She sat at the dining room table, staring at her phone. She flipped through picture after picture, skipping past some and lingering over others. She didn't hear the approach of her friend as he came up behind her and glanced at the screen. He chuckled, alerting her to his presence. She set down her phone, turned partway round, and glared at him.
"That was rude, you know."
"Yeah, I know... Why aren't you dating him?"
She seemed taken aback for an instant. Her eyes went from anger to confusion and uncertainty.
"I... because I'd destroy him. His life would crumble, and he can be happy without me."
"He'd be into that. I mean, having his life crumble. Sure, he has a decent life, but I know plenty of girls who would give up their current decently good lifestyle to date me."
He ran a hand through his hair. He was known for his good looks, after all. She gave a half chuckle at his little show of 'preening', but quickly sobered once more.
"It wouldn't work, and you know it."
"Yeah..."
She turned away and put her head on the table. This was the cost of being a hero, she supposed. She would have to live with it.
"That was rude, you know."
"Yeah, I know... Why aren't you dating him?"
She seemed taken aback for an instant. Her eyes went from anger to confusion and uncertainty.
"I... because I'd destroy him. His life would crumble, and he can be happy without me."
"He'd be into that. I mean, having his life crumble. Sure, he has a decent life, but I know plenty of girls who would give up their current decently good lifestyle to date me."
He ran a hand through his hair. He was known for his good looks, after all. She gave a half chuckle at his little show of 'preening', but quickly sobered once more.
"It wouldn't work, and you know it."
"Yeah..."
She turned away and put her head on the table. This was the cost of being a hero, she supposed. She would have to live with it.