“Sure…yeah, Joey’s at a friend’s house tonight, we should do that.” Leaning against Danny’s desk, John indicated not at all subtly that he wasn’t moving any time soon.
Danny let out a slow, steadying exhale before he grabbed his messenger bag. Facing John off the side of his desk, he was more than prepared for the coming lecture. “I know I haven’t made up for the things I said yet, Dad, and there isn’t much I can do—”
“Make up for—” John cut himself off sharply and shook his head. “Danny, you don’t have to make up for anything. You don’t owe me. You apologized plenty. I’m the one who didn’t see how much you’ve been hurting. I’m the one who thought leaving you out of the loop with Joey was doing you a favor, instead of realizing it’d make you feel even more disconnected.”
“Dad—”
“No, let me say this.” He seemed about to stand taller but deflated as he looked at Danny mournfully. “There’s one thing I haven’t brought up yet. And I don’t want to push, but damn it, I have to on this one.” There were few things that chipped away at Danny’s armor more than seeing his father cry, and right now his eyes glistened. “Don’t you ever say something like what you said that night. That you wish you could erase yourself from our lives. Don’t…don’t ever say that.”
“Dad, I…” Danny felt a chill shudder through him as he processed what John must be thinking. “I didn’t mean—”
“I sure as hell hope not, but you still said it, and that…that scared me, son. That scared me, not your powers, not how angry you were. We don’t blame you for what happened with Thanatos, and I wouldn’t trade you for anything. Not a damn thing. No—not even to have never had Zeus in our lives. Because even though I wish your mother was still with us,” a sad, sympathetic smile strained across his face, “I have two sons now instead of one. And I love them both.”
Blinking back the tears flooding his eyes, Danny nodded and laughed shakily, because of course he knew that was the truth, not merely kind words to appease him, but at his lowest it was as if there were separate versions of him, conflicted and arguing inside his head.
“I love you too, Dad. So much. And I’m sorry. You said I don’t have anything to make up for, but I do. Not just to you, but to Joey too. I’ll talk to him again, I promise. I never meant for him to find out about my powers like that.”
“I know, kiddo,” John said, standing and gripping Danny’s shoulder with that familiar, firm almost-hug that often felt more comforting than a full one. “Honestly, I think Joey’s a little starstruck learning that you’re Zeus.”
“The novelty will wear off eventually,” Danny muttered. “Can’t be easy finding out your hero is a basket case.”
“Hey,” John squeezed his shoulder tighter, “I think you’d be surprised how he sees you now that he understands a bit better what’s been going on. Not even heroes are meant to be perfect.” At last he let Danny go, and they turned together to head toward the door. “You going to be around to help us move his things upstairs to the new room? Plan was for this week. Almost got it ready.”
“Of course,” Danny said. “I really am glad you’re making it official, Dad. That wasn’t what upset me. Joey’s a good kid. I know I need to try harder with him. Assuming I can look him in the eyes the next time we talk…”
“Don’t push yourself. Whatever you can manage. One day at a time, right?”
“Yeah.” Danny wondered if maybe, now, he could actually do that. “One day at a time.”
He wasn’t oblivious to how things always seemed easier after he had a few good days in a row. He’d even gone all of Monday so far without feeling the need for a pill. What he feared was the next trigger that sent him off the rails, whether it be Ludgate, some other miss with a criminal, or something unexpected.
Which may have been why Danny was more anxious than excited when less than half an hour into patrol, after a pleasant, laughter-filled dinner with his father, he got a call from Andre over the comms. Someone had noticed strange flashes of light coming from the history museum, even though no alarms had been tripped.
“Could be nothing,” Andre said, “but given Ludgate’s MO and what you said about seeing flickers when he used his powers…”
Given Cho’s MO too, Danny thought. Ludgate wasn’t the only thief who didn’t trip alarms unless he wanted to. “I’ll swing by to get the dark Zeus suit just in case.”
He and Cho had discussed encountering each other with Danny in that suit again, and Cho had assured him that if he had a heist planned—not that he’d admitted he did—and Danny showed up in the invisible suit, he’d be prepared. Cho always expected a fight when he was on a job, and if it was Cho tonight…
This was what everything had been leading up to since he and Danny first began their tryst, a return to normal, to Cho’s thieving ways, which Danny had assumed would signal the end, but now he wanted just a little longer to enjoy the thrills and unexpected peace Cho gave him.
“Dark Zeus?” Andre complained. “It’s The Invisible Man, dude. Stop raining on my name parade!”
Danny chuckled. “Be there in a sec.”
It was indeed only seconds later that he jumped into the morgue and replaced his normal Zeus suit with the black one. He was about to turn invisible and head out, when Lynn stopped him, her smile guarded as she gently took his arm.
“What’s up?” he asked.
“It’s nothing, Danny, I just wanted to say, if it is Ludgate…even if it isn’t, remember we’re here with you, no matter what happens. It’s okay if you don’t catch him.”
No, it isn’t, Danny thought, because people could get hurt—people always got hurt when he failed. So far Ludgate hadn’t hurt anyone, but Danny couldn’t take that chance, not with someone so powerful. Still, he understood what she meant. He had to keep his frustration from leaking out and controlling his actions. He couldn’t exactly stop mid-fight to take one of his pills. Maybe he should take one now…
“I’ll be fine,” he said as he dismissed the idea. “The worst he can do, if it is him, is get one over on me again, which as frustrated as that’ll make me, I can handle. Just keep talking me down if I seem like I’m faltering. You guys always pull me back.” He smiled a little brighter because it was true. So far it had always been his friends’ voices that calmed him if nothing else could—and Cho.
Pulling the mask down over his mouth, Danny tapped the side of his goggle-like eyes to turn on the comms.
“Ready when you are, guys,” he said, and after a swift salute from Andre, Danny shifted the suit into stealth mode and took off.
ß
This was what everything had been leading up to since Hades first targeted Zeus and then discovered how poetic it would be to bring Prometheus down with him—a mighty clash of powers and personas where he could make his true entrance onto the stage and reveal the name that would make this city quake in ways it hadn’t known in six long months.
The spectacle was going to be glorious; however simple, however subtle, however ruthless in execution, and Zeus and Prometheus had no idea.
ß
The first fifteen minutes of the plan went flawlessly. A hole in the building’s defenses made it a breeze to enter through the security team’s own back exit after the old guard left, leaving the new guy in charge for the night—a two-minute window before the security protocols rebooted on the door. In less than forty-five seconds, Mal and the others were in, with free access to the camera feeds and the rest of the security room without breaking a sweat.
Lucy dug her vines into the console, frying the cameras, but several of the alarms would remain intact. All that meant was that they had to take care of the guard, then exit through the same door they’d entered when they left.
The only problem as they darted from the offices into the main building of the museum was the windows. Not large enough for a general passerby to catch sight of
people moving about, but enough to draw attention to the light from their powers in a dark building. Which was why frying or icing anything before they reached the prize at the end had to be minimal, and timing was always of the essence.
The building’s new pressure sensors were controlled separately from the main security room—Mal had traded a few very worthwhile and old favors for those updated blueprints. It meant he knew exactly when to tell Lucy to use her powers on any remaining security measures and which tiles in the various rooms needed to be avoided.
Dom and Lucy didn’t have the locations memorized as well as Mal did, so he led the way, and they stepped where he stepped. He had to hand it to the history museum for not slouching on creativity—reminded him of The Last Crusade and he was Indy seeking the Holy Grail. Or at least a big-ass diamond he could keep on display in his favorite safe house. Maybe he’d fence some of the lesser items they’d swipe. This heist was purely for the thrill.
Checking the time displayed through his goggles, Mal hushed Dom and Lucy behind him, motioning for them to take positions on the opposite side of the doorway that led into the next room. The security guard should be coming from that direction in less than one minute.
Mal had watched the guard during his training for weeks. While the man did practice rounds at off hours, Mal had learned his route and his timing, usually with Dom beside him. Given this was the man’s first real run-through, alone in the dark museum, maybe nervous, Mal had accounted for both having more time if the guard slouched or less if he was antsy. Either way, they should be perfectly poised for the next stage in the plan.
Holding up his hand to keep the others quiet, Mal listened…listened…and heard the telltale jingle of keys that indicated the guard was coming. He motioned for Lucy to get the gas, while he and Dom held steady, and she pulled the gas can from one of the large pockets in her cloak.
Mal listened…listened…and counted down on his hand—five, four, three, two—
Lucy whirled around the corner and sprayed in a back and forth arch across the open doorway in front of her. The gas can looked like a normal aerosol but packed much more punch, shooting gas into the room and filling it quickly. They had moments for the guard to breathe in enough of the misty green substance to be knocked out, then neutralize it before it kicked back into the room with them.
“What the—?!” the guard stammered. More jingling keys and shuffling as he fumbled for his gun, then a clatter as the gun fell to the floor, and a moment later, after a few choked coughs, a thud as the guard followed suit.
Whipping back into place to avoid any backlash from the gas, Lucy returned the can to her pocket, while Mal took her spot in front of the door. Being sure to aim above the collapsed guard on the floor, he misted an ice-cold frost from his palms, freezing the particles of gas mid-air. The gas didn’t merely dissipate, it fell like putrid green snow.
Now unhindered by the gas or any potential collateral damage, Mal nodded at Lucy and Dom to follow him again. The diamond was straight ahead in the east wing. The room they entered first was the nexus that split into the last three areas of the building. Lucy turned right to explore the gold collection in the Egypt exhibit. Dom went left to head into the north wing.
The American history section had a collection of paintings depicting the Great Chicago Fire. Dom loved them. So of course she wanted to burn them. Mal didn’t question his friend’s choice of catharsis; he had his own quirks, after all.
“Remember, we’re connected,” he indicated his earpiece before moving into the room for specialty items on loan. “Inform each other the second something seems off.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Dom said, already gone.
Lucy shot Mal a smile over her shoulder before disappearing as well.
“Keep center to avoid the pressure plates. Meet back here in five,” Mal said, then bounded forward, feeling the thrill of the chase spurring him on.
The diamond was at the far end of the room, down a short set of steps, inside a glass container with pressure sensors of its own to protect the glass from even being touched. Thankfully the sensors didn’t work if frozen solid. The rest of the room was filled with similar glass cases, many sporting mirrors inside to reflect the items on display. Mal’s image bounced back at him from every direction as he moved through the room.
He kept his eyes and ears open for signs of trouble, any passing cops outside, but he only heard the occasional chatter from Dom and Lucy over the comms. Even in the dark room, his new goggles kept his vision clear, almost but not quite as potent as night vision. It was just as he was about to reach the steps leading down to the diamond that he felt a gust of wind.
Mal spun around, finger twitching on the cold field switch. But not yet. Not yet…
Another gust. Yes—an invisible Zeus. Danny had warned him. But this time Mal was ready and very much into the game. He turned his comms off.
“I was hoping it was you,” Danny’s voice echoed around him from the high ceilings, making it difficult to pinpoint his position.
“And here I thought you were above cheating,” Mal said, circling carefully, making sure he didn’t misstep so close to the stairs and tumble down them.
“A heads up wasn’t enough?” Danny said—to Mal’s left, definitely to the left.
Mal backed up slowly until the wall was close behind him—
“How about this then?”
—and tensed for an attack. But Danny merely rippled into existence a few meters from him, visible in the all black suit and shimmering like he was covered in sequins when he moved.
Mal considered blasting him. Vaughn would have built the usual precautions into the suit against Elementals they knew—like thermal dampeners to lessen the effect of Mal’s ice—but Danny’s saunter had such a nice, sexy sway to it. Mal aimed more at his lower half. “Careful. Any closer and I’ll take your feet out from under you.”
“Oh really?” Danny purred, hands held up but steps still carrying him closer. He paused only once he was close enough that they could have touched if Danny outstretched his arms. Then, in the split second Mal chose not to fire, Danny surged forward and had him against the wall, wrists pinned to his sides.
Sloppy…if Mal minded getting caught.
As Danny’s fingers grazed the cuff Mal wore, he glanced down at it. Mal’s arms were otherwise nothing but skin from his shoulders to his wrists. The cuff did draw some attention.
“Love to help you out of that suit again, Sparky, but I’d need my hands.” Mal wriggled his fingers and smirked playfully. Glancing at the lines of the suit and the smoothness of the cowl, he wondered where the communications lived. “Aren’t you worried your friends will listen in?”
Releasing Mal’s wrists, Danny looked him in the eyes. Mal used the freedom to reach forward for the seam at Danny’s neck and fold the mask upward. “Told them it was a false alarm once I was sure it was you,” Danny said when his lips were free. “For all they know, I’m making a quick pass around town and heading home for the night. We’re all alone.”
“Dom and Lucy are in the other rooms,” Mal admitted, watching Danny’s lips attentively. “Got about three minutes before they come looking.”
“I can take care of that.”
Mal quirked an eyebrow at him.
“Nicely,” Danny assured him, then ducked forward, angling for a kiss Mal allowed him only too eagerly.
The firm line of Danny’s body snugly outlined in black was welcome and alluring when Mal was ready for it. His pulse was already racing from the adrenaline of the heist; Danny’s arrival and subsequent reaction to finding him had Mal trembling with excitement.
When they pulled apart, Danny flicked his tongue at Mal’s lips. “Helios and Gaia are suddenly going to find themselves outside in the alley, wondering what happened. Think they’ll come back in after you?”
“Nah. They’ll know it was you and
hightail it. You gonna let them keep their loot?”
“Tell you what, if you have the diamond in your hands by the time I get back, you can keep it. And…” Danny leaned forward and added in a sultry whisper, “you can fuck me anywhere you want in the museum.” He bit his bottom lip invitingly before pulling his mask back into place.
Mal shivered. This version of Danny Grant he adored. An added challenge, a worthwhile goal. He felt silly now for ever thinking this heist could disrupt their fun. He’d passed an antique chaise in the section on The French Revolution. Sullying that would be entertaining, and more comfortable than the floor, a wall, or up against a glass case.
Mmm…Danny pressed against glass…
“Hey,” Danny said with an audible pout, “I thought you promised me a three-piece suit for your next heist.”
Mal blinked. He’d completely forgotten about that, and he rarely neglected such important details. “Guess I’ve been a bad boy, Zeus. I owe you one. You go ahead and think long and hard about what you want from me to make up for it.”
A chuckle left the kid, only slightly muffled by his mask. “You have about thirty seconds, Ice Man—and that’s being generous,” he said before lightning jumping away.
Mal didn’t waste a moment. While he’d turned off his mic, he could still hear his companions through his earpiece, and he clearly picked up on the oomphs of them being suddenly teleported out of the building by an invisible Zeus. Meanwhile, he set to work on the diamond. Thirty seconds was child’s play.
Raising both hands, he iced the pane of glass facing him, coating it in frost and decreasing the temperature until it started to crack. Then all he had to do was tap the center. It crumbled like sand without tripping the alarm. The back pane of the case was a mirror, doubling the diamond’s image for its adoring public. As Mal reached in to claim his prize, something in the reflection shimmered.
He snatched his hand back as the image of the diamond turned foggy, then empty, then was replaced by a grasping silver hand that reached right out of the reflection into the case.
Lovesick Gods Page 29