The Dark Matter Sage

The midday sun filtered into the LAPD press room, its rays catching the microphones and recording equipment lined up in front of the podium. Reporters murmured among themselves, their conversations filled with speculation about the video that had been teased in the department's announcement. Lieutenant Park, poised and professional in her crisp uniform, stepped up to the podium and adjusted the microphone.

"Good afternoon," she began, her voice firm but calm. "We appreciate you all being here. The LAPD is releasing edited footage from a recent incident in Koreatown, during which a man prevented a robbery and saved the life of a young woman."

The room stilled as the projector screen behind her lit up, showing a segment of the surveillance footage. The video displayed Tony moving through the store, disarming and subduing the robbers with an efficiency and speed that left the reporters visibly awestruck. Gasps rippled through the room when the clip reached the moment Tony knelt by the injured teenager. The faint glow of his hands and the miraculous cessation of bleeding were clear even in the grainy footage.

"This man, known to us only as 'Tony,'" Lieutenant Park continued, "is a person of interest in connection with multiple police cases. He is not suspected of any crime and is considered neither a threat nor dangerous. We are seeking his identity so we may speak with him regarding his involvement in these incidents."

The reporters erupted into questions, hands shooting into the air.

"Lieutenant Park, what do you mean by 'multiple cases'? Is this man a vigilante?"

Park held up a hand to quiet the room. "We do not have enough information at this time to classify his actions. What we know is that he has assisted in life-saving situations."

"Can you confirm if he was involved in the Helen Bernstein High School hostage situation?"

Park's expression tightened, but she remained composed. "I cannot comment on that at this time."

"What about the healing? Is it some kind of advanced first-aid technique?"

"No comment," Park said firmly, her voice leaving no room for further probing.

"Lieutenant, should the public be concerned about this man?"

Park shook her head, her tone turning cautious. "The LAPD does not consider him a threat. In fact, his actions in Koreatown likely prevented a tragedy. However, we encourage the public to be respectful. Do not approach him aggressively or take any actions that could escalate into conflict."

Another reporter jumped in. "But if he's not a threat, why does the LAPD want to locate him?"

A reporter in the front row raised his hand quickly, his tone skeptical as he asked, "Lieutenant, if the LAPD doesn't consider him a threat, why the emphasis on being respectful and nonaggressive? Are you suggesting this... 'SuperTony' could be dangerous if provoked?"

The room buzzed with murmurs, and Park's sharp gaze zeroed in on the reporter. Her lips pressed into a thin line as she processed the unexpected nickname.

"The emphasis on respect," Park began, her voice measured, "is not because we believe he is dangerous, but because this man has shown extraordinary abilities—abilities we don't fully understand yet. Acting aggressively toward someone with those capabilities is not only reckless but could lead to unnecessary escalation."

The reporter smirked, jotting something in his notepad. "So, you're saying SuperTony is like a superhero?"

Park's jaw tightened, and she glanced toward the back of the room as if summoning patience. "I didn't say that," she replied curtly. "This press conference is over."

But it was too late. The nickname had already stuck. By the time Park stepped away from the podium, the murmur of "SuperTony" echoed through the press room. Within minutes, social media was flooded with clips of the footage, hashtags like #SuperTony and #KoreatownHero trending across platforms.

Jay was scrolling on her phone while brushing her hair, preparing for dinner at Tony's, when a news clip caught her attention. At first, it barely registered—just another story about crime in Koreatown. But then her gaze froze on the screen, her hand stopping mid-stroke. A familiar figure was moving with impossible grace, taking down robbers with precision that seemed otherworldly. And then the footage showed him kneeling beside a teenage girl, his hands glowing faintly as he healed her wound.

Her breath hitched. "What... what is this?" she whispered, her voice shaky.

She replayed the clip, her heart pounding harder with each second. The efficiency of Tony's movements, the surreal glow of his hands, the undeniable proof that he'd done something extraordinary—it was all him. It had to be. But how? Why hadn't he told her?

"Jay? You okay in there?" her mother, Janeth, called from the other room.

Jay set her phone down, her hands trembling slightly. "Mom, can you come here?" she said, her voice tight.

Janeth walked in, drying her hands with a dish towel. "What's going on?"

Jay turned the phone toward her, the video paused on Tony kneeling beside the injured girl. "Have you seen this?"

Janeth squinted at the screen, her brows knitting together. "Wait... is that Tony?"

Jay nodded, her voice almost a whisper. "Yeah. And apparently, the LAPD is looking for him—not as a suspect, but because he can do... this." She gestured to the image on the screen, her emotions swirling between awe and confusion. "He healed her, Mom. Like, with glowing hands. And he never said a word about it."

Janeth tilted her head, her expression softening as she studied Jay's face. "You look more worried than upset. What's going on in that head of yours?"

Jay sighed, setting the phone down. "I don't know what to think. I trust him, but this feels... huge. What if he's been hiding more than I realize? What if I don't really know him at all?"

Janeth walked over, resting a hand on Jay's arm. "Honey, trust is about more than what someone tells you. It's about how they treat you, how they make you feel. Has Tony ever given you a reason to doubt him?"

Jay shook her head. "No. Never. But this isn't some little secret, Mom. He's all over the news. He's doing things people can't explain."

"Maybe he's been trying to protect you," Janeth said gently. "Or maybe he doesn't know how to explain it himself. You won't know until you ask."

Jay's lips pressed into a thin line as she considered her mother's words. "What if he doesn't tell me everything? What if he's still hiding something?"

Janeth squeezed her shoulder. "Then you'll cross that bridge when you get to it. But don't let fear stop you from hearing him out. If anyone deserves that chance, it's Tony."

Jay exhaled deeply, nodding. "You're right. I'll go. But I need him to be honest with me, Mom. Completely honest."

"I know, sweetheart," Janeth said, smiling. "And if he's the man you think he is, he will be."

Jay grabbed her bag, pausing for a moment at the door.