Author's Note: This is a short one-shot I wrote for the CommentFic community on LiveJournal. The prompt was "beyond duty." I've been wanting to write a "Wreck-It Ralph" fic for awhile, and this prompt was perfect. The story is set during the end of the movie beginning with when Ralph was trying to escape the game with Vanellope. (All dialogue is from the movie itself, and not mine.) Hope you enjoy.

-0-0-0-0-0-

If this day had taught Ralph anything, it was he had a duty to his game. Without him, "Fix-It Felix Jr." would be unplugged and Felix and the Nicelanders would be homeless.

He had a duty to survive this day and return to his game and be the bad guy they needed.

"It's ok, Ralph," Vanellope said, and he knew she was trying her best to look strong.

What hurt the most was that she meant what she said. She had no escape from the game. She knew she would die, either when the cy-bugs reached her, or, if by some miracle she could escape them, when "Sugar Rush" was eventually unplugged. But she wanted to make sure her hero was safe.

"Just go," she continued. "Just go without me."

He'd wanted to be a hero so bad and instead he ruined Vanellope's game and was about to cost her her life.

Then Calhoun mentioned the beacon and everything came into focus. And he knew what he had to do. Not because this was all his fault - which it was - but because it was the right thing to do.

He had a duty to survive, but he still had to take the risk to save a little girl.

And it all went so well until Turbo showed up, or at least the mutated version of him. Ralph wasn't used to fighting somebody bigger than him, but the pain from the creature's blows paled in comparison to his fear of failing.

Then he was in the air, looking down at the bridge and Calhoun and Felix and Vanellope.

"Let's watch her die together," Turbo sneered. "It's game over for both of you."

And for the second time in a matter of minutes, Ralph had a moment of clarity. He saw a way out of this. Not for him, but just maybe for Vanellope.

Sure, he had a duty to his game to survive this. Without him, "Fix-It Felix Jr." would be unplugged.

But some things went beyond duty. And this was one of them.

"No, just for me," Ralph replied, never more sure of anything in his life.

And then he was falling, knowing that she would be okay. And that was good enough for him.