𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐌𝐄𝐋𝐎𝐍 𝐒𝐔𝐆𝐀𝐑, COLBY MADDEN

1x06: Super Secrets

Y/N tugged on Hartley's sleeve, shooting her a warning look as they stood just outside the school's back entrance, near the trash bins. "Hartley, seriously, stop being so weird. People are watching."

Hartley just grinned, completely unfazed. "I'll take it from here."

Just then, Jake peeked out nervously from behind the corner, clutching a trash bag like it was a secret weapon. He tried to slip past quietly, but Hartley's sharp eyes caught the motion immediately.

With a quick dash forward, Hartley grabbed the trash bag right out of his hands. "A-ha! I knew it!" she declared triumphantly, pulling something from the bag and holding it up for Y/N and Jake to see.

It was a crumpled piece of paper — Starling's autograph.

Jake's face flushed crimson, and he stammered, "Uh... I can explain."

Y/N raised an eyebrow, not letting him off the hook. "Wait, how does she even know who you are?"

Hartley lowered her voice to a hushed whisper. "She knows who you are. As in, she knows you're Chaos, the supervillain."

Jake's eyes widened, and he looked anywhere but at them. "Apparently."

Y/N shook her head, trying to focus on the bigger issue. "Okay, but really — should we be separating Dad's uranium from the plastic bottles? I don't want another radioactive spill."

Hartley shrugged nonchalantly, already rifling through the trash bag as if she was conducting some top-secret investigation.

Jake groaned, rubbing his temples. "You guys are insane."

Y/N chuckled despite herself, leaning against the wall. "Maybe. But at least you're not the only one hiding things in the trash."

Hartley flashed a mischievous grin. "Oh, the game's just beginning." The afternoon sun dipped low behind the school building, casting long shadows across the cracked pavement where Y/N, Hartley, and Jake huddled near the trash bins. The air was thick with the mingled scents of spring blossoms and something faintly metallic — perhaps from the old trash cans themselves. The tension between the trio was palpable.

Y/N crossed her arms, eyes narrowing as she studied Jake. "I'm so confused. If Starling knows who you really are, why didn't she lock you up at ColossaCon?"

Jake shifted uncomfortably, his voice low and tired. "Oh, beats me. But it wouldn't be the first time she let me go."

Hartley looked skeptical, her brow furrowing. "What are you talking about?"

Jake's gaze drifted toward the distant rooftops. "There was this battle, right? Green Talon knocked me off the side of a building. I couldn't climb back up... I was stuck, begging for help. Starling was the only one who came."

Y/N blinked, surprised. "So she saved your life?"

"Yeah," Jake admitted, his voice softer. "And... that's why I'm trying to become a better person."

Hartley folded her arms, biting her lip. "Yeah, and... and you wanted to talk to her because you knew that..."

"Can I please tell my story?" Jake interjected, cheeks flushing slightly.

Hartley nodded, stepping back to let him speak. "I'm pretty sure that's why she didn't do anything at ColossaCon. She was looking out for me again."

Y/N exhaled slowly, her voice tinged with reluctant understanding. "I don't think Starling would just turn her back on a bunch of supervillains living in the suburbs."

"And I know 'she knows who you are' could mean anything," Hartley added cautiously. "You're right, I didn't even think about that. What if she's rounding up all the superheroes to ambush my family?"