“You know what? I’m sick and tired of your bullshit attitude. No one wants to be around you; no one wants to train with you. Shouldn’t that be a wake-up call to stop being an asshole?” A shimmering haze formed behind Alex as an illusion started to manifest.
The edges of waves began to creep up, welling together to create a small tsunami. Leo balked, and my eyes went wide. Alex’s ability was versatile; she could pull her opponents into her daydreams, and if she was pissed off enough, those daydreams could shift into the real world. They couldn’t cause damage, but sometimes the mirage was so real that even I held my breath. I blinked, and her false ocean rushed forward.
Leo doesn’t know.
Fear choked me, and my body screamed tomove. He’d never seen her illusions before, and right on cue, Leo’s entire body lit up with flames. Up against water abilities, he’d turn everything to steam and mist. This time, Alex was the only thing he’d actually hit.
“It’s not real!” I shouted, but the sound of water crashing against buildings drowned me out.
Leo reached out a hand.
Lightning shot through my legs.
Bright orange and yellow exploded around us only a second after I launched forward. When we enrolled at the academy, our abilities were assessed, and we were each assigned codenames for our eventual graduation. They gave me the name ‘Hopper’ for good reason.
Leo wasn’t even done pouring out his wrath when Alex and I appeared behind him in the safe zone. She was light in my arms, and I let out a breath of relief.
Crisis averted. Nice job, Hopper. What a badass Hero you’ll be.
The flames dissipated, and the groan of industrial fans began to whir as heat and smoke wafted up.
“You can’t pull that shit on him, Alex,” I groaned. “He’s going to defend himself if he thinks he’s in?—”
Alex cradled her arm against her chest as she let out ragged breaths. Black and red, leather-like skin ran from her fingertips to her elbow, so burned that even blisters couldn’t form. A low whine came from the back of her throat and her lips trembled. Something in my chest snapped, a heartstring that had been plucked so hard it broke.
I wasn’t fast enough.
“Yeah,” she wheezed. “My bad, lost my temper there.”
Her body shook, and the shock was unmistakable as her pale skin turned clammy.
“It wasn’t real?” Leo murmured before turning around, his flames simmering into embers that sizzled across his uniform. “Shit, I didn’t mean?—”
“Don’t,” my voice was laced with violence, and Leo clamped his mouth shut.
Documents flew in the air as I appeared in the medical unit, Alex groaning and trembling against my chest. Healers in white didn’t flinch at our arrival. They rushed around us, stealing her from my arms as they went to work on her injuries. Mock battles were always dangerous, and Variants with healing abilities were fully staffed at all times. Healers were exceptional, but they weren’t perfect.
Someone whispered about the possibility of lasting scars, and my shrieking resulted in banishment. I paced in front of the unit doors, chewing at my cheek and not bothering to smile at those who passed by.
I should have been faster. I should have gotten to her in time. I shouldn’t have hesitated.
Why did I hesitate? I knew Leo would blow, I knew the argument was reaching a boiling point. I didn’t move.
I trusted him.
“Joon,” a graveled voice made me pause.
My nose scrunched before I let out a long breath. “She won’t lose the arm, but she might have scars.”
Leo leaned against the wall, arms crossed and eyes shadowed by shaggy blond hair. He hadn’t changed out of his uniform yet, and his head hung low. There was a different energy to him; pure regret.
“You know I didn’t mean to?—”
“I know,” I snapped, and had to swallow more air to calm my nerves. “You nevermeanto hurt anyone. I know that. Alex didn’t mean to make those waves either, but they wouldn’t have hurt you. Your temperwillhurt people. Itdoeshurt people.”
Leo didn’t respond, and we stood in silence until I couldn’t stand it anymore.
“Your temper is worse with her,” I sighed. “Why?”
