Shard

[ROLEPLAY CLOSED] - The Rise Of Camelot

It's aliiiiiveeee!!!! *Thunder and lightning roars.*

Edit:

Character moved to CS tab.

Heroes Villains

Time and space was a concept understood on a level considered basic among most. Casper and Aiden couldn't hope to fathom what they had just been through, how many years in time they had been sent back. The gravity of the situation had yet to settle, but a forest stretching out around them spoke of harmony. Though the case, Casper couldn't help but stare wide eyed at the change of scenery. What happened to the school, to the city? What happened to Los Angeles? Two other individuals were present and only one of them laid any kind of notice to Casper's presence, the boy Aiden. He seemed equally lost in this maze of thoughts and occurrences. "Casper...what happened?"

"Don't...know..." How could he? Aiden's question was warranted to say the least but perhaps Casper wasn't the right individual to ask, someone equally lost in both mind and body. How had they been transported to a location such as this? Another perplexity to add to an otherwise harmonic scene of green and gentle breezes was this woman of apparent royal stature. She hadn't noticed them, she never even turned to look at the boys she had brought with her into this world of swords and magic. Yes, it looked like something brought out of a story book, the worlds Casper always wished to visit as a child. In the drug infested life he called a home, Casper clung to stories of grandeur and sorcery, hoping that maybe one day he could see the unbelievable castles guarded by knights in shining armor. Of course, it was a silly thought, something brought to mind only because of this woman's dress. She seemed at home, though. She seemed to be at peace, enough so to warrant a moment's patience before approaching her concerning this situation. She had brought them here, that much was certain. She was an Evo, another obvious conclusion, but was she hostile?

“..I did it... I’m home...” Continuing through the forest, Casper and Aiden followed this woman though kept their distance. If she had the power to teleport them all into an unfamiliar location, she could very well do the same once more. The thought of being sent into a volcano because they startled her wasn't an inviting thought in the least. Placing one foot in front of the other, the boys made sure to keep moving through the sea of trunks and leaves until they finally saw the breathtaking view now blessing their sight at the edge of the forest. Was that a castle? Was that truly a castle?

"Oh my God...did she...?"

"That's a castle...are we still in 2012?" Aiden whispered, moving his lips closer to Casper's ear. The taller boy's breath carefully swept over Casper's skin, sending a gentle shiver down his spine. It made him clench his teeth and turned to see Aiden's bright blue eyes looking down at him. They were quite...enchanting...weren't they?

"Don't...think so..." Casper gulped, tearing his eyes from the blue orbs which had managed to captivate him. This was not the time, nor the place to be overcome by such silly thoughts. One complication at a time, that was the best approach. "We should talk to her..."

"Yeah." Aiden's whisper was accompanied by a nod, the boy waiting for Casper to make the first move. Looking at each other once more, the boys found themselves waiting for one another.

"You're good with people..."

"If she tries to zap me with her time powers I can't defend myself."

"You think I can?"

"You beat a man made of rock...!"

"But not a woman made of time...go and say hi..."

"What if she..." Aiden tried, though found himself cut off.

"Let's both go, okay...? But you do the talking..."

"Okay, deal..." Turning their attention back to the woman at the edge of the forest, the boys picked up their pace albeit carefully as to not startle her. Once they were close enough, Aiden raised his hand slightly, an attempt to cement his lack of hostility. "H-hello..." He began, holding onto Casper as the boys carefully approached the lady of royalty. "Uhm...do you know where we are...? We're a bit...lost..." Looking between her and Casper, Aiden offered an awkward expression of uncertainty. "Right...?"

"Right..." Casper returned, looking down at Aiden's fingers wrapping themselves around his wrist. They were both quite scared, but neither wanted to show much more than confusion. They needed to stand tall in the face of adversity but so far it looked like they were in a completely different time period. It was safe to say that alone, they wouldn't have been able to handle this sudden change. Were they truly in medieval times? "Sweet castle..." Casper continued, shrugging at Aiden who gave him a terrified look.

"Is he serious!? That woman can probably kill us and he goes on with small talk!? Geez, he's so full of surprises..." Trying to save the situation, if it actually needed saving that is, Aiden decided to drop a few choice words of his own. "A beautiful castle uhm...M-my...Lady?"

"Showoff..." The shorter boy crossed his arms, smirking softly at Aiden. It was surprising not only to his taller new friend, but also to Casper. He had not found himself being this playful in the past. Perhaps Aiden brought a side forth which had previously been suppressed? It felt rather liberating... "We're probably missing English class now..."

"I don't think that's really important right now, Casper..."

"I'm gonna' be in deep shit..."

"Let's take one thing at a time, okay...? Aiden placed his hand on Casper's shoulder, turning his attention back to the woman. "I'm Aiden, this is Casper. Sorry for uhm...disturbing you but we tried to help you back at school when you tripped and I think you might have uh...sent us back in...uhm...

"Time..." Casper finished.

"I hope we're not an inconvenience or anything but...could you please tell us where we are?" The taller of the boys finished, his finger's around Casper's arm tightening.

Heroes Villains

I updated and also made many changes to Aiden's power. It is now complete, and he no longer heals himself automatically. That was boring.

Also, @Vicier I'll get a reply up as soon as I get home. After that reply, we can actually collab whenever you'd like, if you want to.

Heroes Villains

"The teacher should be here, soon." Aiden commented, clicking his fingers against the wall he was leaning on. Casper didn't usually find himself comfortable around others like this but due to the vast amount of change in his life, perhaps something clicked over in the boy's mind. He didn't have anything against Aiden and the thought of spending more time with him wasn't terribly uninviting. Though, Casper didn't want to get any new attachments this early on. Part of him thought it a bad idea to grow this close to Freya after such a short amount of time, despite her being his sister.

Was there something which drew Casper closer to the other boy? A desire to settle down in this new world he called home? Was it something simpler such as the desire to have a friend in the unknown? Either way, Aiden possessed an aura of harmony and serenity which could soothe even the most savage of hearts. Perhaps that was his mutation? The ability to appear appealing to those around him? It brought words to thought. "What's your power...?"

"Huh? Oh, I can heal people." Aiden responded, his bright smile quite enchanting under the strong lights above them.

"So...ya' could heal my arm...?" A question based mostly on curiosity. Casper wasn't very eager to have a random mutant he just met use whatever power he had on Casper's wounded limb.

"Yup, I could heal it right up. Using my powers without permission is a big mistake, though. I can heal you if you'd like but a lot of people think its weird so I don't really offer it anymore." The taller boy shrugged slightly, turning his eyes to many of the other students for a brief moment before returning his eyes to Casper.

"Oh, okay..." The pain was tolerable but the feeling of helplessness was high in might. What if Casper was attacked again? What could he do with only one arm? Sleeping was also a hassle with the wounds he had sustained. According to the doctor, Casper had also sustained internal damage from the fight but it was nothing that could be treated. It had to heal on its own. Its own...perhaps it didn't. Was he going to let Aiden heal him? They had some time before the teacher came so perhaps it was a good idea. Trying to weigh the pros and cons of the situation, Casper thought this through. If Aiden healed him, the wound would be gone and he'd be able to continue about his day without an issue, if Aiden didn't, Casper would have to live with the pain and inability to move his limb. Aiden could in fact be a crazed maniac who only pretended to be a healer and would utterly destroy the smaller boy with his touch, couldn't he? That seemed highly unlikely, though. "Alright..." Casper continued, looking up at Aiden who tilted his head curiously. If he could indeed heal the wounded, this was a good time to show it. "Ya' can heal me..."

"Alright, come closer." Reaching his hand out, Aiden carefully placed his palm on Casper's arm and closed his eyes. With a deep breath, he focused on the damaged tissue with a soft, barely noticeable glow emitting from the boy's hand.

"This feeling...it's so...so warm..." Casper couldn't help but watch with wide eyes as Aiden's power revealed itself. The pain was replaced by gentle warmth, the kind you felt in front of a fireplace on a cold winter night, and after a short while the boy felt nothing at all. He could move his fingers without pause and the pain in his side had completely vanished. Was this for real? Was Aiden truly able to just will the pain away, the hurt? "Th-that's fuckin' amazin'..."

"Thanks!" The taller boy smiled brightly with his hand gently patting Casper's shoulder. "You're all better now."

"The hell would anyone say no to that...?" Looking down on his knuckles, Casper removed the bandages and saw the smooth skin below. There wasn't a single hint of blood or any trace of damage left on his limb. How could anyone consider this power a danger? How could Quantum search for someone like this in a hostile manner? Aiden was a healer, a fucking doctor, why would anyone want to put him away for healing the sick?

"A lot of people find it disturbing." Aiden informed, slipping his hands into his pockets.

"It felt warm..." Casper returned, his quiet voice breaking through the otherwise loud atmosphere on its way to the taller boy's ears.

"Hm, a good warm or a bad warm?"

"A very good warm..." Casper finished, completely removing the bandages to see the undamaged tissue below. He wanted to say more, to compliment Aiden on his capabilities, but their conversation was cut short when a teacher joined the scene and shouted at some new arrival. A dress? No, a gown? Who was this woman? Out of nowhere, Casper and Aiden laid eyes on a person who could only have been dragged out of a television show. True, it was an Evo school and anything was possible in a location such as this but it was surprising nonetheless. She seemed lost, incredibly so, with an expression of disbelief on her face. This wasn't where she was supposed to be, and she knew that very well. "What the..."

"Maybe we should help her?" Aiden took a few steps forward in an attempt to approach the situation. Casper was close behind, equally curious as to what was taking place but they were caught off guard by her immediate stumble. Before they knew it, the woman fell forward.

"All the grace of a fuckin' cat..." Casper's thoughts quickly brought him forward in an attempt to catch her but as soon as she connected with the two boys, the trio vanished from the spot, leaving naught behind.

Heroes Villains

Age:
14

Gender:
Male

Height:
5'5ft

Weight:
110 Pounds

Ethnicity:
White, American

Sexuality:
In the closet homosexual

Religion:
Atheist

Occupation:
Student, Classmate with Casper

Ability:


The ability to heal a person's ailments with a physical touch.

Availability:
- Aiden is able to heal even the most gruesome of wounds given enough time and energy.
- Aiden has the ability to heal himself and others.
- Aiden's ability is not limited to wounds. He can also heal illnesses and other similar ailments, including physical effects caused by other mutations.
- Aiden can heal people through fabrics, but not through armor.

Limitations:
- Aiden's ability is not automatic on himself. He has to actively heal his own wounds just like he'd heal anyone else's.
- Aiden does not have an unlimited supply of energy. The more gruesome the ailment he needs to heal, the more energy it will require. Without rest, overusing his ability will cause Aiden to faint.
- Aiden can only heal one person at a time.
- Aiden cannot bring people back from the dead. Once a person is brain dead, they are beyond his help.
- Since this ability is active rather than reactive, Aiden is just as mortal as anyone else and needs to actively heal himself when hurt.
- Aiden needs to concentrate to heal himself and others, meaning in a heated situation he'll have great difficulties.

Personality:
"My parents always told me that a pleasant personality and a respectful demeanor will get you far, and I think they were right. I mean, you can't always smile at everything but smiling sure helps you lift everyone's spirit. I do believe that everyone should be respectful, though. Even if you're facing someone you despise, being respectful is something I consider highly valuable in a person. Isn't it nicer to hate each other respectfully rather than screaming obscenities? Hehe, looks more professional that way! I never really raise my voice, don't see much a reason behind that. If you can't get your point across calmly, you probably need to think it through more thoroughly.

I like being careful and often keep my eyes open for danger, you know? I hate getting hurt because of my own stupidity and mind you, I can be very clumsy. Sometimes I think that if it wasn't for my powers, I'd be dead by now. Mom and dad thought about putting armor on me as a child because I kept falling down. I hope it hasn't caused any lasting effects on me...that would be a bummer.

Huh? Oh, yeah! I love hanging out with people. The best thing ever is getting to know new friends, there is so much to learn from everyone and people are so spectacular, you know? I recently got to know this guy Casper. He's really sweet on the inside, but he has a rather rough exterior. We haven't talked much about his past but from the tidbits that I've been able to pick up, he seems to have had a rather rough go of it. He's really quiet, too. He barely ever speaks unless spoken to and sometimes I think he's sad, but I try to cheer him up as much as I can. We're kind of opposite, I guess you can say. I love hanging out with others and Casper usually just rides along in the background. I'm not going to force him into the spotlight or anything, I'm just happy to know that he's comfortable.

Yeah, I guess you can say that's what drives me. I want to see people happy and healthy. If I can in any way make that happen, I will. Oh? Yeah, you don't have to ask me twice...this whole Evo versus human ordeal is heartbreaking. I really hope it ends soon, but for as long as its going on, I am going to keep using what I can to help those affected by it. Of course, I don't just walk up to random strangers and heal them, but sometimes I wish I could, you know? People are bearing so much misery inside and they don't talk about it. I've always said that the deepest wound is silence. I get that I'm always trying to be a candle in the darkness but I'm not ignorant or naive. I know we live in a very dark world that's essentially falling down around us, though that only makes me want to struggle even more. Humans, Evos, I don't care. There are good and bad people wherever you look, no matter what. Everyone who doesn't live to ruin the lives of others deserves help when they need it.

I decide who's good and who's bad? No, I don't. I do however decide who to help. Even though I've got the power to heal, I'm no saint and I know that. Honestly, I try to be a good Samaritan to everyone, even the ones out to kill us, but it's a struggle. Picture yourself in a scene where your choices are to heal a murderer or to let him die. Sometimes the most healing can happen when the latter is chosen...

It's difficult, not going to deny that. Good and evil are just moral constructions and I don't believe either of those actually exist though when it comes down to it, you really wish things were black and white sometimes."

Background:
-Revealed IC-

Heroes Villains

As much as the boy had hoped for a break, none was about to come along. People looked at him in a mixture of fear and astonishment, the Evo who saved all those people at the park. This amount of attention was nothing he signed up for and while it was nice to read about once, Casper didn't want this to linger. He didn't want people to look at him with wide eyes, he just wanted to fade into the background like he always had. He was a quiet kid, someone who enjoyed the silence and preferred to be part of it. This, everything that was happening, it was breaking that comfort with a battering ram.

"Hey." A new voice started, stealing Casper's attention from his locker. "You're the guy on the news, right?"

"Yeah..."

"Cool, about time something good came along on the news. I'm Aiden." The boy spoke, stretching his hand out to Casper who shook it gently.

"Casper..."

"Sorry about your arm, though. I saw the video, damn...punching that looked painful." Aiden was taller than Casper, which wasn't a very impressive feat and possessed quite the opposite features with blonde hair, blue eyes and very fair skin. He appeared to possess a thin, slender frame though with enough weight to consider him quite attractive around those of similar age. The bright smile stretching across his lips hinted at a joyful and pleasant personality with his casual approach to Casper being an obvious giveaway of his social tendencies. Aiden wasn't being a nuisance, though. He was polite and gave off a better impression of this place than Casper's old home.

"Yeah..." Casper responded, closing his locker. It was still empty, though he wanted to make sure that he had gotten the right one. "He was rather sturdy..."

"Happy you won that one. If you didn't, things would have gotten really sour really fast." Aiden continued, managing a soft chuckle. "Seems like you know how to fight, though. Who taught you?"

"Buncha' people..." In truth, Casper's combat capabilities were instinctive. He had been through countless fights in his previous school, on the streets and in countless other venues where thugs tended to reside. Every fight was another experience point and while he wasn't exactly a master martial artist, he had been through enough of the rough to have good reflexes. He did want to learn more disciplined forms of fighting, though. "Been in a few brawls..."

"A few?" Aiden returned, placing a hand by his hip.

"Depends on how ya' count, I guess..."

"Mhm." Aiden giggled. "What's your next class?"

"English..."

"Me too! We're in the same class, then." Aiden finished, motioning towards the fork in the corridor. "It's in there."

"Oh, okay..." Raising his eyes from the floor where they often found home, Casper noticed how things hadn't changed much. People were still ogling him and it felt odd in so many ways. He just wanted to save his sister from a psycho, there was nothing else to it. Why were people treating this like national news? Casper just did what any person would have done in that situation, didn't he? "Why did ya' say hi to me...?"

"Huh?" Leaning against the wall next to their classroom door, Aiden tilted his head slightly and gazed down at the smaller boy with a confused expression on his face. "What do you mean?"

"Why did ya' say hi?" Casper repeated. "People don't usually walk up to strangers like that...is there anything ya' want?"

"Heh, sorry. People have said that I'm a bit too hands-on for my own good. I just saw you on the news and wanted to see what kind of person you were, sorry if I overstepped." Aiden raised his hands apologetically, something else Casper didn't expect. This guy appeared to pleasant in a lot of ways, didn't he?

"Ya didn't overstep. I'm just not used to bein' social...this is still new to me..." Casper didn't mind Aiden's presence, he actually somewhat liked it, but this was still a lot to take in. "Uhm..."

"Yup?" Aiden returned, waiting for Casper to finish.

"Nice...to meet ya'..."

"Heh, likewise, buddy. My mom always says that it's good to make a friend on the first day of school so uh, you might have made one!...if you want."

"Thanks, Aiden..." Calling him a friend this early on would be a mistake but Aiden was certainly not going in any other direction. Perhaps this would be a person Casper would see himself hanging out with rather frequently at school. He wasn't opposed to that idea, he just needed to get used to it. There were countless changes in his life and Casper was trying to keep up with them. At the very least, he had come to accept the changes rather than fight them which made everything a lot easier.

"I can show you around school after class, if you want." Aiden offered as he scratched the back of his head somewhat nervously as if not to step on Casper's nerves. Despite his talkative and social nature, the boy possessed a very calm voice. It was harmonic and serene, quite pleasant to listen to, in fact. His social endeavors also showed quite frequently as he raised a hand in greeting to many people he knew while speaking with Casper. A social butterfly indeed.

"So far, so good...right? Things are goin' a lot more smoothly than I first thought...heh, thanks Aiden. Hope things don't go downhill from here..."

Heroes Villains

7 A.M

It was hard to count the amount of alarm clocks crushed beneath Casper's hand every morning before he got a hold over his powers. In truth a lot of things broke beneath his strength and it was a chore to deal with, though as the years passed so did his ability to control and restrain himself. In truth, the boy was scared for his life every time he lay a hand on his little sister or offered the girl a hug. What if he slipped up? She was fragile enough as it was and if Casper made a mistake, it could be the last one he ever made. It was safe to say that he'd never be able to handle the grief of such an event. A certain form of confidence had however sprung up through the journey called life and the boy hadn't slipped up more than once or twice a month.

Placing his feet on the floor as he did every morning, a soft yawn escaped his lips before Casper carefully raised his body to a standing position. It still hurt quite majorly but did he want to miss the first day of school? Part of him was eager to see his new school but another part simply wanted to remain in bed until midday. He was told that the choice was his, that he could very well stay home if he wanted to but in truth, he wanted to return to school. It would make things feel normal again, and normality was exactly what he needed. Slipping into a new pair of jeans, this time the right size, and a t-shirt, Casper decided to wear something quite unfamiliar. Carefully extending his wounded arm through the dress shirt, he continued with the next and folded up the sleeves. This wasn't so bad, was it? The large mirror in his closet certainly didn't hide anything from the boy curiously gazing upon an uncommon reflection. This was it, wasn't it? His future, the new Casper. None of the things he found himself doing lately was considered normal for him. He was a lot more respectful towards others, he didn't jump down peoples' throats as a first reaction and most of all, he risked his life for others. Was this a better Casper? Was this a person who actually took the place of the rebellious kid he saw himself as just a few days prior or was this person a fake?

The loss of his biological mother lead to more than one realisation, and one could say that it helped him grow quite drastically. Giving him the responsibility to care for a younger person would further his development and a more stable environment allowed his mind to soak everything without constant disturbances. True, James was naught but a needle in Casper's side but one couldn't have everything. Truthfully, the boy didn't care much for what his newly acquired older brother said to him.

"Good morning, Casper. Did you sleep well?" Donna raised her head from the newspaper in her hands, shifting her attention to the coffee cup on the kitchen table.

"Yeah, thanks..." Casper returned, seeing how Miles was frying eggs and bacon. "I'm goin' to school today..."

"That explains why you're up so early." Miles chuckled, turning his attention to Casper for a brief moment.

"Are you well enough?" Donna continued.

"Yeah, it'd be nice with somthin' normal again..."

"I understand. These past few days have been rather hectic." Donna returned, sipping from her coffee. Were these the same people Casper met that day in the police station? The same people who decided to cut his hair before they even let him into their house? Now they seemed so...perfect, in a good way. At first their perfections were almost sickening, as if a commercial add clouded with deceit. None of that was visible anymore, none of it. What changed? Perhaps nothing changed, nothing but Casper that is. True, he'd never agree to their first choice of action after picking him up but not everyone on the planet had the same thought process that he did. "How are you getting along with James, dear?" Donna changed the subject, shifting it towards social matters.

"Well, he's only threatened me once..." Casper managed a soft chuckle, sitting down by the kitchen table.

"James has always had difficulties with change. He'll warm up to you eventually." Miles added, plating the egg and bacon.

It didn't take long for the subject of interest to enter the room, James setting foot into the kitchen as he rubbed his groggy eyes. "Good morning." He spoke, looking to the three already there, though his gaze lingered on Casper with a frown.

"Are you ready for your exams today, James?" Miles sat down with the rest, placing a plate in front of each person.

"Yeah." He spoke, shifting his attention to the plate as to not look at the others. Ever since Casper joined the family, he felt like things were falling apart. His perfect little rich family stood outside the conflicts taking place in the world. No freaks were part of his family, but now that Casper had been added, everything was ruined. If he could erase the boy, James would. It wasn't too far fetched to say that he had thought about it, about getting rid of the new addition somehow.

Sadly, Freya was still sleeping when Casper had to leave for school. He had hoped to say goodbye to her but he didn't want to wake the girl from her slumber. Breakfast didn't take very long and due to the incredibly tense atmosphere, he didn't want to linger. "Need help putting your shoes on, Casper?" Donna slipped into her coat, grabbing her car keys.

"No, thanks..." It was a chore but with enough determination, Casper was able to cover his feet and placed his bag over his shoulder. He had never been driven to school before, it was going to be an experience. James was taken to college before it was Casper's turn to get dropped off, though despite his suggestion that he could walk to school, Donna insisted on taking him. Was that how actual, functional families did it? Seemed like Casper had much to learn.

"Now remember, don't get into any fights." Donna looked behind her at the backseat after arriving at the school's parking lot.

"Promise..." The boy managed a soft smile, opening the door and taking his seat belt off.

"I'll be back to pick you up after school, so don't run off anywhere, dear. Now, have a pleasant day Casper." She finished, reaching over to carefully rub the boy's shoulder. After Casper stepped out and saw his new mother drive off, he continued towards the entrance. Already, several people had turned their attention to him. Had they seen the video? Heard about it on the news? Read about it on the internet? Hopefully none of what happened yesterday would affect his time at school but with a bandaged arm, people were going to ask what happened. Well, it was time to deal with it. Casper wanted normality and this was it.

Heroes Villains

Opening the door was all it took. Putting a single foot in the house, Casper was immediately greeted by the girl he called a sister. She ran as quickly as her small body could carry her and nearly tackled her big brother to the ground though was abruptly stopped her father. "Take it easy, sweetheart. Casper is fragile right now."

"Casper! How are you? What happened? Are you okay? Does it hurt? Do you still have your arm!? It looks really painful!" She nearly started to hyperventilate but placing his good arm around her shoulder was enough for Casper to grant a hug she melted into. So much worry for the kid from the slums. It was almost like a fairy tale, like Casper actually had a happy ending in this catastrophic story.

"I'm okay, Freya..." A soft whisper made its way to the girl's ears, making her tighten the embrace. What could have happened to this child? If Casper lost that fight, she would have been ripped apart. After feeling that man's power head on, Casper knew what he was capable of. In fact, thinking about it still gave him shivers. Though quite mature for his age and now regarded as a savior by a handful of people, the boy was still only fourteen years old, something he himself had a tendency of forgetting. The world had no age restriction on misery, however. It doesn't matter how young you are before your life is turned upside down.

"I'll prepare dinner." Miles playfully ruffled his daughter's hair before continuing into the kitchen.

"You should get some rest, Casper." Donna continued, hanging her coat up. "We'll come and get you when dinner's ready."

"Okay...thanks..." Taking one step after another, Casper managed up the stairs and started towards his room. If things were only so simple.

"Hey, 'hero'" A mocking voice entered the scene to reveal James, Casper's older brother stepping out of the bathroom. "Because of you, Freya almost died."

"I know..." True, he had saved her but it didn't ease the worry. The alternative was a huge possibility every second of that fight and she could indeed have died, painfully so. "I...tried my best to keep her safe."

"If it wasn't for you, she wouldn't have been in danger in the first place." James barked at his little brother, forcing Casper into the wall as he grabbed hold of the boy's damaged arm.

Flinching from the pain, Casper clenched his teeth but didn't fight back. He knew that this could only end badly if he did. "You wanna' hit me...? Go ahead, if it makes ya' feel better..."

"The only thing that would make me feel better is if you left my family alone, my family. Mom and dad took pity on this crumbling world and decided to help one of the countless miserable wretches out there, you. Freya doesn't know better because she's just a child but I see you for what you are, a ticking time bomb." Hurtful words but nothing Casper would put past his brother. James displayed an incredible level of resentment towards the boy from the moment they met. The only thing Casper could do was to deal with it until James eventually grew a consciousness.

"Sorry for makin' things difficult for ya', James. I didn't ask for any of this...but I've already lost one family...I don't wanna' lose another. Believe it or not, these are my true colors. I actually care for you guys. Maybe one day you'll get it..."

"Heh yeah, right. We'll see when that day comes, or if you end up killing us all before then." Letting his grip loosen until his hand eventually fell to his side, James took a step back before heading down the stairs. Was it even possible to get a good relationship with this guy? It didn't seem like it but Casper had been surprised more than once throughout the past week.

Sitting down on the office chair by the desk in his room, Casper flipped the laptop open and headed towards the local news site. In truth, he wanted to see if news coverage had been established for his little endeavor but what he found made his stomach turn. "My fuckin' God..." One headline after the other, one disaster after the next. He saw how a school of Evos had been shot up by a maniac convinced by a religious crusade, meanwhile Texas was in complete uproar and some giant Evo went on a rampage against anti-Evo protesters and killed several. There were rallies throughout the country and it was safe to say that America was falling apart. It didn't end there. An Evo prison facility had been attacked and it lead to the release of countless Evos, one of which Casper got very well acquainted with. "What the hell...? America's burnin' down..."

Scrolling down, he saw that it had recently been reported that a girl was kidnapped, shattered glass from the window found across her bedroom floor. "Who the fuck would kidnap a little girl...?" With a heavy sigh, he continued reading. The girl's room was filled with paintings, and paint of all kind was smeared against both wall and floor, several pictures appearing vaguely similar to recent disasters. "Weird..."

Taking a deep breath, he continued to scroll, now heading back up to the top of the site where he laid eyes on what he came for. This was the first headline that didn't make him want to ram his head into the keyboard. 'Local Evo saves fifteen people.' Clicking the link sent him to a block of text ending with a video put up with a warning of graphic content.

'Local inhabitant Mr. Casper Everose of Los Angeles, Newberry Springs came in contact with a Mr. Gordon Blunt earlier today (insert date). It would appear that Mr. Blunt was an escapee from the recent prison break caused by an unidentified perpetrator. He made his way back to the town of his birth on what is quoted as 'Joining the System.' Mr. Blunt went on to state that humanity had taken everything from him and he would return the favor, starting with human children as a response to his daughter having been taken by the authorities four years prior. Mr. Blunt entered the park which would have been the scene of a massacre if it wasn't for fourteen year old Casper Everose who not only stopped Blunt's advance, but managed to neutralize Mr. Blunt long enough for the police to detain him. Mr. Everose was sent to the hospital as a result of the brawl but he has not sustained any critical injuries. The following segment is an interview with Mrs. Mila Summers, a potential victim of Mr. Blunt.'

Casper couldn't help but manage a soft smile, his cheeks warming up as the text continued before his eyes. They used his name without permission, but perhaps Donna and Miles had allowed it. This was after all good publicity but it wasn't over yet. The police still wanted to talk with him.

'I thought I was going to die,' Mrs. Summers states, continuing, 'That crazed man charged at me and my child but before I knew it, this boy was standing between us and saved my life. I didn't stick around to see what happened but I've seen the video and all I can say is that I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for that boy.'

"I actually helped people...I...never thought I'd ever do that..."

'It has been debated if Mr. Everose will be charged or apprehended for using his powers but as it states in the law, an Evo is allowed to use their powers in life threatening situations. Since this situation was clearly life threatening for sixteen people, Mr. Everose included, the police states that it falls under the law and Mr. Casper Everose hasn't commited a crime. However, the police would like further words with Los Angeles, Newberry Springs own local Hero in the near future.'

"Casper! Dinner's ready." Freya ran up to the desk, her light footsteps bouncing across the floor until she reached the boy and smiled brightly at him. "What are you reading?"

"Just...some good news."

Heroes Villains

The sterile scent of medicine, latex and plastic surrounded Casper's senses with a soft foundation finding itself beneath his frame. An immense pain echoed throughout his body only moments after consciousness returned, his fingers gently tracing the softness below. He noted that his right arm was very hard to move and more so to manage, though it was still attached. The pain reminded him of that. How did he get here? Speaking of which, where was he? Trying to open his eyes offered a blurry image quickly overtaken by strong lights. The hospital? He had to be there. What about the other guy? The insane Evo he had fought? "Shit really went down..." Trying to regain his senses was a difficult task. How long had he been out? There was no telling much time had passed since that fight. Yes, the fight. It's what put him here, wasn't it? "Freya..." A familiar name made its way through the boy's mind, jabbing at him like a serrated knife. "Why do I care so much about a person I just met...? Why does she care about me? I don't know what's real and what's a game...I don't know what to believe...I don't know who's an enemy and who's an ally..." Trying yet again to open his eyes, now more used to the light, Casper managed to make out a few shapes. One of them was moving, footsteps reaching his ears in tune with the blurry image.

"How is he doing?" That voice, it was Donna. Where was she? The voice came from the left, high heels making their way into the room.

"He is stable." The blurry image returned, another female voice. "I'll get the doctor, Mrs. Everose."

"Please." Donna nodded, sitting down on a chair next to her adoptive son.

Soon after the blurry image from before, probably a nurse, left the scene, Mile's voice could be heard as well. "Don't worry, dear. I am sure the boy will be fine."

"One day, Miles." Donna shot back at the man. "He has been here for one day and he gets into trouble. Was this a mistake? Was adopting him a mistake?"

"He protected Freya, my love. He protected everyone in that park. You saw the video." There was a video? Some asshole had actually filmed it?

"He did, and I'm grateful." A heavy sigh left her lips. "But if he wasn't here, she wouldn't have been in that park."

"Everyone else would have, though." Miles rubbed his wife's shoulder lovingly before planting a gentle kiss on her cheek. "I am actually quite proud of him. You did a good thing, adopting a child from the backwaters of life. In turn, he saves people. This is good, Donna."

"Maybe so, but the news coverage on this will be a hassle to say the least."

"Perhaps." Miles shrugged, approaching the new addition to his family. "He doesn't look like us, he doesn't act like us, he doesn't talk like us." The man chuckled softly, moving some bangs from the boy's forehead. "Sometimes I have a hard time understanding why you went through the trouble, Donna...but seeing Casper...I think we did the right thing."

"Truly?" Standing up, Donna joined her husband's side and looked down at the boy she now called a son. "Freya adores him."

"He has been good to her for the brief time they've known each other. Yes, he's vastly different from us but perhaps that's a good thing. Freya seems to think so, and adopting a boy from the slums isn't exactly something you would have jumped at a few years ago." Miles managed another chuckle, softly placing his hand on Casper's chest to feel the boy's calm heartbeat.

"He is a good boy, but hopefully events like this won't be commonplace."

"We live in a very chaotic world, love. I admit that I'm just happy he was there today. The alternative would have been a massacre." Miles finished before the doctor stepped into the room. An older man with thick, rimmed glasses approached the couple, a clipboard in hand as he gazed down at the barely conscious boy.

"Mr. and Mrs. Everose?"

"Yes." Donna responded.

"Casper has sustained damage to his ribs and right arm. He'll be fine, nothing is broken and all of his wounds are superficial but dangerous all the same. He can leave the hospital after he wakes up but keep a close eye on him. The police would also like to have a few words with the boy as I'm sure you both know." A painful flinch brought the group's attention back to the bed as they saw Casper slowly opening his eyes. He attempted to sit up but a jolt of pain shot through his body, making the feat a difficult one. He did however manage without falling back to the pillow. "Ah, welcome back." The doctor finished.

"Hi..."

"How are you feeling, dear?" Donna spoke up, giving the boy a gentle shoulder rub not to damage him further.

"I'm okay...how's Freya...?"

"She is fine, worried sick for you, but fine. She's at home." Miles added, crossing his arms as a soft smile met the boy.

"That's good..." Tracing the bandages on his right arm, Casper managed a heavy sigh before his head dropped in defeat. "Sorry for makin' a mess...I know I screwed everythin' up..."

"Fifteen people at the park would offer a very different story." The doctor answered, rubbing his chin. "You're probably going to be in the spotlight for a while, Casper. You'll need all the rest you can get."

"The police wanna' talk to me...?"

"They do, but they've agreed to give you some time to recuperate. You should go home now, son." Stepping closer to the bed, the doctor motioned for Casper to place his feet on the floor. "Let's see if you can stand. Take your time, don't rush it." After a few attempts, the boy managed to fully stand albeit with Donna's help who held onto him as he did. Getting into his clothes required help as well, as awkward as it felt, but he wasn't going to be stubborn, not now.

"Can you walk?" Miles asked, his voice soft and serene as he tried to lead the boy towards the door.

"I'm okay..." Casper managed, following his new parents to the parking lot. It would feel good to go back home...yes, home. He needed to assure Freya of his health, after all. He also needed to meet up with that girl Riley again, hopefully under better circumstances. Most of all however, he needed to eat. Now that he got a chance to breathe, he could hear his stomach growling louder than any pain sustained from the fight he was in.

Heroes Villains

Read through my latest reply and ugh, wasn't happy at all. I corrected a million and two things so now maybe it's not shit.

Also, I changed Casper's self sustained damage. Instead of full out breaking his arm from the impact, I downed the seriousness of the wound to simply "damaged his arm", rendering it out of commission but not for as long as a broken limb.