“Dammit.” Itwasthat obvious.
Smoke had promised to get back at me, to use Aiden to make me suffer. I had assumed he meant killing him, but the plan had been more diabolical. Instead of kidnapping him, William turned him against the only hero in the city. Only Smoke knew my identity at that point. He had used Aiden as a tool to get to me, and it took a scared teenager to show me what had been right under my nose this entire time.
The suit shifted as I reached for my phone. With a quick punch, I tried Aiden’s cell. I might not be able to prove their link, but I had to assume his reporter skills would help him connect the dots. If only he would pick up his— He answered.
“Aiden, don’t hang up. I need to talk to you.”
He didn't say he was ready to talk to me, but I could hear his breathing. He was mad and I couldn't blame him. I had seen the same fear on Shrieker’s face. There were some issues I needed to work on. But that was a discussion for another time.
“I think you’re in danger. William is Smoke. Don’t ask me how I know. You need to believe me.”
The laughter on the other end of the line wasn’t Aiden. I could swear the wind died, leaving nothing but the maniacal laughter a thousand feet above the city. My mindraced, fearful that Smoke had already done something horrible to Aiden.
“If you touch him…” What? Was I going to reach through the phone and attack him? I wasn’t Diode or Transceiver, with the ability to teleport through electrical signals. All I could do was make idle threats.
“You had no idea, did you?” The arrogant jerk laughed, believing he had won. As anger coursed through my veins, so did the fire. The flames surrounding my body threatened to consume the phone if I didn’t concentrate. Anger hadn’t done me any favors. I needed a plan.
“What do you want, William?”
“The difference between you and me…” Oh great, another villain monologue. By the time this ended, I could have already beaten him unconscious. “You play at being a hero. I, on the other hand, haven’t been William for a very long time.”
“Great, your alter ego is a douche bag. What do you want?”
“You’ll find out soon enough,” he said without the humor. I had ruined his speech. Good, every victory counted.
“Are you going to tell me how to find you, or are we doing this all over a video call?”
“To the point. I appreciate a man willing to march to his own grave and then climb inside. You can still turn around and hide. It’d be the coward’s way out, but nobody wouldblame you. Hell, most of the city thinks you’re more evil than me. If they only knew.”
William might work as an editor, but he could poke at open wounds. This was why I avoided therapy. I didn’t need to be analyzed and walk out angrier than I started. And he wasn’t wrong. One victory over Neon wouldn’t change the opinions of an entire city.
“This is the price they pay,” I whispered. Hellcat had warned me about sharing my identity and putting those I loved in harm's way. A few mistakes as I learned the ropes and suddenly I had become the enemy. This burden pressing down on my shoulders, threatening to crush me. This was the motivation every hero grappled with. Being a hero came at a price. How many would suffer before the cost was too steep?
Simply by existing, I risked Aiden’s life. Neither of us signed up for this life, but at least it had given me a choice. I never wanted to be a superhero. The image of Aiden opening the door for the first time cut through the doubt and left a smile on my face. This wasn’t about me.
Who is the hero Aiden needs?”
He deserved the man who stood in the shower, willing to put himself second. The anger faded, washed away by a sensation I never thought I’d experience. I wasn’t prepared to give up on Aiden or us. I wasn’t willing to admit what the motivation might be, to give it that frightening four-letter word. But it was motivation. Aiden needed a hero.
I’d pat myself on the back for a growth moment when this was over.
“Where are we doing this?”
“Where it all started, Blaze.”
I didn’t need to ask. This journey with Aiden, with Prometheus, and with Smoke had all started at the bridge. It had remained roped off, cutting off the city from the rest of the world. That’s where it all began. Only fitting it would be where it finally came to an end.
“I hope he lives long enough to see you perish.”
It was my turn to laugh. “Funny, I was just thinking the same thing.”
“Where are you?” asked Lei.
“I don’t have time to explain.”
“Wait, are you doing superhero stuff? Oh, tell me you’re having drinks with Sentinel. That beefcake can save me any day of the week.”
Leave it to Lei to steamroll the conversation.
