Defrost my Heart Part Twenty-Two: The Trails of Venom

Lady Nitro:

Flipping through the endless piles of evidence, nothing made sense. It took me a few seconds to realize that I was utterly and completely lost in the matter, a knock bringing me out of my train of thought. My old man dusted off a layer of ice from his usual suit before entering the large conference room, his mask hiding his obvious anxious smile. Clearing my throat, the rubber of my uniform crunched underneath my own layer of ice. Did we both have to suffer from the same levels of stress?

“Amber is a sweetheart. I hope your relationship is as lovely as I picked up.” I assured him sincerely, frozen tears building up in the corner of his eyes. “Thank you for performing emergency surgery on me. Lord knows, I would have kicked the bucket. Too bad the political environment is a bit of a mess.” Grinning sadistically under my mask, both of us knew that I meant to take him down in the public space.

“Like you didn’t mean to do any of that.” He shot back with a cocked brow, his hands resting on his hips. “How about we follow that trail of venom today? Noodles can happen after we finish up.” Popping to my feet with an embarrassing amount of enthusiasm, his features softened into a mixture of relief and pride. Catching up to him, my lips pressed into a thin line. Where the hell were we heading off to today? Trudging after him, bright morning rays painted my face. Covering my eyes, a migraine throbbed to life. Wondering where the hell that was coming from, his query of concern snapped me out of my downward spiral.

“Jesus Christ! I am fucking fine!” I retorted sharper than I had originally intended, a bit of hurt dimming his eyes. “Sorry, the lack of control is murdering me. Forgive me for losing my cool. Turmoil is coursing through the city because of me. Every action has a consequence.” Burying me in a side hug, a welcome warmth cut my anxiety in half. Ruffling my hair upon my squirming out of his embrace, a familiar twinkle returned to his eyes.

“All of it needed to happen. People like him needed to be cut down. Haven’t you read the latest headlines?” He assured me heartily, his hand digging around his jacket. “Take a long gander. The tide is turning in our direction for the first time in a while. With Amber running for his position, our protection should be granted. Besides, villains are kept at bay for the most part. However, that doesn’t solve the current bullshit going on.” Pulling the latest newspaper from his jacket, the latest headline sent frozen tears shattering to my feet. Not one hateful word could be seen, people actually saying kind words about us heroes.

“Who else could pull this kind of work besides you? I happen to believe that damn press conference and video drove what you have been trying to point out into their thick skulls.” He complimented me proudly, his hand resting on my shoulder. “Haven’t the police and the nurses been on our side this entire time?” Acknowledging him while forming ice discs underneath my boots, a spark of hope ignited within my heart. Skating next to him, skyscrapers became towering pine trees. Wonder brightened my eyes at the wooden huts lining the dirt path, his ice disc cracking underneath a stomp. Doing the same, his hands folded across his lap.

“This guy is a wee bit odd so let me do the talking.” He warned me while dusting off the ice crystals on my shoulder. “His name is Pinetex and he is an old pal of mine. Half of the ingredients used to end that bastard’s life are found in this forest. Hopefully, someone saw something. Why waste a chance to show off my perfect daughter?” Averting my gaze, a dull red painted my cheeks. Family felt so fuzzy in my soul, the ground rumbling had me leaping ten feet into the air. A literal tree of a man knelt down in front of us, his skin blending in with the bark of the pine trees. Moss formed a buzz cut, gentle sage eyes flitting between my old man and me. Gnarled hands rested on large kneecaps, his height having to be about eight feet tall.

“What brings you to my neck of the woods, my dear pal?” His deep voice thundered, other trees beginning to move. “Who is the miniature version of you?” Straightening his back, pride shimmered in his eyes. Picturing my old man’s beaming grin underneath his mask, a shove in front of him almost guaranteed it.

“This is my lovely daughter Lady Nitro. She has the same powers as me. Someone used that horrid bubbly stuff. Did anybody come out to gather those ingredients?” He inquired politely, Pinetex’s finger tapping his face. Whistling with the birds, his bark cracked into a smile in my direction. Placing a finger on top of my fingers, a couple of taps spoke of a grandfatherly energy. Permitting him to check me out, bark cracked as he bent down to examine me closer. Smiling with my eyes, a throat clearing from father returned his focus.

“Shall we discuss things over a nice meal and cup of hot tea?” He offered warmly, the trees snapping back into place upon me staring at them. “Come along!” Rising to his feet, my old man waved me along. Different colored eyes tracked us following him into a field of wild spring flowers, a random live edge table contrasting its natural beauty. Plopping into the seat across from father, Pinetex sat down with his legs crossed at the head of the table. Birds fluttered onto his shoulder, chirps starting to irk me.

“They say that a cloaked figure stole them from us. Sorry for not helping in that department. Let us provide you with a spot of lunch.” He urged with another gracious smile, bowls of extremely spicy noodles coming out with equally hot tea. “Please enjoy the new soup with the new peppers we grew.” Untying our masks, another bowl came out for him, both his tea and soup smelling a hell of a lot less spicier. Plucking the chop sticks off the table, a stir released a heavenly scent. Gulping down the first bite, intense heat burst over my taste buds. Waves of flavor woke up levels of flavors never experienced, my father looking just as happy. Sipping our tea, the same experience occurred. Thanking him profusely, Pinetex’s smile never left his face. Storm clouds rumbled in the distance, an annoyed curse word tumbling from his lips.

“Thunder keeps coming back to torture us with her damn attitude.” He grumbled under his breath, his spoon clanging against the bowl. “Maybe you two could take her out of here to grow up a bit better.” Heavy rain splattered onto the table, a petite eighteen year old marched into the field. Bright blue lightning crackled off of her electric blue metal gloves, her steel gray chain mail dress showing off how small she really was. Steel gray curls floated up in her own energy, the release of the increasing humidity showing off her frustration.

“Why can’t you let me do what I want!” She shouted with clenched fists, lightning striking the table. Rolling my eyes, her attention shifted in my direction. Aiming her next strike for me, the chair groaned as I rose to my feet. Blocking it with a wall of ice, surprise rounded her eyes. A bright glow illuminated her eyes, both Pinetree and my old man warning me not to battle her. Approaching her with no respect in my eyes, my hands crossed across my lap.

“How about a deal, Thunder!” I asked with my genuine smile, her defiant smirk waking up something mean within me. “If you land ten blows on me, you can stay here. Within a time limit, of course! Failure means you join me in the city. Bring it!” Catching my mask, a few swift twists of the rubber ribbon had it covering my mouth and nose. Charging at me clumsily, an uppercut to her diaphragm paralyzed her. Jamming my elbow into the back of her neck, one breath was all I heard before she passed out. The storm cleared out, relief showing on Pinetex’s face. Ringing out my braids before they froze stiff, a bit of lightning crackled at my feet. A crash onto her back gave up her deception, my grip on her wrists pinning them to the ground.

“Who the hell do you think that you are!” She hissed groggily, the young woman coming to. “I am the all p-” Spreading enough ice down around her wrist, my hand cupped her mouth. Leaning down real close, her cockiness was going to be the death of her. Donning an unimpressed expression, Pinetex had played a major role in raising her. Therefore basic respect was earned.

“Look, kid.” I whispered harshly into her ear, the ice preventing her lightning from spreading. “I don’t know who he is to you but he did raise you. Not one ounce of darkness is tainting his aura. Charging in without knowing what you are doing is fucking stupid.” Wheezing underneath, the impact hit her. Apologizing into the mud, her cocky expression melted into one of submission. Hating what I was witnessing, an apology escaped my lips. Sensing another emotion, a deep sorrow woke up a sneaking suspicion.

“That’s my dad. My mother died last year. Rage and grief is all I feel!” She wheezed between coughs, a look of approval coming from my old man. “All I have done is yell at my dad.” Violent sobs mixed poorly with her wheezes, a couple of hits shattering the ice cuffs. Backing up, her wet eyes met mine. Motioning for her to go talk with her father, my own joined my side. Offering me his hand, one yank hand me back on my feet.

“How did you know how to handle her?” He implored calmly, the two of them hugging in front of us. “Shame about those nasty bruises that are going to linger for a long while.” Shoving his hands into his pocket, a tired smirk hid underneath my mask.

“For many years, I believed that I was without parents. Rage and frustration was all I felt for the longest time. Not your fault and it won’t ever be.” I answered simply, an equal understanding coming between us. “Do you know how many times my ass was kicked in jail? Charging in blindly taught me how to fight. Trust me when I say that I feel the sting of those wounds. Then again, the fault lies with me. Run your mouth and you will find out.” Grimacing with a flash of guilt in his eyes, a sympathetic glance from me shut that down.

“As much as we hashed that out, I will never not feel okay with losing you guys.” He returned dejectedly, his fingers clawing at the hem of his jacket. “Your mother was a monster with a beautiful smile, Amber proving to be much better than her. I can’t describe it.” Chuckling softly to myself, a blast in the distance destroyed the rare serene moment. Forming ice discs underneath my boots, his own disc cracked to life. Skating towards the chaos, a small fire from a lightning strike had begun to spread. Stopping me from hitting it with a blast of ice, his head nodded towards the trees. Half of them were alive and trudging away, neither of us knowing what to do. Hitting them with our full power would kill them, Thunder skidded up to our side. Breathing shallowly, her hand clutched her chest, storm clouds rumbling in the distance. An idea came to mind, her mental turmoil would put it out.

“Get angry!”I demanded impatiently, confusion mixing poorly with her panic attack. “Jesus Christ! Bring on the damn rain!” Howling winds whipped my braids about, thick drops of rain plodded onto the top of my head. Coming down harder than before, lightning threatened to start another fire.

“Concentrate your lightning to your gloves and just your gloves.” I shouted over the winds, her brows furrowing as she struggled to do as I requested. Sighing deeply before approaching her, one grasp around her wrist had ice devouring her hands. Lightning bounced off of the ice, relief shimmering in her eyes. Smoke swirled into the air, the onslaught of rain putting out the fire. Horror drained the color from her face, the consequences of her actions staring her in the face. Shivering her spot, a smash of my ice freed her hands. A box of ice groaned into place behind me, the pent up lightning whistling by my head. Dodging it until it fizzled out, a numb Thunder nearly collapsed into my arms. Sculpting a long stick of ice, a good distance was kept. Regretting my powers’ limits, every cell in me wanted to hold her to comfort her.

“Can't you freeze into an ice sculpture!” I joked blithely, her head bobbing forward. “None of that means that I don’t want to hug you. Do you want to get headed out of here?” Lifting up her head, the biggest look of admiration had dread bubbling in my gut. Another person had glued themselves to my side, my old man kicking his box of ice. Ice crystals shimmered in the afternoon light, the clouds parting to reveal bright pink rays of sunlight. Lowering the stick, Pinetex lowered a worn leather bag into her arms.

“Be a good girl for her.” He urged with a big grin, pride shimmering in his eyes. “Nitro will always take care of you. Judging by your actions, you actually like her.” Clasping her palms together, a shadow of a smile haunted her lips.

“You aren’t wrong. She reminds me of Mom, so patient and kind.” She mumbled with flushed cheeks, a lump forming in my throat. “I promise to make you proud. I will send my s-” Raising his hand in the air, his head shook in protest. Watching on with a charmed expression, the two of them could have nice moments.

“The salary is yours to keep. Living off the land is what I do. Have fun and make friends that aren’t trees.” He wept openly, sap tears dancing through the cracks in his skin. “Try to keep your cool. Although it seems like Nitro has that under wraps. Lady Nitro, please make sure she visits me a couple times a month.” Shooting out a quick yes, his grin grew bigger. Waving goodbye as I developed two discs of ice, the second one hovering not too far behind me.

“Hold on tight and we will be home soon.” I assured her with a confident thumbs up, an odd look meeting my twitching brow. “A little help, Dad!” Spouting off some diplomatic nonsense, a nervous smirk was all he received. Beginning to skate home, trees became skyscrapers. Ice shards shot up into the upon our rough stop, a stomp destroying our trail. Spinning on my heels to check on Thunder, wonder twinkled in her eyes.

“You live here!” She squealed in a high pitched voice, the sounds of movie night hitting my ears. Nudging my shoulder, someone was eager for it. Then again, it was Amber’s first time. Explaining the evening’s plan while dragging her into the elevator, her head nodded in response. Welcoming her in, cheers and hellos had opened her up with the final ding. Thankful for her smile, a splash of luck had come my way. Plopping down next to Demonico’s sisters, they passed her a couple of snacks. Lingering in the kitchen with an excuse, my fingers drummed on the kitchen counter. How does one train a moody teenager? Clicking heels whipped me out of my internally racing mind, a soft hand grazing mine bringing my eyes to Amber. Dusting off her gray suit, her gentle eyes refused to leave mine.

“Elements told me that you approve. Thanks for permitting us to be together.” She gushed with an adorable blush, a strained huh slipping off my tongue. “Do you not like me?” Waving my hands to shut her down, my lips parted several times underneath my mask. Struggling to come up with the words, nothing seemed to sound right in my head.

“Do me a favor and don’t hurt him! Don’t die either.” I blurted out awkwardly, the volume of the movie preventing any embarrassment. “Failure has prevented me from everything he holds dear. If you want grandmother time, please be careful with all of my kids. The older ones love ice cream and the little ones love to play with the ice toys I made. If he ignores you during that time, I don’t know what to tell you. He adores them to death. Don’t hurt him more than I have. I can’t take back what I haven’t been able to do.” Burying me into a motherly hug, frozen tears bounced off of her back, steam curling into the air. Releasing me, she spun off with his tea. Sliding down the cabinet, exhaustion stole me away.