2.05 – Decision

Leona puzzled over her quandary, thoughtfully, pacing a small circle in the secluded woods as she ran her hands through her shimmering silver hair. Each quick step rustled blades of grass beneath her sandaled feet, releasing sweet scents in the air. The tension was rising like a kettle on the verge of boiling over. What am I gonna do? she thought, glancing toward the quiet condo complex and their home’s inviting back light.

After determining she couldn’t figure out how to reverse the transformation, panic had begun to nibble at the edges of her mind. She clenched her fists, mentally running through every possibility. Her wings shifted instinctively, fanning behind her as though seeking escape. If she reverted now, she'd be naked. Utterly naked. She hadn’t thought about that when she bolted through her window. A neighbor might see the little trans girl streaking past with her boy bits shamefully on display, inviting gawking stares or, worse, judgment. While she could fly back through her window, she reconsidered the wisdom of transforming in her bedroom and flying out each time she went out on a patrol. Even if no one noticed her this time, it would happen sooner or later. Her secret identity would be totally exposed.

Even as each step stirred the soft crunch of a few fallen leaves beneath her sandaled feet, she shivered violently at the mental image of streaking across their backyard and the consequences should she be caught, clutching her arms around herself. Her face scrunched up as if trying to will her embarrassment out of existence. No way in hell will I let that happen!

She had to figure out how to return home without anyone suspecting that anything was out of the ordinary. Leona chewed her bottom lip, thinking furiously. There’s gotta be another way… something I’m missing. Her eyes darted toward her glowing hands, sparking with faint ribbons of light. A flicker of inspiration ignited.

Wait a second. She stilled. “I made my costume with my powers, right?” she murmured, recalling the moment she’d conjured her superhero attire earlier. “Maybe… maybe I can tweak it whenever I want?”

Her lips tugged into a slow grin. Her mind raced with possibilities, her heart hammering with renewed excitement. It seemed her ability to manipulate light might have broader applications than she’d initially thought. With a deep breath, she concentrated, envisioning a more casual outfit.

In place of her radiant superhero garb, a clingy white gown materialized around her body, shimmering faintly in the moonlight. The fabric hugged her form just enough to move gracefully with her. She willed her wings to shrink, and they obediently folded into smaller, more subtle shapes. The glow softened, rendering her less conspicuous. The result? A striking balance between ethereal beauty and practical disguise. She grinned, inspecting her handiwork. “Not bad, Aurora,” she muttered to herself. “Not bad at all!”

But her curiosity wasn’t satisfied yet. If she could shape light into clothes, why not experiment further? Her gaze fell to her shimmering hair. Could I change the color of parts of my body? The thought tickled her brain. Leona’s brow furrowed as she focused on her hair, honing in on the wavelengths of light bouncing off it. At first there was resistance, but with persistence, her silver locks shifted to a radiant golden blonde. She giggled triumphantly, unable to resist adding playful streaks of electric blue.

Feeling emboldened by her newfound skills, she stepped confidently out from her wooded hiding spot, her shimmering gown catching the light. The condo complex stood ahead, her sanctuary within reach. She tiptoed to the side of the door where the spare key rested beneath a familiar rock, the cool metal pressing against her fingers as she fished it out. Her adrenaline still coursed, her mind buzzing with the night’s events as she unlocked the door, replaced the key and dismissed her sandals once back inside without missing a beat. Behind her, her sandals shivered for a moment before reverting to their normal form, that of her running sneakers.

The comforting familiarity of her home enveloped her as she stepped inside, shutting the door softly behind her. The living room was quiet, save for the distant hum of music coming from Quinn’s office. Her pulse quickened at the sound. She crossed the room briskly, her bare feet silent on the carpet, until she reached the office door. Peeking inside, she spotted Quinn seated at her desk, engrossed in her jam session. The rhythm was hypnotic, the energy palpable even through the doorway, though she was using her high fidelity headphones.

Leona paused, biting her lip. Her grin widened as the giddy urge to share her secret bubbled to the surface. She stepped inside with deliberate stealth, her steps light as feathers. Quinn’s back was turned, her noise-canceling headphones ensuring she remained oblivious. Leona crept closer, her heart pounding with anticipation.

Suddenly, she threw her hands over Quinn’s eyes, leaning close to bellow directly into her cousin’s ear, “BOO!”

Quinn shrieked, jolting in her chair as her fingers fumbled across the keyboard, producing a cacophony of discordant notes. “WHO THE HELL?!” she shouted, yanking off her headphones and whipping around, her wide eyes locking onto Leona’s glowing figure. Her expression twisted from fear to utter disbelief in the blink of an eye.

“Uh… if… if the sexy home invading intruder lady is here to have her way with me,” Quinn began with mock seriousness, her lips curving into a mischievous smirk, “give me a minute to get undressed. I can drop trou pretty quick.”

Leona’s mouth fell open, her cheeks flaming crimson as her brain short-circuited. “Oh wow…” she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. Her wings twitched behind her as if to flee from the situation. What the hell did she just say?!

“Seriously though, who are you? And what are you doing in my house?” Quinn asked, her eyes narrowing as she tilted her head suspiciously.

Leona blinked, her nervous energy dissipating as relief washed over her. “It’s me, big sis! Your freshly minted superheroine little sister!” She grinned widely, shaking off the awkward tension. “Remember that dream of mine? The nightmare. It wasn’t just in my head… it was real!”

Quinn’s jaw dropped as her eyes widened, taking a step back in disbelief. “W-what? L-Leona? SERIOUSLY?” Her voice wavered as her gaze darted across the radiant figure in front of her, taking in every detail.

“Y-you’re really different,” Quinn muttered, her cheeks burning with a deep blush. “If you’re really a friend of Leona’s playing some kind of prank, I swear I’m going to punt you right on the ass.” She glanced around the room quickly, searching for the “real” Leona hiding in the shadows. Her voice rose with skepticism. “Really… who the heck are you?”

Leona groaned dramatically, throwing her hands up in frustration. “I’m serious! It’s me! I’m really Leona.” She took a step back, a mischievous smile creeping across her face before she twirled gracefully, her gown flowing as she danced lightly on her toes. “See? Who else would do this? It’s my big reveal!”

Quinn frowned, her eyes still narrowed, but her confusion grew. “You’re gonna need a lot more than a pirouette to convince me you’re my baby sister,” she muttered.

Leona stopped, her smile fading slightly as she shifted to a more serious tone. “Okay, listen. I had a dream, remember? … no, a nightmare. Black Angel—the real villain I teased you about before—she was chasing me through a creepy mausoleum.” Her voice faltered as her eyes darted nervously around the room, the memory visibly rattling her. “She wanted to dominate me, to take my body over. She almost did.”

Quinn’s eyes softened slightly as she saw Leona’s hands trembling.

Leona pressed on, her words tumbling out faster. “You remember Mistral, right? She took down Black Angel in that cemetery up in Canada. Turns out, Black Angel wasn’t completely destroyed. Remember that dumb trinket, the angel’s down that Sarah got me at the convention? The one we laughed about being a scam? It turns out that it wasn’t. 100% authentic as claimed.” Her voice dropped into a hushed tone, the weight of the revelation hanging in the air. “There was a little piece of Black Angel’s essence in it. Hiding… living on in a way.”

Quinn blinked, her expression frozen somewhere between disbelief and horror. “You’re telling me some notorious supervillain was stashed in a cheap souvenir?”

“Bingo.” Leona nodded grimly. “They were her feathers and remember that she was a sorceress? Anyway, she wanted to eat me or something. Take over my body. But here’s the thing—her good side, a side of her that she’d been repressing, showed up at the last second and saved me. She joined me and we whooped her ass! And that’s how I got all this.” Leona gestured to herself, her arms spreading wide before dropping into exaggerated gestures reminiscent of an anime heroine casting a spell.

Quinn blinked at the sight. “Are you seriously—?”

“Yes!” Leona interrupted, unable to suppress a giggle. “And now I’m like the new Angel, but I’m not like her. She used shadows and singularities, all dark and spooky stuff. Me? I’ve got light. I can make light! These powers are nothing like hers.” She dropped her hands, sheepishly shrugging. “Um… you probably don’t believe me even after I said all that, huh?”

Quinn stayed silent, her skeptical gaze fixed on Leona, lingering as Leona bit her lip. Then, with a deep breath, Leona closed her eyes. The shimmering gown vanished, fading into motes of light, leaving her radiant figure bare to reveal every ounce of her transformation. Her wings unfurled, glowing and expanding until they nearly filled the small office, the tips brushing the walls.

Quinn’s mouth fell open. “Oh. My. GOD!” she exclaimed, stumbling back into her chair. “You’re so fucking sexy now!”

Leona’s cheeks burned crimson. “Wh-what?!”

Quinn gulped audibly, her face practically glowing red as beads of sweat formed on her forehead. “Are you really my little sister? Like, really?” There was a strange, almost bitter edge in her voice, her eyes flashing with something Leona couldn’t quite place.

“Of course I am!” Leona crossed her arms, her voice rising defensively. “I was this morning, wasn’t I? Same as always and forever! I mean, I’ll probably go back to my old self eventually. I’m pretty sure this form isn’t permanent. Anyway, I think I run on sunlight now.” She waved her hands vaguely. “Like… some kind of tree. Or maybe, like, solar panels. Something cool like that.”

Quinn blinked, her expression softening, though a trace of disappointment lingered. “Huh. You’re serious.”

Leona nodded enthusiastically, her mind drifting for a beat before snapping back. “It’s so amazing!” She squealed, bouncing on her toes like an excited child. Then, with no warning, she lunged forward, throwing her arms around Quinn in an exuberant hug. “Oh my gosh! I busted some bad guys downtown earlier! I bet they’ll talk about me on the news! I’M AURORA!” Her voice hit an excited pitch, practically vibrating with glee.

Quinn stiffened at the sudden contact, her body going rigid as her face turned red—her whole body from head to toe. After a long moment, she exhaled shakily and raised a hand to pat Leona’s hair. “Okay, okay. Let’s both calm down,” she muttered, her voice strained. “I’m happy for you. Really. That’s incredible. And hey, ‘Aurora’ is a pretty badass name.”

Leona grinned, nuzzling into Quinn’s shoulder as Quinn ruffled her hair affectionately. “Good girl,” Quinn murmured. Then, her voice dropped lower, almost as if talking to herself. “But oh boy, you’re making it really hard for me to look at you right now.”

“Jeez! Did you touch my butt? BAD TOUCH!” Leona exclaimed with mock indignation, bursting into laughter. She spun around playfully. “Am I shining or something? I tried to disguise myself, but I hope I’m not actually glowing. That would totally ruin the whole ‘blending in’ thing I was going for. I mean, the wings, sure, those sure are shiny. But tell me, sis... am I REALLY shining right now?”

Quinn rolled her eyes, leaning back with an amused smirk. “Metaphorically? You’re shining way too much. Bubbly. Bouncy. You’re like a neon sign of enthusiasm. But no, when you first came in, you weren’t glowing. Honestly, I didn’t think superhero. Maybe… supermodel.” Her smirk grew into a grin. “Kind of like a daydream I had recently. I’ve never exactly been secretive about my preferences, so don’t act like you don’t know how someone looking like you would’ve affected me if she barged into my room stripping down.”

Leona flushed. “Quinn!”

Quinn laughed, shrugging nonchalantly. “What? I’m just being honest. Anyway, since you’re my dear little sister, I owe you this.” She balled up a fist and dramatically drew it back for a punch, but instead of following through, she dissolved into laughter again. “So, is this going to be a thing now? You’re always gonna be a hero now?”

Leona scratched the back of her head. “I think so. She—that is, Black Angel’s good side—merged with me. I’m not entirely sure what she was. An alien? Extra-dimensional being? Whatever she was, she wasn’t a classical angel. But they’re so similar that it makes me wonder if the myths about angels came from beings like her. Their race, I mean.” She stepped back, twirling in place to fold her radiant wings gracefully behind her.

Quinn’s eyes lingered for a moment before she caught herself. “You… definitely have a body to die for now.” Her gaze flickered away awkwardly, and she cleared her throat, mumbling, “But does that mean you’ll never go back to being normal? Permanent wings and D cups?”

Leona sighed, her shoulders sagging slightly. “Weren’t you listening? I don’t know for sure.” Her fingers absently brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Last night, after I woke up, I transformed for the first time—that was the racket that woke you up.” Her lips quirked into a small smile. “It shocked me too, but I managed to change back then. So I think I can revert back to being normal Leona.”

Quinn’s head tilted as she listened, but her lips parted as if to interrupt. Leona held up a finger to stop her. “I mean, it’s great looking older; the police actually took me seriously when I talked to them earlier. If I was little Leona but with wings, they probably would’ve laughed at me, whether I beat up those armed thugs or not.”

Quinn snorted, the sound sharp and incredulous. “Can’t argue with that.” She paused for a beat before her brow furrowed. “W… wait! Armed thugs?” One of her eyebrows shot up, her tone sharpening with concern.

“Well… we do live in San Isidro.” Aurora laughed, the sound soft but tinged with a hint of nervous energy. “I didn’t think something like that would happen day one. They were robbing the Meyers Biochem building with a fancy blimp.”

“Armed? That’s the part I wanted to know about.” Quinn’s eyes narrowed, her arms crossing as if bracing for an unsettling answer. “What are we talking about here? Semi-automatic rifles or something?”

“Bingo. Machine-type guns and even a rocket launcher.” Leona raised a finger triumphantly, her grin sheepish yet proud.

Quinn’s jaw slackened for a moment, her hands falling to her sides. “... A rocket launcher, really? You went up against something like that and lived to tell the tale?” Her voice pitched higher. “Wha? How powerful are you?!”

Leona’s expression faltered, her grin replaced with a contemplative frown. “I don’t know.” She shook her head, as if trying to dispel the uncertainty. “I just kinda jumped into the fray without thinking about it. I just knew I could handle it and had to do something.” Her voice grew softer, almost guilty. “—Anyway! It turns out that I have the ability to shield myself, so I’m kind of invulnerable, at least against bullets. I don't know whether I’d be able to protect myself against something like a rocket or whatever, since I was able to go pew pew pew and broke that guy’s wrist and his launcher went flying off the building.”

Quinn’s eyes widened, then narrowed, her lips curling into a slow grin. “Really? Nice job!” She clapped her hands, the sound loud and approving. “Well anyway, would it really be so bad if you end up staying like this for the rest of your life? Maybe eternally young, totes gorgeous! What more could a girl want?”

Leona’s expression shifted, a wistful look softening her features. “You’re right. It’s everything I wanted. A superhero and genetically a woman.” Her shoulders lifted slightly in a small shrug. “Still, I really hope I don’t stay this way forever.” Her gaze dropped to the floor as her voice turned pensive. “I’d miss being a kid. I’d lose out on all the rest of my highschool life and more. If I’m stuck like this, I’d skip over so many things. I’d go straight to work instead of enjoying the rest of my highschool years. And as for college? Forget it. I mean, it’d be funny to go to college with you right away, but I’m nowhere near graduating high school, and I don’t think I’d pass the entrance exams with my education level.”

Quinn hesitated, her brows knitting as she processed the thought. “Y-yeah… I don’t know if I could look at you the same way if you were like this all the time anyway,” she admitted softly, her tone almost vulnerable. After a moment, she exhaled and glanced away, her voice regaining its usual teasing lilt. “Speaking of looking at you—was that dress you were wearing your costume? Did you beat up those goons wearing that?” Quinn’s laughter bubbled up, lightening the mood. “Where’d you get it though? Did you sneak off to the mall or something? Spill!”

Leona giggled at Quinn’s obliviousness, her earlier solemnity replaced with amusement. “You saw my clothes vanish earlier, didn’t you? I make them from light.” She focused for a second, her face scrunching in concentration, and the gown materialized again, its radiant design shimmering into existence.

Quinn’s eyes widened, her laughter trailing off into a low whistle of admiration. “Did you really fight in that? All elegant and glowing? Did this gown come purely from your mind? It’s ravishing! Maybe you have a talent for designing clothes, sis! Oh, and a thing about the skirt—if you’re flying, can’t people just, y’know… see up it?”

Leona’s cheeks flushed, and she burst out laughing, her voice ringing out like bells. “I didn’t think about that! But don’t worry—the skirt’s tight. It won’t billow up. Anyway, I didn’t wear this. My real costume is totally different. Making that was kind of different. I thought about what an ‘angelic’ costume should look like, mixing ideas from comics and real heroes, that cheongsam we saw earlier at the mall, etc., but I didn’t consider the, uh… ‘downside.’” She grinned sheepishly. “Anyway, do you want me to try going back to my normal form?”

Quinn hesitated, her expression flickering between curiosity and reluctance. “No. Yes. I… I think it’s important for you to figure out how, even if you don’t want to. Just in case you need to for some reason. So yeah, try it, but give me a quick peep at that costume you’re teasing me with first.”

Nodding, Leona closed her eyes and, remembering all the little details she had thrown together mentally before, it happened before she knew it. Her clothes became fuzzy and reformed into her superheroine costume. The gold ornaments jingled as she posed and winked at Quinn. “What do you think?”

“Awesome! You have a talent. I must have rubbed off on you.” Quinn shook her head and smiled warmly, the corner of her mouth quirking upward in playful pride.

“Tch. If you rubbed off on me so much, I’ll probably be a villain by next week. No way,” Leona teased, crossing her arms and smirking.

Quinn gasped dramatically, clutching her chest as if wounded. “You scamp!” She grumbled, her laughter bubbling up despite herself. “A villain? Really?” Her lips twisted, her tone dripping with mock indignation. “I got more sense and class than that.” With a flourish, she waved a hand, as if dismissing the idea entirely. “I’d be more like Cheshire or Privateer anyway.”

Leona blinked, her brows arching in genuine surprise. “You’d be a hero too?” she asked, tilting her head slightly.

“Lighter side of morally gray anti-hero at worst, but yeah, pretty much,” Quinn replied with a shrug, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “Although I’m focusing more on college and developing my beats right now.” Her gaze drifted briefly, as though imagining the path she’d carve for herself. “So I suppose I wouldn’t put as much into it as you probably intend to.”

Leona started giggling, her hand flying up to her mouth to muffle the sound.

Quinn’s brows knit together, her lips curving into a frown. “What? Why’re you laughing? Is it that funny to you that I’d play the part of a hero, even half-hearted?” she scowled, though the irritation in her voice didn’t quite reach her eyes.

Leona giggled harder, her shoulders shaking as she dropped onto the floor, her legs folding beneath her in a casual crisscross. She looked up at Quinn with a mischievous glint in her eye. “Nah! I was thinking about something else,” she teased, a grin stretching across her face. “You were so flustered earlier. It was hilarious!”

Quinn’s expression shifted between confusion and realization, her cheeks flushing slightly. “Ugh, you’re impossible,” she muttered, rolling her eyes. “I was caught off guard, okay? You’re over here glowing and sprouting wings and being all affectionate while looking like that. Who wouldn’t be flustered?”

Leona just laughed, her voice ringing with amusement. She leaned back slightly, placing her hands on the floor for support before closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. The teasing tone dropped as she focused inward, willing the transformation to recede. Her body stilled, and her glowing aura dimmed as her power settled into dormancy.

More easily than expected, there was a flash of light, and Leona reverted to her normal form. The transformation, however, came with a consequence that she had already forgotten in her excitement—she was entirely naked.

Quinn rubbed her watering eyes and laughed, the sound a mix of relief and teasing. “You did it, I think... though my eyes are still trying to adjust. Jeez, give me a warning next time you decide to throw a flashbang!” Her tone carried a strange blend of amusement and disappointment. She hurried down from her chair and wrapped Leona in a warm hug. “Now go put something on, would ya?”

Leona returned the hug, grinning sheepishly. “I’ll run up to my room and grab something. Seriously, though, I really hope I don’t have to strip naked every time I transform. That would be… awkward. And stupid. When I transformed into Aurora earlier, my clothes got ridiculously tight—like I was turning into some kind of giant green monster, but only in the hips and boobs.”

Quinn chuckled and nodded. “Yeah, that would suck. Now hurry up before Mom walks in or something!”

Leona giggled and darted upstairs, eager to change. It felt nice to tease Quinn a little and confide in her about the powers that were rapidly changing her life. When she came back down dressed in casual clothes, Quinn was waiting with a bemused expression.

“At this rate,” Quinn remarked, shaking her head, “you’re going to stretch out all your clothes if you don’t figure out a solution. Maybe you should just wear some of my old hand-me-downs when you’re out saving the day.”

“Great idea! They’d be kinda baggy, but hey, baggy’s stylish sometimes, right, sis?” Leona plopped onto the bed with a playful grin, then cupped her chest for emphasis. “Who knows? Maybe transforming into Aurora will do wonders for my, uh, real development.”

Quinn rolled her eyes but sat beside her, ruffling Leona’s hair with a fond smile. “Doesn’t matter what you look like. You’re you, Leona. Always cute, no matter what. You should have more confidence in yourself. You don’t need glowing wings to be the best version of you.” Her voice softened. “I know you’re going to miss me when I leave for college, but now that you can fly, you can visit whenever you want. We’ll party like crazy, and I know you’ll be a hit. Wings or no wings, you’d fit right in.”

Leona’s smile faltered for a moment as she thought about Quinn leaving, but she nodded. “I’ll miss you,” she said quietly, her voice tinged with emotion. “But no matter how far away you are, I’ll visit you. And don’t worry—I’ll come incognito. I don’t want my family to get hurt because of me.”

Quinn waved her hands excitedly as an idea struck her. “Wait! That’s it! I’ve got a solution to your problem. You can fly to that reprogramming camp to see Sarah now! Think about it—if you show up as a superhero, no less, an apparent angel, they might let you in, even if just during the day.”

Leona’s eyes lit up at the suggestion. “You’re right! I could do that! Or I could sneak in undercover. They might let a superhero wander around with permission though... Hmm, I bet they’d try to use me for advertising their programs. ‘Even divine messengers visit us!’ or some nonsense.” She laughed softly, but her tone grew contemplative. “Maybe I could disguise myself as a counselor or someone who belongs there. If I got caught, I could just spread my wings and blind them with sparkles. They’d think I’m a real angel.”

Quinn grinned mischievously. “Or you could just fly to her parents’ house and declare, ‘The Voice of God says it’s okay to be gay!’ Then swoop off dramatically.”

Leona sweatdropped. “Uh… nice idea, but no. If they saw me in the news as a superhero later, they’d put two and two together, and I’d get slammed with very bad publicity. Plus, lying like that? Not cool.”

Quinn shrugged, still smirking. “Fair enough. But you should do something. You’ve got these powers now, so enjoy them a little. Make a difference. Even if it’s just to cheer up your girlfriend.”

“I still have to go to the police station,” Leona said, the thought dimming her excitement slightly. “They want my testimony or something about the blimp heist.”

Quinn tilted her head thoughtfully, her fingers absently tapping against the armrest of her chair. “That’s… kinda rough,” she said, her voice quieter than usual as if she were weighing the magnitude of the situation. After a moment, her usual grin returned, stretching wide and unapologetic. “But also super cool,” she added, her tone brightening with unmistakable excitement.

She leaned forward, her elbows resting on her knees as her eyes twinkled with mischief. “You’re, like, officially involved in superhero stuff now. That’s so wild! Just… you better remember to take care of yourself, alright?” Her voice softened, concern slipping through her animated façade. “It isn’t just boom-pow-bamf comic book action in reality. You never know what’ll happen out there.”

Quinn paused, her expression darkening slightly. “You could fall afoul of law enforcement. Imagine them chasing you down because they don’t know if they can trust you. It’s not always clear-cut, y’know?” She twirled a lock of bright pink hair idly, her brow furrowed in thought. “And working with them…?” Her lips twisted, caught between a grimace and a smirk.

“Maybe you’ll even get to shout, ‘I’m with the police!’ one day.” She snickered, shooting Leona a conspiratorial wink.

Leona couldn’t help but laugh, rolling her eyes. “Oh yeah, because nothing screams ‘trust me’ like a teenager with glowing wings claiming to be with law enforcement.”

“Hey, you never know!” Quinn’s tone turned mock serious, lifting a finger like she was making a grand point. “Maybe they’ll deputize you. You could be San Isidro’s official Guardian Angel. Badge and everything.”

“Sure, right after they give me a key to the city,” Leona quipped, shaking her head. “But really, I think superheroes and the police can work together—when they’re not stepping on each other’s toes. Ideally, it’s about mutual respect. Superheroes don’t replace law enforcement; we just do what they can’t.”

Quinn leaned back, letting out a low whistle. “Look at you, already with the ‘we’ schtick. What’s next, an official PR team?”

“Don’t need one. I’m a walking beacon of light, remember?” Leona replied with a cheeky grin. “People will see me and know I’m here to help.”

Quinn snorted, shaking her head. “You’re such a show-off. Just don’t let it go to your head, okay? I mean, you always said it’s the selfish ones who end up falling the hardest.”

Leona’s grin softened, her gaze growing distant. “Yeah, that’s pretty much rule number one: don’t abuse the power. It’s not just about what you can do, but what you choose to do with it. That’s where heroes are made—or broken.” Her voice dropped a little, thoughtful now. “And every hero has their enemies. Even the best ones make them.”

“Rivals, haters, and arch-nemeses, oh my, huh?” Quinn quipped, her grin turning wry. “Sounds like a positive blast.”

“More like a headache,” Leona countered. “But the good ones? They make it worth it. They fight for people, inspire them, even when the odds are stacked against them. That’s the kind of hero I want to be.”

“Like Vanguard, huh?” Quinn ventured, her voice quieter now, testing the waters.

Leona nodded slowly, her expression clouded for a moment. “Yeah. Like Vanguard. Even though my dad hated him for not saving Mom, even with all his flaws, he’s still someone I admire. He stands for something, even when it is hard. Him, but maybe with a touch of Mistral’s flair.” Her lips curled into a small, wistful smile. “I want to be that kind of hero—one who inspires people and earns their love. Not because I want fame or glory, but because it’s the right thing to do.”

Quinn studied her sister for a moment, a mixture of admiration and concern flickering across her face. “You’re setting the bar high, sis. But hey, if anyone can do it, it’s definitely you. Anyway, aiming for being another Vanguard. Meh… totally overrated.” Her tone shifted to a playful grin. “You should be more like Cheshire or Privateer like I said I’d be like. Now they rock! They do anything they have to to be true to their moral code. They know how to be moderately selfish too now and again. Total selflessness usually ends poorly.”

Leona laughed despite herself. Cheshire and Privateer weren’t exactly paragons of virtue. Cheshire was a happy-go-lucky vigilante whose sarcastic mouth and refusal to play by the rules often landed her in hot water, especially with the media. Privateer, meanwhile, was a newer member of the Society of Sentinels—a dashing, swashbuckling rogue that dressed like a pirate, wielded a shape-shifting energy weapon, and approached heroics with a roguish charm. Both were polarizing figures who operated on the edge of what was acceptable. And Leona knew that Quinn wasn’t wrong. More than a few heroes sacrificed themselves for their ideals. Neither Cheshire or Privateer would do that.

“I get it, Quinn,” Leona replied, smiling. “You love antiheroes and rogues, I know. I’ll try to project a little of Cheshire’s confidence—how could I not? She’s fun to watch. But I can’t risk walking that line, myself. These powers once belonged to Black Angel. If I let myself lean into any kind of self-centeredness or negativity, I’d find myself following her path, and who knows what could happen then? She might even come back to haunt me. I definitely don’t want to be eaten by her. But it’s not just fear. I want to be a hero because it’s my ideal, my dream. Does that make sense?”

Quinn sighed, shaking her head but smiling fondly. “Yeah, yeah, you little dork. Come here.” She pulled Leona into a hug, squeezing her tightly. “As long as you’re true to yourself, I’ll always respect you. Even if you’re an idealistic little dweeb.”

Leona beamed, hugging her back. “Thanks, big sis. That means a lot.”

After a moment, she pulled away. “I know we literally just talked about how selfish a hero is allowed to be but I do plan on going to the camp where Sarah is. We both know something’s not right about that whole setup. It screams brainwash prison way more than sincere religious camp. But before I go, I think I need to tell Goonie about all of this. She deserves to know and the last time I listened to only you about something to do with that place didn’t end well.”

Quinn nodded approvingly but then gave her a sly look. “Fair. But before you get all serious—A quick question. Can you carry people with those wings? Like, actually fly while holding someone? ‘Cause I’m just saying… you should definitely consider the option to just swoop down, snatch Sarah right out of their yard, and fly off into the sunset with her. Super romantic, right?” She snickered. “If she loves you, she’s bound to love Aurora too.”

Leona’s eyes sparkled at the suggestion. “Oh my gosh, I LOVE that idea! We’d be like—whoosh!” She spun around dramatically, her enthusiasm bubbling over. “They wouldn’t know what hit them! An angel swooping in and whisking her away? So perfect!” She clutched her hands to her chest, excited at the thought.

Grinning, she lunged forward and hugged Quinn tightly. “I love you, sis! Best idea EVER.”

They laughed together before Leona suddenly became thoughtful. “Actually… Want to try something? I think I can carry someone. Maybe we could go to the café together, just to see how it feels.”

Quinn raised an eyebrow. “Nah, you should stay away from there for now. Better to avoid running into Mom until you’re ready to tell her everything. Besides, I’ve still got this beast of a project to work on.” She gestured to her large control deck with a grin. “But hey, you go get your girlfriend if you’re so pumped about it. Rescue her from those jerks, and maybe throw in a little divine vengeance while you’re at it.”

Leona giggled, giving her sister a thumbs up with sparkling eyes. “Deal! If Mom gets home before I’m back, try to explain it to her for me, okay? I know you can handle it.” She stood, closing her eyes to focus on calling forth her powers.

A familiar, exhilarating energy surged through her, building until it burst forth in a dazzling flash of light.