Give & Take

Reality Hurts

Click.

One bone was snapped.

Click.

A second and a scream follows after.

Click.

A third and it was silent.

He smiled as he wiped the blood off his cheek and smeared it against his victim's lips.

"So long. Good night," He whispered as he got up and slid on his hood. He opened the door and his gloves were removed, tossed to one of the guards who caught them and would get rid of it after. He replaced them with a new white pair and adjusted the tip to fit his fingers neatly.

Cheers erupted in the air as Hwang Minhyun, hero to the town of Nuble, walked the street on his horse. With his straight back and charming smile, he proudly waved to his citizens as they cheered him on. Some tried to give him flowers while others gifts. He took them all with a gracious smile and a thank you before handing it to the guard who would undoubtedly stack it with the rest of the forgotten gift pile.

"Hero, hero! Please heal my son!" a cry echoed through the crowd. The horse was stopped to his dismay. He gazed down at the tattered female citizen who was carrying a limp child in her arms, crying as she ran up to the horse only to be blocked by guards. Tears and dirt smeared her cheeks and clothing. He waved them aside and her wails continued, begging him to heal the dying child. "Please. I'll give you anything. Please don't let him die."

Eyes were on him as he got down the horse. He took a good look at the child and knew the other wouldn't survive if left alone any longer. He also knew how cruel the living situation was in the lower slums. He needed to keep his image up and so he removed his glove.

"Worry not, madam. I will do all I can to heal him," He said in a gentle calm tone as he motioned for the boy to placed down. Her sobs continued even as she laid her child down and he removed his other glove as well. Placing them on his lap, he placed his hands on the boy's chest. Face pale and the stench of death filled the air but not for long as a warm bright light cocooned the boy warmly. The citizens cooed in awe and watched amused as Minhyun healed the child with his powers. Color slowly seeped back into his cheeks and the impending doom was delayed, for how long, even Minhyun didn't know. Not long after, the boy started breathing deeply again as if he was just awoken from a nightmare, looked at his mother and cried. The two exchanged a hug and the light died down as Minhyun wiped his hands on the gloves and did not attempt to put it back on.

"Oh. Thank you. Thank you so much, hero. Please tell me how can I ever repay you."

"There is no need to. Let him rest. He needs it."

People started cheering and clapping all around him. He smiled and waved as he got back onto the horse, riding away with poise.

He was their perfect hero.

The large doors to his mansion slammed shut and the guards left to their posts, leaving Minhyun alone. He breathed in and out once deeply before tossing away the gloves in his hand. He made his way to his bathroom, a large pool of lukewarm water steaming awaited him. He took off his clothes and stepped in without hesitation. He grimaced at the sight of the dirt on his hands and started scrubbing it away. How he hated getting his hands dirty. Yet the only way to use his powers were with his hands. How he hated touching peasants. He could never understand why they didn't have the slightest decency to keep themselves clean. Water was abundant in the river and even if they were poor, that didn't mean they couldn't be hygienic. He groaned as the blood stains were stuck between his hair, tugging on them roughly to smoothen it out again. He slid his hair back once all the blood was out and now he sat in a pool mixed with dirt and blood. Everything was utterly icky and disgusting.