Hero in the Making [Man to Albino Woman TG] - Part 5

Commissioned Anonymously

Sam’s hyped for his favourite manga author's new series at the convention, even cosplaying as the main character. But when the character is revealed to be a woman, he’s humiliated—until he mysteriously transforms into her; and things only get more complicated from there. 

~

Part 5

“You’re going to pay me…to go to a nightclub?”

I was sitting in Seth’s office, we’d finally finished shooting the promotional videos, and I expected this to be my exit interview, only for Seth to turn around and say he wanted to pay me for a few more jobs.
“More or less!” Seth beamed. “It's a bit of sneaky marketing. That video of you stopping an actual crime? Fabulous, the promo videos are going over well online, and the nerd sphere is picking up on who you are. Now, let’s give them somebody to worship.”

“Worship?” I baulked. 

“Contrast is getting a lot of pre-hype online; you can’t buy this sort of excitement. The fact that it’s Basco’s passion project is a huge factor, but you’re part of the appeal too. A real-life version of the character!”

“I’m not a super hero…” I muttered.

“No, but the illusion is there. Now, let’s make you human. Put on a pretty dress, dance in a club, I take some photos, show Contrast as a human being, spin it online, hint at some of the more mature content Basco has planned, etc.”

My cheeks flushed at the idea. I’d taken this job for two reasons: money and to convince Basco to change the story, but the more I learned about it, the less my heart was in it. Contrast really did work as a woman; at least it looked like she did from everything Basco had been telling me. Maybe I could get into the story regardless of that little flaw, especially since Basco seemed dead set on keeping her that way. 

“Look, just go to the club, dance a bit and have fun, and I’ll get you an extra few hundred. Sound good?”

I took a deep breath and nodded. “Fine.”

Why did it feel like I was whoring myself out?

~

That feeling only got stronger as I walked toward the Club, Seth in tow. He’d put me in a black mini dress that felt close to obscene. My curvy, yet muscular body had the fabric stretched tight over my hips and bust, which, paired with the short hemline, meant I was constantly tugging at the skirt to keep it from riding up my thighs. 

“The more it looks like clothes are about to fall off, the sexier they are!” Seth insisted, “Now, go out on that dance floor and shake your booty.”

My mouth was dry as we stepped inside the club. I’d never been a nightclub person, well, I’d tried back in college, but it had been a miserable experience. Expensive drinks and snooty women who wouldn’t give me so much as a kiss, no matter how many overpriced cocktails I bought for them. This was the realm of asshole jocks and rich guys, not me. 

“I’m not sure about this, Seth.”

“What’s there to be unsure about? You’re hot, you dance, you get a drink, and I take some photos. We can be in and out in an hour if you really hate it. And remember, you’re getting paid.”

“Yeah…”

Seth was grinning up at me with this strange look in his eye that made me want to shudder. My stomach tightened, and I looked away, wobbling on my heels toward the dance floor in the heels he’d given me. The second I was in the middle of that throng, I realised two things; firstly, that this wasn’t worth getting paid for, and secondly, I had no idea how to dance. 

I waited for those strange compulsions to take over like they had with the promo videos, but nothing happened. I stood there, like an awkward statue in the centre of a bunch of writhing bodies. I tried to copy a few of the moves other women were doing, but each time I lifted my arms, I felt aware of my dress riding up. I couldn’t relax; my movements were stiff and awkward. Suddenly, a hand gripped my wrist, and Seth was there, phone in hand with a scowl on his face.

“Come on, loosen up. You don’t look like you’re having fun.”

“Because I’m not.”

A cold bottle was thrust into my hand, and Seth reached up to pat my shoulder. 

“Have a drink, loosen up, then get dancing so I can get these photos!”

He winked and clicked his fingers at me in a way that suggested he was trying to be slick, but it only made that strange, tight feeling in my stomach get worse. I took a few sips, it was so sugary sweet that it made me want to gag. Seth looked like he was about to say something else when a strange voice squealed at me over the music. 

“Oh my God, girl!” 

Suddenly, a strange woman threw her arms around my middle and hugged me tight.

“It’s been ages!” She beamed before turning to Seth, “So sorry, but its been forever since I got to spend time with this girl, I was just about to go redo my lipstick, come with?”

The woman had a halo of curly blonde hair, and her lipstick looked perfect to me. She was a total stranger, and I knew for a fact she couldn’t be mistaking me for somebody else. How many seven-foot albino women with these sorts of muscles and curves could there be in one city? I took her hand out of shock and let her drag me to the bathroom. The second the door closed, the music dimmed, and she let out a sigh.

“Hey, hun, you okay? That guy looked like he was being awfully insistent.”

“Um, he’s my boss, I’m sorry, I think you have me mistaken for somebody else?”

She blinked, then laughed.

“Oh no, that’s just the oldest trick in the women’s playbook to help girls who are struggling to lose a creep in clubs.” She giggled, “You’ve never heard?”

“I… don't have many girl friends.”

The blonde gave me a pitying look. 

“Well, you do now.” She grinned, squeezing my arm. “So that guy is your boss? Why are you in a place like this with him?”

“I’m doing some promo videos for this new manga that’s coming out, he thought some shots here would be good for…something. I don’t know, it made sense when he explained it. Or maybe he was just talking too fast for me to think.”

The blonde’s brow furrowed. “That sounds sketchy as hell. He probably just made it up to take pictures of you.”

“What? No! He…he’s my boss, he can’t just do that?”

“Make the beautiful woman who needs his money do something for his own benefit while pretending it's work?” She snorted, “Yeah, no man has ever done that before. Does anybody else know about this extra project of yours?”

Now that she mentioned it, Basco was usually around for any projects concerning Contrast; shouldn’t he have come along as well? The idea of dancing in a club suddenly didn’t seem so bad when I thought about him being here too. At the very least, he’d probably hate it just as much. Basco didn’t strike me as the clubbing sort. 

“What should I do? I don’t want to lose my job.” 

We may have finished the promo videos, but since it looked like I wasn’t getting my body back any time soon, working with Basco in some capacity was my only real hope for income right now. If I burned bridges with Seth, that would be it. 

“Do the photos, then, I’ll walk you home.” The woman winked, “We women have to stick together.”

“But…I don’t even know you.”

“You really don’t have a lot of female friends, huh?” The woman said with a sad smile. “I’m Trixie. I’ll teach you.”
She smiled widely, and three more women entered the bathroom, two of them squealed about how much they loved Trixie’s shoes, the other mine. One put an arm on my shoulder. 

“Wow, you’re so tall! Good for you, girl!”

“Thanks?”

I couldn’t help but giggle; I’d heard the myths about drunk girls in bathrooms, but I’d never realised how true they were. It felt so strange and nice to be able to make friends so easily, no cool lines needed. A little voice whispered in my mind that maybe they never had been. Trixie and I walked out arm in arm, and the dance floor didn’t seem so scary.

I could feel men’s eyes on me as I crossed the room, but they didn’t approach. I watched as more than one looked at Trixie on my arm and shook his head. I remembered being them, seeing all the girls travelling in groups and cursing it. It was so hard to get one to ask her out. Now that I was on the other side, I could see that was by design. 

Seth was standing by the edge of the dance floor, looking sour. His slick smile suddenly had a predatory edge to it. He looked like he wanted to take a bite out of me, like a shark. It made me shudder, and Trixie hummed in my ear.

“Listen to that sixth sense, sweetie, it keeps us alive.”

It should have been a joke, but she was dead serious, and I nodded. 

“All caught up?” Seth said a little impatiently, “We’d better get back to work.”

He put a bit too much emphasis on the last word.

“Of course.” I muttered, “Trixie, could you help me get into the swing of things?”

We didn’t wait for Seth’s approval. I let Trixie lead me onto the dance floor and show me the moves. A sway of my hips, a twist of my arms and soon things started to come more naturally. My dancing was closer to flailing, but it was oddly enjoyable. I relaxed, letting the beat move through me. Trixie giggled in delight, finger wound around mine. After several songs, I could feel the heat of the room getting to me, and we stumbled off the dance floor. Seth was clutching his phone like a lifeline, talking about how great the photos were, and how he was definitely using them for work, despite the fact that he was using his personal phone. 

“I’ll call us a car,” Seth said smoothly, but Trixe cut him off.

“Actually, my dear friend Bianca and I are going to get a cab together. We have so much catching up to do, you understand.”

“I’ll see you in a few days.” I continued, “I look forward to seeing how you use the photos.”

Seth’s face went purple as I jumped into the cab with Trixie, and we both burst into a fit of giggles.

“He really thought he was going to score with you tonight.” 

“Oh God, it’s so obvious, how did I not see it?” I snickered, “What a creep! I should tell Basco, he probably wouldn’t want somebody like that being the publishing face of his manga.”

“Ooooh, who’s Basco?” Trixie leaned in, “I can’t believe you never mentioned him!”

“Trixie, we met like, two hours ago.”

“No, we’ve been friends for years; we have so much catching up to do.” She said seriously, then giggled. “Now, tell me who’s Basco and why do you blush when you say his name?”

“I do not!”

I was, but it was probably just Basco drawing another of his smutty pictures. Yes, that was it. Trixie just giggled as the car pulled up outside my place.

“Here! Let me put my number in your phone.” She took it before I could say no and quickly texted herself a heart. “There! This way, if we see each other on the town in the future, we won't have to lie about catching up.”

She gave me a wink and I felt a soft smile spread across my face, it was only after I’d stepped out of the car and it was speeding away that I realised what a surreal experience that had been. I’d gone to a club and danced with a beautiful woman who had then given me her number, and not once had I thought about getting her into bed. Or even kissing her, in fact, I had nothing but platonic feelings for her, despite how hot she was. It was…a novel feeling. 

“I guess women are just people,” I muttered, looking down at myself. A wave of embarrassment followed the revelation; it felt so obvious now. How had it taken me this long to notice?

~

I was just stepping out of the shower the next morning when there was a knock at my door. Out of habit, I wrapped the towel around my waist, only to immediately realise my mistake when I felt my wet breasts moving against my chest. With some difficulty, I squeezed the towel around my entire body. Thanks to my height, I could only just cover my nipples and thighs at the same time. 

“Coming!” I called, awkwardly shoving the door open while trying to hold the towel closed. “Ye-Basco?!”
I’d expected a mailman or a lost food delivery guy, not my idol. Basco’s face went red, and I felt my entire body heat up as he looked me up and down, then up again before clearing his throat.

“Bianca! So sorry to drop in… unannounced.” He flustered, “I just wanted to apologise.”

“Apologise?”

“For Seth. One of his secretaries told me he made you go out to a club as some sort of promo event? I would never have asked for that, especially with just him!” Basco’s eyes were glued to mine, like he was making a conscious effort not to look at my still damp body. “I’ve asked my work to be passed to another partner. I am disgusted he would use his position to get photos of you like that!”

He sounded almost protective. Probably because Contrast was his passion project,” and he didn’t want any drama ruining the release. 

“I appreciate that.” I said, “It's so obvious it was just an excuse to take pictures now that I think about it.”

“Well, it won’t happen again.”
Basco nodded firmly, and we lapsed into awkward silence. It occurred to me that this might very well be the last time I saw him. I held back a shiver as the water dried against my skin and carefully tucked the towel under one arm to hold it in place so I could offer Basco a handshake.

“I suppose we won’t be seeing each other again. It was…good to work with you.”

“Oh…Yes, I suppose with the videos finished that’s that.” He blinked at my hand and took it. 

His palm was warm against mine. 

“But…If you like, I would love to keep working with you, or just…be friends. You’ve already inspired so much of the story.”

Me, an inspiration. The butterflies returned with a vengeance, and then, the towel fell. A shriek escaped my lips, and Basco quickly covered his eyes and I ducked inside and pressed my naked back to the door.

“That sounds great!” I called through the wood. “I’ll see you another time! When I have more clothes.”

“A good idea.” 

His voice was strained, and I couldn’t help but giggle as I listened to his footsteps recede down the hall. I slid down onto the ground and let out a sigh. If he still wanted me around, there was still a chance, a chance I could change his mind about Contrast and get my old body back. I ran a hand down my long, smooth leg and sighed. So why didn’t I feel quite so motivated anymore?

~

Visiting Basco’s place became part of my routine; it wasn’t like I had another job to keep me busy, and the money I’d made from the promos was enough to live on for a while if I played my cards right. At first, it had been to talk about inspiration, but then it just became habit. I would lounge, reading internet articles while he wrote and drew. The first chapter of Contrast was supposed to debut in Weekly Shonen Jump in less than a month; he had to get it ready and perfect. My body continued to change every now and then, but in subtle ways. In a way, it started to feel comforting, like Basco was polishing a diamond. 

‘I wish he was polishing my pearl, though,’ my traitorous brain whispered before I forced it to be quiet. Those butterflies from that day he glimpsed me naked were appearing more and more often these days. 

Thoughts like that had been creeping in unbidden for a while, no matter how badly I tried to keep them at bay. It was just because of his art. Basco still had no idea that every time he drew sexy art of Contrast, he was turning me on. Sometimes, just the sight of him sketching something innocent got me feeling hot and heavy by association. I was dutifully ignoring such feelings when Basoc placed a pile of paper in front of me. 

“Done.”

“Done?!”

I sat up so quickly my spine protested. 

“First chapter, ready for Jump. I just finished scanning it. I want you to be the first to read it.”

Me. I was going to be the first person outside publishing to read Basco Barringer’s latest maga. Tears burned at the back of my skull before I quickly blinked them away. I took the paper with shaking hands. It wasn't like reading an official release; I could see the white out and blue pencil lines peaking out from under the ink. I’d only ever seen original manga pages like this at exhibits. It felt so…special to hold in my hands. 

“Let me know what you think,” Basco said nervously. “You were just supposed to be a promo model, but you honestly inspired so much of the story and character, I want you to be proud of what I made.”

Basco Barringer wanted me personally to approve of his work. If only Keith could see me now. Thinking of my best friend made me frown; I still hadn’t heard a thing from him since that night at my place, even all these weeks later. Basco looked up at me with concern. 

“Is something wrong?’

“No, not at all! Give me some time to read.”

He leaned back on the couch, legs up to rest the manuscript against before turning the first page. As always, Basco’s art was gorgeous. I could practically smell the night air as Contrast skimmed over rooftops, batons in hand. The opening chapter was perfect; fun action, some badass lines and just enough hints at the bigger picture to leave the reader hungry for more. 

And Contrast herself…she was incredible. Her moves were precise, the drawings of her curvy form were tasteful and badass. I felt a strange sort of wonder build up inside my chest; it reminded me of when I was a kid reading Batman for the first time. Seeing somebody so cool take justice into their own hands.

It wasn't all action though; she was soft when the time called for it. Gently helping a shaken mugging victim to her feet, even removing her mask partially so she could smile at them. 

‘The mask is for scaring villains, a smile is for comforting victims.’ Contrast said as she placed it back on and fired off her grappling hook. Something about the scene made me pause. If Contrast were a guy, that would have come off as cheesy, maybe even a bit creepy, like those ‘nice guys’ from memes. But something about a woman saying that to another woman felt so… genuine. The final panel of the scene showed the grateful woman watching after her, and I swore I could somehow see the inspiration in her eyes. 

On the final page, Contrast stood alone, white skin stark against a starry night sky. Ready to face whatever came next, shredded paper in her hand, hinting at some big conspiracy. It took my breath away. This was the story I’d helped inspire? It was probably my greatest ever accomplishment, no, it definitely was. 

“You liked it?” Basco asked timidly as I closed the final page.

“I loved it. Everybody is going to love it.” 

Basco looked like he was glowing. 

“You really think so?” 

“I know so.”

~

I was wrong.

Plenty of people loved the first chapter; the message boards were full of praise, but they were also full of criticism. It was to be expected; no story was universally loved, especially after only one chapter. Basco was such a big name. Contrast got more talk than most debuts, but that wasn’t necessarily a good thing. 

The day it came out, I jumped online, only to find the first thread was ‘Why make Contrast a Woman?’, followed by ‘Here I fixed Contrast's Costume!’. The ‘fixed’ costume put her in thigh-high boots, booty shorts and a middrift top instead of the full body suit. A strange sense of conflict washed over me. Part of me felt disgusted; this was obviously a worse version of the costume, it was less practical, didn't make sense with the character, and it was clear that whoever did it just wanted to see more skin. Yet they had the gall to talk excessively about why their version was better.

“More flexibility?” I scoffed, “Give me a break, it's so obvious he is just a perv and too embarrassed to…admit it…”

I kept reading, these arguments all seemed familiar somehow, then I realised. I’d said a lot of this only a few months ago at KaCon, back at that panel. A wave of late embarrassment washed over me. Oh God, I had actually stood up in a room and said all this, proudly. Wait a second, there was someone else at the panel, somebody who was sitting right next to him and mentioned how well he spoke.

“Keith.”

~

My fist pounded against the door to Keith’s apartment hard enough that I felt the cheap wood splinter slightly. When the door opened and I saw him for the first time in weeks, I couldn’t keep the disgust off my face. Was that how he always looked? It wasn't that he was a pudgy guy, no, that could have been compensated for; it was the greasy hair, the shirt with a stain that was at least a few days old. We’d always joked about how shallow women were, but right now, Keith could be the nicest, most wonderful man in existence, and I still wouldn’t want to date him looking like a total slob. 

“Come to your senses?” He said, raising an eyebrow. 

“Why would you write those things? Why would you draw COntrast like that!” The words burst out of me before I could stop them. “You know you’re coming off as a total neckbeard, right?”

Keith rolled his eyes and turned back into his apartment, but I followed, stalking behind. 

“Do you hear yourself right now?” He scoffed, “You sound just like one of them now, maybe you are one of them.”

“One of who?”

“Those woke, SJW, women types, the second you got that body, you turned on us true nerds. I mean, look at you!”

He thrust a hand in my direction, and I looked down at myself. I hadn’t brought many clothes since the change, just enough to get by. Turns out, women who were seven feet tall weren’t too common, so there wasn't much to choose from when it came to pants. Skirts were easier, and yeah, it was a little short, but almost every skirt was short with thighs this thick and legs this long. 

The shirt was the same, showing off plenty of cleavage, but with breasts as big as mine, that was basically inevitable. Keith did have one point though. I hadn't thought twice when I got dressed this morning. Dressing as a woman, being a woman, it was no longer strange, it was just…me. Keith watched my brow furrow and looked up at me with his nose in the air.

“I was just saying the same things you used to, you know. Or have you forgotten who you are, cause you’re too busy whoring yourself out?”

“Whor-what the hell, what are you talking about!?”

“Oh, like you’re not sleeping with Basco, and probably a bunch of those publishing people too.” Keith said bitterly, “I bet they treat you like trash and you love it, but one day, you’re going to realise what you missed with me. I am the only one who knows who you really as, we could have been the perfect nerd couple, and you ruined it.” 

The entitlement in his voice made me sick; he was totally convinced he was some sort of prince charming and that I was the one acting like a bitch. Then, another revelation hit me.

“You’re jealous.” 

Ketih went pale.

“What, no, I’m not! You’re the one who doesn’t like hearing the truth.”

“You’re pissed off, you thought just because I got this body I was going to sleep with you? All this shit talking Contrast, is because I turned you down!”

“Is not! You…You’re just a whore!”

“I’m a virgin! And even if I wasn't, what does that have to do with anything?”

Leith just slouched back in his gaming chair and looked at me with utter derision. 

“You were going to fix Basco’s story, and instead, you made it so much worse. Now he’s writing that drek, and my best friend betrayed me.”

“Betrayed you?” I scoffed, “How? But not sleeping with you?”

Keith just shrugged. I wanted to yell more, tell him how pathetic he was, but then for a split second, his face changed. I wasn’t looking at my friend, but myself. My old self, with a twist of fate, these roles could have been reversed. What if Keith had been the one caught up in this strange spell? Would I be sitting there right now, yelling at him for not hopping into bed? The anger drained out of me, and I just shook my head. 

“Believe what you want, Keith. At least I am growing, I’m just ashamed it took me this long.”

“Ashamed? Pfffft, fancy words for a fancy lady. Go on then, you bitch, get out of here and don’t come crawling back to me when you realise what you missed out on!”

I just scoffed.

“Even if I did, you wouldn’t turn me away. You’re desperate, pathetic, and lonely, Keith. Work on yourself, then maybe a woman might give you a shot.”

I turned on my heels and marched out the door, ignoring the lump in my throat. Memories flashed through my mind; us clinging to one another in high school and college, our first KaCon, our all-night gaming sessions; years of friendship down the drain. Cutting him out of my life hurt, but I couldn't bring myself to regret it.