Supernova

“I was sure you would hate me when you found out the truth.”

Adrian grimaced. “I tried to, at first. But it’s like you said. Everyone has a nightmare.” He pressed his forehead against hers. “Maybe I want you to be mine.”

“Adrian, I need you to know that I really am sorry. For everything. It wasn’t all a lie. My feelings for you—”

Adrian cupped her face in his hands. “I know. And when this is all over, we are going to have a serious talk about keeping secrets from each other.”

She laughed, though it was a nervous sound. “How can you still trust me? After everything?”

“We’ve got nothing else to lie about, right? You’re Nightmare. I’m the Sentinel. Ace Anarchy is your uncle. You and I might be archenemies. And yet…” He shrugged, a little hapless. “Somehow, I still want to kiss you.”

“Everyone has a nightmare,” she said. “I guess I’m yours.”

“Nightmare…” He took her hand, and she realized he was crying. In that moment, she realized that she was, too. “We were friends, weren’t we?” He coughed. A bit of blood sprayed across his bottom lip. “I know I wasn’t always … a good friend … but I … I liked having you around, back then. When you were little. It was nice to be … a kid … again.”

Her breaths started to come in erratic gulps. “Of course. Of course we were friends.”

He smiled, but it was laced with pain. His eyes were losing focus. “I wanted to tell you…” He coughed. The ice in his chest jostled with each movement. “I’m no longer sure … I was meant to be … a villain.” His gaze softened affectionately as he squeezed her
hand. She wasn’t sure when he’d started holding it. “I’m not sure you are, either. Maybe … none of us…”

Adrian Everhart and Nova Artino were evidence that there could be common ground. That the divide between heroes and villains wasn’t as wide as they’d always thought.

That love conquered all.

. Everyone has a nightmare.” He pressed his forehead against hers. “Maybe I want you to be mine.”

Adrian, I need you to know that I really am sorry. For everything. It wasn’t all a lie. My feelings for you—”

Adrian cupped her face in his hands. “I know. And when this is all over, we are going to have a serious talk about keeping secrets from each other.”

She laughed, though it was a nervous sound. “How can you still trust me? After everything?”

“We’ve got nothing else to lie about, right? You’re Nightmare. I’m the Sentinel. Ace Anarchy is your uncle. You and I might be archenemies. And yet…” He shrugged, a little hapless. “Somehow, I still want to kiss you.”

Her skin tingled. “You do?”

“As much as ever.”

And then, he did

Nova swallowed. “It was real,” she whispered. “I hope you know that.”

He watched her, unflinching, expressionless. Finally, he said, “I wish I could believe that, Nova. But we both know it’s just one more lie.”

Danna’s face crumpled apologetically. “I’m so sorry, Adrian, but … it’s her.” Her voice was barely a whisper. “Nova is Nightmare.”

Some people were always meant to be heroes. Just like some people were always meant to be villains.