Well, with the advent of recent events and me trying as little as possible to go out to stay well as I imagine many of you are as well, I thought what better to do than to use this extra time I have to write! So, here's the next chapter that takes place immediately after the last one. Hope you all enjoy!

(Dash's POV)

I could tell fall was really hitting. Not that my suit can't keep me warm, but no doubt it felt cooler outside running along the rooftops.

But, I needed to just run right now.

Ugh…

I'm just tired of people treating me like I'm stupid and can't handle anything.

And all that from Lucius?! You gotta be kidding me right now?! Out of everyone right now, Lucius was the only one other than maybe dad who isn't on my back all the time. What's his problem anyway?!

Why does he even care about me hanging out with Nova?

I'm not an idiot.

I know how to handle myself and she hasn't even done anything! She's cool. It's not like he even gets it since it's not anything like I remembered my dad telling me about what happened between Lucius and Blazestone.

I mean, from what I knew about her, that lady was a total time-bomb and always screwed stuff up if she totally lost her temper enough on the job.

I stopped on the edge of this building on a dime when I flushed all that stuff out that happened with Lucius and what I was just thinking about as I remembered what happened earlier as I put my hand over my cheek where Nova kissed me.

Yeah, I know, but… man. She's so cool.

And she actually wants to hang out with me? I mean, she said it was a date, right? But… I don't know? Either way, I'm just gonna keep my cool and see what happens.

Nothing wrong with that.

The next morning

(Bob's POV)

Well, traffic could've been worse. Luckily I think I beat morning rush hour coming home from the airport.

Heh… definitely don't miss that.

I practically make 2 almost 3 times what I made working at Insuricare, then add the fact that it doesn't feel soul crushing and I have no real complaints. I definitely got a good gig with this.

I mean, it's not that… exciting, but I know Helen prefers us doing this and I'm trying to look on the bright side. Sure I'm not in the action as much as I used to be, but at least I'm able to use my powers in public again and doing these gigs is helping make this easier for my kids as supers for the future.

And not that I'm totally out of action. I actually helped on a high speed car chase after a robbery while I was helping at a ribbon cutting ceremony at a park yesterday.

"Hey look who got back in one piece?" I smirked before whipping my head around and saw Lucius right behind my car. He was practically mirroring my expression back at me as I went in to shake his hand as I said back, "Look who's up early?"

We both laughed as we let go of each other's hands before Lucius said back, "I was in the neighborhood and knew you were getting back in. How was Pittsburgh?"

I shrugged before replying, "Eh, the usual. Ribbon cutting ceremonies, shaking hands, kissing babies deal. Heh, but yeah. Nothing too crazy. How was it around here?"

I saw Lucius get this weird look on his face for a second before letting out a long sigh.

It was kinda getting uncomfortable as I said, "Lucius, what's going on?" It looked like he snapped himself out of something before he said back, "Sorry. Its just… I ran into Dash last night out in the city."

I sighed and dragged my right hand through my hair as I asked, "What did he do now?"

It was really quick as I saw Lucius put up both his hands and say, "Nothing! It's just… it's nothing. Just Dash being Dash right now with trying to flex himself. But, I'm looking out for him. I know you and Helen don't go into the city much these days and I can usually find him. I got it covered."

I tilted my head a little before saying, "Lucius, it's not that we don't appreciate you always helping us out. You and Honey. But… you don't have to keep doing this if it's too much for…" "Bob, it's no big deal. I'm in my 50's and don't have much going on outside work. I got this." He clapped me on the shoulder with a smirk.

I let out a laugh and said, "Alright, but if Dash starts driving you crazy, don't say I didn't warn you."

Lucius let out a laugh before saying, "Please, I got this. Far as I remember we were both arrogant egomaniacs back in the day… you more than me though." I tried to hold back as I clapped him back on the shoulder as light as I could after he made that jab at me as we laughed it off.

After we went quiet I said, "Thanks again, Lucius. For everything." "Anytime." He said, shaking my hand one last time before he ran off, probably to do a quick change before surfing his way back into the city before Honey woke up.

I smiled and shook my head.

Practically internally laughing about what Lucius would be in for if Honey caught him coming home in uniform this early in the morning.

But… I have to hand it to both of them.

For me there was no doubt Lucius was going to be my best man at my wedding since he's been my best friend as far back as I can remember, but Lucius has always been my best man. Whether we were out on a job fighting crime or just offering to pick the kids up after school if things became too hectic with Helen and I at the moment out in the field… which luckily have been few and far between in the last several years, but still.

And especially since pretty much everyone else we know from back in the day is, well… gone. I count myself pretty lucky to have Lucius still around for many different reasons. Just to have someone I can count on.

I was getting my stuff out of the car as I heard, "Hey dad."

I whipped my head over and saw Dash walking up to his car and opening the door… and also catching me by surprise. He was smiling and looked like he was full of energy… which is completely not how he is ever in the morning. Now that that and add on it being before 7 am… saying I'm shocked is an understatement.

I stood there watching him throw his backpack and football pads into his car as I finally started, still confused by what I was seeing, "Hi… doing okay?"

Dash shot his head up and he was smiling as he said, "Oh yeah! Just gonna do my lifting before school so I don't have to do it after practice." He climbed into the car and started up as I just watched on in confusion as he waved an arm out the window and called out, "Okay dad, see ya!"

All I did was stand there for almost a full minute watching his car disappear down the road and scratching my head, still trying to wrap my brain around what just happened.

Later that day

({No POV})

Dash was in his super suit and pacing on the rooftop, waiting for Nova to show up.

He was about to turn but not before stopping for a second to look at himself in a reflective piece of glass from one of the skylights on the roof.

Practically checking himself out for a second and running a hand over his hair and smirking for a second at himself until he whipped his head up when he heard a smooth voice say, "Am I interrupting?"

Dash whipped his head around and saw Nova standing on the edge of the building, the little bit of light around was catching her eyes as she walked closer into view. Her usual confidence about her and as she put a hand on her hip and let her free arm hang casually at her side.

Quickly, Dash tried to smoothly recover himself as much as possible as he said, "No, if anything I was wondering if I was getting stood up again. Like to keep a guy waiting?"

She clicked her tongue on the roof of her mouth as a coy expression crossed her face as she said, "Well… I prefer to think of it as keeping things interesting."

She walked past Dash, brushing her fingers over his forearm in a light teasing manner. Dash, still getting used to this kind of situation, whipped his head around to keep his focus on her as she walked past him.

"So…" She drooled on, walking to the edge of the building. Nova paused before looking back over her shoulder, a sly smirk spread across her face as she said, "What are we waiting for? Let's have a little fun, shall we?"

After that she jumped over the edge and started floating down to the building below.

Dash sprinted to the edge and looked down only to see Nova looking right back up at him since there was about a 40 foot height difference between both rooftops.

Nova's sly grin returned as she winked in Dash's direction and calling out, "Let's see if you can keep up, Blue Streak!" After that Nova took off running, making Dash smirk and say to himself, "Oh, its on."

Dash took a couple steps back before launching himself over the side of the building and tucking his body into a somersault before getting to his feet and taking off in a sprint for a split second before he immediately caught up to Nova.

"What was that about keeping up?" Dash taunted a little as he smirked in Nova's direction, slowing himself to her running speed as he followed her. Nova looked toward Dash and commented, "Well, you caught up… but let's see if you can keep track. Just follow along. I've got a great plan for tonight."

Dash smirked as they both kept running with Dash following along, even if he felt almost as painfully slowed down as when he was playing football at school, this time he was more than willing to slow down to see what Nova had in store.

However, unbeknownst to both of them… they weren't as alone as they thought as a shadowy figure was watching them in the distance.

Lucius.

Lucius put the set of binoculars he was using back in his belt before he took off on his ice rift to keep following them.

10 minutes later

Dash and Nova both stopped on the edge of this apartment complex looking over into the street that had a wide array of businesses, all of which were closed for the night and leaving the street rather silent.

Dash looked around not seeing anything particularly interesting to him and almost looking bored after just seeing Nova looking off in a certain direction.

"So… what exactly are we doing?" Dash questioned, not knowing why Nova took them all the way here to this no man's land part of town since nothing interesting was happening.

After a moment, Nova turned around. She was slow, careful, but with a purpose stepping toward Dash until they were about only a foot apart from each other.

Dash visibly froze up as Nova looked him directly in the eye as she started, "You know... Blue Streak, from the moment I came across you, I knew you were different. I can see you aren't like other supers. You aren't happy with just the bare minimum, just blindly doing what you're told. You play by your own rules. You take risks and don't care what anyone thinks since you do what you want to. Drive is very important. And…" She put her hands on his shoulders and brought their faces almost a couple inches apart as she finished, "I love those qualities in a man."

Dash was caught off guard completely now and felt almost entranced as he kept his eyes glued to Nova and his mouth involuntarily fell open for a split second as he gulped before saying, "Y-you do?"

Dash had no idea what was happening right now. He felt like he hardly had the ability to speak anymore, but weirdly… he felt completely entranced and was pretty much accepting whatever it was that Nova was doing with him right now.

Nova smirked as she moved a hand to his face and brushed her thumb over his cheek as she said, "I do… and that's exactly why I know I can trust you to help me. You will help me, right?" Dash nodded and gulped again before saying, feeling like he didn't even know what he was doing anymore, "Ye-yeah, sure."

Nova smirked as she moved her hand closer in on his face until she teasingly ran her pointer finger down the center of his lips before commenting in a velvety smooth tone of voice, "I knew I could trust you."

After that she dragged Dash to the edge of the roof with her by his hand, his eyes glued to her as if he was completely hypnotized. She pointed down to the window at this store where there was this wide array of objects.

"That store down there is Leonard's Imports. It's a jewel in this city. Every day it gets everything from expensive technology to jewelry from high profile clients all over the world. Things many people would fight to have. For example… see that necklace?"

Dash narrowed his eyes, snapping out of his trance for a moment as he said, "Yeah, the one with the huge black rock on it?"

"That's no black rock, as you say. That is a black diamond on a necklace said to have come from a British countess and passed down through several aristocratic dynasties. Today, it just sits in that window under a layer of bullet proof glass collecting dust like a cheap decoration. I've tried to get the shop owner to let me have a look at it but she always refuses. She won't let anyone go near it and she refuses to take any buyers on it. So… tonight I, or we I should say, are going to change that. Tonight... I'm finally going to have a closer look at it." Nova said, staring intently at the necklace.

Dash turned his head and quirked up an eyebrow as he asked, looking confused, "What do you mean?"

Nova looked over, a sly expression on her face, "What do you mean what do I mean? Alone I can't get anywhere close to it without raising an alarm, even with my powers… that's where you come in. You and I are gonna go down there and figure out a way around the alarms. With my particle manipulation and your super human speed, we can get that necklace out of that shop without anyone even seeing we're there. All we need to do is get close enough to…"

"No." Dash interrupted.

Nova whipped her head over, a perplexed expression as she inquired, "Excuse me?"

"I said no. We can't do this. That's stealing. It's… it's wrong!" Dash responded, very adamant.

Nova gave Dash a confused look before giving a displeased yet snarky grin before responding, sounding very annoyed, "Wrong? Are you serious right now? You're lecturing me about taking a necklace when you go out using your powers against international regulation, Blue Streak?"

Dash knit his eyebrows together as he finally ripped his hand out of hers before pointing at her and snapping, "That's different! What I do doesn't do anything to anyone. You're talking about stealing from someone, Nova."

Dash tried to turn away, looking flustered and angry, until Nova stopped him by grabbing his arm, making him turn back around to face her. "C'mon Blue Streak, don't you think you're overreacting? It's just a necklace. Besides…," Nova paused as she put a hand on Dash's face and ran her hand over his cheek for a moment, "All I'm trying to do is get what I want to study it. Isn't that what you do? Aren't you determined... to get what you want?"

Nova looked like she was trying to lean in when Dash grit his teeth and closed his eyes and he pushed her away a bit and crossed his arms as he narrowed his eyes at her and said, looking conflicted but still angry and determined, "Sorry, Nova. I'm not helping you do this."

It was silent for a moment as Nova looked at Dash, part angry and part confused, until her expression took on a state of complete displeasure as she responded with a sharp breath, "Fine!… be like that. Be a boring, buzzkill goodie two shoes that won't get anywhere because you're too afraid to risk things when it counts."

Nova tried to walk away until she stopped dead as she heard, "I'd rather be a buzzkill than a total snake."

Nova shot her head back to see Dash narrowing his eyes at her with his arms still crossed. She gave him a wide eyed expression before rolling her eyes and saying, "Whatever, thanks for wasting my time, boy scout. Ciao!"

Dash wasn't even paying attention anymore as he narrowed his eyes at the roof for several moments, his fists and jaw clenched.

He took in a sharp breath after a long pause before he just took off in a dead sprint. He was running so fast and combine that with not thinking clearly that by the time he stopped, he almost took a header off the edge of a particularly tall office building.

He quickly took a couple steps back before gripping his hands into his hair.

After a moment he flopped down on the roof his elbows resting on his knees as he sat there, a cold expression on his face, as he started off into the city skyline in front of him.

Dash knit his eyebrows together when he heard the familiar sound of Lucius skating onto the rooftop.

It was quiet for a moment as Lucius stood there behind Dash, trying to figure out a way to approach the situation after he saw what ended up happening between, or at least the end of what happened, between Dash and Nova.

"Hey, Dash, I…" "Go away, Lucius." Dash said, immediately cutting Lucius off without even turning around. "Look Dash, I…" Lucius stopped as Dashed turned around and snapped, "Lucius, just leave me alone!"

Lucius knew he needed to stop right here.

Dash clearly wasn't in the mood, partly due to almost being used by a girl he liked just minutes ago and partly due to not wanting to get an I told you so lecture from Lucius and Lucius clearly recognized this as he backed away with his hands up as he said, "A'right. I got it."

Right as Lucius was about to cast out his hand to surf back home, he looked back one more time, looking hesitant for a second before saying, very simply but to the point, "Hey, I'm sorry man… really."

Dash still didn't turn around as Lucius decided to take off but Dash was biting his lip as he started to feel a huge wave of anger, confusion, frustration, and now guilt consume him as he continued to sit there.

Well, looks like Dash found out the hard way about the kind of person Nova truly was. But, despite everything, I really wanted to show Dash's true nature that we all know. Dash can be a bit of an arrogant, stubborn show off but he's not a bad person. And even though he doesn't agree with the age limit on the law in place over him, he has strong morals that he sticks to and doesn't cave in on them. Bob and Helen would be proud. :) What will happen next? Where did Nova go? Will Dash ever come to terms with his parents and Lucius? Stay tuned to find out next time! As always thank you so much for taking the time to read and reviews are always appreciated.

Stay Classy, Healthy, and Safe!

Dexter1995