Connivus cackled as he stood before us.

I blinked as the man walked out of the shadows. In his hands was a comical detonator.

A box with a large, blinking, red button. Most likely wired to the pallets of explosives we found on our walk into this warehouse.

Connivus looked good. New suit. New accessories. Like was the earmuffs. He didn’t have those before, but I already knew why he had it.

He didn’t want to ever hear me speak to him again.

“I have to just push this button… and boom!” Connivus smiled as he stopped a few meters out. The man only looked at my team, and not me.

I pointed to my eyes, then to his face.

Connivus’s eyes widened as our eyes met. He couldn’t help it. It was a reflex.

At that moment, my powers kicked in. I didn’t have super strength, speed, or energy powers.

No.

That would have been so nice.

Instead, I had something far more sinister.

I could hear one’s inner voice. Their dreams. Their hopes. Their fears.

I placed my fingers onto my jawline. Hands-on either side of my face.

It mirrored his trimmed beard.

My left hand dipped as I raised my right hand raised. It was off-center by a centimeter.

Connivus froze and he nearly dropped the remote in his haste to touch his beard. His fantastic beard.

He tried to feel it. He had spent all morning grooming it. Those times in the bathroom staring at his own unchanging image. They blurred together as fear ran through his mind.

I raised my right hand, fingers straight out like a fan. Then wiggled it side to side. So-so. Good try my evil dude.

My disrespect triggered him.

Connivus, arch-villain of J-City could hear them of course. The words of his ‘loving’ parents. He was gay. He was ugly. He would always be a nobody.

The man began to hyperventilate and he turned around so that he could no longer see me.

His earmuffs stopped sounds. Worked for him, but not for us.

It was awkward and embarrassing. The way his sobs echoed in the room.

I sighed. I always felt like a dick using these powers. At least we stopped him from triggering the bomb that would ruin the docks.

Yet Quick Lighting did not snatch the remote.

Power Gambit did not charge over to take it.

Gear God did not deploy any traps or gadgets.

Mind Mistress did not knock Connivus into blissful unconsciousness.

I turned to my right. Where my team was standing.

They were also looking away.

Mind Mistress had her hand over her ears, and her eyes squeezed tight. She was very empathetic. Things like second-hand embarrassment and distress hurt her. Which is why she favored simply knocking other unconscious rather than throwing them into things or reliving their worst days.

I stared at my team.

You have got to be fucking kidding me.