Halt

I crouched, chuckling. 

"Your father's a weird guy, alright?" I told Mark.

"Wha—what happened? Why're you telling me this now?" he asked me.

I shook my head, "Nothing, actually." I told him as I looked into the sky.

"Hey, Mark, you gotta get stronger, okay? This doesn't cut it if shit happens when I'm not there—I won't be there to save you. You gotta be Invincible." I told him.

Mark slowly nodded, "I know," he said quietly. "I just... I don't know if I can ever be like you. Not like this."

I could see the doubt in his eyes, the uncertainty. But I wasn't here to reassure him—at least, not in the way most would expect.

"You don't need to be like me," I said. "You just need to be better. Stronger. Smarter. There are things you can't fight with just brute force. And you're not invincible until you learn that."

Mark shifted on his feet, looking down at the cracked pavement beneath us. I could tell he was processing my words, trying to make sense of them. Trying to internalize it.

"Do you think... you think I'll get there?" Mark asked, his voice quieter now.

I exhaled, my gaze still locked on the sky, the faint remnants of the battle settling into the distance. "You will. You just have to keep pushing. Don't let the fear hold you back. The people you care about are relying on you. So don't let them down."

I gave him a moment to take it all in.

"And don't be afraid to face your limits, either. Sometimes, knowing where they are makes all the difference."

Mark looked up at me, determination starting to flicker in his eyes. "I won't let you down, Kaito. I'll get stronger. I promise."

I nodded, feeling a sense of pride swell up in me.

"Good," I said, clapping him on the back. 

Titan, who had been quiet up until now, spoke up. "Well, at least this time it was a good fight, huh? I think you might've even had fun."

I gave him a sideways grin. "You could say that."

The three of us made our way toward the ruins of the battlefield. The air still buzzed with the aftershock of the destruction, but it felt... different. Like the city was holding its breath, waiting for the next storm to roll in.

Mark and Titan were still talking, but my mind was somewhere else—on the red cape I'd glimpsed earlier.

Omni-Man was still out there, lurking in the shadows. Watching. Waiting.

And if he thought I wouldn't notice him, he was dead wrong.

"Oi, Titan. What are you going to do now?" I asked him.

"Me, I'm taking control, try to do some good," he told me. 

"Oh really? Where's that Machine guy?" I asked him.

"While you were busy fighting that guy, we took care of the others, barely. I gotta say, he's much stronger than I took him for," He looked at Mark.

"So, where's the Machine guy?" I asked him again.

"We got him tied up, his assistant, he betrayed him." He told me. 

"Wait, what?" I asked. 

"Yeah, he was scared of you." Titan chuckled. 

I raised an eyebrow at that, a smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth. "Scared of me? That's a first. I guess I'm making a name for myself."

Titan shrugged. "I think it's more about what you didn't do. The guy's all about power and control. He didn't want to be next on your list."

"Yeah, while Machine was busy trying to get the upper hand on you, his assistant figured he'd get out while the getting was good. He probably thought if he aligned with us, he'd be safe from whatever you were planning."

I snorted. "Not much of a plan. Trying to align with the wrong people."

"So, what's going to happen with them?" Mark asked, his voice steady but still edged with curiosity.

"We're handing them over to the authorities," Titan said. "But first, we need to figure out how deep this goes. The Machine guy might be just the tip of the iceberg."

"Right," I said, nodding. "If his assistant knows what he's doing, he'll have intel. Maybe more than we're letting on."

We continued walking, my steps almost automatic, the tension still lingering in the air. Mark was lost in thought, clearly processing everything. His earlier determination hadn't faded, but now there was a hint of calculation in his eyes.

"Hey," Mark said suddenly, glancing at me, "You really think I can do this? Be like you? Or... better?"

I met his gaze and didn't flinch. "I already told you, Mark. You don't need to be like me. You need to be something better than what you think you are. You're already on the right path. The rest is just putting in the work."

He nodded again, a little more resolute this time. "Got it. I won't let you down." There was a fire in his voice now that I hadn't heard before.

"Good," I said. "And remember, the next time we fight, it's not just about strength. It's about decisions." I let the words settle in, knowing they'd stick with him.

Titan broke the silence. "Well, GDA got a lot of cleanup to do, and honestly? I think the city might need a little more help than we realize."

"You're not wrong there," I replied. People were already starting to gather, surveying the damage. "But don't worry, I'm sure we'll get it under control. It's not like we're new to this. And I'm staying back, as part of this is my fault, stretching the fight."

It wasn't just about fighting villains or throwing punches—this was about shaping the future of the people around me.

Mark is weak compared to Nolan and Thokk. He needs to get stronger, way stronger than he is. But the question remains, 'Why is Nolan training Mark?' Does he want Mark to join him? Does he just want Mark to be strong? I shook off those thoughts. Nolan is very difficult to understand.

"I'm not gonna lie to you, Mark," I said, turning fully to face him now. "You need to be ready for whatever happens. I don't know if your dad's playing you, but the way I see it, you need to decide who you're going to be, not just let him decide for you."

Mark met my gaze, his expression more focused than before. "I'll be ready," he said, voice firm. "I just... I need more time. I need to figure this out."

"You will," I said, offering him a half-smile. "You just have to trust your instincts. Trust yourself."

I turned to the road, the clean-up crew was arriving.

"Mark, you can go now. I'll take care of the rest."

"Titan, you too. Fuck off."

Mark waited a moment before finally nodding, "I'll be off, then." WHOOSH, he flew off, leaving a cloud of dust. 

I turned to look at Titan, he was not there. So he already went the hell outta here.

I stood alone in the middle of the battlefield, the sounds of the cleanup crew growing louder in the distance as they started to piece the city back together.

"Hey, guys, let me help you." I disabled gravity, targeting the mess, and letting them easily lift the rubble.

The cleanup crew paused for a moment as the rubble shifted effortlessly into the air, defying gravity and floating in place. I could feel the tension in the air, the slight disbelief at the sheer ease of the feat. But I wasn't here to show off. I was here to make things easier.

The cleanup crew quickly snapped out of their momentary awe, nodding at each other before getting back to work. They didn't ask questions, and I didn't offer any explanations. It was faster this way.

As the rubble floated into the air, I took a few steps back, keeping an eye on the area.

I shifted my focus back to the crew. They were working in sync now, lifting the debris with ease. A couple of hours later, the work for the day was done.

"Thank you, Lawbreaker. You made that a lot easier for us." One of the workers thanked me.

"No problem, happy to help." I gave a slight nod. I turned, my footsteps light on the cracked pavement, and took to the sky. 

I landed on the roof of my apartment a few minutes later. I quickly went down the stairs and took my key from the plant right beside the door. I quickly opened up the door, only to see Eve on the couch. 

I sighed, "Why are you here again?"

Eve looked up from the couch, her expression unreadable as she crossed her arms. 

"My parents, they don't want me to do superhero stuff anymore, since I broke up with Rex, who they 'trusted'."

I raised an eyebrow, leaning against the doorframe. "And what does that have to do with me?"

Eve let out a breath, clearly frustrated. "I don't know, Kaito. I thought maybe you'd get it. I don't really have anyone to talk to about this stuff right now. My parents are being impossible, and I can't just ignore everything I've been doing. Superhero work isn't a phase for me, it's part of who I am."

I sighed, stepping further into the apartment and closing the door behind me. "Eve, you know you're not the only one with family issues, right? I mean, Mark's got his own problems with Nolan, and... honestly, I'm still trying to figure out how much I can even trust my own instincts."

Eve nodded slowly, her eyes softening. "I get it, Kaito. But this isn't just about fighting or the stuff that happened with Rex. It's about how things are changing—how we are changing. I don't even know what's next anymore."

I rubbed my neck, still processing everything, my thoughts scattered. "You don't have to have everything figured out right away, you know? We all make decisions, screw up, but we keep going. That's what I've been trying to teach Mark. And you know, he's got more potential than he gives himself credit for. Same goes for you."

"Comfort doesn't always come from talking to someone, it comes from doing something about the problem that you have," I told her.

"Try talking to your parents, one last time. If they don't agree, just leave it. It isn't going to solve itself because you are here, sulking."

"You make it sound so easy," she said, her voice a little softer now. 

"So, what now? You just gonna crash in my place since you're mad at your parents?"

Eve sighed, looking away for a moment before nodding her head. "Yes," She answered.

"Figured that part out, okay, stay as long as you want." I told her, "I'll see you tomorrow," I told her as I fell onto the couch, fast asleep. 

[3rd POV]

Eve sat on the couch, staring at Kaito as he fell asleep almost instantly. There was a part of her that envied how easily he could just switch off, to fall into sleep with no more than a sigh. But then again, Kaito was always different—stronger, more decisive. Sometimes, she wished she could be more like him.

She glanced down at her hands, her mind racing with thoughts she couldn't quite make sense of. The guilt from her parents' rejection still gnawed at her.

Her thoughts wandered to Rex. She hadn't been able to avoid thinking about him, even though she'd promised herself she wouldn't. Their breakup had been a mess, a whirlwind of emotions she didn't fully understand. But in the end, she knew it was the right choice. Still, it hurt. It always did when you lost someone you once trusted.

Kaito shifted in his sleep, pulling her out of her thoughts. His chest rose and fell with steady breaths. Eve let out a soft sigh, standing up to stretch. She grabbed her phone, glancing at the screen. No new messages, not that she expected any. Mark was probably still trying to wrap his head around everything that had happened that day. 

The next morning...

[1st POV]

Eve's words from the previous night still echoed in my mind as I sat on the edge of the bed, staring out the window. The world felt quiet, but inside, everything seemed on the verge of cracking open. Mark, Titan, Eve—everyone had their battles, their paths, their struggles to figure out. And I feel like I was standing in the middle of a storm, trying to decide where to turn next.

The smell of coffee reached my nose, snapping me out of my thoughts. I glanced over at Eve, who was sitting at the small kitchen table, sipping from a mug. Her expression was distant, like she was somewhere far away, lost in her own world. I got up and walked over, grabbing a cup of coffee for myself.

A knock at the door interrupted the silence.

"Who the hell is that?" I muttered.

Eve looked up. "You expecting someone?" 

"No?" I told her as I walked to the door.

I opened the door, trying to find out who it was. 

"Mr. Arakawa, we're here to inform you that

I opened the door to find a couple of utility workers standing there, clipboard in hand. One of them adjusted his cap as he looked at me, a bit nervous.

"Mr. Arakawa, we're here to inform you that your electricity bill has... well, it's overdue. We're here to discuss options," he said, his voice trailing off as he seemed to notice the aura around me. I raised an eyebrow, slightly amused.

"Are you serious?" I asked, leaning against the doorframe. "You're coming here for my electricity bill?"

The worker swallowed nervously, glancing at his partner. "Y-Yes, sir. It's just... well, it's a significant amount, and we need to address it."

I exhaled, not exactly in the mood for this. "Alright, fine. How much are we talking here?"

The worker flipped through his paperwork, the rustling of the pages almost too loud in the tense silence. "It's... uh, about ten thousand dollars, sir."

"Ten thousand?" 

"Well, Mr. Arakawa, it has been eleven months, and the balance has accumulated over time. We understand if there are extenuating circumstances, but we do need to settle this matter."

I glanced over at Eve, who was watching with a mix of confusion and amusement. My eyes flickered back to the utility workers, their nervous energy palpable.

"Ten thousand dollars for electricity?" I repeated, letting the words hang in the air for a moment. It was absurd. I could probably pay off that sum in less than a second if I felt like it, but I wasn't about to let these guys know that.

"I'm not exactly in the mood to discuss bills right now," I said, letting my voice take on a more forceful tone. "Tell your manager I'll handle it later."

The workers shifted uneasily, clearly sensing they were out of their depth. "A-as you wish, sir," one of them stammered. "We'll be in touch."

With that, they quickly retreated, leaving me standing in the doorway, still processing what just happened.

I turned back to Eve, who had an incredulous look on her face. "Do you always get these random visits from utility workers?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

I let out a dry laugh, leaning against the doorframe again. "Apparently, my electricity bill's a bigger deal than I thought."

I chuckled, "Got all tense for nothing." I told her.

"Yeah, me too." 

"Today's Sunday, right?" I asked her.

Eve nodded, still trying to process the strange visit from the utility workers. "Yeah, it's Sunday. Why?"

I leaned back against the doorframe, running a hand through my hair. "Just checking. Seems like a good day to lay low. We could use some downtime."

"Sounds like a plan," Eve replied, standing up from the table and stretching. "But knowing you, you'll probably end up doing something wild later."

I smirked, knowing she wasn't wrong. "Maybe. But for now, it's just me and the couch."

Eve chuckled softly. "Yeah, right. You might pretend to relax, but you always end up doing something. Anyway, I'll stay here for now. Don't feel like going back to my place just yet."

"Suit yourself," I said, walking back into the living room and plopping down on the couch. "I've got no problem with the company." 

I turned on the T.V, "A new villain encountered in..." I deadpanned. 

"Can't enjoy some slice of life, can I?" I got up, just to see Mark at the scene.

He quickly took care of the villain, efficiently, with no extra force. 

I raised my eyebrows, "Eve, he improved, no?" I asked her.

"Surprisingly, yes. What changed in a day?" She asked.

I let a sly smile spread across my face as I declared, "Now he's driven by the same motivation as me. It's clear he's finally tapping into his full potential."

Eve raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued but still a bit skeptical. "You really think that after just one day?"

I shrugged, trying to hide the pride I felt swelling up inside me. "Sometimes all it takes is a push. Mark's got the potential, he's just needed the right nudge to realize it. He's learning what it means to stand on his own, to fight not just with strength but with purpose."

Eve looked thoughtful for a moment before replying. "I guess you're right. He does seem different, more... confident. But what does that mean for him? What's his next step?"

"Fuck would I know? Ask him."