HeroesxVillains

Concussion | Mugged | Drugged

Part 2

Part 3

"Hero?" Villain nearly cackled at the sight. Hero was a lot of things. Hero was a beacon of light, a bringer of hope, a shining star in the middle of the darkest sky. Brave, kind, strong. Incredibly stubborn. Annoyingly stubborn. Frustratingly stubborn.

What Hero wasn't, well... Hero certainly wasn't the moaning, pathetic mess that was laying in front of Villain's estate. It couldn't be. But then again, that physique was certainly their nemesis'. The stance however...

...left a lot to be desired.

Hero's body was hunched forward, their legs shaking as they wobbled and fought to stay straight. "V'll-.. V'llain..." they slurred. Oh my God, were they drunk? The villain's lips curled upwards. This was a rare sight.

Villain crossed their arms over their chest. "Taking a stroll, my darling?" Their eyes followed Hero's shaking hand, which was aiming (and failing) to reach out to them. Oh, they were enjoying every second of this. "It's dangerous to just roam about in this area, though." They eyed the trembling hero from head to toe. "Especially in your state."

Hero slurred something that sounded like either "shut up" or "fuck off". Not that it mattered, since it came out as garbled nonsense anyway. The villain laughed.

"You don't look so well, darling." They tilted their head to the side, leaning against the wall, as if they hadn't a care in the world.

"Villain, I..." Hero froze suddenly.

"Hm?"

"I..."

"...Hero?" Villain tensed a little. Hero let out a loud whimper before they fell on their knees with a loud thud. They were still shaking, but they seemed... unresponsive to the villain, who now sat on one knee in front of them. Villain slowly put a finger on Hero's chin and tilted their head to see their face better.

They were not drunk, they realized. They were drugged. Their eyes were too unfocused and unaffected by the blinding light coming from Villain's house.

"Hero." Villain demanded. "Hero, look at me."

The hero didn't even blink.

"Hero, darling." That seemed to spark something. Hero groaned and Villain cupped their whole face with their hand. They raised the other, showing off their middle finger. "How many fingers am I holding up?"

Hero only blinked, a bit of drool pooling on the bottom of their half-opened mouth. Villain sighed. The other was worse than they thought. It was a miracle they were able to walk to Villain's house. Wordlessly, they hoisted the hero up in their arms and brought them inside.

"...whyre..." Hero grumbled in their arms.

"Hm?"

"Mphr..."

"Please use your words, darling. I can't understand a thing you say." The villain said as they layed the drugged hero on their bed.

"..why... why armh.. why are you..." Hero trailed off and let out a deep sigh, as if even talking took most of their energy. Maybe it did.

"You're the one that came to me." The villain whispered in their ear as they shifted Hero into a more comfortable position. "Why did you come to me?"

Nothing.

"...Hero?"

Still nothing. The villain groaned, a bit annoyed. "You're no fun like this, you know." They patted the hero's cheek gently. "You better pull yourself together, darling, or I'll get bored."

"Huh?..." Oh, good, they were back again. "V..Villain?"

"Hello, darling." The villain kept their hand on Hero's face while the other scrolled on their phone. "I'm gonna call the doctor. And when this is over, I'm going to make you tell me exactly who did this to you." They stroked the their cheek. "Am I clear?"

Hero only whined and leaned their face on Villain's hand.

contains: blood, cursing

Hero lay on their back, breathing shallowly as blood leaked in a thin stream through their crimson-stained fingers, adding to a growing pool beneath them. If they had to rank every stab wound they’d received, this one would be at the very bottom. Their eyes were shut tight, the electric pain radiating from their stomach so great that they couldn’t sense when someone else entered the grimy alley.

A nudge to their side made Hero’s eyes fly open, immediately locking contact with the pitying gaze of the perpetrator. “God, you look awful,” Villain said. The sharp sting that the nudge sparked through their body had Hero let out a low groan, but they couldn’t attempt to move. “Oh, come on. Aren’t you going to get up and hit me?”

“The knife was poisoned, you asshole,” Hero managed to rasp through gritted teeth. “I can’t feel my legs.”

Their nemesis crossed their arms. “Hmph. How unsportsmanlike. Who did that, then?”

“Your friend, Other Villain. They said they had information about Supervillain.” The idea seemed so stupid now, the trap obvious. This was what Hero got for choosing to trust a criminal. Though they couldn’t say they had learned anything, as the devious mastermind that stood above them was probably the person they trusted most in the city. 

“First of all, they are absolutely not my friend,” Villain objected. “They’re a conniving, backstabbing bastard. You should’ve called me.”

“A bit late for that, don't you think?” Hero’s voice came out higher, more strained with each word.

The criminal leaned over, studying them with a quick, sweeping look. “Can you walk yet?”

“Do you think I’m lying here for fun?” They snapped. “No, I can’t walk!”

Villain tapped a finger to their chin in mock deliberation. “What a predicament we find ourselves in, my dear Hero. I suppose there is no other recourse but for me to carry you.” 

“No—Villain, wait, Villain-” This time, when Villain reached their hands behind Hero’s back and knees, the touch didn’t immediately spark pain. It wasn’t until they swiftly lifted the crimefighter into their arms that agony seared like a white-hot brand in Hero’s side. They cried out, choking on a scream that became a hoarse cough. The feeling overloaded their senses, turning their nerves into nothing but conduits for pain as Hero sank into their nemesis’ strong grasp, head falling onto Villain’s chest. 

“Hero. Hero, look at me. Look at me.” The sudden intensity of their voice sharpened Hero’s focus, if only a little, and allowed their unfocused gaze to meet Villain’s again. “Jesus, you look like shit.” But an edge of fear was creeping into their tone, something that would have alarmed Hero even further had they been closer to coherence.  

Hero was no longer capable of opening their mouth, let alone providing a vocal response. Villain seemed to understand them anyway. “Stay with me, Hero,” they murmured, and both nemeses braced as best they could as Villain turned around and hurried out of the alley. 

word count: 501

"How much?" Supervillain asks, the ghost of a smile on their lips. "Or do you want me to guess?"

"Fuck you," Hero says. They struggle to keep their balance as Supervillain approaches them.

"Now, now, don't be rude," Supervillain chides them, "You're adorable when you are."

"You think I care?"

Supervillain catches Hero's waist, supporting Hero just enough to ease the tension in their bruised wrists. A choked sigh shudders from Hero's chest. They look away, matted hair hiding the relief in their tired eyes.

Yandere superhero x Vigilante Reader

No TW aside from general yandere shenanagins

His intro + context

Chap 1 Chap 2 Chap 3

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Patrolling during the night wasn't something you could do everyday, but you tried to do it at least four times a week. Statistics said that Comet City has most crimes occur between 7 pm and 1 A.M, so you are often tired the next day.

Patrolling consisted of mostly wandering around aimlessly until you heard or saw something suspicious. Recently, there has been a rise of so-called ‘super villains’, mostly just mutated folks who were desperate. Some were cocky and wanted attention while other's just wanted to get by. Sometimes ‘superheroes’ showed up in high profile situations, mostly at banks or high end stores. If the problem wouldn't affect anyone important then most of the hero's next to never showed up. That's where you stepped in.

Write a fake 5-star Goodreads review of your WIP—as if you didn’t write it. Go ahead. Pretend you're a giddy reader who just discovered this masterpiece. Bonus: add emojis, chaotic metaphors, and all-caps screaming. It’s self-indulgent. It’s delusional. It’s delicious.

Give your main character a Pinterest board titled “Mentally Unstable but Aesthetic.” Include outfits, quotes, memes, cursed objects, and that one painting that haunts their dreams. This is not about logic. This is about ✨vibes.✨

Make a “deleted scenes” folder and write something that would never make it into the book. A crackfic. A “what if they were roommates” AU. The group chat from hell. This is your WIP’s blooper reel. Let it be silly, chaotic, or wildly off-brand.

Interview your villain like you’re Oprah. Ask the hard-hitting questions. “When did you know you were the drama?” “Do you regret the murder, or just the way you did it?” Bonus points if they lie to your face.

Host a fake awards show for your characters. Categories like “Most Likely to Die for Vibes,” “Worst Emotional Regulation,” “Himbo Energy Supreme,” or “Best Use of a Dramatic Exit.” Write their acceptance speeches. Yes, this counts as writing.

Write a breakup letter… to your inner critic. Be petty. Be dramatic. “Dear Self-Doubt, this isn’t working for me anymore. You bring nothing to the table but anxiety and bad vibes.” Rip it up. Burn it. Tape it to your mirror. Your call.

Create a “writing comfort kit” like you’re a cozy witch. A candle that smells like your WIP. A tea that your characters would drink. A playlist labeled “for writing when I’m one rejection email away from giving up.” This is a ritual now.

Design a fake movie poster or book cover like your story is already famous. Add star ratings, critic quotes, and some pretentious tagline like “One soul. One destiny. No chill.”

Write a scene you’re not ready to write—but just a rough, messy outline version. Not the polished thing. Just the raw emotion. The shape of it. Like sketching the bones of a future punch to the gut. You don’t have to make it perfect. Just open the door.

"...Princess" (Derogatory)

"Princess." (You have disproven several of my previous assumptions but I'm still guarded and critical.)

"Princess," (Mildly impressed but still snarky)

"Princess," (I am coming to terms with how much your office has demanded of you and am finally considering you an equal)

"Princess," (I genuinely respect you, your office, and how much you have grown beyond it since we have met.)

"Princess." (Uh oh I've started catching feelings and am now using your title to remind both you and myself of the distance between us.)

(part 1) (part 2) (part 3) (part 4)

“Here.”

The voice positively makes the hero jump. They whirl around to find the villain, refusing to meet their eye, a bundle of clothes in their arms. 

The villain shakes the clothes for emphasis. “Take them.”

The hero reaches out, hesitantly, to take the pile out of the villain’s grip. “Are these for washing or…?”

“No,” the villain snaps like it’s obvious. “They’re for you.”

Until their partner crashed through the plate glass window of their apartment two hours early, bloodied and in a half-destroyed villain costume, eyes wild with shock to see protagonist sitting there.

“NO!” their partner - the villain? - howled, staring at the protagonist as if they were the one who’d just smashed their way through a fourth story window. “It’s not possible!”

The protagonist sat stunned at their stupid little home office desk, jaw dropped and excel spreadsheet half done. They had no resistance as the villain (their partner?!) stormed up and yanked them to their feet, searching their face like it was suddenly unfamiliar territory.

“How? How!” the villain raged, thumb dragging across the protagonist’s cheekbone as their other hand held them tightly in place. “Shape-shifting? Super-healing?”

“Uhhhh…?” the protagonist said with thrilling eloquence. Their partner - the villain - had always been touchy, deliciously touchy in ways that thrilled the protagonist. This was different, but so, so frighteningly close to the same.

Their partner spun away, grabbed up the TV remote to turn it from background music to cable news. There was their city’s hero live from the aftermath of some fresh disaster, charming the members of the press interviewing them. Blood dripped from under their mask from a thin gash across their face.

“How?"the villain exclaimed, no longer meeting the protagonist’s eyes. "Delayed tape? A body double?”

Slowly, the protagonist sat back down in their dumb little office chair. “You thought I was [Hero]?” they whispered in a tight, high voice.

The villain threw the remote into the television. It stuck in the middle of the LED screen in the middle of Hero’s forehead. “You are [Hero]!” they shouted. “You have to be!” They grabbed protagonist by the forearm, turned their wrist to show the scar running up their arm. “January 3rd. Compound fracture of the radius and ulna.”

“Yeah, in a car accident,” the protagonist said. “You thought I was [Hero]?”

“May 7, another broken arm.” The villain’s eyes were wide and wild. Their hand shook around the protagonist’s wrist. “July 29, a stab wound you got them to record as a burst appendix.”

“It was a burst appendix.” The protagonist jerked away, wrapping their arms tightly around themselves. “And I didn’t break my arm again, it was a complication.”

Their partner fell silent. The protagonist dropped their eyes, face burning. In the sudden quiet, the hero’s tinny laugh echoed from the broken television.

The villain swore and sat down on the couch. As an afterthought, they threw the paperweight off the coffee table. It smacked into the television off button with pinpoint precision.

“I should’ve known this was too good to be true,” the protagonist said. Now the tears were coming - overflowing, to add bloodshot eyes to that red flush. Real ugly crying, the protagonist was sure, but that hardly mattered now. “Now you’re gonna kill me-”

“No!” the villain snapped, jerking their head up. “I would never hurt you! You’re my… um.”

“I’m your what?” The protagonist wiped their nose on their sleeve and stood. “You clearly have no idea who I am if you thought I somehow had time for a crime-fighting alter ego!”

“Hey!” Their partner stood too. “You didn’t know who I was.”

The protagonist picked up their mug of pencils and threw it. Not hard, just to the ground, but partner had the right idea. It felt good. “Of course I knew!” they screamed. “You can’t date someone six months and not notice when they disappear mysteriously on a regular basis!”

The villain blinked. “No,” they said, but with uncertainty in their eyes. “You’re a fundamentally decent person - that was part of the profile. You wouldn’t date me.”

“Well, I disagree with your methods but think you have some valid points,” the protagonist sniffed. “I figured we’d talk about it when you were ready to tell me, your completely normal civilian partner. I didn’t think you thought I was some fucking goody two shoes narc!”

The villain - their partner - was staring. Tilted their head the other way. Eyes bright and over-focused in that x-ray look they had. “Well,” their partner said, in that deep voice that always sent shivers down the protagonist’s spine. “Looks like I was wrong about who had the surprise for whom.”

“Stop it,” the protagonist said in a hitched voice. They turned away, back to their stupid spreadsheet blurry through tears. “You’re just being mean now. You didn’t want me, you wanted-”

“To trap [hero], I was thinking I’d outsmarted myself there for a while. But I fought [hero] today and I felt… nothing.” The chair spun back around. The villain caught the protagonist’s chin in their hand, studying them with a thoughtful look they got when they were ready to take the protagonist apart. “Looks like I trapped something else instead.”

The protagonist slapped the villain’s hand away. Their breath suddenly felt compressed in their lungs, like there wasn’t enough oxygen in the room. “Don’t you dare. I’m not a consolation prize.”

“Definitely not. A flexible moral code, a gale force personality, an absolutely slamming body,” the villain mused. They straddled the protagonist, the springs of cheap desk chair squeaking in protest at the weight settling precariously over the protagonist’s hips. “This feels - how did you put it - too good to be true? Clearly further investigation is warranted. If…” The villain cleared their throat. For the first time since the protagonist had met them, they actually looked just a tad shy. “…if you want.”

The protagonist swallowed. But there was no question. There never had been. “You owe me,” they said with a jut of their chin, “a conversation, and some very fancy take-out.”

I've decided I'm tired of waiting to post this.

the request ask

cw: bondage (in a sense), self-deprication

---

Hero ran alongside the cluster of citizens out of the park, looking over her shoulder to be sure no one was following them. "It's just ahead, now!" she huffed, putting a hand on a gentleman's back as he started to fall behind. The lot of them got to the edge of the street and the array of emergency responders and EMTs came into view. Hero helped everyone over, but she didn't expect any injuries. "Everyone okay?" she asked with a bright smile, doing a quick headcount. She got several nods and mumbles. That just wouldn't do; she couldn't let these people walk away from this scared or shocked. "Hey, now, that's no way to sound," she said with a smile. She looked over the gathered as a couple of them got their vitals checked. "You just ran a quarter mile with yours truly! And you didn't even have to pay admission." She got a couple smiles and chuckles for that. Then she spotted a kid and broke out an even bigger grin. "I bet what you guys need after all of this is dessert."

This time, she got some laughs. She smiled brightly, but then her earpiece chirped. She looked to the side.

"Hero, new orders incoming."

"Go for Hero," she replied.

"Villain is still in the area, you're to subdue and retrieve him."

Hero squeezed her eyes shut and held back a curse. She'd only been around Villain a few times, but he wasn't exactly her favorite. She glanced at the others.

Snyopsis: Villain x Civilian. Civilian can sense other people's powers through auras but hides this ability. They are terrified of the most boring person at their office job, who hides the most powerful aura Civilian has ever felt.

Being the first person out the door undoubtedly did Civilian no favors to their work reputation. 

Anytime someone joked about it, often with an edge, Civilian would make excuses:  their dog needed let out (they didn’t have a dog),  they had to get to the bank before it closed (they use their banking app 90 percent of the time), they liked having a work/life balance (that one’s true). 

The real reason, of course, was to avoid any encounters with them.  Their newest colleague -- Jonathan Anderson. A bland, forgetful name for a bland, forgetful person. He arrived two months ago in her data entry division, dressed everyday in the same unremarkable navy suit with a grey tie, gave generic responses to small talk at lunch. 

And he scared the shit out of them. 

Luckily for Civilian, their paths didn’t cross that often and when they would, Civilian had found ways to neatly side step them -- emails instead of face to face conversations, calling in favors, and once, even taking a sick day to avoid a meeting. 

It worked great -- until it didn’t. 

There was something terribly loud, creaking and stomping. The hero opened their eyes, expecting to be met by the person who had done this, back to finish them off.

The figure moved before them, face a smear of skin toned pigment and dark shadows. They advanced quickly, wrapping the hero up in their arms and lifting them off of the cold ground. The hero made a weak cry at the movement, trying to shift their focus from anything other than the agonizing pain. Holding on to life? Resigning to death? They decided on the warmth radiating from the strangers chest.

They were taken. The hero didn’t know where, just that now they could see a faint glow of yellow lighting behind their eyes lids. They were laid on another cold floor, yearning for the warmth they had moments ago.

They could barely hear a string of incoherent words. A hand rested on their cheek and the hero’s eyelids fluttered open. Everything was murky, swirling with dark splotches like they were looking up from the bottom of a lake.

“- going to hurt, but I need you to stay still. Okay?” The hero only caught the back half of the sentence, but they nodded anyways. The tone of this strangers voice left no room for argument.

There was the smell of alcohol, then a burning sensation that paled in comparison to when the knife plunged into them. Then, their savior held up a needle pinched between pliers. The hero had seen it before, in a hospital a couple months ago.

A hand pressed on their chest to keep them steady. They heard some sort of apology before the hooked metal cut through their skin. Burning, piercing, pulling at the already aching skin over and over and over.

The nylon thread was drawn tight, then released. The hero was sure they had broken teeth with how tightly they clenched their jaw.

“Okay. The hard part is over.” The voice was so terribly familiar now that the hero was mostly conscious. The plastic gloves were ripped off, and the figure turned to the sink. The running water pounded against the hero’s ears, like they were next to a waterfall.

The person turned back, and the hero was certain they were going to be sick. The wide eyes, always rimmed with black liner. The dark and unruly hair. Their nose, still crooked from the time that the hero had broken it.

The hero’s panic must’ve been clear on their face, because the villain held their hands up, still streaked with the blood. The hero could hear their heartbeat, even over the rushing faucet. Their breath came quick, uncontrollably shallow.

“Calm down, I’m not going to hurt you.” The villains eyes glanced over the hero’s chest, mouth tightening in a grimace. “Not any more than I already have.”

The villain crouched down and pushed a hand against the hero’s shoulder. It was meant to be soothing, but the bruising covering their entire body wasn’t ideal for a comforting touch. They flinched away, trying to push up on their elbows before slipping against the tile.

“Hey, listen. I need you to calm down. Everything is going to be okay. Think about this logically-“ If course the villain would say that, with their calculated demeanor. The hero couldn’t think of anything. Their mind was turbulent, lost in panic. “-why would I save you if I wanted you dead?”

“I- I don’t understand.” Their mouth fumbled around the words, but the villain didn’t have time to explain. They turned to the sink and grabbed a wet rag.

“How do you think I feel right now? Finding my enemy bleeding out on my porch?” There was something mirthful tinging the villains voice. “I didn’t even know you knew my address.”

If the hero was confused before, now they were utterly perplexed. None of this made any sense. Especially not the villains gentle touch as they dabbed the blood from their burning skin. “I don’t.”

Their enemy’s eyes brows knitted together, as they scanned the hero’s face. Looking for some tell of a lie or maybe just expressing their disbelief. They shook their head, pushing the hem of the hero’s shirt higher to inspect the damage.

“Well, looks like you took quite a beating. Can you take a deep breath for me?” The villains cold hand rested over the bottom of the hero’s rib cage, sending a shock throughout their chest. They took a sharp inhale from the pain alone.

“Probably a few broken ribs but no sign of a punctured lung. Judging by the fact that you haven’t vomited blood yet, I’d say we’re looking pretty good.” The villains voice remained monotone, as it usually was, but the hero couldn’t help but smile.

“Yeah, I definitely feel pretty good.” The hero almost laughed, but a sharp pain in their side stopped them short.

“You know what they say. It could always be worse.” The villain rested their hand against the hero’s cheek. They carefully wiped the blood from their face. The hero couldn’t explain it, didn’t want to think about it, but there was something calming about the touch. They let their eyes close again, this time without the notion of death.

“Stay awake for me. I don’t want to deal with a dead hero in my house.” The villain tapped their face until the hero’s eyes opened.

“Wouldn’t it make you more infamous. A hero killer. They aren’t too many of those these days.”

“Is that what you think of me? A ruthless killer?” A smile played on their lips. They moved their focus to the hero’s chest, somehow using an even softer hand on the bruised and broken skin.

“You have the disposition for it.” Cold, calculating, seemingly emotionless. Most other criminals had a taste for being eccentric and the ones who didn’t usually had a body count.

“You know, I used to be a doctor. I used to save people for a living.” They met the hero’s gaze, with a lightness forced into their tone, “We weren’t so different, you and I.”

“How does a doctor become a villain?” The hero asked, almost teasing. The villain stood and rinsed the rag in clean water once again.

“A series of bad decisions. A taste for revenge. Working in a field where helping people is second to monetary gain,” The villain stilled, staring at the red tinted rag in their hands, “it can drive you crazy.”

Neither moved. Only the sound of running water and the hero’s ragged breath filled the air of the small, once pristine bathroom. Everything felt too vulnerable, too cataclysmic. There was no returning to being enemies, to fighting and light-hearted banter.

Not when they had both become far too human.

“Thank you,” The hero said, but it came out as an apology. The villain shrugged, returning to their spot next to the hero.

“You would do the same for me, wouldn’t you?” Its was more of a statement than a question.

Warning: emotional breakdown, mentions of kidnapping & near-death experiences.

Here's part 2 of Short Prompt #76 'cause I liked that one!

Enjoy!✨✨

Part 1

~~~~

The villain's footsteps somehow echoed through the empty void, filling the silence. Civilian tried not to think too hard about how there was a hand softly carding through their hair when Villain had them in a bridal carry, clearly already using both of their hands.

The keyword was 'tried' as their mind fought and struggled to wrap around the concept. Humans can't just magically grow extra arms! Though they were pretty convinced already that Villain wasn't a human, and therefore, such logic didn't even apply to them.

Part 2

Civilian struggled against their bindings, muffled frantic yells and pleas leaving their gagged lips as they lay on the stone floor. Their kidnappers ignored them, the mens' cloaks fluttering with an unseen wind as they fell to their knees and ominously chanted, louder and louder. Their voices echoed across the enclosed room, spiraling the civilian's mind into a panic.

Suddenly, the few candles lighting the room flickered violently, almost going out. The light dimmed as a silhouette appeared from the dark, coming to stand right above Civilian's shaking tied-up form.

The sacrifice couldn't utter a sound as the newcomer's face twisted into an annoyed grimace. They grumbled under their breath. "For fuck's- I told them to stop with the occult bullshit."

The person - the being? They looked like a regular human, but something seemed off about them - knelt down, gently picking the civilian up into a bridal carry, and then retreated into the shadows.

A small whimper crawled out of Civilian's throat as their eyes struggled to see amidst the dark. The other silenced them gently. "Hush, you're safe, kitten. Those idiots made me appear a lot more threatening than I actually am."

The civilian hated the blush that crossed their face at the pet name. The stranger's voice was gravelly in their ears, sending a shiver through them and making their gaze fall down.

A chuckle. They can see in the dark, can't they?

Suddenly, a flinch shook Civilian's body as a hand went to their face, taking off their gag before gently carding through their hair. The being's voice filled the void once more. "What's your name, kitten?"

"C-Civilian." - the human stuttered out. "A-And you a-are?"

Somehow, the civilian could feel the other grin. "Villain. A pleasure to meet you, pretty one."

Missing You

Everything played out like a regular day, cars drove past, people walked by, dogs barked and birds chirped. To anyone else this day was the same-old, same-old. Except, to Villain it wasn’t that at all.

Today was the first time Villain had seen Hero in months. Opening their door at the bright and early hour of six am, just to find their missing nemesis standing with a bouquet of flowers on their front steps.

Oddly enough, the first thing that Villain did was slam the door on their face. It was early, they must’ve been seeing things. Hero hadn’t been seen for almost a whole year, and here they were? Standing completely unannounced with flowers?

It didn’t make any sense.

But when the familiar three raps at the door rang out once more, Villain was starting to believe that what they were seeing wasn’t just a mind game. They opened the door once more, their lifelong enemy swaying slightly side to side as they awaited Villains second—and hopefully kinder—response.

Hero was in luck. After a solid three more seconds of shocked disbelief from Villain, they rushed forwards and wrapped the hero in a hug. The unsuspected pressure causing Hero to stumble back and almost lose balance on their shaky legs, but Villain caught them against the entrance wall at the very last second. Holding them both steady as Villain poured every last emotion they had left into Hero’s shoulder.

“Well, I didn’t think you’d miss me that much.” Hero joked, but it rang flat. Villain clutched, knuckles white and hands shaking, at Hero’s torn suit. It had dried blood and countless lashes across it. It hung loose on Hero’s frame, if it could even be considered clothing at this point.

It was definitely not suitable for the increasingly colder weather and most definitely not suitable for a well-renown hero to be sporting.

Villain finally pulled back but they didn’t let go. They didn’t think they could. It all seemed like a dream and the last thing Villain wanted to do was let them go.

Not again. They couldn’t handle the hero leaving again.

“Where the hell have you been.” Villain shouted, any decency towards their neighbours was completely forgotten. They were still crying and between their steadying breaths they let their eyes scan over their nemesis.

Hero huffed, they were probably going for a laugh, but they strained too hard and it caused them obvious pain. “Remember when I told you I was onto something big? All those months ago?”

The villain didn’t have the capacity to go filing through all their past encounters with Hero, especially not the ones where Hero had said they were “onto something big”. Considering that it seemed to be every other week that the hero would make a big breakthrough in some new top secret case.

However, Villain nodded anyways, they just wanted the story, they didn’t need details. Hero had enough cuts and scars on their body to write a trilogy of details if they needed to. Right now, the villain was too high strung to deal with that.

“Well, turns out this time, I was actually onto something big. “Something big” being that my boss and your boss have been conspiring together for years.”

“Let me guess.” Villain didn’t even need to hear what happened next, the sinking pit in their stomach and the bile in their throat proved they already knew. “Superhero gifted you over to Supervillain for a fun little vacation.”

“Pfft, obviously Superhero came to visit and bring me refills on my piña coladas too. They team worked pampering me and assuring I had the most comfortable stay.” The strained wink and smile at the end of their sentence shattered the villains heart even more.

Hero had been at the mercy of the two most powerful beings on earth for months and Villain had no idea. Making up constant excuses to fill the void of their missing hero instead of going out to search for them.

It felt cowardly. It felt stupid. Villain felt useless.

“Hey.” Hero’s voice pulled Villain from the depth of their thoughts. “It’s not your fault. You didn’t do anything wrong. I’m okay now! We’re both okay now!”

The hero smiled and it tugged one across Villains lips as well, they couldn’t help it. Hero always managed to cheer them up, even if just a little.

“I didn’t even know… I thought… Maybe you just, didn’t want… Maybe I was too—”

“Villain.”

The one in question lifted their eyes meekly to meet Hero’s soft gaze. Hero looked tired, they looked exhausted, but they also looked peaceful, happy. Even after everything they had just been through.

“I know we ended on… strange terms last time we talked. I just, I wasn’t ready. I was worried. I was worried that something was going to happen to one of us and that it would never work out because of our jobs.”

Hero held out the flowers, they were Villains favourites, a beautiful soft blue and white bouquet with a gorgeous lavender stem wrapped in forget-me-nots. Both of their favourites strung together to create a lovely display.

“But when I was… gone… I realized that it was foolish of me to flee after you poured your heart out to me. And that no matter how bad the torture got, I only ever wanted you by my side. You kept me going.”

The hero leaned back a little further against the wall as they took in a deep breath that caused them to wince and whine slightly, but they pressed on. Using one hand to cup the villain’s gently and the other to press the flowers to Villains chest.

“I love you too, Villain.”

In that moment, the villain’s whole world collapsed. They embraced the hero without any further thought, releasing their crushing pressure when the hero let out a guttural noise from the feeling against their open wounds.

Both of them were crying, not from pain anymore, but from being reunited after so long and finally being together.

Villain didn’t waste anymore time in dragging the hero inside to scold them lightly and care for their wounds. Something they had done many times before, but this time it had never been so intimate. They could fight off Superhero and Supervillain after Hero got better.

Warnings: Angst, mature, so sad.

"Please don't," Hero whimpers, backing away from Superhero. Her heart lay heavy in her chest as the one she thought was her mentor advanced towards her with ill intentions. He stared at her, his gaze dark and scary.

Everything she had ever thought was a lie. All the other heroes had always looked down upon her, sneering at her with disgust like she was a failure or something. They stared at her with jealousy because she was the top hero now, because her mentor had helped her. He had trained her hard and tough.

But now looking back, she could see the red flags. All those times he had touched her inappropriately, but she had brushed it off as affection. All those times he had treated her like a toy, like a doll of some sort. All the heroes, they were just pawns. No, they were soldiers, they knew what they were doing and why, but they refused to stop.

The hero industry was corrupt. She should have realized it, but she didn't because she was so blinded by her whole need for love. Her parents had sold her off to this company, she had been the weakest hero ever. And then, along came Superhero who gave her enough bloodlust to destroy any villain to the ground. She had become number one.

But over the years, she had become to notice the soft hidden things she hadn't ever noticed before. How the heroes were always in the front cover, how they posed, how each robbery was planned, how they gained the glory and how the villains always got hurt, even though they were also humans.

Superhero cocked his head. "Tisk, tisk, tisk." He tuts, looking at her with sympathy and disappointment. "All these years, I had been giving you subtle hints." He shakes his head. "To think, your so blinded."

"Your literally my grandfather's age you asshole!"

Superhero chuckles, a smile on his face. "Ah yes, the little tiger in you. The fiesty little lioness, I've always admired that "

"I don't like you, much less love you." Hero spat, tears leaking in her beautiful eyes but she held them, she wasn't gonna cry in front of anyone.

"No, you love Supervillain." Superhero's smile dropped into a scowl. His eyes flashed, narrowing at her. "What does he have? He may be the most powerful man, other than me, in the world, but he's a criminal."

Hero swallows hard, glancing towards the door and trying to find a way to escape. She couldn't find a way without Superhero grabbing her and forcing himself on to her. Her heart clenched with fear, her stomach twisting in agony as the reality of what might happen sunk in.

How could this have happened to her?

"Criminals are notorious liars,"

Hero scoffs. "Than what are you? A saint? A honest person?" She asks, her hands shaking.

Superhero shrugs. "I guess. Supervillain is a villain. The Supervillain. What good will that do to you? It'll tarnish your reputation as a Hero. Everything you have worked for, everything you had wanted. He'll leave you, a villain doesn't love. It fakes and lusts, it betrays you. He'll only use you," he gave her a charming smile.

Hero only shakes her head. "I trusted you," she whispers. "I looked up to you. Why?"

"Power." Superhero answers. "Supervillain is powerful, and I'm gonna be more powerful with your powers by my side."

"So that's what your really after?" Hero scoffs, tears now streaming down her face. Her powers have always been unique, compared to the other heroes and villains.

Superhero stares at her. "Do you honestly think he likes you for you? He'll only use you for your powers,"

"Like you? She snorts.

Superhero frowns. "I'm trying to help you, Hero. With you by my side, we'll be unstoppable. We'll be powerful," he states like a manic.

"I don't want power." Hero says quietly, putting her head down. "I just want to be cared for." She had been abandoned at such a young age, of course she wanted to be wanted and cared for. She didn't care how much power or money, or glory came towards her, she just wanted to be loved.

"Well said, my little tiger." Superhero grins. "However..." He trails off, moving closer towards her. "Time waits for no one." He stands in front of her, his hands raising up to her cheek.

Hero closed her eyes, feel disgusted at his touch. Her stomach churned, she fisted her hands in tight balls as more tears ran down her cheeks. Her body began to shake with small tremors, waiting and anticipating the pain.

She just wanted him to be done and over with her, let him have her, she didn't care. She could face it, she's been through worse. The betrayal is what broke her heart the most. Did Sidekick know? Did the little guy also know about this?

Did the others heros also know? Did Rival Hero also know? She bet that she was laughing at her dismay right now, they all were.

Why did she have to be so blind?

"Oh, Hero." Superhero humms, nosing her neck gently. "You smell divine. You smell of pomegranate and mint," he licks his lips, his eyes narrowing. His hands slowly began to wander down her hips, squeezing roughly and causing her to whimper.

Hero clenched her eyes close, feeling his body come closer. She waited for it to be done, for it to be quick and easy, for it to be over quickly.

But it never came.

Her red and puffy eyes, thick with the emotion of betrayal and terror snapped open to see Superhero grabbing his neck, like he was being choked by an invisible force. He grunts, squirming and squinting his eyes as they watered.

The door slammed open, to reveal Henchmen, Sidekick and.....Supervillain, his right held up wuth his eyes blazing with pure fury

He slowly walked in, his stance looking calm, his demeanor cool and calculating, but anyone looking at his eyes could see the inner turmoil in his eyes.

Sidekick glared at Superhero with anger, his fists clenching close as he breathes deeply.

Henchmen turned her worried gaze to Hero's shaking form, biting her lip nervously.

Superhero sighs, taking deep breathes when he's apparently let go of the apparent chokehold. He pants and looks up to see the Supervillain, his eyes go wide with panic.

"Yes, you should be scared." Supervillain states, his voice cold and deadly, it sent down shivers of fear down their spines. "After what you did...." He trails off, his eyes going towards Hero.

She had closed her eyes again and had slid down from the wall on the floor, her head in between her legs and her whole form shaking with silent sobs and fearful tremors.

“I love-”

“Don’t you dare-” the villain hissed, the venom in their voice shut the hero up, “Don’t even think about finishing that sentence,”

That was the last thing Hero remembered before they passed out. They must've passed out, because the warmth that engulfed them couldn't be death. It was too perfect. Too comforting. Hesitantly, they cracked open bleary eyes. The faint, yellow glow of sunlight slipped through the white curtains. It was midmorning, perhaps--close to noon. With a groan, Hero slowly sat up, releasing themselves from the mountain of blankets that covered them. They were in a bed far too comfortable to be their own, in a room far too cozy to be theirs.

"Oh, so you finally decided to join us?" Hero jumped, snapping their gaze to the voice. Villain sat in a plush chair pushed next to the bed. They stared at Hero, that familiar teasing smile present.

"Villain, I- how- what happened? And where are we?"

"You're safe. After you selfishly tried to sacrifice yourself, I pulled you to safety and they--your friends--brought us here. It's a small facility, like a combination of a safe house and base, I think. Your friends weren't exactly comfortable divulging too much to me." Hero snorted and rolled their eyes.

"Wonder why." Villain laughed, and a small smiled found its way to Hero. It was nice to hear that laugh again.

"So, a safe house, hm?" Hero continued, taking in the room's features. It certainly didn't feel like one. Too homey. "I'm happy to see they don't skimp on the accommodations. This bed's better than mine. Actually, this whole room's probably better than my entire apartment."

"Sure, the rooms are quite nice, but the food? Ugh, don't get me started," Villain scoffed. "They really should stop making Superhero cook and hire someone who knows what they're doing. Honestly, if I were into torture, I would consider hiring her. Lucky for you, you've been out these past few days, so you didn't have to experience it." It was Hero's turn to laugh.

"Maybe the battle knocked sense out of the others; that's the only explanation for her getting cooking duty. Superhero's a notoriously bad cook." Villain's smile faltered.

"Yeah, that was some battle," they said distantly. Hero sat up straighter.

"It certainly was," they agreed, shifting awkwardly. "I didn't think I... None of us thought survival was an option when it came to eliminating Supervillain. I suppose it doesn't matter now. The plan worked. We won." After a moment, they added, "And I'm okay."

The words faded, leaving a thick silence to settle over the room. Villain stared off to some point through the window, pulling at the hem of their shirt with their thumb and pointer finger. They always did that when they were in deep thought. It was one of the many quirks that made the person Hero loved.

Hero sheepishly tapped the edge of the bed closest to them. An invitation. Villain stared at it before moving to sit beside them. They let out a heavy sigh, gently taking Hero's hand in their own.

"I love you," they said. Hero froze. They were all too aware of the blush that crept up their neck and cheeks, aware of how their heartbeat quickened at the admission.

"I love you, Hero," they repeated, "that's why I'm going to ask you--beg you--not to repeat what happened with Supervillain. I know that, as a hero, it's in your nature to make sacrifices. You give a little of yourself with everything you do, every job you take. Maybe I'm being selfish, asking you this, but I don't want you sacrificing your life. Watching you face off against them, realizing you didn't intend to survive..." Villain drew a shuttering breath, squeezing the blankets with white knuckles.

"I don't want you to die, alright? Not then, and not now. Please, never do something like that again." Their grip on the blankets loosened as they sighed. Hero blinked, speechless. They had expected sorrow, even anger for their decision. But the fear? The distress? It was an unexpected hit. Hero took Villain's hands and faced them.

"I'm sorry. I know I didn't explain everything to you, and you're right--it was selfish. I kept you in the dark about our plans, I fought Supervillain expecting my death, and I...tried confessing my feelings after accepting I wasn't going to make it. If things had gone as plan, it would've been unfair to you." Hero swallowed, then rested their forehead against Villain's. The criminal stiffened for a moment before relaxing into the touch.

"I can't fix the past, Villain, but I can promise you that I won't do that again. If you're okay with it, maybe we can just focus on the future now."

"Together?"

"Yes. Together." Villain smiled and placed a gentle kiss on Hero's cheek.

"I like the sound of that."

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