A/n: Bonus chapter. Remember to hit that vote button. More power stones means faster updates. Also, you can support me via ko-fi.com/chaoswriter01. I know this is not onlyfans or anything. But creators' true supporters are the readers. Even $1 itself can make a difference.
The room hummed with the steady beat of life support machines. Alex lay in bed, sheets pulled to his chest. His eyelids stirred, and light pressed against him as the pieces of the previous night returned to him.
'That was dangerous. Pushing telekinesis too far has serious consequences.'
His vision steadied, and he turned his head. Maya Hansen sat beside him, her fingers laced with his. Relief and worry washed over her face, and her shoulders visibly sagged as she saw his eyes open.
"You scared me," Maya whispered, her voice trembling. "You were unconscious for twenty-four hours. We couldn't figure out what happened. Even the Rebirth potion wasn't working."
Alex exhaled slowly. "I knew it was a risky move. But the Knights can't let the people down. There's too much at stake."
"I—we were all worried," Maya stammered, her words still unsteady. Alex offered a soft smile, his thumb gently brushing her cheek.
Tension lingered between them as Maya leaned closer, her eyes searching his. Their words faded into silence, the air thick with everything left unspoken. Then, almost without thinking, she leaned in further, closing the gap until their lips met in a sudden, passionate kiss that ignited a fire between them.
Maya's fingers tangled in Alex's hair, deepening the kiss with urgency. Time seemed to stand still as they surrendered to the connection that had been building between them.
The door burst open just then. Richard Kane strode in, his face a mix of urgency and relief. "Alex! Thank God you're awake!" He froze mid-step, his eyes widening at the scene.
Maya flushed, pulling her hand back. She jumped up from the bed. "I-I should check on the others," she stammered before hurrying out.
Richard raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Did I interrupt something?"
Alex, annoyed by the sudden interruption, asked, "How did you find out I woke up so quickly?"
Richard pointed to the camera above. "You know there were people watching you, right?"
Alex was dumbfounded for a moment. Richard added playfully, "Don't worry. After informing me of your status, they turned it off. Haha. Look at you, all squirmy—don't tell me you guys were..."
Alex groaned again, rubbing his temples harder. "Not the time, Uncle. What's going on?"
Richard's expression became serious. "The situation in Harlem is under control. There were five casualties accounted for, but two civilians were shot by stray military fire. They're keeping it quiet, and we were told to do the same."
Alex's jaw tightened. "Damn, those military douchebags."
Richard shook his head. "You know how they operate. They'll sweep it under the rug."
Alex sighed deeply, his eyes sharpening. "Tell Elias to collect all the evidence. Their cover-up, names, everything. It might be useful for us later." Alex knew he couldn't change anything even with his current influence. He might be able to expose it today, but doing so would only backfire tomorrow.
Richard gave a wry smile. "On the plus side, because of what the Knights did, everyone loves us. The media is eating it up. Someone even filmed you stopping the Hulk and making him run away, and the video's gone viral. The person who filmed it also mentioned you used your telekinesis to save him. Now, instead of a thousand people knowing about you, the whole world does. Most of the comments are positive, but there are some negatives—all manageable. The weirdest part? I even saw a cult starting to worship you."
Alex remembered the idiot who almost got crushed. 'I can't believe he didn't leave and was still filming there. This guy seriously has no regard for his own life.'
"Keep me updated. If there is backlash, we must respond appropriately without wasting time," Alex said, slumping back onto his bed. Night had fallen, but the city that never sleeps was still alive with lights and movement.
---
The next morning in Washington, D.C., the conference room was imposing, a stark contrast to the chaos of Harlem. Alex Kane sat at the long table, flanked by key members of the Knights, his expression calm but unreadable. Across from them sat General Thaddeus Ross, several Senators, including Senator Stern, and the Secretary of Defense, their faces set in imposing authority.
Ross cleared his throat. "We need to discuss Harlem and the public's reaction. The military's involvement must be framed correctly to maintain stability."
Senator Stern leaned forward. "The narrative is crucial. We need to tell the public the military saved them from the Hulk."
Alex listened, a growing unease in his gut. "What about the civilians shot by military fire? Why was that covered up?"
The Secretary of Defense shifted uncomfortably. "There were no reports of such incidents, Alex. The military acted in the best interest of public safety."
Alex's eyes narrowed. "Should I present the proof? Maybe the media might appreciate some truth for a change."
"Are you trying to—" Senator Stern began, but the Secretary raised a hand, silencing him.
"What do you want, Alex?" the Secretary asked flatly.
Alex took a deep breath. "I want the power to deploy freely if such situations arise... and the authority to make arrests under military jurisdiction."
General Ross slammed his hand on the table. "Such a thing cannot be allowed! How can we give a private company the rights that only law enforcement has?"
The room fell silent. Alex met Ross's gaze, unflinching.
After a long pause, the Secretary of Defense spoke. "I can allow such a condition..."
"Sir—" several voices rose in protest, but he silenced them.
"But... only limited to the State of New York," he continued.
Alex nodded. "That's a start."
As the meeting concluded, Alex felt a mix of relief and apprehension. Richard leaned closer, whispering, "You handled that well. But be careful. They'll be watching you closely."
Alex sighed. "I know. But we need this—not just to protect the people, but to protect ourselves. It's worth the risk."
He exited the conference room, the weight of the world on his shoulders. The path ahead was challenging, but he was determined to navigate it, one step at a time.