Bubble Boy

Morning Light

The sun peeked cautiously over the skyline, casting long gold streaks across Nightingale City. Troy stood outside the Legion Tower in full civilian mode, hood over his head, duffel bag in hand, heart thudding like a war drum. The Gold-and-White suit was stashed away. For now.

He took a deep breath.

Time to face it.

As he walked through the early morning streets, the world felt quieter… like the city was holding its breath.

Then came a voice behind him.

"Troy!"

He stopped cold.

Jace stood in the middle of the sidewalk, dressed sharp, hands in his pockets. His mask was off. No gadgets. Just Jace.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I should've told you… about the others. About everything. But everyone's okay. They're safe."

Troy stared.

He didn't blink. Didn't speak.

He just turned and kept walking.

Jace didn't follow.

Nightingale Academy

Troy barely stepped through the gates before phones were out, flashing like camera traps. Whispers erupted all around him.

"Is that Bubble Boy?"

"No way, he's with the Legion now?"

"He looks… different."

"HEY!"

A group blocked his path. Capes flared. Glasses gleamed.

The Superhero Nerd Club.

Max, their overzealous leader, grinned wide. "Is it true you trained with Mr. Mars? What does Construct eat? Can Bolt really vibrate through walls?!"

"Yes. Pizza. And yes," Troy muttered, brushing past but not unkindly. "Can I go now?"

Max just nodded dumbly, heart visibly exploding.

Lunch – Rooftop

He just wanted quiet. Instead, he got the Bubble Crew.

They stood like a wall, Jackson, Miguel, Emily, Carter, and at the front…

Annie.

Her eyes weren't angry.

They were betrayed.

"You joined them?" Jackson's voice was low. "Monsters, Troy."

Emily folded her arms. "We thought you were one of us."

Carter just shook his head.

But it was Annie who finally broke the silence. Her voice trembled. "After everything… after what they did to me... to everyone... why?"

Troy looked at them all.

Then, quietly, with fire beneath his words, he said:

"Because someone needs to change them."

They stared.

"I'm still me. Still Bubble Boy. But I've seen the inside now. They don't even understand what being a hero is. Not yet. But I'll show them."

"You think you can fix Starman?" Miguel scoffed. "You're F class, Troy."

He met his eyes.

"I'm not trying to be stronger than them. I'm trying to be better."

Miguel looked away, his jaw tight. Jackson stepped forward.

"Then prove it. Next time you show up... don't come as one of them. Come as you."

Troy nodded once, slow and sure.

"I will."

Later That Night – Legion Tower

In the training room, a steel dummy exploded in bubbles.

Troy exhaled, catching his breath.

Behind him, Gladiator watched in silence.

"You're not bad," she said, twirling her blade. "For someone who still believes in fairy tales."

He wiped sweat from his brow. "Maybe. But even monsters can learn to dream."

Legion Tower – Troy's Room – Night

Troy lay sprawled on his bed, sweat still drying on his forehead from training. His duffel bag sat in the corner, half-unzipped, Legion emblem barely visible. He held his phone to his ear, voice soft.

"…I just don't know if they'll ever see me the same again," Troy whispered.

Annie's voice crackled through the call. "You don't have to change who you are, Troy. If you're still fighting for the right thing… I'll believe in you."

He smiled faintly, eyes on the ceiling. "Thanks."

There was a pause, then a giggle. "Also… Max nearly fainted when you said 'pizza.'"

Troy chuckled. "I noticed."

A knock came, not at the door, but at the window.

He blinked. They were high above the clouds.

"Troy," came a calm, deep voice.

He turned slowly and walked over, unlocking the latch. Wind whooshed in as the window opened, and there he was Starman, hovering effortlessly in the air, cape swaying like a flag made of night.

"I'd like to fly with my son," he said.

Troy hesitated. "Now?"

Starman nodded. "Now."

The Sky

They soared above the world, two figures cutting through the stars. Starman didn't rush; he flew slow, matching Troy's pace.

They played a version of catch, Troy launching a condensed bubble at Starman, that Starman caught and Threw around the world and Troy caught it. They kept doing this. They laughed as they were having fun.

They landed on a floating chunk of rock high in the stratosphere, looking down at the glowing curve of the Earth.

Then, in a blink, they were at a small, all-night burger joint just outside Nightingale. Starman in disguise, hood up, sunglasses on. Troy in a plain tee. They sat in a booth, burgers between them.

"Your mother would've liked you here," Starman said, chewing slowly. "She had this fire about her. Always saw the good in people, even me. That's… rare."

Troy looked down at his food.

"She sounded like an amazing person." he said.

Starman's voice softened. "She was."

They sat in silence for a moment.

Then Starman's tone shifted more serious. "Changing the Legion… will be hard. Most of them only follow me out of fear. Except Seaman. But the others?"

Troy nodded slowly.

"Gladiator," Starman continued, "she's the first. The most dangerous. And she won't listen to orders about not killing… unless you change her."

Troy looked up, surprised. "Me?"

Starman stared at him with steady, glowing eyes. "Tomorrow, I'm sending the two of you on a mission. Just you and her. It's dangerous. But if anyone can make her believe… it's you, son."

Troy swallowed, nervous but determined.

"I'll do it."

Starman stood, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Make her see what I see. That we don't have to be monsters."

He turned to leave but paused.

"…And Troy?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm proud of you."