Everyday Hero

By Brianna Tibbetts

The building shakes, but I don’t look up from my touch display. When you live in a city with supers long enough, you stop paying attention. My coworker Ben isn’t from here though, and it shows by the way he jumps up, looking out the window.

“Ben, this customer’s name is Jezzica, spelled with Zs.” We share odd details about our work to pass the time. Hopefully it’ll distract the poor kid from whatever super fight is shaking our office.

Ben faces me, his brow furrowed. “Zessica?”

I snort, running my hand over my overgrown goatee to hide my grin. “No, like J-e-z-z-i-c-a.”

He laughs. “Oh, that makes more sense.”

All my hard work goes to waste when the building shakes again. Ben goes white, one hand grasping our shared cubicle wall.

I roll my eyes. “Kid, relax. The building has a force field module, remember? Corporate put in all sorts of safeguards.” The near-translucent protective field shimmers on the other side of the window.

“You’re too trusting, Ivan.” Ben turns back to me and shuts his mouth as soon as we make eye contact, which lets me know I’m scowling.

I relax my expression and try to look reassuring, but I’m not sure it’s working. People have crossed the street when they see me. I’m not sure if it’s the tattoos or the motorcycle. Ben knows me too well to be scared of me anymore, but that doesn’t change the fact that I’ve got a resting angry face.

He seems convinced I’m not going to bite his head off, because he adds, “I can’t trust building security. We’re a call center. We’re replaceable.”

“No one is replaceable.”

A horrific crackling noise interrupts our argument. I whip my head toward the window just as the protective field vanishes. All right. Now might be the time to start worrying.

“It’s a villain!” Ben cries out as the building quakes again, stronger this time.

Tension seizes my shoulders. “There aren’t any heroes or villains, Ben. Just normal people and powered people who make our lives difficult.”

This time Ben’s scowling. “You don’t believe that.”

“I absolutely believe powered people make my life difficult.” The tremor following my response throws me from my chair.

“Okay, I’ll give you that one,” Ben mumbles from the other side of the cubicle. “You all right?”

The building’s emergency alarm saves me from having to think of a clever response. Apparently, our bosses don’t want the building to collapse with all the employees inside. Smart of them. My wife would win that lawsuit.

Our building shudders with no sign of stopping. Getting to—and staying on—my feet requires all my concentration.

Ben’s moving too, coming around the cubicle. “What’s the fastest way out?”

Good question. Our other coworkers hurtle toward the closest stairwell like panicked cattle, so that’s a no-go. I point to the stairwell in the middle of our floor, which leads to the parking garage. It’s the fastest way down, though we’ll still need to find our way out of the building.

Ben doesn’t hesitate, just bolts for the stairwell. My pace is strong as I catch up, which makes me feel better about the old-man knees I developed when I turned forty.

The blaring alarm must induce powers, because it feels like we fly down the stairs. We burst into the garage with so much speed that Ben almost face-plants on an SUV.

“Careful, kid. We still gotta get to the street.” I keep an eye on him until he steadies, then scan the parking garage. The emergency exit on our left is closer than the main entrance. The shaking is less obvious from below, but the building’s creaking makes me cringe.

“Which way?” Ben’s at my side now, pale but with his jaw set.

“Left. And hurry. I don’t like that noise at all.” I follow Ben, casting suspicious glares at the ceiling as we go. It’s the only reason I see the massive light fixture up ahead come loose.

It must be adrenaline surging me forward, because I don’t even have a chance to shout a warning before I tackle Ben. We hit the ground as the light careens down, shattering on the concrete with a shower of sparks.

Ben sucks in a jagged breath, his eyes wide. “What—?” His gaze falls on what’s left of the light, then shifts to me. “Ivan, you saved my life.”

Huh. I did, didn’t I? I don’t do the emotions thing, but I’m not giving this building another chance to take out a coworker I actually like.

“Work would be boring without you. C’mon, let’s move. I don’t want to risk that happening again.”

Matching my stride, Ben grins at me. “You know what that makes you? A hero.”

“I still don’t believe in the heroes and villains thing, kid.”

Ben snorts. “You’re the coolest person I know, the best employee in our office, and essential to have around in a crisis. You’ve been my hero since I started here.”

I jerk open the emergency exit door, holding it for him to go through. “Seriously?”

Thankfully, he makes it outside before turning to answer me. “Wouldn’t say it if it wasn’t true, Ivan. You’re just going to have to deal with it.”

I glance back at the remnants of the light fixture, then I allow myself to give Ben a small smile. He grins back, just before the building rattles again.

That’s it. Moment’s over.

I step forward and shove his shoulder. “C’mon, kid. If I have to save you again, I’m gonna start charging.”

Ben follows me dutifully, but he does it while singing a trite song about heroes.

Maybe it’s not too late to let the building crush him?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brianna Tibbetts was raised on a steady diet of rich literature, and has been writing stories as long as she can remember. She has a passion for deeply developed characters and rich story worlds. Brianna has a BA in English and spent the first part of her life traveling around North America and Europe. She channels her experiences into her writing, infusing her fantasy and science fiction with the colorful details of the real world.

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