“Villain?” Hero called, cautiously entering the familiar alleyway. “I need to talk to you.”

Only silence greeted them, the city still at this time of night. The only light came from a flickering street lamp a few meters away. Tears sprung to Hero’s eyes unbidden, a thousand emotions battling in their mind.

“Please,” they said, voice breaking. 

Suddenly, a hand around their neck forced them sideways, their head striking the wall with a thud. Hero cried out, momentarily blinded by the shock of the impact. The pressure on their throat was just intense enough to be painful, sharp fingernails digging into their skin.

“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t kill you right now,” Villain snarled into their ear. 

“I-I’m sorry,” Hero gasped. “Please, I didn’t know, I swear I didn’t know-“

“Of course you knew, how could you not? You’ve spent nearly your whole life with them.” Villain’s voice was full of disgust. “Besides, it was obvious when I interrupted your little party that you were happy to serve them.”

“No, you don’t understand,” Hero pleaded, their voice getting higher as Villain’s grip tightened. “I only just found out, S-Superhero almost killed me, I had to-to pretend when you-“

“Supervillain, you mean.”

“Y-yes, God, I can’t-“

“How could you possibly not have seen it?” Villain demanded. “The greatest threat to the city and its most illustrious savior, the same person all along. There had to have been signs.”

“They raised me to be a hero, Vil!” They could feel their nemesis tense at the nickname, still refusing to face Hero. “They were the only parent I ever knew, of course I was b-blind to it. I opened the door, and there…” They swallowed hard, a tear running down to their jaw. “There was Supervillain, taking off the m-mask, and they had that knife…”

“I have scars from that knife,” Villain said distantly, as if their mind was far away.

“So do I.” Hero waited for Villain to respond, but they were as silent as the night, their hand still locked around Hero’s throat. “Look at me, Vil. Please.”

Slowly, Villain’s head tilted back, their face mostly covered in shadow. It took a moment for their eyes to find Hero’s, slightly wild and utterly lost. Instinctively, they reached up and wiped away the tear track from their nemesis’ cheek. 

“You really didn’t know?” They whispered.

“i didn’t know.”

“What are you going to do now?”

“I don’t know. I don’t… there’s nowhere for me to go.”

“You can come with me.” Villain’s voice was growing more certain. “We’ll figure it out together.”

“Okay,” Hero said, a little breathlessly. “Okay, yes, I’ll go with you. Just-please, my-“

“Oh, God.” Villain released their grip, quickly stepping back. Hero took in a deep breath, massaging their tender neck. “Hero, I’m so sorry-“

They were cut off as Hero threw themself into Villain, burying their face in their nemesis’ chest like they would with a lover. It only took a second for Villain to wrap their arms around Hero in a tight hug, holding them as they sobbed. 

“It’s okay,” they murmured into Hero’s hair. “I swear, it’s all going to be okay. I’m sorry, Hero. I’m so sorry.”

CW: suggestive

“You shouldn’t be here,” Hero hissed in a low voice, backing up and quickly checking for others in the dim corridor as Villain approached. 

“What, you don’t want to see me?” They teased, casually placing their hands on the wall on either side of Hero’s head. 

“Shut up, I’m serious. This is-”

“The very polite, incredibly tedious, law-abiding, anti-crime gala, I know.” Villain shook their head in mock disgust. “I know you usually do the rescuing, but I thought I could step in this time and save you from the boredom.”

Hero rolled their eyes. “Yes, it’s for crimefighters, so there’s several dozen of them in that ballroom down the hall, and one of them could come out and see us any minute.”

“And if that happens, I have an excellent idea for how we could… blend in,” they said with a pointed glance at Hero’s lips.

Hero flushed, looking away as Villain’s eyes glinted in victory. “I don’t know why I put up with you.”

“Surely it’s because of my endless charm and devilish good looks?” 

“You think you’re so incredible,” they said, ignoring the way their heart rate increased as Villain leaned even closer. 

“Oh, I know I am, darling.” Hero could hear the grin in their voice. 

“I can’t wait for the day that someone finally puts you in your place.”

“You’re welcome to try anytime,” Villain told them slyly. “You know I adore it when you boss me around.”

Hero chanced a moment of eye contact again and immediately broke it at the sight of Villain’s dark, intense gaze. “Christ. Don’t look at me like that.” 

Villain tilted their head innocently. “Like what?” 

“You know what I’m talking about.”

“Do I?”

“Like you want to eat me, or something.”

Villain chuckled, and the sound sent shivers down Hero’s spine. “Yes, very good, dear. But I want to do so much more than that. I want to devour you.”

“You say things like that-” Hero began, but faltered when Villain’s hand came to hover over their cheek, fingernails tracing lightly over their skin. 

“You don’t think I mean it.” They finished the thought for them. “I see. I thought I had been obvious enough, but…” with a gentle touch, they shifted Hero’s face back up, letting them see the sharp, sincere desire in Villain’s expression. “I want you, Hero. I have since we met. It’s because you’re gorgeous, and funny, and smart, and the way you light up when you want to kill me really just—what is it, darling?”

Hero had gone still, a fire burning in the pit of their stomach, their eyes almost ablaze with its brightness. “Take me out of here.”

Villain raised an eyebrow, taken aback. “What?”

“Take me out of here, before I lose my composure,” they warned.

“But I do want to see that-”

“Villain.”

“Won’t you at least say you like me too?”

“Now.”

Villain let out a laugh of surprised delight, taking Hero’s hand and leading them down the hall as fast as they could. “God, I love it when you do that.” 

For the past week, when Hero had been on patrol, they had felt a strange sensation. It was difficult to describe, so they hadn’t mentioned it to their team. But regardless, every night they were alone in the dark city, they couldn’t shake the idea that someone was watching them. Tonight, it started only fifteen minutes into their shift. Hero tried not to constantly check behind them as they checked each street corner and alleyway, but it was hard to ignore the pricking on the back of their neck that just wouldn’t go away. They picked up their pace, hoping to find something to take care of and take their mind off of it. 

Despite their hopes, the night remained quiet and uneventful. After Supervillain’s last attack, the city enacted a curfew that hardly anyone was reckless enough to disobey. And with everyone’s curtains and blinds pulled low, Hero hadn’t even seen another person for the last hour. Even so, goosebumps lined their skin beneath the sleeves of their padded combat jacket. They shivered, stopping to run a hand through their hair and take a deep breath.

“Focus,” they whispered to themself. Nothing was wrong. There wasn’t anybody here besides them. Why would there be? It was just that Hero was used to patrolling with a partner, and now the Agency had split up the team to cover more ground. That was why they were uncomfortable. But they could handle this. It wasn’t like it was difficult to just walk around the city for a few hours. It was peaceful, even. Absolutely nothing to worry about. 

Still… no matter how much Hero tried to convince themself it was nothing, they couldn’t shake the feeling that hidden eyes were boring into the back of their head. They shook their head, chiding themself for their ridiculousness. Maybe they just had to prove it. They unzipped and removed their jacket, folding it neatly and placing it at the base of the nearest light pole. The night breeze brushed over their black t-shirt, cool against their bare arms. Hero rolled their shoulders back and forth, leaned on one booted foot and then the other, and looked up at the building in front of them. This part of the city was more industrial, with apartment complexes sitting closely beside offices, banks, and a few manufacturing facilities. As such, it was the perfect setting for losing any potential ‘trail,’ even if Hero knew that one didn’t exist. 

Without a moment of hesitation, Hero leapt into action, beginning to scale the building with uncanny grace. They easily found niches for their feet and hands, tiny spaces in the brick that they used to propel themself upward. In only a couple of seconds, they had made it past the first story. Soon after, they reached the top. Once there, they took a running start, launching themself onto the next roof and landing casually on one foot. 

They repeated this across an entire block, using long strides to increase efficiency and passing over the alleyways effortlessly. As soon as they reached a taller area, they jumped over the gap and onto a narrow windowsill. From there, they again climbed up the wall, never close to losing their footing even as the wind tossed their hair into their eyes. It was a well-known fact among their team and a point of pride that Hero had scaled buildings blindfolded. Sometimes, Sidekick or Rogue would beg them to ‘do something cool’ like that when out on assignment. It helped encourage new recruits to pay attention in the parkour lessons Hero taught when most of them just wanted to learn how to punch people in the solar plexus. 

Up in the air, it was easier for Hero to clear away their anxiety and hone in on their body and the feeling of brick and metal on their fingertips. They breathed in and out, in and out, pulling themself higher and higher. It felt like flying, as Hero barely touched each spot on the wall before moving on to the next. This was always when they felt the most free, away from everyone and everything. All their responsibilities, the weight that lay heavy on their shoulders. It went away the minute they began the climb, and Hero couldn’t get enough of it. They felt it as they pushed up onto the roof of the tallest building in the section, a laugh escaping their throat in a single moment of pure happiness. They had barely even broken a sweat, their body shaped and toned specifically for this purpose to the point where they were practically a machine. 

They stepped out to the edge of the roof, gazing out at the city. They hadn’t realized how pretty it looked tonight. Soft lights glowed in a few complexes and from the poles that lined each road. Stars shone from the blue-black sky, the moon a perfect sliver among them. Hero brushed their hair out of their face, finger-combing through the tangles. The breeze was softer now, and they were glad they had ditched their jacket. They stood in silence for a minute, allowing a smile to play across their lips. Of course, there hadn’t been any reason to be paranoid. No one was following them. No one could. They were Hero, one of the city’s beloved protectors. Who would waste their time tailing them? What would even be the point?

A sudden prickle on their neck gave them pause. They knew there wasn’t anything there. Maybe they just needed a break. They’d talk to Superhero about cutting down a bit on patrol hours. Surely they could help with the Supervillain case, or track down some lower-level criminals. There was nothing to worry about. Hero breathed in slowly and closed their eyes. 

“Well, that was exciting,” said a voice behind them. “Thanks for spicing things up. I was starting to think you were going to be boring.” 

Hero stood at the edge of the forest, looking into the pitch-blackness as stars twinkled above them. The moon was hardly a sliver in the sky: a silver splinter that would soon be swallowed by the dark and made new.

A cool wind rustled through Hero’s hair. It gently tugged wisps away from the intricate braid they’d secured hours before, a ritual that grounded them before a hunt. They wove enough strands of silver rope into every section to burn the skin of all but the most powerful demonic creatures that touched it. 

Their hands rested at their sides over the weapons hanging from their belt. In a single moment, they could draw whichever stake or blade they needed. As soon as a monster dared approach, Hero could dispatch it within moments. It was why they never required a team to hunt with. Even beyond the fact of their skills, they enjoyed going alone. And the times just before the new moon were their favorite. 

“Lovely night, isn’t it?” A melodic voice said. Hero didn’t have to turn to recognize the tall, pale creature that stood just behind their back. They didn’t even need to look at their alabaster-carved face to know that Villain was grinning, their razor-sharp canines glinting in the starlight. 

“Perfect for a hunt,” Hero replied.

Villain’s ice-cold hand brushed over theirs, which opened reflexively like a blooming flower. “So single-minded. And you say I am the violent one.”

“You and all of your kind. But I don’t blame you for something you can’t help.”

“No. You only kill us for it.”

Hero smiled, leaning into Villain’s touch as they pulled in closer and casually swept Hero’s braid over their left shoulder, hand utterly unaffected by the shining silver.

They drew sharp nails over the side of the hunter’s neck, tracing twin lines across their skin. The touch sparked dangerous butterflies in Hero’s stomach: a dark desire that demanded something even sharper pierce their flesh. 

“I won’t apologize for ridding the world of the irredeemable.” That was Hero’s purpose. To hunt down demons, find them before they managed to get their teeth or claws in someone innocent. 

“I know it was you who killed three of my fledglings last cycle,” Villain whispered, lips suddenly only millimeters away from Hero’s ear. “They had but just turned. Were they irredeemable?”

“Better they die young than live forever as monsters.”

They breathed a light laugh. “I have lived many millennia and never met a being so monstrous as you.”

“I would destroy my own soul for a chance to save that of others,” Hero said with quiet conviction. “I would do it a thousand times.”

Villain’s other arm snaked around Hero’s middle, pressing them fully against the undead creature’s freezing body. Hero inhaled sharply, the tang of iron filling their nose. 

“When you have done that,” they said softly. “Come to me, and we shall measure how many miles our shadows stretch, how many hordes of wronged spirits follow our steps, how many lakes the blood on our hands can fill. Then we will know which among us is the least human.”

“At least I remain myself, remain in control of myself. I am not like you, for I have never tasted that blood.” 

“You will.” Villain pressed a kiss to Hero’s neck, fangs ghosting over their point where their pulse was beginning to beat out of control. “When I slit my wrist and hold it to your mouth until my blood pours, thick and sweet, down your throat, and you have no choice but to swallow. And then, little hunter, I will slide one of these pretty blades into your heart, and watch you die and be born anew.” 

A delicious bolt of fear spiked Hero’s nervous system, making them almost tipsy with adrenaline. “I would use a stake to put myself down as soon as I awoke.”

They could feel Villain’s smile against their skin. “A fine idea. But I am afraid it would fail, if, as your sire, I commanded that you never harm yourself.” 

Hero stiffened. There was an edge in the creature’s voice, a quality too sharp to be playful. They’d been meeting Villain before hunts for months, and it was always a chase, cat and mouse switching places. There was an easy banter between them that could only exist with a skilled hunter and a greater demon. But something was different. The curtain had been pulled back, exposing the scheme. The cat toying with the mouse before it strikes.

As if sensing Hero’s thoughts, Villain chuckled, a low, dark rumble. “Yes, you finally understand. This is no idle dance you can decide to perform or ignore each cycle. When I want something, I take it. When I tire of the game, when I want all of you, I will make you mine.”

Hero swallowed, near panic, but somehow a deep foreboding they felt kept disappearing. “I’ve killed monsters like you before-”

“Oh, darling, you have never met someone like me.” Villain rested their free hand at the base of Hero’s throat, tapping a fingertip against their voice box. “If you could sense what I am, it would make you scream, beg, cry. That would be lovely, yes, but instead, I choose to dull your fear receptors. I bury the signal that warns you how dangerous I truly am. Just so I can have you while your heart is still beating.”

“You can’t have me,” Hero whispered. “You won’t. I won’t let you turn me into a monster.”

“No…” Villain hooked a finger under their chin, turning their head to the side so their faces nearly touching. Hero’s eyes went wide, then, as if under a spell, fluttered closed. One fang just barely brushed Hero’s bottom lip as Villain murmured their response. “No, you do not need a sire for that, my dear hunter. You do not need me at all.”

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

Hero lay in bed with their eyes closed, traces of tears clearly visible on their face. They hadn’t bothered to take their hair out of its now-messy braid, too tired to do anything but rest on top of the neatly folded covers. Today had been horrible, a slip on Hero’s part, bad enough that Superhero had benched them for the next week. Villain had almost taken their mask off. Their identity had been so close to being revealed, something that would have instantly placed them in incredible danger.

Thank the gods for Other Hero, who had managed to get the criminal off of Hero before that could happen. They were still shaken, and on top of that, their powers were malfunctioning. No one knew why—one minute Hero could summon any type of weather, an ability they were feared and respected for, and the next, they could barely make it drizzle. It was infuriating, especially with the way the rest of the heroes were treating them because of it. But… not Other Hero. They understood. They were so kind, so empathetic. Hero was glad to have them as a friend. 

They heard the creak of the door as it opened slowly, padded footsteps making their way over to where Hero was lying. Usually, Hero would have turned around, or at least said something, but they just didn’t have the energy. Besides, whoever would dare to enter their room had to be someone Hero wouldn’t mind being in there. They were known for their viciously guarded need for privacy. It was known that thunder would rumble through Headquarters if an unwanted visitor entered Hero’s room without permission. 

“Other Hero?” They asked carefully, tensing as feather-light fingers traced their skin. They felt a tiny pressure on their scalp, and a tangle of hair curled around their neck. Other Hero must have taken out the braid. “Thank you,” Hero said softly, relaxing into their friend’s touch. The crimefighter was warm, so warm, threading through the knotted strands of Hero’s hair with gentle hands. Hero wanted to just bathe in the affection forever, but they knew they had to acknowledge the elephant in the room. “I’m so grateful that you were there today,” they began in a quiet voice. “You saw how close Villain was to taking off my mask, I…I can’t let them or anyone else know my identity. Superhero would be furious… I don’t know if I’d be fired, or if they’d help me, I’m sure people would come after me, I can’t-“

Their shaky rambling was cut off by Other Hero brushing Hero’s hair out of the way and pressing a kiss to their neck. They stilled, closing their eyes again and letting out a trembling breath. It felt so comforting, as if even though Other Hero hadn’t said anything, they were telling Hero it would all be okay. And that was what they needed most right now, really. It was nice that Other Hero seemed to know that.

“I know I’m spiraling. It’s just that—I’ve never been afraid of Villain before. I’ve been afraid of what they’ll do, I mean, you have a nemesis, you know what it’s like. But earlier… I was scared. I was terrified. And I can’t stop replaying that moment in my head up to the point where you stepped in—going over my mistakes again and again. You tell me not to dwell, and I know I should just do better next time, but what I was so afraid of was the possibility that there would never be a next time. I love this city so much, and if I couldn’t fight for it or protect it anymore, I’d go crazy.” Hero bit their lip, feeling like they’d said too much. “Does that… do you understand?” 

“Of course,” said a horribly familiar voice that did not belong to Other Hero. 

Hero whipped around, their hands coming up instinctively to cover their bare face. Before they could, the intruder caught both of their wrists, pinning them to either side of their head. Hero’s shock rendered them frozen in place, unable to move as every inch of their features was suddenly on display. Any sounds or words they could muster died in their throat the moment that eye contact locked. They felt more exposed than they ever had before, as if the whole city was outside looking in through their window.

Hero would have preferred to be struck by the lightning they had once called on so easily rather than lie there for one more second, but there was nothing they could do. Tears formed in the corner of their wide eyes as they stared up into the others’ gaze. One escaped, trailing down their cheek to the corner of their mouth. They could taste the salt, sharp and acrid like the feeling in their chest; inescapably strong, unrelentingly painful. 

“Don’t cry,” Villain said softly. “You’re beautiful.” 

part II

@sausages-things @chaotic-orphan @watermelonrandom

“I love you.” On the other side of the bed, Villain was turned toward them. They were wearing their own face instead of Hero’s for the night after it had switched back at sundown. 

“No, you don’t,” Hero said with a sigh. “You’re not even a real person. You aren’t capable of loving anyone.”

“Of course I am. That’s all I do, Hero. It’s what I’m made for. That’s the problem with things like me. I love you so much I want to… want to eat you up, to devour everything you have. I want to bite into your whole life and rip it apart. I want it so bad it hurts. I need it like you need air to breathe.”

Hero was silent for a moment, staring up at their bedroom ceiling. “You know how birds have the instinct to migrate?”

“Yeah.” 

“Well, it’s stronger than an instinct, really. It’s a pain they feel when it’s time to leave. And the only thing that makes it stop is to move their wings and fly away.”

“I’m like a bird,” Villain murmured. “I don’t want to hurt anyone. Not really. I just… I can’t help it. It’s what I am.” 

“Does it feel good?”

“What?”

Hero closed their eyes, hating that they could feel Villain’s focus on them like a searing burn. “When you hurt me.”

A beat passed, and then: “Yes.”

“But you don’t regret it.” “I can’t,” Villain said, and their voice was so small and pitiful that Hero wanted to tear it out of their throat. “I’m sorry, Hero, I wish I could tell you something else.”

“You can’t lie to me. You can steal my face, my life, ruin my relationships, you can cut me, stab me, strangle me, but you can’t lie. What a great freaking deal for me.”

“I can’t harm you without harming myself, you know that.” Every time Villain had ever physically hurt Hero, the same wound had appeared on Villain like a perfect mirror image. It didn’t even matter if Villain was wearing Hero’s face at the moment. 

“And I bet you wish you didn’t have that problem, huh?” Hero asked sharply. “Wouldn’t it be so much nicer if you could just kill me and be done with this whole mess? You know you can’t get rid of me, Villain. I won’t make it that easy for you.”

“It’s not supposed to be easy. That’s the point. I’m better at being you than you are, and you know it. It itches at you like a scab, and someday you’re going to rip it off, and you won’t have any choice but to give it to me.” 

There was an edge to Villain’s words, a dark rigidity that took Hero aback. They turned onto their left side and met their doppelgänger’s gleaming, too-big eyes. 

“You’ll burn it all down and pick up the pieces,” they said slowly. “Take my place. And then what? If I can’t die without bringing you with me, what happens to me then?”

“Oh, you can die,” they said, a tiny, almost wistful smile on their inhuman face. “Once I take your place, I take everything. I won’t be your doppelgänger anymore. You’ll lose your face. It’ll be mine, all mine, and I won’t be able to change anymore. There won’t be anything left for you. Most people kill themselves soon after. It’s not easy, having no face. It might be even harder than having two.” 

Despite the comforter over them, a violent shiver ran down Hero’s spine, like their nerves had turned to ice. “I’ll… lose my face?”

Villain nodded. “Poof! Gone.” They grinned. “It’s a little funny, I think. No face. I’ve never gotten to see one before. Remind me to take a picture of you when it happens.”

Hero sat up abruptly, suddenly cold. They pulled the blanket tight up to their shoulders. Villain’s gaze tingled on the side of their face. “It won’t happen.”

“You’ll kill me, then?” Villain said, amused. “You? Even when I stabbed you, I didn’t see that kind of anger in you. You’re soft, Hero. Too soft to murder a part of yourself.” 

They looked back, eyes hard. “I’ll do what I have to.”

Villain smirked, holding out an inviting hand. “You’re cute when you’re trying to be serious. Come here.” 

“Screw you,” Hero muttered, but they let themself be pulled in anyway. 

It was quiet tonight on the grounds outside Villain’s lair. Not a single curious civilian or annoying sidekick spotted on patrol yet. It felt like a hero word, ‘patrol’. But Villain and their henchmen weren’t on the lookout for crime—quite the opposite, really. Usually Villain waited until their employees had already checked everything before sweeping the area themself, but they were feeling a bit restless. Maybe a nighttime walk would bring them some peace.

Plus, morale was higher when they did the menial work alongside their underlings. People saw that their boss could get down and dirty and wasn’t a high-and-mighty tyrant, they were more likely not to quit. Villain prided themself as being the criminal with the highest employee retention rate in the city. 

They whistled contentedly, running a hand along the smooth, shiny side of the building. Yes, this was a good night. A bright moon, no cloud cover, and they’d completed a successful bank robbery earlier that afternoon. Maybe they could order some pizza to celebrate. The henchmen would like that. But first, they had to finish their rounds. Villain turned the last corner, expecting to see a manicured lawn and maybe a bird or two. Instead, they saw blood. 

It was splattered erratically across the grass, like someone had thrown around water balloons filled with red paint. There wasn’t that much of it, but it still made Villain take a step back, brows furrowing. Who had done this? Was it some sort of practical joke by their underlings? If so, it wasn’t a very good one. They looked around for any other signs, walking forward again to investigate. They weren’t too concerned. It was probably nothing, just a prank, they thought—until they saw the body. 

Someone was lying on their side, unmoving, their clothes stained and ripped. They’d been hard to spot in the shadow of the hideout. As Villain stared, they noticed a few familiarities. The shade of their tangled hair, the curve of their shoulder, that… the color drained from Villain’s face. 

“No,” they whispered, approaching the person slowly. “No. No, no, no. Please, no. Don’t let it be them. Don’t let it be them.” 

Don’tletitbethemdon’tletitbethemdon’tletitbethemitcan’tbethem-

They knelt down beside the body, heart pounding, breathing fast and shaky. Carefully, they placed a hand on the person’s shoulder, pulled it gently toward themself, and looked into the unresponsive face. 

No.

“Hero.” The sound was torn out of Villain involuntarily, small and hopeless. “Oh, Hero, what happened to you?”

The main source of the blood seemed to be cuts that littered Hero’s arms, legs, and torso, and the large gash across their forehead that was still leaking red. Bruises had blossomed bluish-purple around their neck and wrists. Numbly, Villain traced a finger down Hero’s cheek, along tracks in the grime that could only have been made by tears. 

Villain’s ears were ringing, an empty feeling developing in the pit of their stomach. In their mind, they were screaming, roaring, raging. But that wouldn’t help Hero. They had to stand up, to call for a henchman, but their legs and mouth didn’t seem to be working. Check their vitals, a voice shouted in their mind. Okay. They could do that. They could do that. With a trembling hand, they placed two fingertips at Hero’s pulse point, trying not to put too much pressure on their bruised throat.

For a few terrifying seconds, they couldn’t find it. But then they felt a weak beat, slow but steady. The wave of relief that overcame Villain was so strong it nearly knocked them over. They were alive. And they would survive this. They had to. Villain would make sure of it. 

As carefully as they could, Villain slid their hands underneath Hero’s shoulders and knees. Then, they slowly rose to their feet, watching Hero closely for any signs of pain or awareness. Their face remained motionless, devoid of expression besides a slight furrow in their brow. It took effort for Villain to lift their gaze from Hero’s closed eyes and begin to hurry back to the entrance. 

As they turned the corner to the front side of the lair, Righthand, who was standing guard, saw them coming and lowered their crossed arms. 

“I’ve initiated the change, sir. You’re the last-“ They blinked at the sight of Hero’s limp body in Villain’s arms. “Is that-“

“Get Medic and tell them to meet me in the clinic immediately,” Villain ordered. “Tell them it’s an emergency.” 

Righthand nodded. “Right away, sir.” They tapped their earpiece and began speaking in a low voice. As Villain approached the door, Righthand opened it for them, eyes widening as they realized the severity of Hero’s condition. Villain didn’t even glance at them, focused solely on continuing forward and keeping Hero stable. 

Hero would be okay. They kept repeating it over and over like a mantra in their head. Hero would be okay. They would be. And when Villain was sure Hero was safe, they would find whoever did this to them. 

“I promise,” they murmured. I promise, as long as you’re okay. I promise. 

I promise. 

part 2

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