Heroes

Chapter 2

Nathaniel's POV

Ever since I was little, I wanted to be a superhero. One of my first memories is running down the halls of my home, a cape tied around my neck fighting imaginary 'villains'. When I started to grow up, I started to accept that I was never going to be one of those vigilantes you see on the world news. Well, that was until Chat Noir and Ladybug arrived in Paris. That's when my interest in heroes came back, along with my desire to become one.

I may have gone a bit overboard on that.

I may have been akumatized and turned into the Evillustrator.

Luckily, I've learned from my mistakes. Now I know better than to hope for things that will never happen. I know better than to make up stories about myself; doing things I'll never be able to do; hanging out with people who probably hate me. People like Ladybug.

Telling stories about yourself only gets you hurt, not that my stories are any good in the first place. I guess that's the magic of childhood. You never realize how bad you are at something. It's always 'cute'. If your mom or dad say anything bad about your art or stories, it's not encouraging and is considered bad parenting. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I have supportive parents. I just think sometimes it's better to tell someone when their stories are getting overzealous. If someone would have told me, I never would have drawn that stupid comic. I would never have been akumatized.

I would never have messed up.

Alix says I should put it behind me, as most people in my class have been akumatized like me, but she doesn't understand. Most people just attempt to get revenge on people who wronged them and steal Ladybug and Chat Noir's miraculouses while under the control of the akumas. I went on a date. A date with Marinette, a girl I liked who betrayed me and helped Chat Noir catch me. I'm not mad at her though. She did exactly what I would have done in her situation, it's just that, things have been so awkward with her since. She probably hates me or is embarrassed that I took an interest in her. Either way, I guess I'm over my crush on her now.

I do try to take Alix's words to heart. After I was de-akumatized I focused all of my emotions into drawing and I've improved a lot, but I've always stayed away from writing actual stories. I tell people it's because I'm not good at it, but that is only partly true. It's because I'm scared of what could happen if I turn into Evilistraiter again. I know it's rare, but even someone as nice as Alya turned into Lady Wifi more than once. What if that happened to me?

I wouldn't be able to stand it. Being mocked by Chole, heck, I bet even some of the students in this school who were genuinely nice would treat me differently. I was lucky with how quick the whole 'Evilistaitor' issue blew over, but if it ever happened again, I don't know how I would live that down.


"So Nathaniel, tell me about your drawing," I'm shocked to attention at the sound of my name. I had been lost in thought while sketching a scene. I twist my neck around to see the perpetually grundled face of Mr. Bruners.

I glance back at my paper before responding, "Um... It's a team-up of Ladybug and... Uh..." Had I really been drawing Mightilistraitor? I know I said that I stopped creating stories, but I still had some in my head.

'Mightilistraitor' is kinda just popped into my head one day when I was recalling being akumatised. I guess its just my brain's way of reconciling how I acted while under the akumas control. In a strangely ironic way, turning into a villain fulfilled my dream of being a hero.

"And Mightilistrator. They're fighting Queen Wasp together," I finish my reply and look up at my art teacher.

Mr. Bruners looks at my drawing for a moment before responding, "You mean Evilistraitor?"