If I just lie here and play dead–

"Cleanup girl, you're not fooling anyone. Get up." His voice was low and menacing as he stood over me. His shoes–some high end sneakers–were on either side of my head. Sighing, I opened my eyes and put on a sheepish smile.

"Hey, Guy."

His perfect brow furrowed. "Don't hey me. I saw what you did. What the hell are you doing, throwing up a house like that? Since when can Battlefield Janitors do that?"

I sit up, dusting myself off as I get to my feet. He's tall, but he still stops just shy of my breasts in height. Speaking of breasts, his gaze landed squarely on mine.

"Ahem." I quietly snap my fingers, breaking his concentration. His blush almost made my day.

"Cleanup girl, have you always been so...Amazonian?"

"That's what you wanted to say? And yeah, ever since puberty. Why? Curious about how well I could clean you up?" I lean forward, making him step back just a bit-face turning crimson. Guy normally has a flirtatious air–especially around fangirls. That said, he's probably not used to being the one looking up.

Come on, go for the bait. I need you distracted.

"I–I mean–hey stop that!" he growled. "You can't distract me with your body...no matter how nice it is." 

At least he was honest about his feelings.

"Distract you from what? I should really get back to work, lots of buildings to clean up and all-" I turned on my heel. He used his speed to get in front of me, blocking my path.

Damn.

"Listen. I'm not gonna report you to Rupert or anything like that. I'm just genuinely curious." His palms were up, fingers spread. Guy meant it...at least he was trying to mean it. I think.

"Swear to me you won't snitch." I demand, squinting at him.

"I swear on my parents' lives." Well darn. He really loves his parents in public and supposedly in private.

Scratching my head, I walk a few feet and sit down on the nearby park bench. It groans beneath my weight.

My hair sways in the wind as Guy steps to my side, floating just above the bench.

"I don't bite, ya know." I say, smirking at how uncomfortable he is.

"No. You clean. And right now it's time for you to come clean."

"That's what I've basically been doing. Cleaning–"

"And spitting up real estate? What part of the cleaning process is that?" He crosses his arms, examining me with amusement in his eyes.

I'm not the only one with a nice chest.

"That's...it normally doesn't work like that." I admitted, gently chewing on my bottom lip.

"So you've done this before then?"

"Throw up houses? No."

Guy shakes his head, a soft smile gracing his pale pink lips.

"Not that. Giving people their homes back."

I blinked slowly, unsure of what he had just said. Turning back to the apartment, I confirmed that it wasn't a dream. I really had given them a new home.

"The weight of it still hadn't hit me yet, not really. Each of the janitorial staff can use these same abilities that I can."

"But not like you can...Sapphyra." He leaned closer to me, our hands dangerously close. I hated how softly he said my name, as if he was trying to get inside my head.

And I hated how my heart responded.

I snorted and leaned back, draping my arm across the back of the bench. He didn't move an inch–didn't flinch.

 "Why does that matter to you? What, are you afraid I'll steal your thunder or something?"

"Thunder-you know this is just a job for me, right?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Oh...you mean your name isn't Guy?" I covered my mouth, hiding the smirk behind it. Of course, it was just a job.

He rolled his eyes, running his fingers through his short black hair. Leaning forward, he locked his fingers together and hummed softly.

"Why haven't you told anyone about this?" Guy nodded towards the house.

"You mean why haven't I exposed myself to mass ridicule and invasive experiments? Who knows?"

"Hey. You don't have to be such an ass about it."

"I'm sorry, are you allowed to curse off the clock?" I snickered at him, enjoying every moment his face turned red. It was nice seeing him not so...put together, so fake. He almost seemed real.

"I'm a grown man; I can curse when I want."

He stiffened as I leaned forward, wiggling my eyebrows. "Then do it right now."

"What? Why would I?"

"You wanna know about me? We go tit for tat then. Go on, let it rip, superhero!" Smirking, I nudged his side with my elbow.

"I...um...this is idiotic. Fucking–" He covered his mouth,eyeing the dirt for safety.

"There ya go! Look at you."

"Your turn, cotton candy dipshit." He smirked, shoulders sagging slightly.

"Hm. What can I really say? I thought about it...once. It's not just what I can do with my job, but I'm–"

"You're big and strong too." It was my turn to blush.

"What, did you really think you were hiding well every time you lifted tons of cement? My hearing's pretty good. I always knew about your..." he smirked. 

"What? Knew about my what?"

"Your incredible power of suck." He giggles as my cheeks burn.

"It's called vacuum! Not suck! If you're gonna tease me, get it right."

"Or what? Your boss is gonna sue me?"

"He probably couldn't afford to sue you since the city has you by the balls." Guy squints at me, disliking my smug comment.

"It's just a job. I mean, I like saving people but the costume and everything...I could do without."

"I'll believe it when I see it." 

"Sapphyra. If I could talk to my boss would you think about it?"

"About what?" My throat tightened, making it difficult to swallow. I already knew what he meant; I just didn't want confirmation.

"A class change. You could be a superhero with me! Think about it. You and I want the same things–to help people. Giving that little girl her house back is going to be monumental for her, but you could do so much more!" 

His eyes sparkled like a kid opening their presents on Christmas day. Not that we have christmas anymore.

Being a hero was never my dream...but it was a nice daydream–until the headaches rolled in. 

I snorted up a few drops of blood, swallowing back another memory that refused to stay clear.

It would have been easy to get lost in his words, to hope with him. But I'd seen too much of what hope looks like when it disappears.

"Why don't you do more?"

There I went again-putting my guard up.

Guy's face fell. "What? I do–"

"No. Why don't you do more than just soak up the glory and take autographs? You knew I carried a little girl-her name is Penny, by the way. You've heard me lifting heavy shit out here-cleaning up behind your mess by the way-so why haven't you done more?"

I hop off the bench, feeling the anger rise from years of standing on the sidelines.

"Sapphyra, I try my hardest to keep everyone safe-including you." He stood up, floating high in the air to rise above me-a position of safety, no doubt.

"Tell that to the people you left behind!"

Oh god. Why did I say that?

His eyes widened, mouth set in a hard line. Guys chests rose and fell faster than I could keep up with. And then it stopped, steady and silent.

"I'll keep your secret." Was all he said as he turned away.

"Wait, Guy, I didn't mean–"

He flew away, done with my bullshit. My heart sank as he vanished from my sight. 

I pinched the bridge of my nose,groaning as my work phone went off in my back pocket. As if today wasn't bad enough, it was my boss-and his calls were never casual.

"Fuck my life."

"Yes, 'Chovy?" I answered in the tiniest voice I could muster. Antonio "Anchovy" Bennet was known for two things: being a rude little shit and a slave worker. From calling me off the clock to making me miss my mother's birthday–and then not paying me for the job I did–he's the worst.

But in this economy,beggars can't be choosers.

"Don't start with me, runt." He thinks it's funny every time he calls me that.

"How was your day, boss-man?" Leave it to me to egg him on, anyway.

"It was fine until I got a message from Rupert Domingo asking to see your big ass." The phone slipped from my hand. Scrambling to catch it, I missed half of what he said next.

"I'm sorry, did you say the president wanted to see me?!"

"No, of course not. Must have been a fluke. How many other giant bitches named Sapphyra do you think I have employed?! Now stop asking stupid questions and tell me what you did to get on his bad side!" I could hear his ragged breathing from here.

"Me? I did nothing, I swear!" I didn't, not that I could think of. A thought plagued me, though I tried not to lean into it.

"I'll keep your secret."

Guy could have been lying. Rupert was his direct boss. Why wouldn't he tell him after the crappy way I talked to him? Which means I did technically do something bad.

Couldn't worry about that now, though.

"I did nothing, Chovy, and even if I did, I would have told you about it. I've been working for you for five years now; I'm not some rookie."

He scoffed and snorted what was no doubt a line of this week's designer drugs. His habit has gotten the company close to bankrupting over the years.

"Whatever kid. Don't tell me, it's not my problem. Anyway, he wants you at the Imperial tomorrow morning, 8 a.m. sharp. I don't need to tell you what happens to people who disappoint him, do I?"

That might have been as close to kind as he's ever been to me.

"And I ain't paying you just cus' the president wants ta' see ya either! Lazy bum."

He hung up on me, a tiny blessing.

As I clocked out, I headed home, left with my thoughts. My bus ride was quiet. Yesterday it was loud, but months ago the sound was deafening. That's also the last time the bus was full of people.

Sometimes when I turn my head or close my eyes, it almost feels like the people were still there. I feel a hand on my shoulder, smell something musty–but when I open my eyes there's no one there.

Every street we passed ‌was another reminder of where the lines in the city sat. Maintained neighborhoods, pristine and secluded, never had to worry about cleanups. They weren't the leftovers–the rest of us were.

Growing up, I thought I was lucky. Mom bought a house with Dad's life insurance money long ago in one of the safer districts of downtown. Safety was short-lived, unfortunately. Once I turned 18, downtown stopped being a haven the day a building collapsed from a swarm of flying monkeys.

Almost at my stop.

We flew past Ernies. I saw a waitress carrying a large pink cake covered in berries with numerous candles on top. A young woman sat at a bar with a handsome young man next to her.

The flames on the candles flickered and laughed at me as my past kidnapped me once more.

"Happy birthday Sapph!" I hate that I still hear him on that day so clearly.

As I stepped into my house, I had to bite my knuckle to stifle the memory until it passed.

"Mom, I'm home!" I toss my keys into the bowl, kick off my shoes and wander into the kitchen–ravenous.

On the table next to the bowl was an overdue bill from The City.

"Hey baby. Did you have a good day at work?"

I bent down for her, letting my tiny mom kiss my cheek. She's not just tiny because I'm huge–over the years she's shrunk because of an incurable bone disease that I can't pronounce the name of. Yet even with a walker, at 54, my mom refuses to let anything slow her down.

She's such a badass; she's a secretary for the police department.

"Mostly. I helped a little girl reunite with her mother. The roads are empty where the attack happened, too."

Two truths, let's not add a lie.

"Mm, did you run into Mr. Dynamo again? I know you love yourself some Dynamo."

Bless her heart, she still thinks I'm that little girl with the superhero crush.

"Momma, I'm older now. I've moved far beyond crushing on celebrities." Especially when I casually break their hearts. God, I'm such a horrible person.

"What's wrong baby?" I tried not to look her in the eye but it was too late.

She's giving me the mom look. The look. The one that quietly commands you to dump out the contents of your soul. Or else.

"Nothing's wrong." There's the lie.

She squints, pouring herself a cup of coffee at the same time–never missing a drop.

"Mmhm." The soft hum is my first warning to come clean. Even now at 30 years old, I still start sweating whenever I hear that.

"Mom, I'm serious."

"I'm sure you are. You're a grown woman now–no need to tell your old fuddy-duddy momma about anything going on in your life." She's so dramatic.

"I'll just waste away knowing that my dear daughter doesn't need me anymore–"

I caved. "Okay! Fine. Mom, yeah, stuff...stuff happened today. I said some things to Guy."

She sipped her piping hot coffee, one eyebrow raised.

"First name basis already?"

"Mom! Not the point."

"Carry on. What did you say to him?"

Biting my bottom lip, I exhaled slowly.

"I may have...refused his invitation to be a superhero like him." Not with him. That's the last thing my mother needs to hear.

"And he took it that bad? I always knew you were a heartbreaker honey." I rolled my eyes at the pride dripping from her voice.

"It's not just the rejection, it's how I said it. Or, rather, what I said after. I spiraled, panicked–"

"You self sabotaged again?" She already knew. I hate that this is a pattern for me.

Running my fingers through my hair, I nodded.

"I started blaming him for all the bad shit in the city. Blamed him for the people he couldn't save-"

She slowly placed the cup down, sighing. She wasn't angry or disgusted–though I wished she was. No, she was disappointed and I hated that even more. When her hands folded over mine, my breath caught in my throat. I ripped my hands away and turned my back on her, heading towards my room.

She didn't stop me. Who could blame her?

I closed the door behind me, locking it. She had a key, of course–it was her house. No, I wanted to lock it for my peace of mind.

"Please tell me you're here. I need you so bad right now." The words ripped from my throat just as my strength left me.

I squeezed my eyes shut, and opened them again, coming face to face with my soulmate.

My gut finally started untangling itself as I stopped holding back tears.

"Rough day, beautiful?" The love of my life asked me.

"Rough day" is an understatement." I mumbled, falling onto my bed face-first. I couldn't feel him sit next to me but I knew he was there. When I looked up he was there, laying beside me like he's done for the last 12 years.

"I heard. I'm not gonna press you about tryna replace me but–"

"Who said I'm replacing you?! Ugh, you sound just like mom." I groaned, pulling my pillow over my face.

His chuckle both haunted and soothed me at once. Memories danced across the darkness of my eyelids. I shoved them down, same as always.

"So why'd you do it then?" Leave it to Wyatt to ask the real question.

"I don't know."

"Remove the pillow and try again, ma'am." I could hear his smirk, plain as day.

"You're the worst." Complying with this wasn't easy, even for him but I did it anyway.

"Sapphyra..."

"What?"

"Don't shut me out. We're all each other's got, right?"

"...right." I sank into my comforter a little more. Meanwhile, Wyatt intended to pry the answer from me with a crowbar. The hard line of his mouth said it all.

"Why are you asking something you already know the answer to? If I'm sabotaging anything, it's because of you!" furrowing my brows, I sat up and glared at him.

Wyatt Hart, the love of my life. My high school sweetheart.

The literal skeleton in my closet that I refused to bury.

"Sapph, I'm asking because I need to hear you say it."

"No." I crossed my arms, he wouldn't win this one today.

"Sapphyra! Look at me. Really look at me."

"No..." I whimpered, eyeing the soft gecko patterns on my pink comforter–anywhere but at him.

I couldn't feel his touch but I remembered it. When his warm, calloused fingers would grasp my chin because I was being so goddamn stubborn–I remembered it.

It was here and now, as our gaze locked on each other.

Except the man before me wasn't really a man, not anymore. He was a skeleton wearing Wyatt's clothes, forcing me to gaze into the abyss of darkness where his eyes once sat.

Wyatt died 12 years ago. Right on my 18th birthday...

"Wyatt." I choked on his name, raw hurt clogging my throat.

He died when we planned on eloping-bags already packed to finally leave this decaying city for good.

Wyatt's skeleton sighed, holding out his ethereal arms.

"I'm here. Come here." I fell into my memories of him, letting them free at last. Every birthday party, picnic, exam study session–those were surface level. They still held my sanity.

Our first kiss took my breath away. He saw me, not as a tree to be climbed or a mountain to be conquered but as a woman. His woman. I let him in and I never regret it...until he died.

Until Guy Dynamo failed to save him on that day.

"Shh. You're thinking too hard. Go to sleep."

I scoffed, a bitter smile on my lips. "Sleep is for the weak."

"Don't you have a big day tomorrow?"

My meeting with the president. It's not everyday a girl gets to do that.

But who gives a flying fuck. I buried myself into the pillows, pretending they were his embrace.

"I don't want to sleep yet. You'll be gone when I do." Mentally cursing, I couldn't fight the yawn that escaped me.

"That's not fair. You act like I won't come back to you." He murmured in my hair, half buried into the mattress just to comfort me.

"One day you might not." My eyelids gave up the fight first, falling down like curtains.

"Sleep, baby. It's gonna get better." I could already sense he was slipping away from me. I'm not sure how it worked but when I needed him, Wyatt would come.

I'm sure if I could afford a therapist, they'd probably tell me it's something to do with grief and hallucinations blah-blah-blah.

My phones alarm woke me up with a screeching cat in the morning. At first, I panicked for two reasons.

Wyatt was gone. That one settled quickly, he never did stay past midnight anyway. The time though? It had my blood running cold. 7:20 a.m.

The bus stop is 5 minutes up the street and it takes 30 minutes to get into the Administrative part of the city!

Bread jumps out of the toaster. I grab it with my mouth and run out the door, still shoving my clothes on. I went with a white-sleeved button up blouse and black slacks, pretty professional as far as I'm concerned. It's a little tighter than when I bought it though–but I'll manage.

"Have a great day honey! I love you." My mom called out, waving from the front door as I made a mad dash down to the bus depot.

The bus doors were this close to folding before I shoved my hand in and forced myself through.

"Whoa! Jeez, Sapph, cutting it close there ain't ya? What are you doing up this early anyway?"

"Got an interview Dax! Sorry. Can you take me to–" I lean in, whispering the location to him. His eyes widened but nodded.

"Anything for you Sapphy. I still can't thank you enough for-" I cut him off, slicing my hand back and forth across my throat frantically.

"Er, Uh, nevermind." He blushed, poor old guy. No one paid him any mind but I couldn't be too careful.

Keep your head down. Don't interfere.

I'd helped Dax with his house before...just not all at once like Penny's place. No, I gave him the special wood and bricks he needed by converting some of the stuff in my void.

Penny. Even now I still can't figure out how I did what I did for her place.

The bus came to a stop a few yards away from the front of the President's massive marble mansion. It wasn't a public place so when security stopped me at the gate, it all felt natural.

"Hold it! No trespassers–"

"It's alright." A familiar voice cut off the security guard holding a gun to my head. My body stiffened and I tried my best to still my racing heart.

Guy Dynamo floated down in front of the guard. He didn't speak, just glanced at the man threatening my life with the coldest look I'd seen yet. I'm pretty sure the poor man pissed himself.

Would Guy yell? Give me the cold shoulder for how I treated him? Both things I absolutely deserved.

I don't know what I was expecting but a smirk coupled with an adorable dimple was not it.

"You look good, Cleanup girl."