DC: Zoom

"Can you believe the world we're living in now?" his mom called from the sofa.

Jason nodded absentmindedly, his thoughts elsewhere. So, they've found a way to counter people with powers… interesting. If they could neutralize abilities, it wouldn't be long before they figured out how to detect them too. That would be a problem. Maybe I'll have to register eventually.

He bit his tongue. Great. Well, at least not right away. But first, he needed to understand what he was capable of. A smirk tugged at his lips. I have superpowers. I can finally defend myself.

Once everyone had gone to bed, Jason slipped out of the house, pulling his hood up. He moved quietly through the streets, glancing over his shoulder to make sure no one was watching. Slipping into a dark alley, he took a deep breath and focused.

A familiar charge built up inside him. Then—electricity surged through his veins.

In an instant, he took off. The world blurred around him, his body propelled forward like a bolt of lightning. A truck rolled slowly across the street ahead, but before it could pass, Jason was already on the other side, orange lightning crackling in his wake.

His grin stretched wide as he glanced back—the truck driver was left clueless, eyes wide with shock. What the hell was that?

But Jason's triumph was short-lived. Before he could react, the wall came out of nowhere.

Oh, crap—

He slammed into the wall with a thud, collapsing to the ground with a groan. As he slowly pushed himself up, he noticed something strange—his shoes were nearly destroyed, half of one completely gone.

What the hell? he thought, staring in disbelief at the mess.

It looked like his shoes had burned to a crisp. But before he could process it further, a group of men covered in tattoos appeared out of nowhere.

"What's up, homeboy? What are you doing here all alone?" one of them sneered. "This is the Southside, puto."

Wait, did I run all the way to this part of the city? Jason questioned himself, but the thought was cut short.

One of the men slid a knife from his belt, the blade gleaming in the dim light. His eyes locked onto Jason, narrowing with menace.

Jason's heart raced as he instinctively took a step back.

"Give us everything you've got," another one snarled, his hand twitching toward his waistband.

For a brief moment, fear gripped Jason—but only for a second. A sudden spark of defiance ignited in his chest. His eyes flared with intensity, and a surge of energy pulsed through him.

Time seemed to stretch. The world around him slowed as if caught in a thick haze. Without thinking, he moved toward the man with the knife. His steps were quick but deliberate, and with a flash, he swiped the wallets from their pockets before they could react.

In the blink of an eye, Jason was already turning to run. But as he rounded the corner, the surge of power inside him suddenly faded, leaving him unsteady. His legs buckled, and his foot caught on the pavement.

He yelled out in pain as his skin scraped against the rough ground. The sting shot through him, but before he could recover, a loud rumble echoed from his stomach. He was starving.

Groaning, he pushed himself up, wincing as he limped over to the wallets he'd snatched. Jackpot. Hundreds of dollars lay before him. He smiled—this was his ticket to snacks.

Jason made his way to a convenience store, grabbing armfuls of snacks. By the time he was on his way home, he was eating like a man who hadn't seen food in days.

"Goddamn, I'm hungry," he muttered between bites.

Then it hit him, and his grin spread wide. I get it now. I need more food.

As he took another bite, a strange realization struck him. He shifted his weight, and the pain in his leg had almost completely faded. Wait… my leg doesn't hurt anymore.

His heart raced with excitement. Super healing! The thought buzzed through his mind, and he couldn't help but grin wider. His powers weren't just about speed—they could fix him too. The possibilities suddenly felt endless.

Jason finally made it home after a grueling two-hour walk. He could've used his speed, but his mind kept racing, trying to figure out a solution for his shoes.

He sighed, looking down at the ruined pair. My shoes, he groaned, shaking his head in mock despair.

But then, a grin spread across his face. Wait, I'll use those guys' money to buy new ones.

As he entered the house, Jason moved quietly up the stairs, careful not to make a sound. He closed his bedroom door gently and slipped into bed, pulling the covers over him. But sleep wouldn't come. His mind raced, filled with possibilities. With these powers, I could do so much. A grin tugged at his lips. I could put those bullies in their place. But then the thought hit him—That would expose me. Should I care? He winced, remembering the government's reach. They'd lock me up in a heartbeat.

Before he could think it through any further, morning light crept through the window. Jason sighed, pushing himself out of bed. He grabbed his clothes, taking a quick shower to shake off the sleepiness. The cold water hit his skin, waking him fully. As he stepped out, the sounds of the house coming to life marked the start of a new day.