Luck

They were a small collection, the four of them, who had been able to find each other. The first three had known each other for quite some time. They had discovered their powers at around the same time, and had helped each other learn to develop and control them. Josh, able to control time in his local area, so as to appear to move at incredible speeds. Miranda, with the ability to manipulate her own body weight to the point that she could simply float up into the air and be carried by the winds. And Roman, who could solidify his own blood into whichever shape he wished, but with the structural integrity of titanium.

But recently, they had come across this new one, Lloyd. They can tell that he had powers. It was something about the air around him, something they could feel in each other now that they had become accustomed to it, but they couldn't tell what his power was. Either he did not use it often enough for it to be felt, or he did not even know he had it. But when they had approached him, he did not seem surprised. It was as if he had expected them.

"So, you know about your powers, then?" Josh asked. They were sitting at a table in the deep of the night, so as not to be overheard. They did not want to be discovered for what they were, to be used and abused for what they could do by other people who might be able to hold something over their heads. Or worse...

"Of course I do," Lloyd responded calmly. "After having them for so long, it would be somewhat difficult not to question the strange powers I have. Would you not agree with that?"

"Yes, I suppose you're right," Roman replied. "Though we all had each other to help us out. It seems that you were not quite so lucky."

Lloyd chuckled to himself at that. The group looked at each other as if to confirm they were all thinking the same thing, then looked back at Lloyd, confused. "What's so funny?" Miranda asked.

Lloyd shook his head. "It's just that you would think me not lucky," he explained. That did not help the group before him. "Lucky is precisely what I am, you see."

Miranda tilted her head, even more confused now than she was before. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"Luck is my power," he said. "It's something that simply will not change. Your powers are all controllable. You dictate when and how they activate. But for me, it is simply a constant. Luck is forever on my side, far beyond the point of any normal person."

Roman rolled his eyes. "I find that unlikely," he said. "I mean, luck isn't a power. It's not even a thing that truly exists, it's just an idea..."

"Really, Roman?" Josh asked. "Look at who we are. Look at what we can do. I think it's a little blind of you to say something like that."

"Yes, but... Our powers are very distinct things. They're not so..." He clamored for the words.

"Passive?" Lloyd asked. Roman looked at him for a moment before he nodded in agreement. "I can't say that I disagree with you," Lloyd continued. "But regardless, it's simply how things are. You can go ahead and test me if you like, but it won't do you much good, I assure you. It's simply how things are with me."

The three looked at each other, silently trying to decide what to do. After a few moments, they nodded, having come to a decision, and Josh seemed to disappear as he slowed down time around him.

When he reappeared, he had moved to strike at Lloyd, not to hurt him, but just to see what he could do. He had used his speed just to move behind him, so that he couldn't be seen, and swung his fist at a normal human's speed at the side of Lloyd's head. Lloyd, however, had already begun moving to block him, and grabbed Josh's fist just before he made contact.

The whole thing had occurred over little more than a couple of seconds. The other two had known what to watch, and were surprised to see Lloyd so easily block the unseen blow. "How did you know...?" they both asked as one.

Lloyd smiled as Josh pulled away and moved back in front of him. "Lucky guess."