Hiding In Plain Sight

Be Careful What You Wish For

Your casual, first chapter Trigger Warnings

This story includes:
Suicide attempt/depression/eating disorder (starving+throwing up)/self-harm. 
Murder/violence/blood/gore.
Accusations of terrorism/mention of terrorists.

There are strong depictions of self-harm/cutting/eating disorders throughout the entire story. This will be the only warning for this topic. Please do not continue if this topic triggers you in any way, and remember, you are worth everything in this world.

<--o--🩸--o-->

Shuichi grasped the stack of paperwork he'd piled on the printer, returning to his uncle's office in the extensive detective agency. "Hey Uncle, I have the papers here."

"Thank you so much." His uncle grinned, raising from his seat to collect the papers from his nephew's hands. "You know, I couldn't have hired a better assistant, it will get you an amazing head-start in this career."

Shuichi beamed, he always knows how to keep me in an upbeat mood. Taking a seat at his desk next to his uncle's, Shuichi continued his work on the current case. Ever since he was a child, he'd desired nothing more than to be a detective, treasuring the thought of saving and helping people. What made that seem impossible though was Shuichi's secret.

The government abducted and tested sixteen random citizens, giving them an injection which provided them with superpowers. These 'criminals' (granted the name of Ultimates) were being hunted after a few months of readjusting to civilisation, now apparently considered too dangerous to remain around the public. Shuichi happened to be one of those Ultimates. If anyone found out, he'd have no chance at holding a career, much less one as a detective. He'd had to risk his uncle's life, who volunteered to take him into his care when Shuichi's parents abandoned him, even after knowing the boy's secret.

"You're thinking about it again, aren't you?" His uncle snapped him from his thoughts.

"How do you always know?" It's like his own superpower.

"You get this specific look on your face." He smiled at the boy, positioning his paperwork in a neat pile on his desk before walking over to Shuichi, placing a pacifying hand on his shoulder. "Everything's going to be fine, I've kept you safe for almost a year now, and I'll keep you safe for the rest of your life. Just don't use your power around anyone and you'll be safe. The government hasn't released any PSA with your names and faces yet, if that time comes I'll get you a new identity."

"Thanks, Uncle. Sorry."

"Don't be sorry, you have every right to feel this way. You didn't choose to be experimented on and now you're been treated unfairly." He patted the hat on Shuichi's head before straightening his posture. "I need to step out for a bit, are you going to be okay on your own?" Shuichi nodded, giving his uncle one last smile as he left the room.

As the door to the office closed, Shuichi approached the open window and leant his arms against the windowsill. Surveying the outside, the detective assistant looked down into the deserted, hidden alleyway directly beneath the office, a small cat running from the dumpster into the street. I wonder if the other fifteen ultimates have powers as stupid as mine, surely everyone else has amazing powers and I'm just the unlucky one like usual.

"Shuichi what are you doing?!" His uncle shouted, yanking the boy back from the window and shutting it, his exasperated expression paining Shuichi's soul. "Were you about to jump?"