Hopelessly Heroic (Rewritten)

four

"We can't just keep letting this happen. Can't you track the number or something?"

June was attending a meeting with the other heroes in the police station. Everybody was getting annoyed that they just kept letting the fires happen. Lilypad was especially mad, blaming the police for not doing enough to track Flame down.

"It's not that simple. When someone uses a burner phone, it's almost-"

"I don't care if it's impossible! One of these days, somebody is going to get seriously hurt, or worse. We're just going to let that happen?"

A few of the other heroes mumbled their agreement, looking to the sheriff for answers. June, however, didn't think it would ever get that far. At least, not intentionally. Flame didn't seem to be such a great villain. 

"That won't be an issue. As long as we keep getting these tips, Tidal will always show up in time."

Everyone looked at June. Even heroes weren't allowed to know the real identities of the other heroes, so they all attended these meetings in full costume. The police just knew them by their aliases and the phone numbers they provided, which were government issued and also registered under their fake names.

"Clearly she's getting brave. The last call was a fake. She's messing with us!" Lily said, hands flailing as she spoke. 

At this, June couldn't help but think of that day. She had a hunch that Flame was the one who set up those cameras, and she decided to test it. She had wanted Flame to show up so they could face off one-on-one, but she never came. She also didn't start a fire, though, which was proof enough for June. She figured Flame had known she was there. She had to be watching. Why else would she not go through with her plan? It couldn't be a coincidence. 

Mind Mania was watching June, eyebrows furrowed, and June had to remind herself not to think so blatantly when there was a mind reader in the room. 

Mind Mania was the only one who knew everyone's identity, but she was sworn to secrecy. She couldn't exactly turn off her power, so she couldn't help that she knew everything about everyone. June considered them all lucky that she was a hero, not a villain. Otherwise, they'd be screwed. 

"It was a one time thing. We have no reason to believe she will advance to trickery, but we will continue to monitor the calls. If it happens again, we will take matters into our own hands and devise a plan. Okay?" The sheriff said, looking irritated.

Lilypad huffed, shaking her head. "We should already be taking matters into our own hands! She's a villain, and we are heroes. This isn't some TV show - we should be trying to stop her, not be friends with her."

"We are trying to get her, but when she can burn us all to a crisp, it's in our best interest to remain civil until the opportunity arises."

"Wait," Zephyr said, glancing between them all, "I agree with Lily. Civil, really? This is a murderer we're talking about, not some kid with anger issues. She should be brought down."

"She's never killed anybody." June cut in, feeling the need to defend the villain. Not because Flame was a good person, but because nobody was intrinsically bad. At least, not to June.

There was a pause then, where everyone looked at June again. In the moment of silence, she wondered how they saw her. Did they think she was a good person for seeing the best parts of everyone, or did they think she was stupid for trying to defend someone who seemingly only wanted to cause chaos?

"Only because you put out the fires, but what if you didn't exist?" Lily said, eyebrows raised above her mask, "She would still be setting all the same fires, but we would have no one to put them out. I bet someone would die then."