Hero Factory Oneshots

I just watch the days pass

TW: mentions of suicide

Holding the family photo didn't bring the happiness he hoped it would do. He thought, perhaps, looking at old photos would help him cherish the memories he has, but instead he just felt guilt and anger and sadness.
His wife put a hand on his forearm. "Darling, have you been drinking again?"
He looked at her confused. "Drinking?"
She nodded. "I... I saw the bottles on your desk... I know I shouldn't go into your room for no reason, but I had this weird gut feeling... I'm sorry.."
He paused for a moment, confused at how she even saw the bottles, but then remembered that his wife had finally gotten eye surgery that at last restored her vision, which she lost as a side effect from a serious fever. How could he have forgotten? He was there waiting for her operation to be complete. Maybe it's a consequence of his drinking habit... He should probably quit if it already started to affect his memory...
He sighed and placed the photo down, before turning around and pulling her into an embrace.
"It's okay baby, I'm sorry I got you worried... I've just been feeling down lately again.."
Orchid nodded at that. She took his hands and led him away from the shelf and to the couch. There, she sat down and her husband laid down next to her, his head on her lap. She stroked his head and he closed his eyes with a sigh, allowing his mind to finally take a break.
It's been, how many years? Five years since Kaneko's death.

....

Death by hanging

Elvis winced and covered his face with his hands, as the image came back to his mind.

He was just walking down the halls of his other home, when he passed his younger brother's room. Kaneko was suffering from severe depression upon the deaths of multiple people from their found family, especially the ones of their parents Serena and Christopher. Elvis knew something was wrong and opened the door, to have his fears be confirmed, as he saw the shadowy silhouette of his brother hanging by-

Orchid took his hands away from his face. The images disappeared as he opened his eyes and looked up at her through a misty vision. She took his glasses and placed them aside and wiped the tears away.
Elvis sat up and hugged her, and they sat silently together, embraced by the other on the couch.

"I miss them..." He mumbled.
"I know..." She replied.

Silence again.

"Do you want to talk about it? You always felt a little bit better when we talked about it together.."

Elvis didn't react for a moment, until he nodded and sat beside her, and explained what's been on his mind.

He told her about the bad dreams he's been having, which were all about past events but worse. He told her about the deaths of several of his family members, and when he got emotional, she told him to give her details, because if he cries, she wants to cry with him. And so he did.

The first to go were his parents. What happened was that a hero seeking vendetta broke in and attacked them, causing a lot of damage to their home. Another hero arrived to stop the other, but was forced to use an attack that killed his mom. Or knocked her soul out, to be exact. Because of a contract his mother had with demons, and because his dad was with her, both of their souls were taken down to hell, leaving their bodies behind.
Next was Noah. He had been suffering from brain cancer for many, many years, and only survived after becoming an orphan due to self-made chemotherapy that somehow works. The cancer however caught up again and his health rapidly declined. The family spent the final moments together beside Noah, and things would have ended bittersweet, if it weren't for the fact that he passed away on his birthday. Elvis was the one who told Noah's secret lover about the news and they spent the day mourning together.
Valentino passed to his own element, ironically. During a fight with heroes next to a power plant, he got a little too close to the electrical storage and accidentally broke it, causing him to be electrocuted to death, because his body wasn't used to such high amounts of electricity.
Last to go was Kaneko. Was there much to be explained?

After some time, the two calmed down and Elvis continued.
There are family members who are still alive, those being K, Skye, and his parents' late children Clara and Orion. But especially towards the latter two, he feels like he doesn't spend nearly enough time with them, whether it's because he's working overtime at the archives, doesn't partake in villain activities anymore or they just don't talk very often.

There was a moment of silence as they sat next to each other. Elvis leaned his head against Orchid.
"I feel like it's impossible to move on from it all... And that I'm not a good enough older brother for my younger siblings..."
Orchid stroked his head and let him lay down again on her lap. "Darling, you're doing what you can, and sometimes the effort counts more than the result. I know it's hard for you, I can't imagine the burden that lies on your shoulders..."

Silence

"I don't like living like this..."
"I know dear.."
"..."
"But I know suicide is also out of the window."
"I'm glad you know that, dearie."

Elvis sighed and covered his eyes with the back of his hand.
"I'm tired..."
"Perhaps a nap will do you good, you've had a long day and week."
"It's only 2 pm-"
"Sleep." His wife said with a suddenly serious expression. Elvis grumbled but didn't object.
They got up and went to the bedroom they shared together, walking past the shelf with the framed family picture and roses surrounding it.