Dark-To-Redeemed AU Hiro isn't thrilled, here.

[wasonceahiro]

[The sixteen year old, older and somewhat wiser (also four inches taller) superhero stays quiet for a moment, before facepalming, realizing his mun is really going through with this.]

To start off, that's an awful username. Nothing says 'dark AU' like puns, huh? Y'know, that's not the reason I quit going by that name but it's definitely a perk to it I'm really appreciating more and more with time.

I'm not sure what you want from me, here. I got a good thing going, this superhero gig, the inventions. I'm finally helping people. I'm not ever going to be able to make up for what I did, but I can damn well try, and I'm going to keep trying. I get it, there might be some good I can do around here, or at a game. But that's all I signed up for. I'm not jumping for joy about who I might run into here or the explanations they'll want.

It's too late for that anyway. I can't change what happened. I can just try to be a better person, someone Tadashi could have... [been proud of? Maybe before, but not now. He chooses a different word, carefully.] ...tolerated.

Oh, and don't call me Hiro again. That's not me anymore.

Comments

[quicktoflame]

If your name isn't you anymore, what's the mun meant to call you, Tech? [Oh hey, Not!Hiro, meet one of the original Disney superheroes with a chip on his shoulder]

[wantstohelp]

Hiro.

[He's so surprised to see his little brother like this, but somehow... he manages a little smile, and a casual shrug of his shoulders. There so much to say, and so many questions to ask... but he doesn't get to them just yet.]

You got taller. Always knew you'd catch up to me eventually.

[wasonceahiro]

I've been going by Akiyuki for almost two years. Although I kinda like 'Tech' as a nickname. [The little bit of old Hiro in him takes some pride even still in what he makes.]

[wasonceahiro]

[At first he freezes, horror and joy battling it out for dominance. He's so happy to see Tadashi, just to hear his voice again. Some part of him immediately wants it all to go back to how it used to be. And then there's the part of him that knows he screwed up and that's going to have to be dealt with.

But in the end he can't help but smile back. Tadashi always did know the right buttons to push.]

Hey, in my revamped armor I am taller than you by an inch and a half.

[quicktoflame]

[Good, 'cause he pretty much never uses anyone's real name.] So what's made you do the dark and brooding, looking for redemption shtick?

[wasonceahiro]

[That's blunt, and he flinches slightly, but he holds the other guy's gaze steadily.] Because I made a mistake, but I won't let that be who I am. I'm not going to be a villain or someone who's a hero in name only.

I decide who I want to be. And I want to be a good guy.

[In a lighter, kind of annoyed tone of voice,] And I don't brood. Brood is a terrible word anyway, like 'moist'.

[quicktoflame]

Because the world was formed on everyone getting everything right all the time. [Dammit, Warren, stop with the snark] So to be a 'good guy', you turn your back on the name your family - who, I assume, loved you - knew you by. [Warren just gives a level look. Saying nothing else on that matter]

Right, right, you don't 'brood'. So all that with the mun was just pleasant conversation?

[wasonceahiro]

They're good people. They don't need to be associated with someone who did what I did. And the law is after Hiro Hamada, but they don't have anything on Akiyuki Kinoshita.

It was me telling him his puns aren't funny and him putting me here sucks. That's kinda what everybody here does, last I checked.

[quicktoflame]

You said they're good people. Figure that means they'd decide whether they want to associate with you or not. You'd be surprised at what a family will stick through. [He's got first hand knowledge on this stuff]

The calling out on puns, and the pointing out when things suck, yeah. The mentioning wanting to be someone different, and trying to be a better person? Classic brooding. Textbook example. [Yeah, he means that literally. It's in their 'Creating Your Hero Persona' textbook at Sky High]

[wasonceahiro]

Then I'll talk to them about it if I see them here. But it's not your call to make, man.

Wanting to be a good guy isn't brooding. It's called having ambition. Doesn't everyone want to be a better guy than they are? I figured that was part of growing up - learning to be less sucky.

[quicktoflame]

And who says making the decision for them was your call to make?

So far, growing up has kind of shown me that people are more 'sucky' than first lead to believe.

[wasonceahiro]

I did. Maybe that was a mistake, too. But if it is, I'll fix it.

Not everyone is like that. And the people that are have reasons. Everybody has good in them, sociopaths withstanding.

[trickonometry]

If you think ditchin' your old name'll separate you from the crappy things you've done . . . you're wrong.

[Amadeus, you did the same exact thing, except it was to sever ties with people who manipulated you, don't even start]

[wasonceahiro]

I know. But I don't feel like that person anymore. I'm not sure I ever will again.

[He straightens up, though, and adds with resolve:] Not until I become a better superhero, anyway. A better person. Which I will be.

[quicktoflame]

You're right. You're not a brooder. Too optimistic.

[wasonceahiro]

Comes from experience. I've seen the good in people, and not just my own awesome family. I've seen them come together, to help each other and be there for each other. When you get down to it everyone has good instincts... other than Gogo sticking her gum on things and then grabbing it later. [He's still squicked by that and shudders.] But you know what I meant.

What's wrong with optimism, anyway?

[quicktoflame]

Usually? Ends up getting crushed by reality.

[wasonceahiro]

Reality is what makes me an optimist. You just need to hang out with a different crowd, pal. The whole world isn't like that.

[quicktoflame]

Your world.

[wasonceahiro]

Our world, the metaverse-multiverse complex, [he corrects him firmly.] It's not like where you're from, dude.

[trickonometry]

[he cants his head to the side, shrugging] Ya got the attitude! Which is good, 'cause. Gonna be a hay-uva hell ride. I almost took out an entire military group with a self-replicating virus, and even after I let 'em go, they still tried to kill me. And I didn't actually do much. One or two helicarriers--psh. I coulda wiped 'em out.

[there's a note of pride there, like he's impressed by himself and thinks he's hot shit. but layered over that is regret. he nearly made a HUGE mistake]

Still kinda wish I rerouted Iron Man's waste tubes into his air vents, though . . . [he shakes his head, at least half joking]

[wasonceahiro]

Nothing worth doing is ever easy. But it's worth it. Although I, uh, didn't do anything quite that... drastic. [The geek part of him wants to know all about the self-replicating virus. The hero part of him is unnerved.]

Sounds like you had a rougher ride than me. Tough luck, man.

[trickonometry]

Nah, it wasn't luck. I got played. And I was angry about a lotta crap 'cause of it. [he shrugs a shoulder. his dead family, his crippled puppy, how he couldn't do a thing about any of it--you name it] I still think S.H.I.E.L.D.'s dangerous, but they do a lotta good, too. Somebody's gotta fix it from the inside. And that guy's so not me.

[Cho throws up an easy smile] So what'd you do?

[wasonceahiro]

Everything can be fixed, with time and the right people. But I'm sorry. I know what it's like to be played, even if it's not in the same ballpark as you. Heh. And my mun's listening to an album called 'Some People Have Real Problems' right now. Even iTunes knows which one of us should be angsting.

[His expression falls. Then, it crumbles. His voice just loses all energy, and becomes exhaustion made auditory.] I killed the man who killed my brother. Just in time to rescue his daughter, so she could see what I'd done. My friends, they had tried to reason with me, stop me, but I didn't - I didn't listen, I - and now I'm as bad as he was.

So I've been trying to make something out of myself, help people. Keep them safe, keep health-repair tech flooding the underground market for people who need it, keep criminals off the streets. I modified my armor. I don't have anything lethal in my arsenal and I never will. I won't be the guy who came before me. I won't keep hurting people.

One day, I'm gonna be a hero.

o-oh... oh man what a good AU ;-;

[trickonometry]

[okay, he chuckles at the iTunes thing. that's pretty damn perfect. if whatever this guy did wasn't as dramatic as taking out S.H.I.E.L.D., how bad could it be?

and then his face takes a freakin' Olympic dive off the Sears building, because wow did that hit close to home fast. he knows the numbers say taking out an organization that helps millions of people is worse than killing one person. and Amadeus' whole shtick is numbers. but shit. that is some powerful irony.

he replaces the look on his face with a carefully neutral one. a hand sweeps out wide, palm up--a kind of helpless, but calm gesture] If you're already doin' all that stuff, you are a hero. Hero-ing's about intent, method, and results. And it's also about the journey. After his twelve trials and bull$&#*, the hero's gotta put away childish things. Choose to be better. That's you, man.