Mutant Teenagers

A Quiet Night at the Safehouse

The team was finally able to rest after weeks of tension, training, and battles. The safehouse felt unusually calm-no alarms, no missions, just a rare evening to unwind. Melina sat in the common room, her energy orbs lazily circling her hands, while Spuros tinkered with an old radio Leonidas had left behind. Morena was curled up on the couch with a book, her leg still bandaged from the last fight, but her spirits much improved.

Kwstas and Nikolas, however, had slipped away.

---

On the Roof

The city skyline stretched out before them, Athens shimmering under a blanket of stars. Nikolas leaned back on his elbows, his usually tough, brooding expression softened by the peaceful moment. Kwstas sat next to him, closer than usual, their shoulders almost touching.

"You know," Kwstas began, his voice breaking the quiet, "I think this is the first time we've just...been still."

Nikolas glanced at him, his lips quirking in a faint smile. "You're not used to sitting still, are you?"

"Not really," Kwstas admitted. "But with everything going on, it's nice. I mean, when's the last time we just talked?"

Nikolas hesitated, then sighed. "I don't know. Things have been so...messy lately. Between the missions, Morena, and, well...us." He looked down, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm not exactly great at this."

Kwstas turned to face him fully. "Nikolas, you don't have to be perfect. I like you exactly the way you are."

Nikolas's eyes widened slightly at the admission. "You like me?"

Kwstas smirked, his confidence returning. "You really needed me to spell that out?"

For once, Nikolas didn't hide behind his usual bravado. He leaned in, slowly this time, and their lips met in a soft, lingering kiss.

---

Interrupted by Melina

"Wow. And here I thought I'd find you two arguing," Melina's voice cut through the quiet.

Kwstas and Nikolas broke apart abruptly, both turning to see Melina leaning against the rooftop doorway with an exaggerated grin on her face.

"How long were you standing there?" Kwstas demanded, his cheeks flushing.

"Long enough," she teased, stepping closer. "Don't worry, your secret's safe with me...unless Spuros asks."

Nikolas groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Can't we have one moment of peace without you butting in?"

Melina laughed. "Oh, come on, you two. It's cute. But seriously, if you're sneaking away like this, at least lock the door next time."

Kwstas rolled his eyes. "Fine. Is there a reason you're up here, or did you just come to ruin the mood?"

Melina plopped down next to them, her tone shifting to something more sincere. "Actually, I wanted to check on you both. Things have been...intense lately."

Nikolas shrugged. "We're fine. Or at least, we're figuring it out."

"Good," Melina said. "Because as much as I love teasing you, I care about you guys. All this power stuff-it's hard enough without falling apart as a team."

Kwstas nodded, his voice soft. "We're not falling apart. We're just...getting stronger."

---

A New Arrival: Sofia Joins the Team

The next morning, Leonidas gathered the group in the training area. He stood beside a new face-a tall girl with caramel skin, dark curly hair, and a confident stance that immediately drew attention.

"This is Sofia," Leonidas announced. "She's joining the team. Her powers are still developing, but she has an incredible knack for strategy and fieldwork. I expect you to make her feel welcome."

Sofia gave a small wave, her piercing green eyes scanning the group. "Hi. I've heard a lot about you guys. Seems like you've been busy."

Melina grinned and stepped forward, shaking Sofia's hand. "Busy's an understatement, but we could use someone with your energy. I'm Melina."

Kwstas followed, offering a warm smile. "I'm Kwstas. Welcome to the team."

Sofia nodded at him, her expression unreadable. "Thanks."

When Spuros's turn came, he hesitated, rubbing his palms nervously against his jeans. "Uh, hi. I'm Spuros. I, uh, don't have powers, but I'm here anyway."

Sofia tilted her head, her lips curving into a slight smile. "No powers, huh? That just means you're more resourceful."

Spuros blinked, surprised. "Yeah. Yeah, I guess so."

Nikolas crossed his arms, watching the interaction with a smirk. "Don't let her get in your head, Spuros. She's just being polite."

"Shut up, Nikolas," Spuros muttered, his cheeks tinged pink.

---

Team Dynamics

As days passed, Sofia quickly integrated into the group. She proved to be as sharp as Leonidas promised, coming up with ideas that made missions more efficient. She worked closely with Spuros, helping him improve his combat strategies and even suggesting he take on the role of tech and logistics coordinator.

"I think you're smarter than you let on," Sofia told him one evening.

Spiros flushed. "I mean, I try. It's not like I have powers to rely on."

"Maybe not," Sofia said, her voice kind. "But you don't need them. You're more than capable."

Her words lit a spark in Spuros that he hadn't felt in a long time. But as his admiration for Sofia grew, so did his nervousness around her.

---

Morena's Crush on Kwstas

Meanwhile, Morena couldn't hide her feelings for Kwstas, even though he clearly didn't reciprocate. She found herself seeking his attention at every opportunity-asking him to train with her, sitting next to him during meals, and offering to help with his gear.

"You're really good at this whole leader thing," she told him during one training session.

Kwstas chuckled. "I'm not the leader. We're all equals here."

"Maybe, but you have a way of bringing people together," Morena said, her voice soft.

Nikolas, who had been watching from the sidelines, felt his jaw tighten. He stepped into the sparring ring without warning. "Break time's over," he said, his tone sharp.

Kwstas frowned. "Nikolas, we're just-"

"I know what you're doing," Nikolas interrupted, his gaze flicking toward Morena. "But we need to focus."

Morena glared at him but didn't argue. Kwstas sighed, sensing the brewing tension.

---

Melina's Perspective

Later, Melina pulled Kwstas aside. "You need to talk to Morena."

Kwstas groaned. "Why? I don't want to hurt her feelings."

"She's going to get hurt either way," Melina said. "Better to be honest now than let her keep thinking there's something between you."

"And what about Nikolas?" Kwstas asked. "He's acting weird, too."

Melina smirked. "That's because he's jealous. You've got half the team crushing on you, and you don't even realize it."

Kwstas buried his face in his hands. "Why is this so complicated?"

"Because we're teenagers with superpowers," Melina said, patting his shoulder. "It's always complicated."