We finally arrived at their safe house, the red creases from my death grip on the gem now burning with the lack of adrenaline. We all fell out of the van and into the building, now in the lower middle class type of area I was used to living in, the cramped together apartments and risque building management, gunshots in the distance and dogs barking their heads off. I felt nostalgic suddenly, forcing my feet to move me inside and escape the homesickness. I stood awkwardly to the side as the gang from the van all got comfortable in the apartment. Emilio was beside me, a calming aura around him which caused me to feel the sudden sluggishness that my body had pushed back while in survival mode. I leaned my head against his bicep, my legs feeling numb and my hands buzzing with the gem still resting in my grasp. Emilio offered to take the jewel from me, giving me a rest from protecting it, and placed it on a counter nearby.

The magma person, Denmark, found a bottle of champagne to celebrate with, pouring everyone who wanted some a glass and passing them out before taking a swig from the bottle themselves. I laughed as the hair guy made a disgusted face at them, commenting, “No way you just did that and still won’t admit you don’t drink from the milk jug!” Which made everyone else join in on my chuckling. Emilio dragged me to the barstools at the kitchen island, both of us sitting on something comfortable finally.

I felt like I could go to sleep forever, the knowledge of how much pain I would be in the next day made me want to crawl into my bed even more. But I also wanted to celebrate with the group, glancing at Emilio who sipped slowly on his glass of champagne. I smiled casually at him, a small smile returned back, before Denmark popped their head in between us to address the elephant in the room: me.

“Do you want anything to drink? We pretty much have it all here, I’ll even make you a milkshake!” They grinned, their face a little too close for comfort. Emilio grabbed them by the scruff of their tank top, moving them away from me to give me space. I gave him an appreciative smile before answering their question. “I actually wouldn’t mind a milkshake..” I said sheepishly, feeling bad for making them do something with that much effort after everything that happened tonight. But we also stole a priceless gem tonight and they offered to make it, so why the hell not?

They got giddy at my answer, bouncing up and down before rushing to the fridge to grab ingredients. “I make the best milkshakes! I’ll even make it in front of you, Hibachi style!” They joked as they placed the blender onto the island, my hands holding my head up so I could watch the ‘milkshake master’ at work.

It was fun to watch them put it all together, the end result looking picture perfect and tasting as good as they hyped. I thanked them as much as I could before they got embarrassed and told me to stop and drink up before it melted. In which I did, not wanting a master milkshake to go to waste, my eye catching Emilio as I went to town with the straw. He had his head propped up with his hand, elbow resting on the counter, a soft expression slid over his face while facing me. I blushed and quickly turned my gaze away before I choked on the milkshake, my neck and ears hotter than a dumpster fire we passed on the way here. Was he aware of how much he affected me? Or even aware of the faces he made at me? It made me feel special and seen, not knowing how to deal with such feelings that I’ve never been used to feeling.

“If you keep looking at me that way, I might develop a god complex.” I joked to him around the straw, a glance back in his direction confirming my suspicions of him not realizing his own actions, the redness of his face and poofed up owl expression on his face. I tried not to laugh when he looked away, almost ashamed at being caught and accidentally making that face in the first place. I couldn’t keep the giggle in any longer at his kicked puppy look, resting my hand on his shoulder to signal reassurance and that it was okay. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for you to get embarrassed. I found it cute!” I tried to console him, a wave of chuckles coming from the others around us.

I glanced back at them, their eyes all on us. My already prevalent blush crept farther up my face now with embarrassment as well, flubbing around with my words and unable to make out anything coherent. The one who drove the getaway van spoke first, a small smile on their face. “We’re not used to seeing such a different side from him, sorry. It’s cute to see you guys interacting like that.” I nodded and glanced at him again, his face still positioned away from me.

“Have you guys known each other for long?” I asked, my interest now peaked. They shook their head, their huge fluffy hair bouncing back and forth with the movement. “I’ve known him since we were little lads, but the group was formed almost two years ago. It was an underdogs situation, if you will.” They answered the next question of how they met without me saying anything. “We were all being chased away from a busted illegal fighting ring, all of us under the top’s foot one way or another. We ended up ganging up together against the police and ran away into this hideout.” Their hands motioned around the place, the rustic style of a converted warehouse surrounding. 

I raised my eyebrows and looked at all of them, connecting the dots quickly. “You guys were exploited for your powers and forced to work in an underground fighting ring when you were all just kids?” They all collectively nodded, a sorrowful feeling floating down like a giant blanket. “I’m sorry for making you bring up your past, that sounds horrible! Are you guys okay now?” I asked as I sat up in my seat, my eyebrows quirked with worry. Emilio placed a hand on my shoulder, his face now back to his neutral expression. I understood that that was him confirming for the group, a glint of assurance in his eyes. I nodded and placed my hand on the one on my shoulder, glancing back to the group all sitting around in the living room that was positioned close to the kitchen.

“We’ve never been better. Especially now that we have Emilio’s gem!” Denmark grinned, making eye contact with Emilio. Everyone all agreed, some clinking their almost empty champagne glasses together. A smile went back onto my face at their change of attitude, lifting my milkshake cup to send an air-toast to them. “Oh! Where are our manners!” Denmark jumped from their seat, going into a quick bow directed towards me.

“I’m Denmark, I can projectile vomit magma out of me!” They introduced themselves, a quirky smile etched on their lips. The hair guy raised his glass to get my attention, following Denmark’s instruction to introduce himself. “Name’s Glasgow, I can telepathically control my hair to do what I want, like a second pair of hands basically.” I awed at their intros, being impressed was the most underestimated thing that year for me. The person with the big fluffy hair explained themselves next, crossing their legs politely before saying, “I can control someone’s brain activity, almost like hypnosis but deeper in the conscious.” Denmark nudged their elbow into the person’s side, reminding them to say their name. “Oh, and my name is Warsaw.”

“Sorry to call out the obvious, but why are all your names based on well known locations?” I felt dumb for asking but it felt important in the moment. They all chuckled together, Warsaw glancing at Emilio. Emilio sighed and squeezed my shoulder with the hand still placed there. “Albuquerque is my code name. Everyone here goes by an alibi name so we don’t get our families and true selves in trouble.” I turned when he started explaining, hand still placed on his hand. I nodded along and raised my eyebrows when he said code name. “Wait, so are you guys secret agents or something?”

Emilio didn’t chuckle like the others, a serious expression resting on his face as he stared at me. I couldn’t keep his gaze, turning towards the others in the living room to occupy my eyes. They seemed so carefree and happy at the moment, an hour ago being chased by muscle men and gangsters with a stolen good in the back of their van. But now their teasing and laughing over more champagne in their glasses, looking like they could rule the world.

“What’s the plan with the gem?” I blurted out, Emilio’s hand squeezing instinctively on my shoulder from the sudden question. Everyone glanced at me before looking at each other, looking like they were speaking in their heads to each other– something I would not be surprised about if they could. Emilio took the reins on the explanation, sliding his hand from my touch.

“I’m not entirely sure. It’s been in my family for generations and I only learned about the true abilities of it a week before it was stolen. As you know from the planning before the heist, a lot of the attendants at the auction were a part of biology and pharmaceutical corps. They had teams of scientists drooling over the gem’s abilities and so they would’ve paid any price to get it. When a little bit of the gem is chipped off, that piece of dust can cause DNA strings to mutate and cause the host who was affected to have symptoms like growths and supernatural abilities. Almost like superpowers but more radioactive. When mixed with other compounds and other similar ingredients to the gem itself, you can have cleaner results like us.” He rambled and moved his hands around as he spoke, this being the most he’s spoken since I met him.

“So basically if anyone gets their hands on the gem, they have a biologic superweapon at their disposal?” I asked in shock, my eyebrows shot up and my eyes wide in terror. I had been body blocking a possible weapon of mass destruction the whole ride home? What would’ve happened if my skin broke and a piece of it got into my bloodstream when I was gripping it for dear life? Would I still be me right now? My breath started to speed up like at the start of the night, my hand clutching desperately at my white button up as if that would help me calm down. Emilio seemed a bit worried, hands ready to catch me if I started to fall. Thank the gods I was sitting down or else I’d be on the floor in a fetal position.

The others in the group started to worry besides Warsaw who sat and watched intently as to what was happening in front of them. It was like their eyes were digging deep into who I was inside, searching for my soul. When my eyes locked with theirs I felt entranced. Like their eyes knew what to say and do to help me become calm again. My breathing returned soon after, a small and gentle smile reaching their lips as everyone relaxed again.

I shook my head to clear the dizziness I was feeling, throwing a thankful smile their way. They nodded and took one last gulp of champagne before setting the glass down on the coffee table in front of them, standing up to address the room that they were going to call it a night. Denmark booed playfully and everyone else understood, Glasgow also getting up to go to sleep. 

Denmark, Emilio, and I stayed up a little bit longer conversing before we all agreed it was really late. I helped them clean up, Emilio insisting I take his bed and he’ll take the couch, the subways around the area closed for the next couple of hours. I agreed and thanked him for worrying about me, Denmark sending me a jokingly mischievous ‘I know what you two are’ look which I shot down as fast as they brought it up. I gave Emilio the extra pillow and blanket that was in his room before getting ready to sleep myself, the day’s adventure pelting me like a rock.

Who knew a heist would be fun and lead you to finding a new beginning? I know I sure didn’t until it happened right in front of me.