Lost without you

om swung shut behind Bella, and th

noon glare and lifted a

ng microphones into her face, grateful families pressing

ight, rehearsed- and shook

verdict?" asked reporter, pushi

Bella said flatly. "Th

hes, more

wanted

he marble steps as she push

was

was bon

battle against a syndicate who thought money

d, it just

emed to carve a lit

za, dodging cameras, when her

jump of relief at th

uli

ly smiled withou

nd pressed the phone to her ea

e bringing pizza

ackled down the l

ou greet your fa

onvincing twelve humans that monsters wear expensive suits. I d

of your courtroom greatness. Lasagna's in the oven. Salad is...well, t

eaving into a qu

at death by

fig

then his vo

feed. You looked like you were ready to thro

owly, letting th

ean...no. I

g her shoulder against a la

hind her ear, "It never feels like a win. You know? The kid'

ught. She st

voice w

you could. You gave her a fighting c

allowe

I wish the world didn't need me to

ilence between them.

again, ligh

s an asshole. Lucky

real one, bursting out o

uch a sap,"

sap," Julian

before the lasagna burns and we ha

ling some of the exhaustion peel

rossed the street, and finally-finally

o

li

may or may n

enough. The streets had thinned now

rs, people talking, and faint

ife, mar

er briefcase into the passenger se

ges sitting beneath her keen brown eyes, the lipstick long

rs, she th

o war for the defenseless an

through well-known roads dotted wi

upscale townhouses that screamed "young professiona

tretched her arms overhead before

e sky as it started to darken, could

house - likely humming off-key and burning

iled to

o

mal

oor open with her hip, j

e smell - rich tomato sauce, butter

er, wearing an apron that said "Kiss the Cook or Else", wielding a wo

nst the doorway,

w who's winning that b

d, spoon rais

asagna tried to rebel,

a said, laughing, dropp

and struck a pose, apr

rily gifted, than

owled audibly, pun

an sm

igestive system k

rd the kitchen, noticing something

- ripped from an old sketchpad -

picked

earing a giant red cape and holding a gavel t

wyer Saves

-kicking a briefcase labeled "C

nd to her mouth to

she asked, pretend

c bread down (only slight

Wins Again' party decorati

d, plopping into

e ridi

id, grabbing two mismat

or the toasti

th the cheap grocery store wine th

rs said "World's Okayest

raising his own mug, which

inspire the helpless, and intimidate every

laughing, clinki

rs, i

rible as she remembered - and set

inking that stuff?" she

n said solemnly. "

, warmth creeping i

barefoot to the microwave, probin

er the counter,

e secret

ng a hidden stash of stress snacks: chocolate bars,

oot like a man co

e hide emergency mone

mping down on a chocolate bar

o plate the lasagna wi

lence, the bad wine flowed, and the

beyond the windows, but i

tably, Julia

uch time dating as you do saving the world, you migh

such an intensity that sh

here

e absolutely did not possess, "you're what, twenty-eight? Prime dat

a fork at him

they can't handle all this," she s

ng the fork, "they're afraid yo

er wine, coughing and la

That happene

lian said, looking way

x's face when you served hi

ella said defensive

cation he bailed on! And th

ir, hands folded behind his h

legend of Bella: A

d-up napkin at him.

na let me live th

lian said

rave enough to date you - and dumb en

head, smiling

re an

lov

muttered, picking up

ulian was planning, gossiping about their neighbor's ugly garden gnome collection,

ched out, slow

battles, the whispered threats she sometimes felt lingering on th