When Heroes Fall

Chapter 12

The stiff plastic chair hurt after an hour of waiting, but it was the earliest one of Matt's parents could come and pick him up from the station, so Matt hunkered down, scrolling on his cell phone, and ignoring the world around him. Busy feet shuffled around him. Matt tried to keep his head down, the night was a close enough call as is, he just needed to make it out of the station, and then he could go home. And be grounded for a lifetime. His parents definitely did not know he was out after curfew, and he couldn't exactly tell them about his extracurriculars.

"Hey, turn the TV up," one of the officers shouted to the woman behind the front desk. Matt glanced up, watching the older woman in her knitted sweater as she grabbed a remote and pointed it toward the television. Following the remote, Matt saw Commander Freedom—a tall, muscular man with a chiseled jaw framed by a trimmed, clean look--standing behind a podium, the official seal of the Coalition of Heroes engraved on the front.

"—Relations between Earth and the Drin's will remain peaceful," Commander Freedom's voice boomed, "We now have a few minutes for questions—"

Questions bombarded the superhero from every direction, the voices blending and layering. One voice stood out thought, "Commander Freedom, Sir, is your team prepared to handle the loss of The Comet? How will you respond to Gea's continued attacks on Axiomville?"

Commander Freedom's soft smile faded, a grimness pulling on his features. Matt's fingers froze on his phone's screen, his focus centered entirely on the television. "The loss of the Comet is heartbreaking, not only to the citizens of Axiomville, but to the Coalition as well. We lost a dear friend," Commander Freedom cleared his throat, rolling his shoulders back as if he was resetting himself. His voice changed as he took on a different stance, "That being said, the Coalition is not a band of rogues hunting for revenge. We assist in upholding justice. We have full confidence in the Axiomville Police Department and their Meta-Human protocol. The Coalition will be refraining from interfering with their investigation until we are invited."

There was a pause as Commander Freedom's answer sunk in, and then another rapid clicking of cameras and a cacophony of reporters shouting more questions. The voices on the screen blended together, fading in Matt's ears under the thrum of his own heart pounding in his chest.

The Coalition wasn't coming. For the last month, Matt had been holding on, doing his best to protect the city because he knew once the other heroes arrived, they would be able to stop Gea. He needed them. They were the heroes. They were supposed to save the day. He was just the sidekick holding things together until the real help arrived. But they weren't coming.

"Good," one of the officers remarked, "we don't need more superfreaks running around here."

Matt gripped his phone tighter.

"Hon, your dad is here," a melodic voice drifted down from beside him, startling him into dropping his phone.

Blush creeping on his face, Matt ducked down, picking up his phone before turning his gaze upward to where the secretary stood beside him. She smiled down at him, tight lipped. Matt nodded, standing up. At the front door of the station with a toddler on his hip, a ten-year-old at his side, two thirteen-year-olds jumping behind him, and a haggard expression on his face, Matt's dad scanned the station. All of his sibling were bundled in coats and mittens. Matt waved weakly at him, sheepishly keeping his gaze locked on his shoes. Shuffling over, Matt spoke, "hey, Dad...brought the whole crew?"

"What was jail like?" Jonathan, the taller of the twins, piped up.

James, following his counterpart, shouted, "You're in so much trouble."

"Boys," Matt's father sighed; the toddler in his arms—Ruth—began crying. Matt stretched out his arms. His dad handed the crying girl over, his entire body sagging. Matt shifted, placing his younger sister in a more comfortable position. As her weight settled into his arms, her cries hushed.