{ Mia }
~ the next day ~
The first thing I noticed was the silence. No sparks. No heat beneath my skin. Just stillness.
For a second, I thought it was gone. The power. The fire.
But then I moved my fingers, and a faint golden glow flickered at my fingertips before vanishing just as quickly. Dim. Controlled. Different.
I wasn't the same anymore.
I swallowed, pushing myself up, my muscles weak but steady. The last time I woke up like this, I'd felt like a stranger in my own body like something inside me was trying to tear its way out. Now, though… it wasn't fighting. It was waiting.
Watching.
A shiver crawled up my spine.
"You're awake."
Ace's voice pulled me from my thoughts. I turned my head to find him sitting nearby, arms crossed, exhaustion shadowing his face. He looked like he hadn't moved since I blacked out.
Cole, on the other hand, was leaning against the far wall, flipping a knife between his fingers, but his eyes were sharp, watching me like I might explode again at any second.
I licked my lips, my throat dry. "How long—?"
"Couple of hours," Ace answered, running a hand through his hair. "You've been out cold."
I frowned. "I feel…" I hesitated, flexing my fingers again. The golden light flickered, softer this time. Not violent. Not painful. Just there.
Ace leaned forward. "Better?"
I nodded slowly. "Yeah. But different."
Cole snorted. "Different how? Less 'human torch' and more 'mystical glowstick'?"
Ace shot him a glare, but I barely heard them. Because the more I focused, the more I realized—
It wasn't just different.
It was stronger.
The power inside me didn't just settle. It expanded, stretching into every part of me, like it had always been there, waiting for me to notice.
I met Ace's gaze. "Something changed."
His expression hardened, like he'd already known that. "Yeah," he said. "And we need to figure out what that means. Fast."
" Ace..... " I hesitated. " I-I-I'm sorry." I huffed as tears stung my eyes.
His eyes widened in shock before he pulled me into a tight hug calming me down.
" It's going to be alright cupcake." He whispered patting my head.
" You just have to stay calm alright? The more agitated you are the harder it is to control it."
I sighed finding warmth in his embrace.
" You're the best." I sniffed through tears.
" So, different how? Less 'human torch' and more 'mystical glowstick." Cole repeated.
My fingers twitched, and golden sparks erupted, crawling up my arms. The heat flared, surging like it had a mind of its own.
"Mia—" Ace started, but it was too late.
The power burst out of me, a shockwave rattling the room.
Cole staggered back and just as he was about to fall to the ground, Ace snapped his fingers and time stopped.
{ Ace }
Time slowed not fully stopping, just crawling at a sluggish pace as I adjusted to the sudden surge of energy in the room.
Mia stood in the center of it, her body rigid, golden energy crackling wildly around her like a storm barely contained. Cole was mid-stumble, his arms flailing as he struggled to regain balance.
I clenched my jaw. This was worse than before.
Mia's power wasn't just acting out it was growing. Expanding.
I stepped toward her, weaving through the slowed time, my voice calm but firm. "Mia, breathe."
She flinched, her fingers twitching. The golden sparks around her pulsed in response, growing brighter, wilder. "I—I can't," she choked out. "It's too much."
"You can control it," I said, closing the distance between us. "You did it before. Focus."
Her eyes darted to mine, desperate, scared. "Ace, I don't know how."
I hesitated.
I could stop time completely, freeze everything but her and give her space to figure this out. But if I did that, she'd just be delaying the inevitable. She needed to handle this while everything moved. While the world still pushed back.
So I did the only thing I could think of.
I reached out, gripping her wrist, and let my own power flow steady, controlled, anchored.
The moment my skin touched hers, something shifted.
Her energy flared, then stilled, like a wild fire suddenly finding its form. The golden sparks stopped lashing out and instead swirled around her fingers, no longer chaotic but focused.
Mia gasped. "I can feel it…"
"Good," I said, watching carefully. "Now direct it. Don't fight it guide it."
She took a shaky breath. Slowly, hesitantly, she raised her hand. The golden light responded, tracing delicate patterns in the air instead of exploding outward.
Cole finally regained his footing, exhaling loudly. "Alright, what the hell was that?"
Mia looked down at her hand, flexing her fingers. The glow flickered softly controlled, steady. Different.
She met my gaze, a flicker of realization in her eyes. "Ace… I think I just learned how to use it."
I raised an eyebrow. "Then let's test that theory."
~~~~~~~~~~~
Mia sat across from me, shoulders tense, hands resting on her lap. The golden glow at her fingertips flickered like candlelight gentle, controlled. For now.
We were in the abandoned training room beneath the safehouse. Rusted metal walls. Concrete floors. No windows. A place built for people like us, people with powers we didn't fully understand.
"Alright, cupcake," I said, cracking my knuckles. "Let's see what you can do."
Mia exhaled. "What exactly am I supposed to do?"
"Simple." I smirked, pushing off the wall. "Hit me."
Her eyes widened. "What?"
"Hit me," I repeated. "With your power. No holding back."
She hesitated, her fingers twitching. "That's not a test. That's an execution."
I chuckled. "Relax. I can stop time if things get out of hand."
She frowned. "And if you don't stop it in time?"
"Then I guess we'll find out if you can control it."
Mia swallowed, doubt flickering in her eyes. But then something shifted. Determination.
Her stance changed. She focused.
The golden light swirled up her arms, brighter now, responding to her intent.
Good.
"Whenever you're ready," I said, bracing myself.
Mia lifted her hand and then snapped it forward.
A blast of golden energy shot toward me, fast and fierce. But just before it could hit, I twisted time around me, slowing everything down. The energy crackled in the air, moving sluggishly, giving me just enough time to sidestep.
Then, just as suddenly, I let time snap back to normal.
The blast slammed into the wall behind me, scorching the metal.
Mia cursed under her breath. "Damn it."
"Not bad," I said, stepping closer. "But you're relying too much on brute force. Your power isn't just fire it's energy. Use it smartly."
She exhaled sharply. "Okay. Again."
This time, she didn't just throw a blast at me. She studied me, waiting for me to move first.
Smart.
I lunged forward.
Mia reacted instantly. Instead of shooting straight at me, she twisted her wrist and the golden energy curved.
I barely had time to react before it slammed into my side, sending me skidding backward.
I coughed, shaking my head. "Damn."
Mia grinned. "I got you."
I wiped the dust off my jacket, nodding in approval. "Yeah. You did."
Cole, who had been leaning against the door, whistled. "Alright, that was actually impressive. You gonna let her win that easily, Ace?"
I smirked. "Who said I was done?"
Before Mia could blink, I snapped my fingers stopping time just for a second.
In that moment, I shifted behind her.
Then I let time resume.
Mia's eyes widened as she realized I wasn't in front of her anymore. "Oh, crap—"
I tapped her shoulder. "Tag. You're it."
She whirled around, golden sparks crackling at her fingertips.
I grinned. Now the real test begins.