#reluctant hero

[patchworkorphan]

The Hero and the Infant: Part Two

Read part one here

*~*~*~*~*

“Villain.”

The hero didn’t shout it. They didn’t need to. Villain would hear them fine even over all the destruction and screaming and emergency services. Hero just stared from the street up at Villain and Villain looked down at Hero. Hero lifted their hand in a wave and then pulled the cigarette from their lips, exhaling a lungful of smoke.

“Hero –” sidekick began but Hero shook their head.

“It’s okay kid. I got it from here,” Hero said still staring at Villain. “So, you gonna invite me up or do I have to climb twelve flights of stairs?”

Villain just stared. Sidekick moved forward, suddenly hesitant in bringing Hero here. Just as they opened their mouth to say it to Hero, Sidekick was wrenched into the sky by an invisible hand and suddenly Hero and the street were below them.

“Fucking shit,” Hero cursed, flicking their cigarette to the ground as they started running to the apartment building to the left of Villain and taking the stairs two at a time.

Villain stared at Sidekick with a probing, scientific kind of curiosity, like they were able to look under Sidekick's skin and unravel all their secrets with enough determination.

“You’re new,” Villain purred. Their voice like liquid silver dancing its way through the sky to Sidekick’s ears sending a shiver down their spine.

“Yeah. I’m Superhero’s sidekick.”

Villain tilted their head to the side and asked, voice deadpan, “do you know the mortality rate of Superhero’s previous sidekicks?”

Sidekick stared Villain in the eye as they said, “I do.”

“And you took the job anyways?”

“I did.”

“Hmm. Not very chatty. You remind me of an old friend of mine.”

“Forgive me, I don't usually chitchat while floating this high in the air."

"Hmm," Villain rumbled, "how about falling?"

For a single terrifying moment, Sidekick felt gravity's effects on them, yanking them back to earth and they gasped, reaching forward and grabbing Villain's leg like their life depended it.

"NO! Nononononononononono, wait! FUCK!" Sidekick cried as their grip on Villain faltered and they slipped. They fell an inch further in the air before they were suspended again, this time with their back to the ground below, staring up at Villain with wide frightened eyes. The only thing keeping them from the hard tarmac below thirteen stories below and being alive.

Villain turned over in the air, rolling onto their stomach and lying like a schoolgirl on their stomach with two hands supporting their head as they grinned down at Sidekick, drinking in their fear.

"You sound just like my favourite hero, Sidekick. I knew letting you fall would loosen your tongue a bit."

Villain was fucking insane, Sidekick realised, their heart still pounding like a rabbits at seeing a hungry dog catch their eye.

"Hero, I’m guessing?" Sidekick said eventually, though their voice still came out higher than it should have.

Villain smiled a fond smile that went to their eyes and lit up their entire face. “Yes. My dear cantankerous hero, so foul-mouthed."

“I met them today," Sidekick said, just trying to keep Villain talking and keep themselves suspended until Hero was able to talk Villain into hopefully letting Sidekick go. Where the fuck were they?

Villain's interest was piqued and they dove slightly towards Sidekick, grabbing Sidekick by the collar of their shirt and sitting on their waist, legs dangling over either side. Somehow, Villain made sure that even flying in the air, Sidekick could still feel the restrictive weight of Villain on top of them.

"And what did you think of them?" Villain asked.

What did Sidekick think of Hero?

"They were... difficult," was the first word that came to mind. Villain grinned and nodded sagely, agreeing with Sidekick as if it was a sacred moment.

“Nothing easy is worth having, Sidekick. Some parting advice.”

“You’re letting me go?”

“Oh yes,” said Villain with a disarming smile. “Quite literally.”

Sidekick didn’t have time to process Villain’s words before Villain shoved Sidekick down below them and wind rushed through their clothes, through their hair, through them as they fell like a comet to earth. This was how they died.

Then their momentum stopped suddenly, and they were swinging into a brick wall, their arm yanked out of its socket and Sidekick cried out in pain. Craning their neck up, they tried glancing up to see Hero above them, leaning half out a broken window, two feet planted on the sill and pulled Sidekick up despite their cries and cursing.

“God, I know. I’m sorry Sidekick. You shouldn’t have been here, god where the fuck is Superhero in all this!” Hero pulled Sidekick in the window and into their chest before stepping back and setting Sidekick down on the window sill.

“Fucking what the fuck?!” Sidekick mewled cradling their arm to their chest.

“I'm sorry, Villain doesn’t usually act like this,” Hero told them.

Sidekick blinked, pain lancing through their shoulder and down into their chest. “What?”

“They don’t usually act this way. First impressions are everything, but I swear there’s good in them.”

Sidekick blinked at Hero, shaking their head. “You’re defending them?!”

“Well, it’s my fault you see. This whole temper tantrum. I haven’t been returning their texts.”

“You haven’t—” Sidekick asked, then blinked and let out an exasperated “what?!”

“Your shoulder—” Hero said. “It’s dislocated.”

“No fucking shit!" Sidekick mewled. "You yanked it out of its socket!”

“Would you rather be a splat on the concrete? Cause I can still push you out the damn window, kid.”

Sidekick walked to the stairwell, fury and pain mixing in their heavy breaths as they braced themselves against the wall. Hero stepped forward a warning on their lips: “kid, I wouldn’t do th—”

It was too late. Sidekick had already thrown themselves against the wall. A resounding pop echoed throughout the stairs, followed by a sharp shriek of pain from Sidekick as they slid down the wall, breathing harshly through gritted teeth.

Hero opened their mouth, but Sidekick just held up a finger from their good arm and wagged it in Hero’s stupid face: “don’t. Say. A thing.”

Sidekick braced themselves against the wall, sliding up it with a groan of pain and rolled their shoulder. Forwards. Backwards. Then they set their furious eyes on Hero and without a word turned and started ascending the stairwell to the roof.

Hero laughed, stunned at the kid’s resilience, and followed them up the stairs. “Do you want some—”

“Just shut the hell up,” Sidekick said, kicking the door to the roof open and looking down pointedly at Hero who was midway through taking a bag of sweets from their pocket. “And go out and do your job.”

“Yes boss,” Hero said with a smile, putting a fizzy lace through their teeth. They emerged onto the roof, arms spread wide and yelled: “Hey! What the fuck are ya doing?” to Villain who was no doubt still floating in the sky, and Sidekick sat down heavy on the steps and took a few deep breaths.

They nearly just died.

Villain almost just killed them.

They would have killed them if not for Hero, and all they wanted to do was cry, but they were too angry.

“Just go out and do your job,” Sidekick chastised themselves, standing and wiping the remnants of tear trails from their cheeks before joining Hero on the roof.

Crying could come later if they lived that long.

*~*~*~*~*

Continued Here

#The Hero and the Infant #THATI #hero villain story #hero villain snippet #hero villain writing #hero villain whump #sidekick whump #sidekick whumpee #sidekick x villain #heroes and villains #writing snippet #hero x villain #villain x hero #hero villain angst #sad hero #alcoholic hero #reluctant hero #neglectful mentor #bad superhero #neglectful superhero #superhero sidekick #sidekick #villain #hero #sidekick hero buddy cop duo #orphan #orphan writing #whump #unhinged villain

[chaotic-orphan]

Hero and the infant part four

Read part one here

TW: suicidal ideation, suicidal ideation implied, mentions of suicidal thoughts, borderline depressed Hero, mentions of death, mentions of hopelessness

*~*~*~*~*

And they popped out again on the ground, next to the police and the reinforcements that were called in. Sidekick gasped in a harsh breath and coughed it out again, wheezing. Hero forgot to tell them about the whole deep breath thing before teleporting. Whoops. Hero groaned as someone helped them to their feet and brought them to the back of an open ambulance.

Paramedic was there waiting, glaring at Hero.

Wonderful.

“Ah. Paramedic. You look radiant today,” said Hero as they sat down on the back of the ambulance, nodding their thanks at the Officer that helped them over.

“Are you going to hospital this time?”

“No.”

“Of course not,” Paramedic grouched, nodding at the officer that assisted Hero to step away. “I’ll just wait here while Villain kills you, shall I? Make sure we get you to the morgue straight away.”

“Villain won’t hurt me, Paramedic,” Hero said and then hissed as Paramedic’s gloved fingers pressed down hard on Hero’s broken fingers. “Fuck!”

Paramedic was deadpan as they said: “Yes. They would never hurt you.”

“Can’t you just wrap them up for me and let me go again?”

Paramedic laughed, a short, derisive sound. “Yes. I can just keep patching you up while you for round two and three and twenty.”

Hero sighed, putting their elbow on their knee and pinched the bridge of their nose with their good fingers, head tilted down. So, they didn’t see the concern knitting Paramedic’s eyebrows together as they bandaged the two fingers together. Then bandaged them to Hero’s pinkie for support.

“Did you bang your head?” Paramedic asked and Hero nodded slightly. Their headache exasperated by the movement. “Show me.”

Paramedic’s cool fingers pressed lightly on Hero’s scalp. “Yeah there,” said Hero as Paramedic hit the sore spot. Paramedic pulled their hand back and said: “okay. There’s no blood. Most likely bruising. Just try to not get hit on the head again, okay?”

“Okay,” said Hero standing. Paramedic pushed a packet of pills into Hero’s hand. Hero popped out two and swallowed them dry before handing Paramedic back the foil packet.

“Keep it. You’re gonna need it.”

Hero nodded and slipped into the packet into one of their coat pockets. “Thank you, Paramedic.”

“See you in five.”

“Ah, come on. At least give me ten,” Hero said with their usual big smile, and Paramedic just shook their head.

Sidekick was speaking with Superhero fervidly when Hero strolled over, languid in their pace. They pulled their packet of smokes out and their lighter, lighting the cigarette as they walked. Superhero was the first to notice Hero stopping beside them, blowing smoke in the big shot’s face with a grin.

“Howdy Superhero,” said Hero with a grin, lapping up Superhero’s disgust. Hero nodded at Sidekick in greeting, taking another slow drag.

“Hero, I don’t have time for your shit right now. Why don’t you go crawl under a bar somewhere?”

“I was trying my best, but your delightful new sidekick here came and ruined all my fun. Why is that Superhero?” Hero asked, turning their head to look at Superhero again. “Is it because you’re too chicken shit to face Villain yourself? Maybe you should tell your new Sidekick that so you don’t kill another kid because of your cowardice, hmm?”

Superhero’s glare would have burned a hole through Hero if it got any more intense. Their lips pursed; nose held high. Hero felt sick as they let the smoke out through their nostrils.

“Oops,” Hero said, voice deadpan. “Looks like I just let the cat out the bag, huh?”

“Villain only wants to talk to you. Word is you haven’t been answering their texts.”

“Yeah, that’s a nice excuse—” Hero grumbled to Sidekick, then tilted their head at Superhero. “Listen, are you gonna help me stop them or are you gonna sit down here, safe and sound and send your Sidekick to do your dirty work?”

“This temper tantrum is your doing Hero. Clean up your own mess,” said Superhero squaring up, stepping closer to Hero’s face. Hero didn’t flinch. They didn’t do anything but follow the movement with their eyes, raising an eyebrow in challenge. Hero exhaled the smoke through their nose, and let their voice drop a tone lower. Something cold and vicious behind it.

“Villain’s a villain because of your doing, Superhero. How ‘bout you clean up yours, before you end up killing another—”

Before Hero could finish the sentence, Superhero wrapped a hand around Hero’s throat and drove them backwards until they were pinned against the front of a fire truck.

“Superhero!” Sidekick cried, running over and trying to take Superhero’s hand off Hero’s throat. Hero’s head was aching, but they didn’t let it show, just glared at Superhero. Sidekick stepped between the pair when they failed to remove Superhero’s hold, and Superhero was forced to let go of Hero. “This isn’t the time. Villain’s still up there!”

Hero stepped forward, fixing their long duster and took the last drag from their cigarette, savouring it before flicking the butt to the ground and twisting the ball of their foot on it to stomp it out.

“I’m going then,” said Hero.

“I’ll come with you,” Sidekick said immediately, but Hero shook their head, letting the smoke out through the corners of their lips.

Hero put a hand on Sidekick’s shoulder, and said: “you’re not coming this time.”

“What!”

“Villain doesn’t like you and you’re just something they can leverage against me if they catch you again. You’re staying put,” Hero ignored their protests and turned their attention to Superhero. “Don’t let them follow me unless you want them dead like the last one.”

Superhero’s hard stare melted away with a pop. Then Hero was on the roof again, facing Villain’s back. A metre or two between them. “Sorry for the delay.”

“Not at all, Hero,” Villain purred, turning to face their favourite reckless hero. Dishevelled, bags under their eyes, hands deep in their signature brown trench coat they wore over their black combat trousers and black sweatshirt. Villain couldn’t help but smile. Hero never changed.

Villain’s eyes searched the empty space behind Hero. “Where’s your friend? Haven’t scared them away already, have I?”

Hero shrugged, easy, blasé. “Nah, I put them in timeout. Left them with their babysitter.”

Clever, violet eyes settled on Hero’s. Oh, so alluring and bright at having Hero’s entire undivided attention. “Good. I always preferred when it was just the two of us. Come closer, I won’t bite.”

“No, but you’ll break,” Hero said, holding up their bandaged hand and tilting their head to the side. A soft, fond smile slipping onto their lips. Hero felt an invisible hand slide around their own. Inspecting at first. Gentle, then guiding Hero, pulling them closer to Villain, bridging the gap between them without Villain moving an inch.

Villain raised their own hand, palm facing up. Hero felt a phantom hand in theirs, guiding them gently towards Villain, closing the gap between them. When they were close enough, Villain took Hero’s hand in theirs and began an inspection of their own. Hero watched Villain’s violet eyes scan over the fingers bandaged together, inspecting the wrapping around their palm and wrist then back up again for support.

Violet eyes meeting theirs was the only warning Hero had before Villain pressed down hard on the injury. Hero hissed, yanking their hand back but Villain kept Hero’s hand locked in their iron grip.

“Does it hurt when I do this?” Villain asked with a sly smile, eyes never leaving Hero’s. Taking in every small twinge of pain, every squirming effort to hide said pain from Villain’s prying eyes. Oh, how they loved Hero’s small reactions.

“If you don’t want me to abscond you could just ask me to stay,” Hero told them honestly. Pained eyes meeting Villain’s, pleading for them to let go. Hero raised their other hand and placed it on Villain’s probing wrist. “It doesn’t always need to be pain that clouds my judgement, Villain.”

Villain smiled, a little genuine, before finally letting go. Their hand went to Hero’s cheek instead. Pads of their fingers digging in, gentle, with the smallest amount of pressure, because pain always came with Villain.

It was in Villain’s nature, Hero told themselves, they couldn’t really help it.

“I know,” said Villain, “but I do so love to watch you suffer, dear Hero. You make it into an art form.”

Hero pulled Villain’s hand away from their cheek at that, chest tight. “Perhaps you should witness me in my everyday life then. I suffer eternally.”

“Maybe you should start answering your phone when I call.”

Hero scoffed, turning their body half away from Villain, pulling the box of cigarettes from their pocket. Their hand was shaking after Villain’s inspection so they were happy to block Villain’s view of it with their body. Hero took a cigarette between their teeth, dragging it out before flicking the lid closed. The click of the lighter was reassuring, reliable.

Hero cupped their hand around the flame, a delicate thing to coddle especially on a roof where the wind was raging against their hair and their clothes. Hero could control the flame, let it burn enough to light their cigarette or they could smother it, the only thing they could control right now. They flicked the old zippo lighter closed, looking at the small black engraving on the side.

“You’re not special, I don’t answer anyone anymore. I put the stupid thing on silent. It kept incessantly buzzing,” Hero grumbled, looking over the wall of the roof down to the commotion below. Police lights and emergency services below, the street cordoned off from the public. They couldn’t make out Sidekick and Superhero below, but they could see Paramedic in their uniform and maybe pick out police but other than that it was just busy.

Hero heard Villain moving behind them, walking up to Hero and reaching over their shoulder, plucking the cigarette from Hero's hand. Hero grumbled out a half protest, hearing the flame ignite right by their ear, like a soft gasp of air. Villain slid it back between their fingers again.

“Cheers,” said Hero, flicking the ash off onto the wall. Villain exhaled a couple smoke rings then let the rest of the smoke out through their nose, the smell and smoke entrancing Hero. Hero watched the rings dissipate into the sky, as Villain’s hand stretched around Hero’s torso and pulled them both back away from the dangerous edge of the roof. Away from the prying eyes of back up below. Ensuring Hero’s attention could be focused on Villain completely again.

Hero rubbed their temple with the pad of their thumb, irritated. “All this fucking mess for what? Because I wasn’t answering your every whim? I’m getting too old for this, Villain. As are you.”

“Perhaps I should kill you and be done with it then,” said Villain, tightening their hold on Hero, tone cool and cutting. Hero couldn’t deny the chill that ran down their spine at the easy threat.

Villain could just throw them off the rooftop. Granted, it wouldn’t kill them, Hero had learned to quiet the panic when it came to life-or-death situations. Panic they could deal with, pain… well, pain was like Villain; it demanded Hero’s undying attention.

Hero shook their head, slinking out of Villain's hold with ease and popping up to the top of the wall, walking to the edge of the building and standing on the ledge.

“I can’t keep doing this Villain,” Hero repeated, chest tight. Behind them, Villain tilted their head at the Hero, their Hero. “You killed that kid.”

“That kid, was Superhero’s little psychopath. I was doing everyone a favour.”

“You could have saved them, Villain,” Hero said, half turning their body towards Villain, looking down into those violet eyes that used to give them so much comfort. “You could have tried to help them. We were once Superhero’s little psychopaths, no one put a bullet in us.”

“Maybe they should have,” said Villain tightly.

The wind whistled through the area between them on the roof, rustling their clothes and their hair as they let the weight of the words fall over them. Hero held Villain's unflinching eyes and some part of them wanted to scream. In another life, maybe they would be meeting on rooftops for secret midnight rendezvous, or to share a cigarette. The possibility broke Hero's heart, so they buried the thought and looked away from those piercing eyes.

Hero glanced down at all the commotion in the street below. They plunged a hand into their pocket, fist tightening around the cool metal lighter, while their other drew the cigarette to their lips. They nodded as they raised their head to the sky.

“Maybe they should’ve.”

Silence ebbed between them for a moment.

Then: “How are you, Hero?”

Hero laughed at the question. A loud, humourless laugh. It was such an absurd question coming from the Villain who had ruined how many people's day? Worrying about Hero, wanting to know how Hero was.

The worst part was the fact that Villain didn’t sound like Villain when they asked that question. Their voice was softer, quieter, more genuine. It was Hero’s best friend that asked how they were doing, not Villain. Not the scourge of the city, not the name whispered by civilians just in case it summoned the demon to wreck havoc on them.

It was just Villain.

Hero's Villain.

The one they had met in the early days at the Hero academy. The one who created schemes on how best to annoy the Heroes. Always getting them into trouble, always a little too clever for the Professor’s tastes — always questioned them a little too much. The one who took a punch for Hero, and threw a punch for them. The fastest, fiercest friend Hero had ever known. The quiet voice in the night when neither of them could sleep asking if Hero was still awake. The rebellious teenager who somehow managed to drag Hero into everything with them. The quickest study of them all, and it still wasn’t enough.

It was hard to distinguish Hero's friend from Villain these days, the waters were too muddled with Superhero's Sidekick's murder still fresh in their mind.

It tarred any fondness Hero harboured for Villain.

“I’m tired, Vil,” said Hero, their words clogging their throat and coming out thick. “I’m tired of this. I’m tired of being a Hero. I’m tired of drinking and smoking to keep my head clear and my hands steady. I’m tired of not being able to save everyone. I’m tired that I am the one that is called to your every public beck and call. I’m fucking tired of it all.”

“Maybe if you just picked up the phone, I wouldn’t have to resort to these extreme measures to see you,” Villain snapped.

Hero whirled on their heel, eyes ablaze, cigarette dangling from their lips, feet balanced precariously on the ledge. Villain’s body twitched as if they wanted to step forward, something like protectiveness winding their body on instinct, that Hero refused to notice.

“You know where I live,” said Hero through gritted teeth. “You know where to find me. Don’t you try and justify your actions by blaming me! Don’t you dare!”

“Hero—”

“He was seventeen!” Hero cried, throwing their arm wide just to do something. Fury and guilt were battling for dominance in Hero's bones and blood and left them with this frantic, frenzied energy. Hero's hand went to their cigarette, a shadow crossing their face and molding their features into a stoic expression, hard stare almost startling Villain as Hero took a long drag and then stepped back off the ledge.

Villain's hand shot out and Hero drew the cigarette from between their teeth, grinning wildly as they nodded, as if they understood everything all of a sudden. Hero heard screams below that died down quickly when they didn’t fall, but looked as if they were floating on air above the roof.

"You can control life and death, Vil,” said Hero, voice low and rough. They dropped the cigarette onto the invisible platform Villain constructed for their reckless Hero. Hero’s eyes narrowed when they met Villain’s, before they said: “and you let that kid die.”

Hero sucked in a breath through their nose, chest expanding, and that was all Villain saw before Hero disappeared before their eyes.

Hero popped out beside Villain, whistling as they drew back their good fist, sending a devastating right hook to Villain's jaw. Villain's head whipped to the side from impact, and when they righted themselves they turned on their heel, but Hero was gone again.

A whistle behind them and a kick to the back of their knee and Villain fell to one knee, catching themselves on their hand. The second their hand made contact with the ground, Hero's feet were in front of them and there was a swift boot coming for Villain's chest.

Villain didn't have time to react before they were staring at the sky, lying on their back and Hero popped out on top of them again. Their fists bunched into Villain's sweatshirt, pinning them to the ground while a knee straddled each side of Villain's waist, keeping them trapped beneath a particularly lethal Hero.

"I'm here now," Hero hissed, digging their knuckles in painfully to Villain's chest. "What the fuck was so important and pressing that you wanted me here, Vil, hmm? Did you want to kill another kid? Want to make me watch, again? Fucking break a few of my bones instead, hmm?! WHAT IS IT?!"

Villain, to their credit, didn't flinch at Hero's emotional outburst, they just stared up at Hero, trying not to startle them too much. Villain swallowed before they spoke, Hero could feel the motion in their hands and they waited.

"You were MIA, Hero," said Villain softly. Their voice was calm and soothing, as they reached a gentle hand up to wrap around Hero's wrist. The violet melted from Villain's eyes returning them to their normal light brown, trying to show Hero that they were no threat. "No one could contact you, I hadn't — well, other villains said that you weren't yourself. I was worried about you."

Hero's hands began shaking in their hold, their adrenaline slowly leaving them in shock. "You... you were worried about me so you threaten and disrupt a block of offices to get my attention?!"

Villain tried for a smile. "It worked didn't it?"

Hero tightened their grip on Villain and lifted their torso off the ground before slamming them back against the rooftop, leaning in closer and growling: "You were so worried you nearly killed another kid, is that it Villain?”

"I knew you would reach them in time."

“But you knew I wouldn't reach the other one, right?” Hero asked, the words that haunted them the last few weeks spilling from their lips. Villain relaxed in their hold and Hero let out a scoff, sniffing back the tears that wanted to fall as they narrowed their eyes down at Villain. Villain their best friend. "I— I fucking knew it. You knew I wouldn't—”

"Hero, that was different."

"HOW?!" Hero demanded, lifting Villain up again just to make sure that Villain would look them in the eye when they told them. Tears gathered behind Hero's shining eyes, glazing over just waiting for Villain to release the dam.

“He was going to kill you, Hero,” said Villain softly.

Hero shook their head, “no. No, you did it for a reason.”

“You are enough of a reason for me to kill, Hero.”

“I don’t want to be,” Hero said with a strangled whisper, not trusting their voice enough to speak.

“I know,” Villain cooed. Their hand tightened slightly over Hero’s wrist, not painful. Not yet. “But when there is a rabid dog, it is a mercy to put them down.”

“He was Seventeen,” Hero said again, their grip loosening slightly on Villain as they spoke as if the words were Hero's only defence to Villain's honeyed logic.

“And Superhero sent him after us,” Villain told Hero, like it was the most important thing in the world. “If the blood is on anyone's hand it's Superhero's! Superhero sent him after us, Hero, not just me. Me and you, they wanted that kid to kill us. To kill you.”

Hero tightened their grip in Villain's sweatshirt, twisting their fists further and pulling Villain closer. Hero's eyes were dark, hooded, desperate — they scared Villain.

"Maybe you should have let him," said Hero, voice devoid of all emotion. The words hit Villain like a truck and left a heavy lump in their throat. This was exactly what they were scared of. Hero being so beat up about not being able to save the very person who was ordered to kill them. To kill both of them. Villain did the right thing putting the mongrel down, even if Hero was upset now. They won't be in the future, Villain would make sure of it.

*~*~*~*~*

Continued here

Taglist: @d-cs @somebodytolove31

#The hero and the infant #hero villain snippet #hero villain story #writblr #hero villain writing #hero #villain #writing #orphan writing #whump writing #orphan #emotional whump #hero x villain #villain x hero #villains and heroes #hero and villain #reluctant hero #neglectful superhero #reckless hero #villain whumper #hero whumpee #hero whump #tired hero #tw suicidal ideation #suicidal ideation #tw sui ideation #suicidal thoughts #tw suicidal thoughts #mentions of death #mentions of suicide

[kbspangler]

It's Monday, sir. We all have concerns.

But perhaps some new webcomics will put your mind at ease (even if it's in your disembodied head, rocketing straight into space...)

Our long-running adult science fiction spy thriller with D-grade psychics and talking koalas is A Girl and Her Fed. If you love archive dives into weirdness with a smattering of social commentary and serious art evolution? WELL have we got you COVERED!

Our brand-new YA queer fantasy rom-com is Side Quested. It starts with a reluctant hero rescuing a princess from her tower, and then things go sideways.

#webcomic #webcomics #comic #comics #agahf #side quested #reluctant hero #queer #spy thriller #rom com #there's a talking koala in the first one and a talking vulture in the second #these are webcomics after all #they will take our webcomic memberships away if we don't add the talking animals.

[mistresslrigtar]

WIP Wednesday - a little excerpt

(this is for @daemosdaen or maybe not, now that I've re-read it 🤣)

Zelda’s mouth thins as she narrows her eyes. “If rupees are all you care about, take me to Kakariko, and I’ll see that you get paid.”

Link smirks at her attempt to negotiate. She’s a feisty one, to be sure, standing there hands akimbo making demands on a ship full of filthy pirates, as if she owns the place. Well, this isn’t the castle and she’s not the ruler of the roost. He is. Rising slowly from his seat he walks to where she stands and leans in to whisper in her ear:

“As I said, Zelda, we’re going to Seven Star Isle, but I might be persuaded to make a quick detour to Kakariko along the way if you have dinner with me.”

He tracks the flush that creeps up from the loose neck of her tunic to her cheeks at his proximity, and the way her breath hitches. Fingers twitching against his thigh, Link yearns to touch the smooth skin along her collarbones that’s sure to be as soft as velvet, and press his lips to hers again. Give her a kiss that was sure to heighten all her senses, leaving her wanting more, and not a fake one to throw Linebeck off their scent. He longed to be the man who showed her the world, if she’d only give him a chance. His head reels back before he realizes Zelda has hauled off and slapped him.

Rubbing his cheek, Link realizes he’s a hair’s breadth away from giving her that kiss he’s just been daydreaming about and raises wide blue eyes to lock with fiery green ones. He covers his disappointment with a wolfish grin. “Is that a no?”

She did slap him though.... (and I wrote this a few weeks ago, so we're of the same mindset 😅)

#legend of zelda #zelink #the legend of zelda #pirate au #windwaker #skyward sword #reluctant hero

[haveyoureadthisfanfic]

Summary: "It was an accident." That was what Zuko had said to his crew when he used an element he hadn't been meant to. He wasn't the Avatar. The Avatar was supposed to be in the Earth Kingdom, hidden by its walls. Unless the old Avatar had died long ago...and had already been replaced fifteen years ago.

Author: PAW_07

#official fic poll #haveyoureadthisfic #pollblr #tumblr polls #fanfiction #fandom poll #fanfic #fandom culture #internet culture #Reluctant Hero #atla

[stuckinthewrongworld]

@the-east-art has done it again! I'm so happy she was able to take all these different ideas and combine them into one character. So you know those TikToks on your FYP that are like "the first video you see is your XYZ"? Yea, that's what this character is based on, combined with my ideal self. I've always wanted white hair and wings, fight me.

The videos that inspired this character include:

-You find a sword near a cliff and when you grab it, it becomes The Sword of Rage. The heat coming off of the sword is connected to the user's rage and if angry enough, you can burn foes down to their soul.

-your class: mage

-the supernatural being you are: seraph

-ability you obtain after making a deal with a demon: immortality

-the type of magic you weild: celestial magic

-your newly obtained life: fallen angel

-fantasy trope you are: reluctant hero: you didn't want to be a hero, but you had to so you could protect your loved ones

-your fictional darkest secret based on your zodiac sign: never admitted your love for someone

I need to come up with a story for her, but those are going to be the inspirations behind it all. I also hate my name, so I've been looking up names that I wish I had or could change my name to. I'm really liking Avalon, so that's her name for now.

#oc #original character #seraph #sword of rage #tiktok videos #the first one you see on your FYP is your xyz #mage #celestial magic #fallen angel #reluctant hero #avalon

[caninemotiff]

Reluctant heroes running from their fate only to accidentally stumble right into it in the process because it was always going to happen, it's in their very nature, my beloved

#tropes #reluctant hero #bruh I live for the angst #writeblr #characterisation #inescapable fate #heroes journey #chosen one

[lnaliazmcithilien]

A little reminder sometimes goodness can feel saccharine

A little bitterness can add balance

Not everyone will be your cup of tea

#hozier #villian arc #grey morality #reluctant hero #writing prompt #villian x hero #Youtube

[fischfic]

Nicholas: you got this

Jasmine: I don’t wanna “got this,” I wanna stop getting it

#writing #my ocs #original characters #books #fantasy #you got this #reluctant hero

[how-am-i-feeling]

#reluctant hero #killer be killed #friday #Spotify

[patchworkorphan]

The Hero and the Infant: part one

Is this title my cheeky little nod at EPIC the musical? Absolutely, enjoyyyyy!

*~*~*~*~*

The heroes came running when the world was on fire. They always came running. Hero was at the bar, where they always were, watching the news. A neat whiskey clutched between bandaged fingers.

The door slammed open. Hero didn’t have to turn to know it was Superhero’s sidekick. “Hero –”

“Not interested.”

“But Villain –”

“I know. Don’t care,” Hero replied. Daryl, the bartender, shot Hero a look and Hero pretended to not see it.

Sidekick sat on the stool next to Hero and ordered another: “whiskey; neat.”

“Mmm, I love being bribed,” Hero smiled, winking at Daryl.

“Villain’s destroying the city.”

“I didn’t ask.”

“And you’re here, drinking.”

“Perceptive,” Hero purred, taking the whiskey glass from Daryl and pouring the honey liquid of it into their glass. “They’re a minor,” Hero whispered to Daryl conspiratorially.

“I’m not.”

“Well, then. You’re on the clock. Can’t fight crime if you’re impaired.”

“And yet somehow you manage.”

“Somehow, I’m always called in on my day off. Blame your boss for disrupting my plans. Not the other way around, sunshine.”

Hero took a sip of their drink. In their peripheral vision they saw Sidekick turn their body to face Hero. Mmm, getting serious. Hero loved serious Sidekick. It’s like a puppy trying to be mean.

“You know Villain best –”

“Bullshit. Your Superhero knows them longest.”

“Villain likes you best,” Sidekick amended, and Hero nodded.

“So? Are we match making heroes and villains now? Is that Superhero’s excuse, hmm? Will that same explanation slide if I come up against a new villain?” Hero put on a high-pitched voice as they said: “oh I’m sorry superhero. This new villain’s rising sign is Virgo. I’m a Scorpio, we’re gonna clash.”

“This is different, and you know it.”

“How is this different? Because your beloved Superhero says so? Are you just a little dog with no mind of your own? Does Superhero whistle and you come?”

“I’m not here to trade insults, Hero. God knows that could well be your superpower,” Hero took the words as a compliment as the kid continued: “I’m here to ask you to help me stop people’s lives being ruined. Normal people’s lives. Fuck Superhero. Fuck villain. Fuck the whole fucking system. I’m here to ask you, to help me. Please.”

Hero looked at Daryl and Daryl looked at them. Hero rolled their eyes and tipped their head back, the whiskey running hot down their aching throat. Then they stood. Empty glass on the bar. Hero shrugged their trench coat on and patted Sidekick’s shoulder fondly.

“Pay Daryl for me will ya? And a big tip, for the inconvenience. See you tomorrow, Daryl,” Hero waved over their shoulder. Whistling as they walked out the door of their local pub.

“Thanks Daryl,” Sidekick said, paying the man and leaving a generous tip.

“Thank me all you want kid. Hero’ll just be back in here after the fight. It’s good to see them getting out, even if it is under these circumstances. Y’know ever since –”

“I know, Daryl. Thanks.”

“Later kid.”

Sidekick followed Hero out the door, where Hero was waiting a lit cigarette hanging from their lips.

“So,” Hero asked, flicking their zippo lighter shut with a satisfying click, shooting Sidekick their signature lazy smirk. “What’s Villain up to today?”

*~*~*~*~*

Continued here

#hero x villain #writblr #hero villain writing #hero villain snippet #hero villain story #hero #villain #villain x hero #reluctant hero #superhero #bad superhero #Sidekick #superhero sidekick #alcoholic hero #sad hero #poor hero #angst my beloved #angst #light angst #hero angst #hero villain angst #traumatic past #superheroes #neglectful mentor #neglectful superhero #bad hero #bad mentor #The Hero and the Infant #Orphan #orphan writing

[chaotic-orphan]

The Hero and the Infant: part 3

part one here!

part two here!

I am back to writing my favourite pair, but it’s a short one this time. Still enjoy!

*~*~*~*~*

Hero’s arms were spread wide as they strut onto the roof in a gesture of questioning: “hey! What the fuck are ya doing?”

That got Villain’s attention. Violet eyes snapped to theirs, floating a couple metres off the roof. Out of reach for Hero.

“Silent treatment? Really? You just tried to kill a kid, Villain.”

“Superhero’s new sidekick. I did warn them about the mortality rate of such a job before I dropped them,” Villain said with a shrug. Hero looked back at the sound of the roof door opening and Sidekick stepping out, fury winding all of their limbs tight.

“See?” Villain said, getting Hero’s attention again. The Villain’s hand was spread to Sidekick’s appearance. “They’re fine!”

Hero rolled their eyes, scoffing. “Is that supposed to be a justification for attempted murder?”

Hero felt the strong invisible hand wrap around them and yank them up into the air straight into Villain’s awaiting arms.

“Maybe I just don’t like the company they keep,” said Villain, grabbing Hero by the lapels of their duster and pulling them close.

Villain’s nose crinkled up as they said: “you smell like whiskey and cigarettes.”

“It was never a problem before. In fact I think I remember you enjoying the smell at one point,” said Hero with their dashing smile reserved for only Villain.

“Why are you running around with Superhero’s new scapegoat?”

“Why are you disturbing these good people just trying to do their jobs?” Hero shot back.

“I am a Villain, my dear. It is what we do.”

“And I am a hero, at your every public beck and call. To make sure you don’t do irrevocable damage. Such as killing a child,” Hero admonished and yelped as they felt Villain’s power vanish from under them and they were falling.

Villain held them with one hand over the precipice in their usual showmanship of power. Hero narrowed their eyes and shifted their weight so they were almost a perfect 45 degree angle to the ground thirteen stories below.

A challenge coated their words as they spread their arms wide, “if you want to kill anyone Villain, do us both a favour and kill me.”

Villain searched Hero’s face for any weakness. Any sign that they were lying and found none. The next thing Hero knows their back is cracking off brickwork and they gasped for the air that was wrenched from their lungs.

“Hero!” Sidekick yelled in surprise from the opposite roof.

Hero barely had time to stand again before Villain was in front of them, fist bunching in the collar of their shirt. Villain threw a solid left hook. Hero countered, taking the brunt on their forearm before an invisible hand grabbed Hero’s yanking it above their head and keeping it there. Hero’s toes barely scraping the roof below them.

“No fair,” said Hero with a grunt, levelling Villain with a knowing scorn.

Villain’s smile was more of a snarl as they said: “when have I ever played fair?”

Suddenly Hero’s hand was released and they dropped to their feet, knees bent. Villain was recoiling to the side, hand on their cheek as a once invisible Sidekick became visible again.

“You alright?” Sidekick asked and Hero nodded.

“Yes. Thank you.”

“You looked like you needed help,” Sidekick said.

Hero fixed their jacket, rolling their neck as Villain’s gaze turned to face the pair. “I had it handled.”

“Sure you did,” and Sidekick was invisible again. Villain’s eyes burned like the cold fires of hell down at Hero and Hero shrugged with a smirk.

“Kid’s annoying,” said Hero. “But sure, what can you do?”

“Drop them off a building again. Maybe it will work this time.”

“Probably not,” Hero said with a flash of their teeth. “Not as long as I’m here.”

“Well then perhaps I will force you to watch,” said Villain as they shot their hand out. Hero sucked in a breath and felt the pop in their ears as they reappeared behind Villain. They whistled and Villain turned. Hero threw a punch which Villain caught, clenching their hand down around Hero’s fist and stepping forward, pushing Hero back. “You always did think I relied too much on my power.”

“Eh,” Hero shrugged with tired eyes. “It’s an off day.”

Villain’s eyes narrowed, their tone dipping dangerous as they turned Hero’s arm. “Maybe you should have answered my texts then and we could have arranged a non-drinking day for you.”

“Come on, Vil. You know me better. They are no non-drinking days.”

Villain pulled Hero in and brought a sharp knee to Hero’s stomach. Hero gasped, as Villain leaned in. “We’ll sober you up yet. Just like our academy days, huh Hero?”

“No wait, Villain—“ Hero protested and there was a resounding crack over the roof. Hero screamed bloody murder as Villain kicked them back, their head hitting off the stone roof. White spots burst behind their vision as Hero shuffled back on their good arm. “Motherfucker!”

Hero looked down at their hand, their index and middle finger bent backwards. A deep purple and black colouring the battered flesh. They had to get off the ground.

Hero sucked in a sharp breath closing their eyes. Then a boot came to their chin and Hero cursed as their head hit the ground again. Villain stomped on Hero’s ribs, and Hero’s eyes shot open. Their good hand pushing at Villain’s ankle to alleviate the pressure.

“No jumping out if your brain’s clouded with pain, ain’t that right Hero?”

“Normal people just say: I missed you,” Hero hissed. “They don’t try and kill you.”

“What can I say? I’m not normal people,” said Villain with a smile of their own. Then their hand shot out on instinct and Sidekick reappeared, gasping on no air. Hero sat up, but Villain just put more pressure on their leg keeping Hero pinned. “No. No. Don’t get up. Stay down.”

“Let them go, Villain!” Hero cried. Sidekick dropped to their knees, face going purple as they choked on nothing, hands clawing desperately at their throat.

Villain tilted their head at Sidekick’s struggles. Hero reached their hand into their pocket, taking out their lighter. “It’s not everyday I don’t kill someone first try. The last one that happened with…” Villain turned back to Hero. “Well, was you, dearest.”

Hero shot their hand out, setting fire to Villain’s trouser leg that was currently weighing on Hero’s ribs. Villain gasped, stepping back and Sidekick sucked in a lungful of air. Hero looked at Villain. “I’ll be back,” they said as they lunged for Sidekick’s arm, hand clamping around their wrist. Hero closed their eyes, sucking in a breath.

Then pop.

*~*~*~*~*

Continued here

Taglist: @d-cs

#writblr #hero villain writing #hero villain snippet #hero villain story #hero #villain #writing #hero villain whump #hero villain angst #reluctant hero #clever villain #hero x villain #intelligent villain #sidekick #the hero and the infant #villain x hero #villain x hero relationship #past relationships #superpowers #hero villain superpowers #orphan #orphan writing #hero whump #ish #whump writing

[sincer-ely]

The peaceful times have made us blind

Cause no one want to die too fast

#palestine #free palestine #attack on titan #reluctant hero #Youtube

[mistresslrigtar]

WIP Wednesday - Chapter One: Link's Rude Awakening

Excerpt:

Draping a leg over the arm of the chair, Link opens a desk drawer, pulls out a bottle of Goron spiced rum, and takes a swig, shuddering as the liquor burns his throat going down. Regardless, he knocks back another swallow as his soaked first mate enters, followed by an equally drenched Tingle and the ship’s carpenter, Mutoh. Groose snags the bottle of rum from Link, taking a long gulp, draining a quarter of the bottle before slumping onto a nearby chest while Tingle spreads a map across the desk. 

“Can I get you anything, cap’n?” Niko still stands just inside the door, twisting his striped knit cap in his hands.

“Yeah,”—Link raises his weary gaze to him—“I’m starving. See if Gotter has any cucco legs left.” Niko nods his head enthusiastically and ducks out of the cabin.

“Damage report, Mutoh.” Link turns his bright blue eyes on the carpenter beside Tingle, adding a muttered “Please” at Mutoh’s look of askance.

“Damage below decks was extensive. We’re taking on water.” The slightly overweight, balding Hylian crosses his arms and strokes his white mustache. “Beedle is attempting to pump it out as we speak.”

“Son of a….” Link snatches the bottle from Groose before he finishes off the liquor and gulps another mouthful at the news. “Can we make it to Outset?”

“Not in our current condition.” Mutoh places his hands on his hips in emphasis, looking at Link sternly, as if Link is an errant schoolboy needing scolding. “I can’t properly repair the hole without lead.”

“Come on, Mutoh! Lead is for dry dock!” Link narrows his eyes. Mutoh may think Link’s a kid who doesn’t know better, but he’s dead wrong. Link knows plenty about running a ship; otherwise, he wouldn’t still be the captain.

“Stop-gap measures won’t be enough this time,” Mutoh mulishly insists, standing his ground.

“Be creative!” Link points around the cabin with the bottle. “Take the wood from somewhere dispensable and shore up that damn hole enough to make it to land, and I’ll get your lead.”

kindly betaed by @zeldaelmo.

#legend of zelda #the legend of zelda #zelink #skyward sword #wind waker #king of red lions #groose #it's a loz smashup #adventure on the great seas #reluctant hero

[blue-kyber]

OUT THERE: THE 1K. Part 1. - read it on Wattpad. (It's free. :) Cover created on Canva through wattpad using a copyright free photo.)

A sci-fi fantasy adventure

Synopsis:

One thousand children prophesied to save a galaxy embroiled in war are taken from Earth at the turn of the 21st century. The children are scattered throughout Alliance worlds to hide them from the terrifying, unseen antagonistic force that would destroy them, the Keth.

This story follows the frightening and fantastical adventures of two of those children - Will and Terra - who are genetically altered to possess a strange power for a plan to end the war.

Yune Darrak - a lone devil-may-care salvager, and Selka Kelnaris - a disillusioned, empathic, Ai Hiri bounty hunter - accidentally rescue them from a Regent secret lab while on a bounty hunt. They travel to a remote agrarian planet where Yune will hand the kids over to Selka once he gets her ship back from the planet's leader, so he can get his life back. A simple plan spirals into a deep, confusing mess involving a mysterious blue light, a political coup, and more questions about the kids and Yune himself as all four are inadvertently caught up together in the middle of a battle they never wanted to fight.

Will and Terra want to know who they are and where they belong. Yune wants to get his life back of salvaging spaceship wrecks and living alone. Selka wants to protect Will and Terra and find meaning to her life.

The story isn't so much about the war as it's focused on the lives of this little disaster space found family, their struggles, their small moments, and their growth aboard a jalopy homeship. The war is something that's happening around them.

The four portrait combo are the MCs I created in Artbreeder. Each photo is where I stopped and said "That's it. That's them." - Yune, Selka, Terra, and Will.

(I am very, very proud of this story, and in love with it and the characters. It's close to my heart, and contains my heart and soul. I wrote a story that I would enjoy reading or watching.)

That is the cockpit of my beloved home ship, the Horizon.

I spent way too long making that cockpit out of free commons stock items that were morphed and recolored beyond recognition. Way too much work, but well worth the hours to see my baby for real. Those cupholders retract into the control console, btw. :)

The space background is also a royalty free image. All of the images used at the headers of each chapter are either mine, or royalty free stock images.

If you want to be added to the taglist for posts about this story, please let me know. :)

Tag list: @muddshadow @cedar-west @athenixrose @penspiration-writing @runningoutofbooks @tobiornottobithatisthequestion @roll-top-writing @subject-2-change @dreaming-in-seams @mismatchingart @midnight-and-his-melodiverse @thewriteflame @writingventriloquist @ren-c-leyn @asher-orion-writes @aninkwellofnectar @winterandwords @raevenlywrites @nanashi23 @athenaannarose @the-tired-writer

#out there the 1k #ott1k #writing #writeblr #original fiction #sci-fi #fantasy #found family #profound bond #the human condition #good vs evil #destiny #reluctant hero #spaceships #space #blue kyber #will #terra #yune #selka #searching for purpose #dna experimentation #last of their kind #tropes I love #Will has ADHD #Yune is demi-hetero-ace #and Selka is bi. #Yune is a himbo and I love him :) #I’ve left certain elements obscure on purpose #slow burn

[n-amelessart]

Absconding Hero

[Fantasy, 1512 words]

When I came to it only took a moment to determine that I was not, in fact, dead. The Home of Lords would never be this bitterly cold, nor would I still be sore from my unfortunate encounter with the mountain’s wildlife. Sitting up against the violent protests from my body, I took note of my surroundings.

The room is small, hardly enough space for even one person to live in. The lower half of the walls are packed dirt and wooden restraining walls carved with holy words. The only things here are what could be called generously a door that stopped the wind and snow, the cot I was am laying down on and a wooden pack frame with a bedroll and neatly tied up sacks that presumably holds everything else a person would need to live on a mountain. Trying to stand proved to be a terrible idea, my whole body feels like it is getting struck by a hammer over and over in time with my heartbeat. Pulling off my gown which had been modified for the cold was an ordeal that left me sweating in spite of the cold, but I needed to see the extent of my injuries.

Bruises and angry red scratches cover most of my body with a single massive bruise that has turned the entirety of my left shoulder, chest and neck nasty shades of black, blue, purple, yellow and green. Considering the cause, I am in remarkably good shape. Something with the bruise on my chest caught my eye, a reddish brown pattern is barely visible amongst the more violent colorations. It took several moments of peering at the symbols before I realized that these are holy words, that knowledge immediately identifying the words even though I could only see them upside-down. That would explain why I am not dead. Figuring that what I need most of right now is rest, I slowly pulled back on my gown and arranged myself the best I could on the cot. It was perhaps fifteen minutes of doing nothing except for attempting to sleep while withstanding wave after wave of constant pain before the “door” to the have buried room opened.

“You’re awake,” it was said as a statement rather than a question.

Opening my eyes, I saw the man who saved me. Though he could have been mistaken for a burly mountain man, there are hints of a completely different man beneath the heavy coats and unkempt hair. His posture, gaze and stride are all too tempered for him to have spent his life in the wilderness. He stood out of arms reach checking my physical condition with a critical and I suspected he was calculating how likely it is that I jump out of the cot and stab him.

“Thank you,” my voice rough. “Relax yourself, I mean you no harm. Not  before you saved me and especially not now.”

He is clearly still skeptical but he closed the door behind him then crossed the room to the simple hearth, sitting on the ground back against the wall facing me in the cot.

“Who sent you?”

“The Servants of the Lords sent me and three other groups out into these mountains. I was separated from my group... How long have I been recovering? Three days before then was when we lost each other.”

“How many people per unit?” He asked, ignoring my question.

“Will you hurt them?

“I won’t kill them.”

“... each group was dispatched with three apprentices and two squires.”

He fell silent for a time, thinking. Eventually, he reached over to his pack frame and pulled out a handful of dry sticks which he tossed onto the embers. One after another, the wood caught fire, growing into a proper hearth.

“The answer is clear, but you must say it,” he said breaking the silence. “What is the Servants’ purpose for sending you here?”

He did not turn to face me when he asked this and he kept any emotion behind a face that would have been called expressionless if it were not so tired.

“We are tasked with bringing you back so that you can fill your role.”

Sighing, he stood back up and grabbed his pack frame, slinging it over his shoulder.

“You’ll fully recover by winter’s end so stay here until then. There is a hole under the cot with enough food to get you through the season if you ration it out properly.”

“You won’t stay? Is this not your home?”

“I’ll make another. Somewhere the Servants can not find.”

Craning my neck to watch him leave was horribly painful so I gave up, dropping my head back down to rest and instead speaking.

“Why do you run?” Immediately, I regretted saying anything. The tension that filled the small room pushed away my pain momentarily and replaced it with a nervous cold sweat. All at once, every warning I was given about this man came rushing back. Stories of his bloody escapes, rumors of his skill with a sword and the implicitly understood power he wields as the Chosen.

“Run?”

I held my breath.

“Tell me, young squire of the Lords,” his voice holding an edge I did not want to test. “Do the Lord’s Laws apply to all? Are there any exceptions to the Laws?”

“No, there are no exceptions.”

“None at all?”

“Not even the Lords can disobey the Laws.”

“Now tell me what the Gifts are.”

“I... I do not follow. Where is it you are going with these questions””

“Young squire, the first and greatest Gift the Lords bestowed upon their creations is Separation. Distinction of oneself from another. That is why the Lords number in the dozens, the people are millions and why I am not you and you are not me. If not for this fact, there would be no Laws to break or Transgressions to commit as there would be no Other to hurt. That is the faith I grew from child to adulthood with and the faith I held when I condemned myself to a life of war as a solider, to save Another from the wounds war inflicts upon the innocent. So why then, is there a Chosen? Why, young squire?”

“Being Chosen is a gift granted from the Lords,” my answer calculated but true to the teachings. “Strength beyond mortal man to quell Transgressors and divide the Lingering One.”

“Was that not what I was doing? Going to war to stop those very sins? To protect Another from Transgressors?” He moved away from the door and into my line of sight, his expression exhausted despite the hard strength in his voice. “I did not ask to be Chosen, it is not something I had decided for myself. Rather, the Lords themselves are the ones who burdened me with a fate, a life not their own to direct as they wish. Young squire, I am a devoted man but my Distinction has been taken from me by those I have no hope of freeing myself from. The Lords have broken their own Laws while I still cling to them. Let it be known that I am not trying to sway your faith, I only wish for you to understand why I must never take up this mantle of Chosen. My faith will continue as will my prayers, regardless the fact that who hears them now is not known to me. 

“When the season ends and you can return to the Servants, tell them that it is my unshaken faith that keeps the Chosen away. Label me a heretic, but I shall meet my end with more devotion to our faith than the Lords themselves. May your recovery be swift and painless. With luck, we shall never meet again.”

Again he stood and again he made to leave.

“Wait.”

“Did I not just make myself very clear?”

“As you refuse the responsibility, you should return the sword so that it may be given to another.”

“That piece of metal can be wielded by myself alone, though you are welcome to take it if you can. It is buried in a meadow directly east of here, at the foot of the boulder.”

“You... you buried the Sword of the Lady?”

“It never stays buried for long, the thing has a despicable tendency to move on its own. Again, please take it if you can.”

With that, he stepped out into the snow and cold, shutting the door to leave me in a tiny room with nothing more than a weak fire, a cot and supposedly a store of food beneath me. His words sank in uncomfortably, so I pushed them out with prayer. A prayer for my health, a prayer for the other squires and apprentices, a prayer for a swift winter and a prayer for summer to come before spring. I did not want to recount the Chosen’s words back the Servants, my stomach churning at the thought of it alone. May luck favor me, a demotion would be horribly embarrassing.

#character #character dialogue #chosen hero #chosen one #chosen one trope #creative writing #dialogue #fantasy #fantasy story #fantasy writing #fiction #fiction writing #hero #knight #original characters #original story #magic #magic system #magic words #reluctant hero #soldier #subversion #story #storytelling #story telling #short story #swords #swords and magic #warrior #world building