(Over 1000 years ago)
Herobrine, 25, was struggling.
'No magic' Notch had insisted, but without magic, how was he expected to get this tree trunk over?!
He shook his head, irritated, deciding 'screw it' and charging his fingers with energy. Almost immediately the entire tree he had over his shoulder felt light as a feather as he stumbled back to their home.
Deep in jungle forests, among high trees, their home was large and imposing, made of almost every type of wood imaginable, both raw and planked. Cobble foundations stopped it from being blown down by the endless squall of wintery autumn.
He dumped it among piles of wet leaves and mud that stuck to his feet no matter how many times he washed them or stopped in his treks to swipe them against flat stone. It was akin to an adhesive.
He noticed after a moment his ankles were bleeding, evidently he had brushed past some nettles, and as he bent down to press white-luminescence against them to stitch the flesh wounds back together, he heard the front door open, also made of fracturing wood.
"Oh, Brine. Back so soon?" Alex blinked, staring at him. "I thought Notch said no powers; you can't have been that fast"
Herobrine scoffed, standing back up straight. "And i suppose that lunatic expected me to tug bleeding 600 pounds of wood back to the house? He can jump off a ledge"
"Brine!" she repimanded, but her lips quirked, a clear signifier that she was amused. "He's gonna be annoyed, he wants you less dependant on that 'glowy white gunk'"
Herobrine just shrugged, unapologetic. "He's awful upset about me having powers for a guy that can literally bring back the dead and create life. Hell, not even i can do that" he noticed a slight smile curling on her face and pulled her closer to him. She let out a slight yelp but cuddled into his side easily enough as he stepped inside.
"...We should really fix the floor" he commented after a moment, staring pointedly at the broken, misplaced and otherwise unsightly floorplanks. Alex nodded, head resting on his shoulder. "Agreed. Steve is always too tired from building to do so though, and Notch is always busy..."
"...Ruling the known world" Herobrine finished, dropping his sword onto the floor with a clang. He really didn't enjoy how it pressed against his leg when he used rope to keep it at his side. However, it being diamond and thus stronger than the floor, this action only served to fracture the floor yet further.
He turned to her. "We could collaboratively do it at some point, if you're ever so inclined"
She pulled her head back and smiled. "Of course"
At her smile something in his chest pounded, heart palpitating, but this response from his body seemed to agitate his power. Head buzzing, he clutched at it, suddenly desperate to see blood. He clawed violently only for a sharp pain to strike him, focusing back to sanity to find himself sprawling on the floor, bleeding from the eyes with Alex stood over him with a raised hand and a truly fearful look on her face.
He had wanted to comfort her; to assure her that it was simply a momentary lapse in concentration. His power overtook him. Minor. Unimportant.
But he couldn't bring himself to lie to her.
These episodes were getting worse and worse.
.
.
(Current Time)
.
.
"Something in the air feels different" Radar idly commented, staring through his gelled fringe up at the sky. A girl next to him smiled, carrying a large stack of firewood. "I felt that too, do you think the seasons are changing?"
He turned to her. "I doubt it, this would be over a month early. Oh well..." he rolled his shoulders. "I doubt it's anything worrying"
She looked unbothered and simply continued on her way, but he dwelled on her words. So it wasn't just him feeling this!
He somewhat wished he could discuss it with Jesse, but the brunette hero had become ever more reclusive as of late, almost feeling unnaproachable.
Radar remembered the Jesse who helped him through the ice palace, who defended him from Stella, who entertained his nonsense in the sunshine institute...
And now thought of the current Jesse. The introverted, anti-social, cautious and paranoid man who had turned him awkwardly away at his door.
He felt rather like crying.
.
.
Stella sighed as she strolled the semi-fixed streets of Champion city. The polished marble was still somewhat cracked, and the walls somewhat charred, but ignoring that it almost looked it's former glory - from before the Admin decided to snap his fingers and sic lightning on it.
Some people had to be kept on bed rest for several days or hooked to an iv from their burn or shock injuries, but thankfully no one was permanantly scarred or killed.
She had remembered a mere 2 days after the Admin had been brought down, he - Romeo - had hammered on her door, looking fearful. She had scowled and nearly shut the door on him, only to pause as he desperately poured out an apology that tore the breath from his throat, unable to breath for several seconds after, seeming nigh feverish. Then he had asked, with a wretched tone (and face showing any kind of hope steadily ebbing out at her flat expression) as he desperately managed to blurt out "Did anyone die?!"
She had been stunned. And all she could make out in response was a bewildered "...Huh?"
He repeated his enquiry, now looking ready to throw himself off a bridge. She noticed the heavy purple beneath his eyes, indicating insomnia, and the way he seemed to curl in on himself. All of his confidence as an Admin had been completely stripped.
'...The hell happened between him and Jesse?'
She kept her voice dry of any warmth as she responded with a tart "No. Nobody died" and the way his face crumpled with insurmountable relief floored her. Was this even the same man that had psuedo-kidnapped her a fortnight ago?
Then she looked about, saw the way the citizens within vicinity glared at him, saw the murderous intent in their eyes, and pulled him in before he could protest.
Talking was awkward, but necessary. Though after this talk she hadn't seen him since.
Hmm...
.
.
Xara glanced at Romeo as he helped with the rebuilding, and couldn't help but wince for him when a villager 'accidentally' bumped into him, sending him to the floor. She hated him, yes, but her vindictiveness was mostly resricted to comments. She didn't see the pleasure in harming someone just for kicks. That was just lowering you to their level.
And Romeo. That moron was still wearing a hoodie in this heat. She wondered idly if he was hiding his old scar from when he met Herobrine (it was admittedly rather hideous) or if he had something newer.
She shook her head firmly. She shouldn't care. Couldn't. Didn't.
She watched silently as he laughed off the sarcastic and loaded apology the villager gave him, expression nervous, sweeping up the dirt and packing it in, seemingly not caring that he was on his hands and knees doing so until he stood up again.
A passerby shot him a scowl.
His nails dug into his palm.
"At this rate" she muttered "They'll kill him before Herobrine even has the chance to"
.
.
Harper paused, flint in hand, hovering over the small stack of firewood. Ivor blinked at her. "Harper, are you going to...?"
"Ah. Yes" she snapped out of her seemingly meaningless lapse in concentration, setting the wood ablaze before tucking the flint back into her pocket. He set up a spit-roast with a pig and they sat on a log beside it. Ivor looked up at the stars.
"I imagine it's daytime for Jesse and the others. Worlds are strange" he murmered, before smiling at her. "I don't miss them as much as i thought i would - camping is rather enjoyable"
She smiled slightly at him. "Do i contribute to that enjoyment?"
His face went crimson. "O-of course!"
She laid her head on his shoulders. He was so cute when flustered.
But even in such a peaceful environment, she still felt unsettled by how she had zoned out before. She didn't know why.
They fell asleep in front of the fire.
.
.
Jesse had wanted to avoid pain. He really had.
But he had popped into the mines (awkwardly greeing Radar, who seemed more upset than usual) had picked up a pickaxe and stepped down...
To promptly trip and skin his knee.
He had hissed, eyes narrowed, clutching the torn skin, and that was all it took for the voice to flood him again.
'Jesse...'
"No!" he growled, standing up, walking forward with a limp. "No. You won't ruin my day. And i won't give into you, Herobrine. Stay away from my head"
A pause.
'You'll cave in eventually'
"Let's wait and see" he growled, eyes flashing. "Until then, back off"
There wasn't a response, so he just went into mining as he had planned.
In a reflective stone, he saw his eyes flicker white.
He paled and told himself it was a trick of the light.