The world wants a protagonist

Every story follows someone. A hero, a villain, a lover, a witness. Reality becomes much simpler when everyone has a role.  Elias Vale has always been difficult in that regard.  His job takes him through portals where stories become real and people are made to fit them. Heroes rise, villains are punished, and fated lovers find each other. And if a story is allowed to end, the roles it created will not end with it.  Elias makes sure they do.  He is unusually good at remaining himself. At least, that is what he would say.  The story might call him a coward when he runs from danger, a monster when he hurts someone without hesitation, and a saviour when he runs back into danger for someone else.  Whatever anyone else decides he is, he would still prefer to remain Elias Vale.  Unfortunately, stories expect rather more from the people they follow.