Page 17 of Fanning the Flames

“That sounds good.”

Mark pointed his index fingers at Kade. “Turkey?”

“Turkey.” Kade bobbed his head and broke into a toothy smile.

They shuffled around one another to prep. “Sadie can ring you up,” Joan said at the fryer. Zee always wanted truffle fries.

“Are you really not gonna give us a discount?” Kade said.

Mark pulled on a disposable glove. “We need to earn money if you want us to stay out of trouble.”

“It’s fine.” Zee tugged their phone from a coat pocket. Their mobile payments were tied to an account at City Hall. If Joan were feeling villainous, that could be something fun to look into.

“Can I get three sandwiches?” asked Kade. “I’m starving after battling withTheSmash.”

“You bet, handsome.” Mark raised a very suggestive eyebrow. “Gotta keep your strength up for other activities.”

“Thanks Mark, but I’m not gay.”

“Ah, well, a boy can dream, right?”

“Uhh…I guess?” Kade looked to his cohort. “Wait. We’re not supposed to talk about personal stuff with them, right? Otis said not to.”

That was unsurprising but still irritating. “Don’t get to know your prisoners,” Joan muttered.

Zee’s lips quirked. “A few months ago, you were active criminals. We have every right to be cautious.”

“So do we.”

“But I like hanging out with you guys,” Kade said. “Your food is really good.”

Mark grabbed a bunch of slices of sourdough bread from the bag on a high metal shelf. “Eh, we’re all friends here. What Otis doesn’t know won’t hurt him.”

“Cool. So I’m straight. Sometimes Darlene and I hook up, but that’s whenevershewants to.”

Oh god, no.Joan held her hands up. “I did not need to know that.”

“TMI, buddy,” Mark laughed. “But also, Darlene’s the boss, huh?”

“Totally,” Kade said. “She sucks up all my strength. It’s kinda weird, but not in a bad way.”

“I’m sure.”

“Otis has an on-again, off-again thing with Aura. She’s a Hero in Destine. The one who can alter your mood if you’re in her aura. Nobody’s supposed to know but every Superhero knows.”

“Kade…” Zee appeared to be at a total loss.

Kade looked at them. “You never talk about your personal life, so I have nothing to report.”

“Dude,” Mark cackled. “This is amazing.”

“Zee is pansexual and speaks Mandarin because their parents are from China.”

Sadie turned to Zee. “Hey, I’m pan, too.”

“Genderisa social construct.” Zee caught Mark’s gaze, and they both quickly looked away.

“Well, now I want to give you a discount. But we have bills to pay.”

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