Aether was staring out at the cityscape again, watching the lights of cars going up and down the streets. It was harder to see out the tinted windows now that it was dark outside, even with the dim lighting in the restaurant.

She ran a finger around the base of her water glass. The condensation was cold and refreshing to her sweaty palms. Why was she so on edge? Luis was completely at ease, sitting back in his chair as he typed something into his phone.

"Could you just give me a minute?" he'd asked her about four minutes ago.

She pushed a utensil through the sauce on her plate, wishing she had brought something to distract herself. A phone rang behind her. Laughter drifted from another table as a girl attempted to feed her boyfriend a suspicious-looking shrimp.

"Hey, sorry about that," Luis's voice broke into her thoughts. He turned off his phone, but didn't put it away, offering her a rueful smile. "I'm not usually this rude, it's just work again. You want dessert or something?"

Aether smiled tentatively. "Yeah, actually - can we go somewhere else? I know this really cute ice cream place close to HQ, if you're in the mood."

"Oh?" His gaze shifted to the phone in his lap. "It's pretty dark out. There isn't anything on the menu here that looks good?"

"It's a sushi place. I kind of doubt they have good ice cream."

"Point taken." Luis didn't move to get up. "So do you live around there, then? I know almost nothing about your secret identity." He made air quotes with his fingers.

"Well—" Aether cast around for an answer.

Someone tapped her on the shoulder. Luis looked up, and Aether turned to see the woman who had been sitting at the table behind them, looking bemused and holding out a cell phone.

"Sorry," the woman said, "but, um... the phone is for you."

* * *

Veritas spun, pushing Flickr behind him. She tried to push him back, but it was like elbowing a brick wall with her injured arm, and there were probably more important things to worry about – like the figure in a maroon pantsuit leaning casually against the hood of a black convertible.

The woman smiled. Her voice was low and gravelly, like inhaling concrete dust was a habit for her. "Rule number one is making a dramatic entrance, preferably with a witty interjection and a surprise weapon."

Her eyes slid to the right, and Flickr tensed. Nova was slinking around the other side of the car, a slight limp the only indication of her fight with Veritas.

"We already beat up your surprise weapon," Veritas said confidently. "Don't tell me that's the best you've got, Vortex."

Nova hissed, but the older woman cut her off with a hand gesture. There was something unsettling about her unchanging smile, the way her dark eyes slowly made their way back to Flickr's face and stayed fixed there. It was like every move was calculated precisely to manipulate the reactions of people around her.

And finally Flickr realized who they were dealing with.

She remembered Aether's retelling of the nightclub scene, where Veritas had jumped in and ruined everything. Why was she surprised that this was Vortex? Aether hadn't said much about the villain's physical appearance – white hair pulled back in a high ponytail, brown skin crinkled around almond-shaped eyes – but her friend had spoken of the presence Vortex had, her way of being the centre of attention at all times.

The villain spoke, but without looking at Veritas.

"The surprise wasn't for you, whoever you are," she said disdainfully. "If you wouldn't mind to step aside, I have something for... a certain Lydia Sinclair."

* * *

"We're not taking calls right now," Luis said irritably.

The woman's mouth opened in confusion, the phone in her hand drooping slightly. "But they said it was important—" she started.

He made a shooing motion with his hand. The woman hesitated a moment longer before nodding jerkily. "Right – right, sorry to bother you, then."

Aether was staring at Luis, her brows furrowed. "Are you serious? She said—"

"Look, Aether," he said, leaning across the table. "They need to learn that you're not always available. How hard is it for Charlie to give you one night off?"

"It's not about me." Aether met his eyes, suddenly frustrated. "You don't get it, do you? I don't do this whole superhero thing because it's fun, or because I get paid well. It's about the people, Luis. They need us. Crime doesn't take a night off just because I do."

"You're overreacting. Let someone else save the day, for once."

He was laughing. Aether felt heat rise to her neck.

"Overreacting?" Her voice was too loud. She made an effort to control it, leaning forward. "How would you feel if someone died because you didn't get there on time? If you thought, hey – maybe that phone call isn't important, maybe I can grab a cup of coffee or sit brooding in a diner because I've had a long day—"

Aether broke off, but not because of the surprise on Luis's face.

A few heads were turned toward their table, staring in open confusion. Aether's eyes darted between them. A teenage boy behind Luis was frowning at a message on his screen, his date's head jerked up as her own phone started vibrating on the table, and another phone rang somewhere in the restaurant.

* * *

Flickr fought to keep a straight face, but her mind was racing.

How did Vortex know her name? She wasn't like Veritas, spouting it off to everyone she met. Judging by the confusion on his face, the other super didn't even know who the villain was talking about. He looked like he was about to reply with something snarky, but Flickr touched his arm, knowing she had to step forward.

"What?"

Flickr had opened her mouth, but the voice wasn't hers. All attention was suddenly on the grey-and-orange-clad sidekick, staring in shock at Vortex.

"I didn't want this," Nova insisted. "What are you doing?"

Vortex closed her eyes in a show of exasperation. "Darling, if you hadn't wanted this, you wouldn't have come on your own, in the middle of the night, specifically to beat up Lydia Sinclair. Put a little thought into your actions, next time?"

Nova's fists were clenched. She shot a nervous glance at Flickr, her voice subdued and pleading. "Not now, please. I didn't mean..."

"What's going on?" Flickr broke in, a sudden rush of frustration filling her chest. "Look, seriously. How do you know my name? I think maybe I deserve an explanation."

Vortex gave her a patronizing smile. "Oh, of course you do. I'm surprised you haven't already figured it out – I thought you were perceptive. Talia, dear, take off your mask please."

Talia. The name crushed the air from Flickr's lungs. It couldn't be.

But Nova was unfastening her helmet, curly brown hair spilling out, her skin and eyes the same dark brown as Lydia's own. The girl's chin was jutting out in defiance like she was daring her older sister to say something.

Lydia's mouth formed words, but she couldn't decide on a thing to say.

She could feel Vortex's eyes on her, satisfied with the effects of her surprise weapon. Veritas was looking at her too, like she was made of glass and if he moved or said anything she might shatter, might explode into a thousand shards of emotion.

"Talia Kiersey Sinclair," and Lydia's voice broke, but something inside her hardened, "You better have a good explanation for this."

* * *

Someone's ringtone was the theme song from a TV show Aether couldn't quite remember the name of, and it was driving her absolutely mad. The alternative to letting it ring, of course, would be to answer it – and she wasn't sure which was worse.

"Excuse me?"

It was the waiter, standing behind Aether and looking annoyed, like he'd called her name once already. She pulled her head from her hands and turned to face him.

Luis stood with a jerk, a placid smile on his face despite the fact that he'd knocked over the chair in his hurry to intercept.

"I really need to go." Aether didn't even look at him, getting to her feet. "Look, it's been lovely, thank you for dinner, Luis, but duty is calling, literally—"

The PA system crackled to life.

"May I have your attention, please. Could - um, could Aether please come to the phone—"

Aether gritted her teeth at the evident surprise in the announcer's voice. "What is the point of being in disguise, Charlie, if you're just going to..."

She trailed off. Luis was holding her arm, tugging her away from the waiter. "You can't leave," he said, sounding almost desperate. His mouth opened again like he was trying to think of a good reason why not.

Aether's eyes dropped to the hand gripping her wrist, then slowly travelled up Luis's arm to his face. Her lips parted as something slowly dawned on her. Luis's gaze darted to the impatient waiter, and back to Aether with a twist of his mouth that looked a lot like regret.

"Give me back my button," she said suddenly.

His eyes slid away. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"The communication device." Aether turned her palm upwards. "Now."

Luis's grip tightened on her wrist, and in a second she chopped her free hand down on his forearm, using both hands to shove him backwards into the table. His left arm went into the remains of the calamari platter, and he clutched the other to his chest with a yelp.

"So this was all fake?" Aether's voice was controlled. "You're trying to keep me out of the way. What's Vortex paying you, huh?"

The mask had slipped from Luis's expression, his jaw tight with pain, but he managed a lopsided grin, brushing off the question with "I don't need much incentive to take a pretty girl to dinner."

Aether felt the stares of restaurant patrons prickling the hairs at the back of her neck. She shifted her weight, watching him flinch at the movement.

"I know most of the time it's my job to look pretty," the super said, "but right now, in my official capacity as a government employee, I'm about to kick your ass."

Luis darted a glance at the people around them. Everyone was quiet, but they looked like they were just putting two and two together about who was in the restaurant with them. Several people had their phones out to record the scene. The waiter had backed away.

Aether held out her hand again. "Last chance."

"Don't make a scene." His voice was low, pleading.

She raised her eyebrows like Luis had issued a challenge. A gasp went up from the people around them as her face changed, hair returning to its shocking red.

"I didn't start this fight," Aether said, "but I'm open to ending it any way you like. Would you prefer to be vertical or horizontal?"