Malen'kaya Zemlya [2] [P. Parker]

2.12 Repercussions

I decided not to tell my friends about my name change after The Conversation started.

The Conversation? You may ask. What conversation?

I would say I'm glad you asked, but I'm not.

So I won't.

Renée asked who we were.

That was how it began.

"We're the Elementals," Marina replied.

Ryker shook his head. "We were split over two sides of a war. The Allies and the Nazis didn't get together for drinks after World War II ended."

"So what?" Marina asked defiantly. "Why should it matter? We were friends before, we'll be friends now."

"Marina's right. Why should anyone get to tell us otherwise?" Louis added.

The rest of us exchanged glances.

We knew what had to happen.

"We're on the run." I said, gesturing to Ryker and I. "If you guys get involved with us, you'll be on the run too. I can't let that happen."

"We can't let that happen." Ryker put a hand on my shoulder.

Renée nodded. "As much as I hate to say this, you're both right. Which is why we can't have any more ties to each other - or the Elementals."

Marina looked heartbroken. Louis had a steely glare on his face.

"What do you mean?" Louis asked.

"We all got new suits from Tony, right?" I asked.

They all nodded.

"Those are our new identities." I declared. "Come up with a new name. Become a different person. We're not the same as we used to be, remember."

"A different person?" Marina asked. "Like a fake I.D?"

"I mean..." I trailed off and looked at Wanda who nodded. "I mean become a different superhero. I can't be Terra anymore. You can't be Volcano, or Aeolus, or Neptune or Jupiter. We have to change. It's for the better."

Renée and Ryker nodded, but Marina and Louis declined.

"You guys can change, but I'm staying the same," Marina said.

"Me too. I can't give up on our team." Louis agreed.

"Then don't." Ryker nodded. "But the second we get off this plane, Ash and I are leaving. Don't follow us."

With that, he stood up, taking me along with him, and sat us down about fifteen meters away.

"You ready for this?" Ryker asked me when the plane went in to land.

I shook my head. "No way. But I'll be okay. Eventually."

My mind flashed back to only hours before when I'd killed that man. "Are you okay?"

"No, but I will be. I think," he replied.

I punched his arm. "Don't ever run off without us again."

As the plane slowed down, we stood up alongside our friends.

Marina took my hand and squeezed it. "I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too, Rina." We hugged tightly as Renée and Ryker embraced beside us.

I moved on to hug Louis, wrapping my arms around him and holding on tight. "I'll miss you, cheap Thor."

He let out a watery laugh. "You too, Dust Bunny."

"Where'd that come from?" I asked as I pulled out of the hug.

"Dust Bunny? It's your new code name. For when we'll talk on a burner phone."

My heart swelled. I hugged him again. "Then you're Thalia Grace."

"Fair enough." he laughed.

I hugged Renée too.

We were both at the point where neither of us could actually talk through the lumps in our throats.

The door opened, and the Elementals (plus Wanda) departed the plane.

That was the last time we resembled a team.

The Elementals...

... Were dead.

(A/N)

A short little sad chapter to make you a little sad.

You're welcome.

Ily guys.

-lost_in_a_book__