Rehab for SuperVillains (18+)
Chapter 198: Cute

Chapter 198: Cute

The city lay quiet under a gray daylight, the air heavy with the threat of rain as Kael stepped out of the hospital elevator on basement floor four, two trays of food balanced in his hands.

The warm, bland scent of steamed rice and boiled vegetables drifted from the canteen boxes, mingling with the sterile chill of the underground.

He crossed the short drive to the black utility truck, his boots scuffing the asphalt, and spotted them immediately—the unmistakable silhouettes of the twins, Tila and Lila, slumped low in the truck’s windows.

Their small heads were barely visible, still and quiet, like shadows curled into themselves. Kael’s lips twitched into a faint smile, his head shaking lightly.

Tila had sworn she’d ditch the truck and vanish into the city, all bluster and defiance, but here she was, staying put.

The thought—of obedience not forced but chosen—warmed his chest more than it should’ve, a quiet spark in the chaos of the day.

He leaned closer, peering through the tinted windows.

Lila was curled in the back seat, her knees tucked to her chest, sleeping with a softness that made her look younger than her years.

Tila sprawled in the passenger seat, reclined so far back until she almost squished Lila, her face relaxed in a way that was almost disarming, a complete opposite from what it looked like when she was awake.

"Cute," Kael murmured under his breath, the word slipping out before he could catch it.

Their faces, unguarded in sleep, carried none of the usual sharpness or guarded edges—just two girls, vulnerable and trusting, waiting for him.

He set the food trays carefully on the truck’s hood, the plastic crinkling softly, and reached for the door handle.

Rrring.

His phone buzzed in his pocket, sharp and insistent.

Kael flinched, his lips twisting with a familiar dread.

He had a sinking feeling about who this was.

He pulled out the device, the screen glowing with the caller ID: Rhea.

"Yep," he muttered to himself, bracing for impact. "Here comes the storm."

He accepted the call, raising the phone to his ear.

"He—"

"Where the HELL have you been?!" Rhea’s voice erupted like a firebomb, so loud he winced and held the phone an inch from his ear.

"You absolute idiot, Kael, I swear I’ll torch your ass from the ankles up—"

A second voice cut in, sharper, colder, but no less furious.

Freya.

"We are on our way Kael, and I am pissed. You didn’t think to call us? After the Haven got turned into a warzone?"

Kael grimaced, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Okay, okay—calm down, both of you. I didn’t call because I thought you were in stealth mode. You were tracking the Gales, right? A phone ringing could’ve blown your cover, and I wasn’t about to risk your lives over a bad gamble."

Rhea wasn’t buying it. "We’re not amateurs, Kael! We can handle a damn phone call! And who the hell was stupid enough to raid the Haven while we were gone? You think those twins had something to do with it? Tila’s got a mouth, and Lila’s too quiet—bet they set you up!"

Kael exhaled, his voice steady but tired.

"It was raiders. Some group. I don’t know who sent them, but Tila and Lila held their own. They didn’t set me up—they fought with them entirely. I’m fine. The Haven’s... a mess, but we’re alive."

Freya’s voice came back, calmer but still edged with steel. "We’ll talk in person. We’re coming to the hospital."

"Just—change out of your suits first," Kael said quickly, his tone firm. "This place is crawling with heroes—A-Class, S-Class, the works. If someone recognizes your faces, it will get us into an another mess, which we don’t want right now."

"Yeah, yeah," Rhea muttered, her fire dimming but not gone. "We know the drill."

"And wear face masks. Glasses. Something low-key. Don’t draw eyes."

Freya’s voice softened, just a fraction, a rare crack in her ice. "You’re lucky we like you. But for this scare, you owe us something sweet."

"You both okay?" Rhea added, her voice dropping, almost tender now, the anger giving way to worry. "Really okay?"

"Yeah," Kael said, his own voice softening. "Just get here safe."

"Yeah, I am — we’re coming as soon as we can. Love you," Rhea said, the last part tumbling out fast, like it slipped past her guard before she could stop it.

"Yeah. Love you too," Freya echoed, quick and quiet, like she was afraid to linger on the words.

The call ended with a click.

Kael stared at the blank screen, the words looping in his head.

Love you.

Not a taunt, not a joke—just... said, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Like it had always been there, unspoken but true.

He swallowed, his throat tight.

Were they serious?

Or was it just the heat of the moment, panic and relief twisting their words into something raw?

Either way, he couldn’t stop the smile creeping across his face, a flutter in his chest he didn’t bother to fight.

"Those two are gonna kill me one day," he murmured, slipping the phone back into his pocket. "And I’m starting to think I won’t mind."

He turned back to the truck, his smile lingering as he glanced at the sleeping twins, their faces still soft in the dim light.

The food trays steamed faintly on the hood, a small promise of normalcy in a day gone to hell.

__________

Meanwhile, in a cramped clothing store tucked into a grimy side street, Rhea tore through racks of discount tees and jeans with sharp, impatient fingers, her crimson hair stuffed into a tight bun beneath a black hoodie.

Freya stood nearby, cool and composed, her platinum-cyan hair hidden under a loose cap, mirrored sunglasses and a cyan face mask obscuring her features.

"Did we really just say ’love you’ back there?" Rhea muttered, tossing a hanger aside with more force than necessary.

"You did," Freya said flatly, her blue eyes scanning a row of shirts without pause.

"You said it too!" Rhea shot back, her cheeks flushing beneath her hoodie.

Freya blinked, her expression unreadable behind her shades. "...After you did."

Rhea grunted, her blush deepening as she yanked a white tank top off the rack.

"It just... slipped out, okay? I was freaking out. The Haven’s trashed, Kael was gone, and those damn twins—Lila and Tila—I still think they had something to do with it."

A pause.

Freya’s fingers stilled on a navy sweater, her voice softer now. "It slipped out for me too."

They didn’t look at each other, the air between them heavy with unspoken weight.

Rhea grabbed a pair of black pants, her movements jerky, while Freya settled on a loose navy jacket and a soft cyan tee that matched her eyes.

"Think he heard it?" Rhea mumbled as they headed to the counter, her voice barely audible.

Freya adjusted her sunglasses, her silence louder than words.

She paid for their clothes, and they stepped back into the city’s gray haze, the Zephyr X-9 waiting like a loyal beast.

As they slid into the car, Rhea’s eyes flicked to Freya, a smirk tugging at her lips.

"Bet he’s grinning like an idiot right now."

Freya didn’t answer, but the faintest curve of her mouth betrayed her as they pulled away, the hospital’s blue neon glowing on the horizon.

________________

Kael slipped the phone into his coat pocket, a wry smile tugging at his lips as he glanced at the gray sky, heavy with the promise of rain.

"They’re gonna tear me a new one when they get here," he muttered, half to himself.

The thought of Rhea’s fiery wrath and Freya’s icy disapproval sent a strange warmth through him.

Their chaos, their affection wrapped in sharp threats—it suited them, and somehow, it suited him too.

He grabbed the food trays from the truck’s hood, the plastic warm under his fingers, and quietly opened the rear door.

The bland scent of hospital rice and boiled vegetables wafted into the truck’s interior, cutting through the stale air of oil and pine deodorizer.

Lila stirred instantly, her sharp black eyes snapping open.

She was curled in the backseat’s corner, knees tucked to her chin like a wary cat, arms coiled tightly around her legs.

Her gaze flicked to the door, tense, but softened when she saw Kael’s familiar silhouette.

"Hey," he said, his voice low, offering a soft smile. "I’m back."

She nodded, her posture easing. "You brought food?"

"Yeah. Bit late, but it’s something." He handed her one of the trays, the steam curling faintly in the cool air.

"Thanks," Lila said, flipping open the lid with practiced efficiency.

She ate in small, methodical bites, her movements neat, disciplined, as if wasting energy wasn’t in her nature.

Kael’s eyes drifted to the front seat.

Tila was still sprawled in the reclined passenger seat, snoring softly, one hand dangling limply over the edge.

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