Page 64 of The Not So Super Hero
But Bailey had to, so he did. “She yelled at me, and her mutation showed. Everything shook. I was flung out of the garage. It crashed around her. Gasoline leaked out of the car. An electrical line had been cut and what remained of the garage caught fire. Rosie was still in there.”
He glared at his lap, where his nails dug into the scars on his hands.
Every word spat out between his teeth, “I couldn’t get her out.
A neighbor barely prevented me from jumping in after her.
Afterwards, the, um…the coroner told us the collapse killed her, but I know I heard her.
I heard her in there and I couldn’t get to her. ”
Bailey’s shoulders shook. His trembling hands pressed against a heaving chest, tears in his eyes and quivering lips.
He was every description of messed up. Everyone was accustomed to Bailey being a ball of sunshine, positivity itself in human form, yet the person sitting before Zane was broken and in pain.
Zane wished to take away that pain, though all that came to mind no doubt had been said before.
Even if Bailey had a mutation, what were the chances of getting her out of such a blaze had she survived the collapse?
Yet Bailey clung to the idea that if he was different, if he had power, he could have changed her fate, that being human wasn’t good enough.
“It wasn’t your fault,” Zane said because he couldn’t think of anything else.
“But I should have been able to do something.”
“You did do something. You didn’t hesitate to try to help her. Your hands are proof of that. Why can’t you forgive yourself for an accident that you couldn’t have changed?”
“Because it was my job to protect her! It didn’t matter if she was stronger than me.
It didn’t matter how old she got or if she ever left home.
I’m the big brother! I’m the one she ran to for support, and I’m the one she knew would help and protect her no matter what, but I didn’t.
I failed her when she needed me most, and now she’s dead.
A girl who never even got a chance to live because of Bad Luck Bailey.
” Bailey choked on his tears. His heart twisted in his chest with every passing word.
“Because I’m not a hero and I never will be. ”
Zane hated the look in Bailey’s eyes. He despised hearing the raspiness of his voice and seeing the way his shoulders caved in.
What he hated most, though, was Bailey’s view of himself.
The guilt he carried, like he thought it was all his fault, Zane knew that feeling best. He knew how much it hurt and how hard it was to break away from it, hell; he hadn’t managed to himself so he had no clue what made him think he could help Bailey. However, he had to try.
Reaching out, Zane took Bailey’s hand and pulled him into his arms. Feeling the boys’ body shiver made Zane hold tighter. His tears soaked Zane’s hospital gown.
“Do you honestly think Rosie ever saw you as anything less than her hero?” he asked. Bailey whimpered. “I know it’s hypocritical of me to say that you need to forgive yourself, but you really need to.”
“But—”
“Try to argue and I’ll kiss you.”
Bailey looked up. Zane greeted him with a soft smile and the gentle touch of his thumb brushing away Bailey’s tears. Bailey’s heart soared, and it seemed Zane was not done with his affectionate gestures and kind words for the day. No, he was gonna overdose Bailey with them in a moment.
“You’re perfect the way you are. Don’t let anyone make you think otherwise,” he said.
Bailey hadn’t realized how much he needed to hear that. Zane saying it only made it more important.
“You probably think it’s silly. That I’m just overreacting,” Bailey mumbled, twisting Zane’s shirt into his fingers.
“Not at all.”
“Are you lying to make me feel better?”
“Not at all,” Zane repeated, pressing his forehead against Bailey’s.
The close proximity brought the color right back to Bailey’s cheeks, although it was under the right circumstances now.
At least, in Zane’s mind, that was the case because the only time Bailey was allowed to blush was when it had to do with him. It was a new rule he just put in place.
Bailey had calmed enough that his breathing returned to normal. Although comforting words couldn’t solve his problems, Zane’s support was needed. He smiled, content with Zane knowing the truth. Not only did he need to talk about it but he also needed to share it with someone he cared about.
“Are you going to pull away anytime soon?” he inquired in a teasing tone that meant Zane had to return the favor.
“I don’t think you want me to.”
Bailey pursed his lips, ready to argue until Zane closed the gap between them.
The kiss was tender enough to make Bailey want to melt.
His toes curled. He felt Zane’s heart racing against his hands.
They basked in each other’s warmth, in the comfort of the room, and their lips moving to the song of their hearts.
As much as Bailey enjoyed the cuddling and sweet talk, a kiss certainly was the icing on the cake.
And when the two pulled apart, they remained close enough to feel each other’s hearts beating against their chests.
It was nice to know they both were equally pleased with the kiss, even when they knew what was about to follow.
Zane dreaded it and feared the reaction he would get afterwards. His grip on Bailey tightened just a little more, scared that he wouldn’t feel it again.