Five years later.
The sky was a deep canvas of twilight, streaked with purple and gold, as Alex, now eighteen and known across the world as Hope, glided smoothly through the crisp mountain air. His flight wasn't just power; it was art. Reality itself bent beneath his will, folding to his command as he soared above the snowy peaks, the cold wind tousling his dark hair.
Below, the ski resort buzzed with activity, unaware that the city's strongest hero had just arrived. With a soft descent, Alex touched down gracefully on the slope, the snow crunching lightly beneath his boots. His eyes, sharp and confident, scanned the horizon, always vigilant, always ready.
He pulled his cloak tighter around his shoulders, the emblem of Hope shining subtly in the fading light, before stepping forward into the crowd below. A new era had begun, and Alex was its shining beacon.
…
The cold wind whipped around the downtown streets as Voltage, a villain crackling with electric energy, broke into the city's central bank. Sparks flew from his fingertips, illuminating the darkened lobby as he threatened terrified employees and demanded cash.
Suddenly, a confident voice echoed through the chaos. "Hey Voltage! Is that the best you've got? I've seen static cling with more bite."
Alex, aka Hope, landed lightly in the middle of the bank, his eyes glowing faintly as he manipulated reality itself. Voltage sneered, sending bolts of electricity at him, but Alex waved a hand, bending the bolts harmlessly into harmless sparks that fizzled out.
"Really, you're making this too easy," Alex said with a grin. "You might want to dial down the wattage next time."
With a flick of his wrist, Alex solidified the electricity into harmless chains, binding Voltage before he could react further.
"Sorry, Voltage. This is one shock you won't recover from," Alex joked, flashing a charismatic smile as the authorities arrived to take the villain away.
As the police cuffed a sputtering Voltage and led him out of the ruined bank, a fiery whoosh filled the air behind Alex. The temperature spiked for a second, then Ryan landed hard on the pavement outside, flames still licking around the edges of his sleek red-and-black hero suit. His visor snapped up.
"You. Did. It. Again," Ryan said, striding into the bank, boots crunching over shattered glass.
Alex turned, smirking. "You're welcome. Firefly."
"I told you to wait!" Ryan threw his hands up, literally steaming. "One second you're in the sky, next second, you're zipping off like a damn comet. And stop calling me that. Everyone calls me that thanks to you. My name's The Torch."
"You took too long. I even stopped for a smoothie on the way," Alex replied, deadpan.
Ryan's eye twitched. "You're insufferable."
Alex patted him on the shoulder. "And yet, here you are. Again."
"Only because if I don't show up, the media says Hope doesn't need a team. You're making me look bad, man."
Alex grinned, stepping past him toward the front doors. "I'm not making you look bad, Ryan. I just make me look really good."
Behind him, Ryan groaned, flames flickering faintly from his gloves. "One of these days, I swear I'm gonna throw a fireball at your smug face."
Alex winked over his shoulder. "You already tried. Remember? Didn't go great."
….
Outside the city, nestled in a quiet stretch of green, a sleek, modern house stood beneath a cloudless sky. Ryan and Alex hovered above it for a moment, trading one last look.
"You sure you wanna do this again?" Alex grinned.
Ryan rolled his shoulders, heat shimmering faintly around him. "I've been training. You're going down this time."
"Three… two…"
Alex vanished in a blink of warped air, already halfway there before Ryan even started moving.
"DAMMIT!" Ryan shouted, flames erupting from his back as he rocketed forward.
But it was no contest. Alex was already waiting by the front door, sipping from a glass of water, trying not to laugh as Ryan stumbled onto the porch half a second later, panting and steaming.
"You cheated," Ryan gasped.
"I warped reality. It's my thing," Alex replied with a smug grin.
Ryan punched his shoulder. "One day, man. One day I'm gonna beat you."
Alex tapped the code on the front door. It slid open smoothly with a soft whoosh.
The scent of food hit them instantly. Garlic, grilled vegetables, and something rich and savory—
Inside the kitchen, Rafael—He had abandoned his fake name after his fight with Lucien—stood at the stove, sleeves rolled up, apron on, focused as always. His hair was tied back, and he looked… peaceful. A version of him few people would believe existed.
Alex stepped into the kitchen with a grin. "You cooking again, old man?"
Rafael didn't look up. "You won again, didn't you?"
Ryan collapsed on the couch. "You know what, I don't even care. That smells amazing."
"Lamb stew," Rafael said. "And garlic rice. Don't touch anything. It's not done."
"Wouldn't dream of it," Alex said, hopping up on the counter.
Rafael finally turned, his expression softening a bit. He gave Alex a long look, equal parts pride and warning. "You're not invincible, you know."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Did I miss a threat during lunch prep or…"
"I mean it," Rafael said quietly. "You're strong. But remember why you're doing this."
Alex's smirk faltered just for a second. Then he nodded. "I know."
Ryan peeked into a pot. "Is there dessert?"
…
The front door slid open again with a cheerful beep, and the sound of quick footsteps filled the hall.
"Smells divine," came Beth's voice first as she stepped into the house, tossing her jacket onto a hook with casual grace. Her sharp, observant eyes swept the room before zeroing in on Alex perched on the counter.
Alex grinned wide, already hopping down. "Took you long enough. I was starting to think you didn't want to see me."
Beth raised an eyebrow, amused. "You mean the same way you 'forgot' to tell us about the bank robbery?"
Alex put a hand to his chest, feigning innocence. "That? That was just me saving you the trouble."
"Right." She walked past him, her shoulder brushing his. "And you definitely weren't just showing off."
Selena strolled in behind her, sunglasses still on, hair pulled into a loose braid, and lips already curled into a teasing smile. "Wow, it smells like someone actually remembered to feed the team today."
"Is that a dig at me?" Ryan called from the couch.
"No, Ryan," Selena replied sweetly, removing her glasses. "It's a dig at your terrible cooking skills."
Lena was last to enter, slipping in through the side door, still in her field gear, a comm strapped to her arm. She was silent for a moment as she entered the kitchen, until she saw him.
Rafael glanced up from the stove, just as he dropped a few herbs into the bubbling stew.
"Ladies," he greeted without missing a beat, wooden spoon in hand. "You're just in time."
Selena leaned over the counter, a little too close. "What is it? Smells like heaven."
Lena approached from the other side of the counter, arms crossed. "What exactly did you put in that rice?"
"Fresh garlic. Not that powdered garbage you sneak into the pantry," Rafael answered without looking up.
Selena gave a low, impressed whistle. "You know, it's kind of dangerous for someone to be good at everything."
Lena narrowed her eyes at Selena, then looked at Rafael. "You sure you didn't poison it? Just saying, it'd be a good cover."
Rafael stirred the pot. "If I wanted you dead, Lena, I would've done it quietly. With dessert."
Selena's smile widened. "Ooh, dangerous and charming."
The two women locked eyes, an unmistakable glare passing between them like a crackle of static.
Beth, meanwhile, leaned against the fridge with a smirk, watching the whole thing unfold. She turned to Alex. "They're really going at it, my money's on Lena."
Alex chuckled, leaning just a little closer. "How about we play a game. I'll bet on Lena, If I win, you're going out with me, if I lose…I'll take you out on a date."
Beth didn't blush, Beth never blushed but she gave him the smallest smile before stepping away. "Stop with the flirting, i told you. We're better of as friends."
On the couch Ryan was fuming, looking at a message from his ex-girlfriend. the message was a photo of her, hugging a famous football player.
Rafael glared at him. "Stop that."
Ryan raised his hands in surrender. "Don't look at me. Blame the rice."
"Don't you dare blame my rice, you ugly fuck."
…
The last of the dinner plates clinked softly in the sink as warm water ran over Rafael's scarred hands. The scent of garlic and slow-cooked meat still lingered faintly in the air, wrapping around the kitchen like the fading echoes of laughter. From the living room came the hum of conversation, Alex proposing Ryan a rematch, Beth pretending not to be impressed, Selena making some off-handed comment about Lena, and Lena pretending not to care while clearly listening.
But Rafael wasn't listening anymore.
The window above the sink was open just a crack, letting in the cool night breeze. The stars were scattered above like broken glass across dark velvet. He paused, a soapy plate in one hand, staring through that little frame of the world.
This was what Hope meant.
The thought came quietly. Not in triumph, not in sorrow, just in truth.
He'd asked that day, years ago, in the rubble of their battle, blood mixing with dust, the sky choked in smoke:
"What am I supposed to do now?"
And Hope had just smiled, weak and tired but still standing.
"Don't chase the future. Build it. Find your own true peace."
Back then, Rafael hadn't believed it. Couldn't. True peace was a word he'd only ever heard in whispers. A lie told to dying kids and broken men.
But now—
A soft laugh escaped him. One he didn't mean to let go.
Because now, standing there with dish soap on his knuckles and laughter in the next room, he understood.
It wasn't the silence. It wasn't the calm.
It was them.
It was the girl leaning on the counter asking about his seasoning. It was the fire user yelling about a rematch. It was Alex, sitting in that room like he belonged.
This was his true peace.
And he was holding on to it.
As Rafael rinsed the plate and set it on the rack, he whispered under his breath, too soft for anyone to hear.
"Thanks, old man."
He looked up at the stars one last time.
Then closed the window.