The morning air buzzed with an unusual tension as Zik entered the school gates. At first glance, it seemed like a normal day: students chatting in small groups, the occasional rush of someone running late, and the dull hum of morning announcements echoing through the courtyard. But something was different.
As Zik made his way through the crowd, he noticed it—everybody was staring in the same direction, their conversations hushed but intense. Turning his head, Zik spotted the reason.
Standing near the entrance was a boy, maybe their age, but unlike anyone Zik had seen at school before. His skin was a deep, scaly green that shimmered faintly in the sunlight. His fingers were clawed, his eyes sharp and reptilian, and his posture tense, like he was bracing for something.
A mutation ability.
Zik felt a pang of sympathy as the boy shifted uncomfortably under the weight of everyone's stares.
Mutation abilities were rare, overpowered, and deeply misunderstood. They altered the body and, in many cases, the mind, giving people monstrous appearances and sometimes extreme aggression. While treaties existed to protect those with such abilities, societal mistrust still lingered. Many people, Zik knew, didn't see them as human.
The boy's presence made that clear.
---
"He's one of them," someone muttered behind Zik.
"I heard they can rip you apart with one hand," another voice whispered.
"He doesn't belong here," a girl said, her voice tinged with fear.
Zik's jaw tightened as he heard the murmurs. He knew how cruel people could be, but seeing it firsthand was still infuriating.
The boy walked forward, trying to ignore the stares, his head down and his claws clutching the straps of his backpack. Every step he took seemed to create a ripple of unease, students parting like he carried some invisible barrier around him.
---
Zik found himself walking faster, catching up to the boy.
"Hey," Zik said casually, stepping into stride beside him. "New here?"
The boy glanced at him, his reptilian eyes narrowing slightly. "Yeah," he said quietly.
"I'm Zik," he offered, ignoring the stares around them. "What's your name?"
The boy hesitated. "Tobias," he said after a moment.
"Well, welcome to the chaos," Zik said with a grin. "This place isn't as bad as it looks. Most people will ignore you after, like, a week."
Tobias didn't smile, but his tense shoulders seemed to relax slightly. "Doubt that," he muttered, his voice low and rough. "Not with… this." He gestured to his scaled arms.
Zik shrugged. "Yeah, okay, maybe it'll take two weeks. But trust me, people forget fast. It's like a skill."
Tobias looked at him again, this time with a flicker of curiosity. "Why are you talking to me? You're not… scared?"
Zik stopped walking, turning to face him. "Why would I be scared? You're just a guy trying to get to class, right?"
Tobias blinked, clearly surprised. "Right," he said softly.
Zik nodded. "Cool. Then let's get to class."
---
The rest of the morning didn't go as smoothly.
Despite Zik's efforts to make Tobias feel less isolated, the rest of the school wasn't as kind. Whispers followed Tobias everywhere, and a few students weren't subtle about their dislike.
"Why's he even here?" one kid muttered loudly as Tobias passed. "Shouldn't he be in one of their cities?"
During lunch, someone "accidentally" spilled juice on Tobias's tray, muttering a fake apology before walking off.
Tobias didn't react, his expression calm but strained. Zik, sitting nearby, clenched his fists, fighting the urge to say something. He knew Tobias didn't need him making a scene, but it still grated on him to see how people were treating the guy.
---
As they sat outside during lunch, Zik finally broke the silence. "So… do you always get this kind of reception, or is our school just special?"
Tobias chuckled dryly. "It's the same everywhere. People see the scales, the claws, and they assume the worst. Can't say I blame them, though. Mutation abilities don't exactly have a great track record."
Zik frowned. "Yeah, but you're not your ability. People should know that."
"Should," Tobias agreed, picking at his sandwich. "But they don't. And honestly? I don't even blame them. I've seen what mutation abilities can do. They're… dangerous."
Zik leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "What about you? You've got a family here, right? You're not dangerous."
Tobias hesitated, his claws tapping against the table. "Not yet. But that's the thing with mutation abilities. The divergence—it can creep up on you. Most of us don't even notice it until it's too late. I'm trying to stay in control, for now, but…"
He trailed off, his gaze distant.
"But what?" Zik asked gently.
"But if I can't keep it together, I might have to leave," Tobias said quietly. "For my family. They don't deserve to deal with it if I… change."
Zik didn't know what to say. The weight Tobias was carrying was immense, and Zik realized that anything he said would probably sound hollow. Instead, he just nodded.
"Well, if you ever need someone to remind you who you are," Zik said after a moment, "you know where to find me."
Tobias looked at him, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Thanks."
---
As the day went on, Zik couldn't stop thinking about Tobias and the way people had treated him. For once, Zik was grateful for his own cursed yellow shirt—it made him look unlucky, sure, but at least people didn't treat him like a monster.
When Zik got home that evening, he sat down at his desk and stared at his mask. He thought about Tobias, about how hard it must be to show your face when everyone around you assumed the worst.
"Guess we've got more in common than I thought," Zik muttered, slipping the mask onto his face.
The Hero System pinged softly, as if agreeing.
> Reflection Complete: Embrace the Different
You've learned the value of standing with those who are judged unfairly. Keep growing.
Zik leaned back in his chair, feeling a mix of determination and unease. He knew his journey was only beginning—and Tobias's was even harder. But for now, he was ready to face whatever came next.
That night, Zik sat at his desk, staring at his Hero System screen. The events of the day played over and over in his mind—the stares, the whispers, the cruelty Tobias had faced just for existing. Zik clenched his fists, the injustice of it all stirring something deep within him. Tobias deserved better.
With a deep breath, Zik picked up his phone and called Aiden.
"Hey," Aiden said on the other end, his usual laid-back tone cutting through the quiet. "What's up, mask-boy?"
"Not funny right now," Zik muttered. "I need you to come over. I'm calling Tobias too."
"Tobias?" Aiden asked, surprised. "The new kid?"
"Yeah," Zik said. "I think he could use some friends right now. You in?"
Aiden didn't hesitate. "Of course. I'll be there in ten."
---
When Tobias arrived, his scaly hands stuffed nervously into his jacket pockets, Zik greeted him warmly and led him inside. Aiden was already sprawled on the couch, offering a casual wave.
"Glad you came," Zik said, motioning for Tobias to sit.
Tobias hesitated but eventually sat down. "What's this about?"
Zik shrugged. "Nothing heavy. Just thought you could use some company."
Tobias glanced at Aiden, who was watching him curiously. "So, what's your story?" Aiden asked.
Tobias hesitated, then began to speak. "My family moves a lot," he said quietly. "Every time my mutation started to show, we'd pack up and leave. New school, new town, new neighbors. It never lasted long, though. People would find out, and the same thing would happen—whispers, stares, sometimes worse."
Aiden frowned, sitting up straighter. "That sucks. Your family must've gone through a lot."
"They did," Tobias said, his voice tight. "But they never blamed me. Not once. They've done everything they can to keep me safe. But I know I'm the reason they can't settle down. It's why I thought about leaving. Maybe it'd be easier for them if I went to one of the cities for people like me."
Zik shook his head firmly. "Don't even think like that. Your family clearly cares about you. They wouldn't want you to leave."
"I know," Tobias said, looking down at his hands. "But it's hard. They've given up so much for me. And sometimes, I feel like… like I'll never be able to make it up to them."
For a moment, none of them spoke. The weight of Tobias's words hung heavy in the room.
Then Aiden stood up, clapping his hands. "Alright, enough of this gloomy stuff. Let's go to the park. Get some air, maybe mess around with something fun. Sound good?"
Tobias looked up, surprised. "The park?"
"Yeah," Zik said, grabbing his mask. "There's an empty side that's usually quiet at night. We'll bring some dominos or something. Come on, it'll be good for you."
---
The three of them made their way to the park, settling on a bench in the quieter, darker side. Zik brought out a box of dominos, and they started playing. For the first time all day, Tobias seemed to relax, a faint smile breaking through his guarded expression.
"This is nice," Tobias admitted, lining up his dominos.
"Yeah," Aiden agreed. "See? No staring, no whispering, just us being awesome at dominos."
"You're not awesome," Zik said, smirking. "You just keep cheating."
"Strategy," Aiden corrected, grinning.
The laughter didn't last long.
A group of troublemakers—five of them, loud and rowdy—wandered into the empty side of the park. Their laughter stopped abruptly when they spotted Tobias.
"Hey, look at that!" one of them sneered. "We got ourselves a freak!"
Tobias stiffened, his claws digging into the bench.
"Leave it," Zik whispered.
But the troublemakers weren't leaving. They approached, circling the bench like vultures.
"What's the matter, lizard boy?" one of them taunted. "Scared to fight back?"
Zik could feel Tobias shaking beside him. He knew exactly what was going through Tobias's mind—one wrong move, one moment of aggression, and he'd be labeled a villain.
Aiden stood up first, his easy-going demeanor gone. "Alright, that's enough. Walk away."
The leader of the group, a wiry guy with a smug grin, stepped forward. "Or what? You gonna stop us?"
Zik stood up next, his mask catching the faint glow of the park lights. The troublemakers hesitated for a moment, their confidence wavering under the mask's Fear aura.
"I don't like bullies," Zik said quietly. "Walk away before this gets ugly."
The leader scoffed. "Big talk for someone hiding behind a mask."
The first punch came fast, aimed at Zik. But he dodged easily, countering with a Speed Strike that sent the leader stumbling back.
The rest of the group lunged, but Aiden was ready. He stretched his rubber body, tripping one of them and deflecting another's swing with his Solid Body. Zik used Telekinesis to fling a trash can lid into the air, knocking another guy off balance.
The fight was short but decisive. The troublemakers scrambled to their feet, cursing and retreating into the night.
---
When the park was quiet again, Tobias stood up, his eyes wide. "You… you guys didn't have to do that."
"Yes, we did," Aiden said firmly. "Nobody gets to talk to our friend like that."
Tobias blinked, the word "friend" sinking in. Slowly, a genuine smile spread across his face. "Thanks," he said softly.
Zik nodded, sitting back down. "It's nothing. And hey, that was a good reminder of the 10th Hero Code: Honor your treaties."
Tobias tilted his head. "What's that mean?"
"It's about standing by agreements, promises, and understanding," Zik explained. "Your people have treaties with ours. But it's not just about politics. It's about respecting each other. Seeing each other as equals."
Tobias thought about that for a moment, then nodded. "I like that."
"Good," Zik said, leaning back with a grin. "Because you're stuck with us now."
For the first time in a long while, Tobias felt like he wasn't alone. And for Zik, seeing Tobias smile was all the reward he needed.