He really needed some time to relax. Dealing with Coil was not that complicated but the aftermath had him stressing out. Which was strange as the cleanup was not really all that complicated either. The Undersiders had almost sold themselves to him without any real effort on his part and Circus fell in line with only mild pressure.

The most stressful thing had to be what had just happened with Coil but that was not even on him either. It was just the threat that Lisa's Shard represented that had his mind on edge. Which was a mistake that he should have seen coming but his lack of foresight had really hit him hard again.

One of these days he is going to steal the ability to foresee shit like this or at least assign a competent right hand to help him navigate the storm that life was. He was kind of angling that path for Lisa which was one of the reasons he let such an oversight happen but she clearly had a flaw that needed to be taken care of.

If only he could steal her Shard like he stole Tammi's Shard, he would be able to trust her to help plan shit out if he did. That would imply that Tammi would make a great right hand since her Shard was already stolen but that was laughably wrong. Let's disregard her rather fragile emotional state and just focus on her rather poor choices. Cole really loved her but she was just as lacking in foresight as he was.

At least he had several opportunities to get Lisa's Shard. Taylor was the obvious choice as she was such a juicy target herself. Beyond Taylor, there was Bakuda as her Trigger Event was pretty prominent with her taking over her school and trying to bomb the place sky-high.

Brian's sister was also an option but he was not really planning on letting her Trigger event come to pass. He intended to keep his word with Brian to get her out of her Mother's control and he found the event that hurt her was something distasteful. Certainly not something he wanted on the back of his mind.

It was a shame as Imp's power was really fucking broken in certain areas but that was the price he had to pay to get his way. It was not like her gaining powers was never going to happen either. Any number of events could push her over the edge and it was proven that she did have a bud in her.

If only he could figure out a safe way to Trigger Shards, that way he could get Taylor and Aisha's Shards into his own Network and use that event to pull more Shards out of the main Network. Maybe he could figure out a trick with Cursed Energy?

Cursed Energy was basically just an amalgamation of negative emotions so if flooded with enough of them a person might be put in a state that was conducive to Trigger. That was not something he even dared to think about when his control was so shotty but with Six Eyes he could take a crack at it. Something to think about for later but for now he just wanted to relax his tense mind.

So he headed off towards the Safe House where Tammi was resting. Leaving Lisa to play her games at the underground base. Lisa still seemed a little out of it but having something to do was clearly taking her mind off of her own worries so he left her the work to help out…

Okay, his intentions were not that noble. He just did not want to deal with the convoluted mess that Coil's Shadow Cabal represented and it was not like he would be good at dealing with it. So it really was better to leave things like that to the experts.

I.E Smug Blondes who had a penchant for smiling like foxes. He had something more important to do anyway like cuddle with his girlfriend and kiss her worries away.

He made good time at arriving at the Safe House but when you have teleportation getting to places quickly was the name of the game. Even if his own blend of teleportation was a bit limited.

It was still a bit earlier in the morning so he tried to not make too much noise as he entered the house. He wanted to surprise Tammi with some breakfast to wake up to after all. That plan ran into a bit of a hitch as he spotted Tammi resting at the Kitchen counter with a mug of coffee in her hands.

She looked a little on edge but she had looked like that a lot lately. She looked over at the person entering the room and was tense for a moment before something about him clicked in her mind as she gave him a small smile and the tension bled from her frame.

Again he had to give her credit for being able to spot him even when he was disguised as someone new. He was not sure what was giving him away but she really knew how to spot him. He was tempted to ask but he was either going to get a sappy response or one that he could not understand. It was better to remain a mystery for now.

Still, he did not want to talk to her under a false face so he took off the disguise and gave her a soft smile of his own.

"Morning oh dear love of mine, See you got some coffee, dare I ask if you actually ate something or if you are going at it with an empty stomach again?" He asked as he made his way over to her and glided into her personal space with familiar ease. His head rested on her nape as he leaned over her.

She rolled her eyes with familiar ease as that was a conversation he had with her at more than one point. It was a familiar topic and one that while annoying brought a small smile to her face.

"Give it up darling." She drawled out with a smirk on her face. "You will never convince me to give up the sweet sweet ooze that fuels me." She declared dramatically. She cracked after a moment and let out a light snort and protected the coffee in her hands as if he was going to steal the cup from her.

"Fine, fine keep your foul concoction but I glad to see you are in lighter Spirits Tammi," Cole spoke out softly as he wrapped his hands around her waist to further the contact between them.

"Honestly, feeling better than I have been for a long ass time. This place feels a lot safer than that shit motel." She spoke out with a smile on her face as she leaned back into him. He hummed lightly as a response but he felt like grimacing.

He should have figured that a part of Tammi feeling stressed out was being placed in a room that was about as secure as a public restroom. Even with her newfound power sleeping in such a place had to be stressful. He should have done something earlier about that but again you should not cry over spilled milk. He was just going to have to be happy that she was nice and safe here.

Well, the plan brewing in his head should take away some of the worries that bothered them lately.

"You up for some breakfast? I was going to try my hand at cooking something for you." He asked to change the topic to something less dire. Again Tammi snorted and poked his side with a grin dancing across her face.

"Mr. Bread is normal for lunch is going to cook? I'm afraid of what sort of horrid thing you could create in the kitchen mister." Tammi ribbed him with that grin on her face. Cole let out a laugh of his own in response.

"Hey, just because I am not picky about what I eat does not mean I am incapable of cooking." He spoke out as he blew into her ear in retaliation for the poke. She let out a huff at that but her ears turning red clearly showed she enjoyed that trick.

She still looked like she did not trust his sense of taste which was fair. He really did eat rather plainly most times. For a long ass time, food was the last thing on his mind so he just ate what was easy and what was available.

Which probably painted a picture of a guy who ate nothing but frozen meals but that was not the case. He liked spicy food and was willing to eat just about anything, well if you discounted mushy things. The mouth feel of that is simply horrid.

Still, she should not be the one to point out problems here, her eating habits could be just as bad.

"Just you wait, I'm about to knock your socks off dear love of mine." He announced graciously but he was a little worried about not being able to fall through on that boast. He could cook but cooking something truly eye-catching was not really in his wheelhouse.

It was not like Kaito Kid had a reason to invest in that Skill Tree either so he was just going to have to hope that the effort and love he put into breakfast was enough to break that gap.

Well, knowing Tammi she would shit on it if the thing was not perfect while being really happy about the effort all the same. She might not want to hear it but she really acted like a freaking Tsundere in the weirdest spots. At least she was not a full-blown problem like some characters could be.

Much Dere very little Tsun.

Well he had some magic now and he could cheat slightly with his cantrip so maybe he really could knock her socks off. So Cole went into the kitchen and started to cook with the mindset of just trying his best.

As he got into a grove it became increasingly clear that his boast really might not be such a far cliff to climb. As a Rogue he had fantastic knife work and his near-perfect DEX score meant that he had an almost supernatural control over the cooking utensils and could cook everything exactly as he intended.

Beyond that, he was also cheating to have the Flavours of the ingredients really pop out. Carefully balancing it to not overwhelm the other flavors but to make their presence known

There were not a lot of complicated actions as breakfast food was pretty hard to fuck up but he really took it a step beyond what most people could even dream of. Tammi seemed impressed enough and that was the main subject of care for him.

"Wow, I retract the doubt, let me bow down to the mighty Cole master of the pan." She shot out with a grin as she started to reach for bits of food before he could even plate it. He rolled his eyes but let her actions go without much thought. He really did indulge her far too much.

"Of course, bow before my might mortal, and perhaps I could make dessert after this." He offered with a grin but was not quite sure if he could follow in on that boast either. She seemed interested but paused for a moment.

"Hey, you think we could head out to that Cafe instead? I want to get some dessert from there since we missed out last time." She asked with some hesitation. It was clear she did not want to be a bother but at the same time, she wanted to close off any regrets that had built in her chest.

"Sure, I am willing to almost out myself by breaking you out of Prison Tammi. Taking time out of my day to hang out without you again is not even a minor inconvenience as I truly enjoy it as well." Cole spoke out with a soft smile trying to show her she could ask for the world and he would do his best to provide.

She went red a little bit and mumbled something into her coffee mug. He heard some of it but he figured he got the idea and asking to hear the full thing would only embarrass Tammi more.

"Before we do that I have a bit of a serious discussion that needs to happen.' Cole spoke out seriously and suddenly the shy girl focused and let go of the nerves and feelings holding her back. She looked like she was preparing to fight an End Bringer all by herself but he poked her cheeks to get her to relax.

Seeing his actions and the light-hearted nature of his smile she did relax but the light and airy mood was no longer possible. So Cole decided to just roll with this for now. He wanted to get her serious opinion so it worked out in the end anyways.

"Tammi, trying to keep secrets is only going to end poorly for us so I figured I would give the PRT a 'truth' that would have them stop looking into our business. I was planning on joining the PRT as a Healer as I stole a power that worked well with that."

"I was going to say that when I triggered because of you and I offered the Cape that broke you out medical support to well break you out. It was only as the stress from trying to hide you away from everything built up that I decided to come to them to break a deal to get both of us pardoned. Do you think that plan could work and if it does do you want to join the PRT with me?" He explained what was on his mind firmly so she could have all the facts.

Tammi seemed stunned at this turn of events but she did look like she was contemplating the situation he placed on her.

(Tammi P.O.V)

Tammi seemed to not know how to handle what he just said to her for a moment. The topic that he brought up was both very important and not as dire as she assumed. Still, it was rather difficult to get a response brewing as soon as she was faced with this question.

So she wore a contemplative expression on her face as she tried to parse how she was feeling. Finally she got a handle as she faced Cole with a worried look on her face.

"Would they really just let go of me that easily?" She asked with concern clear on her face. The worry that had been haunting her for the past couple of days could not just be waved away so easily. At least not to her.

Cole reached forward and caressed her face to offer a gesture of support and connection. He gave her a soft smile to tell her that her worries were not as large as she thought.

"They really would. You and I both know that Healers are something sought after. Panacea has people flocking to our city despite it being filled with Nazi's." Cole spoke out and Tammi flinched at the Nazi comment with a sort of sad look on her face.

She was a part of that group and while she had her reasons for being there having it pointed out as a problem still stung. Cole leaned forward and kissed her forehead softly as if to say no matter what she was in the end he loved her all the same.

Which was sadly the truth. Even when she was at her absolute worst spewing hate at people he kept his silence and tried to pull her out of the tar like scenario she got caught up in. It did not really speak well about his moral clarity but she would rather have it this way.

She smiled softly at him in return. Conflicted about the unconditional support when the people in her life certainly did not do that for her. Cole really was the only thing she had and while that was a balm to her soul it also stung.

"Ha, I knew I was the best. Since Healer's are on the top of the heap it would only make sense that my power turned out the way it did." She boasted with a smirk but it was more a falsehood. Her powers were another sore spot for her.

It was powerful, there was no doubt about that. She could save someone with a single flex of her power and she could kill with a thought if she wished. Having that sort of power over life was exhilarating but how she got it still flashed in her mind.

Cole standing protectively over her his stupid cape billowing in the air blinding her to what happened for a brief moment. A gun shot echoing across the the alley as that fucking asshole pulled the trigger. A numb shock as the confident Cole protecting her knelt on the ground. The feel of blood splattering on her face. A splash of red on pristine white.

The fact that the only reason he was hurt was because of her screaming in her mind. The gripping knowledge that was forced in her very being that it was always that way. That he fell apart right in front of her during those heart wrenching visits to her prison and she was the only one to blame. Now he might quite literally be dying and again she was the one to blame.

Cole thought her restless nights were because of Prison because of what happened there. No, seeing him like that was the thing that kept her up at night. The happy moments between them felt like sparks from a burning ember to her. Vivid and oh so intoxicating but fleeting in a way that her memories always reminded her. Only his physical presence was able to push away that dread and pain. A physical reminder that she did not lose him.

She hated to admit it but the reason she was able to get some sleep yesterday was because of Lisa. Those nights spent in the motel were always an illusory fight over whether Cole really was safe or not. Having this place and a person that was affected by Cole herself eased her mood.

That girl was another issue on her mind that she felt conflicted about. Cole finally had someone helping him and Lisa seemed rather competent and her power was something Cole really needed right now. It just stung that she could not offer the same level of support.

She was mighty and in a pinch she could save his life but she could not help Cole plan out his future as good as a Thinker could. She was not arrogant enough to assume otherwise. It was just not something she enjoyed acknowledging.

She also found herself growing slightly fond of the girl, the screwed up scenario that she was in stuck a chord of sympathy in her and her fellow blond was oddly endearing.

"You really are the best. The PRT would sell half of their limbs to get a handle on you. As far as Healers go you are the top of the pile. You beat out healers in Speed, Effect, and cost. You are the ace in the deck that everyone hopes to draw." Cole spoke out with a smug grin of his own.

She could not understand how he could take pride in her own powers. That he could be that genuinely happy for her.

She could not understand it but god did it feel good having it on her side. She blushed and looked away from those eyes that seemed to be so bright lately.

He had always had pretty eyes but today they felt like staring at a star flashing through a bleak night. Then again it was not just the look of those eyes that have changed. Lately Cole has been lighter, easier to smile, easier to laugh. Before it always looked like there was a heavy weight on his chest and while there were moments where that was still true it changed a lot.

"So don't underestimate our value. The PRT would be willing to pardon far worse crimes for a rather mild power like Shadow Stalker. With healing as our back up as long as we don't have a kill order on our head the PRT would be willing to look the other way." Cole spoke out with a wry smile on his face.

There was still some hesitation as she did not want to lose the life she managed to salvage here. Those idyllic moments spent basking in each other's arms, the heart pounding energy that poured out of them as they stared into each other's eyes. That was not something she wanted to give up.

Still, even if she did want that life she knew this was for the best. Having something like this hovering over their head just did not do well for them.

"Besides, it's not like you really were the suspect in those crimes. They threw the book at you because of your last name and because they were able to get a handle on you." Cole spoke out with a grimace on his face.

He was still not happy about how she ended up as she did but she got it. She was not exactly happy with her family either.

She never really thought about her last name being a mark against her in the prison sentence but it made sense. She was able to wield fear and power in the Empire due to her name so there had to be another side of that coin.

She wanted to agree with this idea to take a weight off of Cole' shoulders and to ease her own life but the hesitation was still there. Any step she took forward seemed to be the wrong one so if she did do this would it all end in tragically?

Rationally she knew that made no sense but she still felt it.

"Do you have to?" She asked quietly not looking over at him after a moment. She regretted asking that question as soon as it left her mouth but it slipped past her self control as her mind spun.

Cole looked at her for a good long moment before reaching over and pulling her into a hug. Resting her head on his chest again. A familiar motion that he had been doing a lot.

She was not sure if he noticed but the steady rhythm of his heartbeat really did calm her down as it was more proof of him being alive.

"No, if you feel strongly about this Tammi we don't but I won't lie to you. I am in a rather delicate position in which my options are getting smaller and smaller." His words paused for a moment to showcase the seriousness.

"A part of my power blocks out Thinker abilities when they are used on me. Meaning that the Cape doing all of these thefts and the civilian Cole Diamant will have a linking fact that anyone with a semblance of sense could see. They won't touch that polite fiction due to how Cape Society works but they will know it all the same. So it would be much easier to give them a 'truth' that is not really true. Or at least not the whole truth." Cole continued to explain with a calm voice as he stroked the small of her back to further calm her.

Despite the calming motions he was doing she still felt her stomach drop at that admission. Here she was giving him more grief when the simple answer would lead to the best outcome for the both of them.

Knowing that she bit her lip and gripped onto him tighter as if afraid he would slip out of her reach in any second. She wanted to say so much but she could do nothing but clutch onto Cole as her heart bled.

Cole just hummed softly as he continued his calming motions. Waiting for her. Waiting for the worry and the pain to fade away like a dream. Finally she managed to muster her will to do something.

She was not going to leave him in a worse position for her own complicated mood. Not again, Cole deserved the world and she was not going to let her heart get in the way of that.

"Fine, we can do it." She muttered out quietly with a shaky voice. There was still that fear gripping on her but she had to learn to let go of it.

Instead of saying anything else Cole just continued his actions. He could tell there was something off with her but he could not see what it was. So he did what he always did and quietly stood by her side offering her his unwavering support.

She both loved and hated that.

"Are you interested in joining the PRT with me? It would give us more time to spend with each other. Although, we might have to fib a bit about your power. The PRT would not waste resources by having both of us in the city. Healers are a rare resource after all." Cole spoke out after the shaking in her body finally stilled.

She smiled at the notion of spending more time with him only to have her heart nearly jump out of her chest with the likelihood of them separating the two of them. She looked over at him with a frown as she did not want that obviously.

"If two healers would tip them off, why report yourself as a healer? You could steal a different power and still work out that 'truth'. As long as I show off my healing they will still offer us whatever we want." She asked with a frown on her face. Not quite getting why he was going about it this way.

Hearing her question Cole winced which had her looking over at him with worry and concern bleeding off of her. Seeing her look he looked away and seemed to hesitate over something before he let out a sigh and looked back at her.

"Being a healer will paint a target on your back. Like I said it makes you very valuable and while most sane people refuse to touch Healers as that is the best way to have everyone wanting you dead this world is not just filled with the same. Your Healing is far above mine and it would be far more tempting for those less than sane individuals." Cole explained with a frown flashing on his face.

She nodded along with that as it did make sense but then her heart dropped again. Cole was worried about painting a target on her back but what about his!?

"So you are just going to draw all that attention to yourself instead?" She hissed out in anger not sure how to react. She could tell he was doing it for her but if all she could do was bring him troubles what was she doing with her life!?

She was lashing out at him with her anger but she just needed to let some of these emotions out. He winced at her acquisitions but did not look all that sorry about his actions.

"Well yeah but our situation is a bit different. My healing is not nearly as crazy as yours so it's not going to be that big of a mark and I am able to avoid almost all of the negatives with my Clones and Teleportation. Hell, I don't even have to be this Identity most of the time. Just leaving the danger to my clone instead of dealing with it myself." Cole explained quickly to get rid of the worries plaguing her.

It worked as his reasoning was sound but the swell of emotions had still reached a tipping point so she fumed for a good long while. Cole just let her go through it offering his insufferable support the entire time.

"So how would we lie about my power?" She asked moody once most of her fumes had dissipated. She did not really see how she could avoid showing off how awesome she was.

"Well, we could just take away the storing of injuries part and just let you inflict injuries on others." Cole suggested with a grin on his face. Well, she could see how that worked but eventually she would run out of injuries unless she started storing more which would draw attention to her again.

As if reading her mind Cole cut in again.

"As for the injuries you need to pick up, well I have literally endless clones and they don't really feel pain. So we could cycle whatever injury you want to gain and inflict it on my Clone." Cole offered like that was brilliant but she glared at him.

The last thing she wanted to do was hurt him even if the thing she was hurting was just a clone of him. Seeing her mood he offered another thing.

"Well, you could also sneakily pick up injuries when I am on healing duty. I'm sure the PRT knows I want you by my side constantly so you being there while I heal is not out of the question. I am rather good at distracting people when I want to but Lisa told me something shocking about your power. She said your reach is growing, so you should eventually be able to take injuries while I pretend to heal." Cole spoke out offering a different route and her eyes went wide.

Her powers were growing!?