Okay Iâll be honest, I nearly had an aneurism trying to figure out how to write this part. The anon request was for a time skip forward, where the villain and hero were good friends and now the villain was âclingyâ to the hero. The problem was, Iâve been trying really hard to make this a healthy relationship. I think I finally figured out how to tow the line properly! Enjoy!
The villain lurched awake, some cry coming from their throat as they did. Their fists clutched the blankets tightly, angrily, as they pinned their eyes shut. This was the first nightmare theyâd had in weeks. It also just so happened to be the first night that the hero wasnât sleeping beside them.Â
They groaned, running their fingers through their hair. This was pathetic. They were a villain! Or at least, they used to be. They werenât quite sure what they were now, but regardless, people used to cower in fear in front of them! A hero sleeping next to them should NOT be something they needed!Â
And yet⌠here they were.Â
In the back of their mind, they found themselves wondering how much better the hero was fairing. Did they miss sleeping next to the villain?Â
No. Miss was the wrong word. The villain did not miss the hero.Â
Everything was just so different now. The villain agreed to give heroism a try, so the hero let them tag along for some of their smaller missions. It was fine until other people showed up. Strangers come to thank them, other heroes, all of which still looked at the villain warily. Their instinct was to go back to being scary. If the villain wanted people to hate them, everything was simple. Things like the opinion of others meant nothing to a villain. But now, suddenly, with people genuinely thanking them, showing gratitude, even looking relieved when they showed up with the hero, it made the villainâs insides twist. It felt right and wrong all at the same time. The worst part was it was unknown. They were entirely out of their element, and sure, the fighting was the same, just on the opposite team, but everything else? Unknow. And like most unknown things, it felt dangerous.Â
They were happy, though, happier than they could remember being, having someone like the hero in their life, no longer running from the law or being afraid of being stabbed in their sleep. Still, it was unnerving, all the change. Helping people for a change felt good. It was nice to have friends, have people who cared for you. It was just⌠a drastically contrasting change.Â
So.. yes. Maybe the villain clung to the comfort the heroâs presence offered.
The villain huffed out a laugh at themselves. Clingy. Oh, how the mighty had fallen.Â
They flopped back down into the bed they shared with the hero. Once the villain was fully healed, they agreed to move in with the hero. Not that they needed much convincing despite how much they acted like they did, the villain didnât really want to leave. The hero made them happy, sue them.Â
They had their own room in the heroâs house. The villain had their own bed, though it wasnât like they ever used it. Whenever they tried, the hero would pout until the villain caved and agreed to sleep with them again. Yeah, that was the only reason. Thatâs also why they were in the heroâs room while the hero wasnât even home. Yep. Definitely.Â
The villain huffed, had they become reliant on the hero? They didnât think it was that bad; they could survive on their own again if they had to, though they really didnât want to. The villain had just lost so many things in their life already. They really didnât want to lose this too.Â
Great. There were two reasons the villain was getting clingy: the hero made them feel safe and grounded, and the villain was afraid to lose them.Â
Suffice to say, they didnât get much sleep that night.Â
The next day when the hero returned, the villain was more relieved to see them than they would like to admit. Â
They exchanged their usual greetings while they got ready to make supper.Â
The regular house routine was much more domestic and mundane than one might expect after hearing a hero and a villain lived there. If they both werenât pitching in to make supper, they would take turns. The hero would do the dishes while the villain cleaned up the table and leftovers. There was small talk, usually about the weather or the next job the hero had, and when the hero thought the villain could come along.Â
The hero, however, noticed something was off tonight. The villain was shakier than usual, fidgeting and quieter. They were doing the thing where they tapped their toes against the floor rhythmically, which the hero had realized early on was a tell-tale sign the villain was nervous or stressed about something.Â
It wasnât until later that night, when they were just climbing into bed for the night the hero decided to broach the topic.Â
âSo, what happened while I was gone?â the hero asked, brushing their fingers through the villainâs hair.Â
The villain, who was lying in their normal position against the heroâs chest suddenly tensed.Â
âNothing interesting,â they replied casually, shrugging, âbusiness as normal,"Â
"We both know thatâs not true,"Â
"Iâm not going to force you to tell me,â the hero reassured, âbut I can tell something is off,"Â
"Is it really that obvious?â the villain muttered under their breath, fidgeting with their sleeve.Â
The villain sighed, turning over onto their back, their head resting more on the villainâs upper arm now than their chest as they stared at the ceiling.Â
"Alright, now I know itâs important if itâs enough to bring out that old âbig badâ persona,"Â
The villain groaned in mock annoyance, but the fondness in it was apparent. They had grown a lot more comfortable around each other in the last few weeks, and joking around with each other had become a lot more normal.Â
Still, the villain let out a relenting sigh, knowing their silence was only going to worry the hero more.
"I just had another nightmare last night, thatâs all, nothing special,â
âDamn,â the hero replied, gliding their thumb back and forth soothingly along the villainâs side where their hand lay, âThatâs your first one in a while, isnât it?"Â
"Itâs only the second one Iâve had since I started sleeping in hereâŚâ the villain practically whispered.Â
âSo you were in here last night! I was wondering about that; which bed youâd end up in,"Â
The villain sputtered, blushing, "It was just- like- out of habit!"Â
"MhmâŚâ the hero hummed, twirling the villainâs bangs through their fingers aimlessly.
âShut up,â the villain muttered, which made the hero laugh.Â
âDo you wanna talk about it?â the hero asked after a moment of silence.Â
âIs that a 'not reallyâ because you donât want to talk about it or because itâs embarrassing?â
The villain could feel themselves blushing. It was completely unfair how good the hero had gotten at reading them.
The villain sighed, âPromise you wonât laugh?"Â
âIâŚâ the villain hesitated but continued when they felt the heroâs hand brush through their hair encouragingly, âI dreamt you got hurt and didnât come back, okay?!â They blurted out before they talked themselves out of it.Â
The following beat of silence was deafening until the hero spoke again.Â
âohâŚâ they whispered, barely audible.Â
Suddenly the arms around them tightened, but the villain just kept going, determined to 'get it out'Â before they changed their mind.Â
âItâs just- Iâve lost so many people, so many things, Iâm just so accustomed to it, and I donât wanna- well- lose you too,â they nearly choked on the words but forced them out none the less, âespecially right now since I apparently canât sleep soundly without you being next to me, which is the stupidest thing I've ever heard because you have far better things to do than hang around and babysit me all day-"Â
"And yet the selfish part of me still wants you to stay close by anyway, just so I donât start worrying about you, which is stupid to be doing to begin with,"Â
âItâs stupid.â the villain huffed, âItâs all just⌠stupid,"Â
"There is absolutely nothing stupid about any of that,â the hero replied sternly yet softly. Suddenly the arms around them pulled them upward, and the villain let out a surprised squeak as they were drawn to be up against the heroâs chest again. They settled comfortably, though, subconsciously snuggling closer to the warmth of the hero next to them.Â
âFirst of all, there is a lot changing in your life right now. If you need to be 'clingyâ for a little bit while you adjust, I donât mind at all. If anything, Iâm pretty flattered my presence makes you feel safe, sense I know trust isnât something you give easily. You make it sound like I wouldnât want the excuse to be around you more often,â the hero laughed before continuing, âSecondly, itâs normal to worry about people you care about, even more so given the dangers in our line of work and especially when youâve lost people in the past. If it makes you feel any better, you werenât the only one who had trouble sleeping last night. I was laying in bed worrying about you, despite the fact you are more than capable of taking care of yourself,"Â
"Mhm,â the hero hummed in reply, running their fingers through the villainâs hair again.
âLet me start coming with you on all your missions,â the villain offered.Â
âWhat!?â the hero replied in shock.Â
âThink about it. Weâll be with each other and protecting each other, so we arenât as worried,"Â
"Iâve kicked your butt more than once; you and I both know Iâm more than capable of holding my own, especially against other villains,"Â
"Come on,â the villain encouraged, rolling over onto their stomach so they could look at the hero, âIâm getting bored. If this hero stuff doesnât pick up soon, I might have to go rob a bank,â they joked.Â
âOkay, okay,â the hero chuckled quietly, âMaybe Iâve been getting protective too,â they admitted, âWhat if you come with me tomorrow?"Â
They both got a much better nightâs sleep that night.Â
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