"A few years ago, I had an accident, a terrifying accident that still sends shivers down my spine just thinking about it. After that, I gained super speed."
At dinner, Bart explained the origin of his powers — his super speed — to Adrian's family.
He took a sip of coffee and said, "People sometimes look at me strangely, but super speed makes life much easier. For example, I can get out of bed in two seconds. I can run downstairs to buy coffee, then go to the comic shop and be back before anyone notices, all in less than half a minute."
Bart smiled at Jonathan and Martha. "Life has its bad sides, but it has good sides too."
Martha nodded, then asked with concern, "Your parents, aren't they worried about you?"
"Honestly, our relationship can't go back to what it was," Bart said with a shrug as he bit into a slice of pizza. "Once I got fast like this, things between us got strange. They started looking at me weird. Some things changed, and we just never went back."
Martha hesitated before saying softly, "But I guess your family's problems aren't as bad as ours."
Bart glanced at Adrian curiously. "Oh right, how did you get your powers? An accident like mine?"
"No, my powers are innate," Adrian said, tone even but interesting in its calm certainty.
"That's truly astonishing," Bart said, then wiped his lips with his sleeve and paused, trying to think of what to say next.
Jonathan took his chance to ask, "You're not from Smallville then? Where did you get your powers?"
"No," Bart shook his head. "I didn't get them near here. My powers showed up far from here. I'm a wanderer."
"Well, maybe you should go back to your hometown someday," Martha offered gently, "when you miss home enough."
"I don't have that on my mind right now," Bart said with a shrug.
After dinner, Martha began clearing the table.
"Need a hand?" Bart asked from the side.
"Yes, could you bring over the plates?" Martha said, staring at the messy table.
"Okay, leave it to me."
With that, Bart activated his super speed. In just a flash of light, he darted to the dining table and back, tidying everything in less than two seconds.
Martha stood with her mouth open in surprise, exchanging delighted looks with her husband.
"Don't be shocked," Bart said with a grin. "This is child's play for me. I even cleaned the sink while I was at it."
"Done in two seconds?" Jonathan said with disbelief. "Even Adrian and Clark can't do that!"
Adrian, sitting nearby, didn't bother to look up from the newspaper in his hands, lips twitching slightly as if mildly annoyed.
After dinner, Adrian and Bart walked outside to talk away from the makeshift barn‑turned‑living space.
"Why did you call me out here? What do you want to say?" Adrian asked, brow furrowed.
"I just wanted to talk," Bart said with easy enthusiasm. "You know it's always great to meet someone like you."
"How about we talk about your life as a thief?" Adrian asked casually, tilting his head toward the full moon overhead.
"I told you, I only steal from the rich," Bart said with faux innocence. "I'm not a villain. I met some friends in the slums who taught me a few truths."
Bart looked a bit dejected, trying to explain himself. "I need money to rent a place to live. When I sleep, I'm vulnerable. I can get hurt. I look out for myself."
"Seems you've been doing that pretty well," Adrian said with a flat tone.
Bart sighed, then shifted excitedly. "Alright buddy, forget this gloomy talk. Let's talk about the mysterious Adrian Kent!"
With that, Bart activated his speed and was already back in front of Adrian holding two books in his hands.
"One book's Cthulhu by you — Adrian Kent, that's right," Bart said, grinning. "You're an author too, I didn't see that coming."
He held up the second book. "And this one's about European witch culture. Looks like you're into that occult stuff. I even saw your notebook with 'Lana' scribbled in it. You're really into that girl, aren't you?"
Bart nodded with mock seriousness. "I'd love to hear your story with Lana, but that can wait until later."
"Later as in where?" Adrian blinked, slightly amused by Bart's mess of words.
"Anywhere!" Bart said, eyes shining. "Two super speedsters like us can go anywhere. That's why I found you, so we can have some fun. Hey, have you ever been to Florida?"
"No, not interested in Florida," Adrian replied with deadpan calm, "but I thought of a place you might actually be interested in."
"Where?"
"Metropolis."
In an instant, both Adrian and Bart became streaks of light.
"Hey!" Bart declared proudly as they arrived within moments. "I got here first!"
"I ran backward for a bit," Adrian said casually.
"Ran backward?" Bart shook his head with disbelief. "That makes no sense."
He turned and stared at a large mansion on the edge of the city.
"Is this the place you wanted to bring me?"
"That's right," Adrian said, turning toward the towering structure.
It was Justice Society Headquarters.
They passed through a dim hallway into the main hall, where round chairs and a massive conference table stood beneath bizarre paintings and serious atmosphere.
Bart swallowed hard.
"What is this place?" he asked, tripping over his own words and bumping into a heavy iron door.
Bang.
His shoulder hit the metal and the impact rocked him forward.
A terrifying roar came from within.
Though he couldn't see inside, Bart's imagination conjured a monstrous beast.
Adrian sat in a nearby chair with casual interest.
"Justice Society Headquarters," he said. "Compared to your job as a thief, there's a more fitting role for you here: a member of a secret society."
"Justice Society member?" Bart asked, glancing at the roaring door. "If I join, what do I have to do? Save the world? Regulate my life 24/7?"
"No," Adrian said plainly, "You'll only be responsible to me. And you'll get a salary."
Adrian knew a speed user could be a valuable asset, even if Bart's mastery of the so‑called Speed Force wasn't perfect. Still, the potential was there, because Bart's lineage was part of a long legacy of speedsters in the DC universe.
"I… I need to think about it," Bart said with genuine uncertainty.
His eyes caught a red uniform hanging nearby — the suit of the first Flash, a symbol of speed itself.
"If that's the same name on your ID card?" Adrian said, nodding at the lightning bolt emblem, "You can try it on if you want."
Before Adrian finished, Bart was already wearing the classic red Flash suit, beaming with pride.
"Looks pretty good," he said, adjusting the costume. "Now just tell me, does wearing this cost me part of my membership pay?"
After bringing Bart back to Smallville, Adrian helped him settle into the barn — which was spacious enough to make a spot for Bart to sleep comfortably.
The next morning, as soon as Adrian woke up, his phone rang.
It was Dr. Hamilton.
Since Lex's investment, a three‑story lab had been built on the site of Hamilton's old warehouse. It was better than before, with improved ventilation, though Adrian remained unimpressed.
"Hey, Adrian," Hamilton greeted him warmly as Adrian entered.
"The new lab is definitely better than the old warehouse," Adrian said, eyes scanning the space. "At least the ventilation's better."
Hamilton smiled. "I don't need luxury. But I did find something about the meteorites."
He led Adrian to a glass display case containing several meteor samples. "You know my work is mineral research. Among the green and red meteorites around town, I found another similar one."
Hamilton pointed at a dark, almost black stone in the case.
"This is an extraterrestrial meteorite with characteristics similar to the other two, found underground in a wheat field in the Brenham area."
Adrian stared at it, eyes glowing faintly.
Could it be black kryptonite, the rare variant that affects Kryptonians in strange ways — even splitting personalities under certain conditions?
He reached out, curiosity and calculation mingling in his gaze.
___
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