Bubble Boy

Carter groaned.

His eyes fluttered open to soft sunlight filtering through gauzy curtains. His head throbbed. His body ached. He felt… warm.

Bandages wrapped his chest and arms. His shirt was missing.

And he was nestled, cradled, against a sleeping Alexa.

Her arms were around him. Her breath slow. Peaceful.

Carter's heart nearly exploded. His cheeks lit up like wildfire.

"Holy crap..."

He jolted, accidentally elbowing her in the ribs.

Her eyes snapped open. Golden. Sharp.

Then softened when they landed on him.

"Carter?" she murmured, her voice raspy from sleep. "You're awake…"

"I...I didn't mean to wake you," he stammered, sitting up quickly. "I...uh...thanks for the save… last night. That was…"

She smiled faintly, brushing her light-drenched hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry about what I did to you."

"…Mhmm, yeah."

She tilted her head. "You okay?"

He paused. His mind whirled.

Void. She was Void.

The terrifying, stoic, SS-class Legion member… that was Alexa.

"I just need some time," he whispered, not meeting her eyes. "To think."

She said nothing.

He left and her apartment.

Then her smile vanished.

Later That Day – The Legion Tower

The center of the city, gleaming tower of glass and alien steel, the heart of heroism.

Inside, at the peak, behind sealed chrome doors and reinforced walls, the air was silent.

The Legion was seated around a wide obsidian table.

Seaman. Calm, arms crossed, his trident resting behind him. And covered in bandages.

Construct. Still twitching, one eye bandaged, silently picking at imaginary objects in the air.

Gladiator. Bruises bandaged, Glaring. Her fingers tapping impatiently. Her sword rested against the chair.

Bolt. Slouched, leg wrapped in tech cast almost healed because of his crazy healing factor, chewing gum and smirking, but his eyes darted nervously toward the head of the table.

Void. Sat next to him with her mind somewhere else.

Mr Mars. Expressionless as always.

And Starman sat there, still as a statue.

The symbol of peace.

The monster none dared speak against.

His crimson eyes scanned them all.

"Before we begin," he said, his voice deep, echoing, unchallenged, "we have a new member."

Silence.

Construct tilted his head. "You adopting another student?"

The steel doors hissed open.

And in walked...

Bubble Boy.

New suit, gold lines, white and a gold BB Symbol. And short spiky new haircut.

Mask on.

But every step carried weight. Confidence. Determination.

No longer a joke.

No longer a child.

He walked straight to the table… and took the empty seat between Gladiator and Seaman.

Everyone stared.

Gladiator clenched her jaw.

Construct's grin twitched, but didn't form.

Bolt blinked. "You've gotta be kidding me…"

Void shocked.

Seaman staring daggers at bubble boy.

Troy didn't flinch. "Nice to see you too."

Starman watched him.

Proud? Disappointed? No one could tell.

He spoke one word.

"Welcome."

Troy nodded once.

He didn't look at anyone.

Didn't speak.

But something had changed.

He was no longer beneath them.

He was beside them.

A new symbol.