I am a Shadow...the True Self.

[hero_of_smiles]

Characters: Cross Blanchard, his shadow and those who seek the truth (aka anyone)
Setting: September 7th, Meadow fight
Format: Action preferred but will match
Summary: Cross finally runs into his shadow and boy is he surprised and in denial.
Warnings: Feelings and lots of denial. Also monster fight where magic is pretty much not that effective. Also, Shadow Cross's skill list.


[The shadow has managed to get to the meadow, but guess who he found there? That's right, his original. So the original Cross is going to stand there both in shock and utter disbelief. Why was a look alike of him standing there? He would have thought it was his brother if it weren't for the fact they this thing had the same arm as him. But no, he couldn't have a shadow. That was only if he wasn't honest with himself. He was always honest.]

W-what the-?

I hate being ignored. I hate it when no one wants to talk with me or see's how normal I really am.

H-huh?

I'm disgusted by it. I fucking hate how normal I am. No one can see me unless I'm special, no one will listen to me. That's why I wanted to be a hero. So I could get some goddamn, fucking attention. And why do I want that attention? Well it's because dear old daddy doesn't ant to even look at me. I have to be special like big brudder~ if I want to even get a glance. What's more Crown doesn't even apperciate what he's got. He just acts all dead and dreary and such a pain. I really hate him too. But heroes don't act like that so I just pretend I love him.

But that's not-!

[It interrupts him like any Shadow.]

Actually, I think what I really hate is everybody else. Everyone's amazing and magical and so powerful. And what do I have to say for it? Nothing. I'm normal and all I do is try and look cool and awesome when I'm really not. That's also why I want people to pay attention to me. Because, if you're fucking normal, you're alone. No matter what.

[Cross is just at a loss for words right now as the Shadow goes on.
>Stand and watch?
>Talk Cross through it?
>Other?]

(Ooc: Thread jumping is encouraged, so to give the battle and the conversation a sense of flow and time. )

Comments

[hundred_power]

[Kotetu's top is more or less scraps of fabric by now. The way the pull and fall on his body is becoming a hinderance, so he tears what remains off and throws it to the ground while coming up close to the shadow for another attack. He's nearing a minute left of his power, but he's got to keep trying.]

[darkenedideals]

[ Get your cameras girls, Kotetsu's putting on a gun show.

The shadow flounders backwards at the attack but soon begins unleashing a series of swipes at Kotetsu. But it's become significantly weaker now. One good hit and it's down.]

[hundred_power]

[Your source for fan service at Animoose]

Heroes fight for justice!

[Punch.]

To right wrongs!

[Punch.]

And to protect people!

[PUNCH. Kotetsu pants heavily, emotions fueling his frustrations as his power begins to fade.]

Especially those...that they care about.

[darkenedideals]

[With every punch it takes it lets out a scream and tries to get at Kotetsu but it's just too much. With the final punch, it explodes in a cloud of darkness. Dropping a now human like Cross looking shadow on the ground.

A little further a way Cross begins stirring.]

[hundred_power]

[Kotetsu wipes his brow with the back of his hand as he catches his breath, but turns to face Cross when he hears him move behind him. The shadow had better not try anything funny right now, but he's pretty sure Cross has the inner strength to work this out.]

The three of us need to talk. It's the only way.

[He offers them both a hand.]

[hero_of_smiles]

[He's not even sure what to do here. Cross just wants to get up and run. This thing...everything it had said was terrible and someone heard it. Or many people did. Who knows. But it was bad.

He can't even look Kotetsu in the eye. But at the hand offered to him, he swallows. His mouth dry, he takes the hand and pulls himself to his feet.

Turning to face the shadow he grips his chest. He had to face it...even if just because Kotetsu fought that thing on his own to keep Cross and everyone else safe.]

I...I knew it wasn't lying. I didn't become a hero in the first place to want to save people...I was just lonely.

[He takes a stepforward towards the shadow.]

Dad never paid attention to me and I didn't have many friends. Crown got most of the attention. He got the magic and me? I was just there. Crown cared though...I knew he did. But I was so jealous of him. He could do all this great stuff. So, I guess I just pushed myself away from my feelings and pretended like everything was okay.

[He takes a breath, his legs are shaking.]

At the beginning, I just wanted to be a hero so dad would look at me and people would want to be with me. But, it changed. I just wanted to help people after awhile.

[He looks to his shadow.]

I ignored you so I wouldn't feel bad about myself. About what I felt about my brother and what I did and what I am. But...you're me and I'm you.

[And with that the shadow nods and vanishes. No persona for Cross. Not being special is the story of his life.

But now that it's gone, the boy is just going to try and leave without a word. Head hung.]

[hundred_power]

[Not so fast. There is now a hand on your shoulder, Cross.]

[hero_of_smiles]

[Oh great, he's going to get yelled at. He's just giving Kotetsu a sideways glance, obviously expecting the worse now for what that thing said.]

[hundred_power]

[You'd think that, but Kotetsu starts rambling on with a story.]

My partner Barnaby, he's always getting all of the attention. I have to get dragged around while he gets prettied up for interviews, and photoshoots, and all that publicity stuff. Kids these days want a young, attractive superhero to look up to, not a rusty old veteran like me.

[That's Kotetsu-speak for 'hey, people like my partner better than me, just like your brother gets favored more.']

[hero_of_smiles]

Huh?

[This just totally throws the kid for a loop as he looks at Wild Tiger. He wasn't getting angry?]

You're not...angry?

[What is this? What is his life?]

[hundred_power]

[He curls a goofy grin.]

I knew that shadow wasn't telling the whole truth, but you filled in the missing pieces. You know the values of being a hero, but it can be easy to get discouraged.

[Especially in a situation like Cross'.]

Back home, not everyone likes NEXT. Those people call us monsters and are afraid of us. When I was around your age, I hated my powers. I wanted to be normal. But then one day, I was held hostage during a bank robbery while my idol, Mr. Legend, arrived to deal with the criminals. I got scared and accidentally used my power, knocking out my captor in the process, hehe...

[Ah, nostalgia. He loves telling this story.]

Mr. Legend told me not to be ashamed of what I was, and that I could use my power to help people. I decided to become a hero after that.

[He looks down at the boy.]

So you shouldn't be ashamed of what you are, even if people make you feel that way. Someday you'll do something great. That's what people remember most: the actions you take.

[hero_of_smiles]

[Well, all Cross can do right now is forget his problems for a moment as he hears Kotetsu. He didn't know what it was like to be hated, that was something completely different than just being ignored.]

I'm sorry...

[But he did smile just a little when the man said he became a hero for it. But then Kotetsu's words go straight to his feelings. No one's said something like that before to him. He'll just start to cover his face. If Kotetsu has a good enough perception he can probably see that he's crying behind his hands.]

Thanks...