Super Crush (BxB)

Rendezvous on Las Ramblas (S2)

It was her midnight curls that I think were a bit off-putting at first. I have only seen Tiptoe, ahh Rachel, dawning her vigilante suit, so to see her out of her neon wig was a new sight.

    "Where's the other one?" she asks as we join her in the middle of the busy market. It's only four words, but you can read the message in the tone: Abe, the guy she and Clay worked against for months, whose team murdered her father, whom Clay has now chosen to work beside.

    "He's grounded," Clay says. But it also has an extra statement with it: Don't start anything.

    "Yeah. I assumed. There is enough news out about him right now that keeping the lowest profile is best."

    Rachel hugs me and gives Clay a pat on his chest as if he is a little brother whom she sees everyday and has learned to tolerate.

    "Well, welcome to Barcelona. I have grown to really like it here. Midday everything slows down and then the city reawakens for late nights."

    Sounds like me since getting to Italy.

    We stroll past a fruit stand and a little shop selling flowers. Rachel fills us in on what she has found out.

    "Alright, so I have triangulated enough information and checked in with a few connections. I think I can say with confidence that two of the old showrunners over at The Fleet–"

"Maguire and Downs," Clay completes.

"Correct. They are definitely at the top of pyramid. Not super surprising considering how close to the team they were. But it's new intel I received about other people who may have their hand in this circus that was a bit more surprising."

Clay and I both stop walking at the same time. A man calls to us, asking us if we want ice cream. I can't tell if it was in Spanish or Catalan, but Clay knows and says no thanks for us. We turn our attention back to Rachel. Both of us stare at her with anticipation.

    "One is Mangrove."

    I feel myself give the longest bink. "Mangorve. Mangrove? The Secretary of State and the guy who has it out for Abe...oh, wait. That actually makes more sense as I say it out loud."

    Rachel presses her lips together and nods.

    "Uh huh. Which means, I am headed back to The States."

"Got it. Noah heads back in a couple of days," Clay tells her.

Eww. Don't remind me.

"The trip back may be tricky for some of us, but I guess we have stayed out of the limelight long enough. I'll talk to the boss about the logistics of getting Abe and me home. I am sure he can make it happen," Clay adds.

    A shatter of glass behind us stops the conversation in its tracks. 

    The three of us find the door of the ice cream cooler behind us shattered.

    "Shit," Rachel says, but none of us can put what happened together.

    Something weird happens within me. This unknown feeling takes over my senses. It feels like my skin is vibrating.

"You feel that?" I ask.

"Huh?" Clay replies.

"Rock up, mister," I say slapping Clay's belly.

    "Noah, we are incognito. There is nothing cognito about my stone form."

    All at the same time, a few things transpire. Something like a hot jet of air passes through me. Then I see a streak of red cuts across Clay's chest and he lets out a roar as cobblestone covers his body. The last happening in the strange chain of events is the wooden beam holding up the ice cream stand's awning beside us explodes.