Peter looked upon the Heroes Staffing Agency (HSA) office in awe as he walked towards it. His heart was pumping with excitement as he approached an entrance and nervously attempted to enter the building. The door was locked as he tried to pull it open. Peter then noticed there was a gold sign on the door that read ‘Joseph Quisiver’ that made Peter’s mouth gape and realize he was definitely using the wrong entrance. Joseph Quesiver was the current chair of the HSA. He had a larger than life muscular frame, but a calm and gentlemanly face with his glasses and slicked back hair. He had the face of a desk jockey and the body of a Greek god. An odd combination to be sure, but a suitable one for his job.

Peter paced a few steps back and quickly looked around for an alternative entrance. He didn’t want to be late for his interview after all. He lucked out tremendously to even be able to land an opportunity here. His heroic ability was self-preserving and unreliable. When it did activate it seemed to be involuntary at best and random at worst. Still the potential for it was pretty high and maybe that was why the HSA decided to interview Peter in the first place.

Just as Peter was about to stumble away a firm hand grasped his shoulder. It was the legend Joseph himself who looked at Peter with a kind smile.

“Peter, right? I read your file, you got an interview today.”

Peter stammered out a grunt of some sort. He was too starstruck by Joseph. As Peter was fumbled for words he could feel the calluses of Joseph’s hand even through his clothes.

“Come on, let’s go in.” Joseph said as he pulled the door open sounds of hydraulics could be heard as the door swung open with ease.

The staff greeted Joseph respectfully as he walked by. He responded to each greeting with a kind smile and a few words. Joseph led Peter all the way to the front of the interview room and patted him affirmatively on the back. “You got this.” He encouraged and Peter felt inexplicable emotions at the words. Not sure if it made him more nervous or confident at being reassured by The Joseph. Peter was not even able to stammer out a word of thanks as Joseph waved goodbye. Peter cursed inwardly at his rudeness as he saw Joseph disappear around the corner.

Peter took a few deep breaths to calm himself as he opened the interview room and was greeted by Melissa, his potential manager; and Lysha, his potential mentor. Melissa was a brunet professional looking woman in business attire. And Lysha was a friendly looking woman that had her cornrows into a bun and sported a yellow sporty jumpsuit. They exchanged simple greetings and generic interview questions such as “why did you want to become a hero” and “what missions of HSA align with yours”. Peter answered the questions as best as he could, sometimes stumbling his words but overall it went smoothly.

Melissa and Lysha excused themselves to have a discussion outside. Leaving Peter alone in the interview room. Peter sat there while clenching his hands together. His hands were moist with sweat and he wiped them down on his shorts. A million thoughts ran through his mind as his stomach started to sink with anxiety. He had to take deep breaths to calm himself, which only helped slightly.

The two interviewers walked back in smiling to which Peter thought that must be a good sign and he felt slightly hopeful. Melissa then spoke with excitement, “Peter we would like to welcome you to be part of the heroes’ family.” Melissa then drew a slightly more serious face. “However, as with all applicants you must first pass a 3 month period of probation. More details will be sent to you shortly and you just have to make sure the paperwork are all signed by the next time you're back.”

Melissa then stood up and held out a hand. Peter was filled with excitement, his mind blanked out after being accepted leaving the hand left unshaken just long enough to be awkward. Peter finally noticed her hand and quickly stood up, which accidentally knocked his chair over as he stood.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I mean, thank you. I would love the opportunity.” Peter said with excitement then awkwardly shifted his body between the knocked over chair and Melissa’s outstretched hand, not knowing which one to handle first. After again too long of a pause he finally shook Melissa’s hand with both of his hands way too enthusiastically for too long. Peter then proceeded to shake Lysha’s hand with the same excessive enthusiasm before picking up the chair.

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Peter sat back down and started imagining his career as a hero. Busting down doors, arresting terrorists, rescuing the president. He started to smile a toothy grin as he imagined the interviews, book deals and —

“Peter, Peter, Peter!” Melissa said to Peter as kindly as she could.

“Yes?!” Peter stood and knocked over the chair again.

“You are free to leave.” Melissa said with a wry smile.

Peter scratched his head and blushed. “Yes, uhh thank you once again.” Peter then bowed. Melissa gave Peter a professional smile and gestured to the door. Peter left the building with a happiness that he had never felt. It was a dream come true for him. Peter grew up watching movies, reading comic books, and playing video games about heroes. For him to be one of them was something that seemed so far away even just last week. But now to be an actual hero gave him a deep sense of accomplishment.

Peter commuted to his suburban home that was two hours away euphorically. He had a wide grin that he couldn’t suppress even when he got a few strange looks along the way. The seat next to him was notable empty the entire way home during rush hour. But Peter could be bothered to care. He was going to be a hero and he was damn proud of it.

When he arrived home and told his mom the news she too was ecstatic. She hugged Peter so tightly he felt his bones were breaking. His mom had always been a little too strong, but he could feel the love of her hugs in his bones, quite literally.

“We must celebrate tonight. Oh a shame your father won’t be back until next week. But hey video call will have to do.” 

Peter’s mom then immediately face timed Peter’s dad. Peter’s dad too was very proud of Peter telling him he knew all along that he would accomplish great things. Peter suspected his parents were happier than he was. To be honest Peter always had a lingering doubt that he wasn’t good enough and his power was too mediocre to be in the ‘big leagues’. But at least for now he felt like he was on top of the world.

***

The next day when excitement had dulled a little after the long sleepless night and carsickness on the commute to the HSA office. Peter’s anxiety grew as he walked in through the right entrance this time. The voice of doubt had grew louder as the excitement dimmed. He had a growing anxiety that they were going to figure out for who he really was: a mediocre loser who didn’t deserve to be a hero. Still, he gritted his teeth and suppressed the thoughts. Peter walked in as confident as he could and handed the paperwork he finished last night to the receptionist. Who greeted Peter warmly, welcoming him to the team. She told Peter to go down to the basement where his abilities will be personally accessed by ‘Octavian Huntsman’ a renown ex-military instructor.

In the basement training room that was a large empty space with weapons laid out on tables and mounted on walls. Peter noticed it was just Lysha and Octavian in the large room. Octavian looked like a stereotypical army veteran: buzz cut, muscular, and tough. Lysha wore a black dress style jumpsuit for today, it seemed like her preferred outfits were jumpsuits of various varieties.

“Scrawny huh. Are all heroes nowadays scrawny?” Octavian said while quirking an eye brow at Peter.

“Um. Hello. I’m Peter, nice to meet you sir.” And Peter went to shake Octavian’s hands which he noted to himself to proactively do, to prevent leaving anyone hanging. Octavian’s hand was very coarse and full of calluses. “Oh. Uh. Nice to meet you again Lysha. I will be in your care.” And Peter also shook Lysha’s hand.

“So do you need to be ready to use your luck thing or is it something that’s always on.” Octavian asked while sitting on a table with various weapons on it.

“Here’s the thing sirs, uh sir and ma’am. I never used it intentionally or able to control it rather” Peter said while scratching his head awkwardly. “I sort of just escape death.”

“So you haven’t died while being in danger. Most heroes do that with powers.” Octavian snorted.

“Well that is possible, but I’ve escaped death a lot of times and I figured that was my power.” Peter replied meekly while fidgeting.

“You can’t be serious?” Octavian looked at Lysha now in disbelief.

“The blood work says he has the hero gene and he passed our preliminary screening.” Lysha shrugged.

Octavian scratched his chin for a moment then grabbed a knife on the table. “Hey Pete can you take a few steps back.” Peter obliged and walked back a few steps. Octavian threw the knife in the air a few times confirming its weight. Peter’s eyes followed the knife nervously. Octavian shot a look at Peter, shrugged, then threw the knife directly at Peter’s head. The knife spun in midair and the back of the knife hit Peter straight in head with a loud *bonk*.

“Ahhhh! Ow!” Peter sucked in air as he held his hands to his throbbing head and took a knee.

“Huh. Guess he is lucky.” Octavian said while pick up the knife. “And it’s not actually avoiding death, it’s just avoiding perceived death.” Octavian then bent the knife, indicating it was made of plastic.