Epilogue

EPILOGUE

Arthur walked to the end of the break room, turned around, and walked back. His nervous pacing had gone on long enough, and I shifted uneasily in my chair. The humor at the table had vanished the moment we saw his face. His brow scrunched, creating deep lines across his forehead. He ran his hand back and forth along his neck as if he were giving himself a massage. I couldn’t tell if the first word out of his mouth would be anger, concern, or a signature long sigh.

“So…”

Nobody made a move to crack a joke. Orion’s eyes weren’t glowing blue. Instead, they followed Arthur’s nervous twitching. Even Drew’s usual optimism hid beneath a straight face. I took my cue from them. Stay quiet.

“We have reports of a mad scientist in the building.” He spun on his heel, eyes locked with me. “You wouldn’t know anything about this, Wyatt?”

Both Orion and Drew’s heads turned to stare at me.

“Well… it’s a funny story, actually. He’s more evil than mad.” I twiddled my thumbs as I tried to think how best to explain it. “Remember that scientist I went on a date with? Surprise! He’s evil.”

The long sigh. Arthur pulled out his chair and took a seat at the far end of the table. Taking a long sip of coffee, he broke eye contact. If I didn’t know better, I’d be worried they’d flash red and shoot lasers.

“Can you elaborate?” he asked.

“We had drinks at a bar. I didn’t like it… or him.”

Drew rested a hand on my arm. “I think he means the evil scientist part.”

“Oh. Well, I found out Zaster figured out that I’m an alien. He stole my DNA without asking. That’s rude, right? Yeah, definitely rude. He pulled a hair from my beard and then stole some blood. Who knew Halorian DNA is what he needed to make his power-stealing gun work?”

“That’s a lot to unpack,” Drew said.

“Bet he’s working for the—” Arthur held up a hand, silencing Orion. “Just saying.”

“Let me get this straight. He used your DNA to make a weapon that stole powers?”

“Yeah, he stole Discord’s powers.” I held a hand over my mouth and whispered, “He’s my sidekick. Well, not officially, but I think we’re heading in that direction.” I winked at Drew and Orion. “Then I saved him.”

“Wyatt…” Orion leaned forward. “Wyatt Supreme rushed into danger and stopped an evil scientist? Buddy, that doesn’t sound like… well… you.”

The smile spread across my face. I tried hiding my fears, but these were the people who knew me best. I’m sure they uncovered my secret, even if they didn’t say it. Mr. Supreme, the scaredest hero in all of Vanguard… until now.

“I rushed in and saved the day.”

“And you weren’t terrified?” asked Drew.

Dustin and I promised to keep our alter egos secret, at least for now. I wanted to tell them my hunky boyfriend had superpowers. The only person he agreed I could tell, had been Earth Mom. She had a stern talk with him about putting her baby in danger. Afterward, she confessed she was proud of me. We’d be flying north after work to have dinner with her.

“Of course, I was scared.” I tried removing the smile, but it held fast. I wasn’t happy as much as I was satisfied. “But every hero gets scared.”

Dustin taught me that. Knowing every hero in Vanguard experienced fear made it less scary. It hadn’t gone away, not in the least. It moved to manageable. I still didn’t know what my father meant. Somewhere on Earth, there might be something capable of hurting me. I suspected the ducks, but I’d never know. With this much to protect, I couldn’t live in fear.

“That’s very enlightened of you,” Drew said.

“I’m impressed,” Orion added. “Still think he’s working for the Illuminati. They’re probably trying to develop a super-soldier program. That’s how they’ll make an army.”

Arthur shook his head. “Super soldiers? Really? Now you’re talking nonsense.”

“We share a building with a bunch of people studying superheroes. Am I crazy, or are you being na?ve?”

Arthur opened his mouth to speak and paused. “Fine, I’ll talk to Ricardo and make sure he’s not planning world domination.”

“That’s what makes you the best boss,” I said.

“Are we done talking about Wyatt, evil scientists, and the high rate of villains showing up on the property?” Janet knocked her hips into Arthur’s shoulder. “I have questions about his new man-friend.”

Arthur leaned forward, his forehead smacking against the table. “Why do we even pretend these are business meetings?”

“Wyatt, getting down to business is business.” Janet moonwalked into the break room until she bumped against the counter. She poured the entire pot of coffee into her thermos. “Arthur, are you not getting enough from RRRicardo? Is he not satisfying you… sexually ?”

“I hate you,” he said, his cheek smushed against the table.

“Spill it, Wyatt. Give us all the juicy details.” Janet held the sugar over her thermos before giving it a quick stir. Despite the steam, she chugged it as if she were immune to scalding liquids.

“Dustin,” I smiled, “my boyfriend is doing great.”

Drew gave a slight clap. “Congratulations.”

“Do we have to come up with a couple name? Wystin? Dustatt?” asked Janet.

A couple name? Is that something they really did? I thought we only changed our names if we got married, and even I knew it was too early for that. Though… a lifetime with Dustin wouldn’t be horrible. Maybe I’d ask him which of us was supposed to buy a ring?

“Are you happy?”

Arthur barely lifted his head for the question. He tried to act annoyed, but over the months, I learned he cared. As the boss, he tried to be professional, but with the number of times we drove him out of the break room with his hands in the air, he knew better. It was either admit defeat and join in, or storm around the office all day.

“Very,” I said. “I like him more than chocolate.”

Orion gasped. “You love chocolate.”

Janet pointed at him, mouthing “sarcasm.” I had gotten better at detecting it. Sitting upright in my chair, I puffed out my chest. “I love Dustin.”

“It’s too early for that,” Arthur mumbled.

Janet smacked him on the back of the head. “Hush. Just because you had to break up with the man of your dreams to figure out your shit doesn’t mean Wyatt can’t be in love.”

Earth Mom had mentioned I used the word quickly. “It’s only been a month,” she said.

I explained how Dustin made my heart race and my palms sweaty. I described how every time I caught the tip of his tongue in the corner of his mouth, I wanted to kiss him. Kiki taught me to label my emotions, but there were many. Sometimes, they came all at once, and I couldn’t sort through them. She had giggled as I talked.

“That does sound like love,” Earth Mom said.

Janet pointed a finger at me and gave me an exaggerated wink. “Screw social conventions. If the man says he’s in love, it’s love.”

I loved Dustin. And Discord. Despite him claiming I was perfect as I was, both men made me want to be the best version of myself.

“I’m over the moon for you,” Drew said.

Orion said, “As long as we don’t find he’s in bed with the shadow government.”

“He’s mostly in my bed? Though sometimes we have sex on the couch, too.”

“Nope,” Arthur said, jumping to his feet. “I’m out. You all have jobs to do. Go look busy.”

I couldn’t help but snicker at his departure. I couldn’t wait to call and recruit more heroes for the HeroApp?. The faster I got through my list, the quicker I could head out to the water fountain and enjoy my favorite chocolate with my favorite person. Is this why Arthur worked in a building with his boyfriend? I’d have to ask Janet about these nooners , which she always mentioned.

“You’re no fun,” Janet said.

“Tonight?” Orion asked.

Drew nodded. “Tonight.”

“Same place?” I asked.

They both nodded.

“Whatever is going on here…” Janet waved her hands in front of our faces. “This here. I don’t like it one bit. No secrets in the break room.”

“We formed a team,” Drew said.

“The Coven,” I said.

She mulled it over as we exited, heading toward our offices. “Nope, that’s not going to do. How about we workshop it? Can I lobby for Janet and the Janeteers?”

“No,” we said in unison.

Mr. Supreme and the Coven. Now, to convince them to let my sidekick join. With Discord by our side, we’d be a real team. By day, we’d make Vanguard a safer place. Then, at night, we’d stop villains. I was on my way to fulfilling my duties as a Halorian. I had everything I could hope for.

Life was good.

No, not good.

Life was excellent.