Reborn as Superboy in Marvel (AU)

Chapter 1: A New Beginning

The cold night air caressed his face as he stood motionless, observing the city from the rooftop of an abandoned building. Conner Kent, formerly known as Ezekiel, was still assimilating the incredible reality he found himself in. It wasn't a dream. The second chance he had been promised was real. He was in a new world, with a new body, and with endless possibilities ahead of him.

He sighed and looked at the backpack at his feet. He knew that inside were the clothes that Superboy wore in Cadmus: a black t-shirt with the red "S" symbol, dark pants, and military boots. He didn't have many options, so he decided to change. However, he turned the t-shirt inside out before putting it on; he didn't want the symbol to be visible yet. He wasn't ready to answer unnecessary questions.

Once dressed, he descended the stairs of the building and went out into the street. The sight that greeted him was not encouraging. Dirty streets, dilapidated buildings, and people with suspicious looks. He was in what was clearly a low-income neighborhood.

As he walked, he heard footsteps behind him.

— Hey, buddy... that bag looks heavy. Why don't you just leave it to us?

Conner turned slowly, finding himself facing three dangerous-looking men. They wore worn jackets and confident smiles.

— I don't want any trouble. - he said calmly.

— Well, we do. - one of them pulled out a knife.

Conner sighed. In an instant, his senses sharpened, and before the thugs could react, he knocked them unconscious with precise movements. A punch to the jaw of the first, a quick lock for the second, and a kick that sent the third to the ground.

He stood watching them for a moment, then bent down and gently slapped one of them on the face until he began to regain consciousness.

— Where am I? - Conner asked in a firm tone.

The thug blinked, dazed. - H-Hell's Kitchen, man...

Hell's Kitchen... New York. His suspicions were confirmed.

— What year is it?

— What? - the man looked at him confused. - It's... 2007. March 21st.

Conner nodded to himself. He was a year before Tony Stark was kidnapped. That meant the world of superheroes was still in its early stages.

— Where can I find a library?

The thug, still trembling, gave him an address. Conner gave him a gentle blow to the head, knocking him unconscious again. Before leaving, he checked his pockets and took some money. He didn't like stealing, but he would need it to start.

Walking to the library was a strange experience. As he walked, he noticed how people looked at him, especially the women. Some watched him discreetly, while others were more obvious, giving him prolonged glances. Conner was used to going unnoticed, but the intensity of the looks here made him uncomfortable.

— I guess Superboy really is attractive... - he muttered.

Upon arriving at the library, he entered and approached the reception where a middle-aged librarian smiled at him kindly.

— Hello, can I use a computer? And... could you tell me where the world history section is?

The woman nodded. - Of course, young man. The computers are at the back and the history section is on the second floor.

Thanking her, he went to the computer and began his search. First, he typed "World War II" and what he found left him thoughtful.

Captain America and the Howling Commandos played a fundamental role in the war. According to the records, Steve Rogers led numerous missions against Hydra, the advanced Nazi organization that tried to conquer the world with superior technology. Finally, Captain America sacrificed himself to prevent a fleet of Hydra bombers from attacking major world cities, crashing into the Arctic and disappearing.

Conner leaned back in the chair, processing the information. It seemed that this world followed the MCU narrative to a large extent, although he couldn't be sure of all the details.

He decided to look for information about the Baxter Foundation. He quickly found articles about their advanced scientific research, but there were no mentions of the Fantastic Four. Based on the ages of Reed Richards and the other members he remembered, he calculated that the events that would grant them their powers had probably not yet occurred. Perhaps they would happen around the same time as Iron Man.

— Interesting... — he muttered, mentally noting the information.

Finally, he conducted a more cautious search on human mutations. He didn't write names like "Xavier" or "SHIELD," as he was sure that if these organizations existed, they were probably monitoring any related searches. However, he found a thesis written by a certain Charles Xavier on genetic mutation, arguing that human evolution was advancing in new directions.

— So Professor X exists here... — he thought.

He closed the computer session and got up. He had learned enough for now. He needed a plan.

Going back out into the street made him think about his next step. He needed money, a place to stay, and time to better understand this world before making important decisions.

— I guess a job would be a good start. — he muttered.

He closed his eyes and sharpened his hearing, filtering the sounds of the city until he found what he was looking for: hammering, electric saws, and voices giving instructions. It sounded like a nearby construction site. Following the sounds, he arrived at a construction site where several workers were moving materials and operating heavy machinery.

He approached a man with a yellow helmet and reflective vest who seemed to be supervising the work.

— Excuse me, are you hiring? I'm looking for work.

The supervisor looked him up and down.

— Do you have experience?

— Some. I worked on some small jobs, I learn fast.

The man sighed. - Do you have any documents?

Conner tensed for a second, but improvised. - I lost them recently, but I need the job. I can work for a day, if I don't work out, I'll leave.

The supervisor seemed to consider the offer for a moment, then nodded.

— Alright, kid. Grab those cement bags and take them over there. If you do a good job, we'll talk about tomorrow.

— Thanks.

As he loaded the bags with ease, Conner smiled to himself. It was a start.