“I know, to be rejected by the one person that mattered most is…”
Quinn’s shoulders heaved at his dad’s words.
“Oops, sorry,” Daddio said, but it was too late. The dam burst, and Quinn’s emotions spilled over once more as he leaned into his momentarily tactless father’s arms.
Several minutes later, when Quinn’s tear ducts ran dry, he sat back and looked at the coffee table.
“I um…I think I want to be alone.”
“Okay,” Daddio said. “If you need anything, I’m home for the rest of the day.”
“Thanks,” Quinn said.
Daddio stood. “Thanks for bringing him home, Ravone, and Loren. It’s good to see you, though I wish…” he trailed off, then looked at Quinn for a moment and walked out of the living room.
“We’ll see you tomorrow,” Ravone said, taking Quinn’s hand and gently squeezing it.
“Thanks, guys. I don’t know what I would have done if you guys had…” Emotions rose and choked his sentence, but his friends smiled and nodded at him.
“Call us if you need anything, okay?” Loren said. Then, they grabbed their coats from the couch near the door and left.
Quinn curled up in a ball on the couch and pulled a blanket over him to darken the room. Moments later, he fell asleep.
❖
Quinn toyed with his spaghetti at the dinner table. Like him, his dads were also less talkative than normal. They’re probably respecting my space by not being too goofy or happy.
He sighed.
Dad cleared his throat “Look, I know this sucks, but…”
“Please, don’t,” Quinn said, stabbing a meatball with his fork.
“I was going to ask you to stop hogging the parmesan cheese and pass it over.”
What?
Quinn looked at the table around him and saw the bowl of freshly grated parmesan cheese was to his left. “Oh,” he responded, feeling a small smile tickle his face. He grabbed the bowl and handed it across the table to Dad. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be, breakups are terrible, painful events. You have a right to work through your pain.”
“Yeah, we both know what it’s like, but don’t worry, we won’t bore you with those stories, will we, hun?” Daddio said. Quinn noted the not-so-subtle hint lingering in the tone of his father’s voice.
“Right, definitely not tonight. Wasn’t thinking about doing that at all.”
“Uh-huh,” Daddio said, smirking.
“I don’t think I have any tears left today,” Quinn said, twirling spaghetti around his fork.
“Or an appetite. I hoped your favorite comfort food would entice you to eat, but…I get it,” Daddio said.
“Thanks for trying. This superhero thing is too much. I’ve lost Blake, I’ve lost Keegan…it’s a wonder I didn’t lose you guys or Ravone and Loren in the process.”
“You’d never lose us, you hear me?” Dad said, pointing sternly at Quinn. “You are our son, Quinn. Being gay or being a superhero doesn’t change that in our eyes. It just means learning more about you and having one hell of a story to tell our grandkids one day.”
Quinn smiled. Like his dads, he wanted a family of his own, something he hadn’t thought about since Labor Day. “Thanks.”
“Maybe Keegan will change his mind,” Daddio said.
Quinn sighed. “I dunno. You heard him, he’s always been against Blue Spekter.”
“Yeah, but now he’s realized he’s in love with Blue Spekter, and love makes people do funny things they don’t expect to do.”
“I just don’t understand why he broke up with me so fast.”
“Some people take longer to process unbelievable things. Put yourself in his shoes. The guy you’re dating is the very world-changing thing you’re struggling to accept. That doesn’t make it any easier to find out the truth. In fact, to me, it would make it seem like you were deliberately lying to me. And, if you think about it, you have been lying to us since Labor Day.”
“How did you guys take it so well?”
“Cuz we’re older and wiser,” Dad said, chuckling.
“You’re older,” Daddio said, teasing his husband.
“How very dare you,” Dad exclaimed, mimicking Derek, comedian Catherine Tate’s character.
Daddio turned to Quinn. “And, we saw our son turn blue and fly away to save people. Well, a bridge and a ship, if you think about it. But that’s not the point. It’s not like you turned orange…dammit. Sorry, didn’t mean to bring Blake up.”
It was Quinn’s turn to chuckle. “It’s okay. I’m working out a plan to get him back. My team…”
“The Guardians?” Daddio said.
“What?”
“Your team,” Daddio said. “The Protectors just doesn’t roll off the tongue. Besides, if the name sticks, I want full credit.”
“The Guardians,” Quinn thoughtfully repeated, then shrugged. “I dunno. We’ll see. Anyway, we’re gonna get him back, I just know it. I can’t lose my best friend and the love of my life in the same year.”
His dads glanced at each other and smiled. Dad spoke next. “You’re right, that’s not fair, so you have a good chance at getting one, if not both, back.”
Quinn smiled and nodded, knowing his fathers’ encouragement was meant to be supportive, not mockery. “How long will it hurt?”
His fathers regarded one another again, this time with confused expression. “Uh, what do you mean?” Dad asked.
“The weird, horrible pain in my chest. It’s like…pressure that wants to escape but it’s nothing like a burp or heartburn. It just hurts, right here.” He pressed his hand against his sternum. “Being impaled by rebar didn’t hurt this much. And like, the emotions. I feel like I could cry at any moment for any reason right now, but I’m so tired of crying.”
“Ah,” Daddio replied. “Unfortunately, that can last for several days.”
“But it gets easier. This isn’t going to be comforting to you right now, but I hope it’s obvious you aren’t the first person to be dumped,” Dad said.
Daddio frowned at Dad and Quinn shook his head. “Uh, yeah, not comforting at all.”
“All I meant was, you will be okay. I’m sure Keegan is feeling pretty terrible, too. There’s no easy fix except time,” Dad said.
“And there’s one other horrible thing coming at you,” Daddio said.
“Yay me. And that would be what?”
“When you see Keegan in school, it’s going to feel like someone ripped off a very sticky Band Aid.”
“Great.”
“Sorry, bud, there’s no easy fix to a broken heart.”
Fix…I have to fix…I have to fix what happened today.
“I need to go out tonight.”
“Um, where exactly?”
“To where Camilla Brenhurst will be…as Blue Spekter.”
The news is predictable. I need to find out where Camilla Brenhurst will broadcast from tonight and interrupt her newscast to get on television and reassure people I’m the good guy. I know Chief Applegate will shit a brick, but it’s what I need to do.
❖
Wearing his Blue Spekter suit, Quinn flew through the cold night air toward North Church in Market Square where Camilla would be broadcasting live for the eleven o’clock news. Assuming the story would be broadcast within the first ten minutes, he stood on top of the Portsmouth Athenaeum, a historic library, gallery, and museum, set on the other side of Market Square. The bright spotlights on the roof that illuminated the iconic white steeple of North Church masked his presence from onlookers below and in the neighboring apartments and condos.
Several minutes passed and then Phil—Camilla’s cameraman—stepped back from his conversation with Camilla and moved behind the news camera mounted on a tripod. He pressed a hand against his ear and then looked into the viewer, adjusting it before raising a few fingers and counting her down. With his super hearing he listened in.
“Good evening. That’s right, Paula, when super
villain Dark Flame threatened the Portsmouth High School holiday assembly, superhero Blue Spekter was there to save the day and protect the student body from getting hurt.”
It’s now or never, before she spills the beans for me.
Quinn jumped and quietly soared across Market Square, twisting around so he would land behind Camilla in the camera’s field of vision. Illuminating his body and his eyes, he descended, surprising Phil who silently pointed up at him.
Camilla stopped speaking and looked over her shoulder at him, her face alarmed at the sight of the approaching superhero.
A moment later Quinn landed gently and nodded to the news reporter. “Hello, Camilla. I have something to say to your viewers, if that’s all right with you.”
Camilla turned and looked at Phil who pressed a finger to his ear for instructions, but Camilla didn’t wait for clearance.
“By all means, Blue Spekter,” she said.
He powered down his body, leaving his eyes glowing a little bit—enough to obscure what the suit’s cowl didn’t hide from the camera. He stepped forward and stood tall, folding his hands behind his back. Camilla held the microphone for him as he spoke.
“My name is Blue Spekter—a name given to me by a young boy named Oliver who saw me save a man’s life. Ever since I was a little boy, I wanted to be like Superman, Wonder Woman, or Batman because I want to help people. Now that I have super powers, that dream is more alive than ever in my heart. I chose to save Hector instead of hiding who I had become because it was the right thing to do, and because the people I trust in my life helped me understand that the amazing gift of super powers I have been given is a gift I want to use responsibly.”
“The police and the Department of Homeland Security have been nervous about letting me talk to you because they think you will be afraid, and well, I understand. I would be, too. But I promise you, Portsmouth, New England, and the world at large—I am not your enemy. I’m here to help, because that is the right thing to do. I don’t want to hurt or kill anyone, but I don’t like bullies, no matter where they come from.”
“By now, many of you have heard about the attack on Portsmouth High School, and the speculations are true. I’m a high school student whose life has been forever changed through a freak accident. The same goes for Dark Flame, the bully who attacked the high school today. I chose to speak to you tonight because I need your help. I need you to help the brave men and women who serve your city and our country by trusting that I will work with them to bring Dark Flame to justice. So, please, obey the laws, call 911 if you see anything unusual, and help us out by being shining examples of community and vigilance. May God Bless America. Thank you.”
When he finished, he nodded to Camilla, briefly saluted, and then ascended into the night sky. Phil angled the camera to follow him, but Quinn didn’t pay attention to what was going on behind him. Instead, he swung around Portsmouth and headed home, happy to have found the courage to speak to the world despite having his heart ripped out earlier that day.
Now, I’ll need to watch for Blake…when he sees that interview…he’ll come for me…but where? If this is going to work, I need to draw him out and meet him on my terms. It’s time I spoke to the team about my plan.
❖
The next day at breakfast before school, Quinn and his dads watched the morning news anchors discuss and speculate while replaying snippets of Blue Spekter’s speech to Portsmouth and the world. Though most of their reactions were positive, like any sensational news story it had become political and divisive. One of the commentators still wanted him taken into custody, while others thought he should be banished, but when pressed for their rationale, it was clear those folks were simply afraid of him.
“That was one hell of a speech,” Dad said through a mouthful of eggs and toast. “I’m very impressed.”
“Thanks.”
“You didn’t even seem nervous,” Daddio commented.
Quinn shrugged. “I blame all those years of theater. I guess being on stage in front of everyone boosted my confidence in front of the camera. Besides, to me I was only speaking to two people.”
“Is this why you didn’t join the theater troop after track ended? Because of the superhero thing?” Dad asked.
Quinn nodded. “Yeah, with everything that’s going on, I didn’t have time to get into theater this year.”
“Okay. Do you miss it?”
“Yup. There’s a lot I miss, but I’ve also had to deal with my life changing since…” Quinn’s words choked in his throat as his emotions bubbled up once more and his heart ached. He wiped his eyes. “Yeah, everything changed and I can’t go back.”
“Sometimes not going back is the best thing that can happen to you,” Dad said.
Quinn looked at him. “What do you mean?”
“When we adopted you, you changed our lives forever. There was no going back once we saw your smiling face in the hospital.”
Daddio chuckled. “Actually, you were screaming and crying because you had just been delivered and didn’t know what the hell was going on. But still, you were so beautiful to us. When the nurses put you on Dad’s chest, you immediately became calm and all was right with the world.”
They shared a brief laugh.
Dad continued. “Sometimes change is a very good thing. When your dad and I moved in together, our lives changed. Sure, we had both been with a few other boyfriends before and…”
“Hey now,” Daddio quipped.
Dad smiled. “My life changed when I met Aren and we started a family even though it was just the two of us at first. Then, a couple years later, you arrived and changed our lives. We couldn’t—and wouldn’t—go back. Even you have been changing since you were born. Hell, you’re a teenager which means your body is going through lots of changes. You’ve been growing into a handsome young man every day without realizing it. Now, your Blue Spekter reality has changed your life and you can’t go back.”
“I just wish it didn’t hurt so much,” Quinn said, his hand over his heart.
“I know, but it will get better.”
Daddio jumped in. “Honestly, being Blue Spekter is no different from being anyone else, superpowers aside.”
“I don’t understand how that’s even a thing,” Quinn said.
Daddio smiled. “Every single one of us, whether ordinary or celebrity, is always faced with people who accept or reject us, and there’s nothing we can do about it except be nice to others and treat them the way we want to be treated. People will accept the love you have to share, or they will look the other way and want nothing to do with it. You can’t control what other people think, and you never will.”
Daddio paused and looked at him intently.
“Wait, is mind control one of your superpowers?”
Quinn laughed. “No, I can’t read minds and I can’t control minds. If I can, it hasn’t happened yet.”
“Whew,” Daddio said. “So, do you understand my point? Just because you’re Blue Spekter doesn’t mean you’re that much different from the next guy. I’m willing to bet most of your classmates like you, but naturally there are a few who don’t, and their reasons won’t always make sense.
“Like the bully Darien James. I can’t figure out why he picks on me so much. My friends guess he is secretly gay and terrified to come out, but I don’t think that’s what it is. I think he’s just…a mean person.”
“He’s a good example and you may never know what makes him tick. The same goes for Blue Spekter. Most people will like and accept you, while some won’t want anything to do with you. You can’t control it, and if you spend your time trying to please people, you’re going to miss out on what makes you happy in life because it’s a futile ambition. That’s just how life is.”
“Yeah, I get it,” Quinn said.
Dad spoke next. “Your broken heart is one of those things that heals with time. We can only support you and hope you trust in our love for you first as our son, second as a kick-ass superhero.
Quinn laughed. “I do believe you, thanks.” Then, Quinn went upstairs to get ready for school. Before heading to the shower, he checked his phone and saw a missed text from Chief Applegate that read: FYI: As a precaution, Agent Potter and I assigned officers and agents to the high school today as a public response to any further threats Dark Flame might pose. They will be armed with TaseBolts. I’m sure you will understand our necessary decision. The good news is, they won’t be looking for you.
Yep, I get it.
Quinn set his phone back on the bureau then headed across the hall to shower and get ready for school.
❖
After the police and DHS agents monitoring the school entrances watched him approach and nodded at him as he passed by—now that they knew his face—Quinn walked into the high school cafeteria just like any other day. Some students glanced at him and nodded, some glared and frowned at him, some stared at him with wonder, and other students barely noticed his presence and continued their own early-morning conversations.
Quinn hefted his book bag to his other shoulder and walked to his usual morning spot with Ravone and Loren. Keegan wasn’t there, and Quinn accepted he probably wouldn’t join them anymore. He swallowed, but the pain still rose up when he sat down with his best friends.
“Someone was busy last night,” Loren said.
“What do you mean?” Quinn asked.
“Um, duh, your little speech to the world. I saw it. That was pretty darn awesome.”
“Thanks,” Quinn said, smiling.
“Have you seen yourself give it?” Ravone asked.
“Not yet,” Quinn replied. “I saw several clips on the news this morning, but I haven’t seen the whole thing yet.”
“Well, Mrs. White would be proud of you.” Loren said, sipping her coffee.
“Why? She’s an English Lit teacher.”
“Yeah, but she also teaches public speaking to seniors. Last night you stood in front of a TV camera and eloquently addressed the world and told us you’re on our side.”
“Well, I hope she doesn’t make a big deal about it in class. I just want to live a normal life.”
Loren and Ravone looked at each other and laughed. “You’re joking right?” Loren asked.
Ultimate Sacrifice Page 17