I Am (Not) Your Hero

10

Smite enjoyed her. The scent of her was heady and intoxicating. Since he'd met her something in him had screamed out that he required her. He watched her writhe in pain.

So disobedient.
So careless.
So beautiful.

And did he feel bad? Of course. Starlette looked away trying to think, her nails between her teeth. He sat next to her, his large frame dwarfing her and the couch.

Smite watched her. She was so amusing. "You know I didn't wanna do that. I gave you a choice. And I told you to make good ones."

Starlette slowly looked at him. He looked...so remorseful. As he could not believe what had occurred. Like it was a natural disaster instead of something he planned.

He reached out, and rubbed her cheek. "I can put it back. It'll heal right. It'll hurt, like a bitch for a while. But it will heal."

He got on his knees in front of her, feeling her leg. She watched him with hooded eyes.

"Do you want me to?" He murmured, his fingers stroking her leg.

She said nothing, her eyes narrowing critically.

He raised his brows at her silence and nodded his understanding of the unspoken words. Starlette pursed her lips for a moment, her eyes shuddering before opening them.

"Sure."

He nodded. "Here I go. On the count of three. One...two—"

The sickening crack of her bone being shoved back into place sent a wave of cold water sluicing down her spine, dragging a whimper from her lips. She leaned over, vomiting.

He patted her back, picking her up into his arms and walking her to the bathroom. Starlette was unusually quiet.

"It doesn't have to be this way," he murmured, standing in front of the mirror that only his face could be seen in. She brushed her teeth as he held her up.

He'd taken away her moment. She couldn't walk. Could barely hobble.

He licked his lips. "We have a connection, Starlette. I'm sure if it. You're so calming to me. I think we're meant to be together —"

"Go to hell. Go to hell and get there quick."

He smirked but said nothing allowing her instead to brush her teeth.

"I've been single for so long," he smiled softly at her in the mirror. "It's time for the worlds hero to settle down."

She was awash in something she could only describe as dread. She kept her face still, her fingers closing against the toothbrush. She spat out her toothpaste and wiped her mouth.

"I went all the way into the city and back. It only took me a good 20 minutes. It would usually take me 45. You make me stronger, little Star."

Vomit threatened to come again, but he put his hand over her mouth tightly, holding her against his strong chest.

"I tested it. Every time we met."

She shook her head frantically. There was no way. Nothing about her could possibly make her stronger, it wasn't true.

But he shook his head with her denying her denial his lips pressed against her head. "It's true. It's true, Starlette. I think I should marry you."

She closed her eyes shaking her head even harder.

"Yes. The world is even clearer. My hearing is even stronger. You belong to me, I figure. You're my gift to myself."

Starlette went limp in his arms her mind racing.

"We're connected you and I. You know me. You see me. Who else could ever be like that?" He insisted, his dark hair becoming more mused as time went on, as if frazzled.

He carried her from the room setting her back down on the couch, and looking away.

"Starlette you haven't spoken." He said after a moment.

He sat it utter silence with her. She just stared ahead. Broke already? Not likely. Not his little star.

"You should call me something."

She said nothing.

"How about...honey. That's nice and simple." He cleared his throat. "Or baby. I don't like much of baby do I?"

Starlette bit hard on her lip trying to contain herself. Smite just kept talking. As if he knew.

"Say it. I wanna hear it," he says suddenly.

Starlette turned to him in silent question.

"Call me baby. I wanna hear it."

Starlette blinked and said nothing for a moment. She couldn't handle him breaking another bone, not yet anyway.

"Die in a fire...baby." She spat the offensive word at his feet, the team of endearment coming out every bit the venomous insult she'd intended.

Smite just chuckled. "Good enough."

He stood, and in a moment his hand collided with the side of her cheek, setting it aflame, her teeth rattling in her skull her brows knitting in the sheer bewilderment.

She touched it, and pulled her hand back. He'd drawn blood. All he did was slap and he'd drown blood.

He stared at her blankly and then down at his hand and then back up at her.

"What do you want for dinner?"