Ironhide (Two Years Ago):
My name is Markus Adolor. I am 31 years old. And my beautiful wife, Sandra, is five months pregnant with our first child. I, of course, am nervous. What new parent wouldn't be?
Today, I am going to be requesting paternal leave from my hero job. I will still do neighborhood patrols, as I enjoy them, and it's mostly greeting the neighborhood kids who feel safe with a hero in the neighborhood. Just a break from the missions and paperwork so I can properly take care of my wife and the baby.
I hear a high-pitched voice ring out, "Darling! Can you c'mere?!"
I put down my pen and my journal, in which I was writing, and walked out to the kitchen, where I saw Sandra, looking up at me, her flowing red hair, wearing a comfy turtleneck, and a pair of baggy sweatpants. She's donning a noticeable baby bump. She's gorgeous, the love of my life.
"What do you need, love?" I ask her.
"I need you to stop procrastinating and go ask your boss for that paternal leave! C'mon! I know he's a dick, but you've been putting that conversation off for so long! You do need to notify him in advance, and waiting isn't good." She says, leaning up and planting a kiss on my cheek. "I love you, but you need to start being more proactive. Okay?" She follows up, taking my hand.
"Ah… Y-Yes… You're right, darling. I'm the Rank 25 hero after all. I'm sure my boss will respect me enough to have that conversation. Nothing to worry about… Right?" I reply, I feel myself clenching up. Why does the prospect of this conversation scare me so? Is it because I know what he's capable of? What he can and does do to people…
No! My Sandra is right. I just need to walk in there and get it over with! I live ten minutes away from HQ.
I kiss Sandra's hand before turning around and grabbing a banana from the fridge for her. "Here. I know you've been craving one. You've eyed them every time you've opened the fridge today."
"Hehe, you know me so well, Markus." She replies, happily taking the banana and peeling it.
"I'll be back in about half an hour," I say as I approach the door.
"Bye! And remember, you're Ironhide! Act like it! You're awesome, darling, just talk to your boss with that confidence." Sandra calls out.
"Ah… Yes, I will!" I reply with a wave as I shut the door behind me.
I began to walk out of the neighborhood, and as I made my way toward HQ, I looked down and saw a young boy. Ah, one of the neighborhood children. He is always hurt and alone. I like inviting him to eat dinner with Sandra and me. She enjoys his company too.
"Hi Mr. Ironhide! I was just about to go play in the park down the street!" He greets me excitedly.
I smile back and wave, "Alright, young one, have fun. And be safe. Don't talk to strangers, and don't do anything too dangerous."
"Okay! I won't!" He shouts as he scampers off. For a boy in his situation, he is oddly chipper.
I continue on my way to HQ, making it there and entering the lobby. I see my boss, Paragon, already waiting for me in a bean bag chair to the right of the entrance doors.
"Ironhide! Come sit. Come sit!" Paragon greets me. I say nothing and politely sit across from him. "So, what did ya want to meet lil' ol' me for?" He asks.
"As you know. My wife is pregnant with our child. And when the child is born. I would like to go on paternity leave. I'm sure you remember that you did it three times when your children were born." I say, hoping that none of my words irk him.
"Sure. I'll handle it." Paragon says with a smile.
Really?...
"Oh! Well, thank you. Paragon. It is much appreciated." I reply nervously. This isn't like him, but the change is welcome.
"No problem at all. Let me handle things. You're one of our best, Ironhide. It's only fair that I pay it forward." He says, standing up and leaving HQ.
That was easier than expected! I'd better go tell Sandra the good news! She'll be just as excited. Time off for us to care for our baby and spend more time together.
I leave HQ a few minutes after. Walking back to my home, I pass the park and see the boy from earlier. I notice his battered state. I didn't pay attention to it before. He typically looks like this anyway. He is currently on the swings by himself. The park is completely empty aside from him.
He spots me and waves, "Hi, Mr. Ironhide!" he chirps.
"Hello," I reply, waving back and sitting on the swing next to him.
"I'm here because I don't wanna be at home." He explains.
"Why not?" I ask.
"You know why, Mr. Ironhide." He says solemnly.
Ah…
"Well, you could come over for dinner again if you'd like. Sandra would love to see you." I offer.
His eyes light up. "Ooh! Thank you, Mr. Ironhide!"
I pause. I feel my face scrunching up. What kind of hero am I if I'm only going to help this child in a small way when he's going through a large issue? "Hey…" I say before following up with. "What if, after dinner, you started staying with Sandra and me… More permanently? You'd get a real bed and food. And… we wouldn't hurt you." I offer.
He looks away for a minute, "Uhm… Maybe… Not too sure… I'll give you an answer after dinner."
I nod and stand up. "Alright then. You do that. The food will be ready at six. So be at my house by then. I'm going to go home to start cooking."
"Okay, bye, Mr. Ironhide! I'm gonna keep playing until dinner!" He shouts after me as I leave.
I wave in acknowledgement and walk off. It's close to a fifteen-minute walk. I enter my house, and the first thing I see is a pool of blood.
What?...
I step inside in a panic. I see Sandra in her chair, but with a hole right through her stomach. Her eyes are rolled back, and blood is oozing out of her wound.
She's gone…
I want to scream, I want to find who did this. I swear if it's the last thing I do, I will aven-
Before that thought can be finished, Paragon walks out of the kitchen. "Hey, man! I handled it! She's gone. No need for paternal leave anymore, right?" He says with a smile as he waves at me, like what he just did wasn't an absolute atrocity.
"Y-You…" I begin to say, before getting cut off, "Fixed the problem? Yes. I did. You're welcome." He says before leaning in to whisper: "I did you a favor, you big iron dope. Don't get so pissy with me. Try anything and there'll be no one left to even remember that bitch."
He stands back upright, and he pats my shoulder before leaving.
He…
He took everything…
Why?! What the hell did I do?! What did she do?!
I turn around and raise my fist, but Paragon turns his head and shoots a glare at me.
I freeze. I can't move.
Is this fear? Or something else? I should be able to move for Sandra. She deserves me doing this much… But I know that if I do, I'm dead…
I stand there motionless, frozen in place for twenty minutes.
I failed… I failed to save my wife, and I failed to save our baby…
I can't call myself a hero…
Wait! Right! The boy! I need to save him! Sandra would have wanted me to. I am Ironhide! I can't turn my back on this. If I ever want to call myself a hero again, I need to stand my ground on my morals!
I run out of the house like a man possessed, making a run for the park. But when I arrive…
He's nowhere to be seen…
Ironhide(7 days later):
He was never found. The boy was never seen again.
I failed again. I was powerless. I couldn't do anything…
Never again… Never again will I fail… If it's the last thing I do, I will destroy this system from the inside! I will ensure that no hero like Paragon ever reaches the top! Never again. Never again will something like this happen…
I feel the tears of regret starting to fall and stain my face. I can't stop them. I lie in bed, sitting with my mistakes. I let everything fall apart. I let people down in the worst way when it truly mattered…
Never again.
Ironhide(Present):
This boy… Just murdered a hero, simply to prove a point to me. My mind flashes to what Paragon did to Sandra. Senseless killing for the sake of it.
But he has a point. I was complacent. Naive. Enabling Paragon in most cases, and never defying him when it came to the important decisions. I'm a hypocrite. I preach morals and justice, but I won't address corruption or fight against it on my own side.
I vowed to change things, but did I?...
No. I became their puppet…
But I still can't turn a blind eye to this boy's current mindset. His ability to kill without thinking. This isn't right…
So, still… at all costs. I will save him.
I stand up, towering over the young Chameleon. "You're right. I am a hypocrite… But still. You're coming with me. I promise you. I will save you. No matter what." I tell him.
"Hah. Still deluded with your false ideas of 'saving me'. That's why you're going to lose. You're weak." Chameleon replies, placing his pointer finger to the side of his forehead. "You don't have the mental fortitude to endure and fight back when it really matters." He says, following up.
I must ignore his words. He wants to get in my head. I inhale sharply.
I must go all out. I can't let another person in need slip away from me. I will save him. He will come with me. He will join the other two and start a better life… I won't let myself screw this up…
Never again.