Page 46 of The Not So Super Hero

The door opened into a living room that had an attached kitchen.

Much like outside, there was a fake window to give them the belief that they were still in Ringgold, a view of skyscrapers and the city during the day.

There was a TV mounted to the wall, as well as a red couch with a matching recliner.

Every necessary rest in the kitchen, sparkling clean.

To Zane’s left was a closet that he looked in to find Bailey had already put his coat and shoes in there.

To the right was a hallway with three doors, one on the left side of the hall, one on the right side, and one at the end of the hall.

The door at the end was closed. Zane assumed that was Bailey’s.

His assumption was proved correct when he found the door on the right leading to the bathroom, and the left to a room filled with his own belongings.

Everything he needed was in the room, his TV along with his movies and games, a bed, a dresser, and a closet.

Honestly, the room was the size of his own apartment.

It felt like too much. Sadly, there was unpacking to be done, but Zane wasn’t in the mood.

Not that he ever would be, but that wasn’t the point.

There was a tension in the apartment that Zane knew he caused.

If Bailey was there, then he likely heard Zane come in, but Bailey didn’t come out to greet him.

If that didn’t say how angry he was, then Zane wasn’t sure what would, and it only made him want to apologize less.

An angry Bailey was peculiar, and he had no idea how to handle it.

Letting out what felt like the hundredth sigh that day, he made his way down the hall to the closed door.

He heard a TV. It only made Zane’s heart kick him even more, yet he couldn’t bring himself to do anything.

Zane simply stood before Bailey’s door with a blank expression and an empty mind.

He had no idea what to say or where to start.

Thinking over Bailey’s reaction yesterday, Zane couldn’t help but feel there was more to it.

What he said hit something sore for Bailey.

Zane worried that if he apologized, he wouldn’t even know what he was apologizing for and that could make it even worse.

Not apologizing wouldn’t make it better, though.

Fuck, this is annoying, Zane thought with a groan. Shaking his head, he took a deep breath before lifting his fist to knock. There was no response, not that he expected there to be one.

“Bailey, I know you’re in there. I can hear the TV,” Zane said. The TV got louder. “Turning up the volume isn’t going to make me go away. We’re staying in the same apartment.”

That seemed to work because the TV turned off. It wasn’t a victory yet though, because there was no movement from within.

Zane scratched the back of his neck. He twisted his fingers into his hair, clasping it for a moment before releasing it with a long sigh. “Listen, what I said yesterday...I shouldn’t have said that and I’m sorry that I did.”

Zane heard Bailey move across the floor. A soft creek sounded from within the room by the door. Before Zane got the chance to come up with more pathetic excuses of apologies, Bailey asked a question of his own that stomped Zane a bit; “Do you even know what you’re apologizing for?”

That was a question Zane had asked himself earlier.

He may have known what he was implying when he spoke the other day, but based on Bailey’s reaction, he took it as something else entirely.

However, there was no way Zane could know why Bailey reacted the way he did.

Whatever sore spot Zane had managed to hit, it wasn’t one he felt he knew about.

“Something tells me there’s no way that I could,” Zane replied.

“Do you know how many accidents are caused yearly by children whose mutations aren’t identified soon enough?”

Zane wasn’t sure if he was meant to answer that.

He didn’t know the answer, anyway. He didn’t need to though, he knew what could happen to a child or those around them if their mutation manifested before they had the power to control it.

It was one of the reasons people were so scared of mutants in the first place. They are unpredictable.

“Even if a child is identified as a mutant, it’s not always clear what their mutation is until it’s too late. Accidents happen and sometimes, lives are lost,” Bailey said.

A soft click signaled the door had been unlocked.

Zane didn’t hesitate to open it, peeking within to find that Bailey had backed away to stand in front of his bed.

Bailey wasn’t looking at Zane. His gaze focused on the floor while his hands continued to rub together like he was desperately trying to wash something off.

“I never wanted to be a hero. I just…thought maybe I could find a way to keep everyone’s worst nightmare from happening.

If I could help find a way to have kids identified sooner, their mutations under control until they were safe to use, then…

” Bailey pressed his thumb so fiercely against his palm, into his scars, that the skin reddened.

“Maybe I could say my sister’s name without fucking hating myself for being too weak to help.

Maybe it’d take away some of my guilt.” Bailey let out a laugh, a hollow sound that rippled through Zane like an icy breeze.

He hated it. “I’m the big brother, and it was my job to protect her. It should have been—"

“Don’t.”

Bailey stiffened, his hands slowly dropping to his side.

Zane wiped the stray tears away from beneath Bailey’s eyes.

He would be mentally panicking about the proximity, but he was too focused on Zane’s stare that held him in place.

For once, Bailey could clearly see what Zane wanted to say before he even said it.

“Don’t ever say that.” Zane didn’t want to hear “it should have been me” because the thought of Bailey not being right before his eyes hurt more than he will admit.

How could Bailey say anything after that?

He wasn’t even sure if he was breathing.

No, he knew he wasn’t, especially after Zane cupped Bailey’s cheek.

The hold was soft, like Zane handled something precious that would break at the slightest movement.

It was clear Zane wasn’t used to whatever the hell it was that they were doing, but Bailey was content with his actions, regardless.

“Sorry about what I said,” Zane repeated in a voice so quiet that Bailey almost didn’t recognize it.

“It’s…it’s fine,” Bailey mumbled, his cheeks warming up more and more with each passing second. It seemed he was returning to reality because his whole body was on fire and it was all Zane’s fault. Zane leaned over him and stared at him all attractively. He was supposed to be mad, damn it!

“I don’t like when you’re mad. Being cranky is my job.”

Bailey snorted, grasping Zane’s hand that remained on his cheek. He curled his fingers around Zane’s hand, half expecting to have it pushed away, but it didn’t happen. If anything, Zane leaned in a little closer, his warmth encasing Bailey like a blanket that he never wanted to get out of.

“I don’t like being cranky either, but it was your fault,” Bailey said.

“Mhm.”

“I don’t think I should forgive you this easily, though. You should have to work a bit more.”

Zane had an idea on how to “earn” his forgiveness, though it was going to be something enjoyable for both parties.

“Maybe you should do my laundry for—"

Bailey couldn’t finish because Zane decided talking was no longer necessary.

He closed the gap between them, successfully cutting Bailey off with a kiss.

Bailey wished he could lie and say he hadn’t forgiven Zane.

But honestly, a nanosecond into the kiss, he morphed into a pile of mush that couldn’t even lie to himself. Let alone another person.

The kiss was a soft touch at first, one that was only interrupted in order to breathe. Then the two moved back in for another and another and another until their lips had practically sealed themselves together. The room became hot, heat scorching Bailey’s lungs to coil at the base of his gut.

Bailey’s arms wrapped around Zane’s waist, his hands twisting themselves into the fabric of Zane’s shirt as if he expected it to help keep him upright.

His legs kind of felt like jello so there was a slight chance of falling.

With his luck, it would ruin the entire moment, which he obviously didn’t want to happen.

The contrast of Zane’s warm lips against the cool metal of his lip ring sent a shiver down Bailey’s spine.

He didn’t even want to admit how the tongue ring made him feel.

All Bailey will admit is that he had a thing for piercings apparently, or maybe it was just Zane.

Didn’t matter, he would not admit to any of that out loud.

Not that he needed to, since his moans were probably enough to inform Zane that forgiveness had been granted.

The kiss only ended after the two realized they needed to take a breather, one that lasted more than a second before diving back in for another kiss.

However, the proximity didn’t disappear.

Zane rested his forehead against Bailey’s.

Their breath mingled and hearts raced. Which could be felt between their chests, considering the two were so close that their chests touched.

Bailey couldn’t help but smile at feeling how fast Zane’s heart raced, how it seemed to match his own.

It was proof that, yeah, Zane had a heart and apparently Bailey helped make it beat.

“Have you toured the facility yet?” Zane asked a little breathlessly.

“Yeah.”

“Mind touring it again?”

Bailey gave Zane a curious glance, one that turned into a bit of embarrassment when he thought that was Zane’s way of saying he wanted to be with Bailey.

Well, they were staying in the same apartment.

Obviously they were going to be together, but who fucking knew, it was a sweet thought or maybe Bailey was over thinking it.

“Sure. They have a pool.”

“Swimming. Sounds exhausting.” Zane stepped back. He tugged on Bailey’s hand, keeping him close.

“I like swimming.”

“Of course you do.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Bailey somehow didn’t notice Zane intertwining their fingers as they walked out of the apartment.

“Nothing.”

“No way, it means something that’s why you said it!”

“Shut up or I’ll kiss you again.”

Bailey wasn’t sure how he should respond, so he sputtered while the two of them walked through the halls hand in hand.