MATEO

I entered the kitchen, feeling the weight of my backpack as I slumped it down in the corner. My dad was already there, indulging in a half tray of mouthwatering baked ziti. The aroma filled the room, a savory blend of melted cheese, rich tomato sauce, and seasoned meat, tempting my hunger. I grabbed a carton of milk from the fridge and chugged it down, feeling the cool liquid soothe my nerves after a long day.

"Hey, bud. How was school?" my father greeted me, his voice a mix of curiosity and casual interest as he dug into his meal.

"Good," I replied, trying to keep my tone neutral and not reveal too much. The truth was, school had been a mixed bag, but I wasn't in the mood to delve into the details.

"How's Alex doing?" he asked next, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. My best friend was grappling with something beyond his control, and I had to be careful with my response.

"Alex? He's great," I said casually, trying to avoid raising any concerns. I hoped my dad wouldn't notice the hesitation in my voice.

Unexpectedly, my dad inquired, "What happened to that hoodie Uncle John gifted to you?"

I smirked, deciding to play it off with a joke. "Sold it for drugs." My Dad didn't seem fazed, and I knew he wasn't buying my response. He fixed me with a stern look. "I'm serious," he insisted.

I sighed and reluctantly gave in. "Oh, that hoodie," I said, scratching the back of my neck. "I loaned it to Alex. Why do you ask?"

There was a momentary pause as he looked at me with widened eyes and a lifted eyebrow, a mix of suspicion and concern on his face. But he didn't push the issue and quickly returned to eating. "Nothing," he said, "Glad to know Alex is doing 'Super.' I've got to get back to the station. Stay safe."

Dad washed his empty dish at the sink and left the room with that. I continued eating my ziti, the rich flavors doing little to ease my troubled thoughts. I pondered if there was more behind his question about the hoodie and Alex. Nevertheless, I finished my meal and decided to catch up with Alex later to see how he was doing.

∆∆∆

ALEX

The rain poured outside as I settled into bed, holding my old Nightwing mask, studying the foam fabric and structure. I flicked it around in my hand, turning it repeatedly in my palm, lost in thought. The mask was a symbol of a simpler time when pretending to be a hero was just a game. That night, my sister Melissa stood in the doorway, watching me from afar, her expression a mix of curiosity and concern.

"You're not seriously thinking of going through with that, are you?" she asked, her voice laced with worry and disbelief.

I turned to look at Melissa, raising an eyebrow. "What exactly do you mean?"

"Don't play dumb. I know that it was you who stopped those thieves. Shit! That was Mateo's hoodie," she said, her voice a mix of surprise and worry.

I chuckled in disbelief, shaking my head. "Yeah, right? I can barely stand up to Gregory. How am I going to confront three robbery suspects?"

Melissa couldn't help but laugh, a soft, melodic sound that filled the room. "Okay? Gregory is pretty intimidating, but Dad will be furious when he hears about this."

I slumped against my mattress, feeling the weight of my actions. "Yeah, I'm well aware."

Melissa strolled into the room and settled into a chair next to my bed. "So, what's the plan? Are you fully committed to the Nightwing look, or... I could fetch my sewing machine and craft something for you if you're still contemplating this."

I sighed, feeling a mix of gratitude and frustration. "You can't tell anyone, okay? Not even Manny or I'm telling Mateo about your little crush."

"You are sure as hell not!" Melissa protested, clearly not wanting her secret exposed.

I grinned mischievously, feeling a bit of my old self returning. "Good, we agree."

"Only if I have free will with your costume design. Do you even have a name yet?" she asked, her eyes narrowing with curiosity.

I looked outside my window, watching the rain splatter against the glass. "I'm working on something."

"You know, this is insane," Melissa remarked, trying to wrap her head around the idea.

"Yeah," I chuckled in agreement, the absurdity of it all hitting me.

Suddenly, Manuel walked by, stopping in the doorway. "What's insane?"

I hesitated, not wanting to reveal my secret to him just yet. "Nothing."

Manuel sighed, rolling his eyes. "Fine, keep your secrets." He walked off, sensing that I didn't want to talk about it. Melissa and I discussed the superhero idea in hushed tones, planning to keep it between us.

Before long, Melissa asked about my superpowers, her eyes wide with curiosity and a hint of fear. I decided to demonstrate. I pointed to the lampshade in the corner of my room, and with a flick of my hand, a bolt of lightning shot from my fingertips, striking the lamp with a powerful force. The lampshade shattered against my table, and the room flickered with energy.

Melissa screamed, "Alex!"

"Fuck," I cursed, realizing I might have overdone it. Thunder and lightning rattled the house once more, the storm outside echoing the chaos inside. Melissa stared at the flickering lampshade, clearly worried about what I had just done.

"Where's your suit?" she asked, likely wanting to distract herself from the shock of my powers.

I sighed, feeling the weight of my secret. "In my closet."

Melissa hesitated, her eyes darting to the mess. "I'm not digging in there."

I huffed in frustration, but I understood her reluctance. My closet was a disaster zone, filled with unfolded clothes and various items. "Fine. I'll bring it to you in the morning."

"Okay. I'll also dig under my bed for my sewing stuff in the morning," she agreed, her tone softening.

I smiled, grateful for her support. "Thanks again, Mel. Promise not to tell anyone about my secret, though."

Melissa nodded solemnly, her expression serious. "I promise, okay?"

I sighed in relief, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. "Okay, good."

Melissa walked to the door and stopped at the opening, glancing back at me. "Buenas noches, super Doofus."

"Good night, Mel," I replied, grateful for my sister's understanding and support.

Melissa flipped off the light and left. As I lay in bed, I examined my mask, the smooth contours and familiar feel bringing a sense of comfort. I tossed the mask across the room onto my desk, where it landed with a soft thud. A lightning bolt clapped outside my window again, as if nature acknowledged the birth of a new hero.

I got comfortable in my sheets, my mind racing with excitement and nervousness. My eyes flickered with the lights in the home one last time, and with the sound of heartbeats, thunder, and everything, I drifted off into a new world of possibilities.