[color=Magenta][center][h1]Miles Bergeron[/h1][/center]
[hr][/color]

[h2]Olympus District[/h2]
[b][i]One night after the explosion[/i][/b]

Lesson One of being a Hero On the Rise? Stay in your lane. David may have been able to take on Goliath, but that had to be ordained by God himself, and most upstart vigilantes don’t have that kind of access, time or dedication. At least one ass whooping or pride bruiser is inevitable, it’s pretty much in the “Hero” job description. However, why take a waterboarding when you can just take a couple gut punches? Chances are, if your vigilante get-up doesn’t have a crotch sweat stain by the time you take on your first terrorist cell, it’s probably too soon. There is no shame in the vigilante who starts out tackling purse snatchers and enemies without military grade weapons, as mundane as it might sound.

Miles Bergeron tried to keep this in mind as he shook his jitters out, atop the SafeKnight International Bank building. A lone figure among the city lights that reached him.

[i]‘Man. 10 stories seems like a lot more distance when you’re standing on top.’[/i]

He ideally had hopes of at least reaching 17, if only to waltz into a rated R movie unattended. Of course, preparing to jump from a building and quite literally hurl himself into danger might be counterproductive to that, but hey,

[b]“Some things, you just gotta do.”[/b] His own voice startled him, he’d been uncharacteristically quiet for so long. On top of one of the corporate bank buildings in the Olympus district, the wind was all he needed to hear.

It was the highest he had ever been up with his powers. Up there, looking at the twinkling inter-network of a city flickering so dimly, he could almost convince himself that he could actually make a difference in the city. If he would just jump. Jump into the fray of the fight with Fitz around him, just maybe. Maybe he could do it. But, he couldn’t seem to take the plunge. 

He sighed as his phone rang. He dreaded his mother’s voice. Her coming home early from work and finding him gone. It was bound to happen. He looked down beside him, only to remember that his phone was off, and stashed in his Hideaway spot. 

[b]“Then who…?”[/b] He turned to another figure outlined in darkness, on the opposite side of the roof of the building. The screen briefly illuminated a man’s face before it quickly plummeted into the darkness. Miles reacted with a start before catching himself. It seemed like the man had let go of the phone intentionally. A few seconds more of observation showed the man bouncing on his heels, shaking himself. Standing one foot and [i]leaning forward[/i]! It dawned on Miles, what this was and his stomach sank.

Miles was an attentive kid, even if he was still rather hard headed. His mom often taught him little tips and tricks to survive in the world from the perspective of a nurse. Proudly CPR certified, 1st responder and all those other fun civilian titles to help a human in trouble, she’d even taken the time to describe those who might be suicidal. 

It was going to be one of [i]those[/i] nights for him.

Miles had to get the man’s attention. A hero would never stand idly by. No good person would. But shouting might startle him as would trying demand his attention. Miles decided to draw his attention instead. He focused on the source of his magic, the twist in the pit of his stomach. It spread to his chest and from his mind flowed the thought of this power. A soft [color=magenta]aura[/color] began to emanate from him. The man began to notice and turned to him.
[b]
“Who are you?” [/b]

[b]“You know it’s cold up here tonight, and you don’t even have a jacket. I’m not even that reckless, man,”[/b] Miles responded, thankful that he still had his hood up and his cowl on. 

The man fully turned to him now, his interest momentarily piqued. [b]“Are you…? You’re just a kid? What are you doing up here?”[/b] he demanded. 

Miles shrugged, [b]“I was actually about to ask you the same thing.”
[/b]
This faltered the man and he was silent for a moment. [b]“I...it’s easier when you’re young. Even as bad as it is now, it’s still easier when you are young.”[/b]

Miles’ heart was seemed to trying to force itself through his chest cavity from anxiety and nerves, but he leveled his tone, standing slowly. [b]“You’d be surprised where a kid like me can be, because of how bad it is now. How did you do it?”[/b] [i]’Appeal to him. Calm him down. Talk him down. Calm him down. Talk him down. Calm him down. Talk him down.’[/i]

The man looked over the ledge again Miles used that break in contact to quicken his pace. 

[b]“I don’t think I can...it’s not worth it anymore,”[/b] the man finally spoke. Miles was upon him at this point. Now that the man could see him, he gave a mix between a scoff and a chuckle. [b]“A ‘vigilante’ eh?”[/b] For a moment, the man seemed to calm. And Miles believed he could really talk him down. 

Though he would come to realize one night that “Stay in your lane” also means “Use your goddamn common sense...dumbass” (roughly translated of course), tonight was not that night. And sometimes a man has to dig through the fool to find the sage inside. And Miles Bergeron, in his rambunctious glory, stepped out onto the ledge to meet Mr. Ozukai. 

[b]“Yeah,”[/b] Miles said putting his hands on his hips, proudly.[b] “Somebody’s gotta try and make some change around here. Somebody gotta try to be something...like you said, shits getting bad out there.”[/b]

[b]"Hiro Ozukai,”[/b] the man offered, giving a smile. 

He hesitated for a brief moment, deciding to commit to his role as a Hero in Training. “PsycheOut at your service,” Miles planted his foot down and jutted his chest, a warmth spreading through his body. Mr. Ozukai’s smile, his sudden change in mood. 

[i]’Maybe this is what it’s all about,’[/i] he thought with a soft smile as he let himself relax when the shudder ran up the building roof, violently shaking it --and its occupants. There was a gasp and a shared moment between the two males as they locked eyes--the danger realized. Imminent. They teetered over, arms flailed and gravity did what it had always done.

[i][b]“FIIIIIIIIIIIITZ!”[/b][/i] The young hero cried out as he plummeted with Mr. Ozukai.

Because when a fool falls, he falls fast. And God help the fool who hasn’t dreamed to fly.

When you don’t heed Lesson 1, your hero life might be short-lived.