Lightning and Starlight

Sharp Words about Love

"He's to be my partner?"

Sydney pulled her suit on. "Well, I'm not completely sure, but it sounds like something Verena would do. Can you zip me?"

Neera closed her eyes, taking a deep breath in. "A partner. No."

Sydney sighed. "Neera, it won't be so bad, I promise. I wasn't sure I'd like Hayes because of how serious he is, and look at us now!"

Neera walked over to Sydney, tugging the suits zipper up. Sydney smiled at Neera and motioned for her to turn around. Neera did so, and Sydney zipped her up.

"Syd," Neera sighed. "I hoped she wouldn't find me a parter. At least, not this soon. I like to work alone, and I need time to adjust."

A knock at the door took Sydney's response and attention away from Neera.

"Hey, you guys ready?" Hayes said from the other side of the door.

Neera closed her eyes, a wave of nerves passing through her, starting from her stomach. "I don't know," she whispered.

Sydney turned, enveloping Neera in a quick hug. "You've got this," she whispered back. She then turned and called out to Hayes through the door, "Yeah, we're ready. Be out in a second."

⚡️⚡️⚡️

"He's in the supermarket with the kid. Yeah, Greengrass. Y'all are at the right place."

The crackle of the ear piece in Neera's ear pulled her back to reality. She wished she could see Sydney or Hayes. She needed that small amount of familiarity to relax her nerves. Instead, the three of them were positioned around the outside of the supermarket, waiting for directions.

The market was small, a few lights on and only a couple of vehicles parked in the lot.

This mission was important. To Neera, this mission was more important than stopping villains who are just trying to survive. This was saving an innocent life.

Hayes's voice responded to Selah's confirmation of the location. "Okay. Do we enter? Is he being hostile?"

Selah paused, and a deep breath could be heard over the ear pieces. "No hostility. Looks like he's buying some frozen pizzas and some candy for the kid. I think you can enter. They're on aisle six."

Neera and Sydney went in the back doors and came out near aisle twelve. Sydney started talking softly. "Okay, Hayes. We're in. What's your position?"

"Aisle two. Moving slowly. Selah, warn us if they move."

Selah responded quickly. "Looks like the kid is upset about something. The guy is showing him more candy. They might be here for a few more minutes. Work quickly."

Picking up their pace, Sydney and Neera jogged to aisle seven and waited.

Finally, Hayes spoke, his voice low. "I'm on aisle five. I'm going to go to the entrance. The one closest to the dairy products. Sydney and Neera, go to the other entrance, the one by the bread."

And they moved. At first, the guy didn't see any of the three heroes. The kid did, though. His huge, dark eyes widened as he gazed at the heroes in their suits. Neera held her breath as her eyes connected with his, waiting for the kid to tug on the man's shirt and rat them out. He looked too young to understand the dire situation.

The boy looked at Neera and Sydney. He glanced back at Hayes. Then he turned to the man and motioned to a candy high up. Neera let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.

The plan was a messy, thrown together wreck. But Neera knew they would make it work.

Sprint, which will distract and shock. Sydney grab the kid, as she was the fastest. Neera distract with her abilities. Hayes fight the man.