Contract And Deal (Updated)

'What do I wanna be?'

Though the question was sudden, it refused to fly away from his mind – unable to focus on the show - he laid down and thought about it the entire day. His parents wanted him to attend a successful college like Harvard, but what about him?

He never really thought about it, always going with the stream.

"What do I want to be?"

He muttered, Brett, getting a hint of the word.

"…"

Despite the ongoing movie followed by the wooshing wind, it felt like tinkling quietly. He rolled to his right and looked at the eye-drool tainting his pillow. Wiping off the sweat, he swished away from his blanket.

Jack waved to Brett before exiting the room. He needed some fresh air.

They were allowed to discharge, so he decided to leave an hour or so earlier, he had a lot on his mind since yesterday.

It wasn't because he didn't know the answer, the fact that he felt so shaken hearing it.

He arrived at the lobby, where everybody was rushing around for various injured, broken legs, loss of eyes, and slashes with burn marks.

Some even had wounds made by claws, probably from a transformation ability that covered you in mana.

Jack whisked to the reception, where a dark-haired lady tried to keep his smile intact and seemed to have struggled.

"How do you heal so quickly? Discharging in 3 days!" She looked at the boy, that had come with all kinds of cuts and bruises.

She had helped Jack get used to his body when he had just woken up after the incident, so despite the age gap, they were good friends.

"Don't know. Anyways can I discharge right now? Or am I not allowed to? I have some things to do, so."

She sighed before dropping down on her chair.

"Your parents are still on the paperwork, so you got an hour."

Jack nodded, saying goodbye before sprinting to his favorite spot.

…

The park was empty as usual. It stood in a desolate place, but that made it even better.

The brunching of the bushes and trees made a relaxing sound that mixed with the breeze. Though the sun shone brightly- the apartments next to it veiled a shadow over the block of land.

He sat at the closest bench, getting cozier and putting his arms over the rail.

He looked at the clouds beneath the apartments that dwarfed the sun. He had skin paler than any ghost, thanks to this fact.

He looked at the crunching bushes for minutes, bored out of his mind. He didn't have anything to do but think. That's why he loved it here.

"What do I do now? I don't have anything planned, nor do I have a dream."

He scratched his scalp before going dumbfounded.

The situation had opened his eyes; he had abilities but couldn't use them, only able to access the extra gained strength.

Maybe if he became a hero, his family would be proud. But how would he get money then?

His dreams did not make sense economically, as the world still ran on money, and the people who had both still thrived bigger than anybody else.

"What now, What now?"

He fumbled his fingers and swung his head from left to right. He had lost to a non-awakened – he hadn't lost, but neither did he win. He was weak; if he couldn't beat somebody like him, how would he fair against a mage or a werewolf?

The newly discovered atom had many uses.

Some people even had tropes from novels, but other than a few duplicating powers. Most of them were unique. So how would he fair against a man with a system, a man who can become a dragon, somebody who can control material?

He would be obliterated, as he couldn't even control his ability.

The only time he could use it was on paper, making him unable to write anything: The principal noticed this fact and gave him time off to figure it out.

"You seem lost? Wanna talk a bit,"

A person his age approached him, extending a handkerchief to Jack's face. He had dyed green hair. The boy's eyes were gray and piercing, and his chiseled body could be confused for a professional.

"Who are you?"

He sat next to Jack without notice.

"Call me Lake. It is what people I know call me." He shrugged, introducing himself, "I never expected somebody else to come here. Normally it is just me and the haze."

The guy lit a cigarette which Jack didn't mind though he never smoked, nor would he ever. They stared at the flickering lamps with limp heads before Jack started a conversation:

"I don't think I ever saw you before. Why even lie? Are you that desperate for a friend?" Jack stared at the mysterious man, "Or do you have another plan?"

" I guess so, number 9."

Jack wasn't shocked as this was the second numbered to approach him.

"Yeah? You are the 1st, right… What do you want."

He looked unaware of the words to come. He did not expect somebody else to know his spot.

"No, I wanted to make a deal."

"A deal?"

"Yeah, it's for support. We are the only ones that cannot control our powers after all, and I think we can do some good with them."

Jack sighed.

"Tell me the deal."

The man mischievously smiled. Excited to get to the point,

"I want both of us to stay solo, whatever the mafia or the government. And if any of us is in trouble, we support each other. Nothing else,"

Jack noted him saying solo. But he didn't have a choice because the person didn't intend to let him be if he rejected, and Jack could tell from his eyes. Also, this had pros for him as well. Connections were important.

"I accept it, but I wanna add something else to the table."

"What is it?"

Jack returned the man's grin.

"I wanna be allowed to terminate the contract whenever I want."

The man couldn't turn down the request as he was desperate, but Jack could still feel his mouth holding a smirk.

(<Authors notes>)

Hello there, I'm finally on 7 chapters without 20 chapters of the prologue. So I hope you enjoy and comment, and perhaps tell me your fav fruit in the comments.