Cisco sat in his apartment a week after the earthquake, looking out over the city and the cleanup efforts. It felt like everyone was kicking him to the curb, when that was far from the truth. After the destruction he caused, Cisco retreated inward, listening to the degrading thoughts that came and went through his mind. Nobody wants you, anyway. Don’t you know how many people you hurt? How many people you killed? This is all your fault, Ramon. Nobody will ever trust you again. Not even those closest to you. 

He sat on his windowsill, curled up in a blanket as the rain pattered against the window. It reflected his mood, and the emotions stirring inside him. As thunder rumbled and a bolt of lightning arced across the clouds, Cisco knew what he needed to do. These people that called him friends were only putting on a face. All this time it was all an act. He didn’t feel wanted or loved by anyone, much less himself. He tossed the blanket to the floor and walked briskly to his closet, where a costume sketch was rolled up in the corner, and a dark hoodie hung for his first patrol on his way out of town. He shrugged it over his shoulders before slipping a pair of dark-framed sunglasses with yellow reflective lenses over his eyes. Slowly but surely, Cisco was becoming Vibe. It felt good, he felt powerful for the first time in forever. An almost evil smile spread across his lips as he found himself looking at his reflection.  With that, he walked out of his apartment, not sure when he might return again or what might become of him before then. He wasn’t going to look back.