by TJ Klune
TK. The telekinetic Extraordinary. The hero who’d found Seth and Miss Conduct.
Before Nick could introduce himself (and possibly gush until everyone was supremely uncomfortable), TK held out their hand. “Phone,” he said, voice heavily modulated.
Nick blinked. “Uh—what?”
“Phone,” TK demanded.
“Okay?” Nick said. “But if you’re gonna use the internet, anything you find on there isn’t something you can use against me. I have … unique tastes.”
Nick thought TK chuckled, but he couldn’t be sure. TK snatched the phone out of his hand, and before Nick could stop him, he dropped it onto the ground and stepped on it with his boot, shattering it into pieces.
“Hey!” Nick cried. “Why the hell did you do that? My entire life was on that phone. How dare you!”
TK wasn’t moved by Nick’s protestations. He kicked the remains of the phone, spreading the broken pieces around. “You were being tracked. Burke knew every movement you were making. The alley where you were attacked? He knew where to send Smoke and Ice because he was tracking you.”
Nick stared at him, dumbfounded. “What? No, he wasn’t! I would’ve known if he’d … done … that. Oh, shit.” The limo, when Burke had snatched him off the streets. He’d asked to look at Nick’s phone, saying he’d given Nick his contact info. Nick hadn’t even considered calling him. He’d planned on deleting Burke from his contact list, but he’d forgotten. “That bastard.” Angry, Nick kicked the pieces of his phone, spreading them out further. “Seth, forget what I agreed to earlier. We kill. We kill so hard, and we’re going to start with Burke. And then we can move on to Rebecca Firestone.”
“And I’ve got a list of my own,” Miss Conduct said. “TK, you’re looking as mysterious as ever. How delightfully annoying.”
Nick froze as TK moved forward, slowly circling him. TK didn’t try to touch Nick, but he was far too close for comfort. When he’d finished his inspection, he stopped next to Pyro Storm, shaking his head. “Why is he here?”
Before Nick could snap at him, Pyro Storm said, “Because he’s part of this. And I’m done keeping secrets from him.”
Nick puffed out his chest. “Damn right. And besides, I’m an Extraordinary too. Sometimes. I haven’t quite figured out how to make my powers work when I want them to, but I jumped off a building.” He grinned smugly. “And floated. Can you even do something like that?”
TK cocked his head. Then, without another word, he raised both his hands and spread his arms like wings, palms toward the ground. Air began to whip around them, biting and cold, numbing the skin of Nick’s face. Before he could ask what TK was doing, the dumpster against the building rose into the air, floating above them, the trash inside shifting as the dumpster started to spin. Metal creaked and groaned as another dumpster further down the alley shot into the air, flipping end over end, the lid clapping furiously. Detritus flew into the air as if caught in a tornado, swirling around them, plastic bags and newspapers and a startled, squeaking rat, tail twitching as its mouth opened and closed.
TK lowered his hands, and everything crashed back down onto the ground. The rat landed on its feet, taking off and disappearing into the shadows.
“Right,” Nick said weakly. “So you can do stuff. That’s … so cool.” He rushed forward, grabbing TK’s gloved hand and pulling it close to his face, as if proximity would explain all that he needed to know. “Teach me everything you know. You can be my mentor, and I’ll be your young and headstrong protégé who’ll one day take up your mantle when you become way too old to continue fighting, and then you’ll look at me and nod wisely and say, ‘The world needs fresh blood to save her. It’s up to you now, Nicholas Bell. I’ve taught you everything I know. Now, go forth and save the planet like the hero I know you are.’ Holy shit, the fic practically writes itself. How do you feel about being memorialized in fanfiction? Good, I hope, because I’m sure as shit going to introduce a new character based on you. Yes, a hundred and thirty thousand–plus words is probably a little late to introduce a new major character, but that’s the best part of writing fiction! I can make it up as I go along. My followers are going to eat it up when I—”
TK jerked his hand back. “Stop. Talking. I don’t need a protégé, especially one like you.”
Nick frowned. “You don’t even know me.”
“I know enough,” TK growled. “You’re a child.” He glanced at Seth. “Both of you are children. This isn’t a game.”
“We know it’s not,” Pyro Storm said, shaking his head at Nick in warning. “We never thought it was. Nick gets excited, but his heart is in the right place and he could use your help. You’re the only other telekinetic we know.”
“I don’t work with others,” TK snapped.
“You’re a loner, the weight of the world on your shoulders,” Nick said. “I get that. You do you, my dude. But if you’d consider changing your mind, I promise I’d be the best protégé the world has ever known. I won’t even betray you at some point in the distant future because being a villain sounds exhausting. Always making plans to ruin my day. God, I hate them so much.”
“Is he always like this?” TK asked Pyro Storm.
“Sometimes,” Pyro Storm said. “But it comes from a good place. You can trust him. I do.”
“Do you trust me?” TK asked. Pyro Storm hesitated, which was all the answer TK needed. “I thought as much. You don’t know me. I don’t know any of you. And it’s better if it stays that way. Knowing people means getting hurt. And I’m not going to put myself into that position. Not again.” He turned as if meaning to leave.
And Nick couldn’t have that. “We have to watch out for each other. We’re all we have.”
TK stopped, shoulders stiff. He didn’t turn around. “What?”
“Something my dad taught me,” Nick said quietly. “And while we’re not … it doesn’t matter what he and I are, at least not right now. We’ll figure it out because he’s my dad, and I’m not going to lose him. He taught me that we can’t always do things alone. We need others to help us, even if it’s scary letting someone in. I know you think it’s better on your own, but you don’t have to be. We’re here. And we can be here for you, if you let us. It’ll mean you never have to be alone again.”
TK turned his head toward the sky, light glinting off his helmet. “Your father sounds like a wise man.”
“He is,” Nick agreed. “Even though he kept things from me, and even though I’m so mad at him I can barely think straight, he’s still my dad. We all make mistakes. Some bigger than others, and while it might not seem forgivable, I’m all he has left. If I don’t watch out for him, no one will.”
TK turned back, looking at Nick once more. “He’s very lucky to have someone like you.”
Nick looked down at the ground, shuffling his feet. “I think so too.”
TK nodded, glancing at Pyro Storm. “Talk. Now. I don’t like being out in the open. Why did you call us?”
“We need to work together,” Seth said. “It may be our only chance to get through this. Burke knows about Miss Conduct. Not who she is in her real life, but that she exists. It’s only a matter of time before the rest of it gets out. And we need to be ready for that.”
“The bounty isn’t on us,” TK snapped. “Burke’s gunning for you.”
“But that doesn’t mean he won’t try and get as many of us as possible,” Seth countered.
TK scoffed in derision. “Don’t worry about me. I can handle Burke. If he tries to come for me, it’ll be the last thing he does.”
“Whoa,” Nick breathed. “That was dark. High five!” TK was apparently not in the mood to high five, so Nick dropped his hand awkwardly. “Or not, which is cool too.”
“TK’s right,” Miss Conduct said, looking down the alley. Nick followed her gaze. Out on the street, people passed them by without looking at them. “We can handle Burke if it comes down to it. Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve had to deal with a man who didn’t understand what
no means, and he won’t be the last. But I’m worried about the two of you. A million-dollar bounty?” She shook her head, curls bouncing. “That kind of money makes people stupid.”
“We know,” Pyro Storm muttered. He filled Miss Conduct and TK in on what had happened on the way to the alley, all the people chasing after them.
“You need to watch out for each other,” Miss Conduct said. “If we’re lucky, maybe this will all blow over.”
“I doubt it,” Pyro Storm said grimly. “Burke has his sights set on us, and now that he knows what Nick can do, we have to—”
Nick didn’t even see TK move. One moment, he was standing next to Pyro Storm, and the next, he had Nick by the hoodie, pulling him down so he had to hunch over until he was face-to-face with TK. “What the hell are you doing?” Nick gasped, struggling to break free. TK’s helmet was inches from Nick’s face, and he could see himself reflected off the opaque plastic.
“He told you he knows?” TK demanded. “What did he say?”
Nick slapped at TK’s hands to no avail. “Let me go!”
“Release him,” Pyro Storm said, taking a step toward them.
TK jostled Nick, causing his head to snap back and forth. “Tell me!”
“He’s known longer than I have! He’s the one who told me that his company manufactures Concentra, the pills I took for ADHD that were also apparently suppressing my powers for years,” Nick said in a strangled voice as TK lifted him even higher. “He knew about my mom—she could do what we do. I guess her telekinesis passed on to me, and my parents decided it was too dangerous. They tried to suppress it, and Burke helped them.” TK shoved him back and began to pace, ignoring Nick glaring at him. “Not cool, dude. You already broke my phone. You don’t have to break me too. Not that I’m fragile or anything,” he added quickly, needing TK to see how awesome he was, in case the Extraordinary might change his mind and allow Nick to be his protégé.
“He’s getting too confident,” TK said. “He’s not trying to do things in secret, not anymore. And he managed to get the mayor in his pocket. And don’t get me started on the police. They’re probably just as involved.”
“Do you know him?” Pyro Storm asked, head tilted to the side. “Because you’re talking like you do.”
“Whatever Burke’s planning, you can bet it’s only getting started,” TK said. “If you’re telling us to lie low, then you both need to do the same. If he knows about Nick, then it’s only a matter of time before he figures out the rest.” He shook his head angrily. “Don’t underestimate Simon Burke.”
“We’ve handled him so far,” Nick retorted. “I know you think we’re just kids, but we’ve already done more than most. We survived Shadow Star. We survived Smoke and Ice. We can deal with someone like Burke.”
“This isn’t one of your fics,” TK growled at him. “This is real life. People could get hurt. You could die. And someone isn’t always going to be there to catch you when you fall.”
Nick stared at him, thinking hard. “What do you mean, catch me?”
“Nick can handle himself,” Pyro Storm said. “And even if he couldn’t, he has me to back him up. He’s not alone in this. He never will be. I’ll make sure of it.”
“You can’t always be there. No one can,” TK said, folding his arms across his chest. “And what happens if they get to you first, and Nick’s the only thing between you and death? Are you really going to tell me that you’d put your life in his hands? He doesn’t even know how to use his powers.”
“Being a hero isn’t about powers,” Pyro Storm said, reaching out and taking Nick’s hand in his own. “Nick is braver than anyone else I know, and it’s not because he’s telekinetic. He was already that way. So, yes. If I’m taken out, and Nick is the only thing that stands between me and death, then I know I’ll be okay because he’s relentless. All of our friends are. If we don’t trust each other and work together, then what the hell are we fighting for?”
“You’re children.”
“Who’ve handled themselves remarkably,” Miss Conduct said. “You know that, TK. You saw what they did on the bridge. It’s why you sought Pyro Storm out. You didn’t want to be alone anymore. We have each other now. That means we watch each other’s backs against shitheels like Simon Burke. And if the need should arise, we will do what we have to in order to protect each other.”
TK slumped. “I’m not like you. I’m not like any of you. I’ve been fine on my own. I don’t need a team to—”
“Bullshit,” Nick said, and TK jerked his head up. “Miss Conduct’s right. You found Pyro Storm because you wanted to connect to someone else who has amazing powers and is doing something good with them. And sure, I don’t really know how to make my powers work when I want them to, but I helped to stop Shadow Star before I knew I could do anything like that. You already at least kind of trust Seth, or you wouldn’t have sought him out. We’d be unstoppable if we’re all working together, so why are you fighting this so hard?”
“Twink’s got a point, TK,” Miss Conduct said. “Maybe we don’t trust each other completely yet, but Nick still came here without a disguise because he was willing to take the risk that we all want the same thing. Am I scared of risking increased exposure by teaming up with a public hero? Hell yes. But if we don’t fight for ourselves and our future, then those who can do what we do won’t have anyone to turn to. It’s not just about us. It’s about those who’ll come after us. If I need to pick up a damn brick like our lord and savior Marsha P. Johnson, then that’s what I’ll do.” She smiled sharply. “And if anyone gets in our way, then they’ll have a fight on their hands.”
“You’re all out of your minds,” TK said, though he sounded begrudgingly impressed. “Fine. We work together. For now. Don’t do anything stupid that’ll get yourselves killed.”
Pyro Storm sounded relieved when he said, “Good. I’ll send updates through the app. You can do the same.”
“Is that it?” TK asked. “It’s getting late. You need to get home.”
Nick rolled his eyes. “It’s Saturday night, and you’re not my parent. I’ve already got one of those, and he’s a pain in my ass.”
“Keep telling yourself that, kid,” TK said.
And then TK turned, leaping up to the wall of the building to the right. The brickwork bulged from the wall with a groan, giving TK purchase as he climbed swiftly, almost too fast to follow. The last Nick saw of him was the flash of his helmet catching the lights from the city as he reached the roof and disappeared.
“I do love a dramatic exit,” Miss Conduct said, staring upward. She shook her head as she glanced back at them. “If there’s nothing else, I’m going to get out of here too. Some of us have work in the morning. Pyro Storm, it’s been real. I’ll be in touch if I find out anything. Twinkie, keep on doing what you’re doing. You’ll figure it out.”
And with that, electricity began to arc along her body until she became so bright, Nick had to look away. The electricity snapped and snarled, and when the light faded, she was gone, leaving Nick and Pyro Storm alone in the alley.
“Still think they’re working with Burke?” Seth asked as he removed his helmet. His curls were a mess. He brushed them off his sweaty forehead.
“No,” Nick said quietly, looking up again to where TK had disappeared. “I don’t think they are. But it would really suck if one or both of them ended up betraying us, so I reserve the right to complain dramatically if that happens.”
“I would expect nothing less,” Seth said, stripping quickly out of his costume. Nick didn’t look away this time, watching as gooseflesh prickled along Seth’s arms and bare back, the muscles shifting under his skin.
Seth complained only a little when Nick practically tackled him, kissing every part of him his mouth could reach. As Nick held Seth close, chin hooked over his shoulder, breathing him in, Nick promised himself that nothing would tear them apart. They were in this together, and no one—not Burke, not Dad, not any villains who’d come after them
—could take that away from them.
15
Monday sucked.
Mondays usually did, but this was worse.
Nick thought they’d prepared for it, thought they’d covered all their bases, but the moment he stepped into Centennial High on that cold morning—Seth at his side, Gibby and Jazz ahead of them—Nick knew immediately they’d made a mistake.
“Oh no,” he whispered as people turned to stare at them as they walked down the hall toward their lockers.
“He’s here!” one person whispered furiously.
“Talk to him!”
“Find out what he knows!”
“A million dollars, a million dollars! My dad said that if we get that, we can finally go on vacation somewhere that doesn’t involve a giant ball of yarn.”
“Nick! Hey, Nick!”
“Nick, over here!”
“Nick! Just the guy I was looking for. Hey, man. How are you? Good weekend?”
Nick glared at the hand on his arm. The douchebro removed it slowly but didn’t step back. People began to crowd around them, following them down the hall as they called Nick’s name, trying to get his attention.
“Back off,” Gibby snarled. “Don’t make me sic Jazz on you.”
“I’m dangerous,” Jazz said sweetly. “I’ll make you bleed, though I won’t be happy about it. Do you know how hard it is to get blood out of cashmere?”
But they wouldn’t be deterred.
For the first time in his life, Nick was relieved to see the rheumy gaze of Mr. Hanson, his trig teacher who thought Nick should constantly be in detention for having ideas. Hanson glared at the kids behind them. “You have classes to get to,” he said, the warning in his voice clear. “I suggest you move before we have a problem.”
“I’m Pyro Storm,” Seth said.
The students who hadn’t scattered all turned slowly to stare at him as Nick did the same, eyes bulging. Jazz’s jaw dropped, and Gibby sighed as if she couldn’t be bothered to deal with the idiocy of teenage boys.
Hanson snorted. “Gray, next time you tell a joke, try something that’s funny—or even remotely believable. Otherwise, it’s just sad.” He shook his head and turned on his heels, marching down the hall toward his classroom as the warning bell rang around them, the other students whispering as they left.