Chapter Twenty

Jayden made his way through the bustling crowd, his mind filled with excitement and anticipation. He had just bid farewell to Starfire, feeling an undeniable connection with her.

But now he had another important date to attend to.

He navigated through the sea of cosplayers, comic book enthusiasts, and vendors until he reached the designated meeting spot at the fountain.

As he approached the fountain, he spotted Lola waiting for him, her eyes shining with enthusiasm.

Her costume was a perfect replica of a popular superheroine, capturing the attention of many passersby. Jayden couldn't help but grin as he approached her.

"Hey, I'm back, finally got that autograph and picture. What about you?" Jayden asked, showing her his signed picture.

Lola returned the gesture, revealing her own autographed picture. "I got one too, but the author kept staring at me and even wrote his number on it."

Jayden raised an eyebrow under the mask. "Looks like someone's popular." All he got for that reply was a playful punch to the arm.

Jayden chuckled before he told her all about Starfire, the girl/superhero in disguise. Of course, he didn't mention that she was actually Starfire, just a cosplayer.

"That's cool. I'm totally fine with meeting up with her and her friends later, but for now, I want you all to myself," Lola said, her words sparking a sense of excitement in Jayden.

They strolled through the convention centre, marvelling at the elaborate cosplay and booths filled with merchandise. Jayden couldn't resist pointing out the intricate details of the costumes, and Lola eagerly joined in the admiration.

"Look, Lola, there's a group of people dressed as characters from that obscure '80s sci-fi series you love." Jayden said, pointing toward a group of cosplayers in colourful outfits.

Lola's eyes widened in delight. "No way! I never thought I'd see them here. Hold on, I have to get a picture with them."

Jayden watched as Lola bounded over to the cosplayers, striking up a conversation and posing for pictures. He couldn't help but admire her energy and passion for everything she loved.

After exploring the convention centre for a while, they decided to take a break and find a quiet spot to rest. They settled down near a booth selling vintage comic books, Jayden holding two cups of soda in his hands.

As Jayden handed Lola a cup, he couldn't help but notice a mischievous glint in her eyes. "You know," she said, taking a sip, "something is missing from this picture."

Jayden raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk on his face. "And what might that be?"

Lola grinned mischievously. "A little friendly competition. How about we settle this the old-fashioned way? Super Smash Bros tournament?"

Jayden's eyes lit up with excitement. "You're on! Prepare to be defeated, Lola. I have years of experience and unbeatable skills!"

They found a gaming booth nearby and started their intense battle, both of them completely engrossed in the game.

Laughter filled the air as they cheered each other on, teasing and trash-talking in equal measure.

As the game ended with a close victory for Jayden, he raised his hands triumphantly."Bow before the champion! Victory is mine!"

Lola playfully rolled her eyes, nudging him with her elbow.

Just as Jayden was basking in his glorious victory, Lola suddenly clutched her stomach, a sheepish expression crossing her face.

"Uh-oh, Jayden, nature calls. I need to make a quick bathroom trip. Be right back!"

Jayden nodded, gesturing toward the direction of the restrooms. "No problem, take your time. I'll be right here, revelling in my triumph."

Lola disappeared into the crowd, leaving Jayden alone near the gaming booth. He leaned against a nearby wall, sipping his soda and enjoying the lively atmosphere of Comic Con.

Little did he know that a certain green-skinned shapeshifter was about to cross his path.

Out of the corner of his eye, Jayden spotted a figure approaching him, clad in a green hoodie and wearing an unmistakable mischievous grin.

It was none other than Beast Boy, the shape-shifting member of the Teen Titans.

Beast Boy nudged Jayden playfully, his voice filled with enthusiasm. "Dude, nice job on the Smash Bros victory! You've got some skills. Mind if I challenge you to a match?"

Jayden turned to face Beast Boy, a playful smirk forming on his lips. "Beast Boy?" Jayden questioned before he put two and two together.

"I'd be honoured to engage in a battle with you. But be warned, my victory streak is unstoppable!" Jayden said cockily.

Beast Boy raised an eyebrow, his voice dripping with mock seriousness. "Oh, is that so? We'll see about that, little spider. Prepare to be humbled by my epic gaming prowess."

The two of them found an available console nearby and started their match, fingers flying across the buttons in a frenzy of competition.

Jayden marvelled at Beast Boy's ability to transform his character into various creatures, unleashing an onslaught of unpredictable moves.

Meanwhile, he was stuck playing as Superman.

Amidst the intense gameplay, their banter reached new heights of absurdity.

Jayden shouted, "You may have extraordinary abilities, but I've mastered the art of button-mashing!"

The green-haired hero chuckled, his voice resembling that of a charismatic trickster. "Button-mashing, huh? That's cute. But I've got some wild moves that'll leave you in awe!"

Jayden shouted."You may be a shapeshifter, Beast Boy, but you'll never be able to match my strategy and precision!"

Beast Boy transformed his character into a T-Rex, responding with a cheeky grin. "Strategy? Who needs strategy when you have the raw power of a prehistoric beast?"

Their laughter echoed through the convention centre as the battle raged on. Spectators gathered around, drawn in by the sheer hilarity of their antics.

In the end, Jayden emerged victorious once again, but Beast Boy didn't seem the least bit disappointed.

Instead, he burst into laughter, clapping Jayden on the back. "Man, you've got some serious gaming skills! Rematch or not, I gotta say, that was fun."

" Yeah, it was." Jayden looked around but hadn't spotted Lola anywhere, so he turned back to Beast Boy and asked.

" My partner isn't back yet, how about another match? Best two out of three." Jayden offered, starting the game back up.

" You're so on," Beast Boy responded, completely forgetting that he was supposed to be meeting up with the other Teen Titans 30 minutes ago.

Time quickly passed by, and Lola had finally returned. Beast Boy had won their little 2 out of 3 game, so he was the official winner. That was also when Beast Boy got a bunch of angry text messages from his friends.

Beast Boy had to leave, but before he did, they exchanged numbers.

" Two hero contacts in two hours... my luck is amazing today." Jayden thought as he continued to walk around with Lola.

But since Jayden wasn't paying attention, he accidentally bumped into someone. "Oh! Sorry, man, I wasn't paying attention..."

Before Jayden could properly apologize, the man in question grabbed Jayden's shirt harshly. "Watch where you're fucking going, you little shit."

Lola widened her eyes and clenched her fists, ready to defend Jayden if necessary.

She discreetly reached into her bag, where she had a collection of potential weapons she could use if things escalated.

Jayden, on the other hand, felt a strange sense of unease. This guy didn't seem like a cosplayer at all. There was something off about him—the smell of iron on his clothing, the unsettling look in his eyes.

Before things could escalate any further, a purple-masked friend appeared, grabbing his shoulder and shaking his head. "Now is not the time." he whispered, his voice filled with urgency and concern.

Jayden couldn't help but wonder what the purple-masked guy meant by that. There was definitely something more going on.

The purple-masked guy glared at Jayden one last time before releasing his grip and stepping back.

Jayden could have stood his ground, but he pretended to stumble back slightly. "Tch!" he muttered, playing off the encounter before walking away, his friend following closely behind.

Lola caught up with Jayden, her eyes filled with worry. "Are you okay, Jayden? What was that guy's problem?"

Jayden took a deep breath, trying to shake off the unsettling encounter. "I'm okay. Maybe he just had anger issues or something. Let's focus on having a good time. Come on, let's go to the picture-taking area for cosplayers."

Lola nodded, her concern fading as they continued their adventure through Comic Con.

Jayden turned back looking for the two men, but they had already dissipated into the sea of people.

' Maybe I just imagined it.' Jayden thought to himself before following Lola.