Disclaimer: I don't own the Avengers or any Marvel Character. I only own my OCs.
Arc 1: Shadow's Past
Days Later - Chicago, Illinois
A couple of days had passed since that eventful day that saw Lucas facing Altha and Graxx in a battle that seemingly led to several news articles being posted about him and the fact that they were others like him. Questions regarding if he was sent to Earth as a scout that told these alien intruders to come here. Many reports were painting him as a potential threat to the people of Earth, a being with unknown intentions and powers beyond human comprehension.
The scrutiny and suspicion from the media and public weighed heavily on Lucas as he tried to navigate this new reality. Despite his efforts to protect Earth and its inhabitants, he found himself facing a different kind of battle—one that involved defending his own reputation and proving that he was not a danger to those he sought to protect.
And rather than deal with these accusations, he had spent the past two days "relaxing" with Allison, a weekend away if you will. This meant there were now just 12 days left to prepare for Corvok and his forces and while there was a part of him telling him to focus on the threat that loomed, he had some personal affairs to take care of first. He had spent some time on his hero side, now it was time to spend some time on his personal side and deal with the messes made in his personal life.
This brought him to the exact moment where he stood in Allison's kitchen shirtless in his underwear with his ring on his pinky making breakfast for Allison. He stood at the stove with a spatula making eggs and bacon for her kinda as his parting gift, he had stayed with her for the past two days and now he had to go home and patch things up with his best friend.
He heard her footsteps in the distance thanks to his super hearing, making a small smile tug on the corners of his mouth, she came from behind leaning on her tippy toes placing a kiss on the nape of his neck.
"Good morning," he said as he turned around and locked his gaze upon hers, wrapping his arms around her waist pulling her gently into his embrace.
"Good morning mister," she said in a sultry-almost seductive tone as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"How did you sleep?" he asked, earning a giggle from her.
"I think you know the answer to that question, I didn't get a whole lot of it because of you," she said as a small smile came onto her mug. He chuckled as he kept his gaze set upon hers. Being with Allison made him exhibit a new sense of confidence that he normally didn't have or a confidence that only really had when he was him, his hero side.
"Well, I didn't hear any complaining last night," he joked, making her chuckle. She leaned up and gave him a peck on the lips before she walked over to her cupboard to grab two cups for coffee.
"So do you make breakfast for all the girls you sleep with?" she said, pouring their cups, catching him off guard as he turned towards her looking on with a face as red as a tomato.
"Uh-Uh-N-N-No, I-I normally don't do this," he replied as she giggled.
"So they have been others in the past?" she asked with a raised brow still giggling. His face still a shade of red as he grabbed a plate from her cabinets and started to fix her food.
"W-Why are we on the topic of my past encounters with women?" he asked, trying to displace the nervousness he felt talking about this. He walked over to the fridge and grabbed the creamer, grabbing the sugar container off the counter. He
and poured some in both of their cups.
"Because I'm curious, I wanna know who had you before me," she said as she shifted the cups towards him for him to pour sugar and creamer in their perspective cups.
Lucas finally looked up, his eyes locking onto hers as his nervousness gave way to sincerity.
"Honestly? No one had me like this. No one ever made me feel like you do."
Her smile softened as she took a sip of her coffee, clearly pleased with his answer. "Good answer," she said as he chuckled, shaking his head.
"You saved yourself from me having to interrogate Madison for answers," she said as she took a bite of the eggs as he took a deep breath and walked over to the bathroom to get ready for work and such.
!-!-!-!
Lucas was now back at work looking down at a piece of paper with a pair of glasses on his face sporting a blue button-up with the sleeves rolled up and black slacks and dress shoes. The light from the sun shone through the window as he stood near the window, the view of the city in the background.
Between being the hero that he was, working with the Avengers and SHIELD, his relationship with Allison, his friendship with Madison and this job, his life was a whirlwind of responsibilities and challenges.
As he scanned the document in front of him, his mind raced with thoughts of the recent events that had unfolded. The battles he had fought against his own kind, people that he didn't even know existed. The unveiling of this threat and the fact that they viewed Earth is a possible conquest. He was supposed to sit here and act normal while a threat loomed over. A threat that could level the world if the Avengers couldn't stop them.
Lucas was pulled out of his daze when he heard the door open, he looked up from the page to the doorway to see his secretary, Amelia walking into his office.
"Mr. Haynes, your reservation has been set at Roanoke for 1 PM and you have a meeting with the team at 3 PM," Amelia said, going over the details with Lucas.
Lucas nodded, grateful for Amelia's efficiency. "Thank you, Amelia. Did the bouquet get delivered at the Tribune?"
"Not yet sir but they are on the way," Amelia nodded as Lucas took a deep breath and smiled.
"C-Can I ask you a question?" he questioned, his voice tinged with a hint of uncertainty.
Amelia, sensing his unease, offered a warm smile. "Of course, Mr. Haynes. What's on your mind?"
Lucas hesitated for a moment, "Let's say you had a friend and he was a guy. And he knew he messed up big time so he sent flowers to your job as an apology and offered to take you to lunch at this place that you've been dying to try. Would you take that as an honest apology?" He asked and this was referring to his current situation with Madison, he was trying his best to apologize to her.
Amelia's eyes twinkled with understanding as she considered Lucas's question. She paused for a moment, choosing her words carefully before responding.
"Mr. Haynes, gestures like that can certainly convey sincerity and a genuine desire to make amends. Sending flowers and offering to take someone to a place they've been wanting to try can be a thoughtful way to express remorse and show that you value the relationship. It indicates that the person is willing to put in effort to make things right," she explained softly.
Lucas nodded, absorbing her words. "I see. Thank you, Amelia."
"Of course," Amelia was preparing to turn around and leave but Lucas called out to her, making him turn back around to peek into the office, "yes?"
"You can drop the Mr. Haynes, it's just Lucas. And why didn't you just use the phone to tell me all this?" he asked with a raised brow as curiosity had gotten the best of him while he took a seat on the corner of his desk.
"Well if I never got up, to tell you, I would've never gotten this view," she said as she eyed him up and down, biting her lip suggestively before she exited the office. Lucas scoffed and shook his head. His focus was cut when he heard sirens in the distance.
He turned his head in the direction of the sound and squinted his eyes focusing his abilities to help him. The sirens grew louder in his ears as he honed in on the source of the commotion.
With his hearing, Lucas could distinguish the different sounds - emergency vehicles approaching, people shouting, and the distinct hum of something unfamiliar. He zoomed in on the area of concern, scanning for any signs of danger or disturbance. As the cityscape came into focus through his enhanced vision, Lucas's heart skipped a beat as he caught sight of a building on fire over on North Wells Street.
This was something that he had to handle. Not as Lucas but as him. He took off his glasses and sat them down on his desk as he walked out of the office.
"Amelia, I'm stepping out, hold my calls until I get back please," Lucas said as he continued walking towards the elevators not stepping to hear a reply.
!-!-!-!
Allison walked back to her desk in the bullpen of the Chicago Tribune with a huge smile that couldn't be wiped away. Ever since this morning with Lucas, she had been all smiles, walking with an extra pep in her step. This even translated into her chosen outfit for today, a pink pantsuit with a skirt that just stopped above her knees with a white blouse underneath with her hair straightened, a shade of lipstick to match her pantsuit and white heels.
She walked towards her desk and took a seat with her cup of coffee in hand. She was supposed to be working on a story about the recent battles in Chicago against the likes of the vigilante and individuals with powers just like him but her mind kept racing back to Lucas.
"Wow, who's got you smiling like that?" Madison said, looking over at Allison with a raised brow. Deep down Madison knew she just wanted Allison to confirm her suspicions.
"That tall, dark and handsome friend of years, he spent the past two days at my place," Allison said with a wide toothy grin as Madison nodded her head, biting her lips, creasing her nose. A sign that something was bothering her and that she was trying to fight back the urge to say something.
"Wow, he stopped by your place but didn't even think to check in on me at all," Madison said under her breath thinking she was speaking in a hushed tone but earned a look from Allison who looked up from her desk, her expression a mix of amusement and curiosity. Madison was a little jealous not because of the fact that they were a couple it was the fact that it seemed like Lucas wasn't making any time for her but was making time for this new woman, someone who wasn't as close as they were.
"Madison, he's been going through a lot lately. You know how it is with his work and everything," Allison replied, her voice gentle yet firm, trying to offer an explanation for Lucas's actions.
Madison scoffed as she rolled her eyes before Allison could say anything. A man wearing a postal service outfit came walking in with a bouquet of Pink Peonies in his hands. Everyone in the bullpen had their eyes peeled as this mailman made a beeline to the two partners.
"Excuse me, do either of you know where I can find Madison Reyes?" he asked as Allison simply said nothing but looked on with a puzzled look as she pointed to Madison. The mailman turned to Madison and laid the bouquet on her desk, "Sign here, please."
Madison obliged and signed the document as Allison looked on with a hint of jealousy. The mailman nodded and turned around and started to walk away leaving the two ladies alone. Madison picked up the bouquet and sniffed them before looking at the label. The label read Lucas making her roll her eyes before she chucked it in the trash earning a puzzled frown from Allison.
"Why'd you do that?" Allison questioned.
"Because it was just a cheap ploy by him to try to get me to forgive him instead of him actually coming down here and saying to my face and dealing with our problems. If it was genuine, he'd come down here and bring them personally," Madison said as she logged into her computer trying to shift her mind from dealing with it and just simply focus on her work.
Allison stood up and walked over to the trash that those flowers were just chucked into and grabbed the note, turning it over and reading the message
"But he sent you these flowers because he genuinely wants to try to fix things and look, he even made reservations at a restaurant for you two to have lunch and chat it out," Allison said as Madison took the note from her reading it and shrugged her shoulders before throwing it back in the trash. The restaurant was Roanoke, a place that Madison had told him she wanted to try. And she thought he wasn't listening but it was clear that she was.
"Still stands to reason that if he truly wanted to make things right, he would have spoken to me directly," Madison replied, her tone reflecting a mix of frustration and hurt. She couldn't shake off the feeling of being overlooked and sidelined in favor of gestures that seemed superficial to her.
Allison sighed as she shook her head, "You should feel happy and grateful that he's doing all this for you whether you believe it's superficial or not."
"Oh please just cause you're the one sleeping with him right now doesn't mean you get to tell me how to feel about him," Madison said with a frown. It took a few seconds before she realized exactly what she said. She let her intrusive thoughts get the best of her and said what she was thinking in her head and what she knew she shouldn't have said. Allison was seeing her best friend that was it and she should be okay with that considering that she and Lucas were just friends but what she just said made it clear that was a part of her that was upset about it.
"Wow," Allison said in a hushed tone almost as if someone had punched her directly in the gut, "Telling me how you really feel huh?"
"Ally, I didn't me-" Madison was saying as Allison walked towards her desk and grabbed her purse.
"No, you meant it. Otherwise you wouldn't have said it, I'm gonna run and check out a few leads," Allison said leaving without giving Madison time to say another word, Madison stood up and watched her walk away with a defeated look on her face. She looked around the bullpen seeing some of her co-workers look in her direction. Madison took a deep breath and ran a hand through her hair.
!-!-!-!
Lucas now in his heroic persona donning the cape emerged from the building on North Wells Street that was previously on fire holding a little girl who he had just rescued from the fire. The little girl clung tightly to his neck as he floated down with her in his arms, tears out of fear were streaming down her face.
"It's okay, I got you now," Lucas reassured the little girl with a warm smile, his voice calm and reassuring amidst the chaos of the scene. The girl, still trembling from the ordeal, buried her face into his shoulder, finding solace in his comforting presence.
Once his feet gently hit the pavement, the first responders rushed forward with a stretcher, ready to take over and ensure the girl received any necessary medical attention as the woman that he was guessing was her mother followed behind, tears streaming down her face.
"These men are gonna help you now, you're safe now," Lucas said reassuring her as he sat her down on the stretcher. The first responders swiftly took over, attending to her needs with professionalism and care. The woman, who Lucas guessed was her mother, approached him with tear-filled eyes, gratitude shining through the worry etched on her face.
"Thank you, thank you so much," the woman whispered, her voice trembling with emotion as she reached out to grasp Lucas' hand. He met her gaze with a reassuring smile, his eyes reflecting a deep sense of compassion and understanding.
"I just wanted to help," Lucas replied, his voice filled with sincerity. He then turned his attention back to the little girl, who was now being comforted by the paramedics, a sense of relief washing over her tear-stained face.
As the emergency responders continued their work, Lucas took a step back, allowing them the space they needed to do their jobs effectively. He turned back to the building seeing the firefighters doing their jobs of fighting the fire.
The face contorted to a small frown as he had just remembered his lunch with Madison.
"Excuse me," he said as he waltzed over to a nearby police officer who was seemingly mesmerized by the heroic aura that was seemingly around him, the officer nodded as Lucas looked at with a friendly smile.
"Do you have the time?" he asked, her eyebrow furrowed in confusion at such a question marked with simplicity amidst the chaos of the scene.
The officer, taken aback for a moment by the unexpected query, quickly glanced at her watch and replied, "It's almost 1:00 in the afternoon, sir."
Lucas nodded in acknowledgment, a slight frown crossing his face as he realized his lunch with Madison was about to start and was actually supposed to start at 1 PM and while he wanted to stay here and continue to help out and try to put the fire out but he had to go. He was already in the hot seat with Madison and if he was late or missed this lunch that was a chance that the hot seat could get even hotter and ruin his relationship with her completely and Madison was something that he couldn't dare lose. He wouldn't lose.
"Thank you," Lucas said with a grateful smile before turning back to the officer. "I appreciate your help. Please let everyone know that they're doing a great job here."
Lucas blasted off into the sky with a loud pop as the officer and other bystanders looked up amazed as the hero just flew off into the distance.
!-!-!-!
As the Chicago based vigilante flew off into the sky, his heroic performance was watched by the billionaire Silas Mercer in his office clad in his three-piece charcoal grey Tom Ford suit. Videos of his past few battles against the beings who had power just like him and the videos of his past saves, all displayed on holographic screens. Silas stood there with a frown as he folded his arms.
Silas heard knocking at the door making him turn his head as in walked his right hand man or right hand woman per-se, Ms. Eveleyn "Eve" Voss. Evelyn Voss, a caucasian woman standing tall, possibly at 5'10 or 5'11 with sleek, jet black hair combed back into a tight bun, not a single strand hanging loose. Her eyes were an ice blue color, sharps and always calculating just like her. Her lean and athletic build was held behind a sleeveless black dress with ankle-high black wedge boots.
"I thought I said no interruptions," Silas said as he peeked over his shoulder a huff of annoyance in his voice.
"That was directed towards your assistant, not your Chief of Operations and Head of Security," Eve said, walking in with a smirk on her lips with a tablet in her hands, "I see you're watching film on him again."
She walked towards his desk, setting the tablet on the desk and proceeding to fix herself a glass of scotch. She took a sip as she waltzed over standing next to Silas who looked on with a calculated frown, studying the videos of the hero.
"You know what my father used to say Ms. Voss," Silas said, not taking his eyes off the holograms and reached over to take the glass from Evelyn and raised the glass of scotch to his lips making her roll her eyes.
"No but I've been around you long enough to know you're gonna tell me regardless," She said, folding her arms.
"My father used to say. Watch your enemies closely, at times when you least expect it they'll roll over and show you their belly and when they do, you make sure to strike with enough strength that put the fear of god in them and then you don't stop till they beg for mercy. He was a terrible father but a brillant, cut-throat businessman but he doesn't compare to me on my worst day," Silas said, reminiscing about his father, Dominic "Dom" Mercer. The two had a terrible relationship but Silas had learned alot from his father on how to dominate and how to be feared. And just how important it was to be able to play the media.
"These heroes think they're untouchable," Silas continued, his voice filled with venom as his gaze lingered on the holographic footage before him, "They parade around, flaunting their power as if they're gods among men. But gods, Ms. Voss, can bleed. And when they bleed, they fall."
Eve took another measured sip of her scotch, her icy blue eyes flickering to the screens. "And what's your plan to make this particular 'god' bleed, Mr. Mercer? Or are we still in the 'watching and brooding' phase of your grand strategy?"
Silas turned his sharp gaze to her, his lips curling into a small, humorless smile. "Patience, Ms. Voss. The key to dismantling someone like him is to understand what makes him tick—his strengths, his weaknesses, his vulnerabilities." He gestured to the screens, where a slowed-down clip of his latest fight against the threat he faced in the city the other day played, "Every god has a flaw, Ms. Voss. We just haven't found his yet."
Eve tilted her head, stepping closer to the holographic display. Her fingers hovered over the controls, zooming in on his face, his expression one of determination and grit. "It's not just his powers that set him apart. It's his image, his symbolism. People don't just see a hero when they look at him; they see an ideal. That's harder to break than steel or invulnerability."
"Which is why we'll tear it down piece by piece," Silas replied, his voice cold and calculated. He downed the rest of the scotch and placed the glass on the desk with a sharp clink. "I've already begun preparations. A collaboration between AIM and myself, a little something I like to call 'Project Seraph'—will make sure that this vigilante isn't the one saving this city anymore."
Eve raised an eyebrow. "And what exactly is 'Project Seraph'? Or is this one of those moments where you keep me in suspense until the last possible second?"
Silas smirked, the corners of his mouth twisting into something sinister. "Patience, Ms. Voss," he echoed her earlier words. "Let's just say it's a technological leap forward. Something that will remind the world who really holds the power. Not aliens, not heroes—humans. Me."
Eve's calculating eyes narrowed as she studied her boss. She leaned against the desk, her posture relaxed but her voice laced with caution. "Ambitious as always. But if you're planning to challenge him, you better be sure this 'Project Seraph' delivers. The last thing we need is another public relations disaster. The media might worship you now, but they can turn on a dime."
Silas chuckled darkly. "Ms. Voss, the media is a tool, just like everything else. And tools are only as effective as the person wielding them. Let him keep playing savior. By the time I'm done, he'll be a relic of the past—a fading star outshined by the true visionary of this city. No,the true visionary of the world."
Eve smirked, raising her glass in a mock toast. "To the visionary, then. Let's hope your plan is as flawless as your tailoring."
Silas turned back to the screens, his eyes burning with determination. "Oh, it will be. Mark my words, Ms. Voss. his reign will end, and when it does, the world will finally see Silas Mercer for what he truly is: the most powerful man in history."
As the holographic images of the caped hero continued to play, Eve watched her employer in silence, her expression unreadable.
!-!-!-!
Lucas landed a few blocks away from the restaurant just to give himself enough time to change back into his normal get-up and collect his thoughts. This was his first time seeing her in days, his first time alone with his best friend in forever and while there was a huge part of him that was nervous, there was a part of him that yearned to fix this and get back to the way things used to be with her.
He walked into the restaurant and walked towards the hostess booth, his heart pounding with a mix of excitement and apprehension. As he approached, the hostess looked up with a warm smile.
"Good afternoon, sir. How many in your party?" she asked, her voice friendly and welcoming.
"I have a reservation actually. Should be under Haynes," Lucas replied, his voice calm despite the whirlwind of emotions stirring within him.
The hostess nodded and quickly checked her reservation list before looking back up with a smile. "Ah, yes, Mr. Haynes. Right this way, please. The woman joining you is already here."
Lucas took a deep breath as he felt his nerves hit him, he ran a hand through his hair feeling nervous about the lunch with Madison.
Lucas followed the hostess through the restaurant, weaving past tables filled with lively conversations and the clinking of silverware. The atmosphere was cozy yet vibrant, but none of it eased the tension coiling in his chest. As they approached the table, his gaze landed on Madison.
She was seated near a window, her fingers idly tapping the rim of a glass of water. Dressed in a sleek burgundy blouse and dark jeans, she looked as composed as ever—except for the subtle furrow in her brow. Her eyes, sharp and unmistakably upset, flicked up to meet his as the hostess gestured toward the table.
"Your guest has arrived," the hostess said before leaving them alone.
"Madison," Lucas greeted softly, his tone carrying a mix of warmth and trepidation as he slid into the seat across from her.
"Lucas," she replied, her voice curt and her lips pressing into a thin line. She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. He knew that this was not going to be easy. She was calling him his actual name and not "Lucky". Coupled with the fact that Madison no doubt told her that he had spent the night at her place for a couple of nights and factor in the unresolved problems from the other idea, Madison felt like Lucas was hiding something from her, that he wasn't being completely honest and that was the truth. He was hiding a lot from her and no matter how much a part of him wanted to tell her, the other part of him knew he couldn't.
You're late."
Lucas winced. "I know. I'm sorry. There was…a lot going on."
Madison let out a dry laugh, shaking her head. "There's always a lot going on with you, isn't there? That's kind of the problem."
He exhaled, running a hand through his hair as the thoughts circulated on what to say to fix this or try to fix this.
"I've been distant lately, I know. You feel like I haven't been there for you and you're right, I haven't. And for that I'm sorry. But I really wanted to see you today—to talk, to explain."
"Explain what, Lucas?" she snapped, her voice rising slightly before she caught herself and lowered it again. "Explain why you've been ghosting me? Or why you've been acting like you're carrying the weight of the world but won't let anyone, especially me, help you? On why you shut me out but let Allison in?"
Lucas looked down at the table, guilt tightening his chest. She wasn't wrong. "I didn't mean to shut you out, Maddie. I just… I've been dealing with things. Things I can't even begin to explain. It's not because I don't trust you. And as far as Allison, I-I-I didn't expect us to get as close as we did."
"That's the thing whether you meant to, or you didn't, you made me feel like you replaced me. You replaced me with her. We've been best friends since we were kids, Lucas. Yet you make me feel like a stranger."
Lucas felt the sting of her words, his chest tightening under the weight of her frustration. He opened his mouth to respond, but Madison wasn't done. Her voice rose, firm but laced with hurt, as the floodgates opened.
"I mean, do you even realize what you've done?" she continued, her eyes sharp and unrelenting. "You spend all this time with Allison, telling her things, confiding in her. And me? The person who's been by your side through everything? Suddenly, I'm just… someone you used to know."
"It's not like that, Maddie," Lucas said quickly, his voice strained. "Allison—"
"Allison what, Lucas?" Madison shot back, leaning forward, her tone cutting through his excuse. "She's just easier to talk to? Easier to be around? Because that's how it feels. Like you didn't even bother trying with me."
Lucas opened his mouth to protest, but he couldn't find the words. She wasn't entirely wrong. He hadn't tried—not the way he should have.
"You've been shutting me out for a while now," Madison continued, her voice cracking slightly before she steadied herself. "And I've tried to be patient, I really have. I've given you space, let you have your time. But Lucas, I can't keep pretending everything's okay when it's not. You're not okay, and you won't even let me help you."
"I didn't mean to shut you out," Lucas said quietly, his hands clenched together on the table. "I just… I've been dealing with things, Maddie. Things I can't explain, not yet."
Madison let out a sharp, bitter laugh. "There it is. The same excuse, over and over again. 'I can't explain.' 'I can't tell you.' Do you even realize how exhausting it is to hear that? How insulting it is that you think I can't handle whatever's going on with you?"
"It's not about you not being able to handle it," Lucas said, his voice rising slightly before he reined it in. "It's about me not knowing how to—how to say it."
Madison's eyes narrowed. "Then try. Because right now, it feels like you don't trust me. Like I'm not good enough to know whatever big secret you're hiding."
"That's not true," Lucas said, his voice firm. "You're the person I trust most in this world, Maddie. But there are things about me… things I can't just say without—without it changing everything."
"Everything's already changed, Lucas!" Madison exclaimed, her frustration boiling over. "You think I don't notice how distant you've been? How you're always distracted, always disappearing? And then there's Allison—"
Lucas flinched at the mention of her name. "That's not what you think."
"Then what is it?" Madison pressed, her voice quieter but no less intense. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you replaced me. That's how it feels, Lucas. Like I wasn't enough for you anymore, so you found someone else."
The accusation hit him like a punch to the gut. He shook his head, his voice soft but desperate. "You're wrong, Maddie. You've always been enough. You've been more than enough."
"Then why didn't you come to me?" she asked, her voice breaking slightly as she looked at him. "Why didn't you let me in?"
Lucas didn't have an answer—at least, not one he could give her. The truth was too big, too complicated. It wasn't just about his powers or his alien heritage. It was about what it would mean for her, for them, if she knew. He was terrified of losing her, and in his fear, he'd driven her away anyway.
"I thought I was protecting you," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper.
Madison stared at him, her expression a mix of anger and disbelief. "Protecting me from what? From you? Lucas, I don't need you to protect me. I need you to trust me. But if you can't do that, then maybe I don't know you as well as I thought I did."
Her words cut deeper than anything he'd felt before, and for a moment, all he could do was sit there, helpless and ashamed. He wanted to tell her the truth, to explain everything, but the words caught in his throat. How could he tell her he wasn't who she thought he was? How could he risk losing her completely?
"Madison," he began, his voice pleading. "I don't want to lose you."
"Then stop pushing me away," she said simply, her tone softer now but no less resolute. "Because I can't keep doing this, Lucas. I can't keep fighting for someone who won't fight for me."
With that, she stood, grabbing her purse. Lucas reached out instinctively, but she stepped back, shaking her head. "When you're ready to be honest with me—really honest—then we can talk. Until then… I don't know what else to say. I felt closer to you when you were gone than with you being here."
She walked away, leaving Lucas sitting alone at the table, the weight of her words pressing down on him like a crushing tide.
!-!-!-!
Lucas came descending down from the sky rather quickly towards a cemetery in Fredericksburg, Texas. In his grasp were a bouquet of lilies, one of her favorite flowers, something that always reminded him of her. He stood in his suit as he walked towards her grave. Her tombstone read her name, Evelyn Margaret Haynes, November 5th, 1950 to January 21st, 2012.
Her death still hit him like a ton of bricks. Her death sent him in a bit of a dark path, he sent himself into a self-exile for years in South America. He spent this time away from everyone spending years alone trying to wrap his head around how he couldn't save her. Her death was a lesson that rocked him to his very core and it was a lesson he still struggles with today, that lesson being that you can't save everyone.
He hated that she had to be one to teach him. It was because of her that he was the man he was today. It was because of her that he was even a hero at all. She designed his suit, she spent time with him to make sure he knew how to control his powers, she made sure to instill things like compassion, empathy and a strong moral compass within him. Evelyn Haynes wasn't just his adoptive mother; she was his guiding star, the person who taught him to use his abilities for more than just himself.
Lucas knelt before the gravestone, placing the lilies gently against the base. The cold wind whispered through the cemetery, rustling the leaves of nearby trees as if nature itself mourned with him. He brushed his fingers over the carved letters of her name, his jaw tightening.
"I miss you every day," he murmured, his voice barely audible over the breeze. "I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you. You saw something in me when I didn't even know who I was—what I was."
His mind flashed back to countless nights in the living room, Evelyn sitting beside him with that warm, patient smile. She would talk him through his fears and uncertainties, encouraging him to see the good in himself even when the world felt too heavy.
"You believed I could be a hero, even when I didn't believe it myself," Lucas continued, his voice cracking slightly. "But I couldn't save you. I couldn't even… say goodbye."
His head dropped, and he closed his eyes, the weight of guilt and grief pressing down on him. For years, he had carried this burden, a constant reminder of his limits. No matter how powerful he was, he couldn't stop time. He couldn't protect everyone.
"But I'm trying," he said softly, his gaze lifting to meet the sky. "I'm trying to live up to the man you thought I could be. To honor you. To make you proud."
A single tear slipped down his cheek, and he quickly wiped it away, standing tall once more. He let out a deep breath and glanced around the quiet cemetery, feeling a strange sense of peace settle over him.
"I love you mom, forever and always," he whispered before he bolted up into the air, flying off in the distance.
!-!-!-!
Lucas now floated outside of Madison's apartment in his suit, white cape flapping in the wind as he slowly lowered down eyes glued to the woman that was inside the apartment on her laptop with a frown on her face, fingers constantly tapping on the keyboard. His eyes scanned over her, seeing her with a clear-face, free of any make-up with her hair up in a messy bun, an olive-green tank-top with black sweats. This brought a small smile on his face momentarily but that smile faded once he thought about everything that transpired with the two.
He was in a bit of a touch spot, he could tell her everything and he meant everything: who he was, his alien heritage, his powers, Corvok and his forces. He could tell her everything just clear the air right now between them and maybe have their friendship return back to what it was before. Or he could continue to keep the secret he had been keeping for the longest, not tell her and keep his secret safe and run the risk of ultimately having his relationship with Madison strained beyond possible repair.
Lucas' train of thought was cut off when he looked up seeing that Madison had locked her gaze upon him. Lucas silently cursed as he shook his head before landing on the fire escape of her building. Madison quickly placed her laptop on the couch beside her and grabbed her zip-up jacket and walked towards her fire escape, amazed by the sight before her.
It was him. It was the vigilante that she had been tracking for years. The vigilante who inspired her to establish her own blog. She couldn't believe that he was here standing on her fire escape. She stepped outside onto the fire escape pulling the jacket over her exposed shoulders. Standing in front of him, she could tell he was tall, at least 6'3 or 6'4. Her eyes found his staring into his hazel eyes, taking note of his slick backed hair. Looking at him, he kinda reminded her of Lucas but she was so angry with him she'd rather push any thought of him to the back of her mind. His lips curled into a small smile giving her a view of the pearly whites he possessed and with a million dollar smile like this, she could tell he was something. He was almost like an angel that was sent down to them. Sure the Earth had heroes like the Avengers, the Fantastic Four and even the X-Men but he felt different.
"It's you," she said almost as the breath had left her body, "you saved me weeks ago, I never got to thank you."
Lucas's smile softened as he looked at her, taking in the awe in her expression. There was something humbling about seeing her like this—Madison, always so composed and sharp, now standing in front of him with wide eyes and a sense of wonder that he hadn't seen in years. She wasn't looking at him as Lucas, the man she had every right to be furious with. She was looking at him as the vigilante she admired.
"You don't have to thank me," he replied, his voice deep but gentle, carrying a calm confidence he didn't always feel. "I was just doing what needed to be done."
Madison blinked, her breath hitching as the wind picked up around them. Her fingers clutched the edges of her jacket as she took a step closer, her gaze never leaving his. "No, I do need to thank you. You saved my life that night. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be standing here." She hesitated, her voice faltering as she admitted, "I've been wanting to find you ever since."
Lucas's brows lifted slightly, and he tilted his head. "You've been looking for me?"
She nodded, a faint flush creeping up her cheeks. "For years, actually. You've been this mystery that no one can figure out—who you are, where you came from, why you're doing this. But after that night… when you saved me… it became more than just a story. It became personal."
Her words hit him harder than he expected. In the past few days, the world had seen him more as a symbol or an ideal as opposed to a man, but Madison was talking about him like he was a person. Someone who mattered.
"I don't do this for recognition," he said after a beat, his voice quieter. "I do it because I can. Because someone has to. The Avengers have their hands full, I just wanted to lend a helping hand."
Her lips parted slightly, her gaze softening as she studied him. "Still, it means something. To me. To the city. To people who need a hero." Her voice wavered slightly, and she looked down, almost as if she was embarrassed. "Sometimes… I think you're the only one keeping this city from falling apart."
Lucas's chest tightened at her words. It was moments like this that reminded him why he kept going, why he put on the suit and stood in front of danger. But it also reminded him of the growing chasm between who he was as the vigilante and who he was to her as Lucas.
"Hope, Truth and Justice" he repeated softly, his hazel eyes locking onto hers. "That's the real power, isn't it? It's what keeps people moving forward." He hesitated, the weight of the secret he carried pressing down on him. "But sometimes, even I wonder if it's enough."
Madison tilted her head, a faint frown pulling at her lips. "You're not alone," she said, her voice steady. "You might think you are, but you're not. People believe in you. I believe in you."
Lucas looked away for a moment, a flicker of vulnerability crossing his face before he composed himself again. "That means more than you know," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "And if you ever need anything… I'll be there, Madison, always."
Madison's heart skipped a beat at the sincerity in his words. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to him than what he was letting on—something human, something familiar. But for now, she pushed the thought aside and simply nodded.
"Thank you," she said softly, her voice laced with genuine gratitude.
Lucas gave her a small smile, the kind that felt like it was just for her, before stepping back toward the edge of the fire escape. "Take care, Madison," he said, his cape fluttering behind him as he leapt into the air and disappeared into the night sky.
Madison stood there for a long moment, staring after him, her mind racing a million miles per hour, a small smile crept on her lips.
She raced back inside and took a seat on the couch. Immediately reaching for her laptop and placing it on her lap.
He was unlike anyone she had ever met. The way he spoke, the calm authority in his voice, the unshakable determination in his eyes—it was inspiring. But more than that, it was the vulnerability she sensed beneath the surface that struck her. Whoever he was, he carried the weight of something immense, and yet he still stood tall for others. For her.
She exhaled and began to type her article, Paragon of Hope.
Paragon of Hope
By Madison Reyes
Last night, I had the extraordinary privilege of standing face-to-face with the mysterious vigilante who has been protecting our city for years. For the longest time, he has been an enigma, a shadow who emerges only in times of crisis before disappearing into the night. No one knows his name, where he comes from, or why he has chosen to fight for us.
But what I saw in him was more than just a masked hero. I saw someone who embodies the very essence of what it means to protect, to inspire, to hope.
He doesn't fight for fame or recognition. He doesn't fight because he has to. He fights because he can. And in doing so, he gives this city something it desperately needs: the belief that no matter how dark the night may seem, there will always be someone willing to light the way.
It's why I believe it's time we stop referring to him as "the vigilante" or "the shadow." He deserves a name that reflects what he truly stands for.
A paragon is defined as someone who is a model of excellence or perfection. While none of us are perfect, he has proven time and again that he is willing to rise above the chaos and be a symbol of what we can all strive to become.
From this day forward, I will call him Paragon.
!-!-!-!
Lucas floated above the city skyline, his cape fluttering in the gentle night breeze. The words of Madison Reyes echoed in his mind, resonating deeper than he'd expected. "A symbol of what we can all strive to become…"
For so long, he'd wondered if his efforts made a difference—if anyone even noticed the sacrifices, the risks, or the weight he carried alone. But now, Madison had shown him the truth. He wasn't just fighting battles; he was inspiring people, giving them hope in the face of despair.
A smile slowly curved on his lips, a rare and genuine expression of gratitude. For the first time in a long time, he felt a sense of purpose—a certainty that he wasn't just a shadow in the night. He was making an impact, and that realization filled him with renewed resolve.
He turned his gaze toward the glowing city below, scanning the horizon. The Avengers needed him. Corvok was still out there, and the fight was far from over. But now, Lucas wasn't just fighting to defeat him and protect the Earth. He was fighting to live up to the name that Madison had given him.
He bolted through the air, his silhouette streaking across the night sky like a comet. He was no longer just a protector. He was a symbol. He was Paragon.
So a few things happened in this Chapter for one Lucas finally gained his name as Paragon. We got more of Madison and Allison in this chapter and it seems as the Allison and Lucas's relationship progresses, the relationship with Madison and Lucas falters so we're gonna see how that unfolds in the next few chapters and we'll see Lucas meet the Avengers next chapter, so until next time.
