Defrost my Heart Part Fourteen: Bells and a Trap!

Nitro:

Smoothing out the ruffles of the full skirt of my wedding dress, the rubber material matched my super suit. Twisting my hair into a bun, a shimmering diamond covered mask sat on my bed. Fussing with the ruffles covering my chest, the neckline stood at its usual height. My father let himself in, pride glittering in his eyes at the sight of me. Looking dapper in his simple white rubber suit, his gloves stuck out of his pocket. Making his way over to me, a tap on my head had a frost shimmering to life. Smiling to myself, his gentleness always warmed up my heart.

“Your mother allowed me to use that trick.” He laughed blithely, his trembling hands sliding on his gloves. Tying on my mask for me, the glittering pink eye shadow was a gift from the other heroes. Tugging on my gloves, the diamonds capturing my eyes. Sliding on my engagement ring, a moment of muted sadness lingered in the air. Getting lost in its beauty, the thought of being married to Emberox made it all worth it in my eyes. An ice crystal bouquet of lilies snapped me out of it, my happy father offering it to me. Accepting it with a hug, his desperate embrace grew stronger. Resting his chin on my head, his frozen tears shattered around our feet. Stepping back, his palms caught my tears. When was he going to stop being such an adorable father?

“Frozen tears don’t ruin makeup.” He joked lightly, his hands cupping mine. “Shall I give you away?” Hooking my elbow around his, not one hair was out of place. Walking through the hotel, he paused in front of the entrance to the garden. Dusting off my dress with quaking hands, my steady fingers adjusted his frost covered tie. Gathering our wits, his elbow hooked around mine. The doors opened, violins squealed to life. Playing a gentle song, the other heroes watched him guide me to the front. Stopping a few feet from the bottom step, his eyes lingered on mother’s ring. Words faded in and out, his slender hand placing me across from Emberox. Clasping our hands together, Father Shrew opened up his notebook. Getting lost in Emberox’s loving gaze, steam curled into the air. Looking dashing in a fireproof navy suit, a throat clearing ended the touching moment. Turning our heads, his words went in one ear and out the other. Emberox shook my hand as he asked for my vows. Nodding my head once, it took a moment for me to gather my courage.  

“Emberox, your flames melted the ice around my heart. From the moment I pounded my brother in the face to protect you, I hoped to see you again.” I choked out awkwardly, the guests laughing at my admission. “If he were here, he would have scowled while I said that. This is going to sound silly. Your snores sound like a hit song to me and I hope to hear them every night. Getting pregnant with our twins saved my life and I couldn’t have had them with a better man. All that being said, I vow to be your wife and mother of our many children.” Blushing a deep scarlet, his gaze shifted to the floor before the good father requested his vows. 

“Nitro, you cool me down when I get angry. I fell in love with the girl who decked her brother for me. I wish he could be here. Your selfless ass decided to rescue just me.” He gushed adorably, his hand cupping my cheek. “That one night stand lead us here and I wouldn’t have it any other way. As stubborn as you are, you have blossomed into a wonderful mother and team leader. From the bottom of my fiery ass heart, I vow to be your husband and father to our big family.” Staring out at the crowd, my father’s warm gaze relaxed my fraying nerves. Flurry bounced up from his seat with our rings, his suit matching my father’s. What a cute little guy. Simple black bands having been twisted into the pattern of my engagement ring shimmered on his palm, Emberox looking eager to slide mine on. Smothering him in a hug, his silver mask glinted in the afternoon light. Curling our fingers around our bands, sounds began dying out as we slid on our bands at the same time. Words refused to meet my ears, his trembling fingers untying my mask. Spinning me underneath him, my arm draped over his shoulders. 

“Time to make you my wife.” He growled huskily, his lips smashing into mine passionately. Cheers became background noise, time slowing down. Steam danced in the air, the sea of rainbow flowers threatening to wilt. Swinging me back up, he raised our hands in the air. Tossing Evie my bouquet, excitement glittered in her eyes. Sensing Goldenheart’s energy, one look between my father and I had him whisking my kids out. Standing strong, they all waited for my orders. Tying my mask back on, we had planned for this. Blinking twice, our emergency plan was enacted. Thankfully, the reception was being held in an undisclosed location. Leaving Emberox and I to deal with the issue, his steady hands untied my skirt. Tossing it into the air, the material clung to her golden hook. Ice froze it to the point of fragility, a blast of Emberox’s blue flames shattering it. Dropping his phoenix mask over his face, fire crackled to life on his arms. Dancing down to his hands, we clasped our palms together to create a room full of steam. Splitting up, the barricaded locks clicked into place. A metal net trapped her in the same room as us, diamonds clicking as I peeled off my left glove. Construction was going to have some work to do after this, a discreet press of my palm had spikes of ice cracking into place. The steam cleared, the golden haired women pounding away at the thickest one. Ice shards floated into the air, one of her hooks whistling towards my head as I tugged my glove back on. Leaping over the hook, my fingers curled around the chain. Flipping myself into the air, her muscles groaned as she pulled her fist back. Aiming my fist for her’s, the sheer energy of our strength meeting each other sent us flying across the small space. Catching my landing on a thick brick wall, a push had me flying by her. Raising my foot behind my head, a swift kick cracked her skull. Snatching my ankle, worn wood flew into the air upon my impact. Summoning one of her hooks, a swing had it barreling towards my face. Hot flames melted it, a blast of ice turning it to frozen blue drops. Shattering upon my face, a metal platter rolled into my palm. A quiet fear haunted my eyes, the shape of a hook pushing its way through. Kicking it back through, the thick metal cracked her nose into nothing. Ruby dripped through the hole, her curse words bouncing through the air. Please grant me a bit of time to damage her body further. Stumbling back, an opportunity presented itself to get up. Popping to my feet, her eager fist whistled by head. Any loose hairs floated up, a nervous grin twitching underneath my mask. Remembering her joints were her weak points, Emberox released a wave of flames while charging at her. Jumping over the wave, his flaming boot met her face. Cooking flesh nauseated me, a single punching knocking him into a brick wall. Clanking announced his rough landing, bricks crumbling underneath him. Doubling her muscles, her suit expanded with her body. Landing gracefully on one of my ice spikes, a single punch shattering the ice holding me up. Bouncing off of her next attempt to hit me, her bulging veins spoke of a serious strain. Wincing in agony, a single pressure point stuck out. Picking up speed with every leap off of my spikes, the pathways prevented itself. Ice built around my fist, her bulky form unable to move fast enough to stop me. Striking the pressure point with precision, a loud crash announced my victory. Walking over to her ankles, a couple of kicks broke them into shards. Walking wouldn’t happen for a while, I thought bitterly to myself. Plucking a net from my pocket, a flick of my wrist had the metal clinging to her form. Crouching down to her level, my wrists rested on my knees. Groaning as she rolled over, bruises from our fight had swollen every inch of her face.  

“I will build you a new nose. Unfortunately, I could never work with you due to what you did that day. Actually, since then as well.” I informed her with a sympathetic smile, her hard expression softening. “I couldn’t have my father do this. You do know that he cared about you, right? What I need for you is to become a good prisoner in maximum security. Can you manage that?” Fishing around my pocket, her son’s badge slid into my palm. Silent tears cascaded down the lumps on her face, the dulled edges would never serve as a weapon. 

“Losing your kid is something that I hope to never experience but I can give you this on the one condition that you keep a little zapping bug I made myself within you.” I continued while cleaning it off a bit, her lips unable to move. “If you try to escape or harm anyone, a jolt will knock you out. Am I understood?” Giving me permission, my zapping bug jumped from my pocket. Scurrying over to her trapped body, the machine burrowing itself into the meat of her neck had a long sigh drawing from my lips. Placing her son’s badge into her palm, a jumbled thank you escaped her lips. The locks clicked open, the transporters whisking her away to the van. She may have been a monster but part of me wanted to treat her like a human. Digging around the trap, it had served me well. The construction team rushed in, a few of my kicks destroying what was left of my spikes. Scooping up Emberox on the way out, the place would look like new in about an hour. Making my way down to the car, my father glanced back from the front seat as I crawled in. 

“Everything is taken care of.” I assured him calmly, hurt dimming his eyes. “If you want to talk, she will be in a cell with all of our safeguards. I told you that having my wedding would draw her in. The cards are now in your hand.” His lips parted to speak several times, something important resting on the tip of his tongue. Please don't reprimand me was all I could think of as the leather groaned underneath his increasing grip.

“Where did his badge go? I had it in my office. Poof, it was gone.” He interrogated me politely, his fingers drumming on the wheel. “What if she uses it as a weapon?” Rolling my eyes, Emberox snuggled into my lap. Sometimes the old ways were a bit too rough, a lifetime of imprisonment should have a small bit of reprieve. 

“I dulled the edges and had one of my zappy little friends burrow into her neck. One jolt with the slightest resistance should send her into dreamland.” I answered simply, pride returning to his eyes. “Is that all?” A secret tunnel opened up, childlike wonder rounding my eyes at the doors locking behind us. Well, this was a surprise.

“What else would I expect from my wonderful daughter?” He bragged to himself, his fatherly gaze shifting over to me as he peeled into the one remaining spot. Emberox jerked into the sitting position, his hands cupping my cheeks. Smothering me in feverish kisses, steam curled into the air. Thanking God that I was alive, relief washed over me at his pecks slowing down enough for him to bury me into a desperate embrace. Resting my chin on his shoulder, he needed this more than I did. 

“Come into the reception when you are ready, Nitro. I am so proud of you for apprehending her today.” My father spoke serenely, frozen tears bouncing down Emberox’s back. “Don’t cry. I plan on visiting her to keep her spirits up. That is the least a former team mate can do. Give me a bit of time.” Shooting him a quick okay, that was fair. Excusing himself, Emberox sank onto the seat next to me. Frustration brewed in his eyes, his fists clenching repeatedly. 

“Next time could you be more careful?” He hissed vehemently, frozen tears forming in my eyes. “You could have died today! Do you want to end like your friend! Could we have one day where it is about us!” Struggling to contain my fury, something was accomplished today that couldn’t happen any other way. That sentence stung harder than anything else had, my fingers scratching at my legs. A rain of frozen tears pooled in my quaking palms, the trauma from that day returning with a vengeance. 

“You didn’t have to kill her!” I thundered viciously, his furious scowl softening to a sympathetic smile. “You didn’t fail her sister! All because I couldn’t do my job! She doesn’t have a big sister to call! My brother is dead because of me. My father will never get to know him because of me! What the hell do you want me to do! Do you think he could take another hit with having to take down one of his only friends! He can’t. Do you hear the tears he cries at night!  Why would you! Fuck you!” Attempting an apology, my raised hand stopped him. Climbing out of the car, I slammed it shut. Shivering outside the car, ice crept out dangerously underneath my feet, Every breath grew shorter, his door slamming shut becoming a distant echo. Sinking to my knees, a deep sorrow devoured me whole. Slapping his hand away, he was the last person I wanted to see. 

“I am sorry but I care about you! No, I love you!” He shouted with pure honesty, my panic attack dying down. Burying me in his body, steam allowed my tears to become real. Splashing to my feet, his  chin rested on my head. 

“Sorry for losing it on you. A life without you would be utter misery.” He admitted through a wall of tears, his shaking hands holding mine. “What happened that day could not have been prevented. You thought with the quickest wit and you are doing your best. We can sit here all night if we must.” Shaking my head, everyone was waiting for us. 

“I need to make an entrance for the people who gathered here today. It is bad enough that they can’t drink.” I pointed out with a tired smile underneath my mask, his hands spinning me around to face him. Kissing my forehead, his thumbs wiped away my tears. Scooping me up, nothing needed to be said between us. Pent up emotions had been said, both of us ready to celebrate our union. Flashing a flirty grin, Flurry burst through the sterile doors. 

“You coming in or what!” He asked with the cutest expression, my father coming up behind him. Mouthing are you okay, my sad nod did little to ease his fraying nerves. Announcing our names, the long table with pillows on the floor calmed any immediate fear. The noodle guy yelled out a hearty congratulations, whistles shot all around us. Taking our spot at the head of the beautiful cherry wood table, dinner was ready to be served. Checking my watch, we had an hour left before the nightly patrol. Hence, the lack of booze. Raising my spicy glass of tea, something like this has always been my dream wedding. My father plopped down on the other side of me, Flurry and him having a lovely time. Evie hopped onto Emberox’s lap, her hand curling around mine. Clinging to the bouquet, an inkling spoke of appreciation. The twins played on their bellies a couple of inches behind me, their giggles warming up my soul. Demonico sipped his tea a couple of pillows down, his sisters whispering with Betty. 

“Thank you for attending. I may have been a bit icy before but I am so happy to be celebrating this moment with you. Enjoy these noodles and please don’t think that yours is as spicy as mine.” I chuckled sweetly, their laughter validating me. “I propose a toast to a better future and a happy life for all of us.” Clinking our glasses together, the noodle guy filled our bowls first. His staff ladled his normal ramen into theirs, pleasant chatter erupting around us. Soaking in the warmth, today turned out okay. May good luck follow me into the next stage of my plan.