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Nova took her metal mask off, breathing in deeply. Her muscles were tired after such a long fight with the Sentinel, who, despite her training, had given her a good fight.
She sighed, looking to the Renegades building, the giant R glowering down at her even from the distance. Her burden of keeping the secret, that she was an Anarchist, working against the Renegades, the very people that everyone associated Insomnia with weighed heavy on her chest.
Nova didn't know how long she could keep it a secret; she'd already been almost discovered by Danna, who, while she hated to admit it, was smart to use one of her butterflies to spy on her. Thank God for Narcissa's quick thinking, who had so heroically (for Nova's favour) taken up the alias of Nightmare as a get-out-of-jail card for Nova
But as much as it pained her to say it, it had been a very close call.
Her nerves were even more on edge now, she was more careful.
She needed to be.
But what if the Anarchists failing their mission wasn't so bad?
With conflicted thoughts, she put her mask back on her face, making her way back to the current Anarchist HQ. She looked at her surroundings as she travelled, seeing the Renegade Trial posters still hanging.
Bold. Valiant. Just.
Do you have what it takes to be a hero?
Remembering her past reactions to the poster, Nova chuckled. The Renegades weren't actually so bad. Ruby and Oscar were fun people to hang out with, Danna as well, except for the whole suspicion she had of her.
And Adrian.
Adrian wasn't like the other Renegades, that was for sure. He cared more than most did, he wanted to help people more.
And of course, like an idiot, he had gone and fallen in love with her.
Nova just wasn't sure if she had fallen in love with him.
***
Adrian entered the Renegades building, smiling brightly as his Sentinel armour clunked off and his identity hidden, aside from his team, of course.
But Nova.
She still didn't know.
Adrian didn't even know the right time to tell her. There had been so many random times, like when they were kissing, he couldn't just spring the "hey, did you know I'm the Sentinel and you probably hate me now? No? Well, now you do!"
With a long breath, he went into the cafeteria, where Oscar had told him to meet about an hour ago, and he was sure that Oscar had dragged Ruby and Danna along with him in Adrian's absence.
His body still ached from the recent brawl with Nightmare. She was skilled, he had to give her that, even though he would never tell that to her face.
But there was something so similar. Maybe it was the fact that Nova had been arrested for being Nightmare, the Nightmare that he had sworn to destroy not too long ago, but Nightmare did remind him of Nova...
"Adrian!"
His thoughts were interrupted by Ruby calling his name. As he turned to face his friends, he saw Ruby waving her arms to get his attention, Danna with her arms crossed, and Oscar munching on one of the many items on his tray.
Adrian smiled and walked over to the table they were sitting at, sliding in between Danna and Ruby. He didn't want to get in the way of the possibility of Oscar asking Ruby out, as he had been asking both Adrian and Danna their opinions on the subject.
But this wasn't the most romantic setting for asking someone out.
Maybe it was for Oscar and Ruby.
"So, now that Adrian is here, after taking his sweet time, we can finally discuss what we want to do about the whole Nova-isn't-Nightmare-yayyy-what-do-we-do-now? situation," Ruby said, snatching a fry from Oscar's tray with a few glares from Oscar following.
Danna shrugged. "Whatever. I don't care. I'm still sure that Nova is Nightmare." She looked over to her side, thoughtfulness showing on her face.
Adrian held his breath. It was weird, that so many signs pointed to Nova being an Anarchist spy. Then Nightmare, who was also the Mirror Walker, just showing up was random, but he truly believed that Nova was innocent.
So where was she?
He hadn't seen her since her release, and even then, their time together was limited.
"Adrian? Did you hear what I said?"
He turned to look at Oscar, who was looking at him concerned. "You okay? You haven't said anything since you sat down."
He nodded, shaking out the doubt. "Yeah, I'm fine," he responded. "What if we took her out as a team?"
His team agreed, already talking about where they wanted to go. Ruby suggested pizza and Oscar agreed right away. "Pizza sounds great."
"Pizza always sounds great to you, Oscar," Danna said to him, as Ruby laughed and Adrian stole a fry for himself.
"Why do you keep stealing my fries today?" Oscar asked, using his arm to cover his tray from both Adrian and Ruby.
They were all laughing now, even Danna, who had been so quiet just a minute ago.
It was the small moments like these that made Adrian realize how lucky he was to have his teammates, and while she wasn't there, Nova too.
***
Nova walked into the Renegades building, hoping that no one would recognize her or become even more suspicious of her identity since the arrest, but everyone just gave her a nod or a smile with a quick "Welcome back."
Uncomfortably, she made her way to the Artifact room, where she had been working before her arrest. She entered and almost immediately Callum spotted her.
"Nova!" he cried, running over to give her a hug of welcoming, which Nova accepted with a grimace. "I'm so sorry that happened to you, I can't believe that they thought you, of all people could be Nightmare!"
She winced slightly, covering it with a fake sneeze. "It's hard to believe, yeah," she agreed. Nova looked over Callum's shoulder as much as she could, trying to get a view of the security cameras, and while she hated to say it, looking to see where Adrian was.
Callum caught her gaze and looked back. He smirked at her, and as if reading her mind, said, "If you're looking for Adrian, he's in the cafeteria with Danna, Ruby and Oscar."
Nova blushed. "Why do you think that?"
Callum gave her a look that suggested he knew something was up. "You don't think I see the way you're looking at those security cameras in search of Adrian?"
"That's not what it is," Nova assured him, but it could have been, for all she knew. She didn't know how to feel about Adrian anymore, and her feelings were all over the place.
Callum glared at her, knowing full well that she was lying, but didn't say anything. "I hope you can get back in the game soon, God knows how much Adrian missed you." He smiled again before running off to continue his job.
Nova looked at the security cameras once more, watching as Oscar protected his fries and as Ruby and Adrian tried to steal them, while Danna was just laughing. She looked at Adrian, saw the pure joy that he had while in the company of his friends, and smiled.
She realized that she hoped she could give him that one day.
***
Adrian was still laughing when he saw Nova out of the corner of his eye walk into the cafeteria slowly, a small smile on her face. "Nova!" he called to her, waving his arm high in the air. He didn't know how much his heart would beat when he saw her again, but oh, God, was his heart beating.
He got up and ran to hug her, and he noticed when she tensed up, and the moment when she finally leaned into the hug.
When he pulled away from the embrace, Adrian looked back to where he had been sitting. Ruby, Osar and Danna were all getting up and walking over to greet Nova.
"Nova!" Ruby screamed, her eyes bright. She too pulled Nova into a hug, and Adrian saw Nova smile only slightly at the embrace.
Once Ruby had pulled away, Nova looked at Adrian. He looked back at her, smiling. God, he had missed Nova, more than he liked to admit. "We were just talking about where we wanted to take you after your release, or, as Ruby called it, 'Nova-isn't-Nightmare-yayyy-what-do-we-do-now?' celebration."
"I suggested pizza," Oscar said, after having done a little handshake with Nova.
Ruby cut in. "Technically, I suggested it, and you just agreed as an excuse to eat even more, but yeah, you suggested it."
Nova started to chuckle. "So nothing's changed?"
Adrian approached her and held her shoulder, in a bold and daring move. "Just how much we realized that we needed you on our team, how much I needed you."
He saw a slight red flush her skin and smiled. Maybe there was hope for him and Nova.
Just maybe.
One of the Renegades burst into the cafeteria, his eyes landing on Sketch's team. "Thought I'd find you all here," he said, looking mainly at Oscar, but then turning his eyes to Adrian. "Nightmare just struck again."
"Again? Really?" Oscar asked, leaning on his cane. "We literally just fought with her, and she's already attacking again?"
Adrian didn't mention his latest battle with the infamous villain. She fought so well, but of course, his team didn't know that he had been out, so he kept quiet.
The Renegade nodded. "Crazy, yeah. But your dads want you guys on it." He nodded at each of them, then again at Nova. "And, welcome back, Insomnia." He smiled at her and ran off again.
Adrian turned to his team. "Okay, guys. I know that we just faced Nightmare not long ago but it's time to face her again, alright?"
His team nodded, and he looked at Nova.
She was slightly uncomfortable, he noticed. She couldn't look Adrian in the eyes, and she held her arm to her side tightly. "Nova?" he asked. "You okay?"
Her gaze snapped up to him. "Hm? Oh, yes, I'm ready. After all, I'm a Renegade."
***
Nova needed to escape. Had to get away somehow. Relive Narcissa of her Nightmare duties for the night.
Instead, she plastered a smile on her face and followed the team to their usual stakeout spot, which so happened to be near the scene where "Nightmare" had struck.
Adrian led the way, lifting a cooler containing stakeout snacks (among other things). Nova had offered to help, but she guessed as a way to impress her, Adrian had wanted to carry it by himself, although Nova could see him struggling at times.
They had finally made it to the rooftop where they always sat, the view of the city still as marvellous as when Nova saw it for the first time.
The sounds of her team placing their belongings down and getting settled in for the night filled her ears. She too sat down on the roof-top, looking over the city.
A few minutes later, Adrian joined her. "Nice view, huh?" he asked.
"Hm? Oh, yes," Nova agreed, turning to face him. "It still takes my breath when I look at it."
Adrian then turned to her. He grabbed her hand in his and smiled at her. "Mine too. Of course, it can't match your beauty."
She blushed. Although she had kissed him, and gone to a gala with him, and he had done so many other romantic things for her in the time that she had been there, Nova blushed.
She didn't need her emotions getting in the way. No, not tonight. She needed to get away from the stakeout and get back to the Anarchists.
She stood up, and while it probably, most definitely was awkward, she stated, "I think I forgot something back at HQ. Do you mind if I go back and get it?"
Adrian was on his feet now. "It's no problem, Nova. Just try and be quick. We don't know what Nightmare has planned for tonight." He started to shuffle his feet as if he was thinking of something charming to say. "And... I'll miss you."
Nova didn't know how to respond. Instead, she nodded at them all. "I'll try not to be too long. See you all soon," she said, before descending the way they had come.
Having been relieved from the Renegades, Nova sighed. Although she liked her team enough, she couldn't be showing it, not if she was about to betray all of them. Again. Right after gaining their trust.
And Adrian's.
Why did his trust matter to her more than anyone else?
It didn't, Nova told herself firmly. Of course it didn't. Adrian was just another Renegade who was most likely in love with her.
And Nova was most likely just a girl in love with him.
No. No, she couldn't be feeling these... things. Certainly not tonight. The Anarchist's big plan was finally ready to take place, and Nova's feelings didn't need to get in the way.
She wouldn't let her emotions so control the fate of Gatlon, the Anarchists and the Renegades.
She pushed Adrian out of her mind and continued to walk farther away from the rooftop where her superhero team stood now.
***
Adrian missed Nova.
He missed her and it had only been 10 minutes.
"Adrian, why the long face?" Ruby asked while she was snacking on something that she and Oscar had packed.
He turned to look at her, seeing that Oscar had his hand in hers. Adrian knew that he was still trying to tell Ruby he liked her, and from the way that Ruby had nestled into Oscar, she definitely liked him too.
Adrian looked at his teammates and sighed. "It's just that Nova's never here. She always has artifact duty with Callum or is out. I miss her so much."
He sat on the roof, longing for Nova even more. She always had an excuse, and he really just needed to see her.
Oscar sat beside him, placing his cane on the ground. "Look, dude, I'm sure Nova has a totally reasonable explanation for ditching you almost 24/7, cause she'd be crazy not to like you."
Adrian smiled and looked at his friend. "Thanks. I needed that."
Oscar nodded, and picked up his cane. "Now, if you'll excuse me, there are snacks to be eaten and I'm not wasting any time."
Adrian laughed as Oscar made his way back to the cooler. Adrian looked out to the city view and smiled. Nova was right. It was beautiful.
Suddenly, he saw a figure flash as it jumped from roof to roof as he was gazing upon the city.
Nightmare.
"Hey, guys?" he called. "I think we have company."
***
Nova looked over to the rooftop where she had abandoned her team. Even though she knew that she shouldn't be feeling anything for her old team, that her feelings should no longer exist, she couldn't help but feel guilty about the fact that she was betraying some of the only friends her age.
And Adrian, who may very well have been the love of her life.
What was she doing, betraying her team? The Anarchist's life was kind of bad and why did she still hang out with them? Because they were the only family she had known for the last 10 years?
But now Nova had Ruby, and Oscar, and Danna, annoying as they were.
And how could she forget Adrian? Sweet, adorable and loveable Adrian. She smiled to herself a little at the thought of the hero who had once fixed her bracelet that one day during the parade.
Perhaps one day, in some other life, she and Adrian could have been happy and there would be no hero or villain crap to get in the way.
Nova knew that her wish would never come true. That her love for Adrian was just a fever dream. But she would always hope that one day, they'd be happy together.
That day just wasn't today. After all, Nova had a plan she needed to play out.
She found the other Anarchists gathered in an alleyway. "Hey," she called out to them, her mask sitting on her face, covering the sadness she felt thinking about what she was about to do.
The dark figure of Phobia turned to Nova. "You're finally here. What took you so long?"
She shrugged. "The Everhart boy was clinging to me like a dog. It was hard to get away." It pained Nova to call him 'the Everhart boy,' as if her feelings for him were tossed out the window, but she couldn't show the other Anarchists her feelings for Adrian.
"Glad you could make it," Honey said, pushing her way between Leroy and the wall. "Why don't you take off that dreadful mask? Your Renegade pals aren't around to see that lovely face of yours."
Blushing slightly at being called lovely, Nova complied. Her mask fell off with a swift movement and she felt naked to her old family.
Honey smiled. "Much better."
The remaining Anarchists stood in the alleyway, going over the details of the plan one last time, before the last moments of hope the citizens of Gatlon would ever have for the Renegades.
As they finished polishing the final touches, Nova started to think about her life with the Renegades. If she was being honest with herself, they had become like a second-- third, really -- family to her. And the more she thought about it, the more she thought about what her team had done for her and would keep doing for her, the more she realized that she wouldn't be able to deal with her team's whiplash if they ever found out her identity.
"Nova, darling, you coming?" Honey asked, her bees following behind her like a veil. "The end of Gatlon awaits."
***
Adrian was now in his Sentinel gear, the metal clunked on his body protecting him from any harm that Nightmare might have planned for the night.
He looked over the sky view, still thinking about his last interaction with Nova. She had walked off so suddenly, her goodbye brief.
Like she had somewhere important to be when Adrian knew that the only important place she needed to be was on the rooftop to intercept whatever Nightmare might throw at them.
Unless...
No, it was stupid. Nova couldn't be Nightmare. It was Narcissa behind the mask, 4 people were witnesses to when Nightmare showed up and walked through a mirror. There were people who had seen Nova in jail at the time of the attack.
Nova was not Nightmare. Adrian was sure of it.
Before he could doubt himself even more, there was a tap on his shoulder. He turned and looked up to see Ruby, staring down at him, looking nervous. "Adrian, we have a problem."
He scrambled up, gathering his thoughts and putting them in the trash. He had a more urgent matter right now. "What is it?" he asked.
Oscar and Ruby looked at each other, worry on both of their faces. "Well, dude, I hate to say it, but I think I saw some of the other Anarchists following after Nightmare." He looked sincere, which was always a weird thing to think about when it came to Oscar.
"That doesn't sound great," Adrian said, stating out the obvious. He looked over to the rooftops again and noticed that yeah, there were more figures lurking in the shadows on the roofs. He couldn't make out who was who from the distance, but he knew that they were up to no good.
He looked back at his team and nodded. "Looks like we have some Anarchist butts to kick."
They all made their way down from the roof - Danna transforming into her butterflies, Ruby and Oscar clinging onto each other as Ruby used her bejewelled grappling hook to travel from building side to building side, and Adrian drawing himself a parachute to glide safely to the concrete paths.
Upon landing, his team looked at their new location, the alleys and dark streets intimidating. Nightmare had to be hidden deep in at least one of them. "Okay, team," Adrian said, turning to the faces of his teammates. "We know that Nightmare is here somewhere, we just don't know in which of these alleys she's in. I'll take the ones on the left, Oscar and Ruby can take the ones on the right, and Danna can double-check the alleys with her butterflies."
After getting their instructions, each of his friends took off to their designated areas, leaving Adrian alone again, with a determination to find and confront whoever Nightmare may be.
He started off on the first alley he was in when he turned to face left. Of course, he wasn't surprised to be greeted by the darkness alone.
No Nightmare.
But did he really think that he would find Nightmare on the first try?
So he kept on walking down the alleys, praying to God that his team was having better luck than he was.
Until finally, he walked into an alley and the air around him felt... different.
Darker.
Following the gut feeling, Adrian walked further into the dark shadows of the alley, creeping along the wall, his Sentinel armour clunking over his body as a protector.
And then he saw her.
Nightmare's back was faced to him, her hair short and flowing, her clothes black and intimidating, and she was beautiful.
Dammit, Adrian, he scolded himself. Don't go flattering the enemy.
He noticed something glint in her hand, like metal. Like the metal mask that she always wore, Nightmare had taken her mask off.
He was about to discover Nightmare's true identity.
Almost giddy, Adrian snuck around some more, being as careful as he could in a suit made of metal and covering his entire body. He tried to catch glimpses of her face, but all he could see was that she had darker skin- not black, but she definitely looked Latino.
A rat or mouse must have scattered somewhere because there was the sound of tiny feet puncturing the ground quickly, and Nightmare turned to look at it.
Her face was revealed, and Adrian wanted to cry and laugh and scream all at the same time.
Nova. It was Nova. Of course it was Nova.
He felt his heart shatter into pieces. He had been so in love with her, so captivated by her swiftness that he was blinded to the truth.
The love of his life was also his greatest enemy.
Nova must have seen him because she stopped in her tracks, looking straight at where Adrian stood now.
"Of course it was you, Nova," he laughed. He didn't know why he was laughing, or what was even funny. He couldn't stop. "How didn't I guess it earlier? You were always running off, to God knows where. So secretive, so quiet, so... captivating."
The silence between them lasted a few moments, but it felt like forever. "I'm sorry, do I know you?"
Angered, Adrian started to yell. "Of course you do! It's me, Adrian." His suit started to fall down, he didn't care anymore. He already lost his grip on the truth. "But how could you know that, you were always off hurting someone."
The fear on Nova- no, Nightmare's- face came suddenly. "Adrian... I... what? How- how can you be the Sentinel?"
"Why don't you tell me how you pretended to be my friend, and somehow made me think that I was in love with you?" he shot back. Nightmare started to walk closer, but Adrian took a few steps back. "Don't you dare come near me. I don't want anything to do with you ever again. You hear me? Stay the hell away from me and my friends."
His own words shocked him; Adrian never cursed, let alone say hell.
It had been his anger at Nova- Nightmare, he reminded himself again- that had triggered this side of him. A side not even his dads or closest friends had seen.
Obviously Nightmare had to be the first to see him like this.
"Adrian-"
"No, no," he shot back. "I do not want to hear a damn word you have to say. Got it?"
Nightmare nodded, then a look washed over her face, and she snapped. "No, I don't 'got it!' In fact, I don't think you 'got it' either. You're getting so mad at me for lying to you when you know damn well that you lied to me just as much." She took a few steps forward, staring into his soul now. "You wanna get mad at me for lying? Fine. Get freaking mad. I couldn't give one shit about you anymore. I wish that I'd never fallen in love with you!"
She stopped. She looked at him.
He looked at her back.
"Good. I wish I didn't fall in love with you either."
And with that, he stormed off, just before an unbearable pain took over his body and he collapsed.
***
Fear crashed through Nova as she watched Adrian fall to the ground and Ace Anarchy swooped in to take him captive.
She didn't know how to feel. She had just confessed her love to Adrian by saying that she wished she'd never fallen in love.
But it wasn't true, of course.
And Adrian had wished he hadn't fallen in love either.
In love. Someone had loved her. And she had loved them back.
But all her current fears came back when she saw Adrian's limp body being tossed around by Ace Anarchy like he was nothing.
"What the hell are you doing?" she cried, rushing after her uncle. She couldn't go through with the plan anymore, with the Anarchists.
Nova was done with all of that.
Her uncle just stared. "Exactly what we planned. You remember."
On the verge of tears, which she almost never was, she stared at Ace back. "I won't let you." Her voice broke. "You can't."
"And why is that, sweet Nightmare?" Nova practically cringed at her Anarchist name. "Is it because you've been blinded by this stupid Renegade's spell on you? You think you love him? You think he loves you?" He laughed. "Foolish child."
Before she could stop herself, she was taking off her gloves, readying herself to put Ace to sleep to take Adrian back from his grip. "I think you're the foolish one, uncle," she said, tears still lacing the edge of her voice. "I think you've been so angry at the world for all this time, that you forgot what love is."
Nova stood face-to-face with him now. She looked down at Adrian and pushed a stray strand of hair from his face. "Love isn't as weak as you say it is. In my experience, love has pushed me to be a better person, love has changed me, love has settled something in me." She glanced up at her uncle. "But out of all of that, love has made me stronger. I know now that I'm not an Anarchist. I'm not a Renegade either. I just don't want to be on the side that destroys the lives of so many people around them."
In a swift movement, she let her hand pass over her uncle's hands, the ones holding Adrian. Alec started to tip, his eyes drooping. "Nightmare... what have you done?"
She stared him dead in the tired eyes before he passed out. "I've picked my side, Ace Anarchy. And it's not with you anymore."
Nova took Adrian out of his hands the moment before her uncle fell deeply into sleep on the floor in the alley.
***
Adrian's eyes opened slowly.
He took in his surroundings, looking at the bookshelves and cream-coloured walls that covered the space he was stuck in.
How did he get here? What had been happening that led to him being trapped in a library?
Then he saw her.
Nova's eyes landed on him and she smiled. "Adrian," she breathed. "Adrian, oh my God, you're alive."
For a moment, Adrian forgot that he was mad at her. It was the way her eyes lit up with so much joy and love when she saw that he was okay. It was the happy tone in her voice when she saw him waking up, groggy, but alive.
For a moment, it was quiet between them.
And then Adrian remembered.
He glared at her. "You must think I'm stupid, huh," he stated, filling the silence that had been crushing him. "Think that just because I'm in pain I'll forget everything that's happened in the last few hours?"
She sighed, looking truly unsettled. "I know you must hate me now, but please, you're in pain. Let me help you."
Begrudgingly, he agreed, letting her touch his skin as long as she had her gloves on.
There were a few more moments of painful silence as Nova prepared what she would need to nurture him back to better health.
Until she filled that silence.
"Never again. I'll never hurt you like that again. I'll never let anyone hurt you like that again," Nova swore, wiping Adrian's temple with a wet rag.
Adrian rested on the bed, his body aching and sore from his physical exhaustion. He kept quiet, his heart still in pain from Nova's earlier words. But he couldn't deny it. He missed Nova.
"I'm so sorry I said that to you," Nova said, gentler this time. "I was scared of losing you again, but that's not an excuse. God, out of everyone in the world, you had to be the one the universe chose for me."
Adrian froze a little bit on the bed, feeling the damp rag drag across his arm.
"But I wouldn't have it any other way. No matter how many times I mess up." There was a pause as Nova struggled for her next words. Adrian could feel it between them.
"I love you, Adrian."
The words lingered in the air. He didn't know how to respond. Of course he loved her too. Even when he hated her, he couldn't stop thinking about how beautiful she was.
But was he ready to admit it so soon?
He looked at her, the longing in her eyes reflecting his own.
Nova was Nightmare.
But Nova was also the girl Adrian had fallen in love with.
And who was he to push her out of his life, considering how amazing she was?
"I love you, too, Nova."
Then she looked at his lips and grabbed his face. "Is it alright if I kiss you?" she asked. "I promise I'll try not to put you to sleep again."
He laughed and pulled her close. "I would actually love to sleep right now. Kiss me so hard I pass out for a month."
Nova laughed. It was the sound of heaven itself times 10.
Adrian closed the gap that was only a few inches but felt like 14 feet and planted his lips firmly onto Nova's.