Page 85 of Not All Himbos Wear Capes
“What thefuckis he doing down there?!” I shouted, panicking as I raced for the elevator.
To my surprise, instead of running in the opposite direction, Wolfgang followed me into the cab, still talking. “Well, father sensed we had a guest, and since he needed a test subject for that ray gun you brought over for him…”
OH, MY FUCKING GOD!
The elevator arrived at the basement level and I carefully squeezed past my brother to take off running again. I’d seen the various human remains from my father’s lab rats, and the thought of Butch ending up as a similar pile of meat…
Please be okay, please be—
My breath rushed out in a whoosh as I stumbled through the workshop door. Butch was strapped down on one of the stainless steel operating tables in his supersuit, still passed out cold.
But still in one piece.
“You’ve arrived just in time,” my father absently murmured as he fussed withmyinvention—the ray gun I’d created to extract microplastics from the Bay. The very piece of machinery I’d then reconfigured to extract DNA from a living thing.
The one currently aimed at Butch.
Stay calm, stay calm, stay calm…
Violentia, Baltasar, and the twins were standing off to the side with my mother, who was proudly watching her husband be a sociopath. Vi was picking at her nails while my younger brother tossed a skull fragment into the air like it was a baseball. The twins were staring at Butch, although Gabriel snuck a wary glance my way—rightfully so, since their hypnotism powers were probably to blame for putting me to sleep.
Little creeps.
Wolfgang strolled in and positioned himself on the opposite side of the room, his unnerving gaze fixed on me. Waiting.
“Xan?” Butch groaned as he regained consciousness. Before I could speak, he realized he was in a Very Bad Situation and immediately panicked, struggling against his restraints while his wide eyes frantically darted around the room. “Oh, my god! I’m sorry, Xan. I’m sorry, I’m sorry, please don’t do this…”
Shitshitshit!
“No, baby, nooo, you did nothing wrong,” I ran to his side, trying to soothe him despite the fifty shades of fucked up we were in. “I didn’t do this—I wouldnever. But I’m going to get you out of here, okay?”
“You’re not,” my father casually remarked, stepping into Butch’s line of sight. “I’m ready to commence this experiment and I simply don’t have the patience to find another body.”
Butch was staring at my father as if the Grim Reaper himself had appeared to take him away. This was appropriate, since most supes who saw Apocalypto Man didn’t last long.
I’ll save you, baby.
“Father,” I used every last tattered shred of self-control to keep my voice steady. “I didn’t have the chance to test the device on a living creature before and, uh… I’d rather wenotdo it on someone I care about. Someone Ilove.”
He looked at me in surprise, and for one stupid moment, I thought he might care. “Oh, Xander, don’t concern yourself with that.” He waved a dismissive hand as he turned and walked away. “I’m sure I’ll be able to put the DNAbackinto Captain Masculine after I extract it. Now, I suggest you move out of the way so you don’t get vaporized if something goes wrong.”
“No,” I calmly spoke, reaching behind me to grab Butch’s shaking hand. My father stopped mid-step and turned to face me, an incredulous smile twitching his lips.
“Xander…” my mother warned, annoyed by my existence more than anything. “Your silly attachment to thisherois making this family look weak. Step aside and let your father work.”
Not a chance.
“Why are you not moving?” Apocalypto Man asked, his gaze flickering to my mother before returning to me—mild annoyance quickly being replaced by dangerous predatory intent.
I gave Butch’s hand a squeeze to let him know I wasn’t going anywhere. “Because he’smine,”I growled.“And I won’t let you hurt him.”
“This is fascinating to witness!” My father grinned, looking me over with genuine interest before addressing his wife. “It reminds me of our old friends Iron Axe and Smoldering Siren, hmm?”
Isn’t Siren Butch’s mother?
Butch’s hand had become uncomfortably hot, and I realized he was trying to subtly use his firepower to melt the special straps holding him down—another one of my inventions. It wasn’t working, probably because Wolfgang had drained too much of his power to go full throttle.
I’ll just give him some of mine.
