History Fanfic / LessThanZeroKenchi618

As of Aug. 17, 2020, the story is complete.

''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10362076/1/Less-Than-Zero Less Than Zero]]'' is a [[Franchise/TheDCU DCU]] FanFic written by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/2218705/Kenchi618 Kenchi618]], the same man behind ''FanFic/TheNewestChallenger'' and ''FanFic/ShinobiOfTheHighSeas''.

* FlawedPrototype: The reason that the suit Max's parents made never got picked up for military use. [[spoiler: As Max finds out, it's lethally flawed. While the suit harnesses the body's electricity to function, it also causes the wearers atoms to go haywire, storing more and more energy [[SuperpowerMeltdown until the body overloads and shuts down]]. It's all but outright confirmed that this is what led to the demise of Max's parents and since he's been using it for an extended period of time, [[DoomedProtagonist his days are numbered as well]] unless [[FindtheCure he finds a cure]]]].

* SpannerInTheWorks: [[spoiler:Brother Eye believed that it had everything under control and the the O.M.A.C.s would kill all metahumans, aliens, and any humans with super-advanced technology. It didn't expect Anarky using a Boom Tube to send Null to its location, a satellite. This results in Null easily taking down Brother Eye, disabling all of the O.M.A.C.s.]]

* DatingCatwoman: Supergirl certainly is interested in Null, and he's not adverse to the possibility of a relationship with her.

* BoundAndGagged: After Ravager is taken down by Supergirl, she and Null restrain the former to a chair using duct tape and some rebar.

* BoundAndGagged: After Ravager is taken down by Supergirl, Null restrains the former to a chair using duct tape.

* AntiClimaxBoss: As the heroes are all preparing for a big confrontation with the O.M.A.C.s, Brother Eye is easily taken care of [[spoiler:by Null and Anarky]].

* ClothesMakeTheSuperman: Max’s suit was originally a PowerArmor prototype that his parents made for the U.S. military to combat the ever growing number of rogue metahumans. It uses the body's natural bioelectricity to amplify it's wearers physical abilities and grants {{WallCrawl}}ing abilities, a built in [[StaticStunGun stun-gun]], and an [[ChameleonCamouflage adaptive camouflage]] function. That being said, Max quickly realizes that the suit only improves the already present physical abilities of its wearer, meaning that he still has to train in order to get the maximum use out of it.

** Later, when Null has Black Mask at his mercy, he admits that he doesn't have the stomach to torture someone. [[spoiler:Unfortunately for Black Mask, Red Hood has no such qualms]].

* TookALevelInBadass: Null goes from easily getting his ass kicked by Batgirl and Robin to being able to put up an impressive fight against either of them after a month of learning how to properly fight from Wildcat and another few months of training with Ravager, though he is still noticeably behind both of them in terms of skill. And then he starts developing superpowers.
* TraumaticSuperpowerAwakening: As the Atom explains to Null, this is how the metagene works. Even if someone has it, it lays dormant in a blank state until awakened by stress and physical trauma as well as a catalyst to imprint on the metagene. In Max's case, all the beatings and stress involved with being Null awakens his metagene and his bioelectricity powered suit imprints on it, causing him to develop [[ShockAndAwe electro]][[MagnetismManipulation magnetic]] powers. [[spoiler: His powers awakening also has the wonderful side-effect of nullifying the [[BuffySpeak electro-cancer]] that killed his parents]].

* UnderestimatingBadassery: Copperhead believes that since Wildcat has no powers, he shouldn't have any trouble dealing with the hero. [[CurbStompBattle It doesn't end well for the assassin]].

* ColdBloodedTorture: The Secret Six gets put through a particularly long and graphic session in chapter 34. Even the infamous Deadshot and Cheshire get pushed to their breaking points.

* GreenEyedMonster: Rose is jealous of Supergirl for being Null's new girlfriend. She tries to invoke this on the latter by revealing that she was Null's ex, but this [[SubvertedTrope just relieves]] Supergirl, who takes the fact that Null chosen to start a relationship with a superhero after being dumped by an assassin as a sign that [[HeelFaceTurn he's changing]].

** So far, Null has relationships with Ravager and Supergirl. The agressive, villainous Rose is Veronica while sweet and shy Kara is Betty.

* SpannerInTheWorks: [[spoiler:Brother Eye believed that it had everything under control and the the O.M.A.C.s would kill all metahumans, aliens, and any humans with super-advanced technology. It didn't expect Anarky using a Boom Tube to send Null to it location, a satellite. This results in Null easily taking down Brother Eye, disabling all of the O.M.A.C.s.]]

** Despite being a thief who does his best to avoid danger, Null will go out of his way to try and stop a rampaging supervillain, but normally only if there are no heroes around and innocent people are in danger. And even then, [[ReluctantHero he's not particularly thrilled about it]].

** Both Robin and Batgirl are genuinely uncomfortable with Batman’s plan to [[spoiler: let Null take the blame for Anarky bombing a Wayne Industries warehouse so as not to alert the terrorist that they’re onto him]], even as they go along with it.

* HadToBeSharp: Considering what a WretchedHive Gotham is, the villains that rise to the top of the criminal hierarchy are basically required to as smart as they are ruthless. This is ultimately what sets apart villains like [=KGBeast=] from ones like Penguin or Joker. While [=KGBeast=] is far more deadly than either of them in-person, he's ultimately less dangerous or powerful than them in the grand scheme because his skills as a killer are really all he has.

* PragmaticVillainy: Deathstroke opts to simply sell the plans for the kryptonite radiation towers instead of using them himself. As he puts it, Personally waging war on Superman and his relatives does nothing for his bottom line. Providing another supervillain with the means to do it for an exorbitant price does. If they actually manage to kill the Man of Steel and get him out of the way, then that's a bonus.

* ClothesMakeTheSuperman: MaxÂ’s suit was originally a PowerArmor prototype that his parents made for the U.S. military to combat the ever growing number of rogue metahumans. It uses the body's natural bioelectricity to amplify it's wearers physical abilities and grants {{WallCrawl}}ing abilities, a built in [[StaticStunGun stun-gun]], and an [[ChameleonCamouflage adaptive camouflage]] function. That being said, Max quickly realizes that the suit only improves the already present physical abilities of its wearer, meaning that he still has to train in order to get the maximum use out of it.

** NullÂ’s first encounter with Batgirl and Robin ends with him getting his ass kicked, which is a given considering that Null is a rookie thief who only has one month of training from Catwoman under his belt, while the former two were extensively trained by Batman. The only reason he manages to get away from them is thanks to his suitÂ’s adaptive camo ability and luck.

** Null’s “fight” with Batman following the bombing of the Wayne Industries warehouses makes all the other curb-stomps look tame by comparison. It’s short, brutal, and every bit as one-sided as one would expect from a rookie facing off with the Dark Knight himself.

** The Joker. HeÂ’s at the very top of MaxÂ’s list of criminals not to get involved with. Early in his training, Catwoman advises Max on how to deal with Gotham's various supervillains while on a job. Her advice for dealing with the Joker? [[ScrewThisImOutOfHere Run and pray the clown doesnÂ’t see his face]].
** Superman is the heroic version of this. One of the first lessons that Catwoman drills into Max is to NEVER go to Metropolis, because itÂ’s where he will inevitably run into the Man of Steel, who Null would have absolutely zero chance of getting away from.

* ElectricTorture: After Null seemingly fails to stop Anarky from crippling the worldÂ’s economy and making all of NullÂ’s money worthless as a result, Null settles for taking his rage out on the terrorist in retaliation, relentlessly zapping him with his lightning blasts over and over again with an [[TranquilFury unnerving calmness]] until Batman intervenes.

** Both Robin and Batgirl are genuinely uncomfortable with BatmanÂ’s plan to [[spoiler: let Null take the blame for Anarky bombing a Wayne Industries warehouse so as not to alert the terrorist that theyÂ’re onto him]], even as they go along with it.

* FantasticRacism: [[AvertedTrope Averted]]. Supergirl assumes that Null is uncomfortable around her and the other kryptonians because he doesnÂ’t like aliens. Null explains that heÂ’s fine with aliens, heÂ’s just instinctively wary around anyone who can effectively kill him with a finger flick.

* MagnetismManipulation: NullÂ’s primary power after awakening his metagene. He becomes extremely proficient and creative with it as time goes on, using it for everything from subtly redirecting attacks from metal weapons to affecting someoneÂ’s polarity to stick them to a metal wall.

* MuggingTheMonster: After his first run-in with Batgirl and Robin, Null gets the wonderful idea to rob a supervillain after theyÂ’ve already stolen something. He targets Copperhead, thinking that he's one of the few villains Null can safely fight and win against based on what Selina told him about the contortionist. After Null blindsides him, he quickly finds out that Copperhead isn't a simple contortionist assassin, but a full-blown snake man who is a bit out of his league.

* PersonalGainHurts: Completely averted. While he does get in trouble with the law from time to time, MaxÂ’s decision to use his new powers to benefit himself leads to his life improving.

* SelfHealingPhlebotinum: NullÂ’s combat suit is capable of regenerating small tears on itÂ’s own and can assimilate fabric to repair larger damage.

* SureLetsGoWithThat: After seeing NullÂ’s fight with Copperhead, Wildcat assumes that Null is an up and coming hero, and decides to give the teen a bit of training so he doesnÂ’t get himself killed. Null goes along with his assumption, partly because he really needs the training and partly because he really doesnÂ’t want to explain that he was actually trying to rob the villain Wildcat just got done beating the crap out of.

* ClothesMakeTheSuperman: Max’s suit was originally a PowerArmor prototype that his parents made for the U.S. military to combat the ever growing number of rogue metahumans. It uses the body's natural bioelectricity to amplify it's wearers physical abilities and grants {{WallCrawl}}ing abilities, a built in [[StaticStunGun stun-gun]], and an [[ChameleonCamouflage adaptive camouflage]] function. That being said, Max quickly realizes that the suit only improves the already present physical abilities of its wearer, meaning that he still has to train in order to get the maximum use out of it.

** Null’s first encounter with Batgirl and Robin ends with him getting his ass kicked, which is a given considering that Null is a rookie thief who only has one month of training from Catwoman under his belt, while the former two were extensively trained by Batman. The only reason he manages to get away from them is thanks to his suit’s adaptive camo ability and luck.

** Null’s “fight” with Batman following the bombing of the Wayne Industries warehouses makes all the other curb-stomps look tame by comparison. It’s short, brutal, and every bit as one-sided as one would expect from a rookie facing off with the Dark Knight himself.

** The Joker. He’s at the very top of Max’s list of criminals not to get involved with. Early in his training, Catwoman advises Max on how to deal with Gotham's various supervillains while on a job. Her advice for dealing with the Joker? [[ScrewThisImOutOfHere Run and pray the clown doesn’t see his face]].
** Superman is the heroic version of this. One of the first lessons that Catwoman drills into Max is to NEVER go to Metropolis, because it’s where he will inevitably run into the Man of Steel, who Null would have absolutely zero chance of getting away from.

* ElectricTorture: After Null seemingly fails to stop Anarky from crippling the world’s economy and making all of Null’s money worthless as a result, Null settles for taking his rage out on the terrorist in retaliation, relentlessly zapping him with his lightning blasts over and over again with an [[TranquilFury unnerving calmness]] until Batman intervenes.

** Both Robin and Batgirl are genuinely uncomfortable with Batman’s plan to [[spoiler: let Null take the blame for Anarky bombing a Wayne Industries warehouse so as not to alert the terrorist that they’re onto him]], even as they go along with it.

* FantasticRacism: [[AvertedTrope Averted]]. Supergirl assumes that Null is uncomfortable around her and the other kryptonians because he doesn’t like aliens. Null explains that he’s fine with aliens, he’s just instinctively wary around anyone who can effectively kill him with a finger flick.

* MagnetismManipulation: Null’s primary power after awakening his metagene. He becomes extremely proficient and creative with it as time goes on, using it for everything from subtly redirecting attacks from metal weapons to affecting someone’s polarity to stick them to a metal wall.

* MuggingTheMonster: After his first run-in with Batgirl and Robin, Null gets the wonderful idea to rob a supervillain after they’ve already stolen something. He targets Copperhead, thinking that he's one of the few villains Null can safely fight and win against based on what Selina told him about the contortionist. After Null blindsides him, he quickly finds out that Copperhead isn't a simple contortionist assassin, but a full-blown snake man who is a bit out of his league.

* PersonalGainHurts: Completely averted. While he does get in trouble with the law from time to time, Max’s decision to use his new powers to benefit himself leads to his life improving.

* SelfHealingPhlebotinum: Null’s combat suit is capable of regenerating small tears on it’s own and can assimilate fabric to repair larger damage.

* SureLetsGoWithThat: After seeing Null’s fight with Copperhead, Wildcat assumes that Null is an up and coming hero, and decides to give the teen a bit of training so he doesn’t get himself killed. Null goes along with his assumption, partly because he really needs the training and partly because he really doesn’t want to explain that he was actually trying to rob the villain Wildcat just got done beating the crap out of.