Mutant Teenagers

Spuros's discovery

Over the next few days, Spuros couldn't stop thinking about the glow that appeared when he touched Sofia. It wasn't just a light-it felt like energy, something deep and powerful trying to break free. He didn't want to overthink it, but every time they worked together or shared a glance, he felt it bubbling just under the surface.

One afternoon, while the team was lounging in the common room, Spuros found himself absentmindedly fiddling with a small screwdriver. He felt a strange pull in his chest, like a tug he couldn't quite explain.

"Hey, Spuros, you good?" Sofia asked, nudging him lightly.

"Yeah, just...weird feeling," he muttered.

Melina perked up. "Weird feeling? Like mutant-weird?"

Before Spuros could answer, a flicker of light appeared in front of him. It was small at first, like a spark, but then it expanded into a swirling circle of golden energy.

Everyone froze.

"Uh...what is that?" Kwstas asked, his eyes wide.

Spiros stared at the glowing circle, his heart racing. "I...think I made it."

Nikolas leaned forward, his tone skeptical. "You think you made it?"

Spiros reached out tentatively, and his fingers passed through the glowing edge. On the other side, he could see the training room.

"It's a portal," Sofia whispered, awe in her voice.

---

Testing the Portals

Leonidas insisted they test Spuros's newfound ability immediately. The team gathered in the training room, excitement and curiosity buzzing in the air.

"Alright, Spuros," Leonidas said, standing with his arms crossed. "Focus on creating another portal. Think about a specific location."

Spiros nodded, his hands trembling slightly. He thought about the common room, picturing every detail in his mind. He felt the same tug in his chest, and a golden circle began to form in front of him.

When the portal stabilized, they all peered through to see the common room on the other side.

"Holy crap, it worked!" Melina said, clapping her hands.

Spiros grinned, the adrenaline coursing through him. "I can't believe this is real."

"Try stepping through," Sofia suggested, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Spiros hesitated, then took a deep breath and stepped into the portal. The sensation was strange-like walking through a warm veil-but when he emerged on the other side, he was standing in the common room.

He turned back to see the others cheering from the training room. "This is incredible!"

---

A Private Moment with Sofia

Later that evening, Spuros and Sofia sat on the rooftop, the golden glow of the city lights stretching out before them.

"You're handling this whole powers thing pretty well," Sofia said, nudging him with her shoulder.

Spiros chuckled. "You mean I haven't accidentally portaled us into the middle of nowhere yet?"

"Not yet," Sofia teased. She hesitated, then added, "You're different now, you know. More confident."

Spiros glanced at her, surprised. "You think so?"

"Definitely," Sofia said. "It's like...you've found where you belong."

Spiros smiled, his chest tightening. "I think that's because of you."

Sofia blinked, caught off guard. "Me?"

"Yeah," Spuros said, his voice soft. "I never felt like I fit in before. But you-you make me feel like I'm good enough. Like I matter."

For a moment, neither of them said anything. Then, as if by instinct, their hands brushed again, and the golden glow appeared, brighter than ever.

Sofia smiled, her cheeks pink. "I think we're a pretty good team, Spuros."

He smiled back, his heart racing. "Yeah, we are."

---

Nikolas's Struggle Deepens

Downstairs, Nikolas sat alone in the common room, his thoughts a storm of confusion. He couldn't stop replaying the kiss with Kwstas in his mind-how right it had felt, and how terrifying it was to admit that to himself.

"Hey," Kwstas said, walking in and sitting next to him.

Nikolas tensed but didn't move away. "Hey."

Kwstas hesitated, then asked, "Are you okay?"

Nikolas let out a bitter laugh. "Do I look okay?"

Kwstas frowned. "You can talk to me, you know. I'm not going to judge you."

"That's the problem," Nikolas said, his voice low. "I'm already judging myself. I spent my whole life hating people like...like us. And now, I don't even know who I am anymore."

Kwstas reached out, resting a hand on Nikolas's. "You're still you. The only thing that's changed is that you're letting yourself feel something real."

Nikolas looked down at their hands, his walls crumbling. "What if I can't be what you need?"

Kwstas smiled gently. "You already are. You just need to believe it."

Nikolas swallowed hard, then nodded. "I'm trying. I really am."

---

Sofia and Spuros's Connection Strengthens

The next day, Sofia and Spuros continued testing his portals, but it was clear their bond was becoming about more than just teamwork.

At one point, as they stood in the training room, Sofia reached for Spuros's hand to steady him while he focused on creating a portal. Their fingers intertwined, and the glow returned, wrapping around them like a cocoon of light.

"Do you feel that?" Spuros asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Yeah," Sofia said, her cheeks flushing.

They didn't pull away, letting the glow surround them. For a moment, it felt like nothing else in the world mattered.

---

A United Team

By the end of the week, the team felt stronger than ever. Nikolas was slowly opening up to Kwstas, their bond growing deeper with each passing day. Sofia and Spuros's connection had blossomed into something undeniable, though neither of them had said the words out loud yet.

Even Melina and Morena seemed more at ease, their teasing banter lightening the mood whenever things got too tense.

One evening, as they all gathered on the rooftop to watch the sunset, Kwstas looked around at his friends and smiled.

"We've been through a lot," he said, his voice steady. "But I think we're finally starting to figure this out. Together."

Nikolas reached for his hand under the table, squeezing it gently. Spuros and Sofia exchanged a glance, their fingers brushing and glowing softly.

For the first time, the team felt like a family-a complicated, powerful, and occasionally chaotic family, but a family nonetheless.