, the candy wrapper crinkling. “Hey. Nice to see you. Let’s discuss making out for the next thirty minutes and see where that—oof.”

His breath was knocked from his chest as Seth flew through the window, tackling him and knocking him off his feet. He braced himself for the hard impact on the floor but opened his eyes when no jarring crash came. Seth had wrapped his arms around him, holding them both a foot off the floor. They hung suspended for a moment before Seth lowered them down gently, settling on top of Nick, cape falling over them like a blanket.

“Hi,” he whispered, brushing his nose against Nick’s.

“Hi,” Nick whispered back. “Not that I don’t appreciate the late-night visit, but what’re you doing here? Dad said you guys finished hours ago.”

Seth shrugged, a thick curl hanging on his forehead. “I wanted to see you. I didn’t like how our plans got ruined on top of everything else.”

“It’s okay,” Nick said, letting him off the hook. “I kinda screwed up too, so let’s just call it a wash.”

Seth’s smile faded. “It’s not okay. I don’t want you thinking I don’t need your help. It’s not like that at all.”

“I didn’t think that.” He sighed when Seth arched an eyebrow. “Okay, maybe a little bit, but you’re right. I can’t do what you can.”