“Thanks. Let’s get something to eat and see what happens. Something always seems to go wrong in this city, and we’ll be there.” I walked down the hall to the kitchen. No one was in there, but two plates of food sat on the table with our names next to it.
“I’m guessing this is a normal thing?” Maddox perused the delicious goods with hungry eyes.
“Yeah, you get used to it. Phillip tends to spoil his family a lot, and if you’re in the Hero Society, then you’re part of the family.”
Whether he could hear me or not, I yelled a thank you to Phillip for the food.
“Mmmm. Chicken.” Maddox admired the red sauce-covered meat over pasta before him. I rolled my eyes and looked lovingly at my Italian veggie bake. Without waiting, we both dived into our meals and didn’t talk for the duration. Despite wanting to try many of Pizza Piazza’s vegetarian dishes, I always ended up choosing this favorite.
After we finished, we sat back against the comfy chairs with our bellies satiated and we resumed conversation.
“I want to help someone if they need it, but I kinda hope nothing happens in the next thirty minutes. I’m so full.” My hands rubbed my stomach dramatically.
As if on cue, both of our communicators went off about a car dealership theft in progress.
“I shouldn’t have said anything.” In reality, excitement coursed through my veins. I took us down the elevator to the gym and the locker rooms where our outfits waited. I always kept a change of clothes here for when I was around. Phillip usually made sure everyone had a disguise, so I knew Maddox would have a locker with his name on it and an outfit inside. When I changed into my suit, a high settled within me with the possibility of helping someone, similar to the anticipation I experienced when I stepped onto a stage in front of thousands of people.
I didn’t look at my appearance on the way out of the room, I knew what I looked like, since the outfit never changed. My black-and-white catsuit accentuated my curves and my thick thighs fantastically. I liked that it wasn’t all leather, so I didn’t sweat wearing it. The knee-high boots kept my feet comfy. Half of my face was covered with a mask that stayed attached to my skin no matter what, and my hair was wrapped in vines with black flowers. I’d been given the name for the outfit I wore because I was a black woman and my power was plants. I accepted the name Black Lily with pride. I helped people while representing my people of color in the Hero Society.
“Ready to go?” Maddox’s voice had me turning with an eagerness I should have to see his attire.
Eagerly, I faced him. Sugar snaps. I regretted bringing him into this side of my world. He looked even more handsome dressed up for hero work, if that were possible. In fact, seeing him in the outfit Phillip had made my knees wobble. He wore a blue-black short-sleeved shirt which molded to his muscled torso. Black tactical pants tucked into black boots. A mask covered the majority of his head and neck, leaving his eyes, mouth, chin, and toned arms as the only exposed skin on him. He looked hot and sexy.
“Great, let’s go.” I walked to the elevator, ignoring the desire to sway my hips with a little extra “umph” in them, as we made our way toward the theft in progress.
Chapter Fourteen
Maddox
“Show off!” Hazel hollered at me from across the street, where she’d made a tree limb grow and snatched the passenger from the stolen car.
Four men had broken into the expensive dealership with guns shooting and took two cars. I’d stopped the first one after it passed one block from the dealer, while she ran after the second. I’d used my power to help her and swept the car into a tiny tornado, then set them down just as Hazel arrived and pulled the passenger. The driver grabbed his gun, aiming it straight for Hazel, and I sent a strong gust of wind to whisk the gun from his hands, and I was on him. Without much effort, I lifted the man up by his shirt and tossed him on the ground.
“Stay.” I pointed and added a little extra air pushing on him to make sure his body stayed against the asphault.
“You OK?” I asked Hazel, as she sauntered over to me to assess the damage. The second car and the criminals were fine. This wasn’t my first time doing something like this. I was called Tornado for tearing shit apart but I’d learned how to cause little destruction when needed.
“Yeah. I love this feeling.” She sounded breathless but elated. Despite not thinking I’d be a good fit for the Hero Society, I’d stay just to hear and see her happiness as she did what she did. Truthfully, Hazel created a life that brought her joy both as a singer, and a hero. She had the best of both worlds and could direct her passion into a purpose.
“What do we do now?” I asked. The police sirens grew louder.
“We can wait for the police, then hand these guys over or we can get out of here. It’s kind of a personal choice. I usually try to get away before police come, if possible. AJ, the computer genius at headquarters, finds conspiracies on the internet with voice comparisons between singer me and superhero me. I try to stay away from talking if I can, so I don’t give myself away.”
The police cars’ tires screeched as they turned around the corner toward our location. I could keep this guy on the ground with my power until they got there without much effort. It felt nice actually to let a little out of the reserves. I nodded, and we both headed toward an alley. I airlifted us up onto the rooftop and smiled when Hazel giggled.
“That’s fun.” She looked at me with the same lightness in her eyes that she had when we were kids playing in the forest. Before I could react, her arms were wrapped around me, squeezing me in a tight embrace.
“I missed playing with you, Maddox,” she admitted, and it seemed I wasn’t the only one feeling nostalgic.
“I never stopped missing you.” Maybe saying it out loud wasn’t the best choice, this new development between us needed to be handled with gentle care, but the words were out.
Her arms released me and my stomach dropped.
“I think we can head back to the apartment or headquarters to change now. Unless we get another call, then we have some free time.” She didn’t look at me. It had been too soon to say my feelings out loud. I’d have to deal with the consequences of my premature admission.
I helped us return to the apartment without being seen, and we changed into regular clothes before meeting in the living room.
“Hazel, I—”
