Its been awhile since I’ve added anything so please read the start of this if you haven’t
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6
As the week progressed I learned that Rachel was quick to pick up on the new information that I had to give her. She was pleasant and I had a hard time remembering that she wasn’t here to be my friend; it had been so long since I’d called anyone other than Liam friend. Later in the week she would bring me a coffee in the morning, cream and sugar on the side as she didn’t know how I liked it.
The second week she invited me out to lunch, so we could talk about something other than work. She looked hopeful and I didn’t know how to turn her down so we ended up at a small cafe a few blocks away. There we talked of little things as we ate, each feeling the other out. I wasn’t sure what she thought she would learn about me that wasn’t already written down somewhere in the heroes books. By the end of the meal all I could think was about how good of an actress this woman was.
When the end of the month rolled around my world had completely turned on its head. Rachel and I ate lunch out or together in our office almost every day. Almost against my better judgement I had told her of my many cats and much of my reading habits. She would suggest books or pick up some of the ones I had recommended. Often she would request photos of the cats as she couldn’t have one in the apartment she rented as she finished her degree. If I hadn’t known who she was I would have honestly thought that she only wanted to be my friend.
After two months I found it hard to keep myself from being open with her. I realized it as we walked out of the office together and laughed over a small joke. As I turned towards home I waved goodbye briefly before practically running to the general store that Liam still worked at.
I nodded to him as I entered but I was too breathless to say anything until I placed a tub of ice cream on the counter, “we have to talk about Rachel…”
To his credit Liam didn’t ask any questions until he got home. I was already on my second bowl of the ice cream when he finally spoke, “So what about Rachel?”
“I don’t think she knows who I was… I mean that I don’t think she’s a spy for the masks.” I shrugged, “That or she is an amazing actress. But I don’t think she is. I think she honestly wants to be my friend.”
“Normally I would agree with you, but I still don’t know what they’re planning,” Liam leaned over the table resting on his elbows, deep in thought. After what felt like minutes he spoke again, “what if you invite her over? We can watch her reaction to meeting me.”
Mulling it over it made sense. But something made me hesitate. When I answered him I tried to avoid the real problem I was having, “what if she doesn’t know and this is how she figures out who she’s working with?”
“Then we’ll have to do damage control.”
“What if she hates me?”
Liam reached across the table and took one of my hands gently in his, “Either she already knows who you are or we’ll try to make her understand why you haven’t told her. If she really wants to be friends she won’t hate you. I know that isn’t what you want to hear, but I don’t want to lie to you.”
All I could do was nod and focus on the warmth of his hand around mine. I reluctantly let him pull his hand back a moment later as he stood to heat the kettle. As he moved about the kitchen pulling out the things for tea he kept his back to me. When he finally turned back to place everything on the table his face was a little red. When he spoke his voice was his usual steady baritone, “We should decide how we’re going to do this.”
Taking my tea I nodded. After we were done making our plans and Liam had left the table I stayed looking into my cup. It was late when he reappeared and draped a blanket around my shoulders, “it will all work out Ryn.”
After Liam moved back in with me it didn’t take long for the masks to start watching us more closely than ever before. They were everywhere, including a new intern in the office where I worked as an accountant. She was a newer hero and I didn’t know her real name. She went by Rachel the intern around the office but I knew her hero persona was called Verse. Knowing her hero name was vastly different than actually knowing what she was capable of and it worried that she was an unknown. Even Raven had been sent to my apartment to do extra visits. Sending an account summary to a client I let my mind wander back to the first visit since Liam had moved back in.
“I’ll do my best to figure out what the game is that the young heroes are playing, but I can’t promise anything. Do try to stick to the routines that you still have Ryn.” Raven gave me a wry smile before turning to Liam with a glare, “And you, what were you thinking putting her life at risk? You of all people should know that things aren’t always as they seem with the heroes.” He turned to leave my apartment, “Do try to stay safe, both of you.”
Liam locked the door behind Raven as he left, “that man loves you like a granddaughter you know.”
All I could do was nod and hope that I hadn’t made his life harder than it had to be. By all accounts Raven should have retired years ago. He didn’t go out on active cases and hadn’t in close to a decade. When asked about it he would say his reformees needed him. It was true. I did need him. As selfish as I knew that made me, I didn’t want anyone else handling my case. I’d have worried less if there was ever an end to the check ups, according to Raven and several news articles there had never been a reformed villain that hadn’t ended up committing another crime. Just me, it was almost as if they didn’t believe in their own system.
A soft cough snapped my attention back to the present. Rachel stood slightly behind my boss. Forcing myself to smile in what I hoped was a natural fashion, “Sorry about that James, I didn’t see you there. Got a little lost in thought, what can I do for you?”
“Don’t worry about it, it happens to the best of us. I assume you’ve met Rachel?” At my nod he continued, “She’s here to learn all that she can about what it takes to become an accountant. And you know just about everything there is to know about what we do here. I was thinking about assigning her to you.” He left it an open ended statement so that I could refuse if I really wanted.
I didn’t have any reason to say no as far as either of them knew. I doubted that the masks would put someone that they thought I knew about in an undercover position. It could of course be a test. But perhaps it was easier to keep her close to me and potentially learn more about what she could do. I smiled more, “Of course she can work with me. I’d love to show her the business.” looking at Rachel, “you’re about to learn where all the tricky accounts go when no one else wants them.”
“Oh good,” Rachel didn’t look thrilled about the prospect of actually learning about accounting.
James smoothly interrupted anything else that she might say, “I’ll have the janitor move one of the intern desks over. Rachel grab your things to bring her, I’m sure Ryn won’t mind you keeping it all in her office here.” He nodded at us both and strolled out.
I couldn’t help but laugh, my “office” as he’d described it was little better than a large cubicle set in a corner so that I had two real walls. Making a shooing gesture at Rachel, “go on and grab your things, they’ll be more secure in here than the intern locker that they assigned you.”
She didn’t take long and only carried a small purse. I showed her the bottom drawer of the filing cabinet and where I hid the key, “most of the people here are men and they don’t think of hiding purses in filing cabinets. Feel free to stash anything that doesn’t take up more than half the drawer. I’ll make sure to leave the key where you can find it when you need it.”
The woman across from me nodded. She had an almost imposing presence now that we were alone where before she had seemed like she was trying to blend into the background. When she spoke her voice was pleasant, “Thank you. I’m sure we’ll get along and that I’ll learn a lot from you.”
We both smiled at that. Each thinking our own thoughts about how to learn as much as possible without giving anything important away. Once her desk showed up I made a point of asking that she receive a proper office chair rather than one of the uncomfortable visitor chairs I had in front of my desk. When her new work area was set up to her satisfaction I gave her a few of the older accounts to familiarize herself with. It didn’t take long before she had a question, “why is this company writing lasers as tax deductible?”
Glancing over I looked at the file she had open, “ah, they’re a charitable foundation and not a company. They use laser cutters to make parts for collapsible portable shelters out of lightweight materials that they give out to the homeless communities in their area. I believe that they’re trying to set up another location soon.”
She shook her head in disbelief and kept reading through the files. In the time before she asked another question I was able to reply to most of the emails in my inbox, “does this company really do business with the city’s hero organization?”
“Yes.” I looked up to gauge her reaction to this information. She mostly seemed surprised that the information was in her hands. Pointing to a large binder on the shelf behind me, “I have the legal forms about that account in there. Knowing about the account doesn’t require any non disclosure forms to be signed, nor does any information in that folder. But anything else does. You’d have to be cleared by their representative before I could even show you the form.”
Rachel nodded carefully and went back to reviewing the rest of the files. We made it through the day without further questions. If she was actually an intern she would be in her last year of college or finished with it by now. She seemed to know her stuff so maybe she really was going to be an accountant when she wasn’t wearing a mask. I’d start asking personal questions over the next few days. Today was for her to get comfortable with some of the extra information that I was actually supposed to be teaching her about. Thinking about how close I was going to be to this hero was almost enough to make me run for the hills. The thought of leaving my comfortable life was enough to make me grit my teeth and deal with it.
Liam had moved back into my apartment a week ago, the very same night I’d asked him to. We’d settled into our old routines but now there was something else between us and it wasn’t as comfortable as before. We’d of course had the important conversations about the masked heroes that always watched me. Waiting for me to make a mistake and send me back to the prison made for those with powers. It had taken us several days before deciding what to do. When eventually we told Raven, the almost retired hero who usually acted as my parole officer, he was not thrilled. To be fair I’d gone against his very good advice of not getting involved with whatever was happening in the world of heroes. But in the long run there were no rules about not having a former hero or anyone else for that matter as a roommate. He had decided to help us as much as he could, but things were shifting in the hero’s power structure. There were, however, conversations that we weren’t having and silences that stretched on long enough to be uncomfortable. They felt like an ever widening chasm between us.
After the tenth or so time we caught ourselves both pretending to read in order to avoid conversation Liam put down his book and leaned forward, “we should probably talk before we forget how.”
“What do you mean? We talk,” even as I said it I could hear how unconvinced I sounded about my own statement. He simply looked at me with his piercing blue eyes without making a sound. I lasted a minute before, defeated, I got up to make tea. Not really sure how to start I glanced over at him, “Okay Liam, what are we not talking about?”
“All of the little things,” He leaned back but didn’t stop watching me, “Can’t say we’ve talked about anything other than what we’re going to do if the masks decide that they want to do something about this.”
“Was there something else we should be talking about?”
He seemed to flinch at the question and finally looked away. Liam was silent for a moment looking down at his hands. His voice was so low when he spoke that I almost didn’t hear it, “maybe about why you forgave me so quickly. Or why you wanted me to move back in… or how much I miss how it was… How much I’m afraid that...”
When he trailed off I placed a mug of hot tea in his hands and crouched in front of him, “I miss it too, but I don’t know how to go back to that. You left and it hurt. You came back because I asked and you felt guilty. I didn’t even think that maybe you didn’t want to come back.” I stood with a sad smile to get my own tea. The last thing he said I left unanswered, not really knowing what to say. Instead of sitting back in my chair I sat on the couch in the spot I had spent much of the winter in.
After several minutes Liam moved to join me on the couch. Maybe we could bridge this chasm after all. Watching him carefully over the edge of my mug I waited. Soon enough my patience paid off. Liam spoke without looking at me, “when you first found me I know you felt that you owed me something. But we lived together for months. I was comfortable and happy not thinking about it too much. But now after everything that has happened I’m afraid that you still think you owe me something. That you’re only doing this because of that,” he looked at me out of the corner of his eyes, “I don’t want to be here if you think you’re paying a debt.”
HIs words made me tense with an unfamiliar feeling. My first thought was that he would leave again. My second thought had mentally slapped the first and told me to calm down. It was the third thought that spoke after a deep breath, “what I owed you was a chance to live a life of your own choosing. As far as I’m concerned the scale is balanced.” I felt my face warm at the thought of my next sentence but I pushed ahead anyways, “I asked you to come back because I missed you.”
It was my turn to not look when he looked at me. Even when the silence started to stretch towards uncomfortable I refused to focus on anything that wasn’t my mug held tightly between my hands. Liam gave up on outwaiting me and gently leaned forward to wrap his hands around mine, they were large and warmer than I had imagined, “I missed you too Ryn.”
I took two hours to wash away the anger that had filled me when I’d seen Liam sitting in my apartment. Wiping a patch free on the mirror I took a deep breath and stared at my reflection. Weary gray eyes looked back at me. Another deep breath and a false smile I looked almost normal. Turning from the mirror I dressed in comfortable clothing before going to see what Liam had to say to me.
True to his word he was still waiting for me. It made me feel better to see that he didn’t look as comfortable as he used to sitting at my table. Keeping my breathing even to hold onto what little calmness I had I moved to the table and sat across from him. His blue eyes swept over me, almost like he was taking inventory, “You’re looking good Ryn.”
I only grunted in response, wishing I’d gotten something to drink. Something to hide behind if I didn’t like what he was saying. After it became clear I wasn’t going to be saying anything yet Liam continued unsure of his words, “The night I left… what you said about me being one of them. Before they... that… I had been planning on asking if I could continue to live here. With you…”
Gesturing I cut off his words, “Before I went and said the wrong thing and you chose to leave.” A deep breath to calm myself, “Liam, you’ve been ignoring me since you left in the middle of the night. I don’t even know if you have a safe place to sleep or if you’re living under a bridge. You made it abundantly clear that it isn’t any of my business when I tried to find out. And now, just when I’ve accepted that, here you are. Not to mention this note that you left? The one that said you’d be there for me? Or did you forget about that? Why now Liam? Why didn’t you just stay? Or stay away for that matter?” I threw the much read note at him as I started asking questions. My voice rose with each one. When I stopped I was standing and yelling across the table. My hurt was clear to see as I struggled to simply keep my breathing from becoming ragged. I had hoped that I didn’t care this much anymore. I had hoped that I could move past everything.
He rose and came around the table, instinctively I flinched away from him. As he noticed he stopped and held up his hands in a non threatening stance. I stilled and he took a large step to close the distance; surprised I was wrapped in his arms and too shocked to move. After what seemed like minutes but was only mere pounding heartbeats he pressed his face into my hair. Still holding me against him he whispered almost to softly to hear, “Ryn, I’m sorry. I wanted to stay, but I saw the masks. If you’re willing to listen, I'll tell you why I couldn’t stay. After I’ll answer all of your questions,” he released me and stepped back, arms at his sides. Pausing only to wait for my small nod of agreement he moved about the kitchen to make tea, “This won’t be a short conversation, you’ll need something to drink. For that matter so will I.”
As I watched him my mind brought up memories of the winter where we would sit on the couch with books and a pot of tea between us on the table. The memory was accompanied by a small smile and a sense of sadness. The kettle’s whistle brought me back from the past. Once the tea was poured and everything needed was on the table he sat back down and motioned for me to do the same. Slowly I sat, wondering where this was going. A cup was slid across the table to me. It wasn’t until I took the first cautious sip that he started talking.
“Before we start I’m sorry, you can yell at me all you want at the end of this. That night, it didn’t go how I’d planned. I’d originally been planning to offer you rent for the room, so that I could stay and feel like I wasn’t mooching off of you. Honestly I’d gotten comfortable here, with your routines and the cats. I picked up the ice cream after my shift so that we could have something to talk over. I was confronted by a few Masks before I made it back here. They knew who I was. What they wanted to know was if I knew who you were. Which I lied about. They warned me about you; that you had a vendetta against me. Part of me wanted to believe that you were going to get revenge, it was more familiar ground for me. And I’m ashamed to admit that it fit in with the narrative that I had when you first brought me here. It made everything you’d done seem like a plot to lull me into a false sense of security. I’m more ashamed that I gave into that narrative. Only for a few hours… But giving any thought to it was unfair to you.
“So I looked for any excuse to leave that night. When you called me a mask I found it. Small and unintentional though it was. With my head so wrapped up in false stories I would have found something else if I had to. I was gone before I realized that I’d been played a fool by the masks that had stopped me. They want you alone and withdrawn from the world. I pushed you away hoping that they would leave you alone if they thought I’d forsaken you. It seemed like the only way to make it up to you. Then you had to go and start stopping at the store on your run and drop off a note warning me.” Here he paused for a sip of tea, “Honestly Ryn, you should look after yourself better.”
“I’ve been doing just fine thank you. The running has been helping,” my tone was a little more indignant than I would have liked. “So what about the note? Why did you put that in there if you were going to try to drive me away?”
“I’d forgotten the note was in there, it was written before I decided I wanted to stay here. Before I screwed that up.” He had the decency to look ashamed, “I”m sorry I thought that of you Ryn, I know it was all lies now. I’ll answer anything you ask. And then I’ll go.”
Glaring at him I didn’t know what to ask. Everything I’d thought in the last several months all threatened to overwhelm me. But even after everything there was only one thing that I really wanted to know, “Where do we go from here?”
Liam’s eyes flickered with a light I couldn’t recognize, “that depends on you. I would...” He trailed off, the light in his eyes fading as fast as it had appeared. His gaze was focused on his tea as I waited for him to speak again. My patience was paid off when he let out a breath I hadn’t noticed him holding, “I would do anything you asked of me. If only for your forgiveness. Staying here was the first good thing to happen to me in a very long time.” He trailed off again. This time I let him.
“You don’t have to do anything, I forgive you.” I smiled as he looked up, clearly shocked. “I can’t say I would have done anything differently if I was in your place.”
“Just like that?”
I nodded slightly, “Just like that. One more question though... Was your plan really to come here, tell me everything that you could have told me months ago, and leave again?”
“It really was,” He shrugged, “I wasn’t really expecting to be forgiven.”
A small smile tugged at the corner of my lips, “So it’s safe to say I’ve already destroyed your plan?” I paused only long enough for him to nod in agreement, “in that case I have one, maybe a few more questions for you.” When he didn’t move to stop me I continued cautiously, “Where have you been living?”
“The owner of the convenience store has a spare room above the shop, she let me stay there for cheap.” He swirled the dregs of his tea, not looking up, “if she didn’t have it I would have been back on the street.”
Taking a deep breath I closed my eyes for a moment. The next words I spoke were on the edge of hearing, “come back home.”
It had been just over a week since Liam had moved out of my apartment. Neither myself or the cats had adjusted to his absence. My time away from work was now spent avoiding the convenience store where he still held a job and comforting screaming cats looking for their large friend. In short it was hell.
The situation was my own fault. I knew that he didn’t like to be reminded that he had once been one of the greatest heros in the city. That his old name and title reminded him just how far he had fallen. Hero to homeless. All because he had chosen to have mercy on one last villain. On me. It had taken me painful weeks to stop calling him the Azure Torch out of habit. The smile he had given me when I finally re-trained myself had been worth the trouble. Now all I could think of was if he had found somewhere to live or if he was living on the streets again.
Another five days would pass before I worked up the courage to visit him at his job. My plan hadn’t been to come in. I’d been taking a walk when my feet decided to enter the store before my brain caught up to what was happening. I ended up standing at the freezer so that I could come up with a reason that I was here. After what seemed like an eternity I opened the door and pulled out my favorite icecream. When I got to the counter I was surprised to find the owner standing behind it waiting for me: she looked angry at me.
I slid the icecream to her with a polite smile, “just this please.”
She didn’t spit at me as she rang up the purchase, but it seemed like she wanted to, “He deserves better than you. Someone who doesn’t think too much of themself.”
I was speechless as she pushed the bag at me. Not knowing what to say I fled back to my apartment. The icecream bag and all was thrown in the freezer past the last carton that Liam had brought home. The same one he served us both from the day I gave him a reason to leave.
Turning I looked around the apartment, if I looked too closely there were signs that someone else had been living here. An extra blanket on a chair, a book I hadn’t been reading laying on the coffee table, and the stray sock that Liam had missed when he packed his belongings in the middle of the night. The door to his room was still cracked open, I’d assumed he’d left it that way for the cats and hadn’t gone in. I hadn’t been able to stop thinking of it as off limits yet. Eventually I’d have to go in and change the bedding and make it my own space again.
The next day I changed my work commute so that I could walk past the convenience store. Some days I saw him but I didn’t go in again. I didn’t know what to say to him.
It was three weeks later when I almost walked into Liam as I was looking through the window trying to spot him. He was carrying his uniform shirt in his hand. If I had to guess he’d just finished his shift. We both stood there without speaking for a moment until someone shoved between us from inside the store. Jumping back I took stock of my surroundings, we’d been standing in front of the narrow door. Liam glanced at me and started to turn away.
“Liam, wait…” the words slipped out before I could figure out what I was going to say next. He paused, giving me a chance to speak. Breathing deep, “I’m so sorry for what I said.”
“Forget it,” He didn’t turn around or look at me again, “next you’ll tell me you didn’t mean it. And I don’t really want to hear it Ryn.”
“I didn’t mean to say it that way… but I did mean to say you were worth the trouble.” I sighed, “Looks like you have somewhere to be, Goodbye Liam.”
He shook his head as he walked away without saying anything. This time I let him go. I’d start taking my old route to work again tomorrow. It would be better for both of us.
When I got home I pushed open the door to the spare bedroom. Soot was wrapped in what I recognized as one of Liam’s old shirts. Leaving him and the shirt alone I tidied up the room. The bedding would get changed when Soot left the bed, right this moment I didn’t have the heart to move him. Checking the drawer I noticed a familiar envelope. He’d left the ‘rent’ money he had tried to give me before. Opening the envelope I noticed a small slip of folded paper tucked inside. Pulling it out with a shaking hand I sat on the edge of the bed. Carefully unfolding the paper I scanned the note before me;
Ryn,
I don’t have the words to thank you for giving me a home again. You arrived in my life when I needed you most. Even though I don’t feel that I can stay in your apartment any longer I will always be here for you.
Liam
Defeated I flopped backwards, almost squashing soot who looked at me reproachfully. I waved the note at him like he would understand where I didn’t. What had changed? After an hour of self pity and petting Soot I resumed cleaning up the room. I packed the few forgotten items in a small box along with the envelope of money. The shirt remained under Soot and I didn’t care enough to take it from him. I put the box on the table next to the door and forgot about it for several weeks.
As the weather began to warm I started to settle back into my old routines. One night while I was reading after dinner a light knock came on my door. Getting up slowly I thought back trying to remember if I was due to be visited from the masks anytime soon. Looking through the peephole, I discovered that I was indeed due a visit. Standing on the other side of my door was The Pencil. She could draw solid lines through the air and trap unsuspecting villains in corners that didn’t exist a moment ago. Sighing softly I opened the door, “Evening Pen, is everything in order?”
She brushed past me. Technically I didn’t have the right to say no to any of the masks. Which is what I get for having been a villain. She turned and smiled brightly, “we heard you had a house guest for the winter Hand.”
Wincing as she used part of my old name, “I did, he left. Just a bum I didn’t want freezing on the sidewalk.”
“As if we’d believe that the Unseen Hand would take a bum in out of charity? Please, we’re all smarter than that.” She smirked at me, knowing full well that I hated my old name, “So who was it? An old friend? A Co-worker maybe?”
“Just a bum, he left when the weather got nicer.” I looked at her levely, “I go by Ryn now, the Unseen Hand is gone. Rehabilitated into a contributing member of society.”
“Just know that we’ll be watching,” She opened my door, “You’re only not back in prison for your type because you’ve been so good up until now.”
She even slammed the door behind her. As soon as I heard her leave the hallway I started shaking. Was this what had changed Liam’s mind? I needed to let him know that something was going on. Not that I actually knew what that was. The Masks were going to be watching me. I needed a plan. The only place I knew that Liam visited was the store that he worked at. Since I hadn’t gone in weeks I couldn’t start going out of the blue. My shaking slowed as I formed my plan. I’d start jogging since the weather was nice enough now. Every day I would expand my route until I was going by the store daily. After another week or so I’d have to figure out how to get Liam’s attention.
The next day I bought jogging shoes and started my new exercise routine. It was absolutely terrible. My expansion plan was slower than I would have liked as I had to wait for my stamina to allow me to go further. As it was stopping in the store occasionally for a drink became routine. The owner continued to glare at me as she made snide comments. Liam was worse, he didn’t speak at all and focused somewhere over the top of my head. It made me wonder why I was risking myself with this half assed plan to tell him something he probably already knew. Whenever I had doubts I remembered how comfortable it had been living together.
I wrote a short note summarizing what I knew, which wasn’t much, and slipped it into my pocket before my run after a week and a half of stopping at the store. It stayed in my pocket for three more days until I was alone at the counter with Liam. Carefully I wrapped it in my money and slid it across to him. As I took my drink I tried and failed to catch his eye, “keep the change for the next guy.”
After that I started carrying my own drinks, it would save me money anyways. On the days I forgot a drink I stopped at the store. I stopped trying to catch Liam’s eye and let my own thoughts take over more and more. The abuse the owner spat at me rolled off of my unhearing shoulders. Occasionally I would catch a glimpse of one of the masked heroes that didn’t normally patrol this part of the city. I kept to my routines that had kept me safe in the past and pretended not to see the masks.
It was summer before another mask visited my apartment. This time it was on my day off and they knocked before I could leave on my now daily run. Looking through the peephole, I was relieved to see that it was the hero that normally checked up on me instead of the pencil. Opening the door I gave the man a genuine smile, “Raven, how have you been?”
“Caught up with paperwork, but otherwise fine. How have you been Ryn?” The older man smiled in return.
With a sigh I shrugged, “bit of an odd story, tea?” when he nodded I gestured towards the table and set about the kitchen to get a pot of tea ready as I spoke, “I took in a homeless man this winter. I tripped over him and it was so cold that day… He left when the weather got better. I don’t know where he’s living now. The Pencil came to see me last time, she was digging for information about the man. But I don’t really know much. Is there something that I should know Raven? I like the life I have.”
He took the tea cup that I offered and poured himself a cup, “The younger heroes have been keeping me out of the loop lately Ryn. You know I can’t tell you anything more than that. I’ll keep your life as safe as I can. I know you mean well with your actions.”
After that we fell into small talk about the weather and pets. When the tea was finished Raven stood to leave, “be careful Ryn, I don’t know what’s going on but I doubt it’s something you want to be in the middle of. Stick to your routines.”
With a smile I reassured him, “I don’t think we have to worry about me being in the middle of anything. I don’t know where my house guest went when he left, not much I can do for the heroes.”
Heeding Raven’s advise I stuck to my routine and went for a run. In an effort to clear my thoughts I stayed out longer than usual. When I got back to my apartment the door was unlocked. Knowing that I’d locked it behind me I cautiously crept in. No cats ran to greet me but I heard a low voice and the crunching of cat food. Looking into my kitchen I saw Liam sitting at the table holding Soot. The keys in my hand fell to the floor loudly. Several cats gave me a dirty look but none left the food bowls. Liam looked up and smiled. My traitor mouth smiled back before I managed a frown. The reaction made me angry.
“I think I owe you an explanation.”
“You don’t think you could have given me one when you left in the middle of the night?” I was failing to keep calm. “There’s a box of your things by the door. I’m taking a shower, if you still want to talk after that I’ll consider not kicking you out.” With that I walked back towards my bedroom. I did need a shower, I stunk.
His voice followed me down the hall, “Ryn, I’ll be here. Take your time.”
It’s been awhile since I posted the first part so please read that first if you haven’t.
It had been a few months since the former hero unofficially moved into my apartment and spring was starting to show its first signs. After the first night Liam, formally the Azure Torch, tried to leave without more than a quick thank-you note on my counter. I’d woken to the sound of my front door rattling. Thinking I had an intruder I trapped him with my powers before I realized what was happening. After a very awkward conversation about secret locks, power misuse, and apologizing Liam agreed to spend the winter in my spare room rather than returning to his homeless lifestyle. We had settled into a routine of sorts that largely revolved around getting to know each other and learning to live with another person. My cats had indeed adjusted to Liam’s presence; well mostly, some had taken to him better than others.
I’d given Liam a set of keys and spending money so that he could leave the apartment to make purchases that he needed fairly early into our current arrangement. He’d bought a set of okayish cloths and started looking for a job the first chance he got. Without references he had some problems, but eventually a small convenience store around the corner hired him. I wasn’t sure if it was out of desperation on their part or the desire to have him stop applying that got him the job, but he made the most of it. As soon as he received his first check he paid me back the money I’d left for clothing despite my protests. Rather than saving anything Liam had taken to buying groceries for the both of us.
PIcking up my favorite take out I let my mind wander for the rest of the walk home. Now that spring was around the corner there was an uneasy feeling in the apartment. It was almost as if we were still locked in battle behind our masks. In a way we were, they were just a different kind of mask while the battle was more abstract and complicated. Some days I felt that I would end up going home to an apartment only filled with cats; And the worst part was that I didn’t know how to feel about it. Fate had played an odd joke on me when I tripped over Liam.
Opening the door I was greeted by my cats and Liam. The Latter of the bunch smiled sheepishly at me wearing only a towel and a small black cat on his head, “I thought I’d have a few more minutes before you got home. I was trying to get Soot off of me. He ambushed me in the shower again.”
I shooed the rest of the cats into the apartment before closing the door and placing the take out bags on the table. I glared at the tiny cat for a moment before moving to detangle him from Liams black curls, “Honestly I think he likes the water because he just climbs under the curtain rather than up it when I’m in there. The vantage point from the top of your head seems to be a bonus he’s growing fond of.” Stepping back holding the dripping cat I pointedly kept my eyes on Liam’s, “You could always just shut the door to the bathroom.”
Liam quickly retreated back to his room; when had I stopped thinking of it as my spare room? His rumbling baritone floated down the hall, “It seems wrong to stop them from using the space for that long.”
I nodded to myself silently as I took out plates and silverware. Briefly considering the plates in my hands I put them back, doing extra dishes seemed absurd. Liam took only a moment to throw on worn but clean clothing before joining me at the dining table. Taking his container he didn’t mention the lack of plates. I’d miss this kind of thing when he inevitably left.
We ate in silence, it was an odd mix of newfound comfort and unspoken thoughts. It was one word short of awkward. Thankfully neither of us chose to say anything. After we cleaned up the trash and silverware Liam pulled out bowls and spoons along with my favorite ice cream. He placed it all on the table and gestured for me to sit. Oddly he waited for me to sit before he sat himself. My flight reflex was starting to itch as I tried to wait calmly while he figured out what he wanted to say.
Sliding a bowl of ice cream across the table towards me Liam’s blue eyes watched me carefully. I thought back to several months ago when those same eyes watched me with distrust. Now I couldn’t quite place what I saw there; worry or hope or fear, something I wasn’t used to, something I wasn't sure I wanted to see. Rather than focus on it I started to eat my ice cream. When I was about half way through he slid an envelope across the table.
I carefully set down my spoon and took the envelope. Looking at him quickly his face gave away nothing as I opened it. Inside were crisp bills, obviously from his paychecks. Dropping the envelope I shook my head, “I can’t take this. You need the money more than I do. Besides that you don’t owe me anything, the life I have is thanks to you...”
He cut me off with a wave of his hand, “You provided me with the same chance. Admittedly I skipped the masked villian reform treatment… but the point stands. Giving me a chance to get back on my feet was payment enough. The least I can do now is pay you rent in thanks for the room while I needed it.”
“While you needed it? Are you leaving?” This is not what I had expected tonight. He was going to leave now that I’d gotten used to him being here. My thoughts raced uncontrollably, unexpected panic rose. Taking deep breaths I stood too quickly. Going to the sink I sought to mask my reaction. It wasn’t as if I didn’t know this day would come. As I tried to calm my breathing I filled a glass of water.
Liam seemed hesitant to speak, as though he knew he had no good answer to the question. I could hear his spoon in his bowl as he ate behind me. A small head butted my ankle and I looked down. One of my cats looked up and meowed loudly before stalking off to the food area tail high. I glanced at the bowls, empty of course and moved into auto-pilot as I fed the waiting cats. The familiar tasked calmed me and I sat again to finish my ice cream. It remained unmelted.
I looked up to see Liam’s smirk, “What like you really wanted perfectly good ice cream go to waste.”
I laughed, I couldn’t help it, “No, that would be a tragedy.” looking down my voice dropped to a whisper, "as it would be if you left."
There was no response for several minutes and I refused to look up at him. Finally he sighed, “I will never thank you enough for giving me a place to stay for the winter. But I can’t imagine having a washed up bum hanging around is a lot of fun. Eventually one of the masks that checks on you will figure out who I was, that will draw more attention.” He paused, “I’m not worth the trouble Ryn.”
"That's not true," I forced myself to look up, "you out of all the masks…"
The look in his eyes told me that was the wrong thing to say but the words had been said. There was no going back from this. He stood and left me sitting there with my regret.
I found this prompt of pinterest but couldn’t figure out how to tag it.
“She added a charm to her bracelet for every life that she took.”
Her wrists and ankles jingled as she walked down the street. Her heels clicked in time to her steps. Her beauty drew stares as she passed man and woman alike. She reveled in the attention that came her way. She laughed at how little they knew.
Climbing the stairs to her flat she ran through a mental checklist; candles, new chalk, extra salt, silver, fresh hazel branch, willing volunteer. She had them all. With an almost hidden smile she put her key in the door. The feyling was lounging on her couch where she had left him. Her smile grew wider as she carefully put down her bag, “I’m back. Let me change and I’ll help you get ready.”
The feyling nodded in an almost disorientated way. He closed his eyes as he waited, consolidating his energy for what would come next. When he spoke it was almost inaudible, “I can wait.”
It didn’t take long before she came back and in her working clothes. Her wrists and ankles still jingled as she walked but this time she wore no shoes and her feet padded silently over the floor. She wore her hair unbound as was required by the magics she would soon be invoking, “This is your last chance to change your mind. Once it is done there is no going back.”
“My alternative is much worse… No one wants to just fade away.” The feyling shrugged expressly, “and this way maybe I can do some good.”
“I just had to make sure that this is what you wanted.” She helped him up from the couch and led him to her work room. After helping him to sit in the center of the open floor she retrieved her bags from next to the door. She drew a large casting circle around the feyling with the chalk. Connected to it she drew a smaller circle around a bunsen burner and a crucible that sat in front of the feyling. She drew a larger circle around everything before she trickling salt over it. Placing the candles at five points just inside the outer circle she let them all with the word. Into the crucible she placed the silver, a handful of salt, and the hazel leaves. Lighting the bunsen burner she started to shape the rest of the branch into a blade. Her voice rose and fell in a soft chant.
The Feyling slowly added his own voice to the chant, unsteady at first but more confident as he continued. It took some time for the silver to melt and the impurities to burn out. The salt and Hazel helped to speed up the process but it still took a great amount of time.
By the time the silver had melted the sword was fully formed in her hands. She looked up to meet the feyling’s eyes one last time. Rising she took her sword in one hand and the crucible in the other. It’s heat not blistering her hand through force of will alone. She walked slowly to the feyling, careful to not smudge her chalked lines. With sadness in her eyes she drove the sword through his ribcage and parallel to his spine. Her hands were steady as she poured the silver over the end of the sword and into his wound.
The feyling grinned through gritted teeth as he spoke his name into the final words of the spell. The magic released as the sword caught fire and the feyling faded.
She allowed herself to cry as the wood burned. When the ashes cooled she gently blew on them. A small silver charm lay in the center of the pile in the shape of his name. With tears drying on her face she carefully added it to the bracelet on her left wrist. Power crackled briefly before subduing. Breaking the circle she left her workroom for tomorrow. Her wrists and ankles jingled as she walked.
There’s a painting of a beautiful landscape that has hung in your house for as long as you can remember. One day while you’re home alone, a figure appears in the picture, looking a little lost and confused.
It was late when I walked by the painting. Or maybe early. I suppose it depends on which side you’re approaching 3am from. For me I was still up; I’d been playing my favorite MMO and had lost track of time. With no one else home to remind me of the time I’d gotten more engrossed than I should have. My bladder eventually pulled me back to reality.
Back to the painting. I’d walked by it everyday for my entire life. As far as I knew it had been there when my parents purchased the house as newly weds. They liked the serene landscape and kept it, sort of as a reminder of what they wanted for their golden years or something like that. Never before had I noticed a figure in the painting. But my bladder was screaming at me so I didn’t think too hard on it.
The strangeness of the figure in the painting struck me as I was drying my hands. I turned on all of the lights in the hall and stood in front of it. Yup, there was a figure between some of the trees. But it had been closer to the rocks when I’d passed it before. As I watched the figure looked around and pulled a map out of its pocket. Turning the map over a few times the figure scratched its head. Whoever it was they were clearly lost. The more I watched the more certain I was that all I needed to do was call out to them.
“Over here.” It came out before I could think to stop myself. This is what I get for staying up so late when no one is home was my first thought as they turned towards me. They moved through the trees and across the field, getting bigger and bigger. I couldn’t move or look away. No one was ever going to believe this. Suddenly there they were! I could tell now that it was a girl about my age. She looked like part of the painting, the same colors and textures covered her. And when she spoke I think I just about died…
“Oh my gosh! Thank you, I’ve been wandering for ages. Where am I?” Her voice was light and melodic. I could have listened to it forever. If you’re thinking I’m an adolescent boy with a sudden crush you’d be correct.
The stupidest answer I could have given poured out of my lips, “you’re in a painting…”
There it was, the look that told me she thought I was a dunce, “Well yes, but where is the painting?”
Again, hormones strangled my brain stem and idiocy flowed out, “in the hallway…”
This time she rolled her eyes, “What country are you in?”
I was never going to recover from this. It took me far too long to answer, “Umm… The states?”
“You don’t know? How old are you? I thought you’d be at least fourteen…” Yup it had gotten worse. Now she seemed to think I was a child. She tried to peer around the frame of the painting as if looking for someone who could actually answer her questions.
Clearing my throat I moved to stand in her view, “I’m sixteen. And yeah we’re in the states, where were you trying to go?”
She turned to look the other way, “I want to get to New Hampshire.. This painting fits the bill but that doesn’t mean that’s where it is located.”
I nodded, desperate to make it seem like I understood what was going on. “You’re close. Just over the river and into Maine actually. Why are you in the painting?”
She finally smiled at me, “I climbed into one in my living room. Finally I’ve managed to find my way close enough. Stand back.”
I moved out of the way down the hall a bit further than I probably needed to. The girl stepped back several paces to get a running start before somersaulting out of the frame. There was no doubt in my mind that I’d fallen asleep at the computer and this was all a dream. She even landed in a pose that would put an olympian to shame. Before me stood a girl who looked to be my age. Her hair took on an auburn tone now that it wasn't made of paint. She was wearing a bright yellow windbreaker that had been blending in with the painting. I pinched my arm in the attempt to wake myself; it hurt but didn’t change what was in front of me. Rubbing my arm I stood there grinning like an idiot.
She looked around the hall and headed towards the window at the end, “so… Which way is the river you mentioned?” Before I could answer she was opening the window. The frigid January air drained the heat from the house.
“Close the window! Are you nuts?” I shouldered her aside and slammed the window shut before heading downstairs to throw more logs into the stove. “Its well below freezing tonight. You aren’t dressed for the weather.”
I heard her shoes on the wooden floor as she followed me, “So what am I supposed to do?”
“Sleep on the couch? Or in the guest bedroom? I don’t know. Why are you trying to get to New Hampshire?” I was trying hard not to sound annoyed. But now I was freezing since I was walking around with bare feet. Standing by the stove helped, but it was just coals and not throwing out much heat. I opened the door and tossed in several logs before closing it back up and nudging the flue open slightly.
She had her arms crossed when I turned back to her, “My dad lives there… In.. Conway… I think…” her voice was still musical but somewhat deflated, “That’s where his last letter came from.”
“Well this is the wrong part of Maine if you want to get to Conway quickly.” I kept my voice even, it was easier now that I was warming up. I gestured to the couch, “I can get you some spare pajamas if you want, it’s warmest next to the stove here on the couch. I’ll drive you to Conway in the morning… I’m Josh by the way.”
Sitting on the couch she nodded, “I’ll take you up on that offer… I’m Emma.”
It didn’t take me long to get her some spare bed clothes and a few blankets but she was already asleep when I came back. I spread the blankets over her and went back to my room, leaving the pajamas on a chair. No one was going to believe this.
You, a reformed villain, find the hero that brought you to justice homeless, alone, poor and begging. You decide to help them.
It had been a long day at the office. All I was looking forward to was getting home and curling up with a book and my cats. Not wanting to cook I took a short detour to my take out of choice. I was on autopilot when I all but tripped over the bum outside of the door. As I watched him pick up the change cup I’d knocked out of his hand it took a moment for me to place the dirty face with that of the bright hero I’d once known. I almost dropped my dinner, “Azure Torch?”
Piercing blue eyes glanced up without meeting my gaze, “no ma’am. Just Liam…” His voice was tired, almost raspy, such a far cry from it’s previous rich baritone. It was clear he didn’t recognize me now. How long had he been like this? He’d once been the primary hero of the city; beloved by all citizens. He’d brought so many awful people to justice. Myself included. But I had reformed. Enough that no heros kept eyes on me more than paperwork demanded.
It had been a long day and I almost walked away. But I owed him something.
“Well Az… Liam.. I don’t have any spare change…” I hesitated, wanting to run. Pressing forward my words stumbled out, “I do however have extra food.. and a couch… It’s supposed to drop below freezing tonight… and… Why don’t you come with me?”
Those eyes glanced back up and this time met mine, “Why?” The simple question almost sent me running, as any interaction with him would have once.
I was trapped by his gaze and I froze for a moment. He didn’t seem to notice. Shaking myself, “I suppose I owe you. Please, let me do this small thing for you.”
When he nodded and looked away from me I almost sagged with relief. He stood, and though his shoulders stooped slightly he still towered over me. Without a further word he followed me. It wasn’t a far walk but it seemed like miles as we went in uncomfortable silence.
It had been a long day and now my dinner was probably going to be cold by the time I got to eat.
As I unlocked my door he raised an eyebrow at how many locks I had. He failed to notice the two extra clicks as I unlocked two with my mind. I shrugged at him and smiled slightly, “I enjoy my privacy. It was hard enough to get it back after…” I left my words hanging in the air, he should know what I was talking about after all.
Three purring cats attacked our ankles with head butts as soon as we made it through the door. The rest must be hiding somewhere in my apartment and not all that happy I’d brought home a stranger. The eyebrow about all the cats was somehow worse than the one about my locks. He shrugged when I didn’t answer and looked around, “would you mind if I used your shower? I don’t think you want your apartment to smell like a bum.”
“Sure, third door on the right.” I pointed down my hall. “I’ll heat up dinner while you shower. Towels are in the closet.”
It took him longer than I’d thought it would, or maybe it was just that he’d been without a shower for longer than I’d guessed. The other cats filtered out of hiding as I filled their food bowls. Liam came out of the bathroom as I bent to greet them all. He was the bare minimum of clothing and looked sheepish, “Do you have a washer? These were the least smelly clothing I had left..”
Rising I smiled slightly, “of course. Let me get you a basket to toss everything in. I’ll run the load while you start eating.” When he came back out of the bathroom I traded a full plate for the basket of near rancid laundry. Checking the tags I threw everything in hot water and heavy duty. I’d probably run it all twice just to be sure. Washing my hands I filled a plate of my own and joined him at my rarely used dining table. The cats didn’t like the change in routine; they’d get over it.
Dinner was tense as neither of us really knew what to say. He hadn’t put the pieces together yet. But then last he’d seen me I was a costumed villain and he a just as costumed hero. That was more than two years ago. Now I wore a business skirt and heels and he wore other peoples’ cast offs. Finally he broke the silence. His voice was just as tired as it had been on the street, “you know who I was so why can’t I place your face?”
“Because you never saw it... What happened to you?” I couldn’t help but ask. The question had been dancing around my mind since I’d first stumbled over him.
His shoulders stiffened as he realized what I must be. That I must be someone he brought into the authorities. Unlike other heros he never unmasked those he brought in. He had always left the chance that we could lead normal lives if we reformed. Finally he slumped, defeated. His gaze stayed on his empty plate as he answered my question, “I fell out of favor. Everyone felt I was too kind to the villians I took down. Support dried up and so did my finances,” he waved his hand in a helpless motion, “I didn’t pander to the cameras, didn’t think that would matter.” Here he let out a bitter laugh before he raised his head and again pierced me with his blue eyes; this time in a glare. His voice was dark, threatening, “So villain, what will you do to me now that you have me?”
My throat closed up with fear and I struggled to keep calm. A few slow breaths later and I found my center again. I didn’t have an answer yet so I got up and went to my freezer; it was a stall tactic and we both knew it. I took my time getting out the tub of icecream I kept in the back of my freezer for bad days. Scooping out two large bowls I put the tub back in, close to the front this time. Another deep breath and I turned, he hadn’t moved. Sliding a bowl towards him I nabbed a couple of spoons from the drawer. As I handed him one I finally had an answer, “You should have a life. Maybe not the one you once had… but a life. Whether you believe it or not you saved me when you caught me… when you didn’t unmask me for the cameras. So what will I do to you? Nothing that will harm you.”
“I don’t believe you.” Still he didn’t move.
What could I say to that? I wouldn’t trust him if I were in his shoes. I shrugged and ate my ice cream, no point in letting it melt. The washer buzzed before the silence was broken. Excusing myself I ran the load through again without even bothering to check it. When I came back he was still glaring. Taking my empty bowl from the table I glanced at his, it remained unmelted. Unable to help myself I chuckled, “you can’t trust me long enough to eat your ice cream but you’re willing to use your powers to keep it from melting while you glare at me?”
He sighed and finally stopped glaring at me, “for all I know you poisoned it.”
“And ruin perfectly good ice cream? Please. I’ve reformed into a crazy cat lady, I wouldn’t risk doing something that would hurt them.” I shot back at him without looking up from the sink. It was several minutes before I finally heard the clink of his spoon against his bowl. Apparently the cat lady argument was a good one, I’d have to remember that. When I finished I turned back to him and leaned against the sink, “you’re welcome to stay here as long as you want. I have plenty of room and the cats will adjust.”
The Azure Torch stood and brought the bowl to me. Standing toe to toe I was forced to look up to meet his eyes. He studied me, clearly still unable to figure out who I was. Finally he gave up, “I need to know who you are before I agree to anything other than waiting for my laundry.”
I nodded, “I’m Ryn. But if you meant who I was when I wore a mask and robbed banks I was the Unseen Hand. Terrible name but I didn’t choose it.”
“You used your mental abilities to scare people into giving you what you needed.” His eyes went wide now that he could place me to a mask, “you never hurt anyone until your last heist… just stole a lot of riches.”
“If it makes you feel better I sent him flowers and he made a full recovery.” I wished I could step back away from him, “You caught up with me before I could make an escape. I was so shaken from having hurt that man…”
The Torch stepped back, “you put a tourniquet on his wound and saved his life. That’s why I didn’t unmask you. I’d already seen the way the wind was blowing for me…” He shook his head, “helping you is what eventually put me on the streets.”
It had been a long day. All my willpower to keep going left me and I sat on the floor of my kitchen.
Everything became overwhelming all at once and I almost wept sitting on the floor. I lost track of time as I tried to order my thoughts. The man who had given me a chance had done so at the cost of his own livelihood. He had done so knowing full well that the media would shun him and his star would fall out of the public eye.
To his credit Liam stayed silent. He followed the washer’s buzzer when it eventually went off but didn’t come back. A fuzzy head pushing into my hands for attention brought me back to the present. Scooping up the cat I stood and went to find Liam. He was still in my laundry room, more of a closet really. I coughed softly to get his attention, “I’m sorry.. Azur.. Liam.. I didn’t know.”
“How would you have known? Don’t worry about it, I wouldn’t change it. I’d like to take up your offer of a couch. If that’s still okay,” He gestured at the dryer running behind him, “It’s going to be awhile before my laundry is finished.”
I smiled in relief, “of course.. I actually have a spare room. Figured couch sounded less creepy when I offered it.”
When he nodded the long day seemed almost worth it. I doubted I’d be curling up with my book tonight but at least I was doing something good. Tomorrow the actual work would begin. But for tonight I had the man who caught me sleeping in my spare room.
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He nodded slowly taking in my words, “I see…” he sounded almost defeated as he spoke; some of his anger leaked away into the rapidly cooling air. Not all of it however, there was still plenty to make his next question a sharp knife that thrust into what was left of my heart. “Why didn't you just leave me alone? You could have left me alone. I would have been better off without having met you.”
He was right. It hurt to hear. That would fade soon if I kept the mask off. Emotions were for the living. I should wait to answer emotions would get in the way with this. I should wait. I answer him without waiting, “if you call dead better off than you'd be correct. I couldn't let you die… not when…” the words froze in my throat. They had to be forced out; they were rushed and harsh sounding, “when I loved you so much before I drowned.”
He recoiled from me. It looked as though he would turn and run. I wouldn't have blamed him. Instead he took a step closer to me. His breath steamed in the icy air around me as he studied me closer, “put the mask back on. I need to see your eyes again.”
The corner of my ruined lips quirked up in a sad parody of a smile. He'd been the one to make me take it off in the first place. I slowly placed the cold porcelain back to my face. I closed my eyes as warmth flowed back into me. Slowly I opened my eyes and raised a hand to assure myself that the magic had worked. My hand glowed a healthy and life like pink. I looked beyond my fingertips and he was still close; studying me closer than before.
“Take your mask off when you speak to me.” His voice was harsh and I could tell he wasn’t ready to hear what I had to say. This was him letting his anger take control. He was asking for more than he knew.
As I turned I slowly removed the mask I always wore. It slowly peeled away from my face reluctant to come off. The mask that had been on so long that it felt more like a second skin than anything else. The tepid air on my face felt cold, or perhaps my visage was already starting to cool the air.
He flinched away from the darkness that had been hidden by the porcelain mask. The temperature dropped but this time it wasn’t me. My heart twisted inside of my chest. I couldn’t remember the last time It had made its presence known. When he looked back his eyes were already detached from seeing me as the one he had loved so deeply. That hurt more than the flinch had. He took his time to study me. As the magics of the mask started to slip my skin changed to the deep blue of winter lakes. My already dark hair to midnight black. His gaze continued to creep back to my eyes, they had shown green behind the mask. Now they were dark pits in my skull. I knew that I looked like what I was, a drowned corpse.
It felt as though an eternity passed before he spoke, “what sort horrible thing are you?”
The words hurt but I knew he was owed an answer, “I’m a drowned woman, brought back to life though some very suspect magic.” I wiggled the mask just enough to draw attention to it. “The why and how have always eluded me.”
