I love my life, to an extent. It's simple and doesn't make me have to risk my life for some lonely guy on the street. I guess what I'm trying to say is, I'm glad I don't have powers, yet. My whole family has powers but me and they usually get them at 18 to 20. I'm already 19 and I'm just praying to the Gods of Lumière for them to forget my existence. Since my family all has powers, they decided to become heroes. They go around being extra and "saving people", then they get paid for it. My geezer dad is a retired hero. He once was a great super-being until he got beat up by some dark scary villain. That's very heroic of him.
I'm a bit different from the likes of my family. Actually, I'm just completely different from them. I have blonde hair, they have black. I like violence, fire and bombs and they like the cool summer breeze with a Piña Colata in hand. My family is extroverted and powerful but me, I'm introverted and can't even go outside. My family are HEROS and I'm just me, a 19 year old kid with no motivation to do anything in life. We are the "perfect" family like fire and ice, mud and snow. And I hate them. We had a conversation today about why I'm so different. Of course it might have something to do with the gods. But since they are over dramatic, they think I'm going to become some crazy person in the future. As in a villain that would ruin their public image which is FINE BY ME! And now I hate them even more because today, my family was going to mention my existence to Le Monde or The Hero's Association.
Le Monde was created 3 years after the beam of light hit the world and it has been standing strong as the biggest and only hero organization in the world. Of course my family is a part of it. Every single one of them is. Le Monde is known for their unlikeness towards villains and vigilantes. They believe that Heroes are the only ones that can keep the world in order and without them the world would descend into chaos. And that's where the name comes from, Le Monde, The World, Their World.
•••
I sat in a dusty cold room with a table and a chair across from where I was sitting. I started chewing on my black hoodie string. I really didn't want to be here but I knew what my family wanted. They wanted to be like one of those famous family celebrities. Like the Incredibles but less controversial. A few minutes passed and a man with a suit walked into the room. I knew who he was the moment I saw him. I rolled my eyes in frustration. "Oh come on" I said in Korean, an old language I learned by myself. I only learned it because I didn't want my family to understand me sometimes. Or I just didn't want them to know what I'm thinking. The dominant languages of this time are English, French and Mandarin. All languages with history that haven't been forgotten. The man across from me is a Hero named SunBurn from the La Soleil District. He is famous for having fire abilities, strength, being overconfident and being cringe. Stereotypical hero.
"You don't seem that pleased to see me, Mr. Hong" he sighed, walking over to the table. I just sucked my teeth, taking the string out of my mouth. "It seems like you have an ever growing ego, SunBurn" I glared at him straight into his eyes. He shook his head in disappointment before sitting down. He had a file in his hand that he placed down onto the table. I looked around the room noticing cameras in every corner. "Wow" I began. "It's like I'm in a police station. Am I being treated like a criminal?" I asked, rolling up my sleeves while still looking around the room. He opened up the files, "Say what you like. Have you gone to the police station before?". I crossed my arms, "You should know if you're looking at my file".
He didn't seem bothered but me but I was bothered but him. I want to leave but I knew that I'd just stay here longer if I attempted to. "Amber Hong. Age 19, born in the La Soir District. Is that correct?" he asked but it was more like an order. "Yes" I sighed monotone. He kept looking through my file and stopped for a moment. "Hmm. It says here that you don't have an ability yet" I just nodded. "I need actual answers" He raised his voice. "Yes, I don't have an ability" I sighed. He kept on reading. "Is this being recorded?" I asked. As it being a requirement to speak while giving an answer is usually used for police like investigations. "Yes but not in the way you think." He answered, still reading. "Can you tell me?" I moved my chair closer to the table. "No, it's confidential" he yawned. It seems like he's been asking questions like that before.
I sighed leaning into my chair, chewing on the hoodie string once again. I just wanted to leave but my family had to get in the way. "It says here you were investigated for attempted murder, why is that?" SunBurn closed the file facing me. "It was self defense. I was attacked first and the guy got what he deserved." I cracked my knuckles. "Did you think what you did was right? He looked badly injured" he asked. I chuckled again, "I thought it was. You heroes do this stuff at the time" I spit out the string leaning in closer to him. "Beating up criminals and whatever." I smirked. "Ah, maybe I should have let him hit me more. That would have been good" I leaned back into my chair. "You have a twisted way of thinking" he looked over to the wall while banging the table. I'm guessing he's trying to signal someone.
The door opened as men walked in with ropes and zip ties. "Will you come with us voluntarily or will we have to use force?" SunBurn threatens. I just stared, eyes widened at the ropes. I felt my heart beat for a moment and something warm filled up my body. I had felt this way before but not often. The type of feeling that made me want to...I heard someone clear their throat, snapping me out of the trance. "So.." he said. I looked at him then the ropes before shaking my head. "I-I'll come with you voluntarily" I stuttered, I cleared my throat. He smiled before walking out and I followed. The men also followed us out. With the ropes. SunBurn led me all the way to the other side of the building. I was chewing on that string again and was rolling down my sleeves. "What the fuck is up with my family" I thought to myself. "Why are they treating me this way".
As we got to the other side, suddenly an alarm went off in the building. I noticed the expression on SunBurns face change. "Not again" I heard him mutter to himself. He looked over to the nearest window and jumped out. I was in shock. I just watched a man jump out of a window. The stupid most stereotypical thing to do was to jump out the window. We were beside fucking stairs. I just sighed, turning around to see the men in black gone. I had a moment with just my thoughts. My thoughts and I had an agreement and I booked it down the stairs. I was currently on the 20th floor so making it down would be horrible. "Maybe I should have jumped out the window" I thought to myself. I ran and ran but by the time I got to the 10th floor I was exhausted.
I was breathing heavily and was leaning over, puking out this morning breakfast. I started swearing incoherently in Korean. "This shit sucks," I said, wiping my mouth. When I went to stand up I heard the echoing sound of heels clacking. I looked over the railings to see a villain but not an ordinary villain. It was one of my favorite villains and worst nightmare, Burgundy. She had red heels matching with her all red bodysuit and cherry red hair. Anyone could tell she was drop dead gorgeous but evil with every core in her body. She stopped walking and looked up staring directly at me. A chilling smile went onto her face sending shivers down my spine. "Fuck" I blurted out. She was cool to see in person but not a person you wanted to mess with.
She started running up the stairs as the sound of her heels became loud again. All it took was one second for me to figure out what was happening. I began to run back up the stairs out of fear and joy. I met a person I admire but I was scared to bits by them. I continued to run and to run, only to hear the sounds of her heels getting louder. My heart was racing and I felt sweat running down my face. I knew she could teleport but why was she going through the trouble to chase me? I was so tired but knew that if I stopped, it might be the end for me. I was almost on the 19th floor and I felt my energy fall out of me. But the sound of her heels and laughter only made me want to escape. I fell to my knees with heavy breaths. I turned around to see Burgundy staring at me. This is when I knew I was her prey.
She just stared at that wicked smile of hers. I was so scared. But I felt a grin burning on my face. That warm sensation from earlier was around me again and I was basically hyperventilating. She let out a hum. "You're an interesting one" She kneeled down to me raising my chin with just a finger. She just looked at my face as she turned my head around. "Cute," she said, licking her lips. "You're perfect fit" she lifted her hand as claws grew out. I held onto my breath, shutting my eyes preparing myself for the worst, or the best. "Stop!" I heard someone say from a distance. I opened up my eyes to see SunBurn standing in his hero costume. I felt a sense of relief but also a sense of disappointment. "Did you jump out the window to just get an outfit change?" I was almost rolling my eyes.
"Get away from him you foul monster!" He said in his All Might impression. She just laughed, turning around towards him. "Foul monster? Ha! That sounds like one of your rehearsed lines!" She wiped away a tear. "I wasn't going to hurt him, we were just playing." She grinned, but as soon as those words left her mouth, she changed. "And you just interrupted" She leaped in front of him with her claws out aiming for a jab. He dodged before setting himself on fire. Burgundy screamed in pain as she got burned by the hot flames. They kept on fighting and I just sat and watched in awe. I felt my heart race by the scene. I heard SunBurn yell at me to run away but I couldn't move. I was melting, visualizing myself with their cuts and bruises, wishing for my own.
"Fuck it" I heard SunBurn mutter, that wasn't rehearsed. I looked up to see him push Burgundy down and run over to me grabbing my wrist. He pulled me up and just ran as fast as he could. Burgundy began chasing us again, teleporting to the next floor to the next floor as SunBurn began to fly. We reached the rooftop and I felt terrible. I was sick of this nonsense and motion sick. SunBurn sat me down to the side as Burgundy teleported onto the rooftop. They looked like they were ready to fight and my dizzy self was just about ready to jump off the building.
"Why are you stealing my prey!" She yelled in anger. I was scared. "I don't think I like her anymore" I whispered to myself but the fanboy in me said "I'm her prey!?". SunBurn looked annoyed, like he couldn't keep up his persona. "I'm saving an innocent person from the likes of you! N-now leave before I have to take you seriously!" she just sighed. Burgundy ran her hands through her hair, seeming a bit stressed. She let out a blood boiling laugh. "This fucking moron!" she yelled, dashing towards SunBurn. He seemed shocked but dashed towards her as well. They began fighting again like a scene out of a comic book. Flames bursting and grunts echoing. It was a sight you would only see on TV. But it was in front of me.
As they were fighting, I noticed from below that the police and more heroes were approaching. I took a breath of relief as I didn't need to jump off a roof to save my life. But both SunBurn and Burgundy are getting closer and closer to me. SunBurn shot a blast of flames towards Burgundy which she dogged, but she was unfortunately in front of me. I got hit with a blast of flames that pushed me off of the building. I guess I was going to go down anyway. I noticed SunBurn's face erupted into shock not only because I was falling. It was what was above me.
I noticed the look on Burgundy's face. It was like she achieved her goal. As if fate wouldn't let me live, a bright purple beam was heading straight towards me and all I could think was "Fuck".