Something Like a Hero
This is Part Twenty Eight in The Meeting of Breccan & Finbar.
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Hand in hand, Nico and I walked down the stairs, all our supplies packed up. Somehow, I didn’t expect to run into any interference when we left Maris’ house. My stomach twisted in knots, but I drew comfort from Nico’s hand. We could do this; we had to.
As soon as we reached the bottom of the stairs, Finbar accosted us. “Where do you think you’re going, Breccan?”
“I don’t know.” It was the truth; Nico and I had no idea where we were headed.
“You know what I mean,” he growled.
I said, “I’m not sure what you mean, honestly.”
“How can you leave with him?” Finbar’s eyes shined with tears, and his voice cracked.
“I won’t abandon my partner,” I murmured.
“But you abandoned me all too easily when Egan came along!” he cried.
My cheeks prickled with shame. “And for that I am sorry, Finbar.”
“But not sorry enough to stay,” he muttered.
“He’s made his choice,” Nico whispered.
Finbar said, “Breccan, how -- how can you do this when I still want to be with you? I -- I love you.”
My heart stopped beating for a moment. I hadn’t realized the depth of his remaining feelings for me, but the revelation changed nothing. No matter what, I still planned to go with Nico. To reassure the god I wasn’t going to change my mind at the last moment, I gave his hand a small squeeze. I saw Nico smile slightly out of the corner of my eye.
Taking a deep breath, I said, “I -- appreciate your telling me that, Finbar. I truly am sorry for how everything turned out, but I -- I can’t say I feel the same, not anymore. I still wish you well. May you -- may you find your own happiness.”
“You reject me and wish me well?” he croaked.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “Goodbye, Finbar.”
“Goodbye,” Nico said.
Finbar said nothing, just let the tears stream down his face.
The pain became too much, so I pulled Nico away from Finbar. With terrible slowness, we left the house to go out into the complete unknown.
We didn’t even know which direction to head in, having little knowledge of the city, so Nico and I picked a random one and began walking.
As expected, the two of us received plenty of stares. Nico drew people’s eyes to him, which seemed to make him uncomfortable.
After much walking, we somehow found ourselves in a neighborhood that gave off a bad vibe. The buildings were smaller, more cramped and decidedly rundown. Trash littered the streets, and I felt suddenly very unsafe.
Out of nowhere, a passerby asked, “Wow, are you really a god? Are you here to save us from the shadows?”
I jumped. “Were the shadows so horrible that people would ask about being saved from them? My stomach twisted in knots.
They can’t save you. Watch.
My blood froze in my veins.
A giant shadow monster appeared. It was at least fifteen feet tall. The thing was humanoid, but it was so far from human that its shape only made it more uncanny. A tentacle shot out from its back and wrapped itself around Nico’s waist. It lifted the god above its head. Nico screamed. Was he in pain? I would not stand for that!
Something impossible overtook me. I stared at the shadow monster where its eyes would be if it were human.
“Let. Him. Go.”
It started laughing. Let him go? Or you’ll what?
I refused to show it fear, though inside I quivered in terror. “Or you, monster, will experience pain greater than you can possibly imagine.” What in all the hells was I doing?
It kept laughing. I kept staring. The thing wasn’t attacking, though it should have been. The impossible thing within me wouldn’t let me back down despite knowing I was doomed.
“Are you stupid enough to try me, foul creature?” I taunted. I didn’t stop staring.
Out of the corner of my eye I could see frightened, yet stunned, people gather around me.
The monster -- was it lowering Nico to the ground? It was. The thing was letting Nico go.
I won’t challenge you. The monster released a shaking Nico directly into my arms. I held him tight, still staring at the shadow creature.
I only dared relax, even slightly, when it vanished.
“We should get out of here,” I muttered under my breath to Nico.
“How did you do that? You must be some kinda super-mage!” a man with coloring similar to Maris exclaimed.
How did I answer that?
I mumbled. “It was nothing. I’m just -- passing through.”
“Are you one of those wandering heroes out of legend?” he breathed, eyes wide.
My cheeks burned. I was anything but a “wandering hero out of legend.” People all around us stared, and I wished I had the vanishing power of that shadow monster.
“At least let me treat you to a drink,” the man offered, before looking at Nico. “I know gods can’t get drunk, but you’re invited, too!”
“Know anywhere with -- fewer people?” he wondered.
The crowd around us whispered. Somehow, the man seemed to keep anyone from getting too close. Still, I didn’t like the attention, especially where I heard the word “hero” uttered multiple times.
Our energetic guide pushed us through the murmuring crowd, leading us to a nearby bar off a narrow side street. It was small, low-ceilinged and kind of dingy with little wooden stools.
“Hey, Nem, I see you got actual friends this ti -- whoooooa.” The bartender’s eyes widened in the dimness; he had noticed Nico.
“Oh, hello,” Nico mumbled. “Do you -- have sparkling wine, of any kind? I could use a drink, though I can’t actually get drunk.”
The bartender grinned. “As long as you got the money, we can get pretty much anything you can think of.”
Nem said, “Don’t worry about that, Alex. I’m paying for the hero and his divine friend! You’re really gonna make a god pay for his drink?”
Alex sighed. “I got to support myself. Can’t be giving out free drinks, what with the reduced business from all the shadow attacks. Even the wannabe badasses who come here are too scared to get drunk and punch each other.” He paused, raising an eyebrow. “Hero?”
I mumbled, “Nem is a bit mistaken about that.”
“I won’t have any of this false modesty. You stared down a shadow monster and made it drop its prey without so much as touching it,” Nem breathed.
My cheeks burned; I hoped nobody could see my probable blush in the dim light. “I -- kind of bluffed it. If -- if the monster had attacked, I would be dead right now.”
Alex dropped the glass he was holding. It fell to the ground with a crack. “You -- you bluffed a shadow monster?”
“Yes,” I said.
“And you say you’re not a hero!” he breathed.
I muttered, “I’m not. The thing could have, should have killed me.”
Nico whispered, “And yet you risked yourself to save me, when, by all rights, I should have been able to defeat that thing. Was saving me worth nothing?”
“Of -- course not,” I said.
“Then don’t say it wasn’t heroic,” Nico muttered.
I didn’t agree it was heroic at all, more like vastly stupid and risky, but I didn’t want to insult Nico’s life, either. Instead of objecting, I kept silent as Alex cleaned up the glass he had dropped and Nem took the stool next to me.
Alex asked, “So, hero guy, do you have a name? And what’d you like to drink?”
“I’m Breccan, and do you have any ruby wine?” I said.
“Sure do.”
Nem chirped, “I’ll take my usual whiskey.”
He seemed awfully...perky for someone who drank whiskey with any regularity.
“So, where are you guys headed, anyway?” Nem asked.
“Nowhere,” I muttered.
Nico said, “Unfortunately, we -- circumstances meant we couldn’t stay at our previous residence.”
Alex handed me and Nico our drinks. I took a sip of mine, trying to figure out just what I was going to do next.
I breathed in, trying to undo the knot of anxiety in my stomach. “You don’t -- don’t know anywhere we might stay for a bit before we head on, do you?”
Nem, of all things, smiled. “You can stay with me and Alex.”
Alex muttered, “I would normally object to Nem inviting guests over, but I heard it’s not wise to refuse gods and heroes.”
“I’m not-” I didn’t finish my sentence when Nico glared at me.
That knot in my stomach loosened somewhat; at least we had somewhere to stay, temporarily. How long would it last, though? Nico might not require sustenance, but I did. My funds wouldn’t last long at all, and I couldn’t leech off Alex and Nem. Worry wanted to eat at me, but I was grateful for the small reprieve.
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written for 500themes prompt #197 - "The Moment"
next chapter
previous chapter
---------
Hand in hand, Nico and I walked down the stairs, all our supplies packed up. Somehow, I didn’t expect to run into any interference when we left Maris’ house. My stomach twisted in knots, but I drew comfort from Nico’s hand. We could do this; we had to.
As soon as we reached the bottom of the stairs, Finbar accosted us. “Where do you think you’re going, Breccan?”
“I don’t know.” It was the truth; Nico and I had no idea where we were headed.
“You know what I mean,” he growled.
I said, “I’m not sure what you mean, honestly.”
“How can you leave with him?” Finbar’s eyes shined with tears, and his voice cracked.
“I won’t abandon my partner,” I murmured.
“But you abandoned me all too easily when Egan came along!” he cried.
My cheeks prickled with shame. “And for that I am sorry, Finbar.”
“But not sorry enough to stay,” he muttered.
“He’s made his choice,” Nico whispered.
Finbar said, “Breccan, how -- how can you do this when I still want to be with you? I -- I love you.”
My heart stopped beating for a moment. I hadn’t realized the depth of his remaining feelings for me, but the revelation changed nothing. No matter what, I still planned to go with Nico. To reassure the god I wasn’t going to change my mind at the last moment, I gave his hand a small squeeze. I saw Nico smile slightly out of the corner of my eye.
Taking a deep breath, I said, “I -- appreciate your telling me that, Finbar. I truly am sorry for how everything turned out, but I -- I can’t say I feel the same, not anymore. I still wish you well. May you -- may you find your own happiness.”
“You reject me and wish me well?” he croaked.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “Goodbye, Finbar.”
“Goodbye,” Nico said.
Finbar said nothing, just let the tears stream down his face.
The pain became too much, so I pulled Nico away from Finbar. With terrible slowness, we left the house to go out into the complete unknown.
We didn’t even know which direction to head in, having little knowledge of the city, so Nico and I picked a random one and began walking.
As expected, the two of us received plenty of stares. Nico drew people’s eyes to him, which seemed to make him uncomfortable.
After much walking, we somehow found ourselves in a neighborhood that gave off a bad vibe. The buildings were smaller, more cramped and decidedly rundown. Trash littered the streets, and I felt suddenly very unsafe.
Out of nowhere, a passerby asked, “Wow, are you really a god? Are you here to save us from the shadows?”
I jumped. “Were the shadows so horrible that people would ask about being saved from them? My stomach twisted in knots.
They can’t save you. Watch.
My blood froze in my veins.
A giant shadow monster appeared. It was at least fifteen feet tall. The thing was humanoid, but it was so far from human that its shape only made it more uncanny. A tentacle shot out from its back and wrapped itself around Nico’s waist. It lifted the god above its head. Nico screamed. Was he in pain? I would not stand for that!
Something impossible overtook me. I stared at the shadow monster where its eyes would be if it were human.
“Let. Him. Go.”
It started laughing. Let him go? Or you’ll what?
I refused to show it fear, though inside I quivered in terror. “Or you, monster, will experience pain greater than you can possibly imagine.” What in all the hells was I doing?
It kept laughing. I kept staring. The thing wasn’t attacking, though it should have been. The impossible thing within me wouldn’t let me back down despite knowing I was doomed.
“Are you stupid enough to try me, foul creature?” I taunted. I didn’t stop staring.
Out of the corner of my eye I could see frightened, yet stunned, people gather around me.
The monster -- was it lowering Nico to the ground? It was. The thing was letting Nico go.
I won’t challenge you. The monster released a shaking Nico directly into my arms. I held him tight, still staring at the shadow creature.
I only dared relax, even slightly, when it vanished.
“We should get out of here,” I muttered under my breath to Nico.
“How did you do that? You must be some kinda super-mage!” a man with coloring similar to Maris exclaimed.
How did I answer that?
I mumbled. “It was nothing. I’m just -- passing through.”
“Are you one of those wandering heroes out of legend?” he breathed, eyes wide.
My cheeks burned. I was anything but a “wandering hero out of legend.” People all around us stared, and I wished I had the vanishing power of that shadow monster.
“At least let me treat you to a drink,” the man offered, before looking at Nico. “I know gods can’t get drunk, but you’re invited, too!”
“Know anywhere with -- fewer people?” he wondered.
The crowd around us whispered. Somehow, the man seemed to keep anyone from getting too close. Still, I didn’t like the attention, especially where I heard the word “hero” uttered multiple times.
Our energetic guide pushed us through the murmuring crowd, leading us to a nearby bar off a narrow side street. It was small, low-ceilinged and kind of dingy with little wooden stools.
“Hey, Nem, I see you got actual friends this ti -- whoooooa.” The bartender’s eyes widened in the dimness; he had noticed Nico.
“Oh, hello,” Nico mumbled. “Do you -- have sparkling wine, of any kind? I could use a drink, though I can’t actually get drunk.”
The bartender grinned. “As long as you got the money, we can get pretty much anything you can think of.”
Nem said, “Don’t worry about that, Alex. I’m paying for the hero and his divine friend! You’re really gonna make a god pay for his drink?”
Alex sighed. “I got to support myself. Can’t be giving out free drinks, what with the reduced business from all the shadow attacks. Even the wannabe badasses who come here are too scared to get drunk and punch each other.” He paused, raising an eyebrow. “Hero?”
I mumbled, “Nem is a bit mistaken about that.”
“I won’t have any of this false modesty. You stared down a shadow monster and made it drop its prey without so much as touching it,” Nem breathed.
My cheeks burned; I hoped nobody could see my probable blush in the dim light. “I -- kind of bluffed it. If -- if the monster had attacked, I would be dead right now.”
Alex dropped the glass he was holding. It fell to the ground with a crack. “You -- you bluffed a shadow monster?”
“Yes,” I said.
“And you say you’re not a hero!” he breathed.
I muttered, “I’m not. The thing could have, should have killed me.”
Nico whispered, “And yet you risked yourself to save me, when, by all rights, I should have been able to defeat that thing. Was saving me worth nothing?”
“Of -- course not,” I said.
“Then don’t say it wasn’t heroic,” Nico muttered.
I didn’t agree it was heroic at all, more like vastly stupid and risky, but I didn’t want to insult Nico’s life, either. Instead of objecting, I kept silent as Alex cleaned up the glass he had dropped and Nem took the stool next to me.
Alex asked, “So, hero guy, do you have a name? And what’d you like to drink?”
“I’m Breccan, and do you have any ruby wine?” I said.
“Sure do.”
Nem chirped, “I’ll take my usual whiskey.”
He seemed awfully...perky for someone who drank whiskey with any regularity.
“So, where are you guys headed, anyway?” Nem asked.
“Nowhere,” I muttered.
Nico said, “Unfortunately, we -- circumstances meant we couldn’t stay at our previous residence.”
Alex handed me and Nico our drinks. I took a sip of mine, trying to figure out just what I was going to do next.
I breathed in, trying to undo the knot of anxiety in my stomach. “You don’t -- don’t know anywhere we might stay for a bit before we head on, do you?”
Nem, of all things, smiled. “You can stay with me and Alex.”
Alex muttered, “I would normally object to Nem inviting guests over, but I heard it’s not wise to refuse gods and heroes.”
“I’m not-” I didn’t finish my sentence when Nico glared at me.
That knot in my stomach loosened somewhat; at least we had somewhere to stay, temporarily. How long would it last, though? Nico might not require sustenance, but I did. My funds wouldn’t last long at all, and I couldn’t leech off Alex and Nem. Worry wanted to eat at me, but I was grateful for the small reprieve.
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written for 500themes prompt #197 - "The Moment"
next chapter