Work Text:
"I don't think I can do this anymore." Nice sat next to his manager, Miss J.
Miss J crossed her legs as she scrolled on her work tablet, checking off all the meetings that she had to attend. "Well, you have to. You signed a contract. An iron clad contract with the Treeman Group. You must fulfill your duties as the hero Nice." She made a few notes on her tablet and then sighed. "We've been though this before, kid."
"But—" Nice protested before Miss J cut him off.
"You've had two weeks off to deal with the Hero Smile situation. That's more than enough time to get back to speed. We managed to contain the events so there's not even a whiff of scandal to contaminate you. You're still perfect."
"But—" Nice gritted his teeth, unable to slump due to his perfect posture. "I'm not perfect."
"Nobody is, kid—" Miss J sighed and Nice interrupted her.
"You're not listening to me. I have to be perfect. As Nice I am required to be perfect, that's what the Believers want. And I failed."
Miss J set down her tablet. "Think of it as a temporary setback, an opportunity for learning. Not a failure. It's all about your perspective." Nice did not look convinced by her pep talk, but Miss J barreled on. "Let's move to another topic. The Treeman public relations department feels that you need a new more dynamic rival, so we've set up an opportunity for a introduction with the new hero—"
"No." Nice refused and his tone was firmer than usual.
"Pardon me?" Miss J tilted her head to the side. Something was off about her hero.
"No. Wreck is my rival." They both knew that rival was just a euphemism for their real relationship. "We signed up as rivals."
Miss J tried to be patient. The Believers weren't ready for same sex couple. The Treeman Group would lose so much money. "I know that you're-- close to your rival, but his powers just aren't dynamic enough for the average Believer—"
Nice's knuckles blanched white as he squeezed his own knee. "The only time I get to see my best friend is when we have a rival's matchup. I will not give that up."
Miss J knew when it was time to move on to the next issue. "On to another topic. Your relationship with your girlfriend Moon—"
"She isn't my girlfriend. She's at best a coworker; a messy roommate who leaves her filthy towel on the bathroom floor just to piss me off."
"You are in a contractually obligated relationship. Moon is your girlfriend." Miss J tried a soothing smile that instantly put Nice on edge. "And Treeman feels that it's time to accelerate your relationship."
"What?" Nice whispered in disbelief. That wasn't the plan. That wasn't what he'd signed up for.
"People don't have the attention span for long-term courtships. They want to see results. They want to see the happily ever after part of the fairy tale. That's why you're going to propose to Moon and she will be your wife."
"But-- she hates me and I'm gay."
"Love isn't needed for a marriage and you can do whatever you want in the privacy of the Hero Tower. All that matters are your acting skills." Miss J pushed up her glasses. "Like it or not, you are the personification of perfection, the Hero Nice. You have an obligation to gather as much trust as possible so that you can grow your powers. The more powerful you are, the more people you can help. Isn't that what you've always wanted? To be a real Hero?"
"You're not listening to me!" Nice cried out. He raised his hands and Miss J flinched back. Nice shook his hands at her. "Look at my hands! Look at them! Do you know how many times I've washed them today? I do! I can't stop thinking about it!" He looked miserably at his own fingers. "If you make me marry that woman, I'll know that I'm lying. To her. To Wreck. To myself! The more that people believe that I'm a paragon of perfection, the more that I'm aware that I can't live up to their expectations! Perfection doesn't allow falsehood. I don't think I can do this."
Miss J changed the subject again and held up her tablet. Emotion was messy stuff and she was ill equipped to be a therapist. Heroes didn't need therapy. That was for ordinary people. "Look at your new commercial for True Love Recipe. Don't you look happy there? Just keep a smile on that perfect face and no one will know any better."
Nice seemed to retreat into himself, aware that he was going to lose this argument, just like he'd lost every other one with the Treeman Group. His words felt like an affirmation, an acknowledgment of loss. "I know better. I'm not perfect and I never will be perfect."
Miss J stood up and smacked her tablet on the side of the couch with a crack to get his attention. "I'm going to let you have some time to think about your incredibly important role in the Treeman group. So many people depend on you, Nice. Not just the citizens of this country, but the entire workforce of the Treeman group. Think about all those mothers and fathers who depend on you for their livelihoods. Moon and Wreck, they depend on you as well. So, I need you to stop being a selfish brat and get your head back in the game!"
"A game." Nice blinked. "I'm a piece on a gameboard."
"Metaphorically, we all are, kid. Everyone has a part to play in this game."
Nice stood up, hovering in midair and beamed a smile at her, his eyes sparkled with genuine emotion. "What if I just stop playing this game, Miss J?" Miss J felt her heart sink into her stomach as the Hero Nice, her number one meal ticket, the pride of the Treeman Group flew away.