Chapter 7: The Comeback King

11 Years Earlier: Cody & Guy's Apartment, 7:00PM - the night of Jessica's rescue

The two young fighters entered their apartment, kicked their sneakers off at the entrance, and promptly lay on the hardwood floor of their living room. Their respective bedrooms were just feet away, but they couldn't make it. Hours of consecutive fistfights wiped them out. Their segmented moments of rest hardly accumulated to more than a couple of hours of sleep over the last day. They hadn't seen the inside of their apartment since two sunrises ago.

They were done.

"Hey, Guy?"

"Yeah, Cody?"

"Does your body also feel like it's made entirely of lead, or is it just me?"

"Definitely not just you."

"Ugh…" They both groaned.

What a wild 24 hours they had. Covered in bruises, scratches, and dried blood, they could hardly move their fatigued muscles another inch. The clothes they were wearing were damaged beyond repair, but thankfully their relatively-new sneakers survived the ordeal - they just exchanged sneakers with each other the previous week to cement their three years of friendship as "sworn brothers," so they had better last.

The world spun around them as their stomachs were growling, knuckles sore, bloody and swollen, and heads throbbing with pain. Their bruised ribs hurt with each breath they took. It was a night neither of them would forget for a long time.

"So…" Cody started, drawing energy from nothing to form words. "Jess said she'll be here in about an hour or so once she's cleared with her dad…insisted on grabbin' dinner for us on the way, and I couldn't turn it down. Can hardly move right now, much less think."

"I remember - I was there when she told us."

"Oh. Right."

"I can't believe you almost walked out on her, dude."

"Don't say 'dude' again, dude. That's a very west coast thing."

"I, uh…see."

The two of them were staring at their ceiling as it felt like pain was just coursing through their bodies. They were sure to avoid staring into the bulb of their light fixture so as not to inflict any more agony than they already were in - the exhaustion had hit them so suddenly after the excess adrenaline finally tapered. It was going to take a while for them to gather themselves. They knew that their two-day bare-knuckled ordeal was rough, but they also knew that they truly didn't know what Jessica experienced as the Mad Gear gang dragged her through the entirety of the city in that whole time. The fact that she was coming over to them was not lost on them.

"Thank you so much for comin' with me and Mike, man," Cody said into the air, straining to crane his neck toward his roommate. He had to resist the urge to yawn for the sake of his ribs. "There's not a lot of folks I trust in this godforsaken city, so…that…meant a whole lot."

"Of course. I could never deny my dearest comrade. You, Jessica, and Mike are of utmost importance to me and have been by my side since my arrival to this…gem of a city. It was the least I could do."

"I owe you big time." Cody closed his eyes for a moment, knowing that they likely would not have survived without Guy's support. He couldn't ask for a better partner. "Flip a coin for who gets the shower first? Everythin's gonna hurt."

"Tails."

1 Hour Later…

Haggar's security detail arrived to Cody and Guy's apartment building. Jessica wasn't thrilled with the idea of having every one of her moves monitored for the next couple of weeks, but if it put her father at peace, it was worth it. She had been home with Haggar in these last few hours once he, Cody and Guy extracted her from Belger's possession. After having to deal with initial press inquiries, she finally had the chance to clean up and change into an oversized tracksuit, her hair tied up into a high bun.

Despite her fatigue and despondence from the terrifying ordeal, she knew it would be impossible for her to sleep alone tonight, and she definitely did not want to leave Cody's side after all the group had been through.

"All right, Ms. Haggar," one of the agents started. "We'll be on guard for you until morning until our shift change. Let Agent Riley walk you to the apartment door."

"Thanks, Agent Bryant," she said, clutching onto the takeout they'd picked up a few ago. "I really appreciate all that you're doing for me, but you've gotta admit dad's being a little overkill…"

"He'd do anything for you, ma'am."

Didn't she know it. That's exactly what I'm afraid of...

Anything that reminded her of her plight just hours earlier was not something she wanted to ruminate on - it was far too overwhelming. Jessica insisted that she just wanted to see her boys - Haggar couldn't help but bend to her wishes after what they'd all been through, as long as he had eyes on her. Her typically voracious appetite was shot, but the takeout did smell appetizing. She was happy that she would get to see her heroes without the bombardment of the media that plagued them earlier in the day.

"Here's to a good night, Ms. Haggar," Riley nodded as the blonde woman knocked on her boyfriend's apartment door.

"Thank you, Agent Riley…stay safe out there."

"We'll be all right, thanks to your own personal army."

She knew that was supposed to make her feel better, but…it didn't. The door finally opened as the agent got into position outside their door for the night. Guy opened it with a sort of weariness she never witnessed in him. She wasn't surprised.

"Guy!" Jessica exclaimed, going in to hug him tightly. He winced from the pain in his ribs as the takeout slapped against his back. "S-sorry about that…"

"It's not a problem, Jessica," Guy grunted as he held his side with a strained smile. "We're appreciative of you, truly…"

"I'm just so happy to see you standing here before me…" she practically whimpered, attempting to steady her voice.

"Same to you, Jessica. Your well-being is an absolute relief. Seems like we'll be extra safe this evening…I see Haggar sent you with…security."

She nodded, her eyes downcast. Guy let her in as he took the bags of food from her as she gently removed her sneakers at the entrance.

"I think it's a bit unnecessary, but anything to give father peace of mind," she shrugged as she forced a smile. "It's OK."

"Jessica…"

He couldn't understand why she felt the need to put up a tough front after the trauma she'd just endured. When he first met her in Japan those few years ago backstage, her bubbly nature seemed never-ending and was a surprisingly infectious source of motivation and optimism when he was down about his own unfortunate schooling situation at the time - so seeing Jessica like this was almost more physically painful to him than his current bruises.

"I've got your favorite takeout and a replacement first aid kit since I'm sure you'll both need it after the night you've had," her eyes were red, and it was evident to Guy that she was sincere but hurting. The congestion in her voice was thick as if she'd been crying, and he couldn't possibly begin to imagine what she experienced in captivity.

"Of course - and thank you, Jessica. We all did our best to survive - yourself included," he smiled, hoping to provide some solace to her troubled spirit. A quivering smile emerged as a tear made its way down her face - getting a smile from Guy was quite rare. "If you're wondering about Cody, he's in his room, taking much-needed rest. We are beat, to say the least. He was the one leading the charge, so I wouldn't be surprised if he's knocked out for the rest of the night…"

"I'll bet!" Jessica exclaimed, not even able to fathom what they must have seen on the streets the last couple of nights. If anyone deserved the solace of sleep tonight, it was definitely them. She leaned over to kiss Guy on the cheek as a faint blush crept across his face.

"Thank you, Guy. For everything. Puttin' your life on the line for me. Being with Cody and at my dad's side. You came here to train, not to die. I don't even know where to start with my gratitude…I owe you my life, for one."

"Nonsense," Guy insisted. "You know we've always got your back, Jessica - just like you've always got ours."

She embraced Guy much more gently this round, leaning her head on his shoulder. She was truly at a loss for words. She drew in a shaky breath as Guy hesitantly rubbed her back. The last thing he wanted was for to her to feel as if he were taking advantage, but…it seemed like she could use the comfort.

If I knew how to fight, no one would have had to go through this hell to begin with, she thought to herself. She hated it.

"Let me know if you need anything," she said as she pulled away, eyes glassy.

"I could say the same for you…"

Jessica shook her head. They'd done more than enough for her at this point. "I mean it, Guy. I'm going to check in on Cody for a bit. If he isn't hungry now, you boys will have leftovers for days. I have a feeling that won't be the end of it, though…Metro City thinks you're a buncha heroes, now. Poor dad is going to be bombarded tomorrow, so I'm going to head to his office in the morning. If you wanted to make a break for it, I wouldn't blame you," she laughed.

"This experience certainly taught me that I have a lot more training to do," Guy said rubbing his chin. "I was considering undergoing even more intensive training with my master, actually."

"Oh! So you're leaving us soon?" she was slightly disappointed, but she was more proud. Guy seemed to always know what he needed to do next. She wanted to learn from his ways. His unwavering confidence in his craft was always so impressive and inspiring to her.

"Just for the time being," Guy smiled. Jessica was easy to talk to - he knew she supported his every move.

"We're gonna miss you. Cody's probably gonna act all tough about it, but I know for a fact that he'll miss you a whole ton," she giggled. She loved that they had each other these last few years, noting the deep comradery that grew as powerfully as it did between the two of them. "Just…don't work too hard, ya hear?"

"I sincerely appreciate it, Jessica. Don't overextend yourself, either. Please know I don't regret a thing."

Jessica squeezed Guy's hands gently as more tears escaped. They were involuntary at this point - it was unbearable given the headache she was experiencing. She thought she got them all out at her father's already. "Thank you again, Guy. Now, please go eat something - we'll join you if Cody gets up, but please don't feel compelled to wait for us. If you'll excuse me..."

She gently opened her boyfriend's bedroom door so as not to startle him. He was sound asleep, just as Guy had mentioned. The moonlight illuminated his room enough for her to make out his sleeping face. She kneeled by his bedside, watching him for a few moments, marveling at the miraculous, consistent rise and fall of his chest. The fact that they were all alive and relatively well in this moment was something she did not want to take for granted.

If anything happened to them…she wouldn't know how to go on. She barely survived her mother's passing, all those years ago. She had to draw on every molecule of strength to survive her kidnapping. What on earth were her father, friend, and boyfriend thinking? Her one life compared to Metro City's thousands…her father taught her to always stand up for herself, and somehow, she couldn't do that. She felt violated, vulnerable, and exposed. She never wanted anyone to be in that position again - not as long as she was alive.

The blond man stirred when she reached up to gently run her fingers through his slightly damp hair down his jaw, then his arm. She wondered how both boys even managed to get cleaned up to change out of their fighting clothes with all the injuries she could see on Guy earlier and she could feel just then. She could feel the bruises already forming on his cheek.

"Hey, you - ain't you a sight for sore eyes?" he smiled weakly as he attempted to sit up, but laid right back down, forgetting the sharp pain that manifested in his ribs. "Ugh…"

"Hey yourself. Don't move. Let me speak first."

"Sure, boss."

Always the kidder. She normally would have rolled her eyes at his sass, but to hear his voice, knowing that the reality of him being alive tonight was a miracle in itself was devastating. She squeezed his hand gently, noting his swollen knuckles.

"What you, Guy and my father did…it means the world to me. You put yourselves in danger to save my life."

"And we'd do it again…"

"I don't think my heart could take it…" she leaned over to kiss him on his bruised lip. "Please don't. I'm a big girl. I can hold my own," she whispered. Despite the darkness in his room, he could taste that she had been crying. "Saying 'thank you' can hardly scratch the surface of how I feel…"

"Don't sweat it, Jess. I don't think my body will let me get into a fight for at least another couple'a weeks, anyway," he smirked through the pain. He just wanted her to be okay. "Ouch…I know everythin's gonna hurt in the mornin'."

She removed the jacket of her tracksuit to hang on his bedpost, and carefully climbed into his side. Her arms crossed over and underneath his waist as she nuzzled onto his chest, as she always did. He was cautious of his bruises as he let her nestle into his arm, as he always was. She found comfort in hearing the steady rhythm of his vitality, especially tonight. She almost lost him in more ways than one and she couldn't bear the thought. Jessica didn't realize just how frightening the idea of someone willing to die for her was.

He could feel her shivering ever so slightly, despite the fact that there was no chill in the room.

They lay together in silence as the ambient city noise echoed in the distance outside his window. Despite the traffic, police chatter, and segments of conversation - it really did seem calmer than usual for a night in Metro City.

"How are ya, really?" Cody whispered into the air. His voice was amplified in her ear.

"I'm hangin' in there," Jessica replied quietly. "What about you?"

"Ready to take the best sleep of my life."

She lifted her head to look at him. "Is it stupid…that after all this…I'm still a little scared?"

"Not at all. I was scared too, y'know," he reached up with his free hand to wipe the tears from her eyes - he could feel that they were soaking his shoulder. "Everything's gonna be OK 'cause you're here with me now," he kissed her forehead. "That's all that matters."

"I don't wanna be anywhere else…" she laid her head down again. "Your food's in the fridge, by the way…if you're still hungry."

"I'll get up soon. Let's just…lay here for a sec…you should be resting, too," he mumbled as he faded. "I'll never let you down…"

"I know…"

Current Day: Metro City Airport Terminal - Arrivals

Haggar was filled with excitement at the busy airport pickup area - cars were lined up for miles as the arrivals were exiting the terminal. He was going to see his daughter for the first time in almost two years since he last surprised her in France. She insisted on coming back to Metro City this round to see him to spare him the godawful layover timing, especially after the last few months he had - besides, it was going to be his birthday - he shouldn't have had to go through the hassle of airline travel at his big age.

"Daddy!"

"Jessie-girl!" he hugged her as cars angrily honked behind him. It was always comforting to be in her old man's powerful arms, and she almost felt immediately relieved. He ruffled the top of her fluffy hair lovingly. "Let's get outta here before I have to smash someone's car."

"Oh, for goodness' sake, father," she laughed, rolling her eyes. "Not everything needs your fists. Not that I miss Metro City traffic…" Haggar loaded his trunk with her luggage in a single motion and pulled off into the highway. They spoke virtually every night, so there wasn't too much to catch up on. It was Jessica's time to see just how much Metro City had changed since she last, and she was impressed.

"Wow - the ol' MC is looking better each day," she said wistfully. "Seems like your vision is coming true, dad. I'm proud of you."

"Then I know I've done right," Haggar said with an indomitable sense of pride.

"So father…what're your plans for the week? I can't wait to try out some of these new restaurants you've been mentioning," she said as she scrolled the local eatery on her phone. "Everything's got great reviews…almost rivals Paris quality these days!"

"My schedule's all cleared for you, princess. It's just that tomorrow, I'll be at City Hall midday - Travers has a speech scheduled then, but other than that, I'm all yours," he said as he got on the main road to his humble abode on the outskirts of Metro City. Jessica could see the city fading in the rearview mirror, as quickly as she entered it.

"Cody…" Jessica swallowed. She knew there was no avoiding it, but each time the reality hit her that he was no longer in prison, it shook her up just a bit. "How's he holdin' up?"

"He seems all right," Haggar rubbed his chin. "But I try my damndest not to have a direct hand in his mayordom - let him figure things out for himself and just watch from the sidelines, y'know? Maisie's got him on the right track so far. He's doing right by the city."

"Oh gosh, dad. Your sidelines might as well be hands-on," Jessica laughed. "Bless Maisie's soul. I've gotta say, reading about him overseas…I can't help but feel a little proud of him. He seems to have come a long way, but I'm also not surprised."

"I'm just glad I can have time to enjoy my life now," Haggar grinned, eyes shining behind his thick spectacles. Reveling in the effort of his decades of hard work was rewarding. "If anyone deserves my time and attention, it's you."

"Aww, daddy," Jessica smiled. "Thank you."

The ride from the airport was bustling with traffic. Jessica hated feeling guilty for her mixed feelings toward the current mayor of her hometown. After all, she came to support her father on this trip, not he support her as he'd done his entire life. Haggar was genuinely concerned about his daughter and she didn't want to worry him anymore. He insisted that she hadn't been herself, but she said it was just the stress of wrapping up business back in Paris before her departure. Things always seemed to be more stressful right before a trip…

"Papa," Jessica began, willing her hardest not to break down. A huge, genuine smile broke out on her face, despite her aching heart. Her conflicting feelings were nauseating. "I'm…wrestling with something, and I think I need to sound it out."

"Of course, princess!" he practically bellowed. His eyes always lit up in his daughter's presence—he couldn't ask for more. She was a wonderful girl, and he was eternally grateful she was in his life. However, it pained him terribly to see her in any sort of despair. He noticed from the second she deplaned that she wasn't her usual self - time apart or not, he knew his daughter. Her tone alone raised this alertness within him.

"What's shakin'? Being here's bringing up some painful memories, huh? We'll be home soon…"

"I hate that I still care about Cody after everything that happened," Jessica blurted. "I've tried to forget all about him after all this time, but it hit me like a truck just now." Haggar's mustache bristled - he was afraid there would be unresolved tension.

"Maybe it's because he isn't a bad guy," Haggar reiterated. He never expected in a million years that he'd be the one convincing his daughter about that guy, as she had so many years ago. "A little misguided, sure, but he's coming around. To be clear - doesn't mean you're obliged to him in any way, though."

"Oh, no - of course not. I just can't believe he's agreed to your shenanigans," she laughed tearfully.

"I promise I wouldn't have gone through the effort of getting him out of the slammer if I didn't think it was worth it," Haggar smiled, eyes on the road. "Took a little bit to get through that thick skull of his, but I think he secretly enjoys it."

"I suppose…" Jessica looked out her window. Metro City really had changed under her father's leadership. Metro City's reputation was much different today than from when she was growing up. Instead of folks recoiling when they realized she hailed from here, they were in awe nowadays. Things were really turning around…globally, even.

"I'm sorry if you're having a hard time, princess. The last thing I want to do is complicate anything for you."

"Seriously - it's fine that you want to support him, father. It honestly won't hurt me to support his endeavors either - this is our hometown, after all. I wanna see Metro City thrive, too. You know I'm always gonna be a city girl at heart."

"Whatever you wanna do, Jessie-girl. You're not obligated to anyone."

"Don't you worry, daddy," Jessica said. "I told you - I can handle myself. As a matter of fact - I'll come with you tomorrow if you don't mind. This I've gotta see for myself."

"Hey, if you insist!" Haggar shrugged. "We're almost home. You're gonna love that little lakehouse I built - it's like a little slice of Paris. You'll be proud of my impeccable taste."

"Papa," Jessica couldn't help but smile. "You sure are one of a kind. What don't you do?"

City Hall - Mayor's Office, 12:00PM

Cody was staring out his window, flipping his pen in deep thought. At this time tomorrow, he had to give a speech at his first unveiling, and he couldn't put his finger on why he felt so darn anxious about it. It wasn't his first address, but he didn't want to mess it up regardless. His desk phone buzzed as Marlowe's voice came on.

"Mayor Cody, Kyle's here to see you and I see you've got a minute."

"Thanks, Maisie - you can send him in!"

Well, this was a pleasant surprise. He hadn't expected Kyle to come down to Metro City for another couple of weeks.

"Hey man," Kyle walked into his big brother's office. "Whoa. I don't think I'll ever get used to this."

"You and I both!" Cody shook his head as he stood up to bump fists with his brother. They looked alike, yet somehow Kyle managed to get an inch over Cody as he strolled in with his track jacket, dog tags and camo pants. Kyle's facial hair is what separated the two. "How's it goin', man? I didn't expect to see you for another couple days or so."

"Pretty good, pretty good! Just checkin' in on ya."

"As you do. How'd you manage to get out here so early?"

"Well," Kyle rubbed the back of his head. "I thought it'd be good for you to know two major things sooner rather than later…"

"Okay…" Cody raised a brow. "Lay it on me."

"One, I've been discharged from the Marines—"

"You've been what?"

"AND TWO," Kyle hastily moved on as he straightened up. "I'm proposing to Vanessa soon."

"Whoa! Congratulations, man!" Cody felt the whiplash as he stood suddenly and pulled his younger brother in for a hug and a handshake which quickly turned into a noogie. He was surprised - Kyle and Vanessa had been dating since high school. The fact that their relationship survived his time in the military was something. The mayor couldn't help but wonder how Kyle managed. "Little bro's growin' up so fast…" he said through gritted teeth as he couldn't control his smile. "But, uh…we're gonna talk about the discharge, too, right?"

"Yeah, yeah," Kyle rolled his eyes as he escaped. "Thanks, man. We can talk about the discharge, but…I'd love it if you could witness for us at City Hall. Not as mayor of course - but as my brother…'sides, you're already here," he grinned.

"You don't even have to ask. Just give me a date and time. I'll clear my schedule for you both."

"Thanks for everything, bro. Y'know, I'm really happy you're turnin' your life around, too," Kyle started. He'd been discharged from the Marines earlier, but was fine with the prospect. He didn't have to fight to stay alive in his own hometown these days, after all. "I know you were always watchin' out for us - and now, you're doin' it on a way bigger scale. I feel like I have an actual chance to spend my life with the one I love. The ol' Metro's gonna be good for it."

Cody finally felt like he was beginning to understand his place in the grand scheme of things; he wanted nothing more than for folks to feel like they could make it out here. "I sure hope so. Not sure what Mike was thinkin' puttin' me in charge."

"I think he knows what he's doin'," Kyle rubbed his chin, raising a brow. "The people have spoken, after all."

The brothers had quite a tumultuous life, their relationship segmented by their age difference and unfortunate foster care experiences - but Kyle understood more than anyone. He could never hold anything against Cody - he taught him everything he knew about strength, determination and resilience and was dedicated to protecting him as he grew up when Metro City was hell. Now that things were looking up, especially under his brother's watchful eye…perhaps he could make it on his own in the city that never slept.

"On the bright side…at least this means I'll be in the good ol' MC. I can't wait to get back to Vanessa, but I'm sorry I wasn't there when you got out the slammer. It's been a bit hectic overseas."

"Don't worry about it. We're just gonna have to make time to catch up now," Cody flipped his pen. "It's been hella busy here lately, but we can figure it out. If I'm not in here, I'm at Tom's…whaddya plan to do now that you're back?"

"I'm gonna fight!" Kyle beamed as he pounded his fists together. Cody wasn't sure why he was taken aback.

"Fight? As in…" He was almost jealous.

"Uh, Poison and Hugo are hookin' me up with some gigs underground," Kyle started. "Not tryin' to be a wrestler or anything. Now that my freakin' brother's the mayor, though, not exactly sure if that's info I should be sharin'..." he said nervously, scratching the back of his head. "I also intend to become a certified bike mechanic - I read so many books overseas, I just want to put it to practice."

Cody cleared his throat. Bikes were good. "You've certainly got a lot goin' on, bro. Might just wanna prioritize…especially if you're going to propose. Do you have a ring?"

"Not yet - I figured I could get one as soon as I've got the cash which won't take me long."

"Well, let me know if you need me to spot ya, since you're not going to be fighting underground…stay focused."

"I appreciate it, Cody," Kyle grinned. "Whoda thunk you'd be lecturin' me on responsibility?"

"Very funny."

"Anyway…Maisie told me you've been agonizin' over this speech you're givin' in a few," the ex-Marine folded his arms. "How's it goin'?"

"Oh, you know. It's goin'."

"As long as you're not shirkin' responsibility, Mr. Mayor. You should really get it wrapped up…"

"Not you, too!" Cody groaned. "I think more people have told me what to do in my life in the last 24 hours than my entire lifetime."

"A little guidance never hurt anyone," Kyle grinned. "I was in the Marines, bro. I'm gonna be annoyin' about it. I mean, if it were up to you, you'd still be in prison today…even though we both knew damn well you didn't have to be."

"I thought I was supposed to be the one lookin' out for ya," Cody raised a brow.

"Nah man," Kyle hit him in the back. "We watch out for each other. You've always been an inspiration to me, Cody. I hope I made you proud."

"You always do, bro."

Later that afternoon…: City Hall - Mayor's Office, 4:00PM

Cody's next address to the city was coming up faster than he thought he prepared for. Getting used to his new role was challenging enough, but to have his progress recorded live? In front of thousands of people? The idea made him sick with anxiety despite how easy it came to him on the campaign trail. Knowing he was revealing his first project live on camera made it feel…different. Each time he thought he felt good about it, he proved himself wrong - somehow.

He was unveiling the beginnings of a special project that was part of his term-long initiative to "guarantee every citizen's bright future" and really didn't want to screw up its launch. This was tangible proof of the makings of his own accord, and it still didn't feel quite…real. He wondered if that was why he felt so uneasy about it all. Despite confirmation from the contractors, and seeing the work in its completion…it just wouldn't be complete until he showed it to the city.

He rested his head in his hands as Maisie went on about the last bit of edits that his speech needed.

This would be the public's chance to scrutinize him and analyze his every blink, word choice, and thought process. There was a healthy buzz about what he was going to address since his transition, especially given his history as a formerly renowned hero…and criminal.

"What will the formerly fallen hero say?!"

"That felon is not our mayor!"

"Fresh, amateur perspective coming in hot!"

"Violent Mayor plans to reform city with brute force?!"

"What bare-knuckled manifesto will we hear next?"

Cody wanted to bury his head underneath the mountains of paperwork. "Maisie, you're killin' me here," he complained. "I think I've re-written this about a million times already."

"Then a million and one more won't hurt," Marlowe said calmly as she revised his minor changes. She nodded in approval.

When Marlowe asked Mike what he would like for his birthday, he had just one wish - for Cody to keep his word and serve the people.

The day Cody agonized over was finally here.

The Next Day: City Hall, 11:45AM - Day of the Unveiling

The buzz in the air was electric. The mayor couldn't quite grasp the big deal. Why did everything have to feel so grandiose?

Cody was bombarded by the press as he and Marlowe made their way. The turnout for this unveiling seemed a lot smaller on paper…seeing the magnitude of the crowd before of him made him swallow. Couldn't he just cut a ribbon and be done with it? That's just the fear talkin', he reminded himself. He wouldn't have done all that deskwork for nothing, after all. This was just one of the many parts of the job…

He took a deep breath as he scanned the audience. Mostly press, not too many familiar faces - though it was hard to ignore Lucia and Roxy waving manically off to the side, and his smiling brother alongside his fiancee-to-be opposite of them. He also saw that Haggar was near the front row down the aisle - alongside a lovely woman who was taking her seat next to him. Talking to him as if…

Jessica…?!

In that moment, the blonde-haired woman turned to face the bustling center stage, and her eyes immediately locked with his.

The world paused on its axis - if only for a moment - as they scanned each other's faces with a desperate sort of haste.

In that moment, it was no one but them.

For a few seconds, Cody hadn't realized he was holding his breath. Seeing her out of the blue sent a shock to his already tense nerves. He hadn't expected to see her here out of all the people witnessing his deepening foray into mayordom. Cody mouthed her name before he was pulled away by production staff and Jessica blinked, as if she returned from an out-of-body experience. Haggar just finished shaking hands with a former colleague when he turned to see his daughter looking a bit…off-guard.

"Jessie-girl? You OK?" Haggar leaned in, snapping her back to attention.

"Sorry, dad," she trailed, her mind somewhere else. "I think I need a minute." She raised her already tall heels to reach her father's cheek for a quick peck as she threw on her coat before everyone started to settle. "I, uh…could use a little something from the coffee house - I haven't eaten all day and my blood sugar's low. I'm gonna go around the corner for just a sec. I'll be back."

"I'll see you in a bit, princess," Haggar responded, hoping that she was as all right as she insisted.

Cody exhaled. He had to get it together, and fast. He panicked, suddenly forgetting the key points of the speech he and Marlowe agonized over in the last few weeks. He was just fine to deliver it a few moments ago — that was, until he saw Jessica's face. She was the last person he expected to be in the audience. It had been nearly ten years, and the last time he saw her was on his way to prison.

"Maisie, I think I'm freakin' out over here…" he mumbled, his collar suddenly feeling tight.

"Posture, Mayor Cody," Marlowe reminded him, her eyes on a million things at once. She hadn't heard him. "You'll be on camera soon. Look the part."

"Right…"

Meanwhile, Jessica made her way through the crowd. She thought she was a lot more ready to face him than she felt - even if it was at a distance. She almost felt ashamed. Why did just seeing him send her into a spiral? She inhaled deeply, calming her nerves. She was stunned at their proximity after nearly a decade, but she was more stunned at her reaction to this.

She couldn't get the image of his face out of her head. She couldn't read him, but she knew he'd seen her. His slicked-back hair…his steely blue eyes…his powerful, confident bravado. The way he presented himself now was a stark contrast from the image she had of him in chains, his mop of unkempt hair and apathy simultaneously robbing and highlighting the vibrance of his spirit.

She couldn't believe he agreed to her father's shenanigans.

Of course, as a televised event, many of the restaurants along the block were already tuned in. Metro City's charismatic mayor was about to speak, and everyone just had to see what he had to say. Of course.

Who was she kidding? He was the mayor after all…

Surprise yet relief. Confusion yet clarity. Lust yet frustration. Nostalgia yet fear. She had no idea what to do. She hated it.

"I'm just jet-lagged," she convinced herself. "Nothin' some good coffee and a good night's sleep can't fix."

There was no doubt that she was feeling the whiplash from seeing her old flame in the flesh, so close yet so far. The cafe's television picked up where she left off, the anticipation of the mayor's speech a buzz on the radio. He was set to come on in a few more minutes. It seemed like she wouldn't be able to miss him even if she wanted to. Somehow, he managed to be everywhere at once, and it was only slightly maddening.

She hadn't realized how badly she wanted to hear him again until he started speaking.

"Might as well see what you're made of, tiger…"

Mayor Travers was clearly distracted. His opener was that of an amateur at first, but he quickly regained his composure. Haggar and Metro City had his back, after all - Maisie would never lie to him. He was grateful that he had such an outpouring of support as he was welcomed with screams, cheers, and hollers. He still couldn't believe it, even as he stood before the audience.

It was time to get this day over with.

"A city where no one has to fight...a city free from violence. A city without fear," he started, resting comfortably on the podium. "A long time ago, I thought I was fightin' for peace in this city. Look where it got me. As you all know…it was a drag, man." The crowd laughed.

"Yet, someway, somehow, all these ideas about our city started coming true, day by day. At the very least, I can say that we are a city without fear. Most of youse elected me, after all!" The crowd cheered. He had them wrapped around his finger.

"Now, I don't mean to be a comedian, so I'm gonna be serious with you for a moment." Cody paused just as Marlowe coached. He drew in a deep breath as he got his mind right. This was the part where he always struggled.

"Metro City's always been known to be a beautiful catastrophe - and somehow, we're still the capital of the world. Even if it ain't all it seems, Metro City is the concrete jungle where dreams are made of - in my case, one of my dreams consisted of being a fighter, through and through. I had the, uh…unique opportunity to really think about what I fought for these last couple of years. Then I had to ask myself: why? Why did I fight? That's definitely not a one-answer sorta deal, y'see. I had a lot of time to think about what the world needs, what keeps us human, what we need as a people to keep from diving deep into the darkness and really understand what keeps us fighting day in and out," Cody scanned his notes, knowing exactly what he wanted to say without having to read them.

"To be clear, it took me a while to really face and learn from the consequences of my previous actions. Sure, I was framed for some of those charges…but I absolutely could have handled it better. I've done my time, so I've no intention of claimin' to be some kind of hero. Ultimately, I concluded that the simplest reason I fight is for the sake of all of you. It all really just comes down to wanting to do right by a city I love. We all deserve some sort of peace after the hell we've been through!" The crowd cheered. He cleared his throat.

Jessica sat at the counter as she waited for her order, absorbing the emotion in his words from the cafe's mounted television. It seemed like life returned to his voice. To say she was amazed was an understatement. She always knew that Cody was capable of great things, but standing up to speak to thousands of people on a podium was one of the last things she expected from him. Her dad? Absolutely - he always did love to hear his own voice. But Cody was always a man of a few words, so it felt as if he were baring his formerly guarded soul to the world. To say she was impressed was an understatement.

"For decades, we've had to endure vicious, repeated attacks, losses, pain and despair on our community, and rebuild under the leadership of Mike Haggar, who came before me. Mike, who fought tirelessly for the betterment of this city - and not just with his fists. Mike, who still believed in me when I was at my worst," Cody's throat tightened unexpectedly, as he regained his composure.

"Because he just wanted me to be my best," he said, turning to make direct eye contact with him.

"We all have our own battles whether we've fought them in the past or are fighting them to this day," Cody recognized. "No one needs them to be harder than they already are. All I want is what I know we deserve - peace in this beautiful city that we call home," the mayor crescendoed.

"So, in an effort to continue the fight to ensure every citizen's bright future, we gotta start in the here and now. Since my exoneration, I've learned a thing or two about taking things one step at a time. A good friend of mine insists that the journey of a thousand miles starts with one step, after all. With that, in honor of a well-loved elementary school teacher of Metro City, the late Mrs. Haggar, I announce the Nancy Haggar Library, so that the kids of our city can know where to come to find their hopes and dreams, not only to take us to greater heights, but to leave their mark on the world. Mrs. Haggar was the first person in my life to teach me not to give up, and it wasn't bad advice if I do say so myself. When our kids get older, and change the world for the better, it'll always be with that Metro City energy." Cody kissed two fingers to the sky. "Rest in peace, Mrs. Haggar." Mike was stunned. The audience went wild.

"This is all thanks to the citizens of Metro City - we couldn't have done it without each other. Thank you again."

Jessica was crying in the middle of a coffeeshop. She thought those days were over.

The crowd was insatiable. Yet, despite all of the roaring support, he couldn't shake the one question on his mind: Where's Jessica? He didn't see her next to Haggar by the time he was done with his speech. The familiar sensation of her proximity reared with an all-consuming vengeance in his soul - he hadn't realized just how dormant it lay until he saw her in the flesh. He scanned the audience desperately, wondering if he'd perhaps hallucinated her. Haggar was rushed by reporters, stifling tears as he expressed his surprise.

Cody sighed. It seemed that now wasn't the time. He was relieved that the unveiling went off without a hitch – who would have thought a library would be such a welcome addition in such a bustling city? Dozens of reporters wanted to ask more questions, but he wasn't in the best state to answer the rapid fires right now. He needed to get out of there with Marlowe, quick. She understood completely and ensured they made their way to their escape cab as she shut them down with copies of the press release. Cody got distracted way too easily.

Jessica had to have been here. Why did he want to see her so badly? It's not like they were on great terms. He was concerned that she wanted nothing to do with him, and yet compelled to confirm - despite that, he was filled with an unprecedented surge of inspiration. He couldn't tell if it was because of the energy of the townspeople, from the adrenaline rush of public speaking or if it was because seeing her face rattled him to his core.

"I finally did it," Cody exhaled sharply as the taxi doors closed, Marlowe at his side. She was smiling, proud of his endeavors. A happy Marlowe meant it was a good day.

"I really enjoy seeing you put effort into your work, Mayor Cody. It's not all that bad, is it?"

"I guess it's not so bad…" he mused, leaning to look out the window. "Gotta admit though - more often than not, I have no idea what the hell I'm doin'."

"Your instincts got you this far," Marlowe said, appreciative of his hairline crack of vulnerability. "I don't think you're wrong to trust them."

Cody almost couldn't stand how supportive everyone had been toward him lately. After being in prison for so long…he didn't think it was possible. He was certain everyone would have forgotten about him and moved on with their lives - but they proved to him daily that couldn't be further from the truth.

"Y'know Maisie…there's no way I could do any of this without you," Cody turned to her in a moment of unprompted gratitude, a rare, uncontrolled smile lighting up his face with a sort of youthfulness that had been absent for a long time. "Thank you."

"Of course," she smiled back - it wasn't often she witnessed the genuine "Cody" grin - he seemed to have mastered his mayor persona with the general public, so it was nice to see his true self break through from time to time. Each time it happened, she noticed that he was closer and closer to running in his vision instead of what he thought was supposed to be. "That's why I'm here."

Marlowe could tell that the man had plenty on his mind despite his clear win for the people today. He had been going on and on about how he couldn't wait for this unveiling to be over because of how much he dreaded going up on that podium. But each time he had to speak, he made it seem so effortless - all he needed was the push and the practice.

This time, however, she could sense that something was still bugging him at his core. He'd normally recommend they take a minute to grab a celebratory bite at one of the newest restaurants, and maybe get some photo ops out of the way, but seemed like food wasn't his priority at the moment. The mayor seemed to be deep in thought as he turned back to look out the window, staring off into nothing in particular. The tension in his brow was evident as he rested his chin on his fist, unfocused eyes gazing out the window.

"I saw the way you were looking at Jessica earlier," Marlowe suggested, making him feel a little less deluded. So she was here.

"It was nothin', Maisie."

"Oh, I'm so sure…"

His heart hammered mercilessly at the mere mention of her name. It wasn't nothing.