The Man Cave is quieter than usual.
No alarms.
No explosions.
Just the hum of computers.
Christina sits on the couch with an ice pack pressed against her side.
Henry sits beside her.
Also bruised.
Also icing something.
Jasper sits across from them with popcorn.
Charlotte slaps the bowl out of his hands.
"Stop treating this like a movie."
Jasper frowns.
"It is a movie."
Henry groans.
"My ribs feel like they're broken."
Christina smirks.
"You fight like a baby deer."
Henry turns toward her.
"You literally almost fell off a building."
She shrugs.
"But I didn't."
Henry mutters—
"Because Ray caught you."
Christina goes quiet.
Across the room—
Ray is pretending to work on something with Schwoz.
But he keeps glancing over.
Schwoz whispers—
"You're staring again."
Ray mutters—
"I'm supervising."
Schwoz nods slowly.
"Of course."
Christina notices.
"…You're doing it again."
Ray looks up.
"Doing what."
"Watching me like I might explode."
Ray clears his throat.
"…Just making sure you're okay."
Christina tilts her head.
"…You're bad at being subtle."
Henry laughs.
Ray glares at him.
"…Hart."
Henry raises his hands.
"Not saying anything."
Ray walks over slowly.
Christina looks up at him.
"…What."
Ray hesitates.
Then awkwardly holds out something.
A sandwich.
Christina blinks.
"…Is this a peace offering."
Ray shrugs.
"…You asked for one before."
Henry bursts out laughing.
"Oh my god that's adorable."
Ray immediately points at him.
"Do not call me adorable."
Christina takes the sandwich.
"…Thanks."
Ray nods once.
Small victory.
Later — Training Room
Henry leans against the punching bag.
Watching Christina stretch.
"…So."
She doesn't look at him.
"So."
Henry rubs the back of his neck.
"…About the kiss."
Christina freezes.
"…Which one."
Henry's brain short-circuits.
"…The—THE—"
She smirks.
"I'm kidding."
Henry exhales.
"…You're evil."
She shrugs.
"Maybe."
Silence hangs for a moment.
Then Henry asks quietly—
"…Did you mean it."
Christina looks at him.
Really looks.
"…I don't know."
Henry's chest tightens.
She steps closer.
"But I know I didn't hate it."
Henry swallows.
"…Same."
They're standing close again.
Too close.
Christina whispers—
"You're blushing."
Henry panics.
"I AM NOT—"
She laughs.
The tension breaks.
But something real is still there.
Swellview High — The Next Day
Piper Hart is on a mission.
She stands outside Junk N Stuff.
Notebook in hand.
Eyes narrowed.
"…Okay."
She writes:
Evidence List #2
Henry disappears constantly.
Christina knows Captain Man.
Weird elevator inside store.
Everyone lying to me.
Piper crosses her arms.
"…Time to investigate."
She walks inside.
Inside Junk N Stuff
Schwoz is reorganizing gadgets.
Ray is behind the counter.
Piper walks in confidently.
Ray immediately senses danger.
"…Hello."
Piper stares at him.
"…You're Captain Man."
Ray freezes.
"…What."
Piper squints.
"…You're bad at hiding it."
Ray laughs nervously.
"Haha. That's funny."
Piper points at the back hallway.
"There's an elevator."
Ray immediately steps in front of it.
"…Employee only."
Piper raises an eyebrow.
"…You're hiding something."
Ray mutters—
"…This is why kids are terrifying."
Behind the counter—
Christina watches the whole thing.
Grinning.
Henry whispers beside her—
"…This is gonna end badly."
Christina whispers back—
"Definitely."
Meanwhile — Somewhere Else
A dark room.
Multiple screens.
Security footage of the rooftop battle.
Henry.
Christina.
Ray.
A new figure watches quietly.
Face hidden in shadow.
"…Interesting."
They zoom in on Henry.
Kid Danger.
The figure smiles.
"…Let's see how Captain Man handles this."
They press a button.
A new plan begins.
Back in the Man Cave
Ray finally escapes Piper's interrogation.
Barely.
He walks down into the cave.
Christina is sitting on the couch.
Henry beside her.
Laughing about something.
Ray pauses.
Watching them.
Schwoz whispers—
"…You're doing the staring again."
Ray sighs.
"…I know."
Christina notices him.
"…What."
Ray hesitates.
Then says quietly—
"…I'm glad you're here."
Christina looks surprised.
Then smiles softly.
"…Me too."
Henry glances between them.
Then smirks.
"…Family moment."
Ray immediately throws a wrench at him.
"Shut up."