“Paging Pocket Rocket. Please report to Lab C-15 immediately, the combustible lemons are a success. I repeat, the combustible lemons are a success.”
Deke glanced at Gabriel over the top of his book, “You are an absolute nut; you do know that, right?”
Gabriel grinned as he sat down, “I am the best me that I can possibly be. There will never be another one like me.”
“I don’t know why I put up with you,” Deke said as he glanced around the library. “What are you doing here anyways?”
“History project,” Gabriel said as he began to look at the books Deke had stacked on the table, “Boring, but apparently worth a large chunk of my grade so I have to do well.”
Deke nodded, “I know all about those. I just finished one for my English class.”
“So why are you in the library?” Gabriel asked. The Hispanic teen flicked a glance up at Deke and raised his eyebrows.
“My parents aren’t exactly happy with me,” Deke replied, “being in the library means that I’m studying something. I simply fail to tell them that what I’m studying isn’t for school.”
Gabriel leaned over and tried to get a look at the book in Deke’s hands, “What’s it for then?”
“The Art of War,” Deke said, lifting the cover up enough for Gabriel to see the title. “It will help me be a better leader.”
“You’re a great leader,” Gabriel replied firmly as he ran his hand over his close cut hair. Deke suspected that his friend had yet to adjust to loosing the almost shoulder length, shag look that he’d sported before they had agreed to become superheroes.
“I just don’t want to make any mistakes,” Deke said, “and I seem to be on the verge of making a lot of them.” Especially after their last training session. It was a good thing that the Nexxus offered them near instantaneous healing from things like broken arms, lacerations, and burns; all of which had been featured at the end of training.
“I don’t think Art of War is going to help you there,” Gabriel said, “you might want to try Ian Fleming.”
“Who is he?” Deke asked.
Gabriel’s eyebrows rose, “Who is Ian Fleming? Do you live under a rock or something?”
“No, but my parents have rules about appropriate reading material,” Deke replied. He wondered what they’d say about him reading The Art of War, then he wondered what they’d say about him reading the English translation.
Gabriel rolled his eyes, “He’s the guy who wrote Bond, James Bond before there was even a movie.”
“So, reading Ian Fleming will make me a better leader.” Deke said skeptically.
“Something like that,” Gabriel replied as he leaned back in his chair. He glanced up and then straightened again, “Jessie plus strange man, incoming behind you.”
Deke turned, curious.
Their Hawaiian teammate looked nervous as she walked towards them, her hand playing with the hem of her green t-shirt nervously, she was followed by a person who looked a few years older than her, who was tall, with spiky blond hair and hazel eyes. “Hi guys,” Jessie said with a slight smile.
“Hi Jessie,” Gabriel said.
“Hey,” Deke added. He closed his book, wondering if he should expect their missing members to show up on principle.
“So,” Jessie said, “I wanted you two to meet Danny, my big brother. Danny, this is Deke and Gabriel.”
Deke stood up and offered his hand, “Pleasure to meet you, Jessie’s told us about you.”
“I assure you, it’s sixty-four percent lies and forty-three percent exaggeration. Unless it’s a good thing, good things are always true and unembellished.” Danny replied. “Deke is an, odd, name. I didn’t expect.”
Deke shrugged, “Well, I have a very traditional name that my parents gave me. Full of honor to the ancestors and all of that; Deke is my name, by my choice.”
“Can’t argue with that,” Daniel replied with a brief grin.
“Jessie failed to mention you were tall,” Gabriel commented from behind him. “Poor Deke, no matter what he does, he’s the shortest.”
“Bite your tongue,” Deke told him with a playful elbow.
“Danny,” Jessie said, “I need to go find my book. Are you coming?”
“I’ll catch up,” Danny told her with a smile.
“Ok,” Jessie said, “don’t embarrass me.”
“Oh, I won’t,” Danny said easily.
As soon as Jessie vanished into the stacks, Danny stopped smiling. “I don’t know what you are up to,” he said, catching and holding Deke’s eyes. “I’m not going to push Jessie into telling me before she’s ready to say. I’m just going to say this. If my sister ends up hurt, physically, mentally, or emotionally, I will hunt you two down and I will inflect equal suffering upon your bodies. Are we understood?”
“If we got Jessie hurt,” Deke replied, “I think I’d not only let you, I’d seek you out with the expectation of that happening.”
“What he said,” Gabriel agreed.
“I’m glad we understand each other,” Danny said shortly.
“Found it,” Jessie announced, “Danny, you didn’t threaten them, did you?”
“Maybe,” Danny replied. He threw his arm around Jessie’s shoulders as he smiled at her.
“What am I going to do with you?” Jessie demanded, “Let’s go before Ms. Susan gets worried, yeah?”
“Yeah,” Danny agreed.
“Bye Deke, bye Gabe,” Jessie said as she headed for the checkout counter.
“Bye,” Deke replied as Gabe waved.
As the siblings walked away, Deke heard Danny say, “Well, they’ll never be close like we are, but they’re good men and they’ll be good friends too. I approve.”
Jessie laughed.
A Lady’s Dilemma
Her father banned magic after her mother’s death, but Brigid is not ready to deny what is hers by birth.