The last day. A momentous occasion. One that should be celebrated. Which is exactly what Nicki was doing. He was a little sad that all his friends he would like to hang out with had moved, and he had yet to make more. But celebrating with his parents was just as good. Not to mention Drystia was here celebrating with him. Even just sitting there not moving like a doll he was glad she came.
It was a lovely dinner, with delicious tres leches cake his mom had found the recipe for. They had all tried it once on vacation and fell in love with the cake, and would use any excuse to make it. Nicki finally getting the paperwork pushed through for his new apartment and moving out the next day was easily a good reason.
They didn’t live in the cheapest city but Nicki made plenty of money at this point and his parents had finally stopped pestering him about his job. When his mom had asked to go see the place he had to explain it was a satellite office that moved all the time. That didn’t make the case much better. His mother was either fully convince he was doing something illegal, or he was working for a shady contractor and was some kind of fall guy. His father on the other hand believed he was doing social work but was surprised at how dangerous it was. That was until he looked up the statistics and stories. It was around then that Nicki believed he got fully on board with the job because it was around then that his mother also seemed to believe him. Though they liked to remind him they thought the job was a bit dangerous every chance they got.
Nicki had contemplated staying at his parent’s place, for all of ten minutes. He loved his parents and all they had done for him, but it just wasn’t the same. That and he didn’t like being in his twenties still stuck at home.
It had been alright for a while living there, but Nicki was exhausted and ready to be on his own again. He had found the perfect apartment downtown, one that did not scream I’ve come into a lot of money which would just be overkill. It was a nice little place three bedroom corner apartment on the top floor downtown. Just a small spot in a city where the rent was just going up. Except his parents didn’t know that. They were still a bit out of touch with how much a place like that costs. He would refrain from actually telling them.
“Nick.” His mother’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. He missed the seriousness of her tone.
“Huh? Did you need the salt?” Nicki grabbed the salt to pass but she just pushed it down. Shaking her head.
“No hun.”
He did not miss her tone that time. Wearily he asked, “What’s up?”
“Well…” She trailed.
“That’s not good.”
“It’s not bad.” his father chimed. “It’s just since your moving out tomorrow. We’re just a bit concerned.” Nicki noticed his father’s eyes drift slightly to his left where Drystia sat.
“It’s about Drystia isn’t it?” Nicki had forgotten it looked for a grown man to walk around with a doll all the time.
“Yes. Are you alright? Ever since you got back you’ve taken Drystia everywhere. It’s a bit…” She trailed off.
Did I? Nicki thought back to the past few months and besides a few specific places he did seem to bring her everywhere. Man, I must seem broken to them.
“I know it’s a bit weird, but my therapist recommended it. Carrying it around for my own piece of mind, and for the children.” That wasn’t even a lie his therapist had thought it was a good idea to bring her around if it made him feel safer. He had been through a lot and needed someone to talk to. One who wouldn’t send him to the loony bin. Thankfully his black insurance card gave him what he needed, and they hooked him up with a paranormal psychiatrist. Though Nicki was sure he also thought he was a bit crazy.
“Children?” His mother blinked before she seemed to remember. “Oh yes, I suppose that would be comforting.”
His father on the other hand. “What do you mean calms you down?”
“Well, after…” Nicki involuntarily cringed at the memory of seeing his blood all over the ground. The coldness. The fact his mind seemed to become distant. He caught himself before he got lost. “What happened. She kind of is like… my emotional support doll.”
“Nicki we’re just worried. It’s a bit off.” His mother said.
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He felt both tired and happy at their concern. “I know Mom. I’m still working my way into being able to leave her alone. And hey according to my therapist, I’ve made progress.”
“That’s good Nick. But maybe it’s early.”
“Look.” He really wanted them to understand, “I know after last month I might seem a bit off. But I’m doing fine and I can take care of myself.”
The two looked at each other a bit concerned. Before his mother sighed, looking down at Drystia who looked to be rolling its eyes.
“Just remember we are here if you need anything.”
Nicki smiled.
#
A man stands in an empty apartment surrounded only by boxes filled with everything he owned. Admittedly it wasn’t a lot but it was all his. The man had finally been able to move to his dream city, and now. Now he was broke.
That didn’t matter to him right now all that mattered was his new place. Though he could do without the freshly painted smell and cleaning chemicals in the air. It was a bit much, and he couldn’t even open a window. He had quickly found them painted shut. Still, he could only smile as he toured his own place again, opening every door and wandering aimlessly thrilled at his own place. There was still so much to do and set up, but that was for later.
Feeling a bit hungry he found himself in front of the fridge and laughed when he opened it finding it empty. Looks like I need to buy my own food.
Now he could do anything he wanted. Anything that didn’t cost money. After all the application fees, moving costs, deposits, and furniture costs he would need to buy that he forgot to factor into the place. He was running a bit low on money. At least until his next paycheck. None of that mattered. He was free and just wanted to bask in his own little piece of heaven. Except he still had a few boxes downstairs in his car. Just one or two but those stairs were killer after running up and down them all day.
Just a few more boxes. It was just a quick run down three stories, and he excitedly rushed down eager to lay on his little air mattress he still needed to blow up. He hoped he grabbed the one that didn’t leak. He would find out pretty quickly if it was flat in the morning.
He grabbed the last two boxes from his car and being a bit over-eager ran up the stairs. He was nearly at the top when his feet tangled and he nearly dropped everything, as he stumbled forward barely catching himself. Then immediately over-correcting as he fell backward the boxes a heavy counterweight pushed him down.
He was flailing trying to catch himself when he looked back at the hard cement floor and only had one thought.
Is this how I die?
That’s when he felt a warm hand grab him and pull him back. His heart was beating a mile a minute as he tried to compose himself. Great. I move out and nearly die on my first day.
“Hey, you ok?” A deep warm voice asked the man.
Still stunned and quite a bit flustered about his near-death experience he couldn’t muster up a single word. It had nothing to do with his devilishly good looks or smile that sparkled like stars.
The man who caught him looked down noticing the distance and the hard cement below. “Wow. That was close.”
“Yeah.” He looked up at his savior and found himself blushing.
His eyes smiled, “I take it your new?”
“Uh yeah. Just moved in.” The man was having trouble looking the man in the eye. He felt incredibly embarrassed to have to be saved.
“Didn't think I’d need to be saved so soon.” Even he wasn’t sure why he said that.
“Do you need to be saved often?” He asked with a laugh.
His face grew hot. “Maybe I just need a dedicated Hero.”
Silence. He felt his heart beating out of his chest. The fuck are you doing. You just moved in. You cant hit on the first cute guy you meet. He’s probably straight.
“Oh my. Why don’t I take the little damsel to dinner first. Celebrate your new apartment. I’m Micheal.”
“Richard.”
#
“Holy shit that was cute as hell.” A man nearly shouts as he reads through the file of his newest Hero. Nicki hadn’t expected such a cute little story so soon after he was sent there. Made him want to meet someone. His last girlfriend was back in college and was more of a fling. They had both known it was only till they graduated. They would still talk every so often. She had gotten married not too long ago. Nicki had even had fun at the wedding.
Let’s work on making friends before a relationship.
“Ok, now I’m completely lost.” Drystia interrupted his thoughts. “How was that a Hero? Shouldn't there be magic and whatnot?”
Nicki eyed her, “If you couldn’t see the magic between them. Then you might be blind.”
“You know what I mean.” She said annoyed.
“I’ll admit it’s not quite what you expect. But it is not like everyone needs a big flashy Hero. To some, a Hero is just someone who is there at the right time.” He smiled at her, “Kind of like you.”
“I’m not into you like that.” She said seriously.
Nicki rolled his eyes. “No. Not what I meant. Like being there for them, when they need it. A person to listen, or help with a problem. Little things that can mean the world to another.” He pointed at her. “You were there. You helped me when I needed it, and most of all. You listen.”
“And kick nightmares, demons, gods, and eldritch beings’ asses.” She said standing with her sword as a seven-foot woman superimposed over her body power radiating off of her.
“Yea, that too.” He conceded. “But for them.” He pointed towards the manila folder on his desk. “It’s very simple, yet just as complicated. A new life, in a new apartment in a new world. Micheal was just there at the right moment.”
“Sure we make heroes. Everyone who passes through is a Hero. They will gain some kind of power, whether we give it to them or their deity does. Just by leaving their world their destiny is changed, and there is power in that. What we really do is try to give them the best life possible. And if they save a world or two on the way then that’s just great.”
Drystia was silent after Nicki’s little rant. “So how’s the friend hunting going?”
Nicki fell back in his chair, “Not great.”
* * *