Saving Supervillains 1 Chapter 29 (Patreon)

“What happened then?” Stella asked Kim loudly while squeezing my hand hard enough to pull me back to the present and out of my waking nightmare.

My emotions were storming inside of me, and I realized I was physically shaking.

Kim continued wherever she had left off. “The military, the mayor, and everyone who had a political stake in the event surrounded me in a deep, dark cell as I recovered for the next few hours.” Kim shook her head.

“I was interrogated within an inch of my immortality and given absolutely astronomical amounts of money to keep quiet.” Kim’s voice held a bit of anger.

“I took none of it. I told them the only way to get me to sing like the little canary they wanted was to found the BSH. They needed to give management of the heroes to someone who knew what it was like and could prevent that sort of bullshit from happening again.”

Kim was angry, but suddenly it all deflated. “When they gave it to me, I condemned that kid for the greater good.”

Everything about the director sagged as she pressed her fingers to her forehead. “So, let me be clear. If you encounter this super, do not engage. The thing I want most in the world is to talk to him. To explain. To try and right the worst wrong of my life.”

Stella was tugging on my arm now, ready to drag me away.

A single tear leaked out of the corner of the Director’s eye before she snapped to attention.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to have everyone up my ass for the false titan alarm. This is about to become a terrible day.”

Everyone stood, shocked by her admission.

It was Stella who moved first, yanking me off my feet and dragging me out of The Spine.

Melody was right behind her, still holding my other hand.

They blew right past the other stunned supers, and I barely registered it as Stella jerked me into the air, hurtling us away from the Bureau.

“Calm down, Miles.” Melody was holding my hand, and I noticed her hair was rising into the air like she’d just rubbed a balloon against it.

“I am calm.”

“No, you aren’t.” Stella smothered me in a hug as she flew. “You are anything but calm. I can feel your power spilling over; you were shoving me away during that whole meeting.”

“Oh.” I tried to focus, but my mind was still fixated on the story Kim had just told.

Her reasons for condemning me made all the feelings I’d buried for so long even more complicated.

And now Stella and Melody knew my full story. My stomach churned, anxiety rising inside of me as I wondered what they would think. “So, now you know I was the one that killed Fortress. Do you still want this? Want me?”

“YES!” Stella screamed at the top of her lungs, nearly crushing me. “Absolutely. That only made me want to hold you closer.”

“Miles, what happened to you isn’t your fault.” There were tears in Melody’s eyes. “Please, you need to believe that.”

My jaw clenched and unclenched. Emotions welled up inside of me. Thoughts I had pushed way into the back of my mind were clawing their way forward, threatening to take over.

“I love you, Miles.” Stella clung to me as they got close to my apartment.

“Window.”

“Huh?”

“Fly to my window.”

Trusting me, Stella did just that. I unlatched it with my power, sliding the false window to the side.

Both of them flew through, Melody closing it behind us.

Stella held tight to me, throwing us both on the bed and refusing to let go. “It’s going to be okay, Miles.”

Melody crawled up next to us, putting a hand on my chest. “We aren’t going anywhere. Please, Miles, talk to us?”

“What can I say? I—” My voice broke off as I struggled to share my feelings. They had been bottled up so tightly for so long, I didn’t know how to let go.

Stella pressed me into her chest. “You defended yourself against a monster.”

I froze. It was the first time anybody had referenced that moment and called Fortress the monster, not me.

It was different and to me, it meant the world. I looked over at Melody, seeing she agreed with Stella. She looked at me, a  concern in her eyes. “Miles, have you talked to anyone about this?”

I laughed. “No. Fuck, how do you think that would go down? Pretty sure they’d break their patient confidentiality and be a hero for it.”

Melody’s face pressed down into a disappointed frown. “Miles. This is a deep scar. I’m here for you and believe in you, but you can’t just shove this back down.”

“It’s worked for twenty-five years.” I grumbled. The last thing I wanted to do was see a shrink.

She curled up on the bed with me. “We’ll figure something out, Miles. What I need you to know is that I don’t hate you. I don’t even blame you.” Melody kissed me hard.

“A LOT of things suddenly make sense.” Stella nuzzled into my neck, peppering me with kisses. “But even if you go to the dark side, I’ll follow you.”

“Stella.” Melody admonished her.

“What? I would totally go villain for Miles.” Stella replied, Melody rolling her eyes.

“I’m not going villain. I’ve been down that route. It’s kind of fun, but pretty tiring.” I nestled into Stella’s chest.

Everything that had riled up inside of me started settling a bit as I tried to push it back down.

“You should talk to Kim.” Melody tried again.

“That’s a terrible idea.”

Stella put a hand on my chest. “Actually, that might not be half bad.”

I pushed off of her. “Not you too?”

“You need some sort of closure, and so does she. That’s pretty clear.” Stella pushed me. “It could really help both of you heal.”

Turning my head, I checked Melody, who was nodding along. “Really? What am I supposed to do? Just show up at her office and be like ‘hey Kim, surprise, I’m the one who killed Fortress’. And as you put the facts together, you’ll realize I’m also the one who killed Omnigirl.”

I was curious what Kim’s reaction would be if I told her. I’d always assumed she’d be angry and try to lock me up, but based on her confession earlier, I wasn’t so sure anymore. But regardless, it didn’t change the fact that most would find me too dangerous.

Stella snapped her fingers. “I know. Use your powers. Make yourself badass.”

Raising an eyebrow, I encouraged her to elaborate.

“You can manipulate light, so go like a spooky pitch black. So it’s you, but not you.” Stella said.

Holding up my hand, I let it absorb all light. It went the same creepy black that spawned my ultimate attack. “Like that?”

Stella nodded, before pulling me back into another one of her crushing hugs, only made bearable by her full chest. “Miles, I love you. We aren’t going anywhere.” She reiterated.

“You don’t have to keep doing that. I’m not going to fall apart the second you let go. I’ve been dealing with this for a long time.” Taking a deep breath, I shoved it all back down and sat up, disentangling myself from Stella.

But as I gained separation from Stella, Melody moved in, leaning on me. “You aren’t alone now.”

“It does feel good to have both of you know my big secret and still be here with me.” I took a deep breath. “Thanks for that.”

I was calming down. My mind was getting out of fight-or-flight mode and turning back in on itself, examining what had happened and what I was going to do.

There wasn’t any way I could put the genie back in the lamp. Kim had just told everyone that Fortress’ killer was loose in the city.

My tablet started chirping. Stella grabbed it to show me Kim calling.

I grumbled, taking the tablet from her and answering the call, remembering to turn my comms back on. “Hello.”

“Hey, Miles. I noticed you ran out pretty quick.” Kim sounded a little nervous.

“Your story was getting Stella a little riled up, and we were worried about her power acting up.” I mouthed ‘sorry’ to Stella, who didn’t seem to mind me using her as an excuse.

Kim let out a sigh. “Good. Good. Unfortunately, I’ve had two managers resign after that.”

“Wait, really?”

There was some shuffling of papers in the background. “Yep, shit luck. Pretty sure one of them was as corrupt as Omni and her manager, though. She might leave the city tonight.” Kim chuckled. “Anyway, I need your help. The military bigwigs, you met Patton, right? They are coming down to the Bureau this afternoon to chew me out. Want to join me?”

Melody gave me a set of double thumbs up. “We can have Rachel or Ben guide us for the afternoon.”

I hesitated. I didn’t like handing them off and not being there to directly support them for the day. Without me, they could actually get hurt.

“Awe.” Stella’s lips curled up into a knowing grin. “He does care.”

“Hush, both of you. You’ll be on as light of duty as I can manage without me there to support.” I focused back on the tablet and Kim. “Yeah, I’ll have Stella fly me back to the Bureau. Anything I should know before I join you for this?”

***

That was two hours of my life I would never get back.

Kim subtly rolled her eyes as she turned away from the politician whose pant suit was far too clean. It was like she’d never seen a day of work in her life.

Kim got up after, not wanting to stick around. I went to follow, but General Patton grabbed my shoulder. “Son, why don’t we have a chat?”

I really wasn’t in the mood, but I figured it was part of my new job.

“Sure.” I turned with him, heading down an empty hall in the BSH. “What do you want to talk about?”

“I like you. No bullshit, unlike everyone else. Too much god damn estrogen in that room. Then again, you have a dick, one that hasn’t shriveled up like half the men in this city. I like you.” He reiterated.

While I did enjoy candor, I wasn’t convinced he didn’t just like me because I was a man.

“Thank you.” I tried to take the compliment and move on.

“Anyway, I want your help. Kim has been riding roughshod for years, and we’ve been talking in the background about potentially having her take a retirement. She’s immortal, but still hitting retirement age soon.” The general hinted.

I knew Kim well enough that she was only leaving the Bureau in a body bag. Even then, it was just until she healed right back up and walked in the next day.

“I doubt you are going to get her to step down.”

He clapped me on the shoulder with a chuckle. “Not now. But when the time is right, I want you to know I have your back. You’re a guy; you get some of this stuff that the women just don’t.”

I nodded absently, not really wanting to be part of the current conversation.

“Anyway, best I get back to work.” He pushed on a tight flat-topped hat and did an about face, marching out of the Bureau.

I wandered back through the Bureau to find Kim at her actual office for once.

Knocking on her open door, I entered and closed it behind us. “Just had an interesting conversation with Patton.”

“Bet he complained about too many women and told you they were thinking about getting rid of me?” Kim didn’t even look up from a stack of papers on her desk.

“Uhh… yeah. That’s exactly it.”

She shrugged. “Take a seat. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks, and Patton is a very old dog.”

I sat down in her office and looked around. Framed on the wall next to the door was a sketch of me. Well, teenage me.

“There’s no secret now. That’s a sketch of the super that killed Fortress.” She stopped what she was doing and rested her forearms on the stack of papers.

“Kind of creepy. He looks like me, don’t you think?” I decided to take that topic head on.

Kim shook her head. “He’d be in his forties now. Your father didn’t have you super young, did he?”

“No, besides, he’s long dead.”

Kim winced. “Sorry.”

“It happened a while ago.” Time numbs all things.

“I feel that. One of the pains of immortality is seeing loved ones die without being able to do anything but keep on living.”

Kim pulled a bottle of whiskey from a bottom drawer and two glasses. “I think we deserve a drink after that meeting.”

“Not going to hear me complain.” I took my glass and raised it. “To another day.”

“Another day.” Kim clinked. “That’s all we can do. Take this one day at a time.”

We settled into a comfortable silence for a moment as we both sipped on the whiskey.

“So, I saw Mindfuck was released and remanded to your care. She is now set up with a little apartment, and she even got her first patient booked at North Point.” Kim said, making conversation.

I hadn’t exactly been the one to do all of that. “Sounds about right. We’ve been pretty busy today, so my new team has been cracking that particular egg. I think she can do some good, though.”

Kim nodded. “I wouldn’t have let you take a swing at it if I thought it would be a complete failure. Will the results be worth it? I’m not sure.”

Taking another sip of my glass, I realized something. “Even if Mindfuck doesn’t turn a single one around, I’m pretty sure she’ll turn herself around.”

“She’s seen all that before, and it didn’t stop her the first time.” Kim didn’t follow.

I tried to help her understand. “This time she’s been a criminal. This gives her a way out of the cycle. That’s what you don’t understand, Kim. Once it starts, it is hard to stop.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Something you need to tell me?”

I laughed to hide my nerves. “Nothing but a few wild teenage nights. I’m sure you’ve checked my background already.”

“Yeah, I had Beatrix dig well into you.” Kim smiled. “And no, this wasn’t a test.”

I shrugged, knowing exactly what she’d seen. When I left the life of villainy, I’d had a mad scientist make me a completely bulletproof fake identity. I even went to college on it and lived the life that was described for long enough that I wasn’t going to slip. My recorded age also matched my looks.

I liked my first name enough though, so I’d kept that.

“Don’t much care if you test me.” I raised my arms wide. “Nothing to hide besides maybe a little bone to pick with the system.”

“As messed up as the system is, if we give someone a chance and we are wrong, it costs lives. And the bureau’s reputation and trust with the public. Some people would rather not give second chances.” She waved that topic aside. “But let’s talk about you and your two lovely heroes.”

There was a suggestive lift of her brow and a smirk forming that told me exactly what she wanted to know about my heroes.

“I hope there’s nothing wrong with dating in the office?”

“No, at least, not if the relationship stays healthy. It could bond you in a way that makes you an amazing team. I just wanted to know if you had room for another.”

I nearly choked on my whiskey.

Kim set her glass down and leaned over the desk. I couldn’t help but notice that her dress shirt had a few buttons undone, and her cleavage was pressed up as she leaned forward.

I worked to be a gentleman and keep my eyes on hers.

“Maybe?” I tried not to sound distracted.

“Good.” Kim slapped a manila folder down in front of me. “I told you Venus would come to Point City.” She laughed, knowing exactly what she had just done.

“Fuck.” I jerked the folder across the desk. “She’s going to be such a prima-donna.”

Kim laughed, pulling out the bottle of whiskey, refilling my glass. “Sorry, but the moment I suggested the Deputy Director had an opening on the team, she would not let me place her anywhere else.”

I grumbled, taking the file and pursuing it. “She went exactly where you wanted her.”

“Maybe I need someone I trust managing her.” Kim poured herself an extra finger on her next glass. “I need to tighten the leashes on everyone, Miles.”

“What do you mean?” I asked distractedly, looking through Venus’ file.

Venus was one hell of a cocky bitch. But she had the power and the record to back it up. There were a number of pictures of her with her mask on, but none without her mask.

Venus actually kept her identity super secret. Many didn’t have that option, like Stella. Horns weren’t exactly common enough that there were more than 10 in the city.

“Miles. We have a huge problem on the horizon.” Kim pushed the file down, so I had to pay attention. “If another hero bumps into this mysterious super in a bad way, we might have a blast big enough to wipe out a quarter of the city.”

“Neither of the two times this power has been used has it even been near the city.” I pointed out. “Even in your story of him when he first got it, he knocked Fortress out of the city first.”

Kim blinked. “What?”

“He doesn’t want to destroy the city. Hell, if it was him that fought Rocksolid, it shows that he is capable of restraint.” I lifted the file folder back up. “But I agree. Let’s work on rooting through the Bureau. Another Omnigirl could make this mysterious super do something rash, and that is worth avoiding.”

Kim leaned back, swiveling in her chair and kicking her legs up as she took another sip. “I hope you are right, Miles. Anyway, I need to keep working on paperwork. Go play with your current heroes and prepare for your new hero. She starts in two days.”

I stood, slapping the folder in my hand. “Don’t stay too late. Even you need sleep.”

“I gave up on sleep years ago.” Kim said, waving goodbye.