Work Text:
All cameras are focused on the wooden podium white-clothed table placed on the center stage with dark blue curtains as its backdrop. The table itself had been rigged with an absurd number microphones from multiple news channel and wide enough to accommodate two-to-three people. It’s not surprising, after all, they have gathered here for Mecha Man. The famous third legacy hero had announced an official press release after his three-to-four months long coma, something rarely happened in his fifteen-year long career (both the coma and the press conference).
But there wasn’t any chair placed behind the table, as Mecha Man rolled into the stage in a wheel chair. He’s not wearing his iconic white chest plate. His face gaunt and pale under the bright camera flashes, shadows underneath his eyebrows and the dark tired eyebags made his eyes looked nearly skeletal, brown cloudy eyes stared to the distance.
That’s where the hero read through his prepared script, announcing his early retirement to the world. Effective immediately, due to the intensive damage the Mecha Suit had sustained from the explosion, no further explanation regarding his own health or coma. People didn’t really pay attention to the questions, most of them only repeating the same thing the hero had stated beforehand as every reporter did all the time.
Until.
"Charles Kingsley. South Bay Signal." A burly man stood out from the crowd, “So, Shroud kills your father, goes to jail for fifteen years, breaks out, and immediately dupes you into a trap where he destroys the Mecha Man suit and puts you in a coma for months--”
“I didn’t hear any questions in there.” Mecha Man cut him off with a mumble, though it’s still caught under the myriad of microphones surrounding him.
Kingsley’s eyebrow twitched.
“Two parters, first, why didn’t shroud kill you? You haven't been conscious for months, it will be easy money taking you out.” The reporter didn’t try to hide his irritation towards the recent ex-hero.
It took a moment for Mecha Man to answer him, as he focused more on steadying his breathing and tethering himself back to the conversation. He didn’t look angry, no, more like.. exhausted.
"Okay. Shroud wanted the Astral Pulse and Mecha Man gone.” Mecha Man shrugged, his tone flat. “He got both. I'm not sure I mattered much."
“Right,” Kingsley sneered, pointed his pen toward the hero with each word, “You are unimportant, which leads me to my next question--”
The reporter leaned forward, “Most heroes avenge their family. You? Did the opposite.”
“You KILL their legacy.“ Kingsley almost sing-songed that part. A crack in Mecha Man nonchalant expression, now his attention finally focused on the reporter.
“How disappointed your dad will be, if he were here right now?” He continued, pressed every word, dripping with venom, tone as sharp as a dagger.
“Your father.“
“Your grandfather.“
“They must be rolling over their graves right now.“ The reporter stated with a lull in his sentence, clearly too confident and comfortable in himself to notice how the room quietened after his words.
Murmurs in the background grew waiting for Mecha Man’s respond. Everyone expected some kind of an answer, or a threat? Maybe some sassy comeback? He broke it with a sigh, now more tense and strained instead tired or bored.
The newly retired hero rolled to the front, past the table where the stage provided him some extra height to meet Kingsley’s eyes. Camera flashes rained on the ex-hero immediately, taking in all of the damage in high definition. The wheelchair he’s on were the ones you find in hospital, bulky and uncomfortable. He wore the same blue-now-grey suit with a washed out orange ‘M’ on his chest, no belt nor gauntlet. His left arm held in a sling to his shoulder, the other one on the wheel. His legs to toes were covered with blue-grey blanket, but it didn't cover the shapes, odd clot on one side, and very loose on his left side. He tilted his chin upward, which made Kingsley approached him.
No one saw Mecha Man’s forehead colliding with Kingsley’s nose coming. The reporter toppled back a few steps and staggered towards the hero as if trying to reach for Mecha Man.
Mecha Man reacted, pulled Kingsley’s arm to the side and twist, flipping a grown-ass man over with one arm.
”OW Fuck!” Kingsley screamed, his arm on an odd angle and now his back was on Mecha Man’s legs. But the camera focused more Mecha Man, already out of breath. Fat tear slipping from Mecha Man’s patchy eyelashes and under his mask, he’s not staring down at Kingsley at all, or at anything in the room.
Security came but didn’t do anything to separate them. Just hovering in the hidden corner of the stage.
Someone laughed a little, someone cheered.
The first reporter hid a grin behind her hand.
Mecha Man, Mecha Man, People started chanting.
"Get his ass!" a woman started, repeated it, and got other people in on it.
Mecha Man didn’t acknowledge them, eyes both burning and glassy, a thousand-yard stare at something beyond them. It took a moment for him to properly breathe again and finally noticed the man he’s holding hostage. He pushed Kingsley away like the man burnt him.
Kingsley landed with a loud thump on his side.
The crowd hollered at Kingsley who’s still wriggling on the ground.
Mecha Man seemingly grew a couple of years older in the span of ten minute, wiped away the tears in his face, and pinched his nose with a long shaky inhale and exhale.
He then stared at the security, snapped them out from the trance to help Kingsley.
Mecha Man left the stage.
[Everyone will remember that.]
========================
The incident broke the reporter’s nose, made it qualified as a "serious bodily injury", thus Aggravated Assault. When asked, the reporter answered.
“Of course, I want to sue, but it’s clear that he has nothing left and it's not like I know his civilian identity.” Kingsley appeared in his own interview, his nose bandaged and there was dried blood on his lips. “I am deeply disappointed by the cheering.”
========================
“Is Mecha Man a Mecha Quitter?”
Trending Topics: #JusticeforBlue #MechaQuitter
Mecha Man had finally spoken after his months long silence. His news of retirement had taken Los Angeles by a storm. Is this the end of a legacy? That one LIVE TV clip went viral overnight, it becomes the newest meme and GIFs, TikTok’s recreation, satire, even comedy. So many celebs and influencers reacted to the viral clip. Our on-site reporter had asked for the public's response.
Person on the street #1: “Yeah, I mean it’s better it’d be better if he died than be a mecha coward, you know? What kind of example is he setting, attacking someone like that?”
Person on the street #2: “I say the reporter deserved it. What’s wrong with him, saying stuff like that to an injured hero.”
Influencer: “You don’t have the right to physically assault someone over some words.”
Influencer #2: “Watching that reminds me that Mecha Man is just a man, who’s in a really tough situation right now, I say that’s a totally valid crash out.”
👍73K 👎4,81K 540 Comments:
Dont talk to me before coffee 💙🤖 @ Tiredmomof4
“I’ve never notice this before but did Blue made a ‘come here’ gesture with his healthy hand before headbutting the reporter?”
Fucked by life | @itsnotaphaseM0M
“Damn those biceps, looks really good under this lighting 👅👅”
🎶 Cooler than me 🎶 @Nightmer
“Lol the reporter probably expects some secrets, maybe threats, he got broken nose instead 👏👏”
Yes. We have seen almost EVERYTHING | @EMTKate87
“Is Blue okay? He looked shaken right there? He looked so close too passing out”
- >>> Reply to @ EMTKate87 | Honeyislife Honeyiswife @ DukeDatDude
That reporter probably triggered him or sth when he got close to Blue. MMB doesn’t attack first so this is ooc for him. I thought he would’ve just left, u kno?
>>> Reply to @ EMTKate87 | Next shift is another 8 to 8 fml | @ godwhymedical
Hopefully theres some med staff on site, MMB just got out of his coma right? He shouldn’t do strenuous activity like that.
>>> Reply @ EMTKate87 | Fastest Updates of Mecha Man Blue @ MechaBlustan4eva
Does anyone know how long does it take for someone to fully recovered from a coma?
>>> Reply @ EMTKate87 | Ⓜ️🤖🥀 Pray for blu Ⓜ️🤖🥀 @ EmilyThompson00
Not a doctor, still have two more years for that. So for normies, every week you are under, that would cost you a month of physical therapy. Let's say MMB was sleeping for 3 months, he'll need at least a year of physical therapy NOT including his leg situation. I say it’s a miracle that he’s already moving around in a wheel chair.
This void isn't looking back, i swear || 🍏 @ lacherote
“i get that the interviewer was being an asshole but that does not absolve Mecha Man of anything???? mecha man? More like mecha DICK”
From day one @ feritperliare2890
Dude was literally asking "why didn’t you instigate a bloody vengeance against a criminal that wronged you instead of continuing to uphold your valued of helping others" and he expected in a press release about how this guy just got back from a traumatic event to not beat him for trying to agitate him with thoughts he probably had himself. Honestly I'd consider it extreme harassment to use his position as a journalist to attempt such a personal attack, like villain monologue level of personal attack
Hoe dont tell me what to do 💋💋 @ Queenslaay
”Boi just insulted a-still-injured hero for surviving getting nuked n just woke up from a freaking COMA! GET HIS ASS baby blu!”
>>> Reply to @ Queenslaay | Fucked by life | @itsnotaphaseM0M
Right? I mean the crowd cheered for a reason this is the equivalent of a war veteran retiring after years of service because of an injury and the reporter hits him whit "How does it feel to be a disgrace" like brother you are asking to get your ass whooped lol. The audacity I swear.
>>> Reply to @ Queenslaay |
College hell is over?????? | @ BunkbuddyLucifer
ngl disappointed that Blue just let him go after that. That reporter tried to tackle him after insulting him!
The time has come. PRIDE Knight 🏳️🌈 @ acearohelmet :
“I have to say I am disappointed in young Mecha Man’s action. He should not resort to violence as the answer, especially not towards innocent civilian. He is setting a bad example for other heroes to follow.”
Madame Tapir | @FionnaGrimsley :
”I don’t know you can pull moves like that on a wheelchair! He’s so cool!”
>>> Reply to @ Queenslaay | Hoes No Longer Depressed, Thank Fuck for Meds | @PrismFanclubPresident:
”RIGHT???? Finally someone talk about the flip! and do you think the reporter is trying to attack him after that headbutt?”
Watermelon cat | @EatRick :
Journalist complains Mechaman isn’t violent enough but starts crying when gets what he asked for.
Meet the Robinsons | @RobinRobinson2 :
”Uhhhh guys is it me or MMB’s legs looks weird?”
Daily Updates of Ⓜ️🤖 Blue @ MMBlustan4eva:
MMB just got blown, lost his mech, woke up from a coma. Then someone insulted his family name, his 15 years of hero work, even implying he should’ve died? His crash out is understandable.
🌑🌒🌓🌔🌕🌖🌗🌘 @ Moonstruck
”MECHA MAN JUST COMMITTED ASSAULT ON LIVE TV AND GET AWAY WITH IT??
>>> Reply to @ Manymanystans | Peak alpha male @ Mechamanstan88
Look at those crocodile tears too what a baby
>>> Reply to @ Manymanystans | Real fans only - Faggots DNI @ Hardballhunk
He’s playing a victim so hard its embarrazing
Dont talk to me before coffee 💙🤖 @ Tiredmomof4
It breaks my heart seeing MMB’s condition. Why nobody ask about his health? I pray the wheelchair is not permanent.
[Public response: Mixed.]