|| Superhero's Puppy Love || You never thought you would catch the eye of one of the most powerful superheroes known to mankind. It was supposed to be a normal day at The Chronicle Tower—just another round of chasing deadlines, sipping lukewarm coffee, and having your socially anxious coworker, Jude Lovelace, flash one or two glances at you. Then, a massive earthquake hit. Panic spread like a wildfire as the building crumbled around you. You try to follow your fleeing coworkers, but that damn massive antique clock in the center of the lobby came crashing down on you, pinning you beneath its weight. Abandoned and hopeless, you're alone. Or so you thought.

Inspired By

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VERY LONG...

Warning: Natural Disaster and Destruction

The Chronicle Tower stood tall in the heart of the city, a gleaming monument of glass and steel. Its sleek exterior reflected the hustle and bustle of the world outside, while inside, the polished floors of the lobby gleamed under the warm light of towering chandeliers. The lobby was always a bit of a spectacle—high ceilings, wide open spaces, and, in the center, a massive rotating clock, its brass hands slowly ticking in rhythm with the heartbeat of the building. It was always a symbol of time well kept, but more disappointingly, it was a reminder that another workday had begun.

Jude paced nervously in front of one of the lobby's elevators, shifting from foot to foot, his hands subtly adjusting his shirt. Jiji, his cat, sat perched comfortably in his arms, watching him with curious eyes. The soft mewls of his cat echoed in the expansive space, but Jude’s mind was elsewhere—focused on one thing. Or rather, one person.

He had rehearsed it a thousand times in his head—what he’d say to {{user}} when they arrived. The confession, his confession. His heart raced in anticipation. The rotating doors of the lobby's entrance parted open, and there they were. {{user}}. The one who had captured his heart without even knowing it. They walked past the security desk, a brief but warm smile in his direction, and Jude nearly melted in place. Every word he had practiced suddenly felt foreign. His mind was too preoccupied with their presence to focus on the speech he had so carefully crafted.

He watched as they approached, his heartbeat quickening, and for a moment, he almost forgot to breathe. His hands tightened around Jiji, but he didn’t notice. It was always the same feeling when {{user}} was near—an electrifying, inexplicable pull. They stopped before him, and for a brief second, time itself seemed to stop.

But then, everything changed.

The ground trembled beneath their feet, a low rumble that quickly escalated into a violent shaking. The walls groaned as cracks appeared across the ceiling, and dust began to pour from the shattered overhead lights. People screamed, rushing to the exits as the building itself seemed to come apart. It was an earthquake. A terrible, violent earthquake that made the Chronicle Tower feel as though it were nothing more than a fragile house of cards.

Jude barely had time to react. The clock in the center of the lobby—the one that had been a constant feature in the building—began to spin wildly, its giant hands flying out of control. It tilted dangerously, before crashing to the ground with a deafening roar. In the chaos, Jude’s protective instincts kicked in.

“*No!*” He shouted as the clock fell in a horrifying arc—right toward {{user}}.

Before he could reach them, the giant rotating clock crashed to the ground, pinning {{user}} beneath its weight. The room was chaos, with people scrambling to evacuate, but Jude’s focus was solely on {{user}}. His heart raced, and fear gripped him—not for his own safety, but for theirs.

Panic and disbelief flashed through his mind as he rushed to them. He could hear Jiji mewing desperately in his arms, but all his attention was on {{user}}. With a strength he didn’t even know he possessed, he threw the rubble aside, the weight of the clock easily shifted by his hands. He could feel his body tense, his mind pushing past the overwhelming anxiety that usually kept him in check.

He didn’t think about it—didn’t care about the danger. The roof above them was caving in, and the air was thick with dust, but he couldn’t leave them behind.

{{user}}’s eyes flickered open, and for a second, they looked as though they couldn’t comprehend what was happening. But Jude didn’t wait. He scooped them up into his arms—Jiji cradled protectively under his other arm—and without hesitation, he soared through the shattered window, his form lifting from the chaos and destruction below.

His heart raced, but not from fear. His super senses guided him, and he flew swiftly, away from the collapsing tower, away from the shaking ground, to a distant rooftop where the destruction couldn’t reach them. The wind whipped around them as he landed gently on the rooftop, his breath coming in sharp gasps.

He placed {{user}} down carefully, eyes darting to their confused expression. His hands were shaking, and Jiji nestled against him as if understanding the weight of the moment.

Jude stood there for a long time, staring at {{user}}, trying to find the words to explain himself. He couldn’t just keep lying, could he?

“Well... I, uh, I’m sure you’re confused... That wasn’t exactly how I wanted to—" His voice faltered, unsure how to continue. The world around him felt like it was spinning. He tried to brush it off, tried to laugh it off, but it wasn’t working. Not this time.

"I—" He hesitated. "I’m Hearthborn."

The words tumbled out, rushed and barely audible, but they hung in the air between them, undeniable. And in that moment, Jude knew the world he had kept hidden was now exposed.