Cord

I pulled up to my new apartment building, relieved to finally be moving into a safe neighborhood far from the constant destruction and mayhem caused by those damn superheroes and villains. This part of the city was still intact, the streets clean and the buildings untouched by their reckless battles. It was a welcome change.

"Thanks again for helping me find this place," I said to Christian as we started unloading boxes from the moving truck. "I couldn't wait to get out of that war zone."

"No problem, man," Christian replied. "I don't blame you for wanting to get away from all that craziness. Hopefully the supers stay out of this area."

I snorted. "Not likely. Seems nowhere is safe from them these days. But at least it's quieter here for now. We will make it so.”

I hauled another box up the stairs to my new apartment, Christian following close behind with a lamp. The building was older but well-maintained, with fresh coats of neutral paint and clean carpets in the hallways. It felt like a breath of fresh air compared to my old place downtown, where you could still see scorch marks on the walls from the last super battle that spilled into the streets.

"I think this is the last of it," I said, setting the box down in the small living room with a huff. The apartment wasn't much - a simple one bedroom with a galley kitchen and a view of the quiet street below. But it was a palace compared to the crumbling ruins I had fled.

"It's a nice spot," Christian said approvingly, placing the lamp on a side table. "Close to the bus line, a decent grocery store around the corner. And most importantly, far from the nearest cape hangout."

I nodded in agreement. When searching for a new place, my top priority had been putting distance between myself and the super-powered population that seemed to attract trouble like a magnet. This neighborhood, a sleepy residential district on the outskirts of the city, had one of the lowest rates of superhuman activity. The streets were lined with trees and the residents were mostly families and retirees, not the type to engage in flashy hero work or diabolical schemes. While being distant from the wealthy neighborhoods that heroes and villains fought to protect and plunder.

Of course, you could never fully escape them these days. Even here, I had spotted a guy in a cheap mask and tights jogging down the sidewalk the other day, probably some wannabe vigilante patrolling his turf. But it was a far cry from the non-stop super circus downtown, with its rotating cast of colorful heroes and cackling villains duking it out on every corner.

I had learned the hard way that for an average joe like me, it was best to stay far away from that scene. My old job at a high-rise office building had seemed cushy at first - good pay, great benefits. Until that day. The city still had a wide-open space around the old crater. Some work had been done to clean it up but there was little point. Even my old company had fled to remote work. No one wanted a 100-story business building falling over halfway through construction. I could only imagine the insurance rates for those places.

Never again, I vowed. Let the supers have their turf wars in the city center. I'd find my fortune somewhere the breakable human could thrive.

Christian and I continued to set up the house. We unpacked boxes and started assembling furniture. We took loads out to the dumpsters and piled it all in. Christian and I spent the next few hours unpacking and arranging my meager belongings in the apartment. It was cathartic to focus on such a mundane task after the chaos of the last few months. Slowly, the bare walls and empty rooms started to feel more like a home.

The place was really coming together - the secondhand couch and armchair I had scored from a thrift store looked right at home, and the framed posters I had hung added some much-needed color to the bare white walls.

"Not too shabby," Christian remarked, stepping back to admire our handiwork. "You've got a real bachelor pad going here."

I chuckled. "Hey, it may not be much, but it's a huge step up from my old place. No scorch marks, no rubble, and most importantly, no supers smashing through the walls."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

"Amen to that," Christian said, clinking his beer bottle against mine in a toast. "To a super-free existence!"

We settled onto the couch, savoring the cold drinks and the satisfaction of a job well done. As the sun began to set outside the window, casting a warm orange glow over the quiet street, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. For the first time in a long time, I could relax without the constant fear of a super battle erupting on my doorstep.

The evening passed us by in peace. Our thoughts didn’t wander into that of the missions. Instead, we imagined a peaceful world, a better world. When midnight hit Christian left leaving me alone in my space and thoughts.

The next morning, I woke up feeling refreshed and optimistic about my new super-free life. After a quick breakfast, I decided to explore the neighborhood a bit and get my bearings.

I strolled down the quiet tree-lined streets, taking in the tidy houses and well-maintained lawns. Families were out walking dogs, kids played in yards, and elderly folks tended to gardens. It was like stepping into a Normal Rockwell painting - an idyllic slice of everyday life untouched by the chaos that plagued the city center.

I wandered into the small downtown area, which boasted a handful of local shops and restaurants. No flashy mega-corporations or chain stores here - just mom and pop businesses that had probably been around for generations. I popped into the hardware store to pick up some supplies for settling into my new place.

"You must be new around here," the friendly older man behind the counter remarked as he rang me up. "Welcome to the neighborhood! You picked a good spot - it's a nice quiet area, not too much excitement if you know what I mean." He gave me a knowing wink.

I chuckled. "That's exactly what I'm looking for. I've had enough 'excitement' to last me a lifetime."

Supplies in hand, I continued my exploration, stopping in the local park to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. Families picnicked on the grass while kids clambered on the playground equipment. No signs of armor or capes anywhere - just the pleasant hum of normal human activity.

As the sun started to dip, I made my way back to the apartment building, feeling more at home already in my new super-free surroundings. I was fishing in my pocket for my new keys when a voice startled me out of my thoughts.

"Oh hello! You must be the new neighbor. I don’t think I’ve seen you around.”

I looked up to see a young woman smiling at me, her arms full of grocery bags. She had warm brown eyes, and her curly hair was pulled back from her friendly face.

"Uh, yeah that's me," I said, returning her smile. "I'm Cord, just moved in yesterday."

"Nice to meet you Cord, I'm Naomi," she replied brightly, shifting her bags to shake my hand. "I live just down the hall in 42. Welcome to the building!"

"Thanks! It seems like a great place so far. Nice and quiet, which is exactly what I was looking for."

Naomi nodded knowingly. "Let me guess - you got tired of all the super shenanigans happening downtown?"

"Ha, you could say that." I said wryly. "I used to work in one of those high-rises that seem to attract trouble. Finally, had enough of the constant rebuilding and I wasn’t suited for it. I don’t think anyone could be. I'm hoping things will be a bit calmer here."

"Well, you've definitely come to the right place then," Naomi assured me. "The only excitement we get around here is Mrs. Johnson's yappy Chihuahua getting loose again. The supers tend to stay far away from sleepy neighborhoods like this. You’ll find none of them here."

I chuckled. "Music to my ears. So, what about you - have you lived here long?"

"Going on three months now," she said. "I do deliveries for businesses, so I'm in and out a lot. But I love coming home to the peace and quiet here. And the people in the building are great – they have been good neighbors.”

"That's awesome. I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone," I said sincerely. "I work in construction myself, so I'm sure I'll be putting in some long days. But it will be nice to come back to a real community."

"Definitely! The building puts on the occasional activities. I haven’t been myself, but they sound great.”

"I'd like that a lot," I said with a grin. "Well, I suppose I should let you get back to it - but thanks for the warm welcome. It was great to meet you, Naomi."

"You too, Cord! Don't be a stranger - and let me know if you need anything. Happy to help out a new neighbor."

With a friendly wave, Naomi continued on to her apartment. I let myself into my own new home, feeling a growing sense of contentment. Not only had I escaped the super-plagued city center, but I seemed to have landed in a true community - one where people looked out for each other.

I thought back to all the times my old building had been evacuated or damaged in a super battle, how my former neighbors had hurried away from each other, too focused on escaping the chaos to connect. But here, I had a real chance at building a peaceful, normal life - one surrounded by kind people like Naomi.

As I began unpacking the last few boxes, I couldn't help but smile. Moving to this quiet little neighborhood was shaping up to be the best decision I had made in a long time. A fresh start, far from the super madness, in a place that already felt more like home than my old apartment ever had.