Archenemies (Renegades #2)(9)

“Has Smokescreen been cleared?” asked Tsunami. “We’d like him to debrief the cleanup crew.”

The healer nodded. “Yes, fine. His injuries were negligible.”

“Negligible?” said Oscar, holding up his forearm, which was wrapped in white bandages. “Their getaway driver scratched me when I was getting out the handcuffs. What if the guy had rabies or something? This could be a mortal wound here.”

The healer eyed him warily. “You can’t get rabies from fingernail scratches.”

Oscar huffed. “I said, or something.”

“Have you checked him for an overinflated ego yet?” teased Ruby. “I’d hate for him to float away on us.”

Oscar cut a glare toward her. “You’re just jealous.”

“Yes, I am jealous!” said Ruby. “I helped rescue that girl, too, but she didn’t even notice me. She was just all—Oh, Smokescreen! I’ve been dreaming of your smoldering smokiness all my life!”

Adrian’s cheek twitched. Ruby’s impersonation wasn’t exactly how he remembered the barista from the café, but close enough.

Oscar nodded. “I’ve found that my smoldering smokiness does have that effect on people.”

Ruby snorted, and Adrian sensed that she was trying to annoy Oscar and was frustrated that it didn’t seem to be working.

“What girl?” said Nova. “The hostage?”

“Yep,” said Oscar, idly swinging his cane. “She’s pretty much in love with me.”

“Who isn’t, right?” said Danna, flashing a cheeky grin.

“Exactly. Thank you, Danna.”

She gave him a thumbs-up from the table.

“Oscar is always telling us that these uniforms are a love beacon,” said Adrian. “I’m surprised it doesn’t happen more often. Although … no girl has ever swooned over me like that. And now I’m jealous too. Thanks, Ruby.”

“It’s not just the uniform,” said Oscar. “I mean, I did save her life.”

“We saved her—” Ruby started, but it fizzled into an angry growl.

“Maybe I should have asked for her number,” Oscar mused.

Ruby gaped at him, cheeks flushing, and Adrian felt a little bad for her. But then, she had been the one to try to tease Oscar in the first place, so maybe she deserved it.

Slamming her mouth shut, Ruby turned her head away. “Maybe you should have. I’m sure she would love to date a real Renegade.”

“Who said anything about dating?” said Oscar. “I just thought she might want to be the president of my fan club. Good help is hard to find.”

Ruby guffawed, but as she looked back at Oscar, her expression softened with suspicion. “Are you saying you wouldn’t go on a date with her?”

“I hadn’t thought of it.” A short silence hung between them, and there was a hint of uncertainty as Oscar ventured, “Do you really think I should have asked?”

Ruby gaped at him again, speechless, trapped by her own taunting. After a long silence, she cleared her throat and shrugged. “You can do whatever you want.”

Adrian bit his tongue, trying to hide his smile at the nonanswer.

Ruby turned her focus back to her wounds, studying them with renewed interest as her cheeks turned scarlet.

Oscar, though, was still watching her, flummoxed, and maybe a little hopeful. “Well … maybe I will ask a girl on a date,” he said. “Someday.”

“Maybe you should,” said Ruby, without looking up.

“Maybe I will.”

“You already said that.”

“Right. Well.” Oscar climbed down from the table, and Adrian could see that Ruby was no longer the only one blushing. “If you’ll excuse me, I have important debriefing responsibility things to take care of. So I’ll, uh … see you guys back at headquarters. Good job today, team.”

Straightening his uniform, he headed toward the cleanup crew. Tsunami followed, with an almost-unnoticeable sigh.

Danna whistled under her breath. “You two are impossible,” she muttered. “In fact, all four of you are driving me nuts.”





CHAPTER FOUR

THE DREAD WARDEN SIGHED, making Adrian jump. He’d forgotten his dad was there. “I don’t miss this age,” he said, and one of the healers gave him a knowing look. “Dr. Grant, could you also examine Sketch when you have a minute?”

“I’m fine,” Adrian said. “Don’t waste your time on me. Focus on Ruby and Danna.”

“Adrian—” the Dread Warden started.

“Honestly, Pops, I just got splashed with some river water. It’s not like I almost drowned or anything. Don’t worry about it.” He added a grin for effect. He’d gotten lucky lately, not having experienced any dire wounds since he’d started giving himself the tattoos that imbued him with the Sentinel’s powers. The last thing he wanted was for a healer to notice the curious designs inked into his skin and start to make inquiries, especially to his dads.

“Fine,” said the Dread Warden. “Let’s get everyone back to headquarters, and”—he turned toward the gathered journalists and their flashing cameras—“start figuring out what to tell them.”