Bear with me. I just buried my dad today

12/3/19

Thank you to everyone who enjoys or reads this story. This song is inspired by What Now by Rihanna. Give it a listen.

Colors swirled around her. It spread through the site of the tragedy. Colors of hope, strength, pride, courage, peace, love, joy. The smoke and debris pushed against the colors, but they kept the dark at bay and expanded outward, pushing it further away from the civilians she aimed to protect. People stood in awe of the light show around them, as did Aurora.

Yes, she could expand her aura out, but only to a certain point. Never had she stretched it on this scale. The colors were vibrant, more so than they had been in years. The emotions were stronger too, strong enough to affect physical, tangible things.

"You think your little light show can stop me?" A voice echoed through the smoke. The smoke was black and thick like tar. At the sound of the villain's voice it began encroaching on the people surrounding her. She could hear people choking on the smoke and concentrated once more and pushed her aura further, pushing the smoke back again.

Aurora stood in the center of it all. She stood her ground, she stood firm. Her firm gaze landed on the villain trying to choke the city. Her hair flew about her wildly in the wind. Her mask as long gone and her suit was torn and covered in her own blood. There was no doubt cameras were trained on her, this literal beacon of hope. She all but glowed white as she pushed the smoke back.

Her heart was still broken. Inside she was full of turmoil. Her personal life was a wreck. But right now, in this moment, there was one thing she knew more than anything: Her light would shine, either until help arrived, or the villain stepped over her dead body.

"Aurora?" her eyes flicked open and looked around. She saw colorful blurs. She blinked until she saw who was standing above her. "Aurora, are you all right?" Gran Torino was talking to her. Above her was also the face of a paramedic. She nodded and moved to sit up, but her body disagreed. She grunted and remained on her back. "Take it easy, Endeavor said you had it pretty rough just a bit ago."

"I'm alright, just a little banged up." She assured them.

"We've been informed of your situation, ma'am." The paramedic informed her and she blinked as he helped her sit up. She looked over at Endeavor who was speaking with the police. "He asked us to be as discrete as possible. We recommend you see a doctor immediately."

"That won't be necessary." She told them and looked around for her students. "I still need to-"

"Aurora, it's over." Gran Torino reassured her. "They took the Hero Killer into custody and the students have already been taken to the hospital. You can take it easy now."

"He's right." Endeavor said as he approached the small group. "All that is left is to address the media. Go on to the hospital. I can easily manage them on my own." She glared at him, suspicious, and forced herself to stand. She swayed slightly and straightened her ruined blazer.

"I'm fine." She insisted, holding Endeavor's gaze. "Let's go get this over with. I'll deal with my injuries later. It's nothing serious anyway."

"I think you've smacked your head too many times tonight." Endeavor reached out to try to guide her to the paramedic, waiting to escort her to the ambulance. She shook him off.

"I think you are over stepping." She said firmly. "You do not get to decide what is best for me." She began to walk past him. "Now let's go." She ordered with a special emphasis on her final word. It sent a chill down the spines of those around her. Gran Torino looked from Aurora's back to Endeavor, the two of them sharing a look.

Endeavor and Aurora made their way down the streets, heading towards the area where most of the commotion was. No doubt the press would be there, sniffing around for information. He handed her a cloth he had asked for from the paramedics.

"Here, wipe your face." He suggested. She took it with quiet thanks and wiped the blood and dirt from her face. She closed her eyes to clean around them and she felt the world sway. She stumbled but caught herself on the wall. Endeavor watched and said nothing. She righted herself and kept walking, not offering an explanation.

Before long they had made their way back. Police and emergency teams were doing their thing. People were looking for injured civilians and working to tape off dangerous areas. Many reporters had congregated and were interviewing civilians and Endeavor's teammates. Once they caught site of the two heroes, they all flocked over, hurling question after question at the two. A few police officers kindly stepped between them, giving them space.

"Do you think they were conncected to the attack on the school?" One asked.

"How do they compare to the one that attacked the school? Are they stronger?"

"How many more do you think are out there?"

"What are the heroes doing to stop this?"

"Do you feel you were more prepared for these compared to the attack on the school?"

"Easy, easy." Aurora chuckled, stepping into her calming, professional tone. She subtly extended her aura to those immediately around her, spreading calm. "I cannot answer many of your questions right now, as I do not have all of the information. I assure you our agencies will release official statements in the following days. In the meantime, please allow me to offer some answers." She paused and they eagerly waited. "In regards to these beings compared to the one at the school, I cannot guarantee these were stronger or weaker. After the fight at the school, yes, many of those involved were able to prepare better for this attack. However, we were also able to utilize different quirks and quirk combinations this time."

"Do you think they are connected to Hero Kill Stain?" Endeavor took over this question.

"While we cannot say for sure at the moment, I personally do not believe so. In the past he primarily worked alone. I cannot see him changing his methods so suddenly."

"Who do you think is behind the attack on the school and the events that unfolded here tonight?"

"That is not something we can answer as it is still under investigation." Endeavor also answered this one.

"What measures are the heroes and faculty taking to protect the school as well as the public?"

"Well if we shared that with everyone, then the villains would find a way to work around it, wouldn't they." Aurora giggled, sending chuckles around to the reporters.

"Have all of the villains involved in this evening been captured?"

"To our knowledge, yes." Endeavor explained. "However, I assume police as well as other hero agencies are on alert for more villains unaccounted for.

"Do you think this attack on the city has anything to do with your sister's escape?" A reporter asked, shoving a mic in Aurora's face. Aurora blinked at her. She must really be concussed. She surely didn't hear her right. Aurora blinked at her again, but then felt the unease coming from the man beside her. She briefly glanced at Endeavor before returning her gaze to the reporter.

"I'm sorry, I don't think I heard you right." She apologized. "Could you repeat your question?"

"Do you think the attack tonight is connected with your sister's escape from the hospital for the criminally insane?" The reporter asked, a little confused herself. Then something clicked. "Aurora Borealis, were you unaware that your sister, the villain Night Terror, that you yourself personally took down, has escaped from her cell at the hospital?" Aurora could only stare. Her mouth seemed to flop like a fish out of water. She couldn't formulate words, she couldn't understand. How? How? How?

Endeavor watched her struggle. His suspicions were correct and he stepped forward. Endeavor stood slightly between Aurora and the press who were now barraging her with questions she had no way of answering.

"We are done here." He ordered firmly, "No more questions. Thank you." The police took over from there, pushing the press back. Aurora couldn't hear much. It was all foggy and blurry. Endeavor escorted her to a nearby police car and helped her inside. He went around the car and entered from the other side.

"Would you mind taking me to the hospital?" The cop in the front seat nodded and off they drove. For a while it was silent. Endeavor was not quite sure what to say. They had never been close. In fact, tonight was the best they had ever gotten along.

"She's out then." Aurora mumbled. "Hu. I would have thought I'd be the first to know."

"No one told you, then." Endeavor concluded. "Odd."

"Yeah." Aurora breathed. She couldn't quite think straight. Her head was a swirling mess and she was feeling nauseous. Damn pregnancy always being there at the worst times. "I don't even know what I'm supposed to think."

"You most likely have a concussion." Endeavor pointed out.

"Yeah." She agreed. "I'll probably call Toshinori from the hospital." She patted her pockets. "I'd call him now, but I seem to have lost my phone." She gave up and leaned her head back while closing her eyes. He had stepped in on her behalf. The man she new from school would have watched her drown in a sea of reporters eating her alive and laughed. Why did he step in?

"I am much older than the petty child I once was." He answered as thought reading her thoughts. "I am the number 2 hero. Give me some credit."

"Forgive me if I have some hesitation." She responded. "My scar is difficult to ignore." He remained quiet for the rest of the ride.

On arriving at the hospital, Endeavor stepped out first and met her on the other side, offering her a hand to help her out of the vehicle. Aurora looked at it with skepticism.

"I cannot undo what has already transpired." He told her, catching her momentarily off guard. "I have a suspicion we may be working together in the future. It would be prudent of us to learn to cooperate." She took his hand with a small smile. That was the closest to an apology she would get. She'd take it.