A Beautiful Reflection From Firework Eyes

The Future Is Bulletproof

You can probably guess who *finally* shows up.

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I shiver, wrapping my arms around me. It's hard for me to get cold—that's one upside about having fire powers. But I've been standing knee-deep in snow for the last half an hour.

It's the longest time I've been outside in what feels like forever, and I have to admit how much I've missed feeling the fresh air against my face. Even though it's miserable out—snowy and windy, I have to admit how beautiful it is. From where I'm standing at the edge of the forest, I can see the snow falling in the floodlights. I look up, catching a few snowflakes on my tongue as I stare at the pine tree branches stretching overhead like a thick canopy.

"H-having f-fun?" Alex appears next to me, his teeth chattering. He lets go of Jack's hand as he stomps through the snow toward me.

"Your lips are blue," I say, even though it's quite apparent.

"W-well it-t's f-freezing," Alex points out unnecessarily. "A-and t-this idiot over h-h-ere t-though i-t was a g-good idea t-to meet in the m-middle of a snow st-torm."

I roll my eyes, grabbing Alex and Jack. "Come here before I have to drag your frozen asses back inside." I hold out my hands, letting fire wreath over them. Heat radiates from around me, causing the snow to melt around us, soaking through our sneakers.

"We should have stayed inside," Jack complains.

"You were the one who chose to meet today," Alex points out.

"How was I supposed to know it was gonna snow?"

"It's winter."

"So?"

"I thought you were soooo amazing," Alex says. "Now what?"

"I am amazing," Jack shoots back. "I'm literally the best. I just can't predict the weather."

"Stop bickering. You sound like two-year-olds," I complain.

"I agree," a voice says from the forest behind us. We spin around, seeing a man appear from the darkness. His face is shielded by a hood, and he's wearing a winter jacket. I realize how laughable we must look—three teenage boys standing in a melted circle of snow, wearing nothing but blue sweatpants and t-shirts, a fire roaring in the middle. I move to extinguish the fire, but the man just chuckles.

"Don't be afraid," he says.

"I'm not," I say.

Alex looks at me, a confused expression on his face. "Vic, what?"

Jack just laughs. "Way to show off," he says.

"Couldn't help it," the man says. I realize his voice sounds different now—less echoey and softer. He nears our circle, pushing off his hood to reveal a head of bright red hair. He looks familiar—but I'm not sure how. Now that I get a better look at him, he's not that much older than we are, maybe around twenty one or two. "Good to see you, Jack. Nice to meet you, Vic and Alex."

"How did you know—" Alex starts, but Jack elbows him.

"He can read minds," Jack explains. "Everyone, meet Gerard Way. He's one of us."