It was a stormy night in the city of Gotham. The rain was heavy and it poured relentlessly on the city of crime. The skies poured and rumbled with thunder and lightning. The logical course of action would be to take shelter and wait for the storm to pass during weather like this because accidents were likely to occur.
---
On a road on the side of a cliff, a car could be seen making its way through the pouring rain. The vehicle held two occupants. A man driving the car carefully trying the navigate the storm. Sitting in the passenger seat next to him was his daughter who was texting on her phone.
The man glanced at his daughter. seeing her text on her phone, he shook his head and chuckled amusedly. His daughter was teenager and at that age kids would be on their devices. He turned his attention back to the road, focusing on getting them both home safely. The rain was pouring heavily. Even though the windshield wipers were on, visibility was difficult. Right now, the father prioritized safety over speed.
Just as their ride was going smoothly, the unexpected happened.
From the dark clouds, a lightning bolt struck the area right in front of the vehicle. The sudden appearance of the natural phenomenon shocked the driver and caused him to swerve. This in turn caused the vehicle to lose traction with the ground, causing it to skid and become uncontrollable. The man daughter held her seat belt instinctively, trying to keep herself calm and clearly scared.
The man tried to regain control of the vehicle but it was like each attempt was thwarted by the weather. Looking ahead, the man's eyes widened in shock and terror. He had no time to react when his car slammed through railings on the cliffside. The car plummeted and what was below them was the ocean. The man moved instinctively to his daughter, holding her in a protective embrace.
The car hit the water with a loud crash. The vehicle began to sink as water seeped in and oxygen to leave. It was at that point that windshield started to become a web of cracks. The father and daughter both panicked as they tried to escape from the metal tomb. They we so terrified of what might happen that they didn't notice a figure swimming around them.
a light appeared in the dark.
A bioluminescent lure, glowing with an eerie green hue, drifted past the window
Just as trapped individuals were trying to get out of the car, they heard metal creaking. Before either could look to where the sound was coming from, the door was suddenly ripped off the car, causing water to fill the interior.
Fear overtook their rationality as they had no time to take a breath. The only thing they could register was their bodies being pulled before they fell unconscious.
---
On land, two bodies lay motionless, still close to the sea. Suddenly, one of them, the man who drove the car, jolted up. he coughed up the water in his lung, feeling relieved. Awareness came back to him and his eyes darted around looking for his daughter. His expression showed relief when he saw her next to him and beginning to stir. He held her up and she coughed up water, able to breathe again.
He held her protectively, grateful they she was alive. That they were both alive.
It was clear they save by someone or something. Nevertheless, he was happy both he and his daughter would make it home safely.
Unbeknownst to both individuals, a fishlike creature was watching them from the water before swimming away after making sure they were both ok.
---
Stepping onto land and out of the ocean, Devin, currently as Ripjaws, reverted back to human before making his way to the city.
Before the rain had started, Devin was flying throw the skies as Ghost Freak. The skies were clear until they weren't. Storm clouds came in and it started raining out of nowhere. Just as he was about to fly home, he took notice of a swerving on a cliffside road until it crashed through the railing and fell into the ocean.
He acted quickly and transformed into Ripjaws before diving into the sea. When he swam near them, he could see that windshield was cracked and wouldn't be long before it broke. He ripped the door off before pulling the man and the girl out and getting them to land.
When he saw both regain consciousness, that was his cue to leave. They were alive and that was all that mattered.
After running through the heavy rain, Devin arrived in front of an apartment door. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a key put into the keyhole and twisting. The door unlocked and Devin went in. he was shivering but relieved to be out of the rain.
He took a shower and changed into dry clothes. He went to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water before sitting on couch in the living room.
This was an apartment he purchased with the funds he accumulated. Using Grey Matters intelligence to make smart investments and selling Diamondhead's shard, Devin now had a little over half a million dollars, which meant he had more than enough to live comfortably. The warehouse was fine and free but it wasn't as cozy as an actual home. After searching for right people, Devin was able to find someone who would sell a house without asking why the owner was a teenager.
The apartment had three bedrooms and two baths. Big for one person but he preferred a spacious home. The Warehouse can serve as his hideout if he ever needs to… well… hide.
Devin wasn't sure how long he could stay hidden. Especially in a universe like this. All he could do was lay low and try not to draw attention to himself.
Devin was currently watching the news, wanting to see what events have been occurring recently.
The Scarecrow has escaped from Arkham and is currently in hiding. Information about his whereabouts is still unknown to us.
Increases in drug activity on the street of Gotham. A student was caught with drugs during a surprise inspection at Gotham City High school.
A crocodile man in the sewer? Rumors or truth?
Seeing the news, Devin let out a sigh that was a mix of curiosity and disappointment. Gotham was like a sea of crime no matter where a person looked and super villains can just pop up anywhere.
There are people in this city who still love Gotham and believe it can be better. So why couldn't they do something about it?
The answer?
Fear.
Gotham city is filled with people the regular folk don't want to mess with. People who have the right connections to just make a person disappear and make it look like an accident.
Batman takes care of the villain but what exactly has he done to change Gotham?
"Always the symptoms," Devin muttered, turning off the TV. "Nobody ever treats the disease." He decided to stop thinking about it since he was getting frustrated. He played some music to relax and get his mind off the subject. This resulted in him falling asleep.
---
It was the next day and Devin was currently taking a stroll in Gotham city. As he leisurely walked, he sipped on a shake he bought from a nearby ice cream store. The city was bustling with activity as its citizens went about their everyday lives.
So far, the day has been calm and uneventful. Something Devin didn't mind. Unfortunately, that didn't last long.
Squads of police cars raced down the street with the sirens blaring before finally stopping in front of Gotham Bank.
The police officers got out of their vehicles and removed their weapons from the holsters in preparation for confrontation.
The civilians, seeing the police draw their weapons, removed themselves from the area, wanting to avoid getting caught in the crossfire. Some stayed, taking out their phones and recording from a safe distance.
Devin ducked into an alley and watched from around a corner.
BOOM
An explosion erupted from the bank's entrance, causing the doors to fly off. The view of the interior was obscured by smoke so no one could get a clear look at situation inside.
No one had to wait any longer when a blue beam of energy shot from the smoke and hit a police car. The cruiser was instantly encased in a jagged mountain of ice, the officers inside frozen in a state of suspended animation.
Stepping from the smoke was a tall man wearing a mechanized suite dark blue suit and holding a large cannon. the man blue face was visible under the dome-like helmet and he wore an expression of calculation and malice.
A wave of fear to be swept over the citizens as they recognized who this was.
"Mr. Freeze!" Devin exclaimed internally. Freeze was one of the most well-known ice villains as well as one of Batman's most formidable foes.
Citizens ran, not wanting to be the ice villain's next ice sculpture.
More police officers soon arrived; their objective was the contain the super villain.
Seeing the approaching law enforcements, Mr. Freeze raised his cold gun before pulling the trigger. A wave of cold energy was released from his cannon before impacting the vehicles and covering them in ice with the police still inside.
Suddenly, another vehicle arrived at the scene. This one was a white van with no visible markings. It stopped in front of the bank and its back door opened revealing a man in ski-mask.
"Transport is here." Freeze called out. "Time to go."
At his command, three people also wearing ski-masks immerged from the back and holding back which were likely filled with money.
Devin, the only one who was still near the scene, watched with contemplation and fear. His moral compass gnawed at him to do something but a part of him was afraid to. While he had been practicing how to use his powers, a fight with a super villain wasn't something he was prepared for.
He wanted to step back.
Someone would come to save the day.
Someone always did in the series.
But that's the problem. This wasn't a cartoon. This was reality and people could die.
The police officers would freeze to death and suffocate if no one does something in time.
In that moment, Devin hardened his resolve.
"Let's turn up the heat."
---
Mr. Freeze and his goons loaded the stollen merchandise into the truck without any interference. Just as the ice villain was about to give the order to drive off, a wall of flame erupted in front of the getaway van, forcing the driver to slam on the brakes. From the inferno stepped a humanoid of living magma.
"Boss!" the driver called from the front; his expression tinged with wariness. "We got trouble!"
Mr. Freeze stepped out of the van to face whatever decided to get in their way. His expression showed surprise and alertness when the flaming creature.
"What manner of meta-human are you?" Freeze demanded, gripping his cold gun.
"The kind that doesn't like bullies with ice cubes," Devin rumbled, his voice like grinding tectonic plates.
"An annoyance then." Freeze said with an annoyed tone before raising his weapon. "One I will gladly put out." the barrel of his cold gun glowed an icy blue. It released a beam of absolute zero cold that seemed to bring down the temperature of anything it touched.
Devin dove, the beam of absolute zero turning the asphalt behind him into a brittle, frozen wasteland. He countered with a fireball, the explosion rocking Freeze back, but the villain's suit was built to withstand extreme temperatures.
Devin couldn't help but feel exhilaration that he was fighting an actual super villain.
Freeze got up and looked at Devin with an expression of pure rage.
"Big mistake." He said before firing his cold gun again, this time the power was increased. Devin ignited fire-like jets in his hand which caused him to sore upwards. Using the altitude to his advantage, he ignited fire under his feet. Concentrating, the flames under his feet coalesced and became a fire comet that propelled him through the sky.
"Yes!" Devin cheered internally. "It worked!"
This was move he was able to dig up from his memories of Ben 10. Heatblast was able to ride on flames he created. Not only that, but he could also use it as an attack.
The cold beam trailed behind him, trying to freeze him.
Devin wasn't going to just keep running and so decided to go on the offensive. He hurled waves of fire at the ice villain, hoping to gradually weaken him.
Because of the distance, Freeze had just enough time to avoid the searing projectiles and even use his cold gun to intercept them; creating steam.
Freeze was growing annoyed as he had no intention of prolonging this battle. the more time that passed would give the law enforcement to call reinforcement or even worse, Batman.
Seeing a family of three trying to get to safety, a cold smile made it's way on his face as an idea flashed in his mind.
"Let's see how you handle a cold reality." he ceased trying to attack Devin and turned his cold gun at the innocent civilians.
Devin saw this and his eyes widened in shock and horror at what Freeze was about to do. Without hesitation, he flew toward the family of three, knowing that he was the only thing that could protect them.
Freeze finally fired his cold gun and a blue beam raced towards the civilian who only realized their situation at the last moment. Fear gripped them and both parents instinctively shielded their child.
Before the ice could take them, a flame figure appeared in front of them, standing protectively.
Devin had no time to conjure his flames and instead crossed his arms. The world vanished into a screaming wall of white steam. The extreme cold met Devin's solar-hot skin, creating a violent Leidenfrost effect. But the cannon was too powerful. The steam was trapped, and within seconds, Devin was encased in a ten-foot block of solid ice.
Mr. Freeze ceased his attack and smiled seeing that the pest was dealt with. Getting back in the van, he gave the order for his men to drive away quickly. Tires screeched as the driver pressed the gas and drove away.
The three civilians realized they weren't frozen and opened their eyes cautiously. They saw a block of ice in front of them and inside was a figure standing protectively. They immediately realized that this individual protected them from harm.
Inside the block, Devin's core was still burning. He focused every ounce of his Pyronite energy, turning his body from orange to a blinding, star-white heat.
CRACK
Finally, with a burst of effort, Devin stretched and broke free from the ice.
"Now, that was cold." He quipped terribly. Because he was frozen, his flames were put out. his head, which was normally engulfed in flames, now only showed a rock surface.
He turned around and saw the people that he protected were looking at him with awe and a hint of fear.
"Are you alright?" Devin asked, genuinely concerned about their well-being.
The three were shaken but answered honestly.
"W-were alright." The man spoke in a shacky tone.
"Thank you for protecting us." he gave a small nod.
Devin smiled in relief. He then looked in the direction of the escaping vehicle that was getting smaller in the distance. logic suggested that he stop them before they get away but there were pressing matters.
The police officers trapped in ice.
Devin had to act quickly because if he didn't, they would succumb to the freezing temperatures and meet their end.
With his objective set, the flames on his body reignited and he made his way to the offices trapped in their ice prisons.
Devin moved with surgical precision, using his hands to radiate a controlled, gentle warmth that melted the ice without scalding the officers inside. As the medical teams arrived, a paramedic looked at the flaming hero with a mixture of fear and gratitude.
A medical team soon arrived on scene. Although they were initially wary of Devin's appearance, their medical training superseded that.
"Are they alright?" Devin, still as Heatblast, asked one of the ambulances who was checking on someone he freed.
"Thanks to you, they will be." One responded, monitoring the vitals of a police officer who was freed from the ice. "If you hadn't freed them when you did, we'd had to tell the family unfortunate news."
"I'm glad." Devin replied, relieved they were going to make it. his expression turned serious as he turned in the direction freeze and his goons drive in.
"Now, if you'll excuse me…" he stepped back before releasing a beam of compressed flames around him in a circle. The ground he stood on detached from the ground and began to levitate with him on it. "I have an ice cream man to catch." Flames trailed behind him as he flew away.
Those on the scene watched with surprise and awe at the flaming humanoid that protected them before flying away.