Burnt Out Damsel

"Miss Ginny! Miss Ginny! We need someone to cut the ribbon at the Library reopening!"

"Ginny! We need volunteers for the soup kitchen!"

"Ginny, you're still going to come read stories to the seniors? Right?"

Everyone wants her to do something just because she was Wave Rocker's chosen damsel? Some call her his girlfriend but can you be someone's girlfriend if you've never been on a date? What makes matters worse, Wave Rocker never sets the record straight and inconveniences her for his own convenience! He should be the one at all these events. But no he uses his damsel for the less glamerless events. Not to mention these events leave her vulnerable to kidnapping. Which lets him play hero.

Ginny can't tell anyone but after a year of this nonsense, She's ready to disappear. So between public appearances and her job, she's been making plans to move away. It wasn't easy when everyone thinks they are entitled to your time. But she was ready. She plans to slip out after the big hero celebration and the city can find a new damsel to burn out.

Each kidnapping, each Public event, and each unrealistic expectation solidified her resolve to leave. So after the big parade where Wave Rocker saves her and flies her around the city people cheer. While they continue their party at the community center, Ginny slips away, gets in her car and starts to leave Oakville for good.

She makes it to the welcome sign when FlameThrower lands in front of her. "Well, well, well, if it isn't the hero's little girlfriend. I thought you'd be soaking in the party!"

"Flame seriously not today, I need to go!" She calls from the car.

"And miss my chance to ruin Wavies big day? Come on deary you know me better than that."

"Flame I SAID I NEED TO GO!" Her voice cracks and the desperation breaks through and she feels tears burn in her eyes.

FlameThrower freezes, and his flames stop. "Woah, you're serious, are you okay deary?"

"No! No, I'm not. No one cares about me, Ginny. Only me Wave Rocker's girlfriend. And I'm not even sure that's what we are." Her hands pound on the steering wheel.

"Ginny, I don't think you should drive today, come on, come back to the compound with me. And if after some rest, if you still wanna leave we'll get you out, I promise."

"And why should I trust you FlameThrower?" She gripped the steering wheel ready to speed off. "It could be a trap."

"It would be, but FlameThrower has a flair for the dramatic." He holds out his hand, "Willian just sees someone who needs a hand, and maybe a friend.''

"Fine. One Night." she fights the exhaustion trying to claim her.

Flamethrower lifts her car and flies it to his compound, hiding her car in the underground garage, "There you're hidden away and no one will find you here."

Ginny gets out of her car, "Thank you FlameThrower."

"Please just call me William." He guides her through the compound.

"Fine. Thank you, William." She looks around, "How can you afford this?"

William pauses, "Are you not on the city's payroll?" Ginny just stares at him. "Ginny you are being paid right?"

"Paid? No! Are you?" Ginny's body stiffens, everything she’d been through…

"Wait you mean to tell me that I've been kidnapping you and putting you in danger when you aren't on the payroll?! That is ridiculous! Ginny, you need to join my side, make them pay!” William’s body starts to burn a bright orange.

“I– I can’t believe it, the city pays you two for this little show? Is any of it real?” She feels her own rage grow.

“Oh me and Wavie, despise each other. We just both happened to be at the same place at the same time and got affected by the same freak accident. When it became clear that we both had powers, instead of suing the city offered us jobs to boost tourism. Seemed like the better deal in the long run.” He shrugs. They walk in silence for a while, William leads her to the guest room, “I’m serious Ginny, you should join me, I can pay you as my assistant.”

“Dress up in a costume and be eye candy? Ya no, I’d rather run away.” She curls up on an armchair in the room.

William leans on the door laughing, “Not quite, but I hired a few people to work for me, most of them live here in staff housing, and I could use someone to help me manage them, pulse I run my own business because supervillain can’t be a longtime career. You could help with that. Take a break for six months, disappear and if you want to make the city pay, we can create a fun story and throw off old Wavie for a while, maybe even get an apology from him.”

“I… I need time to think about it.” her mind is reeling. “Why did he keep having me do all those events if he was getting paid?”

William shifts at the door, “I’m not sure, I thought you were getting paid, the city would always tipped me off to where you’d be.”

“Great now I’m too angry to sleep!” She stands up and huffs, pacing around the room.

“I’ve got a shooting range for target practice if you need to blow off some rage.” He gestures down the hall.

“Tempting, but I’ll wash up and then once I lay down in bed I’ll probably crash hard.” She lets out slow breaths, and heads toward the ensuite

“I get that, I’ll make sure you get breakfast in the morning and Ginny?” he pauses just before he leaves.

“Yes, William?” She glances over her shoulder.

“Really think about it, okay? The City should face your fury.” He smiles and shuts the door behind him.

Looking out the window at the city lights, Ginny mutters, “Maybe they should.”