Daniel sneaked into his apartment through a window, dropping onto the floor. He slowly got up, pulling off his helmet and tossing it into a random corner, stumbling over to his and Karen's bedroom. He saw her sleeping soundly on the floor in their blankets, cracking a smile. Walking over to Karen, Daniel kissed her on the forehead. But his familiar touch woke her up, her eyes fluttering open, seeing him in his armor.

  "L-love, you're going out crime fighting.” Karen hastily sat up. “My god, what time is it?"

  "Calm down. It's still early, and I'm just coming back. Things got ugly in this town after you fell asleep."

  “Love, can we talk about something difficult?”

  “Seeing that you’re asking permission, does that mean I can say no?” Daniel asked with a misshapen smile.

  Karen tightly grabbed Daniel’s mouth, scowling at him. “No.”

  “Okay. Shoot.” Daniel exhaled.

  Karen released his face.

  "Daniel, I can't help but feel left out. You keep deciding things without even talking to me. Aren't we supposed to be partners?"

  Daniel gently placed his hand on the side of Karen’s face."I-I didn't want to wake you.”

  “And you, using your father’s heirloom for collateral?”

  “You’re right.” Daniel rubbed his hand over his face. “We put our heads together like a team next time."

  “That’s all I ask.”

  As Daniel saw the features on Karen’s face soften, he drew closer to her. Daniel quickly kissed Karen, enjoying her taste as it entered his mouth, kissing her again and again. As his kisses became more lively, Karen smiled, pulling him on top of her. And he had his way with her on the floor.

  Later, Daniel put his armor back in the closet. But as he closed it, he spotted his typewriter on the table exactly how he had left it. Daniel stomped over to it and reclaimed his seat. “Let’s do this.” Again, his hands trembled, but unlike before, Daniel maintained control over them, typing like the wind.

  ***

  A month later, Daniel met a challenge, sweating bullets. The young man had to perform a feat of strength so arduous it vastly exceeded the limits of his superhuman powers. He had to summon the fortitude to submit his completed manuscript to the contest, dropping it into the mailbox before him. He stared intensely at the blue box, contemplating the consequences of surrendering his work, a part of his very being, to the many judgmental eyes of potential readers.

  He held the completed script for his story in a mail packet, shaking it furiously. But Karen and Benjamin watched him from nearby with big smiles.

  "You can do it, love," Karen said.

  "We believe in you, brother," Benjamin said.

  Daniel went to put the packet into the mailbox. He moved slowly toward it as his hands shook more and more. As Daniel got closer, Karen and Benjamin shook with excitement in turn. However, as he was about to slip it into the mailbox, he quickly took it back, running away from the mailbox, clutching his chest as if he had a stroke.

  As Karen and Benjamin saw him, they groaned, hurrying to his aid.

  "Daniel, what's wrong? All you have to do is drop your story in the mailbox," Benjamin said.

  "I can't take being rejected again, Ben."

  Karen took a deep breath. "Love, I hate to be that person. But the bank will ask for its collateral soon."

  "I'm thinking about trying a backup plan.” Daniel released his chest. “Ben, sorry for wasting your time, especially with your final exams."

  "No worries, brother." Benjamin placed a hand on Daniel’s shoulder.

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  ***

  The Jones family entered a car garage led by an employee. Inside was an enclosed concrete space of approximately one hundred square feet illuminated by numerous ceiling lights. It was a storage facility for various vehicles held until the legal owner could come and collect them. The day had finally come for Daniel to claim the car that Jack left for him in his will. The Jones family saw it as the man led them down the line of vehicles in their designated areas marked on the floor. A beautiful blue Chrysler Thunderbolt stood before them.

  Daniel and his siblings shared a look, thoroughly scanning the car. Hurrying over to it, the Jones siblings ran their hands over the pristine vehicle.

  "Ma, is this mine?" Daniel asked.

  "Yes, it is, sweetie. We hoped you would enjoy it." Sandra giggled.

  "Mommy, I have to ask. Where did Daddy get the money for a Chrysler Thunderbolt?" Charity asked.

  "It was a bank loan. It took Jack years of hard work to pay it off, but he was dead set on doing something special for me. He drove me to the most romantic dates, and we had so much fun with that car, in that car, on that car."

  As the Jones siblings heard Sandra, they jumped back from the car, wiping their hands on the walls, except for Daniel. He dropped to his knees as he began laughing.

  "I guess me and Pop weren't that different after all."

  Daniel continued laughing until he looked at Sandra, staring at the car with a large smile as she blushed bright red. He could tell even after long years of marriage and his death, that she was still deeply in love with his father. But a question haunted his mind as he made the revelation. Why couldn’t the young man do that with his lover? Why couldn’t he do it for Karen?

  Daniel released a sigh, and his features hardened. ”Let’s get the paperwork over with. I have to go.”

  ***

  As the evening came, Daniel looked out the window of his apartment. He gazed at the buildings outside, frowning. Daniel pondered his dream of being a writer and the harsh reality of his looming debts. However, soon, he looked at Karen cooking in the kitchen by the stove and took a deep breath, strolling over to her.

  "Dinner will be ready soon, love," Karen said.

  "Angel, remember when I promised to talk to you about big decisions? I'm making good on it right now, and it involves the backup plan."

  "I see. Let's hear the nitty-gritty." Karen turned off the stove.

  "Well, I plan on borrowing the money for my loan.”

  “From whom precisely?” Karen raised an eyebrow.

  “Relax. I’ll get it from the rich boy. I'll ask Charity to sweet-talk him into giving me the money and a job. My pride isn't worth losing Pop's heirloom."

  "I'm glad to hear you talking like this. But what about the contest? The deadline is fast approaching, love."

  "Forget the contest. It was a stupid idea. It’s damn passed time for me to accept that I'll never be a writer."

  As Karen heard Daniel, she took a deep breath, taking his hands. She pierced his soul with ruby eyes as they locked onto his eyes, not knowing what she would say.

  "Thank you for consulting me, Daniel. But I beg you, don't give up your dream on my account.”

  “Karen, there’s no hope.”

  “There’s always hope, my love. I don't want years from now for you to stare at a comic book unhappy, wondering what if."

  Daniel quickly took his hands from Karen. "I-I need some fresh air. I'm going for a walk. I'll be back later."

  Daniel hurried out of the kitchen to the door. He forced a smile at Karen as he readied to leave. He hoped that appearing happy would silence any worries or questions she had. But as Daniel looked at her, she again pierced him with ruby eyes. Daniel could tell she saw through his intentions and that the conversation would continue if he stayed longer. So, he opened the door as quickly as possible, briskly walking out of the apartment.

  ***

  Daniel walked through an impoverished neighborhood amusingly named Homeless Heights by many longtime residents. It earned its epithet by having the habit of attracting numerous homeless to its grounds and its very few self-sustaining businesses. Over the years, it became a refuge for those whom the world drilled into the ground. They were individuals constantly on the edge of the deepest despair. Daniel was the same in many ways. With every step through the frigid night air, homeless people of all backgrounds surrounded him. He looked at them, seeing them take refuge around fires in crumbling, dilapidated buildings. Finally, stopping leaning on a lamp post for support as the sight became too much.

  “This place is in even worse shape than I left it.” Daniel thought.

  Daniel saw two homeless little girls around one of the fires. And he punched a wall.

  “Compared to these people, my problems are nothing. But I don't know what to do. It's as if every path I choose of my own volition leads to failure."

  As he bemoaned his fate, Daniel got hit with a dizzy spell, dropping to the ground. Still, as he recovered, he spotted a young woman being harassed by two criminals, a man and a woman. And as the woman slapped her to the ground, Daniel hurried over.

  Daniel punched the female criminal into a pile of garbage."Hey, dame, get out of here. I'll handle these two.”

  The young woman ran from the fight as she heard Daniel. As she left, the man threw a punch at Daniel. He caught it and reciprocated with a knee to his opponent’s stomach and an elbow to his back. The man dropped to the ground, clutching his stomach in pain, but the woman got back up. She went to slash Daniel with her ordinary pocket knife, but he caught its blade in his hand. However, as Daniel felt pain in his hand, he slapped her to the ground.

  Daniel looked at the palm of his hand, seeing it bleed. "What?"

  Without Daniel noticing, the man picked up a plank of wood and quickly bashed it behind Daniel's head, knocking him unconscious.