The boy's face froze in shock before breaking into a smile. He gave a grateful bow, then ran off to join his friends, who were disposing of their garbage.
Fenix rushed up behind Aura as she entered the room.
"Hey! Get off!" she yelled, but he only held her tighter—still careful not to touch her skin.
Resigning herself to the fact that he had no intention of listening, she closed the door and sat on the carpet, dragging Fenix down with her.
Mirror stared at them. Aura sat stiffly, an indifferent—maybe annoyed—expression etched on her face, while Fenix, who was cuddling her, looked completely ecstatic.
"You two might as well start fucking if you're already acting like that."
"What?" "We—" "I—" "Are—" "Don't—" "Just—" "Know—" "Friends!""What are you talking about, Mirror?! Shut your stupid face!"
Fenix and Aura spoke over each other, nearly incomprehensible, as they scrambled away from one another, both blushing.
Mirror sighed.
"Anyway, what do you usually do?"
Fenix raised his hand, as if he needed permission to answer.
"Go ahead," Mirror said.
"I usually sleep."
Mirror rolled her eyes and got to her feet.
"Aren't you bored, only sleeping and talking?" she asked, placing a hand on her hip.
"No. As long as Aura is in the room, I'm really, really happy."
Aura blushed brightly at his straightforward statement, but he didn't notice.
Mirror grinned mischievously, tapping a finger against her glossy lip.
"Oh really? Hmm…"
A knock at the door interrupted her before she could continue. Aura opened it, and Vision entered with Veil—his brother—and the boy Aura had battled in the Nationals only a month before.
"Hey, guys. We heard everyone was in Aura's room, so we decided to visit too," Vision said, taking a seat between Aura and Fenix on the floor.
Mirror groaned, plopping down onto Aura's bed.
"If the three of us counts as everyone, then yes," she said, a hint of irritation in her tone.
"I've never been to your room before, Aura… it's cleaner than I expected," Vision added, subtly moving closer to her.
"Why does everyone say that?!" Aura threw up her hands, then let her head drop.
Vision opened his mouth to respond, but his collar was suddenly grabbed, forcing him to turn toward Fenix—who was smiling, as usual.
"Do you want to die?" Fenix asked in the sweetest voice imaginable.
His tone was so cheerful it was, quite frankly, unsettling.
"Is something bothering you?" Vision asked, tilting his head.
"Yes. The fact that you're still breathing."
Fenix's tone didn't change—in fact, his smile grew sweeter. But as the seconds passed, it began to look more sinister, and the room's temperature steadily rose to an almost unbearable level.
Aura quickly wedged herself between them.
"He's mad… because you took his seat," she explained.
The temperature instantly returned to normal. Fenix leaned his shoulder against Aura's and relaxed back against the wall.
"Ah… he's just immature, huh?" Vision said, still shaken. "We have a few days off next week, so… Aura… I was wondering—"
"If you'll hang out with me for a while!" Veil blurted, speaking for the first time.
When all eyes turned to him, his face flushed red, and he covered it with his hands.
"I just… I—I wanted to get to know you better. It's not fair since we don't have any classes together… so please."
Aura smiled.
"Thank you, but I'm taking extra classes during that time, so I won't be free."
"That's so boring! You stupid overachiever. You should make time for your friends," Vision said, folding his arms.
Aura blinked.
"We're friends?"
Vision glared.
"We've known each other for three years! What did you think we were?"
Aura stared at him—until a warm hand turned her face toward its owner.
Fenix.
"I liked it better when it was just me and you," he said, reminding everyone just how tactless he was. "If you make time for anyone next week, it'll be me."
"I thought you said you weren't her boyfriend," Vision pointed out.
"I'm not."
That answer clearly didn't satisfy him.
"Then what right do you have to monopolize her time?"
"I'm only saying what I want."
Vision glared. Fenix, uncharacteristically, showed no expression.
"Alright!" Mirror clapped her hands together. "Let's play a game or something."
"Yay! A game!" Fenix said, instantly brightening.
It was late when Aura finally kicked everyone out so she could sleep. No one had really wanted to leave—but she was more than happy to shut the door behind them.
Before she could even change into her pajamas, there was another knock.
"GRAAH… who is it now?!" she snapped, yanking the door open.
Veil stood there.
"I'm sorry… just… tomorrow, is it okay if I walk you to class?" he asked shyly, staring at his feet.
"I don't care. Do whatever the hell you want," Aura muttered, slamming the door.
Even so, she was still surprised to see him waiting outside the next morning—along with Fenix.
"Good morning," Veil said with a soft, innocent smile.
"Hey, Aura," Fenix added, his grin less pure—but just as bright.
"Hi," she sighed, slinging her bag over her shoulder.
They walked beside her—Fenix on the right, Veil on the left.
When Veil edged a little closer, Fenix leaned in slightly.
"If you touch her, I'll kill you," he said cheerfully.
"Ah… but you're not dating," Veil pointed out.
Fenix's smile vanished. His eyes turned cold.
"I'll still kill you."
Veil quickly put some space between them. Aura sighed, deeply annoyed with both of them.
When lunchtime came, Fenix took Aura's wrist gently.
"Let's eat out today." He pleaded gently. Aura scanned his expression then nodded her agreement, with that the two hurriedly left the school campus to the only Restaurant nearby.
Once inside and seated, he scanned the menu with visible excitement.
"Why did you want to eat out?" Aura asked.
"The lunchroom is noisy," he replied with a grin.
Aura sighed. "Fine… I actually wanted to ask you something, too."
"Really? What is it?"
She fidgeted with her fingers.
"I… want to know why you're so unhappy."
Fenix blinked.
"You think… I'm sad?"
"Yes," Aura said quietly. "You're the saddest person I think I've ever seen."
He leaned back in his chair. Fenix stayed silent until the waitress came over and asked for their orders.
"I would like the barbeque chicken." Aura said, handing over her menu.
"I would like the vegetable soup with cheddar cheese please." Fenix said regaining his composure and handing over his menu.
"And for drinks?" The waitress asked looking from Aura to Fenix.
"Sweet tea." They said in unison. The waitress wrote everything down then bowed politely saying,
"It will be just a moment." Once she was out of earshot Fenix began speaking in a hushed tone.
"When… I was younger… I accidentally set fire to my hometown."
Aura's expression didn't change as Fenix spoke.
"I… didn't know I had powers until I was eight. My parents were arguing, and I became very upset… Before I knew it, both my hands were engulfed in flames. I panicked and fell to the floor, starting a fire in my room.
"On the bright side… once they smelled smoke, my parents stopped arguing. They both rushed out of the house—forgetting about me completely… or maybe deciding they didn't care.
"I was in my room, panicking, and the more I panicked, the bigger the fire got. I realized I was the cause when I could no longer feel the heat or smell the smoke… even though I was completely surrounded by it.
"The fire burned everything—bricks, glass… It even danced on top of water. It was inextinguishable."
Fenix looked up into Aura's eyes.
"Both of my parents died, dozens of other people died as well and I was arrested… My body was experimented on until recently, when I was allowed to attend this school. If I seem sad… that's probably why."
Catching him off guard, Aura reached across the table and took his hand. Fenix's temperature rose sharply, but Aura didn't seem fazed at all.
"I can't say I know how you feel, but… when I was born, my village declared me a cursed child. It was a very traditional, strict, old-fashioned place.
"When they told my parents to kill me and Mirror, of course they refused. Most of the villagers felt it would weigh too heavily on their conscience to kill babies themselves, so they allowed us to live. Mirror is older than me by a year, by the way.
"Her power is less noticeable, so she wasn't bothered much. But wherever I stayed for too long, things became very… green. Flowers would bloom, grass stayed lush even in winter, dead trees came back to life… things like that.
"The villagers called my power evil and ordered me to stop using it—but I couldn't control how plants reacted to me.
"Eventually, they found out about the laws regarding people like us. So Mirror and I were forced to attend this school until we could fully control our abilities—or graduate and serve in the military.
"My parents tried to take us back, and because of that they were arrested. They'll only be released if one of us graduates and joins ALPHA… I want that to be me. So Mirror and our parent's can finally live a peaceful happy life."
Fenix had been listening intently. When she finished, he lifted her hand and kissed her fingertips.
"You're so valiant, Aura."
She flushed and quickly pulled her hand away. Fenix laughed.
Right on cue, their food arrived, and they ate in silence.
On the way back to the dorms, Fenix glanced up at the sky.
"I heard that once you join SHIELD, you can never retire."
Aura lightly bit her lip.
"That's true… but I do get vacations. And as long as my family is okay, I don't mind."
She looked down at the pavement as they walked.
"Well… if you join, I'm going with you. I don't want you living a life of solitude… You hate being alone more than anyone."
Aura's heart fluttered. She squeezed her eyes shut.
She had always pretended to like being alone—so when she and Mirror eventually separated, Mirror wouldn't feel guilty. It was… unsettling that he had seen through that.
"How did you know?"
Fenix held out his hand. After a moment, she reluctantly took it.
"I knew for the same reason you knew I was sad… Because we're friends, right? Because we care about each other."
He swung their joined hands as they walked. Aura grumbled, her face turning red.
"Just… don't tell Mirror," she muttered, squeezing his hand.
Fenix laughed.
"I don't know. When you tell me not to do something, it just makes me want to do it more."
"Stop being so rebellious!" Aura argued, playfully nudging him with her shoulder.
"But I had three bottles of rebellion juice this morning. I can't help myself." Fenix replied sarcastically.
"That's not even a thing!"
He chuckled, then wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a tight hug.
"Alright, I won't tell her," he murmured, resting his cheek on top of her head.
Aura hesitated—then hugged him back.
"Good," she said softly.
Two seconds later, she shoved him away, flustered.
"You've held on long enough!" He laughed again but there was a hint of disappointment in his voice, as if he wished to hold her longer.
Fenix walked Aura to her room before they parted ways. Inside, Mirror was waiting.
"So, were you on a date?" she asked teasingly.
Aura frowned.
"Of course I wasn't, stupid."
Aura then sat down and crossed her legs.
"What are you doing?" Mirror asked, watching her curiously.
"I'm… infusing botanical traits into my DNA."
Mirror tilted her head, clearly confused.
"Certain plants, like cacti and celosia spicata, are resistant to heat. I'm using traits like those to strengthen my own resistance."
Mirror's eyes widened, then she grinned.
"I didn't know you could do something that useful. I thought all you could do was those thorny attacks and healing."
Aura ignored her and focused.
She exhaled slowly, feeling the swelling in her blistered hands begin to subside.
If she wanted to stay close to Fenix… she had to make sure she wouldn't hurt him—just by being near him.
She would do whatever it took.