Mr Munroe (Ororo's husband) :
Four thousand, eight hundred and sixty two... that's the number of duels I've lost to her... 4,863, that number, seared into my head like a brand. 4,864, the number that eats away at my pride. "failure. you failed, you failed, you're a failure, you can only fail. fail fail fail fail fail FAIL F A I L U R E!" my mind screams to me, 4,865 failures. I see it when she looks at me, she tries to hide it, tries to put on a show of sympathy. but I see the silent mockery, the superiority in her gaze. "I'm better than you, and always will be." she doesn't say it, but I hear it. over and over. and then he came. and he tells me he can help, can give me what I crave, what I NEED: victory. and when I see the surety in his eyes, hear it in his voice, despite knowing who... what... he is, I don't say no, like I know I should. I ask what it will cost, he tells me "an arm... only half of the usual phrase." and as he laughs at his own joke, I start to think about which one I'd miss more.
2025-07-31 00:34:34