Superheroes Suck: The Unnecessary Novella

Chapter 3: Let's Down This Mimosa And Get A Move On

With that, I ran straight into the fold. I was weaving through the crowd, ducking and dodging pedestrians as they ran for their lives. Adrenaline coursed through me and it felt amazing to be back in my element.

It had been so long since I had the chance to be on the scene for something this newsworthy. To be honest, I feel like I photographed WAY more interesting things as a high school student. Now, I am at the bottom rung of the ladder and it's less "Crime Syndacite Boss Caught By Midnight Hero" and more "Puppy Party in Belhurst Park."

I mean, most of what made my life interesting in high school were the superheroes that surrounded me. My lovely fiance, who has his own life and career, probably wouldn't enjoy being followed around and exploited for my career. My mother is now a retired hero and I'm an adult who shouldn't be relying on her mother so much. Even Mr. Maddox has slowed down as hero, citing that his career and personal life needed to take precedence for now.

Part of me was tempted to throw a cape on and start cruising for news. Maybe then I wouldn't feel this pit in my stomach everything I thought about my so called powers.

Shit, I think I'm zoning out because no one is around me and a giant piece of building was hurtling towards me. I did the normal thing and dove to my right. Thankfully I have boob to cushion my camera so it was okay.

The spot where I was standing a moment ago was not a crater but that was all the reminder I needed to start shooting.

"Aww, it feels like I'm getting the cold shoulder." His smile was wide and...cold? Is that stupid to say because he has ice powers? "I guess no warm welcome is in order when you guys are running for your lives."

His cape billowed in the sky, casting a slight shadow below. It was hard to really see much else because he was pretty far away. Luckily I had my camera to help but even that had its limitations.

One of said limitations meant maintaining as much distance as the camera would allow while also getting as close to the action as I could. I am daring, willing to throw myself into the fold to capture the news. However, I also value my life to some extent.

I got into a rhythm of clicking and then taking a look at my surroundings so as to not almost get smushed by the piece of a building.

Above me, Frostwyrm continued to rant, "...This will not be the last time you see me. I promise I will bring them to their knees..." Who? The police? The heroes who will inevitably stop him? Some government official? I really need to pay attention, "Now, I'm going to leave before the hothead gets here. I can see him on the horizon."

I turned my camera to Frostwyrm and in the distance, there was the shadow of something - someone - in the distance. That was the money shot. The sky was absolutely gorgeous at this time of the day and I move around a bit trying to frame the shot I wanted.

And I got it.

Wait a minute, did he say "Hothead?" Of course he did. You know it wouldn't be a crime scene if you-know-who didn't show up.

Spitfire slowly descended, landing silently next to me. As if oblivious to the mess around us, he smiled and asked, "Now, how is my favorite shutterbug?"

"As good as I can be." I said, gesturing to the rubble and terrified crowd around us.

Police had begun to section off the area and work on crowd control, just so no one accidentally walked into the danger zone. The damage wasn't too extensive but you never know when something will come tumbling down. This part of town came long before they started building places with supers in mind so much of it wasn't quite as sturdy as newer parts of Belhurst.