Archer slid down the wall, his face in his hands, wholly uncaring of the soot and grime he was rubbing all over it. “I should’ve done more,” he muttered. “I should’ve. Fuck. I didn’t think. I mean, she was right there. I was talking to her and then—and then—“

Once upon a time being a hero had made him feel invincible. Non-Enhanced thought they had Enhanced leashed, collared, but they were scared of what Enhanced could do. Archer liked that. They’d treated Enhanced like shit for years, they deserved to be afraid. So when Chandler—his longtime friend despite him being Non-Enhanced—started talking about creating some hero agency, Archer agreed. They were eighteen-year-old idiots back then, and Chandler had too much money from his old man.

New Vision was born. Chandler called it their baby and Archer told him he wouldn’t be paying any child support. For a while Archer was the only hero they had. Chandler was working with lawyers to get permits for everything. Archer could barely help an old lady cross the street without authorities being involved. Apparently being a hero was a threat.

Eventually, because Chandler wasn’t known for giving up, they made it happen. Archer, at twenty-one, was a hero known as Hotshot with legal permits to be able to shoot bullets made out of fire from his fingertips.

Chandler was the one that suggested recruiting more heroes. Archer had been against it at first. He sort of liked being the only one, the first hero, the one Non-Enhanced look for when they needed help. It made being an Enhanced not such a horrible thing. But eventually he relented, Chandler was persuasive like that.

Sun-Young joined after that. She was lovely. Always smiling and willing to help, known as Pixie for the little wings she made out of ice. Archer and Chandler fell in love with her. Tale as old as time. They fought over her, destroyed their life long friendship over something they called love. In the end it hadn’t mattered, Sun-Young fell in love with a Non-Enhanced. Some guy who worked on repairing phones and TVs. Archer was suddenly embarrassed for having acted as he had. Some girl, no matter how beautiful, shouldn’t get in the middle of his friendship. Archer tried to apologize to Chandler, but the damage was done. They were really never the same after that. The Crusaders formed in the middle of their fighting, another hero agency that was stealing attention from New Vision, and Chandler was too busy to hangout like he used to.

It wasn’t as fun anymore. Archer had to grow up after that.

You were a breath of fresh air. Sidekicks weren’t a thing until Chandler introduced you to him. Archer was more excited to have someone to be around. So it became you and Hotshot, the hero and sidekick duo.

A call came in about a standoff at a school. You two were called in, but Sun-Young offered her assistance. Archer had told her to stay back, that she had a baby to watch out for. Sun-Young wouldn’t take no for an answer.

“Maternity leave was driving me insane,” she’d said. She’d been so alive. “Seong-Su’s with his dad. He’ll be fine without me for a while.”

Archer said yes. He’d signed her death certificate and held it up for grabs.

Shots were fired the moment you all arrived at the scene. There were negotiations that didn’t work, and then it was agreed the heroes would go before the cops. They were Enhanced, more durable. Archer knew they thought they were expendable, but he hadn’t bothered to argue. Where was Sun-Young standing then? Had she realized?

He’d led the two of you in. Archer. Hotshot. There was only supposed to be one gunman, not two. He hadn’t seen the second one.

It was a split second decision. A gun was raised and he tackled you to the floor, protecting you over Sun-Young. One bullet and she was down. Archer took the gunmen out after, adrenaline pumping through him. It wasn’t until you were alone with him that he broke down.

“She just had her baby,” he whispered. “It’s my fault. I should’ve told her to go home.” He looked up at you like you’d have an answer. Absolve him of his guilt.