Defending the Mask

Hero

Sorry this is late getting out.

-Dark-

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She clicks off the TV before she turns to Evie, who appeared just as unsure as she felt.

That had been...

Uncomfortable.

And, unexpected.

She certainly hadn't expected Hiro to be so-

Contained.

Yet, equally, and this is where the uncomfortable came in, open.

He'd put so many cards on the table.

More cards than she ever would in his position.

More cards than any of them would.

Who the fuck did that? Put themselves out there like that.

Admitted how close they'd been to becoming a villain.

Her head was still reeling.

That whole debate had been one surprise after another.

And the fact he'd had the gall to ask Queen Leah why she hadn't invited her mother to that stupid christening?

She takes a deep breath.

He defended them.

All of them.

Her.

Her pack.

Kids he'd never even met.

Defended them.

Fought for them.

At the expense of himself.

Of his reputation.

Her cheeks flare with heat.

She never would have gone that far.

To that extent.

It meant so much it scared her.

She thought for sure she was going to be pissed.

Had been pissed.

But now?

Now she found unexpected respect for Hiro lodged in her chest.

Like, a mad amount of respect.

He put everything on the line for them.

"Should, should we go get C now?" Evie asks in a whisper, as if afraid Carlos could somehow hear her.

She sighs as she catches the concern etched into Evie's face.

How long had she been lost in thought?

How long had Evie sat there watching her, wondering what she was thinking.

"I mean, am I wrong to think that went, well, certainly better than I thought it was going to." Evie continues when she doesn't answer immediately, "And I'd rather C hear about this from us."

"Yeah," She nods. "Better from us."

She was happy it had been Hiro.

That it had been Carlos they'd whisked away.

Their pup was so much better with being left in the dark than Evie was.

She eyes the other girl.