Blessed, cursed, or both?
AN: I am alive, shoutout to that one anon who worried about me.
This is my gift for @glacierruler for the @sanderssidesgiftxchange
I am so sorry for the delay, my school's stupid platform registered a bunch of mine and other classmates grades incorrectly and we spent the holidays making sure it was fixed, but here it is! Hope you like it c:
Summary: After his first day in a new school sucked as much as expected, Virgil is sure his day can't get any worse, until it does. At least there were two very weird but familiar individuals to keep him from dying, even if it meant they dragged him to a confusing investigation afterwards.
CW: explosions, near death experiences, swearing.
WC: 2866
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The walk home was longer than Virgil imagined. Yet again, any walk would seem to last an eternity to anyone on a new town.
Virgil's old school was perfect, as perfect as a high school could be, but at least it was perfect for him. A robotics and chemistry lab left practically all for himself was clearly the biggest appeal, but his classmates and teachers were nice too. The cafeteria food was the only thing Virgil could actually complain about.
Here, at one of the biggest cities in his country, one would believe the public schools would be quite well funded and have a lot of resources. It sounded like such a stupid mindset now that Virgil went to his earlier thoughts again.
His new school was a nightmare, almost an abandoned building. The chemistry lab, which also worked as a computer lab, was occupied by boxes full with old participation trophies and books that probably still had slurs written on their pages.
And if that wasn't ad enough already, his classmates were all dicks. No one cared enough about anyone but themselves to mind if they bumped with someone in the hallway or made them drop their books on the way to their locker.
"They're just surviving, you'll learn to do it too... eventually"
Those words kept repeating on Virgil's head, he didn't even know the name of the person decent enough to help him. Surviving... that shouldn't be an excuse for being an asshole.
Lost in his thoughts, Virgil almost didn't hear the giggles and laughs coming from the other side of the street.
Virgil looked back, spotting what appeared to be a fucking mansion, no, it was more like one of those rich neighborhoods with the clean white houses. Only it wasn't that, it was a school.
Oh great, he had fallen into the falling to crumbs public school and Olympus worthy private school stereotype hadn't he?
Virgil could actually feel the sun shinning bright above the fancy campus, despite the rest of the city being covered by storm clouds.
Moving on, back to going home... wait.
Taking a couple of steps back, Virgil realized the clouds actually did seem to part above the school.
Virgil looked over at the buildings surrounding it, grey sky, then back at the school, blue sky.
Well that was definitely not norm-
BOOM
An explosion.
Sure, add an explosion almost fucking KILLING him to te worst day of his life, why not?
Almost killing him... why wasn't he dead?
As Virgil opened his eyes, he could once again see that blue sky that filled his head with so many questions, and then he looked down only to e greeted with a set of perfect white teeth.
"Do not worry innocent citizen, the great Starbolt has saved you from disaster!"
Virgil could barely see this man's, Starbolt he said? Face with the sun shining behind him and the breeze blown his hair to his eyes.
Breeze?
Looking down, way down, Virgil could barely see the floor.
"HOLLY SHIT!" Virgil could only scream. He was flying! Actually flying! Well, Starbolt was, while carrying him. This man was making Virgil fucking fly with him.
boom
Another explosion, further into the city.
"Well, have to take this one." Was the only warning Virgil got from Starbolt before being dropped who knew how many feet off the air.
This time he couldn't even scream. Virgil was really screwed up now, and the sun had once again disappeared so there weren't any shadows where he could-
And then the floor stopped getting closer, Virgil felt a new pair of arms holding him and sure enough, someone caught him.
Seriously could death stop taunting him for only five minutes?
"Hey, you're the emo kid."
Virgil looked up, at this man's face, meeting a pair of bright red eyes. He's seen those eyes before... this person was at school earlier today.
"Um... hi?"
A smile Virgil could only describe as unsettling replied to him. "Welcome to the city, you won't die if you're lucky enough to have me around, not so much if you bump into those assholes over there though." He pointed to the sky, not before slapping a fucking boulder away with his bare hand, making it break around them.
Virgil looked to where his classmate was pointing. Another person floated alongside Starbolt as they lifted people away from the explosions.
It was then when he really took a look at both of them. Starbolt wore a mainly white suit with red and golden accents. A golden "S" resembling a lightning decorated his chest, and a red cape blew with the wind as the superhero flew. The look was tied together with a red mask only covering his green eyes.
The other one, whose name Virgil didn't know, somehow matched with Starbolt while still standing out as his own person. He wore a baby blue suit with white swirls decorating it, a pink scarf acted as a mask that covered his face lower half while the ends blew behind him like Starbolt's cape, and a pair of pink ballet shoes. Taking a better look at him made Virgil realize he wasn't actually flying, but jumping higher up than humanly possible.
Virgil's thoughts were interrupted once again by his classmate's voice
"Aaand, up you go"
"Wait wha-" Virgil couldn't finish his sentence before his classmate tossed him back up in the air, only to be caught again by Starbolt.
Virgil held tightly onto the man's shoulders as they landed, a crowd formed around them as the people clapped and cheered.
"Thank you, thank you. No need to clap really." Starbolt landed and let Virgil down on the ground safely, "I can't take all the credit, right Blaze?"
Blaze landed right next to them, Virgil couldn't see his face but could still tell he was smiling. "We did a great job!" Blaze eagerly mentioned as he highfived Starbolt, "You don't need to be modest about it"
Virgil was left standing between the two heroes. There were a million questions in his head and he couldn't even get a word out. So many things happened all at once and his mind was still trying to process it.
A buzzing sound and... a voice? Came out from an earphone both heroes were wearing, but Virgil wasn't close enough to understand the words.
Without even looking at each other, as if they were connected telepatically or something, both heroes bowed to the crowd around them and took off. Virgil watched as they flew and jumped away respectively.
Great, now what?
"You survived, awesome"
"Ah!" Was the only noise Virgil could let out after his classmate surprised him once again. "Not thanks to you and your friends"
"Pff, those guys? Nah we're not together. I just make sure they don't kill half the city's population with their neglect. Starbolt thinks he was quick enough to drop you, go and save more emo teenagers and come back before you splatted on the concrete and became a puddle of blood and broken bones."
Virgil rolled his eyes, "Thanks for that image."
His classmate smiled, "Don't mention it."
"Shouldn't you be like, all dressed up and protecting your identity or whatever?" Virgil asked, as he made his way back to the sidewalk.
"It's not like anybody pays attention to us, we're invisible. The only reason you recognized me it's because we go to the same school, but you clearly don't even know my name"
Virgil stopped and turned around to look at his classmate eye to eye, deciding to ignore the fact that he had to look up to actually do that. "Can you blame me? I just moved in and your school is full of douchebags who don't care about anyone but themselves. Do you know my name?"
He shrugged, "maybe I know, maybe I don't. I'll find out, we have our ways."
"Who's we?" Asked Virgil, "you keep saying that"
His classmate grinned and pointed towards the top of a nearby building with his eyes.
Virgil followed the teen's gaze, spotting another masked figure, a much darker one. This... hero? Was wearing all black, had a bowler hat a cape that matched, only his green half phantom of the opera style mask stood out from the darkness surrounding him.
Virgil could swear they made eye contact before the figure disappeared between the clouds.
"Welp, gotta run Virge." The teen announced, causing Virgil to shift his attention back to him. "Nice keeping you from becoming a resident in hell!"
"Wait so you did..." Aaand he was gone, "...know"
Whatever, it's not like Virgil cared that much, he had other stuff to worry about.
Stuff that kept Virgil's superhero encounter in the back of his mind the rest of the day, the next morning, and even halfway through the school day. And it would have stayed that way if it wasn't for-
"Hey VV!"
That.
Virgil gripped the sides of his lunch tray as he turned around and sure enough, there he was, same guy from yesterday.
He tried to ignore him, but it was hard considering the school's cafeteria was hardly double the size of a regular classroom. Even being at opposite sides of the room, they were still close enough to clearly notice each other.
Virgil sighed, it couldn't be worse than eating by himself. He walked over the table where his classmate was sitting, squeezing through a crowd of teenagers trying not to ruin his food.
His classmate smiled, "glad to know you haven't died since we last saw each other."
"Could tell you the same thing." Virgil replied wit a sarcastic tone, "are you going to tell me your name now or am I going to be kept in the dark forever?"
"Mmm, I don't know. I like the mystery surrounding me"
"Please, there's nothing mysterious about you Remus"
Virgil turned around as another voice interrupted them.
"Whyyy do you haaave to ruin my fuuun?" Remus complained as the third person sat next to him.
"Telling the truth is not ruining your fun dear."
That voice... "It's you, the guy who helped me yesterday."
Virgil managed to catch his attention, "I am. No need to thank me or anything."
"And don't call them a guy," Remus chimed in, "they them pronouns for this handsome please."
"Or just Janus, some people are too stubborn to care about anyones identity."
"Right, sorry." Virgil apologized.
Remus wrapped his arms around Janus, kissing his cheek multiple times in an almost aggressive way. That's when Virgil caught on, they were dating. "I can... go and leave you two alone if you want."
"Please don't" Janus put their hand between their cheek and Remus' lips. "Maybe with you here this scumbag will have some shame and stop being so publicly affectionate."
Remus grinned, "not a chance."
Janus rolled their eyes, "I'll keep him in line. Take a seat Virgil."
Virgil did as instructed, "for people who just care about surviving, it seems like everyone around him knows my name."
"I said other people don't care," Janus corrected. "We're the exception that makes the rule."
"Right, and do you know your boyfriend is going around the city showing everyone his inhuman strength?"
Remus snickered, "boyfriend is a strong word. We're barely friends with benefits"
Virgil almost chocked on his food as he swallowed, "I-I'm sorry I didn't mean to assume I just-"
"He's joking." Janus interrupted, slapping Remus' hand as if they were reprimanding a little kid.
"You know you love me"
"And to answer your question," Janus looked back at Virgil, "I know. This idiot doesn't even try to cover his identity when cleaning those so called heroes' mess"
Remus groaned, "what's the point? It's not like they ever give credit or even say thank you."
"What is up with them anyway? Starbolt and Blaze?" Virgil's curiosity couldn't be ignored anymore, he had a million questions and couldn't figure out how to even begin asking them. "I didn't realized I was moving to Gotham."
That comment got a chuckle out of Janus. "At least Batman does his job right, those bastards are faker than-"
"My virginity!" Remus interrupted.
"Sure, that works." Janus sighed and took a bite out of an apple they had grabbed earlier. "We're pretty sure it's all staged, doesn't mean they're not putting innocent people's lives at risk."
"I think the clouds hide their wires" Remus said before slurping the last of his carton juice.
Virgil couldn't help but shake his head, "that would be true if they didn't open up around them."
Janus raised an eyebrow and glanced over at Remus. "What are you talking about?"
Virgil looked up rom his food, "haven't you noticed? They attract the sun beams or something."
"Maybe because yesterday was sunny?" Remus asked, his tone made Virgil think they thought he was joking.
"No... the only moment I've seen the sun since I got him was when I was in Starbolt's arms."
The couple looked at each other, confused.
Janus stood up and walked around the table, grabbing Virgil's hand without warning and pulling him up.
"W-wait wha-"
"Shh, just come with me."
Virgil pulled his hand out of Janus' grip, "I'm not going to be dragged away by someone I barely know without an explanation."
"Fine, you don't want to be dragged." Remus spoke from behind him.
Virgil turned around in time for Remus to grab him and carry him over his shoulder.
"P-Put me down!" Virgil struggled in Remus' grip to no avail. This guy really had superhuman strength.
Virgil's demands were ignored as Remus carried him around school. He gave up by the time they arrived to the main entrance.
Janus opened one of the schools front doors, "how's the climate today?"
"I would gladly tell you if Remus would let me down so I could look outside."
"No need!" Remus turned around so Virgil could answer without having to put him down.
Virgil sighed, he might as well answer and get this over with.
He looked up, a bunch of dark storm clouds made it impossible to actually look at the sky. Thunder and lightning accompanied the heavy rain, how come they coulnd't hear all this nose from inside?
"There's a storm" Virgil answered, plain and simple. "Will you let me down now?"
Janus looked up at the sky, "you're seriously not messing with me?"
Virgil groaned, "why would I be messing with you? It's right there."
Janus looked back at Virgil, then at their partner, making a sign to step out of the school.
Remus did as Janus signed, taking Virgil out in the storm with him.
"W-w-wait no! You don't know how bad my hair gets with humidity! The last thing I need is people making fun of..."
Virgil looked over at Remus, who remained completely dry under the rain. Virgil on the other hand, was already soaking wet after just a few seconds of being carried under the rain, "what?"
"Huh" Janus' face couldn't hide their surprise. They pulled Remus and Virgil back into the building.
Remus finally let Virgil down.
"What was that about? He's not only super strong but also waterproof?" Virgil squeezed the water from his sleeves and tried to fix his hair as he complained.
"He's not. There wasn't any storm outside, I thought you were joking but looking at you now... something else is going on here."
"No shit Sherlock" Virgil rubbed his face, accidentally smearing his eyeshadow.
Remus sighed, "you treat this like joke, but it's something serious. If sunbeams were following those assholes around that means they have something to do with this!"
Virgil shrugged, "why does that concern me? You and your mr. Black cape friend are the ones cleaning their mess, not me."
The three teens were getting annoyed at this point.
"It concerns you because you're the only one who can see what's happening" Janus explained.
"And that is not my fault. Go and ask anybody else if they can see the fucking storm becase I'm not getting myself involved in this craziness!" The lights flickered as Virgil lost control. He took a deep breath, he needed to calm down and just let everything go before anything suspicious happened and he had to flee again.
Janus looked up at the lights, then back as Virgil. This guy was nervous about something. "Look, we're not going to deep dive into why you have this ability if you don't want us to but we need your help."
Virgil crossed his arms, looking at his classmates as he analyzed his situation.
"It's up to you, but remember I can keep carrying you anywhere we want" Remus shrugged.
Virgil sighed, "and then you'll leave me alone?"
Janus nodded, "we will."
"Fine then," Virgil caved in. "What do you want me to do?"
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Today on I Reread Effloresce And Had What If Pov Thoughts: RHYSAND. Like what is going on in this dude's head? Seriously. In the little snipit we get of his pov it sounds like Hyburn is his biggest concern but that derails into a desperate need to one-up the Archerons SO damn fast. His oh so ~well~ thought out plan gets blown to smithereens instantly and his control freak self is PANICKING while also trying to maintain his whole calm cool casual facade. Will he ever admit how badly he misjudged the whole situation in the human lands? No. Does he even care? Probably also no. All that really matters by this point is that Feyre's sisters keep upsetting her and THAT can't stand.
Added to all this other plan breaking bullshit, Cassian starts following around after the angry loud one like a lovesick puppy and he's not 100% sure what's going on with Az but Something is.
And of course Lucien FUCKING Vanserra.
I'm willing to bet that Rhys's suggestion of going to get shithead papa Archeron is based on just how much Nesta and Elain seem to hate him.(And then Az shuts that down with "I will fucking KILL HIM")
Then the wardrobe of dead birds happens and he thinks for like half a second that he should feel bad about that but then Nesta is shouting at Feyre and he can't have THAT. (Then the sweet polite sister grabs the knife from Cass's boot. Oh yeah, she did STAB Az didn't she)
He looks forward to seeing Nesta put in her place by a bunch of misogynistic Illirian assholes but instead the entire legion is ride-or-die for team Archeron practically from the moment their feet hit the ground. How the HELL did they mange THAT? (it's called respect and basic decency. Try it sometime)
(and then Mor gets there just in time for Az to start noticeably losing his shit.)
(I also noticed that there was a line where Rhys bit back a snarl because even after all this time it would make Feyre uncomfortable. Meanwhile Lucien just has no qualms about being absolutely undeniably Faery in from of Nesta and Elain and they give exactly zero shits about it.)
Oh man, Rhys. Rhysie Rhysie Rhys slowly but surely showing more and more psycho.
So, the thing is, Hybern IS the top priority. However- and I think this is just like, so pivotal to Rhysands character as a whole- it has to be fighting Hybern his way. He has a year to tell the other lords shit, and he doesn't. He steals, he lies, he puts civilians in danger.
And why? Well, because that's the story he's telling.
Textually, observably we have Rhys, arrogant misogynistic selfish fuck face that he is, and then we have Rhys, the battered but unbroken noble underdog fighting against odds for the Good of All tragic hero man- this is the story he tells himself. It's the one he makes sure Feyre believes. It falls apart against all his actions, but that doesn't matter to him.
The humans don't want to talk to him? Of course he's going to find a back way in. Feyre's human sisters might die? Well, one less thing to take her away. Humans might die? Sure, Rhys feels bad, but not enough not to weigh the cost favorably.
Then he actually gets there.
And they're so... Unbiddable. Hostile. They've upset Feyre, they've written blood magic all across their land, and Rhys might appreciate cleverness but this is just more than he wants to deal with.
And Lucien. Sidebar: what I think is hilariously never talked about is. Well. Lucien actually is all the things Rhysand romantically imagines himself to be. He is ACTUALLY the lost heir, the disinherited son, the noble prince. He actually did stand against Amarantha for his friends. He's drinking respect women juice by the gallon while actually being charming and powerful. I cannot imagine this doesn't lie cardinal to the reason why Rhys is so disdainful towards him.
Lucien is easy to write off by himself. (Because Rhys fucking hates him). Nesta Archeron sets everybody's teeth on edge. Elain keeps smiling. They're all the worst and every one of them is important to Feyre and thus, a threat to Rhys. Anything that could hurt her is, he won't allow her to be hurt.
Cassian is acting like an idiot but Cassian is an idiot about women. Azriel is all Azriel but what else is new? Rhys will deal with it.
(Rhys will not deal with it. Rhys does not believe for a second how serious this all is. Rhys is, frankly, already bored. Maybe he'll find Feyre's father. It'll make her happy, and someone else can wrangle the others.)
They're merchants- of course they're merchants, grasping little mortals- they have a contract? Well, if they want to play with magic so badly, Rhys will help them.
(Rhys does not understand what Azriel finds so compelling, much less Cassian. Illyrians do not brook with disloyalty- even the mention is enough for shame. They won't betray him. They won't, but it's still enough to annoy)
Cassian's bleeding heart has always been a problem. Azriels moods. Honor. What honor did they ever learn, starving in the freezing mud, Rhys thinks. These humans want to wade into waters that will only drown them- Feyre will be so much safer, no ties left to mortality- of course Illyrians, backwards, difficult Illyrians, side with these misbegotten nightmare women. Let them be crushed by it, let one rebellious legion die, Rhys doesn't care either way.
He's pissed, but he's also letting things play out hoping it just implodes an entire situation he doesn't want to deal with.
He's also not actually totally in the loop. Cassian's POV makes Azriel really distinct because they are so, so close, but Rhys, for a lot of reasons, doesn't have the same understanding. He knows Azriel went off the rails when his mother and sister died, but so did, you know, half the mountains. He refuses to even entertain how personal it was beyond maternal feelings.
Things get worse and Rhys gets worse because this is not how it was supposed to go. What the hell is it about these Archerons?
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