introduction to heroism.

“   what?   yeah.   a  grenade  was  thrown  at  you  and  i  saved  your  life.   you're  welcome.   ”   she  replies  like  it's  easy,  like  it's  something  she  does  every  day,  which  is  somewhat  true.   “   you're  new  here,  aren't  you?   i'm  sure  someone's  filming.   the  news  or  something.   i  highly  doubt  they're  focused  on  you,  though.   but  you're  in  the  sidelines  of  a  robbery.   are  you  okay?   i  can  get  you  out  of  here,  if  you  want.   ”

“   have  you  met  this  person  before?   uh,  vincent  hunter?   ”   she  asks,  turning  her  head  to  look  at  phoebe.   violet  tries  to  pay  attention  to  the  news,  the  important  people  in  the  country,  but  when  it  comes  to  civilians  who  are  requesting  help,  wanting  to  bring  them  something  that  will  help  them,  she  often  doesn't  know  who  they  are  until  she  gets  the  request  from  hero  league.   it's  often  hard  to  keep  up  with  people  who  are  trying  to  make  a  name  for  themselves,  everyone  now  wants  to  be  great.   violet's  never  felt  this  way,  though,  having  spent  her  adolescence  yearning  to  be  average.   “   i  don't  think  i  have.   i  feel  like  the  city's  growing  every  day.   ”

“   you're  not  supposed  to  smoke  there,   ”   she  says  simply,  eyes  lifting  from  the  magazine  in  her  hands.   her  head  tilts  toward  the  sign  not  too  far  away.   “   don't  worry,  i  won't  tell.   what's  your  name?   ”

“   i  just  took  my  last  final  today,   ”   she's  wearing  an  all  too  wide,   &   all  too  relieved  grin  across  her  features,  warm   &   honeyed  toward  the  other.   “   we  have  to  celebrate!   drinks  on  me?   ”

“   i'm  sorry,  i  promise  i'll  leave  soon.   ”   it's  finals  week,   &   perhaps  that's  evident  by  the  darkened  circles  beneath  her  eyes   &   the  fact  that  her  eyes  haven't  left  the  laptop  screen  in  front  of  her  nearly  the  entire  time  she's  been  sitting  at  the  restaurant.   next  to  her  laptop  is  a  half-eaten  sandwich   &   watered down  coke.   “  finals  week  just   ...   doesn't  let  me  get  out  of  my  seat.    ”

“   well,  yes,   ”   she  answers,  features  lifting  into  a  small  smile.   normalcy  has  always  been  a  distant  dream,  unable  to  be  grasped,  always  falling  through  her  fingers.   it's  difficult  to  find  the  balance  between  a  normal  life,   &   the  heroics  she's  called  for.   her  former  self  used  to  shrink   &   wish  she  were  just  like  her  schoolmates   &   friends.   lacking  powers  with  the  only  worry  in  the  world  being  prom,   &   not  the  state  of  the  city,  not  concealing  her  identity   &   making  sure  no  one  finds  out  who  they  are  despite  violet  thinking  it’s  obvious,  anyway.   “   having  powers  isn't  so  bad,  y'know.   but  you  know  what  they  say.   responsibility.   ”