ƏᴗƏ

The hero gasped, frozen in the middle of the battlefield. They’d been warned about the villain’s abilities, but never experienced them until now.

“So,” the villain said, walking up to them, “you’re their new puppet.”

“I’m not a puppet,” the hero snarled, desperately trying to move.

With a flick of their wrist, the villain spun the hero around, away from them.  “Sure you aren’t.”

“What do you want?” the hero asked, heart starting to hammer. This was the first time they’d been in battle. This was a battle hardened villain, and they knew… none of the other heroes came back from fighting them.

A light touch ghosted its way down the hero’s arm, and their breath caught in their chest.

“I want you to have a peaceful, happy life,” the villain said, walking around to face the hero. “I want that for everyone. No more fighting.”

“I won’t stop until you’re dead.”

The villain sighed, their expression suddenly immeasurably sad. “I know,” they whispered, and for a moment, it covered all the other sounds of the battlefield. “I’ll give you the next best thing, then.” 

The villain reached out, touching the hero’s forehead and muttering incantations under their breath.

The hero struggled even harder. “What are you doing?” They tried to sound strong, but even they could hear the tremor in their voice.

“It’s alright,” the villain said. “You’re alright.”  Then, their voice steeped with magic, they said the last words the hero would hear: “Sleep.”

The hero stood, panting in the ashes of their once beloved city. 

It was all gone now. Nothing left to lose, no one left to save. Almost no one, anyway.

“I didn’t think you’d have it in you,” the villain said, approaching them. “That was quite the explosion.”

The hero stared into the distance, eyes almost deadened. “You survived?” Their voice came out scratchy.

The villain chuckled. “Of course I did. I know what you can do, I’m not an idiot.” They strolled over casually, brushing some rubble off the hero’s shoulder. 

“They didn’t think I would do it.”

The villain pressed a kiss to the hero’s forehead. “They were fools.”

For the first time, the hero looked at the villain. “And you aren’t?”

The villain shrugged.  “I’ve done dumb things, but I’d never be stupid enough to underestimate you. Even the kindest people - especially them - have bombs waiting to explode.”

“I’m not kind. I killed them,” the hero said, voice starting to break. “I killed them all, every last one! I was supposed to be their hero!”

“And they rejected you,” the villain said, cradling the hero in their arms. 

Slowly, the hero relaxed into the embrace.

almost bit off more than he could chew

almost

bonus scribbly internal

this shit had way too many views on deviantfart

Don’t judge me… but I just REALLY like uvulas okay shut up;;

J-Just because I’m small and fit the natural shape of a stomach, d-doesn’t make me food!! L-Let me out now, will ya?