Chapter 8
Chapter 9: The Weight of the Badge
The aftermath was chaotic, but Leo was placed with his aunt, a safe and vetted guardian.
That evening, the house was unusually quiet. The adrenaline of the day had faded, leaving a heavy, reflective exhaustion in its wake.
Ryan found Ethan standing in his bedroom, looking at the clear box on the shelf where the blue hat rested. The boy looked older tonight, the remnants of childhood innocence replaced by a profound, hard-earned maturity.
"Did we do the right thing?" Ethan asked quietly, not turning around. "Leo was crying when he left. He was scared."
Ryan stepped into the room and leaned against the doorframe. "Rescue is terrifying, Ethan. Healing feels like breaking at first. You know that better than anyone."
"His dad looked so angry," Ethan whispered, a slight tremor in his voice. The conflict had brought back ghosts.
Ryan walked over and put a firm, reassuring hand on his son's shoulder. "He was angry because he lost his power. But his anger doesn't matter anymore. What matters is that you saw a boy drowning, and you threw him a rope. You saved a life today, Ethan."
Ethan finally looked away from the hat and up at his father. The tension melted from his face, replaced by a quiet, steady resolve.
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"I just asked him the question," Ethan said.
"Sometimes," Ryan smiled, "that's all it takes to change the world."
