“You don’t handle rejection well.” Looking over my shoulder, I saw the trident branded on Whisper’s neck. “I see beneath your mask, Carmen. I know who you really are.”
For a moment, I thought she had hung up, but that wouldn’t be her style. Carmen didn’t shy away from a fight. I didn’t know what game she played. Knowing she was at the head of Vanguard’s soon-to-be elite superhero team concerned us all.
“You going to out me?”
Orion finished putting the cuffs and gag on Whisper. Ricardo had morphed himself into a metallic version of Wyatt. When Wyatt flexed, Ricardo mirrored him. But it was Janet who surveyed the pile of punks. The baseball bat rested on her shoulder as she put a foot on a man’s chest, striking a pose as if she had planted a flag.
“No,” I said. I cleared my throat, speaking louder than necessary. “I don’t need to out you. The heroes of Vanguard will be waiting.”
“You’ve gone soft, Drew.”
She continued to underestimate me. There was no more holding back, no niceness standing in my way. “The name’s Hellion.”
“Superhero declaration,” Janet said. “Everybody cheer.”
They hooted and hollered.
“Test me and I will kill you,” I said.
All but Janet stopped cheering. I tapped the side of my mask, hanging up on one of the most dangerous women in the world. Ricardo and Wyatt eyed each other, unsure if murder warranted cheering.
Janet jogged to my side, hip bumping mine. “Our boy’s got some balls on him.” I didn’t miss her hand grabbing a butt cheek with a squeeze. “What next? More heroing? Maybe we should go see about this Illuminati thing? I heard there are lizard people that need taking care of.”
While Orion’s jaw dropped, my phone vibrated. Pulling it from the pouch on my waist, I nearly gasped at the text on the screen.
Hellcat: It’s Hellcat. I’ve thought about it.
Hellcat: A robot man gave me your number.
Hellcat: I suppose we could work together.
Hellcat: But I amnotyour sidekick.
I couldn’t help but smile. Hellion, a mentor?
Hellion: You follow my lead.
Hellcat: Sure thing, boomer.
I never thought I’d see the day. Then again, I didn’t expect to be dressed in crimson amongst my friends. Every morning huddle, I presented them with a watered-down version of myself. The dam had broken, and when I set my fear aside, I found my friends hadn’t turned their backs. Through my insecurities, I found the only thing holding them back from the real mewasme.
Wyatt gave me an energetic pat on the back, knocking me forward. “What’s next, boss?”
All eyes were on me, waiting for a command.
“He’s going to do it.” Janet could barely contain her excitement.
“Let’s give them hell.”
She cheered. “Tagline gets the stamp of approval.”
“Your favorite,” Arthur said through the earpiece. “Clowns are terrorizing the hospital.”
We didn’t need the Centurions to save the city. Who needed the elitism? Today, the grunts of Vanguard would save the day.
“Here we go,” Wyatt said, his feet levitating off the asphalt.
Yes, these were the friends worth fighting for.
