“Vista!” I screamed, bolting upright. Amy shrieked and started awake across from me, and my phone buzzing in my pocket made my skin light up like I was being electrocuted.

  A wave of tension ran up my body and I took a ragged, heaving breath as my muscles seized and stiffened. I felt pressure on my leg and it reflexively kicked out, drawing a cry from Amy. My back arched painfully, and a strained, wheezing groan escaped my lips. It passed after a minute and I fell back to the couch, muscles sore and breath coming in strained gasps.

  “Lia?” Amy asked sounding scared. “What’s wrong? What happened?” I groaned and pushed myself up on my elbows.

  “Failed,” I squeaked. “Died.” I flinched as she wrapped her arms around me.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered in my ear. I shifted and gripped her arms tightly, fighting the lump in my throat.

  “Vista died,” I croaked. “She-- I was holding her, trying to get her to safety and I…” I shivered, but frowned.

  What exactly happened? Obviously I’d died, but what had done it? A flash of white, a flinch, and-- My body spasmed as I recalled an instant of white-hot agony, every nerve on fire. Then I woke up. I heaved a breath into my lungs, only now realizing I needed to breathe. Lightning, had to be. I didn’t know what being electrocuted felt like but… My skin buzzed and I flinched hard before I registered the ringtone of my work phone. I pulled away from Amy and dragged it from my pocket, pressing the button to take the call.

  “Dennis I kn—”

  “Lia?” Vista’s timid voice interrupted me. “Are you okay?”

  “What?” I blinked, then shook my head, trying to stop my voice from shaking. “Yeah, fine, just hanging out with Amy. Um, what’s up?”

  “I...it’s nothing, forget it,” she said quickly. “Sorry to bug you.”

  “It’s all good,” I replied. “You okay?” I heard her take a sharp breath.

  “Just a bad dream,” Vista said shakily. “Sorry, I’ll go.”

  “Vista—” The line clicked and I sighed.

  “Lia?”

  “I’m okay,” I said, stuffing the phone in my pocket and taking her hand. “Sorry I’m…”

  Hesitantly, I explained my last death to her. About Behemoth coming early, changing targets again. That led into me explaining my last two deaths, Taylor’s death, the end of the world and how I may have fucked it. I made sure she knew I was trying though, trying to stop it, trying to survive.

  “Holy shit,” Amy breathed. “I… Lia, what, you’ve died three times and you haven’t— No, you’re telling me about it, I’m sorry I—” Her breath hitched.

  “It’s okay,” I said, holding both her hands tightly. “I’m okay, really I am. I’ve got you, right?” She blinked.

  “What?”

  “Ah shit,” I swore. “I’m sorry I’m… Okay, okay, it’s fine, you don’t remember and you can’t.” But I did. “Um, I know I’ve been messing you around, but do you want like...a relationship? I know I’m a lot to deal with but…” But it worked before and it was nice…

  “Oh god,” Amy said, letting out a sharp laugh. “Fuck, I thought I was just being an idiot and that you really didn’t like me and I’d just fuck it up if I—”

  “Amy,” I interrupted, squeezing her hands. I took a deep breath and ignored the fluttering in my stomach, leaning in and pressing my lips to hers. I moved my projection away and was struck by how soft she was. I pulled back a moment later and smiled, rubbing circles on the back of her hand. “Does that...help?”

  “Uh.” She blinked, her face beet red. “You, um, that was, uh, yeah.” I couldn’t help but snort.

  “Yeah,” I said, shaking my head. “Sorry.”

  “It’s okay,” Amy said quickly. “I just, I wasn’t expecting it.”

  “Hey neither was I the first time,” I said lightly.

  “The first time?”

  “Oh, nothing, it...didn’t really happen. Not for you anyway.”

  “W-what happened?” Amy asked shakily.

  “You just sort of...kissed me out of nowhere,” I answered with a shrug. “I mean I was kind of breaking down, but you said I was your hero and…” I swallowed, a stupid grin twisting my lips. “And you were with me til the end. Sorry, I know you never said any of that but, well.” I took one of my hands away and tapped my head.

  “You’re…you’re telling the truth,” she said sounding surprised.

  “How do you—” She squeezed my hand. “Huh, when did I…” Weird.

  “God I must have sounded like an idiot,” Amy mumbled, staring at our hands. “’My hero’, cliché crap.”

  “Hey,” I said, frowning. “Amy, that was what I needed to hear. I… I needed you and you were there, and promised you would stay. I know it’s stupid especially since you didn’t really say it but—”

  “I meant it,” Amy whispered, licking her lips. “I know I would have.” She took a few deep breaths, then finally met my eyes. “If...if you really want me.” I reached up and cupped her cheek. She leaned into me we shared another, brief kiss.

  “If you’ll settle for me,” I replied. “So...first date ideas?” She snickered.

  “Dumbass,” she mumbled. “Think we’ve covered that already.”

  “Guess so.” I chuckled and shook my head. “I’m sorry it took me so long. I’m...I’m sorry I’m going to have to do this again next time.”

  “Next time? Oh.” Amy’s lip trembled. “Right you...you died.”

  “I came back,” I said, leaning forward and wrapping my arms around her back. “I always will.” She hugged me tightly.

  “I’ll hold you to that,” she said, voice brittle.

  “At least I’m getting better at this conversation?” I tried, offering a weak smile.

  “No offense but...I hope we never have it again.”

  “Me too Amy,” I sighed, rubbing my cheek against her neck. “Me too.”

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  What the fuck was Behemoth doing? That was the thought occupying my brain all through the next few days. I’d decided to delay going to the heroes, at least until I figured it out. Maybe not the best choice, but I could deal with that when it bit me square on the ass. For now, it was time to focus.

  “Amelia?” the teacher called from the front of the room. “Are you paying attention?”

  “Sorry Mrs. Flowers,” I said.

  “I asked if you could answer the question on the board,” she said, gesturing to the formula written there. I squinted at it for a moment, then shook my head.

  “I dunno, twenty-six?”

  “Is that a question or your answer?” I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

  “Twenty-six,” I repeated. Wasn’t like I had anything to—

  “Correct.” Oh. Even she sounded surprised. “Good work, next time please don’t force me to call on you like that.”

  I nodded and immediately lost focus again, or rather started focusing on what was actually important. Behemoth. Endbringers were supposedly unpredictable, was that because of some passenger bullshit, or because they were precogs, or because something was feeding them intel, or… A dozen theories, none of them remotely correct, or realistic even.

  Still, it seemed at least Behemoth could adapt to me predicting him, and I had to think about that on top of everything else now. It was okay, I’d dealt with the consequences of making predictions too early before. And surely it wasn’t some magic-psychic-telepathy nonsense, or it would have ridden out the same whether I told Miss Militia or Defiant. No it was probably saying something too early so...wait.

  God dammit, I fucking hated that answer.

  “Hey Autumn, got a sec?” I said as she passed by in the common room.

  “Hm, what do you want?” she asked tersely.

  “Got off on the wrong foot,” I offered. “We’re on the same team, I don’t want to be fighting you guys on top of the villains. Agree to disagree on how to handle this stuff?” She studied me for a moment.

  “You want something?” Autumn asked, crossing her arms.

  “Like...what?” I shrugged. “I want us to work together and agree that the bad guys are worse than each other. Nothing more, nothing less.”

  “And what about...dealing with them?”

  “I’ll follow the rules as long as I’m a Ward,” I replied. “And I’m asking you to trust I’ll stick to them as best I can, and not get up your ass about going easy on them. Truce.” I stuck out my hand.

  “You know what I heard an officer call you?” Autumn said, taking a step towards me. “The Ward’s attack dog.”

  “Yeah that’s…” I frowned. “I wish I could say they were wrong. But hey, cops have attack dogs right?”

  “That doesn’t bother you? People talking behind your back like you’re a psycho?”

  “Autumn,” I sighed, running my fingers through my hair. “What do you know about me?”

  “Huh?”

  “I mean my career, mostly,” I clarified. “But seriously, what?”

  “You...triggered two days before Leviathan,” she said hesitantly, and I nodded. “And you fought Leviathan and the Nine, plus whatever the hell Crucible won’t tell me about.”

  “Broad strokes then,” I said. “Let me fill in some blanks. Leviathan, then Hookwolf was my first cape fight. I got unmasked and one of the Nazis called me out, knew my mom.”

  “You’re a—”

  “Let me finish,” I snapped. “So, that happened; turns out she was a real piece of shit, so I have to deal with that hanging over me. Joined the Wards officially on June fourth, on June seventh I was nominated by Jack Slash to join the Slaughterhouse Nine, then went through four of their tests.” I held up my hand with the bitten-short fingers as Autumn paled. “Fought Mannequin, fought the Siberian, then fought Jack. Jumped on a bomb at the mayoral debate, killed Shatterbird, vouched for the Undersiders after they killed Calvert” I spread my arms. “People are going to talk like I’m a psycho. Maybe I am, I don’t know. I don’t feel like one.”

  “F-fuck,” Autumn swore, sitting heavily in a nearby chair. “In two months.” Well…

  “Pretty much,” I said. “I’m trying, but it’s not like anyone else gets it. For everyone else, it’s just a bad part of an okay career, or not part of it at all. Sorry, didn’t mean to dump on you like that.”

  “No it’s fine,” she said quickly. “I...you’re right, I didn’t know. It’s...crazy. I’ll try and give you a break maybe, talk to Crucible too.”

  “I’d appreciate that a lot,” I replied, offering her a smile. “End of the day, we’re all heroes right?”

  “Right,” Autumn nodded. “Uh, we should get to our patrol.”

  “Yeah, probably a good idea,” I agreed, pulling on my mask and hood. I was already dressed, just hanging out and waiting. “Shall we?”

  “Amaranth to console,” I said as we started on the last leg of our patrol. “Any activity to note in our AO?”

  “Negative,” the officer manning the console replied. “Things should be quiet.”

  “Understood,” I said, eyeing an alleyway ahead of us. “Going to sixty-second check-ins. If we miss one, send the QRF our way and tell them yesterday.”

  “Expecting something, Amaranth?” he asked.

  “Call it a hunch, Amaranth out.” I sighed and shook my head.

  “What’s the issue?” Autumn Rain asked, cocking her head.

  “More than a few villains in this city with a grudge against me,” I explained. “Nothing going on, distant patrol, and we’re near the end; it’s the perfect time for an ambush.”

  “You really think so?”

  “Could be paranoia,” I said. “But I doubt it. If I had to make a bet, I’d say Tattletale’s just waiting to take a pound of flesh. Oh, you’ve never met her right?”

  “No,” Autumn said, shaking her head.

  “Let’s hope it stays that way,” I sighed. “But if you ever do and you’re on opposite sides, try not letting her get to you. She’ll say all sorts of the worst shit you’ve ever heard, stuff that cuts to your soul, but talk is cheap and so is she. It’s not her chatter that’s dangerous, usually, it’s listening. Personally, I find channeling it into wanting to break her jaw a pretty easy way to get around things.”

  “Jesus,” she said, shooting me a look. “That sounds...personal.”

  “Very personal,” I replied. “Goes both ways now, with Skitter dead. So—”

  “Console to Amaranth, check-in.”

  “Loud and clear, console,” I said, then clicked my mic off. “Anyway, welcome to why I have to take this shit so seriously. I sort of brought it on myself, but I can’t really worry about that anymore, just deal with the fallout.”

  “Grim,” Autumn said with a nod. “And...you still go out on patrol? They let you?”

  “What’re they going to say?” I countered. “Like, ‘oh Amaranth you poor thing having that blonde bitch up your ass, want a nap?’ Come on, only way out is through. Besides, she’s no Endbringer. Whatever our differences, we both know that there are worse things, even in this city.”

  “The Nazis.”

  “And human trafficking Masters, whatever’s left of the Teeth and the cultists, and god only knows who else moving in.”

  “So why not buy into this truce?”

  “Because once they’re gone, who do you think fills in?”

  “Console to Amaranth, check-in.”

  “Loud and clear.” I shot Autumn a look. “The answer is the Undersiders and their allies. Just because they aren’t killing minorities doesn’t make them much better than the rest. Regent’s got control of a dozen or so gang leaders, and through them their gangs; that’s at least as bad as the other Masters moving in.”

  “A deal with the devil,” Autumn muttered.

  “All kinds,” I agreed. “I’ll toe the line on Endbringer truces. Everything else is just letting them take miles out of inches, you know?”

  “Console to Amaranth—”

  “Here and clear, console.”

  “I didn’t know it was that bad,” she said softly.

  “Welcome to Brockton Bay,” I said dryly. “Home of the worst scum you’ve ever heard of, and so much more. This truce is going to let the rot spread quicker, it’s going to gut the Protectorate.”

  “And what about the end of the world?” Autumn asked hesitantly. “That’s why they’re doing it right, to try and stop that?”

  “Sure,” I replied. “I’ll tell you outright though, the Nazis don’t fucking factor into it.”

  “But shouldn’t we—”

  “We should drop this before we’re at each others’ throats,” I cut her off. “I don’t think we’re going to find any common ground on what those fucks deserve.”

  “You...you really hate them,” she said a moment later.

  “I—”

  “Console to Amaranth.”

  “Loud and clear,” I snapped, then sighed. “Sorry, we’re all good, Amaranth out.” I clicked off my mic. “I do, utterly and completely. And if your mom tried to organize a drug epidemic they profited off of, you’d be right here with me.”

  “Fuck,” she swore.

  “Anyway,” I sighed again, checking my watch. “C’mon, let’s start heading back.”

  “Isn’t it a little early?” Autumn asked.

  “Ehh,” I shrugged. “It’ll take us at least twenty minutes to walk back to headquarters, that’s technically ten over our schedule. We could call for a pickup, but it’d take about the same time.”

  “You’re...less intense than I thought.”

  “After telling you I wanted to exterminate one of the gangs, that’s a hell of a statement.”

  “Not that just…” She frowned. “I don’t know, sorry.”

  “Don’t sweat it,” I said. “I guess, right now, I just have bigger things to worry about.”