News outlets around the world were reporting on the group's victory, and people everywhere were praising the government.

But the group knew that they had gotten the short end of the stick. They still had work to do to ensure that their kind were accepted and treated fairly.

Maya and Nico had grown closer throughout the journey, and now they finally had a chance to talk. They sat on a rooftop overlooking the city, watching as the sun began to set.

"I'm glad Lily’s alive," Nico said, breaking the silence.

Maya nodded, her eyes still on the horizon. "Me too, but sometimes it's just like I can't shake the feeling that all of this is my fault."

Nico put a hand on her shoulder, turning her to face him. "Want to talk about it?"

Maya smiled, feeling a sense of hope wash over her. With friends like these, she knew that anything was possible.

So she started, “During the battle with the government, we were heavily outnumbered and outgunned. We were holding our own for a while, but things started to go south when I was hit by an unexpected attack. My powers were thrown off balance, leaving me unable to defend herself against the onslaught of enemy fire. Lily quickly realized that I was in danger and rushed to her side.Using her energy manipulation powers, Lily created a protective shield around Me, shielding me from the incoming attacks. The shield holds for a moment, but it quickly becomes clear that it won't be enough to withstand the sustained attack. Lily knew that the shield would fail soon, and she realized that she only had one chance to save Me. In a split second decision, she released a massive blast of energy, destroying the enemy forces around us and buying the group some much-needed breathing room. However, the blast also drained Lily's energy reserves completely, leaving her vulnerable to the next wave of attacks. Then the enemy closed in on her, she knew that she wouldn't be able to defend herself. Being so selfless, Lily used the last of her energy to create a shield around me once more, sacrificing herself to protect me. I knew she died a hero, fighting for what she believed in until the very end but I wasn't ready to embrace it.” Maya explained.

Nico turned to Maya, her eyes dark with emotion. "Maya, I can't keep pretending that I don't feel this way about you anymore," he said, his voice low and husky.

The timing was terrible but the moment felt right. Nico took his index finger and thumb and pulled her sharp chin towards him. Their lips locked instantly and both grew chills. The kiss was gentle at first, a tentative exploration of each other's mouths. But as they deepened the kiss, the passion between them ignited like a wildfire. Maya wrapped her arms around Nico's neck, pulling him closer as they kissed hungrily. His hands roamed over her body, tracing the curves of her hips and waist. They broke apart briefly to catch their breath, staring into each other's eyes with an embraceful intensity.

"I've wanted to do that for so long," Nico said, his voice shaking with emotion.

Maya spoke through her smile and cute tears of joy.

They kissed again, lost in the moment and the overwhelming emotion that pulsed between them. For Maya and Nico, this rooftop kiss was the start of something new and beautiful. As the night wore on, the group continued to celebrate Lily’s return, but in the back of their minds they knew there were still people out there who wanted to see them gone, who wanted to see them suffer but for now, they were content to revel in their success, to bask in the knowledge that they would change the world for the better.