I sat on a gargoyle's head, chewing a sandwich while the city's lights glowed against the setting sun. A firetruck wailed somewhere across the blocks.
I wiped my mouth.
"So… another one."
Today was a mess.
My brain drifted back to what actually mattered.
Phoenix Program.
There were a few ways in, but the two main ones are: villain and vigilante. Waterboy got lucky, whatever his deal was. I'd need to build a name first.
If it was just about joining SDN I imagine it to be easy. But the main squad? That was different.
"And I need that. More time with them means more relevance. More… connection."
I tapped my boot against the stone.
Then another thought hit me.
Stats. Dispatch missions give points.
"Wait—how the hell do I even assign them? Do stolen missions count?"
I frowned.
"Whatever. I'll figure it out."
The sirens grew louder, dark smoke followed.
"A big fire nearby. I'll check it out."
I stood, dusted crumbs off my hoodie.
A grin tugged at my lips as dark energy traced my outline, my clothes going weightless.
"I'm not yet done with testing."
...
(3rd Person POV)
A building burned.
Flames crawled up its face, swallowing windows and forcing residents to scream for help. Firefighters fought it with high-pressure hoses and one lone safety cushion, hopeless against the number of people trapped inside.
It wasn't the only crisis tonight.
On the ground stood the superhero known as Brainbook; arms crossed, the firelight reflecting on her glasses, her expression hardened.
"They must've been desperate to send me," she muttered, lifting a hand to adjust her glasses before shutting off her comms. "I can't do much about fire."
She let out a small breath through her nose, frustrated.
A policewoman jogged up beside her.
"—I know tonight's been chaotic," she said between breaths, "but can't they send reinforcements?"
Brainbook shook her head, pausing for a moment before answering.
"They're overloaded," she explained. "Everyone's handling something tonight. And if we wait for backup…" Her gaze returned to the burning windows, the screams above overwhelming the noise.
"They wouldn't make it in time."
The officer nodded in silence. Then leaned in, lowering her voice:
"The media's here too," she murmured, chin pointing toward the cluster of cameras behind the barricade. "Should we send them away?"
Brainbook's temples tensed.
"Sighhh,"
Then from above—
SWISHH!
"—what the—?"
A violent gust slammed downward.
Dust exploded across the street. Papers lifted and scattered. Firefighters ducked on instinct as a dark silhouette dropped from the sky, stopping just above the pavement, strength enough to rattle it.
He floated for a second, clothes moving unnaturally. Then gravity returned to him. His feet touched down.
He straightened.
Then—
His stance widened, feet sliding apart. His arms stretched open. His hoodie, pendant, and hair lifted weightlessly. The dark energy that usually wrapped to him calmly now crackled and zapped across his clothes like static.
He was channeling.
His arms slowly drew inward, palms facing the burning building.
THUD—WHACK!
A ripple of telekinetic force burst out. An invisible shockwave blowing the fire off the façade in a monstrous push.
The fire blew back.
So did everything else.
People staggered, forced to take several steps away as if resisting a hurricane.
For a heartbeat, the hooded teen's face lit with pride. But when he saw the flames exploding outward toward the neighboring structures, his expression turned dark.
"…Oh. Shit."
Desperate tears turned into awe. Firefighters exchanged looks, unsure what to think about. Cameras were turned to him instantly.
And Brainbook, trying, and failing to hide the small, intrigued smile forming at her lips, stared at him, intrigued.
(3rd POV End)
"What the hell…"
I stood there frozen, arms still half-raised.
I thought it would just… disappear. Like blowing out a candle.
But the fire was still there. And now spread towards other buildings.
"Hey—don't panic. You made it worse, but it's still fixable." A voice, "Now look at me for a second."
I turned.
The woman stepped closer. One hand resting lightly at her waist, the other hanging relaxed at her side. Glasses pushed up her nose. Hair a little wind-tossed. Her gaze steady.
"I'm Brainbook," she said. Then, with a small, polite smile:
"But please, just call me B.B—Bee-Bee."
She raised a hand for a handshake.
I shook it.
"...I'm… just call me Push."
Her eyes snapped back to the spreading flames, then to me.
"Your power is impressive, but a bit excessive. Those flames, we can still contain it if you listen for a second."
I stared at her.
'I know her… that dumb hero name… She was one of the tutorial dispatch characters, right? I think her power was intelligence or something.'
"What's your idea?" I asked.
.
...I lifted my hands, focused.
The fire curled, twisted, spiraled inward like it was being dragged into an invisible sinkhole.
A final FWUUMPH—and the condensed flames went out.
B.B nodded, satisfied.
"Good work. That was the last one."
I turned, noticing smaller fires still burning on others rooftops. Nothing huge, but still burning.
She caught my look.
"Relax," she said, her tone warm but assertive. "You don't have to take everything. Leave some so they can do their job."
She swung her thumb over her shoulder.
Firefighters were already in position, hoses up, shouting orders, emboldened by the sudden shift.
She took her glasses off.
"But hey,"
Her arm slid behind my neck, easing me into a soft lock. Her face close.
"You've got real potential, so I have a big proposal for you."
She smiled expectantly.
All I could think about was how good she smelled, and how fine she probably looked under those office clothes.
"Ah—"
My eyes glanced at her thick red lips.
She tilted her head, big eyes locked on mine, the smile thin.
"What do you say?" she murmured.
"I—agree—"
"Wonderful."
She pushed off me instantly, stepping back with professional distance like nothing had happened.
"I should turn my comms back on." A tap to her earpiece. Beep.
I snapped out of the daze.
"HEY! You tricked me! W-What even is the proposal!?"
She ignored me entirely.
"Hey guys, I've—"
A voice screamed through the comms:
"BEEBEE, WHY DID YOU TAKE SO LONG!? EVEN THE MEDIA ALREADY CONTACTED US!"
"Good. Then I don't need to file a report."
She smoothed her tone.
"Anyway, I found a useful one. He'll be working with us from now on."
"HUH!?" I shouted.
The annoyance of being fooled barely covered another thought creeping in:
'Wait… doesn't this mean—'
B.B. glanced back at me.
The smile she gave this time was real.
"...Welcome to SDN, Push."
I stared.
Then her expression changed. Hard, tense.
Something in the comms changed everything.
"Push."
She stepped in again, this time much closer.
Her arms wrapped around my waist, fingers pressing lightly at my lower back.
Her scent hit me hard again.
"Can you fly me?"
'She just does whatever she wants… But if this gets me closer to the Phoenix Program. Whatever!'
I grabbed her waist, pulling her in tighter.
Her thighs brushed against mine; soft yet powerful. Compact abs. Dense back.
Under those bland clothes was definitely a "super" body.
She leaned up to my ear.
"You're quite lewd, aren't you?"
My mind jumped.
Can she read thoughts!?
"Of course not." she said immediately.
I stared at her, stunned.
She had a playful grin—she'd just guessed.
Messing with me again.
I held her closer.
And then—
we took off.