Bubble Boy

Troy woke up feeling like a hollow shell. His mind was a fog of anger, regret, and something even darker, something he wasn't sure he could control. He barely touched his breakfast, barely acknowledged his mother's presence.

She leaned against the counter, sipping her coffee, watching him with quiet understanding.

"I take it things didn't go well," she finally said.

Troy adjusted his backpack, his face unreadable. "Yeah."

He turned toward the door.

"Bye, Mom."

And just like that, he was gone.

The halls were loud as always, filled with students talking, laughing, shoving past one another. But to Troy, everything felt distant, muted. His fists clenched at his sides as he walked, his mind replaying the image of Annie's burned body, the sound of Sam's broken voice.

Kasey stepped into his path, her usual smirk tugging at her lips. "Look who finally..."

Then she saw his eyes.

Cold. Dead. Unrecognizable.

For the first time, she said nothing.

They just walked past each other, and for the first time, Kasey felt unsettled.

Miguel was waiting at Troy's locker, arms crossed, electricity crackling faintly around his fingertips. The A-class athlete was taller, broader, and stronger in every way. The captain of the basketball team. The golden boy.

Troy didn't care.

Miguel shoved him hard against the lockers. "You think you're some badass now? Rejecting the hottest girl in school and hanging with Jackson?"

Troy looked up, his expression unchanged.

Then he headbutted Miguel straight in the nose.

A loud crack echoed in the hallway. Blood splattered onto the tiled floor.

Miguel stumbled back, eyes wide, clutching his face. Sparks flared violently around him. He was about to retaliate when a firm hand grabbed his wrist.

Jackson.

"Not here." His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it.

Miguel breathed heavily, rage twisting his face. "He won't get away with this."

Troy just turned and walked away, ignoring Jackson's concerned look.

Something was wrong.

Very wrong.

The day dragged on in unbearable silence.

Troy spoke to no one. Not Jackson. Not Emily. Not Carter. Not even Kasey, who usually lived for the chance to push his buttons.

Even when they sat at the usual table during lunch, he was quiet, staring at nothing.

Carter tried to lighten the mood with a joke. "Man, what's with the..."

Troy stood up abruptly. His chair scraped against the floor.

"I'm sitting somewhere else."

He turned and walked away without another word, his fists clenched.

The table fell silent.

Jackson exchanged looks with Emily. "Something's seriously wrong with him."

Before anyone could say more, the intercom crackled to life.

"Students, this is Principal Gardner. I regret to inform you that one of our own, Annie Flora, has been hospitalized. Some of you may have known her as Garden Girl, a vigilante active in the city. Unfortunately, she was critically injured. I remind you all that vigilante work is dangerous. Do not attempt to follow in her footsteps."

The room went still.

All eyes turned toward Troy's empty seat.

The Bubble Crew knew exactly what this meant.

And they needed to find Troy.

Now.

Troy sat alone on the field, hunched over on a bench, staring at the grass.

Rage churned in his gut.

Annie was in a coma. Because of him. Because he wasn't strong enough. Because the so-called "heroes" were nothing more than monsters playing pretend.

His breath was slow, controlled, but inside, he was breaking.

"Hey, coward."

The voice came from behind him.

Then a surge of electricity crackled through the air.

Troy turned just in time to see Miguel's fist coming straight for his face, charged with lightning.

His instincts took over.

A bubble shield flickered to life.

Miguel's punch connected.

And shattered through it.

The impact sent Troy flying, tumbling across the field. He hit the ground hard, the taste of blood filling his mouth.

Slowly, he wiped it away and got to his feet.

Miguel cracked his knuckles, electricity dancing around him. "Not so cocky now, huh?"

Troy spat blood onto the grass.

And got ready to fight.

The moment Troy spat blood onto the grass and steadied himself, the students began to take notice. A crowd formed quickly, some whispering excitedly, others watching in anticipation.

Fights weren't rare at Nightingale Academy, but this?

This was different.

Troy was an F-Class. Miguel was an A-Class.

This should've been over already.

And yet, Troy was still standing.

Someone muttered in the crowd, "Yo, how the hell is he still up?"

Another voice cut in, quieter, uncertain. "Wait… you don't think he's Bubble Boy, do you?"

A ripple of realization spread through the students.

It made sense. The way Troy moved, the way his powers flickered to life, the sheer stubbornness in his stance, this wasn't just some random loser picking a fight.

Miguel sneered, wiping the blood from his nose. "You're done, freak." Electricity crackled around his fists, illuminating his face with flickering blue light. "Should've stayed in your place."

Troy exhaled sharply.

And then he moved.

A sudden explosion of force blasted from his hands, bubbles, but not the weak, playful kind everyone imagined. These were propulsion bursts, launching him forward like a cannonball.

Miguel barely had time to react.

Troy twisted mid-air, flipping over Miguel's shoulder and landing behind him. He spun, blasting another wave of bubbles toward the ground, using the momentum to dash forward again, closing the distance before Miguel could fully turn.

He slammed his fist into Miguel's ribs.

A spark of electricity jolted through Troy's body in retaliation, numbing his arm, but he gritted his teeth and pushed forward.

Miguel swung wildly, his fist crackling with raw power.

Troy ducked.

Then, using a bubble burst from his palm, he propelled himself upward, twisting in mid-air to slam his knee into Miguel's jaw.

The impact sent Miguel stumbling back.

The crowd roared.

Some cheered for Miguel. Some more than Troy ever expected, cheered for him.

Miguel growled. His eyes flashed with rage, and suddenly, the entire field exploded with lightning.

A deafening crack of thunder shook the ground.

Troy's vision blurred for a split second as Miguel surged forward, moving faster than before. He barely managed to raise a shield but Miguel's electrified fist shattered through it like glass.

Troy took the hit full force.

He crashed onto the ground, gasping as pain spread through his ribs.

Miguel loomed over him, grinning savagely. "Stay. Down."

Troy's fingers dug into the dirt. His breathing was heavy, his body screaming at him to stop.

But his mind?

His mind was somewhere else.

Annie's burned body.

Sam's broken voice.

Elemental.

The Legion.

Heroes who weren't heroes.

This, this wasn't enough.

Something inside Troy snapped.

His body trembled. His fingers curled into a fist.

Miguel took a step back, sensing something wrong.

Then Troy exhaled. Slowly. Controlled.

His bubbles began to change.

No longer soft and transparent.

No longer harmless.

Instead, they condensed.

Small. Marble-sized.

And harder than diamonds.

Miguel lunged forward. But this time, Troy didn't dodge.

He fired.

A single bubble-marble shot from his fingertips like a bullet.

Miguel's leg exploded in pain.

Blood splattered onto the grass as Miguel collapsed, screaming. His leg was pierced clean through, a deep hole gushing red.

The crowd fell silent.

Troy slowly walked forward, his shadow stretching over Miguel's fallen form.

He raised his hand.

A single, condensed bubble hovered at his fingertip, aimed directly at Miguel's forehead, a perfect kill shot.

Miguel's breath hitched. His pupils shrank.

And for the first time, he felt true fear.

Troy didn't speak. Didn't move. Didn't hesitate.

He fired.

But just before the bubble could make impact...

Time. Froze.

A shimmering golden light wrapped around them both.

Troy's body locked in place. His breathing was still, his mind racing.

Then, from the corner of his vision, he saw her.

Ms. Everly.

The air shimmered as she stepped forward, eyes filled with disappointment.

"That's enough."

With a flick of her wrist, the bubble of time collapsed and Troy's bubble burst.

Troy's body unfroze. He stumbled slightly, his mind still catching up to what just happened.

Miguel gasped for air, staring at his leg, at the blood.

The crowd?

Silent.

Horrified.

And in that moment, Troy realized.

They weren't looking at him like a fighter anymore.

They were looking at him like a monster.

Troy sat, bandages wrapped around his torso, his knuckles still stained with dried blood.

Miguel sat across from him, his leg wrapped tightly, pain flickering in his eyes.

Principal Gardner sighed, leaning back in his chair.

"I know you're struggling, Troy." His voice was calm. Measured. "What happened to Annie..."

Troy flinched.

Gardner continued, "...was horrible. And it's not fair. But trying to kill another student? That's not the answer."

Troy didn't respond. His hands tightened into fists.

Gardner turned to Miguel.

"And you." His voice hardened. "I'm sick of these reports. You walk around like you own this school, bullying people you think are beneath you."

Miguel averted his gaze.

"I should suspend both of you." Gardner rubbed his temples. "But I'm going to give you one chance, one. I want you both to walk out of here and decide what kind of people you're going to be. Because if this happens again, I will expel you both."

Silence.

Then...

"…Understood," Troy muttered.

Miguel exhaled sharply. "Fine."

Gardner nodded. "You're both dismissed."

Troy stood first, moving toward the door.

Miguel followed.

Right before stepping out, they locked eyes.

Neither spoke.

Neither blinked.

But the hatred was clear.

This wasn't over.

Not even close.

And as Troy walked down the hall, the weight of everything pressed against him.

Annie is still in a coma.

Starman is still watching him.

And now?

Now everyone knew that Troy was dangerous.

But deep down...

He didn't care.