Eric Dean was in an odd mood. Just hours earlier, his best friend had taken part in a breathtaking showdown with an armored assassin who had attempted to take the life of one of the richest men in the world, which was his second heroic feat in as many days. Eric knew that the moment that Scott had revealed himself to the world, he had changed things. He just found himself wondering exactly how much things had in fact, been changed. 

His friend’s exploits as the hero known as Icon weren’t the only things on his mind. Together, Scott and Eric had been preparing to open their very own nightclub, which they had decided would be called “The Hub,” because they hoped to convey with the name, that their club would be the premier destination for people from all walks of life to enjoy an evening on the town. Eric had secured the proper permits while Scott had been busy preventing a giant space station from crashing into the city, and the club would be ready to open in just a few short weeks. 

Eric had had a long day working at the site of their club, meeting with contractors and vendors to make sure that everything was in order for the grand opening in three weeks time. He wanted nothing more than to kick back on his couch, have some leftover pizza straight out of the fridge and a bottle of beer while he sat in front of the TV and did absolutely nothing for the rest of the night. 

After getting off of the bus at the corner of Easy Street and Oakland Avenue, Eric began making the two block trek to his apartment. As he ventured toward his home, he took the opportunity to check out any and all ladies who happened to cross his path. Granted, with the frigid temperatures that were the norm for Lost Haven in late January, the female form was slightly harder to appreciate due to the fact that most of the women were covered by bulky winter coats, he still enjoyed what he called, “The Lost Art.” 

As he got closer to his apartment, he noticed something that seemed quite odd. Laying against one of the buildings was a young woman. She looked to be in rough shape, judging by the bruises that adorned her face. It looked like someone had truly done a number on her. Forgetting how tired he was, he rushed over to the woman’s side to see if she was alright.

“Hey, are you okay?” He asked with genuine concern.

"I'm fine, I just need a moment.." The young woman started to try and get up only to fail. "No, I'm not" She said, with a hint of defeat in her voice.

Eric looked her over, and upon getting a closer look at the damage to her face, the bruises, the discoloration in her eyes, he knew that she needed medical help.

“Listen, "we've got to get you to a hospital to get looked at." He said, taking out his phone, about to call for an ambulance. 

"No hospitals." The declaration was emphatic. "I'll be fine"
With the woman’s protestations, Eric returned his phone to his pocket.

“Alright. Look, my place is just around the corner. Why don't you come with me, we can clean you up and get you something to eat. You'll be safe there." He said, not wanting to leave the young woman, who obviously was in need of help.

"Thank you." She said as she wearily motioned for him to lead the way.