Y/N HAD NOT known what to think for like weeks, but in actuality it felt longer during the training. He had not gone long without food or rest. Rather he spent time studying Krypton's history and his heritage.

He had set out from the farm to find answers, to find something that he hoped would fill the void and make him feel like he belong somewhere. But over the months, he found the fortress to feel shallower than a connection to home. He found himself with more questions and felt even less connected — to both Earth and Krypton.

And he had no one to turn to. His adopted parents were back at home, and he was too afraid to return. How could he face them, knowing what he now knew? He questioned would they even accept him back.

The only thing he could hold onto was the idea that the answers were waiting for him on his birth planet, or the place where the answers are. Or so as Jor-El promised.

During one of his 'training', Lara came into being, clutching her fists to her chests.

"My son.... you look so bereft. What's troubling you?"

Y/N hung his head, feeling boiled up as he looked at his hands, "What am I even doing."

Lara looked at him with concern, "I don't understand..."

"I came here to try and find my place in the world. My mom and dad raised me here on Earth, only to find out that everything was a lie. I have learned of Krypton, but it is a world destroyed, and you and Father are gone. Jor-El, er, my father, he promised that everything will be answered but why am I stuck with even more questions than I did when I came here?"

He had always felt different, but now that difference was stark and insurmountable. He wasn't just different from other people; he was from a different world entirely — a world that was long gone. 

A world he could never see or actually learn from. In his mind, he felt all alone.

"I have no world in which I can be a part, no place to be myself. I am alone," Y/N wiped his eyes, "Am I...am I even normal?"

"Oh Kal-El..." Lara knelt down and opened out her hands.

"You are far from alone, my son," she said softly. "You carry with you the strength and love of two worlds. Earth may not be your birth planet, but it is your home. And Krypton, though it is gone, lives on through you. Your father and I... we chose to send you to Earth because we believed in your ability to bring the best of both worlds together."

Y/N looked into her eyes. "But how can I bring anything together when I feel so torn apart?"

"That feeling of being torn apart is what makes you unique, Kal-El. It is your strength, not your weakness. It means you understand the value of both worlds, and it is that understanding that will guide you."

While she was holographic that served as the memory of Lara. It still felt like she was here. Y/N wanted it to feel like she was actually here as her palm touched his cheek.

"You are normal, my son, in your own extraordinary way. And that is enough."

Y/N considered his life for a long moment. He didn't know what he wanted to actually do with himself. All he wanted to do was just make friends and get Sarah to like him. But what of things he could actually do after graduating High School, if that's even possible now. His initial acceptance was just supporting the farm as that was all he ever had.

But Y/N never once thought about what he actually could do. He never figured out the detail and instead imagined that they would just work themselves out.

"So... what now?"

Lara smiled warmly, "Simply live your life. If what you are doing makes you happy, continue. If it does not, do something else. There is no other way of living."

For years Y/N felt as though his life so far had been marked by limitation, preventing him from doing anything he was really capable of. His actions had been set by what he could not do, not by what he wanted to do. 

Now was the time for him to try, to walk in a mile in his own shoes, trying to live as he never had, independent, free to do as he willed. He wasn't sure what the future would bring, but his mother was correct. He could not deny his life. He needed to live it.

"Thank you, Mother."

Over the next five years, Y/N would embark on a worldwide. Going back home was the start. He was hesitant, stepping on the front porch and knocking on the door. Most of him were thinking they'd just turn him away after the fallout they had. But as soon as they laid eyes on him, months after his departure, they didn't scream or yell or close the door. But instead, they embraced him with open tears.

Finishing High School a bit earlier, Y/N decided to embark on a worldwide journey — learning about different cultures and helped those in need.  Living in various countries, he discreetly uses his powers to aid whenever there needed.

Having gained wisdom, skills, and a deep understanding about himself and amongst the world he resided him. Y/N L/N was ready for the next best thing.

From a refugee to a farm boy to a travelling seeker to now a normal man with responsibilities.

The streetlights flickered as Marcus Daniels, sprinted down the streets of San Francisco. With a satchel of stolen energy devices slung over his shoulder, he left a trail of flickering lights and darkened storefronts. 

Daniels laughed, a malicious grin spreading across his face, "Too easy! By the time I'm out, those men and black will be busy playing catch-up!"

He zigzagged through the panicked crowd, knocking people aside with ruthless efficiency.

"Out of the way!" He barked as he shoved past them, "Unless you wanna be next!"

Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through the street, and Blackout was suddenly knocked off his feet. 

"The hell..." he groaned.

He landed hard on the pavement, his satchel flying open and spilling its contents. Disoriented, he looked around wildly, trying to find the source of the attack.

Then another gust of wind swirled past him. The criminal felt a wind punch which made him almost stumbled back. Before he could react again, Blackout was then struck with a blur of motion, knocking him down once again. 

Blackout struggled to his feet, his hands crackling with dark energy as he prepared to defend himself. Until he was restrained with high-tech zip-ties around his wrists.

Within moments, two vehicles screeched to a halt nearby and the Blur was already long gone.

"What the hell just happened?" SHIELD Agents, Tony Masters, stepped out of the vehicle to look out in the distance where the mysterious blur vanished.

"What do you think?" Agent Grant Ward stated as he approached, his voice laced with annoyance. "Same as before?"

"And still don't know how." Master replied.

Both AGENTS decided to call it in, informing their boss Agent Coulson, that the recent Meteor Freak has been captured as they handcuffed him and prepared for transport. They didn't mention about how Blackout was seemingly found tied. They kept that to themselves until further notice.

"Think we had some help catching him?" Tony asked his partner.

Grant shrugged, "I don't know. But he saved our asses the trouble that's what."

"Some kind of Superman or something."

"Beats me."

Marvel Studios Presents

• • 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗠𝗔𝗡 • •

https://youtu.be/SjkJ6GZh-pY

(Will be the Opening Credits Music for SUPERMAN)

THE INCOMING FRESHMAN walked down the hallway, amongst the buzzing energy of students who embarked on their prospective education. 22-year-old Y/N L/N, who looked more stoic with his black-rimmed glasses, carried a box and had a bag slung over his shoulder.

As he walked up to the room he was assigned, he noticed that the door was already open. Y/N peeked inside, seeing another person unpacking their things. He knocked on the door and got his attention.

"Hey," Y/N greeted.

The nineteen-year-old looked back and saw him. The lanky dark-skinned young man spoke to him. He looked like he was almost finished with his side of the room.

"Oh, hey!" the boy replied, "You lost?"

"No uh, actually wait—" Y/N glanced back at the door, "Is this room 78?"

"No, this is Room 51," Y/N's face fell and the boy chuckled, "I'm messing with you. Yeah, this is room 78 last I've checked."

Y/N sighed in relief, chuckling awkwardly as he moved to the opposite side where he stashed his boxes, "Great! I was worried I was gonna have to move these elsewhere."

"Why? Got something fragile in there?" he asked.

"Not exactly but these are stuff that I had growing up. Didn't want to leave them in Smallville."

The boy raised his eyebrows, "You're from Smallville? Like that small town near Kansas?"

Y/N grinned, "That's the one."

"Shit. You must have some high records to be in UCLA," he said, "Either that or you probably won some lottery or something."

Y/N chuckled as he shook his head, "Not really. I sort of had help from a friend."

"Gotcha," the boy nodded before finishing setting up the rest of his stuff.

Y/N gazed around the barren space, which contained two beds on separate sides of the room. A couple of small desks were beside them as well. A single window displayed an outside view of the city's skyscrapers. That was probably his favorite thing aside from the fact they even had their own bathroom.

"Pretty nice view," Nate remarked, catching Y/N looking out the window.

"Yeah, it's a lot different from Smallville," Y/N admitted.

"I can imagine. Never been to a place that small," Nate said with a smirk.

"It has its charms," Y/N replied, smiling. "Quiet nights, friendly neighbors. But I'm looking forward to the change."

"Big city life can be overwhelming," Nate warned. "But you'll get used to it."

"I hope so," Y/N nodded. "I'm here to make the most of it."

"Farm life must have been... different," Nate commented.

"It was. I mostly focused on my studies and helping out on the farm," Y/N chuckled. "But it's like my dad once said, rewarding only comes from hard work."

"Bet you have some stories." He said, intrigued.

"A few," Y/N grinned. "Maybe I'll share them sometime."

"You know what? I might hold you to that," He laughed. "I'm Nate."

Y/N nodded, then held out his hand, "Y/N L/N, uh, Journalist."

"Oh, so we're adding our classes now, huh?" Nate chuckled once again before shaking his hand, "Well like I said; I'm Nate. Engineering Major."

Y/N nodded, putting down his bag and gestured towards the twin bed on the left side of the room, "I'll be taking this side, if you don't mind."

"Oh, it's cool. I already called dibs on that," Nate shrugged before giving him a playful side-eye, "Unless that bed has a better view."

Y/N laughed, "Believe me, I think I'd know already."

Nate raised an eyebrow, "How would you?"

Y/N shrugged as he laughed again, "I just do."

Nate smirked, "You got some kind of super-senses or something?"

Y/N grinned, "Something like that."

Nate shook his head, amused. "You're a funny guy, Y/N."

"Thanks, I think?" Y/N replied with a chuckle.

"So, what made you choose UCLA?" Nate asked, sitting down on his bed.

"I wanted to get out of Smallville, see what the world has to offer," Y/N said, setting his box down.

"Big leap from a small town to a big city," Nate observed. "You nervous?"

"A little," Y/N admitted. "But it's a good kind of nervous."

"Yeah, I get that," Nate said. "I'm from a pretty big city myself, but LA is something else."

"Where are you from?" Y/N asked.

"Chicago," Nate answered. "Windy City."

"Nice. I've always wanted to visit," Y/N said.

"It's a great place. Lots of history, good food," Nate said. "But I wanted a change of scenery too."

"Guess we both have that in common," Y/N remarked.

"To fresh starts and all that," Nate agreed, chuckling.

Y/N shared the gesture. "Say no more."

"So, any hobbies?" Nate asked, trying to keep the conversation going.

"I um...into reading, a bit of writer myself. And I like video games and anime."

Nate smiled, "Same here. Well take out the reading and writing part and replace it with structure and technology and you're solid. You into sports?"

"Not really. But I played football during my senior year though."

"You did?"

"For a while," Y/N shrugged, "It.... wasn't really something for me."

"No, I share your realization," Nate nodded. "Though...Modesty, huh? Bet you were the star quarterback or something."

Y/N chuckled, "Something like that."

"Hey so, any plans on exploring LA?" Nate asked

Y/N pondered about it for a moment, "Hmm, I'm not sure yet. I haven't thought much ahead other than here. Besides there's so much to choose from."

"Well, there's a bowling course a friend of mine know. She knows all sorts of places, maybe I could get you to meet her one day."

Y/N adjusted his glasses, "Um...I suppose. Wouldn't hurt to meet new people."

"She knows a lot of good spot I'll assure you," Nate agreed, picking up a box. "Did your family help you decide to come here?"

Y/N paused, his expression briefly clouding. "Um, not exactly. It was more of a personal decision."

Nate glanced up, sensing Y/N's reluctance to elaborate. "Oh, got it. Sorry if I'm prying."

"It's okay," Y/N reassured him with a small smile. "No worries."

"You need help getting the rest of your stuff in?" Nate asked. "I already set up my computer and everything."

"Uh, yeah. Thanks." Y/N smiled. "I appreciate it."

Nate lightly smiled then gestured towards the open door, "Lead the way."

• • •

ONE OF Y/N's for the semester was Journalism 101. The room was steadily filling with students, and Y/N found himself alone at a table, which suited him just fine as he jotted down notes for a potential internship interview.

As he wrote down the final ideas, two guys walked up and sat beside him since they were the only open seats left. They're reason was so that they won't be easy picks to get called on.

"Excuse me, do you have a pen I could borrow?" one of the boys asked.

Y/N turned his head and noticed him, he looked a bit younger than him with short hair while his friend was slightly taller with blonde hair.

"Uh, yeah. Here."

Y/N handed his pen to him before resuming his note-taking resume. He didn't mind sharing his pen as his other one was in his pocket.

"So, what's your name? I never seen you around here?" the short-haired boy asked.

"Y/N. Y/N L/N. I just transferred here," Y/N answered.

"You new here?" the blonde-haired boy asked, a bit curious.

Y/N nodded, "Just arrived yesterday. Been here for a day and a half."

"Ah, welcome," the boy smiled. "I'm Arthur. This is my friend, Johnny."

"Thanks," Y/N said, smiling.

Johnny laid back, glancing at their new acquaintance. He eyed on Y/N's shirt. "I like your shirt, newbie. Looks pretty dope. You like Sonic?"

"Uh...yeah, I guess," Y/N responded.

"You guess? C'mon, man," Johnny said, incredulously.

Y/N quickly backtracked and shook his head, "No, no, no. Sorry, I do like Sonic. I've played most of his games back then."

Arthur chimed in, "What's your favorite game?"

"Uh... '06, I guess," Y/N said with a smirk.

They both gave him hard stares before Y/N chuckled.

"Kidding. My favorite is Adventure."

"Good, because I was going to be judging you freely, newbie," Johnny said with a grin.

"Uh...thanks," Y/N nervously chuckled, "Glad I dodged that bullet, on that one."

Johnny laughed as Arthur then asked, "So, what brings you to LA?"

"Just wanted a change of scenery. Plus, I have an internship planned at the Daily News Network." Y/N explained. "That and the weather's not that bad either.'

"I don't know about that one, chief," Johnny remarked. "You're in the summertime so expect to be sweeting in a few days."

"The heat doesn't really bother anyway."

They both chuckled, Y/N feeling more comfortable with these two.

"What about you guys?" Y/N asked.

"We're from Oakland," Arthur told him. "Known each other since grade school. Always stuck together."

"Golly, heh, can't say I have something like that," Y/N admitted, adjusting his glasses.

Johnny nodded, "What about you? What's your story?"

"Me?" Y/N blinked, "Uh, not much really. I'm just a country bumpkin."

 Y/N's gaze fell upon a girl a few seats down from him. She had long blonde hair and piercing blue-grey eyes. She was beautiful, there was no denying it, but what struck Y/N was the sense of familiarity she seemed to give him. As if he had seen her somewhere before.

The girl turned her head slightly, noticing his gaze, and gave him a smile. Y/N smiled back, a bit flustered, and looked down at his notebook, trying not draw any attention.

"What are you looking at?" Johnny chimed in whispery.

"Huh?" Y/N's eyes darted towards him, "Oh nothing."

"You sure?" John grinned.

"Positive," Y/N confirmed, glancing back down at his notebook. Then they glanced over to notice the blonde girl and the blonde flirt whistled.

"Damn she's hot," he said, glancing at the two. "I'd hit totally hit that."

Arthur rolled his eyes. "As if she'd give you the time of day. Besides, she's way out of your league."

Johnny scoffed, "Yeah, like you have a better chance."

"Guys," Y/N muttered, keeping his tone mannered. "Don't be creeps."

"Oh, come on. Live a little," Johnny teased.

"Just because you live a little doesn't mean it's the same for others," Y/N muttered under his breath.

Arthur chuckled. "He's got a point, Johnny. Maybe try a different approach."

Johnny rolled his eyes but didn't push further. "Alright, alright. I'll behave."

Finally, the professor finally walked in. Y/N was glad for the interruption. He turned his attention to the front, where the professor was setting up her lecture notes.

"Hello, class. Welcome to Journalism 101," the professor said, stepping up to the desk. "I'm Professor Ben Urich, but you can call me Professor or Ben."

Johnny leaned over to Y/N and whispered, "Think he ever cracked a smile."

He shouldn't have but Y/N stifled a laugh and nudged Johnny gently.

The professor continued, "Now, I don't want a whole biography or even where you're from. Just your...let's say...favorite or recent book."

Professor Urich started with the students near the front. They all took turns saying their names and mentioning their recent book. He ended up going up the right side of the room until he reached Arthur.

"Arthur Parks. And, uh, my favorite book is 'The Great Gatsby.'"

"Impressive," Urich replied. "Next?"

"Johnny Storm aaaaand my favorite book has to be," he shrugged. "does comic book counts?"

"No. Books only."

Johnny sighed, "Fine. It's...Outsiders."

"Really?" Arthur and Y/N both whispered, Johnny deciding to choose a book that he read in ninth grade.

"Shut up," Johnny mumbled.

"Young man!" Urich called out directly to Y/N. "You seem active. Why don't you go next."

Y/N's face faltered as the professor and the others in the class looked at him. Y/N cleared his throat.

"Oh...uh...um...my favorite book is To Kill a Mockingbird? If that's fine." He asked, acting quite nervous at the mixed stares he was receiving.

The professor nodded. "Good. Quite the taste you have."

Y/N lightly chuckled. "Thank you, sir."

"Now we're just going over the syllabus today. So, if you have it printed out, good. If not, please pull it up on your device."

The students obliged, taking out either a sheet of paper or opening their laptops and tablets. Y/N took his out too and was ready to continue the lecture.

Urich continued, "This course will cover various aspects of journalism, including ethics, reporting, and media analysis. We'll have guest speakers throughout the semester, so be prepared for some exciting sessions."

Y/N's ears perked up at the mention of guest speakers. He wondered who might come to speak.

"Any questions before we dive into the syllabus?" Urich asked.

A student in the back raised his hand. "Yeah, will we be doing any fieldwork?"

"Good question. Yes, there will be fieldwork. You'll get hands-on experience with reporting and interviewing. It's crucial to learn by doing," Urich answered. "Now let's get started with the syllabus. Turn to page one..."

• • •

IN HIS OFFICE of Pym Industries, the old man seated at his desk. He was reading through some classified files as he did, as if he was working on something. Moments later the doors swung open.

"Good to see you again, Mr. Pym," George Tarlton grinned, his laptop in hand as he approached Hank with an extended hand.

"Tarlton." He stands and shakes George's hand.

"So, how are we doing these days, Pym?" George sits down comfortably, "To tell you the truth, I was bit skeptical you wouldn't call at all."

"I was considerate..." Hank sighed as he sat down on his chair, "So why don't you explain to me why you came all this way from your little company to see me."

As soon as Hank heard that Tarlton wanted to speak with him, he was instantly wary. George was known for his arrogance and tendency to take credit and make "influential videos" where all he does is scam people's money and yell how their lives are poor with fake tips on how to improve their livelihood.

He was certainly going to decline but then it caught to him that Monica Rappaccini of all people was involved in the project so if she was heavily involved, then there was something worth listening to.

"Well, it's quite simple, actually. I'm looking to start a business relationship with Pym Industries."

"What a surprise," Hank rolled his eyes, being vaguely familiar of those words. "The important question is why?"

"You see, my company, A.I.M. Technologies, has a strong presence in many fields, including medical technology, defense, and, of course, pro-energy."

Pym sighed as he continued,

"And now we're looking to expand into the field of biotech. In fact, we've recently acquired a small startup that specializes in the development of innovative bioengineering technologies. One that could open up a whole new range of opportunities for us."

Hank folded his arms and tilted his head. "That's all well and good, but I fail to see how this has anything to do with me."

"Well, I'm glad you asked," George replied. "Many tried to recreate the same super soldiers that made good ol Captain America all flex and buff, but I believe we can make something better and take these developments to the next level."

"You want to recreate the super soldier serum?"

"Oh no, much better."

George opened his laptop and turned the screen towards Hank, revealing a series of intricate designs and scientific diagrams. 

"Adaptive dynamic autonomous prototype technology with integrated operating defense systems."

Hank's eyes narrowed, studying the designs as Tarlton continued.

"Synthetic beings capable of adapting and enhancing their physical abilities. Think of them as the next step in human evolution."

"And how do you plan to achieve this?"

George's grin widened. "Well first, the Super Soldier Serum."

"And how the hell did you manage to gain that?"

George sat up from his chair, grinning. "It wasn't easy, I assure you. But anything's possible with the right connections. With this, we've been able to reverse-engineer its effects and incorporate them into our Adapoid prototypes. But that's not all. We've also planning to gather data from various sources."

"What would those sources be, if I may ask?" Hank arched a brow.

"Nothing much. Just advancements in regenerative biology and strength. Oh, and some help from Qeng Enterprises."

Hank just stared at him in silent. "And where do I come in?"

George leaned back, clasping his hands together. "Your Pym Particles. Imagine what we could accomplish if we integrated them into our Adapoids."

"So, you're saying you want to use my technology to create these...androids?"

"Exactly," George said, his eyes gleaming. "With your help, we could revolutionize the field of biotechnology. Then...we'll adapt. After all, it's the key to success."

Hank fell silent, rubbing his chin as he turned to the laptop. George stood up, putting his laptop back into his bag and held his hand out for Hank to shake. Hank stared at it for a moment, thinking.

"Think about it, Pym. With Pym Tech, you'll have access to all the resources and facilities you need to create a new generation of soldiers. Think about it."

That sounded wrong even hearing it. Soldiers. Hank couldn't help but scoff.

To be frank, he did think about the idea, in his own egotistical way, the idea felt too big to ignore. Then he remembered the last time when something he thought would be beneficial to mankind, in both aspects. Even if the idea sounds too good to be impossible, and from Tarlton of all people. He couldn't be sure that these creations couldn't be used for any gain or harm.

You're ambitious, I'll give you that, but I'll have to decline."

George's confident demeanor faltered, his hand dropping to his side. "What? Why? You're really going to turn this down?"

"I've learned the hard way not to trust people who are too eager to show their true intentions," Hank said, standing up from his chair. "You might have the money, and you might even have the power, but you don't have the right mind."

George scowled, his jaw clenched. "The hell do you mean? We have all the resources we need. All you need is to provide the science behind our work. This is a future! One for millions, the scientist supreme would've ached at the idea."

"Even if that were the case, what makes you think that I'll share my findings with you?" Hank let out a small laugh. "You have your tricks and your money but I operate on a scale you can't even comprehend."

George stared at him, his mouth twitches as Pym leaned back into his chair with a sigh,

"Now, good day to you, Tarlton. Go back to your parties, cars and...stick to making those silly little trinkets yeah?"

"I'd be careful if I were you, Pym. We could achieve so much together. Don't make a mistake that you can't come back from."

"I think I can do better on my own," Hank meets George's gaze, unflinching. "There's the door."

George scoffed, turning on his heels. He stormed out, the door slammed behind him, leaving the room in silence. Hank sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, the gears in his mind already turning.

"Worst, fifteen minutes of my life..."

• • •

THE TWO FRIENDS walked down the sidewalk of Westwood Village. Y/N and Nate had come from their campus and made it to the AMC a few blocks away.

"Um..are you sure this' good idea..." Y/N began, his hands in his coat pockets. "You think they'll be erm...fine with me?"

"You should be good enough." Nate chuckled, patting his friend on the shoulder. They've gotten to know each other over the last couple of weeks, going from casual roommates-to-good friends, that Nate figured it'd be time to introduce him to his friends.

"Hey don't be like that," Nate reassured him. "You're a cool dude, in your own little way."

Y/N stumbled, adjusting his glasses, "I, er, am?"

Nate chuckled again, "In your little dorky way. You got charm; they love that."

"Thanks..."

Nate laughed as he wrapped an arm around his friend's shoulder, "Now come on."

They both walked inside the theater, with only a few people walking around the theater, it'd been a while since he'd been to the movies. In fact he couldn't ever recall the last time he was at one so this would be his official experience.

They spotted the group in line for concessions, a young blonde being the first to notice directly at the two and beamed.

"Finally! I was wondering when the nerd was gonna show up."

"Keep calling me nerd, Morse," Nate rolled his eyes before chuckling. "I got caught up with something."

"What?" a latina woman chimed in from behind Morse, "Couldn't find your deodorant?"

Nate looked at her deadpanned. "Very funny."

"Uh, hi." Y/N waved at the two, opening out his hand. "I'm Y/N. Y/N L/N."

"I don't do that." she shook her head.

"Oh."

"I do hugs." She immediately brought him in for an embrace, which caught him off guard. It was no surprise for the rest since she was always open like that.

"Don't get too comfortable." Morse joked to Y/N, "Unless you give a good impression."

"Uh..." Y/N was instantly caught off as he parted before the blonde laughed.

"I'm just messing with you," she laughed. "I'm Bobbi. This is my girlfriend, Anya."

"There's one more person, but uh, she's getting our tickets in." Anya told him, "We got yours in so you're all set."

He nodded, he was oddly silent throughout the whole greeting. Not really knowing what to say as Nate and the girls went into casual conversation while Y/N tried to come up with some words.

"Uh, so what do we plan on getting?" Y/N asked as they walked to the concession stand. "When, um, your friend gets us in?"

"The usual for me," Bobbi said. "Popcorn and Soda."

"I'm taking some sour patch with that." Anya added.

Nate glanced at Y/N, "What about you?"

Y/N looked at the menu, feeling slightly overwhelmed. "Uh, maybe some popcorn and a drink too. Sounds good."

Nate smiled, "Solid choice. Hey, Bobbi, Y/N's new to LA. Any must-see spots you recommend?"

Bobbi nodded enthusiastically, "Definitely check out the Getty Center. And if you like the beach, Santa Monica's great."

"So, Y/N! Where are you from?" Anya asked.

"I'm from Kansas," Y/N replied.

Anya and Bobbi glanced at each other before turning to the young adult, "Seriously?"

"Mhm," Y/N nodded. "From a town called Smallville. The next county over."

Bobbi looked incredulous, "You must be joking."

"Why would I be joking?" Y/N shortley chuckled.

"You don't speak much do you?" Anya asked, and the small-town man shook his head.

"No, not really. I only had one friend and that was it."

Anya nodded understandably, before she laughed it off, "Well you're stuck with us now. We'll get you in the social life."

Y/N nodded before someone familiar met up with them. A blonde-brunette woman approached panting, "Hey, sorry for the wait. We're 4-3 to 4-7– Y/N?"

Y/N awkwardly smiled, "Uh...hi Hope."

The brunette let out a surprised laugh, "So, you're the guy that Nate was introducing us to."

Nate blinked and looked back and forth, "Wait you two know each other??"

Hope nodded, "Yeah this is Smallville. The guy I've been meaning to find and introduce y'all to."

Nate looked dumbfounded. He should've asked questions when Y/N mentioned he was from Kansas. But instead he was surprised.

Hope patted him on the shoulder, smiling at him. Then her phone vibrated and she pulled it out. She sighed, seeing a caller ID before stepping away. Y/N and Nate glanced at each other, with the latter shrugging. Hope came back moments later, a bit annoyed.

"Everything okay, Hope?" Y/N asked, concerned.

Hope sighed, running her hand through her hair. "Yeah, yeah. Just a business call. Sorry about that."

Y/N nodded, accepting the answer. He noticed the way her shoulders slumped, her face slightly tense. She was obviously upset about something, but he didn't want to push her.

"Alright, the movie's starting soon, so let's go grab our seats," Bobbi said, and the group headed toward the theater. As they walked, Y/N couldn't help but glance over at Hope, curious about the phone call.

Hope felt the stare and glanced at him, "Is there something on my face?"

"Oh, no," Y/N quickly looked away. "Just checking in, that's all."

Hope smiled at him, and Y/N's heart fluttered a little.

"I'm fine, Y/N. Just tired," Hope said, and he nodded.

They were midway through Megamind, it was a movie that Anya wanted to see since she was excited for another Dreamworks movie. Bobbi wanted to see the movie Saw 3D but Anya wasn't really into the series so she decided to settle for this too.

Y/N had left to go to the restroom. Once he was done, he exited and took out his phone. He was looking at it as he walked through the empty hallway, making his way back to the auditorium until he bumped into someone.

"Oh! Sorry!" He got startled and quickly apologized.

"No no it's okay," the girl chuckled. It was Hope, who had her empty cup in hand. "Not the first time, I ended up bumping into you, Smallville."

"Sorry." he apologized again.

She giggled, before looking around. Y/N couldn't help but look over her. Her brunette hair was pulled into a low ponytail and her bangs framed her face perfectly. She wore a simple yellow tank top and jean shorts, her sneakers completing the look. She was effortlessly beautiful, and Y/N felt a flutter in his chest.

"I was gonna refill my drink." She held up her cup.

"Do you...want me to...um...come with?"

Hope smiled, her eyes brightening at Y/N's offer. "Sure, why not? It's always nice to have company. Just don't trip over anyone along the way."

They walked together towards the concession stand. They softly laughed at the exchange. Y/N gestured down the hall, following Hope to the soda machine as they talked about their thoughts on the movie so far.

"Oh, come on!" Hope shook her head with laughter.

"What? You can't admit, Metro Man looked kinda...basic." Y/N argued, responding to the debate on whether or not Metro Man was kinda hot.

"Simple? I think he looks heroic," Hope replied, raising an eyebrow.

"Heroic? He looks like he's trying too hard," Y/N teased.

"Trying too hard?" Hope shot back with a grin. "Says the guy who refuses to admit that the cape is cool."

"Yeah. Sure."

"Also that suit looks so weird. Looks like it was made from leftover drapes or something."

Hope shortly glanced at him, "I don't know. I think that'd be nice. After all, he was raised by a decent family. So maybe having a suit with such a homey look feels close to home. Like a hero actually living among us."

Y/N thought about it for a moment, before he sighed, "Well...when you put it like that. I guess it does sound nice."

She let out a wry chuckle as she refilled her drink. "You always overthink these things."

"Guilty as charged," Y/N said, scratching the back of his head.

They reached the concession stand, and Hope handed over her cup for a refill. As they waited, Y/N glanced at her.

"So, how've you been?"

"Busy," Hope replied. "Balancing life and BioChem, you know how it is."

Y/N nodded. "Yeah, I do. I'm still getting used to LA."

"Too used to the farm life, Smallville?"

"Very funny, car wreak," Y/N chuckled. "But...it's something like that. To be honestly I wasn't even planning on coming here."

Hope took a sip from her freshly filled cup. "What changed?"

"I got an internship here, and Mom agreed that it seemed like a good opportunity."

"And your dad?"

Y/N instantly thought about the previous conversation he had with his dad. Joseph was always skeptical every time Y/N was venturing into new territory, from when he left Smallville the second time to now, deciding to move to Los Angeles. 

But like he said, "sometimes a man must leave his nest and be his own man.", Y/N almost chuckled at that phrase.

"He took it well...." Y/N smiled, "We're on good terms, don't worry."

Hope smiled back, her eyes softening. "That's good to hear."

"What about you and your dad? You two doing alright?"

Hope took another sip then shrugged, "It's...something. I'll give you that."

Y/N nodded, not wanting to go further on the topic. "Right."

With almost nothing left to say they decided to head back with the others but midway, Hope stopped and turned to Y/N.

"Oh, and by the way, there's this park nearby that I often go to. It's got a sight with some places we could chill in. We're planning on meeting up there soon," Hope told him. "If you want, you could come with."

Y/N arched a brow, "Um...you're sure?"

Hope nodded, "Yeah It'll be nice to hang out outside of all the hustle."

Y/N hesitated briefly then nodded, "Well I uh...sure! I should have some time. I just to get my interview with the Daily News outta the way."

As they started walking back to the auditorium, a loud noise echoed through the hallway. It sounded like something heavy crashing to the floor. Hope and Y/N exchanged a worried glance and rushed towards the source of the noise.

They arrived at the scene to find a group of people gathered around a fallen display stand. A young woman was trapped underneath it, crying out in pain.

Without thinking, Y/N walked up towards the crowd. Two other men were trying to lift the display off the woman but to no luck.

"Just stay calm," one of them said to the woman. "Let's try this again! 3. 2. 1!"

They attempted again but failed once more. The fallen display proved a lot heavier than expected, and the men struggled to free the trapped woman.

Y/N chimed in, "I'll help!"

Another bystander stepped up, "Count me in too."

Together, they managed to lift the display enough for the woman to crawl out. Hope knelt beside her, offering comfort. "You're going to be okay. We've got you."

Y/N grabbed the edge of the display stand alongside the others. It was pure luck that there were others to help, which meant he could easily use his strength without any suspicious or looks.

"3...2...1!"

With a deep breath, he lifted the heavy stand with ease, his strength surprising everyone around him.

The woman was pulled free, and Hope helped her to her feet. She looked at Y/N and the others with a relieved smile. "Thank you...Thank you so much!"

Y/N smiled, awkwardly laughed. "It was just a luck that it took more than one."

Hope gave him a knowing look but said nothing. The crowd started to disperse, and Y/N and Hope made their way back to the auditorium.

• • •

THE GROUP SEPARATED after the AMC theaters, Nate and the girls decided to go grab a bite to eat. They expected that Hope and Y/N would join, the group wanting to know the farm boy a bit more. But Y/N decided to head back to the apartment while Hope explained that she needed to go back to the lab.

The three friends walked off, talking about the movie and where they were going, leaving Y/N and Hope alone as they both walked to her car.

"I could give you a ride home if you want?" She offered him, pointing towards her black and yellow Chevrolet Camaro.

Y/N thought about it, "Thanks, I appreciate it. However, I think I can find my own way back. No offense to you."

She chuckled, shaking her head, "None taken."

He paused, feeling an awkward silence between them. "Hey, um, I had fun today. It's good seeing you again."

Hope smiled, lightly slapping his arm. "Good seeing you too Smallville. We should hang out often again, keep me from falling again."

Y/N rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, "Well, uh, I could...next time..."

She nodded, pushing her hair back. "I'll see you around, okay?"

Y/N nodded then waved as the brunette stepped back. "Okay. Erm, bye!"

Hope got in her car, and he watched her drive off, his heart racing.

Hope watched as Y/N walked away, shaking her head. It was good to see him again in a long time and possibly for the long run in the future. She got into her car and drove away from the AMC.

The streets were quiet, and the city lights glimmered against the night sky. She turned into a less busy road when suddenly a cloth covered in a sickly-sweet odor was pressed against her mouth. Startled, she tried to scream, but a raspy voice hissed from behind her.

"Ah ah ah," the masked man hissed, "Let's not do anything crazy. We don't want to take off that pretty little neck of yours now, won't we?"

Hope's eyes widened. She could see her surroundings blurring as she struggled against her attacker. She tried to elbow him, but he was too strong, and her movements felt sluggish.

"You're making this harder than it needs to be," he growled. "Just relax and this will all be over soon."

Hope's heart pounded in her chest as she continued to fight, panic rising. Her vision blurred further, and she felt her strength ebbing away and her limbs growing heavy.

"Get...off...me..."

Her assailant's grip tightened, and her body went limp, slipping into unconsciousness.

Y/N launched himself up into the air, landing silently on the rooftop under the cover of night. He leaped from rooftop to rooftop until finally coming to rest nearby his and Nate's apartment.

Using the fire escape to slow his descent, Y/N dropped hand over hand back to the streets. He preferred to use the normal method of entering and exiting his apartment, so as not to draw attention to himself, or rather, the lack thereof.

Once inside, Y/N made himself feel a bit more relaxed as he took off his glasses and stretched his usual height. After loosening his coat, he picked up the phone and dialed the farm.

"Mom?" Y/N spoke through the phone. "It's me."

"Hello, sweetie!" Maria answered. "How are you?"

"I'm doing good," Y/N smiled. "How's dad?"

"He's been keeping busy with the farm. We had a rainy day yesterday," Maria replied. "But he's always asking about you."

"I'll have time to visit soon. Maybe in like a month or so," Y/N said thoughtfully. "So, how's everything else been?"

"Focus on your life first, Y/N. Worry about us later." Maria told him. "How about you, dear? Did you get into the internship yet?"

"Um...it's going well," Y/N made dinner and ate, recalling the evening's events. "I haven't met with Mr. Reeve yet but I'm getting the hang of L.A. My roommate's pretty cool and tonight we saw a movie. It was fun."

"Oh, that sounds nice."

"I also met Hope there. She's in my biochemistry class and taking biochemistry."

"Ah, I see," his mom said with a knowing tone, "How is she?"

"She's well." Y/N affirmed. "She was thinking we should take a stroll around the park this weekend and show me around what Los Angeles has to offer."

"Oh really?" Maria said, her voice full of motherly indignation.

"Mom!" Y/N affronted.

"I'm just saying," Maria laughed. There was a protracted silence. "Do you think you're ready, Y/N?"

Y/N instantly thought about his other plans here. He glanced at his locked luggage that Nate helped him with. One that he strictly told him not to open. He stared at it for a while before he simply nodded.

"Yeah," Y/N said. "I came all this way. Might as well introduce myself."

• • •

HOPE AWOKE TO the harsh glare of lights, her head pounding and her vision blurry. She struggled to piece together what happened as she glanced around to see the dimly lit, cramped interior of the warehouse.

"...but why the fuck are we keeping her here? Why not just move her out?" a voice sneered.

"Don't be a baby, man. No one rarely knows this place. Perfect spot to keep lil princess there safe and cozy for the next 42 hours. Sides, there's not much places we can move her without being trace."

The other masked thug shook his head, "And you're sure this is the secured place."

"It's the best we've got for now," the familiar voice snapped. "Just make sure she stays quiet. I'll let our client know that she's secured."

"Fuck man, I better get paid for this."

"Make sure this all goes smoothly then, and there won't be any trouble for any of us."

The other man grunted in response, clearly annoyed but resigned. After a few parting notes, one of the masked men left and Hope could hear a door slamming shut. She tried to stand up but her limbs felt heavy, and her head spun.

"Shit, she's awake."

"It doesn't matter anyway. We're already moving out soon."

"You're awake," the kidnapper's partner said, his voice gruff and Hope saw her assailant sitting on a crate nearby, cleaning his gun.

"Who are you?" Hope demanded, struggling to get up as her wrists were wrapped from behind. "What did you do to me?"

The man sneered. "Brought you somewhere even your daddy won't save you. But don't worry, it'll all just business."

Hope glared at the masked man, anger and fear warring within her. "What do you want from me?"

"Like I said, it's just business," the man replied. He walked up to her and grabbed her chin to force her to look at him. "So instead of yapping your cheeks, I'd rather you to be a good girl and sit still and maybe you'll get your chance out of this alive."

Hope closed her eyes, trying to clear her mind and think. She needed to find a way out of this mess. But with her head spinning and her body feeling weak, she couldn't think of a way out. She had to try though. She had to escape.

As the minutes passed, her senses slowly returned, and her surroundings became clearer. She could hear the low hum of machinery, the steady drip of water from somewhere in the distance, and the occasional scurrying of rats. The apartment was cluttered with shelves of materials, such as cardboard boxes, wooden crates, and papers. A space heater running nearby and an old industrial machine, like a conveyor belt or a metal press, in the corner, currently turned off.

The kidnapper's attention was diverted as he checked his phone, his partner not with him at the moment. Hope struggled against the wristbands, trying to break free while not drawing any attention.

Hope mustered all her strength and kicked the chair over, causing it to fall over. She hit her head against the floor, disorienting her. The man quickly put away his phone and shot up from his seat.

"What the hell!" he walked towards her. "Thought you could get away huh, princess?"

Hope's mind raced as the kidnapper hauled her up. Her wrists ached from the bindings, but she fought through the pain.

The kidnapper's grip tightened, but Hope twisted her body and managed to elbow him in the ribs. He grunted, loosening his hold just enough for Hope to spin and kick him hard in the shin. The man stumbled back, knocking into a shelf filled with boxes and papers, causing them to scatter across the floor. The space heater teetered dangerously close to the fallen papers. 

Hope then kicked at his behind and sent him towards the space heater, knocking it over. The glowing hot coils made contact with the scattered papers, which quickly ignited.

"Shit!" the kidnapper yelled, scrambling to his feet as the small fire began to spread.

Hope noticed the old industrial machine in the corner. Just as she was aiming herself toward it, the kidnapper lunged at her, but Hope twisted her body and tripped him over, causing him to collide into the machine's control panel.

The machine roared to life with a loud clunk, sparks flying and landing on the spreading flames, further fueling the fire.

"Shit shit shit!" the kidnapper panicked. 

He tried to stomp out the flames, unable to see that Hope managed to slip one of her hands off the wristbands. She grabbed a piece of broken wood from the fallen shelf and swung it at her kidnapper from behind while he was distracted. He crumpled to the ground unconscious.

The fire now raged around her, and Hope knew she had only moments to escape. She freed her other wrist and stumbled to her feet, coughing from the thick smoke.

Hope knew she had only moments to escape as the fire spread around. Freeing her other wrists, she stumbled and crawled to the unconscious man and picked out his phone and began to dial a number.

It was getting dead late around 11PM, but Y/N couldn't really sleep. So instead, he decided to sit on his small bed and watch the latest episode of Dragon Ball Z Kai when his roommate finally stepped back from the restaurant with the girls. He had been waiting for a while, and it was getting pretty late.

"Y/N?" Nate called out.

"Hey, um, how was the meal?" Y/N asked as his roommate closed the door behind him.

"It was great, you should've been there," Nate said, taking off his shoes. "I thought you went with Hope?"

"She had some things to take care of," Y/N told him. Nate nods and walks near Y/N, who was laying down on the bed.

"You watch Dragon Ball?" he asked with amusement.

"Uh, yeah," Y/N chuckled, scratching his head, "I've always liked anime."

"Good shit, man," Nate replied. He was about to say something else when his phone rang.

"Hang on," Nate sat up and stepped away as he answered his phone. "Hello?"

Y/N continued watching his show, but he couldn't help but overhear Nate's conversation. The concern in Nate's voice however did make him alarmed.

"WHAT?"

Y/N paused his show, his heart starting to race. "What's going on, Nate?"

Nate put his phone on speaker, allowing Y/N to hear the panicked voice on the other end. "...it's all over the news apparently. Someone spotted up at the roof and now they're saying she's trapped inside."

Y/N stood up. "Who's trapped?"

Nate didn't answer but instead snatched the remote from Y/N's hand and changed the channel which showed the Daily News reporting about a burning building that transpired a couple of minutes ago. 

But that's not what shocked Y/N, what did was the fact that Hope was reported being stuck inside.

He stared at the television in horror, his chest tightens and his breath catching in his throat. His mind was racing as he tried to process the information, but he couldn't seem to make sense of it.

"Oh God," Nate muttered, shaking his head. "We need to get over there."

Y/N's heart pounded as he tried to think of a plan. "Do you have the address? We can drive there."

Nate nodded, fumbling with his phone to pull up the location. "Yeah, it's not too far. Let's go."

They grabbed their jackets and rushed out the door. As they ran down the stairs and out onto the street, Nate kept glancing at his phone, trying to keep track of the news updates.

"And apparently it's near here?"

"Yeah," Nate nodded, "It's the old apartment. I remember hearing about it, but I didn't know anyone was living there. The building was supposed to be condemned."

"Got it?"

As they gotten closer near a opened crowd, Y/N seized the moment. He sprinted down away from Nate and the crowd. He darted through the side streets and upcoming vehicles, searching for a perfect spot.

"Any idea what we could do.... Y/N?" Nate turned and saw his friend had vanished. He scanned the crowd for any sign of Y/N, confusion etched on his face. "Y/N?!"

There was no response. Nate's eyebrows furrowed as he glanced around, bewildered by his friend's sudden disappearance.

"Where the hell did you go..."

Y/N dashed across the street, narrowly avoiding an oncoming taxi. His hands moved with precision, tearing open his shirt in one fluid motion to reveal a vibrant blue suit underneath with the red 'S' emblazoned on his chest came into view.

In that fleeting moment, Y/N L/N, with a single spin around the revolving doors, transformed into a figure clad in a deep blue suit with accents and a flowing red cape. His hair, now perfectly styled up with piercing blue eyes.

"Damn, man," a nearby man exclaimed, eyeing his suit. "That's one bad outfit."

Y/N smiled. "Thanks. My mom made it for me."

Taking a deep breath, the caped figure launched himself into the sky towards the building. 

Everyone watched from below the inferno building as the streets were flooded with emergency vehicles. The fire truck, police cars, and ambulances surrounded the burning structure, their lights casting an eerie glow on the crowd that had gathered.

A car drove nearby and out came Hank Pym, whose face laid pale and

Hank Pym arrived in a rush, his face pale with fear and worry. He pushed through the crowd, his eyes scanning the scene frantically. "Where's my daughter?" he demanded, grabbing the arm of a nearby officer.

"Sir, please stay back," the officer said, trying to keep the situation under control.

"No, you don't understand. My daughter is in there!" Hank shouted, his voice breaking. "Her name is Hope Van Dyne!"

The officer's eyes widened, recognizing the name. "We're doing everything we can to get her out safely, sir."

Hank's heart pounded in his chest as he stared at the burning building, his mind racing with terrible thoughts of what might happen. Suddenly, a shout from the crowd caught everyone's attention.

"Look! Up there!" a citizen exclaimed, pointing towards the sky.

Heads turned, eyes squinting against the glare of the fire and the flashing lights. Up above, a seemingly blue blur from the sky sped towards the building, with a red streak billowing out behind him.

Inside the building, Hope struggled to breathe as smoke filled the air. Her eyes stung, and every breath was a battle. She had managed to find a small pocket of air near a broken window, but the heat was unbearable, and the fire was closing in fast.

Her thoughts raced, searching for a way out, but the flames had cut off every escape route. She coughed violently as her vision blurred. She stumbled to the ground and the world around her began to fade.

She looked up and saw a large piece of burning debris about to fall. Time seemed to slow as she realized there was no escape.

Then, as the flames crept closer, a powerful gust of wind blew through the window, extinguishing the fire.

"You alright?" a voice spoke.

Hope opened her eyes and blinked as she saw a man clad in a blue and red suit standing before her. He held up the falling debris with one hand, stopping it inches above them.

"I- uh..." She squinted, her voice was hoarse from the smoke, "what the...?"

"Don't worry, miss, I got you," he smiled confidently.

Hope stared at him in awe, "Uh yeah...but...who's got you?"

Y/N didn't answer, only chuckled as he pushed the burning debris off them. He picked her up effortlessly and glanced around the burning room.

"Can you stand?"

"I think so."

"Alright then, let's get you out of here."

"What about him?" Hope gestured towards the unconscious man from earlier, his body still unmoving.

Y/N glanced at the man and then back at Hope. He quickly moved to the kidnapper and with ease, lifted the man over his shoulder with one arm.

"Hold tight and stay calm, okay?" He told Hope as he glanced at the broken window that was blocked by the heavy flames.

Hope nodded and Y/N exhaled a deep breath and blew out a heavy gust of air that was enough to clear the fire. The flames parted, creating a clear path through the inferno.

With a powerful leap, he launched them through the shattered window. The cool night air hit them, a stark contrast to the oppressive heat inside. As they descended to the ground, the crowd below erupted into cheers.

The man landed gracefully, setting Hope down gently. Paramedics rushed forward to tend to them, the hero set the unconscious man down on the stretcher to be taken in while the crowd continued to cheer and applaud.

"Hope!" Hank ran and embraced her.

"Dad."

"Thank God, you're safe," Hank breathed before pulling away and turning to the red-blue spandex hero. "Thank you. Anything you need-"

"No need for payment," Y/N shook his head. "Your daughter's safe and that's all that matters."

He was about to leave but Hope called.

"Wait!" Y/N turned around, his expression never changed, "Who are you?"

The man smiled, "A friend."

And just like that, he launched himself back into the night sky, the crowd cheered and awe once more. Hope watched him go in the distance as the hero flew into the stars.

• • •

THE FOOTAGE REPLAYED the day's events, and the news anchor's voice filled the room:

"We've received more footage of the mysterious hero who saved a young girl from the inferno in downtown Los Angeles earlier today," the reporter announced, her british accent giving a formal tone.

The 60-year-old man sits on his couch, taking a sip of his small drink. Papers and dossiers were strewn across the desk, but his eye was fixated on the live news broadcast.

"Eyewitnesses describe him as a man clad in a blue-and-red costume. Uh, he-"

"-appeared out of nowhere, and he just took off again," one of the witnesses continued. "Whoever he is, I think he's a hero."

He watched as the footage showed the blue hero landing with Pym's daughter in his arms while the crowd watched.

"In all my 38 years, I've never seen anything like this, but the question remains...."

"Who is this stranger? And what are his intentions?"

The man's eye narrowed thoughtfully as he rewinds back directly at the caped hero that was caught on camera. He reached for a file on his desk labeled "Meteor-Freaks" and opened it, revealing a list of names and profiles—none of which matched the man on the screen.

He pressed a button on his desk, activating a secure communication line. He thought he saw it all. With his old friend, a monster cat and aliens living among the city. Then there was Tony Stark revealing himself as Iron Man a year ago and as well as the gamma radiation that transpired five years ago.

Now he's hearing about a flying man with a red cape who can go into burning buildings — he may have willingly saved someone but a man like that can potentially bring the world to its knees. And it was not a risk he was willing to take. So, he had to be sure.

This was a more bigger universe than he thought, and he needed to know everything there is to know about the blue-clad hero.

"Agent Romanoff," he spoke to his right-hand agent.

"I'm gonna need you to look into something..."

TO BE CONTINUED

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