(FLASHBACK)
The cigarette was lit between his fingers as he stared intently at the newspaper laid upon his desk, its pages filled with stories of crime and chaos that mirrored his own life.
Releasing a puff of smoke, Tony sank deeper into the worn leather of his chair, relishing the comfort he had come to rely on after immersing himself in the gritty world of crime.
He had been just a boy when he first dipped his toes into this dangerous lifestyle. Back in school, he had resold various products, cleverly marking up their prices by a dollar to turn a tidy profit.
That initial taste of entrepreneurship had whetted his appetite for more. Soon after, he found himself dabbling in the local drug scene, selling weed to neighborhood friends and acquaintances, and earning a bit of cash to support himself and his mother.
As the years rolled by, Tony's ventures grew bolder and more lucrative. He became embroiled in the smuggling of weapons, a trade that earned him a certain level of notoriety. If you needed firearms or drugs, you came to Tony.
Although his name wasn't widely recognized beyond the shadows of the underworld, he had carved out a steady business, one that thrived on the very chaos that surrounded him.
Standing up from his chair, Tony exited his hotel room and took a leisurely stroll through the dimly lit hallway. The soft hum of his own tune filled the air as he approached the elevator, a small smile creeping onto his face as he descended to the lowest floor accessible to members.
As he stepped out of the hotel, the cool night air hit him, a stark reminder of the gritty city he found himself in. He instinctively checked his side, nodding in satisfaction when he confirmed that his Glock-19 was still securely holstered.
Wandering through the streets, he was acutely aware of the danger that lurked at this hour. Yet, the shadows also held opportunities for those willing to seize them. For Tony, this late-night venture was not just a stroll; it was a chance to scout out local kids desperate for a way to make some quick cash.
While he had no intention of involving them in anything too risky, he saw potential in using them to smuggle drugs or exchange a few pills here and there. It was a way to give them a taste of the power and profit that came with his world, drawing them into his orbit without exposing them to the full weight of his operations.
"I believe you should stay where you are, Tony." A voice called out, its tone muffled yet laced with a sinister edge that sent a chill down his spine.
Tony froze, but he refused to let fear creep into his expression. He remained still, allowing his eyes to subtly shift in the direction of the voice, but the darkness obscured any details. All he could make out was a dark silhouette, ominous and threatening, with a gun aimed squarely at the back of his head.
"And who might I refer to you as? It's quite rude to not give your name when addressing your elders," Tony replied, his voice casual, almost mocking, as he attempted to mask the tension coiling within him.
The figure wasted no time with pleasantries, responding instead with a chilling command. "Keep walking, turn left, and enter the alley. I wouldn't want your brains sprayed all over the streets for anyone to see, now would I?"
Tony chose silence, complying with the request as he walked deliberately, each step measured. He focused on making one part of his body dominant in the stride, subtly edging his fingers closer to the gun holstered at his side, feeling the familiar weight of it reassuring him.
As he entered the alley, the figure's voice cut through the stillness. "I would like to say this isn't personal, but it is. Let it be known when you die, to pick a different profession."
In an instant, Tony moved faster than he ever had in his life. He bent low, opening his knee to gain leverage, and pulled out his gun, firing off a shot that struck the figure in the torso. The figure hissed in pain, but before Tony could process his success, they retaliated, releasing four shots that echoed ominously in the narrow confines of the alleyway.
Tony dove behind a nearby trashcan, using it as a makeshift cover. Though it offered little protection, it could slow the bullets down just enough to reduce the damage he might take.
The figure fired two more shots, then paused, calmly advancing toward him. Tony's heart raced as he realized the bulletproof vest concealed beneath their shirt had absorbed the impact of his shot, rendering it less effective than he had hoped.
"Don't make this harder than it already is, Tony. We both know that even if you kill me, someone else will come," the figure taunted, their voice steady and unnervingly calm.
Tony ignored the threat, his mind racing with the realization that someone wanted him out of the picture to seize control of his business. But he had survived too long and fought too hard to let himself be taken down in a random alley by some unknown idiot.
Taking a nearby rock in his hand, Tony hurled it to the side with all his strength, generating enough noise to startle the figure, who instinctively released a shot toward the sound. The echo of the gunfire ricocheted off the alley walls, amplifying the tension in the air.
Seizing the opportunity, Tony kicked a nearby trashcan toward the person, causing them to yelp in surprise. In that fleeting moment of distraction, Tony fired two shots; one struck the figure in the thigh, eliciting a pained grunt, while the other went wide, missing its target entirely.
The silhouette groaned and bent a knee, clearly struggling to maintain their balance, but they managed to squeeze off one more shot. The bullet found its mark, hitting Tony squarely in the stomach. Pain exploded through him, forcing him to wince and topple to the ground, gasping for breath.
"Just die already, you fucking piece of shit!" the figure roared, their voice laced with fury as they aimed their final shot at Tony, who lay vulnerable on the cold, unforgiving pavement.
Tony closed his eyes in grim anticipation, fully aware that his plan had crumbled and that he was about to meet a pointless end.
~BANG! The shot rang out, but in that instant, everything went silent. Tony felt an eerie stillness envelop him, sweat pouring down his face as he slowly opened his left eye, then widened both eyes in shock at the scene before him.
The body of the man was ripped to shreds, a gruesome display of guts, lungs, bones, and flesh scattered throughout the alleyway like a macabre painting. Standing amidst the carnage was a lone teenage boy, his face obscured by long, greasy black hair, his hands and mouth smeared with blood.
"Could you keep it down? I'm trying to fucking sleep," the boy said nonchalantly, before turning his gaze to Tony, his expression unreadable.
Tony's heart raced, a mix of fear and intrigue coursing through him. He had heard whispers of MetaHumans, but he wasn't scared—at least not entirely. Still, he kept his guard up, the searing pain in his stomach making it difficult to maintain his composure.
The kid turned, seemingly ready to leave Tony to his fate, but Tony had never climbed to the top without taking risks.
"Hey, kid… Let's talk. I promise it's something you'll want to hear," he called out, desperation creeping into his voice.
The boy paused, then turned back, a long, predatory smile spreading across his face, revealing razor-sharp teeth. "Go on," he replied, curiosity glinting in his eyes.
"Could you give me some help here? I would get up if I could, but the little shit you killed got me good in the stomach. If you help me, I'm willing to give you anything you want." Tony had never spoken so fast in his life, but he had to; his life force was slowly ebbing away, and he needed to convey his desperation if he wanted to survive.
The teenage boy walked toward Tony, his expression unreadable, before pressing his hands onto the man's stomach. Tony winced, a sharp jolt of pain shooting through him at the contact. The boy removed his hands, standing still for a moment, a smile creeping across his face that sent a chill down Tony's spine.
Confusion clouded Tony's features as he glanced down, only to realize that the wound he had received was miraculously closed. He opened his mouth in disbelief, completely amazed by the extraordinary feat unfolding before him.
"Now, let's talk about this 'anything' you said you could give me," the boy said, his voice smooth yet laced with an unsettling edge. "And you already know if you lied, it won't be a nice end for you." His left eye glowed faintly beneath his greasy hair, revealing two distinct irises and pupils that seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly light.
"No need to worry; I am a man of my word. But anyhow, my name is Tony, and as you could guess my job isn't what others would consider legal." The man stretched out his hand, deciding to treat the young man before him as an equal, even if the kid was some kind of monster or metahuman.
The boy's smile widened, his arm bulging as it grew larger, enveloping Tony's hand in a firm shake. "I'm Nathaniel, I can't wait to work with you, Tony."