Chapter Text
Cute Guy POV
Cute Guy wasn’t sure how long she had been there. Tightly cocooned around herself, she had let the facade of her wings slip away, but she hadn’t dared to open her clenched eyes to see her true wings.
In all of 2,000 years, she hadn’t ever wanted to see them again.
It might have been mere minutes or hours before Cute GUy heard the apartment door creak open and he pulled the facade back on as-
“Are you going to tell me what happened?” Mumbo questioned as he rounded the corner into the living room of the apartment. Cute Guy had forgotten about the automatic trigger to summon one of the team when his vitals got too elevated. And the silent alarm system they had if someone entered one of their hideouts. He’d have to remember that next time he wanted a panicked moment alone. Though he wasn’t sure if that would be enough to stop Mumbo from chewing him out regardless.
“I messed up,” Cute Guy said bluntly, gaze directed to the floor. Messed up is a mild description of what she had just done. Briefly, she wondered just how much power she would need to expend in order to have the ground swallow her up.
“On a scale of-”
“Collateral.” Cute Guy interrupted harshly, ”I screwed up bad Mumbo, and now I don’t know what I’m going to do, or if he’ll forgive me, or if I can even see him again after this, and it's all my fault I just can’t-” Cute Guy rapidly said.
“Okay, slow down. Let’s start from the beginning. What happened?”
“I just… I was so on edge, and Hot Guy-”
“Hot Guy?” Cute Guy didn’t bother addressing the question.
“He- he kept asking questions and I got overwhelmed. I didn’t know what to say or do and then I just got angry. I don’t even know why! The next thing I know, I’m losing control of my powers and I tried to leave, but he grabbed my hand and-”
“Is he okay?” Cute Guy felt a pang of guilt over the question. It was a fair question, but Cute Guy hated the fact that it was a necessity to ask. Even after all this time, he was still as dangerous as he had been 2,000 years ago. How could a mere human survive the anger of-
“I think? I don’t know! I just- I yanked my hand back as soon as I realized, but his palm was smoking and-” Cute Guy’s mouth snapped shut unwilling to describe the despair he had felt in that moment. Seeing the pain he had caused.
“And?” Mumbo asked gently. When no response came, he sat next to Cute Guy where Cute Guy was still curled up on the sofa. Careful not to touch him, Mumbo didn’t force him to speak, but that didn’t mean he still didn’t feel pressured to talk.
Cute Guy didn’t know how to explain it. Explain how at that moment he wasn’t in the city anymore. He was in a place he had never stepped foot at before, but one his very soul recognized all the same. Faintly, he could smell the scent of gunpowder, but the smell of copper overwhelmed that almost instantly. Nauseatingly thick, it made him feel sick and wozy. The bright, blinding sun heated the sand beneath his feet and wasn’t helping the feeling of being ill. Searing into the burning sand was the fresh blood pouring out of-
“God, Mumbo, I was there again. I saw him again .” Cute Guy buried their face into their hands fiercely as their voice broke over the sentence.
“Did you…” Mumbo couldn’t bring himself to finish his question, but Cute Guy knew what he was asking. This was not the first time the Desert had haunted Cute Guy, and he almost wished it was the only one. No, the hint of gunpowder followed into another sight - one of a burning home and betrayal.
“No, but I knew he was already gone. It- it cut off there but all I could think was I had done it again. I killed another person that mattered to me.”
“G, you know that’s not fair. You don’t have control over those visions.”
Abruptly, Cute GUy stood and began pacing the room, “Yeah, but they’re not visions, are they? Ever since,” Cute Guy couldn’t bring himself to say it but Mumbo knew,” ever since then, I’ve known they weren’t visions. I loved him. And as a testament of that love I killed him.”
Neither of them addressed that loved wasn’t the right word. There was nothing past tense from the way Cute Guy felt about him. Nothing about the way he felt was in the past for him.
Mumbo sighed deeply but otherwise didn’t say anything. They both knew that Cute Guy rarely saw anything pleasant. What he did see seemed always to be the most horrifying things he could.
Haunting him without any context as to why.
2,000 years of nightmares.
Only to find out that they were never nightmares at all. They were real, and somehow that was worse. Just another knife in an already fatal wound.
What could Mumbo possibly say to combat that?
What could anyone?
“What are you planning to do then?” He asked instead.
Cute Guy wrapped her wings around her where she stood, avoiding his friend's eyes. They knew Mumbo wasn’t going to like the answer.
“Mumbo, I’ll- I’ll have to cut him out of my life,”
“ Gri- ”
“No, Mumbo. This is what has to be done. I was foolish to think I should get involved with him in the first place!”
“But you are now! You know that it’s not fair to him to just- vanish like that suddenly. And what of the plan? How is disappearing going to help your cause?”
“Cute Guy won’t disappear. I can’t afford them too, but she’ll have to keep a distance from Hot Guy from now on.” As if it was going to be that simple. As if the Hero Association would allow her to act out. Or that Hot Guy wouldn’t track her down after he realized he was being avoided.
Or to kill her when he realized the HA was right.
“You know that’s not fair. You spoke so highly of him-”
“Exactly! What happens the next time I see something and hurt him? Besides, we don’t need him for the plan, if anything he was a distraction to the plan.” Cute Guy didn’t state the other reason for the distance.
“Well, now you sound like Jimmy.” Cute Guy didn’t bother acknowledging that, knew Mumbo had seen her tense up all the same. “Cute Guy you know you need him. He needs you too, cutting him out like this- it isn’t fair to either of you.” She knew that. It was cruel. Vanishing entirely without a reason, was not fair. But Cute Guy had long learned that few things could be considered fair.
So she’d add one more cruel thing to her ledger.
“Mumbo, I thought when you came in here earlier you were going to tell me more people had vanished. All because I lost control- again. He distracts me, and we cannot afford that right now.” Not when they were so close. Not when she could finally make the past 2,000 years right. Not when she could finally avenge Pe-
“Then what of Scar? Don’t tell me your genius plan here is to cut him off as well,”
Cute Guy didn’t respond, opting instead to drop his gaze to the floor. Finally, realization flickered over Mumbo’s face as he realized he had meant both of them.
“No. Mate, I’ve stood behind you for the past twenty years despite your… questionable choices, but that is wrong. Scar’s the entire reason we have this plan and you want to-”
“I don’t want to! Believe me Mumbo I wish I had another option right now, but you know how this has to end! If Scar gets involved they’ll kill him with no hesitation. I never should have gotten close to him in the first place. It’ll hurt like hell to… but I would rather that then-” Cute Guy stopped his sight full of sand and blood. He couldn’t let his Scar just… die like that.
Every single world he saw... It was like they were doomed from the beginning. What if they were just cursed? Doomed by forces that even Cute Guy couldn’t change? If distancing himself was the only way to at least keep this Scar safe, how could Gria-Cute Guy be selfish? Even if that meant never having to see him again.
Even if it broke his heart.
Mumbo sighed deeply before rubbing his hand down his face, and Cute Guy knew he had won. Mambo was more than aware of how stubborn they could be. Ashamedly, though, Cute Guy almost wished Mumbo didn’t let them give Scar and Hot Guy up. Cute Guy tried not to think about how today was the last time he’d ever get to spend time with Scar as him , but she knew it was the safest option- even if it wasn’t fair.
Scar would never know this darker part of Grian, and Cute Guy had to pretend that thought didn’t cause his heart to ache.
“Alright. I don’t agree, but alright. What do you want to do about that plan then?”
“The HA will get desperate if I stop showing up around Hot Guy now. They’ll have to act. Hopefully, that means they’ll come after me themselves and I can end things once and for all.”
“And… if they don’t?”
Cute Guy didn’t answer. Frankly, if they didn’t go after Cute Guy, she would be forced to take the fight to them before it was too late. It would certainly make the cleanup process harder- but if they failed there would be nothing to clean up. It wasn’t necessarily a comforting thought.
“What happens if you can’t beat them?”
“Then our plan was doomed from the start.” Also- not a comforting thought.
“Ahh. Great. Well… let’s hope you’re ready when they make their move”
Gods, let him be strong enough.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Two Months Later~~~~~~~~~~~~
“So, how long are you planning on avoiding Dr.Good?” the voice of his assistant startled him from his sight, and Grian pretended he didn’t shoot out of his chair at the sudden noise. By the snort Gem gave, he hadn’t been successful. Though, after being his assistant for two years, he was fairly sure Gem had lost all respect for him a long time ago.
“Did you not hear me knock?” Gem asked placing the files Grian had requested from her earlier. Her face was riddled with confusion, and Grain knew she had probably been talking all the way up to being right next to him. Her gaze darted to the office's large windows, the few rays of the fading sun being the only things lighting the room.
“No, Gem, I jumped out of excitement at the prospect of…,” Grian risked a glance down at the papers,” … the behaviors of mollusks in enclosed areas.”
“Uh, huh. Are you sure you’re not hiding out up here to avoid a certain someone?”
“What! Gem, as your professor-”
“Now we both know my ability to respect you disappeared when you walked into class, perched on your desk, and preceded to explain how we were going to prank the computer science department because their final research project got more traction than the biology department.”
“They had it coming.” They had, Grian had been looking forward to expanding their research with the grant money the computer science department got. They had managed to get 32 dogs into Dr. Dog’s office before they had to avoid being caught as he came back up from lunch. To this day, his office still smells of wet dogs.
“You’re still avoiding the question. Why are you hiding from Dr. Good? And don’t deny it. The entire campus is gossiping about it.” Do these kids really not have anything better to do?
“Well, clearly I’m not assigning enough assignments if you all have this much free time,”
“Grian. You’re deflecting,”
“Gem. I- Okay, nothing happened-”
“Why do I sense a ‘but’ coming”
“ But , I … just… realized somethings and…
“Oh boy.”
“What?”
“This is just starting to sound like one of those talks where the one guy won’t admit what he feels because ‘he’s not good enough’ or some other equally infuriating reason without ever actually communicating his feelings leading to a long misunderstanding that only gets resolved in the third act,” Gem said her nose scrunched in obvious distaste. Glancing back at his desk, Grian made a show of rearranging some papers.
“... well now I think I don’t assign enough assignments for another reason now,” The resounding groan from Gem seemed to disagree.
“Grian, could you just do us all a favor and talk to him?” The worry on Gem's face was so plain Grain had to avoid her gaze again, “ The architecture students are all walking around depressed because Dr. Good is sad. Frankly, you haven’t exactly been a bundle of joy these past few weeks either.” Gem crossed her arms staring down at Grian.
A terse moment passed before Grian broke.
“... fine! I’ll see what I can do,”
A 2,000-year-old being versus a 22-year-old biology major. Who would win? The answer might just shock you!
“Great!” Gem exclaimed turning to the door to leave.
“Before you leave!” Gem groaned, but stopped walking nonetheless, “Can I ask you about something … else?”
“If this is about modern slang again no! I’m still recovering from last time,” Gem faked shuddering, sitting down at the chair in front of Grians desk anyway.
“NO! No, never again,” Grian couldn’t really bear another lesson of that either. Neither had come away with their dignity intact. At least he had the foresight not to ask in front of the entire class. Let them believe in his dignity a bit longer.
Gem sat back, waiting for Grain to continue.
“How - um… how do you feel about… about there being a hybrid loose in Upper City?” Grian hesitantly asked. Silence filled the room before Gem let out a disappointed sigh. Pinching the bridge of Her nose, Grain got the distinct feeling she was trying to not look at him in order to maintain her sanity.
“Please tell me you haven’t been making two separate groups of students suffer because you said something stupid to Dr. Good about Cute Guy. Please tell me that's not the reason.”
Grian sputtered in indignation at the comment.
“Don’t deny it! Pretty much everyone knows you don’t like her. Anytime students bring her up you .. kinda lose it. And Dr. Good doesn’t hide the fact that he loves talking about her.”
Grian didn’t exactly have a rebuttal for that. Scar seemed to really like his vigilante persona though. Just how much had he been talking about her to the students?
When Grian didn’t respond, Gem put her head into her hands and sighed deeply again, “Okay, I know that you don’t really like her, but she’s done a lot of good since coming to Upper City. You at least can see that right?” A familiar point, but one that didn’t comfort him.
“But what happens when she causes a catastrophe? What happens when good people get caught in the crossfire of something they don’t understand? When good people die for something that shouldn’t even exist?” Grian shot back agitated. He crossed his arms to soothe himself but found it lacking.
Gem stared at him, eyes wide in surprise at the outburst. Fair enough. Anxiety-riddled rants weren’t exactly something Grain was known for.
“Is it fair to punish the people you care about for something you don’t even know will happen? From where I’m sitting, it does more harm that way than just being honest with the people you care about. If… if what you’re afraid of happens, isn’t it better to be there for them at times like that?”
Grian turned his head to stare out the window again, rather than respond. How could he respond honestly when he couldn’t be fully honest about the situation? Before he could figure out the words he’d need to explain Gem continued.
“Besides, we don’t get to know the future. We have to do the best we can with what we have, and from where I’m sitting- you cutting off one of the best things that’s happened to you doesn’t seem like the best thing you can do.” Gem finished standing up and heading to the door. Hesitating with her hand on the handle, Gem seemed deep in thought for a moment before saying-
“Don’t isolate yourself over what-if scenarios. Accept that life gets messy, but that doesn’t mean you don’t deserve the love from people around you. Sometimes that's all you have to get through the mess.”
With that Gem left the office. As the night furthered, Grian sat for a long time watching the lights, watching past them. Seeing , yet unseeing. Perhaps they were right. Perhaps Mumbo and Gem had a point. The whole world was already in danger. What good would cutting off the two people that had given his life purpose all those years ago?
Grian couldn’t say for sure what was going to happen. What choices were right? Despite his life carrying on this long, he couldn’t be sure what to do. Centuries he had watched- and now… now it felt like there was never enough time. All that time waiting for the proper moment and now… now it felt like he wasn’t sure of anything.
Was he putting them in more danger by being away? Or was he only trying to convince himself of that because he missed them? Would his selfishness cost him another loved one? The memory of flames nearly gave him whiplash. Would he be able to handle that feeling of desperation again? If he separated himself and they needed him- needed him like she had needed him- could he stand aside again?
Was he only doubting himself because he didn’t fully trust Hot Guy? Could he trust Hot Guy? Could he handle such a deep betrayal again?
Resting his head back on his chair, Grian closed his eyes and sighed.
Sitting around wasn’t going to make the answer any more obvious, though. Staring once more out the window- Grian let out a sigh. Maybe a flight around the city would help, though it was possible Grian only thought that way in the hope he’d see a certain someone.
Two months. Gods above he was weak.
Getting up, Grian glanced at his closed office door. Not really in the mood to pretend he needed a car, he locked the door- ready to just pretend he’d fallen asleep at his desk. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d done it. With the office officially locked up, Grian opened a portal. The wavering purple haze blocked the view of the other side, but Grian had long ago perfected his warping abilities. Stepping through the haze, he felt his body tingle as it washed over him before depositing him into what had become “his” apartment. In actuality, he rarely spent time here, but it was convenient as a storage facility.
Plus, normal people required a place to live, and Grain was nothing if not “normal”.
Conveniently, it was also a place where he could get into character without having to worry about someone making the connections.
Shifting his red sweater into the black backless turtleneck was all too easy. Dropping the illusion from his back, Cute Guy revealed his wings. Not his wings, no, but the fluffy pink wings we designed to fit the Cute Guy brand. A brand that Joel had dared him to do, and Lizzie had loved the pink coloring of. Jimmy was just pleased he hadn’t been forced to match said brand.
Revealing the feathers on the side of his head, colored to match that of his wings, he masked his glasses to give the top half of his face his signature darkness. The inky blackness hid the majority of his face as well as giving his normal dark eyes an eerie purple glow. It worked better than finding an actual mask. Focusing on the lower half of his costume, he changed his jeans into the shorts and tights combo he had been teased over, but it was more comfortable to fight in! Adding the pink bows down the shorts and behind his neck he was almost done. Finally, he changed his tennis shoes into the winged-heel boots he had proudly designed.
The first time he saw himself dressed in the costume he couldn’t believe it was himself, which meant it was perfect for Cute Guy.
Opening a portal behind herself, Cute Guy let themself fall backward through it. Now facing up in a free fall, from thousands of feet in the air Cute Guy let out a sigh of relief watching the open sky above her.
They did not need to turn their head, ever watching as they fell towards the earth.
As the skyscrapers began to pass by their face, she sighed once more before flipping around and spreading her wings and allowing them to catch her. Gliding through the city, Cute Guy couldn’t help but look for any sign of the number 1 hero awaiting them on a roof time. Though after two months of being a no show it was understandable if he was a no-show-
Stopping midflight- Cute Guy caught sight of someone he did not expect. Sitting beside a bench in the only park in the city, was Scar.
Fresh guilt waved over Cute Guy as she hovered in place, watching the professor with a sketchpad, engrossed in his work. Was it safe for him to be out so late? The air was chilly, and Cute Guy hadn’t seen any heroes in the area. What if a monster appeared? How long had he been out here? Could he even draw with such little light?
Before he even realized it, Cute Guy was slowly moving closer to him.
Hovering over his shoulder, Cute Guy tried to piece together what he was drawing.
Instead of seeing the cramped buildings of the city and the blandness of the only park in the city, the drawing on Scar's notebook was breathtaking. It was a sprawling landscape, with vague depictions of buildings along a main road leading up a hill where a castle stood. The castle took up most of the background, with a plum of smoke wisping over from someplace off the page. It was the first time Cute Guy had ever seen the place, yet it felt so… familiar to him.
Like a beautiful dream.
Cute Guy couldn’t help the gasp that escaped them. Startled the sketching man screamed and jumped, dropping his pencil as he whirled around to lock eyes with the vigilante. His green eyes widened impossibly further as he realized just who was behind him.
“I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you! I just... I liked the drawing and-” Cute Guy began but broke off as Scar devolved into laughter. Enraptured, Cute Guy stood frozen as he watched the man's body shake from the force of his laughter.
“No, it’s okay. I get too wrapped up in my sketches sometimes. I should pay more attention to my surroundings when I decide to draw in public,” he explained through giggles. Cute Guy took the opportunity to move from behind the man to his side. Partly because he knew the angle of Scar's neck could not be comfortable, and partly because he wanted to appear less intimidating for him. Though from what Gem said earlier that might not have been necessary.
“So, can I ask why you’re out here so late drawing?”
“Well, it’s not for the light I can tell you that much. I just… I like changing the scenes around me I suppose. Imagining what they could be rather than what they actually are.”
“So, what is this park supposed to be then?”
“Main street! It will lead all the way through the park, to the castle. People will be able to experience a unified setting of theme and adventure in one safe, reliable park!”
Cute Guy stared down at the page once more, only this time they could see it. A crowded main street, vibrant flowers blooming, the sugary scent of food filling the air, as music played through the park.
“Oh,”
“Oh?”
“I can see it,”
“Really?” Scar turned to look at his drawing again, before holding it up to where he could compare it to the scenery.
“It wouldn’t fit here though, would it?”
Cute Guy's heart hurt at that. There would be nowhere within the walls Scars theme park could be. Yet, it still deserves more than anything else to exist in this world.
“Still, it’s my dream to be able to create the park of my dreams. One day.” Scar broke the silence Cute Guy didn’t dare to break.
“So Cute Guy, what’s got you out here so late? I thought you fled the city before it got dark?” Cute Guy smirked at the fact that Scar had clearly been doing his homework on Cute Guy.
“I live in Upper City, I just usually head home after the sun goes down.” Cute Guy said offhandedly and Scar nodded as if the response made sense.
And then quickly stopped.
“Wait, if you live in Upper City how are you able to hide the…” Scar trailed off his hands and gestured to his head. Silently, Cute Guy judged Scar.
“... have you ever seen a bird with pink wings?”
“Umm… flamingos?”
Cute Guy blinked at that.
Don’t be insulted. Don’t be insulted. Scar didn’t mean it. He did not just call you a… flamingo.
Cute Guy let out a sigh,” No, Scar. I am not a flamingo. I can change my appearance. Which includes when and how I reveal my wings.”
“Oh”
Cute Guy laughed loudly.
“Well, how was I supposed to know that!” Scar exclaimed in indignation. Cute Guy noticed the pink hue staining his cheeks but decided not to call him out on it. However, he was still mildly offended to have been thought of as a flamingo .
“Anyways, the point was I didn’t think you patrolled out this late, Cute Guy,”
“Aww, I didn’t realize I had approached a fanboy,” Cute Guy absolutely had- Gem had only mentioned it an hour ago, but Scar didn’t need to know that.
Interrupting the new sputtering Scar gaze in an attempt to regain his dignity, Cute Guy giggled, “But you’re right. Normally I don’t, but I’m... kind of avoiding someone right now. Scar grew silent at that, staring up at Cute Guy with encouraging eyes. Taking it as a sign to continue Cute Guy sat at the bench next to him.
“It’s my fault really. I get kind of… stubborn when I want to be and, usually it’s never at good times.”
“If you don’t mind me asking… why did you start ignoring them?” Cute Guy sighed tilting his head back and staring up at the stars.
“I thought it would be safer. Safer for them… and for me,”
“Do you… feel safer without them?”
“No. But like I said I’m stubborn. Even if I don’t feel safer, he is without me around.”
Silence filled the air, but Cute Guy didn’t find it uncomfortable. Unlike the conversations with Mumbo and Gem, he didn’t feel the need to defend himself. Somehow it was like Scar just… understood. However, Cute Guy likely was only convincing themself of that.
“I can’t fault you for wanting to keep them safe. I can’t imagine the life you live is one of safety.” A sharp laugh left Cute Guy at that. Scar had no idea.
The wind filled the silence around them before Scar spoke again.
“Still though, they chose to be next to you. We can never really know everything about the people around us, but your friend seems to trust you, despite knowing you wouldn’t be able to tell them everything- that has to count for something.”
Cute Guy didn’t have a response to that. In a way Scar had trusted Grian, and without even meeting Cute Guy had implicitly trusted them when most citizens were still hesitant towards the vigilante. Would Scar be able to accept both sides of him, when faced with the fact that he lied? Could Hot Guy?
He trusts you.
“Thanks. Ya know you’re pretty smart ya know,”
“You know, I’ve been telling people that for years now and no one believes me!” Cute Guy laughed, and almost retorted that was because too many people on campus had seen Scar make a fool of himself, but caught himself before he could. After all that was something Grian would know- Not Cute Guy.
“Can I ask why you’ve decided to talk to me tonight though? I don’t imagine you make a habit of talking to citizens.” Scar said and Cute Guy fought the flush that she could feel fighting against her disguise. It wasn’t like she could say ‘Well you see my civilian identity has an embarrassing crush on you; to the point where my students have taken to bullying me over it, so here I am in disguise to make amends and get them all t stop pouting like a bunch of children’.
Yeah, that was not happening.
“Well-”
Suddenly, the hair on the back of his neck stood up.
Just like that, Cute Guy cut themself off. They were not alone.
“GET DOWN!” she yelled throwing her arm out and grabbing the front of Scar’s shirt tightly. Yanking downwards, she forced them both onto the grass just as the bullets began flying overhead. Cute Guy summoned a portal under the two of them, placing them behind the firing squad. Immediately standing back up Cute Guy worked to get rid of the gunman before they realized they had moved. Gathering his magic into his hands he slashed a high arc of his aether magic at several masked assailants.
The wave moved with Cute Guy's will, seemingly alive as it devoured enemy after enemy. Enraged at the threat they had posed to not only herself but to Scar. Rather than focusing on attacking, Cute Guy had to withhold the bloodlust his aether craved.
As the others noticed the duo had moved, they turned to return fire. Focusing on drawing their magic not only to her hands but to herself as a whole, Cute Guy let out a massive wave of magic, causing the bullets to ricochet violently back in the direction they had come from. The assailants managed to avoid being hit, barreling for more cover as they tried to regroup, but Cute Guy wasn’t going to let that happen. Watching the guns closely Cute Guy knew they weren’t normal guns. They had to have been specifically engineered to fight him, and if that was the case then-
“Cute Guy!” Scars voice broke through the haze they had found themself in and they risked a glance back at the still-prone professor. Fear iced down his back as he realized he had dragged Scar out of his wheelchair and left it some 50 feet away at the benches the assailants were now using as cover.
He couldn’t get away, and the assailants had no problem with firing at a civilian.
At firing at Scar.
With her attention still on Scar, she watched as his eyes moved from looking at him to being slightly to his left. Cute Guy was already turning as Scar’s mouth opened to call a warning.
As Cute Guy threw a shield of magic up to keep Scar safe, the assailants opened fire again. The shield would immediately dissolve anything that came into contact with it, keeping Scar safely inside. Yet he didn’t have time to do another.
Cute Guy began to teleport themself further away from Scar as a bullet tore through his side. Appearing several feet away from where she had wanted, Cute Guy staggered on her feet, before harshly hitting the ground on her knees.
Clutching the wound tightly, Cute Guy didn’t need to look at it to know their black blood was flowing heavily. Pressing it tightly, Cute Guy tried to focus on anything other than the biting pain she felt with every inhale.
“Cute Guy!” Scar’s yell once again broke through her thoughts, and her gaze once more gravitated to him. Now crouching on the ground, Scar stared at her panicked. But that’s not where Cute Guy's gaze lingered. The magic shield was flickering in and out of existence. A terrifying realization suddenly struck the hybrid as to why they would decide to attack now of all times.
Glancing down at the wound at his side, Cute Guy tried to summon the aether to close it. Instead, she was only able to gather a faintly flickering purple haze over the wound.
She was losing her magic.
Yells came from around her as the assailants realized the vigilante had yet to regain her fighting stance and they began to close in.
Jerking his head up once more, she made eye contact with Scar now screaming something at her she could no longer hear.
She was losing her magic, and Scar-
He’s going to die if he stays here.
No.
Cute Guy knew she didn’t have much magic left, but he was not going to let Scar die.
Not in this life.
“Goodbye my one Good Deed,” Cute Guy all but murmured as she summoned the rest of her strength to open a portal underneath Scar. He wasn’t even sure if Scar would have been able to hear her but he needed to say it. Grian would never get to say goodbye to him, at least Cute Guy could. With a sharp pang, she realized she wouldn’t be able to do the same with Hot Guy. Cute Guy would vanish, and his last memory of her would be that stupid argument. Gem and Mumbo were right. At least he wouldn’t live long enough for them to rub it in his face.
Scar’s eyes widened and he reached his hand out as he began to fall through the purple haze beneath him, “ G -”
But the rest of his sentence was cut off he slipped out of sight. Cute Guy only had time to sigh in relief and dismiss the portal before something blunt hit the side of her head, and she knew no more.