The Guardian Of The Multiverse: A Hero's Burden

The Web Across the Sky

(Marvel, DC, images, manhuas, and every anime that will be mentioned and used in this story are not mine. They all belong to their respective owners. The main character "Karito/Adriel Josue Valdez" and the story are mine)

Valoran City Park was busier than usual. Everyone had apparently decided the long, scenic walk to the mall was worth it—the warm air carrying birdsong, food-cart smells, and the kind of lazy hum that made the afternoon feel almost slow.

Except for Kai'Sa's voice.

"You don't even know what it's for!"

Kai'Sa never shouted. Not in the years Akali had known her. Especially not in public. That made it harder to ignore—and harder not to shout back.

"I don't care what it's for! No petition is worth burning out over!"

"It's worth it to me! And I'm not burnt out! I'm just tired!"

"Tired is forgetting homework," Akali snapped, "not sleeping through class!"

"Look, I don't need a babysitter."

"You're right," she shot back, tone sharpening. "You need someone who won't let you lie to yourself. You're pulling double shifts at the shelter on top of everything else!"

"Dad needs the help," they both said at the same time.

And then Kai'Sa's voice softened. "Well... it's true."

Akali's frustration burned hotter. Kai'Sa's selflessness had always been a thing she admired—until it started to look like self-destruction.

"There's always someone else to help."

"Oh, so now it's wrong to help people?"

"That's not what I meant!" Her hands clenched at her sides. "I'm not gonna sit here and watch you sacrifice yourself for everyone else!"

"I thought you of all people would—" Kai'Sa stopped herself, jaw tightening. "You know what? Never mind."

Her lower lip trembled. "I need to be alone right now."

Akali knew she shouldn't leave. She wanted Kai'Sa to trust her—to believe she'd stick around when things got rough. But pride was louder than sense.

She walked away.

By the time she was halfway to the mall, guilt had settled like a stone in her chest.

This is all my fault.

Kai'Sa had always been there. When things at home got bad, when Akali was one bad decision away from wrecking her own life, Kai'Sa was there. They'd walked these same streets together, looking for trouble and stopping it when they could. She used to call them a crime-fighting duo.

Sure, maybe it was just Kai'Sa keeping her from going too far off the rails—but she'd still been there.

And I just left her.

"I'm the worst."

"The worst? Seems a little dramatic."

Akali's head snapped toward the voice. She hadn't even noticed she'd spoken out loud—hadn't noticed anyone near her, for that matter.

He stood beside the flower kiosk she'd been walking toward, bouquet in one hand.

And he didn't look like he belonged here.

Black shirt, sleeves casually rolled to the forearms. Dark jeans. Hair that looked like it had taken no effort at all, but somehow landed perfectly. There was something unshakably composed about him—like the world could be on fire and he'd still stand there with that same unreadable calm.