Igniting a darkened flame. // SBI

Memories of a burning past.

TW: Mentions of hospitals and injuries

Laughter filled the café as the boy looked at the woman with a blinding smile.

"See Niki! Told you I could do it!"

"Never doubted you for a second Toms," She replied sarcastically.

Tommy squawked in offense before promptly demanding she give him a cookie.

"You know I don't have to give you this, right? I should kick you out for wanting it for free!"

"You should but we both know you never would." Tommy giggled.

The woman sighed in mock frustration but handed him a cookie regardless.

"You'd be helpless without me Tommy."
                                                                                                                                                                                                         "Bold of you to assume that, anyone would be more than willing to give me anything I want"

Niki huffed out a laugh before ruffling his hair.

"Sure Tommy, sure."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tommy waited in the Hospital's waiting room for what seemed like hours before a masculine voice called his name.

Tommy was hit by a wave of Deja vu as he followed the man through the all too familiar corridors of the medical ward.

Tommy recognized the door almost immediately still hesitating as he stood in front of it.

He hand lingered on the door nob before finally pushing it open.

He awkwardly held a bouquet of pink lilies in his arms as he shuffled through the door.

His breath still stuttered as he looked upon Niki's still form, the only tell tale sign of life being the small, unsteady rise and fall of her chest. He propped the bouquet up against the hospital night stand and sat a in the same chair he sat on over a month ago. Tommy shook his head as if to rid himself of those memories before taking Niki's cold hands once more. 

"Hey Niki, It's been a while," He sighed, lost for words "You'd probably scold me again. About not visiting."

He let out a dry laugh at that, it was strange. Before this the very sight of the woman made him smile and now he can only look upon her in regret.

"I did it for you y'know." He said wistfully "And I don't even think I could say that now, Because I know for a fact you would be disappointed In what I've done"

Tears started to fall slowly from his eyes.

"A-and I really am sorry Niki I mean it but I had too, because I know that the worlds gonna be so much safer when that no good heroes gone and I'll do whatever it takes even getting help from the likes of Muse." His voice breaking.

"When you wake up I'll make sure the worlds a thousand times safer for you I promise."

But Tommy felt like Promises meant nothing to the woman now.

You can only break so many

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Muse rested against the rooftop, seemingly not noticing or just not caring as the anti-hero landed at the space behind him. Tommy knew for a fact it was the latter but he shoved that thought aside for now.