2.06 – A Serious Crisis

Power within spiraled and welled up until it exploded into a dazzling flash. When the light faded after a moment, Leona was back in her heroic form. This time, however, her old clothes were nowhere to be found since she’d focused on changing her clothes immediately into her costume!

“Awww… you’re fully clothed this time,” Quinn pouted after rubbing the sunspots out of her eyes. Her lower lip jutted out in an exaggerated expression of disappointment.

Leona nodded and grinned before turning and posing dramatically, one hand on her hip and the other thrown out as if presenting herself on stage. “Hehe, yup… too bad for dirty old sis!” She stuck out her tongue and winked, her silver hair catching the light. “I’ll see you in a bit. Here’s hoping the second time does the charm, right?”

She darted to the nearby window, sliding it open with practiced ease, and squirmed out without a second thought. Because they were on the ground floor, there wasn’t much of a drop. She landed lightly on the grass outside, then crouched and leapt into the air, rocketing upwards with a bright flash.

When she transformed, her phone had shifted seamlessly from her pants pocket to her bosom pocket—exactly as she’d intended. That confirmed it: her normal clothes must have been broken down into light and repurposed, or perhaps they had been sent somewhere else entirely this time. The mechanics of it all had been nagging at her ever since her first transformation but she had no clue how to actually explain anything. Still, she’d clearly pictured her phone ending up where it did, and her clothes adapting alongside her. The fact that she wasn’t still wearing the same outfit she’d had on earlier was strangely comforting. Were they disintegrated? The thought lingered. Would she be naked again when she changed back? The answer would have to wait—there were more pressing matters at hand. She had to see Sarah if she could to make sure she was unhurt. Whether or not she was ‘okay’ and what to do about things if she wasn’t was going to be a tricky judgment call that she could only make on the scene.

Pulling out her phone from its pocket, she opened up the maps application and set a destination point for the realignment camp. Frowning, she realized that navigation would prove to be a bit more difficult than that. The map assumed she was taking roads, so the lines rapidly zigzagged, trying to compensate for how she flew directly over instead of sticking to terrestrial routes—not to mention how fast she could go. She wondered if there was a superhero GPS app for fliers, but this would have to do for now. At least she had a distant point to work toward and a compass to direct her.

Orienting herself, she swept out of San Isidro in short order, her golden aura cutting a sleek path over the bay towards Seaside City. The gentle hum of the wind around her mingled with the rhythmic beating of her wings. Once the shore was cleared on that side, she made her way toward the rural areas beyond through the city, admiring the sights on the way. Seaside City sure was cheerful compared with San Isidro. She trended ever northwards towards the camp.

Slipping the phone into its secure pocket, Leona focused on maintaining a steady course and speed. Her thoughts drifted momentarily to Sarah, wondering how she’d react when she arrived. A smile tugged at her lips, but it quickly faded when, as she was about to clear downtown, she detected a loud commotion on the ground. Sirens were blaring, accompanied by loud screams and frantic yelling.

Leona groaned, already feeling the weight of delayed plans pressing on her shoulders. “Duty calls,” she muttered under her breath as she banked sharply toward the disturbance.

A frightening scene unfolded below. A huge crane wobbled precariously near the edge of a construction site. The metal frame groaned and creaked under the strain, the ominous sound carrying through the air. Pedestrians were gathered in a chaotic mass, some crying out in fear while others inexplicably stood frozen, snapping pictures or recording videos with their phones.

“Seriously?” Leona muttered, her brows furrowing in disbelief. Rational onlookers might assume people would scatter from the danger zone, but many seemed too distracted by capturing the moment to show off on social media to consider the risk of being crushed.

The crane’s potential collapse posed a double threat: not only would it fall onto the major traffic arteries surrounding the site, but the half-constructed building itself could also topple, adding to the devastation. The collateral damage would be inevitable, and the potential loss of life made Leona’s chest tighten with urgency.

After a brief moment of consideration, she resolved to test what she could do with her powers. She decided to start with a brute strength approach.

Leona flew directly to the crane, her golden aura blazing brighter as she reached out and laid her hands on the massive structure. The moment her fingers touched the metal, her aura expanded, creeping over the entire crane like liquid sunlight. The effort was immediately taxing; she felt a sharp drain on her energy as her aura stabilized the wobbling frame. Her muscles strained, her breaths growing heavier with each passing second.

Below, the cacophony continued. Sirens wailed, people shouted, and emergency responders tried desperately to clear the area. The noise was deafening, the chaos utterly distracting. Leona grit her teeth, forcing herself to focus despite the overwhelming sensory overload. Some gaped, pointing up at her.

“Come on… hold together,” she murmured through clenched teeth, her fingers digging into the metal as if willing her strength to transfer into the crane itself. She knew she couldn’t afford to falter. If anyone decided to open fire on her in her current state, she’d likely be too drained to deflect bullets. Her golden aura flickered momentarily before flaring back to life, brighter and steadier than before.

“Just a little longer,” she whispered to herself, pouring every ounce of focus and determination into stabilizing the towering structure.

Leona couldn’t keep the crane from falling, but she could influence which direction it would fall. Bracing it with the steady, searing thrust of her flight, she pushed against the groaning metal structure, muscles taut and trembling under the strain. For the first time since her transformation, she felt sweat trickling from her brow to her chin, a testament to the herculean effort it took just to hold it steady.

Her mind raced, weighing options. This wouldn’t be easy. She had known from the start that heroism meant facing challenges where perfect outcomes were impossible. It was something a superhero had to accept. Gritting her teeth, Leona held the crane aloft for as long as she could, buying precious time for the emergency responders to usher people to safety and redirect the chaotic traffic below.

The crane’s frame began to wail, sounding like a tortured beast as the metal twisted and buckled. On the far side, where the base was weakest, the structure started to snap. Her flight-powered thrust couldn’t counteract the building’s collapsing foundation for much longer.

Sliding her hands along the vibrating metal, she positioned herself to assess the damage. Her sharp eyes locked onto the metal bands that had failed, fatigued by the sheer weight and stress of the crane. The steel cables that had once secured the frame were fraying like threads pulled too tight.

“Come on, come on,” she muttered under her breath, scanning the chaotic site for a miracle. There wasn’t one.

Her jaw tightened as she exhaled through her nose, making peace with her decision. “Straight down,” she whispered to herself. It was the only direction that minimized harm. If the crane collapsed in place, it would destroy property but spare lives. That was the right call. It had to be.

With resolve hardening her nerves, Leona shot upwards, soaring above the trembling structure. She closed her eyes for a moment, visualizing the sequence of blasts she’d need to direct the collapse. Her eyes snapped open, glowing fiercely as she dove into action.

Releasing her aura, she unleashed beams of concentrated solar energy at strategic points. The first blast hit a weak joint, jolting the crane downward in a controlled lurch. She darted to the opposite side, blasting again to counterbalance the fall. Each precise strike was met with metallic shrieks and the clamor of debris breaking loose. Below, emergency workers shouted over the cacophony, urging stragglers to move further back.

Leona ignored the growing chorus of angry shouts from the crowd. “Focus,” she reminded herself. Her speed carried her around the collapsing structure, nudging it with calculated blasts to keep it within the plot. The crane’s massive frame and the building finally crumpled, settling into a tangled heap atop the construction site—dust billowing like a thundercloud into the sky.

Hovering above, Leona took a moment to catch her breath, her wings outstretched to soak up sunlight. She glanced down at the chaotic scene. No immediate casualties. The realization washed over her, accompanied by an uproar of cheers from the onlookers. The sound built steadily, cheers drowning out the earlier frustration as people began to applaud her efforts.

The praise lifted her spirits, and she allowed herself a faint smile. Positivity warmed her as much as the sun, reinvigorating her body. She had succeeded. Not perfectly, but enough. Enough to save lives. She wasn’t Vanguard with his legendary strength, but she’d done what she could with her unique abilities, and that was what mattered.

Gliding downward, Leona landed lightly on a cement block near the construction site’s perimeter, a couple of stories above the crowd. Sitting there with her wings spread wide, she basked in the mixture of sunlight and attention. People pointed phones at her, snapping pictures and filming her as she rested. For a moment, she allowed herself to revel in the admiration. She needed to recharge for her next task—finding Sarah—but the crowd’s energy felt as restorative as the sunlight itself.

“Ma’am,” a voice called out, cutting through her thoughts. Leona turned her head to see a uniformed police officer clambering onto the block beside her. He was sturdy and weathered, his expression a mix of respect and sternness.

“We appreciate what you’ve done here,” he said, nodding toward the wreckage. “And I think most everyone sees you’ve saved a lot of lives, but…” He gestured toward the site, his tone firm but not accusatory. “We’d like you to come down to the station to give a statement about your intentions, plan, and overall what you witnessed before you… destroyed this construction site.”

Leona tilted her head, gauging his sincerity. She wasn’t above accountability, and she knew she’d need to explain herself, but there was a flicker of frustration in her chest. She’d just saved dozens of people from certain death, and already she was being asked to justify her actions.

Leona gulped, shifting her weight nervously. “My name’s Aurora.” Aurora offered a warm smile. “Anyway, how does this work, officer?” she asked, rising to stand and brushing dust from her skirt. “I’m new to this whole superhero thing, and I really do want to do right by everyone, so there’s no need for that tone. I couldn't see a better solution to the problem. Had I not acted, there could have been more damage or worse. People could have died. Are you going to arrest me for helping when that building was coming down regardless?” Her voice trembled slightly at the end but steadied as she locked eyes with him.

The officer studied her, his weathered face softening. “Well, I didn’t see you do anything wrong. In fact, I saw you risk life and limb to defend the people here, myself included.” He paused, running a hand over his short-cropped hair as he glanced at the remains of the construction site. “As far as an arrest goes? No. It’d be up to the owner of the site to press charges if they’d like, but as long as you didn’t hurt anyone, I don’t see any reason at all to arrest you. The owner may wish to sue for damages, but that’s a civil matter, not a criminal one.”

Aurora frowned, her wings twitching slightly behind her. “How does the justice system work where superheroes are concerned? Public servants included,” she asked, forcing a tight-lipped smile. The word lawsuits felt like a slap of gritty reality, her enthusiasm wilting under its weight. She sighed. “This isn’t exactly how it works in the comics or most of the stories I read. Usually, people just cheer the hero on, no questions asked.”

The officer chuckled. “I hate to be the one to break it to you but we live under a legal system, not a justice system. I do hope you remember that. It’s the law concerning meta incidents, miss. I wouldn’t worry too much about it in this case though. Even if the owner were to file a suit against you, there’d still be an investigation into who was responsible for anchoring that crane in the first place. If the site owner has any skeletons in their closet—corners cut, safety ignored—they would all be dragged out into the open. I doubt they’d risk that without solid proof their hands are clean.”

Aurora exhaled slowly, nodding in understanding. “Alright. Let’s get on with it then. I want to be the right kind of hero, so I’ll play ball. Shall I follow you by wing or ride with you?” A teasing grin spread across her face. “Honestly, I had other plans for my afternoon, Officer...” Her eyes flicked to his name tag. “Jackson, but we don’t always get what we want, do we?”

He laughed, shaking his head. “No, we sure don’t.” He gestured toward the ledge they stood on. “Mind rescuing a cop instead of a cat for once? Climbing up here wasn’t exactly fun.”

Aurora smiled warmly and stepped closer, wrapping her aura around him. “Not at all.” She held his hand, and with a graceful leap, they descended together. As they landed softly, Jackson looked up at her with a mix of gratitude and admiration.

“Thanks for the lift,” he said, brushing his uniform off. “Look at it this way: we’ll take down your statement at the station and get your info entered into our system. Since I know there aren’t any other Supers in Seaside City, I hope you’re planning to stick around.”

Aurora chuckled and flexed her wings, brushing her hair back with an easy smile. “San Isidro is my main haunt, but Seaside’s close enough to be on my radar. You’ll probably see me a lot more. I fly fast.” She offered her hand to shake, and he took it with a firm grip.

As the officer escorted her toward the squad car, the crowd erupted into cheers, their applause echoing across the street. Phones were raised, snapping pictures and recording the winged heroine. Aurora blushed faintly at the attention but waved with a bright smile.

Officer Jackson grinned, gesturing toward his squad car. “By the way, what’s your name? It’d help to put something in the report besides ‘unknown winged woman.’”

She tilted her head playfully. “Aurora,” she said, the name rolling off her tongue with confidence. “I couldn’t think of anything better.”

“It suits you,” he replied, nodding approvingly. “If you ever get tired of San Isidro, I think we’d be happy to have you around more often.” His tone carried a teasing warmth.

Aurora smirked. “Since I’m fond of flying, I’ll follow you to your precinct.” She spread her wings slightly. “I need to recharge anyway, so I’ll get airborne.”

“Suit yourself,” he said, tipping his hat before getting into his car.

Aurora leapt into the air with a powerful beat of her wings, rising a dozen feet above the ground. Gasps rippled through the crowd as they watched her ascend. She gave them a final wave before gliding behind the squad car as it drove away, leaving the chaos of the construction site far behind. 

Reaching the local police precinct, the officer parked in its lot. He stepped out of his vehicle and gestured to Aurora. “C’mon, follow me in.”

With a nod, Aurora landed at his side and followed him to the building’s entrance.

Aurora was surprised at how ultra-modern everything appeared. Glass and LED lights were placed with surprisingly clean designs, sleek and minimalistic. Even the floors had a shine to them, reflecting the cool, clinical lights overhead. The place looked more like a high-tech lab than a police station. She followed the officer down the hall, the sound of their footsteps echoing softly, and as she did, a lot of people gasped on seeing her. It was hard not to notice a woman with powers like hers, a profile like hers, and her costume didn't help. She had half-expected it, but the stares were still unnerving. He walked right up to the desk sergeant, completely unfazed by the attention. “I’m going to take a statement from this super, Aurora. Can we get Detective Ruffino to come by? She’s new to the area and I’m sure she’d want to speak with Aurora here too.”

The sergeant nodded, giving Aurora a second glance, but said nothing. Officer Jackson led her to a lounge area, and a few of the other officers looked surprised as she was ushered to a seat. Some even whispered, their eyes darting back and forth between her and their paperwork. She could feel their curiosity burning through the room.

“Okay,” her escort started, adjusting his stance and tapping his pen nervously against the notepad in his hand. “Do you mind if I record this conversation? I just want to get your account of what you saw,” he recited in a practiced tone as he activated the recording machine. It hummed to life with a soft click. “Please, start with your account of what you saw and why you did what you did.”

“Alright,” Aurora smiled, leaning back in her chair and crossing her legs with an ease that contrasted the tension in the room. She ran a hand through her glistening silver hair, the sound of it brushing against the fabric of her costume somehow louder than it should have been.

“They all look rather surprised though, don’t they?” She chuckled, eyeing the other officers that were passing by. Their eyes went wide as they took in her presence, some trying to pretend they weren't staring, but failing spectacularly. She could hear murmurs, some whispered, others barely suppressed by clenched jaws.

Returning her attention back to the officer, she began. “Anyhow, I was on my way to see a friend to the north today when I heard the commotion. I didn’t really want to be distracted, but the sirens and people were so loud I couldn’t ignore it. I figured it was just another mess the police would handle, but when I got closer, I saw the crane.” Her eyes flitted over to the officer’s notepad as she continued.

“It was teetering dangerously over the crowd and roadway. One wrong move, and it could’ve fallen right into the heart of the traffic. I didn’t want to make it worse, but…” She trailed off for a moment, then exhaled deeply. “I couldn’t just walk away either.” She paused to make sure he was still listening intently, his pen hovering above the paper, trying to catch every word.

Aurora shifted in her seat to make sure the audio recorder clearly heard this part. “It could have fallen in any direction. I’m no civil engineer, but it was certain that people would have potentially lost their lives.” She swallowed, the weight of the moment creeping in. “I wasn’t sure how much time we had, but it didn’t matter. There wasn’t a choice.”

“I didn’t get there in time to prevent any loss, so I braced the structure as best I could to buy you all time.” Her fingers drummed lightly against her knee as she recounted the next steps. “It was all I could think to do at first. Just hold it, stop it from crushing people. But it didn’t take long to realize I wasn’t going to be able to hold it forever, especially with that much weight involved.”

She leaned forward slightly, her voice low, deliberate. “I examined the bolts at the base of the crane, the braces. They seemed to be snapping from metal fatigue, stress, whatever the exact technical term was. The metal was twisting, warping. There was no way it was going to hold much longer on its own. I highly doubt any other super would have shown up in time to do a better job and that the construction company or property owner had any backup plans for dealing with anything like that happening.” She stared ahead as if seeing the situation again in her mind.

“I had to decide: could I gamble on letting it all fall onto another building’s roof, or direct the fall? I knew that either way, there was a huge risk the other buildings around would take considerable damage, but there wasn’t much time to decide. So I focused. I couldn't see any other way out of it.” Her voice softened just a touch, almost regretful. “I figured it was best that the crane fell directly on its plot. With the help of gravity and some guidance on my part, it worked out. It had to.”

The officer frantically scribbled down everything Aurora said. She slowed when she noticed his hand shaking a little, struggling midway as he paused to look for another pen.

When she was done, he asked. “Can you repeat some of that again? My pen ran out of ink.”

Sweat drops. Aurora laughed, her shoulders relaxing as she noticed the officer laughing at his own joke. He waved his hands dismissively, eager to move on. “No, I’m joking. We’re good.”

The tension in the room seemed to lighten for a moment, but just then, a crisp, but feminine voice came from behind Aurora. “Let’s not waste more time, shall we?” It was sharp, direct. Aurora turned to eye the newcomer.

A woman in impeccable business attire with reddish-brown hair stood behind her, her heels clicking against the polished floor. She had a confident air, her gaze fixed on Aurora like a hawk studying its prey. “I’m Detective Ruffino. And you must be the superheroine who just destroyed a new office building,” she said with a faint smirk, one eyebrow slightly arched.

“Well, actually, she--” the officer interceded.

“I heard her statement myself,” Ruffino said curtly, “Let’s get your information, shall we. I’ll take over. We can go to one of the interview rooms so you don’t keep causing a stir in the precinct. Follow me,” she instructed, beckoning Aurora with one hand while offering her other to her.

Aurora hesitated for a split second, then took Ruffino’s hand. She could feel the coolness in the detective’s grip, a silent strength that matched her imposing stature. There was a sharpness about her, as though she was already analyzing everything about Aurora. “Sure. There’s a limit to what all I want to share, and I’m told that’s acceptable in the case of supers. I’ll tell you what I think is proper.”

“Alright. Now then, once again for the record, I am Detective Marlene Ruffino with the Seaside Police Department. I’ll get us started. I have had some basic training in super crime, so I’ll be your liaison with our organization. Though I will say, Seaside City has survived without meta influence so far so I’m sure we’ll be fine for the most part were you to move away suddenly.” The words were efficient, but the tone was laden with something less than welcoming.

When they reached the room, Ruffino stopped and eyed Aurora for a moment, her gaze calculating. “Alright, first of all, what is your superhero name?”

Aurora raised an eyebrow. There was a certain resentment or bias against supers emanating from Ruffino. She could feel it pressing down on her, but she met it with a calm smile. “Aurora. I’m actually from San Isidro and I was just passing through, pretty much. Though I’m sure I’ll be here and there since they are sister cities.”

“All right, Aurora. So, your home city is San Isidro. Hmmm… I’m surprised you don’t have enough to do over there, especially with all the air robberies they’ve been having lately,” Ruffino said flatly, as if she were genuinely disappointed Aurora didn’t have a more pressing matter to attend to.

Aurora’s smile didn’t waver. “True enough. There’s no shortage of things to keep me busy. But I won’t turn a blind eye to a crisis I stumble on, even though I don’t live here.”

Ruffino’s eyes narrowed for a moment before she flipped through her notes. “Fair point. Okay, tangents aside, let’s get your personal data. Real name?” She sat behind the table first, almost demanding that Aurora answer with the authority of someone used to giving orders.

“That’s sensitive information that I don’t want to provide,” Aurora said smoothly, taking a seat opposite the detective. Her voice was calm, but firm. “I’m still early in my career and I don’t really want anything getting out.” She smiled apologetically, though there was a steely resolve beneath the politeness. “I’m told that’s acceptable.”

Ruffino huffed, irritation flickering in her eyes. “Well, while it’s not necessary to get details on your identity, in my experience, honest people don’t have much to hide,” her voice had become barb-filled, sharp at the edges. “What are your powers? How did you come by them?” she probed, her tone almost accusing, as though she was trying to catch a lie. “I gather that you’re a wet-behind-the-ears fledgling hero.”

Aurora exhaled slowly, unruffled. “I can go so far as to say what my powers are—to a point. As much as I’m currently aware of,” she murmured, her voice growing a little more focused. “I can’t tell you how I came by them.” She paused for a moment, as if searching for the right words. Knowing that her powers came from whatever was left of Black Angel wouldn't go over well with anyone. “How to put it, they have something to do with… hmmm… energy? I can use my power to defend myself and to change a few things about myself.” She concentrated, and with a flick of her wrist, her silver hair turned into a sparkling golden hue. The transformation was instant, shimmering in the office’s dimmer light.

Ruffino leaned forward slightly, intrigued despite herself. “Alright, go on.”

“I can use my powers to somehow cancel gravity, or rather to lessen its effects,” Aurora continued, her fingers now tracing through the air, as if the movements themselves had power. “Perhaps I can amplify my strength in a limited way too. I don’t know everything I’m capable of yet, but I can generate energy blasts, and fly, of course.” She shifted slightly in her chair, as though getting comfortable with the explanation.

She then lifted a finger, and in a smooth motion, a ring of energy appeared, hovering just above her fingertip. It spun around her finger nonchalantly, a smaller version of the one she’d created to bind the crooks during the dirigible heist. It sparkled with the same bright energy. “I can also create constructs,” she said, her voice soft but confident. At the end of her demonstration, she flicked the ring off her finger, and it landed on the table, apparently completely solid. It clunked on the polished hardwood surface of her desk, rattling before settling as a metal ring might. It was still glowing faintly as she spoke again. “These are temporary objects.” To emphasize her words, the ring began to fade, turning into a cloud of sparkling light that drifted away into nothingness.

Detective Ruffino listened carefully, her pen scribbling furiously. “Okay, so we got flight, energy projection, temporary matter creation, a self hair dye service, free jewelry on demand… and these abilities are all largely untested, is that correct? You don’t know how powerful any of these powers are and you’re not fully sure how to use them?”

Aurora tilted her head slightly, the smile never leaving her lips. “That’s not completely true. Once I do a thing, I seem to understand it well enough. It’s almost innate for me.” She continued to smile fakely, but despite her pleasant demeanor, there was no mistaking the confidence in her voice. “I can do it again pretty easily once discovered. Do I understand all the applications of my powers yet? Probably not. I just got them. But I’ll learn more as I explore myself,” she said, her voice light but firm.

Ruffino raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed, but moved on. “Alright. Next, do you have any affiliations with any organizations you may wish to declare? Criminal organizations? Society of Sentinels? Secret government departments sponsoring you or anyone else?” Her tone was cold, almost challenging, as if daring Aurora to answer.

Aurora shook her head, her smile never faltering. “I’d be honored if I ever met the Society of Sentinels members or was inducted into that organization,” she said, voice light, but there was a soft, genuine excitement there. Her expression softened, her eyes gleaming a little as she gushed. “I’ve always loved superheroes. To be accepted by my peers would be... wonderful.” She smiled brighter, practically glowing. “But for now, I’m on my own. I kind of slightly introduced myself today to a couple of the officers in San Isidro. The last situation I helped to prevent was one of those air robberies you jokingly mentioned. You should read the news some more. I was surprised that it was even a thing, robbing buildings using some of the slowest flying machines there are. Blimps.” Aurora laughed, shaking her head. “If it’s common enough that I just happen upon a scene like that day one, I think I might need to officially learn to pilot an airship.” She chuckled lightly at her own joke.

Ruffino’s eyes narrowed. “So you’ve already contacted the police in San Isidro?” she asked, her tone slightly skeptical, but her interest piqued.

“I left it to the officers who pulled up in their police blimp. They were extremely nice.” Aurora’s smile became more professional again, her tone smoothing out into something more neutral. “I always seem to run across these situations when I’m out doing something else. I was just out casually flying around and enjoying the evening air in the city when I noticed their blimp and activities. The same way, today I was heading north when I noticed the crane crisis as I was passing through. My first interaction with the SIPD wasn’t a formal introduction like this, but it was kind of like a… ‘Hi, how did I do?’” She shrugged slightly, that self-aware, almost innocent energy radiating off her.

Ruffino’s lips pressed into a thin line, a mix of suspicion and frustration. “Alright. I think that’s all we need out of you. Do you have a cellphone?” she asked, tapping her pen against the table, her impatience creeping back into her voice.

Aurora stopped herself from immediately shaking her head disrespectfully and just grinned. “Well, if I said yes, you could find out who I was from that alone, right?” she teased, chewing her lip playfully, the glint of mischief in her eyes.

Ruffino snapped, her patience clearly running thin. “No one said we were going to spy on you,” she retorted, frustration bubbling over. “I was just going to give you my phone number in case you need to get in touch with me here.”

Aurora sighed dramatically and smiled sweetly, the playful edge to her voice still there. “That’s fine then. I don’t want to give you a hard time at all, Detective. I’m just trying to brighten the place up a bit.” Then, as if on cue, she amped up the glow of her wings, the soft luminescence now flaring just a little brighter. “Please forgive the pun!” She winked mischievously. “I’ll try to tone it down if it makes you feel more at ease.”

“Look, Aurora,” Ruffino said, her tone now bordering on scowl, eyes narrowed as she shielded them from the extra brightness. “I don’t like the idea of some superpowered kid flying loose on my streets without any control or understanding of her powers. If you want me to trust you more, you’ll give me a method to contact you.” She crossed her arms beneath her breasts, her stance defensive, challenging.

“Mmmmm… I’ll consider it,” Aurora replied, her voice thoughtful as she tapped a finger against her lips. “I could set up a special purpose email address, one I could use to communicate with you and other precincts, etcetera. Do you have any better ideas? Ones that wouldn’t ultimately compromise my secret identity?” Her tone was casual, but there was an underlying steel in her words. She wasn’t going to just hand over everything on a whim.

Ruffino’s response was immediate and cold. “It’s not my job to manage your secret identity,” she replied flatly, her voice cutting through the air. “If that’s all the information you want to provide,” she added, pulling a business card from her pocket and sliding it across the table to Aurora, “you’re free to go now, but call me if you discover anything else important.” She stood then, walking around the desk, already opening the door. “We’ll be investigating the site to be sure you haven’t hurt anyone… and that the company involved doesn’t want to press charges.”

Aurora eyed Ruffino for a moment, the tension in the air palpable. “I see,” she said coolly, slipping the card into her bosom pocket along with the cellphone. She gave the detective a look, her smile still present, though tinged with something deeper. “I’m sorry you don’t like me, Detective. I hope to be able to change your mind despite the obvious bias.” With that, she walked through the door, casting a final smile over her shoulder before stepping out into the hallway.