THE MOMENT
"....I'll use the Sharp end," Guy Hell smiled. He thrust the white blade forward through the villain. The tall man shuddered as the blade exited his back, still gleaming perfectly white. "Because not even your filthy blood will stick to it," Guy Hell said. The villain slumped forward on Guy Hell's shoulder; the short hero pulled his white sword out of; then he stepped aside to let the body fall. He held the pristine sword up and winked at the camera. "Gotta love that nano-coating."
"Are all the movies on this Earth 90-minute commercials?" Ruin asked. "I thought he was gonna stop," Ruin shook his head. "He didn't." He leaned closer to the woman next to him, Minerva. When he agreed to meet her; it was through a Nemesis matching app. He showed up with different expectations. However, Minerva did not have to try very hard to convince him to see a movie instead.
"Not usually,.." Minerva shook her head. She looked genuinely surprised. "This one wasn't supposed to be either...I've seen this movie before."
"You sure it's from the same Earth?" Ruin asked. He hoped he sounded helpful and not like he was insulting her intelligence. She nodded slightly and he relaxed.
"Positive. I saw it here yesterday with my best friend," it was good enough to see again. But, this one... wasn't. That's not even the right actor," Minerva shook her head and shrugged.
"Weird," Ruin nodded. "You could've said something sooner," he said.
"Nah, I came to watch a movie and I did," she said. "So, what now?" Minerva turned on her seat to face him. On screen, the credits began to roll after the loose ends were tied up. And, the houselights came back on right as she turned. It was the first time he'd gotten a proper look at her in person. They met in a dark lobby, and headed to a dark theater after that. Ruin could see she looked enough like her picture. But, when the lights came on, she was a knockout. Her pictures did not do her justice. She had short, curly, light brown hair and a healthy, olive tan that seemed to make Ruin's vampire complexion glow by contrast.
Ruin almost offered to brawl; but, he got the sense that wasn't why she was using the nemesis match app. She suggested the movie because they met in the lobby; but, she also suggested the meeting place. If he were more concerned with having a nemesis he might have skipped the movie altogether. But, he wasn't looking for a fight particularly, he just wanted new experiences. Her laughter throughout the movie made Ruin feel like he made the right choice to stay. It wasn't a new experience per se; somewhere in the recesses of his mind, he knew he'd ben to the movies with a woman before.
But, after billions of years time-locked in a cave, it was almost a new experience. Though, it did leave him wondering why she was using the nemesis app if she wanted a date. Thanks to Astra, he thought he had an idea about her reasons. The handful of other movie-goers in the audience began leaving when the credits started. Half-way through, Ruin and Minerva were the only ones left in the theater.
"Well, if you're asking," Ruin said. "I'm curious about the Chrome Court." Minerva's eyes widened and she quickly swiveled her head left and right to see if anyone had heard him. She relaxed slightly when she saw the empty theater, then she looked at Ruin and tilted her head.
"Curious how? What do you want to know?" Ruin shrugged.
"Why does everyone hate them, and why are you so proud?"
"You....you don't know?" Minerva asked. Ruin shook his head.
"My teammate wants me to kick your ass over it; but, all she said is you guys killed Dana Sharp and the multiverse hates you for it," Ruin said. "But she's 14 and there are details missing," he added. Minerva laughed for a moment; but, it died down quickly when she noticed he hadn't even cracked a smile. Thinking back on it, Minerva was realizing that her voice was the only one she heard laughing throughout the movie.
"What rock have you been hiding under?" Minerva asked.
"A well-deserved one," Ruin nodded. "I'll tell you about it; but, I asked you first."
"Wow, no one's wanted to hear my side before...," she said. "The Chrome Court did not kill Dana Sharp," she said. Then, she heard a deep, booming laughter. She was hurt for a moment because she thought it came from Ruin; but, he looked around the theater confused too.
"Your lady's a liar, buddy," Guy Hell appeared on the screen behind the rolling credits. "I'm a fictional character and even I know how the Chrome Court betrayed Dana Sharp," the short action hero said. "They turned on her faster than Sharp Airlines will get you to a new Earth." Minerva stood to leave; but, she was surprised when Ruin stood at the same time.
"Thanks for your input," Ruin said. He made a point of grabbing Minerva's hand to exit the theater. "Here's some of mine. Your movie sucked," Ruin added.
"Really?" Guy Hell asked. His voice sounded quieter, almost sincere. "How would you make it better?" he asked. Ruin stopped walking and faced the screen. Instead of the muscle-bound hero, a golden, faceless mannequin wearing a red suit stood on the screen as the last of the credits rolled upward.
"What...who are you?" Minerva asked. The mannequin faced Minerva and crossed his arms. Despite not having a face, the dimples that represented his eyes seemed to angle downward.
"You can call me Helios, I guess," he said.
"Helios?" Ruin asked.
"You have ideas?" Helios turned toward Ruin with interest.
"I'm Ruin," he said. Helios tilted his head at Ruin.
[/p: Ruin? - Hels] Ruin felt the whisper from Helios on his wrist. Ruin nodded.
[/p: Yeah. - Ruin] he replied. That was the moment Helios realized he was on the same team as the man standing in the theater. Helios uncrossed his arms, then turned to Minerva, then gave a long, formal bow.
"I apologize for my insensitive comments, young miss," he said. "True as they may be."