Page 12 of The Not So Super Hero

“I do not!” Bailey’s slightly red cheeks didn’t help his case.

“Come on, he’s attractive. I would do unspeakable things to him.”

“You would do unspeakable things to just about anyone, Amery.” Bailey got kicked for his comment.

Grumbling, he finished his paper shortly after, submitted it to the online drop box, then shut his laptop and sat it on his bedside table.

With a sigh, he leaned back onto his bed and said, “I’m just curious about him. ”

“Curious about his dick, you mean.” Now it was Amery’s turn to be kicked.

“Seriously, he’s likely telepathic,” Bailey explained, having already told Amery about Zane knowing of his nickname. Thinking that the lazy bastard possibly had such a cool ability made Bailey very jealous. “With such a cool mutation, you would think he would be…”

“Saving the world?” Amery asked, turning her head back to face Bailey with a smile.

She shook her head and turned back to watch TV.

“Not everyone has such dreams, Bailey. Some people prefer the simple life, and if Zane is telepathic, then he probably knows how sought after his ability is and rather keeps it to himself. It’s understandable really.

The strong are always sought after, even when they don’t want to be. ”

Amery’s words rang true. Though mutants were not forced into jobs, it didn’t mean people didn’t bug them to where they felt forced.

Some people felt obligated to be or do something simply because of their mutation.

Perhaps Zane felt the same? His (possible) ability was phenomenal, and he knew it, which meant someone would want him to do something phenomenal, something he likely didn’t want to do, so he kept quiet and pretended to be totally normal.

Bailey could understand that, could see where he was coming from, though that didn’t lessen his insatiable curiosity.

He wanted to know more about Zane…and, no; it wasn’t because he had a crush on him. That would be preposterous. He was going for Mutant Studies for a reason; it was because he was a naturally curious guy who enjoyed studying mutations. That was the only reason!

“Oh, by the way, are you going home for Thanksgiving break?” Amery asked.

“No, I don’t really have the money for it since I plan to head back for Christmas break.”

“Aw. You should totally ask Zane to hang out—”

Bailey jumped on Amery and tickled her until she promised not to bring it up again. After gasping for much needed air, Amery gave in, though she kicked Bailey away.

“At least make yourself a decent meal over break,” she said.

“A decent meal being an extra cheesy pizza, right?”

She rolled her eyes. What? Bailey was a simple man of simple needs!

Of course, Amery bringing up the idea of asking Zane to hang out over Thanksgiving break made Bailey a little curious how the man would answer.

Ok, so Bailey figured he would say no, although he wasn’t sure if Zane had any plans either.

Knowing his lazy ass, he probably didn’t.

It was likely because he wanted no plans, yet Bailey still had the courage to tell himself to ask.

It was nice to ask, even if the answer was already known, wasn’t it?

So with a nod to himself, Bailey decided to ask Zane if he wanted to go to the movies or something over break when he saw him next at work.

However, when Zane showed up one Wednesday afternoon a little more than a week after Bailey offered him free coffee, Bailey felt Zane was not in the best of moods.

He hadn’t been for a while, though he looked exceptionally bad that day.

The bags under his eyes were so dark he resembled a raccoon.

Somehow he had grown more pale, and he looked somewhere between tired and comatose.

“Are you ok?” Bailey asked, watching Zane sway to the left before shaking his head and forcing himself to stand up straight.

“Peachy,” Zane snapped, proceeding to request the usual.

Bailey didn’t listen and leaned over the counter to ask, “Are you sick? You don’t look so good. Maybe you should head over to the clinic.”

“No.”

But that really was what he should do. Zane resembled a teen who recently discovered energy drinks and vowed to destroy their enemies through any form of murderous online combat, thus having not slept in a week.

Which was odd considering Zane was lazy and likely slept more than anyone, even on a college campus.

“Seriously, have you been sleeping?” Bailey inquired softly.

Without hesitation, Zane slammed his fist against the counter and leaned in to growl in Bailey’s face, “If you aren’t getting me my coffee, I am leaving.”

There really was a brief moment where Bailey had the childish urge to stick his tongue out or grab Zane’s nose ring and yank, but his inner adult told him to be a professional.

Spinning on his heel, Bailey did his job and gave Zane the very much needed caffeine.

Unlike other days, though, Zane didn’t immediately depart.

He took a seat in a booth to enjoy his beverage.

Bailey kept a mildly concerned eye on him, watching Zane lean forward until he buried his head in his arms. Within a half hour, he was unconscious.

Funny how clear it was that he hadn’t been sleeping, yet he passed out in a noisy space in a likely uncomfortable position.

What could bug someone who never seemed to be bothered for over 5 minutes, let alone long enough to cause a lack of sleep?

Bailey walked over to check on him by leaning down to hear Zane’s soft breathing.

When he was asleep, and not being rude, he really wasn’t half bad looking.

Shaking his head, Bailey took Zane’s empty cup to throw away, then returned to work.

When Darcie and Martin asked about Zane, Bailey insisted on letting the man sleep.

Zane rested for over two hours. Bailey wasn’t sure if he was meant to let him continue sleeping or if he should wake him and ask him to go home.

He would probably sleep better in his own bed.

However, before Bailey came up with a response, Zane suddenly shot up like something startled him.

A few people whispered, then watched Zane whip his head back and forth in a rabid search for something.

Though he calmed after a deep breath, then leaned forward to bury his face in his hand.

Unlike earlier, he breathed heavily, back shaking as he removed his headphones and beanie.

He ran his fingers furiously through his hair prior to Bailey appearing with another coffee.

He sat the beverage on the table, successfully stopping Zane from assaulting his own skull.

“You look like you needed another one,” Bailey said at Zane’s quiet though inquisitive stare.

Zane chugged his drink, then rested his hands over his face while speaking in a groggy voice, “I fell asleep?”

“Yep, for a little over two hours. I hope you didn’t have anything planned,” Bailey responded.

Zane peeked through his fingers childishly.

It seemed unlike him, doing something that was actually cute and had Bailey’s heart doing backflips.

Shit, it needed to stop because he didn’t feel right putting Zane and cute in the same sentence unless it was Zane wasn’t cute, but he sure as hell was. Fuck.

“No,” Zane groaned into his hands.

“Why am I not surprised?”

Zane brushed back his hair to put his beanie on. He leaned back into the booth, crossed his arms and asked with a cocked brow, “Oh, and what about you? Got plans tonight to go out and get wasted like every other predictable college student?”

“Nope, I only do that on the weekends.”

Zane’s expression said he was not impressed. Whatever, Bailey thought it was impressive. He was responsible on the weekdays and that was more than enough!

Shaking his head, Zane pushed himself out of the booth, yawning as he did. Bailey stepped back to allow Zane some room, but felt himself panic a bit when he heard Zane’s car keys in his hands.

“Why don’t I drive you home?” Bailey suggested. Zane’s expression screamed ‘no’ in every language. Seriously, Bailey swore he could hear it. “You’re exhausted, and you passed out here. What if you fall asleep while driving?” he added.

“What are you, my mom?” Zane grimaced. He brushed past Bailey, who barely kept up with Zane’s abnormally long strides.

“Call Chris then!” Bailey said, nearly running into Zane’s back when he stopped.

Turning his head, Zane looked down at Bailey.

“Maybe he can come get you?” Bailey suggested, though he wasn’t sure of their relationship. They seemed close enough, though.

“Oh, and how will I get to work in the morning?”

“The bus?”

Zane snorted. Right, Bailey wasn’t sure why he thought of that. Zane hated people, and there were people on the bus.

“Walk?” Bailey suggested.

Zane actually laughed and Bailey bit into his lip because, well, it sounded nice. Too nice. Illegally nice.

Before Bailey could think of another suggestion, Zane reached up to flick the blonde in the head.

Bailey stepped back, shocked to feel the flick he hadn’t expected and, of course, there had to be something on the floor.

His foot landed in a small puddle of tea, sending him to the floor with a loud grunt.

Obviously, Zane found that hilarious and chuckled while Bailey pushed up onto his elbows to glare up at the man.

Zane had his hand over his mouth like he was trying to stop the laughter, but when he saw Bailey’s expression, he dropped his hand and sneered.

“You really have the worst luck.” Zane said, then left without another word.

Bailey moped for the rest of his shift. He was mad because his butt was wet since he fell into someone’s spilled tea.

He was angrier with Zane, who ignored Bailey’s worries and left to drive while totally exhausted.

What if something happened? It wasn’t just him on the road.

He could get other people into an accident too.

Yeah, that was totally why Bailey was so bothered.

Luckily, Bailey didn’t have to feel bad for too long.

The next day, when he got back early from class, he found Zane working in the dorms. He mopped the student lounge with his headphones on.

Bailey had a box of mac and cheese along with a pot to boil water.

He had bought it because he actually felt like making some on the stove rather than in the microwave, and the only stove was in the student lounge.

Zane hadn’t spotted Bailey yet. As usual, he had his headphones on and hair pulled into a loose ponytail. Bailey’s cheeks warmed at the familiar thought of liking Zane’s hair tied up.

Biting his lip, Bailey contemplated leaving until Zane was done, though that didn’t happen. Instead, he waited until Zane finished mopping in front of the stove before walking up behind the custodian to tap his shoulder. Zane pivoted and frowned.

“Oh,” he said in a low voice that made Bailey roll his eyes. “It’s you.”

“Yep, it’s me.” Bailey looked at the clean floor, then purposely pressed his foot on it to leave a dirty footprint. To say Zane glared at him would be an understatement, though it felt good to pay the jerk back a bit. “Oops, looks like you missed a spot.”

Zane dropped his mop into the dirty water, successfully splashing it all over, including on Bailey. Shouting, he jolted back, though not soon enough. With his jeans soaked, Bailey scowled.

“Oops, looks like you were too close,” Zane said, glaring.

Oh, Bailey felt that childish urge again, but that time, he wanted to kick the bucket over. However, he was an adult who opted to stick his tongue out instead. Zane rolled his eyes, cleaned up the footprint, then headed for the exit.

“Wait, are you still working in here?” Bailey asked, gesturing to the few cleaning supplies on the counter. “I won’t bug you again, I promise. I just came in to make some mac and cheese.”

Bailey held up his glorious box of food as proof. Zane’s stomach growled. Rather than tease him, Bailey bit back a smile.

“There’s enough for two?” he suggested.

“Who said I wanted some?” Zane’s stomach growled again.

“Whatever. Do what you want,” Bailey replied, rolling his eyes.

He went to boil water, then sat on the couch to watch TV.

Zane returned to working, which was a strange sight.

Bailey imagined Zane taking long catnaps and tricking others into doing the work for him, but nope, he dusted away like Snow White.

It was weird, like watching a wild animal in an unnatural habitat.

His eyes went back and forth between the TV and Zane until his food was done. Since Bailey planned to eat out of the pot, he hadn’t brought a bowl. He took his food to the table, sat a potholder on said table, and his pot on top of that, then informed Zane the food was ready if he wanted some.

There was a brief moment where Zane appeared to have an inner battle.

Bailey snickered when Zane stomped over to the cupboards, retrieved a plastic spoon from the box of them located inside, which Bailey had no clue existed, then made his way to sit beside Bailey on the couch.

Zane didn’t look at Bailey when he dug into the food, but he totally tensed when Bailey chuckled.

The two ate silently while watching whatever show Bailey had on. It was kind of nice sitting there eating an early lunch together. Not that either of them would admit that out loud.