Bubble Boy

A deafening crash split the night.

A surge of water erupted from the alley's entrance, slamming into the Orphan with the force of a cannon. The villain's body launched backward, smashing into the brick wall with a sickening crunch.

Troy gasped, barely able to process what had happened before the sound of boots splashing against the wet pavement reached his ears.

Seaman stood tall, clad in his signature scale suit, water swirling at his fingertips. His piercing blue eyes locked onto the Orphan as he strode forward with an air of absolute authority.

"Picking on kids now?" Seaman's voice was deep, laced with disgust. "Pathetic."

The Orphan coughed, pushing himself from the shattered wall. His decayed fingers twitched. "You think you can stop me, fish boy?" He spat blood. "I'll break you like I broke the kid."

Seaman smirked. "Try it."

Troy barely spared them a glance, his focus was on Annie and Sam. He stumbled toward them, his ribs aching with every step. Annie lay unconscious, her broken glasses askew, blood trickling from her mouth. Sam knelt beside her, hands trembling.

Troy took off his hoodie, revealing the sweater underneath, BB spray-painted across the chest in crude, defiant letters. Without hesitation, he ripped a strip of fabric from the hoodie and tied it around his head, a makeshift mask forming over his nose and mouth.

Sam looked up, confusion in her teary eyes. "What… what are you doing?"

Troy wiped the blood from Annie's mouth, gently placing his hoodie beneath her head for support. His fingers curled into fists.

He inhaled sharply.

Then exhaled.

"I'm being a hero," he said, voice steady. "Bubble Boy."

He pulled his phone from his pocket and placed it in Sam's hands.

"Record this."

Sam hesitated but then nodded, wiping her tears. She hit record, the screen reflecting the chaos of the fight behind them.

Troy turned back just in time to see Seaman and the Orphan collide like two titans.

Seaman moved like the tide, fluid, relentless. The Orphan struck with brute force, each decayed touch barely missing his opponent's flesh.

Water surged, forming tendrils that lashed out, hammering into the villain. The Orphan roared, shattering them with a sweep of his arm, the water instantly rotting into mist.

Seaman wasn't deterred.

He spun his trident, its tip glowing with oceanic energy, and lunged. The Orphan barely dodged, countering with a brutal haymaker. Seaman ducked, then retaliated with a powerful blast of water to the villain's gut, sending him careening backward.

The Orphan coughed but grinned. "Not bad, fish man. But you're still just a man."

Seaman smirked. "And you're still just trash."

The Orphan snarled and charged.

The fight became a blur of motion, fists, water, decay. Every move was precise, every strike devastating.

Troy watched, taking in every detail. His breathing was steady now. His rage had clouded his mind before, made him reckless. He couldn't let that happen again.

Remember Shadow's training.

Seaman was winning.

His strength, his skill, it was overwhelming. The Orphan was slowing, his movements more sluggish, his attacks more desperate.

With a final surge, Seaman knocked him to the ground and pressed his boot against his throat.

Troy's eyes widened.

Seaman lifted his trident, eyes cold.

It was about to end.

Troy moved.

He surged forward, placing himself between them, hands outstretched.

Seaman hesitated. "What the hell are you doing?"

Troy stood firm, panting. "You don't kill."

Seaman scoffed. "Kid, this scum tried to kill you. He was going to sell that girl. He deserves to die."

Troy's hands clenched into fists. "Heroes don't kill."

Seaman laughed. "You're young. You'll understand when you're older. Now move."

Troy didn't flinch. Instead, he lifted his head, his eyes burning with defiance.

"I said, you won't kill this man."

His voice echoed through the alley like a command.

Seaman's smirk vanished. His entire body stiffened. His breath hitched.

For a split second, just a split second, he saw someone else standing there.

Not a kid.

Not Bubble Boy.

Starman.

The same piercing, unrelenting stare.

The same unwavering presence.

Seaman took a step back before he even realized it.

The Orphan, seizing the moment, coughed and rolled to his feet, retreating into the darkness.

Seaman snapped out of his trance.

His face twisted in fury.

"You little...! Do you have any idea what you just did?!"

Troy didn't respond. He just stood there, fists trembling, but his stance unyielding.

Sam's camera was still recording.

Seaman's jaw clenched. He turned sharply, fists still trembling with frustration.

"This isn't over," he muttered before vanishing into the shadows.

Troy exhaled slowly.

He turned back to Sam and Annie.

The camera was still rolling.

And for the first time…

He felt like a real hero.

Troy exhaled sharply, his adrenaline beginning to settle. He turned to Sam, who was still holding the phone, the red recording light blinking.

He reached out, taking the device from her trembling hands. "Thanks," he murmured. His fingers hovered over the screen for a moment before he pressed stop, saving the footage.

Sam beamed up at him. "That. Was. Awesome!" she squealed.

Troy let out a tired chuckle, shaking his head. "Yeah, well… let's keep this between us, alright?"

Sam's grin faded slightly. "What do you mean?"

Troy reached up, untying the makeshift mask from his face and stuffing it into his hoodie pocket before pulling the hoodie back on. "I mean… nobody can know."

Sam's eyes widened. "You don't wanna be famous?"

He sighed, adjusting his hoodie as he glanced toward Annie, still unconscious. "I don't care about that. This… this is bigger than some viral video." His voice was steady, firm. "If people know who I am, it could put me and the people I care about in danger."

Sam pouted, crossing her arms. "Fine. Secret identity. Got it. But you were so cool!"

Troy chuckled again before crouching down. He slipped his arms under Annie, careful not to jostle her too much. He could feel the warmth of her body, her breath steady but shallow. He lifted her with effort, adjusting the weight as he grabbed the bags she had dropped earlier.

Sam bounced beside him. "So, you're really Bubble Boy, huh?"

Troy huffed. "No idea what you're talking about."

She snorted. "Yeah, sure. That was totally some other guy in a BB sweater, throwing himself between a superhero and a supervillain."

Troy shot her a look. "You're a little too smart for your own good, y'know that?"

Sam grinned. "Annie says the same thing."

Troy adjusted his grip on Annie and started walking. "Come on. Let's get her home."

The streets were quiet as they made their way toward Annie's house. The streetlights flickered faintly, casting long shadows over the pavement.

Sam skipped beside Troy, watching him with admiration. "So, what's it like? Being a hero?"

Troy hesitated. "I don't know if I'd call myself that."

Sam rolled her eyes. "Dude, you literally saved us."

Troy shrugged. "I just did what I had to do."

Sam tilted her head. "That's what heroes say."

Troy let out a short laugh. "Maybe."

Sam suddenly reached out, grabbing onto his hoodie sleeve. "Do you think Annie will be okay?" Her voice was small now, no longer filled with excitement but worry.

Troy's grip on Annie tightened slightly. "Yeah. She's strong. She'll be fine."

Sam nodded, her little fingers still clutching his sleeve.

They walked in silence for a while, the night air cool against Troy's skin.

"You know," Sam piped up again, "Annie talks about you all the time."

Troy blinked. "She does?"

Sam giggled. "Oh yeah. A lot. Like, a lot a lot."

Troy felt a strange warmth creep up his neck. "Huh."

Sam smirked. "You're so dense."

Troy groaned. "Can we just get her home?"

Sam laughed, skipping ahead. "Fine, fine. But you owe me answers later."

Troy sighed, but despite himself, he was smiling.

Annie gasped, sitting up with a start.

"Troy!" she shouted.

Her breath came fast, her mind still trapped in the alley, still hearing the sounds of the fight, the crash of water, the sickening thud of bodies hitting concrete, the cold, unwavering stare of the orphan.

But then...

"Relax. I'm right here."

Her frantic gaze snapped forward.

Troy sat across from her, arms resting on his knees, his expression calm.

The panic in her chest eased slightly, though her heart still pounded.

She reached up, touching her face, her glasses were gone.

"My glasses…" she mumbled.

Troy held up his hands. "Yeah, uh… those kinda broke."

Annie groaned, rubbing her temples. "Great. Just great."

Troy smirked. "Your mom keeps spares, right?"

Annie shot him a glare but sighed. "Yeah."

There was a pause. She looked around, finally recognizing her surroundings.

She was on her couch, a blanket draped over her. The soft glow of the lamp filled the room with warmth. Sam was sprawled out on the floor, playing with some action figures.

Annie swallowed. "What… happened?"

Troy leaned back slightly. "You passed out. I carried you home."

Annie stared at him. "You carried me?"

Troy shrugged. "Yeah. You were out cold."

Annie felt her face warm. She quickly looked away, brushing a strand of frizzy green hair from her face. "Oh."

Another pause.

Then, she glanced at him from the corner of her eye. "Bubble Boy, huh?"

Troy groaned. "Not you too."

Annie smirked. "So you're still denying it?"

Troy crossed his arms. "Obviously."

Annie shook her head. "You really suck at lying."

Troy sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. "Look, I just..." He stopped himself, exhaling. "It's complicated."

Annie tilted her head. "You don't trust me?"

Troy met her gaze. "It's not that. It's just… this is dangerous, Annie."

Her expression softened. "I know."

Troy's eyes widened slightly at her response.

Annie smiled, adjusting herself on the couch. "But I trust you, Troy."

His chest tightened slightly. He looked away. "Yeah, well… just don't go telling everyone, alright?"

Annie chuckled. "Your secret's safe with me."

They sat in silence for a moment.

Then, a voice shattered it.

"BUBBLE BLAST!"

Troy and Annie turned just in time to see Sam, now draped in a blanket like a cape, jumping off the couch and striking a heroic pose.

"I am Bubble Boy!" she declared. "Fear me, evil-doers!"

Troy buried his face in his hands with a groan. Annie burst into laughter.

Sam spun around, pretending to punch the air. "Take that! And that! And..."

"Sam, what are you doing?"

The three turned toward the doorway.

Annie's parents stood there, looking exhausted but amused.

Annie's mother, a woman with the same green hair and warm brown eyes, raised an eyebrow. "Rough day?"

Annie smiled. "You could say that."

Her mother sighed. "Well, at least you didn't break anything."

Annie winced. "Uh… my glasses."

Her mother groaned but nodded. "Luckily, I always keep spares." She walked toward the kitchen, shaking her head.

Sam, still wrapped in her makeshift cape, grinned. "Today was so much fun!"

Annie chuckled. "Yeah. It really was."

Troy glanced between them, a small smile tugging at his lips.

For the first time in a long while…

He felt like he belonged.