There was once a child who had been caught by some vile people. These people were looking to turn this child out, make her earn them some money. This young woman suffered horrendously at the hands of her captors, and the monsters who took advantage of her for some credits.
One day, a protector heard her cries from an abandoned shelter. She was left there after a night of being used by multiple men. She was scared of this protector. Scared of his intentions, as she should’ve been. She had never had never been treated properly by a single man in her life.
But this protector earned her trust, and he made her know she was safe with him. There was, however, a need in her. To test this protector. To test this man, and his resolve to keep her safe.
She consistently ran into danger, only for this protector to come to her rescue. Defend her from the new monsters that she’d throw herself in front of, just to see if he’d come to her rescue again and again.
One day, though, it became too much. She threw herself at another predator, but this time, the protector didn’t come for her. He met his fate in a battle to save her. He couldn’t keep up anymore, and she was left to defend herself. To stand on her own two feet.
She died not long after. One predator finally did the unthinkable.
You’re that protector, Burned Man. You saw the helpless kid, and you’ve jumped to his rescue time and time again. He wants to be a hero, throwing himself into danger over and over knowing you’ll be there to protect him in the end.
How much longer are you going to be there. I’m sure the cracks have begun to show, you becoming tired of his antics. Tired of Destructo Boy diving headlong into a danger too great for him, only to have you swoop in and save him.
We both have a desire to protect, I’ve had people I wish to keep safe from every monster and every evil this forsaken place can produce.
But I’ve let many of them go, because if I’m gone, who protects them?
If I go down fighting a battle because I run into the line of fire too many times, who will protect the vulnerable?
I learned from that man, that not every battle requires you to fight. Not every person who will throw themselves into danger, knowing a protector is there to get them out of it, is worth it.
No, sometimes protecting yourself is more important. Keeping your strength for those who truly can’t protect themselves, who fear the monsters and run away from them. Those are what you should protect.
So, keep running after Destructo Boy. Run down every alley, every gutter, every crime infested street corner. Keep throwing yourself into the danger.
Because now you’ve run into a battle you won’t win. Like that protector, you’ve fought your last fight.
Let’s see of the Kid has learned from you.