Nighman

Chapter 5

The Teen Team filed back into their base, each member carrying the lingering fatigue of battle, though the atmosphere was far from celebratory. As soon as they set foot inside, Rex let out a frustrated sigh, pacing back and forth with his hands gesturing wildly.

“I’m telling you, it’s ridiculous!” he grumbled, throwing his hands up. “First, it’s that Mark kid—Invincible, or whatever he’s calling himself—and now this guy, Cerulean? How are we supposed to keep up? It’s like every new hero that shows up has insane powers.”

Eve only half-heard him, her mind drifting, replaying the events of the past hour. She’d fought alongside Rex plenty of times, but something about today felt different. Watching Cerulean appear out of nowhere, stepping up to help without hesitation, without any expectation of recognition or reward… there was something almost noble in his calm confidence, in the way he’d stepped in and turned the tide of the fight.

“Eve? Are you even listening?” Rex’s voice broke through her thoughts, and she blinked, realizing she’d been staring blankly at the floor. He looked at her with an expression somewhere between irritation and concern.

“Sorry, Rex,” she murmured, forcing herself to focus. “Just… thinking about today.”

Rex scoffed, leaning back against one of the console desks. “Yeah, I’m thinking about it too. You saw that, right? The guy practically took out Komodo Dragon by himself. And that’s after Invincible’s stunt last week! It’s like we’re getting sidelined.”

“Cerulean wasn’t trying to show anyone up,” she replied, her tone sharper than she intended. “He was just helping. And… he saved us. We should be grateful.”

Rex shot her a look, his brow furrowing. “Grateful? Sure. But it doesn’t change the fact that guys like him and Invincible make the rest of us look like amateurs.”

Eve didn’t reply, her gaze drifting again as Rex’s complaints faded into the background. Her thoughts returned to the last few days with Cerulean. She’d always been drawn to people who carried a certain kind of energy, a passion for making a difference. That was part of what had drawn her to Rex when they first met—his fire, his raw power, his drive to prove himself. But Cerulean… he was different.

She found herself comparing him to Mark. Mark was… naive, sure, and idealistic, but he had a good heart. She liked him, respected him even. But Cerulean… there was a maturity to him that set him apart. He didn’t talk about himself, didn’t try to impress anyone. He was just there, steady and strong, as though he had nothing to prove. That quiet confidence, the way he’d smiled at her after the battle, his reassuring words—it all left her feeling strangely drawn to him.

She stole a quick glance at Rex. He’d moved on from his complaints about other heroes and was now describing a new move he’d tried out in the fight, his voice animated, his hands illustrating his words. But her heart wasn’t in the conversation. Instead, she found herself wondering if her relationship with Rex was what she truly wanted, or if it was simply something comfortable, something that had been enough—until now.

Across the city, Cerulean strolled through the quiet, dimly lit aisles of a costume shop. He studied his reflection in a small mirror on the wall, trying to imagine himself in the various suits and masks he saw lining the shelves. Most of the costumes were flashy, adorned with symbols or designed in bold colors that practically screamed for attention. But that wasn’t what he was looking for.

He’d thought about his powers for weeks now, slowly coming to grips with them, figuring out how to use them responsibly. His tactile telekinesis was powerful, but he needed something to give him presence without standing out too much. Something… functional, subtle.

An older man with a slight limp approached him, eyeing him with the kind of curiosity that suggested he knew more than he let on. “Looking for a suit, kid?”

Cerulean nodded, giving the man a polite smile. “Something simple. Durable. And no capes.”

The man chuckled, clearly amused by his practical approach. “Good call on the no capes. Never did understand the appeal myself. We’ve got reinforced suits in the back—stronger fabric, designed to hold up against… rough use, if you know what I mean.”

Cerulean followed him to the back of the shop, where the older man pointed out a row of plain but sturdy-looking suits. They lacked the flair of the more decorative costumes, but they had a quiet, understated appeal that suited him perfectly. One caught his eye—a deep navy suit with subtle armor padding across the shoulders and chest, sleek and streamlined, but strong enough to take a hit.

He ran his fingers along the fabric, appreciating the craftsmanship. It felt right, like something he could wear without drawing attention, while still giving him the edge he needed in battle.

“Looks like it was made for you,” the shopkeeper observed, his voice friendly. “Going to need a name to go with it?”

Cerulean considered the question, a faint smile touching his lips. “Cerulean will do for now,” he replied. He wanted something more grounded, something that didn’t paint him as a larger-than-life hero but as someone ready to fight, to stand up when it mattered. He didn’t want to be a legend; he just wanted to make a difference.

After finalizing his purchase, he left the shop, his new suit carefully folded in a bag under his arm. The night air was crisp, and he found himself wandering the quiet streets, his mind drifting to the events of the day. The battle had left him feeling strangely exhilarated, but his thoughts kept circling back to Eve.

He’d seen the surprise on her face when he arrived, the way her eyes had widened, her voice catching when she’d spoken his name. She’d looked at him with a mixture of shock and wonder, her usual composure slipping just enough to reveal the deeper emotions beneath.

He was curious about her—more than curious. Eve was intelligent, capable, and honest in a way he admired. And working with her these past few days had only made those qualities clearer. But he also knew she was with Rex. He didn’t want to come between them, yet he couldn’t deny the feeling growing within him, the pull toward her that seemed impossible to ignore.

Back at the Teen Team’s base, Eve lingered after the rest of the team had gone, her gaze fixed on the floor, her mind a whirlwind of conflicted emotions. The decision she faced felt monumental, as if her heart were caught between two paths, each with its own uncertain future.

Could she truly see herself with Rex in the long run? He was fiery, unpredictable, but sometimes… unreliable. She’d learned to adapt to his quirks, his impulsive nature, but was that really enough? Was that what she wanted?

And then there was Cerulean. A new presence in her life, but one that felt so… grounding. He was thoughtful, mature, and strong in a way that made her feel like she could trust him, like he’d be there without question. She barely knew him, but the way he’d looked at her, the calm assurance in his voice, the way he’d stepped into battle without hesitation—it made her wonder if he was exactly what she’d been missing all along.

Her phone buzzed, breaking the silence, and she glanced at the screen. A message from Rex, asking if she wanted to grab a late-night snack. She hesitated, her thumb hovering over the screen.

For the first time in a long time, she didn’t feel excited to see him. Instead, she felt… restless, as though she were on the edge of something new, something bigger than she’d ever imagined. And with that realization, she knew a choice was coming—one she couldn’t avoid.

As she slipped her phone back into her pocket, her gaze drifted to the city lights outside the window. Somewhere out there, Cerulean was preparing for the road ahead, ready to make his own mark on the world. And deep down, she couldn’t shake the feeling that their paths were bound to cross again, sooner rather than later.