Powerless

27. Deceit? (Roman)

"I never stopped..." My eyes went wide as the burning got worse and I could feel him start to shake. "D-Don't l-look."

"Never." I placed his hand to my chest and held it close ignoring the pain. I closed my eyes and just listened to the hum in the air. "Focus on me. Can you do that?" 

"I-I c-can try." I narrowed my eyes as the burning started to spread and it took everything I had not to wince. The air seemed to move around us and it exploded with warmth. His hand gripped mine tighter as these colors of red gold and green swirled around my mind. "R-Roman?" I never moved. I never opened my eyes. I never gave him a reason to fear. Even still he pulled away. "Nevermind." I opened my eyes to see him standing up and I groaned. Why won't people just accept my help?

"So what do I call you?" He froze mid-step and I frowned. "Your name... You never said."

"I didn't think it was important." I just sighed and laid back looking up at all the bright lights floating around in the air.

"Well, I don't plan on running off so..."

"Deceit." I narrowed my eyes in confusion as he started to do some stretches. "It's my hero name. Or at least the one that popped in my head. I never really... went by it before."

"Deceit it is." I smiled brightly as the lights began to flicker around me and I paused for a second lost in thought. "Deceit... Why don't you want me to know who you are?" I sat up to see him just standing there with a frown. He had put a hoodie on and the hood shrouded his face with a shadow. I tensed up and looked down as he walked over.

"I have a reason for everything I do..." He stopped short and gingerly placed a hand to my chest. I looked down to see his hand shaking over the burned handprint I hadn't noticed was there. I quickly grabbed his wrist before he could run off and I sat him down beside me. "S-Sorry... I-I..."

"Don't be. You're trying to gain control over your power. I know from experience how dangerous that could be. How many times I burned myself... or a friend." I let his hand go as my thought ended up going back to Cassidy. Deceit sighed and started to push me down. When I shot him this confused look he just laughed. "Lay back, Princey. It's my turn to help you."

"How is this..."

"Lay down. Close your eyes. Enfócate en mi voz." I smiled bright hearing him speak Spanish and I could hear him laugh. "Respira, Romano."

"Fine... Fine. Focus on your voice... and breathe." I closed my eyes and melted into the hum that surrounded me. I could hear him moving away and I frowned. What... All of a sudden the air seemed to sing. And I do mean sing. It was like all of nature had come to life with this melody in mind.

"Quae est in musica. Et magia est in musica." I frowned hearing him speak. It wasn't Spanish. I couldn't understand. But I could feel the emotion behind it as even the air danced around me. My eyes were closed but I could still see. I could see him dancing around laughing... singing... happy. It just confused me more. Because I knew he wasn't laughing. I couldn't hear it. "It means There is music in everything. And there is magic in the music. Wise words were spoken by a theater geek. Of course, I think he read it off a cereal box."

"Deceit?" I opened my eyes to see the world so very still and I frowned. What I was feeling was so different than what was happening. I couldn't understand it. I narrowed my eyes and sat up running a hand through my hair. "Nevermind." I held my hand out and just stared at it watching it spark. It sparked but... no flame. My power wasn't working. I looked up to see Deceit just standing there and I frowned. He held his hand up and suddenly it sparked a flame that danced around before disappearing.

"Great... Another power I need I need to work on. I didn't realize nullification got stronger as well." I was just sitting there in complete shock. I pointed at him and he frowned. "No, I didn't steal your power if that's what your thinking..." He laughed but I could hear the fear behind it and I quickly shook my head.

"You s-said  uh... power nullification." He nodded and I frowned. "Energy manipulation..." Again he nodded and I narrowed my eyes. "Some sort of beast mode..."

"Snake mimicry." He started to fidget and I just stared at the ground. "Power mimicry..."

"F-Four... Four powers." His eyes darkened and he looked away. His face was still hidden under the hood.

"Five. I have five." I jumped up and I saw him flinch. "I understand if that scares you. I'm not ignorant to the knowledge of what having more than 3 powers does to a person. I just can't not learn... I may be sane now but..."

"I'm not scared of you, Deceit." He looked over at me and I just smiled sadly. "I mean I'm scared for you but... I'm not scared of you. And I'm not going to stop helping you either. It just means we need a plan."

"You won't be safe..." I narrowed my eyes and stopped over to him punching him in the arm. "What was that for?!"

"I won't abandon you because of the possibility that you might lose your mind. For all, we know you won't." He crossed his arms and just laughed.

"Ghost has four powers... FOUR. Jimmy is completely bonkers. I HAVE FIVE!" I cringed hearing him mention Ghost. "You can't hold on to this false hope that nothing is going to happen. I've accepted that. I'd rather be crazy and in control than... Sane and dangerous."

"You're dangerous either way." His arms fell and I winced at the sudden pain in my arm. I looked down to see another burn and I frowned. "I didn't mean it like that. I simply meant you can't do this alone."

"I won't be... But I won't hurt my friends either. Good night, Roman..." He started to walk off and I groaned throwing my arms out in frustration.

"I THINK YOU MEAN MORNING!"