Marco shakes his head. "Secret's safe with me. It's the least I can do."
"Thanks." K2 drains the last of his beer and sets the empty bottle by the garbage with the others. "I'd better get back out there. I need to figure out what the Guild of Chaos is trying to accomplish."
"They really want to throw down with Avalanche," Marco says. "I don't know if that means anything. They get really upset when she doesn't show."
"It might mean everything." K2 heads for the window, smiling at Marco over his shoulder. "Thanks for the drink. See you around, Marco."
He leaves in a burst of blue light, while Marco is still lifting his hand to wave.
*~*~*
"You are shitting me."
The Moondollars barista starts, fumbling while writing Marco's name on a cup. He stares at Marco and Alice with wide chocolate brown eyes. Marco rolls his own eyes.
"Ignore her. She has no class."
Alice socks him in the arm. "Screw you and your class. You had beer with K2?"
"Say it louder," Marco says, moving over to where people pick up their drinks. "I'm not on the news yet."
"I can't believe you got him to fly you home. Marco, you don't even give a damn about superheroes." To her credit, at least she's being quieter.
"It's not that. I appreciate what they do, naturally, I just don't, well, hero-worship them."
"Wasted. On. You."
He steers them back out the door, squeezing past the lunchtime caffeine rush. Once they're outside in the brisk fresh air, Marco huddles in his gray wool coat. He fluffs his burnt orange scarf so it covers his mouth and neck better.
"Thanks for the coffee."
"It's the least I can do," Alice says. She's wearing a black-and-white checkered coat with dark wash jeans. "I feel awful about your apartment."
"Does that mean I can't stay with you?" he asks wryly.
Alice hesitates. "Marco, you're my best friend. Of course you can stay with me. Erika and Parvin might have reservations, though. Just because we're crowded as it is."
"So we'd have to share a bed? Ew, cooties." He's trying to make light of it for her sake, but she still looks worried for him. "I'll be okay. I'll figure out something."
*~*~*
Marco notices the envelope as soon as he walks through the door. It's bright red, weighed down by his kettle. He frowns, locking the door. Must be a note from the landlord. That's not like Garrison at all, though.
Cautiously, Marco creeps into his apartment. There isn't much space to hide in, so it's not long before he determines that whoever was in here isn't any longer. Suspicious, Marco reaches for the envelope. His eyes widen at the thickness. Across the front in a squarish hand is Marco's name. Oh my god.
His gaze flickers over to the open window. It doesn't take long to make the logical jump to the conclusion. The only people who know about his financial crisis are Alice and—
"K2," he breathes. "What the hell." He tears the envelope open and pulls out the cash, eyes widening. Some of the twenties flutter to the floor. Even without counting, he's positive there is at least a thousand dollars there. "You son of a bitch."
He's all at once touched, offended, grateful, and angry. The gall of that man. Marco gathers up the fallen bills. He has half a mind to throw them right out the window but refrains. Instead he marches back into the hall, strides to the fire escape, and climbs to the roof.
"K2!" he shouts. His voice is lost in the hustle and bustle of the city, but Marco doesn't give up. "K2, you asshole!" he screams at the top of his lungs. "Get down here!"
It's windy and overcast. It looks like it might rain. Marco stands there for one long minute. Then K2 bursts from the dried orange leaves of the tree next to Marco's building. He's not moving nearly as fast as usual. When he alights onto the roof a few feet from Marco, he notably doesn't look up at him.
Marco shakes the bills in his fist, crumpling the envelope in the other. "What is this?"
K2 still doesn't look up. He looks small and vulnerable—no small feat for someone who can shoot cosmic lasers and fly like a comet. "Um," his voice wavers, "you said you were having money troubles."
Marco can't believe his ears. "So that means you have to shower me in cash? Is this another way you're helping citizens?"
Now K2 does look up, confused. "What? No. No, I—I just wanted to help you. I mean…" He trails off, realizing he's digging himself deeper.
Marco takes two long strides, coming close so he's standing taller than K2. "How am I supposed to accept this? Don't you—don't you realize how weird this is? You don't know me!"
K2 looks hurt. Marco wonders when he started being able to read behind the mask. "I'm sorry, I just wanted to help. I didn't mean—I, I'm not very good at… this."
"At what?"
"People." K2 ducks his head, composing himself before straightening. "I'm sorry, Marco. Really, I am. I just thought you were a nice guy who didn't deserve all this bad luck. I didn't know it would be, uh, weird."
Marco holds out the money, but K2 shakes his head. "Take it. The awkwardness, my humiliation… you might as well get something out of it."
"Oh, for God's sake." Marco glares. "Don't you get it? You broke into my home. Do you even realize what that means?"
"I'm sorry," K2 says again. He breaks into smaller pieces each time. "I wasn't thinking. I just…"
"A loan, a favor like this—that is serious leverage between people. Emotional leverage. It can make things weird." He shoves the money at K2's chest. "Take it back."
But K2 is resolute. "It's not a loan or a favor. It's a gift. Even if I made a mess out of everything. Consider it a peace offering, or a fine for invading your space without permission. Put whatever spin on it you like, but the fact is you do need the money." He takes a deep breath. "I'll take it back if you really want, but I'm throwing it into the wind."
Marco almost does it, but something stops him. As socially inept as K2 is, his heart is in the right place. Gradually, the anger gives way to affectionate exasperation. He shoves the money in his coat pocket. "You are one strange bird."
K2 gives him a hesitant smile. "Is that bad?"
"Look, no more stunts like this. Got it? This is serious creeper territory." K2 opens his mouth to apologize again, but Marco keeps talking. "Give me your phone."
"Um, I can't." K2 actually looks torn up about it. "Secret identity and all that."
"Right." With a sly grin, Marco reaches into his pocket. He finds a pen that's been in there for years and smoothes out the crumpled red envelope. He scribbles his name and ten digits before handing it over. "Next time you get a scheme like this in your head, call me first."
They stand frozen for a moment, Marco holding out the slip of bright paper. K2 eventually reaches for it, looking like he expects it to disappear. He holds it open with both hands, staring at the number.
After a moment, Marco clears his throat. "So, it's cold. You wanna come in for a bit?"
K2 folds the paper into his fist. "I'd love to, but I can't. I gotta…" He trails off, gesturing vaguely to the sky.
"Right. See you around." Marco waves as a gust of wind whips about.
K2 waves back before taking off, streaking across the sky toward whatever nefarious plot he is going to stop. Marco gets all the way back to his apartment before his phone vibrates.
Hi. It’s even punctuated with a smiley emoticon.
It's a fake number, of course. Probably untraceable, too. It still makes Marco smile while he types a quick reply.
Hey, yourself.
After a moment’s hesitation, he adds a smiley face, too.
*~*~*
Marco decides to compromise. He keeps enough money for his rent and utilities and donates the remainder to the local women's shelter. Turns out there was more than a thousand dollars in the envelope, which just makes the situation even weirder. He wonders where K2 gets his money. He knows superheroes are appreciated but not on the city payroll—otherwise, they'd have to answer for the propert
y damage.
The following Monday, Sellmart opens back up. Management has a huge yellow-and-orange banner hung outside to proclaim a Back to Work Sale. Marco's first day after his impromptu vacation is a stressful one. Screaming kids. Frustrated parents. Outright idiots. Everyone is out in full force today.
"Do you have anything higher-end?" one shopper asks after lunch. He's holding up a cotton dress.
"No," Marco says through clenched teeth. "You might want to try Holidaze or somewhere else in the shopping district for that."
"But they're so expensive," the shopper complains, and Marco contemplates banging his head against the wall for an hour.
He barely sees Alice until after work. This time, he leaves his orange vest stuffed in his cubby. When they walk outside, they find K2 waiting for them. He's standing by the cars trying to look innocuous, but a guy in a mask attracts attention regardless.
"Is that who I think it is?" Alice wonders.
To the shoppers' credit, they are staying out of K2's space. Then again, that might just be because they don't want to be anywhere near him when he gets attacked. It's sound advice, but Marco finds himself ignoring it.
"Hey," he manages once the shock wears off. "What are you doing here?"
K2 gives him an easy smile. "Keeping an eye on the place. We never did find out what the Guild of Chaos really wanted here, so I figured I'd make sure they didn't sabotage the grand re-opening."
Alice pipes up, "You staked out here all day just to keep an eye on Marco?"
He bristles. "Not just me!"
But K2 says, "Can you blame me? He hasn't had the best track record lately." At Marco's withering stare, he clears his throat. "But no, it actually wasn't just for Marco."
Alice is giving him a look. Marco knows this look all too well, so he's not surprised when she suddenly declares, "Well, I'd better get home. These papers don't write themselves. See ya, Marco. Later, K2."
"Goodbye," K2 says, staring in puzzlement after her. "Did I say something wrong?"
Marco stifles a sigh. "No, she just thinks she's clever." Marco shoves his hands in his coat pockets. "You feel like grabbing dinner? It's on me."
K2 looks back with a start. Marco feels a bit of pride for being able to fluster him. "Sure. But, um…" He gestures to his mask.
"Don't worry," Marco says. "I've got something figured out."
*~*~*
Marco gets them hotdogs, fries, and soda from one of the fast food places on the way home. K2 flies them to one of the office buildings overlooking the ocean. They sit on the edge, side by side with their feet dangling over. The sunset over the water is a breathtaking tableau of orange and purple.
"Wow," Marco says around a mouthful of hotdog. "I do not appreciate this often enough."
K2 pops a fry loaded with ketchup into his mouth. "Thanks for dinner."
"Thanks for the view." Marco finishes his hotdog and starts on the fries. "How goes the superhero business?"
"Never-ending." K2 gestures to his gauntlet. "I could be called away at any time."
Marco raises an eyebrow. "So you guys have a network or something? Some kind of mission control?"
"Not really." K2 hesitates, chewing on his lower lip. "Can you keep a secret?" Marco nods. "Mostly we wire into police and satellite scanners. Our tech is programmed to alert us to any reports of anomalies. Some of it is just blind luck."
Marco considers this as he munches. "No network, then? No underground caves of superhero intel?"
"I'm sure there are somewhere in the world, but not in Marrowport. Avalanche runs a pretty tight ship, but even if she had help I don't think we could build one. The funds needed for the upkeep of a system like that are unreal." K2 sips through his straw. "We do our best with what we have."
"So this keeps you pretty busy."
"Doesn't pay the bills, though," K2 says with a smile. "Between this and work, I don't get a lot of time to myself most days."
"You work?" Marco asks, flabbergasted. "When you forked over that money, I thought you were loaded."
"I'm not," K2 says, caught off-guard. "That is, not exactly—it's complicated." His voice is slipping again, American accent faltering and Marco listens, really listens.
"Greek," he realizes, pointing a decisive finger.
K2 pulls up short. "Huh?"
"You're Greek." Marco grins, pleased with himself. "I've been trying to place your accent."
The color drains from the half of K2's face Marco can see. "I, I'm not—" He cuts the denial short when Marco gives him a pointed look. "My accent… is it no good? How long have I been speaking without it?"
Marco raises a hand. "Don't worry, usually you're fine. I just seem to have that effect on you," he teases, and is delighted to see K2 clam up. "So… is there a Mrs. K2?" He's rewarded with another stammering, negative response. It's adorable, but Marco doesn't draw out the teasing. "I've actually always wondered about that."
"About me having a girlfriend?"
"No," Marco laughs, "about superhero romance. When would you guys have the time? What if you broke up with someone and they knew your secret identity? The whole prospect is kind of depressing for you guys."
K2 slouches. "You're asking the wrong one. Considering I spend my free time flying around in tights, how many dates do you think I go on?"
It hits Marco then how much of himself K2 puts into being K2. What he sacrifices in order to keep the city under his watch safe. "You're amazing," he says quietly. K2 looks at him questioningly. "I mean it. I can't imagine how hard it must be to live two lives like you do." He barks a laugh. "I can barely keep this one straight."
"No," K2 says, turning so he faces Marco properly. "No, don't sell yourself short. You're an amazing man, Marco."
Marco gives him a wry look. "You don't even know me."
"I know you gave the Guild of Chaos a run for their money. I know you tried to save your friend from Negative Space. I know a lot of people would be too scared to leave their homes after what you've been through, but you don't let fear control your life. I know you had to be talked into accepting free money." K2 leans forward earnestly. "Marco, at the end of the day, a person's integrity is all they have. Trust me: you're amazing."
Now it's Marco's turn to blush, deflecting his gaze to avoid K2's glowing eyes. "And your integrity? When did you decide you wanted to spend your days fighting super-villains?"
"The day the stars showered me with their favor," K2 replies without hesitation. "I knew some of us came into special powers, either through genetics or the environment. I knew some people chose to use those powers for their own gain. I knew others protected those who couldn't protect themselves. I knew which one I wanted to be."
Marco studies the uniform K2 is wearing. "Your power really comes from the stars?"
"I'm not at liberty to say, Marco." K2 grins. "But there is a whole world out there we've yet to explore."
Feeling daring, Marco reaches out and grabs K2's hand. K2 lets him, watching Marco study his gloved fingers. "So you shoot stars?"
"Not exactly. I call them star-bolts, but they're really more of a concentrated cosmic energy fused within my body. I'm not sure how to explain it. The blessing comes with other gifts."
"Light, flight, and might," Marco says wryly. "You hit the jackpot."
"It doesn't always feel that way."
Marco squeezes his hand. "Well, I think you're awesome."
K2 swallows audibly, staring at their joined hands. Marco watches him lick his bottom lip. "Marco, I…" He starts to glow, a faint blue hue forming an aura around his form. Then he's leaning closer—slowly, like he's afraid of being punched in the face.
When K2 kisses him, Marco has to redefine the phrase "caught up in the moment." When their lips touch, K2's are warm and electric, sending little tingles through Marco's body. Marco makes a pleased noise and moves closer, slanting their mouths together. K2 inhales sharply but recovers quickly, opening his mouth little by little under Marco's insistent licks.
K2 starts kissing back, and his shy, tentative licks make Marco groan. He's so new at this; Marco is in uncharted territory—he's the first person to touch K2's lips, to hold him close. Marco wraps his arms around K2, fingers trying for purchase in his hair out of habit. He feels the cowl shift beneath his fingers.
The movement shatters the moment. K2 pulls back, trying to catch his breath. He's still in the circle of Marco's arms, but his glow has faded. "Marco—"
"I'm sorry," Marco says, sounding just as breathless. "We shouldn't have—"
"Shouldn't have?" K2 asks, sounding mildly hurt.
Marco could kick himself. What had he been thinking, sucking face with a masked man? "Without being formally introduced," he says. "You're just a man in a mask. I need more than that if we're going to start seeing each other. It's an unfair advantage."
K2 doesn't look at him. "I thought my romance possibilities were depressing," he says, warm breath puffing over Marco's lips.
If he moves an inch or two, they will be kissing again. Marco barely resists the urge. "Do you want to try?"
K2 squirms in his arms. "Marco… I have a secret identity for a reason."
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to." Marco does close the gap then, but only to brush his lips over K2's. "Only if you want this." He lets go and stands up, moving away to give K2 some space.
"Marco." He turns around. K2 is standing by the ledge. "Super-villains try to kill me. Often. The secret identity is to protect people I care about."
"You're not announcing it to the world," Marco says gently. "You're announcing it to me. You don't have to," he reiterates. "But do you want a relationship, or a post-patrol booty call? Because one involves a mask, and the other doesn't."
"I—" K2 stammers. "I'm not—can I… think about it?"
"Sure," Marco says. "Of course you can."
Satisfaction Guaranteed Page 10