Defrost my heart Part Seven: Sorrow and Respect

Hiking over the debris, several buildings had been repaired. Several families brushed past me with death glares, the reaction being a deserved one. Demonico kept on my heels, his eyes refusing to meet the others. Donning a Victorian style suit made of material to keep his flames at bay, my usual outfit felt out of place in the sea of rags. Making a mental note to bring old clothes in, the fact that they would still hate me regardless had me holding back. A brick tumbled behind us, the boy from the last mission tripped into view. Donning a sweater and jeans made from the same material as my costume, his ivory gloved hands reached for me. A gang of masked individuals surrounded him, ice shooting out from underneath his boots. Stomping my feet once, icy spikes sent them flying back. 

“Back off of my kid.” I growled protectively through my mask, the idiots coming towards me. Demonico hit the ground in front of me with balls of bright flames, his eyes glowing for a second. Getting the message, they scrambled off. Rushing over to the boy, he didn’t have a name. Checking him over for wounds, the shocked expression in his eyes had me lowering my hand. Frozen tears shattered at his feet, his hands cupping mine. Apologizing profusely, a gust of cold air had his hair floating up. Ice coated my hand, his fear rounding his eyes. Untying my mask with my free hand, the metal clattered to his lap. His anxiety would freeze us all if he didn’t figure out how to manage it. 

“I need you to breathe in and out slowly.” I urged him gently, his breathing picking up until he passed out in my arms. Laying his head on my lap, my shaking fingers tied my mask back on. Placing him on my back, the task at hand had to be completed. The hospital’s request for me to set up the equipment would give the area the boost it needed. Grunting as I rose to my feet, a smash on a nearby pile of debris shattered the ice around our hands. Placing him on my back, his legs wrapped around my waist. Holding him by his hands, Demonico shot me a curious glance. His lips parted several times, an obvious question resting on the tip of his tongue. 

“Why do you care so much about this hospital and the people out here? Aren’t they criminals?” He queried me with a nervous grin, his voice faltering. “Won’t this make it easier to commit crimes?” Shrugging my shoulders, he was going about it all wrong. That conclusion would be obvious to the naked eye but the result often contrasts what could happen. 

“The way I see it, you can give them the hospital they need and shelter. If it doesn’t cost them money, thus it weeds out the bad seeds. The shelter reduces the need for crime and the gardens I am going to help set up today will start the area’s journey to growing their own food. Essentially, I plan on building the city from the ground up so they can function on their own. If they can run it on their own, they will need their own police force. Forgive me, I am getting ahead of myself.” I explained to him calmly, his head nodding a couple of times. “Hell,  you might be able to return home.” His features brightened visibly, his distrust in me coming from a valid place.  

“Why would you grant me that option?” He choked out in pure disbelief, a soft smile hiding under my mask. “I thought you were going to trap me forever in that piece of shit city you call home.” Scanning the debris for more attackers, the poor guy needed an answer. 

“Someone needs to run and run it well. I believe that is where you come in.” I returned simply, his lips curling into a quiet smirk. “Look, I get why you hate me but I only want what is good for you. If I play my cards right, we can have two cities living in civil peace. Doesn’t that sound great?” Shooting out a quick yes, the hospital came into view. Jumping over the last pile of debris, the new doors dinged open. Patients sat on benches along the wall, a couple of young blonde nurses guiding me through the well built halls. Presenting me with a room of new machines, they backed off with a cautious look. A dark energy bathed the space, Demonico shrinking behind me. Pyro stepped out in front of me, his own tool bag hanging off of his shoulders. Of course, they hired him. How I dreamed I could take him home today.

“Sorry but they called me as well. Looks like you stole one of my agency's kids or more like most of them.” He hissed through gritted teeth, the no fight law in the area keeping us from tearing out each other’s throat. “Consider your ass dead next time I see you.” Flipping him off as I set the boy in Demonico’s arms, Pyro’s face reddened to a dark scarlet. 

“Like I give a fucking shit! You know your father misses you or did you already know that our father is Master Elements?” I retorted bitterly, shock rounding his eyes. “I am giving you one chance to come back and fight on the good side. Then again you weren’t that great at it. Sure, being a villain pays more but at what cost? I am happier than I have ever been and if you think you can steal that boy from me, you have another thing coming. Tell your little crew that they will find out real fast if they fuck around with what belongs to me.” Wheeling the machine out of the room, a ball of fire hit my back. Snapping my head back, Demonico hid behind the nearest column. 

“Stop being a frigid bitch!” He shouted loud enough to silence the entire hospital, the beeping bouncing off the hall. “That asshole abandoned us and you choose to stay by his side! You are another fucking freak and you know it! People pretend to like you. You being happy is bullshit! Sure, you had kids but you don’t burn everyone you touch!” Bingo, the real problem revealed itself. Pushing the machine to the side, my arms folded across my chest. 

“Sure! You can touch more than a few people! I breathe in the wrong direction and they shatter into thousands of ice shards!” I screamed with uncontrollable sobs, his expression softening. “He hunted us down and had to work to find me again. Don’t you dare say that. Perhaps you should ask the people who employ you. They stole us and stole him. He went through test after test. So fuck off that bullshit! I am giving him a second chance because I want to! Don’t make your sorrow mine!” Lingering in a state of shock, his abrupt hug threw me off. Sobbing into my shoulder, the wear and tear of villain life had him breaking down. Steam curled into the air, his arms pushing me out of the way. A spike pierced his heart, ruby dripping from his lips as he rolled to my feet. My lips quivered, a cloud of dust obscured the woman entering the room. A hard drive rolled to my feet, the floor groaning as I sank to my knees. Clutching him close to my feet, his quaking hand shoved the drive into the hidden compartment in my boots. 

“I need you to tell my father that I always loved him.” He spluttered, ruby staining my uniform while his hand cupped my face. “I was gathering information for the past two years to help you guys win. I am so sorry for not coming home sooner. I l-”  His hand hit the floor, a gloved hand plucking me off the floor. The corpse of my brother hit the floor, her hand pinning me to the wall. Demonico shivered in his hiding spot, his wet eyes refusing to meet mine.  Too numb to fight back, her right fist hit my body repeatedly. Demonico laid the boy behind the column, his shaking legs carrying him out of the shadows. 

“Put her down!” He barked with a quivering voice, scarlet flames roaring to life. Her silky salt and peppers floated up with her maniacal laughter, her orange eyes glowing brighter. Dropping me, my body folded like a rag doll. Coughing up frozen ruby, my vision tripled. Vomiting up more blood, immense pain had me shivering in my spot. Noting her worn leather duster, the ivory Victorian suit hugging her six foot frame had me choking on my words. Struggling to my feet, a wave of panic washed over me, Lady Death had come after my brother.  Dodging her attacks with ease, a spike spinning behind her head had me running clumsily towards Demonico. Knocking him to the ground, time slowed as the spike took off my right leg. Letting out a tortuous wail, frozen blood shattering across the floor. Covering up the traumatized Demonico with my body, sirens had her running off. 

“I am so sorry!” I sobbed brokenly in between wheezes, his arms pushing me off. Scooping me up, his worn boots echoed into the hall. Respect had formed between us, his distraught cries for help being the last thing I heard before a rough darkness came over me. 

Groaning awake in my cryogenic room at home, the rest of the team cheered in their winter gear. My father looked broken in the corner, his frozen tears hitting the floor. 

“Can you all leave except for my father?” I requested politely, my frozen tears sliding down the blanket. “I need to talk to him.” Shuffling out with understanding smiles, his body smashing into mine. Sobbing into his shoulders, the apologies wouldn’t stop flowing from my lips. Cupping my cheeks, his lips brushed against my forehead. A busted warmth washed over me, our sorrow was the same.

“You did your best and I am so happy he is home. He may not be alive but him saving you proved a point. His heart was kind, just like yours.” He wept openly, his thumbs crushing my frozen tears. “Tomorrow is the funeral. Let’s bury him together as a family, okay. I am going to hang with the twins to remind myself of what is important. Someone wants to talk to you.” Demonico let himself in with the boy holding his hand, the heat of his flames keeping him from freezing. 

“Thank you for saving me.” He choked out with a quivering smile, the boy leaping into my arms. “He wants to be called Flurry. Back to what I was saying, no one has ever risked their life for me. Not even my parents. So your new leg is made of metal forged with my flames and it shouldn’t freeze. The hospital staff was quick and thankful. Your father helped set up the machines for them. I don’t ever want to leave your side!” Shocked by his confession, my fingers undid my mask. Flashing him my genuine smile, a leg was just a leg to me. 

“I would do it all over again.” I assured him, my breath dancing in the air. “You don’t have to but I will make you a hero someday. The kind that doesn’t kill. A leg is nothing compared to you living.” Attempting to move, the bruises from her attack hadn’t healed. Grunting in response, immense pain shot through my body. Fighting the urge to cry out, the bed sank down the moment he plopped down. 

“I appreciate that and I can’t wait to serve by your side. Can I get you anything?” He inquired sincerely, his kind gaze never leaving mine. “You deserve it. Thanks to you, I know what a real hero is.” Shaking my head, what I wanted to do was to hang out with my friends. Swinging my feet over the edge of the bed, a fresh sweater dress and tights covered me. Sliding my feet into my boots, his eyes tracked me sitting Flurry down on the bed. Tying on my mask, a quick check over had me breathing a sigh of relief at my gloves being on my hands. 

“How about you join me and meet everyone else?” I suggested with a false bright tone, his arms yanking me into a bear hug. Melting into the warmth, every emotion melted upon his shoulder. Releasing me, he brightened at me patting his head. Catching Flurry in my arms, the others had a movie waiting for me. The twins babbled on my father’s lap, his hand patting the spot in between Emberox and him. Plopping down, the grief stung. Letting the hours pass numbly, everyone else had gone to bed, My father motioned for me to follow him, Emberox had the twins. Evie spun after him. Getting into the elevator, the dings became more ominous. Sorrow and fear sank into my heart, the door opening to what used to be a table. My brother’s body lay on a bed of lilies, my father leaning on my shoulders. Flurry jumped down, his arms clinging to my legs. 

“I couldn’t wait until tomorrow. My heart aches for him but he died doing the right thing.” He spoke barely above a whisper, his hands cupping mine. “Let’s freeze him and gather the pieces. You know, like a reverse urn. We can all have pieces of him.” Peeling off our gloves together, our palms pressed against his body. Weeping openly as ice devoured his body, my goal was to bring him home alive. Lifting my fist into the air, our fists met the ice at the same time. Ice shards shot past us, the surfaces glinting in the light. Sinking into each other’s arms, our emotions shattered by our feet. Evie began to gather the shards, her sad smile causing us to let go of each other. Placing them gingerly into a beaker, her hand reached for mine. Tugging on my gloves, her body smashed into the protective layer of energy around my leg. Crouching down to her level, she tugged on one of my spare gloves. Wiping away my tears, her mouth moved. The words didn’t hit my ears. Pressing my forehead into her thin layer of energy, her warmth was enough to melt anyone’s heart. 

“How about ice cream in his honor?” I chirped cheerfully while popping to his feet, confused expressions meeting mine. “We used to eat ice cream together at the agency all the time. That would be our talking time.” The last words stung, Emberox burying me in his strong arms. Feeling my twins next to me, their tiny hands reached for mine. Clasping them, everything important was around me. Family, they were my family. Making our way to the elevator with Pyro, a busted depression haunted the elevator. Dinging the last time, the doors opened. Making my way to the kitchen, the ghost of him watched me scoop the ice cream. Fighting back fresh tears, his hand held mine. 

“This is happiness.” He whispered with tears of joy in his eyes, the hallucination refusing to go away. “Hey, do you forgive me?” What a stupid question! Any of his sins would have been forgiven, my heart was too big to punish him. Turning towards the hallucination, a sad smile hid underneath my lips. 

“In a heartbeat, you fool.” I answered quietly enough for no one to hear. “Join us for ice cream?” Following me as I laid the bowls on the counter, Evie and Flurry passed the spoons down the table. Taking my spot in between Emerox and my father, Pyro waved from the other side of the counter. Untying my mask, the little kids began to chat about their day. My father laughed along with them, my heart being too broken to contribute to the conversation. Finishing up, it was time for the kids to get to bed. Emberox cleared his throat, his stern expression resulting in Evie and Flurry following him. Sitting at the counter with my father, his hand rested on top of mine. Plucking the drive from my boots, his final gift felt heavy in my palm. 

“He gathered intel for us.” I spoke softly, my father holding the drive in between his fingers. “Do you want to look at it together?” Pulling out his laptop from its bag by his feet, the screen burned bright. Logging on, his trembling hands shoved the drive in. Clicking on the icon, thousands of files waited to be opened. Clicking through them, the financial records and locations of the labs had presented itself. The next group was every child in their hold, my new mission presenting itself. 

“Do I have permission to rescue these poor kids?” I queried with a fire burning under my heels, every cell in me raring to go. Shooting me a stern look, my ears pinned back. Pressing his lips into a thin line, he picked up my right leg. Knocking off my boot, he cut a hole in my tights. Rolling them up, the shock of seeing the jet black metal leg had me wincing. 

“Be careful! Lady Death doesn’t let go of things that easily.” He warned me sincerely, his curious mind taking in all the gears and hell fire running it. “Go ahead. We have what we need to take everyone down. Promise that you will come home in one piece.” Letting go of my leg, it clanged against the stool. Curiosity had him clicking on the last file, pictures of Pryo and I posing together with smiles had him chuckling to himself. Thankful for what I had, the flames of hope burned brighter than the sun.