Chapter 5: Part time Hero in Training
Daniel was training in the junk yard trying to discover anymore abilities that he might have, he then thought of an idea and it was, he tried to do the thing with his fist but instead of punching he jumped as high as he can, reaching 10 feet in the air this time, and smoke dashed vertically to reach even further heights and was successful. As he reached about 28 feet the gravity started pulling him back down he focused on the rusted truck that he was practicing with since the beginning and balled his fist and it glowed fiery amber color mixed with black and grey smoke (He was about to do a superhero landing). His fist resembled a nuke about to hit the ground. When he finally hit the rusted truck it was flattened due to force of his punch, gravity, and his powers. It was as if a boulder was dropped on it from the top of a mountain. "Wooooo! (Ric Flair scream) hahaha! YEAH! that could kill a person so let's not use it unless necessary. I can only imagine what damage it will do if I really give it my all." He said to himself "I wonder what else could I do with this ability I have.. (He tough really hard) I got it! what if I learn acrobatics like parkour that could be useful I mean it's gonna be easy for me since well my body feels light and I can definitely jump high probably should start with basic flips and work from there." He finished. He pulled out his phone and looked up basic flips guide on FewTube (This worlds version of Youtube) and started learning, it took him a couple of tries to do the basic back flips properly. "Okay that's enough for today might try to do more of this tomorrow just to master this things." He said concluding his training for the day. "Probably should put this busted up rusted truck to the crusher tomorrow, since it's the weekend I got a lot of time to do so. I should also buy a new keyboard since I've got enough saved up, I could use the practice maybe I'll get to play the piano on the dance." He planned, after that he walked home then he noticed a guy getting mugged just around the corner of Bill's shop he then stopped walking and looked at the event happening in front of him, he remembered what happened to his parents and couldn't help but feel helpless and afraid he was about to turn the other way until the man who was mugged asked for help with despair in his voice and something within Daniel just ignited he face to the direction of the mugger and charged up to him punching the mugger straight in the face, the mugger fell down to the sidewalk stammering to get back up. Daniel just stared at the mugger with an emotionless expression, the mugger pulled out a switchblade knife and threatened Daniel. "This world has no place for a hero kid!" The mugger said with anger on his voice. "I gotta admit that punch hurt, and for that your gonna die and I'm gonna make it slow and painful!" The mugger added, he ran toward Daniel and started stabbing, but for Daniel it was as if the mugger was moving in slow motion. All of his stab attacks missed no matter how close he was to Daniel, Daniel just side stepped and or just leaned backwards from most of the attack. "Really? That's the best you can do?" Daniel taunted the mugger, the mugger stabbed one more time but Daniel didn't move, instead he caught the muggers hand that was holding the knife and started twisting it effortlessly. "You know... If you're gonna be mugging someone mister mugger you should make sure I'm not around.. you know I can break your hand with just one twist." Daniel stated and began to twist the muggers hand even further. The mugger screamed in pain. "OKAY! Okay! I give!" Daniel then let go and the mugger knelt in the ground holding his hand in pain. "What kind of freak are you!?" the mugger screamed at him. "The one you don't wanna mess with!" He answered back. The mugger then ran away in fear for what had happened. "Thanks kid!" The man said. "No problem... Stay safe next time you walk this streets alone." Daniel replied to the man and started to walk away. "WAIT!" The man stopped him and pulled out something from his pocket. "Here take this!" He gave Daniel 2 pieces of paper it resembled a movie ticket. "It's a free food coupon at a local diner 2 blocks from here called 'Mama Sarah's Diner' the burgers there are to die for! You use it there." Daniel just nodded and the guy waved him goodbye.
-Daniel's Home
When Daniel arrived home he went straight to his room, took a deep breath and sat on the floor and started crying. "That was fucking scary!" He exclaimed to himself tears falling from his eyes. "God! Why did I do that! I did save a life but... ugh!" He continued to cry and then when he stopped he wiped the tears and fixed himself up and said "Maybe I was given this powers for a reason.. no! no! maybe this is my chance to do something about my parent's death, save people before they end up like my parents.. But I can't do this!" He finished starting to tear up again. "Okay okay Daniel deep breaths relax! you'll get use to this!" When he finally calmed down he realized how hungry he was, "Man I'm starving! Doing what I did earlier really made me hungry." He stated opening the fridge and looked for food, he found a frozen macaroni and cheese and grabbed it and reheated it on the microwave. When it was ready he scarfed it all down like an animal. When he finished eating he washed the dishes and took a hot bath to relax his nerves and to clean his body. When he was done he went straight to bed and stared at the ceiling and thought about what happened. "With this powers I could've saved my parents.. (Sigh) If only I have gotten it when I was 7." He started to play scenarios on his head about how he could save his parents, he then slipped into a deep sleep and started dreaming about his parents calling for him. He followed their voice and reached a door and opened it, on the other side was both of his parents lying down on the road. The place looked familiar when he realized it was his the outside of his childhood home the one where his parents we're murdered he ran to his parents and his mother said "My sweet boy... Look how you've grown!" With dying breath, Daniel's tears began to fall from his eyes. "You're a tough boy Dan! Be the hero you were destined to be!.. Protect those you love! Protect the innocent! fight injustice!" His father said. "How dad!?.. I need you!" Daniel asked still crying. "You don't need me." his father sighed and gave him a smile. "Dan... look how far you've gone without us." his father stated. "But... I do need you! Please come back! I'm sorry I couldn't do anything to save you! But now I can protect you! so please come back!" Daniel pleaded. His father just smiled at him. "I'm sorry Daniel but that I cannot do.. as much as I wanted to." Daniel continued crying. "You need to do what's right Dan.. Be the Hero.." as they slowly faded away. "Be the hero.. Protect the ones you love.. But most of all protect her.." They disappeared and a girl with golden blond hair approached him and held out her hand to offer it to Daniel he accepted and stood up wiping his tears and when he finally looked at her he realized it was Elise smiling at him with her with her smile that could melt the whole world (or rather Daniel's World) "I'll be in your care now Daniel!" She said still smiling. For some reason her smile made all the sadness in Daniel's heart disappear in a snap. "Daniel Protect us." She said showing him a child that looked to be 3 years old and has the same facial features as him but with golden blond hair and an emerald green eyes. "Wake up dummy!" Elise said with a sweet voice and an even sweeter smile. Daniel then woke up from his sleep and it was morning. "That was weird dream.. I mean it was nice that I get to see my parents one last time.. But.. Elise? and that kid! Who was that?! I mean he looked kinda like me but.. I don't know.. (sigh) I'm still not sure on the hero stuff though." He stood up from his bed to wash his face and brush his teeth and then have breakfast. When he got down his aunt already left for work but left him bacon and eggs. He ate it and walked to Bill's Shop.
He arrived on time when Bill Greeted him "Morning kid!" The man said energetically. "Morning Bill!" Daniel replied. "So... What's on the agenda today?.. any new orders?" Daniel asked. "Not really.. Well I guess I could teach you how to use the electromagnetic crane.. you know put a few rusted cars on the crusher?" Bill offered Daniel. "Yeah! That'd be kinda cool actually." Both of them walked into the junkyard and climbed into the magnet crane, Bill then turned on the machine and started magnetizing some cars and putting it in the crusher he showed Daniel how the machinery works and it didn't take long for Daniel to get the hang of it. Daniel then turned the machine towards the rusted pickup truck that he used to train with. "You know I don't remember this truck being this damaged.. I mean it's just the shell of the truck but.. I don't know how this happened." Bill said, Daniel then started to get nervous. "Really?.. It was already like this when I explored the yard a few days ago." He lied. "Well just put that thing out of it's misery." Bill replied, Daniel then turned the machine and dropped the rusted pickup truck on the crusher and mentally thanked the busted thing for helping him train. When they we're done they went back into the shop and relaxed while waiting for customer while making casual conversation with Bill and stopping whenever there's a customer. It was almost lunch time when Daniel asked a question. "Bill Have you been in like.. Fist fights?" Bill was taken aback by his question. "Well yeah I mean I've been in countless Brawls, some pretty serious ones and some not so much. Why'd you ask kid?" Bill asked him. "Well I was just wondering.. It's because of your body type I figured a man with your stature has to have experience in fights, and what do you know! I was right." Daniel exclaimed. "I'll tell you story over some food I'm starving." Bill said with a sigh. "You know what Bill lunch is on me! I've got a free food coupons for a diner a few blocks from here." Daniel pulled out the coupons from his pocket and showed it to his boss. "Mama Sarah's Diner huh? Well I haven't been there in a long time.. it would be nice to visit.. maybe get her signature burger with a side of fries." There was a light on Bill's face that told Daniel he knew the person who owned the dinner. "Hang on... Do you know the owner?" Daniel questioned already knowing the answer. "Yup! Sarah and I go way back! We even dated but that didn't work out! haha! But we decided to stay friends over the years." His heart warmed over the memory. "Anyway let's close up shop and go to lunch we'll use my bike to get there." Bill commanded. "Uhh.. Sure." Daniel replied doing what his boss asked him. "I'll meet you up front kid." Bill went to the garage side of his shop and uncovered his bike it was a chopper. (As expected Bill did look like a biker type kinda guy) When Daniel was done locking up Bill gave him a helmet and he accepted it and they rode to the diner. When they arrived they were greeted warmly... Well Bill at least. "Bill! Long time no see!" Sarah greeted. They embraced and Sarah looked at the boy behind Bill. "Who's the kid Bill?" She asked. "My worker Daniel, Daniel meet Sarah an old friend of mine." Daniel gave her a shy smile and waved his hand, Sarah returned the gesture but instead of a shy smile she gave him a warm one. "Say aren't you a little too young to be working?" Sarah asked. "Well uhh.. I-I gotta help around the house financially so.. Yes I guess I'm a little bit young to work but I actually don't mind." Daniel answered honestly. "A responsible one! I like you already kid! I wish my daughter could be like you.. Work instead of staring at that damn phone the entire time." Sarah said. "So Bill I assume you're here for lunch?" She directed her attention to the older man. "Yeah! I was gonna introduce the kid to you and your best burger!" Bill replied with joy in his voice. "Oh and the boy got a coupon." Bill added as Daniel handed Sarah the coupon. "Oh this things!.. (sigh) that daughter of mine." She said with a frustrated tone. "Are these not good? I mean we can pay for lunch if this ain't valid." Daniel reassured her. "No no no! it's alright these are valid it's just that my daughter is the one who released them in public without my knowing so." She then started making the burgers and fries for Bill and Daniel. "Say Sarah! Speaking of your daughter how is little Evelyn?" She sighed again. "Not so little anymore! She's about the same age as Daniel over there." She pointed at Daniel who was playing with his phone sitting at the table. "Where is she?" Bill asked. "Out with her boyfriend and a couple of friends.. She's at that age where she rebels a lot." She sighed. "Must be rough.. But you're a tough woman I'm pretty sure you can handle it.. But we all need help sometimes! So don't be afraid to ask me I'll gladly help you out!" Bill replied. She gave him a smile and handed them their food. As they were eating Bill told Daniel a story about a fight he had. "So there was this one time I was on a fight against 5 guys and let's just say the odds were also against me I mean there were 5 of them and only one of me.. I took a hell of a beating broke 3 ribs but I manage to win." Daniel was shocked on how his boss had won against a 5 vs 1 fight. "But how? that's not even possible." Daniel replied in disbelief. "Well.. When they beat me up one of them managed to kick me near a trash bin that has a chain in it. It was as if fate lend me a helping hand by giving me a chain to use to defend myself, me being me I grabbed the chain and started swinging it around me." Bill continued his story leaving Daniel at the edge of his seat until they finished their food. "I gotta tell you kid I didn't think the chain would really work in a fighting situation but... I was proven wrong you can pretty much do anything with it swing it around, use it as a whip, fold it in half for a bit of a shorter range but really heavy damage, heck you can even wrap it around your fist and punch your opponent in the face." Bill finished. "So.. can you maybe train me with the chain?.." Daniel asked hoping Bill would say yes. "What?! Why?" Bill asked. "Well.. Because.. I need to defend myself?" Daniel answered still hoping Bill would say yes. "I don't know kid... I'll thing about it." Bill told Daniel. "YES!" Daniel exclaimed. "It wasn't a yes kid!" Bill replied. "Still! It's leaning towards yes!" Daniel said happily. They thanked Sarah for the food and said their goodbyes and left.
-Back at Bill's shop
"That was some good burger Bill!" Daniel said as they re-opened the shop. "Hah! Told ya!" Bill replied. Daniel Continued to conversate with his boss. "Kid.. Tell me the real reason why you need me to teach you about self defense?" Bill asked. Daniel sighed and said. "Because I've been bullied a lot in my school years... and I didn't do anything about it... I just let it happened every single time... It's now at the point that I'm already used to it, but now I think It's time to stand up for myself.. Have you ever wondered why I'm different from the other high schoolers my age?" Bill nodded in agreement. "That's because I'm a friendless outcast since the very beginning... I was too afraid to make friends because for one bullies might target them as well." Daniel finished he told the truth but not the whole truth. "Okay... I'll teach you. BUT! Don't go picking fights you hear!?" Bill accepted to teach him. Bill motioned for Daniel to follow him to the junk yard. "Before I teach you what I know I'm gonna have to see what I'm working with here, show me how you punch." He commanded he raised his hands in front of Daniel. Daniel hesitated at first on the fear of he might punch Bill too hard. Daniel held back his punch. "Okay that's good.. Well not really but that's enough." Bill said. "We need to work on the way you punch." Bill spent the whole time teaching Daniel to punch properly with his makeshift punching bag. "Bill I think my hands are about to fall off!" Daniel complained. "Well we'll be doing this everyday until you know the proper form of punching so keep at it!" Bill commanded. When the clock struck 3 he instructed Daniel to stop as it was closing time and they had to close up early because it's the weekend. Daniel grabbed his backpack and went to the garage side of the shop and change his sweat covered shirt to a fresh one. He then wore his hoodie and closed the shop bidding Bill goodbye. He was planning to go to the mall to buy a new keyboard so that he could practice, he did save enough money to buy one.
-The Mall
He entered the mall and his first plan of action was to look for the map on the information section on the ground floor since it's his first time visiting this mall. It took him about 5 minutes to locate the music store and it was on the 3rd floor he went for the escalator but, as he was about to step into it he was stopped by Edward along with his fencing buddies also with Elise, Carol, and Samantha. "So! Were you stalking my girlfriend you creep?!" Daniel was surprised it took a second for him to process what was happening."What are you talking about? I didn't even know you're here until you stopped me." Daniel replied. "Enough Edward! Daniel didn't do anything to you!" Elise exclaimed defending Daniel. "Look I'm in a hurry I need to be somewhere now if you excuse me I really need to pass." A big buff dude tried to tackle Daniel but he just stepped a side causing the dude to trip and fall, Elise giggled but was trying to hide it. "I don't have time for this shit show." Daniel said in a monotone voice walking towards the escalator only to be blocked by Edward again. "You didn't just embarrass one of my friends and expect to walk away without any trouble?" Edward said in a low threatening voice. He was about to punch Daniel in the face but Daniel was prepared to dodge it but Elise grab Edward's hand before he could punch Daniel. "Edward just let it go.. Don't ruin this day for me!" Elise exclaimed. "Thanks." Daniel said with a nod at Elise and step on the escalator. He could feel Edward's eyes drilling a hole on his back and was fuming, Daniel couldn't help but chuckle and smirk. When he reached the music store he browsed for keyboards and found one he liked and can afford he asked the clerk if he could try it and the clerk agreed and plugged the keyboard in, Daniel selected the grand piano option and played Beethoven's Moonlight sonata (well the beginning section at least) as he was playing he didn't notice someone outside was watching him sitting with her friends on a table drinking iced coffees from a cafe across the music store. 'So he plays piano.' Elise said mentally she couldn't actually hear him play but the way he moves his hands were convincing enough for Elise. When Daniel was done trying the keyboard he went to check out grabbing a new whammy bar while he's at it, and payed for it. the piano came with a free case nothing too fancy though but it was good enough for Daniel. He then exited the store and went for the escalator, Elise on the other hand frowned as she saw Daniel leaving. Daniel walked home from the mall good thing he has superhuman strength otherwise the keyboard was gonna be real heavy.
-Daniel's Home
He dusted up his old keyboard stand(for all of you who are asking why Daniel has a old keyboard stand he has a keyboard back when he was younger but he had to sell it when their house was foreclosed on chapter 1) When he was done setting up he plugged in the keyboard and started playing and singing Coldplay's Yellow. When Daniel was done singing he went down for dinner, took a shower and brushed his teeth then went to sleep, he didn't have any trouble sleeping due to how tired he was because of Bill's punch training.
-Bill Shop(Montage or something)
Bill trained Daniel with punches then punches turned to kicks and kicks turned to the chain, Bill gave Daniel his own chain to use, it was arm length long, at first Daniel keep hitting his knees, torso, arms, he even manage to hit his private part and was slow to recover. Bill laughed at him a couple of times. "Well you better get used to it kid! And oh feel the chain's movements." It took Daniel a few days to finally manage to maneuver the chains to hit his target and not him when he did Bill tough him techniques like folding the chain to shorten it in order for Daniel to fight at close range with the chain. It took Daniel a few more days to get used to close combats with the chain. Next was Chain whipping again he managed to get used to it in a couple more days, with a few hits on himself of course and by few I mean a lot. Next was wrapping the chain on his fist using only the momentum of his swings that was the easy part the hard part was punching after wrapping. It took them over a week but Bill said to continue his training from time to time along with helping the shop and with customers of course. When Daniel continued his training by himself he tried to extend his smoke powers to the chain and somehow it actually worked and he smiled mischievously. "Now that could do a lot of damage!" he tried hitting rusted cars with his chain and and every time it hit it was like a miniature explosion. "Okay so I only need to use it when necessary I don't wanna kill someone." He said. "Wait what if I tried smoke dashing, see if it goes with me like my clothes does." It took a couple of tries for his powers to recognize the chain as a part of him, but it eventually did.
-Kings High
(Gymnasium)
"Alright guys practice is in 20 minutes set up you're instruments." The music teacher instructed. Daniel then took out his guitar from the guitar bag, he put it on the stand, he then grabbed his cords, effects pedal and pedal board. He then stretched his fingers and started warming up, he noticed the girls volleyball team was done practicing and went to the showers but Elise sat on the bleachers as she noticed Daniel was on stage playing the guitar. 'Gosh how many instruments can this guy play?!" She asked herself. 'First the piano now the guitar!' When Daniel was done warming up he looped a group of notes on his looper pedal and started playing 'Always With Me, Always With You. By Joe Satriani' Elise was enchanted at how Daniel played that beautiful song, it was the first time she had heard the song and she instantly liked it. She looked at Daniel's face so focused on playing the song, her heart is beating like crazy in her chest and her face was turning red. When the song was over Daniel looked at her and gave her a smile. She turned even redder that before as she gave Daniel a smile. Her friends arrived after taking a shower and ruined their moment, she almost snapped at them but then decided to control her anger and went to take a shower. When she was done she sat back on the bleachers to watch the band practice and played a few songs for the dance. She told her friends to go on ahead and so they did, she continued to watch the band play focusing her attention on that one guitarist. When they we're done practicing Daniel wiped his guitar before putting it back on the guitar bag, he then got of the stage and Elise approached him. "Hey!" Elise greeted with a smile. "Oh.. Hey! How you doing?" Daniel replied. "Nothing much!.. Wow! you can really play!" She complimented him. "Thanks! Umm.. So... What uh... What do you wanna talk about?" Daniel almost couldn't find the words. "What was the song you played before the entire band begin practicing?" She asked him. "Oh that! that was um.. Always With Me, Always With You by Joe Satriani." Daniel answered. "That was a beautiful song Daniel! Thanks for playing it, I wouldn't have known that song if you didn't play it." Elise exclaimed. "I agree with you there it is a beautiful song, and also you're welcome I'm glad you liked it!" Daniel replied. "So.. you don't have a date on the dance?" Elise asked. "Yeah.. That's why I joined the band." Daniel answered honestly. "Isn't it too early to give up on looking for a date?" Elise questioned again. "I mean.. Well being an outcast it's not really possible for me to have date so.. I just joined the band! haha.. I help people connect and fall in love with each other through music you know.. I'm like the cupid.. like that one song said 'Some will win, some will lose, some are born to sing the blues.' the one that is born to sing the blues is me." Daniel finished. Elise couldn't help but frown, what Daniel said crushed her heart somehow, but she refused to give in. "Well you never know she could just be around the corner." She said. "Would be nice if that would happen.. Anyway we should probably go, we don't want people spreading rumors." Daniel walked away but Elise grabbed his hand. "Wait Daniel! Do you maybe wanna...get some.. umm.. ice cream?" She asked him hoping he'd say yes. "Yeah sure why not." Daniel agreed. They walked outside together, with Daniel making sure he stayed a few meters behind her in order not to raise suspicions, but Elise didn't care she slowed her walking in order for them to be walking side by side. "What are you doing?" Daniel asked in concern. "Walking beside you? duh?!" She answered with a playful tone. "Okay well.. I'm not that's a good ide-" She cut him off. "I don't care Daniel!" She exclaimed, somehow that was enough to shut Daniel up. When they reached outside the school gate Elise stopped walking. "Hey.. Having second thoughts?" Daniel asked. "What? N-no! of course not! I was just waiting for my driver." She answered. "Oh well I'll go a head then." When he was about to walk a head to the ice cream store Elise grabbed his forearm. "No no no! you're riding with me!" She said acting bossy but deep inside she was embarrassed. "Oh.. Okay.." Was the only thing Daniel could say.
When the car stopped in front of them Daniel remembered something. "Hey! It's the car almost ran me over and probably would've killed me or critically injured me!" He exclaimed with a kid like energy. "Well yeah it is, because you we're such an idiot back then crossing the road without looking both ways!" She scolded him. "Ohh! you said back then! Does that mean I'm not an idiot now?!" He teased. "Just get in!" She shoved him inside the car almost hitting his head. The ride was quiet on the way to the ice cream store. "So what do you want?" Elise asked. "Wait you're paying?" Daniel asked in return. "Yes of course I asked you to come with me didn't I? And besides I owe you for the sandwich." She answered. "Okay.. Well you didn't owe me anything, I offered you the sandwich out of kindness but okay I'll get the cookies and cream on a waffle cone." Daniel replied. "Oh my gosh! that's your favorite?!" She asked like a little girl. "That's my favorite too!" She finished exclaiming with a grin like a child. They sat on a the table eating their ice cream and making casual conversation. "I'm sorry about Edward yesterday." Elise said. "Well it wasn't really your fault it was his doing, and besides you can't really control what he does, he's his own person." Elise nodded while licking her ice cream. "You got umm." Daniel grabbed a tissue and wiped Elise's lower chin that has an ice cream on it, Elise blushed. "Oh! Umm.. T-thank you Dan!" She stammered, however Daniel just realized what he did and was also blushing. "S-so! haha... ummm how's volleyball?" He began to converse to direct her attention to something else. "It was fine, we're competing on the nationals a month after the dance." She answered. "Well good luck with that! Although I'm pretty sure our school will win." Daniel replied. "Why would you think that?" Elise asked. "Well, they have you!" She was taken a back and started blushing again, she always thought Daniel thought less of her, but she was wrong, he believed in her, not even Edward has said or did something like what Daniel did. This made her felt butterflies in her stomach. "W-well I-I'm not so sure about that, The nationals are really tough!" She replied. "Yeah.. Well I'm sure you'll bring home the gold.. or trophy or whatever, I don't play sports! hehehe!" He added a weak laugh. This however made Elise's stomach butterflies flutter even more crazier. "H-how are you so good at guitar by the way?" Elise said trying to change the subject. "Not really... I'm mediocre at best." Daniel answered honestly. "I beg to differ! you really are good! how long have you been playing?" Elise asked. "I started playing when I was 7 so about 8 years." Daniel answered. "Did you get like lessons for it?" Elise asked again. "Yeah.. I've got a pretty amazing teacher.. My dad." Elise noticed Daniel's sad tone when he said 'my dad' she had a feeling it was a sensitive subject. "He must be really proud." Elise replied. "I'd like to think so." Daniel said. They finished their ice creams and stood up from the table, Daniel held the door for her and she thanked him with a sweet smile that made Daniel's heart go atomic bomb. "Thanks for the ice cream by the way." He thanked her. "Don't mention it! This was fun!" She exclaimed. "I should probably get going." Daniel said. "I'll give you a ride home." She offered. "Oh I'm actually not going home yet." He corrected. "Then where are you going?" She asked. "Work actually." She was surprised at what he said. "You have work?" She asked in surprise. "Well yeah.. Part time." He answered. "Okay I'll give you a ride to work then!" She said. "I can't refuse can I?" Daniel asked "Nope!" The driver opened the passenger door for the both of them and they went in. Elise then instructed the driver to drive Daniel to his work place which was about 2 blocks from the ice cream store it was not that far. "Well this is my stop! Thanks for the ride Elise, and thanks to you too Jeeves!" (He didn't know the Driver/Butler's name) Daniel got out of the car to face a teasing Bill. meanwhile in Elise's mind. 'So this is where he works.' She smiled to her self then instructed Lorenzo to drive them home.
-Bill's Shop
"Daniel you didn't tell me you have a girlfriend?!" Bill teased "NO! She's not my girlfriend!" Daniel said defensively. "She quite the beauty kid! Good choice!" Bill continued to tease him. "Bill please!" Daniel said begged for Bill to stop the teasing but he was beet red. "Hahaha! I was only teasing kid!" Bill suddenly turned serious. "But you do like her don't you?" Bill asked. "No! Yes! I mean don't know!" Daniel replied. "Listen kid I know what love looks like and I think she likes you back.. I've seen the way she looks at you." Bill could read Daniel and Elise like an open book. "Bill even if that's the case.. Although it's impossible.. She's taken.. And I don't wanna be that person who destroys relationship.. Specially their relationship!" Daniel said. "Well whatever you say kid.. But that doesn't change the fact that you both are head over heels for one another.. Whatever relationship she has now.. It'll not end well." Bill finished "How could you know that Bill?" Daniel asked. "I've been through many relationships Dan.. And I've seen how this ends, listen.. Just make sure you'll be there for her okay?.. She looks very special to you." Bill teased again. "BILL!" Daniel scolded. "What's her name anyways?" Bill asked. "Elise.. Elise Avalon." Daniel answered. "Avalon! You mean the riches man in this city?!" Bill asked in surprise. "Well.. Yeah.. It's his daughter." Daniel answered. "Damn Daniel! You're one lucky man!" Bill exclaimed. "Bill! We're not yet a thing!" Daniel replied. "'Yet' huh!?" Bill kept teasing. "Anyway let's get to work, we have convertible to fix, it came earlier today. Let's get to work!" They started working on the car, as soon as they we're done for the afternoon Daniel stayed at the junk yard again to train he definitely did gain a few muscles but it's not that noticeable when he has a shirt on.
-On his way home
After that Daniel walked home but then he noticed 3 shady looking people one was carrying a steel pipe, the other one has a crowbar, and the last one had a switch blade knife. They were harassing a woman. "Come on baby just let it happen!" One guy said throwing himself to the woman. "NO!" The woman screamed punching the guy right on the jaw. "Oh! We have feisty one here boys! Just the way I like it!" Daniel slowly approached the group grabbing his chain from his back pack and pulled up the hood from his hoodie to conceal his identity. "HEY!" Daniel shouted at the group of men and their attention redirected to Daniel. "Wook! someone's twying to be a wittow hewo!" The leader of the group said in a poor baby impersonation. Daniel then remembered what the robber said the night his parents died, and Daniel snapped, there was an ember glow in his eyes. "You like what you're doing huh!? That make you feel like a man?! Huh!? Scumbag!?" He rushed at the leader with inhuman speed and started chocking him, harder than he intended, he felt like rage was controlling him, all this years he's not one to snap like this, but he felt as if he finally had enough of people like this, monsters who pry on the weak and defenseless just because they could, he could feel the life of the man he was choking slowly slipping away, the man's pupils went to the back of his head. 'STOP IT! STOP IT! NO! NO! NO!' His mind was screaming at him to stop before it was too late, lucky for him the other man tried to hit him with a steel pipe, he then heard a sharp whistle like sound from his head as if to alert him from the incoming danger, he moved out of the way to dodge the steel pipe that was about to hit him, completely letting go of the man he was choking, the man coughed profusely holding his neck as he slowly crawled away, with a breathless voice he commanded. "You psychopath! Get em boys!" Daniel dodged all the blows from the 2 guys, he swung his chain around to keep the goons at bay "Come on hero boy." The other one taunted Daniel, Daniel then flicked his wrist to attempt to whip the man's hand. Daniel succeeded he hit the man's hand who was holding the steel pipe and dropped it, he acted fast and spun around the man holding both ends of the chain and wrapped it around the man's neck, he choked the man with his chain, but anger got the best of him. He heard the sharp sound again, only this time it was too late anger made him sloppy. He got hit in the back with a crowbar, he then fell to the ground and the man he was choking with a chain recovered quickly and grabbed the steel pipe from the ground and joined battering Daniel, he curled into a ball protecting his head, and soon the leader join in, kicking Daniel on the ground and began to taunt him. "Being a hero wasn't such a good idea now was it?! It's 3 against one what did you expect was gonna happen?!" The 'Being a hero' comment made Daniel even more angry ember like particles started combusting in Daniel's body completely covering him with it for a split second. "ENOUGH!" Daniel screamed and he exploded into a thick black smoke. The explosion sent the group flying and fell unconscious, the thick black smoke began to reform. Daniel stood there shocked. "Well that's new" Daniel said with pain in his voice. The woman who was watching this whole time was also shocked. "W-what are y-you?!" She stammered her question. "Listen lady, you should get out of here right now before this jackasses wake up." She just stared blankly at the hooded man."T-thanks I guess." She said and then slowly walked away. Daniel sighed and looked at the bodies spread across the lot. "Uhh.. Please don't be dead." Daniel checked there pulses and there was indeed a pulse on every single one of them, Daniel sighed in relief but was still in pain. "Why is my healing not kicking in yet?" Daniel questioned still with a pain in his voice. He walked home slowly due to the pain in his body when his healing kicked in 15 minutes later he picked up the pace of his walking until he reached home, he was dirty and Denise noticed. "Rough day at work today Daniel?" She asked, he still has his hood up. "W-what? Oh.. Yeah! there was a convertible we a had to fix." Daniel said, he didn't mention the beating he had or the fact that he almost killed a man. He went to the bathroom to take a shower, when he was done showering he looked in the mirror and noticed a white streak of hair on his bangs(Daniel has the same hairstyle as jack frost if anyone's asking) "What the?" Daniel said confused, and he noticed an even weirder thing, his right pupil in now grey instead of brown. "What the hell? Well that's new! I should probably get this checked." He exited the bathroom and Denise notice the white streak on his bangs. "Did you just get highlights?! It looks good on you!" Denise complimented. "Haha.. Yeah.. About that.. I didn't." She had a confused look on her face. "What do you mean?" His aunt asked. "Well, it kinda just happened.. And also look at my right eye." he moved closer to Denise and showed her his right eye. "Oh my God Daniel! How did that happen!?" She asked with a worried tone. "I really don't know how and when but.. After I took a shower I noticed my hair when I was looking at the bathroom mirror and well.. I noticed my eye as well.. I should probably get this checked tomorrow after school." He said. "Okay I'll go with you I'll ask my friend if I could leave early tomorrow. I should call the hospital and book an appointment for you and you should call your boss and tell him you can't go to work tomorrow." Denise then grabbed her phone, and call the hospital. Daniel called Bill. "Hello Bill, listen I can't make it to work tomorrow I have a doctor's appointment.. Something is happening to my body and I don't know what it is." Daniel finished. "Are you alright?!" Bill asked in concern. "Listen it's all good! Do you're thing and just tell me what it is when you have the answer." They then said their goodbyes and hang up the call. Daniel went to his room and crashed on his bed, he was exhausted, I mean he just took a beating for heaven's sake exhausted is an understatement. "Well this has been a bad day.. Not all bad though the time I spent with Elise was really good, it's just a shame hero mode got activated."