"What happened?" Dawn was dying to know what was going through Ash's mind right now. This is the first time she ever asked him about a battle he fought in. Sure he told Dawn about some encounters, the giant robot story coming to mind she always thought he used it too spice up his adventures as a hero and impress her. Maybe there's a truth in there after all.

"What does it look like? I got in a fight." What else can he say? For the first time he met a guy who can keep up when he's using aura. Dawn turned her head towards Ash and gave a funny look.

"You call that a fight!?" Having seen footage now of how he fights Dawn imagined it sometimes but never this wild. Of course she knew fighting criminals was a dangerous activity but this wasn't an ordinary criminal, she knew that much. Ash covered her mouth with his hand.

"Keep it down." They were walking through the streets so a bit of discretion is needed. They can't just talk to openly about it.

"Sorry. Who was he?" Apologizing for her scream Dawn toned it down a bit.

"If I knew I would be on his doorstep right now and beat him senseless."

"What did he steal?"

"Still figuring things out. He got it before I could check." She started to hear from his tone he was getting more upset with each question.

"Anything I can do to help?"

"By not asking anything more about it." He said frustrated. Dawn not used to him being angry like that. His loss of last night might sting a bit more than he let on. Seeing her face he knew he acted out of line. He knew he was wrong snapping at her like that.

"Sorry. I'm just angry at myself thinking about it. I should've had him." Dawn tried cheering him up. She let him know nobody's perfect. So what if he got away? She's sure the next time they meet Ash will beat that guy.

"We all make mistakes. Don't beat yourself over it."

"Your mistakes don't involve criminals getting away." He knows Dawn is just trying to be helpful but his mood was just getting sourer. He wanted nothing more for it turn dark and go looking for the burglar. Who knows what he's doing or scheming right now.

"This might have been his first failure. Maybe that's why he's so harsh on himself."

"Where are you going?" Instead of taking a right, Dawn turned left. Not the usual path to her house.

"Let's take a detour."

Dawn wanted to talk to him a bit longer. Ash clearly wasn't in the right state of mind so she decided to try and make him feel better. Following her they made their way through the park they always played at when they were kids, the place brought back some memories.

Dawn bringing up something else trying to get his mind of crime fighting for a second.

"So…"

"So what?" Ash wondered as well what Dawn was thinking about.

"Remember what you asked last night?" Referring to the prom request Ash did in her room last night. Now with the important and dangerous topics out of the way Dawn answered his question for her.

"I thought about it. And the answer is maybe…" She playfully said. Ash cocked his eyebrow. That wasn't a yes or no.

"If you want me to go to prom with you, allow me to clean your closet." Dawn smiled at him. Ash smiling back knowing how much she wanted to get her hands into occasionally sending pictures just to tease her.

"Not going to happen Berlitz. I guess the offer is off the table now." Dawn puffed annoyed. Another change gone.

"Worth a shot. Take two. I'm in high demand as you know." If she wasn't allowed to organize his mess that he called a closet she will make him work for it.

"Do a prom ask to remember. Do something I can't say no against. I demand some effort on your end." Dawn didn't let him off the hook that easy. If Ash wanted to take her to prom he'd have to do what ordinary boys do. Just because he has superpowers doesn't mean he has certain privileges compared to the rest of her potential male suitors.

"What I did last night wasn't special enough? You're just bullying me now aren't you?" Reminding her of the penguin of aura she criticized. The cheerleader had another reason on why she wanted it to be a bit different.

Dawn wanted to know just how creative Ash can get with something that's so out of his comfort zone. As far as she knows he never had a girlfriend. And he needed a better reason on why she should be his date at prom than to just get it over with.

"Are you sure? I don't want to blow you away." Ash sounded confident enough at least. Looking forward to what kind of scheme he has in store too woo her, Dawn tried to use his competitive spirit to up the bet a bit.

"I doubt it. I know you since we were little. You can't surprise me."

Both their phones went off at the same time. The teenagers pulling out their mobile devices checked the sender. It was a public announcement from the authorities regarding the theft in the museum.

"This is a public announcement from the Veilstone Police Department. Wanted: two masked figures causing property damage in the museum. One wearing black, the other blue. Prime suspect is the subject in blue known as a vigilante without identity. Consider both very dangerous. The tip that leads us to one of them will be rewarded with 10.000 dollars."

"They're making this up! After the people he delivered on their doorstep he's suddenly wanted now!" Dawn angry at the idea that Ash is a wanted man now. Since they were in public she couldn't just say out loud that the raven haired boy was one of the figures they were looking for.

"Guess May's dad can't talk me out of this one." Ever since starting out catching crooks he delivered them on May's dad doorstep. But with no evidence to look them up on them the officer was forced to let them go. Ash learned his lesson that night and since then always had some evidence for the police to lock them away.

"I'm calling her right now and tell her to give her dad a piece of my mind!" Before Dawn could select May's number Ash snatched her phone away. It will only complicate things. Dawn still upset turned to Ash.

"What gives?!"

"Don't call them and rant over the phone. They might think it's you." Dawn looked as if he'd gone crazy.

"Seriously?! I'm nowhere near as muscular as those two."

"You know what they say. On TV they always say the camera does make you look fat." Ash borrowed an old phrase from show business. Dawn corrected him.

"I thought it was the other way round and it slims your waist."

"Whatever it is, I just need to be a bit time figuring this all out. I want him for myself before the police gets their hands on him."

Dawn found it sounding more like a vendetta than actually delivering justice. Ash his phone went off. Looking at it Ash knew there was another complication of the case of the superhuman burglar. He had a few more visits in store for today so he'd have too leave Dawn at the park. There's another person dying to see him.

"Listen. Mom is expecting me home so I can't stay longer. I really have to go now." She understood that he hasn't talked to his mother yet. Not wanting to leave the lady of the Ketchum house in anxiety Dawn told him it's fine.

"It's only two blocks from here. I'll think I'll manage. Just be careful." Knowing that the next time she will see Ash is on a Monday. If only she could do more for him. He willingly would throw himself into danger if it meant to keep her and the city safe.

"No need to worry. I always am." Ash smiled at her turning around leaving the cheerleader behind in the park while he went homewards.

"That's when I worry the most." Dawn knew Ash was going out tonight to probably look for the guy that stole from the museum. Hoping that he won't go to far in getting him behind bars. Now leaving the park herself to go home she wondered if she could anything else but set out snacks in case of an eventual visit.

A small imaginary light bulb going off in her head Dawn had a great idea.

"It might not be much. But I'm sure he will appreciate it!"

Ash mentally preparing himself for the meeting with his mother. Sure she was used to him going out but never before was he featured in the news this much. How she will respond is as much a mystery as his identity to the rest of the city.

"Maybe she took the day off." Seeing that the door was unlocked his hunch was right.

"Mom! Are you home?" Stepping into his house he wasn't expecting his mother to be home just yet. Working as a chef in a restaurant, the business was always busy in the weekends.

"Ash!" A mahogany haired woman with a ponytail in her late 30's came up to him and put him in a bear hug at seeing her boy safe and sound. But just how safe and sound?

"Are you okay? Does it hurt?" Showing concern after the ordeal he went through tonight. Having seen the footage from his fight she still wanted to hear what happened.

"I'm okay mom. Just a few bruises. Nothing worse than some scrapes I get from jumping on the roofs." The hug she gave him hurt more than his fight but he decided not too tell her. Ash giving her this moment all for herself.

Bombarding him with questions about who, what and how his night was. He loved to tell her, if only she released her grip somewhat.

"I'm just happy you're okay. Just promise me when you run into him you at least be patient before fighting him. Promise?" Staring at him intently to give him her word. Mother knows best after all.

"I will. And I'm not going to look for him tonight. I'm to visit a friend." Ash announcing his plans for the night. Afraid that his mother won't let him go out alone tonight his fears were based on nothing.

"Good idea. He might be able to figure it out since he's been doing this longer than you."

Delia knowing exactly who her boy was talking about. The only man in town with aura abilities like her son, Ash his mentor figure in aura might know more about the mystery burglar.

"Now did you do your homework?" Ash sighing that he did. His rapport card doesn't lie. Delia was only concerned for the future of her son. Being nothing more than a knucklehead and a hero isn't a career that's profitable and self sustaining.

"Don't you sigh at me young man."

"Sorry mom. I know you care. I'm just not a kid anymore."

"Did you change your underwear before you left the house?"

Incapable of lying to her Ash started to sweat bullets. Delia eyed him reading his reaction. How is it that knives, bats and crowbars wielded by guys didn't faze him but his own mother held such authority over him.

"I'll cook up dinner." Ash already getting hungry just thinking about his mother's food. Her being a chef at a restaurant really paid dividends and he couldn't wait to sink his teeth into it.

"After you change your underwear."

After the sun had set, Ash was jumping from rooftop to rooftop on his way to the person he and his mother talked about.

He could see the city from a point of view a few others get to experience. The city always is lively at night. With people going to nightclubs to have a good time or other parties, there always was something going on. The neon signs of businesses and street light mixed to make a pretty sight that lured people in like moths to a flame.

And the alleyways in between were normally a hotspot for muggers or other type of people up to no good. But normally where he will stay on the roof and poached whenever something is going on, a visit to someone was on his list for tonight. Not planning to help out tonight he couldn't ignore a high pitch scream.

"HELP ME!" Following the direction where the cry for help came from the blue masked figure jumped over the rooftops he looked down into an alleyway. Seeing a woman around her early twenties dressed up in a white skirt, yellow top and some high heels.

"No one is here to safe you lady." The mugger slowly making his way to her. His shining knife held in front of him at chest height threatening the woman. Ash under his mask sighed.

"If I had a nickel anytime tried a shortcut in an alley and got mugged…"

Knowing that there is a woman who can act as a witness Ash jumped off the rooftop and jumped right down. On his way down he formed a throwing star out of aura and aimed for the mugger's right hand. Throwing the object the knife in his hand being knocked out of his reach he was unarmed now. Clenching his hand in pain he bent over a bit.

"ARGH!"

"OH MY!" The woman yelled looking at where it came from. Before she could look up to where the blue flash came from another bigger blue flash on his way to the mugger. Before she knew it the mugger was worked to the ground and unconscious.

Ash didn't stick around for too long. The woman might actually contact the police and tell them his location for the 10.000 reward. Sticking to the roofs he made his way to the person he mentioned to his mother.

"If anyone has a clue what's going on it's him. Let's hope this night is a bit calmer than the last."

Spoiler not really. Riley is the guy Ash is talking about. It's not really that big a mystery huh?

At least a few people know about Ash his nightly escapes in this. Currently playing Spider-Man on PS4 reminded me about why I hate the separation of identity of Peter Parker and Spider-Man and how much he sucks at it.

Parker always has issues in his personal life. Constantly forgetting appointments and meetings. If you can't manage them both then give up one. I know it's about making choices story wise but 8 years on and you still haven't learned to mix your identity's resulting in a somewhat calm social life? You fail!

If you tell your family at least they get an idea that something might have come up. It's the Marvel verse, an alien invasion takes place in New York every Tuesday. And don't give me the excuse that they're worrying about him whenever he jumps into battle. They didn't mind when he was making money from pictures for the Bugle in the sewer of Spidey fighting the Lizard.

That's the whole idea where keeping Ash his grades up is crucial in allowing him to do his thing. You mix and match, or else it's over.

Rant over.

See you around.