NUCLEAR

There was one place Morgan always felt powerful and that was in the sky. Somedays he went with headphones plugged in, other days he dove from high as he could for the air to scream at his ear drums. Mute all that mental noise. On his own he'd landed on mountain peaks, launched himself through storm clouds, and got a little too familiar with the local bird migrations. His own escape could be as loud or peaceful as he chose.

Today, it wasn't his own escape as Olympian himself agreed to a fly day. Before last mission, Morgan's heart would have been pounding and a smile stretched ear to ear at the prospect of joining such a hero. Coming out of it, Blackout was more calm but still anxious to get out. No longer for fun, no headphones, he needed the roar to mask all the thoughts eating him up.

Surprisingly, flying at Charlie's side offered a third option. Crazy, wild, distracting pure joy. Floating, falling, flipping together or apart, mirroring those childish smiles. Fuck. Morgan really needed this. He hated himself for that. Why was life, superpowers, not enough for him? Why did he need... always need someone there too?

Charlie naturally was leagues ahead of Morgan as far as ability went, but Morgan could definitely keep up given all the solo flying he'd obsessively practiced the last month. The blond showed him how much was still to be explored and improved. A total pro. They took a break in town and landed at the local Burger Mart. Practically earning the lunch for free, if Morgan didn't toss some cash at the employees while sharp-eyed fans drove them out.

The final escape was a sheer climb atop the tallest skyscraper they could find, and that's where practically no one would find them. Kicked back, enjoying the view of infinity, fingers greased with Burger Mart signature fries and sandwiches.

"My kid showed me, ok? It's basically science." Morgan enthusiastically explained while dipping fries. "Burger Mart sauce, combined with Tangy Tiki..."

He finishes them in one bite before savoring and flourishing with a chefs kiss to the wind. Black locks being tossed about and appearing more brown in the non-polluted sunlight. "science should always taste this good."

so when the only other flyer in the team asked him to hang out, charlie didn't expect to be hundreds of feet in the air headed towards the city. he remembered extending the invitation to morgan before during their first encounter, but they've only recently gotten the chance to make it happen now. and honestly after all that's happened, charlie couldn't think of a better time than the present. "try and keep up," he mused, boosting his speed using a burst of energy to propel himself like a rocket.

charlie was unable to stop himself from smiling the entire trip. he's never felt so free before. "the world's literally our oyster!" the blond remarked at the top of his lungs, admittedly impressed with how morgan was staying at the same speeds as him. he smirked, feeling particularly competitive but deciding to simply relax and enjoy their time together in the sky. charlie even performed a few flips and aerial loops just for the fun of it.

eventually, the two decided to take a break at the local burger mart for a good old fashioned american meal. they both were reminded of the cons of celebrity statuses as fans rushed to take selfies with their favorite recruits. managing to evade the paparazzi rush, the duo soon found themselves atop the tallest building in the city. "this is fucking great. can't say i've ever clogged my arteries with great food so high up before," he spoke with a mouthful of fries.

beaming brightly, paragon's golden boy was happy to participate in morgan's little science experiment and tested the sauce mixture himself. his eyes instantly became the size of dinner plates. "your son's a genius," he replied while literally having a food-gasm. "takes after his daddy, i'm sure!"

Instinctively, Morgan reached forward and set a hand on Charlie's still quite golden forearm. Support. "We'll be sure that never happens again." He pledged, all jokes aside. The hand pulled away afterward and returned to his own drink. Morgan's dark gaze steered to the side, thoughtfully. "Finding who caused this and stopping them is the only way to guarantee that."

Of course, it was a laughable idea that Blackout should be the hero to stop such powerful adversaries. He still needed others to back him. Stronger supes. Not just that, but teammates who wanted the same thing. At least Savage was on board. So far. "So Father likes his supes cowardly and idle, hm?" He smirked, backpacking off of their previous discussion. "I'm so new to this. ... I didn't realize that supes really do have it hard in this life. I mean, I can fly, it's fucking awesome. ... But if I go home, instead of seeing this through, then I'm just a guy who can fly with no direction."

Maybe it was Charlie's story of being held in a cage for years or the still fresh conversation with Dr. Minerva that compelled him. "So I am grateful to be here... but I'm also going to look out for everyone's best interest. However I can." Charlie hurt twice over, Matthias and now Ryan. A hunt was long overdue. "A team of supes. We should look out for each other."

and although charlie was prepared to take several hits in the face, he didn't expect to be attacked by a teammate no less. he had a bone to pick with a certain syphoner. "thank you... but if ryan does that me again, i might accidentally punch a hole through his skull in retaliation," he replied, the last part a confession of his true feelings towards the matter. the blond swallowed hard, hoping morgan wouldn't shame him for such a dark admission.

he bit his bottom lip at the older super's following comment regarding father. charlie couldn't help but defend his adoptive parent, even if the ghostly hero had a point. "father just has a way of doing things. works for the ten, so... i trust his judgement." bringing the glass to his lips, he then finished the margarita in one go. his good boy temperament surfaced yet again, getting in the way of fun times like always.

the thought of looking out for each other earned a warm smile from charlie. he obviously couldn't speak for everyone else, but the team should have each other's backs. "i'm glad you're here, morgan," he remarked and reached to gently squeeze the older super's hand. morgan's been a close confident of his lately and an incredible friend. "i'd be a lot lonelier in this damn house if you weren't."

Or use them. Morgan knew what it was like to be used. Now, Paragon used them all, but at least his effort was getting him somewhere. "Honestly... that was a concern of mine too." He admitted, only because Charlie mentioned it. "But... I had faith; your fanbase would have started a riot if you vanished."

Reassured by the gentle peck, Morgan relaxed with his own drink. Hesitating once Charlie asked what had transpired over the last week. It was a shame that Morgan couldn't tell the blond about Dr. Minerva. The serial killer case. Especially since he needed someone to talk to. Persons he'd formerly relied on seemed preoccupied lately. Morgan was used to that too.

"I worked on finding out who killed the mayor and... whoever else hates Paragon so much, but our files aren't as up-to-date as I'd hoped." The enemy was ahead of them. Off the grid. "Have you ever gone hunting for a supe?"

he snorted in amusement at the mention of his supposed fanbase. "i did get several dms from people wondering why i missed one of my daily reels," the blond spoke, recalling an urgent need to ask ash for help on exactly what to post. it'd serve as an explanation for his short absence on social media. "i couldn't exactly tell them i had hundreds of needles jabbed into my arm as paragon tries to heal me after what ryan did." his trip to the tower wasn't exactly pleasant, to say the least.

for a quick second, he could've sworn morgan was hiding something from him. but that speculation quickly diminished once he heard the older super talk about investigating who killed the mayor. "don't you think we should leave that to the police though?" the blond advised, aware how snooping around could lead to danger and a breach to certain protocols. "can't say i have, no. why, are you supe hunting?" he asked, genuinely intrigued at what morgan was up to.

New Years Eve had been complete horror. Charlie beaten with his own insane power and found quite broken in Morgan's arms. Crying. After Olympian flew off, Morgan worried that would be the last time he saw him. Face to face anyway. All of this could go without saying. Most men here would gag at Morgan's level of sentiment.

"You all bring out my maternal instinct... but at least I still know how to have fun." Morgan offered while approaching the bar. Waist down, his form phased through the counter, and he reached for the nearly emptied bottle of tequila. Without having to think much, he mixed and presented Charlie with his own top shelf margarita, on the rocks. "If it needs... adjusting, let me know."

face slightly red, he gave a bashful smile at the older super. "i hope father didn't make you rehearse that," he mused, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. more often than not, he had trouble discerning if people were actually being nice to him. or if his adoptive parent simply ordered them to. "i'm glad to be back too. for a second, i thought my replacement would already here by now."

charlie gratefully accepted the drink and took a giddy sip. he preferred sweeter beverages and fruity cocktails, but any alcohol at the moment was appreciated. "no no, it's wonderful. thank you." he leaned to give morgan a sweet kiss on the cheek. nothing overtly flirtatious, just his way of saying thanks. "so did anything fun happen while i was gone?" he asked, wanting to inquire on the events that might have taken place during his absence.

"Mocktail then?" He pressed, still willing to take no for an answer. Morgan enjoyed his self appointed role as in-house bartender. "'come on, when's the next time you'll have me waiting on hand and foot for you?"

"i'll take you up on that offer," he replied, not particularly agreeing to a mocktail but alcohol in general. a drink would do him some good to relax. "i hope more often. been a while since i've flirted with a handsome bartender." a chuckle escaped him as he recalled fond memories of his past.

Paragon base was buzzing with news of Charlie's return. After a week away, their team of recruits would once more be complete. Morgan wasn't as thrilled. He worried about the younger mans wellbeing. Just because a supe was mended, polished, tossed back in line didn't mean all was patched up. Each wore a brave face to stick around. After their heart to heart chat, Morgan had a feeling Charlie wore that mask the most.

Morgan didn't join the bandwagon of greeting staff and Ash. Instead, he carried on with the day as usual. A proper check in could come later. Morgan could be considered a fan, but even he sensed and despised insincere company. Friendship was always sincere.

That evening, he found a cozy spot by the fireplace where he could sip a cold drink and work through notes. Catching movement in his periphery, the phantom turned his gaze up, surprised to find Charlie. He sat quiet and grinned toward the blond before raising his glass. "Margarita?"

normalcy also returned a few days after he got back to the mansion. training, press releases, and social media posts became his daily activity again. he had just finished taking a fresh selfie and made his way to the living room in hopes of coming up with a great caption, when the familiar voice of morgan broke the silence. the blond chuckled at the offer. “my dietitian said I need to stay away from alcohol for a while.” with that said, he flew over to grab the glass and take a hearty sip. a little throwback to their first encounter with the pastry. 

It seemed that everything he assumed of Charlie's life was wrong. Fabricated or assumed. "So you were... isolated?" He pried, choosing to find himself a seat now that Charlie had decided their opening up was alright. He lent one elbow on the table before him, dark eyes focused on the blond. A 'good listener' face. The sight of someone clinging to a comfortable object for support was a familiar one. Morgan continued to tread with care.

Following Charlie's inquiry, Morgan flashed him a similar smile; communicating that it was alright. It was fair to share something uncomfortable from his end. "We stuck together for Ethan." He explained. "... I feel like my marriage is half the reason they accepted my application. 'Perfect' family man to the world, but it's really just business for everyone at this point."

isolated wasn't exactly the word he'd use to describe his past. charlie thought for a moment and shook his head. "i grew up around other supers, so i never felt alone or different." that was probably the only benefit of being raised in the facility. everything else sucked. "the people who worked there were cruel, though. kept us locked up like zoo animals. said we're a threat to society." true in some sense, but still terrible.

much to his dietician's sure dismay, charlie opened the box of chocolates and began feasting on the sweet delicacies. he offered some to morgan as well should the older super feel peckish. "of course. nobody wants a broken family," he concurred with a slow nod. especially when a child was involved. "you're not afraid the truth will eventually be exposed? i hope you're prepared to take photos behind a white picket fence with your wife and son. if you haven't already, that is."

“I can toss them out window.” Matthias wiggled his way past some of the boxes, grunting under his breath as he finally found himself in his half of the room – one with only a couple of boxes with his name on it. Not that he didn’t receive countless suggestions from several designers… but the vast majority of them had either a bowtie or a tie around his neck. He would NOT wear a leash to a party. He was no one’s pet mongrel to be paraded around and called upon by a mere tug. Americans and capitalism. One thing could not exist without the other. “Or you could set them on fire outside.” Whatever worked best and would be faster for the two of them. The last thing either one of them needed was to trip into one of Charlie’s boxes and end up kissing the floor before such a big event. Not that Matthias was a fan of the whole publicity thing going on but apparently they NEEDED the support of the masses.

hoping to not be featured on the next episode of hoarders, charlie flew over a few stacks of boxes and to the russian man’s bed. already, he felt a chill creep up his skin as a response to the drastic drop in temperature. “i’d rather not contribute to the global warming problem by burning extremely expensive things,” the blond remarked with an amused chuckle. with he himself as a walking heatwave, no need to quicken the polar ice caps melting. plus, paragon was all about sustainability and helping the planet. he couldn’t risk such an act being caught on camera and leaked for the masses to see. “once everything has been unboxed, i’m happy to give you some of these pieces. i spotted a few bracelets and rings i think you’d like.” perks of having a brotherly bond with a roommate was the luxury of sharing clothes. unfortunately, there was a massive size difference between them so accessories would have to do.  

seeing matthias attempt a smile warmed the californian’s heart but also earned a chuckle from him. “no— i don’t need anyone dead nor have i killed anyone,” charlie promised, holding his stomach from laughing so hard at the notion. although truth be told, their line of work did require some level of clean up when accidents occurred. he made a mental note of matthias and his willingness to help should it ever be needed at a later time. “um… will you go to the masquerade with me?” the blond finally asked, feeling his cheeks heat up all of a sudden. before matthias could respond, he moved a heavy wardrobe aside to retrieve a poster and bouquet of blue perennials hidden behind. a typical prom proposal written in sharpie with a check box for yes and another for no. “i never been to a school dance, but i’m pretty sure this is how they go. oh! and these are supposedly from russia. had ash make a few calls to get them for me. i mean, for you.”

"Well if they ever invent a pink tie event you'll be ready..." He said under his breath but still loud enough to be heard. Going to the suit he was impressed. Alaric had mostly Tom Ford and YSL in his closet but Givenchy was impressive for someone to pull off. The benefits of power and influence, he wonder how the others wore fitting into the life. "Yeah no. Especially not with this. I wouldn't want you to offend your sponsor...well either of them. It is important that you represent the brand not yourself. You are just a human hanger to them. Like a display dummy in a window." He wasn't speaking to Charlie's intelligence because he was sure brands saw Alaric the same way.

perhaps his fashion tastes were a bit questionable. charlie didn’t grow up with an extravagant closet filled with designer brands. for half of his life, he only ever wore whatever the orphanage told him to put on. afterwards, his profession required him to wear provocative attire to ring in high paying clients. neither really prepared him for events like galas and balls. luckily, father and pr was always around to help. alaric also seemed willing to lend a hand, which the blond was extremely grateful for. “you seem to know a lot about this stuff,” he spoke, visibly in awe of the other super’s expertise. “i take it you were raised around a lot of models and clothes?” the blond asked, deciding to take the opportunity to know alaric a little better. team bonding was important, after all. especially when working closely together to reach the top.

Charlie suggesting that others considered Father a pervert for simply adopting him disturbed Morgan slightly. "Of course not." He assured, still very much listening. A sign of the times, perhaps. The online world was a war zone for the heartless and depraved. Cowards behind screens, envious of the powerful. The beautiful.

Well, the chocolates he'd brought today weren't German, but they were meant for Charlie alone. Basic as they were. "He's a successful man." An understatement. "'would have to lead an extraordinary life to build all of this." In a sense, that separated Father from humans and mortals in his own way. No companionship or distractions. Weaknesses.

"We're friends... family inevitably comes up, yeah?" He smiled, once more hoping he hadn't been presumptuous regarding their budding relationship. "We can talk about something else." Understandably, this could be a difficult subject for Charlie. Morgan didn't mean to coerce and would respect a boundary.

charlie remembered waking up one morning to see various social media platforms and news articles explode with stories of father being a groomer. he’s never been so angry to see people shame a man for simply helping someone in need. an orphan, no less — who’s never known true family before. it truly showed him the dark side of fame and opened his eyes to how ugly the world really was. “in truth, i don’t know a lot about him. even after years of living under the same roof. i try not to ask, because it isn’t my place. i’m just grateful for everything he’s done for me.”

he reclined against the bed and squeezed a pillow tightly his chest. talking to morgan was somewhat therapeutic. opening up to a complete stranger sometimes did wonders for the psyche. “yeah, and we’ll be working together a lot. it’s only natural we get to know each other more closely.” charlie flashed a genuine smile to assure the older super he took no offense to the questions. “while we’re on the topic of family, i’d like to learn more about yours.” his eyes drifted south to morgan’s vacant ring finger. “you’re not with the mother of your child, i take it?” he asked, wondering if the ghostly hero was willing to share a bit of information.

"I...I really think you will do great. I mean, you really have a chance to get to the top. That's what you want, right?" Dylan was sincere, especially after seeing how good Charlie could fight, how could he not? "Have you...ever thought about what else you would do if not going for the limited seats? I mean...Have you ever doubted that you are not on the right path?" He asked as he watched the man place the cupcake on the table. He wasn't really in the mood for a sweet treat, but perhaps Morgan would like to have it later.

he beamed at the compliment, pleased to hear dylan wasn’t a poor sport. “thanks! if I was pinned against a telepath, i’d probably lose the match.” charlie had no defensive capabilities against psychic attacks. hence why he exceled better against melee combatants like dylan for example.

the following question caught him off guard. until now, charlie never thought much about what he’d do outside of being part of the ten. that was never an option given how most of his life has been centred around paragon since father adopted him. “i guess i could be a model or influencer,” the blond replied, unsure of his answer. “i didn’t have the best upbringing, nor did i graduate from high school. my choices are pretty limited.” he let out a nervous laugh and scratched the back of his head. 

Learning of Charlie's background surprised the phantom. Really, it shouldn't have. The chances of Father conceiving a supe all his own were unlikely. He felt a gripping in his chest, sympathy, but didn't shy away from the topic. He was gentle. "... so he's really all you've got huh? No one on his side?"

Morgan wasn't fishing for names or information, like some might. It was difficult to imagine Charlie being lonely outside of recruitment. Learning that he'd been abandoned so early in life, for whatever reason, made that picture more clear.

this time around, charlie’s smile was forced as he nodded his head to answer. he never openly talked about his relationship with father, as most see it as an unfair advantage. however, he couldn’t really hide the fact given their shared surname. “he wanted me when nobody else did. and please don’t take that the wrong way. he’s not a perv,” charlie emphasized, squashing any rumours before they could start. “actually, he’s never shown any interest in men or women as far as i’ve known him. hasn’t dated anybody either. kind of a hermit aside from the people at paragon.” he brushed it off as the older man having too much on his plate to focus on such mundane things. 

a mischievous grin tugged on the corners of his lips. since morgan wanted to be nosey, why not poke some fun at him? “why do you ask? you trying to be my step daddy?” he teased, the notion preposterous but oddly amusing. “he loves green roses and german chocolates if you’re curious.”

"...though it looks like you might need my help instead." Not saying much else as he want to the bed, made a odd grunt and then tossed away three of the five options spread out. He then took the remaining ties to the shirt he had hanging up. "Where's your suit...and shoes..." Tossing another tie to the pile of the others once he picked the winner.

he blinked in mild surprise as alaric instantly eliminated three ties as options. “aww, i liked that pink one.” charlie had a matching jockstrap somewhere in the room. compliant as always, he fetched the formal attire his sponsor chose for him to wear and unzipped the outfit from a suit bag marked with givenchy’s logo. “black blazer, slacks, and dress shoes. i thought a pop of color would look nice…?” although clearly not according to alaric, who seemed to be a more well-seasoned fashion expert. he nodded excitedly at the winner, happy to take any tips and advice given to him.

Alaric was looking for Matthias when he arrived at the doors to Room C. Giving it a knock and finding support against the far wall to wait. Though he would find the other occupant to the room to be the one to greet him. "Oh Charles..." Delayed his smile found his way to his lips. Alaric was...indifferent towards Charlie in truth. Besides worrying the little atomic bomb would blow and kill them all, there was the disdain of favoritism he was no fan of. Unless aimed at himself of course. But there was something about the relationship between Charlie and their benefactor that was unbalanced. Assuming the blonde was sucking Father off for points with their odd trips together.

No judgement just presented the blonde to be an obstacle in his way to the The Ten. So even as he hoped for an 'accident' to knock him out of the race, he remained charming as ever. Easily to stab a knife when close under the other. "Is Matthias around? Was going to see if he was up for a spar..." Moving forward into the room without waiting for an answer to find out for himself.

the knock on the door ruined his train of thought, but he proceeded to answer anyways. "sheesh, you sound like ash," the blond mused in regards to alaric's use of his real name. only the ginger ever really called him charles. "he's not, but why don't you check the closet to make sure~" he teased, poking fun at the russian's heterosexual exterior. "i'm kidding. surely he's as straight as a pole."

"Late bloomer, yeah." He smiled again, knowing full well it wasn't a compliment. Still. Funny. "I worry the same thing will happen to Ethan. 'maybe my being here and tested would make the transition easier for him." Mostly, Morgan feared Ethan experiencing sudden heart failure, but not reviving like he had.

"Other than your... dad... do you have much family?" Morgan pried.

he nodded, trying to sympathize with morgan's predicament. not every parent wanted their child to have super powers. charlie remembered seeing couples begging father to provide some kind of antidote that was capable of wiping out the meta gene entirely. unfortunately, no such compound existed. at least not yet. "if the time comes, he'll have a well-seasoned mentor to teach him," he assured morgan with a warm smile.

the next question caused charlie's demeanor to change a little. "no... none that i'm aware of. i grew up in an orphanage for super kids."

Especially for a nobody like Morgan. The work, posts, flashing lights and expectations were a lot to take in. On top of being a literal hero. Having a friend at his side would help Morgan feel grounded in the moment. "Uh, no." He said at first, before adding. "No, not overstepping... and no, he's not a supe."

Morgan wore a half-confident smirk now, thinking about Ethan. How he'd been put under the knife before and feared the same fate for his son. Doctors and Paragon had already done their own tests, which infuriated Morgan, but in the end his wife's decision gave him peace of mind. Ethan was safe from being made into an idol or cash cow. A weapon destined for slaughter. "What I got only developed about eight months ago. s'why I have a lot of catching up to do."

the nature of morgan's powers were far beyond the blond's feeble comprehension. to have the physiology of a ghost was sure to be quite the rare ability. he has yet to encounter another super with the same unique skillset as morgan. "oh? i suppose that's a good thing. he won't be constantly watched like we are." being born normal was a luxury they didn't have.

he blinked in surprise at morgan's following statement. charlie leaned forward, clearly intrigued and wanting to hear more. "so you're totally like... a noob," the blond teased, letting out an amused chuckle. "i guess late bloomer is a better term." part of him couldn't help but wonder why morgan's meta gene took so long to develop. or the reason for its prolonged dormant state.