It wasn't that no one had taken a liking to him – through the years, several had come and gone. It wasn't that he had commitment issues – he would protect the ones he loved to his last breath.
Chase had always been one to contemplate every aspect of a situation before acting. Weighing pros and cons, analyzing the possible outcomes and consequences, making the right decision when no one else knew what to do: it was just who he was. What he was made for to begin with.
Therefore naturally, the same thinking pattern applied to his feelings too.
He had always turned to facts and statistics to justify things, but love… love just didn't make sense. He knew it was an ancient survival instinct, but as humans developed and became more complex, so did relationships.
Love – or attraction, depending how you want to see it – defies all rational thinking. You risk so much for something that most of the time doesn't last, and still people decide to take the leap. Why?
"Happily ever after." That's what they say. But how often does it really apply? What is the point of engaging in a relationship, when it as much as 80-85% of the time ends in break-up? Especially in high school, where hormones are running high among the tumultuous thoughts that come with puberty.
Sure, he had had a fair share of love interests and crushes.
Danielle.
Sabrina.
Reese…
Even Christina – the robot he had built.
But how well had those relationships gone? 100% of them had gone wrong some way. Okay, 80% would be more accurate. Sabrina understood eventually, but their interaction never was the same again.
His experiences didn't just support the facts – they proved them.
Embarrassment, nonreciprocity, endangerment, betrayal…
That was what he had gotten for taking the chance. Or risk, as it had become with time.
And that didn't even address the fact that being a bionic hero meant danger constantly loomed above like a dark cloud. As you say, evil never rests. You could never let your guard down. It was hard enough to protect his family, friends and even civilians from their foes. A significant other provided another target, another weakness. Love blinds you, clouds your judgement. Corrupted judgement rendered his super-intelligence close to useless.
So he wasn't alone because he wanted to be – he chose to be. To avoid being hurt. To avoid putting more people he loved in harm's way. It was for the best, wasn't it?
Anyway, perhaps he didn't need that kind of love. First and foremost, he had his family. Even if they teased each other more often than not and didn't always get along, they were there for him. They cared mutually for one another. And that was more than enough for him, right?
Still, some nights, he would find himself gazing at the stars - defying every rational thought in his mind - longing for something more; something greater. Missing something without even knowing or understanding exactly why.
Longing… dreaming… of somebody to love.
Well... I have no idea where this came from. It just suddenly... came. This isn't the type of story I would normally write. Once again my irrational thoughts seem to be taking over...
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! Feedback in whatever form is welcome! :)