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“I found you,” Jack said with a cheeky grin.
“You found me,” Simon replied, a soft smile playing on his lips.
It was a long-running joke between them—an inside reference to the day they first met.
Jack had always claimed to be the sole reason for the existence of the superhero Gazerbeam. He insisted he was the only one who had seen Simon’s potential as a Super. Bob and Lucius, however, simply laughed at this bold declaration, fully aware that it was the three of them who had approached Simon together.
Before long, Simon—better known as Gazerbeam—had become part of both their friend group and superhero team. He was happy. He had finally found a place where he belonged. He finally had a purpose.
Most of the missions were handled by him and Gamma Jack, as Mr. Incredible was known for preferring solo work, while Frozone was often paired with Blazestone. Being the awkward person he was, Simon typically asked the only available person he felt closest to—Jack. Although reluctant at first, Gamma Jack eventually agreed, especially after the pressure from the NSA. At the time, Jack was already being monitored by the agency, and they believed that assigning him a partner would help minimize the collateral damage he often caused.
As they continued to be paired for missions, their friendship grew. After finishing their assignments, they’d often go on late-night walks, talking about anything and everything. However, their partnership eventually came to an end when Gazerbeam was assigned to lead a new superhero team called the Thrilling Three.
However, that didn't stopped them from hanging out. The two still maintained their late-night walks whenever neither of them was on patrol. They were content with being close friends—at least on the surface.
Eventually, Jack let something slip. During one of their walks, he admitted to liking Simon romantically. He honestly hadn’t meant to say it aloud, but once the words were out, he braced himself for the fallout.
Instead, Simon smiled.
The feeling was mutual.
From that moment on, everything changed. They moved from having simple late-night walks under the stars to casual romantic dates in broad daylight.
After Bob married Helen, Jack and Simon began to talk seriously about their own future. Not long after, they decided it was time.
They married in secret—quietly, intimately, surrounded only by their closest friends. It was the best thing to happen to the both of them.
However, not long after their vows were exchanged, the law banning Supers from using their powers was passed. The golden age of heroes was ending, and uncertainty loomed.
After the first few years following the implementation of the Superhero Relocation Program, Jack and Simon had been trying to live together in peace. No longer wearing their superhero alter egos, they attempted to blend into society as ordinary civilians. It wasn’t easy for either of them, especially for Jack. There were moments when he almost gave in to the urge to use his powers for small reasons—like when that hideous, sleazy man made a homophobic comment while they were together. It took a lot of convincing (and begging) for Simon to stop Jack from giving the homophobic man cancer.
He was thankful his husband was there to keep him in check. He was always there whenever Jack needed him.
“I can't get any gigs this time around,” Jack sighed, flopping down next to Simon on their sofa. “Back when we were superheroes, this kinda stuff was easy to find,”
Simon smiled, brushing a hand gently through Jack’s blond hair. “You’ll get something soon, my love.”
Jack grumbled something incoherent about how unfair it was that someone as handsome as him couldn’t even get a modeling gig.
“Oh, right—any word on revoking the superhero ban? It’s been years now, so there's probably some progress, right?”
Simon’s smile faded. It was his time to sigh.
“There’s been some movement. Petitions, committees… but I’m afraid the government’s still holding firm with their decision.”
“Well, I’m pretty sure it would only be a matter of time before this act gets removed, I mean, what would these pests do when a maniacal villain shows up and threatens to destroy the Earth or something? Throw some tax forms at them?” Jack said with a chuckle.
Simon remained silent. If only he could look at his husband with a stern gaze, he would have done so by now. However, after all these years together, Jack had already learned to read his husband's habits—he could sense exactly what Simon wanted to say, even without a word spoken.
“Yeah, yeah, I know,” Jack muttered, rolling his eyes. “We’re not supposed to call them pests.”
“They’re still people. With or without powers, we’re all people.”
“Yeah, right.” Jack scoffed. “Babe, these same ‘people’ shoved us Supers to go into hiding, just because they deemed our powers more ‘dangerous’ than helpful. To be honest, I don't believe that crap. The government probably did this because they know we're too powerful. They want to clip our wings because they're too scared we might overthrow them.”
Simon sighs with obvious disappointment “I thought we already had a talk about this,”
"I'm sorry, okay? Geez, you sound like my mom," Jack said jokingly, attempting to lighten the mood.
“I’m serious, Jack,” Simon said, his voice low but firm. “If we ever want Supers to stop hiding, we have to start treating them as equals.”
Jack resisted the urge to roll his eyes once more. Here they go again, talking about equality.
“Equal footing my ass, we try our best to protect them—to save them from dangerous villains, but all we get in return is us having to hide who we are for their safety. Where's the equality when society always has to bend to their needs?”
Simon paused. He knew his husband had a point—but he also knew Jack better than anyone. Deep down, he could tell that Jack’s argument was rooted in his twisted belief that Supers were a superior race. It frustrated Simon that, even as a lawyer, he couldn’t find a way to refute what his husband was saying.
He had hoped that, after all their years of being together, Jack’s worldview would have changed—even just for a little. But clearly, he’d been wrong. Maybe that’s why the NSA still keeps an eye on them from time to time.
Sensing the shift in the room, Jack realized he’d gone too far. He sat up straight on their shared couch. He reached out, and gently took Simon’s hands in his own.
“Look, I… I’m sorry. I genuinely am. I know I’m not the easiest person to be around—I can be stubborn, and oftentimes, a real asshole. Honestly, I don’t even understand what went through your mind when you decided to date me,” Jack said with a soft laugh, the memory still vivid. “Changing isn’t easy for me, I get that. But I want you to know I’m really trying. I’m willing to fight for this—for you, for us—because you mean that much to me.”
“There may be times when I catch myself slipping back into my old ways, just like earlier,” he continues, his fingers lightly tracing the pattern on Simon’s hands. “I just hope you’ll be there to call me out whenever that happens.”
Simon smiled warmly, gently pressing a soft, tender kiss on his husband's lips. They spent the rest of the day nestled together on the couch, wrapped in each other's embrace, as they simply watched TV until sleep engulfs them.
"Jack. What did you do?"
The moment Simon walked through the apartment door, his expression dark and voice tight, Jack knew he was in trouble.
There was a particular kind of silence that followed Simon's question—one that made Jack’s stomach twist. He froze, eyes wide, trying to replay his entire day in his head like a film reel. What had he done?
Simon closed the door behind him with a soft click and took a deep breath.
“The NSA called,” he said, his tone flat and controlled. “They detected an unusually high spike of radioactive energy... right around our block. Early this afternoon.”
Jack’s face lit up in sudden realization. “Oh. That.”
Simon blinked. “That?”
“Yeah, that guy deserved it,” Jack said, shrugging nonchalantly. There was no trace of guilt in his voice. “At least he got a quick death.”
“You disintegrated someone?!”
“Relax, babe,” Jack said, waving a hand like he was dismissing a minor inconvenience. “There weren’t any witnesses, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“Jack, we’re supposed to be in hiding. That means not using your abilities in public.”
“What was I supposed to do?” Jack shot back, his voice sharp now. “Just walk away while some creep was molesting a girl in broad daylight? Hell no.”
Simon’s shoulders slumped. He quietly set his briefcase down on the nearest chair, then walked over and sat beside Jack, the adrenaline fading from his system.
“Did the girl get away safely?” he asked after a pause, voice softer.
Jack nodded. “Yeah. Got her out of there before I did anything. Made sure she didn’t see what happened. No witnesses, promise.”
Simon let out a long, tired sigh and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Great. That’s something, at least.”
A beat of silence passed.
“You know, we’re going to have to move again right?”
Jack winced slightly but chuckled as he slid closer, wrapping an arm around Simon’s shoulders. “Yeah… sorry about that.”
Simon didn’t resist as his husband pulled him in. He was too tired to argue.
“Before we start figuring out moving arrangements,” Jack murmured, pressing kisses to Simon’s temple, “you should lie down for a bit. You look like you’ve had a hell of a day.”
Simon huffed out a quiet laugh and leaned into him. “I have.”
“Then come here,” Jack whispered, tightening his hold, smothering kisses all over Simon’s face.
Simon laughed again, the tension in his body finally giving way. He let himself be held, burying his face into Jack’s shoulder.
“I swear,” he murmured into the fabric of Jack’s shirt, “You’re going to be the death of me.”
Jack simply grinned.
Over the past few days, Jack had sensed that something was off with his husband. Simon had been quieter than usual—tense, withdrawn, lost in thought. He wasn’t snapping or being cold, but there was a heaviness in the air whenever he entered the room. Jack couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but he knew something was troubling him.
“You alright there? You’ve been staring at that file for ages.”
Simon flinched at the sound of Jack’s voice, as if he’d been yanked out of some deep, spiraling thought.
“Oh, this?” Simon said with a shaky laugh, quickly closing the folder. “Just a case I’m handling. Nothing serious. Don’t worry about it.”
Jack hesitated. He wanted to press, to ask what kind of case had him so on edge—but he stopped himself. He'd been reading some magazines about relationships regarding boundaries and privacy. He remembered there was an article stating how trust is built on giving each other space when needed, so, he let it go. For now.
Then came the conference.
Simon said he needed to attend a major networking event—something about gaining support from more influential people for the lifting of the superhero ban. Jack had mixed feelings. On one hand, he was proud of Simon’s achievement. On the other hand, he’d have to be away from his husband for a few days. Jack wasn't fond of it, so he suggested tagging along. It had been ages since they’d gone anywhere together after all. Not since they had to move.
Also, it had been a while since he flew anywhere just for the sake of it—unless you count the late-night flights he took out of sheer boredom. But Simon hesitated. He explained that he'd be attending with a group of colleagues, and that Jack's presence might complicate things.
However, Jack was nothing if not stubborn. He refused to let Simon leave without a fight. In the end, the only way Simon could get him to agree was by striking a deal: before the trip, they would spend the entire day—and night—together.
A few days later, Simon returned. But he was... different. Brighter. Happier, somehow. Despite the same monotonous tone in his voice, there was a lightness behind it—a spark Jack hadn’t seen since the glory days.
Simon cracked the same corny jokes he always had—the ones that made Jack groan but secretly smile. Jack laughed, not because the jokes were funny, but because Simon was laughing. And that was enough.
Whatever Simon was hiding, Jack didn’t seem to care anymore. What mattered was that Simon had come back to him.
Jack simply hoped that it would last.
Then came the second conference.
And this time, Simon never came back.
Four fucking months.
It had been four whole months with no word—no call, no letter, not even a damn clue—about where Simon had gone. In desperation, Jack contacted his husband’s workplace, hoping to find out where the supposed conference had taken place. But all he discovered was that Simon had lied. There were no conferences scheduled for the last four months. In fact, Simon hadn’t even been in any conferences at all that year.
Everything he said had been a complete fucking lie.
Jack felt pathetic. Vulnerable.
He hadn’t felt this helpless in years—not since before Simon.
He was furious—furious at Simon for lying, for vanishing, for leaving him without any say. However, no matter how angry he was, worry still gnawed at him. Because he still cared for the man. Still feared for him. Still love him.
He considered reaching out to their old friends—Bob and Lucius. They’d know what to do. But then reality slapped him again: he lost their numbers when he and Simon moved.
His thoughts spiraled. Ugly, self-doubting thoughts.
Had he done something wrong? Was it his eating habits, his stubbornness, his arrogance, his temper—his everything? He knew he could be quite the narcissist, but he genuinely didn’t know where he had gone wrong.
No. It wasn't his fault.
Jack clenched his fists, jaw tight. If he ever finds Simon with someone else—man, woman, he didn’t care—he swore he’d kill them. He’d fucking kill them.
Lost in thought, Jack accidentally bumped into a staggering drunk on the sidewalk. He turned instinctively to apologize, but the man exploded into a drunken rage—shouting curses, slurring insults, waving his arms like he wanted a fight.
Jack simply stood there.
It took everything in him not to vaporize the man on the spot.
God, this urge—it was getting harder and harder to control.
Without Simon to calm him, Jack was beginning to wonder how much longer he could keep himself from slipping—from burning the whole damn world down.
Jack had lost count of how many bottles he’d downed when someone approached him—a woman with smooth, silver hair that shimmered under the low bar lights. Calling her “hot” felt like an insult to her presence. She was stunning, almost unreal.
In the past, Jack would’ve been the first to flirt, maybe even score a number. But that was before. Before the wedding. Before Simon. Now, he couldn't care less about other people. He was already even preparing to brush her off when she spoke.
“Mirage,” she introduced, offering a faint smile.
The name perfectly suits her mysterious persona.
Then came the offer. A mission. A chance to use his powers freely again.
It stirred something deep within him—the part that once wore the name Gamma Jack with pride.
It had been years, and somewhere along the way, he’d forgotten. Forgotten that before he was Jack Paladino—a half-drunk man slumped in a bar, haunted by a missing husband and too many sleepless nights—he had been the Gamma Jack.
The same Gamma Jack who used to kill villains without breaking a sweat. The one with fan clubs in every city, the one who turned heads and drew cheers, the one who was always in the spotlight. The hero people—specifically women—adored.
Maybe it was the alcohol. Maybe it was the grief. He said yes.
He needed to feel in control of something. Because if he couldn’t find Simon, if he couldn’t hold him again, he didn’t know how much longer he could hold himself together—literally. It was getting harder to contain himself. Earlier, he almost killed a child when he spilled ice cream on Simon's his favorite coat.
A part of him believed his husband was still alive. He had to be. Simon was a Super too. And Supers don't die easily.
The mission was brutal—but easy. He had a bit of difficulty but he was able to tear through the Omnidroid like tissue paper. The adrenaline felt good. Everything felt dangerous, but good, just like in the old times.
Afterwards, Mirage gave him a nod. Said they’d call him again when he was needed.
Jack left, heart heavy but lighter than it had been in weeks.
Maybe, just maybe, Simon would be home by the time he returned.
He still wasn’t.
The latest Omnidroid was far more powerful than the last. It adapted to Jack’s fighting style with alarming speed, learning his every move and countering it with precision. If he kept fighting head-on without a strategy, Jack knew he wouldn’t survive. He needed time—time to think, time to plan. So he made the hardest choice: to retreat.
Using the chaos of battle as cover, Jack dove into the ocean, letting the cold, murky water cloak his presence. The Omnidroid couldn’t track him properly underwater—at least, not yet. It was a narrow escape, but it bought him the moment he needed.
He surfaced in a hidden cave along the rocky coast. The cave was dark, damp, and freezing, with only the sound of dripping water echoing off the stone walls. It was eerie—an uncomfortable quiet that seemed to press against his skull. But he couldn’t think about that. Not now.
Pacing the cave floor, Jack ran through every failed tactic in his mind. The Omnidroid could counter his punches, redirect his energy, predict his next move. It wasn’t just a normal machine—it was evolving. Faster than ever. He needed a new approach, something it hadn’t seen before.
Then, a glimmer caught his eye.
At the far end of the cave, a faint metallic reflection shimmered in the darkness. Something about it felt… familiar. Compelled by instinct more than thought, Jack stepped closer.
He regretted that decision.
He felt his whole world shattered.
It was Gazerbeam.
It was Simon.
Frozen in disbelief, Jack rushed forward and collapsed to his knees beside the lifeless body. His hands trembled as he reached out, pulling the cold form into his arms.
It was him. It was truly him.
“I… I finally found you,” Jack whispered, voice cracking.
Silence answered.
“Simon… Simon, please. Wake up.” His voice shook with desperation.
The corpse was already decaying, but Jack didn’t care. He couldn’t—he refused—to believe it. This couldn’t be real.
“This isn’t funny, Simon,” he said, tears welling up in his eyes. “You’ve always had a terrible sense of humor, remember? So stop playing around. Wake up already.”
But Simon didn’t wake up.
He wasn't supposed to die. Not like this. Not him. He was a Super. He was his Super.
Jack cupped Simon’s face gently, feeling the stillness, the cold.
And he broke.
Tears poured freely as sobs racked his body. He held Simon tightly, like if he just held on long enough, maybe he could bring him back. Maybe it was all just a nightmare.
His mind spun with questions. How did this happen? Who did this? Why did they do this?
Why.
Why.
Why—
Then the memory slammed into him—the Omnidroid. The mission. The offer. Mirage.
That woman.
Anger overtook grief. Something inside Jack snapped. He couldn’t stay here. As much as he wanted to lie beside Simon forever, he had to move. He had to make someone pay.
With one final look at the man he loved—the man he would always love—Jack stood and left the cave. His heart shattered, but his resolve hardened. He took to the sky, flying blindly in search of the base, of Mirage, of them—the ones who took Simon from him.
But the Omnidroid found him first.
Jack fought with everything he had. Fought harder than he ever had before. He didn’t think. He couldn’t. All that remained was pain, rage, and the singular need for vengeance. He didn’t care what it took—he would burn the world that stole Simon from him.
But anger clouded his judgment.
The Omnidroid capitalized on his erratic movements, his unthinking strikes. Jack’s unstable emotions became his downfall. And in one final, devastating blow, the machine ended the saga of Gamma Jack.
As the light faded from his eyes, Jack’s last thought wasn’t about victory, or vengeance.
It was about Simon.
He had died alone.
And Jack hadn’t been there.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered into the void. “You must’ve felt so alone…”
With his final breath, he murmured,
"I promise that in another life, I'll find you again."