By the time Leo's parents got home, the living room was spotless, and Maya was back in her hoodie, helping Leo with a LEGO set. "Everything okay, Maya?" his mom asked.
Leo realized having a superhero babysitter was better than any video game. Over the next few weeks, they struck a deal. Leo kept her secret, and in exchange, Maya taught him "tactical observation"—which mostly meant how to spot a villain's henchman at the mall.
"Leo," she gasped, "I need the backup stabilizer from my bag. The blue cylinder."
Maya froze. She looked at him, then at the news, then back at the jar. "The lid is just... really tight, Leo." "I saw you fly," he whispered.
One Tuesday, while Leo’s parents were at dinner, the "organic kale chips" were interrupted by a crashing sound on the roof. A rogue drone, leaking dark energy, had tracked Maya to the house. "Basement. Now!" Maya commanded.
Leo, being ten, did the exact opposite. He waited until he heard the front door click, then crept to the balcony. He expected to see Maya walking to her old sedan. Instead, he saw her sprint down the alley, leap over a seven-foot fence with a single bound, and—in a blur of silver and blue—launch herself into the clouds.