3.03 – Something’s Cookin’

Once again, Leona found herself standing at the edge of an aging rooftop, her breath steady, muscles taut. Below, the streets of San Isidro pulsed with the rhythm of the city—cars honking, distant sirens wailing, the occasional chatter from a late-night diner. Neon lights flickered from signs that had seen better days, and the cool air carried the faint scent of car exhaust and fast food. She shifted her weight onto the balls of her feet, feeling the wind tug at her jacket, testing her resolve.

Across from her, a narrow ledge ran along the brick wall of the next building. It was a twelve-foot gap—nothing she hadn’t handled before, but still, a misstep could mean a nasty fall.

Diana stood beside her, arms crossed, her ever-skeptical gaze locked on Leona. “You’re overthinking it again.”

Leona exhaled sharply through her nose. “I am not.”

Mia snorted from her perch atop a ventilation unit, her short hair ruffled by the wind. “You so are. Just jump.”

“I will,” Leona shot back, rolling her shoulders in preparation.

Devin, always eager to turn everything into a show, leaned back against a railing with a lazy grin. “C’mon, noob. Show us how much you’ve improved since we all ran off to college.”

“I’m not a newbie anymore, Devin.” Leona scowled, taking a few steps back to get a proper run-up.

Devin scoffed. “Fair. Enough talking then. Prove it. Show us that all those lonely nights weren’t wasted. I sure hope you kept up with the routine I recommended, slacker.”

Leona shot Devin a glare before refocusing on the jump. She could do this. She’d done it before—her body knew the motions. But something about being under scrutiny, especially from Devin, made her hesitate. Damn it. Just go.

She took off in a sprint, each footstep light, precise. When she reached the edge, she kicked off hard, launching herself into the air. For a split second, she felt weightless, almost as though she were in her angelic form. The wind roared past her ears—then the soles of her sneakers slammed against the ledge on the other side. She stumbled slightly, her balance teetering for a breathless moment before she steadied herself.

Damn it. She clenched her fists in frustration. I almost choked.

Diana nodded approvingly. “You’ve definitely gotten better.”

Mia clapped her hands. “Finally! I thought we’d be here all night.”

Leona exhaled, dusting herself off. “Had to make it look good.”

Devin sauntered over, shaking his head. “Sure, sure. But hold up—when is Quinn coming to run with us?”

Leona groaned. “I don’t know, dude.” She shrugged. “She didn’t mention anything about it. Probably busy prepping for her ‘grand finale’. You know how she is—she’s got to make a big splash at her last concert before heading off to college like the rest of you.”

“Pfhah.” Devin rubbed his temples. “That social butterfly. Always fluttering from hobby to hobby. Jack of all trades, master of few. But, y’know, it sounds like she really found what she’s passionate about.”

“Meh… when Quinn was running with us, she was way better than you, dork.” Diana smirked.

“Nah. Her heart was never in it like us. Anyway, back to business.” Devin’s eyes flicked to Leona, irritation plain on his face. “What’s next? Jumping down, or…?”

Leona scanned the area, eyes narrowing as she traced a route upwards. “Actually… that way.” She pointed toward the taller building beside them, mapping a series of ledges and pipes with her finger.

Mia laughed. “Oh my. Ambitious, aren’t we?”

Leona grinned. It was just like old times. Even though Devin, Mia, and Diana had technically been Quinn’s friends first, she had become part of the crew in their absence. They were hers now, too.

“Nah. A bit too risky,” Devin said, dismissing her idea with a wave of his hand. Then his face scrunched in frustration. “It really chaps my ass that Quinn won’t bother to show up.”

“Still got a crush on Queen Quinn?” Diana teased, her lips curling in amusement as she leaned toward him. Mia crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow at Devin.

He stiffened, scoffing. “What? Pfft, no.”

“Uh-huh.” Mia smirked.

“Um… guys…” Leona interrupted, rubbing her temples. “Look. Quinn likes girls. She’ll never change teams. She’s not into you. Sorry.”

No matter how many times she told them, the guys—especially Devin and Marco—just would not let it go.

Jake, one of the newer guys, shrugged. “Geez. Burned.” He clapped a hand on Devin’s shoulder. “But I do have to ask… are we talking one hundred percent? Like, absolutely no chance at all?” He turned to Leona with a hopeful glint.

“Yes,” Leona deadpanned.

Jake groaned, facepalming dramatically. “Damn. That’s rough, buddy.”

Devin’s jaw clenched, his expression darkening. “Shut up, asshole.”

Marco, the second of the two newer crew members, sighed dramatically. “Tragic.” He waggled his fingers mockingly.

Devin glared at him. “Shut your mouth.”

Diana rolled her eyes. “Horndog idiots. You did this all the time when Quinn was around, and guess what? That’s why she started avoiding you.” She wagged a finger in Devin’s face, eyes sparkling with amusement.

Leona chuckled. As much as they could be frustrating, she liked these guys. Quinn had really set her up with a great group. It was a shame they wouldn’t be in town too long. Then she’d be alone again.

Well, not completely alone. Maria and Derrick were still around back at school, but even though she got along with them, it wasn’t quite the same. The energy, the physicality, the sheer wildness of Quinn’s old friends—it was something else entirely.

The banter, the friendly competition, the feeling of belonging—parkour had become more than just training. It was a way to know the city, to map it in ways no one else did. From the rooftops to the back alleys, it was a perspective that grounded her in this place, in these friendships.

Mia clapped her hands, snapping Leona out of her thoughts. “Anyway, we found a new spot to check out before we’re off again. Thought you might wanna come along.”

Leona perked up. “A new course? When did you find the time? You’ve been on the East Coast. You all been obsessively scouring street view maps this whole time?” she teased.

“Hah, caught.” Diana laughed. “I do miss San Isidro, y’know. But life moves on. At least a few of us will be back someday. Count me in, anyway.”

Jake smirked. “Oh yeah, that old train yard you’ve been harping on about? I heard some of the cars are still there, rusted out, but it’s got insane jumps. Though… it’s kinda sketchy.”

“Sketchy how?” Leona asked, suddenly intrigued.

“There’s some homeless camps out there, a few weirdos hanging around,” Jake explained. “No cops, though.”

Diana folded her arms. “We go in together, keep our heads down, we’ll be fine.”

Leona grinned. “I’m in.”

Mia tossed her an energy drink from her bag. “Then let’s go, rookie.”

Leona caught it, rolling her eyes. “I am not a rookie anymore!” she huffed, cracking the can open.

Mia just smirked. “Sure, sure.”

Leona took a long sip, the fizzing energy drink cooling her throat. Tonight was going to be fun.

The first weekday back at school after a weekend of heroing always felt surreal. Having even a little bit of outside perspective made the bubble she was about to walk into feel unstuck from the rest of the world. 

Leona stood by the entrance of Martineau Public High, her fingers tightening around the strap of her bag. The halls were filled with the usual chaos—students laughing, shoving, gossiping—but something about it all felt off. Those were groups she wasn’t a part of. She had always felt like an outsider, but now there was another layer to that distance. She wasn’t just Leona Ramses anymore. She was Aurora, the Guardian Angel of San Isidro.

Not that she could tell anyone.

Sarah’s absence was the biggest weight pressing down on her. Her seat in her homeroom class remained empty, and every time Leona glanced toward it, a pang of guilt gnawed at her. ‘Resting’, her parents had said. ‘Recovering’. But Leona knew better. They were trying to keep her away. They had seen what she had done for Sarah, and instead of being grateful, they were afraid.

By lunchtime, her stomach was churning—not from hunger, but frustration. She needed something to take her mind off things, anything to distract her.

Maria found her first, draped in her usual black ensemble, a smirk playing across her lips. “You look like you either saw a ghost or are one, Leona. Come on. Let’s grab lunch before you fade into the netherworld, Casper.”

Leona sighed but couldn’t suppress a small smile. “I’m not that pale.”

Maria scoffed. “Yet.”

As they made their way to the cafeteria, Derrick’s voice boomed from their usual table. “Hold up! We got VIPs coming through!”

Leona couldn’t help but laugh. “What’s the occasion?”

“The occasion,” Derrick declared, placing a dramatic hand over his chest, “is that our humble San Isidro has been blessed with its own superheroine!” He waggled his eyebrows at Leona before leaning in with a conspiratorial grin. “We gotta talk about this angel.”

Leona nearly choked on her water. Oh, great. This should be fun.

Maria rolled her eyes as she plopped onto the bench across from him. “Oh, please. You’re just into her because she’s hot. You’ve been talking about her nonstop ever since she debuted.”

Derrick didn’t even deny it. “I mean, duh. Y’know. I can’t help getting a woody whenever I look at her pictures.”

Leona immediately looked away, very uncomfortable. She did not want to know what was going on in Derrick’s jeans!

“But it’s not just about sex appeal—she’s a real bona fide heroine with amazing superpowers! We got a legit caped crusader in San Isidro now, way better than El Águila, I hear. Though that was before some of us were born! I mean, come on—you gonna tell me that it’s not badass that she stopped that armored dude, right? How about that whole thing with the blimp and the gunners? And then bam! Now she’s hanging with The Midnight freaking Avenger?” He flailed his arms. “This is comic book gold, people!”

Leona pressed her lips together, struggling to contain her amusement. Comic book gold, huh? He wasn’t wrong.

Maria, however, looked unimpressed. “You do realize that she’s probably just another corporate-friendly sellout, right? Give it a year, and she’ll have a sponsorship deal with some energy drink. Now with 100% feather extract and a big old halo.”

Leona gawked at Maria. “Wow. That’s pretty harsh, girl. Why so mean to Aurora? I think she’s doing well by us so far.”

Maria shrugged. “Look, I’m not saying she’s bad or stupidly flashy and corny. I’m just saying I’ll reserve judgment until I see how she handles real threats.”

Derrick scoffed. “You mean she hasn’t already proven herself? She fought shoulder to shoulder with The Midnight Avenger himself. You know what that means. That super-powered ice kid they faced off against last time—he was big trouble brewing. If he’d been left alone, our whole city would’ve probably ended up a big dirty icebox with popsicles sticking out sideways.”

Maria smirked. “Oh, please. Enough drama. That kid was completely defensive. He didn’t do all that much. Hassled some cops and stuff. Whatever. And then that weirdo glorified cosplayer in power armor—well, that isn’t exactly going up against the big leagues.”

Leona’s curiosity got the better of her. “And who exactly are the ‘big leagues’, Maria?” It was hard not to pout. She was really proud of how she’d gotten started. “Didn’t you hear about the conversion camp that she raided to liberate those abused kids? You don’t have to be able to go against big-hitting S-rank villains to be a true hero! Right, Derrick?”

Derrick nodded excitedly. “I heard about that, but the details are being suppressed. How’d you catch wind of that, Leona?”

Leona blushed and laughed. “Oh… I browse through the deep web. You can’t keep things a secret too long when the internet is filled with all kinds of interesting details for those that know where to poke their nose in.” She extended an index finger, putting on a grin. Had they bought that?

Derrick nodded thoughtfully. “You’ll have to tell me what sites you dig through. I’d love to know!”

Maria leaned forward, tapping the table with a black-painted nail, cutting in, “You ever heard of Gothschilde? Now SHE’S interesting.”

Leona blinked. “Sounds like a metal band or something.”

Maria’s smirk widened. “Not far off. She’s one of those villains that doesn’t show up much, but whenever she does, things go sideways fast. She likes to operate in the western states—California, Nevada, Oregon, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, etc. She’s got a thing for chaos. But no one really gets her. She’s small, goth as all get out—like me—and a real boss-biatch to boot… she’s like the opposite of Aurora. She’s even got minions.”

Derrick frowned. “Wait, that dark chick? The one that caused all kinds of havoc up in Portland with her pet S-rank demon? They say she was after some refinery product—rare earth minerals for whatever purpose.”

Maria nodded. “The very same. Hahaha… that’s her.”

Leona’s brows furrowed, it was unusual that she’d never heard of Gothschilde before. Had a villain also debuted when I did, or has she already been around for a while?

Maria wasn’t done. “That demon that’s been working with her—his name is Big Evil. Pretty scary, right? Looks almost like Satan. But cornier, I guess.”

Derrick snorted. “Pfft. That name alone is so corny.”

Maria rolled her eyes. “Don’t let the name fool you. Big Evil is BIG trouble. He packs a hell of a punch.” She chortled at her pun. “He protects her or something. But there’s not that much info on them.”

Leona did her best to keep herself looking only as mildly interested as possible. “You really keep up with this stuff, huh?”

Maria smirked. “What can I say? I like knowing who’s gonna make the world burn next.”

Derrick gave her a look. “You sure you’re not a supervillain yourself?”

Maria smirked. “No comment.”

Leona chuckled, but Maria’s words stuck with her, she’d not been keeping with the broader superheroic goings-on lately. She’d also been slacking on discovering new powers and pushing her limits. She’d been too focused on the Padua kids and whatever else happened to be going on right in front of her. 

That night, after getting home and locking her door, she pulled out her Society of Sentinels card. With a quick tap, she accessed the database and checked for any recent alerts.

Nothing.

She exhaled, relieved. No mentions of Gothschilde, Big Evil, or anyone similar operating in her area. For now, San Isidro was relatively safe.

Still, she had a sinking feeling that wouldn’t last forever.

Aurora always looked forward to her trips up to Canada to see Mistral.

Every couple of weekends, she would slip into the sky, the city lights of San Isidro shrinking beneath her as she soared northeastward, cutting through the crisp night air toward Canada. The journey didn’t take too long—not for Aurora. But it was more than just a joy flight. It was an escape. A retreat into the arms of someone who made her heart race in ways she hadn’t thought possible before.

Denise, A.K.A. Mistral, lived in a world of ice and warmth—her power bending the elements outside, her presence making Aurora’s world feel steady inside. The moment Aurora landed on the balcony of her high-rise apartment, she found Denise already waiting, her arms crossed, a playful smirk tugging at her lips.

"You're late, traveller," she teased, the icy wind making her raven-black hair flutter around her face.

Aurora folded her wings, stepping forward with an easy grin. "You love making me feel guilty, don’t you?"

Denise’s smirk widened as she reached for the door. "Of course. Now get inside before you turn into an icicle out here."

Aurora stepped in, wrapped instantly in the warmth of her girlfriend’s apartment. The familiar scent of lavender and something vaguely sweet lingered in the air. The soft glow of ambient lighting gave the space a dreamy quality, cozy but not overwhelming. Mr. Plow, Denise’s ridiculously fluffy white cat, stretched from his perch on the couch, barely cracking an eye open before giving an unimpressed yawn and curling back up.

Aurora’s gaze drifted toward the window, where soft snowflakes danced in the air. "Did you make it snow just for me again?" she asked knowingly.

Denise tilted her head, feigning innocence. "Who, me? I would never abuse my powers for aesthetic purposes. At least not officially." Her smirk deepened. "But yes. You like it, don’t you?"

Aurora sighed dramatically, her glowing wings dimming as she let them dissolve back into her body. "It’s perfect. You’re perfect."

Denise chuckled and took Aurora’s hand, leading her toward the couch. As soon as they collapsed into the cushions, they melted into each other’s arms, warmth and comfort intertwining. Lips met—slow, teasing at first, then deepening as time stretched, neither in a rush to pull away.

Aurora could have stayed like that forever, tangled in Denise’s warmth, the outside world forgotten. But eventually, they broke apart, Denise resting her forehead against Aurora’s with a breathless chuckle.

"You are such a distraction," she murmured.

Aurora smirked, tracing circles along Denise’s spine. "Takes one to know one."

Denise exhaled softly before shifting them so Aurora lay across the couch, her head resting against the armrest. "Lie down," she murmured.

Aurora raised a brow. "Bossy."

Denise climbed onto her back, straddling her with ease, hands already pressing into her shoulders. "You stress too much."

The second her fingers found their mark, Aurora let out a long blissful groan. "Oh, that’s so nice..."

Denise chuckled, kneading her thumbs into the tight muscles along Aurora’s shoulders. "You're so easy."

"You have magic hands," Aurora mumbled into the cushion. "Pun intended."

For a while, neither of them spoke. Denise continued her slow, methodical work, and Aurora let herself drift into the sensation. The tension melted from her muscles, a rare peace settling over her. It wasn’t until Denise finally stopped, satisfied with her work, that Aurora cracked her eyes open again.

And then she pulled Denise down into another kiss.

They made out lazily, the world outside fading to nothing.

Then, at the worst possible moment, Aurora’s Sentinel ID card vibrated against her chest.

She groaned dramatically, fumbling for it. "Who dares?" she grumbled.

Denise propped herself up on one elbow, watching with amusement as Aurora pulled out the card. The display lit up with a familiar name.

Midnight Avenger.

Aurora immediately sat up. "Shit, I have to take this."

Denise sighed, rolling off her. “Go on, answer your boyfriend.”

Aurora shot her a look but tapped the card, accepting the call. "Hey. What’s up, M.A.?"

The gruff voice of Midnight Avenger filled the space. “I have an offer for you, Aurora.”

Aurora blinked. "That’s ominous."

“You’re still rough around the edges,” he continued. “But you’ve got potential. If you’re serious about improving, I can get you into The Kitchen.”

Aurora sat up straighter. "The Kitchen?"

“The Sentinels’ crash course,” he clarified. “Two weeks. Intensive training. Combat. Tactics. Rescue ops. Everything we expect from a full member of the Society. You’ll be tested—physically, mentally, ethically. See if you’re a real fit.”

Aurora hesitated. She was still new. Did she really belong there? But… the thought of training with heroes who had been doing this for years, of sharpening her skills, of proving herself—it was exactly what she needed.

“I…” She swallowed. “I’d like that.”

“Good,” Avenger said. “This isn’t a vacation, Aurora. It’s going to push you to your limits. You’re going to need to make the time. If you want to back out, now’s the time.”

Aurora squared her shoulders. "No. I’m in."

There was a beat of silence, then: “I’ll send you the details. Midnight Avenger out.”

The call ended, and Aurora exhaled slowly, turning to Denise, who had been listening with obvious interest.

“They’re already offering to send you to The Kitchen?” Denise prompted.

Aurora grinned. “Looks like it. I’d heard rumors about a brutal Society training course on the message boards, but I didn’t know it was called that.”

Denise smirked. "Good. You need it. Just remember the three laws at all times. I want to say that’s all you’ll need, but it won’t be. They’ll push you so far past your limits that learning about yourself will be the only way through."

Aurora blinked, then nodded. Of course. The three laws—the foundation of heroism, and good old-fashioned self-improvement.

1. Protect the lives of bystanders to the best of your ability.
2. Protect the lives of yourself and your allies, unless it conflicts with the first law.
3. Protect the lives of any opponents you might face, unless it conflicts with the first two laws.

These weren’t just guidelines. They were what separated proper heroes from something else.

How honest are they being with you, Aurora? Where were the bystanders when Mistral killed me? Oh right, she chose a desolate location to face off at. Her request, not mine. Where were her allies that might have helped subdue me more easily? What was her excuse again? Not wanting to endanger others? Hahahaha… Could it be that she just wanted to end me? Black Angel’s voice teased from the back of Aurora’s mind, slithering like oil. So much for the vaunted three laws if they can be ignored in the name of vengeance. You almost crossed that line, didn’t you?

Aurora’s jaw tightened. No. She still believed in Mistral, no matter how Black Angel tried to twist her thoughts. No matter how much sense she sometimes made, it was pure sophistry. She didn’t always have the rhetorical skill to counter the argument, but she knew what was right in her gut and she trusted that over anything the villainess said.

“I know,” Aurora said firmly. “I won’t forget.”

Denise’s gaze softened, and she reached out, gently squeezing Aurora’s hand. “Good. Then when you go, kick ass.”

Aurora grinned. “Oh, you know I will.”