Izzy sat in Marvin’s glass-walled office, a sleek black pen and the contract resting on the polished table in front of her.
This was everything she’d ever dreamed about.
『I’ve come too far to freeze at the door. This is the dream. The actual dream. Even the people who trash the industry would sign this in a heartbeat. 』
Marvin watched her from across the table, leaning back in his chair with calm confidence. He’d made his case. Now it was all on her and the pen.
『Just sign it. Sign it. 』
He cleared his throat gently. Izzy picked up the pen. Damage Control Ltd. was already printed at the top. Marvin’s signature sat bold and final on the line above. She moved the pen to the blank space meant for hers.
The industry is corrupted.
Ren’s voice echoed in her head.
Anyone who actually wants to be a hero doesn’t sign with those companies.
『What if he’s wrong, though? Signing with a company gets you in front of more people. That’s how you reach anyone. 』
『But Ren’s never wrong. What if I’m doing this for the money. No. Hell no. I’m not doing it for money. I need to think before I sign this. What happens to us, to me and Ren, when he finds out. 』
『You’re overthinking it, girl. 』
Her hand moved. The pen scratched across the paper as she signed.
For half a second, Marvin had thought she might back out.
"Miss Silver." He smiled, slow and satisfied. "Welcome aboard. You won’t regret this."
Izzy set the pen down, staring at her own signature.
"Want to see what we put together for you?" Marvin asked, already standing.
"Yeah." She stood as well, smoothing her white top and mini skirt.
"Follow me." He walked out of the glass office.
"Doctor Martinho’s report says you’ve barely tapped ten percent of your potential," Marvin said as they walked down the bright corridor.
"Mmm."
"And trust me, the suit matters more than people think." He pressed his fingers to a glass panel in the wall. A scan ran across his hand and the door slid open silently.
Inside was a long, immaculate room lined with hero costumes hanging in clean, evenly spaced rows. Full suits, pants, tops, masks, every one displayed under soft accent lighting.
"Whoa." Izzy couldn’t take it all in at once.
"Take whatever speaks to you."
She reached out and ran her fingers over a dark blue suit threaded with elegant silver lines. The fabric felt sleek and strong under her touch. "It’s beautiful. I just don’t love the panda mask."
"Kevlar and Nomex weave, reinforced with carbon nanotubes. High tear and bullet resistance." Marvin watched her closely. "We can build you a custom mask for it, or you design it your own way."
"I’ll take this one." She kept touching the material. "But I’d want a mask more like Lady Vega’s. Something that doesn’t cover my whole face."
"Done." Marvin nodded. "Good eye, Miss Silver. Strong suit, and it doesn’t sexualize you. People will look at what you can do, not what you look like."
Izzy’s hand froze on the fabric. She blinked, eyebrows lifting slightly as she stared at the dark blue material. A small, surprised smile tugged at the corner of her mouth before she could stop it.
『Okay. I think I had him completely wrong. Marvin actually cares about this stuff. This is the kind of person you want in your corner. 』
"What’ve you got tonight?" Marvin asked, sliding his hands into his pockets.
"Plans with my boyfriend."
"I see." A small pause. He tilted his head, studying her reaction. "I’d like you available tonight. Run your first mission, get your name in front of the industry."
Izzy’s fingers tightened on the suit. She looked up at him, lips parting slightly in surprise.
"You want me to cancel on him?"
"Yes." Marvin said it plainly, his expression calm and matter-of-fact. "He’ll understand. Tell him you’ll make it up to him."
Izzy stared at him, her grip on the hanger loosening as uncertainty flickered across her face.
"Or just lie," Marvin added with a small shrug. "Though if he’s any kind of reasonable, you won’t have to. He’ll get it."
Izzy pulled her phone from her skirt pocket, her movements a little slower now.
"Be quick. We’ve got a photoshoot." Marvin folded his arms, watching her expectantly.
She dialed Ren.
『Please. Just don’t pick up. 』
He answered instantly. "Hey." His voice was bright and alive.
"Hey." She glanced back toward Marvin. He was still watching her closely.
"You good?"
"...Yeah. I’m good. You?"
***
Night fell over Mayvel, painting the skyline in deep indigo and streaks of neon. Ren stood in the center of his dimly lit apartment, fully suited in black and gold, the Golden Tire costume hugging his frame.
The rigid mask rested on the unmade bed, its gold stripes catching the faint glow from the city outside the open window.
[The robbers have hit Mayvel Bank. Two of them, a man and a woman. Your objective is the woman.] The system pinged clearly in his ear.
Ren picked up the mask and slid it over his face. The lenses activated instantly, sharpening the world around him with crisp detail.
[Police are already in position, holding back out of sight. Press has been tipped off and is mobilizing, which means a licensed hero will most likely be assigned.]
"What’s the plan?"
A glowing holographic blueprint of the bank building projected into the air in front of him, highlighting his entry route in bright gold lines.
"Okay." Ren studied it, tilting his head. "I like it already."
『Good thing the date got pushed. Hope Izzy’s mom is alright. Izzy doesn’t get that worried over nothing. 』
He exhaled slowly, then stepped up onto the narrow window ledge. Cool night wind rushed against the suit as the city sprawled out beneath him, a glittering web of lights, moving cars, and distant sirens.
[Live in two minutes.]
[Warning: Estimated audience exceeds all previous broadcasts.]
[HBM monitoring probability: 61%]
[High-ranking villains are likely to observe.]
[Failure will be public.]
『Alright. 』
Ren stepped off the ledge into open air.
[Glitch is live.]