Page 21 of The Not So Super Hero

T he smell of eggs and toast woke Bailey from a deep slumber.

Stretching his arms, he sat up to grow confused by his surroundings.

For a moment, he had a thousand questions while searching for his glasses.

A fuzzy blob on the floor appeared to have a similar shape to Bailey’s glasses.

Upon retrieving his glasses, Bailey found Zane’s titanous form looming over the stove.

Ah, right, he was at Zane’s. Memories of last night came rushing in, or rather, memories of that nightmare.

Embarrassment rippled through him, a cold prick in his veins.

He bit his lip to stifle a nervous groan that this quiet atmosphere certainly didn’t help with.

Closed curtains blocked the morning sun, leaving the room dark and cold.

Although the TV was on, the sound couldn’t be heard over the sizzle of the frying pan.

The tension from last night lingered in the air, sending a shiver down Bailey’s spine that had him contemplating what to say or if he should say anything.

Bringing up what happened last night wasn’t on his mind. He wished not to discuss the nightmare. Everyone had nightmares, but his was more than that. A piece of a memory intensified to petrifying proportions.

The scraping of a spatula against the skillet brought his attention back to Zane. He pushed the eggs onto a plate, then looked at Bailey. An almost eerie sensation tickled the back of his spine. Somehow, Bailey felt like his thoughts were laid out on a table for Zane to see.

“Hungry?” Zane asked. He removed his gaze to focus on the food. That might have been the nicest thing he had ever done, which was a little sad. And super surprising because Zane didn’t do nice.

That surprise led to worry; why the hell was he being nice? Who died? Was it the end of the world?

“Depends. Is breakfast poisoned?” Bailey mumbled.

“Guess you’ll find out.”

The slight teasing eased the atmosphere. Zane approached with breakfast.

Bailey honestly couldn’t believe Zane cooked. He gave a quiet thanks before taking the plate of toast and dippy eggs. He scooted off the bed onto the floor because it was easier to eat on the coffee table, and less likely to result in a mess.

“I’ll be out of your hair soon, I promise,” Bailey said when Zane sat across the table with his own food. Their thighs brushed. Bailey shivered. Zane’s warmth was a comfort he didn’t want to give up.

Zane dipped his toast into his egg. With his mouth full, he responded, “Not like I have plans.”

Not shocking to hear. Bailey couldn’t imagine what would get Zane to make plans. Perhaps winning the lottery since that would make him set for life? Food was probably another option.

The two ate while watching shows that Bailey paid little attention to.

It was oddly comfortable, sitting together like it was normal.

Bailey couldn’t help but wonder when the last time was that Zane had breakfast with someone.

Was Bailey allowed to feel special or did the circumstances change anything?

Either way, his heart palpitated at the thought of being one of the few people who likely shared such a memory like that with Zane.

“I’m shocked you even know how to make eggs. You don’t seem like the type to cook anything,” Bailey commented after finishing his meal.

Zane retrieved Bailey’s plate to take them to the sink. However, he sent Bailey a slight glare before doing so. Zane placed the dirty plates into the sink. “I have my moments.”

Zane removed the tie from his hair to let the silver locks dance across his shoulders.

He looked good with his hair done. While washing dishes, Zane’s eyes shifted towards Bailey, mouth opening as if to speak, then slamming shut.

Then Zane snapped the hair tie around his wrist before returning to the floor next to Bailey.

“Did you sleep well?” Zane asked.

Based on the lack of eye contact, Bailey suspected Zane felt out-of-place asking. Not being social probably made it even more difficult to show any sort of concern.

Bailey nodded. “Yeah. It was just an odd nightmare, I guess.”

Zane hummed, keeping his gaze fixated on the TV. Now Bailey didn’t know what to say. If he got too annoying, by Zane’s standards, he might get kicked out. He didn’t want that, especially when his car hadn’t been fixed.

Right, he could be doing that!

Quickly, Bailey got to making the necessary calls. Zane remained on the floor watching TV, although he got the jerk smirking when he released a few troubled groans. The cost made his insides burst from stress.

“Something wrong?” Zane teased.

“You could at least try a bit not to be an asshole.”

“Where’s the fun in that?”

Snorting, Bailey covered his mouth in hopes to act like he didn’t find Zane amusing. Zane’s knowing smirk stated he heard that. Aw well, Bailey tried.

Not long later, Zane drove them back to campus.

The car ride wasn’t silent like last time.

Instead, Bailey took a chance by putting on the radio.

He wasn’t all that shocked to find it was on a rock channel.

Bailey had such a broad taste in music that he left it there without issue.

It was better to keep it on a channel Zane preferred anyway.

With the music playing, it was oddly comfortable even if the ride was short.

Stepping out of the car, Bailey tripped on his own shoelaces, and face planted into the ground. Zane snorted, then chuckled. Bailey remained in shock and so hadn’t moved until his mouth tasted like tar. He pushed himself up to glare back at Zane’s snickering face.

“Please tell me you’re going to trip on a banana peel next. My life will be complete,” Zane said.

“That doesn’t happen in real life!” Bailey exclaimed, though by Zane’s expression that actually spoke, ‘oh but that means it can happen to you, Bailey realized… “If I ever trip on a banana peel I am going to kill you.”

Zane rolled his eyes. He stepped out of the car, walking around to lean against the side.

“Are you not leaving?” Bailey inquired, getting up while brushing his dirtied pants off.

“Do you want me to?”

“No, I mean, I don’t mind, I just thought,” Bailey didn’t know what he was saying, so he stopped talking about that. “Uh, thanks for letting me stay. I really appreciate it.”

Zane shrugged, sliding his hands into his pockets.

Bailey shut the passenger door and copied Zane, leaning against the car while twiddling with his thumbs.

With the sun being up, it made the December air warmer than usual.

They hadn’t really gotten another big snowstorm.

The weather couldn’t decide if it wanted to be warm or freezing, the norm for December really.

The two waited in a calm silence that lasted until the tow truck arrived. Bailey kind of hated himself for that, even if he didn’t dislike the lack of conversation. He wished he took advantage of their alone time to learn a bit more about Zane because…

Oh, fuck it, he didn’t have a reason. At least not one he was willing to admit to.

Zane stayed long enough for Bailey to speak with the driver of the truck before saying his goodbyes. Then Zane pulled out of the parking lot to return home.

Like Zane told Bailey earlier, he didn’t have plans and didn’t wish to make any.

He wanted to lie back down, watch more TV, maybe get up to grab some beer later and enjoy his day.

However, upon entering his apartment minutes later, Zane realized it wasn’t as empty as when he left it.

Years of relaxation had dulled his senses.

He felt nothing out of the ordinary until it was too late.

A woman stood at the center of the apartment, someone Zane hoped to never see again.

She faced him when the door closed. That familiar smile of hers twisted her ruby red lips into a gut wrenching expression that’d make anyone ill.

Her skin was so pale that her veins were apparent, even from a distance.

Zane’s instincts kicked in; his eyes turned to pure black, an intimidation factor. Such a look didn’t bother the woman, though. Her snake-like eyes crinkled at the edges from her smile. She hadn’t aged a day.

“I’m happy to see you too, Zane,” she spoke with her hand on her waist.

Hearing that disgusting voice made Zane feel a rage that he hadn’t felt in years, had hoped to never feel again, but that was asking for too much.

“Leona,” Zane hissed. Black shadows formed around his eyes. “You’re a fool for coming on your own.”

“Believe me, I’m not dumb enough to have come here to pick a fight.” Leona held up her hands, clicking her long sharp nails together. She dropped those hands back to her hips, leaning on her right leg.

“I know that you certainly don’t want a fight unless it’s absolutely necessary, so,” Leona took a few steps forward. Zane growled in warning. She rolled her eyes, but stopped. “I’m safe as long as I behave, right?”

“Define safe.” Zane cracked his neck, tense from the unfamiliar sensation of power coursing through his veins. He hadn’t used this for years, and desperately wished not to. But he had to prepare. Zane never knew what Leona was up to or willing to do.

“So rude to me after we haven’t seen each other in, what, six years? Someone has forgotten his manners.”

“Cut to the chase, Leona, or you will be anything but safe, I assure you.”

Zane’s mind conjured the best options to escape this scenario.

Killing Leona would be easier than running, though he’d rather go with the latter.

Admittedly, he was curious why Leona appeared now of all times.

Why wait so long? What did she want? Why was she there?

What plans did she, and the rest of them, have for Zane?

His mediocre life was being torn apart bit by bit, and he hated it.

First there was Bailey, but at least the boy was amusing.

The type of torment Leona would drag along with her was something Zane desperately wished to avoid.

The trouble that was making its way towards him it was something he wasn’t ready for and that wasn’t his laziness talking.

Leona pouted. “And here I thought we’d have a sweet little reunion, but you’re being so mean. Tell me, are you this cruel to that, oh, what is his name, Bailey?”

Zane stiffened.

Leona swiped her tongue over her bottom lip. “He seems like such a sweet thing, too. I’d hate to imagine how badly you treat him. Maybe I should pay him a visit, show him what genuine kindness is.”

Leona hadn’t the time to blink. Zane was across the room.

She retreated, overwhelmed by the immense pressure that immediately overcame her.

The lights flickered, then shattered. Leona clenched her eyes shut.

The sun barely cut through the slightly open curtains.

Incapable of illuminating the growing darkness that slithered around the room like snakes.

It moved and flowed like water, encasing everything it touched.

The way the rays of sun cut across Zane’s face, revealing the black voids that had become his eyes.

“You seem to forget who you’re speaking to.” Zane pressed his thumb under her chin, then dug his fingers into her cheek. She didn’t flinch when Zane pressed her head up, proving how easily he could snap her neck. “I suggest you leave now before you find yourself carried out in a body bag.”

Leona’s eyes sparkled with challenge. Zane could see the inner battle, the one where she wished to go against whatever orders they gave her. However, that spark disappeared in a second, as she seemed to recall what she went there to do.

“I suppose I should.” Leona slapped Zane’s hand away, then brushed past him. “They only sent me here to deliver a message, anyway.”

Leona hesitated at the door, turning to face Zane with that same twisted smile that reminded him he was in for a shit storm no matter what. “Rebirth is back and you’ll be hearing from us again. Very soon.”

Leona blew Zane a kiss, then left with a bounce in her step.

It wasn’t until after her footsteps were long since gone that Zane’s body released some of its tension. The darkness of his room faded. His eyes shifted to their natural shade of blue. On the floor were sparkling shards of glass in the few rays of sun, but Zane paid it no mind.

“Fuck,” he breathed out, bringing his hands up to run his fingers furiously through his hair. “Fuck!”

Zane dropped to his knees, continuing to curse, uncaring of the glass that cut through his jeans and pierced his skin. All he could think about were the memories that came pouring in until he could do nothing but beg for it all to be a bad dream.