Back at his apartment, Tony paced restlessly, his mind racing. He couldn't shake the image of Jay's face during the fight—her mix of fear, awe, and confusion.
Roomie, he thought, she's not going to stop asking questions. What do I tell her?
Truth enhances trust. However, full disclosure may introduce unnecessary risks.
Tony sighed. Yeah, thanks for that. Super helpful.
That evening, Jay sat cross-legged on Tony's couch, her arms folded as she watched him pace. "Okay, Tony," she said finally. "Enough dodging. What's going on with you? And don't say 'it's complicated.' I want answers."
Tony stopped, running a hand through his hair. "Jay, it's... it's hard to explain. But I'll try."
He sat down across from her, his expression serious. "Something happened to me that day on the beach. I think I was exposed to... some kind of energy."
Jay frowned. "Energy? Like radiation? That doesn't make sense."
Tony shook his head. "Not radiation. Something else. I don't know what it was, but it changed me. It's like my body's been rewired. My reflexes, my strength, my stamina—they're all enhanced."
Jay stared at him, her brow furrowed. "And you don't know how or why?"
"No," Tony admitted. "But it's not just physical. My mind feels sharper, too. Like I'm operating at a higher level."
Jay leaned back, her expression softening. "Okay, that's... a lot. But it sounds incredible. If this is real—if this energy made you better—what are you going to do with it?"
Tony hesitated, his gaze meeting hers. "That's what I'm trying to figure out. I don't want to hurt anyone, Jay. I just... I want to make sure I'm in control of it. And maybe, if I can, I'll use it to help people."
Jay smiled faintly. "So, what? You're going to be a superhero now?"
Tony laughed, shaking his head. "Not exactly. But if I can do some good with it, I'll try."
Jay reached across the table, taking his hand. "I'm with you, Tony. Whatever this is, I think it's amazing. And if you need someone to keep you grounded, I've got you."
Tony squeezed her hand, a wave of relief washing over him. "Thanks, Jay. I mean it."
The video hadn't reached Tony yet, but Jay's pressing questions filled the space in his apartment as they sat across from each other. She leaned forward, her hands gripping her coffee mug tightly, her eyes alight with equal parts concern and excitement.
"So," Jay began, her voice a mix of awe and incredulity, "you're telling me you got... what, zapped with some kind of unknown energy? And now you're practically Superman?"
Tony laughed, shaking his head. "Not Superman. I'm still figuring it out. It's like... my body rewired itself. I'm stronger, faster, and my reflexes are off the charts. But it's not just physical. My mind feels sharper too, like I can see things coming before they happen."
Jay sat back, her mouth quirking into a half-smile. "Okay, but this is amazing. Do you even realize what you could do with this? You could help people, Tony."
"That's the idea," Tony said cautiously. "But I'm still working out the kinks. I don't exactly have a manual for this, you know?"
Jay's smile widened, her excitement palpable. "Tony, think about it! You could stop crimes, save lives—hell, you already did that with those guys at the restaurant. And you did it without anyone getting seriously hurt. You're a natural."
Tony rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, but it's not as simple as just jumping in. If I'm not careful, I could do more harm than good. These changes—they're powerful, but they're also dangerous. I need control."
Jay nodded, her expression softening. "I get that. But you've always been good at handling pressure. You were a Marine, Tony. You know how to act under fire. This? It's just another mission."
He looked at her, his lips curling into a small smile. "You're really leaning into this whole superhero thing, huh?"
"Are you kidding?" Jay laughed. "I've been watching superhero movies my whole life. You're like the real-life version, and I get a front-row seat. You can't tell me you're not at least a little excited."
Tony chuckled. "Okay, fine. Maybe a little. But we're taking this slow. I don't want to go running into something I'm not ready for."
Jay grinned. "Slow works for me. We'll figure it out together."
The next day, Tony decided to put his abilities to the test—with Jay as his unofficial coach. They headed to a nearby park early in the morning, the paths quiet except for a few joggers and dog walkers.
"Okay," Jay said, pulling out her phone to record. "Let's see what you've got."
Tony rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress his grin. He started with a simple sprint, his body humming with energy as he accelerated. The trees blurred past him, the wind whipping against his face. By the time he reached the end of the path, he skidded to a stop and turned, barely winded.
Jay jogged up to him, panting slightly. "Tony, that was... insane. You were flying."
"Felt like it," Tony said, laughing. "What's next, Coach?"
Jay looked around, her gaze settling on a large tree with thick, sturdy branches. "Think you can climb that?"
Tony raised an eyebrow. "You're really pushing me here."
"Come on, Spidey," she teased. "Let's see those skills."
He shook his head, smiling, and approached the tree. With a quick leap, he grabbed the lowest branch, his muscles flexing as he hoisted himself up effortlessly. His enhanced reflexes made it easy to find footholds, and within seconds, he was perched near the top, looking down at Jay.
"You're ridiculous," Jay called, laughing as she recorded him. "Now jump down!"
Tony hesitated, calculating the drop. It was at least 15 feet, but he felt confident. With a deep breath, he pushed off, landing in a crouch on the soft grass below. The impact barely registered.
Jay ran up to him, her phone still recording. "Okay, that was the coolest thing I've ever seen."
"Glad I could impress," Tony said, brushing off his pants. "But seriously, let's keep this low-key. I don't need a crowd."
Over the next few days, Tony started using his abilities in small, subtle ways. Guided by Jay's enthusiasm and moral compass, he focused on acts that didn't draw too much attention but still made a difference.
At the park, Jay noticed a tearful little girl searching for her dog. Tony listened as her parents explained that the dog had slipped out of its collar and bolted into the woods. Without hesitation, Tony sprinted into the trees. His enhanced senses made it easy to track the dog's barks, and within minutes, he emerged with the small terrier cradled in his arms. The girl's tearful smile was all the thanks he needed.
At a local grocery store, Tony spotted a nervous man trying to shoplift diapers. Instead of intervening harshly, Tony paid for the items himself and handed them to the man. "Take care of your family," he said quietly, watching as the man's guilt turned to gratitude.
One evening, while walking with Jay, Tony noticed an elderly man struggling to cross a busy intersection. Cars honked as the man froze in the middle of the road, but Tony acted quickly, darting into the street and guiding him to safety before the lights changed.
After one particularly busy day, Tony and Jay sat on his couch, their conversation buzzing with possibilities.
"You're really good at this," Jay said, her smile bright. "You've got the instincts. And people need someone like you out there."
Tony sighed, leaning back. "It feels good to help, but it's not sustainable. I can't just run around fixing things without a plan. Eventually, someone's going to notice."
Jay nodded thoughtfully. "Maybe that's not a bad thing. If people see what you're capable of, they'll understand. You could inspire others to step up."
Tony raised an eyebrow. "You really think I'm the inspiration type?"
Jay laughed. "Absolutely. But first, we need to figure out what your limits are. If you're going to keep this up, you need to know exactly what you can handle."
Tony grinned. "Sounds like you're not letting me off the hook."
"Not a chance," Jay said, squeezing his hand. "This is just the beginning, Tony. We've got work to do."