Taking a step back, the larger Hero slammed into the door as fast as he could and busted it down. Clambering into the room, the trio waited for the dust to clear before their eyes landed on the broken heap on the ground.

"Astrid." Lash's voice wavered as he ran over to the girl he loved, clutching her to his chest regardless of the dirt and blood coating her.

Taking in her numerous injuries, he felt his rage return when she shrieked in pain as his body pressed against her ribs. However, it quickly evaporated when her body shook with her tears after he had shifted her so that she was on her back, arms still around her tenderly.

"You found me," she whispered, staring up at her Hero with watery blue eyes.

"I'll always find you." Lash promised, gently running a finger over the large bruise on her cheekbone. "I'm sorry it took me so long."

Trying to reassure him that it had only been a few days, Astrid spluttered into a coughing fit, throat dry and scratchy from dehydration. Pulling the water bottle out of her bag, Natalia handed the girl the drink before returning to Speed's side in the doorway. Neither the speedster nor the telepath wished to impose on the reunion between Lash and Astrid. Both watched the scene with watery eyes when they took in the state of their friend, grateful that they had found her before her condition got worse.

Confused as to why his Sidekick wasn't healing, Lash noticed the manacles tied around her wrist and ankles. They were the same ones that had been used on him after Homecoming. Reform camp had used them during the night to ensure none of the Villains escaped. They were evil things that drained not only your power but also your strength. Making quick work of them, Lash tossed them across the room in disgust. Relief washed through her when she felt her powers return.

"I'm so sorry she did this to you. It's all my fault. You were hurt because of me."

Blocking out the world around her, Astrid focused the limited energy she had left into searching the injured parts of her body. Using sheer willpower, she forced her body to fix itself. Staring in amazement, they watched as she managed to make her own bones pop back into place, her split skin knit itself back together and the bruises fade to nothing. For the first time, she had healed herself and serious injuries. Wincing at the crack of her ribs, Natalia tried not to gag. Shocked that she had healed her internal bleeding, Astrid didn't have time to revel in the fact that she had finally healed a serious injury because she was throwing her arms around Lash.

"Don't you dare blame yourself for this." Astrid said, forcefully shaking his shoulders. "You saved me. You all did."

Opening her arms, she smiled when the other two joined the hug and the four of them all collapsed to the floor. Each of them was coated in dirt and stale sweat. All of them were tired and weary, hungry and cold but they had each other.

"I'm alive because you three saved me as a team. I can never thank you enough."

"Of course we'd rescue you. You're family." Speed stated, squeezing her tightly. "Now, let's get out of here. We could all do with a shower and some rest."

"And food?" Astrid asked hopefully.

Laughing at their friend, Speed and Natalia took the lead as they bounced out of the room with newfound energy now that their mission had been completed. Allowing the blonde to pull him from the room, Lash gripped her hand tightly as they walked through the forest, terrified she would vanish from his side once again.

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By the time they had returned to the sunlight, Keepers of the Peace had managed to track them down and Jackson Livingston had pulled his son into a worried hug.

Listening to the four of them explain what had happened, he checked Astrid over for any lasting injuries and beamed when their trained Healer commended the young girl on her abilities. Offering the girl a place in the Keepers of the Peace's medical unit, the Healer told her she had a true gift before deeming her suitable to go home. All she needed was some rest, fluids and food.

Whilst the rest of the KOTP's took Penny to Solitary, Jackson returned the teenagers to their parents with an explanation of what had happened. Pride filled Jackson as he glanced in the rear-view mirror at the two teenagers snuggled in the backseat. His son had come so far from the person he had been at the beginning of Junior Year. Astrid had come so far with trusting people since the death of her father. Both of them had helped the other grow and whilst Gradation hadn't happened yet, Jackson knew there was no doubt that they worked well together. They were the perfect pair.

Promising that he would explain everything to Elizabeth, Lash's father reassured his son that if he chose to stay with Astrid for the night, they would understand. She needed him more than they did tonight.

Entering her house, Astrid realised she didn't even feel disappointed that it was empty. Allison probably hadn't even noticed that her daughter had been absent.

Hesitantly hovering in the foyer, Lash was unsure if she wanted him there. Holding out her hand, Astrid pointed out that Lash was also in need of a shower and some rest before guiding him to her bedroom. Pulling out some of her father's old pyjamas, she handed him a towel and ushered him into her bathroom. Kissing him on the cheek, she promised she would return once she was done showering and left him alone with his thoughts.

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"Thank you for rescuing my best friend." Natalia said, suddenly feeling nervous as Speed walked her to her house, the next street over from his.

"She's become one of my best friend as well. The idea of someone hurting was-." Speed struggled to find the right word to explain how he was feeling but thankfully Natalia got the idea and agreed with him. "I, um, I heard your voice. You know, in my head. That's how I knew you needed me."

"I'm so sorry about that. I know people think it's invasive but I've never been able to do that before."

"So, that's only ever happened with me?"

"Yeah." Natalia blushed.

"Good."

Spinning the girl to face him, Speed quickly kissed her on the lips when they had reached her house. Turning on his heel, he was prepared to run home so that he didn't have to face the rejection speech that was undoubtedly coming. Flustered, Natalia hurried after him, kissing him on the cheek.

"I like you too."

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Washed, dried and dressed in an oversized sweater, Astrid was feeling more normal as she used her invisibility to study the sad Hero sat on her bed. His brown eyes were dull and shimmering with unshed tears, a crease between his eyebrows had formed as his lips turned down and he was wringing his hands. Black hair stuck up in odd angles as it dripped onto his face. Coming to stand in front of him, she took the towel out of his hands before flickering back into view, smiling sadly when he jumped.

"What are you thinking about?"

"You," he responded.

Placing herself in his lap, Astrid felt his arms wrap around her waist as she began softly drying his hair.

"I should be doing this for you."

Informing him that her hair was already dry, she continued with her task and reassured her that she was perfectly fine. All her injuries had been healed and checked over by a trained Healer. However, this did little to calm the Hero.

"What about mentally, huh? You have to live with the memories and the cruel words Penny said because I know her, I know she hurt you," his own anger was getting the best of him. "You think you'll be able to handle wearing bracelets again."

Wrapping a hand around her wrist, he grimaced when she violently flinched and wrenched free of him. With the strength that she used, she sent herself sprawling onto the floor and Lash sobbed, bending down to pick her up and whispering apologies into her ear.

"None of that matters anymore because you proved her wrong, Lash. You rescued me. You became my Hero."

"No, I didn't. A true Hero would never have allowed you to be taken in the first place!"

"Stop it!" Astrid begged, hitting him in the chest. "You can't foresee the future and you didn't know this was going to happen. No one did so shut up! You found me, not the Keepers of the Peace, and it didn't take you weeks or months. Lash, you found me in two days. Do you know how impressive that is? You're a true Hero."

Hanging his head in shame, Lash was unsure what he could say, as he knew he would undoubtedly end up infuriating the stubborn girl on his lap.

"I'm still the reason she hurt you."

Placing her head against his, Astrid let out a small sigh when she saw the self-loathing in his eyes. It would take a while to convince him that he wasn't to blame for Penny's actions.

"You're also the reason she can't hurt me anymore or anyone else. You stopped her."

"Walking into that room and seeing you on that floor-." Lash let out a heartbreaking sob as the image kept replaying in his head. "It broke me like you were broken. Seeing the girl I love that, and knowing that in some twisted way I was to blame for it-."

Using her thumbs, Astrid brushed away the tears and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. "I love you too," she mumbled against his lips. "Despite everything, some part of me always knew I would love you."

Smashing his lips against Astrid's passionately, he placed her gently on the bed before checking that she was okay with this. Nodding, she wound her hands into his hair when he hovered above her.

"I will spend the rest of my life protecting you and caring for you." Lash vowed between kisses. "If you'll let me."

"As long as I can call you mine."

"I'm yours, always."

Pressing her lips to his, she tugged on the bottom of his shirt, shyly smiling up at him when he complied and pulled it over his head. Pushing up her, he placed kisses on her stomach before whispering how much he loved her into her skin. Not wishing to push her, he made asked if she was sure she wanted to take the next step and chuckled when she rolled her eyes and pushed down his bottoms.

Returning to school tomorrow would bring unwanted attention and multiple interrogations but as the two teenagers connected, all that mattered was that they had each other and they would face it together.