The collapsing building groans like it's alive.
Concrete cracking.
Glass raining down.
Inside—
People scream.
And outside—
Captain Man holds the entire structure upright with both hands.
His muscles strain.
His boots dig into the pavement.
Ray grits his teeth.
"…Hold together."
Across the street—
Emergency crews rush in.
Police evacuate people.
Firefighters drag survivors out.
Ray's communicator crackles.
Charlotte's voice.
"Ray, we're clearing the building! Two more floors!"
Ray's arms shake.
"…Hurry."
But his eyes keep drifting upward.
Back to the rooftop.
Where Christina is.
Where Henry is.
Where Titan is.
His jaw tightens.
"…Hold on."
Back on the Rooftop
Henry ducks under Titan's punch.
Barely.
The impact smashes a metal vent behind him.
Henry mutters—
"…You hit like a truck."
Titan grabs him.
Throws him across the rooftop.
Henry slams into a wall.
Hard.
Christina struggles in the restraints.
"Henry!"
Titan turns back toward her.
"You care about him."
Christina scoffs.
"He's annoying."
Titan chuckles.
"Just like Ray was."
Henry groans from the ground.
"…Still here."
Titan walks toward him slowly.
"You fight like him."
Henry spits blood.
"Good."
Titan kicks him again.
Henry skids across the rooftop.
Christina's voice cracks—
"STOP!"
Titan turns calmly.
"…You don't like watching."
Christina glares.
"You're pathetic."
Titan tilts his head.
"And yet… you're still trapped."
The rooftop trembles again.
Metal snapping.
The restraint cable holding Christina starts loosening from the damaged roof beam.
Henry notices.
His eyes widen.
"…Oh no."
Christina looks up.
The beam is breaking.
If it snaps—
She falls.
Ten stories down.
Titan notices too.
And smiles.
"Well."
Henry struggles to stand.
"You're not touching her."
Titan watches him try.
"You can barely stand."
Henry staggers forward anyway.
"I don't need to."
Titan raises an eyebrow.
Henry grins weakly.
"Just need to slow you down."
Titan attacks.
Henry blocks.
Barely.
Every hit hurts.
But he keeps moving.
Christina watches him.
Her voice soft.
"…Idiot."
The beam cracks again.
LOUD.
Henry looks up.
"…Ray."
Across the Street
Ray hears the crack through the comm.
His heart stops.
"…Christina."
Charlotte shouts—
"Ray we're almost done!"
Ray's eyes flick between the building and the rooftop.
The same choice.
The one that broke everything before.
Titan's voice echoes in his mind.
Choose.
Ray closes his eyes.
Then opens them.
"…Evacuate the rest."
Charlotte freezes.
"…Ray?"
Ray steps away from the building.
Just enough.
Emergency beams lock into place to hold it temporarily.
Not safe.
But enough.
Ray launches into the air.
Flying toward the rooftop.
Charlotte whispers—
"…He chose."
Rooftop
Henry's vision blurs.
Titan slams him down again.
The beam finally snaps.
Christina drops.
Henry screams—
"CHRISTINA!"
She falls.
The city spinning beneath her.
Wind roaring.
For a split second—
She thinks this is it.
Then—
A red blur rockets past.
Arms catch her mid-air.
Ray.
Christina's breath catches.
"…Dad."
Ray holds her tightly.
"…Got you."
He flies back onto the rooftop.
Sets her down gently.
Henry laughs weakly from the ground.
"…Nice timing."
Titan watches.
Expression darkening.
"You chose her."
Ray stands slowly.
Eyes blazing.
"I should've done it a long time ago."
Titan's voice hardens.
"You abandoned the city."
Ray cracks his knuckles.
"…No."
He steps forward.
"I stopped abandoning my family."
Titan lunges.
The final fight explodes.
Ray hits harder than ever before.
Not hero rage.
Father rage.
Henry drags himself up.
Joins the fight.
Christina grabs a broken metal rod.
"Round three."
Titan stumbles back.
Three against one.
For the first time—
He looks uncertain.
Ray knocks the device from Titan's hand.
Henry tackles him.
Christina slams the rod down—
Pinning Titan to the ground.
Police sirens scream below.
Titan laughs quietly.
"You finally chose."
Ray breathes hard.
"…Yeah."
Titan looks at Christina.
"Don't let him lose you again."
Police swarm the rooftop.
Titan is taken away.
The fight is over.
Later — Rooftop Edge
The city lights glow below.
Christina sits on the ledge.
Bandages visible under her jacket.
Ray stands beside her.
Quiet.
"…You came back."
Christina says it softly.
Ray nods.
"I always will."
She glances at him.
"…You promise?"
Ray doesn't hesitate.
"…Yeah."
Henry walks over slowly.
Bruised.
Bloody.
Grinning.
"…Well that sucked."
Christina laughs.
"You got wrecked."
Henry shrugs.
"Worth it."
Ray looks at him.
Long moment.
Then nods once.
"…Thanks."
Henry blinks.
"…Did Captain Man just thank me."
Christina grins.
"Miracle."
Henry sits beside her.
Their shoulders touch.
Neither moves away.
The city is quiet again.
For now.