Bubble Boy

The cafeteria buzzed with chatter, trays clattering and students gossiping like wildfire.

At one particular table, though, silence reigned.

The Bubble Crew sat together or rather, slouched together, like a group of survivors from a warzone. Bandages wrapped Jackson's torso, Carter had a black eye the size of a tennis ball, Annie's arm was in a sling, and Emily was limping.

And Troy?

He sat at the center, quiet as a ghost, wearing a dark grey beanie pulled low over his forehead. His once lean frame had filled out overnight, now unmistakably muscular, broad shoulders, veined arms, a jaw that looked like it could cut glass. He didn't touch his food. Didn't speak. Just stared at the table, lost.

The other students gawked from every corner of the cafeteria, whispering behind hands.

"Are they the Bubble Crew?"

"No way, they'd never eat lunch here."

"But didn't the Bubble Crew fight that monster last night? Like, half the city saw the lasers in the sky!"

"They didn't upload anything… not a single video. That's sus."

"And Troy? Since when was he built like that? He's hot now."

"Oh my God, right? He looks like he walked out of a superhero movie."

Girls giggled at the far table. A few exchanged numbers and dared each other to go say hi.

Annie glanced at Troy, trying to keep her voice gentle. "Hey… about yesterday…"

Troy didn't react.

She reached out, but he didn't even blink. His eyes just kept staring at the table. Still. Empty. Haunted.

Carter, trying to break the tension, leaned forward with a smirk. "So... Starman's your old man, huh? Guess that makes you Super-Bastard?"

The table froze.

Troy slowly stood up.

He didn't say a word. Just pushed his tray aside, turned, and walked out.

The laughter, the whispers, the cafeteria itself, it all felt distant.

Annie glared at Carter. "Seriously?"

Carter threw up his hands. "What? I was trying to lighten the mood!"

"You made it worse," Emily muttered.

Jackson sighed, finishing the last bite of his sandwich before standing up. "I got this."

He followed Troy out, catching up just as they exited the building into the school courtyard.

Troy stood near the edge, back to him, shoulders stiff.

Jackson approached slowly. "Hey."

No response.

Jackson leaned against the wall beside him. "You want to skip school today?"

Troy finally turned his head slightly.

Jackson nodded. "Just us. No questions. No crew. Just you and me."

A long pause.

Then, Troy nodded.

"…Yeah. Just us."

And without another word, the two disappeared into the city, the school slowly fading behind them.

They walked around the back of the school, past rusting fences and forgotten gym equipment. Jackson groaned as he climbed, his injured ribs protesting every movement.

"Dude, help me out here..." he winced, leg halfway over the chain-link fence.

Troy, already on the other side, reached back effortlessly and yanked Jackson down with one hand like he weighed nothing.

Jackson blinked. "Okay… freaky strength much?"

Troy shrugged, adjusting his beanie. "Guess I'm built different now."

From behind a nearby tap, Miguel paused, water bottle half full. He narrowed his eyes as he saw them disappear down the street. He dropped the bottle, electricity crackling faintly at his fingertips. "What the hell are you planning now, Troy…"

He followed. Quietly. At a distance.

The city breathed around them, alive with honking horns, street vendors shouting, and pigeons fluttering through alleyways.

But Troy and Jackson weren't paying attention.

They played hooky like two kids on summer break, hit an arcade, Troy wrecking every game with inhuman reflexes while Jackson cursed loudly; got greasy burgers from a food truck; fed pigeons in the park.

Troy even smiled.

Laughed.

Jackson watched it all quietly, the haunted expression on Troy's face finally starting to fade.

By the time they were resting under a bridge, overlooking the river, the sky was already starting to blush with orange.

"Y'know," Jackson said, tossing a pebble into the water, "you're still you. Doesn't matter who your old man is."

Troy stared at the ripples. "You don't get it. I'm… him. I've got his blood."

"You've also got a crew that'd take a hit for you," Jackson said. "Hell, I did take a hit. Twice. And I'd do it again."

Troy looked at him, the corner of his mouth twitching.

"And Annie?" Jackson added. "She loves you. Like, not in a crush way, real love. Kinda gross, actually. And even Carter… even he's trying."

Troy finally chuckled.

"That's the guy I know," Jackson grinned. "Doesn't matter if your dad's a god or a monster. You're our monster."

Behind a dumpster in the alley, Miguel listened.

His fists clenched.

He stepped out, electricity dancing across his knuckles. "Touching. Real touching."

Troy and Jackson both stood.

Miguel pointed at Troy. "You walk around like you're one of us. But you were born with a silver spoon, weren't you?"

Troy's smile faded.

"You're not like us," Miguel spat. "You're a damn alien. While we were crawling to survive, you were being built in a lab to be perfect. You're not a hero, Troy. You're a time bomb."

Troy took a step forward, his eyes hard.

Miguel didn't back down.

"Admit it," Miguel said, voice rising. "You think you're better than us."

Troy clenched his fists. "You don't know anything about me."

Miguel crackled with blue light. "I know exactly what you are."

Jackson stepped between them. "Back off, Miguel."

Miguel growled. "Tell me, Troy. When did you plan to let the rest of us know your dad is Starman? Huh? After you torch half the city?"

Troy's jaw tightened. His eyes shimmered, not red, not glowing. Just angry. Hurt.

"I didn't ask to be his son," he said quietly.

Miguel scoffed. "Then maybe you should've died instead of hiding in your stupid bubble."

Jackson snapped. "He saved me, man! Over and over! If it wasn't for Troy..."

"I don't need defending," Troy said sharply, stepping forward until he stood inches from Miguel.

The alley pulsed with silence.

"If you've got a problem with me," Troy said, voice cold, "say it to my face."

Miguel's lip curled. "You're just like him. You think you a god."

Troy stepped back.

That line, it cut deep.

He turned without another word and walked away, fists shaking at his sides.

Jackson followed. Miguel stood alone, electricity fading, unsure if he'd won or lost.