I walk back into my apartment, knowing Alex is up. I don't know what he's going to say or do, but I'm ready for it. I think.

I walk into our bedroom and see him sitting up on the bed, scrolling on his phone. He looks up and smiles tiredly at me.

"Hey, you're back." He says, yawning slightly.

I nod and stand in the doorway, not sure how he was feeling about me right now. "Yeah.. I'm sorry I left without saying anything. I hope you haven't been up too long."

"Just an hour or so." He sighs. He reaches his arms out, opening them up to me. "Come lay back down, it's time to go back to bed."

I raise an eyebrow as I set my bag down. "Wait.. Really? Aren't you like.. Mad at me?" I ask, confused about what was going on. He waves me over and I walk to the bed, sitting down next to him.

He grabs my hands and looks up at me. "John, I don't know what you're hiding from me. But I don't need to. I know you." He kisses my hand and I just stare at him in complete awe and utter confusion.

"I'm sorry, love. I just, I don't understand.. Earlier you said.."

"I know. I got mad at the lying. I still don't like the lying but.." He looks up at me. "I know you wouldn't keep something from me without good reason. But from now on, maybe don't try to come up with some bullshit excuse? Just let me know you need to step out and say how long?" He suggests.

I smile gently. "Okay, I can do that." I tell him. "I promise, from now on I won't make up excuses."

This went way better than I anticipated. I guess my talk with him as Hyperion worked.

"Though, do you think maybe you could cut down the leaving just a little bit? It's lonely seeing you go out every night." He says, looking down slightly.

I nod. "Yeah, yeah of course. Anything for you, Alex."

Compromises had to be made. I had to go back to patrol being every other night, but Alex wouldn't ask me why or stop me from going out. I think it's pretty fair, honestly.

Time skip brought to you by Doechii's introduction to the class (wow, a way different song than most of my time skips)

"So yeah, I've started this website that updates people on all of the gems that person has stolen, so that they can see how Hyperion isn't doing anything to stop him. Or at least to see how he's trying, but failing. I've also been researching what the guy is after, and I'm hoping to expose it so that people see that maybe-"

I don't know when Lafayette decided we were friends. I also didn't know that he talked.. So much... The only reason I started hanging around him is because I thought he might be the gem thief. The more he talks though, the less I'm convinced. I mean, how can someone talk so much while knowing so little?

No, the gem thief is a genius. Lafayette is not that.

"John? What do you think? Do you agree?" Lafayette asks, interrupting my thoughts.

I snap out of it and look up at him, tilting my head. "Hm? Oh, yeah, sure." I say.

He smiles contently. "I knew you would. Who would have thought we'd have such similar opinions?" He asks.

I sigh but nod. "Yeah, it's crazy." I look at my phone and then up at him. "Oh, hey I gotta go. My boyfriend just texted me saying he got out of work, so I'ma meet up with him." I lie.

"Oh yeah, see you later, John! Hey, don't forget to check out my website!" He calls as I start to walk away, waving without looking at him.

I had to get away from him, I couldn't stand one more minute listening to him shit talk me- well, Hyperion. It was just weird.

I decide to go to the park, considering Alex isn't actually supposed to be out of work for a few hours. It was a nice day out, so I could find some information on the crystals while enjoying one of the few nice days in New York spring.

I go and find a secluded space in Central Park. It was an area I went to often, considering pretty much no one knew about it. It was a perfect spot to collect my thoughts, and a pretty decent spot for dates, too.

I set my bag down and sit next to it, grabbing my laptop and starting my research. Despite how it may seem, I actually found quite a bit of information on these gems. They were a set of seven, and they each had their own slot in that music box I saw the villain holding that day. There are apparently rumors that the gems unlock some magical abilities once they are all collected, but no one has ever been able to find anything on them, so the abilities remain unknown.

I decide to search up Lafayette's website, to see if maybe he knew anything. I highly doubt he does, but I can't rule out any possible information.

Just as I suspected, however, there was nothing useful to be found. Though, he did have an article about everything "wrong" with Hyperion. He apparently thinks I'm homophobic, which is an interesting thing to throw out there, considering I have never done anything to show that. Laf just really doesn't like my other identity, but I have no idea why.

"Maybe he's working with the gem thief.." I mumble to myself, leaning back.

"Me working with that idiot? No, I work best alone." I hear a voice laugh from behind me.

I jump and quickly turn around, to see none other than the gem thief standing behind me.

"What in the- What are you doing here? Why are you here? I don't have any gems-" I panic, to which he laughs again.

"No, you might not think that. But you should be able to help me find the next one." He looks me up and down. "You are that boy who tried to fight me in that school, are you not?"

I glare at him. "And what makes you think I would help you?"

"Well, while that encounter was quite forgettable, I do remember it ending with a table falling on you. There's no tables out here, but there are larger items that would do a lot more harm." He crosses his arms.

"Are you threatening me right now?"

"It doesn't have to be that way. We could help each other." He offers, smirking gently as he takes a step closer.

I scoot back slightly, looking up at him with a questioning look. "What could you possibly have to offer me? You have nothing that I want."

"Really? All that research I just caught you doing, you don't want answers?" He tilts his head. "That computer isn't going to know anything about what these gems do, and I can see you're dying to know. You help me find this crystal, I give you answers on the box."

I freeze slightly. Why would he be willing to give me, a random civilian answers about the gems? None of this makes sense.

"Well, I couldn't help you even if I wanted to. What makes you think I know where your dumb rock is?"

"No one else knows where this area is. That tells me you know this place. I've been looking for days, and I can't find my.. rock. It should be simple for you to find, it's on a plaque in the ground. It reads 'The secret garden?'"

I pause for a moment. I knew exactly what he was talking about. I could help him find the plaque so he could give me answers, but then I'd be helping the enemy. How could I possibly do that?

"I can tell you know exactly what I'm talking about. So what do you say?" He asks.

"Tell me what I want to know first." I demand and he scoffs.

"Yeah, that's not how this works. I'm the one with the powers." He says, holding his hand and showing electricity zapping between his fingers.

I gulp slightly but stand my ground. "I don't want to help you if all of this is working towards some twisted plan."

"Well, you should know I only have four of the seven crystals, that would give you time to warn the world or whatever you need to do to feel safe. Besides, you have no proof that I want to do something evil."

He's collected four already? When did he get the fourth one?

I sigh as I realize this was the only way I'd get answers, and there wasn't really another way to go about this. "Fine. Follow me. And don't try and pull anything."

"After you, good samaritan." He says in a flirtatious tone.

I roll my eyes and grab my stuff before walking off of the path and into the woods. I look at the trees and start walking in the direction of the plaque. As we walk, he tries to engage in small talk, which is weird. I mean, villains don't do small talk.

"So, you come to this area often?" He asks.

"What are you doing?" I ask.

"Just making conversation, is that such a crime?"

"I'm not interested in a conversation with you. You're hurting people to get these gems, and no one even knows why." I say, looking back at him. I then turn and keep walking. "Besides, I still haven't forgiven you for dropping that table on me."

He scoffs slightly. "Don't be so dramatic, did it even hit you?"

"Well.. No, but it could have. Plus, the fall injured me enough." I shake my head. "You stole from my professor, a movie theater. You tried stealing from a museum. What, for why? What would a villain want with gems and a tacky music box?"

"A villain? Now, I don't know if I'd call myself that."

"All the shit you're doing is illegal. Hurting people to get what you want? Threatening me to take you to this stupid plaque? Pretty villainous if you ask me." I mumble.

"Sometimes, people need to be persuaded. How do you know I'm not doing this for the greater good?" He asks.

"Because you won't tell anyone why you're doing this. No one even knows your name."

He runs to catch up with me and fake pouts. "Aw, is that what this is about? You don't know my name, so you think I'm bad?" He chuckles. "Well, if that's what gives me a bad image then let me introduce myself to you first." He stops and holds his hand out.

I raise an eyebrow and he gestures to his hand. I refuse to shake it, but he keeps it out anyway.

"You can call me Cyclone." He says smugly. "Oh, come on. It's rude to leave someone hanging, even on a handshake."

"You want me to risk being electrocuted? No thank you." I shove my hands in my pockets and continue walking. "And for the record, I hope Hyperion stops you from whatever you're planning, Cyclone."

"Pft, that fool? I wouldn't get your hopes up. He's nothing but a self-righteous, self-proclaimed hero. Has he ever actually been able to help with anything?" He asks, catching up with me once again.

"We're here." I stop.

We both look down at the plaque, and I see it lined with purple gems, each one the same. Cyclone smirks slightly and approaches it, but I step in front of him.

"I brought you here, now tell me what I want to know. What exactly happens if you find all seven gems?"

He looks at me a moment and then lets out half a chuckle. "A deal's a deal, I suppose. You ever seen Aladdin, kid?"

"The Disney movie? What does that have to do anything?"

"Well, when I get all seven crystals, the box becomes sort of like a genie. Except it doesn't actually talk and I only get one wish. I only need one, though." He says, pushing me to the side. "Now get out of here, you're no longer of use to me."

I frown and think about it. "A wish? That's ridiculous. So what, you're doing all this to get rich or something? Wish for someone to love you? Last I checked, there are rules to these kinds of things."

He glares at me slightly. "I don't need any of that. My wish is just that, mine. Now run off before I stop being so nice to you."

"No, I brought you to the gem, I deserve to know what you-"

He waves his hand and I start to slowly get pushed backwards. I try to fight against it, but I can't actually try to overpower him without giving away my identity.

"All you need to know is this power has no limits. I can wish for anything. I just have to sacrifice something in return. So you'd better cherish your beloved Hyperion, while he's still around." He declares before pushing me all the way back to the path, and into a tree.

I sit there for a moment. Once he found all seven, he would sacrifice me for whatever fucked up world he wanted. I couldn't let that happen. I duck into a bush and change quickly, flying up and over to the plaque. I had to stop him.

But by the time I got there, he was gone. There were no gems left in the ground, and he vanished without a trace. This was worse than I had thought.

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