After a few more horrible renditions of classic songs, Jean bounded off to ask Ocean for a song request and returned with a mischievous look. "It's your turn, princess."

"Excuse me, what?" Hera half laughed, stopping when she saw Jean was serious. The siren dragged Hera to the front while stumbling and apologising for spilling her shot on two very tall men. They luckily didn't notice the raven-haired girl, and she proceeded to the 'stairs', which turned out to be a pyramid of precariously stacked beer crates. A more than a little tipsy, Hera swore she was about to break her legs. 

 "Here, " Jean shoved another shot into her hand and a microphone while simultaneously pushing her up onto the stage. She didn't need to use the 'stairs' after all... 

This couldn't be happening. Hera could hardly see past the stage lights and felt her energy surge through her body. She refused to let her Evolution control her. "Fuck it." She downed the shot and nodded at Ocean. 'Linger' by the Cranberries started playing, and Hera felt her body flush. So now everyone is gonna think this is what I'm feeling. Hera was too drunk to remember all the words, so she read off the little monitor.

"If you, if you could return. Don't let it burn. Don't let it fade. I'm sure I'm not being rude. But it's just your attitude. It's tearing me apart. It's ruining every day."

Hera always liked singing with Jackie but had never performed before in front of a crowd. The words seemed pretty innocent so far. She started to see people coupling off and slow dancing to the music.

"I swore, I swore I would be true. And honey, so did you. So why were you holding her hand? Is that the way we stand? Were you lying all the time? Was it just a game to you?"

Hera cringed as the words struck a chord within her, but when she saw Jean swaying gently, eyes closed up the front, she smiled. She was beautiful.

"But I'm in so deep. You know I'm such a fool for you. You got me wrapped around your finger. Do you have to let it linger? Do you have to, do you have to, do you have to let it linger?"

Hera thought she spotted Theo at the back of the room, but dancing couples obscured her vision. She hoped it was her imagination. The rest of the song felt like a blur, and she heard lots of hollers and cheers when she slowly climbed off the stage, careful not to stumble. 

Jean was there to embrace her, "Okay, are you sure you aren't part siren?" Hera just laughed it off, but it died on her lips when she saw Theo walking over. 

 "Time to go, Hera. I'll see you later, Jean." He gave her a pointed look, but she widened her eyes innocently. 

"What? She was amazing."

Hera swore she heard him say, "I know," before leading her back to her room. Hera was drunk. She found it hard to walk straight next to Theo and bumped into him a few times before asking him to wait a minute. 

She bent over and took some deep breaths. Her mind was a blur, and it felt like her powers wanted to make an appearance. The concrete floors cracked a little underfoot, and Hera blanched. She was trying to keep the control she had just formed, but the alcohol was making it impossible. The roof crackled overhead, and silica dust dropped onto their heads. "Theo," she whimpered. 

He bent down so they could be at eye level. "Can you walk?" 

She shook her head no.

"I'm going to pick you up." She nodded slightly, but the movement nauseated her. He scooped her up, bridal style, and walked slowly to her room. It was a long walk, and Theo slowed his pace purposefully so she wouldn't vomit on him. She was asleep by the time he made it to the door. Her face nestled into his shoulder, and arms gently draped over his neck. 

He was slightly disturbed to realise he enjoyed being this close to her. Jean called out from down the hallway. 

"Hey, wait up!" Theo shushed her with a look, turning so Jean could see an unconscious Hera. 

"Did you do that?" Jean questioned.

"More like, you did that. I said, 'Look after her' not 'get her drunk and make her perform in front of everyone." Theo sighed. "Open the door, please."

Jean let him inside, and they tucked her into bed. "She's quite sweet, isn't she?" Jean remarked, staring down at her rosy face. Her dark hair spread across the pillow like a fan.

Theo gave her a side-eye. "You have been giving me so much shit about her this whole time, and now you like her?"

"She was nice to me and called me beautiful. Twice. I like her." Jean sighed happily, flicking her eyes to Theo. "Do you? Like her, I mean?"

"Jean, we are not talking about this right now. Come on, let's go." He turned on his heel and ushered them both out the door quietly. 

She raised her hands in surrender, "Okay then, Teddy. I'll go. But I mean, you have been sleeping with her for weeks now."

Theo nearly choked. "I sleep on the couch Jean... and stop calling me Teddy, will you? You sound like my mother." He shook his head. "And anyway, she kicked me out earlier, so I will be back in my room."

 A quizzical expression met him. "And that's good? Is that what you want...?"

Theo sighed exasperatedly. It was not the time to be having this conversation. All he could think about was Hera choking on her vomit. He was itching to go back in and check on her. "I don't want to talk about this with you right now. Go to bed. We can talk in the morning."

"Nighty night," Jean kissed Theo on the cheek and whispered, "Tell her." Before sauntering off to bed.

...

When Theo returned to check on Hera, she had moved. Fallen off the bed entirely, actually, wrapped tightly in her blankets. He shook his head, smiling and murmured, "Like a little burrito". He sat next to her and brushed her hair from her face. She muttered in her sleep and squirmed in the duvet, trying to roll over. Theo assisted her, scooping the sleeping woman into his arms for the second time that night. 

She was so warm Theo felt himself heat up with the contact. Fuck, maybe Jean was right. The thought was unacceptable to him. If the Director found out Theo had feelings for the most powerful Evolved they had ever seen, he knew he would revoke his responsibility in training her. 

He couldn't allow that to happen. His mind wandered where it often did, and he could feel his body tense at the thought of Panacea finding her. He held Hera tighter and buried his face into her hair. 

"Stop it, silly," Hera mumbled. Theos eyes widened, looking at her flushed face. 

"Hera?" He whispered. "Are you awake?"

"I hear you in my dreams..." She murmured, curling into his body, face pressed against his chest. Her breathing deepened again. Asleep. Theo leaned back against the bed and felt sleep call him, Hera still wrapped in his embrace.

...

They were painfully awakened hours later by a siren going off. Hera began panicking, believing she was being restrained but was shocked into stillness looking into the eyes of a groggy Theo. 

His amber orbs were bloodshot and purple bags underlined them. Hera cleared her throat and averted her gaze to prevent her from getting snapped staring. "Do I even ask at this point?" 

He gave her a sheepish smile in response and helped her unravel the duvet burrito. 

"What does it mean?" The siren droned on and on, aggravating her blossoming migraine. 

"Uninvited guests."