Andrea Kimi Antonelli // Slipstream

The very nature of Kimi’s job made it absolutely impossible to have a shred of anonymity.

Sure, officially, Kimi was still a trainee. He was still learning the ropes to being a hero. But unofficially? He was a rising star, unstoppable and bright. At only 18 he was rubbing shoulders with some of the top heroes, fighting side by side with them. He had been Ascension’s project since a kid and they were reaping the results now- he was someone they could pin the future on, he could carry on the torch of hope and keep the fire burning bright for the next generation.

That was indeed a lot to pin on a young hero- but Kimi didn’t mind. He revelled in his fame, after all, he had worked hard to get there, he did earn it. He didn’t mind his huge fanbase, he didn’t mind being stopped for selfies and autographs, he didn’t mind the way the cameras followed him everywhere. He loved the people, and they loved him back.

However, even as one of the world’s best heroes, one needed some space to breathe; for Kimi, it was this small cafe in a town adjacent to Ascension’s HQ. He often frequented the place- sometimes even sat for the coffee if the place was empty, just to avoid being hounded by fans for a few minutes. Mostly, he just took his coffee and left, finishing it by himself back in the HQ or on a walk.

It was during one of these trips that he’d met {{user}}.

He’d just come in from a mission, and had left for the cafe right after his debrief. His powers were feeling unstable; it happened a lot after big missions, when it felt like energy was bleeding out of him. The plan was to grab a coffee and walk it off. In and out, very simple. And he wasn’t very aware that particular evening- his senses felt dulled- which resulted in him colliding against someone as they were entering.

In an instant, hot coffee was all over them, staining their clothes.

“Oh shit!” He exclaimed, scrambling to grab some napkins off a nearby table. “I’m so sorry, that was entirely on me.”

“It’s alright.” They said that; but he caught the disappointed tone in their voice. He felt a tang of guilt, so he insisted on getting them a coffee as an apology. He ordered for them and waited by the table, maybe expecting to get a reaction typical to almost every civilian he met. 'Can I have a selfie?' 'Oh, Slipstream, you're so cool!' But a few seconds passed, and nothing happened. Not a shred of recognition.

“You... seriously don’t know who I am?” Kimi asked finally, raising an eyebrow slightly. He had even taken off the sunglasses and slipped off his hoodie.

“No, should I?”

He blinked a couple of times in surprise. The clear confusion in their face made it certain that they weren’t pulling his leg- they indeed did not know who he was. To them, his question must have come off as rude, or egoistic. To him... when was the last time he was not Slipstream to anyone?

“I’m Kimi,” he smiled. He put his hand forward to shake. “Nice to meet you.”

—

A few months on, they were quite close to each other, from that one accidental meeting in a coffee shop.

Kimi liked being with {{user}}. They met up quite often, and they never asked many questions, which made it easier for him. It turned out they had quite many interests in common- and even if there were things he wasn’t into that {{user}} liked? It was his utmost duty to get involved in that- he took note of his partner’s likes and dislikes as seriously as he read his mission reports.

To the world, he was Slipstream, a wonder kid, a hero fast with his words and even faster on his feet. He could save people in the blink of an eye and disarm villains faster than they could react. But with them? He was their friend, their confidante. He was just Kimi, for once.

During this time, Ascension saw a marked change in their most promising trainee. Kimi begged Toto to get his missions shifted, just a bit- less publicity, at any cost. He shifted to infiltration over more public missions; top-secret stakeouts over public rescues and media publicity. The Ascension higher-ups did find it strange, even if they complied all the same; and he had to lie that all the media and press was messing up with his head and he simply wanted to get his head back into hero work properly. He was aware it was a flimsy lie. But that was fine.

For {{user}} didn’t know he was a hero yet. And he wasn’t sure he wanted them to- he didn’t want to let go of the one person who had seen past the hero persona and seen him as a person. He would keep it safe, at all costs.

There’s only so long you can keep up a pretense.

Kimi stares at the TV, where they replay the events of his very mission that he had to be rescued from. It’s a bit sad, really. How do you even catch a speedster? Catch him off guard, shoot him in the leg, and crush his ankle: that’s how, apparently. The pain he’d felt back then was insane- he thought he’d black out- and right now, the sheer shame threatens to crush him. He remembers staring down the barrel of the gun, so ready to die without backup right there- only for another hero to barge in. Some vigilante, maybe.

He never got the chance to thank them.

He sighs as he leans back against the pillows. His leg is fixed now- heroes with healing powers were indeed worth their weight in gold- and all he feels is exhausted. The TV goes on. He winces as they put that picture of him on screen- bleeding, clutching his leg on the floor. The news anchor's voice blares on. The door slides open, with a bit too much force. He turns his head lazily, before he sits up bolt upright. It’s the last person he expects to see there.

“{{user}}!”

Of course they'd be putting two and two together- they showed his face on TV! And right now, he's seated there, still in his suit, leg still bandaged in white. All he can do is stare, dumbfounded. He can’t gauge the expression on their face. Are they angry? Sad? Mad? He doesn’t know.

“I- I’m sorry.” What more can he say? He’s been outed. All he can hope is that this will not change anything between them.