Heroes Versus Villains

Duplicate Nature

Alexander stood at the edge of the city, the run down parts, the place the upper class refers to as "Ghetto". He simply stood at the front of an alley, next to the street, minding his own business. He was relaxing, organizing thoughts, clearing his head.

"Oi, Lex!" Said a familiar voice. Lex turned his head and was greeted by a face he could trust.

"Oh hey, Tony. What're you doing out so late?"

"Uh... Nothing much. Waddaboutyou?"

"Same here. Got nothing to tell."

Tony stood next to Lex. They had known each other for a few years, helped each other when times were tough.

"How're the kids?" Lex asked.

"Great. Oh, and thanks again for... Everything."

"Don't mention it. I don't help people for recognition. It's just the right thing to do."

"Right."

"And, Tony?"

"Yeah?"

"Make sure you remember this. I help those I am close to because it is the right thing to do. But if you cross me, betray me, or in any way hurt me, you are going to pay."

Tony smiled and laughed nervously. "'Course man! 'Course!"

Lex smirked and scoffed at his friend's reaction. "Calm down. Just a warning."

"Right. Well I gotta go anyways. Bye."

"No byes. See yah whenever."

Tony smiled. "Right. See yah whenever." And he was off.

Perfect timing, too. Time for the nightly routine. Lex stood up straight and felt it coming. He walked down further into the alley and waited. The sensation was coming from his heart and stretching out through his body. It felt like something really not was flowing through his veins. Now was the time to suppress it. He couldn't let this get out.

Lex couldn't help but clench and spread out as far as he could. His struggle could probably be heard across the street but it needed to be done. By now near everybody should've been asleep. Right as Lex was gaining control his eyes snapped open wider than ever before. He looked at his arms, stretched out to either side of him, and saw the bright purple veins in his arms. The began to glow brighter. Lex got afraid.

This had not happened in years. The burning for worse. The flow got faster. The purple nearly reached his fingertips. Lex screamed out in pain as his vision began to have a purple tint.

"Oh hello." Said a voice.

Lex painfully looked down the alley to see a strange silhouette standing there. It's eyes glowed green. Lex still struggled. The pain worsened.

"So you are what I sensed. How odd."

Lex's arms were finally under his control. He began curling back into himself to stand in a normal position.

"What's this that is happening, dear?"

"Don't. Call me. Dear." Lex overcame the intense pain and the purple faded. He nearly collapsed but held his own.

"Oh but why not?"

"Because I'm not some tooty-fruity pretty little princess who needs a big strong man to take care of me."

"A little feisty, are we?"

Lex called his fist. "I want to know why you're here, who you are, and why you're talking to me."

"I'm here because I was woken up by your fellow humans. Then I sensed an enormous power that... Hm. I am talking to you because you are that power."

Lex swayed a little, being so drained from that experience. "Who are you?"

"A question for another day, my dear. Now you do as I say. Show me your power."

"What?"

The man walked up to Lex. The green in his eyes getting brighter and revealing green lines from his eyes and around his cheeks. The man raised his hand and placed it on Lex's shoulder. "Show me your power."

Lex screamed out in agony. The purple in his veins shot through his whole body in an instant. He didn't have it under control. His vision was nothing but a bright, burning purple. His hearing went out. And when it stopped, it was daytime.

Lex stood, very shaky and exhausted, and looked around for the man but found no sign of him. The only thing out of the ordinary was the big patch of bright green grass underneath him. Much like the one at the end of the alley.