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A savior complex (or white knight syndrome) is a psychological, often subconscious, compulsion to constantly "fix" or rescue others, even when help is not requested or needed.
Exhaustion wasn’t something unknown to Slushy so when he felt all his energy spent, he didn't feel any surprise.
Especially with the weight his limbs felt to him as he suddenly slowed his movement.
But Slushy could ignore this for now when his former teammate who had left him was right in front of him.
Slushy needed an answer. He couldn’t live with the possibility that Aspen might hate him.
Once Aspen opened her mouth, Slushy felt dread that what he thought might be right.
That he was indeed unlikable and betray worthy.
Slushy still held hope that this wasn’t true. How couldn’t he through? They went through so much together couldn’t she hold some sympathy?
“I hate you” Aspen looked at Slushy, any emotion once there now taken forcefully away from her.
Aspen didn’t truly hate Slushy no, how could she?
But she knew this was for the greater good. Slushy wouldn’t leave without a response, Aspen knew this.
So she gave him one.
Slushy eyes widened. He went through all of this just to have all of his suspicions confirmed.
He was unlikable.
Nufuli left him for a reason that must be for the same reason Aspen did. Guess he doesn’t blame him.
But it still hurts knowing how hated you are by others.
Slushy can now feel how heavy his eyes get as tears threaten to fall.
He couldn’t let Aspen see how weak he felt right now when after everything he still ended up alone.
After all the trouble he went through to try and find his purpose again knowing that purpose was Aspen.
It made him think of another person he was technically teammates with.
Did Wyll even like him? He wouldn’t put it on him if he didn't.
Was it his heroic nature? Was that it? It must be what else would he be so hated by most if not for the thing he promised to leave behind.
So when he explained to Aspen this. He hoped that maybe his one purpose in life could be restored. If only his teammate would come back to him.
Why did she even leave in the first place? It couldn't be just cause of the hatred she had.
He couldn’t understand why she couldn’t tell him. What did Stormz have that he didn’t?
Why was he more unlikable than Stormz? What did he do wrong in his life to deserve this?
He was grateful once Aspen explained everything she went through in her post-revival life.
Slushy slumped toward exhaustion as it set in.
He had been running around for god knows how long, just to find Aspen.
Slushy knows now the reason why she left, and he feels at peace for some reason.
He had been running around searching for her at the ends of the Earth.
Slushy got his answer, and he felt sorry that his teammate thought he would've hated her.
But that didn't matter much when they were going to go home; together.
Slushy expressed this but Aspen denied saying she had to stay.
Slushy couldn't understand why though.
He thought back to all the memories they shared.
How he saved her. How he disregarded his own morals for her. How she betrayed him.
He wondered why she couldn't explain sooner. This all could've been avoided if not for the miscommunication. His though we're cut short though when-
Sharp footsteps could be heard from behind Slushy.
“Wow cosplaying me huh cant say it doesn’t look good on you though”, Stormz, Slushy’s one tormenter, stood there in all his glory, smiling like he knew this was going to happen.
Knowing him he probably did.
“This little reunion was nice but it’s time for it to hit some closure”, Stormz gleefully said as he clapped his hands walking closer.
Was this the reason why Aspen couldn’t come back to him? It had to be it. There’s no reason why she couldn't come back home with him if not for Stormz.
Slushy could sense some courage and his past heroic nature coming back to him.
Aspen could be saved again by him if he were to end all of this right here.
All the torment he suffered at the hands of this very individual, Stormz, could all be avenged.
“Aspen, can you just stand a little more to the back and line yourself up right there”, Stormz commanded and Aspen listened.
She stood right where Stormz wanted, waiting for what Stormz wanted.
Whether it was instinct or not she listened.
And well she got it, cause in a flash she disappeared, all her items dropped on the ground as she has lost her only life.
The life she valued when she got revived back on the server. The life she thought could be the symbol that she wasn’t meant to be evil, that she besides all the things she has done, could be changed.
That life has now been taken from her.
With her former teammate standing right in front of her, face full of confusion, sorrow, and most Importantly anger.
Slushy could feel his hands start to shake as he looked over to Stormz.
He then looked back frantically to where Aspen once stood, searching for someone that didnt exist anymore.
He could hear his ears start to ring as his vision blurred. All he heard was heavy rapid breathing coming from himself.
That was all he could hear now as his once full heart now felt empty. A part of him is now stolen.
The thought made his chest ache. He didn’t want to fill the empty space when it had already been reserved for Aspen., who was now gone.
Slushy felt traumatized, why did Stormz do this, what had Slushy done to him to warrant this extreme torment?
Tears once again filled Slushy’s eyes but this time he let them fall.
Who did he have to pretend to be strong to this time? He had nobody anymore. Everyone left him.
Slushy stood there alone, like he always will be because Slushy was meant to be alone.
And he will die alone.
“Don't you feel tired, hero”, Stormz said condescendingly.
Slushy dug his nails into his hands clenching and unclenching to keep himself alert.
Slushy could feel the exhaustion come right back to him with his body threatening to collapse on him.
Slushy could fight Stormz here one-on-one, but he couldn’t find the reason to.
Even with the anger he felt, he knew that it didn’t matter.
There was no one to save or anyone he really wanted to.
All Slushy wanted was Aspen.
Slushy was no hero.
A hero was someone admired for their courage, selflessness, and any other noble qualities. Heroes would even set aside all the betrayal and terrible things to save anyone they could.
Slushy was once like this, full of hope that he could make a difference in this forsaken server.
It wasn’t until now that Slushy realized he could never do this, not anymore.
For Slushy was no hero and could never be one, he will die and rot as someone not remembered by anyone, and instead be forgotten by all.
Fate had a funny way of catching up to Slushy.
“Fine, you win Stormz-I give up”, Slushy stuttered as he collapsed on the floor feeling miserable.
Slushy wasn’t meant to be a hero, and he didn’t want to live being a villain.
But a deep subconscious in him wanted to keep on living.
He pushed this aside for now.
It all seemed so pointless now with his only purpose in life gone.
Taken from him in front of his very eyes.
Stormz walked closer to Slushy. Shoes clacked on the floor with an echo being heard in the room.
Slushy stayed staring at the floor on his knees. He’s fully given up and if Stormz wanted to kill him, so be it.
Nothing mattered. Not when you have nothing.
Though he still shook in fear at the thought of a sword going through him.
But Slushy you were meant to be a hero, you were meant to succeed! Slushy could hear from the back of his head but he knew that fate had different plans for him.
When Slushy had been revived on the server he saw that his one purpose here was to save people, and he couldn’t even do that.
He couldn’t save Aspen, or save anyone else suffering from Vanguard like he was.
Cause all those people are most definitely already dead.
It was times like these that Slushy heard the faint manic laughter of Pootoot.
It made his head spin even more as Slushy curls in on himself hugging himself tightly.
‘Just let it all be over soon’ was what Slsuhy thought of since all he wanted was for the pain and suffering to end.
Was it too much to ask for?
Stormz had other plans for Slushy only becoming apparent to him when instead of a netherite sword plunging through him, a soft hand made its way under his chin, picking up Slushy’s head.
The touch felt too friendly to be coming from Stormz of a people so Slushy made sure to pull back immediately instead of leaning in to the soft touch he craved, just not from Stormz.
He wanted someone to care for him like he once cared for others.
He wished someone would actually like him instead of betraying him in the end.
Any time he teamed up with someone he hoped his naivety and his nature to trust would instead be a gift but it never was.
All it ended in was pain as he always stood right in front of the person who betrayed him in shock and confusion.
Stormz kept intense eye contact with Slushy, not once looking away.
Slushy felt small under this eye contact also not looking away due to feeling trapped, as if he would be in trouble if he were to look away for once.
It felt like Stormz was looking into his thoughts when he knew that wasn’t possible.
It was now that Slushy realized how trapped he was when he took into account that there was only one exit which was behind Stormz.
But what use was there in trying when it would end in vain?
If Stormz hated him so much then he knew it wouldn’t be easy to leave.
Even if he could would he want to?
What was the point when nothing was waiting for him outside of this place, and the whole city was blocked off anyways so there wasn’t anything he could do if he wanted to.
Stormz crouched down on the floor to be closer to eye level with Slushy instead of looking down at him, with Slushy still on his knees as he tries to hide himself.
Slushy turns his head once more to stare at the wall, hoping to get rid of the awful sickening, soft, friendly stare he’s getting from his own tormenter.
Stormz stayed smiling as he stared at Slushy “Come on Slushy, it’s not my fault you killed your dear friend”.
Slushy immediately tensed up and snapped his head back to Stormz-what was this guy on?
He wasn’t the one who did that thing to make her explode.
“I know what you're thinking. I might’ve set that up but you’re the one who caused her to be here in the first place”.
“Without you, she would’ve been living a normal life, probably”, Stormz finally said.
These words struck Slushy, hard as he stared deeply in Stormz’s eyes.
He slowly turns his head down once again in thought.
Cause in a way he was right.
Without him, she wouldn’t even know about him to find a reason to hate him.
She wouldn’t have joined Vanguard just to betray him.
She would’ve been living a normal life instead of going on dangerous adventures with him.
Slushy clenched his hands on the floor before sitting more upright instead of being curled in on himself.
“You know I'm right don’t you”, Stormz said.
Slushy didn’t respond, he couldn’t find the words to even.
That was all Stormz needed to know.
“You know it’s not too late, you know”, Stormz slowly said.
It took a moment for Slushy to realize what Stormz was getting at before he quickly stood up and backed away.
Stormz got up with Slushy as he walked towards him getting closer with each back step Slushy took.
“Am not joining Vanguard”, Slushy says immediately over to Stormz.
What a ridiculous invite, as much as Slushy doesn’t have anything to do anymore, he would rather die than join the Vanguard of all groups.
Liar was said repeatedly in his head.
“Come on at least if you joined there would be people who care about you”, Stormz says.
‘He doesn’t think I'm that dumb does he’ Slushy thinks.
“I mean you have so much potential”, Stormz expressed loudly as he moved his arms wide like the typical villain stance.
Slushy thinks for a moment and the more he thinks the more he wants to join for some sick reason.
Cause as selfish as it is, Slushy didn’t want to die just for the greater good.
Let’s say he does join though he would have to hurt so many innocent people who didn’t do anything.
He couldn’t bring himself to care as much as he wanted at this though though.
Slushy only a few weeks ago would’ve said “no way” but now he feels so-desensitized to all of this.
As much as Slushy wants to say once again that he would rather die.
It wasn’t true.
He wants to survive and see what the server will become in the future. Whether it would change or not for the best or the worst. Knowing the server though it would be the latter.
But Slushy wants to see that. He wants to see the server in ruins and suffer from all the pain it has caused others.
He felt so indecisive but at the same time knew what response he would say in the end.
All the decision-making finally came to an end as Slushy at last opened his mouth to finally say the three words that would finalize the rest of his life on the server.
“Okay, I’ll join”, Slushy finally said at last.
Stormz smiles like he already knew what he was going to choose in the end.
Cause Stormz knew that he would win in the end.
And he did.
Stormz won and Slushy lost.
Unlike any other typical stories, the villain won and the hero lost.
The hero now turns to the villian knowing that it was their only option for survival.
And will soon become dependent on the villain.
Slushy for obvious reason still feels guilt at his answer even when he bears the black shield and gifted netherite armor.
But it’s all over now as he stands beside Stormz.
He didn’t know if he should feel happy.
He just knows that all he has to do now is listen.
No need for thinking when you have a leader to listen to and serve.
Gosh, what has he done?
Slushy stood in the middle surrounded by bodies upon bodies, smelling of rot, which repulsed Slushy.
He couldn’t care much about this when he’s used to it though.
Soon he will grow loving the smell as Stormz once told him.
He just stands there blood all over him as Stormz walks up behind him putting his disgusting hands on his shoulders, opening his mouth “good job”, Stormz says while rubbing his shoulders slowly is circular motion.
During the first few days of joining he would've tensed up at this, but now he's grown used to it.
Slushy’s face is just blank of emotion as he just stares down.
Even as he lifts one hand to wipe off some of the blood on his face, he does not say anything.
It wasn’t like he needed to anyway. Stormz always knew what he was thinking of for some reason.
Slushy clenched his bitten fingernails in his hand, a habit he’s grown used to ever since that unforgettable day that his teammate left him.
He’s become something he never thought he would become, a villain.
Couldn’t bring himself to care as much as he would’ve 2 month ago when he stood in front of his former teammate, Aspen, watching her die in front of him.
Slushy chose this though so he can’t be too mad at himself for ending up like this.
Maybe this is what fate had in store for him when he leans into Stormz's touch willing to listen to any command he gives, just like Aspen had done.
He truly has become a villain.
