#fff18

          The god damned arrogance! “Are you kidding me?? Mr Hero In Training wants to brain wipe me, his friend, because my parents are protective? God Damn it Dillan! What are you thinking? You’re right! I am an adult and I choose to stay with my folks. I happen to like them! Let me go already! This is ridiculous!” This was exactly why her parents were protective in the first place. When she was born, delicate and doe-eyed, her fate had been written in her soft features. In a world of heroes and villains, she’d been assigned the role of Damsel. In a way, she’d expected to face this situation one day, but not like this. How could she have known that Dillan would go screwy? He was alignment checked – chaotic good – and halfway through his hero course. More than that, he was her friend. Now he was hovering over her, awkwardly avoiding the daggers she glared into his stupid superman t-shirt.

          “Look, it’s really not even a big deal. I’ll count down, touch your head and poof! You won’t remember anything bad either! I wouldn’t do that to you. Y’know, lots of people would love to forget their past. I’m doing you a service.” He faltered at her stormy face. “A-anyway. It’s not like I’m going to tell you anything weird like we’re dating or whatever. Just trust me, it’ll all turn out. I don’t even know why I’m telling you all thi-”

          “You’re monologing because you’re a godDAMMED VILLAIN!”

          He took a moment steadying himself from her outburst. “I guess I’m just trying to make things easier for you. Anyway, I’ll count down from three and you’ll get to start a whole new life.”

          “Seriously, stop! I don’t want this! Whatever you’re going through, we can talk about it! Please, just let me go!”

          Three

          Alex had met Dillan at university. Her parents were apprehensive about her studying, rathering she get a non-descript job at a little bookshop or something, but nothing could dissuade her from psychology. She wanted to help other Damsels who’d been toyed with in some comic book game, then tossed away once the level cleared. She wanted to help villains overcome whatever had pushed them towards evil in the first place. You can’t solve every problem by punching it after all. Their classes ended up working together on a joined assignment. Heroes and psychs preparing for future collaboration. A paired assignment and, unsurprisingly, Alex was the last approached. It’s not all that convenient to be associated with a Damsel after all. Dillan all but tripped into the room, tardiness becoming his trademark over the following classes, and was stuck with who he could get. Dillan was being trained to use his mind control power to de-escalate hostage situations and Alex was all about cognitive mechanisms. They had a lot in common and got along very well. Alex’s parents were ecstatic that she’d finally made a university friend. His hero status wasn’t great news, but at least he’d look out for her, right? That’s how they made peace with it at least. She didn’t want to lose their time together.

          Two

          Alex’s other friend, Wisteria, had a smeared name, like her. Unlike her, she was no Damsel. Dark hair, smoky eyes, and a mystery at the best of times, she wore her alignment like a cloak. Chaotic evil. Villain material in the making. Her ability didn’t help matters. They met in self defence class. She always had a quiet kindness about her, hard to see to those who were not looking. Alex offered to help her with a shoulder throw she was struggling with. They worked until Alex couldn’t take it anymore. Wisteria’s under breath quips getting the best of Alex, leaving her cackling on the floor like a moron. Their friendship thrived in the form of a contest. Whoever could make the other smile more, won. Wisteria’s advantage of a naturally stoic countenance may have left her reigning champion, but they were both cramping with laughter by the end of their frequent meetings. Would Wisteria keep smiling without her?

          One

          Was this all because Alex had bailed on a party invite? She’d been chatting with Dillan that morning and he’d started talking about an upcoming party. It was 90% hero first years and Alex just couldn’t deal with that level of drunken ego today. Polite pass with an excuse about promising to be home early. Something about crimes on the news, parental worry, yadda yadda. Dillan had laughed it off, promising to snapchat a play-by-play commentary. It was all the usual stuff. That was until they were walking off to class. Alex had gone to jump the fence. A spectacular fail. She slipped, landing on her back like a geriatric turtle, winded. Next thing she knew, she was tied to a goddamned chair about to be reprogrammed. Dillan must’ve taken advantage of her lowered defences, sneaking into her brain while it was still trying to get breathing back on track. It didn’t matter. Not anymore. He was going to fry her. She didn’t bother stifling her sobs. What about Captain Fluffington? Who’s going to explain to him what happened? Is he going to spend his life thinking she’d abandoned him? She didn’t want this she didn’t want this she didn’t want this!!

          Restart

          One breathy word. Alex screwed her eyes shut. She didn’t want to forget. She braced against the oncoming touch. It never came. Squinting through cracked eyelids, she could have screeched with joy. Dillan was grunting, struggling to move. Wisteria loomed in the doorway. Murder etched into her face, she almost shook with anger. Her shadow snaked across the floor, clamping onto Dillan’s with its intangible hands, rooting him in place.

          “You told people Alex was with me last!? Way to throw me under the bus you intolerable drivel merchant!”

          Her fist smashed his jaw. An audible crack and he crumpled, a suspended ragdoll until her shadow released him. He moaned when she nudged him but didn’t get up.

          “Sorry it took so long Lex. The police didn’t believe I was in class all day. We had to show them surveillance footage so they’d let me go.” She made quick work of unbuckling Alex. “You okay?”

          As much as Alex wanted to brush it off and play it cool, all she could manage was a watery ‘Mn hm’. It had been so close. Half a second longer… A tidal wave of relief and what ifs crashed over her. Knees now jelly, she started bawling again. Wisteria wrapped her up in a hug while she cried into her shirt.

          “I ought I asn’tgoinooeeyouagaiiinnn!” (I thought I wasn’t going to see you again.)  

          She chuckled. “You couldn’t get rid of me that easily. This is the sort of stuff I’m training for.”

          Wisteria ran a hand through Alex’s hair and it was the most comforting thing in the whole damned world.

          Managing to calm down to, at least, coherence, Alex whispered “I was so scared Whis.”

          “I know. I’m sorry it took so long. It won’t happen again. I’ll always drop everything to come save your sorry butt. My alignment is chaotically self-interested after all. You are very important to my self.”

          Alex huffed out a laugh. There’s a reason Wisteria’s her best friend.

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