章節 69: 69: Digging their own grave
The morning sunlight streamed through the expansive windows of the villa, bathing the living room in a warm glow. Nimbus scurried across the floor, chasing a stray thread from one of Aiden's robes that had come loose.
Upstairs, Aiden was sprawled across his bed, one arm draped over his face as his phone vibrated incessantly on the bedside table.
With a groan, he rolled over and grabbed it, blinking at the barrage of notifications.
His name was trending. Again.
"#AidenFritz," "BaymaxUnleashed," and "HeroRogueOrRebel" were just a few of the tags floating across social media. Intrigued and slightly annoyed, he opened a video link at the top of his feed.
It was a compilation of yesterday's events, starting from the explosion at the bank to Baymax's decisive handling of the villains, and finally, Aiden's heated confrontation with the self-righteous police captain.
The comments were a battlefield.
"Finally, someone putting those corrupt officials in their place!"
"Aiden Fritz for Hero Commission head, when?"
"Unregistered tech? This is dangerous territory. Heroes need oversight."
"He thinks he's above the law because he's royalty or something."
Aiden tossed the phone aside and groaned, dragging his hands down his face. He'd expected some attention after Baymax's debut, but this? It felt like his entire life was under a microscope.
"Guess I'd better start the day," he muttered, swinging his legs out of bed.
Downstairs, Celeste was already at the kitchen counter, dressed neatly as usual in a crisp blouse and jeans. She was sipping tea and scrolling through her own tablet, her golden-trimmed spectacles glinting in the light.
"Good morning, Aiden," she greeted without looking up, though there was a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "I see you've seen the news."
"Morning," Aiden mumbled, pouring himself a glass of orange juice. "Yeah. It's… a lot."
"'A lot' is putting it mildly. You've got people praising you as a modern hero and others calling for your immediate arrest." She glanced at him over her glasses. "The Hero Commission hasn't commented yet, but it's only a matter of time."
Aiden leaned against the counter, sipping his juice thoughtfully. "They won't touch me. Not without a solid reason. Baymax wasn't doing anything illegal, and I was well within my rights to intervene."
Celeste arched an eyebrow. "The police captain didn't seem to think so."
"The police captain was an idiot," Aiden shot back, his voice rising slightly. "Kenji defused it, didn't he? I'm not worried."
"You should be," Celeste said softly, her tone serious. "You're drawing attention from all sides, Aiden. Public, private, even international. It's only going to get harder from here."
Aiden frowned but didn't argue. Instead, he looked around. "Where's Kaela? Or Seraphine?"
"Kaela's in the garden, probably terrorising the flowers with her 'decorating.' Seraphine's out training as usual. And Toru went home last night, remember?"
"Right." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Guess I'll check on Kaela first."
The garden was a riot of colour and activity. Kaela was kneeling in the dirt, humming cheerfully as she arranged flowers in patterns only she could decipher. She looked up as Aiden approached, her face lighting up.
"Morning, sunshine!" she called, waving a muddy hand. "Come to help?"
"Not really," Aiden admitted, stepping around a freshly dug patch. "Just needed some air. And maybe your opinion on something."
"Sure thing, boss!" She stood, wiping her hands on her overalls. "What's up?"
"Have you seen the news?" he asked, gesturing vaguely toward the house.
Kaela laughed. "Oh, you mean your latest viral moment? Yeah, I caught it. You've got some guts, yelling at a cop like that. What's the plan now?"
Aiden shrugged. "Not sure yet. Maybe I just let it blow over. Or maybe…" His eyes sparkled mischievously. "I double down and build an even bigger Baymax."
Kaela grinned. "Now that's the spirit!"
By mid-morning, the villa was alive with activity. Aiden spent some time tinkering in the Zone, Baymax at his side, before joining Seraphine in the sparring arena.
The captain of his guard was her usual no-nonsense self, but even she cracked a smile at his banter. The routine grounded him, giving him a chance to think through his next steps.
Meanwhile, the online frenzy continued to grow. News outlets were running stories dissecting Aiden's life, his quirk, and his inventions.
A panel discussion on a popular channel debated whether unregistered heroes like Aiden were a boon or a threat to society.
"Heroes operate within a system for a reason," one panellist argued. "Aiden Fritz is talented, sure, but he's reckless. What happens when someone with that much power decides to go rogue?"
Another panellist countered, "You're overlooking the fact that he's doing good. He stopped a robbery, protected civilians, and even built a robot to assist in healthcare and combat. Why are we criticising him for that?"
The debate was heated, and the audience votes were split almost evenly.
By lunchtime, the villa was quieter. Aiden, now in casual clothes, was sprawled on the living room sofa with Nimbus on his lap. Celeste sat nearby with a book, while Kaela and Baymax were in the kitchen experimenting with recipes.
"Baymax, what's the status on those muffins?" Kaela called, peering into the oven.
"Approximately five minutes until they reach optimal fluffiness," Baymax replied, his voice calm and precise.
Nimbus chirped in approval, earning a chuckle from Aiden.
The day passed in a blur of small, comforting routines, but the undercurrent of tension remained. Aiden knew he couldn't ignore the growing attention forever. As evening fell, he gathered his inner circle in the living room.
"I've been thinking," he began, looking around at the familiar faces. "The world's watching us now. Watching me. That means we have a chance to show them what we're really about."
Kaela grinned. "You mean more crazy inventions and heroics?"
"Something like that," Aiden said, his smile widening. "But smarter. More calculated. If we're going to make a difference, we need to be ready for anything."
Celeste nodded. "A sound plan. And one I fully support, as long as it doesn't involve any more public shouting matches."
Aiden laughed. "No promises."
-
-
It was early afternoon when the doorbell of the villa echoed through the halls. Aiden, lounging in the living room with Nimbus snoozing on his lap, glanced toward the door. Baymax, ever vigilant, moved to open it. Standing on the threshold was a stern-faced man in a sharp black suit, his Hero Commission badge glinting on his lapel. His hair was combed meticulously, and he carried himself with the self-assured arrogance of someone used to wielding authority.
"Aiden Wilhelm Fritz," the man began, his voice clipped and formal. "I am Representative Moriyama of the Hero Commission. May I have a word?"
Aiden raised an eyebrow, carefully shifting Nimbus off his lap before standing. He adjusted the golden cuffs of his shirt with deliberate nonchalance, his glowing blue and gold eyes fixed on the representative.
"This should be interesting," he muttered under his breath, before addressing the man. "Sure. Come in. Let's see what's so urgent you had to interrupt my perfectly good afternoon."
Moriyama stepped inside, his sharp gaze sweeping over the villa's lavish interior before settling on Aiden. He declined the offer to sit, instead standing rigidly in the centre of the room. Celeste and Kaela, sensing the tension, lingered nearby, ready to intervene if necessary.
"Mr Fritz," Moriyama began, his tone icy. "The Hero Commission has been monitoring your activities closely, especially your actions yesterday. Your involvement in the bank incident, the deployment of an unregistered combat unit, and your public confrontation with law enforcement have raised significant concerns."
Aiden crossed his arms, leaning casually against the wall. "Raised concerns with who, exactly? The Commission? The cops? The peanut gallery on social media?"
"With the nation," Moriyama snapped. "Your actions undermine the structured framework we've painstakingly built to ensure order and safety. Heroes are expected to operate within the confines of the law—"
"Spare me the lecture," Aiden interrupted, his voice suddenly sharp. "Let's not pretend this is about safety or order. It's about control. Your 'framework' is a façade designed to keep people under your thumb while the world burns."
Moriyama stiffened. "Be that as it may, the law applies to everyone, including you. Your disregard for protocol and your reckless use of technology—"
Aiden pushed off the wall, taking a step closer to Moriyama, his presence suddenly commanding. "Do you know where you are, Representative? This isn't just some villa. You're standing on Paradis soil, in the residence of its royal family. The same family that ensures your 'structured framework' doesn't collapse into chaos."
The air grew heavy as Aiden's voice deepened, a quiet storm brewing in his tone. "Paradis is the reason your nation even exists. The reason the world isn't in constant turmoil. And you have the audacity to lecture me about rules?"
Moriyama's jaw tightened, but he held his ground. "Paradis may hold influence, but it does not exempt you from accountability. Your title does not place you above the law."
Aiden laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "The law? Which law, exactly? The one you bend to suit your agenda? Or the one that allows corrupt officials to get away with murder while heroes like me clean up their mess?"
Kaela smirked from the corner, whispering to Celeste, "He's on a roll now."
Moriyama's face reddened. "This isn't about politics. This is about the dangerous precedent you're setting. If everyone decided to act like you—"
"Then maybe this world would finally get its act together," Aiden cut him off, his voice rising. "You think I don't know what I'm doing? Every action I take is calculated. Every move I make is to protect those who can't protect themselves. And I'll be damned if I let some pencil-pusher in a suit tell me otherwise."
The tension in the room was palpable. Nimbus, sensing the unease, scurried onto Baymax's shoulder, chirping softly. Baymax placed a comforting hand on the chinchilla, his serene presence a stark contrast to the heated exchange.
Moriyama straightened, his expression hardening. "If you continue down this path, the Commission will have no choice but to escalate this matter. You're leaving us no room for leniency."
Aiden's eyes blazed, the faint glow of his quirk illuminating the room. "Let me make one thing clear, Representative. You don't grant me leniency. You don't dictate the terms of my actions. And you certainly don't threaten me in my own home."
He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "You've forgotten who holds the real power here. Paradis isn't just some nation. It's the lifeblood of this world. And the Fritz family? We are the arbiters of its destiny. Push me, and I'll remind you exactly what that means."
Moriyama faltered, his composure cracking under the weight of Aiden's words. But he quickly recovered, his pride refusing to let him back down entirely. "This isn't over, Mr Fritz. The Hero Commission expects compliance. We'll be watching."
Aiden smirked, his confidence unshaken. "Good. Watch closely. And while you're at it, prepare for a visitor. I'll be paying the Commission a little visit soon. We have much to discuss."
With that, Moriyama turned on his heel and strode out, his shoulders stiff with indignation. As the door closed behind him, the villa erupted into a mix of laughter and exasperation.
"Well, that was dramatic," Celeste remarked, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose. "Even for you."
"Sometimes drama is necessary," Aiden said, flopping back onto the sofa. "People like him only respond to power plays."
Kaela grinned, plopping down next to him. "So, what's the plan for this 'visit' of yours?"
Aiden's smirk widened. "Oh, don't worry. It's going to be unforgettable."
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