Seeing the superhero standing before them, the robbers panicked and scattered in all directions.
Shazam had built a reputation in the city. Criminals knew he intervened without hesitation and showed no mercy once he stepped in. The moment they recognized him, their courage collapsed.
Bang, bang, bang.
With casual ease, Shazam moved through them, dropping each robber in quick succession.
"It looks like my pre-fight trash talk wasn't harsh enough."
He glanced at the groaning figures sprawled across the ground and blew lightly on his fist, clearly pleased with himself.
Walking over, he picked up the stolen bag and approached the stunned family of three, a father, mother, and their young son. He handed it back.
"Your bag."
"Thank you, thank you!"
Relief flooded their faces as they accepted it.
Noticing their accents and appearance, Shazam tilted his head slightly.
"You're not from around here, are you?"
"No, we are refugees from Latvia," the man replied.
"Latvia..."
Shazam nodded, thinking for a moment before continuing.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"I feel like nowhere is safe anymore."
The man held his son closer and answered quietly, "We are surrounded by beings with immense power, like gods. Some of them even try to decide humanity's future. That feeling... it's not comforting."
Shazam fell silent for a moment, then nodded.
"I understand."
"But you're one of them, aren't you? You fly in the sky. It's hard for you to truly understand how we feel."
The man's tone carried doubt.
Shazam did not argue. He lowered his head, thoughts racing.
I do understand. I'm the only one who can.
Because most of the time, I'm one of them too.
That was why he kept asking people this question. He needed to hear their answers.
"Thank you."
With that, Shazam turned and left the park, disappearing down the street under the family's watchful eyes.
In a quiet, hidden corner, he dismissed the magic. The powerful adult form vanished, leaving behind a young boy.
"Maybe Homelander really can bring peace to this country."
Billy muttered, his face filled with uncertainty.
"That sounds like something the wisdom of Solomon would help with... but I don't have that right now. I'm only twelve."
He kicked a small stone across the pavement and looked up at the sun.
"Maybe it's right. Maybe it's wrong. It's complicated. Not something someone my age can figure out."
After a pause, he made a decision.
"I'll go to Metropolis. I need to see things for myself."
If he could meet Homelander, even better. After all, chasing after someone you admire was not a big deal.
At least, that was what he told himself.
---
In Metropolis, Adrian was speaking with Diana.
She had recently returned from California, where she had dealt with the remnants of a former military faction. Only now did she have time to meet him.
"You look tired," Adrian said, studying her.
Diana exhaled slowly.
"I went to Hephaestus' domain."
"The death of Ares caused unrest on Olympus."
Adrian frowned slightly.
"So Zeus is going to step in and stop me?"
"No. Zeus has vanished. No one knows where he is. His wife and children are fighting among themselves for power. They're too busy tearing each other apart to focus on humanity."
She removed her tiara, letting her hair fall freely.
"I'm just mentally exhausted."
"Mentally?"
"Yes."
She looked directly into his eyes.
"I almost killed Hephaestus."
Adrian raised a brow.
"You wanted to kill him because of me?"
"I wanted to stop him from targeting you over Ares."
Adrian considered this.
"Shouldn't his hatred be directed at Ares instead?"
Diana shook her head.
"That's internal conflict among the gods. You are something else entirely. Hera knows you killed Ares. She has already marked you as a target. From their perspective, you are the greater threat."
She paused before continuing.
"I bound Hephaestus, took his weapons, and prepared to kill him. But at the last moment... I was stopped."
"By who?"
"The slaves."
Adrian's gaze sharpened.
"They begged me to spare him. Every single one of them. They said they would rather die in his place."
She looked troubled.
"I thought he mistreated them. I thought no one would defend him. But they all knelt before me."
Adrian nodded slightly.
"They're your brothers, aren't they?"
Diana froze.
"How did you know?"
Adrian's expression remained calm.
"I know more than you think."
She studied him for a moment, then gave a faint smile.
"That mystery is part of what draws me to you."
Turning toward the darkening sky, she continued.
"The Amazons of Themyscira... we are not born the way people think. When male children are born, they are cast into the sea."
Her voice grew quieter.
"Hephaestus saved them. He traded weapons for those infants and raised them."
Adrian said nothing.
"Those slaves... they are my brothers."
A trace of pain surfaced in her expression.
"I never imagined we could be so cruel."
Adrian remained beside her, offering silent support.
After a moment, she stepped closer.
"Adrian, you're going to build a better world than this, aren't you? One without lies like these."
"I will," he replied. "If the world falls under someone's control, and that person isn't bound by politics but reshapes everything, then maybe it doesn't have to be a bad thing."
Something flickered in Diana's eyes.
Her body moved closer, her legs wrapping around his waist.
"Then I'll stand with you. Anyone who stands in our way, gods or otherwise, we'll destroy them."
Her breathing grew heavier, her gaze intense.
"I want to know something."
"What?"
"If our child would truly carry Ares' curse... or surpass it entirely."
She held him tighter.
Adrian studied her.
"You're sure about this?"
"I'm not looking for marriage," she replied without hesitation. "I just know this is the moment."
Her lips hovered close to his.
Adrian narrowed his eyes briefly, then closed the distance.
Their kiss ignited instantly.
The tension between them broke, replaced by raw intensity.
---
By morning, pale light spread across the sky.
Adrian stood by the window, watching the city wake.
Behind him, the sound of running water echoed from the bathroom.
Moments later, Diana stepped out, wrapped loosely in a towel, completely unconcerned with appearances.
"I have to admit," she said, her tone carrying a hint of satisfaction, "you surprised me."
Adrian glanced over.
"How so?"
"I expected you to be cold, even in situations like that. But you proved me wrong."
A faint smirk touched her lips.
"I still came out on top, though. You can admit that."
Adrian turned fully toward her, expression serious.
"You might want to hold back on celebrating."
She frowned slightly.
"Why?"
"In most cases, when someone gets a new car, they don't just drive it once and call it a day. They take care of it, come back to it, and test it again."
Diana went silent.
For a moment, the room felt very still.
She stared at him, clearly considering whether to reach for her sword.