#assorted writing

“Shit, you’re way more tired than I thought,” Villain said, easily dodging a poorly-aimed kick and ducking to avoid a malformed punch.

“Not tired,” Hero grunted, pausing the fight to half-fall into a wall, using an elbow to support themself. “Mmfine.”

Villain raised an eyebrow. “I see. Then you’ll be able to easily escape when I do this.”

Blindingly fast, they grabbed Hero’s shoulder and shoved them hard to the ground. The crime-fighter let out a sharp cry, pain radiating through their back. Their nemesis was on top of them before they could even think to move, straddling their hips and pinning their wrists to the floor.

“Honey.”

The Villain fidgeted with the ends of their nails, barely paying attention to the movie their spouse had selected. The lack of illumination in their shared living space except for the TV screen only made them feel more cramped. Villain’s gaze flickered to their lover’s face every now and then, an attempt to gauge their reaction. Though much to their dismay, the other was completely immersed in the movie—about superheroes nonetheless. They couldn’t fathom why anyone would want to watch a film about heroes, aren’t they overdone by now?

“...Honey,” Villain tried again, steeling their resolve as they finally locked eyes with them. Trying to ignore how the brilliant colors emanating from the movie played on their features brilliantly, reflected in their soft eyes. A sight to behold, but not what the Villain needed right now.

“Dear,” Hero replied with a snarky grin, slightly amused by their spouse’s display of anxiousness. Though a single look in their dilated pupils and stern expression told the Hero it was something serious. They shifted on the couch, giving them their full attention as they waited patiently for them to continue.

“I-” Villain struggled for a moment, a distasteful sensation curling up in their stomach. “I need to tell you something.”

Ignoring the obnoxiously loud sound effects from the ongoing fight scene, Hero tilted their head, raising their eyebrows in curiosity. “Yeah sure,” they replied softly. Letting the other work through it at their own pace.

The Villain had the sudden urge to retreat from the conversation. While the idea of not keeping any secrets from their spouse had been a long time promise, it was a dreadful matter to convey considering their… status. A criminal—or worse a monster, Villain wondered what words would come to Hero’s mind when they found out. If they found out.

Of course Villain practiced the words, carefully calibrating the perfect response to every reaction they could think of. They knew better than to hope for immediate acceptance and a bed of roses waiting for them after revealing their identity. At the same time, Villain couldn’t imagine their spouse wanting to be involved in the Hero-Villain business; they never had any interest in the matter. Not to their knowledge, at least.

God, what if they want to break up over this? Who would willingly want to be with a wanted fugitive of the law anyways? In fact, the Villain would be more concerned if the Hero decided to stay. Though all the worst outcomes ran through the Villain’s mind at that moment, a small part of them wanted to hold on to their spouse. Perhaps there was hope that they would stay for them. Entertaining such thoughts may be childish, yet it was a comforting notion that maybe their love could overcome their flaws after all. 

The couch creaked under their weight as they shifted again, it seemed like a faraway fantasy for the Villain, they realized how long they had been stalling and cleared their throat. Suddenly all of that practicing went out the window and they blanked, unsure of what to say or even how to act. Their fingers rubbing the nape of their neck, clinging on to the last sense of normalcy while they tried to compose themselves.

“I felt like I needed to tell you, I’m…” 

The world seemed to halt the moment they uttered those words. Their spouse, who was still patiently focusing on them despite their reluctance to even graze the subject matter, reached out a hand to caress their knuckles. Such a gentle action, their touch feather-like and warm, easing some of the tension in their shoulders that they didn’t even realize were present. Would that same comforting expression still be present when they told the truth?

Villain held their tongue, their eyes darting away for a moment. Nearly consumed by their thoughts as their heart loudly pounded inside their chest. They wondered if the Hero could hear the quickening rhythm. Hero leaned closer, their noses inches away from brushing against each other, resting their forehead against the Villain’s while cradling their hand. Their eyes locked on the other.

“...You’re?”

Maybe it wasn’t the right time. Villain wanted to hold on to this moment, this familiarity, if only for a few days, weeks, months perhaps. Losing something you once held dear, Villain didn’t know if they could handle that.

“...I don’t like the new rug.”

Hero blinked slowly for a few moments before a slight frown appeared on their lips, followed by an “Oh,” which implied both surprise and disappointment. Villain took their hand, entangling their fingers together while cursing themselves internally for their cowardice. “Yeah, it’s just… not great. I think we have to get rid of it.”

“What’s wrong with it? I thought you liked it.”

They pursed their lips for a moment, reaching for the remote to turn up the volume—as if the sound effects weren’t obnoxious enough—while they made up an excuse. “The texture really isn’t great, I mean I thought I’d like it but now? Not really.”

“Well okay, that’s fine,” Hero replied. Admittedly a bit taken aback since they had no qualms about that rug before, but if their spouse thought otherwise they didn’t mind compromising. Villain chuckled—awkwardly—rotating their head back to face the TV, still holding their hands together. 

“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.” 

“Damn, you’re so strong,” Hero marveled, tracing a finger down Villain’s muscled arm. “I bet you could just throw me over your shoulder and carry me like a sack of potatoes, huh? Yeah, you totally could, wow.”

“S-stop,” Hero managed to whisper, voice tiny and trembling. “Please.” 

Their plea may as well have been lost to the winds that raged in the storm outside their dark window. Villain continued to sweep glinting eyes over their nemesis’ face. They appeared almost drunken at the sight before them, a predatory smile spreading across their lips. “I’ve waited so long for this,” they breathed. “Seeing you in that mask every day was torture. You don’t understand what it did to me, Hero.”

The crimefighter shuddered beneath them at the tone of their words. It was the dark joy of a cat finally catching an elusive mouse, the satisfaction of a cheetah taking down a fleet-footed gazelle. Incessant waves of fear continued to paralyze their body on the bed. They could’ve sworn they could feel themself sinking deeper into it, moments away from free-falling into an abyss. Their breath came shakily, unsteady, as if the lungs that had kept them alive all this time suddenly chose to neglect their purpose. 

“Gods, you’re perfect.” Villain’s grip on them tightened, causing them to let out a gasp. The criminal leaned even closer, only centimeters away from brushing Hero’s nose with their own. By reflex, Hero's eyes fluttered shut, their heartbeat continuing to rise, the sound it created in their ears drowning out every other thought in their mind. 

“Eyes open.” They obeyed the command almost unconsciously, like they had been hypnotized. Villain’s grin grew even wider, exposing sharply pointed canines that could easily pierce through skin. “Good. Very good.” 

Hero felt as if sparks of lightning were dancing under their skin. They couldn’t just allow this to happen, could they? Would they? “I-”

“Shhh.” Villain’s grasp had loosened slightly, and they began to slowly stroke their thumbs against the inside of Hero’s wrists. The intimacy of the gesture sent chills down their spine, and they had to resist the urge to shiver off the feeling. “It’s okay. You don’t have to speak now—just listen. Can you do that for me?”

Despite their confusion, Hero gave a small nod. 

“Since the moment I met you,” they began, “I knew that I had to have you. I wanted to know you, to see you beyond the mask, beyond the agency. You were always so quiet, but that never mattered to me. I knew there was more. I can see it now, in your eyes… I can see you, Hero. Gods, it’s more than I ever imagined. We can be together now. I know your powers aren’t working. I can help you. Fix you. I know you better than anyone. You won’t ever need anyone else again. You know that there’s no one out there who would be better for you.”

They stayed silent as Villain’s eyes started to narrow. “Isn’t there? Answer me. Who else could be there for you? Who would comfort you, love you?”

Hero hesitated for a long moment, unsure if they wanted an actual response. When the pause between them continued to lengthen, they finally spoke. “...Other He-”

“Don’t say that name,” Villain snarled, anger momentarily contorting their features into those of a shadowy monster. The pure rage in their voice defeated any semblance of hope Hero still held onto. There was no reasoning with someone like this, a person who acted more like a rabid animal than a human being. They should have known that there would be no coming back from this. “If you ever mention that name again, I will kill them. Do you understand?”

Hero swallowed, overcome with a new layer of terror. Other Hero was their best friend in the world, the only one who understood them, the rainbow in their thundering clouds. They couldn’t bear anything happening to them, especially if it was because of Hero’s mistakes. “Y-yes.”

“Good.” Their smile reappeared easily like nothing happened. “That’s right. Nobody loves you like I do. We’re made for each other, Hero. Now, I need you to do something for me. I’m going to leave you here for the night. Don’t tell anyone I was here. Tomorrow, I’ll find you in the city and we’ll leave together. You won’t need to bring anything. I’ll give you whatever you want, as long as you promise to be mine. I can make you so happy, my Hero. All you have to do is come with me, and you’ll never have to fight again. I’ll keep you safe. Wouldn’t that be a better life?”

Hero forced themself to nod again. What Villain was offering them was the stuff of their nightmares, where they were trapped far away from their city, unable to lift a finger to help the innocent civilians plagued by crime and fear. But if doing it would save Other Hero… they had to comply with what their nemesis wanted. No matter how much they wanted to scream, to run away, to strike Villain with a bolt of lightning and find solace in the arms of their best friend instead of their worst enemy. 

“Say it. Say that you’re mine.”

“I’m yours,” Hero whispered. 

“Forever.”

“Forever,” they repeated.

Villain pressed a light kiss to their forehead. “I’ll be waiting for you, my love.”

With that, they vanished, and the pressure above Hero disappeared. The door was shut, as though no one had ever come in. The bed beneath them felt cold now, empty. Outside, the storm continued to thunder on, bombarding the streets in an endless flood. Hero could almost feel the drops hit their skin, building up around them, rising in a steady stream until the water closed over their head. They shut their eyes and released a slow breath. Twin tears escaped from their lids, tracing mirrored paths down the sides of their face. Electricity radiated from the spot where Villain had kissed them. 

Their chest ached like nothing Hero had ever felt before, more painful than a blade to the heart. They felt a panicked dread in their core that didn’t seem to lessen as the seconds ticked on, one they feared would stay with them like a wound that never healed. They would never be able to fix it, they knew that now. All they could do was desperately try to keep it from spreading, creating a canyon that grew wider and wider until it swallowed them whole.

They would meet their nemesis. They would go with them, stay with them, allow them to do anything they wanted to them. They would completely and utterly belong to Villain, forever. They would leave Other Hero behind and never tell them why. They would hide their hurt deep enough that it would never show, pretend that they could ever love Villain, that they could push away the past. Hero let the pain wash over them like a spring rain, imagining light reflecting in their irises, the colors of the rainbow shining beneath white clouds, a hand clasped in theirs, the feeling of a mask slipping off of their face.

I’m yours. Forever.

@sausages-things @chaotic-orphan @watermelonrandom @whumplicity @infinitorum

hidden injury | forced reveal | laceration

CW: open wound, blood loss

Hero winced as they turned the handle, even that small action triggering a spark of pain in their back. The door creaked open and they tried not to stumble as they slowly walked in, determined to at least make it to their bed before collapsing. They didn’t bother turning the lights on when they gingerly closed the door behind them and started toward their room. Their apartment was set up so the living room and kitchen were right behind the door, so Hero used the back of the couch as a makeshift crutch to hold some of their weight. 

“Why are you so late?” A voice behind them demanded. Hero whipped around and immediately regretted the sudden movement when a twinge of hot agony momentarily immobilized them. They could feel a few trickles of blood run down their skin.

The light flicked on, bathing the space in a warm yellow glow. Villain leaned against the wall, arms crossed, surveying Hero with annoyance. 

Hero tried to make their expression neutral and hide the grimace of pain they’d been wearing.  “I’m really not in the mood for this tonight.” 

“Usually, you get home by eight or nine at the latest,” Villain said as if they hadn’t heard Hero at all. “It’s past one. I almost called the agency hotline to report you missing.”

“I had extra training to do,” Hero lied. “Leader wanted to test out a new program. There was a lot of running, and I’m tired now, so if you wouldn’t mind…”

 Instead of leaving, Villain approached them, eyes narrowed in suspicion. “You’ve had a lot of injuries recently. You shouldn’t be working so hard.”

“Medic cleared me for regular duty. Quit worrying so much.”

“I’m your nemesis,” they said matter-of-factly. “That’s my job.”

The side of Hero’s mouth turned up even as their back throbbed with a sting that kept getting sharper. “I think it’s supposed to be the opposite, but I appreciate it.”

“How am I supposed to fight you if you’re always beat up from training? Hero, I really think you should-”

“I’m fine, Vil,” Hero said firmly. “Really. I just need to sleep.”

Villain gave a noncommittal hum, unconvinced. “Just try to take care of yourself, okay?”

“Sure.” The word came out slightly breathless as Hero worked hard to keep upright. It felt as though their legs could give out on them at any second. 

Their nemesis frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Hero managed. “Get out of my apartment.”

“Turn around,” Villain commanded quietly. Hero wasn’t sure if they were imagining it or not, but there seemed to be a hint of fear in their eyes. 

“Go away.”

“Now.” 

“Fuck y-”

Using their signature speed, Villain unzipped their dark training jacket, pulling it off of them and uncovering a gray t-shirt emblazoned with the agency logo. 

At least, it used to be gray. Hero put out a hand to stop them, but Villain had already moved around them and stopped short. They stared at Hero’s back, blinking rapidly as if to reset their vision. Hero looked away and took in a shuddering breath. Carefully, Villain took the edge of Hero’s shirt and lifted it up to reveal the full extent of their injury.

An enormous X had been carved into Hero’s back, the deep lines running from their shoulderblades to their waist. The wound was open in some places and crusted with semi-dried blood in others. Stripes of brown and crimson covered their skin so liberally that its true color was difficult to see. The lines were almost perfectly straight, a result of hours of careful cutting with a cruelly serrated knife. Behind them, Villain was as still as a stone. They let the horrifically  stained shirt fall into place again and stayed silent for several torturous moments. 

When they finally spoke, their voice was dangerously soft. “Who did this?”

Hero bit their lip. “I can’t-I can’t tell you that.”

“Why?”

Their response came out as tiny as Hero felt. “You’d kill them.”

“Yes, I would kill them,” Villain snapped, fury lacing their sentences with venom. “They would deserve it. And I would make it slow.”

Hero flinched. “Please-” A spasm hit their back, and Hero saw white. They fell to their knees, crying out in pure agony. 

Villain’s blurry form knelt before them, their tone urgent but their words unintelligible. Hero tried to shove the world back into focus, pushing down the pain like they had done so many times before. 

“D-don’t…”

Villain’s voice cut in and out as Hero’s head spun. They reached out but stopped before their fingers could touch Hero’s abused body. “—too much blood—I’ll call—hospital, but—be okay—”

Darkness tinged with scarlet encroached at the edges of their vision, and Hero could feel their consciousness rapidly slipping away. If they died, did it matter what Villain did after? Maybe not. But if they didn’t die, they’d have to reckon with the consequences. Was it better to let themself go, to give in to the pain and let the person who’d done this to them win? 

“—my Hero—just stay—for me, please—who?—”

“Superhero,” they whispered, and fell into the grasp of their avenging nemesis. 

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.”