3.26 – The Magic Carpet

“It really is date-worthy,” Valerie said in agreement. “Whelp, I’m going to enjoy this place as much as I can while I can. The paper doesn’t usually see fit to let a blogger like me go and get herself wined and dined. Even though my column is probably responsible for at least twenty percent of their web traffic, depending on the analytics… but I won’t bore you with that. I cover the youth beat and Asian concerns. The people upstairs just don’t take those things seriously.”

“Anyway, you should totally bring your mystery lady-friend here. She’ll probably be swept up by everything,” Valerie added, heaving a little sigh.

Aurora half-smiled, a little twist to her lips.

“I think that I probably will. Anyway, you seem regretful, Valerie.” She tilted her head.

“Who? Me? Why would I regret experiencing this?” Valerie laughed. “I bet I’m boring you.”

 “You aren’t boring me at all. Anyway, I’m serious about making a friend here. If you want to talk about yourself with me, I would be honored to listen.” Aurora took Val’s hand, her grip warm but firm. “Shall we finish off this bottle of champagne before we leave?”

With a playful flicker of light, she formed a hand using her halo power, lifting the bottle carefully, fingers of golden energy slowly curling around the neck. She had been practicing creating constructions with minor moving parts. Hinges seemed to be fairly easy to visualize and keep track of in her mind. It was a showy move, deliberately so, as she tilted the bottle to refill their glasses with the last of the bubbling liquid.

Her showboating backfired slightly when her grip wavered, a slight tremor in the construct. Damn it. I've been making progress lately, but…

That’s a shame. Holly commented. Keep working on expanding your abilities, Aurora. Dragonmage was right. Your light manipulation most likely has some room to grow.

 Val reacted quickly, snatching up the glasses before too much spilled.

“I suppose when you have a force field powerful enough to resist missiles and machine guns, picking up delicate stuff can be difficult,” Val ribbed her with a little laugh.

Aurora grinned sheepishly, setting the bottle down as gracefully as possible.

“I never asked you what your powers were exactly, but I think the public’s got a good handle on them already. Flight, blasts, light, constructs, force fields, essentially making light solid… if you want me to correct any of that, let me know.”

Val took a casual sip, watching her over the rim of her glass before exhaling a quiet chuckle. It seemed that the interview had slightly resumed. Perhaps Val couldn’t help digging.

“Sorry about the sour note earlier. I’m a little wistful that a girl I just met, who’s looking for a business contact, has treated me to a more romantic evening than my cheap-ass boyfriend has in, like, over a year.”

She laughed, but there was a self-deprecating edge to it.

“Like I said, it’s a good thing for him that I’m not looking elsewhere…” She took another sip, swirling the champagne thoughtfully.

Aurora giggled softly.

“You might not be actively looking, but from what you’ve been saying, I bet you’re curious.”

She sat back down, taking another slow drink. Why did Valerie have to be so tempting?

Mistral means everything to me. The thought surfaced immediately, unshakable. Aurora loved her. Mistral was **special**, a miracle that had happened to her, just like the powers that let her become who she was always meant to be.

But the way this conversation was heading, she felt a dangerous pull—one that might lead to something that could hurt Mistral deeply. Still, she couldn’t help flirting a little even if she knew she couldn’t drive this train all the way into yuri town.

She set her glass down, eyes dropping to its golden contents.

“I wish I could sate that curiosity, but I can’t.” Her voice softened, almost lost to the night breeze. “You’re very pretty, and despite my intention to keep things professional, I’m having a really good time… but she means everything to me.”

Valerie snorted, smirking.

“Honestly? That’s probably a good thing. If you poured enough of this champagne into me, I’d probably be willing to be convinced, but I’d regret it later on.”

She leaned back, letting out a deep breath, as if releasing something unsaid.

“Okay, so then let me properly introduce myself again.”

She tapped her fingers against her glass, then looked back at Aurora.

“I’m Chuntao Valerie North, a second-generation Chinese-American. Always wanted to be a reporter, always wanted to be the one to find out and talk about everyone’s business.”

She laughed softly, shaking her head.

“I’m twenty-six years old, and I’ve scared off most of my boyfriends because of my dedication to my work. Before I was picked up by the Chronicle, I was involved in the rave scene.”

Aurora’s brows lifted slightly.

Uh-oh, a mini Quinn.

Quinn had been deep in the rave scene. The thought flashed through her mind. Was there a chance they’d crossed paths more than once? That was a line of thought that she couldn’t afford to explore. If she asked, Chuntao would have all her secrets uncovered.

Val continued, gesturing vaguely with her glass.

“I was only really involved with keeping the lines of communication open and researching places to have them. So my story isn’t nearly as exciting as ‘superhero angel who graces posh hotspots and can fly’.”

She shrugged, smiling.

Aurora grinned.

“That’s interesting. You think there’s no room for romancing if you’re already married to your job?”

She smiled playfully.

“Hmmm… so you’re into raves… I take it they must have all been over in Seaside?”

The idea of Val and Quinn knowing each other was too hilarious to ignore. She could just imagine Quinn dragging Val into some kind of wild DJ setup, raving about beat drops and bass levels.

“Raves happen wherever. I’ve been on both sides of the bay.” She smirked knowingly.

“Seen a lot of talented up-and-comers who’ll never hit it big because companies don’t understand the artistic talent it takes to mix up music like the good DJs do. Sometimes I think the music industry’s just waiting for three guys with guitars and a dude on drums.” She laughed, shaking her head.

Aurora chuckled.

She couldn’t help commenting, trying to be very indirect, “I know someone who was pretty heavily into that scene. They sound a lot like you do, in fact.”

Valerie studied Aurora carefully, her eyes narrowing slightly as she searched her face. “You look vaguely familiar. I wonder if I ever met you at a rave somewhere. Although you look like you’ve only been into it for a few years at best unless you’re eternally young and have been around longer than anyone else knows…” She smiled and leaned back, taking another sip of champagne before shaking her head. “Nope… nothing’s coming to mind. I give up.” She laughed.

“I’d be surprised if you did. I’d definitely remember you if I had ever met you,” Aurora said wryly. “But if you have time sometime, it might be fun to go dancing together. Less waltz, more freestyle.” The idea stirred a bittersweet longing in her chest—she really missed Quinn. Going to a rave again would be like bringing back some of their old times. It was kind of sad, really. She had a feeling keeping her secret identity intact around Valerie would be very difficult. Even seemingly off the wall questions seemed to draw connections to her. It was in-built in her nature to dig for the truth.

“Well, there’s one coming up this Friday night if you’re interested. Do you want to give me your number?” Valerie asked, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

“Sure, that’s fine.” Aurora smiled, pulling out her communicator and quickly typing out a message containing her number. “I can’t guarantee I’ll always be able to pick up, but you also have my email address.” She looked up, a playful spark in her eyes. “I’d be delighted to go out with you. It’s been a while since I’ve thought about letting my hair down. And I can go in disguise, so people wouldn’t know you were with Aurora, which would help keep things low-key. Usually, getting rid of the wings is enough, but I can do a few more fun things that I’d like you to not add to the official list of powers, if that’s alright with you.” She winked.

Valerie giggled. “I promise to keep things confidential, so long as you tell me it’s meant to be,” she added quickly, wagging a teasing finger at her. “I’ll call you from there when I go.” She laughed and took another sip before tilting her head thoughtfully. “Aurora, tell me one thing… does any of this actually matter to you? The fame? The aesthetics?” She gestured at the balcony, the grand décor, and the high-class patrons around them. “You’re really just this nice normally, aren’t you?”

Aurora set her glass down, meeting Valerie’s gaze with quiet sincerity. “Like I said—what you see is what you get. I fly through clouds, not put on airs. Granted, I’m more or less bold depending on the situation, but in the end, this is me. As for the fame… it can be a nice bonus sometimes. I really do want to be loved. I like the feeling. To be appreciated, to be wanted.” She gave a small shrug and smiled. “But it’s superficial and fleeting—I know that. Fame aside, I just want to do right by everyone if I can.”

Valerie smiled softly, nodding. “You’re great. Really.” She drained the last of her glass and smirked. “There’s still like a quarter of the bottle left. You should take it home. If I have any more, I’ll fall asleep,” she giggled.

Aurora laughed with her. “Then we should probably fly while you can still appreciate it, right?” She winked. “Do you think you’ll be able to guide me to your place from the air? If you think that might be tough, I can GPS it. I have a navigation system through the Sentinels that should be able to do the trick if you gave me your address. Though, I intend to take the scenic route.” She reached for the cork and firmly stuffed it back into the champagne bottle. “I know someone who would enjoy a glass of this.” Aurora smiled, forming a construct like a wicker basket, large enough to hold the bottle securely, along with Valerie’s bag. Placing it on the table, she passed it over. “Go ahead and put your stuff inside. It’ll come with us.”

“Hey, I have an idea,” Valerie said suddenly, her voice bright with tipsy excitement. “Put a large flat rectangle on the ground with the basket on it.” She giggled as she placed her belongings inside. Aurora nodded and did as she was asked, forming a wide, flat construct beside the table. Valerie promptly plopped herself onto it and patted the space next to her. “Magic carpet ride!” she declared. Yep, Valerie was drunk. 

Aurora burst into laughter. “That defeats the purpose of having wings, you know. But hey, I’ve never tried this before, so let’s give it a shot. We shouldn’t need to go fast—it’ll be more fun that way.” She glanced at the basket, adjusting the construct so it fused seamlessly with the platform, ensuring nothing would fall off. For good measure, she shaped a fitted seat around Valerie’s bottom and wrapped the construct snugly around her feet to keep her secure.

“Oooh… cozy,” Valerie giggled. “My boyfriend wants to do that to me too…” She pointed at her feet, wrapped up in the construct.

Aurora chuckled and focused on lifting the platform, but she quickly realized she wasn’t as successful as she’d hoped. She could shift the construct within her aura, but lifting it beyond that required support. It seemed she wasn’t able to levitate an object this large freely through the air, at least not yet. She’d have to make it more of a controlled ride, similar to how she had maneuvered Vulkraken toward the ocean. But treating Valerie like that would have her bruised and vomiting in minutes.

Still, it was an interesting limitation to discover about her powers.

“Heyyy, are we going or whaaat?” Valerie drawled, her laughter trailing into a hiccup.

Aurora smirked, already thinking of a solution. If she couldn’t move the construct the way Valerie suggested, she could at least surround them both with her aura and tow it.

Holly, note to self: work more on construct manipulation. I might need a workaround in the future.

A soft, amused hum resonated in Aurora’s mind. Noted. Also, might I suggest ensuring your passenger is properly secured? A sudden jolt mid-flight may result in an impromptu alcohol-fueled disaster.

Aurora sighed fondly. You’re just full of good advice, huh?

Holly’s voice took on a playful lilt. It is my job to be indispensable.

Aurora scoffed playfully. “It seems you’ve put me into an awkward position. I can’t do it exactly how you suggested, but I know how we can make it work.”

She stood, arms crossed, as she carefully wrapped the construct around her legs, then expanded her gravity-nullifying aura to encompass Chuntao and their belongings. With a subtle shift in her stance, she extended her wings, fine-tuning the construct’s shape to be more aerodynamic. Once she was sure everything was stable, she flapped her wings powerfully, and the shimmering carpet shot up into the night sky with Chuntao aboard.

“So, which way to your home, Chuntao?”

Chuntao, clearly a little embarrassed, looked at her before glancing off to the side. “No one calls me Chuntao anymore,” she muttered, fidgeting slightly. “I always thought the name made me sound weird. It means ‘Spring Peach’ in English. My mom wanted me to have a traditional name, but my dad insisted on an American one, so I’ve used my middle name since preschool.”

Once she gave Aurora directions, they began their journey, weaving lazily between the Seaside City’s skyscrapers. The construct beneath them shimmered with soft, shifting hues of blue and green, reflecting the night sky like the aurora borealis itself. As they glided past the towering buildings, people lucky enough to catch the sight from their windows stared in amazement. The city lights twinkled below them, and the cool sea breeze whipped through their hair, adding to the surreal nature of the ride.

Chuntao spoke loudly over the rushing wind, her voice filled with wonder. “You know, I expected these light things you make to be rigid and uncomfortable, but they’re actually kind of soft… a warm blanky, really. This is amazing. You’re so lucky to be able to do something like this.”

Aurora blushed and grinned. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it. Maybe that’s why Vulkraken didn’t fight me when I was helping him. I didn’t know my halo was ‘warm blanky’ tier cozy.” She laughed lightly. “I’d have freaked out in his situation, but he stayed as calm as he could and fought the curse with everything he had.”

Holly’s voice chimed in teasingly through her mental link. Your powers are many things, Aurora, but I never considered ‘heated luxury seating’ to be one of them. You should start marketing personal transport services.

Aurora bit back a smirk. I’ll add it to my list of heroic side hustles.

“You never know,” Aurora said, returning to her conversation with Chuntao. “Something could happen, and you might gain powers of your own someday.” She tilted her head thoughtfully. “Though it’s not likely, it’s also not impossible. If it ever happened to you, let me know. We could be a duo.”

Chuntao laughed loudly. “Ha! With my luck, I’d get dog powers and become ‘The Newshound.’” She giggled more. “Well, whatever. Who needs powers anyway? People already say I can be a bitch.”

Aurora snorted, shaking her head with amusement. “You’re lucky I’m holding this thing up, or you’d be free-falling for that one.”

“Pfft, please.” Chuntao grinned. “You wouldn’t drop me. You like me too much.”

They shared another laugh as they neared her apartment building, a fairly upscale complex that looked even nicer in the moonlight. The construct slowly descended, landing smoothly out front. Chuntao tried to stand, but the sculpted seat held her snugly in place.

“Uh…” She wiggled, then looked up at Aurora with an awkward smile. “Little help?”

Aurora blushed faintly before smirking impishly. With a flick of her fingers, the construct first released Chuntao’s feet, then shifted, raising her up like she was sitting on a barstool. Once she was upright, Aurora snagged the basket with their belongings before gently taking Chuntao’s hand and pulling her free. She barely resisted the urge to glance at the imprint left behind before letting the construct dissolve. Not bad! It looked like a perfectly formed peach.

Chuntao stretched and shook out her legs, rolling her shoulders. “Wow. That was incredible.” She turned to Aurora with a grin. “Thank you for a great interview, Aurora. Are you going to be okay to fly home? I have a couch you could crash on if you need one… and a Keurig.”

So tempting… so very tempting.

Aurora tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and smiled. “I wouldn’t mind stepping in for that coffee—to wash out some of the champagne from my system—but after that, I’m fine to fly home. It was just fun spending time with you.” She winked. “I think the bay isn’t too daunting of an obstacle.”

Chuntao tilted her head, eyeing her curiously. “Well, you might be more affected than you realize. Your face has been a little flushed for a while now.” She smirked. “We wouldn’t want you face-planting into a cargo ship, would we?”

Aurora blushed. Did she know about that too? If so she didn’t press.

Holly’s voice hummed softly in Aurora’s head. I am inclined to agree. Your body temperature has been slightly elevated for the past twenty minutes. You may be feeling the effects more subtly than you realize.

Aurora sighed inwardly. I’m fine, Holly. I swear. I’ll take the coffee.

“When you put it that way…” Aurora grinned, gesturing dramatically. “Alright, fine. I’ll take you up on that drink.”

Chuntao laughed and led her up to the second floor, fumbling for her key before unlocking the door and pushing it open.

As they stepped inside, Aurora took in the space with mild curiosity. The apartment was cozy, with a mix of modern and eclectic decor. Chinese calligraphy and massive decorative fans adorned the walls, and the furniture—though slightly mismatched—had an inviting charm. It was different from Mistral’s clean, minimalist aesthetic but still held a warmth all its own.

Aurora smirked. “Not bad. I like the vibe.”

Chuntao set down her bag and made a beeline for the kitchen. “Well, don’t just stand there looking heroic—sit.” She gestured to the couch before busying herself with the Keurig.

Aurora chuckled, stepping further inside. “Yes, ma’am.” She plopped onto her couch, stretching her legs. “I have to say, this night turned out a lot different than I expected.”

“Good different or bad different?” Chuntao called from the kitchen.

Aurora smiled, letting her wings relax against the cushions. “Good. Definitely good.”

Aurora grinned at how smoothly the night had gone, despite all the risks involved. “You know, Chuntao, you’re a great host. I might start showing up just for the coffee.”

Valerie chuckled as she took another sip of her own. “I wouldn’t mind. Just as long as you don’t crash through my window one of these days thinking it’s dramatic.” She wagged a finger at her. “And it’s Valerie, if you’re keeping things professional, but Chuntao if we’re friends.”

Aurora smiled warmly at that. “Then I’ll keep my future window crashing plans to a minimum, Chuntao.”

As the two fell into an easy silence, Holly’s voice chimed softly in Aurora’s mind. I must admit, this turned out to be a surprisingly successful social outing. You’re developing quite the talent for making new connections, Aurora. Even when they start off as business-related. There was a playful lilt to her tone, though she quickly added, Not that I’m implying anything untoward, of course.

Of course, Aurora thought dryly.

Holly’s presence in the back of her mind had become second nature, though there were times she wished the AI didn’t take such keen interest in her personal life. It was as if she had an overly nosy, incredibly perceptive, and slightly flirtatious ghost following her around at all times.

She turned back to Chuntao, offering her empty mug with a polite smile. “I should probably get going before I take up your entire night.”

Chuntao accepted it with a small, half-disparaging grin. “Alright, alright,” she relented. “Not that I’d mind keeping you here longer, but I get it.” She placed the mug on the kitchen island before leading Aurora to the balcony.

The small outdoor space was cozy, with a couple of chairs, a bamboo wind chime swaying lightly in the breeze, and a knee-high water fountain that wasn’t running at the moment. It was peaceful—just the kind of place someone like Chuntao would enjoy unwinding after a long day.

Aurora stepped out, inhaling the fresh night air. She hopped onto the railing with effortless balance, her wings stretching out behind her. She glanced back over her shoulder, winking one last time before she leaned back and let herself fall, waving as she vanished over the edge.

Chuntao stood there for a moment, watching her disappear into the night before shaking her head with an amused sigh. “Unbelievable.”

As Aurora flew over the bay, the exhilaration of the night faded slightly, replaced by a pang of loneliness. It was tough being in a long-distance relationship sometimes. Even with her ability to visit Mistral whenever she wanted—assuming she was free—it wasn’t the same as being able to just be with her. She longed for the little things, the casual moments of companionship that weren’t scheduled between battles, training, and obligations.

Leona’s situation with Sarah was better than it used to be, but there were still limits. Her parents remained as rigid as ever, and while Sarah was more independent now, they couldn’t exactly be open about everything. It wasn’t the same kind of distance as with Mistral, but it was still frustrating. Sarah’s mind and emotions were influenced by the Xevolve in her system.

Aurora pulled out her communicator as she slipped across the sky, the city lights glittering below her. The idea of inviting Mistral to the rave crossed her mind. Maybe it would be a way to spend time together in a fun, non-superhero setting.

Would that be fair to Chuntao, though? If she told her not to write about it, would it be cruel? Could she trust her to keep something so juicy under wraps? Maybe, maybe not.

Holly’s voice flickered to life again. If I may offer my two cents, Aurora, Valerie North seems genuinely trustworthy. However, the nature of her profession means she’s conditioned to chase stories. Even if she doesn’t mean to, she might let something slip simply by following her instincts. It’s a calculated risk.

I know, Aurora admitted.

The loneliness in her chest tightened just a little more. She needed to hear Mistral’s voice. Maybe even run the idea by her, see how she felt about it.

She hovered high over the city for a moment before making her decision.

With a small breath, she dialed the number.