I Am (Not) Your Hero

24

"Smite makes is making a global announcement today, here on NBC 17,  stay tuned."

Starlette shifted uncomfortably in her high heels. They hurt. Smite's palm rested on the small of her back holding her steady with no effort.

"Are you ready?" He asked her softly, almost imperceptible whisper.

She nodded.

"Should we...are you sure you'd like a no makeup, makeup look," the stylist asked. "Could we try designer?"

Starlette said nothing. Her input didn't really matter. She was a villain she had no expertise in optics, in mass manipulation of politics like he did. Not yet.

"No. I don't wear ads and neither does my wife. She's perfect. A classic beauty. Herself."

Starlette smiled tightly. The stylist swooned. What a wonderful couple, a man who loved how his wife looked naturally. But Starletre knew that was not the case. He wanted her to be recognizable.

Too much makeup and she may be able to walk around barefaced without anyone knowing who she was. She heaved a sigh.

"How long do we have to do this?"

"This one announcement and I'll do the rest," he murmured. "I'll be good to you. I promise."

She disregarded his half-plea. It didn't really matter. "Right. I'm ready."

Smite took her hand, walking her toward the couch. She crossed her legs, despite the pain, to hide the scar.

"Smite! It's so good to see you! The whole world is on edge. Tell us: what is going on?"

Smite smiled and squeezed her thigh. "I wanted to come here, and let the world know the good news. I know we can all use it. I'm—we're getting married."

Starlette offered her practiced smile.

"What wonderful news! Congratulations you two! I have to know, what made you want to go public? You're usually so private."

Starletre tuned out. He was good at this. Playing the charming, innocent hero.

"I'm...sorry?"

Starlette's attention was hijacked by the reporters frozen smile. He looked uncomfortable. What did Smite just say?

"I said, I came in public with her so there's never an excuse for someone to say they didn't know. Now you know." Smite said simply.

The reporter, a usually airheaded man, could not quell his discomfort. He laughed over it, but it was not loud enough.

"You must be proud of her. Starlette was it? You're a martial artist—"

"No, you were right," Smite smiled softly. "You were right the first time. I came on your show, Andrew to warn the entire world. Don't even try it."

Andre narrowed his eyes, no longer smiling. "You know, Smite that kinda sounds like a threat?"

He just smiled. "Does it?"

The two laughed.

"I am a martial artist, actually." Starlette said softly."Have been since I was young. I grew up in city Z. Smite didn't appear until a few years ago. But I always thought he was a star."

Smite looked at her, now side tracked. The crowd awwed, but Starlette could only hear the ringing in her ears. This was her life now want it? Preventing a man child from murdering people en mass because he was upset?

He smiled at her and squeezed her thigh. I know what I'm doing.

"Smite is the world's hero. He belongs to the world. And I will always protect you. It's what I am. But she gets Misael. And Misael isn't a hero. He's just a man."

"Are you telling me—telling the world...that you will....kill anyone who tries to harm this woman?"

"Well I was avoiding that word on purpose," Smite said his mouth spread wide a grin, before it fell into a grim line. "But yes."

"This is breaking news—"

"We've all seen the movies. The comics. The books." Smite continued. "You have a hero and that hero gets a wife a husband. A dog and suddenly everyone ever put away gets the brilliant idea!"

Smite put a finger up his eyes widening. "I'll just kill that. It's easier. Weaker. I'll kill what he loves and he'll be so crushed he'll never even get me for it. I want to be painfully clear," he lingered over the word painfully caressing it before coming to a sharp point.

"That is not what will happen. I am trusting you. I'm trusting the world the way you have trusted me. I'm putting her out here. The one person I love. And I'm trusting you to keep her safe—trusting she will be safe. Because I'm not god, and I can't be everywhere. But I can be in one place."

Smite walked toward the camera staring at it almost fondly.

"I can be wherever you are. Any government, any criminal any...alien or super star or god, or groups—anyone. I can be exactly where you are anywhere in the universe—that's where I can be. Touch her...and this universe will not be a place you want to be."

"Are you declaring war on the world—"
"This is a betrayal of everything you claimed to stand for—"

Smite cleared his throat and looked over at Starlette whose mouth was open wide. He smiled and turned to her, ignoring the questions and demands of everyone in the studio.

"So? I think I sounded very confident." He shrugged.

"Your image..." she whispered.

He smirked. "Shattered. I think the world has just found out they don't know me very well. It's all thanks to you."

Starlette looked around her vision spinning. "This isn't real."

He cocked his head. "What?"

She shook her head again. "This isn't real is it? You're trying to give me a win. That's what I want for people to know what you are and you..." she looked up at him.

"Yeah. You wanted people to know who I am," he said softly. "They know Smite. The hero. But I'm Misael too. And Misael has...a looser interoperation of the law."

She closed her mouth, looking around. This has to be a lie. He'd never recover. He'd just thrown his whole life down the drain. And his name? Why would he ever give his name?! How many lavender eyed Misael's were there?! Unless—

He smiled.

"This won't change anything will it? They'll still love you."

He nodded. "Of course."

"Then...I was never gonna take you down. Was I? Even if I came clean?"

He shook his head softly. "No...probably not."

She chuckled to herself. "I see. How funny. You're so funny, Misael."