The settlement gates came into view like a beacon of stubborn hope, solar lanterns swinging gently from chains, casting warm yellow pools on the cracked parking lot. Tony's legs felt like jelly, but the new energy buzzing under his skin kept him moving, kept the grin plastered on his face even as fear nibbled at the edges of his excitement. Lila walked beside him, one hand hovering near his elbow like she expected him to suddenly float away or explode into confetti. The sleeping beasts stayed far behind, still curled up on the highway in peaceful rhythm, and Tony couldn't decide if that was the coolest or scariest thing he'd ever done.
They slipped through the side entrance, past the night watch who gave them sleepy nods and curious glances at the broken trombone parts Tony still carried like precious relics. The main hall was quiet now, most people tucked into sleeping bags or makeshift tents strung between old store counters. Only a few insomniacs sat around low fires, sharing whispers and warmth. Lila led Tony straight to their corner spot—a curtained-off area behind what used to be a shoe store—where their sleeping mats and scavenged blankets waited.
She pulled the curtain closed with a sharp tug, then turned on him, eyes blazing with a mix of big-sister protectiveness and pure astonishment. "Okay. Spill. Every single detail. Start with the trombone and don't leave out a word."
Tony dropped onto his mat, legs folding under him like they'd finally given up. He set the trombone pieces down carefully, almost reverently, and ran a hand through his messy hair. "I was just messing around. Thought it'd be funny to blow a stupid note. The slide jammed, I yanked too hard, the bell cracked open, and boom—Resonance energy right in my face. Knocked me flat. Then the prompt appeared." He swallowed. "X-Class, Lila. God of Songs and Music. It said I control all sound. All of it. Reality hums my melody. That's the exact wording."
Lila sank down across from him, knees pulled up, staring like he'd grown a second head. "X-Class?" Her voice came out small, almost scared. "That's… that's not supposed to happen. I've heard stories. Whispers. People say X-Class is myth. That if it ever showed up, the whole world would feel it."
Tony gave a shaky laugh. "Well, the world felt something tonight. I just didn't know how to tell you right away. I was too busy trying not to throw up from the shock."
She reached out, grabbed his hand, squeezed hard enough to hurt in the best way. "You should have told me the second it happened. We're in this together, remember? No secrets. Not anymore." Her eyes searched his face, fierce and soft at the same time. "But… Tony. This is huge. This could change everything. You could change everything."
He looked down at their joined hands, feeling the steady thrum of his own heartbeat like a bass line he could finally hear clearly. "I don't even know what to do with it yet. I made those beasts sit down like puppies. I didn't even try hard. It just… happened." He lifted his free hand, wiggled his fingers, and let out a tiny, experimental whistle. The curtain fluttered as if a breeze had slipped through, even though the air was still.
Lila's water bottle on the floor rattled softly, then floated an inch upward, spinning in lazy circles. She gasped, then laughed, the sound bright and startled. "Okay, that's freaky. And awesome. And terrifying."
Tony grinned, feeling a spark of pure mischief light up inside him. "Imagine what I could do when I actually figure out how to play something that isn't a dying goose."
She punched his shoulder lightly, but her smile was huge. "We have to be careful. Really careful. If word gets out too fast, people will want to use you. Or kill you. Or both. The elders, the raiders, that cult everyone's scared of… they all want power like this."
Tony nodded slowly, the excitement cooling just enough for reality to creep back in. "I know. That's why I'm not telling anyone yet. Not even the settlement. Just you. You're the only one I trust with this."
Lila's expression softened, pride and worry warring across her face. She leaned forward, resting her forehead against his. "Then we keep it quiet. We practice in secret. We figure it out together. And when the time comes to show the world what you can do… we'll make sure it's on our terms."
Tony closed his eyes, breathing in the familiar smell of her—sweat, rainwater, and that faint metallic tang of power she always carried now. For the first time since The Resonance, he didn't feel small next to her. He felt like they were equals. Partners. A team with a secret weapon that could maybe, just maybe, tip the scales of this broken world.
Outside, the settlement slept on, unaware that the boy who fixed generators had just become something far more dangerous than any mutant or raider.
Inside their little curtained corner, Tony let out one more soft note—just a breath of sound, gentle as a lullaby. The lantern above them glowed a little brighter, the shadows danced a little slower, and for a moment the whole ruined mall felt like it was holding its breath.