Page 126 of The Not So Super Hero

“With Rebirth’s largest leaders gone, we found far more information, physical and online.After some digging, I asked if our intelligence team could compile some basic information for you about her, hopefully get some pictures too.”

Chris held the folder out.Zane didn’t take it.His deep blue gaze lingered on the folder that held secrets he wished to know all his life.Now that they were within his grasp, he was too scared to look at them.

“I haven’t read it,” Chris admitted.He gripped Zane’s shivering shoulder.“Whatever is in here, it’s for you and if, one day, you want to tell me, then I’ll listen.”

Zane should have snatched it.He should have grabbed the folder and read through every line.Instead, he wanted to hide.He couldn’t do it.He couldn’t so much as touch the folder.At the same time, there seemed to be a hundred and one different reasons why he couldn’t.

“I’ll leave it here,” Chris said.Leaning over, he sat the folder atop the coffee table, giving Zane’s shoulder another squeeze.“Look over it when you feel ready.”

With that, Chris said his goodbye.Before he made it to the door though, Zane spoke up, “Thanks, Dad.”

Chris smiled.His lips quivered.He blinked rapidly.“No problem, kiddo.”

Then he left.

Zane reached out like he actually believed he would read it.Except his hand didn’t even hover over the folder before he retreated.Then he got up and walked away, rummaging around the kitchen, pretending to re-situate items.Next he took a shower, tried to watch TV.Finally, he grabbed the folder, only to shove it in a kitchen drawer so he couldn’t see it.

His heart raced.His head felt hazy.He wanted to know every detail.He was also terrified to learn the answers to the barrage of questions.What was her name?Where was she from?How did she meet Antoine?Was she...part of Rebirth?From what Antoine said before, she didn’t seem to be.But there was always a chance.A chance that Zane really came from two rotten eggs.The idea of that frightened him.He wasn’t sure if he was ready to read it, so he didn’t.

Zane waited for Bailey.That was the only thing he could do.

Their meet up after a month apart should have been sweet.Bailey thought about it on the way there.Some of it was not so innocent.Sure, it was sweet.In a way.Zane purposefully didn’t answer the door, so Bailey had to use his own key to get in.It felt nice opening the door to their shared apartment.Even more so when he found Zane waiting patiently for him in the living room.They shared a kiss, one that lasted far longer than necessary before Zane wrapped Bailey tightly in his arms.However, there was something about his eyes; he looked dazed.

“What’d I miss?”Bailey asked, pulling back, but his arms remained around Zane.

“What are you talking about?”

“Is something wrong?”Bailey inquired, looking about the apartment.“I know something’s wrong.You set up the apartment.”

“I did that before something was wrong.”

Bailey broke their embrace to point accusingly.“See, you said it.”

“Said what?”

“That something is wrong.”

Zane was off his game, but for good reason.He knew it wouldn’t last long.He had been out of it all night, and it wasn’t like he was trying to hide anything.Well, sort of.Only because he didn’t want the first thing they discussed to be“Hey, Chris brought over some possibly depressing stuff about my mother.Wanna look through it?”That would suck.

But there was no point in hiding, so Zane walked away.Bailey stood confused in the living room.He waited patiently for Zane to retrieve a folder from the kitchen.When Zane sat down on the couch with it, Bailey sat beside him.

“Chris brought this yesterday,” Zane explained.

“What is it?”

“It’s information… about my mother.”

Bailey’s eyes widened, said eyes tearing themselves from the folder to Zane.Seeing the solemn expression on his face made his toes curl.He understood why Zane was dazed.

“Did you read it?”he whispered.

“No,” Zane answered with a firm shake of his head.“I waited for you.”

Bailey felt a little silly for feeling honored.Honestly, if he were in Zane’s shoes, he would have done the same.He couldn’t imagine what Zane was feeling.His whole life he wondered about his mom, but had no answers other than her last name.Now he held some answers to the questions that plagued him forever in his hands, and that was scary.

“If you don’t want to read it now, we can wait?”Bailey offered.

Zane shook his head.He flipped the folder open.Otherwise, he’d hide from the truth forever.