Chapter 19: A Moment of Peace

While the rest of the world was focused on the chaos at Vought, A-Train was hard at work, preparing for the race of his life. He stood on the track, his muscles taut and his breathing steady as he prepared to sprint. His brother, Nathan, was by his side, offering encouragement and advice.

"You've got this, man," Nathan said, clapping A-Train on the back. "You're the fastest man alive. Don't let anyone take that from you."

A-Train nodded, his eyes fixed on the track ahead. "Yeah, I know. Just gotta stay focused."

His coach blew the whistle, and A-Train took off, his legs pumping furiously as he raced down the track. The wind whipped past him, and for a moment, he felt invincible. This was what he lived for—the thrill of the race, the rush of adrenaline, the feeling of being unstoppable.

But as he reached the finish line, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of doubt. Shockwave was no pushover, and the pressure to win was immense. A-Train knew that his reputation, his career, and even his place in the Seven were on the line. He didn't even know to call it the Seven anymore since Translucent has been missing for awhile now, he thought.

Nathan jogged over to him, a proud grin on his face. "That was awesome, bro. You're gonna crush Shockwave."

A-Train forced a smile, trying to push his doubts and swirling thoughts aside. "Yeah, man. I'm ready."

But deep down, he knew that this race was more than just a competition. It was a test of his worth, a chance to prove that he still had what it took to be the best.

Meanwhile, Hughie Campbell's steps were hesitant as he made his way through the park, his eyes searching for the familiar face he had come to see. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows that danced across the ground as the leaves rustled in the gentle breeze. The park was a strange bubble of calm amidst the chaotic world that Hughie had been thrust into—a world where superheroes were far from the paragons of virtue he once believed them to be.

He spotted her sitting on a bench near a large water fountain. Annie January, known to the world as Starlight, was looking down at her hands, seemingly lost in thought. Her golden hair caught the sunlight, glowing like a halo around her head. Hughie's heart skipped a beat as he approached her, his footsteps faltering slightly as he wondered if he should turn back. But it was too late; she had already seen him.

"Hughie," Annie called out, her voice soft and warm, breaking through the noise of the world around them. She offered him a small smile, one that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Hey, Annie," he replied, trying to keep his voice steady as he walked over and sat beside her on the bench. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence stretched out, comfortable and yet filled with unspoken words.

"It's nice here," Hughie said finally, glancing around the park. "Peaceful."

"Yeah," Annie agreed, her eyes still on her hands. "I come here to think. To get away from everything, you know?"

Hughie nodded. He did know. He understood the need to escape, to find a quiet place where the weight of the world didn't feel quite so heavy. "I get that," he said softly. "Sometimes, you just need a break from all the craziness."

Annie looked up at him then, her blue eyes meeting his. "It's been hard," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Being a part of The Seven… it's not what I thought it would be. It's all about the image, the fame, the money. Nothing like the heroics I dreamed of as a kid."

Hughie listened intently, his heart aching for her. He could hear the pain in her voice, the disillusionment that came from having your idols turn out to be nothing like you imagined. He knew that feeling all too well. "I'm sorry, Annie," he said sincerely. "You deserve better than that."

Annie let out a small, bitter laugh. "I thought being Starlight would mean saving people, making a difference. But all they care about is how much skin I show and how good I look in front of the cameras."

Hughie's jaw tightened. He hated the thought of anyone treating Annie like she was just a pretty face. She was so much more than that—strong, brave, and kind. "That's not right," he said, shaking his head. "You should be able to be yourself, not what they want you to be."

She looked at him, her eyes softening at his words. "Thank you, Hughie. It means a lot to hear that from someone who sees me as more than just Starlight."

Hughie smiled, a genuine smile that reached his eyes. "You're more than just a superhero to me, Annie. You're… you."

Annie felt a warmth spread through her chest at his words. She hadn't felt seen in such a long time, not since before she became part of The Seven. There was something about Hughie, something real and honest that drew her to him. He wasn't like the others. He didn't see her as an asset or a tool to be used. He saw her.

The two sat in silence again, but this time it was a comfortable silence, filled with understanding. Finally, Annie reached into her pocket and pulled out a small scrap of paper. "Here," she said, scribbling down her phone number. "If you ever need to talk… or just need a friend."

Hughie took the paper from her, his fingers brushing against hers. He felt a jolt of electricity at the contact, his heart beating faster in his chest. "Thanks," he said, his voice soft. "I'll keep that in mind."

Annie smiled, a real smile this time, and Hughie felt his chest tighten. He wanted to protect that smile, to make sure nothing ever took it away from her again.

"So, what about you?" Annie asked, leaning back against the bench. "What brings you here?"

Hughie hesitated for a moment, unsure how much to share, thinking since she was from Vought, however something about Annie made him feel like he could trust her. So then he decided to be honest. "I've been through a lot lately," he admitted. "My girlfriend… she was killed by A-Train. I've been trying to figure out how to deal with that, how to move on."

Annie's expression softened with sympathy. "I'm so sorry, Hughie. That must be incredibly hard."

"It is," he said, nodding. "But talking to you… it helps. Makes me feel like maybe there's still some good in this world."

Annie reached out and placed a hand on his arm, giving it a gentle squeeze. "There is," she said firmly. "And if we can't find it, we'll make it ourselves."

Hughie looked at her, his heart swelling with gratitude and something else he couldn't quite place. He felt a connection with Annie, something deep and real that he hadn't felt in a long time. Maybe ever.

The two of them sat on the bench for a while longer, talking about anything and everything. For a moment, it was just the two of them in the world, no superheroes, no vendettas, no Vought. Just Hughie and Annie, two people finding comfort in each other's company.

Hughie knew one thing for certain—he didn't want this moment to end.