updates every sunday

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HERO.SPHERE NEWS, where you get the latest and juiciest news about all your favourite superheroes!

Good evening, and welcome to Hero.Sphere news!

The Golden Clover has done it again! Saving ten victims trapped inside a speeding truck this morning with his insurmountable speed and strength, The Golden Clover succeeds at preventing yet another tragedy from befalling the city of Utopion.

Though the mastermind behind this incident has not yet been caught, The Golden Clover promises that the citizens of Utopion can be rest assured they'll be sleeping safely and soundly tonight, as he will not rest until all crime in Utopion has ceased to exist.

Citizens have also been worried about a few injuries that have seemed to be sustained by The Golden Clover, but the hero has reassured everyone that he is still in good health, and is working on finding the perpetrator responsible for the incident this morning.

This has been Jeong Yunho, reporting for Hero.Sphere news --

"You should really turn that shit down," a voice interrupts the news anchor's report, causing San's gaze to divert from the TV screen. It's Song Mingi, the man splayed across the wine red couch and his long legs dangling over the arm rest. "I'm having a headache right now."

San finds himself chuckling, despite his sour mood. Mingi has that effect on him, it seems, stemming from the fact that they've known each other for years, working under the same twisted organisation that props up arrogant, self-absorbed heroes like these.

San's eyes dart to the screen again, lowering the volume. "Shouldn't have worked out at the gym, then."

The 'gym' is more like an underground pit he and Mingi train at right under their settlement, the other male having to enhance his muscles due to the nature of his zia, as well as the tasks he's always given. Because Mingi's zia involves using his limbs to their full velocity, he constantly needs exercise and rest, and the frequent headaches he gets are just an added bonus. San's far too familiar with those.

"Not my fault when my body literally works against me," Mingi groans, kicking off his shoes. San grimaces when one narrowly misses the coffee table. "At least I got a Gain out of it."

San glances at the screen once more, remembering the new Gain he saw in his account when he checked it at the Dominion earlier this afternoon. The Dominion's a bit like a bank, a place where he monitors his savings and losses.

A video of The Golden Clover plays right then on the news, the hero's smile brilliant as ever as he poses with a bunch of people, living up to the picture-perfect, cookie-cutter standards of superheroes. His black and gold suit is pristine and his hair is carefully styled, not a strand out of place.

San's fingers tremble, the right side of his face suddenly itching. He's shoved back into that moment when the hero -- Jung Wooyoung -- had him pinned on the damp ground, his grey eyes trailing all over his features.

San had never felt more exposed in his life. Even though he doubts Jung Wooyoung will recognize him again, the hero's proximity and that look in his eyes had San's world momentarily spinning on its axis.

It made San utilize more of his power than necessary, hitting Jung Wooyoung harder even when he knew it'd fuck with him soon enough. He also couldn't hurt Jung Wooyoung so much that he put him in a critical condition. And now, hours later, San is still recuperating from their 'fight'.

San feels Mingi's eyes on him, and if he were anyone else, San would've made him regret it. But Mingi's seen the worst parts of San -- he's always been there for him, even -- so San just shies a bit away, averting his gaze. "What?"

Mingi gestures at the screen, where a montage of The Golden Clover's numerous achievements is still playing. Sometimes it seems like the hero's less of one and more of some idol. Even when some attention is placed on other heroes, The Golden Clover still manages to overshadow everyone.

"Think he's cute?" Mingi comments, lips quirked in that way they do when he wants absolutely nothing more than to fuck with San.

A slide of Jung Wooyoung doing his stupid hand over the heart pose fills the screen right then, and San wills a fork into the air. It's pointed at Mingi, showing intent.

"You're on thin fucking ice," San replies.

Mingi laughs, not taking his threat to heart. Then he's rubbing his head. "Ow. Anyway, you had to fight him this morning. How'd it go?"

"What do you think? He saved the day once again," San says, unable to bite back his sarcasm.

"He didn't see your face, right?"

San's breath hitches, the skin around his right eye throbbing. It isn't painful -- not anymore, at least -- but the fact that Jung Wooyoung saw him, mask and all, encroaches him in deep insecurity. He wants to scream.

"He..." San sighs, "he got close. But my mask covered me."

Too close, in fact. San forces himself to stop thinking about the man.

"That's good," Mingi answers, taking a sip of water. "Wouldn't want an earful from the Headquarters again."

San's thumbs pick at his skin, his nails bitten to the nub, pink and tender. It's a bad habit of his, stemming from all his worries, but he can't really stop.

"When's your next task?" Mingi asks, as they usually get their instructions on a document through mail, kind of like some fucked up script.

"I don't know," is San's curt reply. The TV screen showcases Wooyoung saying something into a mic, his hand raking through his red hair all carefree and charismatic. He wears a mask like San does, but unlike San, he isn't shunned for it.

"You need to go take a shower," Mingi states, arm stretching into the kitchen in search of the fridge. "You've been seated here since morning."

"I'm waiting."

"They don't really let the kids call at night, you know that San," Mingi responds, a satisfied hum leaving his lips when he finally latches onto a yoghurt. "Aha! As I was saying, you're better off just seeing Jongho tomorrow morning."

San's jaw clenches as he looks down, because Mingi's right. Jongho has rarely phoned him at night due to how difficult and strict the authority figures there can be, but San was still hoping he'd get to hear his brother's voice before he went to sleep. "I know."

Mingi stares at him again, a knowing look in his gaze. "I know it's hard, San, but Jongho won't want you feeling sad and not taking care of yourself because of him. Jongho is fine."

San runs his fingers through his hair, too tired to argue. "I know."

"Want me to make dinner? Or we could order something. Anything you want, it's my treat," Mingi says, despite the risk exposing themselves to strangers poses. Although they've never been identified, it doesn't stop San from feeling a little cautious.

Inspite of this, he just nods, standing to his feet. "We could order."

"Go freshen up, then," Mingi tells him, giving him a thumbs up for encouragement. "I believe in you, bro."

San scoffs, heading for the bathroom. He hates switching on the light, but without it, the place is pitch black at night.

San blinks when the lightbulb's brightness swarms his vision, and when he finally regains his bearings, he tugs off his clothing. When nothing remains on him except for his mask, he faces the mirror, a slight tremour in his hands.

As a result of years spent going on tasks and working on his skills, his body's on the leaner side, with broad shoulders and a defined torso to match. He's not weak, but when he zeroes in on the mark adorning his face, his heart can't help but skip a beat.

He's thinking back again to his and Jung Wooyoung's encounter, to how the hero's fingers had lightly grazed the harsh surface of his mask, his gaze stuck on nothing but his face.

The hero had almost looked bewitched by him, stunned in a way that allowed for San to hurt him enough that he managed to get away on time before his entire face could be revealed.

San looks away as he unties the mask, letting the rough material rest over the sink.

His light brown eyes only catch a flash of deep ruddy skin that clashes with the rest of his features before he enters the shower, washing his body like it'd rid itself of the memories plaguing him everyday by doing so.

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Wooyoung rolls his eyes as he dodges the pocket knife aimed at him for the nth time, the culprit's grip on the weapon outrageously bad. He nearly yawns, eyes focused on the purse tightly wound in the man's grip.

This guy's an armed petty thief, and an Ordinary, which means he's got no powers of his own. He stole some pregnant lady's purse and tried to hijack her car, and now he's attempting to stab Wooyoung.

"I advise you now to drop that knife," Wooyoung warns, police sirens blaring in the distance. The sound grates his ears, because with the police comes the reporters yet again, and when they're there he has to put his practised speech to use for the second time.

"No way," the bearded man growls, throwing a plank of wood at him, which Wooyoung zooms past. They're at a park, a bunch of onlookers peering from a distance. "Get lost and fuck off!"

He dives in to try and stab Wooyoung again, but Wooyoung snatches the knife from him, taking a step back.

"Give it back!"

Wooyoung flies away before the man can catch up to him. He can easily knock this guy out, but many eyes are on him right now, and his motto's that he only inflicts severe damage only when he absolutely has to, preferring to keep the criminals on lockdown before handing them over to the law.

The man rushes for him once more, only for someone to deck him the nose and knock him out. Their white suit glimmers under the early morning sunlight, red cape fluttering in the breeze. Fiery Dagger.

The blond man casually shifts a strand of hair off his face, his smirk rather infuriating. "Ah, The Golden Clover's here. How nice."

"Yeosang," Wooyoung berates, keeping his tone lowered. "You did not need to do that."

"Speak for yourself," Yeosang replies, flinging the unconscious man over his shoulder. He casts big, bright smiles towards whoever's watching and snapping pictures of them. "There are people around, and when they're around I absolutely need to do my best. You should too."

Wooyoung just scoffs, folding his arms before he remembers people are staring. He forces on a practised grin despite how annoyed he is on the inside. "Don't tell me you didn't have another mission stationed somewhere else. You just wanted to steal my thunder."

Now it's Yeosang's turn to scoff, dark brown eyes narrowing in contempt. "Finished it a while ago actually. Came because you couldn't manage to do your job, despite it being so easy a trainee could complete it."

Wooyoung's jaw clenches, but he says nothing as the cops and reporters arrive. Cameras flash and questions are fired at them in no time. It pains him to regard Yeosang like a trusted colleague, and it's even worse when they're the top two superheroes of Utopion. But then again, working with your ex always has its disadvantages.

Wooyoung can't wait till all this is over and he can finally get some sleep.

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a/n: thoughts?