yes

Steven clutched his gut, as the thief backed up on his behind. The pain subsided quickly, the wound was already healing thanks to the quick work by the nanobots. Steven rose in order to tackle the thug again and disarm him. The thug quickly fired another two rounds at Steven's head. The flesh ripped away but bounced off of his newly reinforced skull. The thug was now clearly scared and took careful aim this time. He fired the remainder of his bullets at Steven's head again. Nothing. They all bounced straight off his skull and in any direction the ricochet sent them. When Steven reached the thug. He grabbed him by the throat and hoisted him clean into air. Steven held a 300lb man off the floor and held him there, without even straining.

"Wha. What are you?" The thug asked, clearly scared out of his wits. Steven then realised what he had done, and dropped the thug. In deep shock at his feat of strength, he didn't react when the thief made a run for it. The shopkeeper still had not phoned the police and was now unable to. He just stood there witnessing the most unbelievable thing he had seen. John walked up to his friend with his mouth wide open.

"How the hell did you do that man?" Steven never answered. John placed a hand on Steven's arm. "Steve." Steven broke his trance. John repeated. "How?"

"I, I don't know." Steven gathered himself. "Can we get out of here. I could really use that beer now. No hospital. Had enough of those places." And he turned around to leave.

"Sure. Probably a good idea." They headed towards the door. Steven stopped at the counter and looked at the shopkeeper.

"You ok?"

"Yes, Thank you. I'm not sure how you did that kid, but I'm alive. Things could have been a lot worse than they are. Please take your case of beers, free of charge." The shopkeeper replied. Steven just nodded and carried on walking. John then spoke the shopkeeper.

"You better delete the footage on your CCTV. No one can know what happened here. If anyone finds out..."

"I understand lad. But you need not worry. The camera's a fake. Might be an idea to invest in a real one after this though." He was still shaken by the ordeal. "You better go and see to your friend. He looked kind of pale walking out." John then hurried after Steven. When they got back in the car. John started the engine and they drove on to John's home.

"I think you and I need to talk mate. Forget the Playstation. This is serious. When we get back to mine. You're gonna sit and tell me what the hell is going on. And you're not the only one that do with a beer or two."

Once they reached John's home, they got out the car and went in. Neither of them said a word during the drive. Both of them contemplating the events that had just unfolded. The voices in his Steven's head congratulating him on potentially saving another life. He didn't answer them, just telling them to leave him to come to terms with the events. John was more concerned for his friends state of mind. Once in the kitchen, John took two beers from the pack, handed one to Steven and placed the rest in the fridge. They then went to the living room.

"Ok Stevie. You gonna tell me what's going on or what?" Taking a seat while asking.

"I don't know John. Where's your mum and dad. And that dumbass brother of yours?" Trying to regain some humour and show some semblance of his normal self.

"Dammit Steve, This isn't a time to joke. But to answer you question. Mum and dad are away on holiday in Spain. Des got his own place a few weeks back. So it's just us two. Now c'mon tell me man. I've known you since we was 2 years old so you know you can't hide shit from me. You know what. I got a feeling that beers aren't gonna cut this talk. I'm rolling a fucking joint, and you better have a couple drags as well. Chill out and just tell me everything you can." John retrieved his stash from the side unit and rolled up one for each of them.

"Ok John. As we're alone. I'll tell you what I can, and it doesn't leave this room. I'm just not sure where to start."

"Well the beginning is usually good place to start, but yeah. My lips are sealed." Taking a drag on his joint, and inhaling it deep down.

"Right. The beginning." Steven took a drag on his own joint to relax his nerve. "As you know. I was really ill. Laying there in the hospital knowing **** was close. But someone invented a miracle cure. Small robots, to put it simply. They destroyed my tumour. A few days after the party for my recovery. I got a message on my laptop saying that someone would contact me soon. When they did. They spoke to me. Telepathically. At first I thought I was losing it.

"What did these voices say?

Steven took another drag. Things were now starting to sink in. "They said that I could be the very superhero the world needed. They would increase my strength and my mental capacity. I still didn't believe it but. Well, you saw the strength with your own eyes. I just wish I knew how they done it. It was those voices that encouraged me to take on the guy back at the shop. I should have realised the strength thing before today though. My body has been changing slightly over the last few days. My abs are as solid as they have ever been. Amongst other things."

"Err, Steve. You know this might seem kinda dumb of me but. Have you looked in the mirror yet? or the bullet wound in your stomach."

"No. I don't think I need to. For some reason I can tell they've completely healed over."

"Healed over. Mate, There's not even a mark on your head. No blemish at all. It's as though it never happened. I think you need to find that quack that cured you and talk to them. That cure of yours has got to have something to do with this."

"I already have mate. I just left her house before I met up with you." Steven was now thinking about Ellen Again. His feeling for her growing stronger and still he couldn't admit it to himself. He just placed it down to **** gratitude.

"You've spoken to her. So she's aware of some of. Hang on. You went to her house. Crikey. That's not the normal doctor patient relationship you know. Show's what a trustable guy you are if she let you go to her place. Sorry to ask, but. She the typical doctor type?" Taking another drag on his joint to hide his sly smile from his question.

"Trust you to ask. But no. She ain't. In truth. She's fucking fit. Telling you man, She belongs on a catwalk, not a lab. Perfect ten."

"Well. Maybe you ought to see her again. You clearly like her. Unless she's already got a fellow in tow."

"Don't get me wrong mate. She's a knockout, But she's older than me. Kinda rules me out I think, But." John raised his eyebrows, silently asking Steven to continue. "Well, you know I said earlier about making a fool of myself. I err, I kissed her ok."

"You sly fucker. Go on. Tell me she kissed you back." The conversation had totally changed from serious back to the usual teenaged jargon. Steven just screwed up his mouth to one side. Trying not to smile. "She did, didn't she? OH Stevie's got a..."

"Don't say it." Now joking and seemingly back to his normal self. "It was just an impulse. I owe the girl my life. If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be here now talking to you." Steven then paused. "But you're right about one thing. My cure could be the answer to everything that's happened today. But, look, lets leave it there. I don't know much more than what I've told you. So let's get pissed, stoned and I'm still kicking you arse on FIFA."

"Sounds like a plan to me."