“We can talk about it another time, if you want me to go so you can rest.”
Worry was still coursing through my body even though Gwendolyn was okay. I’d never seen a meltdown like that. Scared the shit out of me. I’d been sitting in her very modern and tidy apartment waiting for her to wake up. I wanted to see it with my own eyes she was okay.
“I’ll be fine. I just have a hard time talking to people, and now that I’m somewhat familiar with you, I want to know about your powers. You make big snowballs?” She sat up and curled her feet underneath her body. That dragon of hers was staying close, seemingly in support. Gwendolyn’s fingers absentmindedly caressed the dragon, feeling her metal body.
The dragon was a robot, like Pops.
But she wasn’t like him; where he functioned as a friend, the dragon was more like a small German shepherd.
“Water.” I leaned back in the chair I was sitting in.
Her eyes seemed to brighten with curiosity, and I continued talking about my gift.
“I can manipulate water. In all its forms.” I smiled as I thought about showing what I could do to her. Hopefully she would be more impressed by that than the art I tried to get her attention with.
I lifted my hand, pointing it toward the bottle of water she was holding. Little bubbles of water started to rise from the container. I felt those little bubbles like they were part of me.
Her eyes were staring at the little bubbles with complete enrapture. Slender, pale fingers reached up to touch the floating liquid, and a part of me tickled as if she poked me.
Then she leaned forward and sucked the water into her mouth.
I had to bite back a groan from escaping from my lips; my concentration was shot after feeling warmth all over my body from her mouth on the water drop. My lack of focus allowed the water to fall down, getting her knees and part of her couch wet. The dragon was a casualty, too; she took off running around the room like a cat who had just been given a bath. It was quite comical, but I felt bad about the mess I’d made from losing my mind.
Pulling the water back from her clothes and the couch, I put it back in the bottle.
“Sorry, I’m still figuring it all out.”
I didn’t understand why I was so awkward around her. I swear I used to be able to play women like a violin, but this girl just threw me completely off-balance.
“I’m working with mine, too. It’s a learning process, but I’ve been grateful to be in a career that I get to play with metal all day.”
The dragon walked back over to its master and dropped a screw in front of her like a prize before turning its head to me, giving me a glare that promised payback for the unintentional bath.
Note to self: the dragon wanted to fuck me up.
I focused on the beautiful woman in front of me, who was in turn focusing on the screw in her hand. It melted, then began taking the shape of something else. A snowflake.
“Wow.”
I was so astonished. There was no holding back my exclamation. Metal manipulation. That was amazing. I’d seen what she’d done to the men’s guns earlier, and it gave me a new sense of awe for this woman. Not only was she beautiful, but she was a badass.
“I used to think the power was pointless. What use did I have for manipulating metal? But when I started to learn about metal, it all just clicked for me. I focus on using my powers for good, heading the robotics department.” She was looking down at the snowflake, and it began floating in her palm, just like the real snowflake I’d floated in mine yesterday.
“It’s a badass power that’s for sure.”
Her head came back up and she looked at me with that almost smile on her lips.
“What about you? Do you like having power over water?”
Her question was completely innocent, but I was taken back to the moment of being stabbed and dying.
I was willing to open up to this girl, but the weight of what was happening settled in my gut. I’d given myself over to the Hero Society to help like I’d done before, for a few bites of information about her. I’d accepted my power, but now I would be using it—just like the last time I stayed and fought. And died. Sweat broke out on my head, and I reached up to run my fingers through my hair nervously.
“It’s pretty sweet. Sorry about being abrupt, but I gotta go. I’m glad you’re okay, and I would like to see you again.” I had already written my name and number down on a piece of paper Pops had brought me.
Gwendolyn’s cheeks flushed, and she stood.
“Sounds good. It was nice meeting you.”
