Sighted

Bonus Chapter: Yeah, I Put the Bad in Badass

Owen

"What, he actually kept it?" I question Gin as we work together setting the table in the dining room, the only dinner task I'm trusted with. Although when Alex and Gin came over for dinner, Gin was also banned from the kitchen, which helps.

"Yeah, now that his office in the clinic is done, he wanted to hang it up!"

"Oh man, it's still bloody too?"

"Yes! Owen, the damn thing is in a shadow box with my old phone number displayed."

"Haha, you guys are so weird."

"Why are you lumping me in there? How am I weird?"

"Like you'll ever live down...," I set down the napkins I'm putting out and wiggle the fingers of one hand over the other, imitating the hellfire that spawns from her hands.

"Shut up!" she says through gritted teeth.

"He already told me," Bowden calls from the kitchen.

     Gin's face is murderous as she leans closer over the table, causing me to back up a step. Lowering her voice to a whisper that even Bowden can't hear, she spits out furiously, "Well, I didn't tell Alex, and if you don't want Bowden to know about that file in your computer, of pictures of him in a speedo that he doesn't know about, you'll shut up right now."

     Immediately shutting up, I go back to setting the table. She doesn't need to take it that far. Its not like her thing is that embarrassing, just more unexpected considering how physically superior she is.

     Back before Gin turned seventeen, the age her power would come in, she'd agonized over choosing a weapon to use her hellfire through. In the end it hadn't matter because, on her birthday when she felt the change in her, she got so nervous she dropped it anyway. Now, she can only call on her power through her hands.

"Oh, I got a package from Peter today," I call out to Bowden, trying to change the subject. Though the pass through into the kitchen I can see Bowden's back as he stirs something on the stove. At my words, he pauses.

"Peter... Daniels?" he questions without turning around.

     Across the table, Gin stops arranging plates and makes a cross with her arms in front of her. I don't know why though, Peter and Carter even stayed with us for a while back then.

"Yeah, would we know any other Peters?" I call back into the kitchen. Gin smacks herself in the face, but I ignore it. "I guess he and Carter moved in together because the return address is different— Where are you going?"

     Bowden strides out of the kitchen towards the front door and the table where we keep mail there. The apartment isn't much bigger than my old one with Gin, but it does have a separate dining room and a small entryway. We also use the third bedroom as my office that doubles as a guest room when my family is in town. Its quieter without any special visitors or surprise guests, but I'm still working over at the clinic a couple days a week.

     I follow Bowden, with Gin trailing behind. As we enter the living room Alex and Dylan come out of the halfling's room, where they were studying. I can help Dylan with his homework, but he says its more fun with Uncle Alex.

     Dylan still calls Bowden and I by our names and that won't ever change. I never thought I'd grow such a strong bond with the loud, talkative kid but I love him and am so grateful that he agreed to come and live with us. We may not be his parents, but together, we're a family all our own.

"What's going on?" Dylan asks. Bowden has already found the package and is opening it. I didn't think it was that big of a deal when I mentioned it.

"Why does Peter know our address?" Bowden asks, pulling out the contents of the package, a small letter and a flash drive.

"I don't know, he probably searched for it. It's not a secret is it?" Bowden gets done reading the note and passes it to me on his way to the living room, the flash drive in his hand. I turn the note in my hands to read it, Gin and Dylan crowding in around me.

Hey Owen,

I hope everything is good with you. Things have settled down since we've been home and Carter's even moved in with me now. I found this while packing. When I had to clean up the scene that day when you and Alex went missing, I saved this but then forgot to show it to you. Thanks for everything and lets keep in touch.

Talk to you soon,

Peter

     When he cleaned up the scene? When I do that, I usually erase security footage—

"No!" I yell, turning around, but I'm too late. I'd left my laptop in the living room and Bowden is sitting on the couch with it open and turned on in his lap. There's a lock screen but he definitely won't know the password. BowBear2017. "Don't do that!"

     I try to get the drive from him, but Gin read the note too and is holding me back. "Here let me do it," Dylan offers, taking the laptop from the demon. Bowden replaces Gin's death grip around me, wrapping me in a gentle yet firm embrace.

"Sorry, love," he says against my ear, nearly distracting me for a second. "I want to see what your ex-boyfriend saved for you."

"Ex-boyfriend? We barely dated at all." Is that what his attitude is about? "Please Bow, I don't want you to see this. Dylan shouldn't watch either." It's a trick to call him my rarely used pet name for him, but it doesn't work anyway.

"Hey, I'm practically grown!" says the almost teenager as he settles into the couch and types something. Bowden arranges us to sit next to him, so the large man can see the screen. Gin sits on Dylan's other side and Alex comes and stands around the back of the couch.

     My desktop screen appears and my last hope that I can get the flash drive away from them first is lost.

"What's his password?" Bowden asks.

"I'll tell you later." The halfling snickers.

     Soon, the footage is brought up and I close my eyes. I don't want to watch this, this is too embarrassing. There's no sound while they watch, but then the silence continues on way too long. When I open my eyes everyone is frozen, staring at the screen only the video has reached its end.

"What? Was it that bad?" I ask tentatively.

     In unison, all four turn to look at me. Gin looks the most normal, not shocked, just impressed. Dylan has the look he usually reserves for Gin, the hero worship one. Alex looks the most terrified, with a healthy dose of respect. I look at Bowden last and I have a hard time reconciling the expressions on his face. It's an odd mix of fear and pride.

"What?" I demand. I mean, it was a little violent, but its not like I have any powers or anything.

"Love, you're such a badass," Bowden whispers reverently.

     Oh, geez.