Ethan didn't waste a second after getting home.
The door barely closed before he moved.
He laid Emma down first—on the couch, not the bed. Where he could watch her. Where he could reach her instantly if she so much as twitched. He checked her pupils with practiced precision, pressed two fingers to her neck, counted her breaths.
Steady.
Good.
Then Diana.
He sat her on a chair, grabbed a cold pack from the freezer, and pressed it gently against the side of her head.
"Don't move," he ordered calmly.
Diana groaned. "Wow… rude. I literally almost died."
"You didn't," Ethan replied. "Your brain just rebooted badly."
Emma stirred.
Ethan immediately turned.
Her eyelids fluttered. A quiet breath escaped her lips. She winced slightly, hand moving to her temple.
"…Dad?" she muttered.
Relief—brief, controlled—crossed Ethan's face.
"I'm here," he said. "Don't sit up yet."
Emma frowned. "My head feels… weird."
"That punch was designed to interrupt neural function," Ethan explained. "Not to kill. More like… turning a computer off improperly."
Diana blinked. "So… I got blue-screened?"
Ethan nodded once. "Exactly."
Emma exhaled slowly, eyes closing again for a moment.
Ethan handed her water, lifting her head just enough for her to drink.
"Slow," he warned.
She obeyed.
Diana squinted at him. "You sound like this happens a lot."
"It used to," Ethan said flatly.
He monitored both of them closely—reaction time, eye tracking, hand strength. He made Emma squeeze his fingers. Made Diana count backward. Made them follow his movements.
Everything checked out.
"No internal bleeding," he concluded. "No fractures. No lasting neural damage."
Emma opened her eyes fully now, staring at the ceiling.
"…I jumped in," she said quietly.
Ethan didn't scold her.
"I know," he replied.
There was a pause.
"You scared me," he added.
That hit harder than anger ever could.
Emma swallowed.
Diana shifted awkwardly. "…For the record, I would've won in round two."
Ethan almost smiled.
Almost.
He stood up, finally allowing himself to breathe.
"Both of you rest," he said. "No fighting. No running. No heroics."
Emma turned her head slightly. "For how long?"
Ethan met her gaze.
"Until I say otherwise."
She didn't argue.
Outside, the night was quiet.
Ethan moved with certainty now.
No hesitation. No doubt.
He handed Diana a glass of water first, placing two pills in her palm.
"Painkillers," he said. "Low dosage. You'll be fine in ten minutes."
Diana stared at them. "You say that like you've tested this on yourself."
"I have," Ethan replied.
She shrugged and swallowed them.
Then Emma.
Ethan knelt in front of her, his voice softer without meaning to be.
"Same thing," he said. "You'll feel pressure fade first. Then warmth. Then nothing."
Emma took them without comment, drank, and leaned back against the couch.
Minutes passed.
Diana stretched her arms, blinking. "…Oh. Yeah. I'm good. Like—shockingly good."
Emma rolled her neck once, then once more. No dizziness. No pain. Her breathing evened out.
"I'm fine," she said.
Ethan watched them closely.
No tremor. No delayed reaction.
Good.
The phone rang.
Diana answered, listened, then sighed dramatically. "Ugh. Yes, mom. I'm alive. No, I didn't fight anyone—okay that's a lie but still—fine, I'm coming."
She stood, grabbed her jacket, then paused.
She looked at Emma.
Not joking this time.
"Hey," Diana said quietly. "Don't do that alone again."
Emma nodded. "I won't."
Diana glanced at Ethan. "You're terrifying."
"I know," Ethan said.
She grinned. "See you tomorrow, Ema."
Then she left.
The door closed.
Silence settled over the house.
Emma stayed seated, staring at the floor.
Ethan sat across from her, elbows on his knees.
For a long moment, neither spoke.
"You scared me today," he finally said again.
Emma's fingers curled slightly.
"I know."
"And you enjoyed it," Ethan continued, not accusing—just stating.
Emma didn't deny it.
"…Yes."
Ethan exhaled slowly.
"That part," he said, "is what we deal with next."
Emma looked up at him.
"How?"
Ethan met her eyes—steady, firm, not afraid.
"Control," he answered.
"Not suppression. Not denial."
He stood.
"For tonight," he added, "you stay here. Rest. Eat something."
Emma nodded.
She stayed.
----
Weeks passed.
The morning air was calm.
Too calm.
Emma walked alone toward the school gates, bag resting lightly on her shoulder. Her steps were steady, unhurried. Exams meant nothing to her anymore—everything was already memorized, categorized, locked away neatly in her head. Take the paper. Finish. Leave.
Simple.
Students gathered in small clusters ahead, nervous voices overlapping, papers clutched like lifelines. Emma passed them without a glance.
Then—
"EMMA—!!"
Footsteps. Fast. Sloppy. Panicked.
Emma stopped.
Diana came sprinting down the road, hair a mess, tie crooked, bag half-open with papers sticking out. She skidded to a stop in front of Emma, hands on her knees, gasping for air.
"I— I'M DEAD," Diana wheezed. "I DIDN'T STUDY. AT ALL."
Emma stared at her.
Blank. Flat.
"…At all?" Emma repeated.
Diana looked up slowly, eyes wide with genuine terror.
"Zero. Nothing. My brain is EMPTY. I tried opening the book last night and just—" she made an exploding gesture with her hands, "—NOPE."
Emma sighed quietly and resumed walking.
Diana immediately followed, clinging to her side.
"Emma. Emma please. I'm begging you. Just this once. Let me cheat."
"No."
"EMMA—"
"I said no."
Diana groaned dramatically. "You don't understand. My parents will KILL me. Not metaphorically. Like—actually."
Emma stopped again and turned to face her.
"You had weeks."
"I HAD VIBES," Diana argued. "BAD VIBES."
"That's not an excuse."
Diana pouted, then suddenly grabbed Emma's sleeve. "Please. You're literally a walking answer sheet. I just need a glance. One glance. I'll never ask again."
Emma looked down at Diana's hand on her sleeve.
Then back up at her face.
"…You will ask again," Emma said calmly.
Diana froze.
"…Yeah," she admitted.
They reached the school gates. Teachers stood nearby, checking IDs, calling out room numbers. The tension in the air thickened.
Diana leaned in, whispering urgently, "Okay listen. Just cough twice if the answer's B. Scratch your head if it's C. Blink aggressively if I'm failing."
Emma gave her a sideways look. "You sound stupid."
"But a hopeful stupid."
Emma turned away and walked inside.
Diana followed anyway.
Inside the hallway, lockers slammed shut, footsteps echoed, someone was already crying near the stairs.
At the classroom door, Emma stopped.
Diana nearly crashed into her back.
Emma turned slightly, her voice low.
"…Sit behind me."
Diana's eyes widened. "WAIT— really?"
Emma didn't look at her. "If you get caught, I don't know you."
Diana gasped dramatically, grabbing Emma's hands. "I LOVE YOU. I TAKE BACK EVERY TIME I CALLED YOU EMOTIONLESS."
Emma pulled her hands back. "You're loud."
They entered the classroom.
Students took their seats. Papers were handed out. Silence settled like a weight.
Emma finished reading the first page in seconds.
Behind her, Diana was sweating.
The exam began.
A minute passed.
Then—
Diana lightly kicked Emma's chair.
Emma didn't react.
Another kick. Softer.
Emma sighed almost imperceptibly and, without turning around, tapped her pencil twice on the desk.
Diana froze.
"…B?" she mouthed.
Emma didn't answer.
Ten minutes later, Emma flipped a page.
Diana leaned forward, whispering desperately, "Emma… number seven…"
Emma paused her writing.
Then slowly scratched the side of her head.
Diana's eyes lit up.
"C," she mouthed silently, scribbling it down like her life depended on it.
By the end of the exam, Emma was already done, pen resting still, gaze unfocused.
Behind her, Diana collapsed against her desk in relief.
When the bell rang, Diana practically jumped up.
She grabbed Emma's arm as they exited. "YOU SAVED ME. I'M NAMING MY FIRST CHILD AFTER YOU."
"No," Emma said immediately.
They stepped into the sunlight outside.
Emma adjusted her bag and started walking away.
Diana followed, grinning.
"…You're not as cold as you pretend to be."
Emma didn't respond.
But she didn't pull away either.
---
The next day felt heavier.
Science exam.
Emma already knew the material—again. Laws, reactions, formulas, all neatly arranged in her mind. She walked toward school with the same calm pace as always.
Beside her—
"I'm finished," Diana said flatly.
Emma glanced at her. "You said that yesterday."
"And it was TRUE yesterday," Diana snapped. "Today it's WORSE. Science hates me."
They reached the school entrance.
That's when Valeria appeared.
She slowed down when she noticed them, adjusting her bag. "Oh. Hey."
Emma acknowledged her with a nod.
Diana, however, lit up like she'd just seen salvation.
"YES. VALERIA."
Valeria blinked. "Yes… what?"
"You can help," Diana said confidently. "You studied, right?"
Valeria shrugged. "I mean… not a lot. But decent. Enough to survive."
Diana clasped her hands. "That's MORE than enough."
Emma sighed quietly.
Inside the classroom, fate was cruel.
Valeria was seated right next to Diana.
Diana leaned over instantly. "This is destiny."
Valeria whispered back, "This is a seating chart."
The exam papers were handed out. Silence fell.
Science questions. Diagrams. Multiple choice.
Diana stared at question one like it personally offended her.
She leaned toward Emma first.
"…Emma."
Emma didn't look at her. "Wait."
Diana frowned. "…Wait for what?"
"For you to use your brain."
"That's not happening."
A minute passed. Diana panicked harder.
She slowly turned to Valeria.
"…Valeria."
Valeria hesitated. "…What?"
"I need help."
Valeria looked at her paper, then around the room, then back at Diana. "I really don't wanna get caught."
Diana whispered urgently, "I will owe you my LIFE."
Valeria sighed. "…Fine. Just be subtle."
She leaned in slightly to whisper—
And then—
PRRRRT.
Loud.
Clear.
Unmistakable.
Time froze.
Valeria's eyes widened in horror.
Diana stopped breathing.
Emma's pen paused mid-word.
A student two rows ahead slowly turned around.
The teacher lifted her head.
Valeria went red instantly. "I— I DIDN'T—"
Diana's brain rebooted.
Her eyes drifted back down to the paper.
Question 3:
Which state of matter has no fixed shape or volume?
Diana stared.
Then her face lit up with pure, absolute realization.
"…Oh," she whispered.
She quickly scribbled the answer.
Gas.
She leaned back in her chair, nodding seriously.
"Yeah. That checks out."
Valeria buried her face in her hands.
Emma resumed writing like nothing happened.
The teacher cleared her throat but said nothing.
After the exam, Diana nearly vibrated with excitement as they exited.
"She didn't even mean to help," Diana said proudly. "But science finds a way."
Valeria groaned. "I hate both of you."
Emma adjusted her bag. "…At least you learned something."
Diana grinned.
"Yeah. Never trust Valeria near gases."
----
The bell rang.
Students poured out of the classroom in messy waves—laughing, groaning, celebrating survival.
Diana stretched her arms. "Okay… I'm not dead. I'm not failing. I'll take it."
Emma adjusted her bag. "You passed. That's enough for you."
"Exactly," Diana said proudly. "Perfection is overrated."
They stepped into the hallway.
That's when Emma felt it.
A presence.
She looked up.
Arthur.
Standing near the lockers.
Their eyes met.
For a split second, the hallway noise dulled. Arthur's expression shifted—surprise, then intent. He straightened, already moving toward her, steps quick, purposeful.
"Oh?" Diana muttered. "What does he want now?"
Arthur was getting closer.
Too close.
And then—
Out of nowhere—
An arm wrapped around Emma's shoulders.
Firm. Protective.
Warm.
"What—" Diana started.
Liam.
He appeared like he'd stepped out of thin air, pulling Emma into a tight hug, her face pressed against his chest. The suddenness of it almost made Diana scream.
"WHERE DID YOU COME FROM—"
Liam didn't even look at her.
His eyes were locked on Arthur.
Cold.
Sharp.
"Fuck off," Liam said flatly.
No raised voice. No drama.
Just final.
Arthur stopped.
His jaw tightened. He glanced at Emma—waiting, hoping, something flickering in his eyes.
Emma didn't look back.
She didn't hesitate.
Her arms slid around Liam, hugging him back just as tightly, her grip sure, deliberate.
Arthur's face fell.
The message was clear.
He scoffed quietly, turned away, and disappeared into the crowd.
Diana blinked. Once. Twice.
"…Bro," she said slowly. "I swear your boyfriend spawns like a boss character."
Liam finally relaxed, resting his chin lightly on Emma's head. "I was nearby."
Emma murmured, calm as ever, "You took your time."
He smiled faintly. "You're safe. That's what matters."
Diana crossed her arms. "Next time warn me before he teleports."
Emma didn't answer.
She stayed where she was.
With Liam.