Sunday Evening – Carter Residence
The evening air was cool, the sun beginning its slow descent behind the horizon. Jason stood alone in the backyard, his fists wrapped in fresh gauze, his muscles still aching from the earlier fight. The dull throb in his knuckles was a constant reminder of the damage he had inflicted — and the aftermath that followed.
His mind replayed Detective Nolan's words over and over.
> "One day… someone's gonna come after you."
Jason exhaled sharply, slamming his fist into the heavy bag hanging from the old tree. The bag swung violently, creaking on its chain. He immediately followed with a sharp one-two combination, the bag jerking with every blow. His form was perfect — his movements sharp and lethal. The force behind his strikes could easily break bones, as proven earlier that day.
I lost control.
He paused, wiping sweat from his brow. The memory of his mother's face when he walked in — a mixture of horror, relief, and deep-seated worry — stabbed at his chest.
> "You could've been killed, Jason!"
Jason gritted his teeth and struck the bag again, his fist sinking into the leather. But I wasn't. They never even touched me. He was stronger than them — far, far stronger. But that wasn't the problem, was it? It was the look in his mom's eyes. It was the weight in Detective Nolan's voice. It was Claire and Gloria staring at him like he was some sort of… monster.
And deep down, a part of him understood why.
He hadn't just defended the woman. He annihilated those men. Broke them like they were nothing. He let the hunger for violence consume him in that moment — and it scared the people around him.
"Dammit," he muttered, slamming another punch into the bag, causing it to spin.
Is this what I wanted? To scare people? To make my mom worry like that?
---
Flashback – Earlier That Day
He could still see her. His mom rushing toward him the moment he walked through the door. Her eyes wide with panic, her hands grabbing his face, her voice shaking.
"Oh my god, Jason — are you hurt? What happened?"
"I'm fine, Mom. Just—"
"No, you're not fine! You're covered in blood!"
"It's not mine."
"That doesn't make it better!"
Her voice cracked, and Jason could see it — the fear of losing her son. He had never seen his mother like that before, and it dug into his chest like a knife.
---
Present – Backyard
Jason stepped back from the heavy bag, his breath heavy. His fists throbbed, but it was nothing compared to the weight in his chest. He needed to get his head straight.
"Alright," he muttered to himself. "What now?"
He could feel the fire in him — that burning need to fight, to conquer. But if he kept letting it out like he did today, he was going to destroy more than just his opponents. He'd destroy the peace he had in this new life. His family's peace. His mother's peace.
"I can't keep doing this," he murmured.
His mind drifted to Detective Nolan's warning. "Channel it somewhere legal. Or one day, someone's gonna come after you."
Jason exhaled slowly, his jaw clenching. He's right. If he kept using his strength like this, it was only a matter of time before something went horribly wrong. Someone could die. And I won't put my mom through that.
Decision made.
Jason stepped up to the heavy bag, his hands tightening into fists. "From now on," he said softly, "I only fight in the ring." His voice grew stronger. "And only if absolutely necessary outside of it."
His mother's face flashed in his mind. The way her voice cracked when she scolded him. The pure terror in her eyes.
"I won't make her worry like that again," he vowed.
His fists clenched tighter, veins bulging. "If it's not a sanctioned fight or life-or-death… I don't throw a punch."
And for the first time since gaining his powers, Jason felt clarity. A line had been drawn. The ring was his domain. The streets? Only if someone's life was truly in danger. Otherwise, he walked away.
No matter how badly he wanted to destroy someone.
---
An Hour Later – Living Room
Jason sat on the couch, ice pack on his hand, trying to distract himself with television. His parents sat across from him, his dad unusually quiet, his mom still processing the day's events.
Finally, Sophia spoke up. "…I don't know how to feel about today."
Jason exhaled. "I know. I'm sorry I scared you."
She looked at him, eyes filled with both concern and pride. "You didn't just fight them, Jason. You… obliterated them. It was like you weren't even human."
Jason's heart sank. "…I know."
David finally spoke, his voice low and thoughtful. "Son, where did you learn to fight like that?"
Jason hesitated. "…I've always been good at it. I've just been training a lot lately."
His dad didn't push, but Jason could see the gears turning in his mind. He doesn't believe me.
Sophia shifted uncomfortably. "I'm proud that you protected that woman, Jason. But please… promise me. Don't put yourself in danger like that again unless you absolutely have to."
Jason met her gaze. "I promise."
And he meant it.
---
Later That Night – Bedroom
Jason stared at the ceiling, his knuckles still throbbing. His promise replayed in his head over and over.
No more unnecessary fights. No more scaring my mom. Only in the ring or in true emergencies.
But there was still that part of him… that animal inside him that craved a fight. That craved domination. It was part of his wish — the part that came with having overpowered boxing abilities. He wanted to fight. And it was going to be a constant war to keep that beast under control.
But he'd do it. For his mom. For his family. For the life he was trying to build.
"Keep it in the ring," he muttered. "Always in the ring."
And with that vow, he finally drifted off to sleep — unaware that his greatest challenge had yet to come.