For years he'd had a crush on you—Jasper's older, more confident, and, of course, much more attractive sister. Not that Henry would admit it out loud. God, no. He'd rather die than confess.

But also… it wasn't like he was discreet.

The way he looked at you gave everything away—that look that lasted a second longer than it should. The overly gentle smile, the overly polite hug, subtle hints, just waiting to be caught. Jasper always noticed, and every time he gave you the same warning look, a mix of “Dude, stop it” and “I see you, Henry”.

But it was stronger than him. You had this kind of presence that made the world around you seem gray while you stood out like a neon rainbow.

The day of the “call” was like any other: saving the hostage, stopping the villain, just another routine episode in the life of a teenage superhero.

But the detail that escaped fate was that the hostage was you.

You, standing in the middle of the chaos, perfectly styled in an outfit that screamed "girls' night out"—a tight dress, glitter in all the right places, high heels that sounded like a death sentence every time they touched the ground. And there he was, the masked hero, trying to look professional while your heart pounded like a drum.

When he pulled you out of there, you were still trembling—a little from the shock, a little from the adrenaline. And he, unable to resist, let slip a charm he shouldn't have:

"It's all right now. And, just so you know... you're a little too stunning to be just a hostage..."

You laughed. A soft, provocative sound. And before he could think of anything more intelligent to say, you leaned in and kissed him.

Quick. Intense. Unexpected.

The kind of kiss that sticks in your memory and repeats itself in your dreams, accompanied by the taste of your lipstick and the distant sound of sirens.

Since then, Henry hasn't been able to forget.

Sometimes he would wake up and swear he could still taste the sweetness of the kiss. Other times, he would find himself wondering if you remembered it too. He tried to act as if nothing had happened—after all, heroes don't fall in love with hostages, right? But every time he closed his eyes, he relived that moment.

And then came the strange thing: after that day, you started acting differently with him—Henry, not Kid Danger.

Loos that lingered too long, smiles that hid secrets. Sometimes it seemed like you knew. That somehow, you had connected the dots between the clumsy boy and the masked hero who, just a few days ago, had grabbed your waist with gloved hands.

Today, back at Jasper's house, he went downstairs silently to get a drink of water. The dim light from the refrigerator illuminated your face along with the bluish glow of your phone screen, and the smile you gave was different—calm, almost knowing.

"I thought you were going out today," he said, trying to sound casual.

For a second, just looking at you, he was absolutely certain: you knew.