Hopelessly Heroic (Rewritten)

eighteen

Kissing Willow felt right. Like it was the only thing June was ever supposed to do. It wasn't like puzzle pieces; it was more like finding two flavours that worked perfectly together. Like two good things that just got better when they came together. Willow's hands were cupping June's face, and June had instinctively brought her own up to rest on Willow's chest, but as the kiss deepened, she realized she was grabbing the fabric in an attempt to bring her closer.

"Tide,"

Embarrassed to have been caught, June pulled away quickly, spinning around with flushed cheeks to see whoever was there. Her heart immediately dropped at the sight of Lily, who looked uncomfortable and maybe a little nervous. 

"Hi," June replied, swallowing thickly, knowing Willow didn't look much different out of costume and that Lily was smart enough to put two and two together. 

"Em knows." Lily said, walking past the couple so they could stand on the sidewalk instead of the street.

"Em?" June asked, confused. 

Lily looked at her and cocked her head, "Mind Mania?" She said, like it was obvious, "We call her Em for short."

"Oh," June replied, feeling, not for the first time, left out. 

The silence hung between them for a moment, and June noticed the way Lily kept glancing nervously at Willow. She must already know. 

"Okay, Mind Mania knows what?" Willow piped up, crossing her arms and straightening her posture. June felt sick as she realized what Lily was going to say.

"About you two. Knows that you're...together, or whatever."

Panic gripped June's heart and squeezed around her throat, "Okay, but she can't say anything or-"

"She's really mad about it." Lily cut her off, avoiding eye contact with either of them, "And...she convinced me you were on their side, and we came up with a plan to anonymously tip off the police and get you caught."

June took a step back, bumping into Willow, who steadied her and then stepped past her, closer to Lily, who stood her ground but didn't look happy about it. 

"I'm not...I'm not evil," June stuttered out helplessly, but nobody looked at her.

"Then why are you telling us now?" Willow demanded, ignoring June.

"Honestly, I'm not really sure. I don't...understand exactly what you guys are doing, but I guess I don't have to. I trust you, Tide, and...I don't think you're working for the other side. Mind Mania's plan...That's not the kind of hero I want to be."

"What is she going to do?" June asked, worry shaking her voice.

Lily clenched her jaw, sighing through her nose as she looked at the ground to avoid any eye contact. June and Willow exchanged a nervous glance, knowing by her reaction that everything was about to change. June guessed what she was going to say before she opened her mouth.

"She's going to tell."

"She'll get-" Willow started, but Lily wasn't finished.

"She's going to tell, and then she's going to disappear. Somewhere far, that's all I know. She wouldn't tell me any more because she could tell I was starting to doubt everything. And since she knows that...I imagine she's also going to tell them I knew about you two and didn't say anything, or make up some lie to get me arrested, so I have to decide whether I'm going to let that happen, or if I'm going to disappear, too." Lily took a step closer, past Willow, to level her gaze with June, who was seriously struggling to breathe, "I suggest you do the same."