"It's a long way to anywhere from here," I murmur, stretching. It's early morning and my companion and I have just woken up. It's been a long time since we left, and I'm somewhat surprised we haven't been caught yet. I didn't plan on getting this far. "We need to go somewhere, so where do you wanna go?"

"Mm, well, I've always wanted to see Steel City, where Alex and Charlotte live."

"Alright, we're going to Steel City," I say with a smile. We set off heading along the coast. Eventually we'll find the tower, since it's on the coast, too.

It takes me a minute before I realize we're headed toward a superhero-guarded city, which we'd previously been trying to avoid. I recall Briar's earlier worry that she would have to leave old friends behind, and I know that Alex and I are-or is it were by now-her closest friends. And Charlotte's permanent home is at the tower there too.

I have to ask her. "So… you said you don't want to hurt anybody. Are you going to say goodbye… or go back?"

"Oh, Spark," she murmurs. "I'm with you forever and always, you know that, right? If you want to leave, then I'll go with you. And you've got good reasons, I can't deny that. But I can't just abandon my life. It's too hard."

"So why're we headed to Steel?" I don't even attempt defensiveness. I need to know what she's thinking, because if this is going to hurt her, I have to take her back. She sighs. "I just want to say goodbye to Alex. Just make sure she knows this isn't her fault."

I embrace Briar-Rose then, making sure neither of us has the opportunity to get emotional. Second guessing things isn't going to help us. Honestly, this was a messy and extremely not-thought-out plan, and I've been doubting myself since day one. We have to let go.

We calm down after a bit. My anxiety works overtime at making sure I know the dangers of walking right into the heart of Titans East territory. I've never been there myself, but I know my Uncle Vic has heavy security around his home, and the city's not exactly left to its own devices. They watch all the time, like guardian angels.

Bri, on the other hand, has been into the city. She's even seen the security system in action. She's sure we can slip past the system if we go slowly and quietly. With as much as I doubt her plan, I don't doubt her. I have faith in my girl.

We've known one another since we were newborns. We were born on the same day and we were laid down in one bassinet for the majority of our first day of life. Our moms were always close and they would visit one another a lot, even though there was most of the US between them.

My first memory is at Christmas, and I can remember, though it's blurry, Briar. She had picked a red bow out of a pile of ribbon and wrapping paper. She smacked it onto my forehead and sat down next to me, laughing wildly. I remember finding it so, so funny, and laughing with her.

We settle down for the night. It's cold, so we snuggle close in an attempt to keep warm. I ask her about that memory and she tells me, "My first memory is when you and I went out into your backyard and rolled in the leaves under that big oak tree. Mom was so mad because I was wearing white and I'd gotten so messy."

I laugh, but at the same time, I'm hurting. I miss my mom. The way she always smelled like that lavender perfume that dad would run all the way to San Francisco to get her. Her calming voice, grounding me whenever my anxiety would kick in. The bubblegum color of her hair and her favorite nail polish.

Now that I think about it, I miss everything about home and the people there. I decide that if I can help to ease this feeling, whatever variant of it that resides within Briar, I will.

To Steel City we go.