nightmare

Chapter Two

a/n: i have no idea where this is going, i struggled so much with this part, so if anyone has any edits or ideas for improvements, PLEASE TELL ME! I really just want to get to the next chapter, which will hopefully be easier to write...

Adrian didn't know what to do. He had ran-no, flew- all 6 miles from Nova's house on Wallowridge to Renegade Headquarters, crushing her body against the Sentinel's breastplate. Right before entering headquarters, he had ducked into an alley and tucked the suit back into the zipper above his sternum. As guilty as he had felt to put her life above his alter ego, the Renegades didn't need another shock today.

Nova. Nightmare. They were one and the same. His arch-enemy. His love. He couldn't react. All he could do was pace back and forth, watching the prodigy doctor tending to Nova. All the thoughts were rushing through his head. Nightmare. Nova. The knife. She had tried to kill herself. And she was Nightmare. Nightmare who had almost assassinated Captain Chromium. Nightmare who had almost killed Max. Nova, who he was pretty sure he had fallen in love with.

He wanted to scream, cry, collapse, or just lock himself in a dark room and ignore society, all at the same time. He had only given the nurse a brief explanation, saying that yes, this was Nightmare. Yes, this was Nova McLain. Yes, it had been an attempted suicide. Holy shit, she had tried to kill herself. It all went back to that. He was in shock. Nova was Nightmare. And she-

"Adrian?" Turning around, he was met with an overwhelming number of faces. The entire council was there, his team, minus Danna. Various other Renegades, who had obviously followed the commotion of the entire council sprinting to the med wing.

It was Hugh who had spoken. Adrian met his dad's eyes.

"Adrian, are you okay? She didn't try to hurt you?" No, I'm not okay. Does it look like I'm okay?

"Yeah, dad, I'm fine. She didn't try to hurt me. She just-" He gestured helplessly at Nova, with the nurses fluttering over the stab wound in her stomach.

Ruby and Oscar pushed their way to the front of the crowd, disbelief on their faces. "Is it true? Nightmare is..."

"Yes." He whispered. Ruby gasped and hid her face in Oscar's shoulder. Adrian walked over to the window dividing them from Nova's hospital bed, and watched as the nurses finished the tight binding of the gauze around Nova's torso. She was so pale, her normally tan skin the color of overcooked oatmeal. One of the nurses exited the room, pulling the door closed behind her.

"She's still unconscious, but she should make it. Her vitals are steady, and no major organs were hit. She should be healthy enough in a week or two to- for- for a trial." She glanced at the Captain before returning her gaze to Nova. "If that was the plan."

"We haven't decided. Thank you." The nurse nodded at Simon, who had spoken, before moving back to Nova's side.

"Alright, everyone, move out. There's nothing more to see here." The Council ushered the majority of the crowd out of the med wing. Genissa Clark shot a triumphant look at him, and she knew he was thinking of the trials when she had challenged the acceptance of Insomnia. A wry laugh burst from him, as he turned and stormed out of the room. He had thought that he would take it well, but the buildup of everything had overwhelmed him. He needed to leave. Disappear, if only for a while.

He decided to visit Max. In the months since his injury, Adrian had been to visit him as much as he could, as soon as the doctors were sure that he would pull through and was suited for visitors. The Vitality Charm had turned up a week after Nightmare had shown herself, in the bottom of the closet in their kitchen. With the help of prodigy doctors, Max was rapidly healing.

As Adrian began the long walk to the Hospital, he ran through everything that had happened that day. He needed to tell Max. Someone who would be blunt with him, who would always tell him what he was thinking.

He stopped by the old mayor's mansion to grab the Vitality Charm, even though he knew he didn't need it. There was always a chance that his dads would walk in while he was there, and especially after the events of the day, he was not ready to reveal his alter ego.

As he opened the door, he heard a sharp intake of breath. Max was staring at him, his wristband still in front of his face. Once glance at Adrian's face told him everything.

"So, it's true then? You found Nightmare?" Adrian nodded, and sank into the chair closest to the bed, his face in his hands.

"She tried to stab herself."

Max gasped. "Is she-"

"Not yet." He gulped. "Max, Nightmare is-"
"Nova. Yeah, I know."

A wave of shock and anger spread through Adrian. "You knew? How long? How could you keep this a secret, especially after she almost killed you?"
Max blinked. "She didn't stab me. It was Frostbite." She was aiming for Nova, but she dodged as I was sneaking up on her trying to get the helmet, and she hit me. Nova was trying to save me. Don't tell me you didn't suspect her, even a little bit?"

He stared at Max incredulously. "How could you not say anything! Sweet rot, I went to Nova's that night. After she had stolen the helmet. She comforted me, not knowing-"

"Adrian. I'm fine. Nova would never hurt me."

"I know," he whispered.

"You need to go see her. Talk to her. Tell her the truth, and nothing but the whole truth. You know how she is, but she may open up if you tell her the whole story."

Adrian sighed. "I don't know if I'm ever going to be ready for that conversation. She lied to me, tried to kill multiple people I love, and taunted me at every possible moment about my mom. Even after she knew who I was, and what she meant to me."

"She's not supposed to be awake for a couple of days at least, right? Think about it. You know Dad and Pops will say the same thing."

"I know."

"It's up to you, Adrian. No one can make you say a word to her, and no one will ever force you to forgive her. That's only something you can decide."

Adrian cracked a small smile. "You're starting to sound like Simon. I swear he said that a couple of weeks ago." Standing up, he reached down and ruffled Max's thick blonde hair, and walked out of the Hospital.

He would see her when he was ready.