Chapter 2: Truths and Consequences

The Pelham household was surprisingly quiet when Ethan let himself in through the side door. He'd barely made it three steps into the kitchen when he heard Crystal's voice behind him.

"Ethan Harper, what the hell were you thinking?"

He winced, turning around to find Crystal standing in the doorway, her arms crossed, her expression a mix of worry and irritation. Behind her stood Sarah—Lady Photon herself—looking as worried as her daughter. The combination of the two was enough to make Ethan feel like a scolded teenager caught sneaking out after curfew.

"I was thinking I'd rather not let Lung burn a kid alive," Ethan said, trying to sound casual, though he was still feeling the strain from earlier. His head throbbed, and every muscle in his body ached. He'd barely had enough energy to get home, let alone argue.

"Do you know how dangerous that was?" Crystal said, stepping closer. Her voice softened, but her worry was still palpable. "You could've been killed, Ethan. Lung's not just some thug—he's one of the most dangerous capes in the city."

"I know," Ethan replied, rubbing the back of his neck. "Trust me, I know."

Sarah's gaze was piercing. "And yet you still chose to intervene. Why?"

Ethan sighed, leaning against the counter. "Because someone had to. That girl—Weaver—she didn't stand a chance against him. I couldn't just… leave her there."

Sarah's expression didn't change, but Crystal's softened further. She reached out, placing a hand on his arm. "I get it, Ethan. I do. But you're not trained for this. You're not part of a team. If something had gone wrong…"

"It didn't," Ethan cut in, though he immediately regretted the sharpness in his tone. "Look, I know it was risky. But I didn't go looking for a fight. I just… couldn't walk away."

Crystal sighed, brushing a strand of blonde hair out of her face. "You're impossible, you know that?"

"I've heard," Ethan said with a faint smile.

Before the conversation could go further, the doorbell rang. All three of them turned toward the front door, but it was Sarah who moved to answer it. Ethan exchanged a glance with Crystal, who shrugged.

Moments later, Sarah returned with none other than Armsmaster. The tall, armored figure of the Protectorate's leader looked as imposing as ever, his halberd resting casually at his side.

"Ethan Harper?" Armsmaster said, his voice calm but authoritative. "I need to ask you a few questions."

Crystal immediately stepped in. "What's this about?"

"It concerns the fight with Lung earlier tonight," Armsmaster replied. His visor tilted slightly toward Ethan. "Witnesses reported someone matching his description using powers during the incident. I'm here to confirm what happened."

Ethan sighed, straightening up. "Alright, let's get this over with."

Later, in the Living Room

Ethan sat across from Armsmaster, Crystal beside him on the couch. Sarah lingered near the doorway, her arms crossed as she listened intently.

"From what I've gathered," Armsmaster began, "you intervened during a confrontation between Lung and a vigilante known as Weaver."

Ethan nodded. "Yeah. She was outmatched. I couldn't just stand by."

"And your powers?" Armsmaster asked, his tone neutral but probing. "Witnesses described what appeared to be matter manipulation. Can you confirm this?"

Ethan hesitated. He'd always been reluctant to reveal the full extent of his abilities. Even to Crystal, he hadn't shared everything. But Armsmaster wasn't someone you lied to, especially when it came to cape business so he went with a half truth.

"I can… warp things," Ethan said carefully. "Control matter. Change it. But it's not as easy as it sounds. It takes a toll, and I can't always control it perfectly."

Armsmaster tilted his head, as if analyzing every word. "Matter manipulation is rare. Dangerous, even. Have you received any training?"

"No," Ethan admitted. "I've tried to keep a low profile. Using my powers isn't exactly… clean. It's messy, and the matter dosent like being changed."

"I see," Armsmaster said. "And this girl, Weaver—what's your connection to her?"

"None," Ethan replied. "I met her during the fight. She seemed… determined. Brave, even. But she's new to this, and going up against Lung alone was a death sentence."

Crystal squeezed his hand gently, her silent way of showing support. Armsmaster noticed but said nothing.

After a moment, Armsmaster stood. "Thank you for your cooperation. I may have more questions later, depending on Lung's condition and Weaver's account."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "You talked to her?"

"Briefly," Armsmaster said. "She didn't say much about you, but I suspect she'll want to follow up. For now, I'll leave you to rest."

As Armsmaster made his way to the door, Sarah stepped forward. "If there are any issues, contact me directly," she said, her tone firm. Armsmaster nodded and left without another word.

The Next Day

Crystal insisted Ethan take it easy, which he appreciated. The two of them spent most of the morning lounging in the living room, Crystal scrolling through her phone while Ethan sipped a cup of coffee.

"I still think you're crazy," Crystal said suddenly, breaking the silence.

"Crazy or brave?" Ethan teased.

"Both," she replied with a grin.

Before he could respond, there was a knock at the door. This time, it was Ethan who answered, and to his surprise, Weaver stood on the porch. She looked different without her mask—smaller, more vulnerable—but her eyes still held that same determination he'd seen the night before.

"Taylor," Ethan said, surprised. "How did you—?"

"Armsmaster told me where to find you," she said. "I wanted to thank you. For last night."

Ethan stepped aside, letting her in. Crystal appeared behind him, her expression curious but friendly.

"I just did what anyone would've done," Ethan said as Taylor sat down.

"Not everyone can do what you did," Taylor replied. "I've never seen anyone fight Lung like that. You saved my life."

Crystal glanced between the two of them. "So, you're the girl he was talking about," she said, offering a hand. "Crystal Pelham."

"Taylor," she replied, shaking it.

The three of them sat down, and Taylor began recounting her side of the story—how she had intended to scare off Lung's gang, how things spiraled out of control, and how Ethan's intervention had saved her from a fiery death.

"You're brave," Crystal said when Taylor finished. "Reckless, but brave."

Taylor shrugged. "I had to do something. People like Lung… they can't be allowed to terrorize the city."

Ethan smiled faintly. "Looks like we have that in common."

The conversation continued, and by the time Taylor left, Ethan felt a strange sense of connection. She was new to the cape life, raw and inexperienced, but she had something he admired: a willingness to act, even when the odds were against her.

As the door closed behind her, Crystal leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder. "You've got a knack for getting involved in crazy situations."

Ethan chuckled. "Comes with the territory, I guess."

"Just promise me one thing," she said, looking up at him. "If you're going to keep doing this, at least let me help. We're a team, remember?"

Ethan smiled, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Always."