"Well, I guess I can't complain. I've only had to put my hands on two giant angry douchebags."

"Yeah well, Axel it was for the greater good. Josh might have killed Dean if you weren't there."

"Well not to play the blame game, but Dean wouldn't have provoked Josh so badly if you didn't tell him love was more important that his story."

"Well how the hell was I supposed to know he would take it so literally?"

"Because….you're the psychologist?"

"What, I'm not allowed to mess up from time to time?"

"I didn't say that, but even I knew telling Dean to drop everything for love was a bad idea."

"So why the fuck did you basically pass me the mic?!"

"I just assumed you would say something…I dunno….better that that!"

"Like what Axel? Like what?"

"I don't know hon."

"Look, I felt bad for him."

"Dean?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"Well, he was just another lonely guy that didn't have a lot of success in his love life. Guess I can't help myself."

"Well Kyu, even for a 'lonely' guy he seemed pretty happy and content. He has a….well…I guess 'had' a best friend, a good friend that was a possible romantic interest, and a simple but admirable dream."

"Of course I realize that now. And yet again, by trying to help, I fucked up someone's life instead."

"I wouldn't say his life is fucked up yet. Soon, but not yet."

"Thanks, that makes me feel a lot better. Thanks sugar."

"Well why did you have to go tell him he needs love first?"

"Look, love isn't as dumb and annoying as a lot of you guys seem to think. I wasn't kidding when I told him writers are the most miserable people I ever met. I just didn't want him to go down that path, so I figured try and convince him to secure his happiness as soon as possible just in case."

"But he didn't need to yet, did he?"

"No. Not at all."

"Look, don't hold your head down in guilt like that."

"Why not? I basically lied to this guy, telling him to get laid before trying to become a writer. And look what happened. His best friend wanted to kill him, he's too stressed and traumatized to do anything, and you said Nikki told Audrey she isn't too sure about him now. All because I tried being a love fairy again."

"Welp, I honestly can't argue with you there. But hey. You're the one that had the spidey sense that something was wrong, and you're the one with the 'borrowed' fairy technology that figured out Dean lives a half hour away us."

"Yeah, well… you drove and caught the big guy's punch."

"It ain't a competition."

It's a weird rush, I'll tell ya. Even though I almost committed murder, protecting Kyu and Audrey from that dick was one of the very first times I ever felt like a hero. If I had to pinpoint some details, you get the rush of a hero when you prevent someone from experiencing pain.

When I walked into that diner, I wasn't expecting having to rush into action. I wasn't expecting to rip off my shirt exposing the big 'S'. But when I stopped the biggest punch that diner ever saw, I got that rush again. But it hit me a million times harder.

Protecting Kyu and Audrey was the hero I knew I kind of wanted to be. Stopping the punch, was the hero I had to be. Which can only explain the massive rush. I guess you can only feel the true thrill of being a hero when you don't plan on being one.

"Look, Axel…I…"

"Dean, you aren't gonna be doing any talking anytime soon."

After stopping Josh, a couple other guys joined in. I was glad that no one else felt the need to try and restrain Josh as well, but instead just used their words to calm things down. Josh let go of Dean, before running out of the diner without saying another word. He left without Dean, and he left even without his underage date.

I never met him before, all I know about him was what he screamed in that diner. Hearing him yell, I knew deep down he was a broken man. But seeing him run away made me realize he was broken a long time ago.

Me and Kyu offered Dean and the girl a ride home. After dropping the girl off, we got to Dean's house. I sat him on the couch, and asked Kyu to leave the room.

I am not some old wise man. But I was wiser and older than Dean, so that was the role I needed to play.

"This is gonna be your turn to listen some more. And the first thing I want you to listen to is hearing me say that I am sorry."

I could see by the struggle in his shoulders, Dean wanted to look up and look me in the eyes.

"Me and Kyu were supposed to help you. All we had to do was help you write a story. But instead, we got carried away and tried helping you in your love life too. After experiencing our own share of drama and struggles, we know how difficult but spontaneous love can be. We overstepped our boundaries, and in doing so we seemed to have flipped your simple life upside down. And again, for that, we apologize greatly."

I could see Dean give me the slightest of nods.

"But nonetheless, as much as you don't want to hear it, you aren't the only one that's been victimized here."

And with another slight struggle in his shoulders, I could tell that got Dean's very confused attention.

"I never met your friend Josh before. But by hearing about his extremely young girlfriend, I can already tell he has his own problems. But what I heard afterwards, was a sign that you broke a great bond built on a foundation of loyalty and trust. And for that, I can't fault Josh. Only you."

"Hey man, you just fucking said that-"

"Dean, sit down."

"No! This is my house! Get out!"

"Dean, give me a chance to make this right."

"Out!"

"If you want us out of here, either let me say what I wanted to say or call the cops."

"But why…. I just…fucking what? What the fuck could you say that won't make me feel more shitty than I already do!?"

"Sit down, and I'll tell you."

"Okay, what?"

He glared at me. His cheeks were red, eyes were watering, and his veins were bulging. Sorry pal, this shit doesn't scare me anymore.

"That was all the tough love out of the way. I need you to understand you have to be held somewhat accountable. Do you?"

Barely a nod.

"Say it Dean."

"How is this my fault?! Your fiancé told me to forget about the only thing I care about, and my best friend flips out on me because he wants to fuck a kid!"

"Dean, last time I'm gonna say this. Sit down, shut up, and listen."

"Fine. Fine."

"If I want you to say something, I'll tell you to say something. But for now, it's not your job to argue."

I heard the faintest of noises behind me. I now knew Kyu was eavesdropping, but somehow Dean didn't.

"Dean. You misinterpreted what Kyu said. She didn't want you to forget about the story until you had the wife and kids. She just wanted to make sure you kept your priorities in mind. Only focusing on writing will be the lonely death of you, she is right about that. But then again, not doing anything until you discover true love is just as stupid. I'm sorry if maybe her words confused the true motivation behind them. But nonetheless, a young guy like you should have known the difference. So don't go immediately blaming someone else because you weren't told what to do every step of the way."

Since his veins started slowly sinking back into his skin, I'm guessing that means he was starting to calm down and understand what I was saying.

"I know you don't want to hear it. But even though what Josh was doing was definitely wrong, hell even illegal, there was a million ways of going about that better. And almost all of them don't involve breaking Josh's loyalty the way you did. It doesn't take a pro to figure this out. Dean, you are a pretty selfish human being."

To my surprise, the veins sunk in even more. But so did his eyes. But somehow I know that look. That wasn't a look of revelation, that was one of acceptance.

"You knew you were selfish, didn't you."

He gave me the biggest nod yet. Knocking a tear or two loose as well.

"But listen to me. Stop sulking and feeling sorry for yourself, I want you to look at me."

He did, almost like it was something he was trained to do.

"Me and Kyu are gonna make this up to you. It's gonna be up to you to fix this, but damn it we are gonna help."

With yet another nod, he whimpered

"How?"

And on que (whoa, that's a new one. No pun intended there), Kyu walked her way into the room. She placed her hands on my shoulders, and leaned down to put her head next to mine.

"By doing whatever we have to do to bring back the Dean we met on the internet. We want the guy that was telling jokes, the guy that was ready to rule the world with his stories, and the guy that was gonna make himself a bright future. So let's fucking do this guys."

I could see her palm, and after a great little motivational moment, I gave it a great smack. Dean just got blessed with being in the presence of one of our high fives.

And nothing blessed with our high fives is ever in vain.