The underground air was thick with the stink of ozone and rot, flickering lights casting long shadows across the sleeping bodies of children.
Rexx stood at the heart of it all, red tendrils lashing out, whipping like living ropes. One after another, he snagged the mindless kids trying to shamble toward him, catching them gently, never hurting them—only pushing them back, keeping them safe while keeping them out of the way.
Retro floated just beyond, his black trench coat fluttering, eyes gleaming like dying embers. His mouth twisted into a scowl as he hurled another pulse of psychic energy at Rexx, trying to seize control of the Symbiote's mind, trying to twist it, break it.
He failed.
Every time, the Symbiote ate the attack—absorbing it, mocking it, rejecting it like a bad joke.
"You think you can break me?" Rexx growled, voice a deep dual-tone rumble, James and the Symbiote speaking as one. His red and green mass gleamed under the cracked fluorescent lights, eyes burning like molten lava. "My bloodline comes from a warrior who taught the universe fear. You're not even in the same league."
Retro staggered back, sweating, his once-confident grin slipping into a mask of desperation. His hands sparked with psychic force as he tried again and again to worm into Rexx's mind.
Each attempt was weaker. Sloppier.
And Rexx was done playing defense.
He charged, the floor cracking under the force of his leap, and Retro spun on his heel to flee—too late.
A red tendril snapped out, wrapping around Retro's wrist with a meaty snap that made him scream. The Symbiote yanked him backward, and James slammed Retro into the concrete floor with a dull, rattling thud.
Retro tried to pull away, fear wild in his eyes, but Rexx gripped his arm so hard the bones groaned under the pressure. Rexx leaned close, his teeth bared in a predator's snarl.
"My dad once told me," Rexx said, his voice low, words sharp and deliberate, "that death's too good for evil."
Retro whimpered, struggling uselessly.
"In prison, you might escape. You might get out. But in the afterlife?" Rexx twisted Retro's arm cruelly, just enough to send a jolt of pain without breaking it. "There's no running from what's waiting for you there."
For a moment, Retro looked like he might vomit.
"Best not to put that kind of blood on our hands," Rexx finished.
He turned and with a heave, hurled Retro upward, out of the tunnel entrance—straight into the blinking headlights of the Metropolis Police Department's tactical units.
Retro hit the asphalt hard, dazed, as officers rushed in with tasers and shock cuffs ready.
Then Retro panicked.
Even as the cuffs snapped onto his wrists, he triggered one last psychic command—a desperate, violent final move aimed at detonating the fragile minds of all the kidnapped children.
But nothing happened.
The children stayed asleep, untouched. Safe.
Retro's mouth fell open in horror, the realization sinking in that Rexx had already shielded their minds, layers of red energy coiled around their consciousness like iron walls.
Before Retro could even speak, the police slammed him face-first into the pavement, cuffed him tighter, and hauled him toward an armored transport truck.
Meanwhile, Rexx watched from the shadows, unseen, satisfaction settling in his chest.
Later that Night
James slipped through the open window of his bedroom, Rexx peeling back into his clothes, the last tendril vanishing into the collar of his shirt. He landed softly on the carpet, his heart still pounding from the fight, the rush of victory still fresh in his blood.
He barely had time to catch his breath when a sharp cough made him freeze.
James turned slowly.
Alex stood by the doorway, arms crossed, his towering frame outlined by the hallway light.
In one hand, he held a small, clear bag of candy bars. In the other—
Mary, James's little sister, sound asleep against his shoulder, snoring softly.
Alex raised an eyebrow. "If your mother knew," he said dryly, "she'd be pissed."
James swallowed hard, guilt creeping up his spine.
Alex walked over and tossed the bag at him. James caught it, fumbling a little.
"Lucky for you," Alex continued, "you're not eating heads. So... here."
James blinked, looking down at the candy bars in disbelief.
Alex shifted Mary gently in his arms, the toddler mumbling incoherently in her sleep. He looked James over, his expression softening slightly.
"I knew," Alex said after a moment. "Ever since you found it... I had a suspicion. But I didn't do anything until I saw it for myself."
James's heart thudded against his ribs. "Saw what?" he asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.
Alex gave a tired chuckle. "Red and green Symbiote. Looked like a T-Rex had a very bad day." He ruffled James's hair with his free hand. "Figured it out pretty quick after that."
James didn't know what to say. Shame, pride, fear—they all warred inside him.
Alex stepped toward the door but paused, glancing back over his shoulder. His voice dropped lower, serious.
"And watch out for him, Rexx."
James flinched slightly at the use of the Symbiote's name.
"I'd rather my kid be safe than anything else."
Then Alex disappeared into the hallway, carrying Mary toward her room, leaving James standing there with a bag of candy bars clutched in his hands.
For a long moment, James just stared at the doorway, feeling the weight of everything that had happened—and everything that was still to come.
Finally, he sank onto his bed, tossing the candy bars beside him.
"Well," James muttered, pulling off his shoes, "that could've gone a lot worse."
"You think he'll still give us chocolate if he finds out we ate someone?" Rexx teased inside his mind.
James snorted. "Not funny."
He reached for a candy bar, tearing the wrapper open—only for a red tendril to sneak toward the pile of sweets.
"Hey!" James snapped, slapping the tendril away.
Rexx gave a loud, exaggerated sigh in his head, retreating.
James chuckled, taking a bite of the chocolate and sinking deeper into the bed, exhaustion finally catching up to him.
Maybe being normal wasn't so bad.
Maybe being something more wasn't either.
He closed his eyes, smiling faintly as he whispered, "Save some of the chocolates, Rexx. We'll eat 'em together later, alright?"
Rexx grumbled in mock defeat, but agreed.
Tomorrow would bring new battles. New dangers.
But for tonight?
Tonight, they could rest.
Together.