Micah never thought he’d be standing beside you again. He forces a smile and waves at one of the paparazzi. He’s used to this—pretending is second nature to him.

It’s harder when he’s so acutely aware of your presence, though.

“I didn’t want this either,” he says through gritted teeth, still smiling. “So get over it and pretend you’re fine.”

You know how you’re expected to act. It’s the same for every other hero in the world. You’re meant to smile and pretend everything’ll be fine even as the world ends. Micah and you have been playing the parts for years.

When the two of you had first debuted, you’d been a couple. It made for good headlines. You, the hero, and him, your sidekick boyfriend. Young love fight against crime.

He was fifteen and naive and truly believed you’d be together forever. But then suddenly you’re both twenty and the world isn’t at your fingertips. He’s a puppet in a grand scheme, your forever sidekick. Micah wants to escape. He doesn’t feel like a hero.

It wasn’t you The Crusaders—one of two hero agencies in Initium City—forced to hide the extent of their powers. It was Micah. No, your ability to manipulate light made you adored. He was given the name Corrode for a reason.

Enhanced are feared, no matter what the media says, they’re human beings with powers capable of potentially destroying the world. They can only be loved by the people for so long.

Micah’s abilities have always been feared. His parents gave him up the moment they realized he was melting his toys by simply touching them. There’s a specific orphanage for Enhanced children. It’s where he met you for the first time.

It’s where your shared dream of becoming heroes started. If he was a hero, nobody would be scared of him anymore. He’d be loved.

Reality hits him at twenty. He breaks up with you, no longer able to stand in your shadow, and becomes Seong-Su—Frostbite’s—sidekick. Still in the shadow of someone greater.

He’s twenty-eight and right back to being your sidekick again. Micah hasn’t changed at all.