History Literature / Firefight

* NotSoDifferent: Prof often admonishes David for being reckless. Although he never expresses it to Prof directly, David firmly believes that deep down, the two of them share the same bold, ambitious spirit and Prof's caution is more learned than innate. There's some evidence that he's right; Prof himself admits that he has conflicting feelings about David's approach to things, he was the first of the book 1 Reckoners to fully embrace David's game-changing scheme to kill Steelheart, and he's been known to indulge in a little "reckless heroism" (his characterization of David's tendencies) himself from time to time.

* MomentKiller: [[spoiler:When Megan infiltrates the Reckoner UnderwaterBase to see David, he ends up kissing her. As they are making out, the door opens due to Tia going in to get something, forcing Megan to dive to the floor and use her powers to turn invisible, and for David to make up an excuse for having dropped his things. However, seeing as Tia [[KnewItAllAlong knew he was keeping in contact with Megan]], that may have been on purpose.]]

* VoodooShark: Since the first book, it was assumed that Calamity is the reason behind the creation of Epics somehow. [[spoiler:That is true, but Calamity ''is'' an Epic, leading to this trope. It is likely that the reasoning behind all of this will be more explained in the subsequent novel.]]

** [[spoiler:Epic weaknesses are whatever scares them the most...and if they face that fear, they become immune to Calamity's corruption]].
** [[spoiler: Megan isn't an illusionist. She's a RealityWarper, able to pluck bits and pieces out of alternate timelines and project shadows of them (or sometimes a bit more than shadows) into this.]]

* NotSoDifferent: Prof often admonishes David for being reckless. Although he never expresses it to Prof directly, David firmly believes that deep down, the two of them share the same bold, ambitious spirit and Prof's caution is more learned than innate. There's some evidence that he's right; Prof himself admits that he has conflicting feelings about David's approach to things, and he was the first of the book 1 Reckoners to fully embrace David's game-changing scheme to kill Steelheart.

* GenkiGirl: Mizzie is...oddly cheerful for someone who grew up in a post-apocalyptic world.

* SuperTeam: Prof reveals that during the first years of Calamity, he, Regalia, and a couple of other Epics tried to form one of these. All of them except Prof quickly succumbed to the corruption. This experience is what [[CynicismCatalyst led Prof to so adamantly believe]] that Epics (other than gifters) are irredeemable.

* SuperTeam: Prof admits he once tried one of these with his friends, including Regalia. Due to the [[ItsAllAboutMe nature]] combined with the PersonOfMassDestruction tendencies of Epics, it didn't work out.

* NoodleIncident: The fight with Instabam is between Literature/{{Mitosis}} and this book, so it's only known that he tried to kill Abraham, came from Babilar, and was defeated. The rest isn't stated.

* WhatTheHellHero: A twofer. [[spoiler:The Reckoners all call out David for keeping in contact with Megan/Firefight, a known Epic, rather than killing her, shouting at him, showing hatred of him, and essentially locking him up in their base while they go off to kill her, essentially kicking him out. In contrast, David calls out Prof and Tia for not even considering his side and bugging his mobile to spy on him.]]

* LimpAndLivid: [[spoiler:Prof takes on this posture as he gives in to the Rending.]]

* MeaningfulEcho: David echoes the last words his father said to him when describing to [[spoiler:Mizzy]] why Prof isn't an evil Epic.

* SilentAntagonist: [[spoiler:After giving in to the Rending, Prof doesn't say a word.]] Doubles as NoNonsenseNemesis, given how he views David.

* TheCorruption: [[Epic powers are gifted by Calamity, and are tied strongly to a person's fear. Using the power will make you feel strong and invincible, but boosts all the darker parts of your nature, making it easier to use powers for evil, and snowballing from there. The core fear becomes an Epic's weakness that neutralizes their powers. If the Epic faces that fear themselves though, they neutralize their own madness instead.]]

* BadassBoast: Though it's actually meant in a [[AlasPoorVillain negative light]] in context, David's introduction counts.
-->'''David:''' My name is David Charleston. I kill people with superpowers.

Later on in a similar vein, says that he's heading off to kill his second High Epic in a day.

* SilentAntagonist: [[spoiler:After giving in to the Rending, Prof doesn't say a word.]]

* SuperTeam: Prof admits he once tried one of these with his friends, including Regalia. Due to the [[ItsAllAboutMe nature]] of Epics, it didn't work out.

-->'''David:''' I'm David Charleston. I kill people with superpowers.