The streetlights cast long, cool shadows as Leo and Jace walked the last block to Leo's house. The sugar rush from the ice cream was starting to fade, replaced by a comfortable quiet. "Thanks for… everything, Jace," Leo said, a small, genuine smile flickering across his lips. "Seriously. I don't know what I would have done back there."

  Jace shrugged, shoving his hands into his pockets, but a grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Hey, what are friends for? Besides," he bumped Leo’s shoulder lightly, "ice cream was on your tab next time, wasn’t it?"

  Leo laughed, the sound lighter than it had been all day. "Definitely. Double scoop. Consider it payment for saving my skin." He stopped at his front steps. "See you around, Jace."

  "Later, Leo." Jace watched as Leo disappeared inside, the porch light briefly illuminating his retreating figure before winking out. He turned and started the walk home, the earlier adrenaline completely gone, replaced by a quiet contentment. He replayed moments from their escape in his head – Leo’s wide-eyed disbelief, the startled shouts of Tank’s goons, the surprisingly sweet taste of mint chocolate chip. Yeah, it had been a good, if slightly insane, afternoon.

  His phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out and glanced at the screen. A text from ‘Mom.’

  Hey sweetie, another late crunch at the lab. Don’t wait up! Left you leftovers in the fridge. Big presentation tomorrow, wish me luck! Love you!”

  Jace sighed, but it wasn't a sad sigh. More like an accepting one. He was used to nights alone. “Leftovers it is,” he muttered to himself, pocketing his phone. The good mood from the ice cream and Leo lingered, but a different kind of energy started to bubble up now. Restlessness. Opportunity.

  As he reached his own house, he didn't go inside. Instead, he kept walking towards the garage. He needed a change of clothes.

  Minutes later, the garage door hissed open and Jace emerged, transformed. The jeans and t-shirt were gone, replaced by darker denim and a plain black hoodie. He pulled the hood up, obscuring his features in shadow. The smile from earlier was gone, replaced by a focused, almost grim set to his jaw.

  Tonight, the neighborhood needed a little patrolling. And Jace, even if he couldn't admit it fully to himself, needed a reason to use the strength that hummed beneath his skin. He stepped out into the cool night air, and started to walk,run and then with the monumentum he started leaping from rooftops to rooftops

  Jace barely took another breath when the night air exploded with sound. Tires screeched loudly, then a hard crash of metal. He quickly looked towards the noise – Elm Street, further down from the alley.

  Using his strength, he jumped forward, going a long distance with each jump, landing hard on the ground. He rushed down Elm Street, covering the distance very fast.

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  Turning the corner, he saw what happened. A double-decker bus, a big heavy bus, was tipping dangerously over the edge of the bridge. It was leaning far out over the side. Next to it, separate from the bus, a black sports car lay upside down on the road, badly smashed. It looked empty. Sparks flew from the wrecked car. People screamed from inside the bus.

  He acted fast. People were in danger on the bus. He jumped towards the bus, not thinking about the drop below. He quickly found a strong point on the bridge railing near the tipping bus and grabbed hold of it tightly with one hand. Then, with his other hand, he reached out and grabbed a sturdy part of the bus frame that was still on the road. Using his super strength, Jace started to pull.

  Muscles straining, he hauled on the heavy bus, pulling it inch by agonizing inch back towards the road. The bus groaned and creaked, fighting against him, but Jace kept pulling, his feet braced against the bridge. Slowly, the bus started to move back, until finally, all its wheels were shuddering on solid ground again.

  He didn't stop. He could hear scared shouts from inside. He looked at the bus doors and saw one set near the front was stuck, bent and not moving. With a loud grunt, he grabbed the stuck doorframe, braced his feet against the bus, and ripped. The metal tore loudly, and the door came off, leaving a rough opening into the bus.

  "Everyone out! Now!" Jace shouted loudly. He saw shocked faces looking at him, passengers realizing they were safe.

  Then, another loud engine sound, closer now. Jace glanced back towards Elm Street. Another black car, same as the first, was speeding towards the bridge, not caring about the crashed bus or the upside-down car. It swerved around the wrecks and sped up, going straight for… further down the road, Jace saw it. A strong armored truck, plain and dark, was driving away fast.

  Reckless drivers. Chasing something. And putting everyone at risk. That was enough

  This time, he didn’t jump forward. He jumped up. Straight up, using his strength to jump high, over the bridge railing in one jump. He landed hard on top of the black car chasing the armored truck, the metal bending under his weight.

  The driver inside swore and braked hard, the car skidding. Jace didn't let him get control again. He grabbed the roof of the car with both hands, digging his fingers into the metal, and pulled back. He wanted to slow it, just stop the crazy chase.

  But his strength… it was still too much. Metal screamed and ripped. The roof of the car tore off in his hands like paper, the windows broke outwards. The car jumped violently, stopping suddenly in the road, broken and sparking.

  The driver, surprisingly okay, climbed out of the wreck, his face twisted in anger. He wasn't dressed like a racer. He wore dark clothes that looked useful, and as he moved, Jace saw shiny metal parts on his arms and legs. Tech?

  The driver growled, attacking Jace fast, throwing a punch at Jace’s head. Jace, still a bit unsteady from breaking the car, just managed to block, the punch hitting his arm. Pain shot up his arm, sharper than he thought it would be. He looked down. The driver's fist hadn't just hit him – something on his arm, a metal glove, had flashed blue when it hit.

  Jace stepped back quickly, making space. The driver kept attacking, moving fast, throwing punch after punch and kick after kick. Every hit, even light ones, sent shocks of pain through Jace. He realized – it wasn't just strength. The tech on the attacker’s arms and legs made his hits much stronger and faster too

  He was defending, taking hits, trying to see how the guy moved, where he was weak. The attacker was fast, but his moves were almost…like a robot, easy to guess. And he was already breathing hard. Jace felt his own strength getting ready, his muscles getting used to the fight. He blocked another punch, this time catching the attacker's arm and holding it tight. He twisted, using his super strength, wanting to stop him from using his arm, to get in control.

  Suddenly, a bright flash of light burst from behind him, with a loud whine. Pain exploded on his back, burning hot pain that made him gasp and his knees go weak. His grip on the attacker loosened, and he stepped forward, confused.

  He saw the first attacker step back, smiling smugly, as another person came from the shadows behind Jace. This one was taller, thinner, and also wore dark clothes like the first, but with something on his arm – a dark grey device that was still quietly humming, with a little smoke coming from the tip.

  The world blurred. Jace wobbled on his feet, his sight going fuzzy. He tried to focus, to fight back, but the pain was too much, spreading from his back, taking away his strength. The last thing he saw before he passed out was the smug face of the first attacker and the cold eyes of the second, dark figures in the streetlight glow. Then, darkness.