THE NEXT DAY
The bell rang.
Arthur didn't wait this time.
He grabbed his bag and walked out with everyone else, blending into the crowd like he always did.
Normal.
Just another student.
But his fingers kept adjusting his glasses.
Not because they were slipping—
But because he needed to feel them there.
Outside, the afternoon sun hit his face.
Bright.
Warm.
Safe.
Arthur exhaled slowly.
"…I'm good," he muttered. "I'm normal."
"You are neither."
Arthur rolled his eyes slightly.
"Can you not start right now?"
"You were distracted all day."
"I had a test."
"You were not thinking about the test."
Arthur didn't answer that.
Because it was true.
He walked down the street, staying close to other students.
Laughing voices. Footsteps. Bags swinging.
He made sure he looked like he belonged.
"…they were talking again," he said quietly.
"About you."
"…yeah."
He kicked a small stone ahead of him, watching it bounce.
"They said the 'kid' showed up again," Arthur continued.
"Some people think it's fake… like a video edit or something."
A small pause.
"…but not everyone."
"Of course not.".
Arthur's hand tightened slightly around his bag strap.
"They also said… there are people looking into it."
"There always are."
Arthur swallowed.
"…like government people."
"Yes."
That word hit harder this time.
Arthur glanced around instinctively.
Every parked car felt suspicious.
Every stranger felt like they were watching too long..
"…they won't find me," he said quickly.
"Not if you remain careful."
Arthur adjusted his glasses again.
"…this works, right?" he asked, almost unsure.
"The whole… normal thing?"
"It is effective."
"…you don't sound convinced."
"You rely on it too much."
Arthur frowned.
"Well it's better than nothing."
"It is better than being exposed."
Arthur didn't like that word.
"…I don't want that," he said quietly.
"Then do not allow it."
Arthur sighed.
"That's easy for you to say."
He turned a corner, now walking alone.
The noise of other students faded behind him.
Silence.
"…I messed up yesterday," he admitted.
No response.
Just listening.
"I stayed too long," he continued.
"I should've left earlier."
"Yes."
Arthur frowned again.
"You don't have to agree that fast."
> "((You already know the mistake.))"
---
Arthur kicked another stone.
Harder this time.
---
"…what if I mess up again?"
---
A pause.
---
> "((Then you learn faster))."
---
Arthur exhaled.
---
"…I'm trying."
---
> "((Trying is not enough.))"
---
Arthur stopped walking.
---
"…I'm literally a kid."
---
For once—
Tang didn't immediately respond.
---
Then, quieter—
---
> "((And yet… you are being watched like something more.))"
---
Arthur's chest tightened.
---
"…I didn't ask for that."
---
> "((No))."
---
Arthur looked down at his reflection in a nearby window.
Glasses.
School uniform.
Normal.
---
But he knew that wasn't the whole truth.
---
"…so what do I do?" he asked softly.
---
> "((You separate them))."
---
"…what?"
---
> "((The boy… and what you become.))"
---
Arthur stared at his reflection a second longer.
---
"…like two different people?"
---
> "((Yes.))"
---
Arthur didn't like how easy that sounded.
---
"…and what if they collide?"
---
A pause.
---
> "((Then one will destroy the other.))"
---
Arthur looked away quickly.
---
"…I don't like that answer."
---
> "((You do not have to.))"
---
Arthur walked again, slower now.
Thinking.
---
"…I just wanted to help people."
---
> "((Then learn how to do it… without losing yourself.))"
Arthur nodded slightly.
He reached his gate.
Paused.
---
That feeling again.
---
Watching.
---
Arthur turned—
Quick.
---
Nothing.
---
Empty street.
Am becoming paranoid?
"…I hate that," he muttered.
---
He pushed the gate open and stepped outside of the school grounds.
---
As the gate closed behind him—
His glasses caught the light for just a second.
---
And for that brief moment—
Something behind his eyes felt…
Different.
UNKNOWN LOCATION
A dimly lit room.
Multiple screens.
Arthur's image flickered across them—
Replay after replay.
"…He limits himself."
The one-eyed man spoke calmly.
Agent Coulson stood nearby. "Yes, sir. He prioritizes civilians over efficiency."
A pause.
"…Good."
The man leaned back slightly.
"…That makes him predictable."
"Begin Phase Two."
INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT – OUTSKIRTS
A sudden explosion shattered the calm.
BOOOOM!!
Smoke rose from a warehouse.
People screamed.
"FIRE!!"
"CALL 911!!"
Flames spread fast, thick black smoke pouring into the sky.
LEYWIN HOUSE – SAME TIME
Arthur froze.
"…Again."
((Go,)) Tang said.
Arthur didn't argue.
Clone created.
Window slightly open—
And he was gone.
INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT – MOMENTS LATER
Arthur landed near the scene.
People pointed instantly—
"It's him!!"
"Superboy!!"
Arthur ignored them.
His eyes scanned the building.
Fire.
Smoke.
But something felt…
Off.
"…Too contained," he muttered.
((You feel it too.))
"IS ANYONE INSIDE?!" Arthur shouted.
A voice came from within—
"HELP!! PLEASE!!"
Arthur didn't hesitate.
He ran in.
INSIDE THE WAREHOUSE
Heat hit him immediately.
Flames burned along the walls—
But the center…
Clear.
Too clear.
Three people were trapped under fallen beams.
Coughing.
Struggling.
"Please—help us!"
Arthur rushed forward.
Lifted the debris.
"Go! Move!"
They stumbled past him—
Running out fast.
Too fast.
Arthur turned slowly.
"…Yeah."
((Trap.))
CLANK!!
The main doors slammed shut.
Heavy locks snapped into place.
Arthur didn't panic.
He just exhaled slowly.
"…Alright."
From above—
THUNK.
Metal shutters dropped over every exit.
Windows sealed.
A hissing sound filled the air.
Arthur's eyes narrowed.
"…Gas?"
((Hold your breath!))
A faint mist spread through the room.
Not deadly.
But heavy.
Thick.
Hard to move in.
Arthur stepped forward—
His movement slowed slightly.
"…Okay… that's annoying."
From the shadows—
Men stepped out.
Dressed in tactical gear.
Calm.
Prepared.
"Target contained."
"Do not engage recklessly."
Arthur cracked his neck slightly.
"…You guys again?"
TZZZT!!
Electrified nets fired toward him—
Wrapping around his arms and legs.
Arthur tensed—
Then—
SNAP!!
He tore through them.
But—
Another net.
Then another.
Coordinated.
Precise.
((They're not trying to beat you—))
"…Yeah,I can clearly feel that" Arthur muttered.
"…they're slowing me down."
One agent spoke calmly—
"Deploy second layer."
THUNK!!
Magnetic clamps shot from the floor—
Locking onto Arthur's legs.
He froze for a second.
Not stuck—
But restricted.
"…Okay."
He looked up.
Eyes sharper now.
"…you came prepared."
CONTROL ROOM
"He's adapting."
"Response time increasing."
The one-eyed man watched silently.
"…Push him further."
I wanna see how far he can go
BACK INSIDE
Arthur inhaled—
Then—
BOOM!!
A burst of energy blew everything around him apart.
Nets shredded.
Clamps shattered.
Gas scattered.
The agents stepped back—
Not afraid.
Observing.
Arthur disappeared—
Then reappeared behind one of them—
Light strike—
Non-lethal—
Down.
Fast.
Efficient.
One by one—
They fell.
But then—
BANG!!
A high-frequency pulse device activated.
Arthur flinched—
Just slightly.
((That interferes with your energy!))
"…Yeah, I felt that…"
He steadied himself.
Breathing controlled.
"…You're not here to win."
He looked around slowly.
"…You're studying me."
Silence.
CONTROL ROOM
A small smile.
"…Correct."
"End Phase Two."
BACK IN THE WAREHOUSE
Just like that—
Everything stopped.
Agents retreated.
Doors unlocked.
Silence returned.
Arthur stood there.
Breathing slightly heavier.
Thinking.
"…They could've kept going."
((Yes.))
"…But they didn't."
((Because they learned enough.))
Arthur looked at his hands.
Then toward the exit.
"…Next time…"
His eyes hardened.
"…I won't hold back."
UNKNOWN LOCATION
Dark room.
Multiple screens.
---
This time—
the image didn't glitch.
---
It was clear.
---
A drone feed hovered above a street.
Stable.
Focused.
---
And right there—
in the center of the frame—
stood a boy
Face partially visible.
Not blurred.
Not distorted.
---
Real.
---
"Pause it."
---
Agent Phil Coulson froze the frame instantly.
---
Behind him—
Nick Fury stepped closer.
---
For a moment—
he said nothing.
---
The screen reflected in his eye.
---
"…zoom."
---
Coulson obeyed.
---
The image tightened.
---
You could see it now—
Not just a figure.
---
A kid.
---
Young.
Focused.
Tense.
---
Fury's voice dropped slightly.
---
"…that's not enhanced posture," he said.
"…that's learned behavior."
---
Coulson nodded.
---
"He's adapting," he said.
"Earlier footage shows hesitation. This—"
He gestured to the screen.
---
"—this is controlled."
---
Fury crossed his arms.
---
"Run the sequence."
---
The drone footage resumed.
---
A man stumbled in an alley.
Dropped bag.
Two others approaching.
---
Then—
Arthur moved.
---
Fast—
but not perfectly.
---
He stepped in.
Blocked.
Adjusted.
---
A slight misstep—
barely noticeable—
but there.
Fury caught it.
"…he's not trained," he said.
"No, sir."
Arthur pushed one attacker back.
Not with brute force—
but something else.
---
A pressure.
Subtle.
Controlled… but not fully.
---
The second attacker hesitated—
like something held him in place for a second too long.
---
Then Arthur moved again.
---
Quick.
Efficient.
---
And then
he stopped.
Looked around.
Up.
Straight at the drone.
---
The feed froze for a split second.
---
Coulson paused it again.
"…he noticed," Coulson said quietly.
Fury didn't respond immediately.
He stepped closer to the screen.
Arthur's face
partially visible
eyes sharp.
Alert.
---
Young.
---
"…he's getting aware," Fury muttered.
---
Coulson nodded.
---
"Yes, sir."
---
Fury tilted his head slightly.
---
"…how long was the drone in position?"
---
"Forty-seven seconds before engagement."
---
"…and he still picked it up."
---
That wasn't normal.
---
Fury exhaled slowly.
---
"Power set."
---
Coulson straightened slightly.
---
"Observed abilities include:"
Flight
Energy projection
"Enhanced reaction time"
"Super speed"
Cloning.. temporary they seem to disappear after some time
Plant manipulation
"Localized environmental pressure—possibly telekinetic in nature, but not confirmed"
"Situational awareness beyond baseline human levels"
Others are still unknown..
---
Fury's eye stayed on the screen.
---
"…strength?"
---
"Inconsistent," Coulson replied.
"Not his primary trait."
Not his primary trait?... fury questioned... the child has the strength of a hundred men and more.. and you tell me it's not his primary trait?
Fury was flabbergasted
"…control?"
Sir with everything we have he seems to be "Improving." everyday
---
That word again.
---
Improving.
---
Fury didn't like variables that improved.
---
"…origin."
---
Coulson took a breath.
---
"Three working theories," he said.
---
Fury didn't look at him.
---
"Give me the one that keeps me up at night."
---
A small pause.
---
"…natural emergence," Coulson said.
---
That did it.
---
Fury's jaw tightened slightly.
---
"…you're telling me that's just… happening?"
---
"We don't have evidence linking him to any known program," Coulson replied.
"No lab records. No test history. No external tech."
Fury looked back at the screen.
At Arthur.
Standing there.
Breathing slightly heavier.
Still looking up—
right at the drone.
"…he's a kid," Fury said.
"Yes, sir."
"…with abilities we can't track…"
"Yes, sir."
"…and instincts that are getting sharper."
Coulson didn't respond.
He didn't need to.
Silence filled the room.
Then—
"Any ID?"
"None," Coulson said.
"Face recognition came up empty. He keeps his head down, avoids direct angles."
"…smart."
Another pause.
"…or scared," Coulson added.
Fury glanced at him briefly.
"…both is worse."
He turned back to the screen.
"…protocol?"
Coulson asked carefully.
Fury thought for a moment.
Then—
"Surveillance only."
Coulson nodded.
"No contact."
Another nod.
"No pressure."
That one made Coulson hesitate slightly.
"…sir?"
Fury's voice stayed low.
"If he's helping people…"
A beat.
"…we let him."
Coulson studied him for a second.
"…and if that changes?"
Fury looked back at the frozen image of Arthur.
---
The kid .
Trying to be something more.
"…then we'll be ready."
The screen flickered again.
Arthur moved—
clean
fast
growing.
Fury watched in silence.
Not impressed.
Not relaxed.
Just… calculating.
"…keep the drone rotation wide," he said.
"…if he spotted one, he'll start looking for patterns."
"Yes, sir."
Fury turned away ,already thinking ahead.
"…let's see how long he stays a mystery."