July 18th

1936 EST

The cortex at headquarters was abnormally cold as Tristan and Calum sparred in training. Shards of ice and snow circled the two boys, ready to pierce one at the other's call. With Calum's power temporarily off probation, he had full access to his telepathic and gravitokinetic abilities. Every volley of ice Tristan threw at his opponent ricocheted back towards him.

Aw Tristan, you can't do better than that? Tristan shook his head to clear the voice and sent another blast of snow towards the telepath. All Calum had to do was raise his hands and it dispersed around him, not a single flake so much as grazing an inch of his body.

Before Tristan could even manage a successful attack, Calum had thrown him into the air and slammed him into the protective walls of the training platform using only his mind. Within the last few minutes, however, he had quit the offensive tactics and opted for a mere defense of Tristan's attacks. The amount of energy needed to manipulate gravity took a toll on Calum. If he had already used up most of his energy with his initial moves, why hadn't Tristan been able to overcome Calum's strength yet?

Maybe you're distracted. Calum's black eyes taunted him. Why didn't you kiss her, Tris?

All Tristan could think about was wiping the arrogant smirk off of his face.

It began in his chest, a growing block of ice that was encapsulating his entire body, from the inside out. Tristan could practically hear the glacier splintering as it extended into his extremities, chilling the space around him to such a degree that he could hear the crackle of his breath as it joined with the air in front of him.

Tristan narrowed his eyes and his lips curled into a malicious smile. With one swift movement, all of the ice that was filling him up and reenergizing his power flew from his palms in a slush that hardened around his challenger's feet, locking him into place.

Calum cocked an eyebrow and sneered, Maybe you should have trapped my hands instead. His dark eyes glinted wickedly, but before he could even raise his hands to begin his assault on Tristan, Tris manipulated what was left of his icy stores into an explosion of flurries that connected with Calum's hands, binding his wrists together.

Grinning triumphantly, Tristan taunted, "You were saying?" He strolled over to the control panel and clicked the release button. "I win." The walls rose around them and Tristan stepped off the platform. The rest of his teammates were huddled together, talking in hushed whispers.

"What's going on?" He asked, breaking into their circle.

"I have been tracking radio waves that mention the attack on Alexander Grayson's mansion," Avi said, locking eyes with Tristan. He appreciated being the only one Avi trusted enough with her secret. "Listen."

Avi raised her arm, sound waves emerging from it like a radio. Tristan cocked an eyebrow at the girl, but Avi just shrugged.

"Hey, Elsa, can you come unfreeze me?" Calum yelled from his permanent spot on the platform.

CJ groaned. "Please don't," he begged. Tristan grinned and turned back to the group, ignoring Calum's pleas.

"Liv, babe, come melt your favorite boy," he continued to shout.

She rolled her eyes, but broke away from the group to help the telepath. "What?" She protested when the others glared at her. "You know if I don't go up there he'll never shut up," she said, turning away from their disapproving looks.

"Tristan could always just freeze his mouth shut," CJ grumbled under his breath. He didn't make eye contact, but Tristan smiled slightly.

"We are receiving new witness reports from guests of the Grayson Fourth of July gala," the reporter cut through their discussion. "And an interview with Alexander Grayson himself."

"I don't know what happened," Grayson or Eric's voice declared. Avi visibly tensed, but the others didn't notice. "They were teenagers, obviously not invited."

Avi turned it off quickly. "He is simply going to blatantly lie about it," she mumbled. "Listening will not help us."

Bristol and CJ shared a skeptical glance. "Shouldn't we still listen? Is there really any harm?" Bristol tested.

Tristan opened his mouth to defend Avi's actions, but shut it just as quickly. Ever since their almost kiss, everything was awkward between them. Their eyes briefly locked and a soft blush crept across her cheeks.

Luckily, Avi did not have to explain why she would prefer not to turn the radio back on because they were interrupted by the clacking of high heels echoing down the hallway. All traces of their conversation ceased as Priscilla strolled into the cortex. A familiar dark face morphed eerily out of the shadows behind their caretaker.

Specter, Tristan's favorite member of the Contingency. Just seeing his face instantly brightened Tristan's day. Specter, or Paul as he knew him better, was his father's best friend while he was still part of the Contingency. When Tristan's parents were alive, Specter and his boyfriend, Mark, would come to the Dahl household every Sunday for brunch.

Even though he had power over darkness, he used to be a steady light in Tristan's life. Tristan hadn't seen him in person since Aaron's funeral.

"Specter is here to inform you all of a mission the Contingency needs you to complete," Priscilla informed them professionally.

Tristan locked eyes with Paul and he smiled warmly, a look of pride crossing his features.

"So," Specter said as he clapped once to gather their attention. "There is an old castle that we believe Rune has exhausted recently. We need some of you to go and see if you can find one of their teleportation amulets." He spoke slowly and deliberately, conveying his point in little words.

CJ folded his arms, watching the hero warily. "Some of us?" He repeated.

Specter nodded. "The mission is one of stealth. A small, elite team would be most beneficial."

"Is that all?" Priscilla questioned. It was rare for a member of the Contingency to visit headquarters, and the information Specter just delivered could have easily been rehashed through Priscilla.

"For now, but before I go, I would like a quick word with Mr. Dahl." Tristan nodded slowly and followed him into the dimly lit hallway.

Specter rubbed his hand over his slightly balding head. "Should I have asked Olive to come too? I heard about her amnesia and I wasn't sure how much she remembered," he explained, laughing uneasily.

Tristan smiled. "Nobody could forget you, Paul."

"Hey, that's Specter to you!" He joked, pulling Tristan into a bear hug. At first he was caught off guard, but his arms soon tightened around the hero. "It's been a long time, hasn't it? How are you holding up?" He shook his head and sympathized, "I don't know how a boy your age can handle all that's been thrown at you."

​ "I'm holding up," Tristan replied. "I really miss Dad, though. He'd know exactly how to finish this, he always did."

​ Specter smiled sadly, "Yeah he sure did. Your old man was one of a kind." He tilted his head. "I've been watching you on missions played back for us. You remind me a lot of him."

​ The comparison to his father elicited a proud smile from Tristan, despite his efforts to keep his features still and remain unfazed. Tristan's dad was the epitome of a hero. He put everyone else before himself, no matter the cause. Tristan could only dream of being half as noble or heroic as his dad.

​ A light began to flash on Specter's wristband. "Well, I guess they need me back at headquarters. We'll talk soon," he stated, then vanished into thin air, leaving no trace of the man who had stood before Tristan mere seconds ago.

Tris remained in the hallway for minutes, replaying the conversation and smiling shyly, before Avi finally came to him. "What was that about?" She asked quietly.

"He was a family friend before," he paused, and wiped the smile from his lips. "Before they died. He wanted to check up on me I guess."

"That was nice of him. It is rare to find a kind member of the Contingency," she joked. "So we have this free day to ourselves, what do you want to do?"

"I think I need to lay down," he laughed, rubbing his back. "Calum threw me into the wall one too many times. Wanna come back to the room?" He asked.

"Yes," she answered, and they walked in a comfortable silence down the hall.

As the duo turned the corner nearing their individual rooms, Tristan stopped abruptly. The silhouette of a body took shape from the shadows in the hallway, blocking the entrance to his room. Its knees were curled to its chest and its arms held them there. Platinum blonde hair cascaded over its slouched shoulders, hiding what appeared to be a girl's face.

"Olive?" Tristan questioned once he recognized her familiar frame. Liv jumped out of her embrace when Tristan's voice sliced the silence, her head shooting up to glance at the pair. Red tinted the whites of her eyes as if she had just finished crying. She stood quickly, hastily brushing the dust of the grimy floor off her dark pants.

"Tris, can I talk to you?" She asked calmly, but Tristan saw the way her features were pulled just a little too tight, exposing the anxiety that ran beneath the question.

"Yeah, sure," he replied as he opened the door and gestured for Olive to enter. What could she possibly want to talk about? He turned to Avi. "I'll talk to you later, okay?" With a small smile, he lightly shut the door before his friend could answer.

His sister was sprawled out on his bed as if it were her own. She was laying on it in the reverse direction, with her head at the foot of the bed. Her black boots rested on his clean white pillow, leaving dirt marks in the pattern of her soles.

Tristan flicked his hand at her, motioning for her to scoot over so he could sit beside her. She dramatically curled in, staining the entirety of his bed in the process. The bed groaned as Tristan took the place that Liv had just vacated.

Before the power of silence could swallow any hope of Tristan hearing some answers, Tristan blurted, "Why are you here?" His tone was harsher than he intended. His eyes softened, hopefully allowing Liv to see that he genuinely cared.

"Why don't you trust me?" She asked blatantly. The question caught Tristan off guard and his mouth gaped like a fish in response.

"I do, it's just," he paused, searching for words. It's just you showed up and acted insane for the first couple of weeks you were here? He thought. "You showed up here at the worst possible time and with no memories of the past couple months to show for yourself."

He pinched his eyes shut, trying to force away the images of what he imagined had happened to her during those lost months. Tristan would always regret his decision to let her go alone. She was hurt mentally and physically because he put his own concerns before her safety. "Olive, you attacked us," he whispered, fearing that saying it too loud would make it hurt more.

Her head hung in shame. "That wasn't me," she murmured. She nervously played with the ends of her hair. "I think they were in my head," she spoke, swallowing hard as if the words pained her to say aloud. "Psyche, I think."

"How do you know?" Tristan asked softly. The mist that blurred her eyes had fully disappeared within the last few weeks, but that didn't clear his suspicions.

"The last thing I remember was a grown man's voice in my head. Tempting me with promises of a life with you and Aaron," she paused and looked into his eyes, her own large and desperate for his understanding. "He said we could be a family again as long as I did what he told me to. So I followed his directions toward this castle and then everything after that is blank."

The air began to warm around her, similar to the way Tristan manipulated his surroundings when his emotions wavered. "I know it was stupid, but what else was I supposed to do?" She took a deep breath. "I never meant to hurt you or the others. Please tell me you believe me." Her voice crackled with emotion.

Tristan wanted to trust her, but with all the deceit and villainy happening around him it was near impossible for Tristan to feel secure with anyone. "I-I don't know," he stuttered.

"I've never lied to you Tristan," she rasped, reaching out to touch something solid to anchor her whirling mind. "Mom, Dad, Aaron, sure, but it was always just you and I, Tris. Always," she beseeched.

Tristan's memories flashed in the back of his head. Moments of when they were younger, when they were an inseparable team. A unit that stood together against all the unjust cruelties that children face. They were the strongest pair. Even as polar opposites, they would not allow their bond to be broken or cracked. No matter what, they would always trust each other.

"Look into my eyes. You constantly wondered how anyone believed me. You knew I was lying when everyone else believed me. Twin telepathy and all. Please," she breathed.

Despite everything that had changed between them since they were kids, she was still Olive. The same Olive who tried to take the blame for the frosted heater Tristan froze because the house was too warm.

He searched her face for her notorious tells. Her lip didn't quiver, her left eye didn't twitch. Tristan lightly placed his hand on her forehead. It was warm; her temperature naturally ran very high, but it wasn't scorching like it was when she was lying.

"You're right," he decided. His back straightened and he held his head high. "You and me Olive, like it has always been." He smiled contently and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. He held his other arm towards her, pinkie finger extended. She grinned and gratefully locked her littlest finger around his.

She rested her head on his shoulder, "It's Liv now, y'know."

"Please, you'll always be Olive to me," he teased. "Is that all you wanted to talk about?" he asked lightly, the inherent comfort of having his sister back in his arms seamlessly lifting his spirits, but her body tensed instantaneously.

"Calum offered to take me to find Aaron," she whispered, barely audible.

Tristan whipped his body away from her, causing her to lose her balance, but she caught herself on the bed. For the second time that day, he was at a loss for words. She was leaving? With Calum? Not a single member of the Union trusted him, and Tristan was fairly certain Olive didn't either.

When he didn't respond, she continued. "I didn't give him an answer yet. I wanted to ask you first." She dropped her head and refused to meet his eyes.

For the past two years Tristan had accustomed himself to the fact his brother was dead. Why couldn't Olive?

"Do you really think he's alive?" he wondered, both curious and apprehensive. If he was alive, why hadn't he come back for them? He would left his only family, shouldn't that count for something?

"Yeah," she sighed. "Yeah I do." She put her head in her hands, pressing her palms into her temples. "What if I found him when I was gone? I might have just left him there, Tris. I can't even remember if I left my own brother," she groaned.

"He left us first," Tristan snapped. He felt the air chill with his disposition. "If he is alive, I don't want to see him." For years, Tristan had lived with the guilt of losing his brother at his hand. If he had more control of his power he could have stopped the explosion and his brother would still be alive. The memory was trapped inside his head, affecting every thought and decision he made.

If Aaron truly had survived but allowed his family to think he was dead, he was horribly selfish. No, more than that. He was a monster. The thought appalled Tristan.

"He's your brother!" Olive chastised. "You can't give up on family," she urged.

Tristan threw his hands up in exasperation. "Olive! Don't you get it? If he is alive, he left us alone. He left his fifteen year old siblings to fend for themselves, with nothing but each other to help us get by. Do you realize what his death did to me?" He seethed.

Olive began to shiver as the temperature of the room dropped rapidly. Tristan tried to stop it, but it was no use. "I don't want to meet the sick person who would do that to his family."

Olive didn't say anything, just lowered her head to her lap and started to cry. Her body shook with each ragged breath she drew in. It pained Tristan to hear her whimpers echo around his small room. He frantically searched for a way to fix it, but the only plan he could think of was to distract her from the thoughts that were tearing her apart.

"Bristol and I almost kissed," he blurted. Her head snapped up, but he wouldn't meet her imploring caramel eyes.

"Almost?" She croaked. Her voice caught in her throat, evidence that her throat was still raw from crying. She swiped the tears from her cheeks and sat up straighter.

"We were so close," he said faintly. "This close." He held up his thumb and index finger with only a minuscule distance between them. "She leaned in, and I pulled away." He slammed his hand against the wall in frustration, shards of ice scattering around the room like broken glass.

Her eyes widened in shock. "Tristan," she took his frozen hands in her own and gently melted them. "Why did you pull away?"

He raked his hands through his hair and roughly rubbed his eyes until he saw spots. "She deserves so much more than what I can give her," he muttered.

A mix of disbelief and astonishment filled Olive's eyes. "Do you honestly believe that?" Before he could answer, because Olive feared his answer, she tugged on his shirt sleeve and assured, "If anything she doesn't deserve you."

He rolled his eyes in response. "She deserves someone who would give her the world. Who would stop at nothing just to make her smile, not someone who combats her every other word." Flurries circled the pair as Tristan's emotional state faltered.

Olive's face hardened. Like fire, her emotions were never steady, always changing. "So, you didn't kiss her because you don't think you're good enough for her?" She demanded.

Tristan nodded slowly.

"That's bullshit, Tris." She shook her head in disbelief. "You're the best guy I know. You've always been so genuinely caring and compassionate. Ever since the accident, you've locked yourself behind so many self-imposed walls because you blame yourself. You don't think you're good enough for anybody, not even you, but I know you really care for all of us. You are the most honest, kind-hearted person I know. You've lost yourself behind all of your walls, and you mistake your defense mechanisms for character flaws. You're not a bad person, Tris. You're just scared. If you're both willing to try, I know you would go to the ends of the earth for her. You would do anything and everything that she ever asked for, and more."

When he wouldn't make eye contact, she grabbed his chin and turned his face to her's. "And you're telling me she deserves more than that?"

Tristan sighed in response. He smiled sadly and raised his hands. Frozen, again. She grabbed his palms and quickly defrosted them. Her eyes narrowed, "If not you, then CJ?" She challenged.

Ice shot out from his recently thawed palms, coating the entire bed, with the exception of a small ring around Olive. "The kid doesn't deserve her either," he growled. "Nobody does."

But he deserves her more than I do, Tristan thought. All Tristan knew how to do was anger her and press her buttons. Eventually, his past would catch up to him and he might lose his sanity right along with the rest of his family, possibly endangering Bristol. At least CJ could make her happy.

"All he does is run away. I guess it's in his nature, but Bristol needs someone who will never leave her, no matter what. Someone secure and solid," he finished, his voice weakening. Why was he talking about his messed up love life with his sister?

Olive gently placed her hand on his shoulder. "What's more solid than ice?" She smiled.

His retort came swiftly. "Metal." He smirked, despite his bleak realizations. "Maybe she should be with Titanium Wave." The cold boy laughed softly at his own joke.

"Oh Tristan, you are so not funny," she rolled her eyes, but smiled warmly. They sighed together in defeat. "I think you should go for her. She likes you, too, you know."

He looked up in surprise. "How would you know? You two aren't exactly BFFs," he countered.

Shrugging, she grabbed a piece of hair and began to twist it around her finger distractedly. "I'm good at reading people. I don't know if either of you realize, but she's always looking at you. I think its subconscious." She shrugged again. Tristan stared at her in doubt.

"Don't get me wrong, she likes the kid too. What I'm saying is, don't count yourself out yet." She tried to offer him strength and courage with a mere look, and if they hadn't been twins, it probably wouldn't have worked.

She took a deep breath. "I think Cal might like me, too," she said sheepishly. "That reminds me, I should probably tell him I decline his little offer." The bed squeaked as she stood up and began to walk to the door.

"Is it mutual?" Tristan called out.

Laughing wholeheartedly she looked back at him over her shoulder. She shrugged, a movement so dramatic that it called upon her entire body to pull it off.

"I don't know, big brother, it might be." She chuckled again and opened his door. Without another word, she left his room, leaving Tristan alone to replay their conversation.

The psychotic, villainous intruder, a telepath, nonetheless, had feelings for his sister. What a pleasant thought. He needed a second opinion, preferably from someone he could trust.

He pushed himself off the bed and crossed his room in three long strides. Can I come over? Tristan tapped through the wall to Avi, praying she was still in her room.

Yes, she answered in seconds.

​ Tristan headed to Avi's room. Standing outside her doorway, he debated whether or not to knock. How would he approach the subject? What if Avi thought poorly of his sister? He shook himself out of his reverie and opened the door.

​ "I heard everything," she uttered as soon as he walked in. "I did not intend to, but the walls are so thin and you two are not exactly quiet." Her face was plastered with shame. "I'm so sorry, Tristan. It was an invasion of your privacy," she muttered, her voice laced with embarrassment.

​ He took a step back, caught off guard. "Oh, Av," he hurried over to where she sat against the wall and plopped down beside her. "It's okay. Since when have we respected privacy?" He laughed jokingly, referring to the time they had listened in on Calum and Olive's first conversation.

"Besides, I was coming over here to tell you what went down. Well, except for the part about Bristol." He grinned slightly and said, "Hey, sorry you had to hear that."

"So you aren't mad?" She sighed in relief. They sat for moments in silence. "Though Liv is correct. If anything, Bristol does not deserve a boy like you."

He grinned and teased, "Avi, don't tell me you're falling for my charm?" He smiled widely. "I mean what's more attractive than a coldhearted boy with a hot temper, who can also freeze things?" He threw his hands up, causing snow to fall around them for emphasis.

"If only," she smiled. "It'd sure be easier wouldn't it?" She slumped against the wall, thinking of Eric, Tristan assumed.

"Yeah," he laughed, "it sure would be." He turned to his best friend. "You're going to find a guy who loves you more than anything," he assured her. "Don't worry Av."

"I am a robot, I cannot love," she said, quoting Calum.

"You and I both know that isn't true." He took her hand in his own. Thoughts of Rune and his enemies flashed through his mind. Memories of the explosion, of Olive leaving and her amnesiac return. "Soon enough, all of this will be over and we'll finally be happy!"

Avi knit her eyebrows together. "Even with all of this, I am still happy," she said through a smile.

Tristan thought about all the good things in his life, ignoring the bad for just a moment. Bristol. Olive. Avi. "You're right," he beamed. "We've got a pretty good thing going on here, don't we?" He sighed in content.

"Yes Tristan, we certainly do." She stood up and offered Tristan her hand. "Let's go find the others."

He took her hand and hoisted himself up, his weight almost pulling Avi over. Tristan hurried to hold the door open for her.

"Oh yes, you are such a bad person, Tristan," Avi said sarcastically. As they walked down the hallway toward the main cortex, the lights dimmed slightly. "Do you really trust Olive?" She asked skeptically.

"Yes," he answered immediately. "I can't really explain it, but I know she's telling the truth," he shrugged.

"Okay," she nodded. "Then I trust her as well," she stated. Tristan grinned to himself. He had the coolest best friend. They strolled into the space, expecting to see Bristol or CJ, but their caretaker stood in the center of the area, a grim disposition on her porcelain face.

"Just the people I wanted to see," Priscilla said stoically. They waited for her to continue, but she wouldn't.

"What?" Tristan demanded. He looked around impatiently. "Where's Bristol?"

Priscilla smirked anxiously and informed, "Bristol and CJ have been deployed to Rune's fortress."