The highest floor in the building belonged to the Marvels; it was where they met and where they lived. No one besides Celestro personnel and some lucky press were allowed up there. The second-highest floor held the offices of the president, the chairman, and the vice president. As Vidya was led into Fox's office, her eyes were glued to the ceiling. All she could think about was how the Marvels were right above her.

It was insane. Getting into Celestro's lobby without being kicked out was something people could only dream of, and here she was, in the vice president's office, right beneath Marvel headquarters. Outside the window behind Fox's desk was a once in a lifetime view of Los Angeles she never thought she'd see.

Fox clasped her hands together. "So, Ms. Khan. Tell me how you got your powers."

Vidya cleared her throat—it was dry from all the flying, if that steroid-induced mayhem could even be called flying—and told the story. At the end, she added, "You can call me Vidya."

"Your powers only manifested to save you," Fox murmured. "If unprompted, they could've stayed dormant for years."

Vidya imagined herself, twenty or thirty years old, suddenly discovering she could fly and make ice with her hands. She cringed. It was better now than then, when her life would be less forgiving to dramatic discoveries.

"While I'm thankful you've shared your experience," Fox continued, "there's no documentation or enrollment required for any super whatsoever. Why did you come to us?"

"Like you said, manifesting at seventeen isn't normal." Vidya swallowed. "I wanted to know if there's something wrong with me. If I'm...in danger?"

Fox smiled, her freckles stretching across her face. "We've had plenty of late bloomers, and not a single one had any sort of effect that was detrimental to their health. You're perfectly fine."

Vidya held her breath. "You're sure?"

"I've been in this business for a long time, and I've seen more than you can imagine. Trust me, you're fine." Fox paused. "There is something else I'd like to say, if you're willing to stick around to hear it."

Vidya was so relieved, she practically melted into her chair. She wanted to hug Fox, but she'd settle for hearing what else she had to say. "Of course. Go ahead."

"There've been cases of latecomers—people manifesting in their twenties, in their thirties even, but it's never anything noteworthy. For you to manifest late and have such an impressive set of powers is truly remarkable. You have potential."

Emika set down a glass of water and sat in the other chair. Vidya reached for it hesitantly, scared it would freeze, but the glass was cool and didn't get any colder. She drank slowly. Fox watched with mischievous eyes and tilted her head.

"How would you like to join the Marvels?"

Vidya choked on the water, but she managed an astounded, "What?"

"You heard me." Fox seemed pleased with the reaction. "We've been looking for a young, fresh hero to join the ranks, and you're perfect."

"I'm not..." Vidya wiped her mouth. "But I'm not a hero."

"With proper training and the right teammates, you can be."

Vidya looked between the two of them, completely dumbfounded. There were dozens of supers out there more qualified than her to be hired as a basic hero, let alone as a Marvel.

"I know it sounds unorthodox," Fox said, "but I'm the director because I make good decisions."

That was her way of saying she wouldn't explain her reasons, and Vidya knew it. Wanting a young, fresh hero wasn't compelling enough to put an inexperienced nobody on the most famous team in the world.

Vidya shook her head. "I don't—"

"Think about it." Fox slid a glossy business card across the desk. "That's my personal number. Call me when you want to talk."

When she wanted to talk, not if she wanted to. Vidya took the card, unsure of the veep's or her own intentions. "How much time will you give me?"

"As much as you need." Fox grinned. "Though I don't think you'll take long."

______________

Amber had been stunned into silence. Vidya waited patiently as they followed the painted footpath that guided people through the museum. It was a small building, sandwiched between a law firm and a deli, but it had the best super exhibit in the city. In the center stood a 3D model of the Marvel logo, and on the arched wall surrounding it hung the official portraits, listing their names and powers underneath like cheesy introductions. They silently walked past Phase: the newest Marvel and a former superpower trainer, Noah Martin has the ability to walk through walls!

Vidya held in a laugh. Phase was the most famous example of manifesting in the worst way imaginable: he fell through a floor in the middle of the day in middle school. He lost the chance to have a secret identity long before he even became a hero.

"At least I didn't start levitating at school," Vidya pointed out, hoping Amber would finally say something, even if it didn't have to do with the bombshell she'd dropped on her.

"I thought they might ask you to be a hero," Amber said. "But join the Marvels? I didn't see that coming."

They passed Flamethrower. The youngest Marvel, Maria Sandiego is pyrokinetic—she can create and control fire!

"Neither did I," Vidya said.

Echo was next. A Marvel with sound and vibration-based powers, Echo has been on the team since its inception.

"Are you excited?" Amber asked. "Not many people can say they've been asked to be a Marvel."

Lady Marvel. Another original Marvel, Celeste Jones is strong, enhanced, and bulletproof, serving as the second-in-command.

"I don't even know how to use my powers. Why would they hire someone like that?"

Juggernaut. The leader of the Marvels is strong, bulletproof, can fly, and has heightened senses. With a fifteen-year reputation, he's the first and most powerful of the superheroes.

They arrived at the group photo and sat on the bench in front of it. During peak hours, there would be a line of people doing photo ops on this bench with the logo behind them, but now, the museum was mostly empty. Vidya stared at the photo, studying their faces.

These perfect people could be her teammates.

"I think it makes sense." Amber stood and paced in front of her. "You have great powers, and they want to build you up, you know? Start from scratch and help you make a name for yourself."

"I don't know what to do."

"So you are considering it?"

"Kind of. I don't know." Vidya shook her head helplessly. "Help."

Amber crossed her arms over her chest and thought for a second. "Why do you want to be a doctor?"

"To help people. And I like biology."

"As a Marvel, you can be saving people right now, without years of school and thousands of dollars in student debt."

Vidya laughed. "That's nice in theory, but I can't do anything heroic."

"You'll learn. Celestro's not stupid—they'll do whatever they can to make you look good. You'll be famous and have a great resume, if you're allowed to put that stuff on there. And Celestro pays their heroes, so you can go to med school worry-free."

Amber took a breath and plopped down on the bench. Vidya stared at the floor, thinking. All she'd considered were the cons, like how her every move would be judged. But now that Amber expertly listed the pros, she was conflicted.

"Should I do it?"

"I think you should give it a shot." Amber shrugged. "But it's not up to me."

"I need to know what my parents think before I make a decision."

Amber side-eyed her. "You haven't told them yet?"

"We're going to do it right now."

"We?"

"I'm nervous, they'll be nervous, and you're great at making people feel less nervous."

"That's not true," Amber deadpanned.

She was right, but Vidya wasn't going to tell her parents she was a super without her best friend and number one confidant by her side. "Please?"

Amber did her pre-give-in routine: a long, deep inhale and exhale, a roll of the eyes, and finally, she said, "Fine."

_______________________

Her parents were sitting on opposite ends of the couch. Mom had her laptop on the coffee table, and José was reading the newspaper. He looked up, raising an eyebrow at Vidya's corny smile and the way Amber stood back with her arms awkwardly hanging at her sides.

"I have something to say," Vidya declared, settling on the recliner while Amber perched on the armrest.

Mom closed her laptop. José put down the paper. They waited, only to be met with silence and a faltering smile.

Amber laughed through closed teeth. "Now or never, Vid. Rip off the bandage."

Vidya took a deep breath, intending to say it calmly, but instead she blurted out, "I'm a super!"

Her parents blinked at the same time. Vidya could see that the gears in their heads were turning but not getting them anywhere, so to prove it before they asked, she stood and hovered a few inches above the floor. Mom gasped so loud that José jumped off the couch.

"Wow." Mom fanned her face, standing up. "That's...wow. I'm shocked. Wait—are you happy? Sad? Is this a good thing? I don't know what to say."

Vidya made a movement that was half shrug and half nod. "There's another thing. You might want to sit down."

Mom and José exchanged a glance but sat down without question.

"Celestro has asked me to join the Marvels."

"The Marvels?" José repeated. "You mean those incredibly famous heroes that fly around and save the day?"

"Only one of them flies," Amber pointed out quietly.

"I know it sounds crazy, but it's true." Vidya sat back down, clasping her knees. "And before I say yes or no, I want to know what you think."

They exchanged another glance. Vidya left it up to them and sank against the recliner. Amber leaned down to say, "Good job."

"All I did was tell the truth," Vidya whispered back.

"Sometimes that's hard to do."

Vidya fiddled with her sleeve, unable to look up. Mom and José had been married for nine years; they could talk without speaking, converse through shrugs, nods, an occasional whisper. She was afraid that if she looked at them, she'd try to decipher their answer, and she couldn't handle that stress. Rip off the bandage, as Amber put it. A simple yes or no was all she needed.

"Vidya." Mom reached out and took her daughter's hands in her own. "These are your abilities, and whatever you choose to do with them, we'll support you."

That was a yes. Vidya realized she wasn't prepared for this. They could've freaked out and said no, and she would never go behind their backs, so that would be the end of it. But they said yes, and now the decision was hers alone.

"Thanks. This means a lot to me." She quickly stood, hoping they couldn't see how flustered she was. "I'm, uh, hungry. I think I'll go to the store."

Her stomach was in knots and the last thing she wanted to do was eat, but she grabbed Amber by the elbow and led her out the door.

"The heck was that?" Amber hissed. "I thought you wanted them to say yes."

"I wasn't ready for it." Vidya sighed. "I just wanted some fresh air."

"Fine. I am hungry, though, so we're going to the store for real."

Vidya shook her head. She didn't want to go, but Amber had done her a favor, so she owed her this much, at least. Maybe the trip would help squash the nerves.

They walked to the convenience store at the end of the street. Amber made a beeline for the baked goods, and Vidya wandered along the aisle of junk food. Maybe her stomach wasn't as knotty as she thought, because she could go for something, too. She shrugged and picked up the last bag of potato chips only to have it snatched right out of her fingers.

"I'll take that," said the woman.

None of the Marvels hid their faces, but it still took Vidya a moment to recognize Flamethrower, and she was only sure after she saw her suit peeking out of the oversized leather jacket she was wearing over it. A headband kept her curly hair out of her face, and she wasn't wearing shoes.

Amber came up behind her and stopped short. Vidya blinked; she was starstruck—so starstruck that she impulsively reacted and said, "Sorry, but that's mine."

"Really?" Flamethrower frowned. "Then why is it in my hand?"

She laughed and walked away. Vidya stared at the back of her head, jaw dropped. The selfless, perfect image of her favorite Marvel shattered into millions of jagged pieces. Flamethrower slapped a five-dollar bill onto the counter and left the store without even looking at the cashier.

"That was so...cocky," Vidya said when she found her voice.

Amber shrugged. "She's a badass superhero. There's bound to be some cockiness."

Vidya was disappointed. There was a thin but important line between confidence and arrogance. The Flamethrower in this empty store was not the same person who'd greeted crowds of fans with an enthusiastic smile and ultimate kindness. Was she having a bad day, or was she always like this?

Vidya pushed that thought away. Amber was right, maybe Flamethrower was entitled to some cockiness. She only hoped that the other four Marvels had more class than she did. They had to be easier to get along with.

Oh.

Vidya stared at her reflection in the freezer aisle, surprised with herself. If she was planning her friendships, then she'd already made up her mind, hadn't she?