Buddy shuffled into the bathroom, still rubbing sleep from his eyes. The cool tile underfoot was a shock compared to the warm comfort of his bed. He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror—a boy with the knowledge of a man, wearing the faded, light blue IncrediBoy suit that felt more like a costume from someone else's life. Time to swap that out.
He peeled off the suit piece by piece, feeling oddly exposed without it but welcomed the relief. He reached for a cozy tee nearby—a black shirt with the bold blue and black emblem of Mr. Incredible, the stylized "i" in black topped with its bright red dot, staring back at him. "Well, if I'm going to lurk in my own past, might as well borrow Dad's look," he muttered with a smirk, tugging the shirt over his head.
Next came the sweatpants, soft and loose, paired with his push-in slippers—worn but comforting, perfect for a day of trying to figure out what comes next. His tongue poked out slightly as he brushed his teeth, the mundane task oddly grounding.
As he looked back into the mirror, he grinned. "From rocket boots and hero suits to slippers and sweatpants. Yeah, definitely a 'glamour' upgrade," he joked to himself.
Finished, Buddy headed back down the hall. The quiet house smelled like coffee and cinnamon—a welcome reminder of home. He found his mother Evelyn Pine bustling in the kitchen, ponytail swinging and energy unmistakable even in casual jeans and a superhero tee.
"Hey, Mom," he said, stepping in.
Evelyn turned, eyes brightening. "Buddy! How are you feeling?"
Before he could answer, he pulled her into a tight hug, words catching in his throat. "I love you, Mom."
She hugged him back with a squeeze. "I love you, too, kiddo. But you need to rest today. I called your school. They said no need to come in until Monday."
Buddy blinked. "Wait, no school today?" Relief and a twinge of confusion tangled inside him. "Good. Because I wasn't sure I could handle a whole day of being the smartest kid in class… or the weirdest."
Evelyn chuckled, shaking her head gently. "You've got a long weekend then. Rest up."
His gaze drifted to the TV in the corner where the morning show Metro City Now reported with a serious tone.
"Metro City wakes today to the aftermath of yesterday's chaos," the anchor intoned. "Bomb Voyage remains at large after his daring escape amid the train derailment and bank heist that has rattled citizens and supers alike. Authorities continue the manhunt but admit the villain has so far eluded capture."
Buddy's inner voice kicked in:Yeah, like we didn't see that coming. You'd think with all the tech these days, catching the guy would be easier than finding a matching sock in my drawer.
The screen cut to Sergeant Harris and Officer Jenkins, at the scene where smoke still lingered.
"We're doing everything possible to protect Metro City and bring Bomb Voyage to justice," Sergeant Harris said with steady resolve. "The city's safety is our top priority. We ask citizens to remain vigilant and report anything unusual."
Officer Jenkins added, "These incidents remind us all how important cooperation between law enforcement and the community is. We're grateful for Metro City's resilience during these challenging times."
Buddy thought, Can't argue with that. Those two ran the tightest ship last night—heroes in their own right.
The broadcast switched back to the anchor.
"The National Superhero Agency has released a statement pledging reinforced public safety measures, emphasizing stricter patrols and coordination with city agencies. However, rising concerns about superhero accountability have sparked heated debates among officials and citizens."
Cutting to Clara Voss, poised in front of the NSA building, her sharp blue eyes scanning the horizon.
"I've obtained reports from an NSA insider — confidential but credible — suggesting that the Agency is seriously contemplating a drastic overhaul of superhero operations. Rumors even speak of potential bans on certain powers in Metro City, signaling a shift in policy unprecedented in years."
Buddy rolled his eyes, already knowing how this would end. Oh, I can practically hear the ink drying on the ban papers. It's like watching a rerun of a show you already know the ending to—spoiler alert: it's not good for the Supers.
Her expression hardened. "Adding fuel to the fire, Oliver Sansweet, a prominent businessman who was saved from suicide by Mr. Incredible himself, has filed a lawsuit accusing Mr. Incredible and the superhero community of negligence and causing him physical and mental harm and widespread public endangerment."
The screen flickered to a statement from Sansweet's lawyer, voice smooth and measured.
"Our client demands accountability from the superheroes whose reckless actions jeopardize ordinary citizens. This lawsuit aims to protect Metro City's people and enforce strict legal oversight. Despite the personal history between Mr. Sansweet and Mr. Incredible, the safety of the public must come first."
Buddy chewed his lip, the tension from the words settling in his chest. "Yeah, that lawsuit's absurd. But no surprise it'll end in a settlement—courtesy of the NSA and the government. Those other victims from the train, the Municiberg Bank and the surrounding buildings that were caught in the aftermath will file theirs too, even if their lives were saved."
(Municiberg Bank, the bank that Bomb Voyage stole from and Mr. Incredible dove into to save Oliver Sansweet)
He snorted quietly, shaking his head. I already know how this dance ends. Lawsuits for everyone! "Heroes paying" up while the city bickers. Well actually the NSA will pay up... Wouldn't surprise me if that's also the reason they decided... will decide (this past, present tense talk is annoying), to ban Supers, way cheaper to fund the police than Supers casually "leveling a building" every fight. Even though it's actually rare for a Super to do so, but the masses don't seem to care.
Buddy's face fell, the humor draining away as irony took hold,"So I'm not the main reason superheroes got banned, but I definitely earned a spot on the highlight reel. Great—turns out my 'heroic' mess-ups helped write the handbook for keeping supers grounded. Just my luck: part of the problem without the glory."
Then a random train of thought struck Buddy, wait I'm surprised they haven't mentioned me at all, I was the idiot in a costume with rocket boots. Maybe I'm not that important or just to full of myself.
Evelyn sighed, glancing from the TV to her coffee cup. "I've got a press conference to prepare for. As the spokesperson for the heroes, it's my job to reassure the public, to explain the truth, and to listen to their fears."
Buddy's voice faltered. "Can I come?"
She knelt to meet his eyes, gentle but firm. "No, not today. You need this time to rest and think. I'll be home later, and we'll talk more, okay?"
He nodded, watching her leave with a bittersweet mix of pride and loneliness.
Left alone in the quiet kitchen, Buddy let the weight of the city's turmoil press down on him. A three-day break stretched ahead—a weekend away from school, from expectations. A chance to decide who he wanted to be—his old self, a hero, or something entirely new.
For now, that had to be enough
~End of Chapter~
*This is a work of fiction and is intended for entertainment purposes only. I do not own The Incredibles or any of its characters, settings, or related intellectual property. The Incredibles is the property of Pixar Animation Studios and Disney. This fanfic is created purely for the enjoyment of fans and is not intended for profit. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.*