Chapter One: Summer in the City

The rattle of a knock pulled Jimmy Olsen from his cluttered kitchen, where a box of half-eaten cereal and a lukewarm cup of coffee sat forgotten on the counter. He wiped his hands on his jeans, glancing at the clock. It was late—too late for visitors, unless Clark had another one of his cryptic last-minute scoops.

The knock came again, harder this time.

"I'm coming, hold your horses," Jimmy muttered, swinging the door open. He expected his boss or a neighbor. Instead, he found a teenage girl standing there, a worn backpack slung over one shoulder and an expression somewhere between defiance and unease.

"Lucy?" Jimmy blinked. "What the heck are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at home? Or in school?"

"School's out," she said, her voice sharp and casual as if her sudden appearance in Metropolis was no big deal. "Surprise."

Jimmy stepped back, holding the door open. Lucy brushed past him, dropping her backpack onto his couch like she owned the place. She glanced around the apartment, her eyes darting over the mismatched furniture and piles of newspapers.

"Lucy," he began again, closing the door behind her, "what's really going on? Mom and Dad didn't say anything about you visiting. You didn't just… show up without telling them, right?"

Lucy scoffed. "They know. I told them I was leaving."

Jimmy's face tightened. He grabbed his phone from the counter. "I'm calling them."

"No!" Lucy's voice cracked as she darted forward, grabbing his arm. "Don't. They said it was fine. Sort of."

Jimmy arched an eyebrow. "Sort of? What does that even mean?"

Lucy sighed, crossing her arms and leaning against the back of the couch. "They don't care, okay? All they do is yell at me. They don't listen. They think everything's my fault, and I'm just… I'm done with it. So yeah, I left. I figured coming here would be better than dealing with their crap."

Jimmy frowned. "Lucy, you don't just run away. What did you even say to them?"

She hesitated, but when she spoke, her words came out fast, like she was reliving it. "I told them I was coming here for the summer. Mom started to freak out, but Dad—he just said 'fine' and walked off. Like, they didn't even fight me on it."

Jimmy's frown deepened. "You've been giving them a hard time, haven't you?"

Lucy didn't answer at first. She looked away, picking at a loose thread on her hoodie. "I don't know," she muttered. "Maybe."

"Maybe?"

"Okay, yes!" she snapped, her voice rising. "I've been a… problem. Happy now? I've been breaking things, yelling, skipping curfew. Whatever. It's not like they're trying to help me figure out what's going on. They just keep yelling, and I keep… messing up."

Jimmy ran a hand through his hair, pacing the small living room. His parents weren't perfect, but they'd always been hands-on with him and Lucy, at least when they weren't swamped with work. For them to throw their hands up and let Lucy leave—it didn't sit right.

"So, what, they just said, 'Go ahead, spend the summer in Metropolis with Jimmy'? That doesn't sound like Mom and Dad."

Lucy smirked, bitter and tired. "Mom said you'd teach me responsibility or something. Like you're Mr. Perfect or whatever."

Jimmy snorted despite himself. "Responsibility? From me? Wow, Mom really is desperate."

Lucy's face softened for the first time since she'd arrived, but only for a moment. She kicked at the edge of the couch, her tone growing defensive again. "So, are you going to send me back?"

Jimmy stopped pacing, hands on his hips. He studied his little sister—her slumped shoulders, her scuffed sneakers, the defiant tilt of her chin that barely hid the fear in her eyes. He sighed.

"No," he said finally. "But you're staying here under my rules, got it? No sneaking out, no skipping meals, no causing trouble."

Lucy raised an eyebrow. "You're serious?"

"Dead serious," Jimmy said, though his grin softened the edge in his voice. "And no more running away. You've got a problem? You talk to me."

Lucy rolled her eyes, but the corner of her mouth twitched upward. "Sure. Whatever you say, Mr. Responsibility."

Jimmy shook his head, muttering, "This is going to be a long summer," before reaching for his phone again. "I need to call work and cancel my weekend plans. You hungry? I've got… cereal. And coffee."

Lucy snorted. "Breakfast of champions."

"Exactly," Jimmy said, heading for the kitchen. "And tomorrow, we're going to figure this whole mess out. Together."

Lucy watched him go, her expression thoughtful. She didn't believe for a second that her problems could be fixed that easily, but for now, she was willing to let her brother try.

Lucy woke up drenched in sweat. Her sheets were tangled around her legs, and her heart hammered like a drum. The room was dark except for the faint glow of the city lights filtering through the blinds. She tried to slow her breathing, her eyes darting to every shadow in the corners of the room. The dream had felt so real.

It always did.

This time it was an alley, the stench of garbage and something sickly sweet clinging to her nostrils. Something had been chasing her, something fast and brutal. Its claws scraped against the walls, and its growl echoed in her ears even now.

She squeezed her eyes shut. "It was just a dream," she whispered to herself, though the words felt hollow. The dreams were coming more often now, and they weren't like normal nightmares. They felt like warnings.

Lucy shuffled into the kitchen, where Jimmy was already up, frying eggs and humming off-key to the radio. He glanced over his shoulder and grinned.

"Morning, sunshine," he said. "Rough night?"

"Something like that," Lucy muttered, grabbing a glass of water. She leaned against the counter, avoiding his eyes.

Jimmy flipped a pancake with exaggerated flair. "Well, I've got big plans for us today. We're gonna see the Daily Planet, maybe grab a burger at Bibbo's. Classic Metropolis stuff. You're gonna love it."

Lucy rolled her eyes. "Sounds… thrilling."

Jimmy gave her a look but didn't press. She appreciated that about him—he tried to make things better without forcing her to talk. Most of the time.

By midday, Lucy had managed to ditch Jimmy. He'd been caught up in some photo assignment, leaving her free to explore the city on her own. She wandered aimlessly, her hoodie pulled tight around her face, trying to ignore the nagging feeling tugging at the edges of her mind.

That's when she saw it—the alley from her dream.

Her feet froze on the sidewalk. It was the same cracked bricks, the same overflowing dumpster. She could even smell it, the sour stench of decay mingled with garbage.

Her heart raced. "It's just a coincidence," she told herself. But her legs carried her forward anyway.

Lucy didn't realize she was being followed until she was halfway down the alley. A prickle ran up her spine, and she turned, her eyes scanning the empty street behind her.

"Hello?" she called out, her voice more defiant than she felt. "If you're trying to scare me, it's not gonna work."

The silence that followed was oppressive. Then, she heard it—a faint scraping sound, like nails dragging against concrete.

She backed up instinctively, her breath quickening. The shadows at the far end of the alley shifted, and a figure stepped into view. Its eyes glowed faintly, its mouth twisting into a grin that revealed rows of jagged teeth.

"Oh, crap," Lucy whispered.

The creature lunged, faster than anything she'd ever seen. Instinct took over. Lucy ducked, narrowly avoiding its claws, and scrambled backward. She grabbed a broken piece of wood from the ground—a splintered plank from an old crate—and swung it wildly.

To her surprise, the wood connected with the creature's head, sending it stumbling back. For a moment, she thought she'd won. Then it growled, louder and angrier, and came at her again.

Her body moved before her mind could catch up. She sidestepped its attack and drove the plank into its chest with all her strength. The creature screeched, its body convulsing before it crumbled into ash.

Lucy stared at the pile of dust, her chest heaving. "What the hell was that?"

By the time Lucy got back to Jimmy's apartment, her hands were trembling. She tried to act normal, but Jimmy caught the distant look in her eyes.

"Hey," he said, setting down his camera. "You okay?"

"Yeah," she lied, heading straight for her room. "Just tired."

Jimmy frowned but let it go. She closed the door behind her and sat on the edge of the bed, staring at her hands. They still felt warm, like they were buzzing with energy.

Something was happening to her. Something she couldn't explain.

And she had no idea what to do about it.

Jimmy was on a mission.

Lucy knew it the second he barged into the kitchen that morning, a grin plastered across his face as he slid a mug of coffee her way.

"Drink up, kiddo. We've got a big day ahead of us," he said, practically bouncing on his heels.

Lucy eyed him warily. "Why do I feel like you're about to drag me into something I'm going to regret?"

"Regret?!" Jimmy clutched his chest as though wounded. "Lucy Olsen, you are in the greatest city on Earth, and your big brother is about to give you the tour of a lifetime. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

Lucy took a sip of her coffee, unimpressed. "Uh-huh. What's in it for you?"

"Just the satisfaction of knowing I've made your day," Jimmy said, grabbing his camera bag. "Come on, get your shoes on. We're hitting the town."

First Stop: The Daily Planet

The towering globe atop the Daily Planet building gleamed in the sunlight as Jimmy and Lucy stepped through the revolving doors. Inside, the newsroom buzzed with activity—phones ringing, keyboards clacking, and reporters shouting across desks.

"This," Jimmy said with a dramatic sweep of his arm, "is where the magic happens."

Lucy looked around, taking in the chaos. "Magic, huh? Looks more like a zoo."

"Shows what you know," Jimmy said, leading her toward a desk piled high with papers. A woman with sharp features and dark hair was typing furiously, her brow furrowed in concentration.

"Lois!" Jimmy called, startling her. "Got a sec?"

Lois Lane glanced up, her eyes narrowing. "Olsen, I'm on a deadline. What do you want?"

"Just introducing my kid sister. Lucy, meet the one and only Lois Lane."

Lois softened slightly, giving Lucy a quick smile. "Nice to meet you, Lucy. If you've got any embarrassing stories about Jimmy, now's the time to share."

Lucy smirked. "I'll think about it."

Before Lois could say more, a soft crash sounded behind them. Lucy turned to see a man with dark hair and thick glasses scrambling to pick up a stack of papers he'd dropped.

"Clark!" Jimmy called. "Meet Lucy. My kid sister, straight outta Smallville!"

"Technically, I'm from Chicago," Lucy corrected, crossing her arms.

Clark Kent stood, adjusting his glasses with a sheepish grin. "Nice to meet you, Lucy." He glanced at Jimmy. "You didn't mention you had a sister."

"There's a lot you don't know about me, Kent," Jimmy said, winking.

Before Lucy could ask what that meant, a booming voice cut through the room.

"Olsen! Where's that coffee I asked for?!"

Lucy turned to see a burly man storming across the room, waving a notepad in the air.

"That's Perry White," Jimmy whispered conspiratorially. "Chief editor, legend, and nightmare boss. You'll love him."

Lucy wasn't so sure about that, especially when Perry's glare turned on Jimmy.

"Well? Are you just going to stand there, or are you going to get me that coffee?"

Jimmy saluted. "Right away, Chief."

As Jimmy dashed off, Lucy leaned closer to Clark. "Does he always get yelled at like that?"

Clark chuckled. "Pretty much."

After Jimmy escaped Perry's wrath, he took Lucy to Centennial Park, where the iconic Superman statue stood tall against the blue sky.

"Pretty impressive, huh?" Jimmy said, gesturing to the statue.

Lucy tilted her head. "I mean, it's a statue. Kind of hard to compete with the real thing, though."

Jimmy grinned. "Fair point. But trust me, seeing Superman in action never gets old."

Lucy stared up at the statue, her thoughts drifting. She wondered what it would be like to have that kind of power, to be the one people relied on when things went bad. The thought unsettled her more than she wanted to admit.

Their final stop was Bibbo's Diner, a greasy spoon famous for its burgers and shakes. Jimmy ordered for both of them, chatting animatedly with the waitress as Lucy looked around.

"This place has personality," Lucy admitted as her milkshake arrived.

"Right? Best burgers in Metropolis, too," Jimmy said. "You know, I've even seen Superman in here once or twice."

Lucy raised an eyebrow. "You sure you're not just seeing things?"

Jimmy laughed. "I'm telling you, I have connections. You'll believe me when it happens."

Back at Jimmy's Apartment

By the time they returned to the apartment, Lucy was exhausted but restless. Jimmy plopped onto the couch, scrolling through his phone.

"See? Told you Metropolis was awesome," he said.

Lucy managed a faint smile. "Yeah. It was… fun."

Jimmy didn't seem to notice the hesitation in her voice. He launched into a story about his latest photo assignment, but Lucy wasn't listening. Her gaze drifted to the window, the city lights flickering like distant stars.

The pull was stronger now, an invisible force tugging at her chest. She couldn't ignore it anymore.

"I'm going for a walk," she said abruptly, grabbing her jacket.

Jimmy looked up. "Want me to come with?"

"No, it's fine," she said quickly. "I just need some air."

He frowned but didn't push. "Be careful out there."

Lucy nodded and stepped out into the night. The cool air hit her face as she walked aimlessly, her instincts guiding her. She didn't know what she was looking for, but she knew she had to find it.

Lucy walked briskly through the streets of Metropolis, her hands shoved deep into her jacket pockets. The city buzzed around her—cars honking, people chatting on their phones, neon signs flashing advertisements for things she didn't care about. Yet, all of it felt distant, like background noise.

The pull she'd felt all day hadn't gone away. If anything, it had gotten stronger. It wasn't like the dreams, filled with fire and whispers of "Slayer." This was sharper, more immediate.

She wasn't sure where she was going, but her feet seemed to know the way.

The subway station was nearly empty when she arrived. A cold wind rushed through the tunnels, carrying the faint sound of a distant train. Lucy hesitated on the platform, glancing around.

There was nothing unusual at first—just the hum of the city's underbelly. Then, she noticed the figure on the opposite platform.

It stood too still, its back to her. The longer she watched, the more wrong it felt. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up.

The figure turned slowly, and Lucy's breath caught. Its face was pale, almost corpse-like, with eyes that glowed faintly in the dim light. A jagged grin stretched across its face as it stepped closer to the edge of the platform.

Lucy backed up instinctively, her heart pounding.

"Slayer," it hissed, the word echoing unnaturally across the station.

Lucy's stomach turned. "You've got the wrong person," she said, her voice shaking.

The creature laughed, a guttural, chilling sound. "Oh, I don't think so."

Before she could move, it leaped across the tracks, landing with an inhuman grace just a few feet from her.

Lucy's body reacted before her mind could catch up. She grabbed a loose piece of rebar from the ground and swung it in a wide arc. The creature dodged easily, its grin widening.

"You don't even know what you are, do you?" it taunted, circling her like a predator.

"Stay back," Lucy warned, gripping the rebar tighter.

It lunged, faster than she expected, and knocked the weapon from her hands. Lucy stumbled but didn't fall. Instead, she lashed out with her fist, catching the creature's jaw.

It staggered, surprise flashing across its face.

Lucy blinked at her own strength. The punch had felt… different.

"Interesting," the creature said, wiping its mouth. "But you're still just a child playing pretend."

It lunged again, and Lucy ducked, her instincts guiding her. She grabbed the rebar from the ground and swung upward, catching the creature in the ribs. It hissed in pain, but its grin didn't fade.

"You're not bad," it said, stepping back. "But you're not ready."

Before Lucy could respond, another figure stepped out of the shadows behind her.

"Two-on-one?" a new voice called out. "Not very sporting, is it?"

Lucy turned sharply, the rebar still in her hands. A man stood at the far end of the platform, his grey trench coat catching the breeze from the tunnel. His dark hair was slightly messy, and an eye patch covered his left eye.

"Who the hell are you?" Lucy demanded.

The man didn't answer right away. His attention was on the creatures. "Didn't anyone teach you creeps manners?" he asked, pulling a wooden stake from his coat.

The creature hissed, its grin finally dropping. "This doesn't concern you, human."

"See, that's where you're wrong," the man said, stepping closer. "When you mess with a Slayer, it always concerns me."

The creature lunged at Xander, and he ducked, driving his stake into its chest with practiced precision. It screeched and crumbled into ash.

The second creature turned to Lucy, its confidence shaken but not gone.

Lucy took a shaky step forward, gripping the rebar like her life depended on it. "What the hell is going on?"

"You're fighting vampires," Xander said casually, dusting off his coat. "And you're doing pretty good, considering you've got zero training."

The creature lunged at Lucy, and this time, she was ready. She sidestepped its attack and swung the rebar with all her strength, catching it in the head.

It stumbled, dazed, and Xander stepped in, throwing her a smaller wooden stake.

"Use this," he said.

Lucy caught it clumsily, staring at it like it was alien technology. "What am I supposed to do with this?"

"Heart. Stab. Repeat," Xander said, circling the creature.

Lucy gritted her teeth and stepped forward. The creature snarled, lunging one last time. This time, Lucy didn't hesitate. She drove the stake into its chest, and the vampire froze, its eyes wide with shock, before it crumbled into ash.

Lucy staggered back, her chest heaving. She stared at the pile of ash, then at the stake in her hand. "What… what just happened?"

"You just saved your own life," Xander said, tucking his stake back into his coat. "Congrats, kid. You're officially a Slayer."

Lucy turned to him, her mind racing. "A what?"

Xander sighed, leaning against the wall. "Long story. Let's just say you're stronger, faster, and better at killing monsters than the average teenager. And if I'm right, this city is about to get a whole lot more dangerous for you."

Lucy's grip tightened on the stake. "You've got a lot of explaining to do."

"Trust me, I know," Xander said, pushing off the wall. "But first, let's get out of here before more of those guys show up."

A/N: I've been holding on to this one for a while and decided to post it. Obviously it takes place in the DC Universe but in a post Sunnydale timeline which more will be explained later about the state of everything.