John and Sera are walking to their next class when John feels a hand on his shoulder.
John: Uhh, can I help you?
Zeke: Hey there Johnny boy, long time no see.
Arlo meanwhile is walking in the hallway, thinking to himself about recent events.
Arlo: In all my life I've only met three people who have beat me. Rei, a reckless moron who worshiped a book and it ended up killing him, Seraphina, who abandoned her role as queen just so that she can be with that idiotic moron, and speak of the devil.
Arlo says as he stumbles into a crowd in the hallway blocking his way.
John, that kid is the worst of them all, during school he acts like a helpless useless cripple who can't even fight, but after that, he's a ruthless monster, as soon as you get a criminal record your life isn't valuable to him anymore. Hypocritical considering that the whole point of unOrdinary was that everyone is worth a damn. If anything he's the reason people are fighting each other, they're so rallied up that they forget every time he goes out he's basically hosting an execution. That monster, and yet, he's like my brother, and I'm too damn weak to help him grow. They should all be enforcing order, there's a way to be a superhero, to care for the weak, to want to relax, all without being irresponsible.
Meanwhile Zeke is beating Sera senselessly while John is being held back by two thugs.
John: You FUCKING COWARDS! LET ME GO!
Zeke: Oh well, the mighty Seraphina fell by my glorious hands, I guess you can call me God slayer now.
Zeke says with a cocky smile before throwing another fist, causing Sera to grunt as it lands right in her stomach. Arlo gets mad, his blood boils hotter than the sun.
Arlo in his head: To watch these two turn into this state, it's almost unnatural.
John: When I get free, I'm gonna kill you!
John starts to cry as his anger floods his whole body, yet helpless.
Zeke: Ohh I'm sorry, was she your girl or something?
John doesn't respond, wanting to get under Zeke's skin.
Zeke: ANSWER WHEN YOUR KING IS TALKING PEASANT!
Zeke says as John takes a blow to the jaw from his fist.
Zeke then slaps John across the face with his back hand, John headbutts Zeke and breaks free from his two captors as he grabs Zeke and punches him several times before Zeke throws John to the lockers with Sera.
Sera: Zeke you snake, you kissed my ass for years, but when I'm finally weak and vulnerable you show your true colors.
Zeke: Oh don't take it personal, I'm just doing what the rest of us would do if they were as powerful as me.
John: Hey asshole, 4.2 isn't that fucking impressive.
Zeke Knees John in the head.
Zeke: Don't talk unless you're spoken to child! Besides, last time we spoke you said I should be happy and walk away, right?!
Arlo finally had enough. He walks up to Zeke right as Zeke throws another punch to John's gut.
Zeke: Ahh, Arlo, your looking great as eve-
Arlo throws his strongest punch, sending Zeke across the hall.
Arlo: Coward, you beat up a helpless cripple, you're nothing but a joke, a suck up who uses others to get to the top.
Zeke looks at Arlo as Arlo senses Zeke starting to resent him.
Arlo: I'll make an example out of you!
Arlo takes Zeke and beats him to the ground, breaking several ribs and his hand. The beat down made everyone go silent as Zeke's goons ran away out of fear, their king had been defeated.
Arlo: Don't ever try to start your own kingdom ever again, or I'll break you!
Zeke nods in compliance.
Arlo: And the rest of you, this is what you're doing behind my back?! Cowards, all of you! Weaklings who stomp on the weak the first chance you get. What if I did that HUH?!! Well if I did that to you all you'd all be dead!
Everyone looks at Arlo out of fear.
Arlo: EVERYONE GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!
Zeke gets back up to face Arlo.
Arlo: Don't let me catch you embarrassing us again.
Zeke: I-I'm sorry.
Arlo beats Zeke down to the ground again.
Arlo: Don't ever lie like that to my face like that again, now get out of my face trash!
Zeke limps away, covered in blood, his bones are broken, he stumbles multiple times.
John: Sera, are you okay?
Sera: John, it's getting worse.
John: What is?
Sera: Everything! I know Cecile is behind this. I know you got your new power from Joker, I know that you were gonna use your powers regardless, if Arlo didn't step in, I....
John: Never mind that, Arlo help me get her to the infirmary will you.
Arlo: Yeah, I don't trust you to protect her if you can't even protect yourself.
John: Whatever you can bitch to me later.
Arlo: Bitch?
John: Yeah, that's what you're good at.
Arlo punches John in the face and slams him against the locker.
Sera: ARLO, STOP!
Arlo: You got some nerve when all you do is torture criminals, you threw the whole damn nation into a panic with that stupid death stunt, and on top of that you didn't even text Sera your stupid plan. THEN ON TOP OF THAT you drag Sera into your stupid plan with Cecile, AND YOU CAN'T EVEN PROTECT HER!
John, now furious that Arlo is yelling his secret in an empty hallway, gets into his face.
John: You think I want Sera to get jumped every day?! Don't you get it asshole, she sent those freaks to our house, she sent Zeke's little empire after us, she sent her little gang to harass Sera, and now you're yelling at ME FOR HER CRIMES?!
Arlo, let's go of John. He then slams his fist next to John's head into the locker.
Sera: Arlo what the hell did you expect, he can't reveal he's a.....
Arlo: Shut up Sera, who invited you into the conversation?! You're a cripple now, so know your place.
A pause follows as everyone stays quiet, until John breaks the silence with a headbutt to Arlo, letting his empathy and emotions for Sera take full control.
John: WATCH IT ASSHOLE! OR I'LL MAKE YOU ONE BY BREAKING EVERY BONE IN YOUR BODY!
Sera: You two enough!
Arlo: Psh, whatever, you're welcome. Jerks.
Arlo walks away, Sera and John sit at the broken lockers. The pity party of two hangs out there for a couple of minutes before they help each other up.
John: Come on, the infirmary is right around the corner.
Several minutes later John and Sera heal up in the infirmary, Sera looks down at her hands, trembling as the past week floods in her head.
Arlo in Sera's head: Shut up Sera, who invited you into the conversation?! You're a cripple now, so know your place.
Sera: Wow, I really am completely powerless aren't I?
John: Don't listen to Arlo, he's just preaching his stress.
Sera: How did I end up here, how did we end up switching places?
John: ...
Sera: Only a month ago did I find out you were the same as me, but now, now I'm the cr..crip...
Sera stutters as tears flood her eyes.
John: No, please don't. It'll be back soon okay.
Sera: It's been weeks, no one knows what's wrong John, not doc, not the hospital, not the authorities, no one!
John: Yeah well they will, I promise you everything passes with time. Just because the answer isn't there doesn't mean it doesn't exist. This shouldn't even be possible.
Sera: But it is, this is real John, this is fucking real! I...I.... HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO WAIT HUH?! MONTHS, YEARS?!
John looks at Sera shocked at the sudden outburst.
Sera: You know, I fall asleep thinking I will have my ability when I wake back up, but every morning I wake up to get my hopes crushed. I'm so tired of being useless, of being lied to, of lying to myself.
Sera rests her head on John's chest, letting him catch it.
John: Don't forget you're not alone.
John says as he powers his eyes down.
John: Since you're powerless, I'll be powerless with you whenever no one is around. If you finally let me.
Sera: No John, I won't hold you back anymore.
John: No Sera, I want to do this, I'll protect you anyway I can though. Whether it be using my powers, or just being a meat shield, I seriously don't care anymore. I know what you're trying to do, you and I know that if I use myh current powers right now that people will figure out I'm more than just a high tier, people aren't that dumb and they'll put two and two together even if I just repaint it again, but I don't care.
Sera: Really?
John: Yeah, we can go shopping, play games, chill on the roof, or just do whatever. It's gonna be alright. We'll get through this together.
She looks up at John and smiles, she then lies down in bed with John sitting in the bed next to her. John stays with Sera until she falls asleep. John gets up and walks out of the room.
John in his head: Cecile, your beef is with me, but hurting Sera, that's where I draw the line. I'll show you what happens when you cross me.
John heads outside and punches the wall until his knuckles bleed.
John: Why, WHY, WHY, WHYYYYY????!!!!
John stops punching the wall as soon as it breaks.
John: Why am I such a damned coward? WHY?!
WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY?!
John smashes his hand and breaks it, he activates his ability, his eyes are now black.
John: Zeke, I'll kill you. I should have hurt you hard, beaten you till you're in oblivion. I hate you!
John walks outside and sees Zeke throwing out his lunch.
John in his head: Dammit, I forgot my mask. Shit what do I….?
John looks around and grabs a brown paper bag out of the trash bin, putting it over his head.
John: Guess for today I'm ....
He reads the bag.
John: Tuesday.
John looks at Zeke who's grumbling bitter things to himself about the incident he had with Arlo, swearing he'd get stronger and kick his ass. John clenches his fists as he looms behind Zeke ready to break him.
This ends now.
Joker charges at Zeke with full force, Zeke activates his ability and dodges Joker's fist.
Zeke in his head: What the fuck, that's my lunch bag, who is this clown? Ewww.
Zeke: Ahhh, I see you're here for a ranked match, good thing you're covering your face cause I had a shitty day and now so WILL YOU!
John's eyes suddenly glow, revealing to Zeke that the bagged maniac does in fact have an ability.
Zeke charges at John using his offensive ability, Joker doges and brakes Zeke's ribs on the left side of his body. Joker charges again and lands another hard blow to Zeke's chest. Zeke at this point uses his defense form, Joker however breaks Zeke's wrists as he tries to land a punch to his face. Zeke uses his offensive form and tires to land a blow to Joker's nape. Joker uses Zeke's offensive and defensive form at the same time, 8.2 vs a 4.2.
Joker outranked Zeke by two fold, he lands another hard blow to Zeke's face. Zeke at this point is on the ground, Joker stomps on his chest making him cough blood, he grabs Zeke by the collar and punches his face several times before slamming his skull in the concrete.
Zeke: Hey now, you've won, tell me who you are...
Joker takes Zeke's arm and breaks it, twisting it until the Elbow splits into two separate pieces. Zeke at this point is unconscious and bleeding profusely out of his nose. Joker leaves as John returns to his normal self, his eyes power down.
Meanwhile with Blyke and Isen.
Blyke: Yo you gonna meet up later.
Isen: Yeah, I gotta go to a press meeting then I-
Yo did you hear, Zeke's all bloodied up in the courtyard?!
This catches Blyke's and Isen's attention.
Blyke: Yo, are you thinking what I'm thinking.
Blyke and Isen remember John telling them about Zeke bullying him by sending people after him.
Isen: We gotta get to John!
The two hurry off to Blyke's dorm. As they run they talk while getting their brains together before they exit the building.
Blyke: No dude, you go to the press meeting, I'll talk to John.
Isen: You sure?
Blyke: Just go!
Isen: Ight sheesh.
Isen heads to the press room, Blyke meanwhile runs to the dorms. He runs up flights of stairs to get to John.
Blyke: John!
John turns around, looking at Blyke at the front door.
Blyke: You got a second?
Meanwhile Isen is in the press room when Arlo storms in, his face shows his anger.
Cecile: Arlo, what brings you here today?
Arlo slams the poster about Sera down on the table. Then he punches a hole through the table.
Arlo: Do you know why I did that?
Cecile: What the hell was that for, you're scaring everyone?
Arlo: I gave you a direct order, to keep this between us, and you disobeyed.
Arlo in his head: Cecile, I couldn't give two shits about your plans against John, no way they would work anyways, but hurting Sera in her cripple state, disrupting the whole Hierarchy, this will not go unPunished.
Arlo: I've been too lenient with you, we were once teammates so I figured I could still trust you, but even back then you would always act fishy, hiding thing's from us royals. So that's why you weren't crowned Jack when Remi beat you. But you've insulted both Rei and Remi, and yet I let it slide, now you disrespected Seraphina and ignored a direct order from me. This will not fly.
Juni trembles in fear, in that moment she realizes she fucked up.
Arlo: Didn't I tell you never to set foot here again, you're off the press team remember?!
Cecile: Look Arlo, That article has nothing to do with the press.
Arlo: Bull shit, I know it was you who posted it everywhere, not only did you want this to get published in the papers, you control all the school's information.
Cecile: I didn-
Arlo: Save it, I gave you one job and you failed me. So clearly you aren't fit for this position.
Arlo looks at Isen.
Arlo: Isen, for your consistent front page article ratio, I'm placing you as head of the press, and I'm saying it again to be clear for EVERYONE IN THE ROOM!
Arlo looks at Cecile.
Isen: Wait, Arlo, are you-
Arlo: Save it Isen.
Cecile: Arlo, you must be joking?! You're gonna demote me when my rank is higher?!
Arlo: Your strength only matters in turf wars, this is politics not the battlefield, I trust Isen because he is capable and responsible. Isen!
Isen: Uhh yeah?
Arlo: Don't let me down.
Cecile: Nonsense, you can't just barge in here and do what you want!
Arlo: Oh yeah, and how are you gonna back that up?
Arlo's eyes glow a bright blue.
Cecile looks down before looking at Arlo, her eyes glow a pinkish purple.
Arlo: Oh, are you challenging my authority?
Cecile: Maybe I AM!
Cecile launches her energy whips at Arlo but the whips this time are targeting everyone in the room this time. Arlo puts up his barrier and blocks them, protecting everyone and himself. Cecile is all cut up from the reflective damage. Once again acting on stupidity and not reason.
Cecile: I didn't mean.. I
Arlo: Cecile,that's the second time you tried to strike me over this, regardless of whether you meant to attack everyone or just me, you tried to abuse your power. If I wasn't able to put up my barrier somehow you would be responsible for hurting everyone in this room. I was gonna let you take a rest as a reporter and maybe earn your way back to the top, but you just proved you aren't mature enough for this club. You know I actually felt bad for what I said, about you rotting in Hell, calling a you a nazi and banning you from the club. We were teammates and I felt like that because of our history, that you deserved a proper apology for the sudden change of heart, but now I see that I was right the whole time. I told you to never return and you still did, and I was still gonna let you off. Clearly I've gone soft on you.
Cecile looks at Arlo, her face all cut up and leaking blood.
Arlo: You really think you could win? You literally did this yesterday, I should have just beaten you when you did this the first time, now am I gonna be a fool if I don't-
Cecile: Don't try to act like you would ever do that? Earn my way, bull! You wanted me out for good!
Arlo whispers in Cecile's ear: Yeah, because of who you are outside of this school.
Don't want any vigilante's blood on my school newspaper now do I?
Bounty Huntress.
Cecile's face drops.
Cecile in her head: W-what the-
Arlo: Regardless of my motives you are banned from ever entering this room. Leave.
Cecile: Arlo you can't just...
Arlo: NOW, before I make you. This time, I won't make the same mistake, I'll seriously make an example. One that will mess people up in the head. NOW GET OUT!
Cecile looks at Isen, his eyes glowing, blocking as many people as he could, others are hiding behind him, their eyes glowing as well.
Cecile bows and leaves the room. Realizing she lost for real this time.
She leaves a trail of blood as she exits the room from her minor cuts.
Arlo in his head: John, I just did you a favor, you better not waste this.
Arlo exits the room.
Meanwhile in Blyke and John's dorm.
Blyke: John, how hard did you go on Zeke?
John: Does it matter, he just got his ass kicked twice today, now he won't be running his little gang anymore.
Blyke: Yeah but you never act this irrational, you just take the beating, you're so much stronger than the rest of us, what made you break this time?
John: .....
Blyke: It can't hurt to tell me, come on aren't I not your best friend. The boys are always here for you.
John: He had it coming. It's one thing to beat me down, but as soon as you drag my friends down, you're dead.
Blyke: He's had it coming for a while now, he's always been a dick.
John: He hurt Sera, while his two goons held me back and made me watch.
Blyke's eyes widened.
Blyke: Holy shit, he made you watch him beat her up.
John nods his head up and down.
Blyke: Jesus, do I even want to go see the body you left behind?
John nods his head side to side.
Blyke sits down on his bed.
Blyke: John.
John heads out of the room.
John: Yeah?
Blyke: Me and Isen, we would have helped you kill them all, literally.
John: Thanks Blyke, that means a lot. It's hard to find allies these days.
Blyke: Hitting a girl to his extent is too far in my book, but one who's crippled, that shouldn't even exist.
John: Thanks brother, I have to head out now.
Blyke: Yeah man, I'll see you later.
John heads out and closes the door.
To be Continued...