I wrap my arm around his shoulders. “I didn’t leave you much choice, and you could’ve blown my head off.”
“Well, you do use your shoulder more than your head.”
I laugh. “True.”
“And heads up that River is telling people your fight ended in a tie.”
“A tie? I fucking kicked his ass!”
“He has a fragile ego; play along.”
I no longer have the same strength I had when I fought River, and I’m not eager to test the powers I have left. They feel unreliable, and the last thing I need is more fighting. But I do wish I could have fought in the great War of Denver. I’ve been waiting for that moment most of my life, and I ended up bleeding and delusional for the entirety of it.
“Can you still hear things from afar?” Josh asks as we walk on the dirt road leading to town. It’s peaceful here now that the place has emptied.
“Yes, but I can tune them out most of the time. Still heard you two having sex last night.”
“You were on the same floor as us, and I could hear you and Finn going at it just fine without superpowers.”
“We had some catching up to do.”
“Have you told him that Dino offered you to work for the Assembly?”
“How do you know about that?”
“Guess.”
I shake my head. “Not yet. It’s a strange job.”
He stops walking and turns to face me. “Is it? There are mutants out there in hiding, and Florence can become their safe haven. There’s enough space around here to build a small city.”
“Yeah, I get that; I just didn’t see myself as the ambassador type.”Or the mutant type.I still wake up in the mornings and touch my face, hoping I’m back to my old self again, but the scales remain the same, although the yellow in my eyes has dimmed some.
I’m not only worried about the new role, but about the implications for me and Finn. The Hive is only a few days away, but Finn’s demanding work for Dino will swallow him whole. With time, the distance between us will grow like it did before, leading us to the same shitty ending.
It makes everything feel even more unfair.
As we walk, I catch another group of people heading out of town. When I notice who is walking among them, I ask Josh to wait for me.
“You look healthy,” Elijah says as I approach him. He’s wearing plain gray clothes, unlike the fancy burgundy outfits I’m used to seeing him in.
“I look like a mutant.”
“It could’ve been worse, Caden.”
“I try to tell myself that.” I cross my arms. “Did the rest of your house get out in time?”
“Some escaped with me, but most stayed and fought for Denver. They were allowed to make up their own minds.”
I’m not surprised to hear he was fair until the end. Despite our circumstances, he was fair with me as well. “Where are you off to?”
“Blue Moon. I have connections there. I’ll be fine. You’re heading back to your Hive?”
It’s a reasonable question, but it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. “I’ll be staying here for a while.”
“Good.” He squeezes my arm. “I’m glad that you survived him.”
“We both did. Take care, Elijah.”
