Chapter 4: The Price of Power

Marcus sat on the rooftop of his apartment building, the city sprawled out before him. The late evening air was cool, and the lights of New York shimmered like a sea of stars. The events of the past few days had left him contemplative. Hughie had been thrown into the deep end of this chaotic world, and Marcus had watched every moment unfold. With his powers now at fifty percent, he knew he could intervene at any time. But something held him back.

He was cautious, perhaps even hesitant. Marcus had seen what happened to those who acted rashly in this world. The cost of power was high, and he wasn't willing to pay it just yet.

His phone buzzed, breaking the silence. He pulled it out of his pocket and glanced at the screen. It was a message from his contact at Vought, one of the few people he trusted within the company.

**Contact**: "Got some info. Meeting tomorrow at 10. Usual place."

Marcus nodded to himself and typed a quick reply. He needed to stay ahead of the game, to know what Vought was planning. Knowledge was power, and in this world, power was everything.

As he pocketed his phone, he heard a faint sound—a heartbeat. His enhanced hearing picked up the steady rhythm, strong and familiar. It was coming from the alleyway below. He peered over the edge of the building and saw a figure leaning against the wall, shrouded in darkness.

Using his X-ray vision, Marcus identified the figure immediately. It was Butcher. He wasn't alone, though. Hughie was with him, and they were deep in conversation.

Curiosity piqued, Marcus focused his hearing on their voices, letting the rest of the city fade away.

"You did good back there, Hughie," Butcher was saying, his voice low and gravelly. "Most people would've crumbled, but you held your own."

Hughie's reply was shaky, his voice betraying the anxiety that still gripped him. "I don't know, Butcher. This is all... it's all so messed up. I never wanted to be involved in any of this."

Butcher chuckled, a dark, humorless sound. "No one ever does, mate. But sometimes the world doesn't give you a choice. You think I wanted to be in this line of work? Hunting down Supes, putting my life on the line every damn day? It's not a bloody fairy tale."

"I know, I know," Hughie said, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's just... I keep thinking about Robin. About what A-Train did to her. And I'm scared, Butcher. Scared that I'm in way over my head."

Butcher's tone softened, just a fraction. "Listen, Hughie, fear's natural. It keeps you sharp, keeps you alive. But you've got to channel that fear, use it to your advantage. You've seen what these Supes are like. You know what they're capable of. We're the only ones standing between them and the rest of the world. If we don't do something, who will?"

Marcus watched as Hughie shifted uncomfortably, his mind clearly racing. He could see the struggle in the young man's eyes—the desire for justice warring with the fear of what he was becoming involved in.

"Butcher," Hughie said after a long pause, "what if we're wrong? What if we can't take them down? What if... what if we're just as bad as they are?"

The question hung in the air, heavy with doubt. Marcus leaned forward slightly, curious to hear Butcher's response.

Butcher took a deep breath, his expression hardening. "We're not like them, Hughie. We don't have powers, we don't have the backing of a multi-billion dollar corporation. We're just ordinary blokes trying to do what's right. But sometimes, to fight monsters, you've got to be willing to get your hands dirty. You've got to be willing to do what others won't."

Hughie swallowed hard, the weight of Butcher's words pressing down on him. "But what if it changes us? What if we become the very thing we're fighting against?"

Marcus felt a twinge of respect for Hughie. Despite everything, the kid still had a moral compass. He was trying to navigate a world where right and wrong were increasingly blurred, where the lines between hero and villain were almost nonexistent.

Butcher's response was blunt, almost dismissive. "You've already changed, Hughie. The moment you decided to join me, you set yourself on a path you can't walk back from. The only question now is how far you're willing to go."

Hughie stared at the ground, his shoulders slumped. "I don't know, Butcher. I just... I don't want to lose myself in all this."

Butcher placed a hand on Hughie's shoulder, his grip firm but not unkind. "That's why you've got me, mate. To make sure you don't lose yourself. And to remind you why we're doing this. For Robin. For all the people the Supes have hurt. We're doing this because someone has to. Because it's the right thing to do."

Hughie looked up at Butcher, some of the fear in his eyes giving way to determination. "Okay. I'm in. But promise me something, Butcher."

Butcher raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"

"Promise me that if we ever cross the line, if we ever become like them... we'll stop. We'll find another way."

Butcher hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "I promise, Hughie. But remember, sometimes the line ain't as clear as you'd like it to be. Just be ready for that."

Marcus watched as they shook hands, sealing their pact. Hughie had made his choice, and there was no turning back now.

The two of them left the alley, heading back to Butcher's hideout. Marcus stayed on the rooftop, lost in thought. The conversation he had just overheard echoed in his mind, stirring up feelings he hadn't expected.

He was cautious by nature, always planning, always thinking several steps ahead. But he couldn't deny that Butcher's words had struck a chord with him. There was a certain ruthlessness in Butcher, a willingness to do whatever it took to achieve his goals. It was a trait Marcus recognized in himself, though he tried to temper it with a sense of morality.

But what Hughie had said lingered with him—the fear of becoming the very thing they were fighting against. Marcus knew that his powers, even at fifty percent, gave him the potential to be incredibly dangerous. The temptation to use that power for his own ends, to impose his will on the world, was always there, lurking in the back of his mind.

But that wasn't who he wanted to be. He had always admired Superman not just for his powers, but for his unwavering sense of justice, his commitment to doing what was right, even when it was difficult. Homelander, on the other hand, was a cautionary tale—a reminder of what could happen when power corrupted.

Marcus stood up, his mind made up. He couldn't afford to wait any longer. He needed to step out of the shadows, to make his presence known. But he would do it on his own terms, in his own way. He wouldn't let the darkness of this world consume him. Instead, he would use his power to bring light, to be the hero that this world desperately needed.

But first, he needed to finish his costume.

The next day, Marcus spent hours in his apartment, meticulously crafting his Superman suit. He had chosen a darker blue for the suit, a color that blended with the shadows but still evoked the iconic image of the hero he admired. The cape was a deep, almost crimson red, and the emblem on his chest was the classic "S" shield, symbolizing hope.

As he worked, he couldn't help but feel a sense of purpose, a drive to live up to the ideals that the symbol represented. He wasn't just crafting a costume; he was preparing to take on a role that carried immense responsibility.

When he was done, Marcus stood in front of the mirror, examining his reflection. The suit fit perfectly, accentuating his muscular frame. He looked every bit the hero he had always dreamed of becoming.

But he knew that wearing the suit was just the beginning. The real test would come when he stepped out into the world, when he faced the challenges and dangers that awaited him.

The sun had set by the time he finished. Marcus walked out onto the balcony, feeling the cool night air on his face. The city was alive with activity, the lights twinkling like stars. Somewhere out there, Hughie and Butcher were planning their next move, ready to take on the Supes.

And now, Marcus was ready too.

With a final glance at the city below, he took a deep breath and leapt off the balcony, soaring into the night sky. The wind rushed past him as he flew, his cape billowing behind him. He felt a surge of exhilaration, a sense of freedom that he had never known before.

But as he flew, Marcus remained cautious. He knew that his actions had consequences, that every decision he made could tip the balance in this world. He would have to be careful, to think before he acted, to ensure that he didn't become the very thing he was fighting against.

As he flew over the city, Marcus made a silent vow to himself. He would use his power to protect the innocent, to fight for justice. But he would do so with caution, with a clear