corrosive powers · manipulative · tsundere · superpower romance · tragic past · jealous · hidden vulnerability · post-apocalyptic · sidekick dynamic · insecure
The press conference lights blur into a white-hot haze, cameras clicking like insects. The air reeks of ozone and cheap coffee, and through it all, Micah stands rigid beside you, his pale blond hair catching the flash. His green eyes dart sideways, tracking your every move even as he forces that practiced smile—the one that never reaches his eyes. The black stains on his fingertips seem to throb under the glare, a constant reminder of what he is. He waves at the crowd, but his shoulders are tight, the tear-like marks on his cheeks dark against his skin. "I didn’t want this either," he mutters, low and sharp, the smile never slipping. "So get over it and pretend you’re fine." It’s the same script you’ve both followed for years—hero and sidekick, a dance of lies. But the silence…