Friends with Superpowered Benefits

Sirens rang out in the distance from all directions as Ella was sitting on the cliffside overlooking the last small town untouched by the destruction and chaos she and Donovan caused. Months ago, the two best friends were blessed with powers they couldn’t explain. Ella can produce shockwaves wherever she is, while Donovan gained the ability to manipulate fire. What came from this breakthrough was a rivalry depicted in any graphic novel. Her dedication to always fighting the masses didn’t match well with his now amplified, laid-back lifestyle. Tensions rose, poor decisions were made, and a friendship hangs by a loose thread.

The town has a vacant feel to it; no screaming citizens or gunshots echoing throughout the streets. She wonders whether everyone had abandoned their homes or hid in their underground shelters. She lets out an exhausted sigh at the wasted paradise, since that was always her end goal if she stopped being who she was: a fighter against capitalism. Ella accepted the death of that dream an hour ago.

Suddenly, a sonic boom went off on the horizon as a speeding object flew closer to the cliffside. Ella rolls her eyes as it lands a few meters away from her. It was Donovan, smoking from the fire he produced from his body. He approaches her as if nothing was wrong, which caused her to shake the ground around them.

“Have you finally calmed down?” Donovan asks.

“Out of all the things you know not to ask me,” her back stayed turned to him. “You trying to start another fight? Destroy another beautiful place?”

“There it is. That attitude with that mouth of yours, such a deadly combination.”

Ella hurls a stone at the back of his head, which makes Donovan flex towards her. She was standing up now, fists clenched as the rumbling around them increased. Sirens still yelled from afar, but neither one of them had a care on their face. Donovan would enjoy another savage bout with her, but instead, he raises his hands to defuse the situation. He sits on a fallen tree on the other side of the cliffside, motioning for her to do the same.

“You know, I think the universe is telling us to take a moment together.”

Ella takes a deep breath before sitting opposite him.

“And do what exactly?” she asks, annoyingly.

“Let’s call it couples therapy.” Donovan grasps his hands together.

Ella snaps back at him. “We’re not a couple.”

“I’m well aware.”

Ella throws another jab in. “And whose fault is that? I feel we could have made some excellent progress if one of us actually grew up.”

“Here we go,” he says, throwing his hands. He sits upright. “Ella, tell Donovan how you feel.”

Ella shakes her head at his sarcastic remark, but gives in to the challenge.

“I’m not going to confess my love to you. We’re past that. Instead, I’m gonna tell you like it is. You changed when we got these powers and forgot who I was. You became weak and irresponsible, which is mindblowing to me. And, just a legit asshole. And now this whole area is about to be erased by a nuclear missile because of you.”

“Oh, you’re putting all the blame on me?” Donovan rebutted. “As I recall, you killed nearly everyone in that police station with those shockwaves of yours. You couldn’t control your emotions, and that was enough for them to deem us menaces to freaking society. ”

The cliffside and trees around them began to shake as Ella balled up her fists again. Donovan continued.

“I told you not to go to that protest because you became a literal walking threat. Anything those protestors said or did would have been a good enough reason for them to be aggressive. You knew they were trigger-happy, and you put them in danger.”

Ella becomes physically irritated by the truth coming from his mouth. The rumbling persists as birds fly away in a frenzy.

“I was trying to help them. I stand up for what I believe in.” She says as tears form. “Unlike you, who spent all his time at the clubs and bars being a damn party trick.”

“Oh, you mean having fun?”

Ella shoots up out of her seat. “I mean, being useless! You abused your powers just to get any girl you could! And you dared anyone to step to you.”

Donovan stands up to match her physical intimidation. Visible heatwaves were radiating around his body.

“Because I wasn’t gonna play hero. Just because we got powers didn’t mean it was now our occupation. I was keeping their expectations low, being a weird-ass miracle for their entertainment. Your hallucination that you could fight the overlords that run this damn world, let alone our hometown, is what got us here.”

“And you coming after me?” her tone softens. “Being their lap dog to bring me in for justice? Was that keeping expectations low? What did they promise you?”

Donovan sighs in frustration. He knows why she had come to hate him. Defending himself would look bad for him, no matter what he said.

“Ella, this was the only way they couldn’t hurt you. We don’t even know if we can still die, and I wasn’t going to have you as the test subject in this situation.”

Ella began to cry as the rumbling calmed down. Donovan slowly makes his way closer to her.

“Why couldn’t you just fight with me? Be by my side like before?” she says with a shaky voice. “You were the only friend I thought I could trust.”

Donovan’s radiating heat disappears. The sirens were no longer sounding around them, so the wind maneuvered through the trees to fill in the silence.

“I’m still your friend. I’m right here with you. But why must we keep fighting?”

They were standing just a few feet apart now. The closest either had allowed without getting aggressive. Ella looks into his eyes as if the last hope on earth resides in them. For the first time in a while, she felt safe with him around. Ella takes a step towards him, leaving just enough room for a breeze to navigate between them.

“We finally had a way to make real change. Do something that mattered. The protest was important, but I realized now they will always outmatch us with their money and influence. But we possessed powers that can’t be bought or stolen. We outmatch them, and everything would have been fine because it was you and me. I would have protected you, and I know you would have done the same. But you didn’t see my vision. You were a coward.”

Donovan’s face was a look of disappointment. From the conviction in her voice, he knew this was a suicide mission.

“First, the cops. Then the national guard. Then, anyone who was just in the way. And now…”

The sound of a rocket engine many miles away cuts him off. The nuke was coming their way and fast.

“That’s for us,” Ella said. “You should probably go.”

“Ella I’m not…”

She makes her way back to the cliffside. “No, Donovan. You aren’t flying me out of here, and you aren’t convincing me to change my ways. That missile is the result of our consequences. And if it doesn't kill me, I will not stop until I do what needs to be done.”

Donovan lets out an irritated groan as his heatwaves activate again.

“If I stay, what do you promise that we can do?”

“I’m not guilt tripping you…”

“I know you won’t. But if this incoming radiation is useless against us, what would we do?”

Ella looks back at him with hope in her eyes. “We will change the world. I know it. Protect those who need us. And kill any bastard that deserves it, or gets in our way.”

With a big exhale of air, Donovan gives in and sits next to her, looking at the town below.

“That would have been a nice town to live in.”

Ella lets out a chuckle and smiles. “I said the same thing before you showed up. Maybe we’ll find another one day.”

The two of them sit close, overlooking the view. They interlock their fingers like they’ve done so before as best friends. But this time, the touch of their hands was something more. An unspoken feeling that was never given the proper attention. The missile was in their sights now, the thruster no longer carrying it and letting gravity take over.

“You think it will hurt?” Donovan casually asked. “The raging fire to come?”

“Hmm…I’m not sure,” Ella replied. “When you hit me with your fire, it was kinda hot.”

“Interesting. And your shockwave punches did have some force, but nothing else.”

She let out another laugh, reminiscing on their fight. “Oh, really? You were screaming like a baby when I blasted you dozens of miles away.”

“I was only eight miles.” Donovan tried to change the facts. “And you got lucky because I…”