We Have To Go To The City

Sunlight entered Rio's room, indicating that morning was there. Lex and Rio were still sleeping on the bed. 

The sunlight caused them to shift in their beds in hopes of finding shade. Unfortunately, the windows in the room allowed the sunlight to directly fall over the bed.

"Ugh…" Rio groaned.

She decided to quit sleeping and opened her eyes. She looked below at her waist and was surprised to see Lex's right hand around her waist.

'He kept his hand around my waist for the entire night. It feels so comforting.'

Slowly, Rio wiggled her body underneath Lex's arm. As she turned around, her eyes took in the view of Lex's peacefully sleeping face.

Her heart skipped a beat when she realized that this was the man who brought joy into her life. Lex was the man responsible for making her feel alive again.

A few strands of Lex's hair were falling on his face. Rio suddenly got the urge to push the hair back from his hair.

Rio couldn't resist her urge and extended her hand forward. Using her fingers, she gently pushed Lex's hair back.

'Silky and soft. His hair quality almost rivals mine.'

Lex began stirring in his sleep when she pushed her hair back. His eyes fluttered open and he lazily looked at Rio.

"What were you doing?" he asked lazily.

"Fixing your hair. Good morning, Lex." Rio smiled.

Lex felt butterflies unleashing inside his stomach. With a slight bedhead and a face reflecting a minority of the sunlight, Rio looked like a goddess who descended from heaven.

"Good morning."

"Nine in the morning. Pretty good time to wake up." Rio said while checking her bracelet.

She got up from the bed and stretched her body. Rio then offered her hand to Lex who took hold of it. Rio pulled him from the bed, making him stand straight.

"We are going to proceed with our usual routine?" Lex asked.

"Yes, we are. I am going to drop you at the bathroom. Get ready for the day and meet me in the kitchen. We will cook something."

After the explanation, Rio immediately dropped Lex outside one of the many bathrooms in the mansion. She then made her way back to her own bathroom to get ready for the day.

[ What a nice way to start the day. ] Elfie commented in a sleepy tone.

'You didn't get enough sleep?'

[ My sleeping cycle is connected to yours. I was forced to stay awake when you and Rio were doing the deed. ]

'Maybe you should have warned me about that beforehand?' Lex raised his eyebrows.

[ I forgot! Happens to the best of us. ]

Lex continued to bicker with Elfie while getting ready for the day. After finishing his shower, he got out of the bathroom and put on a fresh pair of clothes.

Lex was about to make his way to the kitchen when something strange happened. The lights in the bathroom began to flicker strangely.

All of them turned off simultaneously, turning the room dark.

"That's surprising," Lex commented. 

"Indeed."

"What the?!"

Lex turned around and saw Rio standing behind him. She soundlessly appeared behind him and he had no idea of her presence.

"Our electricity has been cut off." 

"Let me guess, Allen did it?"

"You are correct. This is not the first time Allen has done this. I don't understand why he cut off the electricity when I can generate it myself." 

"Maybe he has a secret plan that he is going to execute?" Lex guessed.

"I can't figure it out…"

Just as Rio finished speaking, the light in the bathroom returned. Lex and Rio exchanged a glance.

"I have a feeling that Allen has succeeded in whatever he was trying to do," Rio muttered.

She grabbed Lex and directly went to the kitchen. Rio rushed towards the tap and opened it. However, no water came out of the tap.

"Fuck, he cut off the water supply." Rio cursed.

Lex and Rio tried various taps in the house and none of them worked. The duo met back inside Rio's room.

"Allen cut off the water supply once but I was able to use my lightning to get it back. I overpowered the motor and forced it to suck water from the supplying lanes." Rio explained. "That method is not working."

"Mahiru possessed a water ability. I think she is involved in this." Lex suggested.

"I think the same thing. Unfortunately, I don't have any information on her."

"Well, I have some. I saw her once in my childhood but I don't remember many things." 

Lex launched into an explanation about his memory regarding Mahiru. He explained how he remembered seeing Mahiru once in the past while being with his father.

"Your father must have pissed someone related to Allen's gang and they took their revenge on you when you went to that bar. Even after winning the case, they made sure that you suffered." Rio formulated.

"Maybe. My father left me early on and never really explained his work." Lex shrugged. "What about Allen? If we have to fight him, I want to know more about him."

"I will tell you the entire story and what happened between me and him. But first, we have to do something about the water situation. The house doesn't have water stored for drinking."

"Can't we order it online?" 

"I tried to do that. I have been banned from all online platforms. This is Allen's final move to draw me out towards him." Rio's expression turned grim.

On the other hand, Lex was brainstorming ways to get some water. Despite the superhuman abilities they possessed, Lex and Rio were still humans. They needed water for their survival.

"Only two options are left." Rio declared after a few minutes of silence. "We can either go fight Allen at his headquarters or we have to go to the city."

"I thought you were banned from going to the city."

"I am but we don't have any other options. My lightning allows me to travel quickly between places. I will rush to the town, gather as much water as possible, and come back."

"That means I am going to stay here alone." Lex sighed.

"I am sorry but I can't take you with me due to multiple reasons. High-level ability users could attack me. I would also need to reduce my speed to ensure the electricity does not fry you."

"I will guard the house then."

Lex was disappointed that he couldn't go along with Rio due to his weak body. Not even a month had passed since he unlocked his ability so him being weak was justified.

[ It still stings, doesn't it? ] Elfie said gently.

'She doesn't want me to get harmed. I will stay safe here.'

[ Don't worry, you will get stronger with time and will be able to stand side by side with her. ] Elfie reassured him. [ I will help you with your training today. Let's learn some new ways to use your ability. ]

Elfie's words uplifted Lex's mood. Now that he had a goal for the time when Rio would be absent, he could divert his mind.

A few minutes later, Rio and Lex stood at the doors of the mansion. Rio wore sunglasses, a face mask and a black cap to hide her face.

"Keep your guard up." Lex said.

"Cameras are present everywhere in the neighborhood. Though I don't think they can capture my movement, I will stay on my guard." Rio nodded. "I am heading out."

"See you soon." 

Lex and Rio bid farewell before the latter exited the house, heading straight for the city.

'It's just you and me now, Elfie.' Lex sighed and closed the doors behind him.

It was time for him to guard the house and practice his ability.