Page 43 of The Not So Super Hero

Bailey was shocked when Nate remained silent yet again.

When Bailey asked if they had fought Zane together, he still got that annoyed response.

If that were true, it meant at one point Zane was strong enough to go up against two Level 9 mutants and win.

That was proof he had to be Level 10. There was no doubt about it, which meant Zane really was what Chris said; a unique case.

“Are Zane’s side effects so bad due to a powerful mutation that he doesn’t regularly handle? I know mutants must practice, but I’ve never seen anyone suffer as badly as him.”

“Yes, the higher the level, the more work it is to maintain ourselves. Zane has been out of practice for too long. His body hasn’t caught up.”

“After training then, these side effects won’t continue?”

“Nope.” Nate clicked his tongue. He’ll be as annoying as ever.”

“You say that, yet I feel you really like Zane.”

“He was my idol once.”

Nate’s honesty shocked him. He wasn’t sure if it was because they were alone or perhaps Nate felt bad for him. However, the guy revealed more secrets about his, and Zane’s past.

“Raiffel Academy was tough on all of us, but more so for Zane. Regardless of that, he stood up to those rotten bastards, even stood up for those who couldn’t stand up for themselves.

He was the big brother I always wanted. It sounds lame, but he was cool.

” Nate smiled, though that smile melted away with his next words.

“But people change, and though I know I’m an asshole for holding a grudge against him, it bugs the shit out of me when I look at him and see the amazing person he refuses to show. ”

Nate gripped the wheel a little tighter.

His jaw clenched, although his words didn’t sound angered.

They were somewhere between disappointed, but also understanding.

“He has no obligation to anyone to be a hero, but it’s hard to see what he has become.

I’m rambling though. Sorry, probably just confused you more. ”

Bailey shook his head, giving Nate a reassuring smile. “No, I’m flattered that you told me all that. I don’t know the whole story, but, if I may make a suggestion?”

Nate hummed to show he was listening, but Bailey wasn’t sure if Nate would like what he had to say. He wasn’t that surprised to see the scowl on the man’s face when he said, “You should tell Zane that. All of it.”

“You think I haven’t?”

Bailey was shocked by Nate for a second time. He stared wide-eyed at the man who so easily explained, “I’ve told him. Natalia has told him. Chris has told him. It doesn’t matter what we say, he has made up his mind, but,” Nate winked. “I think someone may make him change his mind.”

“What? Me? No, no, I mean...” Bailey sputtered his words out so quickly even he didn’t understand himself. He wished he could say he believed Nate, but it felt like Zane was getting farther away by the second. How he was acting at the hospital. Perhaps Zane regretted ever knowing him.

“You’re looking glum again,” Nate pointed out when pulling into the school parking lot.

“Don’t you feel like Zane regrets meeting me? He wouldn’t be in as big of a mess.”

“I’m gonna stop you right there,” Nate interrupted, holding out his hand to silence Bailey. “If Zane didn’t want you around, then you wouldn’t be around, simple as that. Regardless of his piss poor attitude, he cares about you. Shall I remind you how he reacted when he learned Leona came by?”

Bailey’s heart palpitated like he was shot full of adrenaline. Ok, maybe that was super flattering in a terrifying way. He wasn’t sure who that Leona woman was, what she had to do with their past, or Rebirth, but it obviously wasn’t good.

“Shit is tough now because it’s happening so fast, but Zane will deal with it. Besides, you two are going to be stuck together for a while. He’ll definitely enjoy that!” Nate cackled.

Bailey’s throat tightened, and fingers twitched. What the hell was with everyone teasing him and Zane? They weren’t even together! At least, not officially. Kissing had happened, but, like, neither of them claimed to be dating. It was complicated.

Nate stepped out of the car to follow Bailey to his dorm room.

Ryan wasn’t there, which was probably a good thing, considering the circumstances.

He wanted to say bye to him and Amery, but that felt too difficult.

Bailey kept telling himself he wouldn’t be gone long, he’d be back before he realized it. At least, he hoped that to be true.

Not to mention he couldn’t tell them what was happening and where he was going. Like Chris said earlier, the fewer people knew, the better. It would only confuse the both of them, then cause Bailey some severe heart pains. Not that he wasn’t having those already.

So, Bailey retrieved his belongings with Nate’s help. His eyes squinted every now and again to stifle tears. If Nate noticed, he omitted it.

“Got all your stuff?” Nate asked after they had finished. Neither really tried to be clean about it, just shoved as much of Bailey’s stuff into boxes and bags as they could. It was obvious a lot was going to be left behind, but Nate assured Bailey they’d have someone else handle it.

Bailey nodded, and the two went back to the car.

Nate seemed more alert than ever, and Bailey wondered if there was a reason for that.

Thankfully Nate said nothing about it, simply smiled and talked like there weren’t any problems at all.

Bailey was grateful because he wasn’t sure if he could handle Nate telling them they were being followed, though he was fairly certain that was the case.

Oh great, now he was getting paranoid.

“I’ll take your things and drop them off. You can stay here with Zane,” Nate said after returning Bailey to the hospital. He followed the boy all the way to Zane’s hospital room, which was probably for good reason.

“What about tonight? I’m not allowed to stay overnight,” Bailey countered.

“I’m sure Chris pulled a few strings. If you can’t stay, Chris will bring you back to base. See ya later, Bailey. Get Zane in a better mood before he trains with us.” Nate ruffled Bailey’s hair like he was some sort of kid, then walked away.

Nate wasn’t as bad as Bailey thought he was.

After their first encounter, he wasn’t the most fond of Nate.

Now it seemed like the circumstances of their first meeting made him a little on edge, so that was why he acted as he did.

Sighing, Bailey entered Zane’s room to find the man watching TV.

Chris and Natalia were chattering together at his bedside.

They offered Bailey a hello, though Zane remained silent and didn’t even give Bailey a passing glance. Still pissy, it seemed.

“Got all your things?” Natalia asked with a warm smile. “I hope Nate didn’t annoy you too much.”

“He’s not so bad.”

That got a reaction from Zane. His lips pursed and eyes rolled.

Bailey scowled, overcome by an urge to yell at Zane that if he didn’t want Nate to go along with Bailey, then he should have said something, or said anything really!

He was being a silent prick, and it wasn’t helping the situation at all.

As if Natalia and Chris sensed an argument coming, or simply saw the slight glare Bailey was giving Zane, the two made up some bogus excuse to get out of the room.

Bailey watched in confusion when Natalia claimed she and Chris were going to make more phone calls about everything that was happening.

Chris nodded and went right behind Natalia, disappearing out of the room before Bailey could think of how to counter their plans.

Zane was too busy being a pissy piece of shit to say anything, which only made the atmosphere worse.

Though the TV was on, the room took on an eerily silent feeling.

Neither Bailey nor Zane spoke a word to one another, yet the two seemed to play eye tag.

Bailey would look away. Zane would look at him.

When Zane turned away, Bailey looked his way.

That continued for a good five minutes before Bailey got fed up.

He could only handle so much of the silent treatment, especially with what was going on.

Now wasn’t the right time for Zane to curl back in on himself.

“What the hell is your issue?” Bailey huffed.

“What?” Zane cocked a brow, finally giving Bailey the time of day.

“Don’t act like you don’t know. You’re being all.” He waved his hand dismissively at Zane. “You’re acting like an ass!”

“Oh? Am I meant to be a ball of sunshine? My bad, I missed that memo.”

His sass was making it worse.

“You know that’s not what I mean. If you don’t want me around, just say so!”

“Of course I don’t want you around.”

Bailey’s eyes widened. Thinking that’s how Zane felt, and hearing it was two entirely different things.

This stole the air from his lungs and the feeling from the tip of his fingers and toes.

No matter how hard Bailey tried to breathe, it didn’t work.

Instead, he sat there, frozen in time, while wishing he could go back and say nothing at all.

Except Zane had more to say.

“You shouldn’t be here. You should be at school, going to work, able to see your parents and friends whenever you want,” Zane grumbled.

He looked away with a scowl and furrowed brow.

He may have been trying to seem big and tough, but all Bailey saw was an apologetic man who was desperately wishing to turn back time.

“You’re feeling guilty?” Bailey asked.

Zane squirmed beneath the sheets, turning the volume up on the TV as if that’d stop their conversation.

Bailey snatched the remote from Zane’s hands in one swift motion.

That was not something he appreciated. His hands twisted into the blankets.

His teeth ground behind his lips, more so after Bailey spoke.