xxxHOLiC AU fic - Superheroes, Part 2

[rallamajoop]

Sorry to everyone who's been so enthusiastic about how regular it's been so far, but there's going to be no new Ghost Stories chapter this week. It's all very well introducing a new character to an AU fic as a general rule, but when the official manga leaves that character on a three-week cliffhanger with not the slightest hint where they're going with it all, it makes it rather hard to concentrate on writing for them in your own world. ^^; Add in all this other stress about preparations for that con we've got coming up in two weeks and the fact I've just about used up the buffer of extra material I had up until now, and a temporary hiatus is about all you're left with.

On the upside, I do have something else to post instead - a random extra scene for one of those *other* AUs (prompted by suggestions in reviews on ff.net, of all crazy sources! No-one is more surprised than me). To be exact, it's the Superheroes universe, which had to be one of the ones I was least expecting I'd write any more of, since - if you remember - I was left with no idea what Watanuki's superpowers were actualy supposed to be, and obviously that was going to be a pretty important sort of thing I'd need to know for any sort of continuation.

---

Watanuki actually had three different superpowers. The first was the ghost vision that allowed him to see the giant spirit-monsters that would periodically appear and go rampaging through the city.

"Invisible monsters?" said Doumeki. "Didn't notice any."

"Of course you didn't!" Watanuki spluttered. "On account of that bit where they are invisible!"

"Huh," said Doumeki, and continued eating Watanuki's lunch.

"What did you think happened to that building you were in?"

"Freak structural failure?" suggested Doumeki.

"Then what do you think I was doing out there the whole time?"

"Sort of flailing around. Looked like you were having fun."

"You are the only person on the planet who would think that saving idiots from giant, invisible monsters that they did not even know were there was fun!"

Doumeki shrugged and swallowed his sushi.

*

Watanuki's second superpower - the only one that was directly useful when it game to the fighting part of his job, and yet still the one he most dreaded anyone ever finding out about - was the ability to extend his arms and legs as though his entire body resembled nothing so much as a giant elastic band.

"So," said Doumeki speculatively, "what other parts of your body can you extend?"

"Oh, thank you," said Watanuki curtly, "you would really not believe how old that gag does not get when it gets made by every person who ever learns I can do that."

"You're welcome," said Doumeki. Watanuki nearly hit his head on his desk.

"What about your nose?" asked Doumeki.

"Yes, fine, my nose extends. That very useful when I need to smell monsters coming around corners. Except where it's totally not. Happy?"

Doumeki gave him a curious look.

"I'm not going to demonstrate!" Watanuki flailed. "We're at school! Anyone could see!"

"Or hear," said Doumeki quietly to himself.

*

Watanuki's third superpower was the one he was most unequivocally grateful for. It allowed him to regenerate from any injury within a couple of minutes at most - and it got used a lot. Embarrassingly often, in fact - to the point that Watanuki sometimes felt that whoever it was up there who should have been looking out for him had instead decided that giving him that power made it all okay to then give the rest of the universe explicit permission to use him as its personal punching bag. Not that Watanuki was complaining about being able to regenerate though - not in the least.

"Doesn't it still hurt?" asked Doumeki. Something in his expression that Watatanuki couldn't quite read made him want to apologise for something he knew he hadn’t done and explain quickly before there were any further misunderstandings, which was really very annoying.

"Hardly, there's just a bit of a sting then it all heals up, and I'm fine and can go back to fighting."

"...until the monster stabs you in the same place all over again."

"Very sorry if my weak spots start getting a bit obvious for them! It isn't like I mean for them to do that!"

"It can't be much fun though."

"No, really, " said Watanuki, in his ongoing quest to make Doumeki understand sarcasm by shear repetitive effort, "getting treated like a shish-kebab by alien ghost monsters is the best part of my job."

"It isn't much fun to watch either."

"You wouldn't have to watch if you hadn't picked up this insane habit of wandering into mortal danger just to make me rescue you again three times a week!"

Doumeki shrugged. "I don’t mean for that to happen either."

There was a tense silence where both stared at the other. Watanuki gave in first.

"Fine! Just to save your poor sensibilities, in future I will try very hard not to let myself take minor, non-fatal injuries while trying to save the city from invisible invaders that no-one realises are there!"

The tense silence was replaced by one of those awkward pauses where Watanuki wondered whether either of them had any idea what they were talking about or what was going on here.

"Thank you," said Doumeki evenly.

"Don't mention it," muttered Watanuki, wondering just what he'd agreed to.

"So what's for lunch today?"

"You've already eaten it!"

"Oh," said Doumeki, sounding disappointed.

Comments

sometimes FFN brings in the goods, eh?

[factorielle.livejournal.com]

XDDDDD

Power 2: So Watanuki really is another incarnation of Luffy, then. XD

Power 3:

"It isn't much fun to watch either."

Aw, Doumeki. You're so sweet on him and he doesn't even notice.

"You wouldn't have to watch if you hadn't picked up this insane habit of wandering into mortal danger just to make me rescue you again three times a week!"

Sweet, and practicing a strange form of reverse stalking, apparently. I like that. >D

"So what's for lunch today?"

"You've already eaten it!"

"Oh," said Doumeki, sounding disappointed.

Best lunch conversation ever. Doumeki, you are such a dork in this universe and yet it all seems so perfectly sensible. XD

[cheloya.livejournal.com]

So Watanuki really is another incarnation of Luffy, then. XD

Seconded. XD

Also? This is even more awesome than it used to be. X3 Whee!

Re: sometimes FFN brings in the goods, eh?

[rallamajoop.livejournal.com]

Aw, Doumeki. You're so sweet on him and he doesn't even notice.

And strangely, this is probably still the *least* angsty conversation they've ever had about Watanuki getting injured. But of course, Watanuki is still just as oblivious as ever.

Sweet, and practicing a strange form of reverse stalking, apparently. I like that. >D

Believe me, Doumeki makes the *worst* Damsel In Distress ever. XD I'm not even sure whether it is at all intentional or just crazy bad luck - though I'm leaning more towards the latter - but thanks to Watanuki, he certainly doesn't mind being nearly killed by monsters nearly as much as he should.

Best lunch conversation ever. Doumeki, you are such a dork in this universe and yet it all seems so perfectly sensible. XD

Well, you know. There could've been some *more* lunch hidden somewhere. Doumeki might've managed to put Watanuki so completely off his food that he'd get Watanuki's lunch too. Doumeki might've been so wrapped up by the company that he hardly noticed he was eating at all. It could be completely sensible! (for a given value of 'sense')

Re: sometimes FFN brings in the goods, eh?

[yukitsu.livejournal.com]

LOL. Ditto on all of those. XDDD

[mushroom18.livejournal.com]

Hahaha! Someone mentioned Luffy, but my brain handed me this image of Olive Oil, Popeye's girlfriend. xD

...and Watanuki doing the saving! How interesting.

[rallamajoop.livejournal.com]

...and Watanuki doing the saving! How interesting.

I know! You wouldn't think it'd work, would you? But right from the start, that was where this universe wanted to go - and it seems to fit rather better than it should. ^_^

[rusalkaz.livejournal.com]

Wahahaha Luffy!Watanuki!<333333 Very amusing idea indeed! *snickers* Whatever superpowers he might have, his personality doesn't change a bit... XD

in his ongoing quest to make Doumeki understand sarcasm by shear repetitive effort,
Looooooool I love this phrase~

[rallamajoop.livejournal.com]

Whatever superpowers he might have, his personality doesn't change a bit... XD

That's really the beauty of these AUs - you can cast Watanuki in just about whatever role you like, but he's still Watanuki. And he's always such good fun to write for too. ^_^

[lunargeography.livejournal.com]

While I am saddened that I will have to wait for more Ghost Stories, I completely understand. (And I did go back and re-read your notes, and I have no idea why I blanked out Kohane.)

And you were so nice as to offer more AU fic! That's a great trio of powers, which guarantee that Watanuki will never be properly appreciated... well, by anybody but Doumeki. Clearly he needs Yuuko to be there just to provide the degree of gravitas no superhero can be without. *nods firmly*

Favorite Joopism in this piece:
Something in his expression that Watatanuki couldn't quite read made him want to apologise for something he knew he hadn’t done and explain quickly before there were any further misunderstandings, which was really very annoying.

So if Watanuki is the most cantankerous damsel in distress ever (an observation made by Drae, I think), Doumeki is the most irritating one? *grins*

The tense silence was replaced by one of those awkward pauses where Watanuki wondered whether either of them had any idea what they were talking about or what was going on here.

*laughs* I think Doumeki knows what's going on here. But he doesn't want to tell.

[rallamajoop.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, I'm probably about due for a bit of a block on Ghost Stories considering I've been working on it since July. Now I notice it, that's *five months* I've been going on this thing now. Whoa. o_O It's actually something of a relief to be writing different holic fic again. ^^;

Speaking of Ghost stories, if you're free to help me with some more brainstorming soon, I could definitely use it - there's a lot of stuff coming up that I'm going to get a little stuck on.

(And I did go back and re-read your notes, and I have no idea why I blanked out Kohane.)

Just a bit of an info-dump problem, probably. I think just about everyone did the same thing. ^^;

So if Watanuki is the most cantankerous damsel in distress ever (an observation made by Drae, I think), Doumeki is the most irritating one? *grins*

And definitely the most unappreciate. *g* (Watanuki: "Would a thank you hurt!? See if I save you from the next monster that nearly kills you!" Doumeki: "There was a monster?")

*laughs* I think Doumeki knows what's going on here. But he doesn't want to tell.

Well, obviously what's going on is that Doumeki is realising that he really does not like seeing Watanuki get hurt, and he may even be figuring out why. Whereas Watanuki still thinks that it doesn't matter what happens to him as long as he's saving other people. Obviously, Doumeki's just being crazy again (only, that explanation doesn't quite get rid of that nagging feeling he's got that something Doumeki's saying here makes sense).

Um. I'm also realising there may be more of this to come. >.>

[smokexscribbles.livejournal.com]

Epic? I think so. Yay, more AU ^_^

[rallamajoop.livejournal.com]

Oh, this one's not the epic - that would be the other one I've had in progress solidly for the last five months. ^^; But a little addition to one of the other AUs doesn't make for a bad change.

[hungry-worm.livejournal.com]

Hee, it is so nice. ♥ ♥ ♥ Doumeki being Doumeki and Watanuki being... Super-(Kimi)Hiro *cough*

"Fine! Just to save your poor sensibilities, in future I will try very hard not to let myself take minor, non-fatal injuries while trying to save the city from invisible invaders that no-one realises are there!"

I love their tense silences and half-hearted snarks (of course, the fully fledged snarks and flails are love as well). And poor Doumeki, the black hole for food; the last line actually made me feel a bit sorry for him.

Thank you for writing and sharing! I'm often sceptical about AUs, but this is absolutely worth reading. Now I just wonder what colours Yuuko would have chosen for the spandex. XD

[rallamajoop.livejournal.com]

Super-(Kimi)Hiro *cough*

*grin* Now I wonder if his superhero name really is something like that...

AU's are one of those kinds of genres, I guess - a lot of people seem to use them as an excuse to ignore all the bits of canon they don't like and forget about characterisation, but done right, there's an awful lot of fun to be had reimagining characters in new settings. (Though I may be slightly biased on the subject. >.>)

I'm not sure what colours either - but they're bound to be the most embarrassing ones she could find. >D

[black-feenix.livejournal.com]

Oh my goodnes this was hilarious.
When I read the stretch/rubber power I was going to mention the Luffy/Watanuki fic on FFN but I see someone else has.
-shakes head laughing- But all fo the powers you chose for Watanuki suit him perfectly. I loved the fact that you gave him a regeneration power (too much Heroes for me!) Kinda compensating for the fact that Doumeki isn't chock-full of powers to protect him. XD The turn-around was good. For once Watanuki is saving Doumeki!
Nicely written. I needed a good guffaw.

[rallamajoop.livejournal.com]

I can't take much credit for coming up with the powers, since other people suggested them to me and I just used the ones I thought fit. ^^; But given Watanuki's habit of getting injured even in the regular series, regeneration is a power he could use in any universe.

Glad you liked. ^_^

[nikkernoodle.livejournal.com]

Eee! More superheros! :D *flails with glee!* I might have to stalk your lj for moar fiction stuffs, if that's alright?

[rallamajoop.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's fine. You can, uh, join everyone else who seems to be doing that lately. ^^;

[iambickilometer.livejournal.com]

Not much to say that hasn't already been said, but I loved this and especially the last bit of dialogue. And Doumeki's obvious (but not quite obvious enough) affection. And also:

"Hardly, there's just a bit of a sting then it all heals up, and I'm fine and can go back to fighting."

"...until the monster stabs you in the same place all over again."

Ever the wise one, Doumeki. :D

[rallamajoop.livejournal.com]

It's just never quite obvious enough for Watanuki. XD

Really, when the stabbity thing happens like that it's more a source of great embarrassment to poor Watanuki than anything else. But he always pulls through and saves the day at the end - superhero duties and all that, y'know?

[tommyrotter.livejournal.com]

..o-omg! HOLiC Superheroes! I never thought I'd see more of it! S-so wonderful!

Watanuki's powers are all so wonderful, but the last is probably my favorite . And, as always, their interactions just shine

"No, really, " said Watanuki, in his ongoing quest to make Doumeki understand sarcasm by shear repetitive effort, "getting treated like a shish-kebab by alien ghost monsters is the best part of my job."

My FAVORITE! Of course, the little bit immediately afterwards was beautiful too ♥

(So tell me--what is Watanuki's weakness? Like Superman's kryptonite, and stuff. This is Watanuki, after all. Things can't go too easily for him XD)

[rallamajoop.livejournal.com]

It surprised me too. ^^; But in the best possible way.

I worry a bit sometimes that my Watanuki/Doumeki scenes are getting a bit repetitive, but if so, at least no-one seems to mind. XD

(Watanuki's weakness is Doumeki. Duh. Merely being in proximity to Doumeki sends him into a rage and makes him flail uncontrollably. XD)

[celestial-spare.livejournal.com]

Oh, my. It's been a couple of weeks away from the comm, and your Superheroes update was a pleasant thing to come back to!

Would love to get a mental-prose-typety'd picture of Watanuki in cape-plus-spandex, though. With Doumeki acting as Yuuko-san's sidekick # 2. (What's Yuuko's 'superheroine' costume, though?)

*waddles away, wondering...* ♥

[rallamajoop.livejournal.com]

Glad you enjoyed it. ^_^

I'm still not sure what superhero!Watanuki looks like exactly - don't even know quite what he's called . ^^; Doumeki's never going to make official sidekick though - he's going to stay happily spandex-free. Yuuko probably just dresses much as she always has - only louder, if anything. XD

[retsuko.livejournal.com]

Your stuff is awesome! So funny and cute. I never thought I'd like AU so much! (I'm something of a conservative reader, at least when it comes to fics.) :D

[rallamajoop.livejournal.com]

I feel like I must've read a lot more good AUs in assorted other fandoms than most people, they don't seem to have the best reputation. But really, they're like any fanfic - you've just got to make sure you tackle them from the right angle and get the characterisation right, and there's a lot of fun to be had. *g*

[ldydragon7.livejournal.com]

I am such a horrible person, I just realized I had never commented on this.

I love love loved this! Just too much fun. So many great lines, and the role reversal was just perfect. I'm amazed at how well it worked.

"Invisible monsters?" said Doumeki. "Didn't notice any."
"Of course you didn't!" Watanuki spluttered. "On account of that bit where they are invisible!" I seriously cracked up.
I can see Doumeki one day just reaching out, grabing Watanuki's nose and pulling just to see what happens.

"Doesn't it still hurt?" asked Doumeki. Something in his expression that Watatanuki couldn't quite read made him want to apologise for something he knew he hadn’t done and explain quickly before there were any further misunderstandings, which was really very annoying. Awwwww. That who section was just awwwww. :)

And Doumeki's disapointment that there was no more lunch was just too cute.

[rallamajoop.livejournal.com]

So many great lines, and the role reversal was just perfect. I'm amazed at how well it worked.

Better than you'd think, huh? It was one of those things where I wouldn't have ever thought about putting Watanuki in the protector role until I sat down to think about the Superheroes request - then I realised that of course Watanuki would have to be the hero with the glasses and the embarrassing costume and a whole new set of destiny issues. And of course dealing with Doumeki all the time would still be the worst part of his job - just now Doumeki's around for rather different reasons.

I can see Doumeki one day just reaching out, grabing Watanuki's nose and pulling just to see what happens.

He'd just make Watanuki really mad at him ("It only works when I'm concentrating, you idiot!") Not that this ever puts him off.

And Doumeki's disapointment that there was no more lunch was just too cute.

When you're Doumeki, there's never enough lunch. XD