Page 82 of Flash Fire (The Extraordinaries 2)

They pulled themselves up to their full height, which was still shorter than Nick, though they looked much, much stronger, the muscles in their legs and arms shifting as they prowled back and forth. Their costume was completely black and bulky, made up of what appeared to be thick armor that covered their torso and legs. The front of their helmet was an opaque sheet of what looked like thick plastic, not unlike a futuristic motorcycle helmet. They turned their head side to side, looking at the three of them in the alley. Nick felt a chill run down his spine as their gaze settled on Nick. They took a step toward him, and though Nick couldn’t see their eyes, he knew they were looking directly at him.

“Nick,” Seth said. “This is TK.”

TK. The telekinetic Extraordinary. The hero who’d found Seth and Miss Conduct.

Before Nick could introduce himself (and possibly gush until everyone was supremely uncomfortable), TK held out his hand. “Phone,” he said, voice heavily modulated.

Nick blinked. “Uh—what?”

“Phone,” TK demanded.

“Okay?” Nick said. “But if you’re gonna use the internet, anything you find on there isn’t something you can use against me. I have … unique tastes.”

Nick thought TK chuckled, but he couldn’t be sure. TK snatched the phone out of his hand, and before Nick could stop him, he dropped it onto the ground and stepped on it with his boot, shattering it into pieces.

“Hey!” Nick cried. “Why the hell did you do that? My entire life was on that phone. Howdareyou!”

TK wasn’t moved by Nick’s protestations. He kicked the remains of the phone, spreading the broken pieces around. “You were being tracked. Burke knew every movement you were making. The alley where you were attacked? He knew where to send Smoke and Ice because he was tracking you.”

Nick stared at him, dumbfounded. “What? No, he wasn’t! I would’ve known if he’d … done … that. Oh, shit.” The limo, when Burke had snatched him off the streets. He’d asked to look at Nick’s phone, saying he’d given Nick his contact info. Nick hadn’t even considered calling him. He’d planned on deleting Burke from his contact list, but he’d forgotten. “Thatbastard.” Angry, Nick kicked the pieces of his phone, spreading them out further. “Seth, forget what I agreed to earlier. We kill. We kill so hard, and we’re going to start with Burke. And then we can move on to Rebecca Firestone.”

“And I’ve got a list of my own,” Miss Conduct said. “TK, you’re looking as mysterious as ever. How delightfully annoying.”

Nick froze as TK moved forward, slowly circling him. TK didn’t try to touch Nick, but he was far too close for comfort. When he’d finished his inspection, he stopped next to Pyro Storm, shaking his head. “Why is he here?”

Before Nick could snap at him, Pyro Storm said, “Because he’s part of this. And I’m done keeping secrets from him.”

Nick puffed out his chest. “Damn right. And besides, I’m an Extraordinary too. Sometimes. I haven’t quite figured out how to make my powers work when I want them to, but I jumped off a building.” He grinned smugly. “Andfloated. Can you even do something like that?”

TK cocked his head. Then, without another word, he raised both his hands and spread his arms like wings, palms toward the ground. Air began to whip around them, biting and cold, numbing the skin of Nick’s face. Before he could ask what TK was doing, the dumpster against the building rose into the air, floating above them, the trash inside shifting as the dumpster started to spin.Metal creaked and groaned asanotherdumpster further down the alley shot into the air, flipping end over end, the lid clapping furiously. Detritus flew into the air as if caught in a tornado, swirling around them, plastic bags and newspapers and a startled, squeaking rat, tail twitching as its mouth opened and closed.

TK lowered his hands, and everything crashed back down onto the ground. The rat landed on its feet, taking off and disappearing into the shadows.

“Right,” Nick said weakly. “So you can do stuff. That’s … socool.” He rushed forward, grabbing TK’s gloved hand and pulling it close to his face, as if proximity would explain all that he needed to know. “Teach me everything you know. You can be my mentor, and I’ll be your young and headstrong protégé who’ll one day take up your mantle when you become way too old to continue fighting, and then you’ll look at me and nod wisely and say, ‘The world needs fresh blood to save her. It’s up to you now, Nicholas Bell. I’ve taught you everything I know. Now, go forth and save the planet like the hero I know you are.’ Holy shit, the fic practically writes itself. How do you feel about being memorialized in fanfiction? Good, I hope, because I’m sure as shit going to introduce a new character based on you.Yes, a hundred and thirty thousand–plus words is probably a little late to introduce a new major character, but that’s the best part of writing fiction! I can make it up as I go along. My followers are going to eat it up when I—”

TK jerked his hand back. “Stop.Talking. I don’t need a protégé, especially one like you.”

Nick frowned. “You don’t even know me.”

“I know enough,” TK growled. “You’re a child.” He glanced at Seth. “Both of you are children. This isn’t a game.”

“We know it’s not,” Pyro Storm said, shaking his head at Nick in warning. “We never thought it was. Nick gets excited, but his heart is in the right place and he could use your help. You’re the only other telekinetic we know.”

“I don’t work with others,” TK snapped.

“You’re a loner, the weight of the world on your shoulders,” Nick said. “I get that. You do you, my dude. But if you’d considerchanging your mind, I promise I’d be the best protégé the world has ever known. I won’t even betray you at some point in the distant future because being a villain sounds exhausting. Always making plans to ruin my day. God, I hate them so much.”

“Is he always like this?” TK asked Pyro Storm.

“Sometimes,” Pyro Storm said. “But it comes from a good place. You can trust him. I do.”

“Do you trust me?” TK asked. Pyro Storm hesitated, which was all the answer TK needed. “I thought as much. You don’t know me. I don’t know any of you. And it’s better if it stays that way. Knowing people means getting hurt. And I’m not going to put myself into that position. Not again.” He turned as if meaning to leave.

And Nick couldn’t have that. “We have to watch out for each other. We’re all we have.”

TK stopped, shoulders stiff. He didn’t turn around. “What?”

“Something my dad taught me,” Nick said quietly. “And while we’re not … it doesn’t matter what he and I are, at least not right now. We’ll figure it out because he’s my dad, and I’m not going to lose him. He taught me that we can’t always do things alone. We need others to help us, even if it’s scary letting someone in. I know you think it’s better on your own, but you don’t have to be. We’re here. And we can be here for you, if you let us. It’ll mean you never have to be alone again.”

---