Chapter Text
In a world of brilliant heroes, it's the trust of their fans that makes them into superheroes. If the people believe that a man can fly, he will fly. If a hero loses the people's trust, he loses his special abilities.
Trust Value is collected and quantified and used to determine a hero's ranking. Every two years, a tournament is held to choose the top heroes. Their performance in the tournament determines their new Trust Values and their rankings.
The absolute hero with the highest ranking... will be named X.
***
TREEMAN
They are familiar with marketing and social trends like the back of their hands. They excel at creating an image with all sorts of marketing tactics for their top heroes. In secret, the agency creates fear empowered villains for their heroes to fight, and to crack down on civilians into surrendering their property to their real estate division.
***
The sharp tap of heels against the ground interrupt the serene silence in Mr Shang's office upon one of the top floors of the TREEMAN Hero Agency, the man carefully wiping the eraser pieces from his desk and into a nearby bin at his feet, his sharp eyes narrowing on the new mess in his pristine disposal can.
"Mr Shang," comes the firm voice of one of the CEO's most trusted employees, Miss J, her blonde hair situated in a tight bun, and she wore dark blue fitted pants and a grey shirt tucked along her waist. "He's here, as requested." she hums, stepping aside and revealing a young black haired boy with bright blue eyes.
Shang De narrows his eyes before standing up from his chair and walking around his desk, nodding once to dismiss Miss J, who descended in the elevator not a moment later.
The room was quiet, so silent Mr Shang could practically hear the boy's fidgeting.
"Nice."
The boy picked at his nails, finding his feet very interesting.
"Nice!" he snapped, causing the boy to flinch and look up at him. "How many times do I have to remind you of your name?"
"I'm sorry, I forgot." Nice mumbled, squirming at the intense stare raining down upon him. He doesn't like Miss J, but her presence was less suffocating that Mr Shang's.
The CEO stared at the boy for a moment before he sighed and turned away, walking back over to his desk, and brushing away the last few eraser pieces that somehow kept turning up.
Seeing as he was distracted momentarily, Nice hesitantly walked over to the giant window that made up a wall of the floor Mr Shang called his office, pressing his small hands against the glass, watching the world below. His attention was suddenly peaked when he spotted a nearby billboard displaying the hero Smile, with his thumb up and a quote of his on the side "remember to smile!"
Nice beamed, staring at his idols smiling face in awe, his feet tapping giddily.
"Smile has his own billboard now," Mr Shang speaks up without a hint of admiration, his tone monotone and plain as he walks over to stand beside Nice at the glass. "You see that?"
"Uh-huh!" Nice beams.
Mr Shang sets his hand upon Nice's head, feigning a paternal smile, but it doesn't reach his eyes. "He's popular. Rich. Famous." he removes his hand and points at the billboard, his voice lacking any warmth. "But do you know why he's so popular?"
"Because he always has a smile on his face even when he's hurt by the bad guys?" Nice asks, tilting his head slightly to look up at the taller man that over the past few months, he'd grown to see as a father figure.
"Because he's marketable." Mr Shang's hand moves to the boy's shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze. "He's useful. People like him. They trust him." He glances back at his computer before drawing his eyes back to the smiling youth. "And you... have potential too."
"To be like Smile?" Nice asks, excitedly looking back at the billboard.
"Better than Smile. With the right...investments, the right brand..." he hums, looking down at Nice as if doing a sales pitch rather than anything paternal. "You could be the best. My champion."
Nice feels his heart soar at the words, a large smile erupting upon his face. He'd been brought to the TREEMAN agency almost a year ago now, with the promise of greatness and the real opportunity to be a great hero. He'd been afraid at first, with being unsure where his parents are, or his home. But he'd soon realised no one would tell him, no matter how much he cried or begged to know or go home.
Mr Shang's eyes seem to gleam at the enthusiastic look on the boys face, and he pats his shoulder before walking back over to his desk and pulling out a draw, displaying hero merch of a variety of kinds. "You see all this? It's your future." he picks up a mug with a picture of Smile, passing it to the boy as he walks up curiously. "This is what you could be if we play our cards right."
Nice smiles in awe at the man and at his mug, grateful beyond belief and excited.
"Good, I'm glad you understand."
Mr Shang grabs a pen from his desk, twirling it between his fingers whilst his cold eyes didn't leave the boys form. "You see, Nice, you're not just my son. You're an investment. And investments always need marketing. Branding. A unique trait."
Nice paused staring at the mug to instead look at Mr Shang, his eyes wide. One of Miss J's workers had told him when he was found crying, that his old man hadn't wanted him anymore. Hearing the man he'd grown to acknowledge as a strong male figure in his life and almost like a father, tell him he's his son, made his heart soar. He'd do anything to make sure the man remained thinking of him like that, of importance and significance.
He doesn't want to be left by another dad.
"How badly do you want to be a hero, Nice?" Mr Shang's voice cuts through his thoughts.
"Really badly, I want to be like Smile! And save everyone!"
"Good. I can give you all the tools to become that and more, but Nice," he pauses, taking the mug from the boy and moving it away, ignoring the frown. "I require complete trust. Total obedience."
Nice nods, determined.
Mr Shang hums and walks back over to the window, satisfied when he hears the small patter of feet following him over. "You see out there?" He gestures to the sprawling city, the towering billboards and the thousands of people about. "It's a brutal world. You have to be tough to survive. Don't you want to be a star?"
Nice nods, more eager to please than ever. No other kids got this big of an opportunity. He was special.
Mr Shang hums, satisfied, and ruffles the boys hair in an almost fatherly manner, before his expression goes more stern and he abruptly turns Nice so he's facing a mirror along the wall. "First things first, take a good look at yourself."
Nice makes a small sound from the sudden movement before blinking, looking at his reflection, at his plain white shirt and black pants, a small TREEMAN logo on both. "Uh-huh?"
Mr Shang towers over the boy from behind, removing the hand on his head to grip his chin, forcing his eyes to stay on the mirror. "You're just a kid right now. Soft. Round. Weak." he leans closer, speaking right into the boys ear. "Not very heroic, right?"
Nice frowns and reaches up to poke his own cheek. "I can get stronger, I will!"
Mr Shang laugh, the sound cold and calculating. "Oh, I don't doubt that. But strength isn't just muscles, boy." He holds his chin slightly harder. "Look at yourself again. Properly."
Nice makes a small sound before trying to see what the older man saw, his eyes traveling all over the mirror.
Mr Shang's grip is firm, holding the boy in place. He notes every twitch of discomfort and every flicker of insecurity in the boys expression as he looks. "Do you see it now? All those weaknesses. All those flaws. They aren't heroic, aren't they?"
"...they aren't." Nice agrees quietly.
"Exactly," Mr Shang hums, releasing the boys chin and placing both hands firmly on his shoulders, towering over the eleven year old boy in the mirror. "But don't worry. I'll take care of that. I'll turn you into exactly what the public wants. A hero they can adore. A product. My little champion. Want to know the secret to it all?"
Nice nods, eager. Mr Shang was right, and he's a boss, so he's correct.
Mr Shang gives Nice a sharp smile. This is the moment he'd been waiting for, the beginning of Nice's transformation. "They key, the secret ingredient, is appearance. People are shallow. They don't care for character, they care about what sells." he lets go and paces behind the boy, who hasn't removed his eyes from the mirror. "And you, my boy..." He stops in front of Nice, blocking the view of the mirror. "Are nowhere near marketable enough."
Nice feels himself go cold. No... no he had to be good enough. He was good enough!
"Too soft." Mr Shang spits, poking his cheek. "Too round." A poke to his stomach. "Not intimidating at all." he finishes, flicking his forehead.
Nice feels himself crumble, realising all his impurities.
Mr Shang watches carefully, savouring the mix of vulnerability and realisation in the boys eyes. a mix he's carefully crafted, and can warp. "Not only that...you're boring. Completely bland." he grabs a strand of Nice's hair and lifts it, an eerie smile on his face. "You need...something to stand out. Something special."
Nice took the bait, his voice almost a plea. "My hair! We can change it! Dye it! uhm- white! White hair is different!"
Mr Shang pretended to ponder for a moment, staring down at the boy. "White, eh...? That could work..." He lets the strand fall, tapping his chin in thought. "But dye alone won't be enough. You need to transform completely A full makeover inside and out."
Nice looks up at the older man, unsure as he feels the large hands in his hair.
"We'll start with that hair. Get it dyed, nice and bright white. And then...your build. We need to tone you up"
Nice fidgets, picking at his fingers, but Mr Shang abruptly grabs his hands, eyes cold. "We can't have that, can we? Hero's don't fidget, boy. Hero's are idolised, and feared by the other parties."
"But- heroes aren't feared! Smile-"
"Smile." Mr Shang's grin turns bitter as he practically spits the name. "Yes, Smile, the perfect little golden boy, the publics darling." He lets go of the boys hands and begins to pace, his voice growing more agitated with each word. "The shining face of heroes, beloved by all. Loved. Adored." He stops, spinning to face Nice and he slams his hands on the table, the sound echoing throughout the cold office. "He's perfect".
Nice flinches at the sound, feeling a desperate urge to make things right. Mr Shang said he could be a hero, said he's like his son so.. "I-I'll be perfect!"
"Oh you naïve boy," Mr Shang sneers, glaring "You really believe that, don't you? That you can just become perfect." He walks over and cups Nice's face, a touch too rough. "That you can just...become the kind of hero people love? That you can just become Smile?"
"I...I'll work hard! I won't ever lose and I'll be the best!" Nice protests, desperate.
And there is was. Mr Shang smirked eerily gripped the boys face tighter "Now listen to me carefully, little hero. People don't care about hard work. They care about results."
Nice nods slightly as best as he can against the grip.
"You can work yourself to the bone, sweat, bleed, even cry your pretty little eyes out. But at the end of the day, none of that matters." He uses his free hand to poke Nice's chest, punctuating each word. "What matters, what counts, is what the public sees. What they want."
As if on cue, the elevator chimed and Miss J walked back in, a clipboard in hand, her glasses perched on the tip of her nose. "Mr Shang? The academy you requested has completed the final stages of processing. Would you and your..son, care to observe? The other contestants are waiting as well."
Mr Shang released Nice's chin and turned towards the woman, humming as he fixed his gloves on. "The academy is ready, you say? Excellent. Come, Nice."
"Academy?" Nice mumbles, rubbing his sore chin.
"That's right, my boy. An academy specifically within the TREEMAN agency for budding young heroes." Mr Shang hums, his eyes gleaming. "And you'll be attending."
***
The elevator chimes as the three emerge on the very bottom floor, deep underground. A multitude of parents and influencial figures were in the large room, small blobs of children clinging to their hips. Mr Shang places a firm hand on Nice's shoulder before leading them in, Miss J remaining by the elevator doors. Nice's eyes widen, taking in the giant area. It was quite plain, the walls concrete grey and displaying the TREEMAN logo on every crevice, but the adults mingled and networked, talking up a storm as the few kids around stood still like accessories.
"Eyes forward." Mr Shang mutters and Nice obeys, being led over to stand near a small group, where Mr Shang began talking with another there.
Nice looked to his side and noticed a black haired boy just slightly taller than him, black eyes and pale skin making him look ghastly but his smile was friendly as he too, faced him. "Hi, I'm Nice!"
The boy smiles fondly, dressed in a green jacket and black jeans. "Nice to meet you, I'm Wreck."
Mr Shang glances down at the duo, silently noting their interaction and the growing jealous whispers of himself and Nice.
"You seem pretty excited to be here." Wreck chuckles lightly, noticing Nice almost rocking back and forth in excitement.
"Mhm! I can't wait to be a hero like Smile! Who do you wanna be like? My..father! he said we are gonna make my hair white today!" Nice rambles, a large grin on his face.
Wreck raises an eyebrow at the mention of Smile. "Smile, huh? I guess he's cool. And white hair? That's different. Not many heroes have that I think.."
Mr Shang overhears and interjects, a smug look on his face. "Yes, my son here will stand out, won't he?" he directs his words to the whole room, feeling satisfaction at the looks on the other guests faces.
Nice wasn't aware of how much his life would change.