“Uwah…” The medicinal shower alleviates my tired body. “Five crimes in two hours! I’d call that a pretty good first day.” I project my voice to Bryan, outside the door.

“It is! You’ll get used to the work soon. In the meantime, get some rest tonight. I’m gonna head out, but I want you to come to dinner tomorrow night! Seven o’clock. I’ll text you the address. Night, Burst! Good work today!” He taps twice on the wall to let me know he’s walking away.

“G’night!” I lean against the wall and let it support my weight as I slide down to the floor. “I’m a fucking superhero!” I close my eyes, looking up to the falling water, and start laughing to myself. “This is nuts.”

Drying myself off, I check my phone for any messages. There’s a collection of texts from Rise that are more akin to her live tweeting a show, some inconsequential emails, and one notification I’d forgotten I put in: “Check on Luke and kid.”

“Oh dammit.” I take a deep breath and toss my phone back down. Looking at myself in the mirror, I put on a confident face and nod. “You got shot at today. Many times! Talking to Luke is gonna be the easy part of the day, right?” A pit drops in my stomach. I suddenly want to vomit. “I hope.”

I throw on my old clothes and shove the suit inside. I find a note next to a twenty dollar bill: “For dinner -Bryan.” What a way with words. I pocket the twenty with a thankful smile and make my way outside. I hit up a sandwich shop and devour the six inch sub on my way to train. With each step, my stomach twists further and the sky darkens with my composure. When I get onto the subway, I crank my music to drown out the sound of my own thoughts and get lost in the melodies.

Before my brain checks back to reality, I’m already standing in front of that dreaded door. “Come on! You’re a superhero now! Your ex is nothing! You’ve got this.” With my false courage, I press the doorbell before my brain tells me not to. Each second that passes with no answer begs my feet to turn away and run. Instead, I press the small white button a second time and try not to vomit.

The click of the door forces my whole body to tense up. “Oh!” Luke’s face comes into view and my heart tries to explode out of me. “Tyler? Why are you here?” His relaxed expression makes me even more sick. His soft brown eyes and sweet smile make me want to send him flying into the back wall.

“I-” am choking on my words. “I’m here to check on the guy I found. Where is he?” I think skipping the pleasantries and getting straight to the point will do us both a huge favor.

“Oh, well he’s in the living room if you want to meet him.” Luke steps aside and gestures down the hall. I step in and give a nod, placing my backpack by the door… Old habits die hard.

Walking in, I see the familiar (but far less beaten) face of the boy I’d saved. He seems a lot cleaner now. His hair is a lot shorter and you can see the blue shine in his eyes. He’s holding an ice pack but based on his expression, I think it best not to ask why. “Hey, I’m Tyler.” I step over to him and offer my hand, trying my best to show a soft smile.

“Charlie.” He seems reluctant to shake it and his face is cold.

Luke walks and leans over the back of the couch beside him. If you’re trying to make me jealous, it won’t work. “Tyler is the one that found you the other day!”

I take a spot on the side of the couch so that I can better speak with him. At Luke’s words, Charlie raises a curious brow. “Huh, was anyone else there when you found me?”

I move my face away with my jaw tightening, I can’t help but make eye contact with Luke. “Yeah. Three guys. They ran off when I walked by.” I take a calming breath and relax for a moment as I look back to the suspicious stranger. “I was in a big rush so I had to resort to calling Luke. I’m sorry it took me this long to come check on you.” I try my best to make my half lie sound well meaning. Charlie doesn’t look like he’s buying it.

“Tyler! Have you seen this by the way?” Luke crashes into the conversation like a bull. His desperation for attention becoming all too apparent. He points at the televisio, “apparently there’s a superhero running around the city now!”

I look over to see my alter ego on the news. I instinctively bite my bottom lip. It’s a bad tell as to when I’m going to lie but it’s second nature. “No, I haven’t. Who is he?” I turn back to Luke, staring just a second too long.

“They’re calling him Burst. He punched a guy through a window without even touching him!” Luke’s excitement reminds me of Andy after seeing a new movie.

“Hey, Luke.” Charlie’s voice slices the air. “Can you make me some coffee?” My lips curl into a subtle smile at the news Luke will be leaving the room.

“Oh! Yeah sure. I’ll be right back.” He prances toward the kitchen and gives me one last glimpse before leaving.

The moment Luke is out of sight, Charlie slides over on the couch. “Who are you?” His whisper is filled with doubt.

I purse my lips and stare him down. You’re not gonna scare me, kid. “Tyler Thompson.”

“How do you know Luke?”

Charlie hands me a perfect escape. The truth will set me free. “Would you believe me if I said I was dumb enough to date him?”

He winces for the briefest moment and takes a sharp inhale. “How’d that end? If you don’t mind me asking.” He’s dangerously curious. He’s clearly trying to pull something out of me. I just hope the truth about Luke will be all he needs.

“Luke needed a therapist, not a boyfriend. More and more, I had to start acting like that rather than as an S/O. In the end… I guess I just wasn’t enough for him.” I never break eye contact. I keep my face honest. Nothing to hide here anymore. “Luke’s a good kid. He just needs help that I guess I couldn’t give.”

“You sound sad about it. I thought you hated him.” The truth seems to befuddle him.

I catch my bottom lip with my teeth. “Well… I guess it just made me feel needed. I felt like I was finally doing good. But it was that day that I learned I wasn’t gonna be able to save everyone, no matter how hard I tried.” Back then I didn’t have super powers though. It will be different now.

“Are you sure he’s worth saving?” Charlie’s face becomes bold as he leans back and puts a leg up.

“I think that isn’t for me to decide.” He cut me out. His life is his own now.

“Why’s that?”

“Cause I’m just the anchor he left to rust at the bottom of the sea.” I look down to my toes. I hadn’t ever said those words aloud. They’d always just been a stupid thought I had.

“I know the men who attacked me on Friday. They’re not the kind of guys to run away at the sight of someone like you.” I sit up and shift my body to get more comfortable. “No offense.”

“None taken,” I shrug, “guess I just got lucky.”

Charlie opens his mouth again, but before he can say anything more, Luke returns with three cups of coffee. “Guess you did.” He gives me one last cold glare before turning and taking a cup.

“Tyler, I poured you one in case-” No, I can’t do this. I can’t act friendly with you yet.

“Sorry, but I actually need to go. I’m glad to see you’re safe, Charlie.” I stand up and walk towards the hall. “I hope to see you around. And I hope you can be enough.” I’m unsure as to why I tell him that. Nonetheless, I smile and wave to Charlie. I don’t even think about Luke as I turn and walk towards the front door.

The moment I leave the house, I bend over one of the bushes and dry heave all of the painful stress away. “I need a fucking drink.”