(Foxfire POV)

I pocketed the usb into my pocket, frowning to myself as they escaped. He just tried to bomb a whole building.

And yet I still cannot bring myself to hate him.

Damn it, Hikari.

"He escaped." Isolation frowned.

"Two times now." Prototype added.

"You're making it worse, Sister." Isolation replied.

Suddenly Stellar slammed onto the roof, quickly looking around with narrowed eyes.

"Where is he?" She questioned, glaring towards Prototype.

"He escaped." Prototype replied with a shrug. "Is that really a surprise?"

"No, it's not." Stellar stated. "I'm not surprised someone other than his archnemesis wasn't able to catch him."

My fist involuntarily tightened. For some reason I don't like the way she said that. Is it because I don't want him caught...?

"He's escaped you more times than he's escaped us." Isolation argued, crossing her arms. "We've caught him once."

"Did you now?" Stellar replied, taking a step closer. "And after going off the radar for a few hours you finally reported you lost him."

She leaned forwards, getting close to Isolation's face. "I don't buy it. I think you got outsmarted and were too embarrassed to admit it."

"Kindly, take a step away from my Sister." Prototype placed her hand on Stellar's shoulder, a smile on her face.

Stellar glanced towards her.

"Kindly, be useful for once." Stellar spat. "Three of you and not a single one could catch him."

A ferocious glare was shared between the two. Isolation and Prototype backed off, exiting the roof as Stellar continued to stand there. And then she turned towards me.

"Why did he want you?" Stellar questioned, walking up and pointing an accusatory finger at me.

"He just needed any hero." I replied, annoyance seeping through me. "He's messing with the Administration."

"He asked for you." Stellar stated. "Specifically. What aren't you telling me?"

That I know who he is.

"I'm not hiding anything." I scoffed. "He gave me an usb to give to the Administration. That's all."

"You shouldn't trust anything from that man." Stellar replied.

"I know that." I hissed.

I know...

Stellar continued to coldly gaze at me, before finally turning away. What was up with her today?

"He's my archnemesis." She growled to herself, before launching into the sky and flying away.

I watched her with narrowed eyes until I couldn't see her anymore. What is with her and Jason, huh? It's almost like she's obsessed.

When he should be mine.

I sighed to myself, running and jumping off of the building and onto a nearby rooftop. I started to move from rooftop to rooftop, making my way towards the Administration headquarters.

Unfortunately my motorcycle is in repairs from another fight. That's the second time it's been trashed now, the first one being when I was chasing Jason after he hijacked that van.

I continued hopping from building to building, landing on another one. As I walked across the building I suddenly felt my arm getting grabbed. Even though I could've sworn no one else was on the building.

I whirled around, throwing a punch towards the man that had grabbed me. He was dressed in all black with a black face mask that covered the mouth and nose. He titled his head, dodging the punch and stabbing a syringe through my hoodie and into my neck.

I pushed him off of me, ripping out the syringe and dropping it to the ground. Whatever liquid was in there, he didn't get it all into my system.

I gotta take care of this quickly before whatever that was comes into effect. I gripped the handle of my sword as he drew two knives.

He dashed towards me, clashing his two knives with my katana. He jumped back, throwing his knives only for me to parry them out of the air. He pulled out another two, launching one at me and running after it.

I dodged the flying knife, meeting the one he held with my katana. It flew out of his hand, and I swung once more to render him incapacitated. Shadows wrapped around his hand as he brought it up and caught my blade harmlessly.

He knocked my katana to the side before sending another punch I had to duck under. I sent a punch towards his gut, only for him to catch it. I shifted my feet, bringing up my other foot and slamming it against his head.

He stumbled backwards as I ripped off my glove with my teeth. I grabbed a pebble off the ceiling, launching it at him.

It bounced harmlessly off of his head.

Wait...what?

I grasped at another pebble, holding it in my bare hand. It wasn't catching on fire. My power wasn't working. My curse...was gone?

I narrowed my eyes at the strange man who simply stood there, observing me. I shuffled backwards, gripping the handle of my fallen katana with my bare hand.

Once again it didn't ignite in the blue flames that it should've. I ripped my other glove off, grasping the blade in that hand as well. It still wouldn't work.

"What did you do to me?" I questioned, pointing the katana at him.

"I've done my research." He crossed his arms. "Your power ignited anything you touched in azure flames. Other than those gloves, at least."

He glanced towards the fallen syringe. "That was an incomplete dose of the 'suppressor serum.' It'll negate your powers temporarily."

He looked back towards me. "We could use someone of your skill and status. And if you help us, we can permanently rid you of your little problem."

He flicked out a card, sending it towards me. I caught it in my hand, revealing a phone number.

"If you're interested anytime soon, call that number." He stated.

"Who are you?" I demanded. "And why would I even trust this?"

"You see the results right now, don't you?" He replied. "All you have to do is help my boss accomplish his goal. In doing so, you get what you want. It's like that for all of us."

"All of us?" I noted.

"I've said enough." He replied. He turned, jumping off of the building and into the alleyway.

I ran over to the edge of the building, looking down to see that he had completely disappeared. I sat there for a moment in disbelief before running towards my apartment.

After finding the place on the roof where I stored my gear, I changed into civilian clothes and made my way into my apartment.

I walked over to my bed, sitting on it and just staying there for a moment. I placed the usb on the side table, deciding I could deliver that to the Administration once I calmed down.

I shakily pulled out the paper with the number on it, looking at it. It was obvious that the man that had given it to me was some sort of villain. A strong that has been completely under the radar.

It could be a trap. Some sort of ploy. Even if it was real and true, why would I take the offer? I'm a hero, god damn it!

I clenched my hands, frustrated that I would even think about it. But I could be free from this curse. I wouldn't have to worry about hurting anyone ever again with these flames.

I could be normal again.

I pulled off my top, tracing the large burn scar that reached from my shoulder to my chest. The physical result of the day my power awakened.

I wouldn't have to always be wearing these special gloves. I wouldn't have to always worry about setting something or someone on fire. I wouldn't have to worry about having my flames go out of control because of my emotions.

I stared at my gloved hands and remembered all of the things that had happened because of them. The house. My parents. The orphanage.

Getting adopted by Corey and his wife.

If my power was gone...

Could Jason be mine? I would never have to worry about hurting him. I would never have to worry about burning him.

He would be mine. All mine.

Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine.

I reached for my phone, struggling to press the buttons to type in the phone number. And then the phone started to ring.

It's time for an undercover mission.

If this is a fraud, something illegitimate, or dangerous, then I'll shut it down.

But if...

If it is really real and can rid me of these accursed powers...

Then maybe it would be worth it.