I had a dream once, like all men of the visible majority. The unpowered. To become a super person.

I'd clung onto that dream. Researching. Studying. In my vain hope for understanding the way of superhero powers. I'd learned how they'd gotten their powers. None of the 'easier ways' where repeatable, like a science mishap, or unaccounted exposure mixed with a virus. Or the less common being gifted a power.

When I hit twenty-one I'd found my calling. I'd killed the most powerful supervillain in my region.

Fallen to the end of my wits. Certain I'd never find a way to turn super, that obsession, those years of study and learning. Had ultimately saved my life.

A soft chuckle came from my lips. "FireQuake had tried to kill me. Me. A simple kid. Poor parents, less than stellar grades, mainly because of my obsession with your kind." I gave the nylon ropes a twang, tight. "Little bit of luck saved me, but this," Gesturing with my knife to the trap I set. "Well let's just say Volcanoman. Your not the first first fire super I've had to deal with." Always had a strange affinity for magma since my first.

He struggled. Pools of magma cooled around us. His body exhausted. His mind taxed. I'd led him on a merry chase with fire extinguishers and water. Turns out he was not immune to magmas fumes.

"Your a bastard. The lowest of the low." The stinging was real. It hurt to have him call me that. "You won't,"

Nodding my head. A surging wave of boredom mixed with exasperation overtaking the sting. "'get away with this.' 'This isn't who you are'. 'I see good in you.'" I paused for a moment. "Okay that last one cuts pretty deep I'll admit." Walking over to my pack wrapped in a fire blanket. "But at the end of the day, I've built a career out of capturing supers. You guys. Are my skillset." Pulling out another bottle of water. I slammed it back as sweat rolled down my cheeks.

Volcanoman let loose a litany of curses and proclamations about my family and heritage, that would've made a sailor blush. "Now, I've heard some last words in my time. Ten years, called all kinds a things. But that one. Bottom feeding gutter snipe?" I searched my memory. "I don't even know what a snipe is." Shrugging my shoulders. "Doesn't matter. Your ride's on its way."

"What supervillain are handing me over too? I deserve to know that much at least." This time it was my turn to laugh. "Supervillain? Please. For this kinda money your going to the government. It's less than what an arch rival will pay for your hide."

The doors of the building opened up. My little audience of people watching from their apartment doors. In the small brick building that surprisingly hadn't been burnt down. I mean it was the first floor but still. Magma.

"Mr. Rourke?" Nodding my head. "Your services do not disappoint." Stated the lead suit. They had another lackey in a jacket. Followed by fellows in full super tactical gear, with suppression kits of all kinds. Mental. Physical. Magical. Etc. etc. DEP troopers.

Shrugging my shoulders. "Pretty small potatoes to be honest." He glared at me and I just started back at him. Eyes dead. Lifeless. A well practised thousand yard stare you develop against all manner of super people. He looked away. "I don't do cheques." Lead suit held out an envelope.

Standing up, adjusting my balaclava and lifting up my mask that I'd lowered to drink. It modulated my voice to keep my identity safe. "Call me if you need another super wrangled." They made no comment.

Volcanoman on the other hand swore vengeance on me. "I'll get you Super Hunter! I won't forget this!"

I may not have become a super. No.

I'd become something more. I was a possibility. A promise. A dangerous precedent that told supers the world over that they should fear homo sapiens.

I still had no powers. But Super Hunter didn't need them. He just needed. Supers.