6th March 2015
"I'm Zero."
Oliver stared, his mouth open, and he took a step back, blinking slowly for what felt like an eternity. Jayden didn't even look at Cathy, too glued to her friend's reaction.
"That-that can't be."
"It is."
He didn't reply, still gaping as though she'd just grown another head. She knew she had to explain somehow, but she didn't know what to say. She didn't know how to even begin. So she continued to stare at him, and he stared right back.
What broke them from it was the robber's groan from where he lay across from them. Luckily, he was still unconscious, but it wouldn't be for long.
"Shit," Cathy swore, her trembling hands searching her pockets. "I should- I gotta call the police."
She pulled out her phone, but instead of calling, she kept it in her palm, and her eyes slid to Jayden, who was taking a step back towards the entrance of the alleyway.
"You won't-"
"No," Cathy interrupted her, shaking her head. "I won't."
She nodded, her shoulders relaxing a tad. As Cathy called the police, she looked back at Oliver. His expression had yet to change.
When the police arrived, they arrested the perpetrator and took their statements after making sure none of them were injured. Cathy told them everything that happened, and the only notable divergence in her story was how the man ended up unconscious. Instead of revealing Jayden's abilities, she stated she punched the guy, making his head collide with the wall.
Jayden, in numb relief, only agreed with whatever the teenager said, while Oliver remained in a state of shock and said nothing. The officers left them well enough alone, seeing that they were only young children.
When it came time to contact their guardians, Jayden directed them to her watch where she called Happy and reluctantly handed it off so they could explain the situation. From her seat in the police car, she kept her gaze on her hands. She expected them to be shaking as Oliver's were, but they were surprisingly steady.
When Happy arrived, he pulled her straight into a hug, with frantic questioning whether she was okay.
"I'm fine," Jayden murmured into his chest. "They know."
He pulled back, looking at her sharply. "Know what?"
"Happy, I-I used my powers."
"What?" His eyes went wide and flicked to the police officers only a few feet away. "Do they-"
"No. Just Oliver and Cathy," she responded. "Cathy made something up to the police on how the guy ended up unconscious."
He pursed his lips and pulled out his phone, urgently typing into it. A second later, his phone buzzed, and he nodded as he read the reply, placing it back in his pocket.
"Come on." He held his hand out to her.
She was led to where Cathy was leaning on the front of a car with Oliver under her arm. His face was blank, and he didn't look up as Jayden and Happy reached them.
"You kids alright?"
"Fine," Cathy replied, a far-off look in her eyes.
"Your mom works at the tower, right?"
YOU ARE READING
Unforeseen¹
FanfictionJYD2641 had enough. In her seven years, she's only ever known the cruel hands of her doctors, who were determined to make her the next Winter Soldier. All she'd ever known was death, pain, and fear. Instead of a parent's loving embrace, she had the...
