A D Tier's Breaking Point

Chapter 30

It didn't take long for Morgan's breathing to slow into something more relaxed. When Alex checked their eyes were closed, mouth slack, body slumped. He hadn't been expecting them to fall asleep again so soon, but then again he couldn't say he was surprised. On a good day Morgan often looked like they could sleep for a week, and Alex didn't want to think about when their last good day might have been. He shifted slowly, cradling Morgan close to try and not disturb them until he was reclining on the sofa, with Morgan lying on top of him.

'Hey Monday?' Alex whispered, hoping that the AI could pick up the whisper.

'Yeah?' she whispered back, making Alex smile in amusement.

'Does Morgan keep any blankets in the base?'

'Oh yeah,' she whispered, 'I think I saw some in the ottoman.'

The ottoman in question was buried under abandoned clippings and papers. Which Alex was sure to put back after they had gotten the storage unit open and lifted out the fluffiest blanket he could find. One that used to be a deep forest green before it had faded from so many times in the wash, the one that Morgan had thrown at his head the first time he had ever crashed on Morgan's couch.

'Couldn't you just make one?' Monday asked.

Alex shrugged, trying not to look too sentimental as he covered Morgan with the blanket. 'Apparently they're too uncomfortable if I just snap my fingers to make one.' Static ran through Monday's speakers that sounded a bit like a snort, and Alex grinned. 'Any chance you know where Morgan hides the remote?'

The TV flicked on as a response, the sound immediately muted so only the picture played. 'Like that?' Monday asked.

Alex looked at the nearest camera in bemusement, 'Does Morgan not have a remote for the TV?'

'They used to.' Monday said. Alex held back a snort, and turned back to the TV. 'After anything in particular?'

'Central News,' Alex said, and the picture switched to a news anchor. Another second later and subtitles were on the screen, above the scrolling headlines.

The Heartstealer attack at City Hall was still the main headline. It didn't look like the journalists had connected it to the heist at Association HQ, which had been relegated to the scrolling headlines for the moment. For now though there were three faces on the screen in the middle of a half-interview half-debate. A representative from the Association was currently talking over a man in a tweed jacket, and Alex grinned as he realised what they were talking about. 'Oh no I have to hear this.'

The volume turned on, quiet enough for Morgan to not stir, but Alex's hearing picked up each word perfectly.

'And at this time we would like to assure the public that there is no cause for alarm.'

'There is a cause for concern however,' the tweed dressed man said, 'considering the fact that-'

'I can assure you Professor that the threat is being handled.'

'How? This S tier lookalike hasn't been seen since he and Heartstealer went up in flames yesterday.' The Fairness representative took a breath, 'A villain who no heroes have been able to bring in. Their whereabouts are unknown.'

'From where I'm sitting Professor both suspects from the fight yesterday fled the scene. They recognised that the Fairness Association's brave heroes outmatched them and had no choice but to either retreat or be brought in.'

Alex snorted at that. The professor seemed to agree, but did not think it was funny.

'Forgive me but I don't think we were watching the same attack yesterday. If you think for a second that S tier would be threatened by that display-'