GrunkleStanwhich t1_j0mdb6f wrote
What is the definition of chaos? There surely is one, but the real meaning varies depending on who you ask. To a superhero like Gamma Grafton the definition was skewed from the norm. Something surely along the lines of "chaos is the normal. What happens in my head."; something strong sounding and oafish. But for me. Well I knew that chaos was just the absence of order. And well, order is my business.
As another truck came hurdling through the air in my direction I threw myself to the ground, watching as it soared over. I couldn't stop it, at least, not yet. A voice from behind yelled out: "In-sure! It's headed for the apartments, there's still people inside!"
"Don't tell me how to stop cars and I wont tell you how to beat people half to death, Howitzer. Now get back to it! Oh...and you can stop holding back."
My response seemed to relieve him a little. Though I didn't have much of a reputation with the public, other heroes had seen what I was capable of; amongst them I had glowing reviews. He gave me a smirk and turned back to face his opponent, a large, mechanized man with arms the size of tanks. With an explosive leap Howitzer speared the mechanical maniac backwards. Where he'd jumped from a smoldering crater and more work for me was left behind.
The truck bounced off of the ground with its continued momentum, barrelling closer to the apartments. On the balcony's those that previously watched now ran in panic. I watched a woman lock her balcony door on the way in.
But despite their panic I had to wait, my timing needed to be perfect.
"In-sure! You positive you got it!?" Howitzer spoke between attacks, another explosion erupting at his fists.
I did not reply. My concentration was in perfect form and I couldn't allow the insufferable worrier to ruin that. They always worried so damn much. And in that moment it happened, as if in slowed time. The moment the truck touched the building, shifted a single brick, all of my requirements were met. I yelled out into the air my catchphrase: "That building is insured!" (Never really caught on), and the car halted in its tracks, losing all of its momentum and falling to the street in a heap. The brick on the building that had been pushed in slowly aligned itself.
"Oh...the truck is insured too" in response the wreck perked back up, transforming back into a car once again
I couldn't help but stand back and smile at my work. Of course I had done this a million times before, but it never got old, and recognition or not, I loved my job.
The chaos on the street a moment ago had fallen to quiet. Behind me a charred Howitzer stumbled over and to my side, his labored breathes proof of the battle that had ensued. Behind him the large mechanical man lay still, thrown through the side of a building. At a glance that had seemed to be the worst of the damage, but upon a deeper look there were craters all up and down the street. Char marks along homes. One house squished entirely flat, pancaked into a fiery nothing.
Howitzer let out a long sigh "Great work on the apartments! I shouldn't have worried. But uhm...do you mind getting the-"
With a single phrase from my mouth: This block was insured, the street returned back to normal, rebuilding itself like lego pieces until it was as good as new. The building spit the large mech back out onto the street.
I could hear the police arriving, and with them camera crews and press. They'd clamour to Howitzer and rave about his win. About how clean he'd kept the streets during battle. And sure, he'd give me recognition, they always did, but I was an addendum. An after thought to their glory. An and I couldn't have done it without In-sure, hastily tacked on the end of their words.
As I got ready to leave though a face appeared on the apartment balcony, followed by another and another. Soon they were flooded, flooded with eyes all staring to me. I could hear their whispers even from down below.
"Thats the guy who saved us. In-Sure right?"
"Wow I mean Howitzer won but without the other guy we'd be doomed!"
I tested out the words on my tongue in a whisper, then with a bit of found confidence yelled up. "Don't worry. I in-sured your safety!"
To my surprise I was met with applause, with a roar of cheers from the balcony. Howitzer smiled, patting me on the back with a charred hand.
"Feels good huh? You should get this more often, hero."
It did feel good. And even though I loved my job, praise or not, cheers never hurt. I was glad someone realized that chaos was not just the absence of order, it was the absence of me.
Writers note: Some goofy lore I wanted to add but had no place to. In-Sure gets around by destroying parts of sidewalk or pavement then standing on it as he activates his power of repair. Doing so gives him a boost, as the pieces repairing under his feet shoot him forward.
wheatgrass_feetgrass t1_j0mjy4n wrote
Haha this is so great. I wonder if his fellow heroes are insured. Although I'm not sure putting organics back together would be a clean process. This could go pretty deep where side effects start appearing and he realizes the way his power work is kind of dark and he's actually rewinding time on a micro level or something. Or that he's been tricking the cosmic capitalist force that granted him this power by saying stuff is insured but actually isn't and he has to start a campaign to insure the entire world as a technicality.
_DirtyDog t1_j0nd5i3 wrote
That truck was in the air for a long time 😅
Good story though! Loved the catchphrase!
GrunkleStanwhich t1_j0ndrxl wrote
Thanks! Yeah I definitely considered that but couldn't make it work otherwise, ha.
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