How Much I Know - a Renegades | Marissa Meyer fan fiction

Chapter 16

Kahless loved Max. He was like a brother to her, and possibly more than that. She loved him, so his happiness became hers easily. Watching Mara inside the glass sent a pang of jealousy through her, as much as she tried to repress it. She was supposed to be the one hugging Max. She was supposed to be Max's favorite.

Kahless scolded herself. She didn't deserve that. Why should she be bitter about a hard-working, deserving, and kind girl giving Max the happiness he rightfully deserved?

She blinked the tears out of her eyes. She loved Max, and she wished for his happiness, whatever form that may come in.

"I love you," Max whispered to the girl.

Kahless stopped resisting the sobs. She let the salty liquid stream down her face. She only wished that she could have been that person for Max. The person that halted his solidarity.

Captain Chromium wrapped her in an embrace. She didn't resist as his strong arms supported her. "I know what you're feeling," were his words. He released her sooner than she would have liked, but she could always relive that moment if she needed to. She faced Max again and saw that he was looking at her.

"Thank you, Karen."

Kahless nodded, still beaming. "Thank you."

A throat cleared behind them. Kahless recognized the sound immediately. It was Adrian Everheart. Kahless and Captain Chromium spun around.

"Dad, there's a..." His voice trailed off as he surveyed the scene in front of him: Max sitting in his quarantine with Mara, Kahless with her face tear-stained, and Captain Chromium with a hand on her shoulder.

"What is this?" he finally asked. Kahless looked at the Captain for guidance, but his eyes were trained on his son.

"Adrian," he started, "the Council and I have been working on things that you weren't aware of. Two days ago, Karen, here, came across this girl, Mara, who was able to resist the powers of other prodigies. She was intrigued, so she told us about Mara. We wanted to train the girl, and it was Karen's idea to see if she resisted Max."

Kahless was impressed at the Captain's ability to think on his feet like that. He didn't lie to his son, but he didn't tell him anything important, either. Kahless made a mental note - which were very useful to her on a day-to-day basis - to compliment him later for that.

"Okay... Um, I'll be leaving, then," he said before awkwardly turning away and sprinting in the other direction.

"I hate lying to my son," Captain Chromium admitted, staring after the boy.

Mara chose that moment to join in the conversation. "The fact that you can say that makes you a good person."

The Captain looked at Mara. "I only wish Adrian knew that."

"He'll learn," Max promised. "Just not so soon."

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"Margaret Loen? Dead?" gasped Virginia Stone, another resident of their apartment building.

"Who will care for their daughter?" another resident wondered.

"We knew her mind was loopy, just not so soon," an older man chuckled.

Kahless clenched her young fists at her sides. This was not how people should talk about her mother. Her mother cared what happened to people. Not like these folks that brushed over the death saying, "It was only her time."

"My mother was a human being!" Kahless shouted through her three-year-old mouth, "A title you would do very good to learn yourself!"

The company of the apartment lobby faced her with startled expressions. "Who is that?" whispered a few people. "Stupid trying to protect that woman." "What's she going to do, anyway?"