Chibiyu: So I completely forgot what I wrote and it's not even 4 days in the future.
Nick: Is school already murdering you?
Chibiyu: Yup.
Nick: *Is worshipping school*
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She laughed and waved to me over her shoulder. "Please, like anyone could ever tame me."
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Nick's PoV
I had known that this day would be a long one when I put my hands in the air and surrender to the so-called 'Great' Tac without so much of a fight.
I sighed heavily, focusing solely on putting on foot in front of the other as I walked without a destination. I knew it would only be a matter of time before my idiotic brothers would drive next to me and yank me into the car. I fingered my dog tag, wishing that I was oblivious to the tracker they had installed in it years ago, but nothing gets by me. I can't afford to let anything go unnoticed. If I do…
I shuddered at the thought, unable to not raise my gaze to the horizon. Tombstones; rows marking the dead with their dusty cracks and immobile silhouettes all gathered into my mind's eye. Forgotten names and untold pasts crowded my vision until I couldn't see anything but the long since memorized words. Words of those killed, words of those loved, words of those who are just like me: Normal. Children and teenagers who never got to see their second decade of life because of poorly made bets, mistakes, and terrible circumstance and greed. Lives that were taken because they were bet upon, like Joe had done to mine. Lives lost by so-called Heroes who ran from the self-destruct without taking the hand of their sibling. Deaths that could have been avoided, if anyone had given a shred of care towards them. They're nothing now. No visitors other than me. No flowers. Only weeds and only a blurred out names.
My fists clenched tightly as my heart purged itself of acceptance. Those Heroes were blind and they paid the price for their ignorance. I hope that my brothers learn their lesson before I end up sleeping with the rest of the forgotten. There is no eternal glory of a Normal, only for the Heroes that doomed them.
This is our life. My life.
I threw a glare over my shoulder, in vain hopes that my brothers would be there, watching me. But all I saw was an empty street.
Everything was always about them – the Heroes. They had light shining out of every orifice and they could never do a wrong deed, even if it was murder. In the eyes of the public, of their fans, they were no less than Gods. I scowled at them for letting their vision become clouded with the false propaganda. Their victories always had a dark side; a side the media didn't show. No one knew who died. No one knew who suffered from the battle. They only knew that good had once against trumped the 'evil.
And the Villains? You would think they were all devils with the way people spat their names and cursed their very lives. I knew better. I cursed the Heroes; I only loathed the Villains. But there is a difference. I hate all Heroes. I can stand most Villains.
My eyes flicked over when sirens sounded and I had to just roll my eyes, knowing that Paragon was the cause. She was the sweetest girl a person could know; protective, loving, and devious, almost like a sister; and yet she was a villain. She was hated for the side she chose. For the side she was forced to take. When young grow up from nothing it's difficult to not steal. It's difficult to save those who refused you a dollar. Paragon can't be blamed. She isn't even bad. Sure she robbed a few places, but never anything life changing; just items to survive. And sure, she loves to fight, but she will never kill. But everyone knows her as a monster.
Heroes. Villains. That's all there seems to be in this day and age. But what about the siblings who received the short end of the stick?
I'm a Normal. My family has powers, but I do not. Why? Because in every family, one child will not receive the genetic code for powers. One child, whether the first born or the last born, will not have powers. That child will be kidnaped, held for ransom, and destroyed just to get to their sister, brother, or parents. That child won't live passed 20.
That child is me. Mom, Dad, Kevin, Joe and Frankie all have powers. What do I get? My name slated for death. I'm 19 now. I only have another year before I break the record for the longest living Normal in this town.
The Villains – the evil ones – won't let me do that.
I'm not afraid. I've known this all my life: I always knew that I was going to die young. What else could I do but to accept it? No one knows the reason why I am this way; without powers. No one even cares to study it anymore. But I know why one person is cursed to this life. It is so they can be blessed with the gift of sight. Only my kind can see through the mirrors of secrets and through the bottles of broken lies in order to find the love in the side everyone hates. Every Hero seems to have forgotten something that Normals instantly understand: Villains are people too.
I shook my head, letting it drop again, my feet finding a pebble to kick. Perhaps my passing will knock some sense into their heads. All of my family has been unbearable the past few years: always dogging my steps, treating me like I'm weak and worthless, and acting as if they are the ones how do the work. I can understand it all – they just want me to live – but I won't be able to live if they keep coddling me. I am not weak. I am not worthless. And I do most of the work for them. The sooner they understand that, the sooner I will stop throwing my hands in the air when a Villain informs me that I will be coming with them.
"Nick!" I closed my eyes briefly at the aggravated call. I came to a halt and turned, facing Kevin's car window and waiting as Joe rolled down the tinted black so I could properly see his enraged face. "You shouldn't have gone with her."
"And you shouldn't be impersonating Clark Kent." I remarked, pointing slightly towards his glasses in jest. He didn't smile; who can blame him? "I'm ok, aren't I?
"No!" Kevin inserted, leaning forward and shifting his gaze from concerned to a glare. "You're not ok!" I frowned at him, knowing exactly what I was; pissed. "You can't go hanging around with her, Nicholas! She is [i]bad[/i]. She is [i]wanted[/i]. She is changing you!"
I rocked back on my heel and shoved my hands into my pockets, letting out a deep sigh. "No, you've done that. [i]Both[/i] of you."
Confused looks were exchanged and I bit my tongue. How could they not know about their inflated egos? How could they not see that I'm not their 'little' brother anymore? How can they be blind to the fact that they aren't the greatest thing in the world?
"Paragon isn't what you think," I whispered, ready to defend the only person who was actually on my side. The one person who shared my feelings towards both categories; Heroes and Villains.
"Villains are deceitful by nature," Kevin told me, shivering at me deep growl.
"And Heroes are hateful to those above them." With that statement, I turned swiftly and walked down an alley way, one the car couldn't fit into.
They don't understand. I doubt they ever will.
My eyes flicked up, the sight causing the corner to my lips to curve. Sunlight was filtering through the opening, the power lines casting zebra-shadows onto the ground, but I wasn't smirking at that. No, I was now laughing at the squirrel on said power line with a box of tampons clutched tightly within its mouth.
"Way to go, Para," I complimented, watching the brown fluff ball wink before struggling to scamper off.
A rock flew up, and nailed my friend. She screaked in pain; her much needed stolen good falling from her mouth and into my awaiting hands. We both glared, sneers hard on our faces when Joe snapped his arm forward, releasing another trajectory.
"Get out of here, you bitch!"
Paragon screamed; the hairs on the back of my neck stood at the haunting sound, high pitched, unending, and without waver. Kevin clapped his hands to his eyes, looking guilty that he pointed out her presence to Joe. The stupid brother threw another stone. I closed my eyes, not wanting to what she did to him.
The sound of skin meeting talon was enough of a description for me.
Paragon wasn't bad; it was the people around her who were. If there were no Heroes, would there be any Villains? [i]They[/i] instigated the fights. [i]They [/i]caused them to become who they are today. [i]They [/i]shaped them and first called them "evil."
I held out my arm as I turned to the mouth of the alley at the opposite end. I heard Joe call out to me and Kevin spit out insults. I felt something light plop down on my outstretched arm before hopping onto my shoulder. I held her needed goods out, knowing that she would take them without word and fly off. When she did, only then did I turn and see the scratches along Joe's arms and face. No sympathy rose.
"Stop her!" Joe yelled, pointing to the sky.
"She didn't do anything wrong," I whispered, turning my back to my loved ones. "How are you a Hero," I raised my voice, speaking to the road in front of me though it was well known that they were meant for my brother's ears, "When you're the one throwing stones?"
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Chibiyu: So now you know more. Action stuff coming up next chapter, along with a look into what Nick was thinking about before, with his family. Keep in mind, Joe is not an ass hole for doing what he did. Put yourself in his shoes. Until Next Update! (9/26/11)
Did you catch the Superman reference?
