Back at Tandy's house, the duo were still sitting, with Tyrone feeling much more comfortable in the environment than before, and thanking Tandy for letting him stay over the night.
The duo were chatting when suddenly, a firm knock echoed from Tandy's bedroom door, causing them to freeze and panic as they heard someone speak.
"Tandy?" called a familiar warm voice, "Sweetheart? You home?"
Tandy's stomach swooped, "Stepdad," she mouthed silently to Tyrone who nodded, and he quickly vanished into the pool of darkness beneath her wardrobe, completely swallowed.
Tandy smoothed her hair, forced her expression neutral, and opened the door, spotting her StepFather Phillip standing there, tie still a bit loose and holding a bag as if he was going somewhere quickly.
"Morning sweetheart," Phillip said.
Tandy blinked, wondering why he was coming to her this early in the morning, "…Did something happen?"
"I just wanted to see you before I left," He muttered.
"Left?" Tandy echoed and tilted her head.
"I'm flying to Italy tonight. Business meeting with your mother." He sighed, "She insisted."
Tandy's chest tightened, the familiar blend of resentment and disappointment. Of course Melissa had insisted, she had always been busy.
Phillip could quickly see the dropping mood of Tandy and quickly spoke, "You, uh… you'll be alone this weekend," Phillip added gently, "Cleaners will come the day after tomorrow. There's money in your bank account if you want anything and have fun,"
Before she could brace for it, he stepped forward and pulled her into a warm, careful hug. Not Melissa's cold, mannequin-like embraces. Not her father's touch she grew to fear.
Just… steady, reassuring warmth. She had been closed off for so long that she'd missed a nice warm hug like this.
Tandy's eyes burned unexpectedly.
"I can tell you have a-lot on your mind, but you don't have to tell me anything," Phillip murmured, rubbing her back once before pulling away, "But I'm here when you're ready."
She nodded, whispering, "Thanks, Phil."
He gave her a soft smile, touched her cheek, and with one last look of concern, grabbed his suitcase and disappeared off into the distance.
The moment the car engine faded down the long driveway, Tandy finally head back upstairs into her bedroom and looked towards the wardrobe.
"You can come out," Tandy whispered into the dim foyer.
The shadows rippled and Tyrone stepped forward silently, hood lowering slightly.
"…He seems nice," Tyrone murmured, eyes flicking to the door.
"He is," Tandy admitted. "Kinda the only nice parent I've ever had."
There was a beat of silence, soft but not uncomfortable.
Then Tandy breathed in, shoulders loosening.
"Okay. There's been so much happening over the last few days, let's just chill out and have a chat, I'll whip up breakfast,"
"Can you even cook?" Tyrone asked, and Tandy was left speechless.
***
1 HOUR LATER!
The dining room was so clean it practically glowed, white marble floors, spotless counters, glass cabinets displaying dishes that looked too expensive to actually be used. The only real sign of life was the faint smell of scrambled eggs and toast, drifting from the table where Tyrone and Tandy sat facing each other.
Tyrone poked at his food with the air of someone deeply offended by the fact he had been forced to cook at 7 a.m.
"You really didn't know how to make eggs," he muttered.
Tandy groaned, dropping her face into her hands. "Crack two eggs and suddenly I'm a danger to society."
"You burned them!" Tyrone commented.
"Mistakes happen!" Tandy quickly retorted.
Tyrone coughed to hide a laugh and went back to eating.
Despite the teasing, breakfast felt… peaceful. It was the most peaceful and calming breakfast meal Tyrone had experienced since his family died, and it was because he was sharing it with someone else.
Tandy sipped her orange juice, then set the glass down more firmly than necessary.
"Okay," she said, drawing in a breath, "We said we'd be honest. Finally honest."
Tyrone straightened a little as he heard that, looking at her as he grew a bit nervous. Tandy recognized this and immediately talked, "I'll go first,"
"As you know, I just ran away from home, just angry at my life and family, especially my mom. Our relationship really isn't that good," Tandy said, "I was being stupid,"
"You weren't stupid," Tyrone said softly.
"Yes, I was," she insisted, "Then randomly while I was leaving a Library, I got taken by that van, who sent me and you to that facility like we were product," Tandy explained.
Tyrone's grip tightened on his fork so hard the metal bent. Shadows curled faintly around his chair legs like smoke reacting to his anger.
Tandy swallowed, but kept going, "When I woke up, everything hurt. They had me in this cold metal room with lights that buzzed too loud. I could hear other kids crying. Eventually, I was dragged off on that table with you, and then you know what happened,"
She lifted her hand, watching light shimmer naturally along her fingertips, "I used to think all my mom did was suffocate me with expectations and neglect." Her voice dropped to almost a whisper.
"But now I realize Phillip was the one who always pulled me back. He was the one who made sure someone was there for me. And I never appreciated it. I treated him like he didn't matter."
Her eyes shone—not from light power, but emotion.
"Now I… feel guilty. Like he deserved better from me."
Silence settled between them, not heavy but gentle, giving her space.
Tyrone looked down, expression unreadable as he heard about that, and Tandy recognized that look, the look of someone with a-lot of things running through his mind.
She naturally flashed back to that moment in his house when she found that picture and those two men who looked like his family, and she could easily connect the dots.
"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to," Tandy said as her chest tightened, but Tyrone just took a drink and then spoke.
"I know you saw that picture in that scrap room, that was my father and brother, they got killed in a gang incident," Tyrone said.
"I only got alerted by the police long after, when I saw their body, I completely spaced out, noises, sirens, blood, people screaming, and all I saw was their bodies," Tyrone explained, exhaling shakily as his fingers curled around the edge of the table.
"After that, I gave up Engineering all together, since I viewed it as the cause for my dad's death, that's why that room is filled with all those engineering books and all tasks I did," Tyrone explained.
Tandy reached out slowly, gently placing her hand near his, not touching, just close enough he could move to meet it if he wanted to.
He didn't pull away however, "When I was heading home yesterday, I saw them and just snapped, that's why I did what I did," he explained.
Tyrone didn't realize he'd stopped talking until the room fell completely quiet. The lingering scent of burnt eggs had faded, replaced by something heavier, the weight of truths spoken aloud for the first time.
Tandy stared at him for a long moment, eyes soft but fierce with conviction.
"…Tyrone," she said quietly, "if someone hurt the people I loved? If someone took them from me?" Her voice barely trembled. "I would've done exactly what you did."
Tyrone's head snapped up and he had no idea how to respond.
"You're not a monster for wanting justice," she added. "You're human."
A humorless laugh escaped him. "Doesn't feel like it."
"I know." She gave a tiny smile. "But you're not alone anymore, okay? And… your father wouldn't want you to throw away everything he taught you."
Tyrone blinked, startled.
"You should pick engineering back up," Tandy said gently. "Not for the gangs. Not for profit. For you. Because you were good at it. Because he was proud of you."
He felt something twist in his chest, sharp, then warm. Like grief finally had somewhere to go besides the pit in his stomach.
Before he could answer, Tandy suddenly sat up straighter, her blue eyes brightening with that light-born intensity that always made him feel simultaneously calm and electrified.
"Actually…" she said slowly, "I've been thinking."
Tyrone raised a brow.
"We were… chosen. Or cursed. Or experimented on. Whatever it was, we survived it." She leaned forward, excitement building as her voice dropped to a determined whisper.
"What if we used this? Our powers. Our trauma. All of it. What if we did something good with it?"
Tyrone stared, unsure where she was going.
Tandy smiled—small, but confident, glowing from within.
"What if we became heroes, Tyrone?"
Shadows stirred at his feet, responding before he could.
"Heroes who purge every last gang, every dealer, every criminal out of National City."