"Listen, Mr. Winslow. Earlier this morning, my brother and I saw Todd harass a girl in the halls. She was holding her own, and personally, I wouldn't have done anything. She looked like someone who knew how to defend herself. But my brother has a good heart and wasn't willing to just walk away and let the teachers NOT do their work, so he approached Todd and asked him to stop what he was doing. In response to that, Todd punched my brother two times, once in the face and then in the stomach. He was just about to kick him when he was on the ground when I intervened. I didn't harm him seriously; he will not carry any physical scars from that."
"Those are some harsh accusations, Mr. Grayson. I am unsure I would believe them if I didn't know that Mr. Sanders has a history of bullying others. Still, you should have waited for a teacher or gone and told them right away instead of using physical force."
"I believe you don't understand what I just told you. He was harassing a young woman at your school, Mr. Winslow. You're lucky I don't make this public."
"Now, now, Mr. Grayson, let's calm down and talk about this normally."
"I have no desire to talk about this calmly. 'Go get a teacher' my ass. You fucked up badly this time and instead of dealing with the problem, you come to me and threaten me with consequences. My grades are top-notch; should you feel it appropriate to punish me, I will also consider other steps. However, I will talk to my parents and ask them what they think about all this."
"Mr. Grayson! Wait!"
Ethan doesn't wait and walks out of the office. He probably wouldn't tell his parents what happened, but the principal doesn't know that. He can't be bothered with such hypocrisy all the time. Teachers think they must punish the one who ends the fight, not those who start them. So, without further ado, he walks to his next class, putting himself through yet another mediation session.
.
As the day ends, Ethan meets up with Mark at their lockers. Mark had heard that Ethan had to go to the principal, as had everyone. Rumours spread like wildfire in high school.
"What happened? I heard you had to go see Mr. Winslow. Was it because of Todd?"
"Yeah."
"I'm sorry about that. Should I tell him that you were only defending me? It was my fault after all."
"Don't apologise, Mark. It was my decision to tap the idiot, and that's all that matters."
"So what happens now? Did you get punished in some way? Will he call Mom and Dad?"
"No. I told him that you saved a girl from being harassed and that I would make this public knowledge if he thought to punish me in some way."
"You... blackmailed our Principal?"
"Indeed."
"Are they going to expel you?"
"And for what reason? Because I tapped Todd twice? Nah."
"So, what happens now?"
"Now, I will go to the gym, and you will go to Burger Mart. I don't see why you wanted to go there, of all places. I told you I could arrange for you to join me on my shift."
"But you would earn less. We would essentially split your pay in half until I prove myself, and that just isn't something I want."
"We're twins, Mark. We shared a womb, might as well share our pay for a while."
"Ugh, for crying out loud, Ethan. Don't say those things."
"Did that remind you of earlier this morning?"
"Stop it! Before we start brawling on the floor and get in trouble again. I better get going, though. Shitty Burger Mart."
"Sure. I'll see you later then."
Ethan walks out of school. The weird feeling he got this morning has intensified for some reason, and to get it out of his mind, as he usually does, he goes to push weights. It's more of a mental thing at this point. He has grown so much stronger than normal people since he started training that it's not even funny. But pressing weights has a calming effect on him. He listens to his music and just takes his mind off of things.
He makes his way through the streets and picks up the pace. He runs through the city towards his usual gym, where he works out and has a shift to earn some money. He likes it there because it's truly about working out, not seeing or being seen. As he runs through the streets, he thinks about his life up to now and what he wants to do with it. His father is a superhero and helps the planet during crises, while his mother is a real estate agent. Mark wants to follow in their father's footsteps and become a hero as well, as soon as his powers set in. So the question remains: What will Ethan do? Unlike Mark, he never had a desire to become a superhero. All that shooting off when there's a crisis just isn't appealing to Ethan. It may not seem that way to others, but he believes that his family should always come first, and if he has to leave all the time, that just bothers the others. He has seen it first-hand with his father. Omni-Man is almost always around to save the planet from all kinds of threats, and the time he spends with his wife isn't as long.
Getting through school is no problem for Ethan. He could become anything he wants. Learning new things was never a problem. But what would that get him? There is something he thinks about, and that's money. He has already started to earn quite a small fortune through all his wins in the martial arts tournaments. But after he unlocks his Viltrumite powers, he can't do that anymore. But he could sell his skills in other ways. An idea enters Ethan's mind.
"Sup, John?"
"Hey, Ethan. Good to see you. We're expecting a couple of busy hours, so it's good you're here. Get your bags into the locker and start."
"Sure."
John owns the gym where Ethan works out. It was more of a joint effort, and because Ethan was a bit of a celebrity in the martial arts community, he attracted customers. John listened to Ethan's ideas and wishes and made the gym what it is today. In a way, John was like the cool uncle the Grayson boys didn't have.
Ethan changes into his sportswear and gets behind the welcome desk. John thought it best if he was there to welcome everyone. It would show everyone who arrived what they could expect, and maybe they even recognised Ethan. He looks at the timetable and sees the different courses. One of them causes Ethan to smile.
"Oh, look who it is. The macho of martial arts," a female voice causes Ethan to turn around.
"Yo, Olivia. How are you?"
"Good. What about you? I haven't seen you this week. Busy recovering from your fight?"
"No, I had to write some tests. Turns out I got the brain matching the brawn."
"Haha, sure you do. So how about a personal lesson~"
"How about I just give you some advice instead? It doesn't look like you need my help, and we can move the 'lessons' to a time when it's legal." Ethan smiles.
"Oh, is that so? Are you calling me hot?"
"I was going to go with bombshell, but whatever you like."
"Hahaha."
Olivia Legstrong was truly a good-looking woman. She is a beautiful, pale-skinned woman with waist-length blond hair. She has dark blue eyes with long eyelashes. Despite being slender, she is rather muscular and strong. Something that wasn't lost on Ethan. Olivia is a strong woman with a fearsome and commanding presence. She has a sharp tongue and his highly combative, but she also has a very calm and jovial side to her, which she only shows to those she likes. She has no tolerance for lack of willpower and sees those who don't work on themselves as weak.
[Picture]
"So, how did those tests go then? Did you pass?" Olivia asks, now more serious.
"Naturally. I don't think school is for intelligent people. It's more for everyone else."
"Quite arrogant of you."
"It makes sense. If you're smart, you don't need someone to tell you what you should read or what you should do for homework. You could just get books and read them and then take tests. But that's not how it works."
"But you do it like that then?"
"Sure. I don't want to waste more time on school than necessary. And by reading everything in advance, I can take all of my free time to use however I want."
"Smart. I never went to school. I was taught at home by my father."
"So what about that training, now?" Ethan asks.
"Sure, let's go. You can spot me."
The two go over, and Olivia places some plates to do some squats. She goes a bit too high for Ethan's tastes.
"Yo, Olivia, that seems a bit too much. That's almost 700 lbs (317kg)."
"Don't worry about it. I'm attempting my PB here."
"Sure, whatever."
But Ethan was right. It was too much for her. He realises it is too much, and at the exact moment that she is about to buckle, he grabs the bar. His eyes widen. Olivia managed to stand back up and shake her legs.
"Huh, you saved me there. Thanks."
"Uhh, sure. My pleasure. So how about you take some of those plates off."
"... Ethan?"
"Yeah?"
"Did you just... hold that bar?"
"Yes. Why?"
"I think you know why. That was almost 700 lbs, and you just lifted it? I knew you were strong, but this?" Olivia looks at Ethan with a strange look. Ethan had never seen her look that way and felt as if all of this was not an accident.
"Well, I am stronger than I look."
"You look like you could rip out mammoth trees with your bare hands. I wouldn't say you look weaker than you are. So what was that? Are you secretly more powerful, or have superpowers?"
"Listen, Olivia-"
"You didn't fight in martial arts tournaments with super strength, did you? That would make me question your ethics, Ethan."
"I didn't. I trained hard and am a skilled fighter. I also don't know where this came from."
"... is that so?"
*Sigh*
"Listen, Olivia. Could we keep this between ourselves? I don't want others to think that I cheated to win."
Olivia looks at Ethan with a raised eyebrow. Ethan didn't know what she thought about it, but he knew that she was rather strict with herself and others as well. So, if she believes that he cheated, she might tell, and he would have problems."
"Very well. I didn't see anything. But I would appreciate some answers, Ethan. I'm not an idiot."
"Of course not. Thank you."
.
Ethan made his way back home just in time with Mark as well.
"What's up, Mark? You look like While E. Coyote should he ever catch the Road Runner."
"Hehe, well. Let's just say something good happened during work."
"Is that so? Did a cute customer ask you for your number?"
"No."
"Ah, so someone gave you his number?"
"Hah, no- ... wait! NO!"
"Haha."
"And a big welcome home to my favourite sons," Debbie says as they make their way to the dining room. "I made some chicken, but I also heated up some authentic German bratwurst flown in specially today. Just for you two."
"I had-" Mark is cut off by his brother.
"Hello, Mom. You don't have to lie because you don't want to hurt Mark's feelings. Be honest. You like me more."
"Now that would be lying, dear. Haha. So, how were your days?"
"I ... had a pretty interesting day," Mark says, and at the same moment, Nolan appears and kisses Debbie on the mouth.
"Sorry I'm late. Honest to god, a dragon was attacking Hong Kong. I stopped it."
"Ooh, a dragon. Nice." Debbie says. "Mark and Ethan were just about to tell us about their days."
"Guess who's finally getting his powers?" Mark says with a sheepish smile.
"Haha, fuck yeah! Way to go, little bro." Ethan says, lightly punching his brother on the shoulder.
"Ow. Why can I still feel... wait... no."
"Haha, you better believe it!"
"You too? Oh, Nolan, our two boys are finally getting their powers. Congratulations, you two." Debbie says.
"Are you sure?" Nolan asks.
"Pretty sure. I threw a trash bag into space at work." Mark says.
Seeing her husband not saying anything, she kicks him under the table.
"Oh, that's great, Son. Just great! What about you, Ethan?"
"Well, I held a 300-pound bar with my index fingers today."
"And... that's it? You always were stronger, so that doesn't seem."
"I know. I later tested it and... I managed to float..."
"Wow, did you test your strength? Did it increase? "
"How would I test that with normal equipment? I'm already stronger than normal humans by at least 10 times, if not more."
"If you two are up for it, I'll make some time tomorrow for training."
"This is so exciting," Debbie says happily.
"Bright and early tomorrow, you two. Make sure you get a good night's sleep." Nolan tells his sons.
"Ha! For sure!"
______________________________
Yes, Olivia looks like the Fullmetal Alchemist one, but she's not the same character. I thought it would be interesting to show some OCs and how they interact with Ethan. She isn't an obnoxious person, but I'm not a good writer, so it may come across badly.
She is not the FML. I haven't decided who that could be.