Operation: OnlyHeroes

By the time I staggered back into Ascendants Tower, shirt sticky, shoes ruined, hair smelling like roasted espresso beans, I knew two things:

I had survived my first kaiju attack.

Ms. Void's latte was still intact.

A win? Technically.

The bullpen wasn't so sure. The second I stepped inside, every head swiveled. Interns froze mid-type. Someone dropped their headset. And then—ping!—my phone buzzed.

#LatteLad trending.

I opened TwitVid. Of course. There I was, on shaky amateur footage, clutching Ms. Void's cup while All-Star did his Superman routine in the background.

Caption: "This random intern didn't even flinch! Is he part of the team???"

The comments poured in:

@BlazedAndConfused: New Ascendant just dropped???

@JusticeStan84: Protect him at all costs 🥺☕

@VoidMommy: if that's Ms. Void's order I swear I'll scream

@KaijuKiller97: his power is caffeine distribution lol

By the time I hit the elevator, fan edits already had me Photoshopped in spandex.

The doors slid open and there she was: Ms. Bishop. Arms folded, expression sharper than guillotine steel. Behind her, a wall of holo-screens all showing the same headline:

"Ascendants Intern Saves City from Coffee Shortage."

I stepped out, confused, dripping in foam, hair still singed from kaiju windburn. "A kaiju broke loose, Grant flew over there to fight, but this is the morning news?!?"

One of the screens played the footage again: me, clutching Ms. Void's latte like it was a newborn, stumbling across cracked asphalt while All-Star launched heat-vision fireworks in the background.

The chyron read: "Who is Latte Lad? America's Newest Sweetheart?"

Another feed showed a panel of morning-show anchors cackling:

"Forget All-Star, I want this guy's bravery!"

"He's an icon! The intern who stood tall!"

"And didn't even spill the latte!"

I pointed at the screen, voice cracking. "That's editing! I tripped! I screamed! I was scalded by foam!"

Ms. Bishop didn't blink. "Optics, Williams. Do you understand the gift we've been handed?"

"A kaiju destroyed half of downtown!"

"And you survived," A voice appeared. 

Before Bishop could snap back, the lights flickered. The temperature dropped. Shadows stretched long across the corridor, curling along the walls like hungry vines.

And then, with the timing of a horror movie, Ms. Void herself materialized—draped in silk, dripping menace, smile sharp enough to draw blood. She didn't walk; she glided, shadows carrying her like royalty.

She passed Bishop without a glance, eyes locking onto the cup trembling in my hands.

"And brought me a latte," she purred. Her voice was velvet dipped in poison. She plucked the cup from my grip, long gloved fingers brushing mine just enough to freeze me in place.

She sipped delicately, and for a moment the shadows sighed like they'd been waiting for this too.

"I'm impressed."

I was not. My spine tried to eject itself out the nearest window. "Y-you're welcome?" I squeaked, which was apparently all I could manage while face-to-face with the embodiment of hot goth nightmare fuel.

Her smile widened. "You've done what few men ever accomplish, intern."

"Oh God," I muttered. Now I don't know what it was, but my heart was racing as soon as she locked eyes on me. 'Sultry' was merely sugarcoating it.

"You've pleased me... before breakfast." She purred, hungrily. But not for breakfast.

Bishop pinched the bridge of her nose like she'd been through this too many times to care. "Lenora, stop terrifying the staff."

Ms. Void raised a brow, shadows licking up the walls like flames. "I was complimenting him, Shanice."

The shadows curled tighter around my ankles. Compliment. Sure. That's what this was.

Bishop snapped her tablet shut. "Williams, enough gawking. You've got your first official assignment. Void, please stop making interns cry. HR is still recovering from the last batch."

Void's smile curved into something wolfish. She leaned close enough that I could smell wine on her breath. Then... kissed me on the cheek. 

Her lips were cool, lingering just a second too long, and when she pulled back the shadows writhed like they'd just been fed.

"I...uh..." was the best I managed. Stellar first impression, Toby.

Void licked her lips, eyes glimmering with something halfway between hunger and amusement. "Mmm. Sweet. Naïve. I'll keep an eye on this one."

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