𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧

Ⅶ 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒓𝒖𝒊𝒕𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕

CHRIS SMILED AS ROBIN UNROLLED THE PAPER BLUEBRINTS. "It is fascinating what 20 bucks will get you at the County Recorder's Office," Robin stated as she straightened out a piece of paper over the break room table. "Starcourt Mall. The complete blueprints."

"Not bad," Dustin complemented smiling at Robin.

"So, this is us, Scoops, and this is where we want to get," Robin informed pointing around the blueprints.

"I mean, I don't really see a way in," Steve observed, leaning over the table.

"There's not if you're talking exclusively about doors," Robin stated tossing the piece of paper away revealing another underneath.

"The ducts," Chris recognized tracing her fingers over the blue ink.

"Exactly," Robin nodded with a smile. Robin ran to the whiteboard and grabbed a red marker. "Turns out, this secret room needs air just like any old room. And these air ducts lead all the way..." Robin drew a circle around scoops and drew a line through the ducks to the secret room where she circled it, "here."

Chris looked back up at the vent, looking at Dustin. "I can fit through. I just need a ladder."

Chris and Steve walked to the storage closet and Chrisanna pulled out a ladder and slid it to Steve. "Can you grab the screwdriver and flashlight please?" Steve asked nodding to a shelf. Chris took the yellow screwdriver and torch off the shelf and dragged a chair over to the wall next to the ladder. Chris jumped on the chair and passed Steve the Phillips-head and he undid the vent passing them both to Chris, who tossed them to her brother. "Light please," Steve requested holding his hand out. Chris passed the light over and she leaned in to see. "Thank you."

"I don't know Dustin, it's a bit small," Chris noted, leaning a hand on Steve so neither of them fell.

"I think Chris is right, it was too tight," Steve spoke in agreement as he looked at Dustin.

"I'll fit," Dustin declared in confidence taking the light from Steve who was climbing down the ladder. "Trust me. No collar bones, remember?" Dustin smiled at Chris proudly as he made his way up the ladder.

"Excuse me?" Robin inquired confused.

"Oh, he's... Yeah, he's got some disease." Steve said nonchalantly. "Chry... It's chrydo..."

"Creidocranial dysplasia," Chris called out making sure her brother stayed steady as he pushed his head in.

"He's missing bones and stuff. He can bend like Gumbo," Steve explained, resting his hands on his hips.

"You mean Gumby," Robin corrected.

"I'm pretty sure it's Gumbo," Steve defended.

"Steve, just shut up and push me!" Dustin yelled his voice echoing slightly.

"Okay. I'll push ya," Steve sighed grabbing Dustin's feet and trying to push him.

"Not my feet, dumbass. Push my ass," Duston ordered making Chris giggle slightly.

"What?" Steve responded in confusion.

"Touch my butt! I don't care!" Dustin yelled his voice squeaking slightly. "Come on! Harder! Push harder!"

"I'm pushing!"

"You're playing with my legs."

"I'm not playing, I have terrible footing."

"Alright enough," Chris ordered tapping Steve. Steve dropped Dustin's legs and hopped off the ladder. Chris helped Dustin maneuver his legs back on the ladder and he slipped out the vent.

"You're not seriously gonna try are you?" Steve questioned in disbelief. Chris hopped on the ladder and Steve jumped on the chair to steady her. "Chris?"

"I can fit," Chris promised. Chris pulled herself through the vent, further in than Dustin, but quickly slipped back out. "Holy shit it's dark," Chris gasped, stepping down the ladder.

"But you can fit?" Robin asked pushing herself off the bench.

"Yeah, but I can't carry a torch, and I can't see anything," Chris sighed stuffing her hands in her pockets.

෴

"SERIOUSLY?" CHRIS QUESTIONED ROBIN IN A WHISPER. Robin shrugged and the group watched Erica Sinclair, shine a light in the vent.

"Yeah, I don't know," Erica huffed as she hopped off the ladder.

"You don't know if you can fit?" Dustin questioned.

"Oh, I can fit. I just don't know if I want to," Erica spoke in a snarky tone.

"Are you claustrophobic?" Robin asked with subtle sarcasm.

"I don't have phobias," Erica snapped and Steve sighed looking at Chris with a 'really' look which Chris mirrored.

"Alright, what's the problem then?" Chris expressed in a tired voice, crossing her arms across her chest.

"The problem is, I still haven't heard what's in this for Erica," Erica snarked tapping her finger against the table. Steve scoffed sucking on his bottom lip looking to Chris for support.

Chris's lips lifted into a mischievous smile, "How about Ice cream?"

Chris leant against the scoops counter watching the others converse with Erica. Erica shooed Steve away and Steve lugged back with Ice cream in his hand. "No luck?" Chris asked as Steve walked around her.

"She wants more fudge," Steve sighed grabbing his scooper and dropping the sweet treat on the countertop.

Chris sighed shaking her head, "Why are we even doing this? I can fit." Chris turned to Steve and lowered her voice. "I might have to use my powers but that's fine."

Steve sighed plopping a large heaping of fudge in Erica's bowl. "You're right, you would have to use your powers because you can't fit a light, or a radio, or a defense tool," Steve rambled, aggressively digging the scooper in the ice cream. "Which means, yes, you're going to use your powers and if a Russian catches you, you can't contact us, and if they hurt you-" Steve stopped in a huff nearly slamming the scoop into the table. Chris grabbed his hand and pulled him into the backroom closing the window.

"Hey, hey," Chris grabbed Steve's face trying to calm him down. "Nothing is going to happen. I'll go with Erica to keep her safe, and she'll have the radio. No one gets hurt."

Steve sighed shaking his head, "I can't see you hurt."

Chris smiled brushing Steve's hair back, "You won't."

The doors slammed open and Chris dropped her hands and Steve spun to face the others. "We got her to agree," Dustin announced with a smile, the others piling in the room.

"I'm going with her," Chris said sternly. "Not taking criticism."

"Why didn't you go in the first place?" Erica snarked, leaning her weight on one leg.

"I can't bring the torch, or the radio," Chris explained copping Steve's words. "But I'm going with you, keep you safe." Erica nodded turning back to her ice cream on the table outside, Robin following.

"Are you sure?" Dustin said in concern. "I mean if someone catches you-?"

"They won't," Chris promised, again. "Plus I'm a superhero, remember?"

෴

❝ a small match lights a large 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒆 ❞