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Xian, went through his usual routine, of brushing his teeth, and barely getting breakfast before realising he had to run to work. Although this time he didn't feel like getting anything from the vending machine's. Maybe the cold was getting to him? Even though it was early spring Xian swore he could see frost on some of the windows. Or maybe it was lace? He probably should have remembered his glasses. Oh well, easy enough fix. He was sure no one was around. SNAP, and all his problems were solved.
"Ughhh, the servers, have been slammed today, can't people just calm down." Shang, the resident complainer said. "Well some random guy did become the top hero, it's to be expected." Some woman said in reply, Xian, couldn't be bothered to remember her name at the moment. "But I haven't even gotten a break! And I'm an hour past my lunch!" "No one has gotten a break yet, and we won't if we don't get this done!" The woman declared with a shake of her head. "Well how am I supposed to work if I'm starving!" Our resident complainer whined. Unfortunatly it seemed this moment would mark how the rest of the day was going to go.
Everyone grew more frustrated. And more voices joined in complaint. Wait, was it that more people started complaining or, could he just hear more of them? Why does, the usual clacking of keys sound like nails on a chalkboard? Xian rubbed his eyes, he was beginning to get a headache. The dullest light, flickered and hummed. It was as though shadows didn't exist and yet they did. He shivered nearly trembling. Thankfuly no one noticed. After all no one ever noticed him, so why start now. ...Each minute felt... agonising. And by now he could almost swear he was hearing voices from the next building over. This, hadn't happened to him in quite a long time. The last time it only happened because he delibretly pushed the limits of his powers. So why is it happening now?
"Uh, are you okay?" Shang asked. He must have been talking to someone else, so Xian, didn't even attempt to reply. Just pretended to get his work done, as quietly as possible. "Did you hear me? Hey!" This time Shang tapped on his shoulder. Startled, he flew up from his chair, and would have considered assesing whether, shang was actually a villian in disguise, if not for the fact he had tripped and was now falling backwards. "Here, let me help you up." Shang grabbed his hand to pull him up. "Geez, your buring up! Why didn't you just stay home?" "Huh, what are you talking about?" Xian replied. "Don't play dumb, your obviously sick." "Do you mean it isn't freezing today?" "No! Big bossman, turned the heat way up, probably cus he's an old man.-But that's beside the point. Do you have anyone you can call to take you home? Li, and everyone else who leaves on time clocked out fifteen minutes ago, and honestly, I want get going to so..." "I missed clocking out?!" Xian got up in a hurry to get off the clock. "The fevers really, messing with you isn't it?" Shang sighed. "I guess I'll just have to get you home. Xian, did you clock out?" He was so suprised someone used his name, that his first reaction, was to take up a fighting stance. "I'm just going to take that as a yes. Man, I don't get paid enough for this." "So where do you live?" "... Just, down. You know, that one place, with the graffiti, in the appartment near that." "Yeah, I'm going to need more information buddy." "You, know the one, with the grafiti near the train." Shang exasperated "Can you at least tell me, what it's grafiti of?" "X's face, or something like that." Xian distinctly remembers Smile finding that funny. Shang huffed. "Well, looks like I got my work cut out for me."
Finally after what felt like far to long, acording to Shang, Xian's watch said it took maybe half an hour, which is suprising. Or maybe he just read his watch wrong. His headache was only slightly better than before and it was definitly getting to him. "Which floor do you live on?" "The second. Third door down."
"Alright, let's just get you into bed now." Shang said tiredly, as he lowered Xian onto the mattres. Doing so rolled up Xian's sleeve a bit. "WHAT the HECK! Why is your trust value so high?!" Xian cringed at the noise "Hmm shouldn't that be obvious." He mumbled. "How would that be obvious?" "Well, because, you know." SNAP and Xian is now wearing his pajamas. "...Your, X. My coworker is X." Shang almost looked horrified by this information. "Who else would it be?" "Literaly- no you know what I just need to calm down, and put that aside, for the sake of my sanity." Shang took a deep breath. "Now is there anything you need?" "Some water would be nice." "Okay, I can do that, I can deal with that." Shang goes to get water when something occures to him. "If your X then why do even work some crappy tech support job?" "Well I need to pay rent somehow." Shang returns with a glass of water. "For that matter why did you even come in today, I mean you had to have noticed something off?" "I always get to work on time." "The heck kinda reason is that?! Honestly, you could stand to be more selfish, and take care of yourself." Xian freezes, for a second as his feverish mind began to rememer something.
He was walking home from work, when he noticed, a blonde haired man hunching down in an alleyway. "Are you alright?" He said as he hesitantly walked up to him. Yeah, I'm fine, just had a bit too much to drink. Ya know!" The man- no Smile said. "Well, if that's all then you should go home." Smile almost looked confused for a second. "I've got to be out here keeping people safe. That's what they trust me to do."He said with a slightly shaky smile. "Sounds stressfull I don't think I could do it. Especialy if I had to keep going while being miserable." Smile looked like he was about to say something. "Then again." Xian said before smile could say anything. "Maybe I'm just a bit selfish, and maybe you should be to."
"Getting, my own words tossed in my face. And here I thought I hadn't changed all that much." "What was that?" The other man said. "Nothing, just a reminder." "So does that mean you'll actually stay home in the future?" Xian chuckled a bit. "Yeah, I guess you could say that." "In that case, my work here is done. Oh and don't worry about your identity, I doubt anyone would believe me even if I told them." "Hmm." Xian barely acknowledges the statement, before drifting off. Although he'd definitely appreciate the statement in the morning.