Masonry turned the TV down and looked at the entrance to the mudroom. Someone was knocking at the door. Usually the doorman downstairs rang him upstairs.
Barefoot and in shorts, he padded to the door. He glanced at the announcement speaker and it was on. Maybe it was Frost? But he’d never forgotten his key.
Masonry opened the door and saw a blond man in black standing there. “Can I help you?”
“Hey, Mase, remember me?”
Masonry looked him over. “Can’t say I do.”
“Maybe this will help.” He put his put his hands downward, and then took a deep breath. He was encased for a moment in green fire, and then when it faded, a shirtless ebony-colored man with red hair and markings stood before him.
“Grim.” He merely stared at him, not sure what to think. Did he come here to finally take out his rape all those years ago, once and for all? After bringing him back to life for the final time, Masonry had turned over a new leaf with Frosty, totally retiring, and being happy in their apartment.
Actually, they were partially retired. If they were out and about and saw something happening, both of them, together or separate, would rush to aid the person. They did it in street clothes. Masonry would ask that the victim not say anything. He didn’t want to be an official hero again.
“I have some news. Can I come in?”
Masonry looked back into the apartment. It was clean, and he had things he could use as weapons if he had to. He held the door open for him.
“Nice place,” he said, looking around.
“Thanks. Daisuke’s idea. So how did you get past the desk?”
“I’m a mage, remember?”
“I never knew you could disappear.”
Grim smirked at him, “Oh, there’s a few things you don’t know about me, Masonry.”
Mase scanned the area and registered what he could use as a weapon, so long as he kept his distance from the mage. “Can I get you anything?”
“I won’t be long.” He stayed in the doorway of the entranceway and the living room. “Remember StarWyng?”
Masonry’s face grew angry. “How could I forget?”
“She’s dead.”
He rocked back as if struck. Grim saw the look change from anger to total surprise. “She’s what?”
“Dead.”
“How?”
“I killed her.”
“Good for you.” Then all emotion left Masonry’s face.
“ Mase?”
Mase said quietly, “I didn’t like her much. Pompous and self-righteous. But she’s right. We were both broken.”
“Speak for yourself!” Grim said.
“We were, Grim. At least I was.” He looked Grim in the eye. “You’re doing the same thing. You’re killing heroes, aren’t you?”
“Self defense!”
Masonry gave him a look. “I’ve been down your road. You lie to yourself to justify your actions.”
“You’re sounding like her! What happened to the guy who threw me over the table at the Christmas chalet and raped me?”
“He died, Grim. He’s dead and buried and gone.”
“So now you’re a pussy?” Grim started to leave.
“No, Grim,” said Masonry, following him. “It takes a real man to accept unconditional love.”
Grim turned around sharply. “What does that have to do with anything?”
He looked Grim over. “It took me 30 years and two deaths to understand. I hope it doesn’t take you that long.”
Grim threw open the door and stood in the hallway for a minute, his head down. “I tried to save her.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean, why?”
“For yourself or for her?”
He stood there, his face a mixture of emotion.
Masonry held the door. “Goodbye, Grim.” He closed it so gently, Grim barely heard the lock catch.
Words: 616 🙁
Inspiration: Grim’s side of the story.
Music: None.
Comments: (new field) This took me FOREVER. I didn’t know if Mase was going to be happy or sad. I’m not happy with this product, so I think I’m going to do it over again when the muse actually strikes. I pulled it out of the cauldron when it wasn’t quite finished. The first half was right, and the “Good for you” statement was right, but everything else…not so much.