Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It started slow, because even though Lin Ling, like any other kid and teen, dreamed to become a hero, his own reality, much like any other student, was absolutely plagued by school, grades, pressure and thoughts of the future while trying to escape through the fun they can have with their friends, or clubs to keep his passions and interests close.

But Lin Ling was a bit different, he was so caught up on his dream he always make a small time during his commute to help anyone he can and need help, nothing really out of the ordinary as he wouldn’t stop a robbing, because he was just a teen, nor stop fightings nor anything like that, but if someone lacked a yuan or 2 for their own commute he will always give his extra ones, or if someone in the building needed a bit of help he would offer every time he has the time.

Nothing big, just everyday little problems, little things.

And, when university came he took up on his first side job, he didn’t lived far enough to really justify the spend on buses, his parents were more focused on their works than anything but helped to pay his university, there was no time nor energy to be in a club like he was before, and maybe became a little bit of a loner as a consequence of his job and focus on his studies but that was fine because he can have a social life after he starts working full time, right?

And, even when there are truly disgusting people who he has to deal with in his part-time job at a local restaurant, it’s alright because he helps in what he can, he tries to defuse the really bad situations, tries to be as happy as he can and if he gives his best the good reviews will come soon enough and maybe even raise his salary, and the experience is always good even though he plans to work on Marketing.

And then, he graduates, it takes him a few months subsisting on his savings and his part-time job turned full-time, but he lands a pretty good job, after all is in the marketing company of Treeman Corporation, which has the hero “Don’t Fall” [1], the current Top 10 hero.

Life is great, it is supposed to be great.

But the work is hard and there’s a lot of pressure for him to learn a lot and fast, there’s also the whole move thing, and now, with his parents working as hard as him the communication became scarce, there were no real friends from his university nor past job, the work is hard and long and his teammates aren’t actual friends.

He starts working long days and some nights, he starts giving his 100% and more looking for a promotion, because the younger the better, he keeps on his line, knows what to say to keep people satisfied and soon enough he is promoted and the job is harder but better, more rewarding, but being a Marketing coordinator[2] is not enough.

However, the change gives him time, gives him something as precious as a bit more of money and a bit more of time, and he initially used it to rest, to enjoy series, to read, but he soon felt guilty because that’s, afterall, waiting time. Precious time. He studies, studies strategies, studies tendencies, studies people's interests historically, he studies and studies till the time is not wasted,his breaks come in the form of team meetings and after-works beers improving his relations with his teammates, until his performance is better and better.

And then, then he crashes.

Stress, way too much stress, the doctor says, but Lin Ling knows it is nothing compared with the one that will come with future rumors. Lin Ling asks about strategies, asks about what he can do to make his recovery faster, to go back to work faster. Out of all the options he choses exercise because it is easier to integrate it to his routine, a daily run after work to burn the stress of the day, shadow boxing in the dark of his apartment while listening to new information, anything that can help him to get a better performance.

He comes back to work, healthier, more energized. More effective.

“I supposed that for such young and inexperienced adults as you, rest is more necessary than for the hard working seniors you have” His boss welcomed him, sarcasm in every note of his voice, int the simple he has on. “I’m guessing you will bring better results after this little vacation of yours, won’t you?”

And the murmurs surround the office, people look at him with pity, with jealousy, with annoyance, with nothing. Conversations with him are quite the same, unlike the conversations without him and use some looks at his directions, and roll his name on their tongues.

But he works hard, studies hard, keeps his days as long as he dares and stay fewer nights. But while eating he is looking at textbooks, sketching ideas, drawing conceptual maps, thinking and thinking and thinking, because he needs those good results yesterday and they won’t come until a few more days, in their mensual revision.

And when the results came, they came with flattery for him. “Such a good worker! I always knew that you pressure your health a bit too much, Lin Ling. Sometimes rest is needed, listen to your seniors!”

But the results doesn’t shut the murmurs, the gossip, and he know he already messed up, but there’s nothing else Lin Ling can actually do now, not without pressuring his health more and, besides, it has already given results, so he cannot help but show how satisfied he is by the rewarding outcome.

And, because it worked and is probably working, he keeps this new routine of his, his routes change some days but the people around start to recognize him, a subtle but polite nod is, sometimes, all what he needs to feel better, to feel good.

Sometimes, all he needs is the feeling of his aching muscles, a reward itself, the way he feels less tired when he takes the stairs, his faster run when he needs to do work quickly and move papers around fast.

Sometimes, falling on his bed is what makes it all better.

An his days are getting better, a bit more dull with the fact there’s a routine, but is a good one, and he loves it and-

“Don’t!”

And a fated day he ends up a bit behind of a mugging while on the middle of his monday routine, it’s bad, not only because of the crime, but because the victim seems to be a female student, because this street is always way too calm, because the lights are a bit defectuose but the municipality says it still on a normal enough range of functionality.

And it is not his business, the perpetrator is clearly armed with something because, he believes, otherwise the girls would be attempting to escape or act, or just do something. And what is Lin Ling supposed to do in that situation?

To fight and be harmed?

But there’s no one else, and if no one is here then one is going to help her, and-

“I’ll be a hero mama!”

“That’s what a hero would do, right?”

-and what would a hero do?

Lin Ling takes a breath before sprinting to the mugger, reading a punch with all the strength he dares, the sound of his footsteps alert the criminal of what’s coming, but in that moment, when the girl looks at him, Lin Ling feels like he can do this, and he will do this right.

His fist connects with the muggers face, making him spit and lose his position and stand, getting away from the girls, freeing her.

But he doesn’t drop his knife, ineed, he grabs it stronger and suddenly they are wrestling on the sidewalk, with the mugger below Lin Ling, allowing him to keep him down, and even though he doesn’t drop the knife, the situation, for now, is under Lin Ling’s control.

“Get away and call the police!” Lin Ling says, with some struggle because the criminal is moving lots, fighting back, but he cannot lose, and even though he haven’t been doing his routine for that long, his body is a lot more stronger than before, probably because of the adrenaline, and he knows he won’t lose but doesn’t want to be part of the reason of why the girl may get hurt.

He doesn’t know how long he waits but he knows the criminal is getting tired, a lot more tired than Lin Ling himself by the time the police arrive, and it takes them a couple of minutes to correctly capture the man and take both of their statements.

“You did really good there, you were brave and saved that girl. Good job.” Or something like that come out of the mouth of one of the officers, but Lin Ling is so immerse with his thoughts, a bit of them for his works, a lot of them about the situation itself, and he doesn't caught all what he said to him, but that’s fine because the praise arrives anyways, and the happiness with it.

“Thank you, but it wasn’t that much really.” He just helped a person, truly saved someone.

It’s only the first time.

Chyou’s Leafs @DazzlingLeafRain

A really good man helped today! Like a total hero he came from nowhere to save me from a mugging! He was tall but plain looking, still cute though, this could have been such a romance story… #instantcrush #Imfine #thankyoustranger

And life goes on, Lin Ling keeps going out on routines, getting more polite greetings as time passes, he comes around a situation or two like the mugging from before, he helps out and comes out feeling great, no, amazing for helping someone. His strength began to increase faster than before, a lot faster, his endurance seemed to get better in less time which helps him lots with his performance for his job, receiving praises for looking so eagerly so early in the morning.

So good they promise him a better position in the near future, which comes with more responsibilities and a raise and it is just so great he tells his mom about it and she sound really happy. It is a good feeling to keep for the next months, knowing she’s happy for him.

But as time passes, some strange things begin to happen, his body seems to deviate of his route by its own, he encounter more muggings, and some assault while on his routine, he helps the victims, ask them if they are okay and everytime they look more at him, staring him longer. And the situations become more and more common, so common it actually begins to distract him during his work, considering how it will affect his performance he needs to solveit, quickly.

But when he tries to stop, to reduce the time of his runs, to keep the routes, to add more days dedicated to his studies, to his work, but something inside his brain tells him he can´t, he needs to burn through all that energy, his body will take detours no matter how hard he tries not to, and he can’t concentrate in studying when he could be out there, running.

Helping.

So he resigned to the situation and tries hard to keep his head out of it, to keep him focused more on his studies while running, to his work while, well, working. No matter the aching feeling in his bones when he accepts to go for some beers with some of his coworkers, when he could be out there.

“Have any of you heard about The Commoner?” senior Chen Mei asks the group in general, her words a bit slurred but is fine because she already asked for water after that beer.

“I haven’t” Lin Ling answers honestly while trying to think what or who this character is, maybe it is a stereotype?

“I totally have! A street hero? and his name is commoner? A bit of a joke truly” Senior Sūn Fang expressed, harsher in her tone, not clear if she’s drunk or not.

“But what else are we supposed to name him? Guy? The guy wears plain normal exercise clothes! runs in the after work hours and his appearance has nothing interesting besides his height, he’s tall, we would never hear of him if it was because he is close” Senior Zhang Wei replied with mockering in his voice to then resort to explain with annoyance the situation.

After that they begin bickering, losing the conversion line at the very beginning of it, but it calls Lin Ling’s attention. A new hero? He should look him up then, the concept, while plain, seems to be interesting, and it’s local, so it should be fine because it involves them too.

Once he left senior Chen Mei in her house, he was finally able to go back to his own apartment, the new hero’s name in the border of his head, and, knowing he can’t rest without knowing, he looked him up.

There’s no much information about him, really, he is plain looking, tall, uses sport clothes, there’s a few internet posts about him, he stopped some really familiar muggings and assaults, follows really familiar routes-

Lin Ling shares so much with The Commoner they might as well be the same person, but that would be a really bad joke, right? Because Lin Ling is no hero nor a fighter, he is a recently promoted Marketing Manager [2] who is in charge of the public identity of the new hero, “Nice”, a responsibility that requires lots of time and attention and efforts and dedication…

And if he was the so called “The Commoner” it would be so bad because he now has such an important job, because a hero’s trust value is going to depend on him, his entire public image is going to be on Lin Ling’s hands and he need to be really dedicated about it, which means his jogging time is going to be so reduced and, if he was a hero, he shouldn’t fail to the people like that, right? And with all the trust embedded in him by his superiors, he knows he is going to do a great effort to keep the company’s name as high as it is, he cannot let them down!

But, only because, what if- What if? He makes his runs a bit longer, he starts drinking black coffee, has a bluetooth earbud while studying and analyzing, and goes out of his way to help a little more. Help never hurts anyone.

Anyone can help, right?

Long Life X @WordsAndMeanings

There’s this new kind of hero guy who’s name is The Commoner? What 's his deal? Being common? #thecommoner #whataweirdnameforahero #isheevenatruehero?

Lin Ling always gave his best, his everything, maybe that’s why they trusted Moon’s image too with him, maybe that’s why the push and push and push, and maybe he was coming to a breakdown because no matter what he thinks, he is no hero for going out of his way to help someone, he is not a hero for keeping those true heroes public images because even considering trust value, their names are on everyone’s mouth, no matter what he does. He is no hero and no matter what he does it won’t change, no matter that he got in marketing to be a “hero from the shadows” and to “help heroes with their powers” because-

Who is he kidding?

After years of his efforts, his time embedded, close calls after too many all-nighters, a not-quite dependence to energy drinks and quick foods, he gave everything building the image of Nice to be strong, to be as good as it can, Lin Ling put it all on there, the first brick, and the second, and the fifth and suddenly it took off.

And now Nice is already widely known for his perfection, Moon, sweet Moon, as his girlfriend can’t be seen as any less, Treeman Corporation is a big name company with lots of marketing teams, and even though he was in charge of Nice and Moon’s image his boss keeps reminding him of his failures, of how wrong he was for trying to make Moon stronger and more independent, to put in risk such trustful relationship. [3]

But he can’t get over it because, what else is Lin Ling supposed to do? To not let Moon be her own hero? To tie her down to Nice? Like he was now? And Nice- don’t get him wrong, he’s sure Nice is, well, a nice guy- But Nice is perfect as a being, as a person, tying Moon to him seemed cruel, and maybe he might have a little crush on her, but it doesn't matter because, she was supposed to be as strong as Nice, to stand proudly by his side-

But a lot of people would see it as a flaw on Nice, and put him in danger.

And his boss surely likes to keep reminding him that he is in charge to keep Nice’s trust value, that Moon came after, that his main responsibility is Nice and that he shouldn’t try anything because people trust in him to keep Nice safe and powerful, to keep him high.

Well, Lin Ling was beginning to feel like drowning deeper, to be falling and failing while keeping Nice high and successful.

Lin Ling is just another human, he can feel as much hate as he wants as long as it doesn't affect any of his responsibilities negatively and no matter how much it affects him because now he is the “Nice’s PR guy”, constantly reminding him of how Nice is one of, if not his most important, responsibility …

Maybe, a more human and close look of Nice would be good for him and his image, a bit like the commoner even though he’s not really that known, because there’s no true perfection but he can try to be closer to be the better version of you no matter what. Maybe he could even use the fact the hero tournament is this year[4].

This father of yours @ThisFatherOfYours

Jokes aside, I do love the concept of a hero who is jus another one of us. Go #thecommoner!

Because Lin Ling is human, it all comes to a breakpoint, in this case, he came to a breakpoint after his boss fired him.

He did a lot for this job, he gave his everything, he got hospitalized for stress, he pushed his health with every deadline, he even gave up on his dreams of being a true hero! Don’t get him wrong, being The Commoner feels good, helping people always feels good, it makes him happy because it means he is a good person.

But there’s so much a person can do when there are so much limitations, his hours as a hero are limited by his runs, and those hours are limited by his work projects and his needed hours of rest, because there’s so much that coffee and energy drinks can do, and his work is- was really important, because he was the responsible for Nice’s, top 12 hero, public image, for Nice’s trust value.

And the commoner, with so little hours, has a hard time with trust value, his powers aren’t all that amazing, he is as normal as a normal guy can get, rumors on his back for his mistakes, a plain looking face, unmemorable voice nor personality. He doesn’t even have friends, just acquaintances.

Lin Ling is just another nobody, one that messed up so bad he got fired, with no social life, nor dreams to chase and nothing to his name but a dirty apartment and his own list of failures.

And now, he is here, on the roof of the company who he once could have died for, almost died for, ready to jump and die because of his own mistakes in the place that has taken so much from him, even if it wasn’t enough.

“Hey, Cheer up!” Xiao Yueqin’s voice sound from in front of him, he turned his look at her, “ Being alive means experiencing many challenges, but please don’t lose your faith!”

That- That felt a bit personal, the words, the tone-

“Watch True love recipe!” So simple words brought him back to reality, “To discover the secrets of our love!” And then Nice’s, Nice’s, voice united to the dialogue.

“Ah shit…” Memories of reunions came rushing, “Didn’t I just make this promo video last month?”

What an irony, his work on big TVs display on all sides, the fruits of his labor on screen telling him, convincing him to not die in the roof of the place the concept and the promo was allowed.

“Why did I have to write these damn lines to hurt my own feelings!”

“Remember, turn in to our show with your lover!” Moon’s voice seemed to mock him with the same line he wrote.

“Hey, have you got a house?” Nice’s voice came from the back, mocking him.

“No!”

“A lifelong companion is essential for a perfect family” As if Lin Ling even had a companion, hell, he doesn’t have a single friend! “but you also need a stable abode.” Unlike your dirty abandoned apartment Lin Ling! “Treeman Corporation fulfilling your dreams of every one of your worries.- your worries- ” And now the TV is bugged, failing, mocking him, mocking him, mocking him!

“Enough Nice!” Lin Ling screamed, raising his pinky[5], tears wanting to form behind his eyes “No matter how perfect you are right now, one day you, too, will become old and ugly and be replaced by someone else!” And then, out of all the bad things that could happen, Nice, the hero himself, flies down in front of him just as he finishes with his yell-

Wait, what is Nice doing here?

Why is he walking towards him? To stop him from jumping? But- How did he know?

Was is planned?

But he walked, and kept walking not even minding the sudden appearance of white pigeons, and reached the border, looked at him, and, without stopping, made his signature pose as he took another step.

And, look, no matter how mad Lin Ling may be to someone, he doesn’t wish anyone’s death, and if it wasn’t for his trust value he maybe wouldn’t have been able to catch him up and bring him back to the roof.

Nice looked bewildered, because, well, Lin Ling had made it quite effortlessly, not only for his strength but because Nice was lighter than what one would expect, maybe too much because not even him, who didn’t eat proper food, was that light.

And Lin Ling wanted to yell, to scream, because how dare he throw all his hard work just like that! As if his time in this company was truly nothing at all!

But his eyes look dead inside and Lin Ling, well, Lin Ling is a hero, no matter how much he denies it nor small of a hero he is, he’s still one.

“Do you want to talk about it? Nice?” He asks, making sure he not only looks but sounds worried.

“.. You just wished me to go old and ugly... And raised your pinky at me.[5]” He says, softly, to him, impressed by the situation, maybe because he wished him bad and then Lin Ling saved him from his death anyways.

“... It was a spur of the moment thing,” true, he is not going to go lying now, he doesn’t know if Nice can detect lies or something, “I didn’t actually mean it, and it also didn’t mean I want you dead, would you rather go somewhere else?” Like the ground, preferably using the stairs, thanks.

There’s silence and Lin Ling doesn’t know how to answer, so he just keeps going with what he thinks is the best course of action.

“I was just fired and got some spare clothes here, you can put some on and we will get out of here.” Slowly but surely, Lin Ling grabs Nice’s hand as he tools a spare hoodie from the box beside them, offers him it and once he accepts Lin Ling looks for his formal spare pants he used to keep in his office, good for meetings after all-nighters. Nice accepts the clothes and Lin Ling guides him closer to the rooftop door where Nice puts Lin´s clothes over his hero suit, hiding it effectively even though it looked quite weird.

The start to go down once Nice is effectively hidden and Lin Ling has his box back on his hands. Murmuring some of their reasons, Lin Ling’s lack of purpose after being fired, the way Nice is losing himself in this perfect image they created- And doesn’t it hurt Lin Ling? You spent years hurting him, not helping him, all that time, wasted in doing harm and you still have the nerve to hate him- They miss Miss J by nothing and Lin Ling guides them both to a local restaurant. Maybe they can start over with their lives now.

Maybe all they needed was this close call.

Just me lol @ASeedThatGrows

You know what? It may be only for a few hours, but I feel like every minute The Commoner is out there patrolling our streets are a bit safer, thank you so much for your hard work! #thecommoner #atruehero #helpspeople #evenifitissmall #notallheroesneedtobebignames #theherothathelpsyoueverydaymightbemirethanenough

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Chapter Text

r/NewHeroes * 5 hours ago

u/WishICouldBeDontFall392

This new guy, the commoner

So, in my neighborhood there is this new hero kind of guy, and he is super simple, super common face and features and clothes (hence the name) and lately he hasn’t been around as much as he did in his peak, however, the guy I assumed was only local seems to have started to gain traction in weibo and his presence is in his all time low…

My point being, do you know his identity? Whats his agency if there’s one? Is this a stunt? Because people (read:my grandma) feel more safe with him around but his constant decline has been putting people a little scared.

Does anyone know where this guy is/might be?

^ 201 v 45 Comments Award Share …

u/LuckySevensFan592 * 3 hour ago

|Maybe the thing is, as a normal guy, he

| has a job and he’s focusing on it! being

| a respectable member of society!

|

| ^ 46 v Reply Award

| Share …

|

(-)

| u/DazzlingDewDrops * 3 hours ago

| | You’re right! If he's going to be a

| | hero he should also be a

| | respectable member of our

| | society!

| |

| |^ 23 v Reply

| |Award Share …

| |

| |- (+) 1 comment

|

|- (+) 7 comments

u/WishfullyAway * 4 hours ago

| Why do you care? Hes just a normal guy,

| right? he cant be doing that much

|

| ^ 15 v Reply Award

| Share …

|

|- (+) 5 comments

Lin Ling guides Nice to a nearby restaurant with people looking at them, likely due to Lin Lin’g box full of stuff, probably judging them, at him, for his incompetence to keep a job, questioning themselves what did he do to get fired. Is he irresponsible? A truly lazy man? Inappropriate with his coworkers? Maybe he is just a failure, he sure feels like it.

However, the server comes the same, because it is local the server is just human, looks like a teen, with tired eyes but a smile that Lin Ling, and perhaps Nice, knows all too well for the way one is used to doing it, in customer service jobs, in his usual job, well, now last job, and when you interact with acquaintances.

The teen goes away after welcoming and sitting them, luckily, in a table more hidden of the other people’s eyes, which might be for the clear “fired” box Lin Ling holds, one does not get to judge a gift like this one you have gotten yourself in a complicated situation with one of the most recognizable men of China if not the world.

And Nice, the perfect hero, while clearly uncomfortable in his mismatched lended clothes, is so absorbed by a deathly clean white[1] of his costume and hair and perfect skin- Nice seems to reflect all night, making every part of himself shine but his eyes, and expression.

“Are you alright?” Lin Ling asks the troubled hero, worried by his awkwardness and behaviour that’s getting a bit strange, like there’s something itching but he, for some reason, does not scratch? The point being he’s clearly uncomfortable right here, right now.

“Yes” He replies, too eagerly, too obviously suspicious that he doesn't even try to hide it, “I mean, there’s this little thing about me that makes this bad… Nothing to really worry about” He tries to brush the subject under the metaphorical carpet.

“I guess if you really don’t want to talk about it we can skip it, but at least tell me what can I tell the server so she doesn't suspect that I am, I don’t know, kidnapping you?” Lin Ling’s voice kept lowering its volume as the words left his mouth, scared that the way he expressed his issues might call the attention, even though he’s feeling quite anxious since he is hiding and soon will be eating with Nice, a famous hero whose manager is currently desperately looking for.

“But I came willingly, kinda” He said with a little giggle. Lin Ling is not sure if it was fake or not, the awkward smile seemed to perfectly reflect the tone and the emotions of his words.

“It sure doesn’t seem like it” Lin Ling nervously said while making sure that nobody is looking at them, luckily, the people around them seemed more interested on their phones or their own conversations “I guess I can try to lie but I can’t assure you’ll be comfortable with it”

Nice didn’t say anything to that, nodding while expecting him to change the subject, Lin Ling, sighed, the guy seemed uncomfortable and quite shy, but it may be for the whole failed suicide attempt, which, rude, because he ruined his first, but also make a good base for some of the most awkward moments and conversation.

But it didn’t matter, not really, not when he just helped Nice to run away and now they have to decide if it is going to be a permanent or temporary thing and how can Lin Ling help him.

The only good thing out of this is that Lin Ling can afford a restaurant right now, probably because of how much he expends on cheap pre-made

food, and, well, something is something.

Mystery-a-Hero-please FOLLOW

My blorbo? My blorbo is a local hero whose identifying characteristic is being a common man, you wouldn’t understand it.

#Local heroes #you wouldnt understand #blorbo from my shows #except is a real guy who stops crime while doing his daily jogging #an idol #I bet he has a wet cat face #that would make him a true blorbo

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When they arrived to Lin Ling’s apartment Nice seemed to be physically attacked by the state of the place, and sure, Lin Ling wasn’t there enough to actually realize the state in which it was, and i wasn’t that bad, but the pile of trash and plates that were on the sink is not a pleasing sight, his floor has dust settling in just like his carpet and, actually, a lot of surfaces were accumulating dust, not all his doors were closed, his curtains were not fully closed, books, notes and pencils were practically everywhere, not actually organized, and there was just an uncaring feeling for the apartment.

And, following Nice’s reaction, his living space has personally offended him.

“Are you okay?” Lin Ling asks worriedly while slowly walking in his own apartment to leave the box somewhere near his couch but stopping once the expression on Nice’s face aggravates while looking at him without even making a sound, but Lin Ling is sure that his breathing got faster.

“I’m…” Nice swallows, hard, his eyes looking everywhere, not focusing on anything actually, “I’m.. not fine actually, why do you live is such poor state” Nice’s words fell from his mouth like he couldn’t stop them but still mean it, his face shows perfectly how distress he is by his living situation.

Which, rude.

“What do you mean by that?” Lin Ling couldn’t help but kind of shriek in a too offended tone, it wasn't that bad!

Unlike your dirty abandoned apartment Lin Ling!

Lin Ling could feel his mouth closed shut, hurting by the high speed of it, his own thoughts made words from just a couple of hours ago repeated on his head, reminding him what just happened, grounding him in a too literal sense.

On the other hand, Nice kept talking, sounding altered too.

“Everything is out of place, there’s dust everywhere, and the pile on the sink is just-!” Even though his voice started rising in the middle of the first sentence and he seemed to need to express those thoughts, something in his own head had apparently ground him too.

Silence followed those words, a clear conflict that started building stopped without taking the growing awkwardness with it. The two of them just looked at each other, observing each other, analyzing their actions, their expressions, their body language, maybe even their breathings.

Lin Ling, even though he was a usually calm and razonable person could feel the instability of his emotions under the skin, an anger building up strength with an unlikely easiness that was probably a consequence of the entire emotional rollercoaster that has been the entire day.

Nice seemed to be on a similar state or just understanding in what state Lin Ling is right now, understanding that, as for this moment, Lin Ling, who has offered his own place to hide him until Nice decides what is he going to do, and that means that is Lin Ling, not only the only person who knows where he is but also the one who can just sell him with the same easy a toddler makes a sound.

However, they have no way to know what the other is going to do, what are they thinking, what are they planning, i he going to sell him? to steal his apartment? to send him to the streets until Miss J or anyone finds him? To force him into a weird and bad situation?

They can’t know because there’s no way to know, they are perfect strangers, united only by a fated event which was the only thing they got to share, hell , Lin Ling doesn’t even knows Nice’s real name, nor how much of him is a mask, how much of him is because of his trust value of how much of him is still there under the immense number of thoughts and wishes that build Nice’s identity.

That’s why it is Lin Ling who breaks the silence.

“You need to tell me why is this such a bother to you,” he starts, Nice’s face deforming into a perfect look of annoyance, “this is my home, I kindly invited you to stay until you resolve what do you want to do now, as long it is not killing yourself, and, sadly only have a week.”

“Why until Thursday[2]?” Nice had now a more unhappy expression rather than plain annoyance, which he guessed is for the better.

“Because of the whole “True love recipe” show you’re supposed to be in with Moon that day,” Lin Ling tells him seriously as he watches Nice face morph in a couple of expressions more, but he is not interested in that because he just remembered something so important and vital.

Moon, Nice’s girlfriend, who doesn’t know where he is nor can know because it will put Nice at risk.

Poor Moon, she probably is hurting right now.

“What a couple of unfortunate days[2], alright” Nice murmurs, gaining a tired chuckle from Lin Ling, takes a big breath and slowly exhales it, thinking and rethinking, “... I’ll talk” he says after a couple of long seconds and Lin Ling contains an excited “Yes!” behind a serious nod, getting himself ready as he invites Nice over to his apartment who sadly informs him he can’t take his shoes off without taking off the entire suit.

Lin Ling doesn’t think he would have by how distressed he seemed over the dust.

The way we dance @LoliPleaseBeMyMine

The commoner? Who’s that guy? #tihaveseenacouplepostswiththatname #isheaheroorsomething #whydoesnoonetalkaboutthis #maybehejustsucks

After Nice’s confession of his OCD, his need to be perfect as a consequence of “The prefect hero” title combined with his trust value, the subtle, inadvertent way the fans slowly rebuilt him into this brand hero he doesn’t want to be anymore.

And even thought Lin Ling tried really hard to keep Nice out of the responsibilities of his home, Nice found a couple of ways to insert himself on the cleaning, way too eager for Lin Ling’s taste with the pretty and dooming side effect of making him like an inadequate host, and even though he practically doesn’t speak with his parents anymore, he can already hear the whole speech of his mom about being responsible and proper host and, how do you dare Lin Ling to let a guest clean, especially a guest as important as Nice! The top 12 hero! Are you out of your mind child! Keeping your home so dirty it forces him to clean! I didn’t raise you to be like this!

He can imagine it a bit too realistic and maybe that’s why it affects him so much, however, by the time they finish, following Nice’s very strict standard, he seems a lot more relaxed on his own skin and on the apartment itself, Lin feels just way too tired to even think properly, this day has been taking quite the emotional toll on him and he like to imagine that it takes one on Nice too.

Nice who, with his problems, still has the mismatched suit pants and comfy hoodie while still wearing shoes inside his home.

“You know what?” Lin Ling starts talking while looking at the ceiling, avoiding looking at Nice, now that he can relax, Nice arrival has only brought him tiredness, a physical and more outstanding reminder of today, “We’re pretty similar in height and structure, I can bet there are probably clothes of mine that suit you better.” And he doesn’t need to see Nice to know how happy and calm that states probably makes him feel, and he just lets him wander to his room, hearing him open and close the door in quick succession.

Lin Ling doesn’t want to do anything other than to close his eyes and have an early start tomorrow to look for jobs. He refuses to tell his parents about how he got himself fired from a truly respectable place without getting a good enough job to soften the blow.

And he closes his eyes while laying on his couch, surrounded by the smell of cleaning products and a breeze from the open window that’s ventilating the place.

He, however, wakes up not so long after hearing Nice quietly eating and drinking tea in the background, not really processing much.

But he knows he wakes up to the sense of duty deep inside of him, a strangely strong sensation just below his skin, telling him, ordering him to put on his sports clothes and go for a jog.

And maybe it is the uneasiness of this entire day, maybe it is the routine he has been building up for the past years, maybe, just maybe it is because jogging has become his appreciated “hero time”. But it doesn’t matter because he, quickly, goes straight to his room, prepares himself faster than he thought he could probably due to the feeling of needing it, which is quite weird to be honest because he had never felt such a thing before.

And before heading out for his daily run he informs Nice, who just politely say goodbye at him while eating a commercial looking food, which was even weirder than the “need-thing” from before because Lin Ling know how they make those food as good as they look in commercials and half of the time is due to inedible things. How did Nice achieve such a thing?

A normal voice @WishingToBeAnotheStar

Have you ever thought about how we affect the heroes powers? Their physiques? Maybe even their psyches… #thinking #maybetoomuchthinkingformrfortoday #buthaveyoueverwonderedaboutit

During his run people seemed to greet him more enthusiastically, he felt more energized than in other runs even though this has been a heavy day full of bad things and feelings and now a half-way plan to try and help a big hero who is just another person who wants help, maybe even get rescued.

But Lin Ling is just a man, a simple now jobless man, who’s happiest hour of the day has been his jogging hours, especially when he just deviates from his path to help other people. It’s the highlight of his everyday life and has been ever since he saved that girl from a mugging.

He doesn’t even stay doing as much, he has helped stranded cats on trees, helped some people with directions, throw stray trash to a proper trash can, he even accompanied a drunk woman who was alone in the night for some reason, she made it safely to her home, without complications on their way.

And the only thing Lin Ling is really doing is his exercise routine, a run to calm him down, robberies and muggings are still there and he still tries to stop them, succeeding most of the time, but that wasn’t his principal objective and he knows it, he is a selfish man for trying to make it seen that, because he decided to go on a run, people is getting saved by the grace of him, because he decided to.

And maybe, in some cases, that’s right, but nothing tells him the cops weren’t called before, that no one was about to stand up, that there wasn’t another person like him, doing their daily routine and was absolutely willing to go out of their way just to lend a helping hand.

It really doesn’t matter if some people call him “The commoner” like it was a big hero name, because he is just a small time, hero, who maybe does this as a hobby and after hearing Nice, about how much he is losing himself in the identity that was created for the public to enforce on him, he doesn’t even know if he want to be a hero anyways.

Maybe, just maybe, in his own best interest to not be a hero, to abandon this little thing of his routine, he couldn’t keep it constant while doing all the overwork necessary for the wellbeing of the company and he got fired anyways. Now, in this future job of his, he needs to make better, to step up more strongly, more confidently, to make all the necessary effort no matter how little sleep he might get, no matter if he needs to stay a night or two in the office, how much he may need to sacrifice.

No matter how much of his dream is being a hero, he still is just another normal person, even his hero name is just “The commoner”! There’s not a single special thing about him that could make him stand out, to be recognized as a proper hero! Why does he keep feeding that ill-intended dream this much? Why-?

“Help!” A young man's voice calls him from his left, Lin Ling is running as fast as he can before he can even think about it. He arrives landing a punch on the man hitting the young, maybe a teen, man.

This love I long for @OurBleedingHearts

What exactly qualifications a hero as a hero? The trust values? What do they do with their powers? If one hero saves you from one disaster and another helps a hundred people in small ways, who is a better hero? #philosophicalthinkingiguess #smallorlocalheroesdoevencountassuch #whydowealwayswatchthebigfightsandnotthesmallacts

To be honest and fair, Lin LIng didn’t know what to expect when he arrived to his home, he doesn’t know Nice, he doesn’t know if he would have taken the bed or the couch, if he was waiting him sitting on the dining just to ask him where is he allowed to sleep, even though Lin Ling doubts he would be comfortable in that old couch of his.

However, he didn’t expect the screaming of more than one person inside his apartment, and when he opened his door with way more strength that what he should have used he didn’t expect to see one of Moon’s portals on his living room, neither did he expect to see Nice’s troubled face nor the kind of language that came from Moon’s voice.

“Do you hear me, you bastard?” She yelled, her voice full of personality as she sticks her arm through the portal, “You don’t get to escape from this place before I do!” Her arm tried to reach Nice, who only got more away from the portal.

“Maybe I’ll go back, I don’t know” Nice yelled, sounding very confused, which didn’t help the situation, at all.

“Maybe? What’s that supposed to mean?” Her voice came strong and, yeah, what is that supposed to mean? Lin Ling may know about the whole Nice indecision but he sounded so confused with his words it made Lin Ling doubt if he did kidnap him after all.

“I don’t know it yet!” Nice said, this time much more determined, more confident in his words even if they’re about a decision he doesn’t know how to make yet.

“And what am I supposed to do?” She asked, almost yelling, clearly angry with him, “to wait here, in this hell, for you to make a choice? like a dutiful girlfriend?” Mad at the situation, the comment confirmed that this was Moon, no, Xiao Yueqing.

“Kinda-” Nice started and oh no, Lin Ling wasn’t about to let him finish that phrase.

“Stop right there!” Lin Ling’s voice shut them both as he disastrously took his sport shoes off before jogging to Nice’s side, being welcomed by the sight of a perfect image of Moon the hero, in her costume, inside of her apartment, face oh so clearly mad. “You, “ He starts facing Nice, “don’t even think of finishing that phrase, it is extremely rude to talk to your girlfriend like that” Lin Ling scolded the top 12 hero, how dare you! his mom says in his head.

“She’s not my real girlfriend” Nice’s reply comes in an instant and what-

Wait, not the moment.

“Regardless,” Lin Ling kept his serious face and tone with a lot of effort, “She is still a person who deserves respect.”

“Hear him bastard!” Xiao Yueqing say, a bit less angered, with the same amount of energy.

“And you,” Lin Ling turns to watch her, her beautiful face, impeccable hair, such a lovely sight especially now that he gets to meet such a personal side of her, and he can even feel his cheeks going red, for flustered, excitement or just nervousness, he doesn’t know. He clears his throat, “I wish I could offer you a place here so you can escape too,” Her face lighting up must be one of the prettiest thing Lin Ling has ever seen, “but we’re two males and there’s only one room and I don’t believe it would be respectful to you if I tell you to stay here.”

Xiao Yueqing, seems to think about it, really hard for like two to five seconds before answering.

“I don’t mind” And, well, yeah, that’s it, that’s all it takes before she crosses the portal with her gun on hand and enters his apartment while letting the portal close behind her.

After this entire day he cannot find it in himself to be mad about shoes inside his home.

The fate that awaits for us @IsBehindClosedDoors

Everyone is getting philosophical here, why can’t you relax? Heroes are heroes, and maybe the trust values affect them more than we know, but that's why sometimes are the little heroes what we need and not those big shots #imjustsaying

62 comments 103 retweets 2,6k likes

Chapter Text

They stared at her just as she looked at them, silence filling the room and thus the entire apartment because of the small size of which Lin Ling was more conscious the more people seemed to decide to stay here.

“Hi.” Xiao Yueqing broke the silence more excited than mad

“I'm going out for a run,” Lin Ling said not even a second later without the intention of being disrespectful.

But, by looking at Xiao Yueqing and Nice in his living room, Lin Ling felt so tired and ultimately stressed that he made the executive decision to go out for a run, again, to clear his mind and maybe come to terms with the situation itself.

“Again?” Nice asks looking annoyed but oh well, too bad for him, Lin Ling needs to burn some steam he didn't have until now and he had to respect it.

“Again” He confirms while going to grab another bottle of water from his refrigerator, the cool of it was exaggerated by the fact that Lin Ling just finished running and his whole body was warmer, so cold, so good. “You both can decide who gets the bed and who gets the couch, but Moon will have bathroom priority.”

“Why? I was here first”

“Because of exactly that, you already had enough time to start to get adjusted. Moon, on the other hand, might wanna change her clothes, you can use mine I guess, and get comfortable. Tomorrow we will see what comes next” Lin Ling declares without giving it much thought and sounding way more collected than what he actually felt.

“You hear that? I have priority” Xiao Yueqing teases, clearly happier than before, her mood made a total 180° with just letting her be in his apartment, Nice's, on the other hand, seemed to have taken a turn for the worse.

“I guess” Nice said quite apathetically while making his way to Lin Ling's room. That solves the problem, probably.

Lin Ling turns to Xiao Yueqing and even though she was a lot better than with her anger, she still wasn't relaxed, she seemed to have anxiety building up on her body, uncertainty filling up her actions.

“You can try to feel like home here” Lin Ling offered without much confidence, mainly because this wasn't only a small one person apartment but also because there were now three jobless people living off Lin Ling's savings while he finds a job and figure out how to hide the other two’s identities, not only so they can get a job and help financially, but also so they can start building their independence.

And because no matter how much of a good person Lin Ling thinks he is, he cannot, in good conscience, host two other people when there's no money nor space for it to be healthy.

“Thank you, really” Xiao Yueqing’s face and tone was a lot calmer, more relaxed and just softer. When Lin Ling looks at her, that person with a strong personality, lively actitudes and full of energy knowing that on the camera lens she's nothing but some person's girlfriend. When he looks at her being, finally, herself, he cannot regret a single thing about the long and hard fight they all will have to endure.

“Don't mention it, it was really the least I could do to help” Lin Ling says, feeling the warm red painting on his cheek and the soft smile that tries to assure her. None of it could be controlled by his will no matter how much he wanted to.“Now, I'll go for a short run.”

I-heart-Soul @NoFacePrettyFace

The commoner is running again??? Maybe he's trying to compensate… #thecommoner

This time running felt like a much more conscious choice than the one earlier today or the ones that came before it.

Lin Ling didn't even realized how long has it been since the last time that running felt like an actual conscious choice, when the routes became a must and not a preference of the day, there was something freeing of it, for the way it didn't feel like a duty nor need as before even though he didn't even realized as such.

This time, this run, Lin Ling was himself, a normal respectful citizen who allows himself to run in his free time, he wasn't the dutiful citizen who had slowly slipped to a more helpful hand, he was just him, feeling his muscles ached by the exercise, his breathing controlled but getting tired, the breeze, the air hitting his face, bringing cool to his warm, sweated body.

Lin Ling was, once again, a normal runner for the joy of running, for the joy of exercise, for the joy that is to release the stress that way.

“Mister!” A young child's voice stopped him on his feet, way too abrupt to make a clean stop, tripping on his feet he nervously looked around to find just a young boy, a little dirty with tears threatening to fall from his eyes, clearly lost, in need of help.

Lin Ling jogged to the child, trying to be as non menacing as he could manage to not scare him more than what he already looked, kneeling to be as close to his height as Lin Ling could, clearly worried and attentive as he could.

“Mister, “ the kid started again, voice trembling, big short breaths sounding from him, clearly trying to grab as much oxygen as he can without triggering his tears, “I need help”

“Can you please tell me how I can help you?” Lin Ling asked without a single second of doubt, his voice as sure as he could make it, trying to give him as much confidence as he could, to make him feel better and sure, making sure he sounds calmer than what he felt.

“My dad punched my mom and went out,” the kid said, without crying yet, more like stating a fact, talking about a normal family problem, “and now-” He sniffs, tears falling without a single ounce of control, clearly arriving at the more distressing part, “now she's not waking up!”

Cold sweat ran through Lin Ling's back, this was big, this was dangerous, no matter how much has the society advanced but abuse was still a subject a lot of people felt as the term was exaggerated, thought of it as a normal thing. [1]

Abuse was an exaggeration of the husband's righteous attitudes toward his good for nothing wife and a masculine way to raise his children. Ultimately, a personal, familial decision behind closed doors, a subject you shouldn't mess with if you want to be a good citizen.

Lin Ling was raised to believe as such, that even though violence is not supposed to be the answer, sometimes the man of the house found it to be the only way to correct his family and guide them through the rightful path.

Lin Ling shouldn't interfere in familial matters, he's just a normal citizen, it is not his job by any means, he didn't even have a job to stand on a higher ground if necessary.

But this child, crying lots, trying to find help for his unresponsive mother who, probably, ended up like that due to one of his father's, her husband's, beatings.

How can Lin Ling doubt about helping? Isn't a good person, a hero, the one who helps without expecting a payment? The one who helps no matter what? The one who goes against every single odd to make sure you live safely a day more?

“Please mister, aren't you a hero?” The kid, who came looking for help, came looking for his help and specifically his help, because people called him hero for his simple actions, for a couple decisions.

Isn't it helping what a hero does?

“Guide me to your apartment.” Lin Ling's voice was as strong as the iron base of any structure, the decision made long before this point, made the second the kid asked for help maybe before, the second the kid called him.

Wang Hao @WangHao

What is wrong with that wannabe hero “the commoner”? Why is he intruding in family matters like is his right? #thecommoner

There's something so absurdly tiring about crimes when they involve children in any way, especially when there's so much risk to the child, but Lin Ling is no real hero and his jurisdiction ends when the police enters and no matter how much he trusts the law enforcement of this country, these couple of hours have been eye opening.

No matter how much people trust in heroes, they are nothing but fake smiles and fake personalities, changed by the trust of people to be moulded on the images the corporations have decided for them.

And Lin Ling has to trust that the power of the trust value has forced the police to be good, to be responsible and able to do what's truly the best for the child, for the mother, for the victims. [2]

But what else could he do? He's a so-called “hero of the street”, the one who's biggest characteristic as a hero is being another normal human, a normal person who helps because he can, and what good does it do for him? For the people?

Can he truly keep being that kind of hero when the world around him needs him to be more?

When he could gain more. So he could host the pair of heroes who need a breath, a break, from the expectations of society.

When he could hold more social and legal power so he could ensure the safety of that child and his mother, so he could ensure the safety of so many more people.

Is Lin Ling a true hero when he does nothing substantial for society? When the only thing he does is make people feel safe for two hours a day only in his running sector?

Does Lin Ling have the right to believe he can be a hero when his efforts are minimal? Nothing?

No, he doesn't, Lin Ling shouldn't dare to claim being anything but a respectful, dutiful citizen and maybe not even then because his life is full of failures, he fell under stress, he took his sweet time for every single promotion and even then all the necessary corrections because he couldn't do it right from the start, because all those mistakes accumulated until he got fired.

Because he failed.

Lin Ling is just another guy who desires to be a hero, who desires world fame, the power behind those trust values, who desires to be important enough to make an impact.

Who desires every single good action to have some kind of impact.

Because Lin Ling is selfish, selfish, selfish, oh so selfish he cannot see past his own pain, past his own desires of help.

But he takes a deep breath, clears his mind and puts a halfway smile on his face before entering once again to his apartment because no matter how selfish he is he understands that those problems, those thoughts are to be kept deep in his mind.

He cannot stress his guests, not when they're here to avoid their own stress, their own struggles, their own problems, they are here to breathe once again, to try and breathe and take some kind of break.

And Lin Ling will not burden them.

So he puts on a may be a smile, opens his door and enters in silence while leaving his sneakers besides Xiao Yueqing's messy thrown boots watching her sleeping on his sofa, her hair free and her clothes are some casual clothes from Lin Ling, covered with some random blanket from his closet.

He can only assume Nice is sleeping in his room, in his bed, so he goes as silent as he can towards his room, preparing himself mentally for the night of sleep on his own floor. At least it has to be better than sleeping on his office chair, especially when he didn't mean to fall asleep there.

Black and white @WeAreDualBeings

A hero shall overcome what society normalizes to do what's right, yes, I'm talking to you @WangHao #thecommoner

When Lin Ling wakes up, he is on his bed, a recently tidy bed, which surprises him for so many reasons.

Lin Ling wakes up at 8:12 a.m, not as early as his normal routine, probably due to the eventful day that was yesterday. He wakes up knowing he slept on the floor beside his bed, which, when he looks at it, has a perfectly made temporary bed, for some reason.

So he stands up, being careful with the improvised bed, trying to tidy it up the best he can, since someone in this apartment has taken the care to do it.

He opens his door, being welcomed by the smell of breakfast, warm and so savory it could make him salivate, looking at Xiao Yueqing, she's savoring the breakfast in her certainly sweet dreams.

Nice, on the other hand, seemed to have found Lin Ling's vacuum once again and had used it earlier without caring that they cleaned the entire apartment yesterday nor that it was way too early for Lin Ling's opinion.

Nice also had made that delicious smelling breakfast, which would have been so good if he had made it for more than one person, and Nice doesn't have any responsibility to make him breakfast, especially since he is a guest, but that doesn't stop Lin Ling from dreaming.

So he goes, sleepy and hungry, ready to take something from his fridge, that had… some milk, a lot of water bottles, three yogurts and one egg.

So he closes the fridge and goes straight for his instant noodles, after all today he will re-stock all the food and also has to buy some clothes, for Xiao Yueqing mainly but Nice might like it better if he got new clothes for him, Ling Ling’s are a bit too well-used for the most part-

Why is Nice making that face?

“What?” Lin Ling asks as he puts the water to re-heat just to make sure it is boiling when he pours it on his noodles.

“Is that going to be your breakfast?” The tone used was a mix of surprised, worried and offended?

“Yes,” He answers while pouring water on the noodles, closing the lid and feeling the warm of the cup with his hands, truly a good feeling, “I know it’s not ideal but I’ll buy more groceries to make a better breakfast tomorrow, and it’s not like it is my first time.”

Whatever the sound that leaves Nice throat is, is quite funny, but it doesn’t fail in making Lin Ling worried, because that’s certainly not normal for a human being, maybe. Lin Ling hasn’t interacted much with other humans aside from work related things, if he interacted at all.

“Are you good?”

“No! I-” Nice’s face started to look conflicted, something deep inside of him fighting against his words, “is- is that something normal people do?”

Ah.

“I don’t believe it is,” Lin Ling starts while thinking about it, trying to remember what his co-workers have said about their own breakfast before, a lot of coffee, not nearly as many solid food, some didn’t eat or drink anything, some like Lin Ling eat anything that’s fast enough to do, “Most people drink coffee, maybe tea or juice and eat something on a side, others doesn’t eat at all and some of them just eat anything that can be served and eaten fast enough. None of it is the best option for breakfast but, well, you adapt.”

The minutes go fast enough, and the noodles are ready in no time, when Lin Ling starts eating, amongst the warm and the oh so familiar flavor, he relaxes, it’s not the savory, tasty breakfast he smelled, not even close, but it is close enough to satisfy Lin Ling and he truly cannot ask for more.

Nice just looks at him, then looks at his dreamy breakfast, deep in thought.

The blooming flowers of autumn @autumnsRainOfPetals

Have you ever wondered what The Commoner eats for breakfast? Asking for a friend #thecommoner

Replying to @AutumnRainOfPetals

Ahu’s n1 Fan @SamuraiiAhuuu

If he is one of us he might be living of coffee just like me lololol #thecommoner #oneofusoneofus

Lin Ling gets Xiao Yueqing some comfortable cute looking clothes, hoping having guess the size right, he also gets Nice some clothes similar to the ones that some idols wear, they cost a lot more than what they should in his humble opinion, and he had to try them, which kind of make him want to keep them, but it wouldn’t be fair as they’re meant for Nice.

He gets underwear too, he feels so ashamed trying to guess Xiao Yueqing size that he just buys panties and not bras, the most simple white panties to not look like a perv, justifying himself by telling some story of his friend who needed an emergency crash place, they still judge him with their stares. [3]

Xiao Yueqing judges him when he presents her the clothing, he asks her, with his face as red as it can be, if she would have preferred to keep the same underwear the entire week until they decide, and if they decide to stay, how could she buy her own clothes without being recognized?

“By web, duh” Xiao Yueqing replies, hands on her hips, holding the clothing bags fo there.

“But they take some days to arrive, I thought you would like clean un- underwe-ar now” There's some stutter and he cannot look at her in the eyes, she stares, maybe thinking maybe not, he doesn’t know.

“Fine,” she gives, allowing Lin Ling to take a breath, embarrassed to the bone, “but after this week I’ll buy my own on the internet, so don’t do this again!” She’s stating a fact with that phrase, not only ending the conversation right there but informing Lin Ling about her decision of not going back to Treeman Corporation.

About the ending of her hero career, probably.

Lin Ling stares at the ground, thinking about it, really processing the entire information, a sound interrupts his thoughts as Nice comes out from the bathroom on the new clothes he bought, with Xiao Yueqing entering not a second late, ready to change her own clothes.

Lin Ling looks at Nice, who seems to be more comfortable on his own skin with those clothes, even though it doesn’t seem to be perfect, they fit just right on him and he looks at him, Nice’s blue eyes so intensely focus on Lin Ling’s still ashamed form, the redness of his face disappearing slowly but surely even though it is a bit difficult with Nice’s staring at him.

“I’m staying too” He declares, as if Xiao Yueqings choice has solidified his own, and thus deciding he shall inform him in that instant.

“Okay” Lin Ling’s mind running a hundred per hour, now he has to hide the most famous couple of superheroes in all China while keeping them feed and clothed in a small one bedroom apartment, that was a good size apartment for Lin Ling, a solitary working person, not for three, not for a long term.

“But we all are going to start looking for a job” Lin Ling establishes right there, right now, because plans are about to be made, plans to be able to keep enough income for the three long term, especially considering the recognizable faces of his new roommates.

Also considering the fact they’re going to need a bigger apartment, at least two bedrooms, three might be a little too expensive considering they’re going to be just employed, but if the chance arises he shouldn’t waste it, no matter the low probability of it.

“Of course,” Nice says with a really confident voice, his eyes seemed to catch a hint of a glow but Lin Ling couldn’t be so sure nor hope for it, Nice still tried to jump off himself just yesterday, that kind of sadness [4] doesn’t disappear from one day to another, and he shouldn’t dare to bet on it. However he would like to think that amongst the new environment and fleeing from his hero life something would help him.

Maybe.

“Do you… Have something in mind?” Lin Ling asks, all curiosity.

“Not really,” Nice seemed a bit uncomfortable with the idea of not knowing, “and you?”

“Well, I do have a marketing degree, so I will look for something in that area, not heroes though.”

“Why not?”

“I just,” Lin Ling starts, looking around a bit nervously, biting his lip a little, “after learning about, well, about you two, I just can’t help there, you know?” He breathes, he needs that deep breath. “I know commercials are important for your trust value, to keep you heroes, but seeing you living fake lives that are harming you both in different ways I just-” Another deep breath, and get it out Lin Ling, “I just can’t”

“Oh,” Nice says softly.

‘Oh’, is right, Lin Ling is a coward after all.

Moon please notice me @MoonAndStars

You know? The Commoner is so brave, I could never go against public opinion like that! No when there’s such a risk associated with your trust value #tecommoner #hesaveschildrenwithoutfear #gocommonergo

76 comments 121 retweets 2,9k likes

Chapter Text

r/NewHeroes * 7 hours ago

u/FallingLeavesFallingDreams

The commoner thing

I just don't quite understand what was the necessity of the commoner guy to get his nose on a familiar matter… Those are personal troubles that families resolve in their own personal time but he went and decided to destroy the life of a perfectly good guy!

He was a hard worker in a good company, a provider for his wife and son and now he was arrested for alleged abuse. What's wrong with him?

^ 237v 56 Comments Award Share …

u/TheSoulessNothing * 6 hour ago

|Bruh, the wife had to hospitalized for the beating

| he gave her, why wouldn't he be arrested?

|

| ^59v Reply Award

| Share …

|

(-)

| u/FallingLeavesFallingDreams * 6 hours ago

| | She should have been a better wife then

| |

| |^39v Reply

| |Award Share …

| |

| |- (+) 3 comment

|

|- (+) 16 comments

u/WishfullyAway * 3 hours ago

| If the guy was arrested then something was wrong,

| you don't know everything that happened, but, well

|messing with familiar matters….

|

| ^ 19 V Reply Award

| Share …

|

|- (+) 6 comments

Nice is a very diligent person and that's probably due to his trust value. The second they stop talking about possible jobs he practically demands Lin Ling's notebook and starts looking for a job on the internet.

Nice looks so aggressively focused on his task that Lin Ling almost fears the way he will react to the question he needs to make, and if he considers the way his trust value makes him a perfect, respectful, diligent and a role model citizen, well, the fear grows.

But it is a necessary question because it is a necessary step, to fall into anonymity and successfully hide two of the rising stars of China. They need to change their recognizable looks, starting with their most iconic parts.

Lin Ling sighs, he just has to.

“To which colour do you want to dye your hair?” He tries to sound casual but the way the movement stops and the silence fills the room tells him it wasn't enough.

“What?” Nice replies, clearly taken by surprise.

“What?!” Xiao Yueqing replies with more energy while abruptly opening the bathroom door, also taken by surprise.

Lin Ling breathes and he is breathing consciously so much lately but he doesn't know if it is because of the stress, the nervousness or plain out tiredness.

“You know, dye your hair, so you can work out there without being as easily to recognise.” He explains, it seemed that the thought of it hadn't crossed their minds yet, which is fine, yesterday was one hell of an eventful day, so many heavy things happened that it feels like it has been already a week.

Nice seemed to process if for a couple seconds, slowly nodding in agreement, Xiao Yueqing was a lot more excited about this.

“That’s a good idea,” Her smile big, her entire being a lot more relaxed with her hair free and the new set of clothes that were a little big on her, Lin Ling couldn’t help but give her a warm smile back, her happiness so contagious- that he couldn’t care less about her losing her golden strands of hair, “I love my hair but if dying it helps me scape this whole “Moon” thing I’m all for it”

“Wouldn’t cutting your hair help you too?” Nice adds, calmly, and even if it sparks some rage on Xiao Yueqing’s face, it doesn’t end up in a fight, gratefully.

“I guess you’re right,” she mumbles while wrinkling her nose -so cute- and touching her long strands of messy hair, clearly annoyed by the fact she’s agreeing with Nice, who is more of her mortal enemy rather than her boyfriend. [1] It is amazing they kept such a clean and good public image as a lovey-dovey couple.

“But maybe if I dye it pink and avoid ponytails I can make it work,” she said happily, especially now that she found a loophole to avoid agreeing with Nice, who just looks at her before giving her a single nod, and with it, the victory.

Lin LIng is going to miss the blond hair, but she looks so happy about it and she’s so beautiful she definitely can pull pink hair, she will look amazing, Lin Ling knows it.

“Good,” he starts, agreeing while smiling and nodding repeatedly, “I’ll buy pink hair dye and… Nice?” he turns his face to look directly at Nice, who hasn't stopped his job hunting while talking until now, “Do you have a colour in mind for you?”

“Uhh…” Nice looks at him and gives him a signature Nice’s smile, “brown like yours? So we can say we are long distance familiars?” He has to stop and think about it for a second, because-

Because he is distant with his parents just as they are distant with their own families, because people don't know Lin Ling all too well, because he barely has any social media working.

Because he is just such a lonely person, so distanced from others, the lie can fit perfectly.

“Sure,” he agrees, raising a bit his shoulders, “I’m a bit distant with my family but we can make it work,” he nods now, more sure about the entire thing, “I’m assuming your fake name will have the Lin last name[2]?”

“Yeah, I was thinking of using something like Lin Fa Ming [3] actually, a whole change of name should throw them off our tail more easily,” Nice reveals and maybe he wasn’t just job hunting until now, maybe he was looking for a name that suits him like this.

“Well, I don’t want to share last names with him,” Xiao Yueqing pointed out, “noe I want to change my name, I like it the way it is.”

“But they will be looking for Xiao Yueqing!” Nice replied, clearly annoyed, “you could at least change your last name”

Before any of them jump to the other’s throat, Lin Ling decides to intervene, and he has to come with something quickly.

“Maybe you could, uhm, use Chen[4]?” Lin Ling gulps, nervous to the bone, “for the, uhm, for the future that awaits us?” Ugh so cheesy, couldn’t you think of something better Lin Ling?

“Chen Yueqing,” she tried the name on her mouth, contemplating the change.

“And the name can be just a coincidence, you know?” Oh for the heavens Lin Ling, you need to shut your mouth, like, yesterday and stay to rot in a hole!

“ ‘Chen Yueqing’, huh, I guess I’ll give it a try,” Xiao Yueqing gives in and, yes! She liked the idea! Oh great heavens, Lin Ling, you did something right!

For a thousand mes @IWillNeverBeTheSame

have any of you guys wondered what Nice's name is? I just realized I don’t know it #Nice #Nicehero #nicechinesehero #nicesname

Replying to @IWillNeverBeTheSame

Pencils’ fear me @traditionalArtArtist

I was going to say “of course we do, how could you forget” but we actually don’t??? what?? #Nice #Nicehero #nicechinesehero #nicesname #whydontwenow [5]

To create their new identities inside the legal realm, the had to use a japanese website[6], and luckily for them Nice, as the perfect hero people believe he is, knows japanese good enough so they can easily use the website without the automatic translator.

Nice also seems to know, on an almost native level, korean, english, latin for some forsaken reason and 8 dialects of chinese [7].

They are all surprised with this information, including Nice. He never tried to speak or understand those languages consciously, and now it brings him more questions than anything, to all of them actually.

Because trust value is a powerful thing, it can give powers that break the physics laws, powers that you can’t replicate without trust value, it also can affect you deeper, by changing parts of your personality or messing with your brain and knowledge.

Lin Ling was always conscious of how powerful trust value is, but he never stopped to question how terrifying it can actually be. And what about him? Isn’t he making some kind of hero name for himself? The Commoner, they call him on the internet, the one whose appeal is that he is just another guy.

But “just another guy” is not an actual hero material characteristic, the heroes come from the idolization and thus the power of trust value, from the people to them. What does this mean for Lin Ling? For the commoner?

Is he going to become a collective of consciousnesses? Will his own image blurry until Lin Ling isn’t even a person anymore? Is he going to become just another Nice?

Is he? Will he? Can he?

What is there to tell him that everything is going to be alright? That he won’t have to do something as drastic as Nice and Xiao Yueqing had to do to escape, even when none of them can assure it has been a successful operation.

How many people will it take to strip him from his choices? From himself?

But he's just another guy on the eyes of the internet, maybe if he keeps being himself…

And then what? People will trust him to be himself? No powers? Just him following his paths due to someone's need of saving? Fighting with his strength with no more help?

Maybe if he trains more, maybe if he gets stronger, maybe then the risk of losing will decrease, maybe then, maybe then-!

“Shouldn't we dye our hair and take photos before finishing our new ID petition?” Xiao Yueqing’s voice interrupted his line of thoughts. And yeah.

“Yes, also to complete our cover letter effectively-” Nice started explaining before being interrupted by Xiao Yueqing.

“Wait! What are we supposed to put on our resumes? That we were unemployed for the last three years? No, scratch that, five years! [8] Nobody is going to hire me!” She was distressed, for a good reason too.

Uhm…

“Maybe you could say you had been taking care of your uncle? Like a dutiful niece?” Lin Ling proposes feeling too nervous, is natural when they're looking for so many ways to avoid using their real identities and they had to resort lo lies at some point, it was obvious, but it still make him feel unsettled, the mere thought of getting caught has him fearing for the consequences.

But what about them? He is doing the right thing, helping them, he knows it.

What about consequences when their freedom is on the way?

“And what happened to my uncle then? Died?”

“Pretty much,” Nice answers, seeming also uncomfortable by the fact that they’re using a lie, maybe. Lin Ling likes to think it is because of it.

“What? Did you just give an uncle just kill him? Seriously?” Her voice had a tone that was a mix of incredulous and sarcastic.

Lin Ling couldn’t help but laugh, it sounded so ridiculous.

With my heart and soul @BestHeroIsESoul

What kind of powers can we give him to the so called Commoner? He is a normal guy? Why would he have some superpower? #thecommoner

Dying hair is a chaotic and something like therapeutic experience, his bathroom has some stains of pink and brown and both of his new roomates are waiting for the color to pick uo, Xiao Yueqing is taking the experience a lot better than Nice, whose hands twitch every time he looks at the different colors and every couple of seconds, probably due to his hair.

“I just-” Nice begins, his voice full of frustration, his hands coming back down after an aborted motion to go for his hair.

“Wash your pretty hair, I know,” xIao Yueqing interrupted him, a lot more comfortable with her hair staining one of Lin Ling’s shirts and staging his bathroom, her voice and roll eyes indicating her annoyance just as how comfortable she feels around them, which is great.

And… his cheeks are getting warmer, great, keep it cool Lin Ling.

“You just have to wait-” He looks at the time on his cellphone, “-ten minutes more.” He tries to comfort Nice without much success but he still gains a grateful nod anyways.

“Time runs fast, it will be nothing,” she says without even looking at him.

“But I need to take it offI” Nice’s voice, just like him, is really distraught, his hands twitch near his hair. Lin Ling tries to hold them as soft and firm as he can to take them far from his hair.

“But we want to follow the instructions perfectly, don’t we?” Lin Ling tries feeling more nervous than what he sounds.

“Ugh,” Nice eloquently says, his hands relaxing in Lin Ling’s own, “I hate the fact that it worked.” He says, sounding annoyed and a bit worried by the thought.

“It worked?” Xiao Yueqing asks incredulous, wide eyes as she looks at them, then she barks a laugh, “damn, so easily too?” She has a pretty laugh and her voice is so melodious when combined with her laugh.

“Don’t laugh,” Nice almost barks at her, his body turned towards her without taking his hands off Lin Ling’s.

“What will your boyfriend think about this?” She says mockingly while pointing with her eyes towards their hands.

Nice’s face picks up a strong red really fast as he yanks his handos off, Lin Ling does the same while feeling his own cheeks get warmer with an incredible speed.

“Can you just shut up?” Nice asked, completely embarrassed.

“I didn’t know you had so many emotions on you!” He hears Xiao Yueqing still mocking Nice, but he cannot see her as his hands cover his own face, because oh heavens, that was so embarrassing! Especially in front of his goddess!

“Just shut up!” Nice almost yells, and when Lin Ling peeks from amongst his fingers, he can see Nice is covering his face using his own hands.

“Let’s change the subject” Lin Ling says quickly after uncovering his face, his cheeks are still warm and his reflection on the mirror could be a tomato if he was a little bit more red.

“To what?” She asks, a beautiful teasing smirk on her face, “This is entertaining enough”

“To something else,” He says sounding so clearly nervous, there’s no moment he had actually felt any calm to be honest, “I fear Nice will become a tomato at the pace this is going” They both can see Nice’s ears going redder, Xiao Yueqing laughs, and Lin Ling cannot find it on himself to feel more than a little guilt, it is funny to see Nice so embarrassed, maybe it is a side effect of being practically his PR manager.

“Can we talk about anything else?” His voice was muffled by his hands, his shoulder up trying to cover him more, his hair has been luckily forgotten.

“Sure,” Xiao Yueqing gives in as she gracefully accepts her victory, “Do you have something in mind?”

Johnnie’s GF @AnimalProtector97

Have any of you heard of this “commoner” guy? #thecommoner

Watching Xiao Yueqing and Nice with their new hair colors is certainly an experience, especially when Nice’s color is fading, fast.

“At least we got the picture for the new IDs before the color reached this point” Pointed Xiao Yueqing, her pink hair suiting her purple eyes. She looks really beautiful and less like Moon, the way the new hair makes her eyes look like another shade of purple was unexpected but certainly welcomed.

“Yeah, not like it is really noticeable with that headband,” Nice huffed, clearly annoyed, and sure, he suffered for a hour and a half with that horrible sensation just for his hair to go white again, every second faster.

“Maybe we can get a wig” Lin Ling proposes, it would be more work for NIce but at least his hair wouldn’t fight that, probably. Considering that the trust value should only affect his natural hair. Maybe. Lin Ling doesn’t know enough about it and it is quickly getting annoying.

“Yeah, I think it should be viable,” Nice sights, “As long as I get a slow pace job…”

“What did you study?” Lin Ling asks, curious.

“I went to a ballet academy and studied performing arts later on.” Nice reveals, taking a sip of his cup of tea.

“Now that actually explains so much,” Xiao Yueqing says, picking a cookie from the bowl, “the way they choreograph your fights makes more sense now”

“Hold up a second,” Lin Ling interrupts his goddess for some reason, “Chorograph?”

“Ah yes,” Nice nods calmly, “my fights with wreck are entirely choreographed, we were hired around the same time, he actually is… my best friend [9]. It was good for my trust value” He admits as if it wasn’t a truly shocking revelation, choreographed fights he can understand, but fighting so rough with your “best” friend? hurting each other so much?

“Best friends.. yeah [9]” She huffs while eating another cookie.

“Did they really make you fight someone so close to you just to control and boost your trust value?” Is really this fake the hero world? Putting people in danger just so they can keep a hero as they want to? Hurting people by making them fight amongst themselves? Is it for the trust value? For the money?

“It is one of the reasons I wanted to leave so much,” he says solemnly, as if it wasn’t a big reason nor related to his attempt of suicide.

“I’m guessing you told him your goodbyes before the whole, you know[10], did you at least tell him that you’re fine?” Lin Ling asked while feeling incredulous being answered by silence.

The whole apartment was so silent you could hear a pin drop.

“Oh for the heavens Nice, does he think of you as dead?” Lin Ling asked, distressed.

“I didn’t tell him goodbye,” he murmurs to defend himself, “he works for Treeman corporation and nothing assures me they aren’t watching his messages while looking for me.” His voice was sad and tired by the end. He felt like that too if Lin Ling was being honest.

“Oh.” Xiao Yueqing says at the same time as him, with the same soft tone of voice.

“Yeah, oh” Nice replies softly too, and he drinks his tea.

The room is still silent.

Dragon Boy’s future spouse @LurkingOnTheShadows

Sometimes, while thinking about how much trust value weights, I realize that the true organic heroes are the little ones, the local ones, and, of course, X, who no one even know from where he came #heroes #x #xthehero #iftheheroislocaliknowheisatruehero #nobacklashagainstmyboi #istilllovehim #nomatterhowcontroversialishe #doihavetogetonanotherweibofightwhenmypostisntaboutdragonboy?

“Hahaha! I got a job before any of you!” Xiao Yueqing confidently declared some time around 9 p.m, effectively calling Lin Ling’s and Nice’s attention.

“Oh?”

“I mean, it is not a job yet,” she starts, correcting her own words, the confidence is still there though, “but a nearby cafe has contacted me for an interview early tomorrow! and if everything goes well I might start working on Monday!” She informed excitedly, pulling a smile on Lin Ling’s face.

“That is great news!” He congratulates her, watching her going happier from the words said.

“I think that, with that strong attitude of you, you won’t pass your interview, at least not smoothly, “Nice replied, more serious than them, and, even though he has a point, Lin Ling has lived with this strong personality Xiao Yueqing for a day and has found very endearing.

Her independence, her humor, the way she stands on her ground no matter what.

It is an improvement from the TV perfect girlfriend that Moon was, at least in Lin LIng’s humble opinion.

“Well, then I should act as more of an obedient, filial and dutiful girl, and you know I can do that.” She points and emphasizes by putting her hands on her hips. “I have been faking being your girlfriend for years, it has worked greatly if you ask anyone, it is no problem.” She replied confidently, and it is true, she had done it for years before, what is stopping her from doing it successfully now?

“Well, I think-” Lin Ling stumbles with his own words without meaning it, so embarrassing! “I think you can keep your strong personality, I- “really like it,” think if there’s a good time for a change, it is now.” He finishes, lamely if he might add.

“But Miss J knows you,”Nice points out, raising a single, perfect brow. His hair is of a greyish brown and is holded up by the infamous hairband. “She might be looking for specifically strong willed women, after all, it is the perfect time for a change.”

“Ha, ha,” Xiao Yueqing laughs in a voice that makes it obvious it is fake, “but you have a point, I may need to be this perfect girl to avoid her eyes.” Her, now pink, eyebrows frowning while she makes a thinking face that Lin Ling can’t help but admire.

“Maybe you don’t need to,” he says before he can even think of his words, an idea taking form in that very second, “maybe you can just fake being shy at the beginning? And get a more you attitude as time goes by?”

Xiao Yueqing smiles, clearly happy with the idea while Nice sighs, which makes it harder for Lin Ling to know about his thoughts.

“Whatever,” Nice says without any real emotion, worrying him a little, but Xiao Yueqing is ready to start mocking him and fighting in some way with him, making him more expressive, making him a little bit more human inside this apartment.

But their fight, no matter how worried it makes Lin Ling, doesn’t matter, their plans keep forming, their path is taking a more defined form, success is more visible and they can talk about what to fake and what not, about what to do one, during the week and maybe the rest of the time.

Because they have time and they will use it, hopefully in a wise way.

Flower in the dessert @BloomingAgainstAllOdds

Going against the public opinions to help? That 's awesome! the Commoner sounds like a good hero! #thecommoner #risingheores #localheores #heroes

72 comments 98 retweets 1,9k likes

Chapter Text

Because Lin Ling, even if he's job hunting, has a lot more free time, he decides to train, to exercise some more, getting Nice and Xiao Yueqing to join him when he's training in the apartment, mainly because there's too much energy to be used.

“You got out of your designated space” Nice says, interrupting once again the peaceful silence of the apartment, Lin Ling sighed, waiting for the inevitable fall down.

“Hah? Since when do we have designated spaces?” Xiao Yueqing asked with her face and tone indicating how clearly annoyed she is by the comment.

“Since the beginning” Nice stressed, in a firm but normal tone even though he looks like he could use a scream or two, “this is my fourth time telling you this, don’t act like it isn’t” his face had this weird mix amongst a frown and a stressed smile without compromising with any of those.

“Well, I can’t see any lines, how do you expect me to keep myself to the imaginary lines when I. Can’t. See. Them!” It didn’t matter how beautiful Xiao Yueqing is, it didn’t matter how easy it was to love her strong personality. She was ready to strangle Nice or die trying and Lin Ling is NOT covering a murder, not now.

“One of you takes the room, the other stays!” He yells because he’s frustrated, he’s nervous, he’s sure if he doesn’t stop them now, two very powerful people are going to fight in his apartment and none of them have the financial ability to obtain a new space without sacrificing everyone to the hero life or the dirty jail cell Lin Ling is going to end in.

“But I have a perfect system setted up!” Nice whines, maybe, Lin Ling is mad, alright?

“It’s not!” Xiao Yueqing screams back.

“If you drew lines it may have worked perfectly, but you didn’t because they bother you when they make the place look messy and, no matter how amazing Moon can be, she can’t read minds and neither can I.” Lin Ling doesn’t even feel like a 27 year old man, he feels like a mother and that’s terrifying, he may need to call his mom and apologise.

“I’ll- I’ll take the room” Nice sights, defeated, de-escalating the entire situation, Xiao Yueqing just nods, still angry with the situation.

“That’s great, you both have your separate places to train and waste energy!” Forcing a happy tone was way more easy than it should. There’s an itch in the back of his brain, on his hands that makes fist, a voice murmuring in his mind. He’s angry, annoyed, overstimulated and he needs to go out.

“What about you?” Xiao Yueqing asks, purposely avoiding to look at Nice. The worry is sweet. And maybe needed.

“I?” Lin Ling asks, because no matter if you tell his name, he needs to confirm she is worried about him, she nods, annoyed, “I’m going for a run.” Lin Ling takes a turn to hide his cheeks red with embarrassment and to make his way to the fridge.

He’s going to enjoy that run.

Enemies to lovers sucker @BitsAndMoreBits

Little time heroes, vigilantes, however you call them, always act at night, because they have to work and study, isn’t it? #vigilantdiscussion #localheroesdiscussion #heroesdiscussion

Lin Ling, as the simple man he is, has turned jogging and running as his stress reliever. It's cheap, it’s accessible, it’s versatile, helps his health and is seen as a good conduct of a good citizen. There’s only benefits the way he sees it and he knows it is a bit self-centered and definitely an unobjective review, but jogging is the best stress reliever to exist, running can be counted on it too the way Lin Ling thinks about it.

It isn’t weird to feel the itch for it, to scratch it by doing something as relaxing as this is.

Lin Ling, however, doesn’t actually understand in what moment violent encounters, more specifically fights, were added as a part of his various running paths, nor why they scratch the itch better, it doesn’t make sense, the average person doesn’t feel it, Lin Ling didn’t feel it until a couple of encounters in, until he won more fights than the ones he lost.

Is it because winning has always tasted sweet on his mind? But he never wanted to get physical like that, winning didn’t feel like that nor sweet at all. Is it because of the adrenaline? But it didn’t feel like almost falling, jumping, off a building, it didn’t feel like when he was late to class nor like the one time he went to roller coasters when he was just a child. Is it because he is an aggressive person deep inside? He doesn’t think so, why would he? He never has shown signs of liking it until now…

But he cannot think about any other reason himself, there’s no other visible explanation for this. Has he become a bad person somewhere in the path to become himself? He… He doesn’t like to think so, he likes to help, he really does! He always has! But the punching and kicking makes him feel better in a way nothing else has done it until now.

How did this happen? Since when has violence craved a comfort place deep in his mind, maybe in his heart? When did it happen? His desire to help has always been strong ever since he was just a child.

Why did this happen? It wasn’t his parents fault since the symptoms didn’t come until his adult years. Wasn’t it? Maybe the effect was delayed but it is unlikely. How did he fail to become a good citizen? An excellent person? Valuable to society?

When did he fail in such a fundamental way? Failed to his environment, to his peers, to his just saved heroes, to his parents and their beliefs.

What is going on with him? Why is he turning like this?

What’s wrong with him?

…

How long will his trust value last if people knew about it?

He’s becoming violent, an enjoyer of violence and aggression, every day on a more deviated path. His punches are getting stronger, his kicks are getting faster just like his steps. The fights become more enjoyable, more satisfying. He doesn’t know why, but every day he taste violence he seems to crave it more.

Why does he care about trust value? He’s not a hero, he is just a guy with growing problems, he lost his job, his income was lost and his savings have to stretch far more than what he planned to, there’s two extra mouths to feed and he runs to calm down, but now running come with fighting, and fighting is calming him down.

Why does he care now?

He didn’t care when he punched a mugger to save a young man, he didn’t care when an assailant menaced a grandma and he kicked him in the gut, he didn’t care to destroy that family when the child came asking for help.

He didn’t care and that's the terrifying part.

He believes he likes, no, loves to help people, he dreamt about becoming a hero up until recently, he wishes, he longed for it. But to become someone like Moon[1], like Nice, like e-soul and maybe even like X, you had to fight for the people, for their safety.

He hadn't wished for the fights, for the supervillains to arrive. He wanted to help and be called a hero.

But that was back then and now is now, now he has fighted, now he has won, he has enjoyed the violence in it and didn’t care at all, not for the criminals that, even for their bad intentions, are still human deep down, not for the father that probably didn’t know better nor for the family he destroyed and left at the mercy of the rumors and comments around the streets. Where’s his empathy? His humanity?

What if the mugger needed the money? But what if he just wanted to cause harm?

He doesn’t know, and he may never will, but where was the question before this? Before arriving fist highs, impulse in his step ready to knock them down?

“Help!” A yell, a scream, a plea. Lin Ling doesn’t think twice, not even once, his legs move at all speed, his fist comes behind him, and when he arrives at the origin of the scream, at a place where two grown adults threaten a teen with a knife, he doesn’t have a single question.

He punches.

To a melody i’ll never hear @LoliN32Fan

What do heroes feel when fighting? Do they even think that criminals may have no more choices? Or that they are sick? #herostuff

Responding to@LoliN32Fan

Dragonboi @RealUsername232

Criminals are criminals, duh. What else is there to think about?

Talking to the police is easy, Lin Ling has lived and been through this scenario, in this exact role, way too many times to even count at this point, congratulations of bravery had become a courtesy just like “Good evening” and “Good night”, and just like them they seem to pass through everyone’s mouths.

And then, they talk about the situation, the outcomes that came and the ones to come, they comfort the victim until someone comes for them, they comfort, in this case, the parents and then they explain to them the whole situation. In this routine there are a couple of predetermined answers that Lin Ling waits for, like a shocked “Thank you”, a nod or even a teary “I’m so glad you’re okay”. But none of them come in this script, instead he gets this:

“Stupid child!” His dad yells, without minding how public he is with it. “We told you to take care of yourself better!” The kid’s face, and whole body, seemed to be at some point amongst scared and used to the whole thing, “and you go out of your way to a silly park to bother a couple of perfectable men! For what?! Just to ruin their whole lives!”

There’s not reaction from anyone in the room, not the mother, not the police officers, and certainly not the child. Not from Lin Ling either, but he can feel the bubble of indignation, of hate, of uselessness, of impotence. Why is he hurting his son like that with such harsh words? Because he is a worried father who is trying to educate his son on safety and minding his business to not affect others. Why is no one doing anything? Because she’s a dutiful and respectful wife, because the police officers know when not to get and mess with familiar matters.

Why isn’t Lin Ling doing anything? Because it would be disrespectful, it would be harmful for his trust value, because it will destroy a family, because he is not looking to intervene with words but punches.

Because he is afraid.

The teen’s posture, the whole kid’s body, is awaiting for a hit, for a punch. He’s waiting for pain from a being that is supposed to protect him, to save him, to comfort him. He’s afraid of his own means to be a protector, because it seems like he is not a protector at all.

“I know you’ll do anything my child,” His mother whispers in his mind, a memory long forgotten in the deep of nothingness he felt the last few years. “because you are kind, because you are meant to help.”

And Lin Ling knows he will always try to do the right thing, even though it is not always like that.

“Sir” Lin Ling interrupts, fury marks the man’s face just like the mix of nothingness and fear marks his son’s face. His own fury boiling hot inside of him as he keeps it down because he knows better than to be penly mad, his mother taught him better than that. “I’m going to insist for you to keep a moderate manner at least in public,” his voice comes out calmer than what he feels, his fists tenser than what his face shows, “a respectable citizen doesn’t cause such disturbance in public,” He breathes and gets interrupted by it.

“Why you-” The man starts but Lin Ling doesn’t feel in the mood to let him talk anymore.

“Besides,” His smile gets tense against his best efforts, his grip on his fists so strong they tremble, “what kind of father scolds his child when he was ambushed by two no good criminals?” The man’s face gets redder with angry, he yells and spit comes out of his mouth, disgusting and clearly not respectful of the people around nor the place they are in.

Lin Ling awaits, wants, wishes, needs to throw a punch at him, even though he knows he shouldn’t crave for violence. But the man throws himself at Lin Ling, yelling, spitting, attempting to hit him. It is not a surprise when Lin Ling just responds in an equal but more efficient, better aimed, and just stronger way.

The police officers assure him that he was on his right, that the man is going to stay in a detention cell for a couple days.

The kid looks scared and Lin Ling just feels awful.

HHH @TripleH

To hit a civilian like that at the police station??? What kind of hero does he believe he is??? #thecommoner #corruptedheros

Replying to @TrpleH

Ahu N1 @DreamerInNothingness

The commoner is actually just another civilian, besides, he was attacked first. Mf just couldnt handle a single punch #thecommoner #herotalk #thecommonerisanicknameforagoodsamaritancivilianguys

Lin Ling is such an awful awful person.

Scratch that.

Lin Ling is a selfish, aggressive, egoistical, impulsive and awful person.

He runs because he is embarrassed, he runs because he is angry, he runs because the situation itself just filled him with so much negative energy he doesn't even know how else he can just burn it down while he feels it boiling inside of him.

He is so angry, he feels so nervous, he knows he is so awful, he is so full with so much frustration that running doesn't feel like helping at all, he goes faster, breathes deeper and there's a single tear or two that force their own way out of his eyes, making their own slow race through his face way down, making sure he can experience all those feelings that those tears emboid.

He doesn't actually knows what he expected when he reacted the way he did, when he opened his big mouth and started mocking the angry man in front of him, provoking him and finally punching him.

The police officers seemed to be at least a bit relieved, no more screams and no more hurting the teen that was a victim not only of an armed assault, but of his own father too.

But detention cells aren't real solutions, he knows that, they know that, the kid certainly knows that.

The fear on his face when his father got detained, punished by law as a consequence of his actions and Lin Ling's, because that man who had no trouble blaming his son for being a victim, certainly will have no trouble to blame him for this outcome.

And he will probably blame him in a private environment, where his tears will probably flow while being hurt, harmed, in some way by his own father while his mother stands by a side.

But Lin Ling just had to hit him, just had to talk, had to feel like he had to do anything.

The kid is going to be punished for the crime of being a victim and it is Lin Ling's fault.

Because he just knows how to fail over and over and over again.

What good does it do to save a kid from a couple of street criminals when the mister he fears is in his own home? When Lin Ling cannot do a thing to help him? When there's a punisher wishing for someone to punish just for the sake of it on his own home?

Sure, he may have been assaulted, robbed or something worse if it wasn't for Lin Ling, but if he had just kept his mouth shut he would fear the punishment that awaits for him the moment that man arrives to his home, the one that will be awaited by the man, tasted on his thoughts and marinated for days.

He could dream of learning his lesson, of him deciding to never hurt his own kid again, but that's a lie waiting to be told, because the fear of the teen, in the kid that he is, was pure and raw.

Like he knew what was coming.

Like-

Like he had already lived this once.

Lin Ling slowly slows his speed, his breath heavy, his arms tired, his legs a bit number, his face warm, his eyes open wide.

Does this man have a record of violence?

He may have, the kid fears the outcome just as he fears for a punch the man desires to throw in public.

The way the kid acted was like violence is to expect for how common he seems for him to have met with it, specially from his father, the way fear settled down in his face tells him he already knows how big of a punishment awaits him, because he has likely already experienced it. It seems like his father has been detained beforehand.

That he has a record.

Maybe, maybe the police can do something about it, maybe they can give him jail time, time for the teen to escape, to find a safe place, but maybe this is just his second offense and they will release him with a warning in a couple days.

Maybe they can push for an investigation of family violence, of abuse, and punish him fairly for his crimes against his family safety, maybe they can't push hard enough.

Lin Ling should trust the police to do his own work, to be the law enforcement force that everyone believes it is, the protectors of their safety at a low scale, of their peace at a bigger scale.

Lin Ling is no hero, nor lawyer, nor a citizen with the ability to do anything on this damned situation, but he will press, he will go, inform, and press because if this man has a record it would mean that Lin Ling did something right.

He needs to go, now.

But his legs are already moving in the same direction from which he came, just in the opposite sense, his breath is heavy but at the same time lighter, his speed is greater than before. He's tired. He laughs.

He laughs because maybe Lin Ling is not useless nor awful at all.

He laughs because he was already in his way.

He laughs because he may be able to help someone, to save someone.

He laughs because he may have done something right.

Chemistry’s dog @OnARainOfFakeTears

Cmom guys, the guy had a record, and I'm all in for destroying criminal's families, good for the kid tho #thecommoner #iwouldalsohavepunchedthatguy

“You are right, this man does have a criminal record.” The officer says, talking calming even when his face looks conflicted. “However, he didn’t hit you, you hit him and, even though it was clear he wanted to hurt you, it will be hard to push a case like this,” he sighs, Lin Ling felt awful, did he mess up this much the situation? ”But he attempted to assault you when you tried to deescalate the situation.” The police officer smiles.

“He caused a public disturbance[2] and attempted to assault a good-willed civilian,” he looked at Lin Ling with a tiny but comforting smile “I’m sure we can do something with this.” The attempt of reassurance did nothing for Lin Ling, why couldn’t he just trust him? He has helped lots of people before, he is part of a respectful organization, he has something to try and jail this man.

This was what Lin Ling wanted! This was the way out for the kid that Lin Ling had found!

It may even work as intended!

Then, why? why couldn’t Lin Ling take his words to heart?

Why is he so ungrateful?

The scenes kept replaying on his head while running back to his apartment, his body moved in automatic, his head too gone, too lost to be actually focusing on movement. His legs ran for him, carrying him through his usual path, waving at people or just… Fighting, throwing punches and kicking people, he could vaguely remember those moments, he acted without question, without thinking about it.

He fought, he hurt, he looked for violence.

Maybe there were yells, screams for help, maybe not, he cannot actually picture what happened, like those moments weren’t real, but they were, he just knows it, there’s something under his skin that was always itching, until it’s not, until he fought , until his fist were sore, until his legs screamed to run no more. Those moments were real, he knows.

There’s something so deeply wrong about him, about his hero fantasy, about his whole situation. He chews more than what fits on his mouth, he has taken two heroes from the world that need every single bit of help they can give and he has 2 people he cannot take care of due to his incompetence.

And now. Now he craves violence like a scummy person does.

He's there in front of his door, looking at the keys he forgot to copy, cursing his forgetful mind for prolonging a big problem, cursing at himself for not remembering, for not making a note, for not taking precautions.

He sighs.

There's not helping it now, well, yes, he could technically turn around and go to a place that duplicates keys. But he won’t.

He opens the door, the smell of food dilling the air, gently reminding him that there are two other persons in his apartment, two other people who will eat besides him. That there is a new routine in which they can share meals.

Also reminding him of the time, was he really out for 2 hours?

“You finally arrived Lin Ling!” A cheerful Xiao Yueqing greets him, the mood clearly greater than when he left, which was something amazing, a problem less, a solution to their current routine. “I was getting worried about you!” She scolds him, making a lovely pout.

Lin Ling swallows the ‘Me?’ that wanted to escape from his throat, replying instead with a simple “Sorry, I lost track of time”

She mumbles, and makes a hard turn, her hair in a pony tail since she’s at the apartment, a private place, a temporary but secure place for her.

He smiles while taking his shoes off, there is a heated but calm conversation in the background, the calmest kind of conversation Xiao Yueqing and Nice can have. The smell around made clear this was a really tasty meal, just as any meal Nice makes.

His run wasn’t as enjoyable as he wanted, at this point it wasn’t enjoyable at all, the combination of his recent thoughts and the amount of situations he has experienced the past three days, the kind of situations… His life hasn’t been the easiest these days to be honest, there were too many revelations, too many bad events, too much stuff to properly process his own thoughts.

He has messed up, big and little times, he has fundamentally changed over the course of three days, he has been cut off from his previous, normal, civilian worker life. He has learnt things about himself he never thought.

He may have condemned a couple of people to fates that are worse than yesterday, but he had tried to help, he may have helped, he may have helped the pair of ex-heroes in his apartment, he may have helped the kid of that evil man.

And just for now, for this day he would like to think about the good things that may have come after this. Because Lin Ling is, after all, a selfish and awful person.

A silent cry away @HelpIsAlwaysAround

Isn’t it gratifying when, even against the odds, a family abuser is punished? Miracle workers worked on that case #thecommoner #policedepartment #localheores #heroes #miracleworkers #thelotofit

93 comments 71 retweets 2,9k likes

Chapter Text

It is during breakfast on a Sunday morning when Nice sneezes.

It's quite rare for him to sneeze, because being perfect usually also meant having perfect health, but sometimes he could have those imperfect moments he had learnt to appreciate, those that make him feel human once again.

So, he sneezes, big news, but it isn't small and pristine, it is big, lousy, ugly and full of… well, snot. It is an ugly view, improper of the perfect hero, Nice. Nice himself seems to look bewildered by the sneeze itself, maybe by its intensity— maybe by the feeling of snot dripping out of his nose— neither Xiao Yueqing nor Lin Ling look better.

There’s a moment in which they look at each other properly surprised, and nothing more.

“Check your trust value, now.” Xiao Yueqing demands breaking the astonishing silence that formed amongst them, Nice doesn't even make a comment before he checks his wrist, watching at the numbers running.

“They're at half.” He says without much thinking about it, his own head probably running and running possibilities and thoughts.

Something isn’t right, what is happening?

They know Nice just dropped to top 13 yesterday night, probably is dropping to top 14, but that's not nearly enough of a good reason for him to be losing so many points at such speed, Lin Ling check his own phone, a quickly search of hero rankings keep Nice at number thirteen, A number running and changing, not that different from yesterday.

What is happening?

“What? Why?” Xiao Yueqing asks, as shocked as the rest of them are. Why would Nice’ numbers drop so fast? Why would they stay at half? If Nice's disappearance went public, his number would stay or just completely drop, but it didn't happen, Nice is supposedly top 13 and thus a scandal is not on the table, however his numbers are too low for him to still being the hero that's top 13, why would this happen?

He knows that numbers aren’t exactly public, the trust value is managed by the enterprise as it is considered something personal[1] and thus it is in the contract. The numbers, however cannot be faked, they are proven true, but why- why would this occur and Nice keep his place rankings? It is more like it is Nice the hero a totally different person from Nice the civilian, but how can-

And then, it hits Lin Ling, the E-Soul situation. A case similar to this that happened no more than five years ago, where the points of trust value were divided in two individuals.

He checks his phone once again, opens his weibo app instantly looking for Nice's official profile, there he finds it. A simple but recent post, dated from yesterday, there’s a picture of Nice, a mirror selfy in which the phone covers his face, simple and relaxed, a bit out of character for perfect Nice but still perfectable relatable, the words accompanying it are a declaration, affirming that Moon and him cancelled their interviews for a week-long training regime, a simple heart finishing the phrase as a clear indicator of this being more of a love getaway.

Some fans called them a romantic pair of love-birds, others called out their lies, claiming the situation suspicious for the little anticipation time, not that they were wrong— after all the real ones are here— but lacking any real evidence and probably end up only boosting the post.

There’s people out there using Nice and Moon’s names and identities, there’s people out there, working under Treeman Corporation that didn’t doubt on replacing a couple of heroes, as they aren’t real people.

He feels sick.

“Moon,” Lin Ling calls her attention, he keeps his face more serious than anything trying to not let out the train wreck going on in his head, “can you check your trust value?”

“What do you want- Oh.” Perplexed, she looks at her wrists for a couple second before showing it to them, “they’re in half too.”

“So, it's official,” Lin Ling hears his voice leaving his mouth, his brain processing and not quite believing this, “this is…” Breath and think, formulate and don’t mess it up,”there are doubles of you out there, like the E-soul situation, but there’s less fight and…” Breath, nice and easy, drop the bomb. “Unlike them, the fakes have the company's support from the start[2] and the public doesn’t know it yet.”

The pair of heroes just look at him a bit incredulous, if it is because of the situation, his words or comparison he doesn't know, he feels the same way.

“Huh,” Nice says eloquently.

Huh indeed.

Moon @OfficialHeroMoon

Training with the right person makes your day better #training #herostuff #mybelovedboyfriend #moontalks

Replying to @OfficialHeroMoon

Crumbs @BegForCrumbs

AAAaahhh, stop talking like that stop making me wanna partner!!! #loveydoveys #theperfectcouple #niceandmoon

Replying to @OfficialHeroMoon

Blue @CyanSimp263

STOOPPP, you’re so cute together!!! #theperfectcouple #niceandmoon

Replying to @OfficialHeroMoon

MOON MOMMY @MoonOGStan23

I know my girl Moon and youre not it #fakers #fakehero #stolenidentity

Replying to @MoonOGStan23

Mapple @SyrupInPancackes

Shut the hell up, just bc theyre happy you can’t just bitch about it

Life changes, obviously, but after this event and posterior realization the changes become bigger. For starters, they dye Nice's hair again, this time they expect it to be rather successful.

The main and biggest difference amongst this time and last, is the way Nice is clearly less twitchy about it, his body is clearly more relaxed than before, his face has a quite annoyed expression but not really big nor exaggerated, the minutes they wait for the colour to pick up are more peaceful but the energy is still there.

“What's up with that face? Is the colour bothering you so much?” Xiao Yueqing asks with a rather playful tone, Nice doesn't do any more than wrink his nose in response.

“The dried dye is uncomfortable in the face” He expresses rather thoughtfully, his tone noticeably more relaxed even though still clearly annoyed.

Even though Nice eyes aren't open at the moment, the dye stains in the bathroom didn't bother him as before, where the misplaced colours seemed to take every space in his thoughts. Now it is clearly more manageable for him. Xiao Yueqing still mocks him for it though.

“Just wait for a couple of minutes more,” Lin Ling says standing in a corner next to Nice, who is sitting on his toilet.

“How many?” Nice asks, his head turning slightly toward Lin Ling.

“How many what? Minutes? Hours? Seconds?” Xiao Yueqing teases Nice, taking great pleasure in his annoyance and there's this cute expression on his goddess face when she's being so playful. Nice, on the other hand, now has a deep frown while he faces in her direction. To be honest, Nice isn't this smiley guy they sell, from the short period they have met Lin Ling has learnt that annoyance finds its way to Nice's face easier than any smile.

“7 minutes more” Lin Ling answers, no matter how cute and beautiful his goddess is when she's having so much fun, he's not about to let his bathroom to take the damages of a fight, no matter how much of a mockery it might be.

“Ugh” Nice says, Lin Ling just knows he rolled his eyes even though they are closed. “Don't you have better things to do? Like.. watching something on the internet?”

“C’mon, as if there aren't just seven minutes left, what am I gonna watch? A video of a song?” She asks, changing her pose as she stands by the door. “Watching you struggle with something as simple as hair dye is certainly more entertaining.” A triumphal smirk sets on her face.

“Lin Ling! Do something!” Nice demands and, what? Why him?! Is he his mother?

“You- ehrm- You're both adults—” Older than me, he doesn't add [3]— “and perfectly capable of solving your issues- by talking, preferably by talking. Talking is a really important and useful tool.” He's starting to feel nervous at the situation, unlike him they have powers! Real powers! What is he going to do if they fight in the bathroom? What can he do if she doesn't want to leave the bathroom?

Nice opens his eyes and looks directly at him, giving him a dead stare, Xiao Yueqing also looks at him, clearly more amused than Nice.

“Wow. Big help.” Nice says dead serious still staring at him.

Lin Ling can feel his face heating up, Xiao Yueqing makes a sound, a prelude to a laugh, a really cute laugh but it is because of this and- Oh heavens, this is so embarrassing!

Mrs. Blade @GhostbladeBeloved

Why are you all so focused on learning about the heroes lives, let them be for once #Nobutsrsly

“Don’t you think he looks a lot like you?” Xiao Yueqing says and, well, he looks at himself at the mirror, then at Nice, then at the mirror again and then to Nice again-

And they do look alike, like family or close cousins

“Huh, I never noticed before” Nice says after doing the same exercise as Lin Ling, even though he doesn't move his head nearly as much as Lin Ling did because he just changes the focus on the mirror.

“Well, it might have been because our priorities are quite different from last time…” Lin Ling says while now looking at the hairdryer on his hands, the hair brush on the side has a lot more of hair on it, mostly because last time there were only, like, two hair strands of Nice that fell. “For starters, he's keeping the hair colour,bso there's a lot less pressure to take photos and such.” Because last time, at this point, roots started to become white and they went on a slight panic mode.

But now, this time, Nice was less awkward, he got stained twice on his face, the hairbrush looks like Lin Ling just brushed his own hair and, overall, Nice, this time, is a lot more human.

His trust value allows him to be more human.

Lin Ling’s shoulder go down, relaxed as he lets out a sigh he didn't know he was holding, the trust value situation is weird, and it's getting weirder by the minute, but as the numbers fall down, both, now ex, heroes become more lively, more energised, more human, and Lin Ling cannot find it on himself to feel bad about it, about the way he just took them from their lives and shoved them in a corner on the city, effectively hiding them.

He walked, and kept walking not even minding the sudden appearance of white pigeons, and reached the border, looked at him, and, without stopping, made his signature pose as he took another step.

He cannot think about any of this being the wrong thing.

Besides, it is just obvious their company had no problem in just replacing them, the posts and indicators of a new Moon and a new Niece tells him everything that he needs to know about hero-ing and the industry behind it. He looks a bit back, remembering how a week ago he believed he was a gear in one of, if not, the best industries when he was just another gear in the machinery that keeps them down.

Staged fights? The dehumanization? That's not great, it is not good at all, not for anyone involved and Lin Lung cannot help but dream of a hero that will save the heroes in need.

He hears Xiao Yueqing and Nice fighting again, now for the remote of the TV, as he just crouches and stores the hairdryer.

Maybe… maybe he should start calling Nice by his chosen name, because, after all, even though they know and think of him as “Nice”, “Nice” is nothing but a character owned by Treeman corporation, the perfect image of the perfect hero, with his pristine looks and flawless personality. Nice, who has lived under such name for years has expressed to feel like such character but now there's another Nice, a second Nice that shares his name and, soon enough, the character itself.

So, maybe, he must start to think about him as Lin Fa Ming at least, and then when the change officially arrives, he will be ready.

“I'm not watching Ahu’s cartoon[4]! It 's for kids! And inconsistent!” He hears Nice, no, Lin Fa Ming's practically yell, oh the neighbours-

“Oh, you don't know jackshit! It is really good!” Xiao Yueqing answered I'm a, even louder, tone of voice, annoyance turning into anger as it drips from her face to her voice.

The neighbours.

The same neighbours that have heard the pair of heroes arrive, the ones who must have seen Nice arrive and never go away, and then heard a girl arrive and, also, never go away.

There's 3 people living in the apartment and he knows he shall soon inform the landlord so they can get the new contract and get all of that sorted out.

Lin Ling should also present his new pair of roommates, especially if they are going to be this lively on a daily basis, so they won't call the police on him, for the noise or the weird behaviour. Besides, after all this yelling and general noise, the least they can do is apologise and present themselves so they, at least, look a lot less shady than before.

“Guys!” Lin Ling calls them to finally interrupt them, this, he has just decided, cannot wait, it is absolutely necessary to solve this as quickly as they can.

And to save his remote and Lin Fa Ming from Xiao Yueqing’s rising anger.

Ah, what a fierce goddess.

Risin’ sun @dawningmornings

Update: My neighbour finally presented us his new roommates, the pair looked like they are ready to kill each other for the *whole* 2 minutes I met them, so, no one was kidnapped not killed, those are just two people who don't get along. #storytime update #update #storytime #sovbooooring #imaginetheyarefightingforhislios #lol #nowthatwouldbefunny

Sunday was exciting thanks for the number drop, Lin Ling thinks they just decided to ignore the fact that Treeman corp took less a week to replace two of their most iconic heroes, the mundane simplicity of the day, the normality that was allowed for the now Lin Fa Ming and the cake they bought, read: Lin Ling, to celebrate they were a step closer to what true freedom must be.

Nothing else was remarkable that day, besides the presentation of his new roommates, and that felt strangely great, Lin Ling’s heart felt light and happy, he didn’t even think of the fact he has yet to get a job nor about how his savings are getting drained faster than what he thought. That Sunday was as happy as it could be, and it was so freaking happy and exciting, putting aside the new fights for the TV.

Who would have thought that Nice- sorry, Lin Fa Ming, could hold such nasty arguments now that his trust value isn’t holding him back nearly as much as before? Certainly not Lin Ling, not after the years he spent polishing the perfect image of Nice as an outstanding, polite and serviceable person, he feels scammed, but, once again, maybe the whole hero industry is a whole damn scam.

Lin Ling wants his time back, he wants to have chosen another career-

Maybe… Maybe he can pick up some online courses this year? The apartment is not cheap nor suited for three people, but there are three humans that live there now and, if they all bring enough money, maybe he can pay the entire year for a course in something before they move.

This sunday the days after it began to take a true form, an actual shape of something, of an actual future that waits ahead of them, one that doesn’t include the pressure of the meaning of their trust values hanging on their heads-

But that's saying that his own, useless, trust value is a bunch of chains he doesn't feel, a bunch of restrictions in the form of powers he lacks to correctly protect all the victims around, the power he lacks to prevent a child from being hit by their guardian…

Trust is built in number he can see on his wrist, a set of three digits that change every once in a while, trust is supposed to build power along those numbers, to build something that allows him to protect others, but he can only feel the lack of it every time he goes out, his muscles are built by his own merits, by exercise and constancy, his actions are his own, his demeanor is one built by his own and his parents raising, his actions are his own, everything in Lin Ling has been built by himself, by his decision to make such things. Trust, he knows, has changed nothing.[]

Trust, he has learnt, are power, traits and chains, and yet, in his hands, when it lays upon him, trust seems to be nothing, it does nothing, it changes nothing, it enforces nothing, it affects nothing.

Lin Ling can feel the spiral that his thoughts start to form, the way it starts to go deeper and deeper, the questions, the doubts, the evidence starts to take multiple places on his head, but Lin Ling knows better than this, he shakes his head, trying to shake those thoughts from him.

That sunday, this sunday, is of celebration, because, today, this instant, trust is an enemy to be defeated, and with the help of Lin Ling no less.

Nice @OfficialHeroNice

Remember to tune in for True love recipe today at 19:00! @OfficialHeroMoon and I will be charmed to know so many people are interested in the secrets of our perfect relationship! #TrueLoveRecipe #HeroCouple

Replying to @OfficialHeroNice

Nice’s lover pleasepleasepl @SourAsALime

STOP! I’ll puke blood if you keep being so shamelessly cute! #HeroCouple #NiceAndMoon

Replying to @SourAsALime

Just a guy @LuckyCyanHunsban675

Dude WTF

Replying to @OfficialHeroNice

Green as grass @LuckyCyansfan78799

AAAAAAAAA I’ve been waiting for this all MONTH #HeroCouple #NiceAndMoon

Replying to @OfficialHeroNice

Mapple @SyrupInPancackes

So Nice to be able to watch such a cute couple talk about themselves on TV <3 #PunIntended #HeroCouple #NiceAndMoon

Replying to @OfficialHeroNice

MOON NOTICE ME @MoonsN2Husband

I’ll finally learn the secret to her heart! #JustJoking #YouGuysAreAwesome #especiallytogether #HeroCouple #NiceAndMoon

The week had been great, Xiao Yueqing started to officially work in the coffee shop and she looked pretty excited the first days, especially after no one recognized her nor treat her with the same amount of respect. Lin Ling has to admit, that, after working with Treeman Corporation and its high standard, he is surprised she’s still this happy even after already finding some really demanding customers.

Then, there was Lin Fa MIng, who seemed to build a really strange relationship with his new status as an unemployed citizen. On one hand, he spent the first few days looking anxiously the laptop, waiting for his all but perfect resume to be accepted in whatever job he postulated for, however he has yet to receive an answer. On the other hand, everyday his trust value dropped even further and his sleep hours seemed to be getting higher, his attitude was still a bit of a stuck up but he was certainly less frantic about everything looking a certain way.

There was this one memorable moment in which, after drinking his coffee, he realized that the cup wasn’t in the usual position, at the usual angle, nor it had bothered him. He cheered quite loudly, scaring Lin Ling enough for him to fall off his chair, mostly because he was still really sleepy.

Lin Fa Ming apologized a lot after that, but the ghost of a smile certainly did not left his face for the entire day, Xiao Yueqing teased him lots, especially after learning the reason why he kept smiling and then Lin Ling had to de-escalate the situation because he did not want to deal with the consequences of a full blown food fight after the “patrol” he did the day before, which was longer and more eventful than others.

Overall, the week had been really nice, and quite amazing for Lin Fa Ming and Xiao Yueqing by the looks of it. He, however, should have expected for a surprise to take over, such as his, now ex, company declaring bankruptcy and firing up the rest of their employees so suddenly.

Lin Ling did not know how to feel nor react, for one side, he knew now that there was absolutely nothing he could do to avoid being fired and unemployed, which was kind of nice, especially considering he felt less shame in informing his parents of his employment situation. On the other hand, being happy for the bankruptcy of a company he had put years of pure effort and hard work? Being happy that so many people are losing their jobs? It started to consume Lin Ling’s mind out of pure guilt, the mere thought of him trying to find happiness on it makes him want to cry or punch himself for it.

Even then, he had put little thought before accepting the invitation to drink with his ex-coworkers, amongst pain and happiness, alcohol is certainly the middle ground, just like ice cream and comfort food are too.

“You know? I didn’t actually expected you to show up, Lin Ling” Senior Zhang Wei declares, there’s a laugh under the tone of his voice, and Lin Ling is pretty sure that it is more of a hysterical laugh, he knows he felt that being fired was quite a surreal experience, but, being fair, the whole Nice’s situation happened right after it, and that still feels… Yeah…

“I…” Lin Ling breathes, he actually cannot think how to answer that, “why would you say that senior Zhang?” Lin Ling gives him his politiest smile, that one that’s actually better than whatever smile he always gave to their boss.

“I mean,” senior Zhang Wei drinks almost half his glass, “after you got fired no one knew about you, no one even asked about you because we assumed you just failed in your job, and yet, you answered and came, are you so desperate for friends, boy?” Ah, yes, that… Lin Ling didn’t even notice, after all, the day ended up being so chaotic with such unexpected consequences he really didn’t have it in himself to think about anything else.

But now, after it all was said, he cannot help but feel hurt, it was true, now that he thinks about it, no one contacted him, he really disappeared like a ghost, with not a single mark of his presence left behind, if that day he had really jumped, would they have cared at all?

“Ah… haha…” the sound that leaves his mouth is dry and empty and so, so fake but he cannot think how to answer to that, the whole place feels colder, tighter, darker, and Lin Ling cannot bring it on himself to care about it, the thoughts of his head began spiraling, was he such an inconsequential person? in life? to know he could have died and leave no trace after such a fall, would his parents even know in that case? He hasn’t spoken with them for months, and even then the communication is scarce, would they still care? “... Hahaha…”

“Shut it Zhang Wei!” Senior Sūn Fang cuts him, strong, fierce, determined and slamming her glass on the table, leaving a silence around. “We should have been better, so, if you’re going to say such cruel things you better be ready to apologize to your junior!” Her flare, even when drunk, was absurdly lethal, getting senior Zhang Wei to shut, face red on embarrassment and alcohol and a clear annoyance at being called out.

“And where’s your apology?” Senior Zhang Wei snarks back, leaning his body closer to her, trying to look intimidating, but senior Sūn Fang doesn't back down, “I have yet to hear it!”

“All right,” senior Sūn Fang turns to look at Lin Ling, her glare just as intense making Lin Ling sweat a little, “I’m sorry Lin Lin, at the end of the day you didn’t fail in your job so it wasn’t your fault.” She says but it stings his heart, it was his fault after all, the commercial hadn’t been approved, it was defective, it wasn’t what the client was looking for, it was Lin Ling’s mistake, the last of many on that place.

“Apology accepted, senior Sūn Fang,” He replies with a sour taste in his tongue, it was his fault but he really doesn’t want to fight the drunk woman, besides, even though he knows it is wrong, he does feel a bit better after the apology.

What a bad person he is, taking advantage of drunk people and lies.

Senior Sūn Fang turns her head to look at senior Zhang Wei, “There, now it is your turn,” senior Zhang Wei makes a face before taking a deep breath and look at Lin Ling with a look just as intense as senior Sūn Fang’s.

“Forgive me for that,” senior Zhang Wei orders, it does bother Lin Ling even when he knows this is all a farce.

“I forgive you senior Zhang Wei,” Lin Ling tries to give him a better smile than before, both of his seniors seemed to be appeased by it, senior Chen Mei, however, looks quite embarrassed by his side.

“Lin Ling,” she calls his attention, letting Lin Ling drown whatever argument senior Sūn Fang and senior Zhang Wei are having now, “look, it was quite harsh of us to just gossip and try to ignore you, it was bad, and for that I do apologise, but I have to ask you to just forget what Zhang Wei said, it was unnecessarily cruel of him to say that.”

And that- that actually takes Lin Ling‘s breath away, it sounds honest, it feels honest, and it threatens to drown Lin Ling in a sea of guilt, what is the supposed answer for that? he has just lied, it still is his fault, but the things that senior Chen Mei pointed out are bad, and, for that he maybe does deserve an apology.

“I-” But before Lin Ling can answer, there’s a collective gasp in the bar, cutting him out and calling his attention to the TV, where True love recipe is on-

Where his boss, now with powers is fist fighting fake Nice and winning.

Senior Chen Mei makes a sound drowned by her hands, senior Sūn Fang and senior Zhang Wei turn to watch the the fight and seem to sober up fast, Lin Ling’s mouth feels dry and motionless, the words and thoughts before died in that exact second. He knows they, Lin Fa Ming and Xiao Yueqing had agreed to not watch the show, and to just ignore it, Lin Ling also agreed to those terms, but now that he sees on TV, the way it all had to fall apart fast and hard, the way Nice is less Nice and somehow more Nice than Lin Fa Ming, The way Moon is freezed in the background. Lin Ling thinks they need help, but, who is going to help them if they do not know they are fake heroes? Then, only Lin Fa Ming and Xiao Yueqing can help them, but they are not watching it, they do not know this is happening.

But those fake heroes, are still heroes, they still have Xiao Yueqing and Lin Fa Ming’s past trust value, they should own those powers the same, to be able to use them as the real heroes did before them, they should at least know how to use them.

Lin Ling watches the whole set destructed, the sideways camera changing for another that manages to capture a millisecond of fear in fake Nice’s eyes and the next thing he knows is that he is out of the bar, running towards where he thinks the TV station is with no other thought that he has to help.

Lin Ling does have to check the navigator and then the map app when he gets a little lost on his way, but he arrives and he helps.

Tornado of thoughts @FutureHero162

Who is that guy who appeared in True Love Recipe? He saved Nice’s ass for a moment there! That’s a hero for a hero! The way he helped Nice to defeat that old man was really something! #NewHero #TrueLoveRecipe #TrueLoveRecipeIncident #HeroNice #HeroTalk #WhoIsThatGuy

119 Comments 273 Retweets 11,2k Likes

Replying to @FutureHero162

Just me lol @ASeedThatGrows

That, my good man, is my local hero, the Commoner because he is just another guy, one with a golden heart tho #ATrueHero #NowNotThatSmallAnymore

“That guy” THe blond woman murmurs as she watches the video in which the stranger tackles her new Nice into the floor allowing him to avoid an attack of Enlighter’s lackey, then he seems to tell something that helps her new Nice to snap out of whatever trance he was on and then her new Moon yelled something along the lines of “You can do it Nice!” allowing a good ending for that fight.

An actual relief after the mess of that interview, her actors could be freaking gymnasts as well for the way they did acrobatics with words in those strange questions.

And the new guy? The public will- no, already wants to know about him, more and more, he saved her new heroes and their reputations.

“We need him in” She knows mister Sheng is going to ask it, and she knows they need him, that introducing him as a buddy of Nice could help to build his reputation as a lovable and approachable enough guy but not that much if they can build a hero person fir that guy.

She can already imagine it, “Nice inspired me!” becoming his reason and elevating Nice, and then, maybe then, she’ll be forgiven for her mistake of losing, not one, but two of the heroes in which Treeman Corp has invested the most.

She can fix it.

She will fix it.

Chapter Text

r/NewHeroes * 3 hours ago

u/YinXiFan1627

The guy on True Love Recipe

So, was it just me or this no name hero just pulled out of fucking nowhere and practically saved Nice’s ass just to dissappear equally fast? Talk about a power move… But, does, anyone, know who this guy is????

^ 1237v 72 Comments Award Share …

u/WishICouldBeDontFall392 * 3 hours ago

|That’s the commoner! He’s a local hero of

| my neighborhood, His presence makes

| my grandma feel safer at night, she goes

| on walks super late just to prove she can,

| my mom is going to have a heart attack

| sooner than her at this rate tho.

|

| ^162v Reply Award

| Share …

|

(-)

| u/FelixsWife928 * 1 hour ago

| | Your grandma sounds like a

| | savage, go grandma!

| |

| |^79v Reply

| |Award Share …

| |

| |- (+) 8 comment

|

|- (+) 36 comments

u/DazzlingDewDrops * 3 hours ago

| He’s a local hero of the neighborhood!

| His whole thing is that he is just a normal

| guy! generic clothes, usually a black and

| white track suit, generic but pretty face,

| colours, he could be anyone on the street

| but he still chooses to help everyone who

| might need it, daily.

|

| Truly an admirable guy!

|

| ^ 109 V Reply Award

| Share …

|

|- (+) 22 comments

“So, are you telling me this is not you on the TV?” Xiao Yueqing questions him and, well, to be totally honest, Lin Ling didn’t think this was going to be a problem. For starters, N- Lin Faming and Xiao Yueqing weren't supposed to watch the show, they told him they wouldn’t watch the show. Second, well, he… He didn’t actually think that he would appear on camera, like, at all.

“Where… where did you get this?” The TV showing the exact moment in which he tackles new Nice out of his ex-boss range of attack, his face covered by his hair and new Nice’s body. Which leads him to his third point.

His face is not visible, how does she know that’s him?

“The news, duh,” and, well, there’s a news’ logo on the corner, right, he should have seen that, and, well, expect it would appear on TV. First point out of the list, right. That explains it.

“How do you know that’s me?” Lin Ling can feel himself sweating bullets at this point, Xiao Yueqing’s gaze is absurdly scary and attractive- Not the moment Lin Ling! And, combined with Lin Fa Ming’s silent stare, well, his heart is making some twists and weird stuff if he’s completely honest with himself.

“Because I saw you put on that exact outfit yesterday, more than that, Nice helped you to choose it, “ right, he totally DIDN’T forget about that, it just, slipped his mind.

Which brings him to his fourth point.

“Well, he, uhm, they, needed help” he starts, stumbling with his words, slowly gaining more and more confidence with every word, “they looked like they could use some help, like they needed someone, and I just, well, ran.” He started to stumble at the end because, how did he know how to arrive there? He doesn’t know where the studio was, hell, he had to ask the navigator app to know how to get home, and there wasn’t a direction registered.

Which is still really weird, now that he thinks of it.

“You just ran?” Lin Fa Ming speaks this time, raising his perfect eyebrows mismatching his now unkept brown hair, he looked stressed, but still less than when he was, well, Nice.

“Yeah… I pretty much ran until I arrived, “ Lin Ling confesses, raising an arm to slightly scratch the back of his neck, an awkward giggle leaving his mouth at the same time, “I don’t understand it either, it was weird, I don’t even know where the study is.”

That seemed to raise some alarms in both of the ex-heroes’ heads, their postures and attitudes changing on the blink of an eye.

“Lin Ling, show me your trust value.” Xiao Yueqing, who is closer to Lin Ling, demands suddenly, startling him. He, instinctively raises his arm and kind of tugs it at himself but the movement isn’t really big enough to be called as such.

“What?” Leaves eloquently from his mouth.

“Show me your trust value.” Xiao Yueqing demands once again, this time forcefully grabbing Lin Ling’s arm, making him blush for some reason but letting his arm limp in her hands.

Soft hands, probably a consequence of her trust value from her time as a hero, after all her fighting and her wounds, they are as soft as a good pillow. Her hands are firm, soft, and just as beautiful as her- Not now Lin Ling!

“I- What? Why?” His eyes looks at her hands, at his own wrist and the land on Xiao Yueqing’s face, who has a determined and serious expression that makes his spine tremble with a sudden chill.

“Lin Ling,” Lin Fa Ming starts as he gets closer, his walk still elegant, powerful and strong, the sound of his footsteps demanding some level of attention, “just do it, we- we need to know.”

It occurs to Lin LIng that he has never heard Lin Fa Ming, Nice, stumble with his own words, his speech pattern was still perfect just yesterday, now it shines by its absence.

Lin Ling does as he was asked.

“Holy…” Escapes from Xiao Yueqing’s mouth, the rest of the sentence is pronounced but the sound seemed to forgot to follow. N- Lin Fa Ming’s mouth opens slightly, and stays open. Lin Ling moves his eyes to his own wrist and the fast growing 4-digit number that shines on it.

Now 5-digit, holy moly, that’s- that’s fast, and is it getting faster?

“Oh” leaves his mouth as eloquently as he has been all morning, the word alone seemed to encapsulate the feeling of the whole room, the silence that followed it seemed to be only appropriate for this new situation that they find themselves on.

“How?” Lin Fa Ming asks watching the number grow slower, the first digit seemed to be a 1 going into a 2 soon enough, and, well, considering that until yesterday it was a 4 hundred something, it is an absurdly big change.

“I- “ He feels breathless, how indeed, “I helped some people before, in my daily runs, but my number was 4 hundred something, not- not nearly as big, I-” don’t understand what’s going on.

“Did it really grow so much so fast after the show?” Xiao Yueqing asks, more to herself than anything.

“Yes.” He says with more confidence than what he feels, it- it is not real, right? some kind of joke?

At the same time the pause time on the TV runs out, changing into the live news.

“-People are looking for this man’s identity, some minor hero companies seem to be rewarding people for tips- “ The news lady is saying but a ring has taken over Lin Ling’s ears.

Hero’s companies? What?

“This is… not ideal,” Lin Fa Ming says, something strange, a feeling must be stuck on his throat that makes him sound like he is choking.

Lin Ling agrees, it is not ideal. But heroes’ companies are looking for him, presumably, to sponsor him as a true hero.

He can help but feel all giddy and giggling at the idea. This is it.

A chance to be a hero.

Chyou’s Leafs | #1 Commoner’s fan @DazzlingLeafRain

Finally! My man the commoner getting some recognition! He’s cute guys, a bit simplistic but cute, wish we knew more of him #TheCommoner #HeroCrush #TheHeroOfLoveRecipe #NewHero #Eventhoughheisnotnew #GuysYouAreGonnaLoveHIm #HesAnUnderdogHero

The news of the new Moon and new Nice engagement takes them by surprise a week after. Lin Fa Ming spits his tea and dirties his table, Xiao Yueqing laugh loudly and proud, of Lin Fa Ming or the marriage situation it is not clear. The wedding is set for the next saturday, not near enough time for a proper wedding[1], and, since not Xiao Yueqing nor Lin Fa Ming knew about this future marriage, it seems to be safe to assume it was decided post-True Love Recipe’s whole, eh… Situation.

“A marketing tactic,” Lin Fa Ming says, staring blankly at the wall behind Lin Ling, “Nice might have gone up to top 12 but the world is talking about the commoner, about you, not Nice.” What Lin Fa Ming says makes sense, but there’s something in the way he says ‘top 12’ that sends shivers to his spine, something so blank and dark seems to be associated to it. “They need the world to talk about Nice, so they’re pulling this stunt.” And then, Nice sighs.

He closes his eyes and shakes his head, to clear it from whatever it seems to be invading it, Lin Ling feels more uncomfortable than anything, this conversation wasn’t supposed to bring this type of feeling to Lin Fa Ming, but Lin Ling doesn’t know Nice well enough to know what could bring that back.

“They, probably, have been planning this for a while.” Lin Fa Ming says as he brings the cup of tea to his lips, sealing the conversation.

“I’m really glad that you escaped before it, Nice” Xiao Yueqing’s voice surprised them both, especially Lin Ling since it is coming from behind it. “I don’t think either of us would have been happy stuck with each other in that position.”

Their relationship seems to be calmer now that they’re officially not heroes anymore, but Xiao Yueqing keeps snarking at Lin Fa Ming every now and then, and even though her tone didn’t suggest as such this time, Lin Ling can see live how her words struck and hurt Lin Fa Ming.

“No one would have been happy in there” Lin Fa Ming says, his tone clearly darker than before, his face now gloomy.

“Hey!” Xiao Yueqing sounds annoyed, as if Lin Fa Ming said it to her, to annoy and hurt her, but, Lin Ling realizes, he’s talking about himself. As if he was the bad part of the entire deal and noot the situation itself.

“I’m pretty sure he means the situation, Xiao Yueqing” he lies with not much effort but sweating profusely, the conversation was taking a really bad and dark turn even before she appeared, and Lin Lin didn’t need them fighting over this, not when Lin Fa Ming looks like he will take all the hits and glad to do it.

He had forgotten that his mental health is not exactly great, after all, they did meet on a rooftop when he decided to, well, attempt suicide.

Xiao Yueqing huffs and puffs before leaving the room, Lin Fa Ming just stares at her direction, calmly sipping his tea, the awkward silence begins to fill the room without affecting Lin Fa Ming, and Lin Ling is maybe the only one feeling it and may wish to just, you know, get out of there as soon as he can, but he doesn’t think that leave Lin Fa Ming alone is going to make things better.

So, he stays.

He begins checking his phone, trying to ignore the whole atmosphere of the room while not making it obvious how awkward he feels, liking random posts on the FOMO app without paying actual attention to any of those. Then, there’s a video of one of E-Soul’s fights and he clicks on it, suddenly realizing he has the volume up as the sound suddenly breaks the silence in a more awkward way.

A second pass, then 10, then another 10.

“You know?” Nice, Lin Fa Ming, breaks the awkward atmosphere unexpectedly, Lin Ling raises his head to look at him, Lin Fa Ming stares at his teacup, some complex emotions reining over his features. “E-Soul is kind of a bitch, no actual spine, nor morals. [2]”

What the fuck.

“What?” Lin Ling asks, astounded at the comment.

Lin Fa MIng just sips from his teacup, ignoring him.

Lin Ling looks at his phone, the E-Soul fight playing, feeling like he is watching a whole new superhero.

What do you mean he is kind of a bitch? Did they replace the old hero for a “kind of a bitch”?

What?

He slides. The next video is-

Oh heavens!

He wants to throw his phone to the wall, puke blood [3] while he disappears into nothingness. He doesn't do either.

He, instead, shuts his phone as quickly as he can, drops it on the table, face down, closes his eyes way too late thinking on how he's going to forget this while his hands quickly go to cover his warm and, probably, red face.

“Mh?” He hears Lin Fa Ming practically ask from his position. Lin Ling takes a deep breath.

“It's - There's - a thirst edit of- well, me”; You know what? Lin Ling might actually start crying blood [3] at this rate.

“Pfff” Lin Fa Ming, the bastard, sounds like he's trying but failing to contain his laughter, so Lin Ling moves a finger, slightly and subtly, just to open his eye and see him.

The smile, his muffle checks, messy hair and simple outfit, he looks so normal.

Lin Ling closes his eye again, feeling the beginning of a smile cut through his face, they're going to be fine.

Then, the bastard laughs and Lin Ling’s face feels in hot flames, his blood like fire through his veins.

They're going to be just fine.

Summer Tears @FuXianForTheWin

AAAAAAAA, I CANNOT WAIT FOR MOON AND NICE'S WEDDING! My gal is finally getting married and with the perfect man! #NiceAndMoonsWedding #ThePerfectCouplesWedding #AMatchMadeInHeaven #ImagineTheirKids #HaveYouThoughtOnHiwCuteTheyllLook

The time before the wedding feels like some sort of a countdown, it's not like it will affect them, not anymore, but the event itself holds such a weight on their shoulders for its implications and casts an enormous shadow over them for the mere act of recognising the new set of cuffs and chains that these hero characters carry on, darkening the mood for the “what ifs” and “maybes” they'll never know now.other possibilities that were laying just behind, a tad short on time to reach them.

Lin Fa Ming acquired an interview before Lin Ling, which was great, but it still made him feel inferior, still made him feel like shit. as if Nice still got the upper hand, as if his life still depended on him, even though he hasn’t gotten the job yet.

Yet.

So Lin Ling decided to just, take a walk, and for taking a walk he meant it more in the jogging sense, and while jogging usually for him, for some reason, is a synonym of fist fighting with some petty criminals of the day, this time he doesn’t fight at all.

It may be because it was on the day, closer to midday, while his usual runs are on evening hours, even night hours. It hasn’t stopped them before, but it seems like now there’s peace, like today specifically there’s peace when Lin Ling feels the jealousy turn into boiling anger right under his skin.

The timing couldn’t be worse- Worse? Are you wishing for something bad to happen? To a victim be created? For a person to see their lives, property and/or integrity be compromised? Threatened? For something bad to happen to someone else? Just because you are angry? So you can feel better?

Oh my, oh my.

You’re so selfish Lin Ling.

His steps get slower at the realization. He is wishing for something bad to happen to someone else, to anyone so he can have an excuse for a fist fight, to punch out the anger, to kick out all of those negative feelings. He begins to stop, looking at his hands while feeling his breath get ragged, inconsistent while getting faster, when did he start to become this cruel person? This aggressive person? This man who can only think of solving his problems through violence? Where’s the talking? Where’s the analyzing? Where’s the thinking?

The moment to stop and breathe, take a deep breath in Lin Ling, just so he can refocus on another angle in the problem. To find a solution.

Why does he wish harm to fall upon others and to cause it himself onto the other who caused harm? The need for revindication even though the victims would never know who wished for it, who may have caused it-?

No, stop right there and breath, to wish someone to be harmed is bad, awful even, but wouldn’t make it your fault if you aren’t the one causing it, if you’re not the person behind the trigger, the hand on the knife nor the willing weapon.

Breath.

You do not actually wish for harm but to release this energy, this harmful and dark thoughts that keep whispering in your ear, you just don’t know how.

Breath.

Stop, look at your hands, they’re trembling a bit, that’s okay, this thoughts are brand new, unexpected and totally different of your usual ones, you need to take a step back and, calmly, breathe.

In and out.

Think of this clearly-

“Are you the new hero guy of the TV? The one that helped Nice?” A female voice on his left says, excited, a bit anxious.

Lin Ling’s brain is left blank.

The new hero guy?

What???

“I-” Breath in and out, think again, organize your thoughts a bit, “I’m sorry, what?” Lin Ling asks, confusion clear in his tone and probably written all over his face.

“Yeah,” The girl, black hair, bangs parted on the middle, soft face, indicating she’s probably a teen, not as soft to be younger than 15, “the new hero guy, the one from True Love Recipe, you came out of nowhere just to help him and then disappeared.” Her voice became stronger, more excited, while Lin Ling could feel static filling up his brain, covering every single thought he may have even dared to develop.

Him? An actual hero?

“What?” eloquently leaves his mouth as he tries to recover his posture.

“Well, you have all of FOMO talking about you, at least on my feed everyone is talking about you,” well, if it isn’t a most complex revelation, Lin Ling always thought he would be elated knowing this, but he isn’t quite sure now. “From afar you face looks just like Nice’s so people have been theorizing you’re, like, his long lost brother who will always have his back to protect and support him-”

He hasn’t been a public hero for even a week and there’s already a tale for him??? Does he look that much like Nice??

What would it mean for him if he ever joined Treeman corp as a hero?

They ARE marrying fake Moon and fake Nice right now, well, not right, right now in this instance, but still. Would they force him to be a shadow hero? A shadow for Nice’s character?

Would they? No, that’s not the question. Could they? Would they actually succeed? How much of Lin Ling would be left after it??

“-I do think those are dumb theories tho, I have seen you jog around the neighborhood enough time to know you can't be an evil clone nor the actual identity of X, but they are at least entertaining.” What?

“... Yeah, they sound like… something…”He tries but can’t keep the awkwardness out of his voice, the girl in front of him laughs, whole heartedly, full of honesty. It makes him so embarrassed he actually blushes.

“You are just a normal guy” She says after a while.

“Well,” he lifts up his right arms and scratches his neck while looking somewhere else, “I’m pretty much just a guy who jogs and runs around, not much.” He can still feel the stare of the girl on him, he laughs, awkwardly, anxiously, but hey, he at least laughed.

“Are you… Are you this commoner guy I’ve been hearing of?” She asks, suddenly more serious than anything he heard before. He takes a deep breath in, lowers his arms and truies to answer as honestly and seriously as he can.

“Yes, I think so” His resolve is not as strong as he tries to show, her stare is piercing and may have looked through him. A couple of seconds passes before any of them make a sound or a move.

And then, she smiles, softly, happy, determined.

“Good, you’re making real changes around here, I heard thefts are going down since you started, I heard kids are playing around outside for longer periods of time, I heard you make these people safer and they feel it, keep with the good work.” The teen says with a resolve that, honestly, only a 15 year-old can possess, then she turns around and walks away.

“Hey!” Lin Ling calls her attention, “Thank you! I needed it!” He yells once she looks at him, then adds for good measure “You too keep with the good work!”

You’re making real changes around here

Keep with the good work

You’re making real changes around here

He can feel his cheeks hotter but he doesn’t care as he listen those words play on reply on his head.

A real change, he’s making an actual, tangible change.

He’s becoming a real hero.

And, if he giggles like a child on his spot, then, that’s only for him to know.

No equals @OriginallyMillyMolly

The guy of the True Love Recipe Nice and Moon ep is the Commoner! Is confirmed! people on the neighborhood recognized him, he told me himself! He’s one of us frfr, so shy and humble makes me wanna explode #TheCommmoner #NewHero #TrueLoveRecipe #IsHimANewHeroWhenHeHadAlreadyBeenAroundFirAWhile #HeroesRecognition

The day of the wedding N-Lin Fa Ming and Moon stay on his apartment, again, while this time Lin Ling goes jogging, now trying to extend his route now that he has no job and a lot more of free time.

To be totally honest, with his place as cramped as it is, the forced together time they spend, it became a necessity for him to search for instances of loneliness, to charge his batteries a bit and get his, once really extended, “me time”.

And since the whole True Love Recipe incident, his trust value has been increasing like a mad man, growing with no control, some days are way tamer than others but it seems like it has found that sweet spot in which increases and decreases similar enough amounts. This new amount of trust value comes with some unexpected, but should have been expected, consequences, such as an increased resistance, and augmented speed, and, now, a really tuned sense of knowing who needs help and where they are.

Specially now that he has decided to expand his routes. Ever since that teen came and talked to him, he couldn’t feel better even if he tried.

You’re making real changes around here.

Everytime he thinks about it a goofy smile breaks in his face, setting as a stone, he is making changes and so he can expand this area in which he is making such changes, to extend this feeling of security.

However, this particular run wasn’t a “patrol” nor anything of the kind. The wedding has put his hair on end, too nervous, too anxious for all the possibilities that are no-more and the ones that open.

Nice’s so people have been theorizing you’re, like, his long lost brother

Now that he knows how trust can really affect people, how it can fundamentally change it while ignoring all of the physics and the rules of reality, the mere thought of some company modifying his image so it can fit someone’s mold, someone’s image of a product gives him the chills.

I’m so sorry Xiao Yueqin, Lin Fa Ming.

And so, he decided to take a run, a big long run so he doesn’t have to even face the pair of ex-heroes nor let the guilt consume him in his apartment. He had once been part of the issue, standing up for it while working, being one of its bases, but no more. He won’t ever get close if he can avoid it.

So he runs mindlessly, almost blindly, relying on his senses to direct him in some direction, maybe the right direction if there’s one just to burn steam, just to clean his state of mind. But he had failed to understand the entirety of his new powers and capacities, or he had just forgotten.

When he ends up somewhere close enough to the wedding of the fakes, he already had been confused enough of how and why he had ended up there. When he extended his arms without even realizing he never thought that he would end up receiving something.

Rather, a someone.

He feels the way it stretches his muscles, his arms, the way that catching the fall pulls every muscle in hims and destroys the concrete below his feet, but the body stays unmoving in his arms. A princess carries out all of them.

Lin Ling, being honest, has closed his eyes as he focused on receiving the sudden impact, on the feeling of every muscle on his body, on understanding what’s going on without knowing actually nothing.

So, when he opens his eyes, it is only natural that he gasps as he is received by the sight of Wreck, Nice’s villain, resting on his arms, beat up and so immensely sad. He opens his eyes, clearly shocked by the fact he can open them at all.

“Uhm, hi?” And Lin Ling, well, he just tries his best.

Chase’s gal @Fivenatic

Did Wreck just died??? What the hell?? Did they actually killed him with the powered up power of love??? Is the wedding this fucking powrful??? Holy shit #NiceAnMoonsWedding #ThePerfetCouple #ThePerfectCouplesWedding #Wrekc #WRECKISDEAD

Replying to @Fivenatic

Wrecks’s Wife @PigeonNurse

That gotta be a lie, what the hell, that can’t be true 😭😭😭 #thisgottabeajoek #ThisBetterBeAJoke

Replying to @PigeonNurse

Green as grass @LuckyCyansfan78799

What’s wrong with you

When Lin Ling arrives at his apartment, a couple of hours later because he apparently had run an hour and a half worth of time, which now is a much longer distance, like, much longer. He arrives with Wreck by his side, covered by his sweaty sports jacket, capeless and swordless since they had dropped them at some point in the beginning of his run towards the apartment.

They could’ve stopped at some clothe store to make Wreck change his clothes, however he is in such a catatonic, unmoving and unresponding stage Lin Ling decided against his best judgment, which would have been taking him to the hospital, and took him, bridal/princess carry up to his apartment. His neighbors are thinking all types of things about him now, but right now he doesn’t care.

Well, he won’t unless it gets him kicked out of his apartment, or give him some strange new feelings towards Wreck-

Isn’t that a terrifying thought? That people can change something so fundamental to what makes him, well, himself?

He will have to give them explanations, as soon as he humanely can, he doesn’t want to risk it, like, at all.

So here he is, in the door of his apartment, hearing some muffled sound through his door, the little he can hear is particularly distressed and is making him doubt if they need some time quasi-alone in there.

But he has a catatonic Wreck, right on his side, looking at the door without an actual focus on his eyes.

If he remembers correctly, Wreck and Nice were a bit more than best friends, maybe even lovers, and he is about to put him in his apartment with his not-quite-Nice-anymore maybe-lover with no warning.

Yeah… That doesn’t sound great, like, at all.

So he gently grabs Wreck’s hand and puts himself in front of him, suddenly realizing this is not the place for this particular conversation, but time is short and he needs to inform him before something drastic happens.

“Wreck,” Lin Ling stars, in a firm but low tone of voice, this started bad since he doesn’t know this man’s real name. Wreck just looks at him,looking like the embodiment of his villain name, “I need to tell you something about Nice.” The words seem to make magic as he suddenly focuses his eyes, blinks twice and then takes his own hand out of Lin Ling’s gentle grip and looks away, a conflicted look takes place on his face.

“... I… already know.” He talks with finality, hurt beyond measure. How can he know? Maybe he fought with fake Nice and he told him? He revealed their new found freedom? Then, why does he look so hurt? Does he feel so deeply betrayed by Nice?

“You know?” He asks, confused, he thought that, maybe, he would feel elated by Nice’s, now Lin Fa Ming’s, freedom. But, maybe, the fact that he reached it and didn’t look back, hurt his heart so deeply he may never recover.

“Yes.. I know- I know that he is-” And then the tears started to fall down his face, Lin Ling can’t help but reach to him, making sure to make it slowly as he gently pulls him in a hug. Wreck accepts it, first, unmovingly, then, he hugs back, strongly. Lin Ling might have fractured a rib or two if it weren’t for his powers.

“Did it hurt you so deeply?” Lin Ling asks, trying to comprehend, but being met with a hard push and an angry face and voice.

“Dds it hurt me so deeply?!?! Yes it did! I loved him!” Wreck laughs, hysterically while aggressively approaching Lin LIng “I loved him so much! How can you- when he’s dead! You wouldn’t understand!” Dead? What?

What did they tell him about Nice?

Did he- Did he reach this conclusion alone?

“Wreck, that’s not it-” But Lin Ling's attempt of calming the situation is immediately interrupted.

“No! You don’t get to-!” His face is contorted by the pure rage he is feeling, his fist curls, his voice loud.

So loud, it all but summons Lin Fa Ming, Nice, out of the apartment.

“What’s going on?! Are you alri-?! A-Lei [4]?” His voice, first worried, hurried breaks once he looks at the black haired man in front, who becomes shocked at the sound of Lin Fa Ming’s voice before turning to face him.

“A-Gui [5]?” Wreck, Lei’s, voice sounds so utterly destroyed as he runs and hugs Lin Fa Ming, ex-Gui, who returns it with a greater strength than what Lin Ling thought he was, now, capable of.

In their hug they seem to dissolve into tears while falling into the ground. Xiao Yueqin, who came right behind Lin Fa Ming with a broom in hand, stares at them, then at Lin Ling. He just shrugs and look at them, unsure of what to do but let them be.

Wrecks’s Wife @PigeonNurse

This gotta be a joke, it better be a joke, please tell me this is a joke THIS ACNNOT BE HAPPENING THE HELL #thisgottabeajoek #ThisBetterBeAJoke #WRECKCANNOTBEDEAD #MYDEADWIFE

6554 comments 945 retweets 14,5k likes

Replying to @PigeonNurse

MY WIFE @RumorQuarrel

I saw a suspicious guy running with a suspiciously body shape in his arms, I’m just sayin#susguymaycarryWreck #justsaying

Replying to @PigeonNurse

Remember my spleen? @ScrapEjected

I can’t believe you’re crying over a villain’s death

Chapter Text

Lin Ling likes to think of himself as a better man than the average man, not, like, extremely good, a superhuman, hyper emphatic nor anything like that, but he knows he's a bit kinder than the average person, more willing to lend a hand, to help a granny to cross the street, to stop and pick a cat out of a tree, to tip workers when he could afford it, to give the homeless his spare change and maybe a food if he has something close enough.

Little things like that, the type of stuff that resulted in him gaining a trust value and, eventually, becoming the hero he always dreamt of, even though it isn't quite as fantastical nor game changing as he imagined it to be.

But with the couple— romantic or platonic, it doesn't matter— openly crying in his front door, he couldn't help but feel anxious and embarrassed[1] about it happening in front of his apartment, in his main door out of all places. Look, at the beginning it was fine, they just met after thinking that the other was dead, as Xiao Yueqing has kindly informed him of Wreck's, Lei's, apparent death.

He truly didn’t want to interrupt, but he must at this point, he sighs internally, Lin Ling’s heart kind of aches for some reason, as if doing this is wrong, as if he is not meant to stop their mourning and let them live it at his front door.

Then, he hears it, the sound of footsteps inside of the apartment to his right, movement and some murmurs he is only able to hear due to his, apparently, increased hearing. He can feel the way his blood, physically, gets quicker, faster, adrenaline filling him up so suddenly, protect, protect, protect, [2] running in repeat on his mind while the ache in his heart disappears.

“Let’s go-” He barely manages to say before grabbing the closest one, Wreck, in his arms and practically dragging the couple in with the help of Xiao Yueqing. They are able to cross and shut the door just before his neighbor is able to open his, his voice sounding confused but the sound isn’t high enough on Lin Ling’s ears to discern the words.

And it isn’t until he closes his own door that Lin Ling feels like he can breathe once again, the sudden urgency, the panic and the single thought process being way too much, and yet way too little, for Lin Ling to be able to understand what and why it happened what just happened.

At the same time, Lin Ling is finally able to hear the lack of cries, and interactions in general in his apartment, a sudden and, somewhat, unexpected silence filling the entirety of his rooms. He can feel the looks of his, now three, guests, one of them from his position on his arms-

One of them from the position on his arms!

Lin Ling’s first instinct is to drop him, his second is to catch him, his third is to apologize while awkwardly attempting to help him, or rather standing him up, which is difficult since Wreck is a bit taller than him, and Lin Ling was just leaning on his door. And, while his focus is on the man he kind of just kidnapped, he can just feel the judgmental look from Xiao Yueqing’s position, and the undecipherable one from Lin Fa Ming’s.

“I’m so so sorry,” Lin Ling blurts out again for, what it feels like, the thousand apologies of the moment, Wreck's feet find their steadiness and Lin Ling has, quickly enough, his arms free to allow him to bow properly.

“It’s- ugh, It’s nothing, don’t worry about it” Wrecks’s voice sounded so nasal and a bit wavy, like he is about to cry again once he is given a bit more of a push. But his tone is calm, serene, and a bit vulnerable, it makes something inside of Lin Ling revolt, and, now that he thinks a bit more about it, it feels like that every time he meets one of the victims or almost-victims, when he arrives a little too late or just almost late.

Wreck has a face that’s somewhere in between a calming expression, relief and utterly heartbroken, Nice’s, Lin Fa Ming’s, on the other hand looks like he would have a crisis right here and now, or that he just had one yesterday, Lin Ling has yet to improve in his abilities to classify expressions.

And, while he knew that Wreck is just trying to comfort him, Lin Ling can’t help but feel awful at putting him in the comforting position when him and Lin Fa Ming should be the ones to being comforted, after all what has been happening as of lately, maybe for even more things Lin Ling has yet to know.

“I- “Lin Ling breathes, and while keeping the air in his lungs for a couple seconds, gathering his thoughts while gaining time and trying to think what he is going to say. “I’m so- I- well, you can go back to crying?” His tone is filled with doubt and confusion as he stumbles with his words, but after hearing what left his mouth he feels utterly and absolutely embarrassed.

He cannot even look at Lin Fa Ming's nor Wreck's faces as he feels the heat quickly arrive to his face, which he cover no a second after, he hears the sudden and big laugh that Xiao Yueqing lets out with glee and cannot afford more than a half-thought admiring it before his mind is consumed by the desire of the floor opening to drag him underground.

The, otherwise, deafening silence makes him hope that, if he trusts it enough, the hole would open up at his feet through different apartments before reaching the sweet embrace of the ground.

murning sun @SunIndahouse

you know what? i think this is all fake, i think that heroes are fake, that their fights are fake, that even wreck’s death is fakily fake because he is either going to have the most obvious and staged comeback or be replaced by The enlightenerer of all people, who I thought as the only real hero for his morals and all, but noooo, he had to love that moon girl and just show us how fake everything is once again.

This is so fake that I just know he’ll be the next rival/villain of the week, as treeman corp puts a ton of effort into making us believe that nice is so “actually and naturally perfect nothing about him is fake” and thus, a failed search. Fuck This so much. #FakeHeroes #Heroesarefake #Wreckisnotdeath #wrecksdeath #nicethe hero #heronice #enlightener

Replying to @SunIndahouse

Over The MOON for you @MoonlightLover

Okay hater, keep telling yourself that, do you really believe enterprises and HEROES of all people, people we believe that protect us and THUS they do, put people in danger JUST so they can what? Save them? Fuck off. #shutyourfuckingmouth #HeroesAREreal

Replying to @SunIndahouse

FeathersinINK @InkDrawuwuings

The fuck do you mean? You can’t just fucking say that someone didn’t die, what’s your proof? your fucking theories? He might have been a villain but he was alive, have you thought about the feelings of his family? Fuck off bitch #ShutYourMouth

Replying to @InkDrawuwuings

Lin Bei@Northforest

Is that big your desire for death[3], villain sympathizer? Shut your mouth.

Replying to @SunIndahouse

No, no that fear @FearSanctuary

For all gods and heavens I hope my babygirl is alive 🙏🙏🙏🙏

Replying to @FearSanctuary

Xing@Cultivaationmold

Same 🙏🙏🙏🙏

Replying to @FearSanctuary

Lin Bei@Northforest

Do you also wish for death[3] fucking villain sympathiser?

Replying to @Northforest

No, no that fear @FearSanctuary

Heavens cut their hands 🙏🙏🙏🙏

Replying to @SunIndahouse

WhiteWhale @WHALESWHITE

SOMEONE FINALLY SAID IT! YOU ARE SO RIGHT

A couple of hours went with the reunited pair locked up in Lin Ling’s room, with Xiao Yueqing accompanying him in the kitchen drinking a couple of teas while they actively avoided even thinking of what's going on in Lin Ling's room. It's not like they were, probably, doing more than crying and telling each other more secrets and truths, but Xiao Yueqing made a bit of suggestive joke about it and, well, they just… avoided that line of thought.

They tried to make small talk to give room to some more substantial talk, but the, well, subject was lingering over their heads like an invisible but judging hammer and they just kind of stopped. And while each other’s company was comfortable and good overall, their own minds were the ones keeping them from calm.

Usually, Lin Ling would try to help the other person, in whatever awkward situation they find themselves in, to clear their mind. However, since Nice has already tried to jump and it is not clear if Wreck fell willingly, they both feel worse at leaving them alone.

And so, Lin Ling thinks of a solution, it may not be the best of them all but, well, it's something and, hopefully, will fix the issue.

“So, uhm, I think that we should take turns to go and, well, have some fresh air and I think that you should go first” Lin Ling may not be as awkward as he was with the pair of heroes, especially with Xiao Yueqing, at the beginning of this whole ordeal but, well, the atmosphere itself was quite awkward and he still feels quite embarrassed.

“That's… Probably a good idea.” She concedes and Lin Ling can feel that little spark of joy and pride on his heart bringing the tiniest bit of warmth to his face, to think that he feels it every time she feels him that an idea of him is good…

And so, Xiao Yueqing stands up, stretches herself and gives Lin Ling a small, tired but genuine smile that makes that spark grow a bit.

“I guess I'll get going, I'll try to be back in an hour or so.” She says as she grabs her phone, set of keys and little more essentials before moving towards the door.

“Good luck, come back safe” Lin Ling's says as Xiao Yueqing grabs the handle of the door.

“Thanks, you too” And with that, she leaves the house.

For the next hour, the silence in the room is filled with the quiet sound of the occasional videos that appear in Lin Ling's FOMO. His current feed is filled with a mix of hero news, announcements, new merchandise and a vast amount of talks about, mainly, Nice. All of that being the remnants of his era in his past job and, well, his own curiosity about them.

It's not like it's his fault, his entire life has always been surrounded by heroes and the idea of them being, well, heroes. The superpowered people that will perform miracles and such to ensure the safety of the most amount of people they can, all of that on their own free will and desire. To be able to choose to do good deeds without being prompted to, to be able to choose what to do with amazing-looking abilities, it’s everyone’s childhood dream, or at least for a good portion of people, including Lin Ling.

He cannot help it but still thinks about heroes like that even when he learnt about some of the disgusting trust that the hero agencies hide, no matter how hard he tries, 20 years of deception is difficult to take away from his mind.

Besides, there’s something morbid about it, and it latches in Lin Ling’s mind with its strong and firm claws, ad he cannot help but try to know more about the hero of the week, to question how much about them is true or not, how much of them has been lost to their own trust value.

And after a while he searched for some other videos, some about animals, just to keep the trouble away, and then he found some old videos about Ahu with some really bad editing that makes them quite endearing for him at least.

He doesn't know how long it has been since Xiao Yueqing left for a walk, but he , at least, has kept half an ear in the sounds from the direction of his bedroom and there has not been suspicious silence by the moment she arrives.

“Hello,” She greets from the kitchen door, she looks and sounds more relaxed than before, her pink hair is in a messy braid she prepares to undo as soon as she enters the room. Overall, she looks great, even better than before leaving. “How has everything been?”

“Welcome” Lin Ling greets her as he stands up and starts stretching, feeling his muscles tense and relax in quite the satisfactory way they do after staying in the same position for too long. “Everything has been, well, okay, I guess.”

“Well, I shall free you from your bindings!” She jokes, her humor being clearly lighter than before and Lin Ling cannot help but feel happy and satisfied knowing the walk has done her better.

“Well,” Lin Ling kind of giggles after it, feeling the good humor fill the room, lightning the atmosphere, a smile finds room in his face as he tries to think on a joke to answer, “I shall thank you, my hero,” oh heavens, please ditch his body in the sea after striking it with a couple lightings before the next hour, please, it’s still too soon for those jokes, right? “for I, who is now allowed to be free.”

He is sweating, he can feel himself sweating, hard and cold, he just, kindly, might have fucked it up.

And then, then Xiao Yueqing giggles at his buffoonery and he can feel every single weight be lifted from his shoulders thanks to that sound, truly a goddess’ work.

So Lin Ling, now relaxed, prepares himself to go on a second run, since he is still in his running clothes he might as well go for it.

“Wait,” She calls him, effectively stopping him, “Are you going for a run? Again?” Her face, even if lighter than before, showed a deep worry which left Lin Ling a little breathless if he was being honest.

“I… Yes? I'm still in my sportswear, I haven't even had a shower,” he admits as he feels his face warm with embarrassment, especially under the intense look in Xiao Yueqing’s eyes, “so, why not?”

Silence is the only answer he gets for a solid and long second or two, before she slowly nods, lifting, once again, a weight in Lin Ling's shoulders he didn't even notice.

“Right, is just that… Well, since the whole “True love recipe” stunt you pulled some hero's companies have been kinda of hunting you,” Right, he remembers that, they talked about it just after the incident, it stills makes Lin Ling feel all giddy and giggling but Xiao Yueqing's worried face grounds him in a second. “I… I really don't want you to end up like us, so I would rather you use a face mask or something.”

That… That certainly stops the excitement that was building up in his chest immediately before her comment, the perspective of him joining a heroes’ company was just like a dream that now is slowly becoming sort of a nightmare.

It is hard, for him, to change his worldview. He is trying, of course, becoming more conscious of what he thinks and believes, of how he can and will affect someone's life just because of the impression they left behind. He is trying, now that he is conscious of how bad it can end but he still forgets, even after three weeks.

“Right,” he replies, seriousness in his tone, trying to convey the way it weighs on him, the knowledge he owns of how it has affected them, the amount of rabid new feelings it has forced him to relate to the whole system. “I'll wear a medical mask, I should have a package somewhere in the kitchen.”

He doesn't care if it will difficult his breathing while running, nor if it will end up all sweated and awkward in his face. The way Xiao Yueqing relaxes is enough for him to know he is making the right choice.

Girlboss-failure FOLLOW

Why is no one commenting about the weird ass face my GOAT put when asked about the perfect couple's wedding? It was the same she makes when they talk to her about Ghostblade but, like, 10000 times worse.

I don't know what is your problem/beef or whatever the fuck you have against those heroes, but I support you girl 💖

I support women's rights and women's wrongs

#Luo Li #Loli the hero #My GOAT and her aversion to any male hero in the top 10 or close enough that isn't The Johnnies (understandable) #Smile and Don’t Fall #What a queen #Queen reference #Another GOAT

Ghost-company FOLLOW

Hey op, Luo Li has a unilateral beef with Nice and a bilateral beef/rivalry with GB, not an aversion to all male heroes in the top ten

#Whatever the fuck is the reason behind their mutual beef I love it #especially because she's a teen girl and he am old man #and discuss visitation hours as a divorced couple even tho we know GB’s exwife #and its not her lol

Cherrycopy FOLLOW

No but, she has this thing against E-fraud and she's right about it.

#Luo Lo is right #Loli the hero #E-fraud #Say it louder for the people in the back

Flamethrower-quotation-marks FOLLOW

Hey, what the fuck is your problem with E-Soul

Cherrycopy FOLLOW

He fucking killed E-Soul, that's my fucking problem with him

#New E-soul is a fraud

Flamethrower-quotation-marks FOLLOW

Well, if he wasn't fucking weak, he wouldn't have died

#New E-Soul is NOT a fraud

Cherrycopy FOLLOW

He stopped, no, killed Zero and you say that HE WAS WEAK? Hell No

#New E-Soul IS a fraud

Girlboss-failure FOLLOW

Once again, another post of my GOAT is stealed by this dude bros and male hero fans 😔

#This was about Luo Li you fuckers #Free my gal #I already had to block the comments because of E-souls fights #Im serious #stop it

Donkey-coast FOLLOW

Who the fuck is zero?

#Zero apparently #Who is that guy

Turns out that running with a face mask on isn't as uncomfortable as he thought it would be, it may be related to the new sensibility of his senses, which had been quite inconsistent before. However, now, the baseball cap and the mask helped him to reduce the, once unnoticeable strain that heightened senses put him through.

He made a mental note to tell Xiao Yueqing about it and thank her properly.

While going on his route people interacted with him, most of them neighbours or just people from the place that knows him enough to offer a nod, a hand wave or a verbal kind of greeting, others stared at him, some of them might have been recording him.

Which felt really weird since he kind of still is an unemployed nobody.

Well, less of a nobody and more of a hero, but he can help but feel like he is just another guy, since he has been just another guy for the entirety of his life.

People call him a hero on social media, on TV they talked at least once about him, hell, heroes' companies are looking out for his information, hunting him as Xiao Yueqing put it.

He is kind of a hero, even though he has no company support behind him, nor the federation’s but, well, X doesn't have either of them and is, well, hero X.

Maybe he can consider himself a hero after all.

“Uhm! Excuse me!” A nervous voice interrupts his thoughts, his feet stopping almost immediately, sending him tumbling some steps forward but effectively and quite drastically reducing his speed before stopping him. “Ah! I'm - sorry!” The teen says, or we'll, squeaks, red climbing from their neck to their face.

The teen has blue medium length hair, dyed or natural is not clear, especially since the once-unnatural colors became especially natural in new generations, the clothes were stylish and oversize, dark colors that made their hair bright more, had a piercing on their brow and, overall, it was difficult to assume a gender over their appearance, so he wouldn’t try.

“Ah-” Lin Ling starts, already stumbling with his words because, apparently, it doesn't matter how much trust value you accumulated, if you suck at talking you keep sucking, “It's nothing! Don't worry about it!” He immediately reassured them, moving his hands in no particular way, just looking and trying to do something to help, and quite failing on the attempt.

“How can I help you?” Lin Ling asks immediately after, smiling under his mask feeling a bit embarrassed once he realizes it is hidden behind his mask, oh well, what it counts is the intention, right?

“Uhm! My name’s Jun[4]!” They said as they extended their hand, Lin Ling extended his in return and greeted them, “and I just think you’re so cool,” ah, Lin Ling can already feel the warm expanding in his face, it embarrasses him limitless to be called cool, like he doesn’t deserve it. “And, well, I just wanted to ask for a selfie, if that’s alright with you?”

“Oh! Uh, that’s fine by me?” Lin Ling replied, feeling more confused than anything, like, why would anyone want a picture with him? Why not a real hero?

People are calling YOU a hero Lin Ling.

Oh, right.

“Are you… going to take your mask off?” Jun asks and Lin Ling can’t help but think of Xiao Yueqing's worried expression, the way she pronounced “hunting”, the way people are looking at him and for his information in social media. He doesn’t mind taking the mask off, but he cannot help but think about the previous list and not feel guilty about even thinking of taking it off, no matter if it is for a single picture.

“I’m a bit sick, actually” he lies through his teeth, he doesn’t think of himself as a good liar, always holding honestity in a high standard from even before the whole commoner situation even began, and now it is a bit awkward, if not difficult, for him to lie. He, however, still does it since, sometimes, it’s only polite.

“Oh! That’s alright- even then you came out to patrol?” Jun says and asks, less nervous, and, by the end of the phrase, admiration filled his eyes. Lin Ling is not used to this, truly, it makes things a bit… awkward to say something.

“Something like that, I just- needed some air,” he says, lifting his arm, scratching the back of his neck in a nervous tick, it doesn’t happen every time, but enough for it to not be weird.

“I see! It’s still awesome you come out even when you’re feeling sick,” they say and Lin Ling feels bad about lying, especially considering the amount of clear admiration he can see in this teen’s eyes about something that isn’t real.

“Thank you, ha ha ha… Do you still want the selfie?” Lin Ling, like the absolute genius he is in small talk, changes the subject now that he is awkward enough talking about it. Jun, nevertheless, didn’t seem to notice, and if they clearly didn’t care about it. Small wins, Lin Ling guesses.

“That’s right! If you’re okay with it?” They ask again for some confirmation, which Lin Ling gives once again. Lin Ling gets closer and bends a little to be on the same height as the teen, they take a selfie, which had some really cut cat ears and whiskers drawn filter that automatically added a cat’s drawn mouth over Lin Ling. He’s happy enough with the picture while Jun seems to be a bit embarrassed about the filter.

“I assure you, it is a really cute filter, I like it.” He says, gaining quite the smile from the teen, who is clearly more relaxed than at the beginning.

“That’s good! And, uhm, I just wanted to say that I just love the fact that you’re a hero of the neighborhood, you make things great here.” And with that, the teen ran away, leaving Lin Ling still on the spot, thinking, once again, that he might already be a hero.

Mobu @TheLiabilityOfPicking

I WIN.

[Selfie kind of picture in which we can see a teen, amongst the ages of 17 and 19, with blue medium hair, an anxious but excited expression, has grey black eyes that are half closed but shine with emotion. They have a piercing in their left eyebrow and are using a dark, oversized sweater and are clearly taking the picture. There is a man with brown messy hair, a black medical face mask, his eyes half closed and wrinkles indicating a smile underneath, his eyes are brown but still shining, he uses a sportswear that’s black and white with some golden details. Both of them have a cat ears and whiskers drawn in a neon type of brush in a pink color, the man has a “3” type of mouth drawn over his face mask, it is clearly a filter]

#TheCommoner #NewHeroCommoner #HeWasSoChillAndNice #HeAlsoCalledTheFilterCute #AManOfTaste

Replying to @TheLiabilityOfPicking

Penny@TappinForTrust

Is that my great hero, The Commoner???

Replying to @TappinForTrust

Mobu@TheLiabilityOfPicking

Yes he is 😌

Replying to @TheLiabilityOfPicking

Amusing in case@TheCoastOfMercy

Why does he have a medical mask?

Replying to @TheCoastOfMercy

Mobu@TheLiabilityOfPicking

He said he was feeling sick 🙁

Replying to @TheLiabilityOfPicking

Amusing in case@TheCoastOfMercy

Let’s hope he gets better

When Lin Ling gets back, The three guests, if two of them can still be called guests after three weeks inhabiting his home, were all in the kitchen’s table, Wreck and N-Lin Fa Ming’s eyes were red and puffy,obviously from crying for a long time, their cheeks were red with irritation, Wreck held a cup of something, that was boiling hot, in his hands, softly, like afraid of breaking it. Lin Fa Ming, on the other hand, had his cup of, probably, tea, also boiling hot, and gripped it with vengeance, like afraid of letting it go, without minding if his hands were getting red, it felt almost like burning them on purpose.

And then, there was Xiao Yueqing, who clearly has been putting all her efforts into whatever kind of interaction they had been having. The atmosphere wasn’t somber nor extremely awkward, nor it seemed like there was a fight about to explode nor tears about to fall. Lin Ling would call that a win.

Xiao Yueqing had a cold drink, probably water, already half-way down, she isn’t touching it, preferring to keep her arms to herself. She looks a little tired but still better than before the walk, Lin Ling thinks it is silly of him to keep remembering such, but he can’t help but feel great every time he remembers he did something good, that he helped her in a way.

He stands on the kitchen door, feeling everyone’s eyes on him, he feels all sweaty too, as he takes off the face mask and baseball cap, his feet feel awkward against his slippers, but no more awkward than all those looks on him.

“Hi,” he greets, because he is nothing but a simple and awkward man, also, because he apparently likes to suffer, he keeps talking, “how is everyone doing?”

Lin Fa Ming moves his eyes to avoid Lin Ling’s, Wreck’s face gets this uncomfortable look on it, Xiao Yueqing raises a single perfect pink eyebrow while staring at him. Lin Ling sweats even more, he would swear that the smell he has is disgusting.

“Fine” Xiao Yueqing answers, her tone not as monotone as it could be, effectively lowering the sudden tension in the room. Lin Ling feels like he could cry, this is truly the goddess he always knew Moon was under all the hero stuff and with it.

“Yeah… I think we will be fine.” Wreck replies now, his tone soft and low, almost vulnerable, like afraid of saying it too loud might break tomorrow’s potential “fine”. His eyes darted to Lin Fa Ming’s who was just looking at him. There’s a whole conversation that occurs during the two seconds they lock the eye-to-eye contact, but Lin Ling has no proof about it.

“...We should be” Lin Fa Ming murmurs, and it would have been lost to the air if it wasn’t for Lin Ling new super hearing, however, no matter how delicate and calculating he sounds when saying it, he seems to be honest enough, which brings some calm to Lin Ling that he didn’t know he wanted nor need it.

"That's great” Lin Ling lets out in a relieved sigh, calming even more the room that now feels more cozy than before. It makes Lin Ling’s tired brain feel all fuzzy and sleepy in a matter of seconds. He, however, still needs a bath, so he goes and grabs a cold water bottle from the fridge and takes a sip in an attempt to wake himself up.

“I’ll go and take a shower now, afterwards, well, I guess Wreck might sleep in the temporary bed with me if he has no problems with it…?” He says, half declaring, half thinking about it, he definitely didn’t think this through when he brought Wreck to his department.

A one bedroom apartment that now holds 4 people, great.

He really needs to do something about the space, the rent, the food… He doesn’t have enough money for all that while not having a job, he also is way too tired to even dare to start thinking in short-term and long-term solutions for his many, growing, problems.

The first of the solutions is to not bring any more heroes or villains to his home, he… He can’t even assure it wouldn’t happen again.

“I-” Lin Fa Ming’s voice interrupts his thought, redirecting him to the original line of thought, to solve the problem of where are we going to let Wreck sleep? He is willing to just sleep on the floor, he surely feels tired enough to know it won’t matter to him. “-don’t mind to sleep with Lei.”

Ah.

He looks at Wreck, he looks impressed enough, but clearly more comfortable with this idea than the one that Lin Ling proposed, he does feel more comfortable too.

It is the most logical and easy solution, but it still hadn’t crossed his mind before it, he had forgotten that there are two other people living with him, ex-heroes who are people that are still willing to help.

Lin Ling can’t help but smile.

“If you both are okay with that.” And with that, he leaves the room, takes a nice shower and falls unconscious in his long ago claimed temporary bed.

He doesn’t dream, he doesn't mind at all, most nights he doesn’t dream, but the sleep is refreshing and restful and, overall, really good.

Of finding and other things @AboutFinding

So… when’s the kid coming #ThePerfectCouple?

Replying to @AboutFinding

Just a guy @TAssociationSlave

They just married, they still have to enjoy their honeymoon before it

Replying to @AboutFinding

I wish I could marry X @FrozenThinker

Let’s hope he gets Can you imagine it? I bet, no, I trust that baby will be born a hero

Replying to @FrozenThinker

Mistakes irl @TheEraOfFaults

You sicken me

By the time Lin Ling wakes up, breakfast is already served, the bed beside him is messy as it started to be just before the wedding announcement, Lin Ling takes a double take, just to notice it. He kind of celebrates in the temporary privacy of the room, everytime Lin Fa Ming gets a bit messier is a little win against whatever happened to him before Lin Ling.

He feels like a giggling mess and lets a couple of those giggles escape his throat just before taking a big breath and prepares himself to act normal in front of him and the new guest. Xiao Yueqing had been called during the past friday to go and work sunday morning, so she wouldn’t be home until lunch, and, besides her no one has a job yet, Lin Fa MIng’s interview will be monday morning and he can’t help but think he is not mentally ready for it.

Especially not after this couple of events, however, the interview is necessary for him if only to officially take a step in some direction that isn’t hero themed, and Lin Ling would help him to the best of his ability, and he hopes that Wreck would help Lin Fa Ming too.

He stands up and begins to stretch as his mind begins to activate, some passing thoughts come and go, without staying long enough for Lin Ling to remember, or well, with the exception of a memorable “Your guest woke up before you and you left you “guest” in charge of him? How rude Lin Ling! Mama[5] raised you better than this!” in the angre voice of his mom.

He couldn’t help but shudder a bit, feeling bad for enjoying his rest, to leave an emotionally compromised N-Lin Fa Ming in charge of his guest, Wreck, who is more of Lin Fa Ming’s closest person than anything from his understanding. He technically, maybe, did the right thing but he can’t help but feel bad at his mom’s theoretical scolding.

He shakes his head, deciding to, once again, shake those thoughts away, the situation being more complex than others that would justify a scolding or something of the style.

So he goes to where the smell of a tasty breakfast wai for him, finding Wreck already sitting, talking in a low voice with Lin Fa Ming as he nurses the cup of, from the smells in the room and Lin Ling hopes it is, tea. Lin Fa Ming, is sitting beside him, nursing what Lin Ling knows is tea, a half-eaten sandwich by his side with two used napkins beside it.

“Good morning,” he greets, swallowing a yawn, his hand twitching for the aborted act of covering his mouth, it would be disrespectful to do it in front of a stranger, and people in general, no matter how much of his home this is.

“Good morning,” The both men in front of him said, not in sync and in different volumes, Lin Fa Ming in a normal, if not a bit tired tone of voice, Wreck’s came just after, lower tone, more tired too.

“How have you both been?” Lin Ling asks, awkwardness crawling under his skin and already feeling the effects of it. He already asked this just yesterday, but he couldn’t help but ask again, no matter if it feels like he just asked this a couple of minutes ago. Lin Fa Ming averts his eyes from his, Wreck, on the other side looks at him, more decided than yesterday.

“I think we’ll be fine,” the same words as the day before, but stronger, more decided, more definitive. Lin Ling feels his shoulders slump, calm taking over the tension that built on awkwardness just before. Then, he turns his head to stare openly at Lin Fa Ming, trying to convey how important it is for him that he also answer the question if he feels like it.

…Maybe he is being too pushy?

“...I think so” came from Nice a couple of second after, it is, overall, a better answer than yesterday and it is clear to Lin Ling that, whatever they were talking about before helped him. He feels utterly calm now, feeling the way things seem to go on a good direction.

After that exchange the talk goes directionless, like any small talk that Lin Ling had at any point of his life, something more out of politeness and to avoid any awkward silence than actual, meaningful talk. It sets a nice environment for them to take and finish their breakfast.

He thinks about lunch, he should go shopping soon enough, especially if Wreck is here to stay-

Is he here to stay?

“I’m sorry for asking this now, but I need to know,” Lin Ling takes a breath, he is not ready to take someone else in, the apartment is not nearly big enough for three, let alone four, but he’ll be damned before denying Wreck help if he needs it. Whatever it comes next, Lin Ling will figure something out. “Do you want to stay?” He looks at Wreck, trying to convey all the kisnees he has in his eyes, to make him know he will tank whatever problems will come in case.

Wreck looks surprised, clearly not expecting the offer and Lin Ling feels bad, he knows it is not standard for people to offer their place, especially when they are already nhelping other people, but Lin Ling cannot help but think if he looks like a person that doesn’t care.

“I…” Wreck starts, clearly in shock, “I don’t plan on it, I have my apartment, but thank you.” Lin Ling feels the way relief fills him inside and doesn’t show it, only nods, comprehending the situation.

Lin Fa Ming, however, looks like he has some new found feelings about it. Lin Ling makes a mental note to ask about it later.

“I understand,” Lin Ling says, unsure of what else he can say about it. Silence fills the room and it isn’t awkward nor comfortable, just neutral, before it is cut short by Wreck himself.

“And I.. I will quit my job as Wreck.” He say, with a tone of finality, taking him by surprise but not Lin Fa Ming, which is clearly one of the subjects they talked while in murmurs and whispers, before or yesterday, it doesn’t matter.

“Are you sure?” Lin Ling can’t help but ask, he cannot even fathom quitting a stable job, no matter how bad the environment could be, he could probably tank it.

“Yeah… I, after all, only accepted to help Gui,” he says, his look wandering back to Lin Fa Ming, “and he is not Nice anymore, besides, everyone think that “Wreck” is dead”

I’m sorry what???? Dead???

“What?” Lin Ling eloquently asks, being ignored.

“It’s… It’s Lin Fa Ming now, Lei” Lin Fa Ming says, in a tone that implies that this is not the first time reminding him of such, but Lin Ling’s brain is still catching on.

“Ah, right, my bad Ming” Not-Wreck-anymore apologizes.

“What do you mean that Wreck is dead in the public’s eyes” Lin Ling asks, processing the comment, and, well, at least trust can’t kill you, good to know.

“Ah… Well, I might or not have let myself fall from a really high place and you just happened to catch me?” Not-Wreck-anymore reveals, Lin Ling’s brain shortcircuits, did he try to kill himself too, what are these odds.

He is able to swallow the super rude “you too?” comment that tried to escape.

“I guess you can call me Lei now.” Not-Wreck-anymore, Lei, adds as an after thought. Lin Ling needs a strong coffee to process this entire conversation, maybe two, he doesn’t know, he didn’t expect to start his sunday like this, like, at all.

“A pleasure to meet you, Lei.” Lin Ling says, not sure on what to say, but, watching the smile grow in Not-Wre- Lei’s face makes him think it was the right thing to say.

Step on me pls @BowasGF217

Looking at all the drama of #ThePerfectCouple’s wedding just for the news to go and show some generic ass news about Don’t Fall is sure quite the whiplash. Guys, you need to be better at that, show something more dynamic, like an E-Soul battle, the colours are fun at least. #ThePerfectCouplesWedding #DontFall #HeroDrama #YouCanDoBetterGuys #NoIDontCareThatBowaIsKindOfAVillainNow #SheStillIsTheOnlyFemaleX #ThatGotThereAlone

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