the battle begins. Vaporizer poofs in and out of visibility, deftly weaving around the commotion, throwing powerful punches before disappearing and relocating. Aqua Maiden moves like a samurai ballerina, elegantly evading her attackers and setting them up for a blow from Earthquake. They work as a team, playing off each other’s strengths, moving so fast the villains can’t keep up, no matter how many fireballs they direct at the heroes. If I wasn’t so scared, it would be freaking awesome.
But through all of this, Joy hasn’t moved. She lingers in the doorway, clinging to the frame for protection. She ducks as Vaporizer lands a punch not far from her; she cowers as Earthquake tosses a crate at a villain’s head. Aqua Maiden cartwheels past her, confusing the criminal on her tail, but Joy remains frozen, refusing to engage.
C’mon, I think. You were trained for this! You can do this! The other Warriors have nearly finished the fight, having trapped two of the three baddies in a shipping container, and yet their boss is getting away, a dark outline slinking out the back of the room.
“Girl Power!” I scream, and she flinches upon hearing her name. I call again, and she finds me in the scuffle, jaw dropping upon seeing me as the hostage. “He’s getting away!” I look to the back corner, and she follows my sight line.
For a second, she hesitates, shaking her head in doubt, but I force my face into a smile, nodding in encouragement to hopefully give her the jolt she needs.
With one sharp nod she joins the fray, weaving through fistfights and roundhouse kicks. But she’s awkward, clumsy: afraid to engage with anything around her, hands shielding her eyes. It nearly gets her kicked in the face multiple times, but her only blow occurs after Earthquake pummels the ground with his mighty fists, causing everyone to fall over, including the chair I’m tied to. Bridgette and I topple onto our sides, and she screams out in pain, neither of us able to shift position. I struggle to see the rest of the scene, my vantage point flipped mostly to scuffling feet.
“Are you okay?” I call out to Bridgette, but the grunts and groans of battle drown out my question.
I try to squirm to get a better view, but before I know it, the commotion has died down and Joy is at my side, gently running a gloved hand across my cheek.
“Claire?” She pants, out of breath. “Are you hurt?” Big blue eyes dance around my face. Even though she was just in the middle of the worst kind of mosh pit, her concern is all about me…and I kind of love it.
She quickly unties me, and though I can see Vaporizer tending to Bridgette, my focus is entirely on Joy—blond hair cascading down her neck, gentle hands sliding under my body. She pulls me to stand with hardly any effort, not letting go even after I’ve found my footing. We should run, get out of this warehouse to real safety, and yet I can’t move, transfixed by the proximity of this girl. A hero. My hero.
We stare at each other, still in shock that we made it through. We could’ve been hurt—we could’ve died—and yet we’re here. Together. All the fear and uncertainty churning inside me congeals into one supercharged force: want. I want to feel safe, feel protected. Feel loved. Her body, her breath, her brave heart warm me, and every part of me hums, electrons begging to pull her closer.
And so I do.
I kiss her, without thought or reservation. She returns my kiss with equal intensity, hands pulling at my hips, and the pressure of her full lips causes my skin to break out in goose bumps, igniting something deep within. I ball up fistfuls of her super suit, trying to pull her as close to me as humanly possible. It feels so good, her body against mine, melting away the anxiety of being kidnapped and replacing it with the highest high of a perfect, passionate first kiss. I never thought facing death would make me feel so alive.
When we finally come up for air, Bridgette and Vaporizer are gone. Earthquake and Aqua Maiden are calling for Joy, asking her to come help carry away the crooks.
They didn’t see us. She has to go, but I hold her tight.
“You saved me,” I whisper, my forehead leaning into the silky fabric of her cowl. She smiles beneath her mask, a soft giggle escaping her