Sparks Beneath the Surface.

ＴＨＲＥＥ-Committing to the Web.

I submitted my paper with about three minutes to spare before it became overdue. It's a miracle I finished it at all, considering all I could think about was that very awkward elevator ride yesterday. Actually, just wrapping my mind around the fact that I'm here, working at a secret organization with the world's most famous superheroes is a tough pill to swallow. Good, but nauseating all the same. I stretch back in my chair and close my laptop, sighing tiredly. Maybe I can ask one of the higher ups if I can just do all my coursework here at the Bureau because I'm not gonna have enough time in the day to train, fight, and do hero stuff and also attend college lectures, at least not now.

"More coffee, Ms. Rochér?" a Smeebobot asks me.

"Uh, yes, please, Smeebo, thank you." I smile and it zooms off.

Today I'm going to sit in on my first mission meeting, which, I'm very nervous for. It still all hasn't set into my mind, that this is going to be my life now, having magical powers and fighting evil forces. I'm literally living in one of those kids shows my little cousin Dalia loves to watch, it's insane.

As much as I'm thinking about the meeting, I'm also thinking about how discreet Elian and Ivy were with their relationship, it's crazy. Looking at them, you'd have no idea that they're dating. Not just that, but they have a very beautiful son together. Do they have any other kids? How long have they been together? How'd they meet? Probably here, right? I mean, of course. But maybe they didn't meet here- I have so many questions. It's eating at me. Totally not out of like, obsession, just a morbid curiosity, I guess? You know? It's like- it's like finding out two of your favorite celebrities are dating, and they are celebrities in a way! And I mean, I am going to join this team, it's what they've been telling me since the minute I got here. There's nothing wrong with finding out about your fellow teammates.

For the plot. For science!

I scan around the meeting room for people I can bother- I mean, ask about them. Is this an invasion of their privacy? Probably. Am I still gonna do it? Yeah. As I said, it's for science! Most of the people in the room are other specialists that I don't know, the only people I know who are in here are Orion and Delilah. I put my laptop in my tote bag and shuffle over to them.

I sit next to Delilah and see her raise her eyes from the papers she's writing on to frown at me, so I take that as my sign to get up from the seat and go to sit across from her, at this she resumes what she's doing and I sigh, "Hey guys," I greet them.

"Hey, Dani, what's up?" Orion asks me, smirking.

"Oh, nothing just gotta ask you guys something.. Uh, hey, Lilah."

"Only my friends call me Lilah." She says bluntly. Oh.

"Yeah.. Right, um, sorry. What're you writing?" I ask.

She looks up at me and smiles, "Your first-day report. I made sure I spared absolutely no details about how much of a disaster it was."

"Hey, Lilah, come on." Orion contends, and at that, she huffs and goes back to writing.

"Uhm, so, I saw something yesterday, and I wanted to know just how much I'm able to talk about it here at work because you know, uh, I'm new." I ramble before I'm interrupted by Delilah slamming her pen down and sitting up in her chair, looking at me with her arms crossed.

"If there's one thing you should know about me it's that I don't like people who stammer for no reason, spit it out, or bother someone else." Delilah orders.

"Right, um- sorry. So, yesterday when we were leaving uh.. Elian and Ivy, how long have they been dating?" I ask. Orion and Delilah look at each other and then back at me.