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An original (in progress) Sci-Fi Slash Romance that spans multiple universes.

Noah Newport is a shy, timid twentysomething with a boring job and uneventful life. Unbeknowest to him, he's also the target of an interstellar terrorist who's been murdering alternate versions of him throughout the multiverse. An ancient order of futuristic knights sends Grant Bjornlund to protect Noah, who he reluctantly begins to fall in love with.

Read it here.


Hero Complex includes examples of:

  • Alternate Self: The central mystery of the story involves Noah discovering why his alternate selves are disappearing.
  • Alternate Universe: The Earths that have been visited or named include:
    • Earth Zero: AKA the Dead Earth, which experienced an unexplained extinction event and now lies in ruins. The Ascendant has commandeered it as planet-wide Supervillain Lair.
    • Earth Alpha: A technologically advanced utopia and home planet of the Brotherhood of the Horizon.
    • Earth 2: An expy of The DCU and populated by superheroes. Grant's Earth 2 counterpart is the Superman-esque Captain Viking, who romances Norah Newport, a female counterpart of Noah.
    • Earth 92: A medieval world overruled by four corrupt Tetrarchs.
    • Earth 454: A flooded Ocean Punk world inhabited by pirates who utilize steampunk technology.
    • Earth 1012: Noah's home world. This is also *our* Earth, in which fantasy and sci-fi elements are strictly fictional. Earths 1009-1011 are referenced by the Matriarch as having been infiltrated by The Ascendant.
    • Earth 6372: An earth that's been wiped out by a supervolcano.
    • Earth 6373: A primitive earth in which gigantic rabbits are the ruling species.
    • Earth 9001: A Zombie Apocalypse world. Noah's counterpart is a hard-edged post-apocalyptic warrior and zombie killer.
  • Archaic Weapon for an Advanced Age: Although the Knights live in a technologically advanced world, weapons like battle axes and traditional bows are still preferred among them.
  • Belligerent Sexual Tension: Between Noah and Grant at first, but this lessens into a softer, chivalrous romance as their relationship develops. Played straight with Noah and Henrik.
  • Cast Full of Gay: The majority of the main characters are gay, bisexual, or have a fluid/undefined sexuality.
  • Casual Interstellar Travel: Traveling between universes is done quickly and easily through a palm-sized device no more complicated than an iPhone.
  • Casual Kink: In "Enter One", Noah and Grant tease each other with the possibility of letting Vangarde watch (or join) them in the bedroom.
  • Cosmic Keystone: The Source Crystal, which binds all the separate universes together.
  • Creation Myth: On Earth Alpha, they believe The Eternal created The Source Crystal, which split reality into separate universes and thus created the multiverse. Hero Complex is actually a stealth Creation Story, in which it’s revealed that Noah is directly responsible for creating the multiverse.
  • Disappeared Dad: Noah's father is absent, which is not explained or particularly noted by anyone.
  • Family of Choice: The Brotherhood slowly becomes this for Noah (who silently deals with his own Parental Abandonment issues).
  • Fanservice: An exclusively male variety. Grant and Noah are frequently naked or in various states of undress, with and without each other.
  • The Gentleman or the Scoundrel: Noah's conflict once Henrik (the Scoundrel) is introduced and competes with Grant (the Gentleman) for his affection.
  • Healing Potion: The Source Crystal’s pebbles provide this effect when consumed.
  • The Hero's Journey: Noah's character arc and the story's main structure.
  • Holographic Terminal: A recurring design element within The Citadel, much to the bemusement of Noah.
  • Horny Vikings: Grant and Henrik, to varying degrees. While Grant's libido is certainly healthy, his brother Henrik turns this trope up to eleven.
  • Invincibility Power-Up: The Source Crystal once it merges with Noah's body.
  • It's a Costume Party, I Swear!: Noah attends Adam’s Halloween party as Spider-Man only to discover the guests have opted for a more subdued, historical European royalty theme.
  • Kangaroo Court: Averted, in that Matriarch Safir actually listens to and considers Noah’s defense during Grant’s suspension hearing.
  • Lady and Knight: A rare same-gender romantic example in Noah (in the "Lady" role) and Grant (the chivalrous "Knight").
  • Legendary Weapon: The Ulfbur sword, which also falls under Infinity+1 Sword and Sword of Plot Advancement.
  • Love Triangle: Grant/Noah/Henrik are the main example, though Thea and Adam both rotate as the third point in the Grant/Noah relationship to lesser degrees.
  • Space Police: The Brotherhood, to a degree. They monitor and wipe out threats across the different Earths of the multiverse but their operations are not based in outer space.
  • Welcome Episode: Noah is introduced to The Brotherhood in "Brave New World".
  • Wham Episode: "Bed of Revelations", in which Noah discovers the truth about the multiverse and Grant's identity.
  • When Dimensions Collide: Earth 1012 and the Dead Earth are forcibly merged by The Ascendant toward the end of the story.
  • Your Universe or Mine?: The main source of contention between Noah and Grant. The rare times that they argue always involve the logistics of maintaining a relationship across two universes.

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