(Part 3) Lin Ling's guide to becoming an emotional support civilian [YANDERE EDITION]

[TO BE HERO X] x [LIN LING]

[Part 1; Part 2 can be found here!]

Context warning: Cursing, falling

Author's note: Oh, thank god I'm done. This ballooned way past my expectations, so I'm really glad to be done! I hope you guys enjoy!

Once again, thank you @kiraisrika for the idea! [ And to my friends! if it weren't for their love bullying I wouldn't have finished so fast! ]

.

.

.

Lin Ling was awestruck. 

His cheeks were on fire, and he could feel his heart pounding out of his chest, but how could he not be!? His queen, his idol—his goddess—was standing right there! In front of him! They were breathing the same air! Oh god, he can’t breathe— 

“Welcome to True Love Recipe at our live venue! I'm your substitute host for today, rank 249th hero in the Association...Eye of Truth, Enlightener!” Huh? Lin Ling turned to Miss Juan, and from her facial expression, he could tell she was just as confused as he was.

Enlightener continues, “Welcome, Nice, Moon. This show is called True Love Recipe. As the name suggests, behind every romance lie hidden stories not known to outsiders.” Miss Juan was growing more frantic, pointing and slamming her hands down on the table. He was stuck in an awkward spot to either go over there and help her or continue to stand behind the couch, waiting like a sitting duck. ‘Damn Nice and his puppy eyes,’ he thought to himself, staying put. 

“So, today, we'll test just how much you understand each other.” Gesturing to them with his cup of tea, Lin Ling can now finally see the mask drop slightly for Moon, her eyes widening. “Nice, how many total commercials has Moon starred in? And what is their total runtime?” Oh, easy, 134 commercials with about 285 minutes and 48 seconds. 

“What kind of stupid, nitpicky questions are those?! Is he asking for a fight or something?” Or not, judging from Miss Juan’s reaction. 

After a beat of silence, Enlightener smirks, “Since your love is so perfect, I'm sure you wouldn't forget such details.” He goads. Getting a bit nervous for Nice, he clapped inaudibly to try to get Nice’s attention while mouthing the answer. ‘134 commercials with about 285 minutes and 48 seconds,’ he mouthed on repeat.

“In total…”

134 commercials with a total of 285 minutes and 48 seconds! C’mon!

“In total, there are 134 commercials.”

Yes!

Nice turned his attention to Enlightener, who stopped mid-sip of his tea to stare at him with shock. “They had a total run time of 285 minutes and 48 seconds.” Behind them, on the big screen, giant pink letters appeared, spelling out the word ‘BINGO.’ Lin Ling let out a stubble-sigh of relief. If he knew his fangirl's knowledge of Moon would come in handy, he would have started stanning her mouth earlier.

Moon turned to Nice, whispering something to him, but Nice responded loud enough that Lin Ling and the Mic could hear. “Of course, you are my girlfriend after all.” He says, his eyes empty as he smiles back at her. ‘Right,’ he thought to himself, with all that happened earlier, the fact that the Moon is his fake girlfriend slipped his mind.

Recovering from his shock, he pressed on, his confidence returning in full force. “For the second stage, let us play a game.” Suddenly, a little spot of light appeared on his chest before a string emerged from the spot, connecting Nice to a small machine in the middle. From the looks of it, it looked like a lie detector. “Truth or dare?” Enlightener smirks. 

“Honesty is one of the most important qualities—”

“Dare.”

“Huh?”

Nice offered him an embarrassed look. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt you, but to answer your question,” There was a certain sharp glint in his eyes as he smiled at Enlightener, as if daring him to contest him on this: “I choose dare; I hope you don’t mind.”

Enlightener gritted his teeth, his smirk wavering to a scowl. “Well, Nice, I actually do mind. Before you so kindly interrupted me, I was just about to go on about how important honesty is in maintaining relationships, so tell me.” The scowl has now reverted back to his smirk, but he can’t help but compare it to baring teeth. “Is Moon really your girlfriend?” 

Nice blinks, “Of course she is?”

All eyes turned to the machine. The machine spluttered for a little bit before a giant question mark appeared on its surface. “It’s…half correct?” The man seemed as confused as everyone else (excluding Nice), and at this point, Lin Ling’s lips were raw from how much he was biting them. Everyone turned to Nice for an explanation, but all he did was sigh, as if expecting this outcome. 

“I wanted to do this in a more private place, like at the cafe we had our first date at, or at my apartment, but” he waved helplessly at the machine. “The cat is out of the bag, I suppose.” Standing up, he neatly dusts himself free of any dust before turning to a stunned Moon. Bowing at exactly 90 degrees, he looks her dead in the eyes as he asks. 

“Moon, will you be my wife?” 

Instantly, everyone in the room exploded in shock. Not even Moon can hide her startled “Huh!?” She backs away from him, her hand covers her gaping mouth. Nice smile at her reaction, gently taking both her hands into his own. “I understand if this is a lot to you, but,” Drawing back to his full height, he continues, “I can’t help it. I have fallen for you deeper and deeper every day, and it pains me that you aren’t fully mine, so will you marry me?”

“I-I-”

“Stop!” Enlightener screeched, slamming his cup down on the ground, “Don't get complacent just yet! There's still a third stage you have to pass!” Lin Ling held back on the ground. Of course. The heart screen door to the left cracked open, smoke billowing out, and in the white smoke was the silhouette of…a man?

The man stepped forward into the light, the smoke dissipating with each step he took. Lin Ling can feel his throat tighten up as he finally realizes who it was. 

It can’t be… “Boss?” He muttered to himself. Nice snapped his head over to Lin Ling, but before he could say anything, Enlightener continued. “He was once an entrepreneur, but now he's been pushed into a corner like a trapped beast. He owes all of this to you, Nice! Nice, your entire hero persona is a product of his team's commercials! Not only that, but you've driven him to bankruptcy! You—”

“When are you going to pay me?” Just hearing his voice sent a shiver down his spine. When he was fired, one of the many thoughts going through his head was outside of ‘Holy shit, what should I do? I only have enough money to cover half a month of rent. I am so fucked—’ was ‘At least I never have to work, see, or even think about my boss ever again!’ Think again, past Lin Ling! Because there he is! Standing in… ripped frog armor?

‘What is my life?’ he thought for the 1 millionth and 1 time. As he questioned all his life choices and what led up to this situation, he failed to pay attention before a BOOM and CRACK could be heard. Whipping his head around, he can see Enlightener on the ground, rumbling surrounding him, and a crack in the pony wall behind him. 

Snapping his head back to his ex-boss, black tendrils of fear began to swim around him as his face twisted in anger. “I can't go out of business. I don't want to go out of business!” His inky black hands were shaking with rage. Whipping out a whip made from fear, he bellows, “You owe me a final payment! Pay me!” His whip lashes through the air as he runs towards Nice, his arm raised high, ready to send a devastating blow when-

Nice punches him.

He is knocked out cold. 

.

.

.

They were back in the van, speeding on through on the busy highway. Lin Ling had his eyes closed, resting his head against the cold windowsill. With such an anti-climactic fight, all the adrenaline has left his body, leaving behind an aching exhaustion. If it weren’t for the bumps in the road waking him up periodically, he would have fallen asleep right then and there.

Nice was curled up by his side, his face agitated. After confirming with Lin Ling that the man he punched was Lin Ling’s asshole boss, he was 1 second away from flying out of the car and giving the man a second round of ass-whopping. It was due to Lin Ling and Miss Juan’s combined efforts that they managed to keep him in the car. Lin Ling didn’t know why he hated his boss so much (perhaps he had experience with bad bosses before?), but he was too tired to ask. So now they ride in silence back to Hero’s tower.

Arriving back at Nice’s barren apartment, Lin Ling lazily threw his shoes on the ground haphazardly, and Nice picked them up and arranged them neatly near the entrance. “Do you have any pillows I can borrow?” He asked, yawning halfway through his question. His eyes were drooping now, and he desperately wished for a bed to crash on. A couch works, too. Honestly, the floor was also looking mighty tempting the longer he looked at it.

“Pillows?” Nice ask from behind, his arms pulling him back into his familiar embrace. “Yeah? I’m going to need them to sleep on the couch.” Nice stared at him before laughing. Lin Ling stares at him in sleepy confusion. If he had the energy, he would have rewound the conversation back in his head to see what he missed. But now, all he can do is stare at Nice so he can explain himself. “Silly little thing,” he coos, grinning, “You’re not sleeping on the couch. I have a perfectly sizable bed we can use!” Floating up, he tugs on Lin Ling’s hands, leading him behind the statue toward a bed on the ground, surrounded by water.

You know what? Sure, why not? Lin Ling was too tired to fight. Nice as he pushed him gently onto the bed. Unconsciously letting out a sigh, his tired body sank into the feather-light mattress. He can hear Nice giggle slightly as he burrows his head into the pillow, and like an ostrich, he ignores him completely in favor of pulling the blanket over himself. 

In one second flat, he was out like a light.

.

.

.

Lin Ling woke up gradually.

The first thing he could register was warmth. The second was someone behind him, their arms wrapped around his waist, squeezing him like a teddy bear. It was… pleasant. Pleasant enough that he was about to drift off back to slumber if it weren’t for the sound of a camera’s shuttering and someone angrily grumbling to themselves. 

“—Stupid Treeman company, stupid Miss Juan, stupid Nice. Lived with the guy for years and yet never once told me he had a boytoy.”

Nice, boy toy? What?

“—Miss Juan has to let me go now with these pics! Ugh, I can’t wait to revisit Bali and take a nice, long vacation there.”

Lin Ling slowly opened his eyes before immediately shutting them, hissing in pain at the sudden flashbang. The person—a girl—cursed out in shock at his sudden movement. He blinked multiple times, his eyes getting used to the bright room they were in. Once he blinked away all the blurriness, he looked to where the person was—

“Moon…?” 

Moon blinks. 

“Moon!”

Nice startled awake as Lin Ling jumped a good foot in the air, landing his ass in the cold water surrounding the bed. His heart was beating out of his chest, and the ice-cold water definitely shocked his system awake. “Moon!” Say something! “Hi! I didn’t know you lived here!” YOU IDIOT.

Both Nice and Moon are now staring, one concerned and one deadpan, at him. Lin Ling's face was hot all over, and he didn’t need a mirror to know he was blushing bright red. “Do you feel okay, Lin Ling?” “This is who you chose to cheat on me with?” They both said it simultaneously. Nice whipped his head in outrage at Moon held up her head while she looked back at her phone, clearly losing all interest in the conversation. “Save it, I don’t care, because!” Her scowl turned into a large grin, and a pop song rang on her phone. “That means I can leave!”

Miss Juan answers the call, “Moon, what is it—”

“MISS JUAN, NICE IS CHEATING ON ME; THAT MEANS HE BROKE THE CONTRACT, RIGHT?”

Lin Ling’s eyes widened as he desperately scrambled out of the stream of water. “Wait! No! We’re not like that!” He tries following, but with her quick strides and Nice pulling him back on the bed, soaking wet and all, he can only stare forlornly as she walks away, screaming into the phone. Or he would be if Nice didn’t put his hand over his eyes, blocking his sight.

Of course, “Nice, can you move your hand?”

Nice hums above him, as if actually considering the question at hand, “Would you continue to look at Moon if I do?” He asked, his tone playful but with a sharper edge. “I mean, yeah?” If she’s in the room and talking with him, what is he supposed to do? Not look at her? Nice hand tighten over his eyes. “Wrong answer!” Lin Ling groans.

“Can you at least let me go to the bathroom? I feel disgusting right now.” 

Nice sighed, as if it physically pained him to remove his hand, letting light enter back into his world. “Fine.” He brightened up again, though, as he began to haul Lin Ling back onto his feet. “Let me show you where the bathroom is! Don’t worry, you have your own toiletries and everything.” Huh, he didn’t even think of that. Stepping into the bathroom, he had to admit it was nice, the white, futuristic, minimalist decor finally working in a room’s favor.

Looking at the fancy toothbrush holder, he spots a bright yellow toothbrush, sharply contrasting with the other two paler toothbrushes beside it. Squinting, he almost rubs his eyes because no way at’s—

“Is that my toothbrush?”

Nice nods. “Mpmh! We got it in yesterday!”

“...please get out.” 

Shooing a stubborn Nice out of the bathroom, he quickly sped through his morning routine. (He grimaced slightly when he stepped out of the shower, realizing he would have to change back into his old clothes as he didn’t bring any fresh ones.)

Stepping out of the steaming bathroom, the white hung loosely around his neck; he was both half surprised and half not when Nice (who was apparently standing guard outside) lunged to his side before promptly attaching himself to him like the needy Koala that he is. He can see a few wet droplets dripping onto his white locks, but he doesn’t seem to mind, letting out a relieved sigh. “You smell good,” he mutters, digging his nose into his throat.

Before Lin Ling could even think up a reply to that comment, his stomach growled, drawing both their attention to it. Nice blinked at his stomach before promptly dissolving into a fit of laughter. It wasn’t even a polite little chuckle or even a giggle, no! It was a full-blown fit of laughter! Lin Ling could only stare in shock as the man laughed himself to tears, holding his stomach in for support.

“What—WHAT ARE YOU LAUGHING ABOUT!? I DIDN’T HAVE DINNER LAST NIGHT OKAY!?”

Nice held up his hand as he desperately gasped for air between laughter. After a full minute of this, Nice was finally able to pull himself together, wiping away the tears from the corner of his eye. “Sorry, I wasn’t laughing at you, I was just—” He sombered a little, pulling himself up to his full height. His arms were still wrapped around Lin Ling, but he couldn’t help but shiver slightly. “I just realized I hadn’t felt surprised in a long time.”

And if that didn’t break his heart. Hesitantly, he slowly pulled Nice into his own arms, reciprocating the hug. He can feel Nice’s body freeze, his hands around him like they didn’t know what to do. 

“I’m here.” He says simply.

Nice was quiet for a second before, like invisible strings being cut, all but melted into his hug. “Thank you.” 

.

.

.

Breakfast was awkward. They sat at the long dining table, Moon on one side, Nice and him on the other end. He was trying to enjoy his breakfast, but with Nice breathing over his shoulder and Moon alternating between glaring at Nice and staring at him hard like he was some kind of puzzle to solve, the food tasted like cardboard to him. 

“So,” Moon starts, her voice cutting through the tense air like butter, “Your Nice’s boyfriend?”

Oh, thank god, a chance to fix this misunderstanding. “Actually—”

“None of your business, nosy. Also, your elbows are on the table.” Or it would be if Nice didn’t cut in, his tone colder than Lin Ling has ever heard it. Awkwardly realizing his elbows were on the table, he hastily changed his posture while Moon huffed, looking him dead in the eyes as she deliberately splashed some sauce onto his white shirt. He can see Nice’s eyes twitch, zeroing in on the stain.

“Uh-huh, anything else, your highness? Perhaps you would like me to cease breathing too, since it’s so rude and untidy.” The tension was back in the air, and it was stronger than ever. Nice rolled his eyes. “You leaving would be pretty great, actually.” He snipped back. This comment was what tipped Moon over the edge as she turned a bright red. Standing up and slamming her hands down the table, she screams, “AND WHO’S FAULT IS THAT!? I DIDN’T SIGN UP TO BE STUCK TO SOME POMPOUS, ARROGANT, ASSHOLE LIKE YOU! I—”

“Actually,” He cuts her off, slicing his Eggs Benedict perfectly in half. “You did. Deal with it.”

Holy shit. Lin Ling whipped his head towards Nice, his mouth gaping wide in horror. “Nice.” He hissed, horrified. Nice, like a liar, calmly turned to Lin Ling, his face the picture-perfect face of innocence that screamed, ‘I did nothing wrong ever in my life.’ “Yes?” His voice honey-sweet. Before he can tell him off for that line, because honestly, what the fuck was that!? The doors burst open, and out came Miss Juan, surrounded by the men in black suits. 

Miss Juan took the chance to survey the room before nodding. “Good, you’re all here. We can get down to business then.” Pulling out her tablet, she continues, “Since Nice’s little stunt last night, you two have been trending on FOMO, so that means we have to capitalize on it!”

Moon's eyes widen in horror as Nice tenses, his hands tightening over Lin Ling’s. “No…you have to be kidding me.”

The shark-like grin on Miss Juan's face tells everyone that no, she isn’t kidding.

.

.

.

Wreck has been doing great.

His apartment was littered with beer cans; he doesn’t have the energy to get out of bed most days, and his phone has been glued to his hands 24/7 for even the slightest chance that Miss Juan or, heaven forbid, Nice himself, finally picks up theirs and answers all his texts and emails. (Most of them came at 3 am when he was drunk off his ass and desperate.)

When he was 22, freshly graduated with a performing arts degree in hand, and his best friend at his side. He thought they could take on the world together. Ha, what a joke. The minute Nice got popular, they tore Wreck from his side and tossed him away like he was just another piece of trash on the street. It’s not like he didn’t massively help contribute to Nice’s popularity or anything, he thought angrily to himself, rewinding the latest video of True Love’s Recipe.

It’s been months of Wreck sitting on his ass in his filthy apartment. (If Nice were still here, he would have wrinkled his nose before he smiled that smile that promised him hell if he didn’t clean up right this second. He would always help.) He was going stir crazy, and nothing helped. Running doesn’t help him (Nice would always complain, but he’d follow him during his route regardless), and none of the recent media has caught his eye (Nice loved shooter games and would deny it every time).

“I can’t help it. I have fallen for you deeper and deeper every day, and it pains me that you aren’t fully mine, so will you marry me?” THUNK The empty beer can slides pathetically off the TV as it glitches, no doubt because of his powers (Nice banned horror movies because of it, even though they were his favorite.) “Yeah right.” He mocks the screen. He’s about to grab the remote to rewind the video again when he hears a ping. A text.

Lunging for the phone, his eyes shake as he opens up his phone. Please let it be Nice, please Nice, please—it was Miss Juan. He sighs, dropping his forehead onto the phone. Fuck, he thought humorlessly, of course. Shaking his head, he opens up the test to see-

“HE’S GETTING MARRIED!? TODAY!?”

There was more, but his vision was blurred. 2 months. 2 months of no contact, no nothing with no prior warning, and 2 months of worrying and sitting on his ass, and this is how he’s supposed to figure out his best friend since diapers is GETTING MARRIED!?

Suiting up and running out of his apartment all went past in a flash. Civilians were screaming as their screens started glitching and buildings began unraveling, but he didn’t care. The only thing running around his mind was Nice and how he was getting married, and he didn’t even think to text him! Even if their entire relationship was fake, doesn’t he, as Nice’s best friend, deserve to know from the man himself!?

Before he knew it, he was at the park where the ceremony was taking place. The music was loud and grating, paparazzi and fans everywhere taking pictures, and ahead of them all, under a white floral wedding arch, stood him.

“NICE!” He roared, pointing his sword at him. All sounds around him fuzzed into background noise, and his vision tunneled in on Nice. He was wearing a suit, obviously tailored to harken back to his normal hero wear. It was white, with gold lining and a flowing, white cape. Nice turned to him gracefully, as if expecting him to show up. 

“Wreck,” He greets back pleasantly, as if he didn’t ignore all his texts and calls from him for 2 months straight. “I should have known you’d crash my wedding. Just because you like Moon too doesn’t mean—” Oh no, you don’t.

In the back of his mind, he can vaguely recall a script attached to the text sent to him earlier, but he didn’t even open it up before rushing straight over here. Good. He thinks viciously as he swings his sword at Nice, rock tendrils sprouting out from the ground, splitting him and Moon up. He advances, lunging himself forward; he swings—Nice blocks it with his arm while the other comes up and tries to uppercut him. 

It was a dance—a familiar dance of sweat and blood, of bruises and cuts. He knows how the song goes; he roughs up Nice, throws out some one-liners, perhaps threatens a civilian or two, but he would always let Nice shine. Let Nice have center stage as he dances in the background, propping him up. Nice always wins. They have danced this dance a million times; they know how this goes.

But, seeing Nice standing proud and tall and happy while he’s been sinking in worry. Something snapped within. Fuck the music, fuck the dance; he wants Nice to pay.

He savors the looks of surprise on Nice’s face as he tanks the punch—his sword slicing through his shoulder. Nice grunts, looking at him with newfound caution. He backs up, his feet off the ground, ready to fly. “What are you doing?” He hissed, Wreck’s laugh. Nice throws a punch; Wreck dodges. “Me? What have you been doing!? My texts, my calls, my emails—all ignored!” Before he can respond, the sound of a portal opens. Moon jumps out, kicking him in the head. 

Moon’s saying something about lifelong regrets or whatnot. Wreck’s not listening. Because right now, right in front of him, a man walks over to Nice, concern clearly visible, and Nice smiles. It’s real. (He hasn’t seen it in years.) 

His vision goes red. 

“YOU!” 

The ground erupts, rocks ensnaring the man in a cocoon. “Lin Ling!” Nice yells. Before he can do anything, the roots take them into the skies, far above the clouds. Moon joins them. Nice, Nice, Nice, standing across from him, angry. Out of all their thousands and one fights, Nice was never angry. He feels like laughing. He feels like crying. “Let Lin Ling go, Wreck.” He says through gritted teeth. His hands are balled up into fists.

“Not before you answer my questions, Nice.” Beside him, the cocoon cracks open, revealing the man—Lin Ling, bound together. He squirms, trying to get out of his restraint. He stills, however, when Wreck points his sword at him, the blade dangerously close to his neck. Nice flinches. “Who is he!? Why haven’t you been answering my texts!? Why do you look so…so” happy? 

Nice looks away, his lips pressed to a thin line. “We can talk after this; just let Lin Ling go.” Wreck tightened his grip on his sword. He can hear Lin Ling gasp as it drew closer to his neck. Yeah, right. “And give you another chance to ignore me!? No. You are going to answer my questions here and now, or God help me, I will kill this man. Nice.”

Nice, flinched back as if he had been struck. “Don’t make me choose, Wreck.”

“WHAT!? SO BETWEEN HIM OR ME, YOU’LL CHOOSE HIM OVER ME!?”

His look gave him all the answers he needed.

Oh

He understands.

He’s been replaced. 

He laughs.

27 years. 27 years of being friends, of being the person Nice turned to for support. When his parents kicked him out, he was there. When Nice went through his depressive episode, he was there. When Nice wanted to be a hero but was too nervous to do it alone, he was there. He was always there. Ready and happy to be his backup dancer. Because all he ever wanted was for Nice to be happy, in the spotlight.

But it didn’t matter. 27 years, and it didn’t matter.

“WHAT DID I DO WRONG!?” He screamed. “WAS I NOT GOOD ENOUGH!? WHY WASN’T I GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU!?”

“No! Wreck! That isn’t it!”

“THEN WHAT IS IT, HUH!? I WAS THERE FOR YOU! I TRIED SO HARD, AND YET NOTHING. NOTHING I DID OR SAID COULD MAKE YOU SMILE YET.” He swung his sword at Lin Lin. “HE COULD. WHY WAS HE THE ONE TO MAKE YOU SMILE LIKE THAT AGAIN!? WHY COULDN’T I MAKE YOU HAPPY!?”

His parents were right, he realized; he couldn’t do anything right. He couldn’t even keep his one friend, the one light in his life, happy. 

There were tears in his eyes, and he couldn’t see anything properly. His heart was both aching and empty, and it was all too much. With one last look at Nice, he dispelled the structures around them. Everyone screamed. Moon opened up a portal and clung to his side as everything collapsed between them. 

The last thing he saw was Nice swooping in to save Lin Ling.

And then he fell.