A/N: The final chapter of Volume 0: Year Zero! I'm almost sad. For the newbies, go read Volume 1 after this...then Volume 2. I'm sure I'll start some other project now
that Year Zero is completely updated (although I've had it finished for a few weeks now). Perhaps the Laura Kinney diaries? I started that but didn't finish it...I was
bustin' my ass writing three fanfics at once (Year Zero, Volume 2 and Cowpie). And yeah, doing 4 courses at school...and learning to play piano...can you tell I don't
watch TV or anything? XcD never been a sucker for sitting around anyway. This one's a short chapter. Enjoy!

Volume: 0 Arc: "Year Zero" Issue: 1/1)

Chapter 10: verdict

Laura crouched on the edge of the chair, watching Julian sleep. Thirty four hours had passed since he'd flown from Texas to New York
at mach speed to save her life. She was still fascinated that he could sleep for such a long time. She'd found it easy to get into his
room—she'd been prepared to use a claw to credit-card it, but she hadn't had to; it was unlocked.

He was snoring quite loudly. Laura had observed this; for the two or so weeks she'd known him, he snored, loudest on the nights after
using his powers. Her supersensitive hearing picked it up through the locked doors and walls.

Her ears were also picking up something else right now.

"…Sofia…" he moaned.

She arched her eyebrow. Good. She'd been mistaken, then; she'd been worried that his demonstration was more than just concern
over a teammate. More than ever, Nimrod had convinced her—it wasn't safe to love. She had her memories of her mother, that was
all she needed for a lifetime.

No more, she promised herself, gracefully stepping off the chair and standing by his pillow.

"Hmm?" Julian opened his eye and briefly looked at the chair that she had just vacated.

Then it slid shut again, and he continued to snore. Laura bit her lip, then leaned down and kissed him, very lightly. "Thank you," she
mouthed, then turned and left his room. Her blood itched; she knew what she was going to be doing.

Making sure she was still real.

…

Julian played with his food in the cafeteria. He was still drained—he'd never used so much energy. His dreams had been fitful, full of death—
and Sofia leaving—and the ten-or-so minutes he'd had with Laura, before Nimrod. Amazing how much he'd memorized, even though they
hadn't done much.

It had been fifteen and a half hours since he'd finally woken up…and he'd thought about nothing but Laura since that moment, and he'd
checked up on her several times. He'd eaten quite a bit—five meals—and he was still hungry. At first, he thought it was just the amount
of energy he'd used in the fight and the flying—and the panic—but when he sat, after a plate of potatoes, turkey, and peas, and still
didn't feel satisfied, he started to understand it a bit better. That big idea—the one throbbing in his head—the thing he'd thought was
just a headache—Laura. And him.

Not Sofia? He was confused at the idea. He'd just been in love with her last week. Yet here he was…two weeks with thoughts all over the
place…and then a solid sixteen hours spent thinking about her and her smile…

He pushed his empty plate away, threw down his napkin, and stomped up the stairs—pausing briefly to brush his teeth. He didn't find turkey
all that romantic. As he passed Santo's room, her could hear he was playing Guitar Hero (and singing along, completely out of tune), and
grinned. He was very glad that Santo was still around to blackmail him.

Laura's door.

What's the worst that could happen? he thought.

He took a deep breath and knocked.