Taarabdh

Taarabdh t1_j0mnzrt wrote

Reply to [WP] Your super power is preventing collateral damage. While the public thinks you're useless, all the other heroes really like you because they can go bonkers all out while you're around. by Time_Significance

Taking it more towards "Established Universe"

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"Kevin finally showed up!" Superman heard in his earpiece. He grinned.

His fight with Darkseid was over one second later. Superman loved not having to hold himself back, especially in this world as fragile as cardboard to him.

"Good work," Batman could be heard on the secure frequencies. "See if Kevin needs your help, otherwise you may return," this was said to him specifically.

"Sure thing!" replied Clark Kent.

He approached the somewhat secluded rooftop.

"Thank you for helping out today!"

"Uhh... It's fine," was Kevin's reply.

"Where is Brainwave?" Superman felt the need to ask. Usually they were inseparable.

"Indisposed," was Kevin's monotone reply.

Something about how he said it didn't sit right with Superman. The increase in Kevin's heartrate was another indication something weird was going on.

"Something you would like to share?" Clark asked with as little suspicion as he could.

Unfortunately, he was never known for his subtlety.

"What is collateral?" Kevin asked him instead.

Superman was back to being confused. "Are you worried about a loan? Justice League helps one of their own, worry not!"

"It is my superpower, you know? Stopping all collateral damage." Kevin continued as if he hadn't said a word. "But who defines what is collateral? What was intended?"

"I remember reading about how Brainwave was helping you attune your mind to react quickly..." Clark lead him on. Already his comms were on, and Batman was listening to every word and doing whatever trickery he did to them.

"Yeah, he helped me a lot, thanks for that, really." Kevin spoke with a finality that Clark didn't like, not at all. "He helped me understand what is or isn't collateral. For that I will forever be thankful to him." There was a smile on Kevin's face.

"Brainwave's comms are offline," came the voice of Batman.

"Whatever he did to my daughter... None of it was collateral. I checked many, many times. It was exactly what he had intended. He made sure I knew."

"Detain him Superman, we can question him from the safety of a secure prison."

"He made sure to let me know, all damage done by you superheroes was collateral, except the one inflicted on the villain. Except the ones you had intended."

Superman was already accelerating, his hands around Kevin's neck so he wouldn't die off a whiplash, his feet ready to jump away, but... he couldn't.

"You are a superhero, and I am a mere bystander. I am no villain, Superman," Kevin said with a sad smile.

Clark increased his force. The concrete under his feet cracked and repaired itself, as did Kevin's clothes under his wrists.

And he remained unmoved.

"If Brainwave was a superhero, even after everything he did... There are no villains on this world, Superman."

And to his growing horror, he realised Darkseid was forming again, his bits and pieces slowly coming together.

"I have a simple task, Superman, and I have come to see it finished. I will see Earth free from all its collateral damage."

And then Superman felt the sun slip away from his skin.

"You don't need all that heat damaging your skin, now, do you?"

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Taarabdh t1_j0k10a8 wrote

Reply to [WP] Soon after joining the League of Justice, you learned that most of the villains are also part of the league, with they and the heroes mostly just being actors in spandex. Their true purpose is to entertain a group of eldritch beings who would destroy this world should they get bored. by dont-mention-it

Looking back, it was pretty naive to think that a badge would solve all my problems.

I was eleven when the world stopped for 5 seconds. And then it lurched back, going upon its ponderous journey. My parents didn't believe me, of course, because doing that would mean that I was special in some way. We couldn't have such nonsense spread around the community!

I was thirteen when a bully who threatened me was on the pavement, with nobody the wiser as to how that had happened. And if I hid my wrists for a week after, nobody noticed.

I was starting to wonder if I had the power of invisibility as well.

My seventeenth birthday was the day I became an orphan. Another latex wearing asshole had decided that this was the day to trash a car dealership. My new car burned with my parents inside them.

I put away the decorations myself, turns out 5 seconds can't bring back the dead. But it sure as hell is a long while to send someone to death's doors.

At some point the long coat I wore to shield myself from the weather became a symbol. Ha, take that, mom.

Turns out 5 seconds isn't enough time to mourn, either.

It was two weeks ago that I received an official invitation to join the League. While I had assumed I would receive one, I never did know if it would be from the heroes or the villains.

I had been true on both counts.

The entity called erathmus regarded me, curiousity writhing on his face with the thousand moving spindles.

"I sense nothing in him," came his voice from somewhere. "What a waste of character," he spoke.

5 seconds cannot bring back the dead. But 5 seconds is more than enough to send them a gift. It was the season of Christmas after all.

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Taarabdh t1_iy4cuzm wrote

Reply to comment by Ataraxidermist in [WP] Every time you cooked over a campfire, you would throw some food into the fire as an offering to the gods. One evening, just as you're about to perform your little campfire ritual, you hear a voice behind you say "You know, I would very much prefer my food un-burnt." by DragoTheFloof

Chilling, and yet full of curiousity about so many directions it could go.

Would work very well as a take on Jekyll and Hyde. Or even an example of Frankenstein's monster done right.

Such a good response to the prompt. Thank you for sharing it.

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