New York, Queens 

Olivia's Room

20:42

"Hey you're really good at this game, you know?" Olivia comments nudging Aaron with her elbow. They have been playing for almost half an hour, with Aaron clearing through the areas Olivia had trouble with, while they both had time to look into every little detail of the story and lore of the game. "Hehe you wanted the best, and you got the best!" He replies cheekily. "Oi don't you get cocky now…" She nudges him harder. "Say, so do your parents know you're down here?" Olivia once again tries to initiate a conversation, while Aaron clicks away on the gamepad. "Oh… my parents?" He asks while grimacing because the boss has him cornered. "Yeah, are they not here?" She presses on. "Tch, that damn boss…" Aaron clicks his tongue while the words "You're dead" appear on the monitor. He gives her a side glance and just by her stern gaze, he can tell there's no getting out of THAT question. "Well they always know whatever the hell I'm doing. Or perhaps they don't know a thing. It's a matter of perspective." Aaron vaguely answers while tapping the "Retry" button. "Oh… well I didn't quite get that but… okay." She chuckles lightly trying to lighten the mood. "The thing is… well, I lost both of my parents in a traffic accident 5 years ago. After that, it was just me and my older sister, but she has been working in another state for the last 6 months or so. And as a result poor old me is living alone, here in Queens." Aaron explains with a stern voice and a sad half-smile as he clicks away on the gamepad once again. Olivia, who has been looking wide-eyed at him during all this time, takes a few seconds to process all the new information. "I… I'm sorry. I should have gotten the hint but I'm kinda clueless when it comes to these things…" She finally replies with an apologetic smile and Aaron chuckles in a friendly manner. "Don't worry about it! Now you know the story of your mysterious neighbor!" He playfully admits as the clicking gets more intense. "Come on, you got him!" Olivia voices while glancing at the screen. "Come on you big fat-!"

"Yes that's it!"

"Holy fuck!"

"To the left! Dodge!"

"YEEES!!" Aaron semi yells while throwing his hands up in the air, Rocky-style. "We did it!" She replies in the same manner as they high-five in the air, looking straight into each other's eyes. It's not long after they realize and look away embarrassed. 

Why did you look away first?! Aaron you lamo… 

Keep it together girl!

"Sorry about that… it's the first time I got someone over to play games with me and I went kinda overboard there… Not to mention I only know you for half an hour and-" Olivia pauses before finishing her sentence. It was at this moment that it struck her. 

I just invited a guy over to my room, just because I was excited to play games!!! Damn you gamer spirit!! Not only did I ruin one of the "firsts" of my life but I'm gonna make him think I'm a total slut for bringing a guy over like that! OH GOD WHAT DID I DO?! 

While Olivia is short-circuiting and breathing heavily like a bull, Aaron remains completely startled for a moment. Did I do something wrong? "Ayo Olivia chill. You look like you're about to lunge at me…" He says chokingly, but that's enough to snap her out of her trance. "Just so you know I'm not like that, okay!? I was just super excited to play games with someone for the first time!" She says trying to salvage the situation and the misunderstanding. 

"Like that? What do you mean by that?" 

"Like a girl who invites strangers into her room… I'm not like that!"

"Well I never thought of you like that, so everything's cool, okay?"

"You didn't? Well if you didn't then I guess that's one matter settled!" Olivia tries to play it cool and hide her embarrassment. So it was all a misunderstanding for God's sake!! God I feel so stupid… 

"So you said it was the first time you played games with someone? How so? I mean you look like someone that would be popular at school, I don't know…" Aaron efficiently changes the subject. "Well I guess I'm kinda on the popular side but the girls in my circle don't really play games and I don't really talk to many guys soooo, there you have it.* Olivia explains while Aaron nods in understanding. "Well I don't know what-" "Oli sweety dinner's rea...dy." 

TALK ABOUT AWKWARD… 

*Gulp* Olivia's mum voices with a big pase in between. She just barged into the room and caught the two teenagers red-handed, while standing in shock behind the doorway. Aaron can only look awkwardly towards her…

"MUM DIDN'T I TELL YOU TO KNOCK!?" 

New York, Queens

Olivia's House

21:10

"We're sorry..." "We're sorry!" Both Aaron and Olivia say as they bow their heads apologetically.

"You could have just told me if you were bringing over a friend, darling! There's no need for you to hide him in your room!" Olivia's mum says as she flips over an extra omelete on the pan, while Aaron, Olivia and a little boy resembling Olivia are sitting at the dinner table. "I know I should have told you…" Olivia can only nod. "It's really okay though, you don't have to treat me to dinner!" Aaron tries to explain but is cat off by a glare. "Oh we will treat you to dinner, young man. It's the least we could do after the lack of hospitality Olivia showed you!" Her face softens as she explains. "Mum…" Olivia, on the other hand, tries to protest. 

"Thank you and sorry for the inconvenience then, Miss…" 

"You can call me Sarah, and if you hit it off with Oli you can even call me mum!" Suddenly Olivia chokes on her salad. "Muuum!" She protests yet again. "Haha, okay then miss Marshall it is then." Aaron replies with a light chuckle. "Here you go dear, now we can all eat!" She says while putting a piping hot omelet on the table in front of Aaron. "Jacky mind your manners please, we have a guest." Olivia's mum addresses her son, Olivia's little brother who fidgets with his food. "So your name is Jack, huh? I'm Aaron, nice to meet you!" Aaron quickly says with a smile. "Nice to meet you…" The little kid replies quite shyly. He's got short blonde hair, exactly like Olivia's and a pair of green eyes. "Oh dear, I forgot! Did you want to inform your parents before we started eating?" She asks and Aaron's face slightly falls. But he recovers quickly, giving her a smile. "Nah, it's okay. I leave alone anyway so there's no need." He simply shrugs. "Mum." Olivia nudges her but like mother, like daughter, she doesn't take the hint. "Oh dear! Are they working away? Aren't you too young to live alone?" She says with a concerned expression. "No my sister works in Chicago and my parents… well they died 5 years ago." He explains pinching his omelet while Miss Marshall's fork slips from her hands. "I'm so sorry Aaron! I- I should have been more sensitive…" She apologizes sincerely while Aaron shakes his head. "Nah it's okay don't worry about it. This food more than makes up for it!" He voices sincerely. "I tried to stop you but you wouldn't take the hint…" Olivia comments as she pinches her own omelet and silence falls upon the table. "So did you just move here?" Aaron tries to lighten the mood. "Yes, we had to move during the quarantine. Our house was too close to the incident and we figured that moving permanently would be better than just waiting it out. But thankfully we weren't caught up with any of the radiation since we were on vacation and all." Olivia's mum happily goes off about their story. Phew… bomb defused… "You've been here long, Aaron?" She turns to him right after finishing her piece. "No, not really. I moved here right after school was out for summer. I used to live a lot further from here." Aaron replies while sipping some water from his glass. "Really? I figured you knew each other from school! Will you switch High Schools as well then? I mean since you moved here and all." Miss Marshall asks while the teenager nods. "Yeah I'm enrolling into uhm… what was it again? I think Kew Gardens Hills Academy or something like that?" Aaron replies while Olivia chokes on her water this time around. "That's the same as Olivia's!" Olivia's mom though, happily announces while patting her daughter on the back. While on the other hand, the teenage girl is trying to catch her breath. "Well now let's eat! The food's getting cold." Miss Marshall voices and everyone nods. Everyone wastes no time, and Aaron  stuffs his mouth with a piece of omelete. "Is the omelet any good?" She asks while Aaron stares at his plate. It's been so long since I've tasted home cooking like that… mine isn't any good, but this…? I've missed this flavor… 

"Honestly... it's delicious, thank you so much!" Aaron replies while rushing everything to his mouth. In less than 10 minutes he's done eating. Was he really that hungry? Olivia looks at him perplexed. "Uhm can I use the bathroom for a bit?" Aaron asks while getting up. "Sure dear. It's down the hall to your left." 

"Thanks" He says, wasting no time. 

As he looks at himself through the mirror, he notices a tear escaping his eye. Why did this omelet remind me of my mother so much? Why does this taste feel so homely… so warm? 

Soon another year drips down his cheek but he quickly swipes it away with his wrist. After a good sniffle he washes his face and goes back to the living room. 

New York, Queens 

Olivia's House 

22:04

"....Again thank you so much for the food, Miss Marshall!" Aaron says as he is about to walk out the door. "Don't mention it sweetie! Oh and don't hesitate to come over anytime you want, okay?" Olivia's mum says with a sincere smile. "Really? Thank you so much, Miss Marshall!" The teenager replies with the same energy. "Now then, bye Miss Marshall! Jack it was nice meeting you! Oh and talk to you later Olivia!" And with that cheery salute, Aaron makes for his own apartment. "What a kind young man! Good job, Oli!" The always cheerful Miss Marshall notes, as soon as the door behind Aaron clicks. "For the 100th time today… Mum!!!" Olivia shakes her head after a long sigh. "He really is a good kid though. You can tell him to come over any time he wants, okay?" Olivia's mum notes yet again as her daughter nods. "I know. I also wouldn't wanna be living alone in an apartment in New York at this age…" The teenage girl mutters as she averts her gaze to her phone. "You exchanged contact information?" Her mom whispers. "...Yeah. We did." Olivia sighs instead of protesting for the umpteenth time. Instead of answering her mom smirks. "Mum! When's dad gonna come home?" Jack asks, while holding a superhero toy with a blue cape on his hand. "Hmmm… you're right sweetheart he's a little late… I'll call him now, maybe he's working overtime today too." Miss Marshall agrees and picks her phone up. "He isn't picking up… too much work maybe?" 

New York, Queens 

Aaron's Apartment

22:30

"Pheeewww… That trip surely was eventful…" Aaron lets out a content sigh as his back hits the mattress. "Miss Marshall was so kind… I've been blessed with good neighbors… And Olivia… should I text her?" He says and sits upright to his bed. "Nah… I should just play some PS and relax. I'll text her tomorrow maybe." 

*...Bzzzttt*

*...Bzzzzzttt*

"Hm? What's that?" Aaron turns to look at one of the gadgets Dr. Steinn gave him. Maybe more of an accessory than a gadget though. "Oh, the watch…" He says as he notices a red light blinking on and off on the watch face. He quickly reaches out but before he can touch it, the blinking and the sound stops. Soon after though, his phone starts to ring. "Anonymous caller? Uh-oh…" Aaron comments as he picks up the call.

"Hello?"

"Young soldier, it's me." 

"A-Agent Rodriguez?" 

"Correct."

"What's wrong?"

"It's time for your first mission."

"Whaaat? Already?"

"Affirmative. A number of criminals are wreaking havoc outside a big company. If you don't move quickly there are bound to be victims.

"What? I thought I was only gonna capture mutants!"

"Call it practice. I'm sending you the location and details now. Over."

"Wai-" Is all Aaron can say before Agent Rodriguez hangs up. "Oh boy. And I thought I could relax…" The teenager voices as he hangs his head. "Well then. Let's suit up baby!" But he quickly jumps up and opens his wardrobe. Pretty lame spot for a superhero suit I know… He bends over and picks up a black steely looking box. He uses his fingerprint to unlock and the surface flips open. 

Suit… tick

Bracelets… tick

Watch… tick

Mask… tick 

In a matter of minutes, the young teenager is all suited up and ready to go. "Queens, I hope you're ready for your newest hero's debut!" Aaron says cockily as he slides the window open and lunges himself outside.