[ WP ] In a world of superpowered beings , you 're the only powerless human . One day you wake up and fine every single person is terrified of you .

I heard the snickering behind me, and I already knew I'd be the butt of the joke. I was always the butt of the joke. The Great Nothing. Lameman. The jokes had about as funny as I was powerful. After centuries of super powered humans, I was born, the anomaly, the boy with no powers. I tried to hide it, but by second grade, everyone knew. 
 
 I spun around to see Flamez, the big hulking, flame-wielding jock. `` What?'' I shouted at him, but he just continued to snicker. I did n't have to wait for an answer as I felt the top of my head grow hot. He'd set me on fire ( again ). I let out a yell as I started to slam my hands on my head, burning them. 
 
 I felt the icy cold, knowing his little buddy, Waterwaterwater, had doused my entire body in the coldest water he had. I wiped the water out of my face to see them both doubled over in laughter. I felt myself grow hot again, but it was from rage instead of fire. Against my better judgment, I flung my arms out in front of me, and shoved Flamez. He was too busy laughing to defend himself and fell to the ground. He stopped laughing for a second to look at Waterwaterwater, but just started rolling on the floor, laughing harder than ever. 
 
 `` Is that all you got, No-Man?'' he choked out through the laughter. 
 
 I was beet-red, and I'm sure a crowd had gathered around, but I did n't stay. I ran, as fast as I could. I knew I could n't outrun Rap'd or GigaGo if they had decided to chase, but I was hoping everyone was too busy laughing at the stupid, powerless boy to think to chase me. 
 
 By some miracle, I made it home. I heard my mom humming in the kitchen, and she may have yelled something at me for being home from school early, but I did n't stay in one place long enough to hear. I bounded up to my room and slammed the door. I jumped into my bed and buried my face in my pillow. The adrenaline was wearing off, and I finally started to feel the stinging on my scalp, telling me that it was burned again. 
 
 I took deep breaths into the pillow and felt the heat of a few tears on my eyes. I had to stop crying. Men do n't cry. Heroes do n't cry. But I was no hero. I was n't even a man. I was a poor, fragile boy, and I'd never be anything else. I remember all of the tests, the men in lab coats, and friends and family trying to scare a power out of me, but it was no use. Eight years ago, the geneticist confirmed it. I simply did n't have a superhero gene. The first one they'd ever seen. I wanted to believe they were wrong, but the hope died a long time ago. 
 
 I do n't remember dozing off, but I did. I was woken up gently by my father, BlueBirdMan. He would never understand. Even a run-of-the-mill power like his would be better than this hell. 
 
 `` I heard you got in a little fight this afternoon,'' he said softly. I did n't even lift my head from the pillow. I squeezed my eyes tighter, hoping to fall back asleep. He continued, `` You have to be careful, sport.'' I took my hand and shoved him away without even looking. He sighed and I heard him leave. 
 
 I fell back asleep without dreaming until I awoke to hear my mother murmuring outside with a voice I did n't recognize. `` That's impossible. He does n't have any powers,'' she said. 
 
 Suddenly, the other voice said sternly, `` Do n't go in there!'' 
 
 My eyes shot open, and I turned from my pillow to face the door. 
 
 `` He's my son!'' she exclaimed. She looked over at me, and her face turned white. She stood in my doorway with two men in suits, sunglasses, and earpieces, the whole nine yards. `` Danny...'' she said, but her voice trailed off. 
 
 I started to sit up, but the men in suits immediately held their arms out, ready to shoot whatever powers they had. `` Stop right there!'' 
 
 `` What's going on?'' I asked, my heart pumping. 
 
 My mom thrust her arms out between me and the men in suits. `` Stop!'' she exclaimed. `` Let me talk to him!'' 
 
 One man looked at the other, both of their arms still outstretched. `` What is the protocol for this?'' 
 
 `` There is no protocol,'' the other replied. They stood in silence before they finally gave each other a nod, then turned to my mom to nod at her as well. They took a step back, but kept their arms pointed at me. 
 
 My mom walked halfway to me and shakily asked, `` Son, what did you do?'' 
 
 `` What do you mean?'' I said, growing angry and afraid, my heart running a race I did n't think it could win. 
 
 `` Your father... that boy at school...'' 
 
 `` Dad?'' I asked, throwing my covers off. 
 
 `` Stop right there!'' the suits yelled again. 
 
 `` What happened to dad?'' I screamed. 
 
 `` His powers... they're gone,'' she replied. 
 
 I stared at her. `` What do you mean, gone? How?'' 
 
 `` You took them,'' she answered.
