Loveless/ a POWERLESS fanfiction story

Chapter 25: Blair

We're down to the penultimate day in the Whispers, and it feels like we've circled the entire place at least three times already. Despite this, and to our surprise, we haven't encountered anyone. What we do find are traces of other participants: charred remnants of campfires, scraps of fabric snagged on branches, and the stripped skins of small game. It's clear the others prefer to stay hidden, cloaked in dense foliage, avoiding direct confrontations—or any confrontations at all. They seem to believe the shadows of the trees are safer than steel.

Unlike us. We move slowly and stubbornly, following the trail of Paedyn Gray. But I try not to think about that.

We walk between towering trunks, their branches intertwining overhead to form a natural canopy of greenery. A gentle breeze brushes against my face, its coolness soothing my restless thoughts, while low underbrush tugs at the edges of my boots. Brian walks beside me, his steps barely audible on the soft earth, yet his presence, as always, feels tangible—almost as if he occupies more space than should be possible.

"Have you ever thought about how all this looks from the outside?" I ask suddenly, breaking the habitual silence of our journey. "Participants hiding from one another, scrambling to survive. People are actually betting on us."

"On us?" He snorts, casting a quick glance my way. "I doubt anyone's putting money on me."

"I'd bet on you," I say honestly, and Brian arches a surprised brow.

"You don't even know what my power is."

I roll my eyes and step closer until we're walking almost shoulder to shoulder, the warmth of his arm brushing faintly against mine. A spark of excitement ignites within me, and I decide to indulge in the game of guessing.

"Let me guess," I say, feigning deep thought as I playfully nudge his shoulder, causing him to sway slightly. Brian regains his balance effortlessly, his lips curling into that familiar smirk, but I catch a flicker of genuine enjoyment in his eyes. "You're definitely not a Brawny."

"Maybe just a little," he replies with a chuckle.

Is he... flirting with me?

"Come on," I prod, now with a sly smile of my own. "You're so skilled in combat, but you've got to have some sort of power. Maybe you can turn invisible? Or—" I stroke my chin dramatically, pretending to be deep in thought, "—read minds?"

I deliberately emphasize the last suggestion, knowing full well that Mind Readers were long ago banished or executed by royal decree. I'm fishing for his reaction, but Brian just laughs—a sound so genuine it pulls a smile from me before I can stop it.

"Reading minds?" He chuckles again, his laughter infectious. "Do you really think that if I could read minds, I'd voluntarily stick around in your company?"

"Ha-ha. Hilarious," I retort, trying to suppress my grin, and pick up my pace slightly. "Maybe you're a Volt?"

"You've already asked me that," he reminds me, his tone teasingly patient. "And trust me, nothing's changed in the past few weeks—I still don't control electricity."

"Fine, then how about something more... grounded? Like a Flash?"

"Impressive," he says, feigning seriousness. "But I'd prefer something less conspicuous."

Then, a thought strikes me, and I practically bounce with the revelation.
"Plague, you're a Veil, aren't you?" I exclaim, trying not to sound too thrilled with my own deduction.

Brian snorts but doesn't give a direct answer, his silence leaving me second-guessing myself. He manipulates his expression so skillfully that I can't tell whether I've hit the mark.