Protection vs Vengeance: Clarity

As the day came for the Dark Star-Spangled Heroes to attack, they were met by a refortified Fortress Americana.

"COME ON OUT HERE GHOST! LET'S FINISH WHAT YOU STARTED! OR SHOULD I CALL YOU, PROTECTOR!"

The gates of the Fortress opened up to find the Star Spangled Heroes staring down their evil doubles, their Nazi doubles.

"So, I was right."

"The Fuhrer has been generous enough to give me this extra weight. Everyone else, STEP BACK. This nice bitch is mine."

The Protector and The Ghost circled each other, the Ghost armed with a single sledgehammer, while the Protector was armed with a hatchet and his kbar. Without warning the two rushed at each other. The Protector scored dual slices across the Ghost's legs.

"How could you side with the Nazis of all people?"

"I'm a demon, anyone willing to do what they do, makes me happy." grinned the Ghost.

"Then you're truly not me."

"Well duh, the made me Arian, no need to be a weaker, lesser race." The Demon grinned as he swings his sledgehammer at the Protector.

The Protector stopped a moment and looked at the Ghost.

"I swear to you, once I've taken that sledgehammer out of play, I will use my fists to be your nazi-loving ass into the pavement."

"I'd love to see that, after all, this version of you died so pathetically. Avenge yourself."

"I don't avenge, I protect, and any fucking Nazis who decide to come here, die, left to rot as they should."

The Protector locked the head of the sledgehammer in place with the crock of his hatchet and flung both weapons away from them. He then stepped back and flicked his arms out, fists clenched, winking at the Ghost. "I warned you."

The Protector charges at the Ghost tackling him to the ground, the pinning him down. The Protector had a violent look on his face as he began to lay into the Ghost.

"You failed so hard you had to join the Nazis and bring back up just to try to scare me. You locked me away not because you beat me, but because you feared my strength demon. Now there's nowhere to run. I'm going to kill you, you Nazi loving bitch."

The Protector tore the chest armor off of the Ghost, laying into him further, each punch sending shockwaves through the Ghost's body.

"To think I ever surrendered my body to you, you failed attempt to recreate me."

The Protector slammed his fists into the Ghost's chest. The Ghost coughing up blood as he tried to fight back. The Ghost tossed the Protector off of him.

"I was meant to save you, well this version of you anyways."

"You were meant to take the abuse; I was meant to protect myself and everyone I love from it! You lost sight of that, and for that, you will pay with your life."

The Protector pulled out his kbar and began walking up to the Ghost. "You not only hurt my family and my friends, you deprived me of feeling the love my wife had to give me!"

The Protector put in earbuds and pressed play on his device. Another Love, that had been slowed and reverbed plays as he grips the kbar. He broke the Ghost's jaw, tears running down his cheeks as he plunged the kbar into the Ghost's chest.

"I take no joy in killing you." stared the Protector. "I know that version of me asked you to protect a side of himself that had been abused, taken advantage of, and hurt far beyond what he could handle. You failed him, you failed his friends and his family. His wife included. You robbed him of the very love and kindness that I value above everything else. I watched helplessly as my version of you hurt others around me, others who just wanted to help. You hurt your version of me so much more than anyone had ever hurt him, me. I killed my version of you in my mind space, and now it's time you died, paid for your sins while I clean up your mess. You served your purpose, even though you did so poorly, your fight is over."

"Y-you could see all of that?"

"I could see everything." said the Protector lowering the both of them to the ground.

"We need to help the Ghost!" said one of the dark heroes.

"No, let them have this." said another.

"I'm scared." said the Ghost as his breath quickened.

"I know, it will be over soon."

"Do you think...."

"Yes, she loved us, she watched us fall for god damn far, and still held out hope until she died. I was there, because I protected you. She drew her last breath with me by her side. Patricia loved us, even if you couldn't see that."

"I-I'm sorry, I-I should've..."

"It's in the past now. I am sorry. I failed to protect you." The Protector held his enemy's hand. "Now as you leave these shores, may you find peace on the next ones. May you be at peace, and may that anger die as your body does."

The Ghost drew his last breath and died at the hands of the Protector.

The Protector stood up and removed his kbar. "One last death so that we all might know peace."

The Dark heroes looked at the Protector before he spoke. "Take him back home, bury him, then if you seek revenge, come find me."

The Protector held his kbar as they grabbed the Ghost's body and took him back through the rift. Once they were gone, the Protector dropped his knife and turned to his people.

"I am sorry. Truly, some of you have been hurt by me. I don't deserve forgiveness, but I am asking. Will you all forgive me?"

"Damn right we will." said the Busch Hunter stepping forwards. "You may have had a cinder block for a brain back then, but I know you've learned from your mistakes."

"You've been hurt, more so than what your mind knew how to handle. We all have been there before. Just rest for now. We have your back, you All Might wannabe." said Light as patted the Protector on the back.

As they went back inside the bunker, the Protector stood outside a moment.

"Coming inside?" asked his wife.

"Yes, and to you, I am truly sorry for not being able to see your love to the full extent."

"You have nothing to apologize for." She kissed him. "You have the rest of our lives to do better, after all, I am still waiting on that date you promised me."

The Protector chuckled. "That you are, does tomorrow night work?"

"I'll have to check with my husband." she laughed as they went inside. The Bunker doors closed behind them and sealed. Everyone was safe for today; tomorrow wasn't promised but they didn't seem to care. One day at a time, they'd tackle anything the Nazis could throw at them.