The Man Cave feels different.
Not chaotic.
Not loud.
Focused.
Christina stands in the center of the mat.
Ray stands across from her.
No jokes.
No teasing.
Just tension.
Henry watches from the side, arms crossed so tight his knuckles are white.
Charlotte stands by the console. Jasper sits criss-crossed, whispering dramatic commentary under his breath.
Ray's voice is calm. Too calm.
"Again."
Christina lunges.
Ray blocks easily.
"You're telegraphing."
She grits her teeth.
"I'm not."
"You are."
She swings again.
He dodges.
"Balance."
She loses footing.
He catches her before she falls.
Too close.
Their eyes lock.
Christina whispers—
"Don't go easy on me."
Ray's jaw tightens.
"I won't."
Henry's stomach twists.
Something ugly coils in his chest.
Jealousy.
And he hates it.
Ray steps back.
"Control your anger."
Christina's voice sharpens.
"I don't have anger."
Ray's eyes flash.
"Yes. You do."
She freezes.
He steps closer.
"And you inherited it from me."
Silence.
Henry exhales sharply.
Charlotte notices.
"…You okay?" she mutters.
Henry lies.
"Yeah."
He's not.
Ray circles Christina.
"If you fight emotional, you lose."
Christina scoffs.
"I don't lose."
Ray suddenly sweeps her legs.
She hits the mat hard.
He stands over her.
"You just did."
Henry moves instinctively—
"Hey!"
Ray doesn't look at him.
"She has to learn."
Christina slowly pushes herself up.
Eyes blazing.
"Again."
Later — Swellview High
Henry walks into the hallway on edge.
Something feels off.
Christina walks beside him.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
He glances at her.
"You good?"
She shrugs.
"Fine."
Piper suddenly runs up.
"Henry!"
Henry turns.
"What?"
Piper looks annoyed.
"There's some weird masked guy asking about you."
Christina goes still.
Henry's blood runs cold.
"…What?"
Before anyone can react—
The hallway lights flicker.
Alarms blare.
Windows shatter.
Students scream.
Smoke floods the corridor.
A voice echoes over speakers—
"Captain Man's weakness…"
Christina's eyes widen.
Henry grabs her arm.
"Stay behind me."
She rips her arm free.
"I don't need you to—"
A metal cable whips through the air.
Wraps around Piper.
Piper screams.
"WHAT IS HAPPENING—"
Henry's heart drops.
"PIPER!"
Christina moves first.
She grabs the cable—
Burns her hands—
And yanks hard.
The masked villain drops from the ceiling.
Laughing.
"You're predictable."
Henry swings.
Misses.
Christina charges.
Ray's training kicks in.
She ducks.
Dodges.
Punches.
The villain stumbles.
Piper drops.
Henry pulls her away.
Christina stands in front of them.
Breathing hard.
The villain tilts their head.
"Feisty."
Christina snarls—
"Wrong girl."
She launches forward.
This time—
She wins.
The villain slams into lockers.
Hard.
Henry stares.
"…Holy crap."
Police sirens wail outside.
The villain retreats through smoke.
Vanishing.
The hallway goes silent.
Piper stares at Christina.
"…You're insane."
Christina smirks.
"Correct."
Henry grabs her shoulders.
"Are you hurt?"
She blinks at him.
"…You care?"
He doesn't hesitate.
"Yes."
Something shifts.
Piper squints.
"Wait."
Her eyes widen slowly.
"WAIT."
Henry pales.
"Piper—"
She points at Christina.
"You're the girl from the locker."
Christina waves.
"Hi."
Piper looks between them.
"Oh my GOD."
Man Cave — After
Ray storms in.
Helmet off.
Eyes wild.
"Are you hurt?"
Christina stiffens.
"…I handled it."
Ray grabs her face.
Checks for injuries.
Henry watches.
Jealousy sharp and irrational.
Ray exhales shakily.
"I told you to stay close."
Christina snaps—
"I'm not weak!"
Ray's voice cracks.
"I know!"
Silence.
Henry steps forward.
"She saved Piper."
Ray looks at Henry.
Really looks at him.
Then at Christina.
"…You did good."
Christina freezes.
It's the first real praise.
Her voice softens.
"…Yeah?"
Ray nods once.
"…Yeah."
Schwoz sniffles in the background.
"Growth."
Charlotte elbows him.
Henry's chest feels tight.
Too tight.
Christina turns toward him.
"You okay, Kid Danger?"
He swallows.
"You could've gotten hurt."
She steps closer.
"You were scared."
He whispers—
"Yeah."
She searches his face.
Then—
Without warning—
She grabs his shirt.
And kisses him.
Hard.
Not gentle.
Not soft.
Desperate.
Henry freezes.
Brain shuts down.
Heart explodes.
Then—
He kisses back.
Just for a second.
Before pulling away.
Breathing uneven.
"…What was that?"
Christina's voice trembles.
"I don't know."
Ray clears his throat loudly.
Henry nearly dies.
Christina doesn't step away.
Ray's expression is unreadable.
Then—
Quietly—
"…Hart."
Henry flinches.
Ray's voice is calm.
"You hurt her."
Henry shakes his head immediately.
"I won't."
Ray studies him.
Long.
Then nods once.
"…Good."
Christina exhales slowly.
Her voice soft—
"…So what now?"
Ray looks at her.
Really looks.
Then says the words he's been avoiding.
"…We figure this out."
Henry squeezes her hand.
Christina doesn't pull away.
For once—
She stays.