The Man Cave is not calm.
It should be.
But it isn't.
Henry hasn't slept.
Christina is pacing.
Ray is pretending he's not staring at both of them.
Charlotte sits at the computer like a tired war general.
Jasper eats chips like he's watching reality TV.
Schwoz is stress-organizing tools.
The silence is suffocating.
Finally—
Christina stops pacing.
"…Are we gonna talk about it?"
Henry chokes on air.
"Talk about WHAT—"
Charlotte cuts him off.
"The kiss."
Henry dies internally.
Jasper screams.
"I KNEW IT WAS A REAL KISS—"
Charlotte throws a wrench at him.
"SHUT UP."
Ray rubs his temples.
"…This is why I didn't want teenagers."
Christina raises an eyebrow.
"You literally made one."
Henry's soul leaves his body.
Ray freezes.
"…That was different."
Christina smirks.
"Sure."
Henry tries desperately to redirect the conversation.
"So the villain."
Charlotte nods.
"Yes. The villain."
The monitors flicker.
Images appear.
Security footage.
The masked figure from school.
Schwoz adjusts his goggles.
"Facial recognition is impossible. Mask tech is advanced."
Ray's jaw tightens.
"They knew about Christina."
Christina folds her arms.
"They called me your weakness."
Ray's voice hardens.
"You're not a weakness."
She laughs quietly.
"That's not what villains think."
Henry steps closer.
"You're not weak."
Christina glances at him.
"…You just watched me punch someone into lockers."
Henry shrugs.
"Still counts."
Ray clears his throat.
Focus.
"We need to assume they'll come back."
Christina nods slowly.
"…Good."
Everyone looks at her.
Charlotte blinks.
"Good?"
Christina cracks her knuckles.
"I want them to try again."
Ray immediately snaps—
"No."
Christina turns.
"You can't hide me."
Ray steps closer.
"I can try."
Christina's voice sharpens.
"You're not locking me in the cave."
Ray's eyes flash.
"You're my daughter!"
The words explode out of him.
Silence.
Total silence.
Henry looks between them.
Jasper whispers—
"…We weren't supposed to know that."
Christina stares at Ray.
"…You said it."
Ray realizes what he did.
Too late.
Christina's voice is quiet.
"…Say it again."
Ray swallows hard.
"…You're my daughter."
Her expression cracks.
But instead of crying—
She gets angry.
"You don't get to use that when it's convenient."
Ray's chest tightens.
"It's not convenient."
Christina's voice rises.
"You ignored me for days!"
Ray fires back.
"I was trying not to lose you again!"
The room freezes.
Christina's breathing shakes.
"You already did."
Ray looks like he's been stabbed.
Henry steps between them.
"Okay—timeout."
Christina pushes past him.
"I'm not hiding."
Ray's voice drops.
"You will if I say so."
Christina laughs bitterly.
"Wow."
Her eyes shine.
"You really think you can control me now?"
Ray doesn't answer.
Because he knows he can't.
Christina grabs her jacket.
"I'm leaving."
Henry panics.
"Wait—"
She storms toward the elevator.
The doors slam shut.
Gone.
Ray exhales like the air just left his body.
Schwoz whispers—
"…That could have gone better."
Ray stares at the floor.
"…I know."
Henry grabs his helmet.
"I'm going after her."
Ray looks up.
"…You care about her."
Henry doesn't deny it.
"…Yeah."
Ray studies him.
Long.
Then nods once.
"…Bring her back safe."
Swellview High — Afternoon
Piper Hart is suspicious.
Very suspicious.
She sits in the cafeteria.
Notebook open.
Writing aggressively.
Title:
"IS MY BROTHER DATING A SUPERHERO???"
Evidence list:
Christina fights like a ninja
Henry panics when she's around
Masked villain mentioned Captain Man
Henry yelled "GET DOWN" like a superhero
Piper narrows her eyes.
"…Something's going on."
Behind her—
Christina sits alone at a table.
Quiet.
For once.
Henry approaches cautiously.
"…You're dramatic."
She doesn't look up.
"You followed me."
"Yeah."
Silence.
Henry sits.
"…You scared me."
Christina scoffs.
"I can handle myself."
Henry leans forward.
"I know."
She finally looks at him.
"Then why are you worried?"
Henry hesitates.
"…Because you're important."
The words hang in the air.
Christina's expression softens.
Just slightly.
Then—
She smirks.
"You're whipped."
Henry groans.
"Oh my god."
She nudges his shoulder.
"You kissed me back."
Henry turns red instantly.
"That was reflex!"
Christina laughs.
"Sure."
Then—
The lights flicker.
Henry freezes.
"…No."
Christina's smile fades.
The cafeteria TVs turn on.
The villain appears again.
Live broadcast.
Voice distorted.
"Hello, Swellview."
Students scream.
Piper stands up.
"…Okay this is new."
The villain continues—
"I'm looking for someone."
The camera zooms.
On Christina.
The room goes silent.
Henry's blood runs cold.
The villain smiles.
"Captain Man's daughter."
Christina stands slowly.
Henry grabs her wrist.
"Don't."
She whispers—
"I have to."
The villain laughs.
"Good."
Then—
Smoke bombs explode in the cafeteria.
Chaos.
Students running.
Screaming.
Henry pulls Christina behind a pillar.
Piper crouches beside them.
"…I hate this school."
The villain drops from the ceiling.
Landing right in front of them.
Slow clap.
"Family reunions are fun."
Henry steps forward.
"You want her?"
Christina grabs his arm.
"No."
Henry whispers—
"I'm not letting you fight alone."
Christina stares at him.
Then nods.
"Okay."
They move together.
For the first time—
Not enemies.
Not chaos.
A team.