The Boys: I'm the Origin of Compound V

Chapter 10: Testing Limits

The safehouse was unusually quiet, save for the faint hum of the refrigerator and the occasional creak of floorboards. Adam stood in the center of the living room, surrounded by the team. His nerves buzzed with anticipation as the weight of his decision hung heavy in the air.

"I still think invisibility is the smarter choice," Hughie said, pacing back and forth. "We could sneak into Vought headquarters, gather intel, maybe even sabotage something big."

"Intel doesn't mean shit if we're dead, mate," Butcher countered, arms crossed. "Hard skin's the only way he's walking out of a fight alive."

Frenchie leaned against the wall, flicking his lighter open and shut. "You underestimate invisibility, Butcher. It's not just about sneaking. Imagine being invisible during an ambush. You could turn the tide of a battle before the enemy knows what hit them."

Adam sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I get it. They're both useful. But I'm the one who has to live with it."

Hughie paused, his expression softening. "What do you mean?"

"Invisibility makes you... disconnected," Adam said. "People don't see you. You're there, but you're not. I've spent enough time feeling invisible already. I don't know if I want to make it permanent."

Frenchie nodded slowly. "And the hard skin?"

"It's a shield," Adam replied. "But it's a reminder that I'm not normal. That I'm... something else."

"Shut up," Adam muttered under his breath.

"Oi, you alright?" Butcher asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah," Adam said quickly. "Just thinking."

Frenchie stepped forward, his tone more measured. "Maybe we're looking at this wrong. Instead of asking which power is more useful, we should test them."

"Test them?" Adam echoed.

Frenchie grinned. "Oui. You've got both for now, non? Let's see what they can do before we decide."

The team gathered in a deserted junkyard on the outskirts of the city, the night air crisp and still. Adam stood in the middle of the clearing, his heart pounding as the team watched him expectantly.

"Alright," Butcher said, gesturing to the wrecked cars around them. "Let's see what you've got."

Adam focused, activating the hard skin. His body shimmered faintly as his skin transformed, taking on a metallic sheen.

"Hit me," Adam said, bracing himself.

Butcher smirked, picking up a rusted crowbar. "Don't say I didn't warn you."

The crowbar came down hard, striking Adam's shoulder with a loud clang. Butcher stepped back, inspecting the unscathed surface.

"Impressive," he admitted.

Hughie stepped forward hesitantly, holding a baseball bat. "What about... something faster?"

Frenchie rolled his eyes. "Non, mon ami. You need real speed to test this." He tossed a small, sharp blade at Adam, who flinched but remained unharmed as the knife glanced off his arm.

"Not bad," Frenchie said, nodding approvingly.

Adam deactivated the hard skin, letting out a slow breath. "Alright. Now for invisibility."

He focused again, and his body faded from view. The team exchanged uneasy glances as Adam moved silently among the wreckage.

"Bloody hell," Butcher muttered, scanning the shadows. "Where'd he go?"

Adam reappeared behind them, a smirk on his face. "Right here."

Frenchie clapped his hands. "Magnifique! This is better than I imagined."

"Alright, so they both work," Hughie said, still clutching the bat. "But which one do we choose?"

Adam sighed, the weight of the decision pressing down on him again. "Let's head back. I need more time to think."