She smiled warmly at them both. “I hear congratulations are in order. It’s about time the two of you figured things out.”
Nick gaped at her. “Did everyone know?”
“Only people with eyes,” Aysha reassured him.
“Hello, folks!” Geoffrey said, appearing in the doorway. He was a slender man with spiky black hair and was rocking pink glasses. “Sorry to interrupt the reunion, but I’ve got a schedule to keep. Geoffrey Senior doesn’t like it when I’m behind. I tried to tell him that something as ridiculous as a schedule shouldn’t matter when dealing with our customers, especially those who spend so much on our products, but what do I know? Nothing, according to him. I have …” He looked down at the invoice in his hand. “Ten boxes for delivery. I see no setup was requested. Is that right?”
“Ten boxes?” Seth asked weakly.
“Setup,” Miles said. “What is it you’re supposed to be setting up?”
“Daddy,” Jazz said, sticking out her bottom lip even further. “I told you I need it for school. You said it was all right, and that I should spare no expense when it came to my education.”
“Right,” Miles said. “Your education is the most important thing. But why isn’t it being sent to our house? Martha! Bob! Look at the pair of you. Picture-perfect. Ooh, cookies.”
Martha thrust the plate toward him as Jo twirled a strand of her daughter’s hair. “Jasmine,” she said, her voice smoky and sweet, “is there anything you’re not telling us?”
Impossibly, Jazz’s eyes grew wider. “Of course not. I tell you guys everything.”
“Mm,” Jo said. “Then why all the secrecy?”
“It’s my fault,” Nick said hastily. “I’m sorry. I thought it’d be best if it could all be sent here, since Seth’s house is central for all of us. Makes it easier to get to. For … school … things.”
Miles nodded, munching on an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie. “Makes sense. If it helps all of you, then we’re all the better for it.” He nodded at Geoffrey. “My good man, please bring in the boxes. I’ll make sure you’re adequately tipped after giving you a hand while also regaling you with the story about how I was once in your position, working my way up the corporate ladder until I owned my own company.”
“Far out,” Geoffrey said, suitably impressed. “Help is always appreciated.”
Aysha, Jo, and Trey all followed Martha into the living room. Bob stayed in the entryway, whispering furiously with Dad, both glancing at the teenagers staring at them with wide eyes. They came to some sort of agreement, then turned and walked out of the house to help with the boxes.
“Ten thousand dollars?” Nick hissed at Jazz. “Are you out of your mind? How the hell did you think your dad wouldn’t notice?”
Jazz’s lips thinned to a bloodless line. “It’s only money. If he hadn’t been called, he wouldn’t have even noticed. I’d appreciate a little more gratitude.”
“Thank you for spending a ridiculous amount,” Nick said quickly, not wanting to face her wrath. “And let’s circle back to the whole ‘it’s only money’ thing at a later date, because man, do I have thoughts on that. But what are we gonna do? We can’t tell them what it’s for.”
“It’ll be fine,” Gibby said. “We gotta make them believe it’s for school, like Jazz said.”
“Exactly,” Jazz said. “And if they ask about the night vision goggles, we’ll say they’re for science class.”
They all stared at her.
“What?” she asked. “I had a coupon.”
Nick shook his head. His brain was his superpower. Think. Think. “Okay,” he said, pulling at one of his thoughts until it tugged loose. “Here’s what we’re going to do. We’ll tell them we’re thinking of our education, and that it’s as your dad said: an investment in our future. We’re planning not only for this year or next, but for college too. And beyond. We have an idea for … a project. Yeah, a project.” He began to get excited. “Dad’s the head of the Extraordinaries Division, right? We could say this project is about tracking Extraordinary activity in Nova City for the NCPD. That way, it’s not exactly a lie, more just not … being truthful? I’m still working out the particulars, but I think it could work.”
“Why would we help the police?” Gibby asked. “They already have more money than Jazz’s parents. Didn’t they give your dad a new SUV for no reason aside from his promotion?”
“Oof,” Nick said. “That is absolutely correct. Shit.” He glanced at the others. Jazz snapped her gum before blowing a pink bubble. Seth looked spooked, face pale, hands shaking. Nick went to him and grabbed him by the shoulders. “I know you’re scared, but I’ll protect you, okay? We’ve got this. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Seth shook his head. “Nicky, I’m the one who’s supposed to be protecting all of you.”
Gibby snorted. “That’s crap and you know it. Sure, you can do things that we can’t, but we’re a team, remember?”
“Team Pyro Storm,” Jazz agreed. “The best team that’s ever existed.”
“We stand together,” Nick reminded him, “so we don’t have to struggle apart. You’re not alone in this, okay?”
Seth gave him a shaky smile. “Really?”
Jazz nodded. “It’s going to be fine.”
It was not fine.
Because as soon as the last box was stacked in the living room around them, Geoffrey practically in tears at the tip Miles had given him, Trey said, “So, anyone want to tell us what’s going on? I’m not worried, but I do have a few questions. What’s with all the—”
And Nick—always and forever Nick—blurted, “I’m Pyro Storm!”
The only sound that followed came from the honking of horns out on the street. Then Dad put his face in his hands; Martha said, “Oh my”; Bob took out his handkerchief and blew his nose; Seth moaned quietly; Gibby said, “Nicky, I swear to god”; and Jazz laughed so hard, she started crying.
And that didn’t even begin to cover the looks on the faces of the new arrivals. Trey’s eyes were bulging from his head, Aysha’s mouth had dropped open, Miles was squinting at Nick as if he didn’t understand what he’d just said, and Jo said, “Come again?”
“Crap,” Nick muttered. “Crap, crap, crap.” He needed to fix this. Dig in or pretend it was a joke? He went with the easier route. “Okay. So. Um—here’s the thing? I have superpowers. And I can fly. And create … fire? Yeah, fire. Like explosions and junk. And yes, I know the costume is so last year, but when I tried to make a new one, I stabbed myself and decided the old costume is fine.” He glanced at Seth pointedly. “For now.” There. Fixed. Sort of.
More silence. All the silence.
Then, Miles: “You’re Pyro Storm. That Extraordinary from the bridge who fought against Smoky Guy.”
“Shadow Star,” Nick corrected automatically, even though he hated himself for it. “And yep! I fought against Shadow Star and saved the day.” But since he wasn’t selfish, he added, “But I didn’t do it alone. Gibby and Jazz and Seth all helped because they are good people who you shouldn’t be mad at for anything. It’s all my fault. So. I’m … sorry?”