There was no reading Lookout’s expression, but there was a skip in her step.

“You happy?” I asked.

“Very. Thank you for making me.”

“I didn’t make you,” I said.

“Yeah.”

“You’re welcome, though.”

“I really want to see them again soon,” Lookout said.

“Maybe,” I said. My thoughts were on their admitted association with my sister. That was a road fraught with hazards.

“Did you have a good talk, at least? Or was it not a talk? Did you both just stand there being all grim with you having your arms folded and him looming there with his spear in his hands?”

“We talked. I don’t know if I’d call it ‘good’. I got some answers on stuff. My shoulders feel lighter, but I’m not sure if it’s genuine or if it’s because I transferred the burden over onto his shoulders instead.”

“He’s strong. He can handle a lot, I think.”

I opened my mouth to retort, and then closed it. It wasn’t worth arguing.

Besides, we were closer to people who could overhear and put pieces together.

Tempera and Fume Hood. Tempera raised a white-painted hand in a wave, and they walked over in our direction, intercepting us.

“It’s been a little while,” I greeted them. “Have you heard anything about Sam or Hunter?”

It had been so long ago—a scared boy and his friend with new and uncontrolled powers. Too dangerous for me to intervene, apparently, but I’d been able to tap Tempera for help, and to ask Mrs. Yamada to look in.

“They headed over to the settlement across the ocean,” Tempera said. “It’s smaller, with its own problems, but it has a place to hold parahumans.”

I nodded. “And you guys?”

“We’ve been busy,” Tempera said. “Trying to find places where help is needed, and where we won’t cause too much of a commotion.”

“We’re toxic,” Fume Hood said, with some irony. “I see you got hurt.”

“Yeah,” I said, shrugging one shoulder. “Shot.”

“Stupid thing to do,” Fume Hood responded, with more irony. “Don’t do that.”

“All the cool kids were doing it,” I replied. “A power nullifier knocked out my defenses, I figured I had one shot to get on board with the trend.”

She slouched forward a bit, head hanging so her hood covered most of her upper face. Her thumbs were hooked into the belt of her outfit. I saw the hint of a smile on her face. “If you’re saying I’m cool, you might have other problems. Any head injuries?”

“Ooh,” Lookout said. “Or it could be the same thing. Bullets have lead don’t they? If you get traces of lead in your system, it can cause permanent brain damage. Among other things.”

Tempera looked at me, eyebrow quirked—the eyebrow had white paint from her face-paint mask on it, making the fine hairs clump. “Smart kid.”