totally meta

chapter seven

The suit fit perfectly, snug but flexible, designed to withstand the intense friction caused by Henry's superspeed. The material was sleek, a dark red, meant to absorb the static discharge from his speed. Dr. Harris had assured him that this suit would prevent any more embarrassing incidents involving his clothes catching fire.

Henry stared at his reflection in the mirror, hardly recognizing himself. It was surreal—he looked like a superhero, ready to take on the world.

His heart pounded in excitement. Today was the day. His first mission.

"How does it feel?" Dr. Harris's voice crackled through the earpiece nestled securely in his ear.

Henry gave the suit one last once-over and grinned. "Feels amazing. Like I'm straight out of a comic book."

"Good," Dr. Harris replied, her tone calm and professional. "Remember, Henry, this is just a trial run. You're not out there to fight supervillains or catch any meta-humans. The goal is to get a feel for moving through the city at your speed. We don't expect you to encounter any meta-humans today, but if you do, your priority is the safety of the civilians. Make sure everyone is safe, then get out. Understood?"

Henry nodded, even though she couldn't see him. "Got it. Keep people safe, get out. No heroics."

"Exactly. We're still learning the limits of your abilities, so play it safe. If anything feels wrong, pull back and call for backup. You're fast, but you're not invincible."

Henry smirked. "No promises."

He heard Dr. Harris sigh on the other end. "Henry..."

"I'm kidding!" Henry laughed, bouncing on his heels. "I've got this."

"Alright," Dr. Harris said. "You're clear to go."

Henry stepped to the edge of the rooftop, the wind whipping past him as he looked out over the city. The skyline gleamed in the morning sun, buildings stretching as far as the eye could see. Down below, cars bustled along the streets, people hurried about their day—completely unaware that a new kind of hero was watching over them.

"Here goes nothing," he whispered to himself.

And with that, Henry launched himself off the rooftop.

The world blurred around him as he took off, his body a streak of lightning through the city streets. The rush of air tugged at his suit, but the material held firm, perfectly designed to keep up with his speed. Everything passed by in a rush—cars, pedestrians, streetlights—nothing more than blurs in his peripheral vision.

He felt alive.

The power surging through his legs, the electricity crackling around him—it was everything he had imagined. He wasn't just running. He was flying.

"This is insane!" Henry shouted into the earpiece, the excitement bubbling out of him.

"Stay focused," Dr. Harris's voice reminded him, though he could hear a hint of amusement in her tone. "Remember, this is just the beginning. You're still learning."

Henry grinned but kept his eyes on the city ahead. He was supposed to be looking for anything out of the ordinary—any signs of danger, though he hadn't expected to find much on a routine run.

But as he rounded a corner, something caught his eye.

A bank. The front doors were wide open, people inside yelling and screaming. Henry skidded to a halt outside, his enhanced senses picking up the distinct sound of gunshots.

His heart raced for a different reason now. A bank robbery.

"Dr. Harris," he whispered into his earpiece. "Something's happening. A robbery at First National Bank. People are inside, and I think someone's armed."

There was a moment of silence on the other end. "Henry, this wasn't part of the plan. I repeat, your goal is to keep the civilians safe and then get out. Do not engage."

Henry swallowed hard, but he couldn't just leave those people. "I understand. I'm going in."

"Henry—"

But he was already inside.

The moment Henry stepped through the doors, the scene unfolded before him. The bank was packed with people, cowering behind counters and pillars, while a masked man waved a gun around, shouting threats. His hand trembled, clearly on edge.

Henry's mind raced as fast as his feet. He needed to act, and fast.

He zeroed in on the gunman. Without a second thought, Henry sprinted forward. To the outside world, it must have looked like a flash of lightning streaking through the room. In an instant, he was on the robber, disarming him and tying him up with his own belt before the man even knew what had happened.

The entire event took less than a second.

 The people at the bank stood there frozen in shock, their eyes wide, still processing what had just occurred. One of them held up their phone, recording the streak of electricity that lingered in the air where Henry had moved.

Henry took a deep breath, trying to contain the adrenaline coursing through his veins. He'd done it. He'd stopped the robber, saved the civilians. His first act of heroism.

Just as he was about to leave, he heard Dr. Harris's voice, sharp in his ear. "Henry, report. What happened?"

"It's handled," Henry said,"The situation's under control."

"Get out of there. Now," Dr. Harris ordered, her tone urgent.

He stopped in an alley a few blocks away, leaning against the wall as he caught his breath. His mind raced, replaying the events of the past few minutes.

He'd done it. He'd actually done it.

"Good work," Dr. Harris's voice came through the earpiece, her tone a mix of relief and caution. "But next time, Henry, stick to the plan. We can't afford to have you acting recklessly."

"Yeah, I know," Henry said, still buzzing with excitement. "But it worked out, didn't it?"

There was a pause. "This time, yes. But be careful. This isn't a game."

Henry nodded, even though she couldn't see him. He knew she was right. But still, the rush of being out there, saving people...it was exciting. And he couldn't wait to do it again.

As he turned to head back to the lab, a thought crossed his mind. Somewhere, someone had recorded what had just happened. And soon, the world was going to know about the streak of lightning that had stopped a bank robbery in an instant.

They were going to know about him. Which is what he wanted, for people to know there is someone protecting them.