I slam against a nearby building,
ricocheting off the crumbling stone wall
and collapsing onto the cracked asphalt
below, only to get up again,
pick up my shield again, throw
it, hurtling, at the enemy again.
I am the soldier.
I fly above the fight in
the city, searching for where I
could be needed, looking for my
teammates, their faces, hoping to help
them, to aid them, my heart
humming, gleaming brightly in my chest.
I am the engineer.
I scream and shout and shriek
in pain, rage pulsing through my
veins, racing like cars on the
home stretch, skin tight over swollen
muscle, fists clenched, crushing steel and
concrete in my fingers, eyes blazing.
I am the scientist.
I crouch atop the highest building,
eyes narrowed, flitting over rubble and
debris, intently following the progress of
my team members, drawing taut the
string, knocking back the arrow, my
grip loose, taking aim, letting go.
I am the sniper.
I move impulsively, cocking back the
safety and firing a litany into
the enemy approaching, leaping over broken
buildings and fractured car parts, lodging
bullets into every passing villain, bringing
down criminals three times my size.
I am the warrior.
I land solidly in the center
of the battle, cape billowing wildly
at my shoulders, a crater left
underfoot, swinging my weapon forward into
the fray, taking out dozens of
advancers, lightning crackling beneath my skin.
I am the prince.
We fight fiercely, until dawn, destroying
warlords and armies rivaling against us,
scouting for survivors and innocents alike
amongst the destruction left behind us,
paying our respects to others and
the children staring hopefully at us.
We are the heroes.
