A YOUNG WOMAN gazed out at the window as more passengers stepped inside the Metro Line. She had just settled in her seat when the train arrived, taking a look at the recent newspapers as the train started:

It was headlined: FLYING MAN SAVES LOS ANGELES' PRINCESS!

The woman was intrigued by the story. She folded the paper when suddenly the entire train gave a tremendous jerk. Alongside every other passenger stumbled, some fell to the floor. The woman could see into the conductor's cabin and watched as he hurringly flipped numerous switches again and again.

"Come on come o-"

"What's going on?" Monica asked, walking into the cabin.

"You shouldn't be in here!" the conductor exclaimed.

"I wouldn't worry about me and more on what's happening now!"

"Shit!" the conductor uttered. "I can't tell from here. All I know is that we're having a massive system failure. The train looks like it's on an uncontrolled acceleration!"

"Can't you kill the power?"

"Don't you think I tried that?" the conductor shook his head, "They cut the power from the main station, even the radio's down."

Monica frowned, beginning to panic, "Is there nothing you can do?"

The conductor looked silent. "I can pray?"

As Monica breathed heavily, she heard a whooshing side from outside. Both her and the conductor turned to the front window to see a man in red and blue standing on the tracks. 

As the train sped closer, he leaped onto the front and gripped the metal so hard it bent under his hands. He braced himself, slowly shifted his weight as he created a high-pitched squeal as the train began to slow. 

Both watched in a daze and stun as the mysterious caped man brought the train into a stop just short of the station and pulled it in. 

"Did he just.." the conductor managed as the door outside slid open.

The man who saved their lives stepped in gently. "Everyone alright?"

Monica looked up and saw the man smiling, and to her recognition, he was the same man from the news AND from last night.

"It's okay, you'll be safe. I promise." the man assured both her and the other passengers.

He turned back to the train. Monica watched as he moved precisely down the platform, assisting the passengers with opening the doors using emergency levers. As soon as that was over, and he was certain that everyone was safe. He vanished in a red-blue blur.

Y/N flew and did a few more things during the morning and even at night. Stopping a nearby assault in the streets, and a couple of thugs that were attempting to rob a small store. 

Now, Y/N stood at the central console of the fortress after being called by Jor-El, whose face etched with concern.

"And... you found it fun?" Jor-El asked with sternness.

"I mean..." Y/N managed a small laugh. "I guess I got carried away."

"I anticipated this." Jor-El's gaze softened at Y/N's expression before he continued."Your compassion and desire to help others are admirable traits. They are what make you special, what make you, my son."

Though he was a hologram, he could tell how much Y/N was similar to him, remembering the number of times that he once defied the strict and cautions in favor of what's morally right. He was glad that he had the same qualities he had when he was younger.

"The exhilaration of using your powers to help others, to make a difference—it is understandable, but it comes with consequences."

"They won't." Y/N argued. "They only know of the person that saved Pym's daughter, not Y/N L/N. Isn't that enough?"

"That may be, Kal-El but the humans are too predictable...." Jor-El replied. "And it's that faults that you must maintain yourself before it is too late."

"Why not?" Y/N's brow furrowed. "This is what I've prepared for, I thought that I hid myself long enough."

"That may be but there are other considerations." Jor-El explained patiently. "You cannot serve humanity every hour of every day. Your assistance would be sought for even the most trivial of matters, robbing humans of their own agency and ability to solve problems. It is their nature to rely on a higher power when it is available."

"But isn't that what I'm here for? To help?"

"Your very presence has the potential to change the course of human history. We have been able to monitor your activity on Earth thus far, and the impact of your actions is already measurable. However, as you gain experience and grow stronger, it is inevitable that your actions will have even greater consequences."

"Isn't that what I was born for?"

"In part, yes." Jor-El admitted, his brow furrowing. "Humanity's development is a delicate process, and too much interference from you could disrupt that balance, even cause disaster."

"What should I do, then?" Y/N asked.

"Be selective in how you use your abilities, and above all, keep your existence a secret."

"That's a lot easier said than done."

"Perhaps...." Jor-El mused. "But it is important, nonetheless. We will continue to guide you, and together, we will find the path forward."

Y/N fell silent as Jor-El's holo-form vanished, leaving him alone to his thoughts in the fortress for the next few minutes.

Twelve Years Ago...

Anton Shatalov stared out the window of the International Space Station. It looked beautiful according to his wife, at least the idea of it.

"Chief, can you hear me?" He heard James's voice speak.

Anton turned away from the window. "I heard you breathing during the past hours here."

Anton and the crew were the first humans to ever venture this close to the sun. Their mission was to study the magnetic field around the Sun and attempt to determine whether the Sun's poles were reversed.

The Sol-Suit Anton was wearing had been designed specifically for missions like this. Anton and Elena spent months training in the suit. It was equipped with advanced shielding and a cooling system that could withstand the intense heat and radiation of the Sun's corona.

"Remember, the suit's systems are experimental. If anything goes wrong, we might not be able to bring you back." Elara reminded him.

"You ready to make history?" Commander Harris's voice crackled over the intercom.

"I'll try not to die." Anton joked.

Elara gave him a quick peck before leaving as Harris' voice came through. "Good now get ready."

The airlock hissed open, and Anton floated into the void. He took in the atmosphere for a moment before he activated the suit's thrusters and began his descent toward the sun.

"Anton." Kelvin's voice spoke through. "Your readings are nominal. How are you faring?"

"I'm good," Anton replied, his voice steady. "Approaching target coordinates now."

Anton adjusted the Sol-Suit's thrusters, guiding himself through the vacuum as the Sun's radiant glow intensified.

"Readings are stable," Kelvin reported. "No solar flares detected."

As he approached the Sun's pole, a blip appeared on his sensors. "Something's off..."

The interface showed spiking, chaotic data. Anton felt a jolt run through him as the suit's systems flickered. 

"Systems failing! I'm losing power!" Anton attempted to reach the ISS and Mission Control, but only static answered his calls. "Harris? Harris! Elena, can you hear me?!"

Anton quickly activated the trustees, but it was too late. A massive solar flare erupted, slamming into him. He was tossed violently, his suit overloaded. The communication with the ISS and Mission Control was abruptly cut off. 

In the silence that followed, Anton drifted in space.... with nothing but the flowing rocks glowing in the atmosphere.

Marvel Studios Presents














• •  𝘼𝙙𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙎𝙐𝙋𝙀𝙍𝙈𝘼𝙉 • •

(Theme Song: Lullaby - Nickelback)

THE FOLLOWING MORNING, the headline 'Caped Man Saves Billionaire's Daughter' was splashed across the front page of the Daily Planet. People read it and were fascinated by the story, which was only growing more and more popular by the coming morning to afternoon.

It was all Y/N could hear people talk about as he was sitting face to face with William Reeves in his office.

"So, Mr. L/N," Reeves began. "What exactly makes you think you're ready for this internship?"

Y/N adjusted his glasses, "I um..I'm not sure. I have loved reporting ever since I started traveling aboard."

Reeves raised an eyebrow. "Traveling abroad, huh? And where exactly did you travel?"

Y/N's eyes lit up as he spoke. "I spent time in various places. Europe, Asia, South America. I wanted to experience different cultures, understand people's stories from their own perspectives."

"So, you think because you've seen a bit of the world, that makes you a reporter?"

"No but...there's a lot going on than people seem to realize that," Y/N stated. "Not many people really have a goal on wanting to make a difference or to even understand the world they live in. It's uh, something I discovered along the way."

"I can see that." Reeves's expression softened just a fraction. "But we're a serious paper, L/N. I need someone who can handle the pressure and dig deep for the big town."

Y/N nodded earnestly. "Absolutely, sir. That's why I'm here...applying somewhere where I can do some good."

Reeves studied Y/N for a long moment. He was dressed nice, but he sounded like he barely had social skills, and yet his writing samples were punchy and capable of expressing a writer's opinion perfectly. Not to mention that his resume wasn't half bad either.

"You've got a heart, kid, I'll give you that," Reeves finally said. "And your writing isn't bad. But this job isn't easy. It takes more than just passion. It takes persistence, thick skin, and a nose for the truth. Think you can handle that?"

Y/N met Reeves's gaze steadily. "Yes, sir. I'm ready to prove myself."

Reeves nodded slowly. "Alright, kid. You've got the internship. But don't think this means you've made it. In fact I'm gonna make an exception."

Y/N nodded as Reeves leaned back at his chair and continued.

"I have this young lady, same age as you, apply here about a week ago. Turns out she's one of the most bulldogged, go get 'em type I have ever had the pleasure of interviewing, but unfortunately for her, the girl doesn't know writing from Tuvan throat singing. In other words, she has half the skills I need and you have the other half."

Y/N furrowed his brow, intrigued by where this was going.

"So this is what I'm going to do," he continued, "I am gonna hire you both on copy pay for one week, and if by the end of that week, you two haven't come up with the best damn story any one new hire has ever written, I'll fire you both. Does that sound like a fair deal to you, L/N?"

Y/N's face broke into a wide grin. "Thank you, Mr. Reeves. I won't—"

"This is ludicrous!" a blonde woman stormed in. "This is bias crap that will do nothing but spread public doubt!"

She tossed the flapping paper down on Mr. Reeves's desk. She barely noticed Y/N as she glanced at her boss.

"Ms. Lee, we were just discussing—" Reeves began but the woman cut him off.

"Discussing what, exactly? That article is fearmongering, and you know it!"

"And I don't remember asking you. And we aren't in the business of coddling the public, Cassie." Reeves said firmly. "We print facts. And nothing that was said has printed here is untrue. For most people in this city, the symbol on this guy's chest should be a big old question mark."

"But he saved someone last night and just about this morning, he's not here to hurt us, Chief."

"Hand me the article that can prove that and I will print it. Page one," he then stood up, straightening his tie, "Matter of fact, it might be your lucky day. Lee, meet Y/N L/N this is your new partner so you better get acquainted fast if your careers depend on it."

Cassandra Lee finally turned her gaze to Y/N, her eyes narrowing slightly. "So, you're the new guy, huh?"

"Um..oh sorry– silly me," Y/N quickly got up, accidentally making the chair fall as he extended out his hand, "Nice to meet you miss. I'm looking forward to working together."

Cassie eyed his hand for a moment before shaking it reluctantly.

Reeves clapped his hands together. "Good, glad that's settled. Now, here's your first assignment." He handed them a folder. "I want you to look into this. There's been some rumors flying around about rats showing up in one of the swankier neighborhoods uptown. I want you two to take a look at it."

"What?!" Cassie started in disbelief.

"That's right. And if you do, you can write about it and I'll see you next Monday. If not, I'll see you never."

"But chief what about the flying man-"

"I'm actually thinking of giving it to Miss Rushmore."

Cass's eyebrow furrowed, "What? Who?"

"Someone you don't need to know, miss Lee. Now go on and show your new partner around. Come end of the week, I'd better see a story about the mayor or at least a damn good decent story or you'll get the boot so fast that not even your daddy could save your career. Good day."

With that, he left the room, leaving the two alone in the office. Cassie took a deep breath and turned to face Y/N, a worried smile came on his face.

"Um so-" Y/N began but was cut off.

"Let's just get one thing straight. I'm not here to babysit. You pull your weight, or we're both out on the street."

Y/N quickly nodded, acting humbly as possible, "Uh, gotcha, Miss Lee. I won't let you down."

"You better," she said, her tone skeptical. "I'm not slowing down for anyone, so you better keep up."

With that, she headed out the door, leaving him behind.

"Uh, Miss Lee! Wait for me!" he called after her, the blonde woman not even turning back to wait for her new colleague.

He had a feeling this would be a very long day.

• • •

THE AREA NEAR Long Beach Harbor was a complete maze for the workers. The morning instantly started with tons of shipping containers, cranes, and towering stacks of crates as truckers unloaded their cargo.

The workers almost forgot it was break time when the time finally came. The dockhands handled the shipment while the small group of workers watched from the sidelines, smoking and chatting.

"Hey, check it out," one of them motioned. "There's something peering out into the water!"

"The fuck?"

A small crowd had gathered at the edge of the dock. As they approached closer, they could see something floating in the water, slowly drifting towards the shore. It was large and appeared to glint in the sunlight.

As it came closer, the shape became more defined and 7 out of 10 of those workers immediately stepped back.

"What the hell is that?" one of the workers asked.

"I don't know but I ain't gonna be here to find out. Let's get out of here!"

As soon if on cue, the water rippled violently and a bulky armored, with a helmet that was cracked and scorched, emerged from the water. It towered highly over the workers like a dinosaur facing a bear.

 The remaining workers gasped and stepped back as the helmeted heard turned. Through the cracked visor was a pair of eyes that could be seen — eyes that seemed to shimmer in green.

"WHERE. IS. HARRIS!"

• • •

THE FOUR FRIENDS sat at a table shaded by a large oak tree outside at the park that was near the university building. 

Nate was talking about his day while Anya was sketching quietly. It was late in the evening and the sun was setting, giving a warm glow to the sky.

"Maybe because it was on the syllabus?" Hope teased.

"Don't rub it in," Nate grumbled. "At least I'm not buried in assignments like some people."

Anya tilted her head slightly. "That's because some of us actually plan ahead, Nate."

"I have plans." Nate tried.

"Plans of what? Laughing on dollars," Bobbi chimed in, placing an arm around her girlfriend with a playful grin. 

"Okay, wow, the betrayal from all sides," Nate threw his hands up, feigning offense. "Roomie, back me up on this one. Y/N?"

Y/N was sitting with them, but his mind wandered. Anya glanced up from her sketch, noticing his expression.

"Are you alright?" she asked him.

"Huh?" Y/N blinked, turning to her.

"You've been staring at the sky for quite a while. Is something the matter?" she asked, her pencil hovering over the page, eyebrows slightly raised.

"Oh, no, everything's fine," Y/N waved her off. "Just thinking."

Anya's eyebrow quirked up, "About the internship?"

"Something like that," he admitted.

"Speaking of which, what's up with that?" Nate asked him, leaning forward.

"Yeah, how was your first day?" Anya asked interested.

"It was...something," Y/N said, still unsure. "Mr. Reeves seem nice but today was kinda a busy. Working on a case and it's kinda was just chasing down dead ends."

"I'm sure it wasn't that bad." Hope gave him a reassuring smile. "First days are always messy."

"I guess so." Y/N gave them a smile. "So, er, how was your dad? You know...after the whole deal two days ago."

"He was a little shaken but he's getting better," Hope replied. "The freaks that kidnapped me are still being questioned."

"That's good to hear," Y/N nodded, smiling softly. "At least your safe."

"Speaking of which," Anya continued, her curiosity piqued, "any idea who that guy was? You know, the Flying Man?"

Y/N's eyes furrowed. "That's what they're calling him?"

Bobbi shrugged, "Either that or the Red-Blue Blur. In fact, someone actually mentioned on the idea that the flying man could actually be the Blur."

"The blur?" Y/N asked confusingly which earned a few stares at him.

"You got to keep up Smallville." Hope said. "The Blur's been talked about for like, months. Some guy in a hoodie, can apparently run super-fast and saves people. A lot."

"And there are a lot of theories and rumors," Nate added.

"So, it's a superhero?"

"Or a super vigilante." Bobbi chimed in. "Who knows."

"Maybe he was just a random passerby," Nate said, not seeming too concerned.

"But who is he?" Anya pressed, leaning forward with interest. "Do you think he's like those armored guys, you know during that whole thing people rumored in New Mexico?"

Y/N shook his head, trying to sound casual. "I don't think he's like them. He didn't look like he was wearing armor. He seemed... more heroic, I guess. Less like a soldier."

Nate turned to Y/N, raising an eyebrow. "And how would you know?"

Y/N tried not to give anything away. "Uh I just do. It's a feeling."

"Feeling, huh?" Bobbi teased lightly; her tone was playful.

"I don't know much about him," Y/N continued, "but I think he's, I dunno... from outer space or something."

"An alien?" Bobbi mused, her curiosity deepening. "You really think so?"

"Maybe." Y/N smiled, looking thoughtful.

"I mean, why else would he be able to fly?" Nate added.

"There's plenty of other ways to fly," Anya pointed out. "It could be some secret technology or a suit like Iron Man or—"

"I don't care who he is," Hope said, her tone more serious now. "Whoever he is, I owe him my life."

"I'm sure he knows," Y/N muttered glancing at her. Hope smiled back, having no idea that the man she was thanking sat right in front of her.

• • •

THE DAY AT the power plant facility started like any other for the workers. Up and early then ensuring everything was in order.

The chief engineer, Dr. Kelvin arrived a few hours later, his team of engineers in tow. He walked into the main room, his eyes scanning the large central core.

"Everything seems fine, Kelvin," his assistant said, adjusting his glasses as he inspected the readouts on one of the monitors. "Nothing's out of the ordinary."

"Good," Kelvin muttered silently.

"Is something wrong?" the assistant asked, glancing up from his screen.

Dr. Kelvin shook his head. "Nothing. We're just being extra cautious today. There was... an incident last night."

The assistant frowned. "Incident? What kind of incident?"

"A minor one. I think...it doesn't matter." Dr. Kelvin shook his head. "Let's just stay vigilant today. We've got a full schedule ahead."

The assistant looked skeptical but said nothing. As the day wore on, the workers busied themselves with their tasks. Everything seemed normal until a loud metallic clang echoed from the lower level. A few workers looked up, startled.

"What was that?" one of them asked, glancing nervously toward the generator room.

"Probably just a loose pipe," another replied, though his tone was uncertain.

The two workers decided to investigate. They went down toward the lower levels of the power plant, their footsteps echoing in the dimly lit corridor. The air grew cold as they went deeper.

"Anything?" the colleague whispered.

The veteran opened out his flashlight and flickered it on. After a few looks, the veteran worker shrugged his shoulders.

"Probably nothing," he dismissed. "Just some loose pipe."

His colleague, however, glanced around as the clang still rang in his ears. "Doesn't sound like just a loose pipe to me."

They reached the generator room and pushed open the heavy door. Inside, the low thrum of energy pulsed through the large central core, lights blinking in sync with the steady power output. Everything seemed in order—until they spotted it.

A large metal panel had been ripped clean off one of the power conduits, lying crumpled on the floor like a discarded piece of paper. Wires dangled from the exposed section, sparking intermittently. The younger worker knelt down, examining the damage.

"What the hell happened here?" he muttered, running his hand over the torn metal.

Before the veteran could respond, a deep rumble shook the floor beneath them. 

It started as a low vibration, barely noticeable, but quickly escalated into a violent tremor. The workers stumbled, grabbing onto nearby railings as the entire plant seemed to sway.

"Get back upstairs!" the veteran yelled, pulling the younger man to his feet.

They scrambled up the stairwell as the rumble intensified, metal groaning all around them. Above them, warning sirens blared throughout the facility.

Back in the control room, Dr. Kelvin and his assistant stared wide-eyed at the monitors as power fluctuations spiked across the board. The assistant fumbled with the controls, trying to stabilize the output, but the readings kept jumping.

"What's going on down there?" Dr. Kelvin demanded.

Before anyone could respond, a massive explosion ripped through the lower levels, shaking the entire plant. The control room lights flickered, and the screens briefly went dark before rebooting with error messages flooding in.

Dr. Kelvin's assistant paled as he glanced at one of the external cameras. "Doctor, you need to see this."

On the screen, a giant metal suit sparking and glowing with residual energy emerged from the smoke and debris near the facility's perimeter.

Dr. Kelvin's eyes furrowed. "What the hell..."

• • •

THE NEXT FEW days for Y/N went just as bad as his first. It had been a long day at the Daily Planet. Reeves was not impressed by the lack of progress, and his intense conversations with working with Cassie wasn't making things easier.

Y/N was about halfway through the report when he heard Cassie rose up from her desk.

"Ms. Lee?" Y/N began.

"Come on," she said. "It's lunch break and there's a good cafe not far from here."

Y/N blinked. "Uh... sure."

Cassie sighed, rolling her eyes. "You don't have to sound so excited. I just thought we could use a break and maybe come up with some ideas. We haven't made much progress."

"I mean..." Y/N gave up at this point. "Er...um, alright. That sounds good."

As the pair left the building, Y/N couldn't help but feel a bit awkward. He had no idea how to act around Cassie, and she didn't seem very interested in conversation either. The silence between them stretched out for several blocks, the air heavy with tension.

Y/N was starting to wonder if this was such a good idea when Cassie spoke up.

"What do you want?" Cassie asked, her tone a bit softer than usual.

"Oh, no," Y/N said, shaking his head. "Please- allow me. After all, you're doing a lot for me. Be a bit of a shame not to thank you."

Cassie stared for a moment before shrug. "Suit yourself."

As they stepped up to the counter, the barista stood ready to take their order.

"What can I get you?"

"Uh, two black coffees, please," Cassie replied, "One with milk and one with sugar. Thanks."

Y/N couldn't help but notice that Cassie didn't have any hesitation about ordering coffee for him, as if they had known each other for a while. Y/N tried not to smile, thinking that was cute.

While the barista prepared the drinks, Y/N and Cassie sat at a table with their chairs facing towards each other.

"Uh, if I may...Ms. Lee?" Y/N began. "What's the plan after we're done here?"

"We need a solid story," she said, almost like a snap. "At least something that's more solid than something about rats."

"I...I guess..." Y/N sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "But I don't know what to look for."

Cassie's eyes narrowed. "That's your problem then. Just know this city doesn't wait around for anyone, and as I remind you. Neither am I."

Y/N face fell flat, almost wincing at those wrong choice of words. He lowered his head and decided not to say anything further as the barista returned with their coffees.

Afterwards, both sat in silence for a while. Neither really saying anything until the young intern decided to make some small talk for his new colleague, he thought perhaps he could get some idea on who he was working with.

"So..." Y/N began. "Do you...uh...come here often?"

Cassie glanced at him; one eyebrow raised. "You're really going with that line?" she asked, a hint of amusement in her voice.

Y/N shook his head. "No, I mean...it's a nice place. I just, uh, thought it'd be a good icebreaker?"

Cassie almost chuckled. He couldn't tell if she was annoyed or amused.

"You're a bit awkward, you know that?"

"Yeah, I've heard that a lot." Y/N admitted steeply.

Cassie took another sip of her coffee. "But...yeah, I do come here a lot. It's quiet, and I like the vibe. Helps me think when I'm...stuck."

Y/N nodded, looking around. "I see. I mean, yeah, it is kinda cozy. Nice music too."

"Mhm," Cassie hummed, sipping her coffee.

After a few minutes of awkward silence, Cassie' phone dinged. She pulled it out and glanced at the screen, her face darkening slightly.

"Holy shit, there's a fire!" her eyes darted interestingly across the screen.

Y/N glanced up. "Wait, what?"

"There's something happening on the other side of the city." Cass's eyes glanced up then back at the screen. She scrolled through the article and her heart raced. "At an old power plant. Looks like there's been an explosion or something."

Y/N stiffened at the news. "An explosion?"

"Yeah, just happened a little while ago. They don't have many details yet, but it sounds serious." She looked up from her phone, her journalistic instincts kicking in. "We might have something here."

Y/N nodded, feeling his heart rate pick up. "Yeah...definitely. I have to go...to the bathroom."

"Sure, whatever, make it quick!" Cassie stood up, grabbing her bag. "I'm definitely not missing this. The chief would lose his mind over this!"

Y/N hesitated before running towards the boy's bathroom...then speeding out the back door like a blur.

Back at the facility, the workers were already storming out of the burning building. Alarms blared as the air was thick with smoke.

Dr. Kelvin stumbled backward in the middle of the ruined control room. The armored man approaching him.

"Who are you and what do you want?!" Kelvin yelled hastily.

"Kelvin...friend..." The armored growled distortedly. The ground beneath him began to crack with each step.

"What...what are you talking about?" Dr. Kelvin stammered.

"Where...is...Harris..."

"I-I don't know who that is! Please, we don't have anyone named Harris here!"

The armored man narrowed over the scientist. It looked like it was considering...until suddenly parts of the suit started to glow in a bright sicken shade of green. The person inside the suit let out shouts and grunts before it growled,

"You...you, all of you, abandoned me! You left me to die!"

"W-what?...I don't know! Please stop this!" Kelvin cried out, shielding himself with his arms.

"You...you, all of you, abandoned me! You left me to die!"

"W-what?...I don't know! Please stop this!" Kelvin cried out, shielding himself with his arms.

"You're! Lying!"

Just as Shatalov's hand began to lift, Kelvin suddenly found himself at a safer spot. He blinked, realizing that he was no longer next to the giant figure.

"What the—"

There was a flash of red and blue, and a loud metallic clang rang out as the arm was hit. A split second later, the armored man was knocked into the wall with a crash.

Y/N stood in front of the armored man. "That's enough. Don't make me hurt you."

Armored man pushed himself off the floor, growling. "Out of my way."

"Sure. After we settle this civilized."

Y/N barely had time to react before the Dynamo launched forward, fists crackling with energy. They collided with a deafening boom, the force of the impact shaking the entire facility.

Y/N grabbed the armored arm, trying to restrain whoever was inside. But the Dynamo broke free and struck him again. Y/N flew backward until his back hit the wall and he collapsed to the ground. The giant mech lunged forward but Y/N skidded away.

But as the battle raged on, something felt off. Y/N's strength started to wane. At first, it was barely noticeable—a slight heaviness in his limbs. But with each passing second, it grew worse. His head began to pound, and his vision blurred.

Something was wrong. Something was terribly wrong.

"What...the hell..." Y/N said weakly, holding his head.

The suit powered forward again, and this time Y/N was too slow to dodge. The Dynamo's fist slammed into his chest, knocking him into the wall. He slumped to the floor, the world spinning around him.

The armored man loomed above him. "You should've stayed out of my way!"

He raised his fists, the gauntlets were crackling with that sam green energy. It moved fast to strike at the caped vigilante once again until...

"ENOUGH!"

With a burst of seething fury, Y/N's head raised up and a fiery heat of red BURST from his eyes and managed to hit the attacker by the arm which sparkled and malfunctioned.

Seizing the moment, Y/N speed away and gasped for air as he slowly regained himself.

Did I do that?...How did...

He blinked in shock as the armored man rose from the ground. It just growled distorted but due to the blast, its voice became much clearer for both ears to hear.

"Taken...taken...everything...from me..."

Before Y/N could respond or even react, the Dynamo activated the thrusters in his suit and launched himself into the sky, disappearing into the distance.

"Shatalov...."

Y/N turned to see Kelvin still there huddled near the wreckage as the place was about to collapse. 

Y/N sped over, grabbing Kelvin by the waist and whisking him out of the crumbling building just as another explosion rocked the facility. In seconds, Y/N had flown him to safety outside where fire trucks and police cars were already gathering.

"Are you okay?" Y/N asked, taking a deep breath as his strength slowly returned.

Kelvin nodded shakily, his hands trembling. "Y-Yes... thank you... but that man, the one in the suit—"

Y/N was about to say something but then a pair of firefighters ran toward them.

"What happened?" the other asked, eyeing Y/N with a hint of suspicion.

Y/N didn't answer, still shaky from the encounter. He looked around at the burning building—people were safe, but the collateral damage was overwhelming.

"Is everyone accounted for?"

"I-I don't know... I think most of the workers made it out, but—" He hesitated, glancing back at the smoldering remains. "I'm not sure... I didn't see everyone."

Y/N's heart sank at those words, his gaze shifting back to the destruction he had just left behind. 

Not sure... The flames were still raging, black smoke billowing into the sky. The fire crews worked to control the blaze, but it was clear that the damage was extensive. Had everyone really made it out?

Suddenly, the weight of his actions hit. He was working so hard on fighting the armored man that lives were at risk, and he didn't think to notice as the power plant was nearly destroyed.

For the first time, Y/N wondered if he at this too early. If his father had been right all along.

• • •

IT WAS NIGHTTIME when Hope arrived home. Her dad's car was parked in the driveway, which was a rare occurrence. She hadn't seen him all day and wasn't sure what he was up to. She eventually did found him inside his study room where she could hear the sound of typing from outside.

"Dad?"

"Come in," Hank's voice called out, sounding tense.

Hope glanced around at the room. Her father sitting sternly behind his desk, his fingers flying across the keyboard while the TV news was playing. She could see footage from the attack on the power plant.

The brunette shook her head and began, "So I just wanted to tell you that—"

"I heard," Hank said, his tone curt and distant. "I'm working."

Hope frowned. "I can see that. What's going on?"

"A lot." Hank glanced up at the screen, his jaw tightening. Before Hope could replay, she heard the haunting voice of one of the worker's being questioned.

"—ne minute, everything was fine. And then... boom! The whole place went up."

Hope watched closely as the reporter asked one of the plant workers about the incident.

"And did you see the man in the metal suit?"

The man shuddered. "Yeah, I saw him. He came out of nowhere. Just appeared out of thin air. And the way he looked... it was terrifying."

Hope stared at the TV, her mouth hanging open in shock. "Wait, a man in a metal suit? Are they talking about..."

"Nope. Unfortunately or, well, thankfully depending on views. But yes, it was a man wearing a metal suit."

"So...not the Blur," she said slowly.

"No. No, I recognize that suit all too well" Hank shook his head and stood up from his desk to walk towards her. "Funny name Project Pegasus used to call it: The Crimson Dynamo."

"Crimson Dynamo?" Hope echoed, frowning. "I've never heard of it."

"You wouldn't have," Hank assured her. "Years ago there was an experiment. Classified, as far as I've heard back then. A suit designed for deep space missions, developed under Project Pegasus. it was one of their more ambitious ventures, but..." 

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. Hope turned to her father as he continued,

"It was never supposed to be weaponized. One of them was an astronaut they sent up in that suit — he disappeared. Marked dead by the head at the time."

Hope's eyes furrowed. "But you don't think that's the case anymore?"

Hank shrugged. "It's just a theory. The records are incomplete and the people involved have either passed away or disappeared. Whatever happened up there, it's shrouded in secrecy. And if that armor is what I think it is, then it's a lot more dangerous than anyone realizes. That suit was designed to withstand the harshest conditions in space. But in the wrong hands..."

"Then who did it?" Hope asked. "Who was that man in the armor?"

Hank shook his head. "I don't know. All I know is that... there's more than what Reeves' birds saying."

Hope stared at her father then glanced back at the TV screen. A chill running through her spine as her eyes stared darkly.

• • •

Y/N WAS IN his dorm after the whole event. He had a feeling the news would be covering the attack and he wanted to know as much as possible. As soon as he was done cleaning himself, he turned on the television and flicked through the channels.

The news was everywhere, and there was no escaping it. It seemed like every channel was showing some form of coverage. Everywhere, the reporters talked about the attack, how a mysterious man in a strange-looking suit had stormed the plant and destroyed everything. There were no casualties, which was a miracle. But the damage was still severe.

Y/N couldn't help but wonder if he failed. If he could've done more than focus too much on the metal machine. Not to mention what really got to him was the fact that he nearly died. And it felt...vulnerable.

He kept watching the news as the door opened and Nate came in. He looked tired, his shoulders slumped.

"Yo!" he held his arms out.

"Sup." Y/N waved. "How's school and work?"

"Eh. Same old, same old. Mr. Smith is still making us grind, but he's alright. I think you'd like him," Nate said, flopping onto the couch. "You?"

"Same here." Y/N sighed.

Nate frowned, "Alright, what's got your panties in a twist this time."

Y/N chuckled at the bluntness but didn't respond right away. He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, staring at the TV as the footage of the power plant continued. "I don't know, man. It's just... everything feels like it's slipping out of control."

Nate raised an eyebrow. "Control? You? Dude, you always have your stuff together."

"Not anymore," Y/N muttered. "It's like... I'm trying to be two people at once. You ever feel like you're being pulled in a million directions? Like, between school, work, and everything else, it's like no matter what you do, it's not enough?"

Nate tilted his head, eyeing him curiously. "Yeah, I feel that sometimes. But man, you look like you're on another level. What's really going on?"

"It's just hard, you know? Trying to figure out where I fit in... with all of it. Like...what I want to do, what I should be doing. I thought of a decision that my dad advised me against but it felt right to do so otherwise and I messed up. I—" He paused, running his hands through his hair, his voice growing softer. "For the first time, I think I felt... weak."

Nate took a swig of his soda and leaned back. "Well...I mean you're still standing, so that's something. My dad used to say gifted people aren't always perfect. They have to learn to focus on what they can control without getting too caught up by bystanders."

Y/N nodded, listening intently as his dormmate continued.

"I don't explicitly know what you're going through, but I know it all too well...the pressure and trying to keep everything balanced." Nate placed his hand on his shoulder, squeezing lightly. "It's tough but you can just focus on what you can do and trust the rest will work out."

"How though?" Y/N asked, leaning back.

Nate shrugged. "One step at a time. Today? Did what you could. Tomorrow? You figure out the next move. You and that other intern."

"I guess." Y/N smiled weakly, not convinced.

"I mean it. You're doing a good thing as far as I know so just focus on that. Don't worry about anything else."

Y/N let out a heavy sigh. He took in his friends' words before he replied. "Yeah, you're right. Thanks, man."

Nate clapped him on the back. "Anytime, dude. Now, what do you say we turn off this depressing news and order pizza? I'm starving."

Y/N smirked, shaking his head. "Sure, why not."

"Cool." Nate picked up his phone and ordered the pizza. "I will say though, giant robot vs flying man. Now that could be an interesting story to investigate. Just saying."

Y/N paused as he said that. An idea came in his head.

"Uh, yeah, maybe."

• • •

THE NEXT DAY, Y/N headed back to the office after university class. The Phad been covering the attack all night, and now there was even more speculation and rumors. Y/N was worried. Whoever had tried to attack the plant was still out there and he needed to stop them.

But to get an idea, he might need a little help.

Y/N was brought back from his thoughts when he bumped into Cassie as she was walking through the front doors of the office.

"Sorry, Ca- I mean Ms. Lee!" Y/N apologized, kneeling down and helping her with the stuff she dropped. "I didn't see you there, good lord..."

"Whatever." she replied harshly, rolling her eyes. "Where the hell have you been? You just suddenly ditched out of the blue and I get yelled at by the Chief!"

Y/N hesitated. "Uh, sorry. I- I was going to come back but.... I had to take care of something."

Cassie scoffed, crossing her arms. "Of course you do. Well, I hope it was worth it."

Y/N cringed. "Look, I'm sorry, Cassie, but I hav—"

"Save it, kid!" Cassie cut in, sighing. "I don't have time for this."

"I got an ideal lead on the case with the man in the metal suit!" He immediately said. "And...I figured this could be a prefect story. One that might suit your case."

For a brief moment, Cassie stared at him. Then, a slow tint of interest spread across her face.

"Go on."

Feeling slightly more confident, Y/N gestured they sit at their seats before continuing.

"Sooo I've been questioning a few people who worked at the power plant. And one of them mentioned that it was heading straight after the lead doctor of the building. It got me thinking...maybe there's a connection. Especially after sources said that they first sighted that metal suit near the docks two days ago."

Cassie went into thought. "You're... not wrong. The way that armor was described—it's not something off the shelf."

"It looks military-grade so there must be a story behind it. Best way to do that is to find out who the metal guy was and what's behind his rampage."

Cassie sat forward, her mind already racing through the possibilities. "Alright, Kent. I like where you're going with this. But if we're going to break this story, we're going to do this right."

"I'm open to suggestions, Ms. Lee."

Cassie leaned back into her chair. "One idea is that perhaps, if this is military-grade someone must've wrote about it. There's some old articles and scraps at the achieves. Look for anything that might hint at a pattern—similar incidents, old projects, whatever."

"Okay." Y/N agreed, feeling hopeful.

Cassie tapped her pen against the desk. "I can try and make some calls. See if I can dig up anything. And you can check the archives. Oh, and let's not have the Chief find out about this. This is just between you and me."

"Uh..." Y/N almost hesitated before nodding. "Yeah, sure."

As the intern headed toward the archives, Cassie smiled and grabbed her cell phone. She dialed a number, then waited for someone to answer.

• • •

KELVIN SAT ALONE in his apartment, a glass of whiskey in hand. He stared out the window, watching the sunset over Los Angeles. The room was silent except for the hum of the air conditioner.

Suddenly, the air shifted as he lifted the glass to his lips. Kelvin turned slowly, his eyes narrowing. For a brief moment, the curtains fluttered, revealing a tall silhouette hovering just beyond the glass.

"Who's there!" Kelvin backed away instinctively.

He stood there examining the sight before setting his glass down and moving forward with slow steps. He opened the curtains and before him was Y/N, in his attire, floating outside his window. Kelvin stared before opening the door windows.

"Good evening, Doctor." Y/N politely greeted, his voice firm. "We need to talk. Mind if I step inside?"

"I—" Kelvin hesitated, staring at him wide-eyed. "Uh, of course."

"Thank you."

With that, Y/N glided into the room and landed gracefully on the floor.

"You—what are you doing here?" he stammered, trying to maintain composure.

"I came here because we need to talk." Y/N repeated.

"About what?" Kelvin crossed his arms defensively.

"The armored man," Y/N explained, his voice stern. "What do you know about him? And Project Pegasus."

Kelvin swallowed hard, stepping back. "I-I don't know what you're talking about."

Y/N's expression hardened. "Don't lie to me, Dr. Kelvin. When I saved you, you looked as if you knew whoever was inside that thing. And I know you were involved in a project twelve years ago. So talk."

Kelvin's face paled, and he shook his head. "That—that was a long time ago. I had nothing to do with this!"

"Then why is he after you?"

"He isn't after me! Not at first. He was demanding for Harris. Victoria Harris." Kelvin corrected. He sighed and placed a hand on his forehead, Y/N could hear his heart pounding rapidly as he went on to explain.

"He's after Victoria Harris," Kelvin repeated, his voice trembling. "She was the head of the team. We were called Project Pegasus, hired by SHIELD. I was just one of the lead scientist back then. Me, Harris, James, Anton and his wife Elena. We were hired to do special missions until...an incident happened."

"What happened?"

"Anton volunteered for a sun observation.... but then a solar flare struck, and Ivan was lost into orbit. We lost communication with him...I wanted to go back but Harris ordered me- us to leave him. I thought he was dead at this point."

"Well, he's back and he seems a little upset," Y/N countered. "But why is he angry?"

Kelvin shrugged, "Revenge. I think he believes that we might've left him. I don't know what's happened but...well...after years of being isolated and alone for years, eventually you might have lost your mind."

"Especially with him wearing the armor that held life support systems—"

"And you just left them there?" Y/N cut him off.

Kelvin's heart rate rose as he stammered, "We had no choice! The radiation would've killed us all and Harris said we barely had enough fuel to get us out of here."

Y/N didn't respond but his gaze hardened as his fists tightened. "So, you just went with that. Blindly following orders."

"What would you've done—"

"I would've found a way." Y/N's eyes flared. "But you didn't. You just abandoned a man who risked his life to go to the edge of the universe."

Kelvin flinched as the anger in Y/N's voice grew, his tone sharpening.

"And I have to live with that..." Kelvin's head lowered in guilt.

"At this point, everyone who's now been either killed or injured by this man does," Y/N told him firmly. "And you're gonna help me stop him."

Kelvin's face paled further, and his head rose. "I- I don't think I can do that... I'm not as strong as you. Pegasus is long gone from the media and Harris has been off the grid for years."

Y/N's eyes softened slightly. "Leave it to me and a few friends I know. But I just need you to tell me everything you know—every detail about that suit, about Anton, and about Project Pegasus."

Kelvin hesitated, torn between fear and a growing sense of responsibility. After a long pause, he finally nodded.

"Alright," he said, voice barely a whisper. "I'll tell you everything."

• • •

LATER IN THE MORNING, Y/N walked back into the Cafe and met with Cassie, who already had her drink with her. Her eyes glued to her laptop as he approached her.

"Found anything?" Y/N asked, trying to act as normal as possible.

After learning the truth from Dr. Kelvin, he knew he couldn't just reveal what he had discovered as it would raise too many questions. Instead, he had to give Cassie an anonymous tip earlier, hoping it would lead her to the truth on her own.

"No, not really," Cassie muttered, scrolling through her notes. "There's not a lot on Project Pegasus, which is weird. But I did find out who the armored guy might be. Check this."

She pulled up a picture on her laptop, a file with the name Shatalov, Anton. Y/N felt his heart skip a beat when he saw the face staring back at him.

"Anton Shatalov?" he said, feigning surprise.

"Yeah, apparently he was an astronaut," Cassie explained. "Turns out he was apart of this whole Project Pegasus until he was apparently lost in space. Official records said he died, but it looks like he's back."

Y/N nodded. "So- we're fighting ghosts now?"

Cassie smirked briefly. "Not exactly. I stayed up doing more digging. If you connect the dots, it looks like he's got some kind of vendetta against the people who were involved in Project Pegasus."

As they did some more digging, Cassie pulled up more files and they saw a photo of Anton and another familiar person. They both realized that she was one of the people apart of the project.

"Who is she?" Y/N's eyes furrowed.

Cassie digged through some more and then took a deep breath. "Dr. Elena Kozlova. One of the lead engineers of the group and Anton's wife."

Y/N turned to her. "His wife?"

Cassie nodded grimly. "Yeah. They were both involved in the project. From what I can piece together, it looks like they worked together before Anton's accident—before he was lost in space."

"What happened to her?"

Cassie dug through more files until she stumbled upon another image: an older Elena Kozlova standing with a young girl, smiling faintly.

"She resigned after Anton's disappearance," Cassie explained. "It looks like she retired after that... started a new life. And..." she hesitated, then pointed to the photo, "...she has a kid."

Y/N's frown deepened as he traced in thought. "How old is the kid?"

"Looks like about 11 or—"

"12 years," Y/N said. That's the same amount of time Anton's been missing.

It all clicked into place. Anton wasn't just angry that his own workers, his friends left him—he was a man who had been ripped from his life. Anton probably don't even know that he has a kid, nor on the fact that wife is even alive.

At first, Anton had seemed like a ruthless villain, but now Y/N saw him in a different light: a man who had lost everything. Anton wasn't just out for blood but was someone who had been cut off from the world trapped in his own prison by people who chose to leave him while he begged for help.

Anton's rage wasn't madness—it was grief.

"At least we now have an idea on why he's pissed." Cassie leaned back. "What should we do now?"

"We need to find where Anton's going next? Any idea?" Y/N asked.

"Well, Kelvin is obviously the first target and it's likely that Anton will go after someone else. But who?"

Y/N stared at the laptop then turned to Cassie. "What's the rundown on the rest of the crew?"

• • •

THE VISITORS LOOKED with awe at the exhibits in the museum. Harold McCallister led a small group of tourists past several displays and artifacts.

"...and this artifact here dates back to the Roman Empire, a time of great expansion and innovation..." McCallister continued. 

He paused as his cell phone began to vibrate. He told his assistant to take the lead while he slips away and answers.

"Hello?"

"Hello, old friend."

McCallister's face furrowed. "Kelvin? What are you...why are you calling me?"

"Listen to me, Harold, you're in trouble! You need to get out of here now!"

McCallister scoffed. "You really think I'm falling for that, Jacob? What are you even talking about?"

"He's coming of us! He's alive-"

Before he could continue a loud crash and a scream could be heard. McCallister whirled around to see a large man in a metal suit smashing through the window. The Crimson Dynamo found it's next target. McCallister froze in disbelief as he recognized the suit.

"McCallister!"

"Ivan?" he whispered. "It's can't be..."

The line went dead, and Anton advanced. The mech's footsteps echoing through the museum which left people confused or downright terrified. 

"You left me! You, Harris, all of you! Took my entire future from me!"

He stomps on the ground which caused a massive shockwave. People screamed and began running for a way out as the armored man marched towards McCallister, his hands clenched into fists. The security guards rushed in, only to be swatted aside.

"Ivan, stop this madness!" Harold begged. "We can discuss about this!"

"No." Anton snarled. "No...talking...took everything from me...!"

Before Harold could respond, Y/N flew through a window and landed to the ground.

"Anton!" Y/N called out, forcing the mech to face him. "Anton Shatalov, you need to stop right now."

"You again." he sneered. "You really want to die for standing in my way."

"Well, I can't let you do this either so let's sit down and talk. Enough people already suffered because of you."

"Good." he snarled. "They...left me...they need to pay..."

"That's not true." Y/N still stared.

"LIAR!"

"It's true!" Albert shouted. "Harris told me you died, if I'd known you were still out there...I'd find some way to fly us all the way back. No crew gets left behind, only one broke that promise."

"And your wife, Elara. She's still alive," Y/N assured him. "You still have a life waiting for you but only if you stop now."

Anton stopped; his motions laced with uncertainty as McCallister stepped forward.

"I'm your friend, Anton. Even after all these years...you know you can trust me."

For a moment, it seemed like McCallister's words had reached him. Anton's expression softened, his breathing slowing. But then, something dark shifted in his eyes. A strange flicker of green danced across his pupils as the rage returned.

"You can't help me..." the mech snapped. "No one can."

Anton raised it's fist to strike at McCallister but Y/N flew and sent him flying back towards the wall.

Y/N turned to McCallister. "Go! Get out of here!"

McCallister nodded, then pointed. "Look out!"

Y/N turned just in time to see Anton's fist launch towards him. He dodged and leaped back, but the fist came crashing down and shattered the marble floor beneath them.

Y/N quickly scanned the room for any civilians still trapped inside. He needed to make sure that everyone was out before dealing with Anton, despite it being tough as the giant mech came lunging towards him.

"Anton!" Y/N dodged, flying upwards. "Whatever happened to you out there, it's infected your mind. Let us help you."

"Help?!" Anton snarled. "You can't help me! No one can!"

"Please, just listen to me-"

Anton shot his fist towards him, and Y/N barely managed to dodge. He couldn't afford to let even one hit land; for both himself and the others trying to flee.

"Stop running, coward!" Anton snarled, launching a barrage of laser beams at him.

Y/N swerved and dodged each blast but one of them sent tremors through the floor. The museum trembled, the ceiling starting to crack and collapse.

Seizing the opportunity, the super-powered vigilante flew at Anton, throwing a punch towards his face which sent him to the ground. Y/N landed on top and quickly threw more punches until Anton grabbed his arm.

"You've gotten into my way enough, American Hero." Anton threw him towards a glass exhibit.

Y/N groaned, picking himself up and saw Anton advancing. He turned and ripped off a large pillar then hurled it at the Crimson Dynamo, knocking him back.

He charged to slam his fist against Anton, who quickly smacked him backwards. Y/N crashed into a wall causing the museum to shake with dust and debris flying around. Y/N groaned, trying to shake off the impact until he heard faint shouts from afar. He turned to see crowds trapped near the exits as the archway began to crumble.

Not this time, he thought. He rocketed towards the crumbling archway and catches the massive stone as it began to fall.

"Go! Get out of here!" he shouted. "All of you!"

The tourists hesitated for a moment, eyes wide with fear, but McCallister rushed over motioning everyone to move as Y/N held the debrief.

Anton, seeing Y/N distracted, seized the opportunity as his glowing green suit began to pulse brighter. Brighter enough that made Y/N almost lose consciousness and drop down to the ground.

The flying man did save the civilians, but the cost was himself.

"I warned you." the armored man said, lifting his arm and pointing the gauntlet. Y/N's eyes dizzy and blurry while his body ached in pain.

Anton was about to fire until...

"Anton."

Anton froze, his massive fist still raised in the air as his eyes wide. That voice sliced through him like a knife. Anton, and Y/N slowly, turned to see Cassie alongside a woman with tears streaming down her face and a young girl close to her side.

"Is that..." Elena stepped forward. "Is that really you?"

"Dad?" the twelve-year-old uttered, confused and afraid.

The suit suddenly went quiet, and the sickly green glow faltered. Anton slowly turned to the pair, his expression torn between fury and relief.

"Elena?...and..." Anton began to stammer as his eyes met his daughter. His armored hands dropped to his sides, the energy weapon in his gauntlet deactivating. "I...I thought..."

"It's okay." Elena walked closer. She stared at him, her eyes wet and glistening, a small smile tugging at her lips. "We're here."

Then Anton's suit pulsed violently, the green glow intensifying as if feeding off his rage. His fists clenched, and he stumbled and groaned.

"Dad?" Natalia's small voice broke through.

Anton froze, his gaze locking onto his daughter. For a moment, the glow dimmed. He took a step forward, his hands trembling. But then the suit sparked, the sickly light flickering back to life, surging with one last push. His giant metal hand opened out before instantly clutching his helmet with a yell.

He ripped the visor open, exposing his pale and weary face. No longer hidden by the armor as the green light faltered and died.

"What have..." Anton uttered. His mind much clearer than it has been ever sense. "What have I done."

His wife and his daughter walked beside the no-longer active suit that held his limp body.

"Dad?" the young girl, Natalia, called out. "Dad?"

"It's gonna be alright." Elena hugged her tightly. "It's gonna be alright."

As they both stood over him, Y/N let out a quiet breath of relief. He sped away before Cassie could take a good look at him.

• • •

CASSIE STOOD OUTSIDE the police barricade, phone in hand as she was talking to someone over the phone. Y/N approached, and she instantly told whoever that she would call them back and hung up.

"Hey." he kept it casual. "What happened?"

Cassie let out a breath, still processing everything. "Anton surrendered. His wife and daughter showed up, and it was like something just clicked in him. One second, he's ready to tear the place apart, and the next, he's on his knees."

"What's going to happen to him know?"

Cassie turned and looked at the ambulance vehicle where Elena and Natalia stood, watching it go.

"They're taking him into custody," she explained. "He's gonna get treated, then taken into therapy once he gets the help he needs."

"At least he'll be okay. And the suit?"

"Taken as far as I know." Cassie sighed as she glanced at the scene. "It's damaged but some weird guys in black insisted that they'd be the ones to take it. It's probably for the best, all things considered."

"Yeah..." Y/N nodded. "How did you even find his wife and kid?"

"I did some digging when you were gone," Cassie said, crossing her arms. "I figured if he was that lost in space, the only way to bring him back down to earth is find his home. Good thing they still resided in L.A., or else we'd be looking at a whole lot of rubble right now."

Y/N exhaled in relief. "You saved a lot of lives today."

Cassie gave a small smile. "Yeah... but it wasn't just me. Whoever gave me that tip—if I hadn't known to look for his family, this would've ended a lot differently."

"Well, good thing you did...and I bet the boss might be happy about this."

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" Reeves thundered, glaring at Y/N and Cassie as they stood before him in his office.

"Sir-" Y/N began.

"I don't wanna hear it, L/N!" Reeves cut him off. "I specifically told you not to go above what I assigned you! And you did it anyway!"

"Yes but look at the results!"

"I don't care about the results, Lee! Frankly I've had enough of your attitude and these foolish jurisdictions!" Reeves snarled, the blonde girl lowering her head. "Give me one good reason not to let you go."

"If I may sir," Y/N chimed in, stepping forward. "You did say, we have one week to give you the biggest story. This is the biggest story, enough to make the Daily Planet stand out more than another paper reporting disasters."

Reeves shot Y/N a sharp look, but he still continued.

"You know the Planet hasn't had a scoop like that in years. But not anymore, and it was all thanks to Cassie." He gestured to the brunette, who raised her eyebrows.

"But- but this was all-"

"She's the one who found the lead. And the one who brought him down." Y/N insisted. "So don't fire her. We've got the story, we've got the exclusive."

Cassie shot Y/N a quick look of disbelief. He ignored her, keeping his attention focused on Reeves.

Reeves sighed deeply, massaging his temples as if fighting a headache. "You did give a good story; I'll give you that. Fine. This will do."

Cassie blinked in surprise, her smile widening, "Wait does that mean-"

"Get out, both of you!" Reeves ordered. "Before I change my mind."

Without hesitating, they quickly left his office and Cassie turned to Y/N.

"Thanks," she told him. "You didn't have to vouch for me like that. You did good too, suggesting the story and finding out where Anton was heading towards next."

"Yeah, but you're the one who made the call."

"You're the one who found the lead in the first place. So, really, thank you." Cassie smiled. "Maybe you're not as bad as I thought."

Y/N smiled as Cassie left, feeling a bit better. Perhaps this partnership, and internship, wasn't going to be so bad after all.

Y/N once again found himself back at the Fortress facing his father. Jor-El regarded his son calmly as usual but still showed disappointment.

"And still... you still disobeyed me?"

"Alot of people would've died had I not interfered." Y/N argued, reflecting the past three days. "I know you don't think I'm not a ready father but....I disagree."

"Yet you still have alot to learn, my son."

"What can I learn?" Y/N scoffed. "I came to LA for a reason. If I stop now, what's the point? For so long you trained me as did my parents raised me. But now it's time to choose whether or not I'm ready and I am."

Jor-El paused, considering his son's words. His holographic form flickered slightly, before he glanced at his son reluctantly.

"Very well," he finally conceded. "You may continue your actions, but only if you adhere to these conditions."

Y/N listened intently, sensing the gravity of what was to come.

"You must maintain your secret identity. No one should know who you really are, Kal-El. This is not just for your protection, but for those you care about. As I've said, the world can be unpredictable, therefore those who seek to harm or use you will target those closest to you."

Y/N nodded, it wasn't something he hadn't learned before.

"And second." Jor-El continued, his tone becoming more serious. "you must avoid becoming directly involved in political or military conflicts. Your role must remain purely humanitarian. The people of Earth have a tendency to abuse what is gifted to them, and you must not allow yourself to become a tool for any agenda, no matter how just it may seem."

Y/N's brow furrowed. "But....what if by not intervening, I allow harm to come to innocent people? How can I stand by and do nothing?"

"You must learn the balance, Kal-El. Sometimes, inaction is as important as action. If you involve yourself in every conflict, you risk being seen not as a protector. And the people of Earth must learn to solve their own problems. You can guide, you can inspire—but you cannot lead them."

Y/N stared, conflicted on that resolve but nodded. "I understand, Father."

"Lastly, do not chastise yourself for feeling pride in your abilities. It is a common affliction, even among our people. Our own vanity led to Krypton's demise, as many believed we were invincible."

Y/N's gaze dropped, which made Jor-El's expression soften. A sense of sorrowful longing came to his mind. 

"If not for that hubris, perhaps... at this very moment, I could embrace you, my son."

"I wish so too, father."

"So much is there to do, so much to learn from....but in time, I know that you will be the man that I've always known you'd be." Jor-El smiled. "I shall see you soon, my son."

As the hologram faded, Y/N stood alone in the Fortress. He let out a sigh of relief as a smile then washed over his face.

• • •

GEORGE STOOD OVER in his living room; his eyes focused on the display screen in front of him while doing some weightlifts and a few squats. 

The image zoomed in on a still frame from the incident of the museum — The flying man vs. the Crimson Dynamo. Tarlton couldn't help but scoff under his breath, shaking his head.

 All the advanced tech he had, the influence, the money and the strength. Yet this is what the world's suddenly fawning over; some freak in tights.

As his thoughts deepened, the door slid open. He didn't bother turning around. The familiar sound of footsteps told him it was Monica.

"You're old pal's back." George informed her.

"There's a lot of people who used to call me friend. You're going to have to be more specific, George."

Tarlton let out a grunting chuckle before setting the weightlift down and pointing towards the video fight between the flying man and the armored mech. Monica watched and her face seem stoic.

"You know he was looking for you, Harris." Tarlton taunted.

"Victoria Harris is long gone and poor Shatalov's already being sent away."

"And what if he recognizes you?" George raised an eyebrow, pushing the topic further.

Monica didn't flinch. "Already handled."

Her attention shifted back to the screen; her eyes narrowed. "But I'm guessing it's not Shatalov that's really caught your attention, is it?"

Tarlton didn't answer, instead grabbed his drink and towel.

"The flying man," he muttered, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "At least that's what everyone's calling him. Yesterday those cunts you hired. Got arrested and Pym's princess was rescued by him."

Monica raised an eyebrow. "You think he could be trouble?"

"He's too shabby, there's nothing interesting about him." George scoffed and took a sip from his drink. "Now he's complicating things, and that's not something we need right now."

Monica crossed her arms, giving a slight nod. "Want me to take care of it?"

Tarlton waved a dismissive hand as he turned off the hologram and walked over to the sleek couch in the corner of the room. "Not yet. We've got bigger priorities. Like our deal with that new client."

Monica's expression remained neutral, but there was a flicker of concern. "You sure he won't back out?"

Tarlton leaned back, a confident smirk spreading across his face. "I made him a deal he can't refuse."

TO BE CONTINUED

https://youtu.be/PNS0WS5yNFA