Despite his turbulent emotions, he was still able to find a deep pleasure in the feeling of the wind against his face. He wished all of life and all of the world could be that simple. But it wasn’t, and as much as he wanted to take his time in the air, he knew he needed to rush back to his hideout.
Malcolm landed outside the warehouse and immediately knew something was wrong. There was someone waiting for him. He’d gone as fast as he physically could, and yet still, Second Wind must have beaten him there. He gritted his teeth and felt for Savior’s powers as he faced off against the shadowed figure in the corner of the warehouse.
“…Malcolm.”
Rose stepped forward, close enough for him to make out the details of her silhouette, and know without a doubt that it was her. It was her… and she’d said his name.
“Rose…”
For a moment, he stood where he was, unsure of whether to rush forward to her, or let her come to him. It was like encountering a baby deer that seemed unafraid of humans. He smiled at the notion of comparing Rose to, of all things, a baby deer.
“You remember me?” Malcolm asked.
“I do,” said Rose. “I remember just about everything. Including… Brenden. And… what happened between the two of you.”
Malcolm felt himself tense up as he thought back to Rose’s former fiancé, who’d come to Vanderbrook intent on killing both her and himself. It was his way of getting retribution for the accidental death of their child at Rose’s hands.
She didn’t mention her daughter, Hope. Maybe she doesn’t remember that. Or maybe it’s just too painful.
“Are you okay?” asked Rose. “I didn’t mean to catch you off guard.”
Malcolm chuckled, knowing that there was so much he needed to explain to her, in so little time.
“There’s something you should know,” he said, slowly. He took a couple steps to the side, until his foot bumped into one of the little flashlights he kept in the warehouse in case of emergency. “I’ll explain how it happened when I have the time, I promise.”
He picked up the flashlight and used it to illuminate his face. He closed his eyes, waiting for a gasp, a shocked cry, or a desperate denial. It never came. Instead, Rose walked over to him, her arms folded across her chest pensively.
“Hmm…” she said. “Well, at least you’re blue instead of some weird color. Green would have made you look like a lizard.”
“Rose…” He turned the flashlight off and glared at her, though the expression was useless in the dark.
“Malcolm.” She brought her hand up to his cheek. “We have so much to talk about. Why don’t you invite me down into your cozy little hideout?”
So much to talk about, and so little time…
His heart twisted, and he hated himself and his situation for the necessity of the words he was about to say.
“I don’t have time,” he said. “Second Wind is on his way here. Rose, I need you to go contact Shield Maiden and Fantasy. I need you to see if they’ll help me fight against him.”
Rose didn’t say anything. Even in the dark, Malcolm could read the expression on her face. She was better at spotting his lies than Tapestry was, and perhaps that’s why things had gone so differently between them.
“I’ll go,” said Rose, quietly. “But not without a kiss.”
Her voice wavered as she spoke the words. Malcolm felt a part of his heart dying inside his chest. He stepped toward her, and in an instant, she was against him. He pressed his lips against hers, and for a moment, all was forgotten.
It had been so long. Malcolm had almost forgotten what kissing her was like. Rose was full of so much passion and emotion, and her body melded against his as though it had been made to match it. They kissed over and over again, each one deepening. Rose’s tongue pressed into his mouth and he responded with his own.
Malcolm took a slow breath as their lips finally parted. Rose leaned her face into the crook of his neck. He could feel hot tears against his neck, and suddenly the ache in his heart felt almost unbearable.
“If we were different people,” whispered Rose, “in different circumstances. A different world. We’d still… love each other. Wouldn’t we?”
“Rose…”
Stop it. Please stop, Rose.
“Malcolm,” she said. “Is this the last time I’m ever going to see you?”
He clutched her to him, wishing he could keep her there and never let go. Why hadn’t she just accepted his lie? Why hadn’t she believed him, like Tapestry had? Did she mean to tear down his resolve, or was it just a side effect of the intensity of what she felt for him?
“We’ll make it through this,” he lied. “And we’ll see each other again. I promise.”
He heard her let out a stifled sob, and then the wall of her composure broke. She pressed her face into his shoulder and wept.
“I don’t know how much time we have.” Malcolm forced his hands to push her back and away from him. “Go let Shield Maiden and Fantasy know that I need their help.”
Rose nodded slowly. She sniffed and wiped at her eyes with the backs of her hands.
“I’ll go,” she said. “I understand.”
There was so much more that Malcolm had to say to her. But he knew that if he uttered even a single word more than he already had, his determination would break and buckle, like a sand castle washed away by a wave. He looked away from her, listening as her footsteps disappeared out of the warehouse, and only turned back when he was absolutely sure that she was gone.
CHAPTER 31
The first thing Malcolm did was to find a pair of gloves amongst the clutter of his lair. He was still wearing one of the astronaut jumpsuits he’d found aboard the spaceship, and with his hands covered, there was very little skin left exposed.
It was a small thing, but it would keep Second Wind from being able to steal Malcolm’s powers. Or at least, that was what he hoped. He thought back to how he’d acquired Savior’s abilities and wondered if Second Wind’s power absorption was similarly overcharged.
I’ll just have to be on guard.
The basement hideout had become his home over the months. It was odd to consider that this might be the last time he’d ever see it. The thought also led him back to Tapestry and Rose, and how much it would hurt them if he died.
The same was true for the pain it would cause him to lose them, and that was why he’d sent them away. Malcolm had a vague, nagging sensation that told him that Tapestry and Rose absolutely must not be there for the fight between him and Second Wind.
He had time to spare, and found himself wishing he had some food in the hideout. A slow smile spread across Malcolm’s face as he thought about how many months he’d spent caring about little else, barely scraping by. It almost felt like that time belonged to someone else, a substitute who’d been treading water as best as they could in his absence.
But now, he was back. Malcolm climbed up the ladder and waited just outside the warehouse, arms folded across his chest. He didn’t have to wait long.
Second Wind appeared in the night sky like a bird of prey, circling overhead several times before dive-bombing toward the ground. Malcolm felt the wind as his copy dropped, making note of the fact that Second Wind still used his original power for flight.
Malcolm reminded himself that there was no telling how powerful Second Wind had grown since he’d last seen him. He knew that Second Wind had Tapestry’s regenerative abilities, which alone would make him nearly impossible to kill through most traditional methods. And on top of regeneration, knowing his copy’s personality, and of course, his own personality, Malcolm was sure that Second Wind would have picked up at least a few other abilities in the time since.