Rehab for SuperVillains (18+)-Chapter 151: cross-legged

It had been hours since Kael left the Haven for some errands, leaving Freya and Rhea alone in the dimly lit living room, the television’s glow casting flickering shadows across their faces.

Freya lounged on the couch, her cyan t-shirt and navy pants rumpled, her platinum-cyan hair spilling over her shoulders.

She yawned, her blue eyes half-lidded with boredom, her sapphire necklace glinting faintly.

Rhea, in her white tank top and black pants, sat cross-legged, her crimson hair bouncing as she leaned toward the screen, engrossed in a colorful cartoon where a spunky hero dodged exploding pies.

thud! thud! thud!

The Haven’s quiet hum was shattered by a sudden outburst from Tila’s room.

"Open the fucking door you rats!" Tila’s voice roared, punctuated by heavy bangs against the wood. "You bastards, let me out, or I’ll tear this place apart!" Her curses grew louder, a string of venomous threats—"I’ll rip your throats out! You’ll bleed for this! I will mince your meat!" thud thud thud "Your screams will feed my soul! I’ll break your bones to a thousand pieces!" —each word dripping with unhinged fury.

Rhea’s amber eyes flicked toward the door, her lips curling into a scowl.

"She’s being too damn loud," she muttered, cracking her knuckles. "Give me a minute, and I’ll shut her up for good."

Freya’s hand shot out, her voice calm but firm. "No need for that. You’ll just piss off Kael. I will take care of it."

She stretched her arm toward Tila’s door, her fingers curling slightly. Ice crackled, spreading over the door like frost on a winter morning, sealing the gaps with a shimmering layer that muffled Tila’s yells to a faint hum.

The room fell silent, the TV’s cartoonish sound effects taking over.

Rhea grinned, her amber eyes glinting with approval. "Smart move, Freya," she said, flopping back onto the couch, her attention returning to the screen.

The cartoon cut to a commercial, a sleek obsidian sedan spinning into view under dramatic lighting.

The announcer’s voice boomed:

"Introducing the Zephyr X-9! Feel the pulse of its twin-turbo V6 engine, roaring with 360 horsepower, and glide through curves with state-of-the-art stability systems. Designed for those who crave speed, style, and sophistication, this is more than a car—it’s your ticket to exhilaration. Car enthusiasts, your dream ride awaits!"

The camera zoomed in on the car’s sculpted curves, its LED headlights glowing like a predator’s gaze.

Freya’s blue eyes lit up, a rare spark of excitement breaking her usual reserve.

Rhea’s head snapped up, her amber eyes mirroring the same thrill.

They turned to each other, their gazes locking in perfect sync.

"Are you thinking what I’m thinking?" Freya asked, her voice low, a sly smile tugging at her lips.

"What? You want to order pizza too?" Rhea asked, her grin cheeky, leaning back with a stretch.

Freya’s expression flattened, her blue eyes narrowing. "Seriously? You just ate lunch."

Rhea shrugged, her crimson hair bouncing. "I dunno, I’ve got extra space for pizza. What were you thinking?"

"Let’s buy Kael a car," Freya said, her tone decisive, her smile growing.

Rhea’s eyes widened, then narrowed skeptically. "How? We don’t have any money."

"I do," Freya said, her voice confident. "At my base. Got a debit card, should still work."

Rhea’s grin returned, her amber eyes gleaming. "Oh, then I’ve got cash at my base too. A whole sack full."

Freya’s eyebrow arched, her blue eyes flashing with surprise. "A sack? Why not a bank? And how the hell didn’t you burn it, knowing you?"

Rhea laughed, her voice cheeky. "Banks and ATMs? Too complicated. Tried it, hated it. And yeah, I’ve burnt some cash before, by mistake, but I’m smarter now. Keep the sack in my attic, away from my fire. Safe and sound."

Freya sighed, shaking her head but conceding. "Fine. I’ll grab my debit card, and we’ll buy him a car."

"No way," Rhea said, her competitive streak flaring. "I’m buying it. I don’t want you hogging all the credit."

Freya’s lips twitched, her blue eyes glinting. "Alright, half and half. Deal?"

"Deal," Rhea said, nodding firmly, her grin wide.

They stood, ready to leave, but Rhea paused at the door, her amber eyes flicking to the lock. "How do we lock this thing?"

Freya waved a hand, her voice casual. "No need. Nobody visits the Haven, and it’s not like this place screams ’rich people.’ We’re safe from robbers."

Rhea hesitated, then darted back inside, her boots thudding. She returned with two sets of masks and sunglasses, thrusting a pair at Freya. "Here. We’re not dumb enough to get spotted and make trouble for Kael."

Freya nodded, slipping on the mask and sunglasses, her blue eyes sharp behind the tinted lenses. "Good call."

They left the Haven, their disguises in place, cautious not to draw attention as ex-supervillains in a city crawling with heroes.

The city square buzzed with early evening activity—street vendors hawking food, couples strolling, cars honking.

They walked until they reached their destination, in front of a gleaming car showroom, the Zephyr X-9 from the ad displayed on a rotating platform, its obsidian body catching the neon lights. Its sleek lines and low profile screamed speed, the kind of ride Kael would never expect, but would love.

"Is it better than the doctor’s car?" Rhea asked, tilting her head, her sunglasses slipping slightly.

"Way better," Freya said, her voice confident, rattling off specs like a pro. "Twin-turbo V6, 360 horsepower, zero to sixty in 4.8 seconds, top-tier suspension. The doctor’s car isn’t even close to this."

Rhea grinned, summing it up. "So, it’s fast. Good."

They agreed to meet back at the showroom in two hours, each heading to their respective bases to grab their funds.

Freya packed light, slipping into her base—a small, minimalist flat in an apartment full of retired old people—and retrieving her debit card from a hidden safe, her movements quick.

She was back at the showroom early, leaning against a lamppost, her mask and sunglasses still on, her blue eyes scanning the crowd.

Rhea took longer, trudging back from her base—an abandoned house in a crumbling neighborhood, its walls scarred from her fiery outbursts.

She hauled a heavy suitcase, stuffed with the exact amount Freya had calculated for half the car’s price, plus a jumble of clothes and underwear, her amber eyes gleaming with pride since she was buying something for Kael for the first time.

The suitcase’s zipper strained, a few socks peeking out but she managed to reach on time.

Freya raised an eyebrow, her voice dry. "You brought your whole wardrobe?"

Rhea shrugged, her grin unapologetic. "Figured I’d move some stuff to the Haven. Why not?"

They entered the showroom, the air-conditioned space humming with the scent of new leather and polish.

The salesman, a slick guy in a suit, eyed Rhea’s suitcase with curiosity but lit up when Freya flashed her debit card.

They negotiated quickly, Freya slipping the salesman an extra wad of cash—unbeknownst to Rhea—to ensure immediate delivery, canceling someone else’s order.

The salesman grinned, pocketing the tip, and handed them the keys to the Zephyr X-9.

Freya slid into the driver’s seat, Rhea set beside, the car’s interior plush and smelling of fresh upholstery.

Freya revved the engine, the twin-turbo V6 purring with restrained power, and pulled onto the road, driving slowly to savor the moment.

"Kael’s gonna lose it," Rhea said, her amber eyes sparkling, sinking into the soft leather seat. "These seats are like clouds, and it smells so... addicting. I can’t wait to see his face."

Freya tested the car, weaving through traffic, flooring the gas on an open stretch to feel the surge of speed, the tires hugging the road.

She revved it unnecessarily at a stoplight, drawing stares, her blue eyes glinting with satisfaction.

"Worth every penny," she muttered, confirming the car’s quality.

Rhea glanced at her, her voice curious. "Why’d you only grab your card from your base? No clothes, nothing?"

Freya’s lips curved into a sly smile, her eyes on the road. "If I empty my wardrobe, I’ll need to shop with Kael. Try on clothes, maybe some lingerie. Shopping with him’s fun—bet he’d enjoy it."

Rhea gulped, her amber eyes widening. "Damn, you’re playing the long game." She hadn’t thought that far, her competitive streak kicking in.

They reached the Haven, Freya parking the car behind a ruined wall a short distance away, hidden from view to keep it a surprise.

Rhea hopped out, dragging her suitcase behind another wall on the opposite side.

With a mischievous grin, she ignited her hands, reducing the suitcase—clothes, underwear, and all—to a pile of ash in seconds.

She dusted her hands, her amber eyes gleaming.

"New wardrobe it is," she muttered, already plotting her own shopping trip with Kael.

They slipped back into the Haven, their masks and sunglasses tucked away, their excitement bubbling as they anticipated Kael’s reaction to the car.

Once they sat back on the couch, Rhea turned to Freya, asking, "So, do we order pizza now?"