The Scientist

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Tango pov

The next few days were, in a word, interesting. We stayed holed up in the apartment, not entirely sure if we were allowed to leave. Dr. Zedaph did his best to encourage us to go outside, even for a little while, but the fear was too much. The world beyond those walls felt too big, too unpredictable. We weren't ready, and he seemed to understand that.

Still, Dr. Zedaph tried to bring a bit of the outside world inside to make us feel more at ease. He set up some plants and flowers, hoping it would help us adjust. It was a nice gesture, but I may have-completely by accident-set one of the flowers on fire. Fear surged through me as I watched the petals burst into flames, but to my surprise, the doctor wasn't mad at all. In fact, he found it a little amusing.

"It's okay," he said with a chuckle as he calmly put the fire out. "Maybe we'll stick to less flammable plants for now."

His patience, along with Mr. Skizz's and Mr. Impulse's, was remarkable. They never lost their cool, even when we were skittish or accidentally set things on fire. I had half-expected them to be scared of me-of my fire abilities-but they weren't. If anything, they seemed oddly used to it, as if this sort of thing was just part of their daily routine.

It was strange, in a good way. They didn't treat me like a monster or something to be feared. They treated me like... well, like a person. It was refreshing, and though I was still hesitant to venture outside, I felt a little more at home with each passing day.

Eventually, I found myself spending more and more time out on the patio, soaking in the sun for hours on end. It became my little haven, a place where the world seemed less overwhelming. The warmth of the sun against my skin was comforting, like a reminder that things were slowly getting better. Most days, I'd curl up and take naps, lulled by the gentle breeze and the quiet around me.

At night, I'd head back inside, but during the day, the patio became my sanctuary. On especially chilly days, I would let my tail blaze up slightly and my hair would glow with a low flame. It wasn't enough to burn anything, just enough to keep me warm. It was a strange feeling-being able to use my ability safely without fear of hurting anyone or anything. It was peaceful, and for once, I felt in control.

Dr. Zedaph and Mr. Impulse were careful not to disturb me when I took my naps on the patio, wrapped up in a blanket to avoid any accidental fires. But I started noticing them checking on me more frequently, their quiet footsteps often waking me for brief moments before I drifted back to sleep. I had a feeling they were taking pictures too, though I couldn't be sure since I was usually too groggy to fully wake up.

I didn't mind. In fact, it felt oddly comforting, knowing they cared enough to keep an eye on me. I'd often find myself curled up in one of their patio chairs, holding onto my tail like it was a security blanket. The warmth of the sun, the soft hum of the world around me, and the quiet presence of Dr. Zedaph and Mr. Impulse checking in-it all helped me feel safe, more than I had in a long time.

As the days went by, Xisuma, Scar, and Cub gradually started joining me on the patio. At first, they simply observed the world around us from their chairs, seeming content to just sit and soak in the sun like I was. It became a quiet routine for all of us-taking in the warmth, listening to the distant hum of the city, and occasionally hearing the blare of car horns from below.

Sometimes, we even witnessed a few fender-benders or minor accidents. Scar would always narrate them in an overly dramatic fashion, making the whole thing much more entertaining than it probably should've been. Cub would laugh, Xisuma would shake his head with a grin, and I'd just sit back and enjoy the company, amused at how we found entertainment in the strangest things.

The patio had turned into our little sanctuary. No one really spoke much, but we didn't need to. Just being there, side by side, was enough. The chaos of the outside world seemed far away, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I wasn't constantly looking over my shoulder. It was like we were all healing together, basking in the simplicity of the sun and each other's presence.