Time passed by in a flash as months passed by as winter came around. Since returning from space, Jason found himself with a warmer welcome to his presence. Instead of meetings with disdain or unwelcome looks, a few more either cheered or openly supported his work.
Crashing down on the couch as he just finished his latest adventure at a recently collapsed skyline apartment. So much lost and unneeded destruction as someone placed bombs in the basement. The reason being as he turned himself in afterwards was because he was evicted and lost his wife and children.
Feeling a soft hand on his back as she gently rubbed his back. Jason looked up at Lala who leaned on the couch as she gave him a comfortable smile. She has grown much more beautiful since she first came to earth almost three years ago.
"Welcome back again." She greeted him.
"For how long though?"
"Then I will welcome you back every time."
On the television that was playing low on volume, the news was releasing a special update of Superman. He doesn't remember when the news began keeping track of his saves or number of times he was spotted per day. It was unnecessary and felt like they were underlining what it meant to be a hero.
"Ever since I came back, it seems I just keep getting busier and busier."
"Well you've been spotted more than a hundred more times than last week and it is not even Wednesday." Lala commented. "Even if they don't admit it, most count on you."
"That number is only going to increase. I have noticed more are taking unnecessary risks or imitating internet challenges. A few hours ago I caught a teen who fell off the top of a ten story building attempting to do parkour for a video."
"Besides speaking out about it, there isn't really a good way to solve this. The other heroes unless they are there, they're unable to help." Lala answered slightly sadly. "As long as there free will, others will do dumb things."
"I would ask if an army of robots to help out would be possible but if Terminator and those movies taught me anything. It is a very bad idea." Jason joked.
"I take offense to that." Peke who rarely spoke out in Jason's presence said.
Ignoring the small robot, Jason let out a small sigh as his ear perked up. From the sound of it, he was being summoned once more.
"I will be back."
--
Appearing above a Desert in Nevada, Jason frowned as he looked around for the source. He was sure it came from here but there was nothing around. Even as he scanned the ground he didn't find anything below.
"This doesn't make sense."
Lowering to the ground, Jason continued to look around. He felt that something was wrong here, but was still unable to tell what. Even all the nightlife was strangely quiet making it suspicious.
Hearing a loud whistle behind him, Jason barely turned his head when a large gray fist connected with his face. As the dark gray nearly black spikes easily punctured his cheek as he was flung through the nearby hill. Bringing himself to a stop, he felt an immeasurable force landing on his back.
"Ahhhh!"
As a large crater formed with him as the center, Jason felt an iron taste in his mouth.
"Hahahaha!" a maniacally laugh came from above him.
"Oh how I dreamt of this moment."
Pushing himself up from the ground, Jason attempted to push his attacker away but felt his fist caught in a large hand. Then a loud cracking sound was heard as he screamed in pain before he was tossed up into the sky.
While the moonlight reflected the sun rays down which instantly began healing his hand. Jason used this chance to look at his attacker. Standing over twelve feet with a huge muscular build that dwarfs the Hulk's. This gray creature looked up at him with glowing red eyes full of hate and madness.
"What are you?" Jason asked.
"I'm yours doomsday. For two years Jason I have dreamt of this moment."
"I don't even know who you are?"
"..."
Following a brief moment of silence between the two, the grey creature roared out angrily. Jumping up from the ground, Jason attempted to block the large fist but felt his bones cracking. Kicking out with his leg in return, Jason felt a stabbing pain in his foot as spikes retreated from the creature's chest
"Do you not remember me, Jason. Then again you always looked down on others. From perfect grades to looks, you always had it easy. Now I can see why, Mr. Big Time Hero."
Frowning as Jason recalled one teen who said something similar to him before. "Todd? What happened to you?" Jason asked.
"Oh, look you remember me. Thanks to you, I've sold my soul and been turned into a monster. Now it is time to pay you back with your burial."
Unleashing his freeze breath, it came back as Jason watched in horror as Todd used his frozen hand as a club. As the ice shattered Jason a giant hand clamping down on his head. Screaming as he felt like his head was being crushed, Jason unleashed his heat vision.
Under the heat vision, Todd was forced to let go as deep burn marks appeared in his hand. Using the small moment, Jason unleashed a quick few jabs at Todd's head. Which began a long drawn out brawl throughout the desert. A brawl Jason found himself being beaten down time after time again.
"I will give you credit. You sure do take a beating." Todd taunted.
"Thick skin runs in the family." Jason smirked as he delivered a large upper cut that shook the ground around them.
Back and forth the two fought as the morning sun rose into the sky. Once the sun began to rise, Jason noticed a change in Todd. The more sunlight that rose into the sky, the more beasity and brutal he became. Soon as the sun rose halfway Todd no longer could speak but instead roar like a wild beast.
Beaten and battered, Jason stood up knowing the worst is yet to come. Holes filled his costume as he lost count of the number of times he was impaled by the spikes on Todd's body.
"Roar!"
As the giant fist hit him, Jason was flung high into the atmosphere before falling into a busy city. While tumbling down the street with his ragged cape and suit. The sight of a giant monster crashing down sent the onlooker scrambling.
"Stop! Don't hurt them." Jason shouted when Todd picked up a car and tossed it towards a shop.
Rushing to catch it, Jason barely managed to stop it, but soon met with a spike knee. Impaled through the stomach as he was flung away again. Jason screamed in pain as Todd began to stomp him into the ground. As spike impaled him through the chest with each stomp. Jason summoned up his heat vision and barely managed to blast him into the sky.
Summoning his strength as he lifted himself from the ground. Jason looked at Todd who was nothing more than a beast now. It saddened him as he secretly hoped that Todd could have started over, but now. He knew the teen was unsavable and would cause countless cavities if left alone.
"I'm sorry, Todd." Jason said as he tackled him and rushed towards the sky. His target, the sun as he felt his insides shaking as he took a beating from Todd. The closer he drew the heavier the beating he took from Todd. Even as the monster began burning away, it strength grew.
Tossing him into the sun, Jason felt the sun healing him as he rushed back towards earth. Unlike last time he aimed for his apartment. Inside he found Lala waiting for him and reached out for him upon seeing his sorry state.
"I'm back." Jason greeted Lala weakly.