19. Simon

CHAPTER 19

SIMON

The Mafia Queen: As an addendum to Xander's overshare, I propose we ALL take the morning off from group activities.

Deadbeat with a Capital D: I'm assuming this decree doesn't apply to me and your step-dads?

I blew out a glacially slow breath, set my phone on the desk, and walked out to the bungalow terrace before I did something I'd regret.

Or… something I wouldn't regret one bit.

The Theo-Ziggy situation hadn't come to a head— yet— but I knew it was only a matter of time. Wolfy had requested I not intervene, however, and I was doing my best to obey.

Since he is the one in charge.

Not that anyone else needs to know that.

Wolfy was the only man I would ever get on my knees for—both literally and figuratively—but in this instance, I deserved a gold star for my efforts .

It was impossible to describe how trying it was to endure even a casual gathering when The Rabble were involved, and here we all were at what SNZ was hailing as "the wedding of the century," trying not to kill each other.

Mostly to keep Wolfy happy.

My inventus may have been both the head and the heart of this family behind the scenes but, at the moment, my sweet murder cabbage was out fulfilling his role as terrifying public figurehead. Someone was stopping Lady Tempest from controlling the tropical-storm-turned-category-5-hurricane headed our way, and Wolfy was determined to figure out who before the press arrived in 48 hours.

Hopefully, we'll get to kill the perpetrator.

There haven't been enough deaths around here lately.

While I was eager for bloodshed—if only to relieve some tension—I was currently bored and alone. Wolfy was busy with Zion, questioning every supe in attendance who had weather-related powers, but he had asked me to remain behind.

Smart man.

My trigger finger has been rather itchy lately.

As if on cue, my phone chimed with another message in the group chat, but I called upon every ounce of good breeding to refrain from even looking.

I deserve an entire line of gold stars.

My very own Walk of Fame.

With a huff, I plopped down on one of the two lounge chairs, wondering if it would be wise for me to seek out some company as a distraction .

"Mind if I sit?"

It appears the decision has been made for me.

"Please do," I laughed despite my dark mood. "I honestly think you may be the one person I won't want to murder at the moment."

Ziggy sat but shockingly didn't take the opening to remind me I couldn't actually kill him. "I'm not a person, Simon."

I huffed, partly annoyed and partly—annoyingly—sympathetic. "If you mean ‘human,' no, you're not. We have exactly four of those among us for the time being—Erich, Doc, Sylvano Ricci, and Kai… although I'm not sure how that distinction works with Kai carrying a superpowered baby."

My decidedly in human brother hummed thoughtfully. "I would assume her DNA is now altered due to her condition. Your Earthling scientists discovered that cells travel from the fetus to the mother back in the 1890s, but it wasn't until the 1990s that they learned those migrant cells can remain indefinitely."

Pardon?

"W-why on Earth do you know that random, yet terrifying bit of information?" I sputtered. "Were you once considering inhabiting the skin of a pregnant person?"

Ziggy's normally impassive expression morphed into pure disgust, which I definitely sympathized with. "By Stellaria, no! I have absolutely no interest in having children. Had. I… had no interest…" He shook his head before refocusing. "The reason I researched the subject was because I knew I'd be in close proximity to a human impregnated by supes this week. I needed to ensure I understood the inner workings of my adversary."

Adversary? !

I barked a laugh. "Frérot, I assure you, Kai is a lamb among wolves. Violentia is the one you should watch out for in that idiots-in-love pairing, although surely she's no match for a worthy opponent like yourself, hmm?"

There was a bite to my tone, but also a fondness . No doubt we both heard it, but blessedly, we both staunchly ignored it as well.

Good man.

"Idiots in love?" he murmured, delightfully confused.

"Yes," I chuckled, incredibly thankful this alien had materialized on my doorstep to entertain me. "Like how Baltasar and Zion lusted after one another for years yet thought their uncontrollable urge to tackle each other whilst sporting hard-ons was simply Deathball related. I would put money on Baby Hulk suggesting a besties with benefits situation simply to avoid admitting he had feelings for the big lizard."

Or that he was gay.

Case in point: Idiot.

Ziggy cleared his throat and shifted awkwardly in his chair. "That sounds familiar…" When I turned to him with interest, he hurriedly clarified, "From what I heard, Baltasar and Zion being idiots in love was no surprise to other players in the league."

"Oh, that's right!" I crowed. "You were moonlighting as a Deathball player for a while—a hero named Star Hopper. How original."

My Stellarian brother rolled his eyes, but the smile twitching his lips gave him away. "It was a tactic to blend in. Supe families seem to enjoy naming their own after the powers they've manifested. "

Everyone except me.

And Captain Masculine.

That was purely a PR move, the poor dear.

I buried my disappointment at not having a badass supe name of my own. "Isn't star hopping what you actually call your little teleportation trick, though? You weren't concerned about alerting other Stellarians to your presence on Earth?"

Ziggy shrugged, his smile turning to a cocky smirk. "Fugitives make mistakes when they panic. I was partially hoping Theo would see me and do just that, but I was primarily there to get close to Zion. An almost full-blooded Lacertus hadn't been seen on Earth for many thousands of years. It seemed as good a lead as any that someone with firsthand knowledge of this planetary history was meddling."

"Merde," I sighed, seeing my opening. "Theo is quite the meddler, hmm?"

You can talk to me.

All I got in response was a grunt, so I veered the conversation elsewhere. "An almost full-blooded Lacertus, you say?"

Ziggy nodded once. "Yes. Lacertus look similar to Zion in his supe form, with the addition of wings and horns. They're also much, much larger." He paused, grimacing. "And deadlier."

I shivered, transported to the Argentinian cave that changed my life. "I've seen the paintings of when they arrived on Earth. It's a wonder they left any survivors."

The Stellarian shrugged nonchalantly, although he still seemed preoccupied. "I assume it's because no one here could challenge them at the time. All full-blooded Lacertus have power draining abilities?— "

"Like Wolfy?!" I shouted, sitting upright and uncaring that I sounded like an overexcited child.

No wonder my inventus is the most feared in all the land!

Ziggy chuckled and sat up, turning in his chair to face me. "Yes, but Stellarians evolved long-ago to be immune to the drain. It's also believed that the reason we can star hop was because of how agile Lacertus are in flight."

I nodded eagerly, absorbing every word so I could relay this new intel to Doc to aid his research.

And also tell Wolfy.

My cream puff deserves to know how very fearsome he is.

"You don't seem to have any Lacertus in you," Ziggy murmured, seeming proud of the fact. "A true Stellarian."

I felt myself puff up at the compliment before deflating. "Not quite. This pesky human DNA means the only powers I have are what I can borrow from Wolfy."

Like the parasite I am.

A shimmer in the air caught my attention, and when I squinted in the direction I'd spied it, a starry tendril appeared.

Followed by dozens of others, all razor-sharp.

"Putain!" I shrieked, scowling when Ziggy laughed heartily at my expense.

I suppose I deserved that one.

"Don't be afraid, little brother," he snickered. "I was simply tasting your emotions."

"That's no better than a murder attempt," I groused, more jealous of his stealthy weapons than anything. "Although, slightly more threatening."

I'm starting to see the resemblance.

He looked slightly apologetic. "It helps me relate and respond in ways that are socially acceptable to a species I otherwise have nothing in common with."

We are definitely related.

I was suddenly overcome with the strangest sensation. It started in my chest and radiated outward—a tingling chased by cozy warmth.

AM I HAVING A HEART ATTACK?!

Ziggy cocked his head before reaching out and placing his hand over my heart, causing the sensation to immediately stop.

"There you are." He smiled, too wide and sharp to pass for a human. "Frérot."

This might be enough socializing for one day.

"Where is that better half of yours?" I laughed nervously, watching as his tendrils retracted back into his body like sentient parts with missions of their own.

I change my mind.

He can keep those creepy buggers for himself.

Ziggy's smile grew soft. "Micah is sleeping in. He was out late, flirting with Gabriel."

Ex-fucking-scuse me?!

My extremely cheeky brother laughed at my scandalized expression but offered no further explanation .

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Whatever kinky fuckery is going on with you aliens shall stand only as long as it doesn't interfere with this wedding. Between the storm and another normie flying down for a fried chicken emergency, I cannot possibly fight another fire at this point."

Or so help me!

Please, help me.

Ziggy observed me silently for a moment. "Avec une main de fer."

Quoi?

Aside from Bunny's drunken ramblings, it had been so long since anyone had spoken to me in my native tongue that it took my overtaxed brain a moment to catch up.

"With an iron fist," Ziggy translated for me. "It's how you rule this clan. You don't need superpowers of your own, Simon, or Stellarian abilities. You were born to do this." He smirked again. "Despite your… shortcomings."

I was far too confused to even address the dig at my height. "What on Earth are you talking about?"

"La main de fer," Ziggy repeated, as if he—or I—was daft. "It's the perfect supe name for you."

"I…" Words had failed me. "I don't believe that's how this naming thing works."

He scoffed, every bit as imperious as I was. As our father was. "Supe families give names to their own. I'm your family, and your supe name is now La Main de Fer."

It does have a certain ring to it…

"Well then… thank you, Ziggy," I murmured, overcome by that alarmingly cozy sensation again. "I promise to use it to its full, terrifying potential."

Ziggy rose and smiled down at me, his brilliant blue eyes momentarily flickering to reveal something other beneath. "Just like a true Stellarian."

And then, he disappeared.

Definitely enough peopling for one day.

Or… not peopling, as the case may be.