“And what about Antoine?”he asked.The moment Antoine’s name was brought up Chris tensed.“His mutation.He can steal someone’s powers, right?”
“Right.”Chris leaned back in his chair.“We have no idea the extent of his abilities.While I was undercover, I saw him steal countless mutations and use them as his own.Each time, it seemed he used them better than their original owners.I never saw him without a mutation either, meaning he kept this up for hours.He trained to where he could withstand Zane’s mutation.The man isn’t scared to push himself over his limit.None of us know the best way to handle him.”
Chris sugarcoated nothing.Bailey was thankful and terrified.Imagining what Antoine would do next, what he could continue to do in the future, it all ended with sorrow.Even with that thought in mind, Bailey knew that only gave them more reason to stop him.Antoine wasn’t the kind of person that should be able to do as he pleased.
“Do you think Zane can beat him?”Bailey asked, glancing at Zane.Seeing his chest rise and fall put a smile on Bailey’s face.
“Not yet,” Chris answered.“Zane can’t face himself or his past.Antoine knows that.He uses it.As much as I hate to say it, Zane is his son and Antoine knows him.Until he can face himself and Antoine without fear, he’ll always lose.”
“Do you mean Isaiah?”
Chris’ eyes darkened.“Did Antoine bring him up?”
Bailey nodded, but chose not to say what Antoine told him.Sighing, Chris said, “It seems you and Zane have a lot to talk about once he wakes up.”
A lot was an understatement.Zane may have to divulge his whole life story for Bailey to comprehend any of this.All he knew was that he finally understood Zane’s greed for the mediocre.The last thing he wanted was more surprises.He simply wished to relax.
Sadly, Zane didn’t awaken that day, but at least Bailey got to chat with the twins over the phone.They had been calling every day to check in.It was good to hear their voices, to know they were alright.
And so two days passed with no sign of Zane waking.Bailey spent his days watching TV or speaking to Chris.He avoided the news, although curiosity ate away at him.He chanced a couple of peeks.
Like Chris said, Rebirth wasn’t being quiet anymore.They attacked across the world, from small-time bank robberies to massive city attacks.Schools shut down.Civilians stayed indoors.Large cities were chaotic, people struggling to leave.Mutants went missing daily.Families begged for their return on TV.Heroes worked overtime, some already giving their lives.
Bailey grew fearful, wondering where his parents were, if they were ok?What about Amery and Ryan?Ringgold seemed to have shut down.He hoped they returned home or went somewhere safe.He couldn’t contact any of them and that drove him up the wall.The news made him sick, so he shut it off.Then a soft groan caught his attention.Beside him, Zane’s brows furrowed and eyes fluttered open.
“Zane!”Bailey shouted, maneuvering himself off the bed.Crutches rested at his bedside.He grabbed them to limp over to Zane’s bed.His blue eyes drifted across Bailey and the room, proving he hadn’t fully woken up.That didn’t make Bailey any less excited.
“Hey,” Zane finally spoke in a hoarse voice with a slight draw.He blinked slowly, the action reminding Bailey of a sloth.
“Hi.”He grasped Zane’s hand.Zane intertwined their fingers, clinging.“Are you feeling ok?”
Zane hummed, eyes closing briefly.Bailey squeezed his hands.
“How are you feeling?”Zane asked.His voice sounded rough, like he needed a drink.As much as Bailey wished to have Zane all to himself, he knew it was best to call for the nurse and their doctor.
“Better now that you’re up,” he answered, pressing the nurse’s call button on the side of Zane’s bed.
It didn’t take long for a nurse to respond.The man looked over at Zane before the doctor arrived to do the same thing.After the checkup, they claimed Zane would be fine after a hell of a lot of rest.The nurse retrieved a glass of water while claiming food will be brought up soon.Based on the growling of Zane’s stomach, he liked that.
Once the nurses left, Zane asked, “Where is everyone?Are they ok?Dad, is he here?”
Bailey smiled.If only Chris were here to hear Zane ask that.
“Nate and Natalia are ok.They’re out looking for Antoine or anyone of Rebirth.Chris is at work.There’s been a lot of trouble going on because of Rebirth, but he should be back soon,” Bailey explained.
Zane hummed.His grogginess dissipated, allowing him to properly function, considering his condition.Bailey helped find the button to push Zane’s bed into a sitting position, although hesitated at Zane’s groan.They moved slower, allowing Zane to adjust.Once he was comfortable, Zane pulled Bailey into his chest.A grip so tight that his body ached, but he couldn’t utter a word.He loved the way Zane buried his face against Bailey’s shoulder.The way his hands curled in Bailey’s hair, and the briefest brush of his lips against Bailey’s neck.With their proximity, Bailey felt the rapid beating of Zane’s heart mirroring his own.It was the most warm and safe he had felt in a while.He melted into the touch.
“Sorry,” Zane whispered.
“For?”Bailey hummed, happily wrapping his own arms around Zane.
“Everything.”
“Everything being?”
“You know what I mean.”
Bailey rolled his eyes.He leaned his head against Zane’s.“Don’t apologize.You did nothing wrong.Rebirth and Antoine are the ones who did this.There’s no need for you to feel bad.”
