[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/XV1PIyT.jpg?2[/img][/center]

[color=f26522]"You didn't say it back!?"[/color] MJ's horrified screech comes over the phone causing me to wince and jerk my head away from it. As I put the phone back to my ear I can tell she hasn't stopped talking, [color=f26522]"-even want this to workout? You can't let him say that and not say anything back. Are you crazy?"[/color]

[color=ec008c]"MJ,"[/color] I shake my head and look for the words to say, [color=ec008c]"I'm not ready for that. Things are going well, I want them to continue. But I can't say anything I don't mean. Not when it's something like that."[/color]

I still haven't talked to Peter since he told me he loves me. I left the message telling him I was okay after the incident on Stryker's Island two days ago, but that's about it. I've ignored probably twelve calls from him. I know it's not exactly the right thing to do, but I need to figure out what the hell I'm actually going to say before we actually talk.

Being a teenager sucks sometimes.

[color=f26522]"Well, you have to call him at some point,"[/color] MJ tells me what I already know. [color=f26522]"If you keep ignoring him it's only gonna get worse, and you're not gonna forgive yourself if you mess this up."[/color]

[color=ec008c]"Yea, yea,"[/color] I respond, making it clear I'm in no rush to solve this problem. [color=ec008c]"Listen, I'll call you later. How about we grab some ice cream or something?"[/color]

[color=f26522]"Fine. Call Peter."[/color]

After hanging up, I head to the living room where Dad is all but passed out. It's been a long day since the fire. The NYPD has managed to catch most of the convicts that escaped that night, but there are still a good number out there. It's been all hands on deck for the cops, and even Dad's been pulled off his superhuman duty to deal with it.

[color=ec008c]"Why don't you go to bed and get some actual sleep, father?"[/color] I plop down next to him on the couch and give him an admonishing look. [color=ec008c]"The scum of New York city can clearly do without you for a few hours. If someone really needs something, they'll call you."[/color]

He looks at me, the bags under his eyes pronounced, [color=7bcdc8]"You know I can't do that. Not with everything going on."[/color]

I roll my eyes at him, [color=ec008c]"Dad, you're not doing anyone any good playing zombie cop. Get some rest, and you're gonna do a lot more good."[/color]

[color=7bcdc8]"Fine,"[/color] he grumbles. [color=7bcdc8]"But I don't have to like it."[/color]

As he gets up to leave, I call to him, [color=ec008c]"Kay! Love you! You're welcome!"[/color]

After a mumble from the hallway, I turn the TV on just to waste some time. Of course, what greets me is the exact opposite. Dad must have left the channel set to the news when he turned it off last, and a big old flaming recreation of my mask is currently hovering above the city of New York. Panicking, I check my phone for any sign of Firefly escaping custody, but nothing turns up. That's good, but the fact that some other fire-themed weirdo is calling me out is not.

[color=ec008c]"Hey, Dad! I'm headed to MJ's,"[/color] I say, grabbing my pack with my suit. [color=ec008c]"I'll let you know when I'm headed home."[/color]

[center]**********[/center]

It doesn't take me long to reach Manhattan, and even though the giant symbol in the sky has begun to fade, I find its source. 

Standing on a rooftop above the streets is a young man. Older than me, but not by more than ten to twelve years, at the most. His blond hair shines in the sunlight, the dwindling flames bouncing off the golden waves. His bright, blue eyes are striking, but a sadness and emptiness that fills them like a black hole resting inside. 

Confusion contorts his face as he looks at me, and I can tell that even if he's only a bit older than me in years, his soul has seen some miles. A general air of tiredness and defeat rolls off of him like a thunderclap, and the sight of me seems to bring even more of it out of him.

If I didn't know any better, he is about to cry.

[color=ec008c][b]"Nice fireworks. The likeness is pretty uncanny. Listen,"[/b][/color] I sigh as I break the silence between us, [color=ec008c][b]"I've had about my fill of fire for one...lifetime after this past week. If you're here to fight, can we just skip to the part where I web you up and hand you over to the authorities. I'm not sure I've got all that much in me for a real fight right now."[/b][/color]