supernova

"Why are you a superhero? Why can't you be a police officer or something?" James remembers Aleks asking him once as the younger was rubbing alcohol on his wounds and rebandaging whatever injuries he sustained from earlier in the week. He remembers not being able to answer Aleks at the time, stunned into silence at a question you would think would constantly go through his mind.

But, James realizes, it's moments like these that makes him like being a superhero instead of a police officer or a firefighter. Where he feels like the freest man alive when he's running through the street, tights hugging his legs comfortably. Where he feels like the fastest man alive as he finally reaches the front of bank robber's car. And where he feels like the strongest man alive when he uses barely any energy to bring the gray convertible to a halt.

The bank robber tries to make a quick escape once he realizes that he's been caught, but James is too fast. James grabs the back collar of the bank robber's black turtleneck, forcing the man to drop the bag of money.

"Supernova..." The bank robber laughs nervously, "D-Didn't think you would be around here haha..."

James shakes his head disappointedly at the robber, "Were you alone on robbing this bank?"

The robber quickly nods his head, "O-Of course. No one else. Just me."

"No way this was a one man job. You stole almost $400,000. Why would you take that much for yourself?" James watches the facial expressions of the man curiously.

"Well I-" Before the man could say anything else to James, the police finally catches up. Their cars pulling up to James and the bank robber. James sighs. The police never come at the right time.

"Thanks again, Supernova. For helping us again with another crime," The Chief of Police, Officer Garrett says, yanking the bank robber out of James's hold and shoving him into handcuffs, "And not destroying a public building this time."

"And thanks for showing up Office Garrett," James looks over the officer, squinting over every feature, "Late. Again."

"Hey, hey, Supernova. You already have the job done. What's wrong with us trying to stay out of your way?" Officer Garrett grins under his too bushy mustache, "I'll see you next crime, Supernova." Garrett leads the bank robber away, waving bye to James.

When James gets home, Aleks is waiting for him; ready to bandage any injuries James got that day. Aleks is like James's nurse: he would show up to James's house at the end of the day with his first aid kit and ready to listen to James's complaints of the day while making sure the older's scratches and cuts don't get infected. Today is no different.

"Officer Garrett is always waiting for me to do all the work, that's why his forces are always so fucking slow to get there. But I'm only one person Aleksandr. They shouldn't expect me to be doing all the work. Should they?" James shoves a beanie on his head while he talks to Aleks, sitting at the dining room table across from the younger.

"Maybe you should work together with them." Aleks offers while reorganizing his first aid kit, "You guys world work faster and better that way."

"Me? Working with the Denver police? No way." James crosses his arms and props his feet on the table.

"Okay... Then maybe you would work better with another person. I mean if you didn't work alone maybe I wouldn't be spending as much bandages on you." Aleks pulls out his roll of bandages, showing James his last roll, "I had five rolls three weeks ago. Maybe if you didn't tackle that giant alligator by yourself, I would probably still have a decent amount of bandages left."

"What do you mean? Who else would I work with?" James doesn't show any concern for Aleks's low bandage supply, he heals fast anyways.

"I mean like, you were born with super speed and super strength right? You can't be the only person on the planet to have super powers. I mean, you're special but not that special. You get me?" Aleks places his bandages back in his first aid kit, "And besides, maybe you won't be as lonely anymore when you're fighting crime."

"I'm not lonely when I fight crime."

"Okay, whatever," Aleks pushes out his chair and stands up, "Welp, I gotta get home. You're not the only one who's constantly busy. Please don't break a leg in the middle of the night or something. Like last time."

James watches Aleks walk out, waiting to hear the door close. When he hears the slam of the door, James pouts, "I don't need a partner."