I’d decided, after the second week of school, I really would rather be on patrol. It wasn’t that I enjoyed getting stuck in in cape fights against assholes ten times my strength, of course, but the longer things went on the more I saw the signs of the new deal. No one was brazen enough to wear colours to Arcadia, not with the heroes there and Wards allegedly around. Still, by Thursday I’d counted a dozen swastikas and wolfsangels.

  There were others as well. A beetle that could only be whatever was left of Skitter’s gang, a crown that may have been Regent’s. A couple more, some kind of spoked wheel with points at the top, bottom, and sides. No ideas there, that was new and hadn’t been in any recent briefing. I sighed and made a mental note to talk to Clockblocker about cataloging some of these.

  The ride back to base wasn’t much better, since I didn’t have class to distract me from my thoughts. Me and Amy hadn’t talked, and weren’t hanging out together. I knew I had to deal with that at some point. Maybe tomorrow, if I didn’t go crazy at therapy. At least we didn’t share the bus today, she’d left around lunch for some emergency or another. None of the Wards going here had left, so it didn’t involve us.

  It had been irritating though, because I hadn’t been able to focus. What kind of emergency needed her and not hero attention, unless the Protectorate had already dealt with it. That could be it of course, I was probably just worried about nothing and needed to get my head screwed on right. Amy may not have been a fighter, but she could probably handle her normal job fine.

  I sighed as I strode through the connector to the Ward quarters, fiddling with my hair. I had to figure out even how I felt about her. She was my only close friend, did I want anything more than that? Could I handle anything more than that? God, if she had just said something...no I’d still have freaked out; I knew myself that well.

  “Hey Lia,” Chris greeted me with a wave. “How was class?”

  “Same old same old,” I replied with a shrug. “I now understand why patrolling beats school.” He chuckled.

  “Yeah, no fun to be had there.” He sighed, then perked up. “Oh, Amy was down earlier. Said she needed to talk to you, wanted to meet in her room. Are you guys...y’know?”

  “That’s a great question,” I muttered, tugging at the lock of hair between my fingers. “I’ll have an answer for you in an hour.”

  I turned and strode into my quarters, torn between irritation, anxiety, and a churning in my stomach I wasn’t thinking about. Well fucking fine, I guess fuck my plans anyway. God forbid I manage to sort my shit out for once before jumping in feet first. I knew it would be about the kiss and...everything else. Had to mentally prepare for something, anything, whatever.

  I threw open my closet and changed into my Wards tracksuit and a separate mask and hood. I’d finally managed to get them to make one after complaining about having to go around everywhere in costume, living here and all. It was still a uniform, but at least it was comfortable. I shut my closet and took a deep breath, then stalked towards the elevator.

  My heart wouldn’t stop hammering in my chest, and the tight feeling in my guts was getting worse as I walked down the halls. It wasn’t exactly the same as nerves...I didn’t really want to think about what it was right now. I should, but I’d be forced into it soon enough. It was fine, I’d dealt with worse things in my life...probably. I took a deep breath as I came to her door, then raised my hand and knocked.

  “Hey, come in,” Amy said, opening the door for me.

  “Hey,” I replied, walking in and taking off my hood and mask. Our eyes met, and both of us quickly looked away. “You um, Chris said you wanted to talk?”

  “Yeah, uh, let’s sit down.” She walked over to the couch and I followed. We sat at opposite ends, sharing furtive glances. “So, I’m...probably moving out.”

  “Oh.” That was something alright. “Um, why?” She shrugged.

  “Been mooching long enough,” Amy replied. “Negotiating with the PRT right now on a real contract. Law limits what they can pay me, so I’m arguing for a place of my own as part of it.”

  “Okay that’s cool but...why?”

  “I…” Amy frowned. “I fucked up again, forced myself on someone that doesn’t… I’m sorry Lia, I won’t bother you anymore.” I blinked.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  “What?” My voice shook.

  “You don’t have to forgive me.” She scoffed and shook her head. “I don’t deserve it anyway. I just...hope you don’t hate me like Victoria does.”

  “I don’t hate you I…” I tried to slow my breathing. “Amy I thought you wanted to talk about like...that, the kiss, and stuff.”

  “What’s there to talk about?” she asked glumly. “I saw how you reacted. I couldn’t see your biology but I know a flight response when I see one.”

  “So, um, okay.” I took a deep breath and held it for ten seconds. Ten more. Another twenty, til Amy started to look worried, then let it out slowly. “Okay. I was surprised because, I mean, you don’t like me like that, do you? I thought you—”

  “Yeah, I know,” Amy cut me off. “I...yeah, I feel like that about Victoria. But, I don’t know, a lot of the time you and me spent together felt… God it’s gross to say it felt like that but it did. So I think...yeah, I do.”

  “Alright.” I stared at the couch cushions, trying to process that apparently yes Amy did like me. I tried to ignore the comparison to her sister though… “But what do you mean? We’ve just been hanging out.” She knit her brows.

  “I thought, well it’s stupid to say it, but I thought you were taking me on like, dates. Like...romance movies on the couch, wanting me to come with you to buy clothes, buying me stuff, I don’t know.” I stared at her quietly, realizing just how right Vista was about me.

  “I’m sorry, I genuinely did not think of that,” I replied, running my fingers though my hair. “I...yeah, I never thought you’d feel that way about me. I’m...well, you know.”

  “Yeah, I do.” Amy sighed and shook her head. “You’re an idiot, but how many people walk out into a serial killer infested city for one person? Or drag that person back from...something unforgivable. And knowing everything you did about me, about what I did and...and didn’t do, you stuck around after and tried to be my friend. I’m just...shit.” Her voice cracked and she wiped at her eyes. “But you don’t have to worry about that anymore. Sorry.”

  “I…” A sigh escaped my lips and I tugged at my hair. “You could do better than a scrawny runt like me though.”

  “It’s not about looks Lia,” she snapped.

  “No, I know I know, I’m just...ugh.” I groaned and pressed my palms into my eyes. “Look, I...I think I like you, okay?” My stomach fluttered and I tried to ignore it. “It just came out of nowhere with everything else and fuck I can’t stop thinking about it. There’s gangs taking over the city, the heroes aren’t attacking them, the world’s ending in two years but I keep thinking about that kiss. I need to be focused but I just can’t.”

  “It…” Amy licked her lips. “That sounds hard. I’m sorry.”

  “And I like hanging out with you,” I rambled on. “More than anyone else. And with the Wards it’s fine but...baking bread, watching weird anime, it’s nice. The last person I did it with—” I choked on my words and swallowed. “I...we don’t anymore. But I have to focus on Jack and his shit or everyone dies.”

  “That’s...not for two years, right?” she asked, her tone oddly hopeful. “That’s a long time to get ready.”

  “And I don’t even know where to start,” I said with a shrug.

  “My mo-- Carol always told us to tackle whatever was in front of us first,” Amy replied, shuffling closer. I tensed, but stayed where I was. “I...I want this if you do. And I meant what I said, about being with you til the end. If you—”

  “Okay,” I said before I could think better of it. My heart was racing and my cheeks were on fire, but somehow I managed to meet Amy’s eyes. “Just...can we go slow?” She blinked, and a smile slowly spread across her face.

  “Yeah,” she breathed, reaching out and taking my hand. I held it tightly. “Yes, god...um, sorry I wasn’t ready for this uh.” Amy was red from her forehead to her neck. She took a shuddering breath and continued shakily. “I thought this was goodbye and now it’s…”

  “Better, I hope?” I asked tentatively. She nodded rapidly, wiping her eyes again. “But we don’t have to like, change anything do we? Well, I guess we won’t be able to hang here anymore, but we will?”

  “I hope so,” Amy replied. “And other stuff…um, sorry, no, you said to take it slow, so I will.” I looked down at our hands, running my thumb along the back of her knuckles.

  “Thanks,” I said softly. “So, um, now what?” She snorted.

  “Hell if I know,” she said. “Uh, maybe...hang out?” I checked the time.

  “Maybe for a bit?” I said, grimacing. “Um, I think I have to be in ops in an hour for something, but that’s all.”

  “Okay,” Amy sighed. “Maybe we watch—”

  A sharp knock at the door made both of us flinch and turn. Amy glanced at me, then rose and slowly made her way to the door. I followed after her, donning my mask and hood again. I was praying it wasn’t yet another emergency. As harrowing as that talk had been I felt...well, still weird. More relaxed in some ways, a lot more anxious in others.

  “Hel-- Dad?!” Amy exclaimed as she opened the door.

  “Hey hon,” Flashbang said from the other side of the door. “Can I come in? I...wanted to see how you were doing.”

  “Uh, okay,” she replied shakily, stepping back and letting him inside.

  “Oh, hello Amaranth,” he greeted me with a smile. “How are you doing?”

  “Um, fine,” I said anxiously, glancing between them. “Should I...go?”

  “You don’t have to,” Amy whispered.

  “I would like a private talk with my daughter, yes,” Flashbang said, glancing at Amy. “I suppose if she’s comfortable though—”

  “It’s okay, really,” I said quickly. “I’ll just...give you some space. Amy, um, talk later?”

  “Okay,” she said, drawing in on herself.

  “Amy?” She raised her head and I wrapped her up in a tight hug. “Thanks,” I whispered in her ear, then turned and headed out.

  I headed back to my quarters with one thing less and one thing more on my mind. At least this time, I didn’t mind thinking about it.