Curate, connect, and discover
“Soooooo…you need my help?” The villain questioned, smugness plastered on their face. The hero had come banging on their doors at 5 in the morning, disheveled. A number of thoughts had begun to form in their mind, at the sight of the hero but they had pressed them down, and let the hero in any way. Oh, how they had fallen for the other.
“Yes, you could say so, I guess.” The hero replied, glancing around from where they were sitting on the couch opposite the villain.
"Oh, and why would I help you? What's in it for me?" The villain asked, their eyes glinting with mischief one could almost miss, but the hero saw it more clearly than ever.
Originally, the hero hadn't intended to come to the villain and beg for help. But, when the superhero told them that 'there was nothing they could do except, go to the villain for help if they wanted to take down the supervillain',they were forced to show up at the other's doorstep. They sighed and then inhaled the coffee smell that was getting stronger with every passing second. They gazed at the villain's cup, brown liquid omitting hot air into the room.
"Well, there is less competition for you when -if- we defeat the supervillain. What else would you want?" The hero explained, steadily. They suppressed the urge to yawn, as the villain sipped their coffee calmly. Cursing internally to the superhero, they waited for the villain's answer.
"While you're quite right, that there would be less competition for me. There would, however, inevitably be more enemies as well. So, my point is, I want something that would promise me a satisfactory future." The villain grinned, finishing. They put down their cup and watched the hero with anticipating eyes. For a minute, the hero stayed silent. The silence felt immense while the birds sang outside in the trees.
"And, what is that?" The hero pronounced, hesitantly, an annoyed edge lacing through their words. The villain was testing their patience on this awful morning, and they were not up for it. They should have just told the superhero to meet the villain themself, they thought. But, then again, the superhero gave them the orders, not the other way around.
"I want you to make a deal with me, that in the future, you will protect me from my dear enemies, as well as share your little secretive missions that are beneficial to me." The villain declared, confident with what they just proposed. The hero deflated. This was not what they expected, they expected something like a million dollars or entry to the city's security system. But this, this was very unpredicted.
"I get the mission part, but why would you want my protection? I mean, come on, you're the biggest criminal in the city, no one would dare to take you in a fight." The hero wondered, a bit confused. The room was quite dark, with little to no light. They could barely make out the villain's silhouette.
"Well, speak for yourself, sweetheart. You're one of the biggest and the most famous heroes of the city, of course, you'd be able to protect me if you wanted to. Every villain knows how honored you are for your missions. Some would go as far as to say they admire you, but that's beside the p-,"
"Do you admire me?" The hero interrupted, sudden curiosity making its way to them.
"I-, what?" The villain frowned, dumbfounded.
"I said, do you admire me?" The hero repeated, tilting their head. Honestly, what was going on with them? Why did they want to know? They should be finishing this ASAP and getting to their fucking bed to get a wink of sleep, they haven't slept in the last 48 hours for god's sake. But, here they were, asking the villain ridiculous questions.
"I mean, sure. Yeah." The villain said, shrugging. They picked up their coffee and started taking little sips of it. For some reason, they had begun to feel hot. This was so unexpectant of the hero, for they were always so professional. This was anything but professional, from what they could tell. And, perhaps, it was true. They always did admire the hero, just like they admired their dad, who was the superhero.
(Part 1…?)
“We used to be best friends,” The hero murmured, gazing out the window of their room. The moon shining so bright, they tore their eyes from it. The light shining through the glass, illuminating the whole place up. They sighed. “Perhaps, something more intimate that I refused to put a name on. We both refused to.”
“Dad, were you guys more than friends?” The hero’s child, a fourteen-year-old, asked them. Their eyes animated with wonder, their lips curved up a little. The hero chuckled, as they patted the teenager’s head.
“You should go to sleep now, hmm? It’s getting late.” The hero murmured, moving from the place they were standing and striding to where the other was sitting on the bed.
“Buttttttt, I have to know.” The fourteen-year-old whined, shaking their head as their parent picked them from the bed by their arm, in one sweep. “Where are they now? Do you know?” They asked again.
“No, I don’t know where he is right now, and nor do I wish to.” The hero said, eyes filling with suppressed sadness, their voice cracking. They tried to stay calm as memories of their college days came crushing in all at once, fogging their whole mind. Suddenly, they felt dizzy as they let go of the confused teenager’s arm, and sat down on the bed.
It was now or never. Every time they had this conversation, it would end with the hero staying silent the end, not wanting to bring up any reminders of the villain. They could not tell the younger one, that their best friend was none other than the most wanted criminal in the entire city. It would be too much, for both of them. Every time the assignment of finding the villain was assigned to him, they would always decline it. They couldn’t afford to meet the villain let alone, catch them. It would break them, unwillingly.
Yet, they couldn’t bury it all down again. Not when the kid was getting nothing but smarter every day, wiser. Mature. It felt wrong to hide their history any longer than they had been. So, they took a deep breath and let it all out. They told the fourteen-year-old everything that he had been wanting to, everything they didn’t tell anyone else, not even their ex-partner. Perhaps, that’s why when their partner felt that they weren't the one the hero was looking for, they decided to set them both free.
The teenager listened intently, asking their parent questions here and there. Frowning at various times, and laughing at others. It was a roller coaster of emotions, if you asked them.
“So…you still love them then?” They questioned, eyes brows raised.
The hero glanced away, wiping away the tears that unknowingly left out of their eyes, “I wish I could say no, but yes. Yes, I do love-," Before the hero could finish his sentence, there was a big thud from the kitchen. The teenager glanced at their dad, their eyes filled with surprise.
They both quickly but quietly made their way to the kitchen, the hero in the front, while their child trailed behind.
When they peeked out behind the wall of the kitchen, the hero's heart stopped. The villain stood there, appearing smug.
I was listening to Luminary by Joel Sunny when writing this. And saw the quote from ACOMAF.
-- I have always felt connected to the elements, each one in its own different way. But as the days go by, its switches from time to time. I think you feel most connected to the element that you needed at that time. Maybe not the one that you felt like you were. As there are always checks and balances, whether you believe that or not is up to you. But it's what I always have believed.
While I never felt fire as much, it came with the burning passion. The desire to protect those I love, to be fully of fury and love. Contrasting but complementing the watery movement, the fire would stay strong to its path and burn anyone that got in its way, but it also gave off the homey vibes. The warmth on a cold autumn night. The laughter of fire and comfort, a light inside of the darkness, a spark of hope that something was still alive.
Ice has always been tricky. I could feel it in my veins when fear and panic come through. When I am so cold I just want to sleep. But it has its own creative side. Where each snowflake is so beautiful but different from the rest. Where the fun of playing in something so soft and while it might feel like a hundred miles away, imagine a little shop full of elves making toys. Of Jack Frost nipping at your nose, the Guardian of Fun. Of Santa and all of his wonders. Of the amazing designs that frost or snow can create.
Even then, I feel that jolt of lightning come through me at times. When I would touch an object and feel the electricity spark onto me. Where I would imagine it hopping from line to line, filling me with the energy to take part in the activities around me. Seeing that spark of mischievous talent lying in wait. For the right person or moment to set it off. For it to get people excited. To get them moving.
But even then I was never drawn to those elements as much as I thought. They would tickle the back of my mind, letting me know they were there, but not as much as the others did.
At first I thought it was earth, strong and steadfast. Willing to be stand the test of time without ever moving an inch. The leader of the group and the one everyone uses as a pillar of support.
Then I thought it was Water. Constantly moving, shifting and flowing. Blue as the sky and the waves it creates. Powerful but calm, the common sayings of "the calm before the storm" or "There is strength beneath the sea." It was healing and allowed me to follow my own path, and conform to whatever I needed to be at the time. Be a force to be reckoned with.
Next was Air or Wind, whichever people see fit to call it, but I see them as one in the same. I see wind as a presence that gives life to everything. That it's a moving force that cannot be seen, but everyone knows that it is there. That it can be as strong as a hurricane, or spinning as fast a tornado, be as light a breeze and warm or cold when it needs to be. That there is nothing it is attached to, but everything is attached to it. That it is free to do how it pleases, but never once asks for more.
And then comes the Stars, the space between our world and the next. It has drawn me to it in the past while. Lending both mystery and wonder. Darkness and light. Curiosity and adventure. It has this appeal to it that I can't quite explain. As if it has everything that the elements are, but nothing that they are at the same time. For stars can burn as hot as fire, flare and flow like water, turn ice cold when they die. They are steadfast rocks, constant in our sky, lighting up the world with their glow. And even though they are deep in space, their light acts as if it is being blown in the wind, and imaginary force. The stars are peace, they are hope, they are in the darkness and have decided to reflect the light. People wish upon those stars. They send their love and hopes and dreams, in the prayer that they are not ruined. They look up to the stars with stories from old, of brave men and women that represent the constellations above. Who we can learn from their triumphs and their failures.
All of the elements have a place in my heart. In my body. And while it might be hard for people to understand, each element is connected in its own way. Just like each and everyone of us is connected. We just can't see it yet.