The morning sun filtered softly through the curtains, bathing the small bedroom in a warm, golden light. Ryan's eyes fluttered open, blinking in the quiet of his new life. He was still adjusting to this—being ten years old again, in a new world, with a strange set of skills and abilities that had been granted to him by some higher power. But for all the strange newness, there was a comforting familiarity too.
He was in L.A., living with his mother, Martha Wayne. His mother… the same name, the same face as in his previous life. But here, she was alive, and Ryan was her son in this new world. There was something about waking up in this life that made him feel grounded, like he was where he was supposed to be.
Rolling over onto his back, he stared up at the ceiling for a moment, taking in the situation. Ten years. I have ten years before the first Fast and Furious movie happens, he thought, running a hand through his messy hair. That's a lot of time...
A part of him was relieved. In this world, time was both an opportunity and a trap. Ten years could give him the chance to build everything from the ground up. And he needed that time. There were skills to hone, plans to make, and—most importantly—money to make.
Money, a resource that could easily give him access to power, knowledge, and allies. His mind raced with possibilities. He had been granted the Great Sage skill, a sentient AI capable of analyzing situations and providing strategies. It would help him navigate this world of fast cars, heists, and criminals. Then there were the abilities tied to Tensura—the Demon Lord Seed, the ability to Name people, and even the Degenerate skill. Although they were currently restricted in some way, he could still use them. The Naming ability, for instance, could be a powerful asset, allowing him to build a loyal network. And while Degenerate was only useful for synthesizing knowledge, it would still be helpful in gathering information, learning new things, and staying one step ahead of the competition.
As for self-defense, Haki was another skill granted to him, though its potential was capped at a Vice Admiral level for now. He would need time to train, but the raw power it offered, even in its restricted form, was still formidable.
With these skills at his disposal, Ryan could work towards becoming a dominant force in the world of Fast and Furious. He wasn't sure where he would start, but the plan was clear: build wealth, build influence, and learn as much as possible. And with ten years before the chaos of the first film, he had plenty of time to make his mark.
Shaking off the last remnants of sleep, Ryan climbed out of bed and stretched, then made his way downstairs. The smell of something delicious wafted through the house—eggs, bacon, and pancakes, no doubt. As he reached the kitchen, he spotted his mother, Martha, standing at the stove, carefully flipping pancakes with a practiced hand. Her dark hair was pulled back in a neat ponytail, and she was humming a soft tune, lost in the rhythm of her cooking.
"Morning, Mom," Ryan greeted, his voice still groggy from sleep.
Martha looked over her shoulder, a warm smile tugging at her lips. "Good morning, Ryan. How'd you sleep?" she asked, her tone gentle, but there was a glint of concern in her eyes as she glanced at him.
Ryan gave a small smile and shrugged. "I slept okay. Just had some weird dreams."
Martha's smile faltered for a moment, but she didn't press him. Instead, she continued flipping the pancakes and then placed the last batch onto a plate before turning to set the table. "Well, that's good. I'm glad you're getting some rest."
Ryan walked over to the table, pulling out a chair and sitting down. He watched his mother as she worked, her movements fluid and confident. Martha was more than just his mother in this world—she was his anchor. Having someone like her by his side, especially in this unpredictable reality, made everything feel a little less daunting.
Martha joined him at the table moments later, setting down a stack of pancakes, a plate of bacon, and a bowl of scrambled eggs. "Eat up, kiddo," she said as she sat down across from him, reaching for a cup of coffee. "We've got a busy day ahead."
Ryan dug into his breakfast with a hunger that surprised him. He hadn't realized how much time had passed since he'd last eaten.
Martha watched him for a moment before speaking again, her voice casual but warm. "School starts next week," she said, her eyes still on him, gauging his reaction. "You're already enrolled in Palisades Middle School. You excited?"
Ryan froze mid-bite, his fork pausing halfway to his mouth. Palisades?
The name echoed in his mind, and it took only a moment for the memories of his previous life to surface. Palisades Middle School... That's the school from Modern Family. The Dunphys' kids go there! He was stunned for a brief second, the revelation leaving him momentarily speechless. In his previous life, he'd never gone to that school, but he knew about it from the sitcom. It was a suburban school, nothing too fancy, but it fit the vibe of this new life he had stepped into.
He blinked a few times before shaking himself out of his thoughts. "Oh. Uh, yeah, sure. I guess I'm looking forward to it," Ryan replied, trying to sound more enthusiastic than he actually felt. He wasn't sure what his new school life would be like. After all, he had more important things to focus on than homework and popularity contests.
Martha raised an eyebrow but didn't press him further. "Good. I've already packed your things, so you'll be all set. Just be ready for the first day next week."
Ryan nodded, though his mind was elsewhere. He had ten years. Ten years before everything in this world goes wild. The thought of school felt almost trivial compared to the long-term plans he had in mind, but he couldn't ignore the fact that his mother cared. She was doing everything she could to help him integrate into this life, and he didn't want to disappoint her.
They ate breakfast in comfortable silence for a few minutes, with Ryan occasionally glancing up at his mother, who seemed lost in her own thoughts. She was thinking about something—likely about his future, about how to raise him to be a strong person in a world full of danger. Ryan had seen the way she worried about him before, after his father's passing. The weight of that loss was something they both carried, but Martha carried it in silence, doing her best to provide for him, to make sure he had a stable life.
"So, what are your plans today?" Martha asked, breaking the silence.
Ryan paused and thought about it for a moment. "I'm just going to take it easy today. Maybe hit the gym and work on my training." His voice was casual, but inside, his mind was already working. He'd need to sharpen his skills—his Haki training was already at a Vice Admiral level, but there were other things he needed to focus on. Self-defense, strategy, learning more about this world, and, of course, getting his hands on more money. The small gun shop his mother ran was a good start. He could work there, get a feel for the business, and slowly start accumulating capital.
"That sounds good," Martha said, nodding. "If you want, we can go over your school supplies later today, make sure you've got everything you need. You're growing so fast, Ryan… I just want to make sure you're prepared for whatever comes your way."
Ryan smiled, though it felt bittersweet. He wasn't sure what the future held, but he did know one thing for certain: Martha had his back. No matter what world he found himself in, no matter how different things were, she was the one constant he could rely on.
After breakfast, Ryan made his way back to his room, but not before pausing at the stairs and looking back at his mother. She was cleaning up the dishes, humming softly to herself, seemingly lost in the quiet of the morning.
Ten years.
Ryan stood there for a moment, letting that thought sink in again. Ten years to prepare. Ten years to lay the groundwork. He wasn't sure what was coming, but he was determined to make the most of it.
He returned to his room, his mind already racing with plans for the future. His abilities were a gift, but he'd have to be smart, take things one step at a time. School, money, allies—everything had to be carefully balanced. And in ten years, when the first Fast and Furious movie came around, he would be ready.
He lay down on his bed, staring at the ceiling once more. The weight of his future was heavy, but there was excitement there too. This was his chance to shape his destiny.
Let's do this, Ryan thought, a small smile creeping onto his lips.