Page 41 of The Not So Super Hero

W hile Chris got food, Bailey sat at Zane’s bedside. He wasn’t hungry, but Chris noted he had eaten nothing since yesterday. That was unlikely to change, no matter what Chris got. His stomach couldn’t decide whether to squirm or settle into a cold, heavy ball of lead.

A day passed since Zane’s surgery and he had yet to wake up.

It was nerve-wracking. Bailey was half tempted to hide in the hospital room the night before so he could stay over.

Sadly, he could do no such thing. Staff forced him to return to the dorms last night.

Ryan and Amery asked many questions that Bailey gave limited answers to.

Then his friends let him rest, though he didn’t actually get a wink.

The moment he could, he came running back to the hospital.

Seeing Zane heal so quickly helped calm Bailey’s nerves.

The day before he was covered in scratches, some giving off a gruesome black and blue color.

However, the scratches had healed and bruises dulled to a soft purple.

The doctor was right, Zane wouldn’t be bedridden long.

If it weren’t for the surgery, he’d likely already be out of the hospital.

Bailey was grateful for it. He wasn’t sure what he would do if Zane remained incapacitated for an extended period. Worry himself to death? Most likely. Especially after what happened. The longer Zane was unconscious, the more danger he would be in, right?

From what the other officer said. Rebirth had a reason for going after Zane.

He didn’t know why, but understood it’d cause another mess.

Bailey did what he could now, which was to wait patiently for Zane to wake.

When he did, Bailey wouldn’t interrogate him or push him for the truth.

He would wait because he imagined Zane was feeling pressured enough after what had been going on.

Suddenly, Zane’s hand twitched. Bailey grasped tighter.

Then Zane’s eyes fluttered open. The world had become lighter by a hundred pounds.

Seeing those blue eyes brought him more relief than he ever imagined they could.

Before Bailey could say hello, Zane bolted upright.

He clawed at the IV tube in his arm, ripping it out instantly.

His heart monitor beeped loudly, zigzagging on the screen and heart beat racing.

“Zane!” Bailey called, noting Zane was physically present, but his mind was elsewhere. “Zane, stop it! Calm down!”

Groaning, Zane clutched his stomach and fell into bed.

Though even the surgery couldn’t prevent him from kicking his legs about, continuing to tear the links between him and the machines.

Nurses hurried into the room, pushing past Bailey to reach Zane.

When they tried to hook Zane back up, he shoved them.

“Get off me! Get the fuck off,” he screamed. The room darkened. His eyes seeped black. The room shook. Smaller objects, such as the chairs and trash can, levitated.

Not knowing what to do, Bailey called out in a shrill voice that shocked even him, “Zane!”

Finally, Zane stilled. His gaze fixated on Bailey, widening as if he saw him for the first time.

A moment passed where Zane’s attention shifted through the room.

His body relaxed a smidge more so when he looked back at Bailey.

The nurses put Zane’s IV back in. Light entered the room and Zane’s eyes returned to the pale blue that they naturally were.

The tips of Zane’s ears burned red when the nurses took a step back. Bailey shuffled closer, retaking his position at Zane’s bedside.

Zane appeared a little embarrassed when the nurses finally gave him some space.

Bailey took that as a sign to come closer, taking Zane’s hand in his own.

Zane’s hair fell into his face, shielding him from view, though nothing hid his twitching scowl.

A nurse announced that they would retrieve a doctor.

Zane gripped Bailey’s hand so tightly that his fingers ached, though he said nothing.

“How are you feeling?” Bailey asked.

“Fine,” Zane spat, then ripped his hand away. That stung, though Bailey tried not to show it.

“You were in surgery. Chris and I were worried,” he mumbled, watching the way Zane’s eyes couldn’t keep still. His attention drifted from every corner, as if he expected monsters to reach out from the darkness.

“The doctor said you should be out of here soon, though. I’m sure you’ll like that,” Bailey added.

Zane gave a curt nod, followed by a low growl when the doctor arrived. Bailey was shocked Zane didn’t bite the man’s head off, but it must have been fine since he didn’t stay long. There was a quick check up, followed by reassurance that he was healing up fine and would be out of there in no time.

Just as the doctor left, Chris returned with food. Zane relaxed after spotting his father in the doorway. Chris greeted the doctor and received the same updates that Zane was doing alright. Then he said goodbye and came into the room with enough food for all of them.

“Good morning, sleepyhead,” Chris teased, pushing the side table attached to the bed up and over so that Zane could eat. “How are you feeling, kiddo?”

Zane grumbled.

Chris chuckled. “That reaction is why I still call you kiddo.”

Zane’s eyes practically stabbed Chris with his glare. Chris didn’t care while Bailey felt like a popsicle in the cold air that threatened to freeze the hospital. Chris had become immune to Zane’s dark glares and low growls. Would Bailey ever get that same immunity?

“Since hospital food is the worst, I brought us all a little something.” Chris retrieved their meals from the bag. “Hopefully Bailey will eat it. He hasn’t eaten since yesterday.”

Bailey flushed, eyes trained on the floor.

Zane finally looked at him with an apathetic expression.

With a quick cough, Bailey thanked Chris for the food and sat on the chair by Zane’s bed.

A silence fell over the three of them. Bailey ate his food, although his stomach continued to churn.

Zane engulfed his food in seconds. Chris smiled and ate normally, as the only normal-mooded person here.

“Oh, I almost forgot.” Chris snapped his fingers, eyes going wide in realization. “Nate and Natalia are on their way.”

Zane spat his drink across the bed. Some hit Bailey, who scowled at his bad luck.

Chris released joyous laughter, trying to cover it with his hand but failing upon seeing the pop drip off Bailey’s chin.

Luckily there were napkins with their meal, so Bailey washed his face clean, hearing a soft sorry from Zane.

His apologetic nature disappeared in an instant, though, when he quickly snapped, “Why the hell are they coming?”

“You seriously need to ask that?”

“We don’t need them. Tell them to fuck off.”

Bailey sensed a lot of hostility. Zane was getting even more worked up, and it was probably not good for him.

“Law will come for you again, Zane. Only next time he will be even more prepared and you won’t stand a chance,” Chris said.

There was no remorse in his tone or his expression.

Bailey was shocked to hear it, even frightened at the idea of someone so easily taking Zane down.

He hoped Zane would argue, but he didn’t.

All he did was seep into his sheets and scowl.

Seeing such a reaction made Bailey’s toes curl and body break out in goosebumps.

Apparently that Law guy was worse than he could imagine.

“In the state you’re in, you can’t defend yourself.

It has been six years since you’ve used your mutation and now you’re suddenly doing it almost regularly and with no constraint?

You know that’s no good, especially with yours.

” Chris pointed accusingly at Zane, who crossed his arms like a defiant teen.

“The twins will be here soon and you’re going to be training. ”

“No way,” Zane interrupted. “Let them be heroes all they want, but I’m not getting into that shit storm.”

Heroes? Bailey cocked a curious brow. Was he joking or serious? Then it hit him like a ton of bricks; Scorch and Frostbite. Natalia and Nate.

“You know Scorch and Frostbite?!” Bailey gasped, finally making himself known and regretting it the moment Chris and Zane looked his way. Zane rolled his eyes while Chris grinned from ear to ear.

“Oh yeah, Zane met them a long time ago. He and Nate used to battle it out all the time. Natalia never did though, probably because she knew she was good and didn’t need to prove it,” Chris explained.

Bailey snorted while Zane punched Chris roughly on the arm. Chris only laughed, but Zane continued to appear anxious and on edge. Even his heart rate was escalating again. Bailey could see it on the monitor, moving faster and faster.

Chris noticed it too, his smile faltering and soon being replaced with a frown.

“You’re not going to be a hero, but you need to train.

You need to defend yourself like you once could.

I know that you never signed up for this, but that doesn’t change the fact that you’re in danger, and so is Bailey. ”

Zane winced.

Bailey stared at Chris in confusion. He offered Bailey an apologetic smile that didn’t help explain the situation at all. However, it seemed to be real enough to force Zane to agree with a low grumble, “Fine.”

Bailey wasn’t sure if that made him feel better or worse. If Zane was agreeing so easily, didn’t that mean the situation was far worse than he could ever imagine?

“Don’t look so down about it. You can show off a bit to Bailey.” Chris winked. “I’m sure he’d enjoy it.”

Bailey flushed. Zane ran his fingers through his hair, ruffling it prior to releasing a huff.

“Seeing you in a hospital gown is the highlight of my year,” a new voice spoke from the doorway.