Barry adjusted his cufflinks, making sure his black gloves were snug against his hands. They had become a necessity—one of the many small tricks he had picked up to maintain his illusion of normalcy. Even with his newfound control over his strength, shaking hands was still risky. The gloves helped, not just by preventing anyone from feeling the cold, metallic texture of his skin, but by creating a psychological barrier. People were less likely to notice something unusual if they didn’t suspect anything in the first place.

  Tonight was a big night.

  Hendricks was hosting a celebration party at an upscale Manhattan venue, a reward for the firm’s hard work on a high-profile divorce case they had just won. Barry had played a major role in securing a favorable outcome for their client, and his presence at the event was expected.

  Stepping into the venue, Barry scanned the room. The place was packed with lawyers, paralegals, and a few clients. Chandeliers cast a warm golden glow over the crowd, and the sound of clinking glasses and laughter filled the air.

  Barry took a drink from a passing waiter—whiskey, neat. He didn’t need it, but he still enjoyed the taste. Old habits died hard.

  Supers in the Spotlight

  As Barry made his way through the room, shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries, he caught snippets of conversation.

  “Did you see the news today? Another super stopped a bank robbery in Brooklyn.”

  “They’re everywhere now. It’s crazy.”

  “There’s a guy who can fly! Like, actually fly.”

  Barry frowned. He hadn’t been keeping up with the news or social media. Between work, training, and maintaining his secret, he had been too preoccupied to pay attention to the bigger picture. But from what he was hearing, the world was changing fast.

  “…And you know that solar eclipse back in March? Some people say that’s when it all started.”

  Barry took a slow sip of his drink. Interesting.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  For months, he had thought he was alone—some kind of bizarre medical anomaly. But if there were others out there with powers, then maybe what had happened to him wasn’t just a freak accident.

  A woman from the firm, Lisa, turned toward him. “Barry, you’ve been quiet. What do you think about all this super stuff?”

  Barry kept his expression neutral. “I think it’s fascinating. But also dangerous.”

  Lisa raised an eyebrow. “Dangerous?”

  He shrugged. “Think about it. If people with powers start showing up, what happens next? The government steps in? New laws? Registration? People getting locked up just for existing?” He shook his head. “It’s a slippery slope.”

  Lisa considered his words. “So you think the government should leave them alone?”

  Barry took another sip of whiskey. “I think people fear what they don’t understand. And fear leads to bad decisions.”

  Lisa chuckled. “Spoken like a lawyer.”

  Barry smirked. “Guilty as charged.”

  The Confrontation

  An hour later, as the party carried on, Barry felt a firm hand on his shoulder.

  “Barry. A word?”

  He turned to see Hendricks, his boss, motioning toward a quieter corner of the room. Barry nodded and followed.

  Once they were alone, Hendricks studied him carefully. “You’ve been doing great work. The firm is lucky to have you.”

  Barry nodded. “I appreciate that.”

  Hendricks took a sip of his drink. “But I have to ask—what the hell is going on with you?”

  Barry stiffened. “What do you mean?”

  Hendricks sighed. “Come on, Barry. I’m not an idiot. You disappear for six months, and when you come back, you’re… different.” He gestured vaguely at Barry’s frame. “Bigger. Stronger. Always wearing gloves. Avoiding physical contact. And let’s not forget the fact that I patted you on the shoulder and it felt like I was knocking on a steel door.”

  Barry remained silent.

  Hendricks leaned in. “Look, I don’t care what’s happened to you. If you’re a super, fine. That’s your business. But I need to know—are you a liability?”

  Barry met his gaze. “No. I’m still the same lawyer I’ve always been. I still do my job, and I still make this firm a hell of a lot of money.”

  Hendricks nodded slowly. “Good. Because if anyone finds out one of our lawyers is a super? It’s going to be a PR nightmare. We’d be under scrutiny. Clients might pull out. The government might start watching us.” He sighed. “I just want to know if this is going to blow up in our faces.”

  Barry took a deep breath—again, an old habit. “I don’t want people finding out either. So I’ll be careful.”

  Hendricks studied him for a long moment, then clapped him on the shoulder—this time, seemingly prepared for the solid thunk of metal beneath the suit.

  “Alright, Barry. Keep doing what you’re doing. Just… don’t let this come back to bite us.”

  Barry gave a small smile. “I’ll do my best.”

  As Hendricks walked away, Barry exhaled and took another sip of whiskey.

  For the first time in months, he wasn’t just hiding from strangers—he was hiding from people who knew him. People who were starting to put the pieces together.

  And if Hendricks had figured it out… others might, too.

  The world was changing.

  And Barry had to make sure he stayed ahead of it.