Jaiden wiped down the bar counters, struggling to shake off the strange news he had heard earlier. New Haven′s newest hero was making headlines and Jaiden couldn′t believe it. At first, he thought it was a joke when he overheard people at the neighbouring tables talking about it. He figured the bar′s patrons were discussing a blockbuster superhero movie, but the truth hit him when he saw a news anchor reporting a hostage rescue. Hell, the description sounded like something out of a comic book.

″I didn′t think things could get weirder,″ he muttered, shaking his head as he cleaned spilt booze off the countertop; a meld of gin and tonic, vodka diet coke, and sex on the beach.

The bar had settled into a more relaxed atmosphere after the late evening rush. Jaiden found himself sharing the space with his manager, Cal, and Marc, a regular at The Last Call. Marc often shuffled in as if he had just rolled out of bed, his dishevelled dark curls and ragged PJs a testament to his joblessness.

″I don′t know. Is it that bad for someone to lend a hand and fix some of New Haven′s messes?″ Marc asked, his voice mellow, nursing his ninth drink of the night.

″If he didn′t look like a low-budget Nightwing,″ Jaiden quipped, not withholding his snarkiness.

″At least he′s making a difference,″ Cal chimed in, lifting a crate of beer out from the backroom. ″I rather this dude than that bloke from Texas, the one in the caped sheriff′s uniform.″

Jaiden cringed. ″You mean Sheriff Slapstick?″ he asked, his tone dripping sarcasm.

″Yeah, that fella,″ Cal agreed, unfazed.

″It′s still stupid,″ Jaiden insisted.

″Um, but he saved those people,″ Marc pointed out. ″I mean, the FBI couldn′t negotiate and SWAT couldn′t close in without risking the hostages′ lives. He snuck in and rescued them.″

″I′m sure the feds would have negotiated their release if that dude hadn′t rushed in like that. He could′ve gotten someone killed. Hell, he could′ve gotten himself killed!″ Jaiden exclaimed. ″He should stick to his regular job and leave this kind of stuff to the cops.″

Cal sighed, accustomed to these debates. ″Don′t mind Jaiden,″ he told Marc, pouring him another Jameson. ″He′s just bitter because his dreams of being an Avenger got squashed after realising he was too short for the job.″

″I am not short,″ Jaden bit back, face flushed.

As usual, their arguments had no clear victor or loser. Marc just smirked, sinking into a barstool and sipping his drink as Cal and Jaiden′s familiar banter carried on into the night.