I ignore Castle, ignore what just happened, and rush to Alia. Brendon and Lily let go of her and she falls into my arms. I hold her fragile body close to my chest and I become overwhelmed with relief.
"Holy cow, are you okay?" I ask.
"How did you do that?" Lily gasps.
"Yeah, how did you...WHAT!?! What even just happened!?!" Alia shouts as she pulls away from my grasp.
"I-I don't know-" I begin.
"We can stop Anderson with this" Winston smiles.
"Adam" Juliette says, catching my attention. "H-How is this possible? Y-you shielded her from over a thousand pounds".
"Can you do it again?" Warner questions.
"That was awesome, Adam! It was like some kind of shield that was just like swoosh! Do it again! Do it again!" James smiles.
"Perhaps we should give Mr.Kent some space" Castle suggests.
Everyone spreads out.
"What you just did, Kent, it doesn't just mean you can default abilities, you can default matter. You have the ability to create an invincible shield, do you know what this means?" Kenji smiles.
"That we're all freaks?" I say.
"Yes, but it also means Anderson doesn't have a chance against us. Plus, Warner can learn to project your power too. We can be invincible" Kenji continues.
I look back at Alia. Brendon's holding her, and she won't meet my eyes.
" ...what now?" I question.
"We learn how to get you to do it again and harness it" Juliette says.
"Alia" Lily says. "She was the trigger. Maybe we put her life in danger again".
"Are you crazy? No way. What if I can't harness it or whatever and she gets hurt?" I say.
" ...maybe we don't have to put her life in danger" Brendon suggests. "I can give her a few shocks of electricity and see if that works".
"No-" I begin.
"I trust you" Alia tells me.
"Alright, everyone, back up" Kenji says.
Everyone takes steps back and I step forward, Brendon and Alia in front of me.
"This is crazy" I sigh.
"It'll work" Ian says. "Just...focus, Adam".
"You can do it, Kent" Kenji smiles.
"You ready?" Brendon asks Alia.
" ...mhmm" she hums.
" ...it'll sting, but I won't kill you" Brendon promises.
"I'll break your neck if it does" I sigh.
Alia smiles.
Everyone grows quiet, and Brendon lifts his hand.
Electricity grows from his palm, echoing through the training room.
I'm sweating. God, please work. If this hurts her, hell will break lose.
Brendon presses his index finger to Alia's arm, she immediately let's out a shriek and tries to contain herself.
I close my eyes, focus.
Nothing's happening.
"Come on, Kent" Kenji says.
Alia squirms and looks away, Brendon lifts his finger from her arm and she falls limp on her left side but he catches her.
"Let me see your arm" he says, stripping her sweater off.
A bright red burn is revealed and I rush over to her.
"I-Its fine, we'll try again" Alia says.
"That's not okay, you said it wasn't gonna hurt her" I growl at Brendon.
"I said it wouldn't kill her, it was your fault for not saving her" Brendon growls back.
"We'll try again" Alia suggests.
"Its not worth it" I say.
"Yes, it is" Warner nods. "You really have no idea, Kent".
"Shut your damn mouth!" I shout.
"Hey! Let's not start anything, okay?" Juliette says.
"She says its okay, we'll try again" Warner says.
"Come on" Alia nudges.
I lift my eyes to Brendon, he glares back.
"We're wasting time" Warner sighs.
"Mr.Kent" Castle says.
I let go of Alia, everyone backs up again and I let five feet fill the gap between Alia and Brendon and I.
"Perhaps we should try James" Brendon suggests.
"Now I know you're crazy" I growl.
Again, he lifts his hand, releasing a ball of electricity.
He presses his whole hand to Alia's arm.
She screams.
It doesn't take any focus to know she's in pain and she needs me.
The florescent light beems out of my chest once again. The electricity in Brendon's hand disappears, and he can't seem to turn it back on.
"You did it!!" Kenji cheers.
"Alia?" Lily asks.
She nods, smiles a little even.
I turn off the shield and grab Alia, eyeing her burned shoulder,
"Jesus, what the hell, Brendon!?" I yell.
"Hey, it worked, didn't it!? You're welcome" Brendon says.
"Well done, Mr.Kent" Castle nods.
"So cool!!" James laughs.
"I knew you could do it" Kenji smiles.
"I'll get Alia some ice" Winston says.
"Thank you" I say and scoop Alia up.
"No, Adam. Stop, I'm fine. That was amazing" Alia smiles as she squirms out of my arms.
Her smile gives me warmth, but I'm reminded of her burned arm and frown.
"You're not fine, you need ice" I say.
"Here" Winston says, handing the ice to Alia. "Got it from Delalieu. Lunch is ready".
I take the ice as everyone scatters off to lunch.
"You don't have to-" she begins.
"Stop talking" I warn.
I wrap her sweater around the ice and hold it close to her shoulder.
She winces, I put my other arm around her and hold her tight there.
"I'm sorry" I apologize.
" ...for?"
" ...everything" I say. "I'm the idiot that told Castle to lift the weight rack, it must've lost its balance when he was trying to move it".
"You had a pretty sweet outcome though. At least now you know more about your....ability" she says and pulls away to meet my eyes.
" ....you're right" I say.
She sighs, and overlaps my hand on the ice with her fingers, pulling my hand away.
"Why did it have it be me?" she questions. "Everyone was looking at me....".
"It bothered you, didn't it?" I frowned.
" ...i was hoping it wouldn't work, Adam" she admits. "I don't wanna be your…...trigger or whatever".
"Because you're nervous about what people will think?" I ask.
"You should've seen the way Juliette looked at me" she quietly says. "The way they all looked a me, I hated it".
How was Juliette looking at her?
" ....look, they know we've been....hanging out, that we're friends" I say.
" .....I don't want anyone to think anything about me" she says. "Jesus, people can never just leave me alone".
"Alia" I say.
She let's go of me and walks away
