Bubble Boy

Exterior – Nightingale Academy – Morning

A limousine road down the road and stopped outside the towering gates of Nightingale Academy. Troy stepped out, adjusting his school blazer over his Legion undersuit, still patched in places from the fight. The bruises on his face had faded, but the whispers hadn't.

Students turned as he walked past.

"He fought The Orphan, alone."

"Did you see the crater downtown? That was him."

"They're saying he's stronger than Starman."

Troy sighed, pulling his hood up.

Interior – Nightingale Academy – Main Hall

As he entered, the sound hit like a tidal wave.

Chatter. Gasps. Stares.

Someone dropped their coffee when he passed. A girl screamed, "That's Bubble Boy!" like she had just spotted a pop star.

Then came the Nerd Superhero Club.

Four of them practically sprinted up to him, eyes gleaming, notebooks ready.

"Troy!" Their president Max, a pimply B-class with invisibility who called himself "The Fog," gasped. "You have to tell us everything, was it true the Orphan decayed a tank just by touching it?!"

"Did your bubble actually block his decay?!"

"Is it true Gladiator carried you bridal style after?!"

Troy held up his hands, chuckling. "Whoa, okay, one at a time."

They all fell silent, leaning in with exaggerated reverence.

He scratched the back of his head. "Im not sure if he decayed a tank. Yes, my bubble blocked it. And no...I carried Gladiator. Kinda."

The club erupted into high-pitched screams, one of them fainted, the others scribbled notes like mad.

Troy slowly backed away. "Alright, cool talk guys, see ya!"

Cafeteria – Day

He finally made it to the cafeteria, where the Bubble Crew was waiting.

Jackson, leaning back in his chair, fire flickering between his fingers. "About time, legend."

Carter grinned. "Mr 'I took on the Syndicate's pitbull and lived.' You better autograph my forehead."

Emily rolled her eyes, but smiled. "They were talking about you in class like you were the second coming of Starman."

Troy frowned slightly at that name.

Annie stood and walked to him, wrapping her arms around his waist. "You okay?"

He nodded, hugging her back. "Yeah. Just… tired."

Jackson clapped his hands. "Then sit, man. You've earned it. We saved your pudding."

Troy sat down, pulling his tray closer. "I'm not a legend," he muttered.

Carter pointed his fork at him. "No. You're the son of a legend. And you're making him look like a punk."

Everyone laughed except Troy.

He smiled faintly but looked down.

"I'm not trying to beat him. I just… want to be different."

Emily sipped her drink. "You already are."

Kasey entered the cafeteria, walking past their table. Her gaze met Troy's for a heartbeat, icy, unreadable.

Then she looked away.

Annie noticed but said nothing, only rested her hand over his.

Troy leaned back, staring out the window.

The world was changing. He could feel it.

And for once, the whispers weren't tearing him down.

They were lifting him up.

Exterior – Legion Tower Training Grounds – Night

The city glittered below as the wind howled through the high altitude training zone atop Legion Tower. Lights from passing aeroplanes and helicopters lit up the sky like fireflies. Troy stood alone at the center of the ring, wearing his undersuit, his breath misting in the cold air.

CLANG.

The metal door opened behind him.

Gladiator stepped through, sword strapped to her back, blood red hair pulled into a tight braid. Her presence was like gravity, impossible to ignore. And almost fully healed with faded bruises.

"You're late," Troy teased, bouncing a bubble in his hand.

She smirked. "You're early."

They faced each other in silence, until she drew her blade and pointed it at him. "Ready?"

He grinned. "Always."

Minutes Later

The sparring was like a dance, Troy weaving between slashes with bubbles cushioning near-lethal blows. Gladiator's strikes were precise, powerful, but restrained. Every move was intentional. Every glance carried weight.

She smiled more than she had in months.

And then she laughed.

An actual, joyful laugh that echoed across the rooftop. A sound the other Legion members hadn't heard in years.

Interior – Observation Deck – Same Time

Behind reinforced glass, Bolt leaned back in his chair with a grin. "Is that laughter? From Gladiator?"

Construct whistled. "We might need to call an ambulance, for my heart."

Void stood in silence, arms crossed. Her eyes narrowed slightly, but she said nothing.

Mr Mars stood still as stone, his expression unreadable. But his gaze lingered on Gladiator, almost like he was… relieved.

Starman, standing in the shadows at the back, said nothing. But his eyes, those burning crimson eyes, watched them both carefully.

Not with anger.

But something far stranger.

Curiosity.

Maybe even… pride?

Back on the Training Grounds

Troy was on his back, a bubble cushioning his fall, laughing.

"You're holding back," he panted.

Gladiator stood over him, sword resting on her shoulder. "I don't want to break you."

He smirked. "You won't."

She offered him her hand.

He took it.

She didn't let go right away.

For a moment, time slowed. Her cheeks flushed, and he didn't notice.The wind tugged at their hair, the stars above them bright and infinite.

"You make me feel…" she started, then looked away, suddenly unsure.

Troy blinked. "Feel what?"

She glanced at him, soft eyes, vulnerable for the first time. "Human."

Interior – Legion Tower – Later That Night

Bolt nudged Construct. "Bet you five bucks she confesses by next week."

Construct grinned. "Ten says it's Troy who cracks first."

Void didn't look at them. "She's changing… because of him."

Mr Mars spoke softly. "No. They are changing."

Starman remained silent as he gazed at the stars through the glass. Then, almost imperceptibly, he muttered:

"…He might just pull it off."

"Pull what off?" Seaman turned to him, standing loyally at his side.

Starman's voice remained low. "He might actually become what I never could…"

A true symbol of peace.