Seek {Superhero AU} - Ending 1

12: Safe From Harm

WPOV

Track: It's Always Sunny With You, {Parentheses}

I'm going crazy. Maybe I'm hallucinating. I could have sworn that was Nico's voice—and his eyes. And his mouth. And his hands. After being around someone for a year and seeing nothing but very specific pieces of them, you memorize those pieces so well that you could recognize them from a mile away.

I invite Leo to lunch with me because I know he's lying about Luke and Ethan. Luke wouldn't have been so casual about going up and literally grabbing Leo by his neck. I mean, that's not a minor threat.

And I'm hoping desperately that he's lying about his name, too—or maybe the Ghost King lied to me about his name. Maybe Nico's real name is Leo? I'm grasping at straws. I know I am. Valdez is a Spanish name, and Nico said his family had immigrated from Italy, which makes sense based on Nico's mother's accent.

I really thought I'd found him. I was hoping when I ran my finger up and down his hand like I've done so many times in the sky before, he'd look at me in shock, and we would know without having to say a word. In my head, there were fireworks. In my head, he smiles slyly and says, "Sunburst, you're so handsome—"

In the school cafeteria, Leo clears his throat at me. He must have said something, but I was too busy thinking about what's going to happen when I really do find Nico.

"Uh, sorry, what was that? Did you ask me a question?" I ask, startled out of my daydream.

He looks vaguely amused. "Yeah—I asked where you're taking me. Are we just going to stand in the middle of the cafeteria with our food forever, or...?"

"Oh!" I brighten. "Let me bring you to Cecil and Lou Ellen. They're my best friends—you're going to love them."

He fidgets with the sleeves of his shirt, pulling at the fraying edges. "Ah—more people. Awesome, I love...people."

I roll my eyes at that. He has the same attitude as the Ghost King, too. But anyway, Lou Ellen and Cecil hardly count as the type of people that Leo probably hates socializing with. Lou Ellen and Cecil are different! They're funny and compassionate, and they might be the least judgmental people I've ever met in my entire life.

I take his hand, which makes him blush. I smile and pretend not to notice, but I kind of like that I'm making him blush. Is it normal to make your friends blush on the first day of knowing them? Maybe I'm more attractive than I thought.

I lead him around the cafeteria. Lou Ellen, Cecil, and I have claimed a table in the back corner of the cafeteria because there's more room. Cecil really likes to spread out during lunch, and being crowded around strangers isn't generally enjoyable for anyone.

Lou Ellen and Cecil are throwing french fries at each other when I finally reach the table. I suspect this might be their unique way of flirting. One day, they'll realize it, too.

They cheer when I arrive, and I say, "Hello! I've brought a guest." I gesture at Leo. "This is Leo Valdez."

Lou Ellen looks kind of surprised. "What? I thought—"

Leo sticks his hand out. "Yep, that's me. Leo Valdez. Nice to meet you."

Whatever Lou had been planning to say, she swallows it and opts to hesitantly wave at Leo as we sit down. Cecil looks vaguely confused too.

"You were in my math class last year," Cecil says, and his eyes narrow a little. "Did you...change your—?"

"Nope!" Leo says. "I haven't changed at all over the past year." He gives Leo a very intense look, and I can't help but feel that the three of them somehow know a secret that I don't. But that's not fair! I found Leo, how come he's already keeping secrets with my friends and I'm not included? How does that even work? Maybe it's an inside joke from their math class last year.