Chapter Text
City X is a city where it's hard to get bored.
This was a fact: its magnificent skyscrapers, the food stalls, the theme parks… all were treasures to behold. But if there was one thing the city was known for above all else…
BOOM!
A loud crash was caused by the impact of an unknown object on the sidewalk of a pedestrian street, leaving a large plume of smoke in its wake. As the smoke cleared, a figure could be seen rising: its silhouette was male, covered in a kind of metallic black suit that sparked from all sides. Despite everything, the most striking feature was a large dent in its helmet.
Facing this figure, slowly but surely, another person wearing a metallic suit was descending from the sky; however, the two could not have been more different.
The new arrival was much smaller and less imposing. Her suit was mostly white with pink accents, and she held a bat in her right hand, which she began to spin as she rested it on her shoulder. Her helmet was immaculate except for a pixelated, annoyed expression caused by a screen where her face should have been: NUMBER 6 HERO! LOLI!
It was because of how common clashes between heroes and villains are…
The few pedestrians on that street quickly took out their cell phones when they saw the heroine arrive, cheering enthusiastically.
"No way! Is it really her?" a teenager exclaimed euphorically to her friend who was standing nearby to her left.
—Of course, silly! Who else?! —The girl's companion replied as she took out her cell phone to record what was about to happen.
These and many other exclamations filled the pedestrian street with a loud noise; people came out of their homes and businesses to join in the commotion.
The noise turned out to be so loud that it completely overshadowed the "conversation" that the two people responsible for everything were having.
"Don't you ever plan to give up? This is the fifth time this month," said the heroine known as Loli in a robotic voice. "How did you even manage to escape from prison?"
At this, the figure, who had finally managed to stand up completely, responded loudly, opening his arms wide. "Surrender? HA! Such a thing will never happen. I want to show you… NO! I'm going to show you all what it means to be genuine, what it means to be truly special. You so-called heroes revel in receiving praise from your so-called 'fans,' who are nothing more than sheep blindly following the first fool who flatters them, allowing yourselves to be deceived by their crude and filthy lies."
The man took a breath before continuing, pointing to himself. "But I'm different! I'm going to show all those mindless sheep that their idols are nothing but empty, unremarkable figures." He pointed euphorically at the heroine. "Starting with you, Loli. I'm going to beat you at your own game, using those cheap tricks and the technology you're so proud of. I'll prove myself far superior to you... After I'm done with you... Lucky Cyan will be next. I'll become a singer and break all her records. Her silly songs will be nothing compared to the masterpieces I'll write. And so... one by one, every hero will fall before me. And they'll all finally see who they should truly worship."
The villain spoke with great confidence; there wasn't a single hint of doubt in his voice.
His speech might have moved someone; in fact, that was his plan: This conversation was being recorded, and if someone—just one person who believed in him—could plant the seed of doubt in the collective mind, it would create a snowball effect that would grow bigger and bigger.
This could be the start of a movement that will shake society like no other!
The villain's plan had its merits, in a society based on the tastes of the masses, as changeable and fickle as ever. Who knew how long it would take to change everything? Perhaps all it took was a push…
"Huh? What the hell is this fool muttering?" the heroine Loli thought to herself.
What the villain hadn't taken into account before starting his speech was that the powerful blow the heroine had given him with her bat to his helmet completely destroyed all the communication mechanisms of his suit, so, for her and all the other passersby... all that could be heard was a lot of unintelligible noises and disjointed murmurs.
It seems he has finally lost it…
That was what the heroine thought, while the villain's body movements revealed that he was laughing.
CRACK!
Luo Li wasted no time and activated the thrusters in her feet, speeding towards her enemy. He noticed her and immediately raised his arm, fist clenched, towards the heroine. A compartment containing a small missile popped out of his wrist.
Even at this distance, a missile strike like this would cause serious damage!
But Loli wasn't a top 10 hero for nothing.
Before the missile could launch, the heroine threw her bat at the villain's outstretched arm, striking the missile's compartment with precision. This caused an explosion that generated a cloud of black smoke.
This!
Realizing his plan had failed, the villain crossed his arms to shield himself from Loli's blow, but when the cloud of smoke dissipated, there was nothing in front of him.
It turns out that when the explosion generated the cloud of smoke, Loli had used her boosters to jump over the villain's position and sneak behind him with extreme skill.
It all happened in less than a second!
Realizing what had happened, the villain turned around…
Only to be met with a powerful blow from the heroin which extinguished all his lights.
Boom!
The villain fell heavily to the ground, completely unconscious.
Just a second…
Two…
Three…
The crowd erupted.
— Unbelievable ! Did you see what he did?
—She taught that villain a lesson!
Was he trying to talk? Why did he start moving like a madman?
These and other exclamations of excitement and disbelief filled all the spectators of the event. Many of them began to approach the heroine.
Everyone was asking for autographs, photos, and some reporters could even be seen arriving to ask for statements.
But for the heroin, it was all just background noise.
Her gaze was fixed on the villain's completely unconscious body.
His arms were sprawled out on the sidewalk while his now completely broken helmet gave a glimpse into his eyes, closed by unconsciousness.
There was no way he could have been seriously injured. Loli had calibrated her suit many times to avoid delivering lethal blows, but even so, the villain's posture was so helpless that he almost looked dead.
Dead …
Instinctively, Luo Li clenched both fists tightly.
She wasted no time before rushing through the crowd, picking up her bat that lay on the ground a couple of meters away. She gripped it in her right hand and swung it straight up into the air, leaving behind a crowd of people bewildered by her sudden and aggressive departure…
Approximately one hour after the incident, a young woman with pink hair entered a hospital room and automatically completed the necessary procedures before being allowed to enter a certain patient's room.
She walked in without even bothering to check the room number.
She was greeted by the same old scenery: boring white walls, furniture that does nothing to liven up the room.
But none of that mattered compared to what was in the center of the room.
A bed containing what at first glance appeared to be the body of a young woman, dressed in the typical hospital gown and bandages covering her head with some strands of gray hair sticking out between the bandages.
Luo Li sat down heavily and listlessly in the visitor's chair
"Hey. Nuonuo , it's been a week since I last visited, right?" the pink-haired girl said, looking down. "I'm sorry, I'm really sorry, but I felt like if I saw a hospital again, I'd end up breaking something. I'm realizing I'm developing a real aversion to white. Ironic. Yes, I know, my uniform is mostly white, but the damage was already done before all this."
The room fell into familiar silence once again.
Luo Li swallowed heavily before addressing anyone in particular, probably talking more to herself.
"It's... It's Lin Ling," She finally confessed. "It's only been a year and a couple of months since we met, no... It's not much, but somehow, we were doing well, especially considering..."
The young woman froze.
—I… You know. His face.
Luo Li let herself be carried away by the memories before continuing.
We've spent a lot of time together; we've gone out on… —He paused for a moment before correcting himself— Well, I wouldn't call it dates, we didn't even go out, we just stayed at his apartment watching movies and little else.
Luo Li turned to look out the window for a second, before speaking again.
—…He knows my mother, hell, she adores him. He even dared to show her that embarrassing video he has of me—A small smile graced her face—We've cooked dinner together and enjoyed my mother's stories.
"I even asked him recently to come with me to visit my father; it wasn't easy to convince him. He worries too much, you know." Her smile slowly faded from her face. "In short, I've opened up to him and trusted him too much..."
She shifted restlessly in her seat.
"I like him, though I'm sure you already suspected it," he confessed in a defeated tone. "I thought. I really thought it was mutual. But I was wrong. No way , I was wrong, he's nothing but a liar."
Her hands gripped her knees tightly as her body began to tremble. "A heart condition," she whispered before almost shouting, "A damn heart condition!"
The girl stood up forcefully from her seat.
"So unique it doesn't even have a name!" Luo Li started pacing around the room. "Can you believe it? He came into my life overnight, and no matter how hard I tried to avoid it, he ended up becoming a pillar of it. That idiot, always worrying about me, helping me with everything, even when I haven't asked. And when... When it comes time to ask me for help. That damn selfish bastard just stays silent."
Luo Li stopped abruptly before calming down, remembering where he was, and meekly sat back down in the chair he had previously abandoned.
"He's dying, Nuonuo , that fool is dying," she said. "And he knew it, apparently he's always known it. See why I say he's selfish? He goes around meddling in people's lives, only to disappear without a word. Silent, without saying a word."
Luo Li guided his hands to his eyes, wiping away the tears that threatened to spill out.
"I want to help him, damn it, I really do," he slurred. "But what if he doesn't want my help? If he wanted me to help him, he would have asked me before, right? He should have told me..."
She was a heroine; she had worked hard to achieve that, even if many people thought she wasn't suitable.
—And what do they know? —Ling had said to her as they talked— You are an impressive person, with great ability and strength, you yourself have nothing that limits you, so why do you allow someone else to do it?
'You have nothing limiting you.' At the time, I had overlooked it, a simple phrase said to make her feel better. A simple sentence with the sole purpose of motivating her… But now…
Oh god…
The young woman's chest trembled as pitiful whimpers escaped her lips, uncontrollable. "I have no idea what to do, Nuonuo , I have no idea," Luo Li lamented, unable to hold back the tears streaming down her face. "I need your help, please. I need you to wake up..."
The young woman now sat curled up in a fetal position in her chair, using her knees to stifle the sound of her tears. Her mind replayed the various moments she had shared with Lin Ling. She couldn't say there were many, but that didn't make them any less important.
He arrived at the moment when she needed someone the most. After her failures in seeking justice for her father, for Nuonuo , Da Xiong… she felt defeated, but no less angry; that was what kept her going.
That is until he met Lin Ling; their first encounter took place while she was doing what she had always wanted since childhood… to be a heroine.
She found him crouching after defeating a villain. He was clinging tightly to a child, using his body to shield him. He'd been doing this throughout the entire attack. Luo Li thought it was respectable, thought he was kind. Perhaps… Perhaps that was why her defenses against him were never strong enough.
And now, with the information he had, he couldn't help but bitterly savor the hidden meaning of that moment.
That fool… Why, in his condition? What was the point? His illness wouldn't allow him to exert himself too much physically; his heart couldn't have taken it. Hell. He might have needed more help than the child himself! He just went and risked his fragile life for someone else.
That only made the situation even more unfair.
Why? While those responsible for ruining her life walked the streets as if nothing had happened, reveling in the results they had achieved after murdering innocent people, Ling had to live knowing her days were numbered, waking up each day not knowing if it would be her last…
Everything was so profoundly unfair.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Uh… Loli lifted her head from between her knees to look towards the door that had made that noise.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Nuonuo 's mother doesn't usually come at this hour, so who will?
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"W- wait a moment," Loli hurried to dry her tears and straighten her shirt, ironing it with her hands as she tried to look as presentable as possible.
She hurried to open the door; standing before her was an adult man with a serious and tired expression.
Black trench coat, face mask, and sunglasses. What the hell does this guy want at this hour?
"What are you doing here, Ghostblade ?" I asked, my hostility barely contained.
In response to that question, the silent hero simply raised his hand. He held a beautiful bouquet of flowers.
Oh, right. Loli couldn't help but let out a groan of annoyance before opening the door fully, allowing Ghostblade to enter.
The man entered, nodding to her. He quickly moved away, grabbing another chair from the living room and placing it to the right of Nuonuo 's bed.
Her gaze shifted between her daughter's body and, at certain moments, back at her. The room now held an awkwardness that was commonplace on the rare occasions when she and Ghostblade were together. If there was one thing she knew, it was that Ghostblade visited Nuonuo at night, which is why she always came in the afternoon, just like with Nuonuo 's own mother, who visited in the mornings. Luo Li had nothing personal against her, so she was surprised to find herself unable to meet her gaze.
"Of course you can't," Luo Li would often repeat to herself. "You failed to protect her daughter. Oh, what a great heroine you are! Unable to face the consequences of your failure."
But with Ghostblade it was different; they were both present that day. But he suspected Ghostblade 's remorse must be even greater—after all, he was his father.
At that last thought, Luo Li felt like crying once more. This didn't have to end like this. She had come after a whole week to confide in her friend, the first person who genuinely understood her. That should have made her feel better, but it only made her negative thoughts worse.
A shriek filled the room as Luo Li stood up, dragging her chair along, ready to disappear as quickly as possible. She turned to Ghostblade , giving him a farewell look before rushing to the door.
Just before she could even take a step, she was interrupted by a small piece of paper that cut through the air before slamming into the door, leaving an almost imperceptible crack.
"Hey! What the hell is wrong with you?" Luo Li couldn't help but shout at the man in the room. "Listen to me, you idiot. I'm not in the mood for your creepy, edgy behavior . If you have a problem with me, let's settle it outside the hospital."
This man's callousness knew no bounds; how could he do something like that inside his own daughter's room?
Before Luo Li could continue berating him, Ghostblade pointed at the paper he had thrown, indicating that she should pick it up. Luo Li couldn't help but feel puzzled before taking the paper. It had ink stains indicating something had been written recently.
I heard everything
It was a short message, but it said enough to leave Luo Li speechless.
Did he hear everything? This guy was behind the door the whole time…
Mortification and shame hit her like a truck.
"You!" I pointed an accusing finger at Ghosblade. "It's not enough for you to harass your own daughter, now you're going around eavesdropping on other people's conversations too. Does your perversion know no bounds?"
Luo Li's complaints were cut short when Ghostblade placed his open palm in front of her. Requesting silence, Luo Li stopped speaking as she watched the older man write quickly and elegantly (Luo Li would never admit it aloud) in his notebook. When he finished, he tore the paper and handed it to the pink-haired woman, who took it hesitantly before beginning to read what was written.
Let me say upfront that I don't like to interfere in other people's business. I'm only doing this because, whether I like it or not, you're my daughter's friend, and as much as I disapprove, she seems to like you very much.
What approval are you going to have to give? Loli thought, rolling her eyes as she received another piece of paper handed to her by Ghostblade , who had been writing while she read.
Furthermore, it can also be seen as a gesture of goodwill; after all, I too lost the person I loved because I couldn't communicate properly with them. My fears overwhelmed me, and I didn't know what to do, and by the time I realized it, it was too late.
Luo Li was genuinely baffled by what the man had written. He wasn't the type to get personal, or open up to anyone. Was he?
But there was something else about that paper that genuinely made her think.
The person she loved… Did she love Lin Ling? She liked him… That was certain, but… Was her liking for him really so deep, deep enough to call it love?
Luo Li automatically took the other paper from Ghosblade 's hands.
The moment came when I had to decide, and I did nothing because I couldn't stop remembering the things that had hurt me in the past. I was overwhelmed; I was afraid to admit it, to do what my heart truly wanted, and because of that, I lost not only her, but also the possibility of having a family, the hope of a normal life.
It wasn't hard for Luo Li to guess that he was talking about Nuonuo and his mother. He also noticed that his neat handwriting was starting to falter. It seemed this was really important to him… Luo Li began to think about his words seriously.
Right now, you have the same expression I do. It's not too late to do what you want. The situation between us is quite different. But in the end, it all comes down to being true to yourself, making a decision you'll never regret.
Ghostblade put his notebook in the pocket of his trench coat. He had nothing more to say.
But now… I didn't need it either.
Luo Li wiped the last traces of tears from her face, letting out a sigh to regain her composure. She looked Ghostblade in the eyes before speaking: "I... Well, thank you, really. You made me realize something I've subconsciously tried to deny." The young woman now gazed out the window at the night sky. "You're right, I'll do what I want, I won't regret anything. I'm going to make that idiot listen to me."
Luo Li now displayed a smile; it wasn't entirely genuine, more nervous than anything else. Forced even, but it was more than enough to show that she was determined.
With that said, the young woman quickly left the room, but not before gently squeezing the hand of the girl lying on the bed, leaving Ghostblade alone.
It wasn't his style to meddle in matters that weren't his concern. But hearing the girl's voice as she complained about her situation brought back bitter memories. Of that time when, despite being a seasoned killer, he couldn't stop himself from trembling, the time he cowardly remained silent… Just like always.
He now wanted to be present in his daughter's life. He wanted to be a father to her, and that coward who stayed silent wasn't fit for that. Something had to change. And maybe… maybe giving advice to (however much she disapproved) the friend his daughter held in high esteem would be a good start.
Ghostblade 's thoughts were interrupted when she heard knocking to her left. She turned, assuming a fighting stance, only to see a small piece of paper stuck to the window facing outside.
Suspecting who was responsible, he didn't rush to open the window. Instead, he used his left arm to pull the paper toward him. It turned out to be the same paper that had been pinned to the door earlier. He hadn't noticed the pink-haired brat had taken it when she left.
Ghostblade turned the paper over just to read…
Hey, thanks for the advice and all. But that's not going to change the fact that you're still an edgy pervert.
…
…Perhaps I had made a mistake after all.
***
Lin Ling sat on the sofa in his small apartment, having been home from work for a couple of hours, yet he couldn't fall asleep. The past week had been strangely stressful, and the reason, to his own dismay, was quite obvious. Luo Li had discovered his illness.
Ling hadn't planned to tell her yet; he would, but not right then. Uncertainty can be even more agonizing than certainty. Ling had lived his whole life with that certainty, clinging to him like a second skin. He didn't want to lose it now that time was ticking ever faster.
However, he was discovered because of something beyond his control. And something he foolishly failed to notice before Luo Li did.
I guide her hand to her hair. Specifically, to a particular strand, I pull it down so that some strands partially block the vision in her right eye.
White…
A large strand of hair was now completely white… He didn't know why, but even without knowing for sure, the culprit was clear. Luo Li was clever. She started asking questions, and Ling didn't have the courage to try to hide it any longer. A week had passed since then, and his attempts to contact her hadn't worked. Luo Li had ignored his messages, probably not wanting to hear from him again. And that was fine… It was for the best, both for her and for him. There was no reason to regret it, but… now he was here.
The number one on her wrist, which she had gotten a couple of months after meeting her, had disappeared…
Feeling more alone than ever… But strangely fulfilled.
He'd had a brief conversation with his father that very morning; they hadn't spoken in a while. Just knowing something about him, how he was doing—even if it was only through messages—filled him with immense relief.
Ling turned on her phone while checking the time: It was already midnight.
Ling reluctantly got up from the sofa. He didn't think he'd be able to fall back asleep, but he figured it was better to stay up in his bed than on the sofa.
Before he could enter his room, Ling was stopped in his tracks by the creak of the door opening. Turning around, he saw her. The cause of his worries, and the source of his tormented thoughts.
She put the copy of the key he had given her in her pants pocket. Even now, she still wondered why she had given it to him. He had no right to do those kinds of things. Not now, not ever, and certainly not with her…
Lin Ling swallowed her sighs before speaking— Luo Li… It's quite late. What brings you here? —Ling questioned before giving her an apologetic smile— Oh, how rude of me, I have some iced tea, and soft drinks if you'd like some. Although at this hour, cold water would be best… Ling could have continued talking much longer if it weren't for the interruption from the younger girl.
"Enough," She said in a serious voice. "Don't play dumb, we both know why I'm here."
Her voice left no room for discussion.
Luo Li moved around the small living room and sat down on a small sofa facing the larger one. He gestured directly in front of her, indicating that she should sit. He did so without further complaint.
—I'll be the one to speak now— she said as soon as he sat down—And I don't want any interruptions, understood?
Ling nodded uneasily.
"Before... I said we both know why I'm here, but that's not entirely true," she began, staring at him with... reddened eyes? "I came to talk about your illness. Obviously, I already want to confront you for being so cowardly and selfish for not telling me sooner... But that can wait. I'm here to make a statement."
Luo Li stopped herself as she lowered her head and inhaled and exhaled, surely drawing strength from herself. When she finished, her gaze met Ling's. Her eyes were more determined and beautiful than Ling had ever seen them.
-I love you.
Luo Li spoke words that filled him with conflicting emotions. He wasn't surprised when he thought about how much he longed to hear those words. Especially from her. But he knew that this desire was selfish; he didn't want to subject her—or anyone, really—to the pain that came with loving someone like him.
Ling tried to open his mouth to speak, only to be interrupted before any words could leave it.
"Shut up," Luo Li said, and he did nothing but obey. "Now that I know what I know, I feel like I know you better than ever. And that's why I know what you're thinking right now. And it's stupid. You have no right to decide whether I can love you or not! I won't let you drag me down to where you are."
His eyes never left hers as he spoke.
"On the contrary... I'm going to take you to where I am, even if you don't want me to. I refuse to give up on you!" Her voice showed no sign of hesitation. She was very serious. "And you... If there's still any consideration left in that atrophied brain of yours, you'll help me, as you always have. Even when I haven't asked you. Now I'm asking you; this is something I'll do whether you like it or not. So, to make it easier for both of us, help me."
Lin Ling remained silent as he processed everything Luo Li had said. What was the right decision to make?
"Luo Li… I'm so grateful for this," Ling began, his voice hesitant. "But it's useless. My parents searched everywhere, and they found nothing resembling a cure or treatment. I've accepted it, and I've lived with that in mind. You're an amazing person, much better than me… You shouldn't let carrying me hold you back. It would only distract you and hinder your hero career. I don't want to live out my remaining time knowing I'm in your way."
Ling had been through this before, because of her. Her mother's health had deteriorated faster than her own. And she had passed away because of it…
I'm being a coward, I know. But I don't want to, I don't want to dare to feel hope.
"There it is, you're doing it again." Luo Li's voice interrupted his own thoughts. "Assuming for me... I have a question... Do you trust me?... No, don't answer, I know you do. After all, you're here..."
Luo Li reached under his jacket sleeve to point to a very large number. " I would never be wrong. So if you trust me, why don't you let me help you? I have the answer to that..."
"Ling, you don't think you can do it, do you? But let me tell you, you're wrong," she said confidently. "I was lost after what happened in the ruins. I was still a hero only because it was the easiest way to get revenge. I lost sight of what it meant to be a true hero... And then you came in. You cared and helped me, always without asking for anything in return. It was all sincere, I know that now better than ever. It was so obvious. But I was so lost that it was impossible to see it."
He remained silent, thinking of what else to say.
"Thanks to you, I was able to see again what a true hero is. A true hero is someone like you. Someone who, despite their circumstances, chooses to remain kind and help others without expecting anything in return. Even if they think or know it will harm them." Luo Li spoke while looking him in the eyes, smiling gently. "You're an incredible person. I know that better than anyone. You've told me the same thing... You've never hesitated to say how amazing I am to you."
Luo Li didn't say it out loud. But the implication was more than clear…
We're both amazing. How could this be impossible?
Ling was looking at her now, he was really looking at her now.
His body trembled slightly, his eyes seemed to shine against theirs.
He wanted to cry.
But he couldn't afford it. He hadn't allowed it before, he couldn't afford that luxury, much less now.
The young woman in front of him didn't need to see him break down to realize what she felt. She stood up from where she was sitting and hugged him tightly. A hug he returned gently.
"For a heroine. You're very cruel," Lin Ling said softly in her ear.
—I prefer the term "passionate"—She replied in a low voice, but with a conceited tone— And don't be a liar, you told me before that you like that about me.
Yes… He liked that about her. He liked everything about her.
Luo Li broke free from the embrace, now holding him by the shoulders. "Can I take this as a sign that you'll cooperate?"
Ling nodded in response to her question.
"Very well," she said, removing her hands from his shoulders and straightening from her hunched position. "I'd like to stay with you, but it's probably best if you're alone . So you can think in peace. This can't be easy for you."
"I would like that," he replied.
She nodded. "I have the day off tomorrow, I'll come and we can talk about how we'll organize everything."
He stood up and walked to the door. Before opening it, he looked at Lin Ling. "We're going to make this work, you have to be sure of that."
She gave him a smile before leaving, leaving him alone with his thoughts.
Lin Ling automatically leaned back on the sofa. The conversation hadn't even lasted twenty minutes, yet it had felt like an eternity. Exhaustion and sleepiness immediately overwhelmed her.
Is this really okay, Luo Li? I said I would cooperate, but I still have my doubts.
Ling stared at the door through which the heroine had left. Her eyes closed as her final thoughts formed.
Am I doing the right thing? I wonder what my mother would think right now…
Morpheus's arms finally enveloped him. Now, inside him, he felt an anticipation for the next day that he hadn't felt in a long time.