The warm glow of the kitchen lights cast a cozy atmosphere as Alex leaned against the counter, watching James work his magic at the stove. The smell of chocolate filled the air as the young boy carefully poured batter into the frying pan, making yet another batch of chocolate pancakes. Across the kitchen, Mary sat in her high chair, a giggling mess of cuteness as she watched her big brother cook.
Every time James flipped a pancake into the air, Mary let out a fit of giggles, clapping her tiny hands with excitement. Her round, cherubic cheeks were already smeared with remnants of chocolate from the snack James had given her earlier.
Alex chuckled, arms crossed. "You spoil her more than me you know."
James, focused on his task, shrugged. "She likes it. Besides, she gets cranky if she doesn't have chocolate."
Margaret, sitting at the dining table with a mug of coffee, smirked as she watched her children interact. "I wonder where she gets that from, James?" she teased.
James paused, as if considering it. "...Dad?" he said, glancing at Alex with an innocent look.
Alex rolled his eyes. "I resent that."
James grinned before returning to his pancakes. He had gotten better at cooking over the past year, something Alex and Margaret both noticed, and he wasn't the same Dinosaur loving kid anymore (albeit still loves them). He enjoyed taking care of Mary, acting more like her protector than just a big brother. He had a natural instinct for looking after others, something that made Alex proud—but also a little concerned.
The boy was growing up fast.
As James placed another pancake onto a plate, Alex finally asked, "Alright, seriously though—why are you so hungry lately? You're eating more than both of us combined."
James, his mouth half-full of a freshly stolen pancake, shrugged. "I dunno. I just feel like I need more food lately."
Margaret chuckled. "Maybe he's hitting puberty early."
James nearly choked. "Mom, don't jinx me!"
Alex laughed, grabbing a plate and ruffling James' hair. "Well, just don't get taller than me too quickly, alright? I still need some dignity."
James gave him a playful smirk. "No promises."
The rest of the evening passed in peaceful domestic bliss—something Alex cherished in moments like these. As much as he was changing the world through Permission Enterprises, LexCorp, and his secret work with technology, this? This was home.
Midnight
The halls of the house were silent as the clock ticked past midnight. The city outside was alive with the distant hum of cars, but inside, the world was still.
In one of the bedrooms, James stirred. His eyes opened, glowing a faint red hue in the darkness. He felt restless, his body humming with energy.
Slowly, he sat up and let the Symbiote flow over his body like living liquid. A dark crimson mass slithered up his arms, enveloping him in an armor-like shell of organic muscle and fluid motion.
Rexx had awakened.
The Red Symbiote of Metropolis flexed his fingers, the sharp claws gleaming in the moonlight. His enhanced senses picked up everything—the sound of his parents breathing down the hall, the heartbeat of Mary in her crib, the distant police sirens echoing through the city.
He moved without a sound, his Symbiote camouflaging him into the darkness as he slipped out the window and onto the roof. Metropolis stretched before him, a city of lights and shadows.
And tonight, it needed its nighttime protector.
With a burst of power, James leaped from the rooftop, swinging forward on tendrils of living red as he navigated through the city, the silent guardian hidden in the night.
Perched on the edge of a towering skyscraper, James—now fully merged with Rexx—observed the city below. His sharp eyes scanned for signs of trouble.
He had helped before—small crimes, break-ins, muggings—but tonight, he had a feeling something bigger was happening.
A voice called out behind him.
"You're out late."
James turned sharply, but he didn't need to see the figure to recognize him.
Allan—Superior Superman—stood behind him, arms crossed, cape billowing slightly in the night breeze.
James sighed. "You always find me too easily."
Allan smirked. "Not my fault you're not subtle."
James turned back to the city. "You find anything tonight?"
Allan shook his head. "Quiet so far. But I figured I'd check in on you."
James leaned forward. "I can handle myself, Uncle Allan."
Allan chuckled. "Oh, I know. But Alex would kill me if I let anything happen to you."
James glanced at him, hesitating before asking the question that had been bothering him for months.
"Uncle Allan… is Alex like you?"
Allan raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"Is he a Kryptonian?" James asked, his voice serious.
Allan exhaled, looking up at the sky for a moment before answering. "No, James. Alex is human. But… he has special abilities. Just like you."
James frowned. "But he's strong. He knows things. He—"
"He's different. But not Kryptonian." Allan said firmly. "If it helps, think of it like this—we just had… different dads."
James stayed quiet for a moment, processing that.
"So, he's special. But he's still my dad."
Allan nodded. "That's right."
James sighed, shaking his head. "Figures. My dad is weirder than I thought."
Allan chuckled. "Tell me about it."
The two stood in silence for a moment, the city stretching before them, both knowing that the world was changing for better and worse—and so were they... for the better of course.