Kayla frowned as she opened up the freezer and squinted into its icy depths. The frozen pizzas she expected were right where they were supposed to be. Nothing about that was suspicious, but it did nothing to satisfy Kayla’s cravings. What she really sought—a pint of her favorite chocolate ice cream—was nowhere to be found.

There were frozen french fries and meatballs waiting to be heated up, but none of her frozen treats were to be found.

For most people, that would be an annoyance.

For Kayla Kelley, otherwise known as the Swift Sentinel, her extraordinarily high speedster metabolism meant that she was loudly aching for calories. People always think it’s just the super speed that makes a speedster so hungry, but holding it back takes a lot of effort, too! I could run back and forth across this kitchen, remove everything from the freezer and put it back in no time at all… but I don’t want my roommate to see!

Sure, it’s not like I’m going to die without that ice cream… I could just make a pizza or something, but… Kayla frowned. I was really looking forward to some chocolate! I made sure to get it earlier in the week so it would be there tonight…

Where could it be?!

Looking desperately through the freezer, Kayla began to unconsciously sway her hips side to side, making the long blonde hair resting over it shift in turn. She was short, and petite, but there was an athletic tightness to her body that hinted at how much running she did both in the name of her secret identity and to stay fit as Kayla.

No matter how long her brown eyes searched through the freezer she was no closer to tracking down her lost snack.

Loud roaring laughter emerged from the next room. Something about the sheer volume and overwhelming enthusiasm made Kayla grumble as she shoved the freezer door shut. It closed slowly, and then fell open just enough to evaporate any victory she might have felt.

Kayla forced the door shut again with a loud groan as she made her way out of the kitchen. “What’s so funny, Xenia?”

Xenia’s hand was the first thing Kayla saw as her roommate grasped the back of the couch and used it to pull herself up. A moment before she’d been sprawled out along the couch.

Much taller, and much curvier, Xenia wore her hair long enough that the tips lined up with her chin. The top was green, and it slowly dissolved into a solid raven black. While Kayla was dressed in yoga pants and a loose t-shirt, Xenia was wearing a tight pencil skirt and an open blouse that showed off so much of her breasts, still squeezed into a lacy bra. Its lift was perfect to create the most possible cleavage.

“Oh… It would take too long to explain.” Xenia waved her hand dismissively as she pulled herself up into a sitting position. “See that character? She’s also… that character?”

Kayla squinted at the screen. One of the characters indicated had short blonde hair, the other, long red hair. Both were of a comparable build, but one looked to be in her young teens and the other was at least in her thirties. “Uhm… But they’re standing by each other, and their ages are—” Time travel.

“Time travel.” Xenia shrugged, slumping against the back of the couch as she smirked. “And they were just… oh it would take too long to explain, but I could try if you have an hour.”

Kayla wrinkled up her nose.

“No thanks. I really should be working on my thesis…”

With another shrug, Xenia lifted up a remote and paused the stream. “Your loss. I don’t know why you’re putting so much effort into becoming a professor. There’s plenty you can teach without needing a PhD… Want to be able to say you’re getting tenure that much? Not much time for romance when you’re this bus—”

“—Not really a priority for me.” Kayla cut Xenia off, rolling her eyes. “I don’t have time for romance. Maybe after I’m done getting my doctorate… but have you seen my chocolate ice cream?”

“Mm?” Xenia raised an eyebrow. The top half of it was green, the bottom half black. She’d gone through that much effort to recreate the same gradient from the rest of her hair. She even wore green eyeshadow over the top half of her eyelids that gradually turned to black. “Didn’t you already eat that yesterday? You were studying late, and I think you grabbed it around… midnight…?”

“What…?” Kayla stiffened, her expression shifting into a frown. “There’s no way that I could have done that, I was—”

Xenia’s eyebrow rose higher.

Kayla swallowed.

I can’t tell her that I wasn’t even here at midnight yesterday…! I ran out for a patrol around 11:30 and I didn’t get back until 12:13…! Kayla coughed, looking away as she cleared her throat. Having a roommate is really inconvenient… But there was no way I could afford a nice place like this in the city so close to campus without some help! She never talks about her parents, but Xenia is absolutely loaded…

Even if she’s independently wealthy I guess she’d want a college degree to learn how to make the most of it.

“—probably just mistaken. I couldn’t find it so, you must be right.” There was close to a minute between her stutter and the conclusion of Kayla’s thought. Xenia didn’t seem to mind, offering a warm smile. “I think I’m going to preheat the oven and make a frozen pizza… you want any?”

“Nope, I’ve gotta watch my figure!” Xenia winked, gesturing to herself. Though she possessed large breasts, and wide hips, she was otherwise remarkably svelte. “Besides, we both know you can polish off one of those on your own… enjoy!”

Kayla laughed shyly, nodding before she moved back into the kitchen. “R-right… Well, let me know if you change your mind, Xen…!”

“Will do!”

The sound of Xenia’s show resuming helped Kayla relax with a heavy sigh. Pizza wasn’t what I wanted tonight, but it’ll have to do. Maybe while I’m out on a patrol I can pick up some more ice cream… if she thinks I ate it when I was ‘in my room studying’ then she shouldn’t notice if more appears out of nowhere, or an empty container is in the trash… right…?

Back on the couch, Xenia smirked. Her eyes were on the television, but her thoughtful expression hinted that her focus was only half on the screen.

Poor, poor, pitiful Swifty! If you told me why you weren’t able to eat that ice cream… Why, your best alibi would let everyone know that you were the Swift Sentinel, and you can’t do that, can you, Kayla? Xenia’s expression twisted, wicked delight and cool amusement shining like ice crystals deep within her eyes. One was a deep crimson red, the other a deep purple. Of course I’ve known before we were ever roommates, but as smart as you are, you can’t figure that out… because I don’t want you to know.

But…

Without pausing her show, Xenia leaned over the back of her couch. She could easily glance into the kitchen, and her mismatched eyes were quick to fall on the curvy backside of her athletic roommate. Her ass was tight, squeezed perfectly within the confines of her tight gray pants.

Mm. She has one hell of an ass, but it could be… better… Xenia’s cruel grin grew, her face contorting from malicious delight alone. I could fix that, and it would be easy, but…

That doesn’t make it any fun…

Her tongue slid over her lips, the top painted purple, the bottom red. She wore her aesthetic across her entire body, even her fingernails on one hand painted green and black, the other red and purple.

Both thumbnails were painted white, matching her open blouse perfectly.

Maybe I could make things more interesting… She wouldn’t have a fighting chance, but… Xenia squirmed her hips side to side, looking not unlike a cat preparing to pounce. Her eyes were still concentrated almost entirely on Kayla’s rear. Maybe that’s not what I really want. It has been a long time since I’ve really let loose…

Kayla moved away from the stove with a sigh. It was still preheating, and the kitchen wasn’t even filling with the scent of meat and cheese. She could imagine it, but that wasn’t quite the same.

When she turned around to lean back against the counter, Xenia was already looking back towards the television.

I’m not even sure what Xenia wants to do with her life. She likes to tease me about not seeing anyone, but has she ever dated… anyone… the whole time we’ve been living together…? Kayla scrunched up her nose. Not that it would matter if she hadn’t, but that makes it strange to tease me about it… unless she feels insecure about it and she’s taking it out on me? We aren’t exactly the best of friends, but she never seemed that mean to me…

Kayla stared at the screen, too far away to read the subtitles required for her to follow along. Careful to not engage her super speed, she made her way into her room, grabbed up her laptop, and glanced through her thesis draft as she waited for the oven.

Maybe she’s interested in… me…?

Immediately pushing that thought out of her head, Kayla shook her head quick enough to feel dizzy. Once it was gone she focused in on her thesis—or at least she tried.

After fixing a few small details, Kayla found her thoughts drifting as she moved between the paragraphs.

Xenia is beautiful and all—gorgeous—but I don’t think that she’s my type…

The oven beeped, and its suddenness shocked Kayla out of her head. Clearing her throat, she grabbed out the pizza from the freezer, and set a timer on her phone. After a glance at the television, Kayla grabbed up her laptop again and hid away in her room.

Xenia purred.

She’s even thinking about me… How cute! She squeezed her thighs together, her mismatched eyes hooding low. There’s no way I can miss an opportunity for fun this good. When was the last time Reshaper came out to play? I doubt anyone’s even spreading rumors about her anymore, which is really too bad… I always like it when people give me fun ideas for things to do…

Her hand moved as though brushing over the television screen, and the stream paused as the picture changed to a view of their city from up high. Casual movements of her hand caused the angle to change, looking down at the streets from between sky scrapers as though looking for the perfect place.

Where is just far enough that even Kayla would need more than a moment to get there and fix any problem I might make for her… but not so far she’d leave it to someone else…? Xenia’s eyes widened when they fell on a bridge leading out of the city. Even late at night, there were still plenty of cars across its length, and that meant so many lives at risk if something went wrong.

Her eyes hooded low, and she reached out her fingers to pinch at one of the support beams. Though she was only reaching towards a television screen, the beam buckled, and the bridge sunk lower.

Xenia frowned.

Not dramatic enough… How do I… ah! As one of the cars slid back from the sudden shifting of the bridge, Xenia waved her hand. The car behind it hit the trunk a little too hard, and fireworks moved through the air. Banners that hadn’t been on the bridge before, all larger versions of banners Xenia had seen in town the day before announcing a new show opening in the city’s largest theatre, caught flame.

Xenia grinned.

Perfect… Absolutely perfect! Flashy, bright, plenty of lives at stake… and just so it’ll be harder for them to get away on their own… Xenia curled her pointer finger before flicking it forward, and the road in front of the bridge erupted up just high enough to provide an impassable barrier. She made the motion again, and the other side of the bridge was similarly blocked. Very dramatic… appropriate for a heroine’s last big act of heroism before she disappears forever. It wouldn’t be fair to Swifty if I gave her anything less…

With another wave of her hand, the television again changed back to the stream and resumed without a hitch. Xenia laughed, uncertain if it was simply from recalling the earlier moment’s humor or her own devious actions.

It wasn’t long before the door to Kayla’s room opened. She rushed to the living room, holding out her phone. “Hey, Kayla! I’m going to go get some ice cream… for later, you know? Could you make sure that my pizza doesn’t burn? I shouldn’t be gone too long… really, all you need to do is just take it out when my phone goes off if I’m not back yet!”

Xenia took Kayla’s phone, spinning it around in her hand with a bright, cheerful smile. “Of course, roomie! You have a good errand!”

“Thanks, Xenia!” Kayla made her way to the door, her hand tightly clutching her backpack. Her Swift Sentinel costume was hidden inside. Even wearing a part of it under her clothing in their shared apartment felt too dangerous, especially after she’d almost made such an embarrassing mistake and risked her identity.

Being extra careful to move slowly to the door, Kayla had plenty of time to freeze in place when Xenia responded. “No problem! Be careful out there… and take your time! I’ll make sure it doesn’t burn even if you aren’t swift about it.”

“A-ah…” Kayla winced, unable to fight down her response. “Thanks, Xen… I’m… really glad that I can count on you…!”

“Of course you can…!” Xenia laughed. It was a calm and carefree laugh, the exact kind of sound that made Xenia seem like nothing more than a lazy slacker. “What are roommates for?”

“O-of course, Xen… Thanks…!” Kayla quickly shoved the door closed, rushing out the building. The moment she could, she ducked into an alleyway, and in a flash she was tying back her hair into long braid and tugging on her white spandex uniform faster than it took most people to change their shoes.

Before her costume change was even complete, Xenia was making her way to the kitchen. Kayla’s alarm hadn’t beeped yet, but she wasn’t heading for the stove.

She was heading for the fridge.

Her hand reached for the right wall, and after a knock, it slid open revealing an impossible hidden compartment. Xenia reached inside, and grabbed out Kayla’s chocolate ice cream before pushing it shut. Once it was closed, there wasn’t even the faintest of seams.

Xenia grabbed out a spoon, and her twisted look of unrestrained wickedness returning as she scooped up a large spoonful of ice cream. “There should be plenty of time for me to have a little snack before we play… but why leave it to guess work?” Xenia blinked and nodded her head towards the television, and the stream was replaced with a view of the Swift Sentinel running through the city streets. “I can watch, and introduce any drama where necessary. I think I want to eat the whole thing before we meet again…!”

Laughing even louder than before, the only thing that muted Xenia’s raucous laughter was the delicious taste of Kayla’s missing ice cream.