Gabriel was, functionally, invincible.

August knew that.

But the pang of fear that ricocheted through his body was primal. It was memory.

His feet were moving toward the explosion before he knew it. Great columns of smoke billowed into the sky, scattered fires burning themselves out in piles of concrete and ash.

“GABRIEL!” Keegan Masters’ voice was so raw it felt like the sound burned August’s ears. August shook himself and paused, raising his hands to carefully move shards of concrete from the collapsed buildings to the street. He kept an eye for slippage, so he could catch any pieces if a slide began that could harm survivors.

Gabriel was invincible. He reminded himself. He wouldn’t lose another partner. 

The intervening minutes were agonizing. Dexter and Keegan called into the rubble. August methodically cleared the collapse at its edges, focused in a way he could only manage when he was avoiding something else. The civil authorities had arrived to keep the crowd back and provide medical aid as the three of them, flanked by an ever growing group of high-tier Guardians, focused on looking for signs of life.

The hole in August’s gut grew. The worry mounted. He tried to keep his focus.

Then he watched the rubble erupt, a black, dusty shoe rupturing the concrete.

“Gabe,” Dexter breathed. August held his own trembling hands steady, and Keegan dropped the shirt he held to his injured chest to help his son out of the collapse.

“Sorry it took me a minute,” Gabe’s said, voice gravelly. He sounded wrung out. “Been stabilizing the rubble down there. We have survivors.”

Gabriel’s father busied himself with inspecting every inch of his son, then dropped his hands and re-focused on the task at hand. “August! Can you come help the others finish evacuating survivors? I don’t want to destabilize the pile by lifting any of the supports Gabe created. I know you can help catch them if needed.”

August gave a sharp nod, closing in on the hole Gabriel had made in the debris. He tried not to look at the blood soaking Gabriel’s shirt. It was almost certainly not his. “Glad you’re okay,” he said gruffly.

Gabriel looked up at him. It was the first time he’d looked so serious, so thoughtful. His gray eyes were narrowed and focused. “Thanks. I’ll be clearing the other building. Jean’s on here, you’re her support. Call me if I’m needed.”

Jean McNamara. Keegan’s partner. She specialized in restoration. 

“Mr. Wright,” a businesslike voice said from beside him. August hummed his acknowledgement. “I’m glad you’re on hand with Gabriel. I’m going to go try to stabilize the survivors for extraction. Please monitor the structural integrity of the rubble. If you have any doubts, I need you to call down to me.”

August nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

It was long, tense work. August could feel his mind clouding by the end, overtaxed by the incredible focus it required for him monitor so many moving parts.

Though they’d almost certainly lost civilians, they were able to successfully extract another 10 innocents, with two more residents in such critical condition their survival was on the fence. Jean clapped a hand over his shoulder, wiping dust from her eyes. “Good man,” she said, her long, loose braid reminding him eerily of his sister, just a few blocks away. “It’s a stroke of luck you were on scene. It could’ve been much worse without a telekinetic. Nova has precious few aphysical folks other than Dex.”

Gabriel rejoined them, his smart outfit in absolute tatters. His hair had broken free of the headband, streaks of dust and blood on his cheeks. Jean squeezed his shoulder before nodding to Keegan and heading off to help manage the press. “Dad, have you been seen yet?”

Keegan hesitated. The pain was written across his face, and he’d grown pale. “Let’s wait for them to finish with the civilians, son.”

August paused.

He glanced around them. The remainder of the Guardians on scene were occupied, and the press and civilians were being kept at a distance. It was only him and the Masters.

He thought to his father. His careful, analytical mind. The long friendship they’d shared, their family’s newly discovered history.

He’d been placed with Gabriel for a reason. Keegan was important, and a good ally to make.

August took a deep breath.

“Mr. Masters,” he said, trying to keep the edge from his voice. 

“I think I may be able to help.”