Defrost my Heart Part Fifteen: The Truth comes out!

Demonico:

Running through the city, the shop owner knocked my thirteen year old body onto the sidewalk. Nitro rushed up to him, the two arguing for a good few minutes. Shoving money into his palm, the bread had been ruined. Offering me her hand, my fingers curled around hers cautiously. Who the hell was she to take pity on me? I fucking hated superheroes!

“Can I help you out? Let me get you enough food to feed your sisters.” She urged sincerely, a solid yank had me on my feet. Ruffling my hair, something about her felt so warm. For so many years everyone made fun of my appearance, a true kindness shimmering in her eyes melting the ice around my soul. Following her to the closest grocery store, her slender hands placed items in the cart. Too afraid to speak up, the old fashioned linoleum cracked under each step. Why couldn’t I thank her? Getting lost in my thoughts, the ding of the register whipped me out of it. 

“Do you mind carrying some of these home?” She asked politely, a death glare shutting down the harsh whispers passing around us. “Why don’t you guys take a fucking picture? It will last longer.” Covering their mouths in shock, it was no wonder she wasn’t their favorite superhero. Grabbing the rest, a tap of her foot created a couple of icy circles underneath her boots. Placing me on the bigger one, buildings became the land of decay that I called home. Helping bring the food in, my little sisters ran up to her side. Petting their heads, her golden heart had her cooking us dinner. Humming while my sisters watched from the worn couch in our parents’ beat up apartment, her hands moved swiftly to make some sort of noodle dish. Dusting off the table, she placed bowls all around the table. Setting it up, the table hadn’t been used since my parents’ passing. Placing the pot onto a hot plate, she spun on her heels to leave. Snatching her wrist, her palms cupped mine. 

“Ask me for help instead of stealing, okay?” She spoke in a whisper to not disturb my eager sisters. “You are too sweet to become a villain. I have to go. Duty calls. See you soon.” Skating out of the house, my sisters begged to have their dinner. An envelope floated to my feet, the amount of money would carry us through the next two months. Hugging it to my chest, the time for me to pay her back would be soon. 

Jerking awake in a strange warehouse, black iron chains kept me at bay. Jingling them around, my casual brimstone and fire proof sweater and pants seeming stained with my own blood. A slow clap sent chills up my spine, my old boss coming into view. Running his hand through his greasy steel gray hair, his ruby eyes glinted with pure malice. Bruises throbbing to life announced his use of his polished brass knuckles, a defiant smile dancing across my lips. 

“I am not going back!” I shouted while spitting out my fangs, the knowledge of them growing back giving me the relief I needed. “My life is so much better n-” Smashing his brass knuckles into my face, silent tears danced down my cheeks. Bowing my head in shame, it was this fucker that had me by my throat for all those years. Poking at the blood dotting his sleazy black suit, a couple of snaps of his fingers had a poor henchman bringing him a new coat. Fresh swelling claimed every inch of my face, the dull pain not aiding in my situation.

“We will see about that.” He mused darkly, his eyes darting over to the one way out. “Lady Nitro is going to come here and we can capture her for that bounty on her head. Those villains really want her. Torturing her would be nice. Patience is a virtue after all.” Shock rounded my eyes, the concept of her being wanted for money shattering my heart. Shaking my head, my powers refused to work. 

“Fuck you! She will never let you take her alive!” I bellowed passionately, my chains rattling with my attempts to escape. “Leave her alone. I love her like a sister, damn it!” Maniacal laughter burst from his lips, my defiance faltering ever so slightly. Snorting at the end of it, a whack of his wrist smashed the back of my head into a tree. The sharp crack sickened me, warm blood soaking the back of my head. 

“Nice. I do know things about her since I have been watching you. She will do anything to save you. What a fucking idiot!” He bragged gleefully, his men crying out about thirty feet away from the door. “Told you so.” A blast of ice shot the door across the space, sparks dancing in the air with every roll across the cracked concrete. Nitro huffed in the doorway, her fingers tapping at her mask. 

“Why do you have Demonico?” She asked sadistically, a malice equal to his twinkling in her eyes. “Why is his blood on your brass knuckles! Why risk your escape from jail only for me to be the one to potentially capture you!” Spinning a dagger of ice over her fingers, hurt softened the harshness in her eyes. Scanning the room, the reward poster caught my eyes as well. Grimacing bitterly, a blast of ice shredded it. 

“Seems to be a touchy subject for you, doesn’t it! Does he know that you worked for who you are fighting against? Does he know that you used to be a villain!” He shouted with a sick pleasure, her head dropping in shame. Frozen tears shattered at her feet, her gaze refusing to meet mine. 

“Sure. Sure, I did. The crimes I committed were minor and often for the good of somebody else. My brother did more of it than me. That was how I was raised.” She hissed vehemently, a cold glare shutting down his cocky expression. “I had to survive. After I committed those crimes, I went back and fixed them. You killed how many when I haven’t killed a single soul without needing to. Fuck off.” Disbelief turned into sympathy from me, all of us having to do what we could to live.

“Fuck off yourself!’ He growled through gritted teeth, clothing floating to the floor as his body cracked into his scaly form. Pleading with her to stop, the sickly green scales glistened in the swinging light. Extending his claws, spikes burst from his brass knuckles as he grinned wickedly. Charging at her, bewilderment twisted his features the second she skidded under him. Breaking the chains with a powerful kick, a cloud of dirt obscured me scrambling up to her side. Frustrated with what I couldn’t do, her palms rested on my shoulder. Something was wrong, several cuts having shredded the right sleeve of her super suit. Ice crept up her arm, her composure far from its usual self. Popping up behind me, a throw had me smashing into the nearby wall. Her shrill scream ripped my heart to shreds, his brass knuckles tearing into her left arm. Jamming her knee into his stomach, scales clattered to her feet, Kick after kick making them fly off of him. Too paralyzed to move, horror contorted his features. Spinning out of the way, one of those blasted monsters swallowed him whole. Fishing around her pocket, pieces of ice cracked with every attempt to grab the salt water bomb. Sprinting up to her, her protests fell on deaf ears as I ripped it from her pocket. Pulling out the top with my teeth, a flick of my wrist sent a spray of saltwater everywhere. Pushing me onto the floor, her body shielded mine from the sting of the saltwater. The last drop hit the back of her head, a thump announced her rolling onto her back. Apologizing profusely, she succumbed to the exhaustion of her wounds. Struggling to my feet, the hospital wasn’t too far from here. Tossing her over my shoulder, ice melted upon contact with my skin. Curling my arms around hers, steam curled into the air. Seeing the hospital in the distance, every footfall felt like I was walking through mud. Wincing from my own wounds, the nurse took one look at both of us. A couple of male nurses whisked her away to the cryogenic chamber, a few female nurses whisking me into an examination room. Hovering their hands over my head, the bruises and swelling faded away. Cracking echoed in my head, my skull coming back together. Asking for a phone, her father should know about this. Glass skidded across the floor, her father skating in. Brushing past me, it took five nurses to hold him back. Sinking onto the chair outside her room, his sad eyes met mine as I plopped into the chair next to him. A new uniform shimmered on his lap, a gracious nurse accepting it from. Thanking them graciously, alarms in her room had him scratching at his mask. 

“Would you like to go for a walk?” I requested cautiously, his frozen tears bouncing onto my lap. “She will be in good hands here.” Rising to his feet with me, his body couldn’t stop shaking. Walking into the cafeteria, a gentle nurse placed a cup of hot spicy tea in front of him. Covering my nose, the smell was atrocious.  Apologizing into the steam, exhaustion wore on his face. 

“Can I ask you something? How bad were Nitro’s crimes?” I inquired apprehensively, his broken look had guilt drowning me. “Don’t worry ab-” Cutting me off, his gloved fingers traced the height of the cardboard cup. 

“She has a few chemical thefts but she would return them by the first light of dawn. There were a couple of spats with a few superheroes but we could never track her down.” He explained calmly, life returning to his eyes. “She never enjoyed it though. Boy, could she throw down while she was imprisoned. I was so fucking happy when I found her. Fuck, I dropped everything to whisk her out of that hellhole. She probably took care of your family and you because you reminded herself of her younger years.” Scarlet painted my cheeks, his mask hitting the table. Sipping on the tea, his gentle grin relaxed my fraying nerves. 

“She wanted to take you guys in but was too afraid to ask you. You stole a special place in her heart back then.” He gushed freely, a few gulps of his tea causing his smile to become genuine. “Heck, she never stopped talking about you. I am so happy that you became her sidekick. Speaking of that, thank you for getting her here.” Remembering how fast the ice claimed her arm, something had been eating at her. My lips parted to speak, a force smashing into the window closer to us. Two of those monsters crawled in, their hardened shells proving to be a new evolution. Everyone scurried towards the lowering metal doors, Master Elements tying his mask in order to protect the hospital. Popping to my feet, the lack of powers had me shrinking back. Remembering that she had a couple of those bombs in her uniform, my footfalls echoed down the empty halls. Sliding underneath the closest door, metal clanged as I popped to my feet. Sprinting towards her room, the nurse let me in. Nitro slumbered away in a drug induced rest, the machine beeping a steady beat as I dug through her wrecked uniform. Plucking out a couple of the bombs, the window calling me. Jumping off the ledge, an intense battle came into view. Tearing out the tops with my teeth, a flip through the cool air had them rolling into the scene. Grabbing the next window’s ledge, a layer of sweat threatened to end me. A gloved hand yanked me in, a rough looking Nitro peering out the window. Nitro caught me, a grateful shine in her eyes spoke of happiness in my well being.  Steam curled into the air, her arms refusing to let me go. Remembering that her new scars would be my fault, every breath grew shorter. Sobbing into her shoulder, her palm rubbed my back until my breathing slowed down. Holding me by my shoulders, her mask had been off the entire time. Donning a sympathetic smile, her hand slid up to my cheek. Wiping my tears away, not one hint of anger lingered in her eyes. 

“Let me know next time so I can help you. My job is to protect you.” She teased with a matching twinkle of her father’s eyes. “Those girls need you. Hell, I need you.” Struggling to her feet, the drugs had her legs shaking like a leaf. Tying on her mask back on, her body slid down the wall. Hitting the wall, cracks danced up to the light. 

“I have to help my fa-” She began with the initial signs of a panic attack, her old man rushing up to her. Scanning her over for any injuries, he clutched her close to his chest. Melting into his hug, the sight was a lovely one to see. The two needed each other more than they knew. Scooping her up as he popped to his feet, his twinkle never leaving his eyes with every step towards her room. Tucking her in, the way he tucked a loose piece of hair had me craving my parents. Noticing my reaction, he waved me over. Resting his hand on my shoulders, steam curled into the air. 

“If you didn’t throw those bombs in when you did, I was about to bite the dust. Thank you for your sharp wit.” He spoke honestly, his hands untying his mask. This was something both Nitro and him did to show that they meant their words. Shouting nurses failed to stop the rest of the team, all them swarming her as Master Elements tied his mask back on. Getting shoved out of the room, the rough sound of my palms rubbing my sleeves had me seconds from losing it. Emberox squeezed his way out, his throat clearing snapping me out of my downward spiral. Burying me into a bear hug, his tears soaked the top of my head. 

“Don’t you let anyone tell you that you aren’t worth shit! If you weren’t there to carry her here, she would be dead.” He wept while releasing me, his sweet love for her causing me to smile to myself brokenly. “You will find your soulmate.” Bowing my head in pure dismay, a shake of his head bewildered him. 

“It’s not that. Part of me is jealous that she has a father and I don’t have parents.” I wheezed desperately, a panic attack stealing control of my heart. “Did you know that she would cook for us once a week and buy our groceries? Why couldn’t I let her raise me?” Sinking to my knees, our lives could have been better if I didn’t blind myself with fucking rage. Sobbing into my knees, an undeniable quake rattled my body. Clammy sweat drenched my skin, his boots squeaking as he crouched down to my level. 

“Can I tell you something? I hated heroes as well.” He laughed nervously, his grin speaking of the truth. “They didn’t do anything to save those kids from that fucking program. For years I searched for Nitro and couldn’t find her. That was until we had a little bit of fun and boom I was a father. Don't tell but I cherish that it freaking happened. If you need a big brother, I can be that for you. You aren’t alone anymore. Hell, we can go out once you are eighteen and get yourself a girl.” Chuckling sadly to myself, the panic attack had melted away. Of course, he would step up. 

“Thank you.” I sniffled with a scarlet flush upon my cheeks, his hand patting my shoulder. “I can’t wait. Do you want to get her some tea with me?” Nodding his head, his casual sweater and jeans weren’t far off from mine. Chatting with me on the way to the cafeteria, his warmth wasn’t far off from hers. Happy to see me smiling, the construction team was at work repairing the window. Nodding their heads in his direction, the kitchen staff had two cups ready. 

“Fuck, this shit reeks.” He commented with a hearty laugh, his wink settling my fraying nerves. “God, I love her.” Smiling into the steam, his heart beat faster in my ears. Basking in the warmth of the moment, our walk back was a pleasant silence. Entering an empty room, a nurse huffed as sent all but her father away. Her lips parted in protest at the sight of me, Nitro shutting him down. 

“Don’t kick my brother out.” She hissed hotly, her fingers curling around her cup of tea. “You can go now. Thanks. Taking my place next to her, everything felt so right.