#guilty hero

Warnings: left to care for injuries alone, thoughts of death, torture, vomit, hallucinations, fever, hurt villain whumpee

Villain fumbled with his doorknob until it opened. He collapsed with it, using only his momentum to shut the door behind him. Immediately, he slumped against it as the world around him slowly started to fade to black.

When he regained consciousness a few moments later, he momentarily forgot where he was. The pain was so great that it blocked any thoughts from slipping into his mind. He mouth tasted like blood and when he licked his damp lips, he realize that they were covered in blood.

The memories flooded into his mind like a wave, fast and overwhelming. There was Supervillain and Hero and then... Villain choked back tears. Hero abandoned him... she...

Darkness threatened to overcome him again as his mind raced with thoughts. He blinked it away and allowed his gaze to drift down to his thigh. A dagger was in the side, pushed through all the way to the hilt. Villain, with shuddering breaths, grabbed onto it with sticky hands and pulled.

A white flash of pain exploded in front of hid eyes. He let go, his body going slack and his mind spiraling down through a tunnel of oblivion.

The last thing his clouded eyes saw before he blacked out again was new blood pouring out of his wound.

He sat like that for a while, drifting in and out of consciousness. Sometimes he found himself face first into a cool, wooden floor and other times, his cheek was leaned against a cushioning substance. He just barely tried to wonder what was going on. It really didn't matter, and the agony made sure of that.

Once, he woke up enough to drag his broken body to a cupboard. He breifly considered how smart he was to keep his first aid box in a low one before pain consumed him once again. His shaking arms threatened to give out he half hoped that they did.

Villain collapsed to the ground, but didn't pass out. He weakly grabbed to the door of the precious cupboard and opened it. Quickly, he grabbed the kit and opened it.

And then he vomitted without warning, right onto his floor. It racked his broken ribs as they moved with the motion. He began to cough until he started spatting up blood.

His face sunk into the blood and puke, exhausted. He wanted so desperately for someone to find him and help him. He closed his eyes, swimming through his memories. He knew that no one would come, the one that would betrayed him, so he had prioritize injuries.

A boot clashed with his ribs, snapping and breaking them.

A spud bar hit his finger, severing it off.

Another boot hit his jaw. There was a crack right?

Hands grappled at his throat while others tied a heavy chain right above his hips.

He was dragged through barbed wire, glass, and nails.

Tears flowed freely from Villain's bloodshot eyes. The salt stung the open cuts on his cheeks. Sure he was a villain, but did he deserve this? Did he deserve to be tortured half to death and then have to lick his wounds by himself? His head lolled to the side. He didn't know what to do. In the back of his head, he was vaguely aware that shock and adrenaline was preventing the true onslaught of pain from attacking.

He groaned. He had to take care of himself before he was unable to. He opened the first aid box and grabbed guaze pads and other supplies. The dagger was the first to be removed and it would bleed, a lot.

He wrapped a towel into a roll and placed it in between his teeth. The fabric tasted funny from being mixed with all the ointments, but Villain could care less.

His hands then went to the hilt and he hesited. What if he lost consciousness again? He could wake up in complete agony and would die of infection.

Villain pushed those thoughts aside and wrapped his hands around the dagger. Before he pulled, he realized that he was using his hand with four fingers, yet he felt no pain. His heart started beating in anticipation.

Drawing in a deep breath, Villain pulled the dagger out.

Only it stopped half-way out. Villain took in shaky breaths and blinked away the black splotches in his vision. It was barbed.

"Mm," Villain groaned, laying his head back down. He swallowed the limited saliva he had. This was impossible.

More tears spilled. Villain spit out the towel. It fell out, but landed on his cheek, irritating it. He weakly raised his hand to brush it off, but it didn't work. He tried again. No luck. He tried again until frustration allowed him to kick out.

Pain erupted through his leg, centering on the dagger. Villain screamed, loud and laced with sobs.

"I-it hurts," he cried as if someone was with him, tending to him. "It hurts soo bad."

The adrenaline disappeared, leaving Villain beyond tired with a dagger half-stuck in his flesh. Hero would have someone to take care of her. Heck, she would be so pumped full of painkillers that she wouldn't feel a thing as she drifted in and out of lala land. And here Villain was, completely alone without even a simple, warm hug.

He allowed his eyes to slip shut, knowing that sleep could act like a painkiller. But it didn't come, pain kept him awake just like it brought unwanted unconsciousness.

His eyes danced back towards the dagger. Maybe his brain would shut down if he accomplished that one simple task.

Villain dug his fingers into the gnarled flesh, clenching his teeth in pain. He worked to dislodge the dagger until it broke free, clattering on the ground.

Villain sighed in relief, but was caught mid sigh when blood started pouring out the wound at a crazy fast speed. Villain lunged forward, grabbing the towel and earning a broken scream from his throat. He pressed the towel to his thigh, but his arms were not strong enough the staunch the flow.

"Hero," Villain cried. As weak as it was, it sounded booming to Villain's desperate ears. Unless, it was his foggy mind playing tricks on him. Making it seemed like he could call Hero and she would come running. Heck, would he even start hallucinating that she was indeed here?

Villain finally was able to stop the blood flow. His trembling hands hovered over the hydrogen peroxide, but he decided against it. Pouring that over the wound would make it hurt. And hurt was not on Villain's wishlist.

He instead reached for a gauze pad and gingerly laid it over the gaping injury. His shaking fingers applied medical tape over the pad.

When he was done, he closed his eyes. His head limply hung over his chest. His lips turned up in a slight smile as exhaustion pulled him under like anesthesia.

Villain came to only a few minutes later- maybe ten, but to him, he felt like hours. He so desperately wanted to sink back into sleep when he remembered what happened. His mouth was oddly dry had an unpleasant taste in it.

"Hero," he whispered, lifting his head up only for it to flop forward again.

The gauze pad was now stained with blood, but Villain had neither the energy or the will to take care of it. His whole body ached, especially at his jaw. He moved it, testing it, but it creaked and fired up in agony. Broken.

Villain closed his eyes again. He tried not to, but his thoughts drifted to the long list of priorities he came up with. His finger was long gone and he wouldn't be able to care for his jaw. The bruises on his hip bones would fade as would the surface cuts on his face.

He could wrap his ribs up, but he wouldn't be able to get his arms around to his back.

His back.

He knew that he had glass and nails stuck in it. He knew that it would get badly infected within a couple days.

If he lived that long.

Villain shut his eyes close momentarily. He would live. He wouldn't give Supervillain or Hero the satisfaction of killing him.

Fueled by motivation, Villain shot to his feet. He immediately regretted it, however, when the world tilted and collapse in on itself. He blinked back the dizziness, gripping the counter like his life depended on it. In a strange way, it did.

Villain pushed himself towards the bathroom, sometimes having to lean against walls when a sudden wave of wooziness threatened to make him crumple. But he went on like a determined father in a snowstorm, trying to get home to his freezing wife and kids with firewood.

Villain finally reached the bathroom, triumphant, but he instantly fell onto the ground and threw up again. On his way down, he smacked his head against the tile floor.

A loud sob escaped his throat as he realized his dire situation. The previous energy faded into frustration and anger, but mostly exhaustion and loneliness. He pictured the thought of an injured Hero lying in a hospital bed.

She wouldn't be covered in sweat and vomit.

She wouldn't be lying on her bathroom floor.

She would be cared for.

Villain buried his head into the crook of his elbow, wiping snot and tears on it as he dived back into sleep.

Villain woke up on a couch. He didn't recall dragging himself onto it, but one glanced at the blood smeared floor confirmed that he indeed did.

His head felt like a hammer was hitting it. He groaned and brought a hand to his forehead. Almost instantly, he pulled backwards shocked.

His forehead waa sweaty and burning.

Villain looked at his thigh and saw it festered and puffy. He knew that his back was no better.

And now he had a fever. Fabulous.

Within the next two days, Villain tried to tend to ongoing fever with little luck. He contemplated wasting the energy to drag himself to a phone and call 911, but decided against it.

He also started hallucinating.

Apparitions of Hero and Supervillain's face danced across his hazy vision. The floor around him also turned to lava. Between these realistic (according to Villain) and the burning pain of a fever, he was in a hole of misery.

Once he even woke up on the floor of the bathroom, leaning against the bath tub. Tylenol pills were strewn all over the floor in a sloppy attempt to take a few. A thermometer also made its home by Villain's feet. The number still read 104.

He shouldn't be alive.

It was a miracle, really, but part of him wanted to die and leave this mess.

"Hero," he would sometimes cry out. He wanted her- needed her. He hurt, oh so bad, and was scared and alone.

In his short spans of consciousness, he would take in his surroundings the same way each time. Look around, look at leg, and then give in again.

He remained in the bathroom, but was now collapsed on the floor, unable to do more than lift his finger.

Hero wondered what happened to Villain after beating him up. Many times, she wanted to go see, but she also feared her sister, Supervillain.

Not that Hero did not take any pleasure in injuring Villain; it was quite satisfying in an extent, but her sister went extreme when she did not allow Villain any care.

So what brought Hero to Villain's doorstep that evening? She didn't know. All she knew was that the second no one answered the door, she had this need to barge in and find Villain.

And find him she did.

Only it was not the sight she was hoping for.

Villain was passed out of the bathroom floor, shivering like a dog with hypothermia. He was covered in sweat, blood, and vomit. Wounds that covered his exposed back were deeply infected with pus.

Hero did not hesitate. She ran to Villain and scooped his figure into her arms, guilty and mortified. She allowed this to happen.

"Hey," Hero tapped Villain's cheek. "Wake ul for me, will you?"

No response.

"Villain?" Hero asked, starting to rock. Villain's eyes fluttered and he looked up at the hero in fear.

"Wha-wha," Villain tried to speak, but his heavy tongue made it difficult. He decided to just snuggle into Hero, happy to not be lonely.

"I'm so sorry," Hero reached forward and grabbed the thermometer. Villain opened his mouth willingly, but whimpered when Hero stuck the point under his tongue.

It beeped. 104.

Hero stood up with Villain still hanging limply in her arms. She would fix this.

This was originally sent as a submission, so sorry for being awkward but I didn’t want to answer it as a submission in case I got more requests through that inbox. 

@myhusbandsasemni

Part 1

Part 2

Sorry if this gets confusing with Villain and Other Villain, but I’ve tried to be as clear as possible. This one is pretty whumpy, so just be aware of that if you aren’t so keen. Not gonna lie, I am invested with this series and I really want to write more. I have 2 or 3 free days at the end of January and another continuation is looking good. 

Villain didn’t move as the group of Heroes was taken away, aside from handing over the knife when a guard ordered for them to hand it over. They didn’t look to see Hero’s face as they tried to get their attention. They hated everything that was going on around them and it chewed at their gut. Leader was going to suffer, really suffer, but for their own sake, they had to keep out of that. It just wasn’t right. At least Villain trusted Other Villain’s word though, and they were sure the others would be released. They were useful for keeping other Villain’s in line and maintaining order in the city.

Villain let their gaze drift up to Leader, kneeling on the ground with their hands being held high above them, like a teddy pinned by its paws on the washing line to dry. Sure enough Leader was dripping just like a stuffed toy that had been in the washing machine, only they were losing blood instead. It was a pitiful sight, but there was nothing they could do to help.

They watched as Leader’s hands were secured in front of them with a stronger restraint than was necessary. Their hands were shackled in front of them, and that attached to a rusty metal collar fastened around Leader’s neck. They leaned away from it but didn’t have the strength to fight. A fistful of hair was enough to keep them still until they were secured. The chain attaching the collar to the shackles was short, really short, with barely enough leeway to put their hands together and pray. It wasn’t the usual way of being bound, that was for sure.

“Why did you come here tonight, [Villain]? Purely to take me?” Other Villain asked.

“Yes, or at least, as far as I am aware. They caught wind that you had a new plan in the works and hoped to stop you.”

“I see. Who knew you were all here tonight?”

Villain lowered their head. “I… I really don’t know, sir/ms.”

Other Villain looked to Leader. “Care to fill in the gaps?”

Sidekick removed the gag for them. Leader was quiet for a moment. “The Government approached me asking for us to take care of it.”

“And?” Sidekick pressed, putting a knife at their throat. Leader didn’t react.

“They knew I was going to, but… I didn’t say it was tonight.”

Other Villain nodded. Sidekick moved the knife away.

Villain stepped forward meekly. “Why… why would you need to know that?”

Other Villain turned and faced them with a grin. “Because thanks to [Leader], my base has been uncovered, even one as secluded as this, so now I will have to move.”

“And… the other heroes?”

Leader’s ears pricked up. They understood, but before they could demand an explanation the gag was shoved back into their mouth and tied.

Other Villain waved their hand in dismissal. “Temporarily imprisoned, but that’s only for a few days until I’m able to move my men. Once we’re mostly moved I swear I will release them. You can understand that, can’t you?”

Villain nodded slowly. The Leader tried to shout through their gag, only to receive a punch in the face. Sidekick didn’t mess around Villain noted.

Villain’s attention was snatched up by Other Villain when they walked closer with a knife in their hand. They didn’t move as Other Villain ran their hands over the metal loop around their neck. “Cheap,” they tusked. “Not even the decency to buy you some quality. Still, its certainly difficult to remove by yourself. A nasty devil when it gets switched on too.” Other Villain’s fingertips brushed against Villain’s neck, over their softened skin from the cream Hero had used earlier.

“Sir/ms?” Villain gulped, their heartbeat racing. Feeling the heat of Other Villain’s breath just touching them was enough to make them want to scream at them to get away, but they didn’t have the courage. Get off, get off, get off! It played through their head over and over again.

Other Villain smiled. “I’ll tell you what,” they turned to face Leader. “Prove yourself to me, right here, right now, and I will have that thing removed by the morning. Fair?”

Villain very quickly put two and two together. That was only confirmed when Sidekick handed their knife to Other Villain, who then pressed it into Villain’s clammy hands.

“Carve your name onto their back.”

Villain’s eyes grew wide, but Leader didn’t react. They didn’t resist or try to shout through their mask. They let their head drop, even as the guards forced them to turn around, as they held them in place by the shoulders and their head, exposing their whole back, and with the bindings they were in, Leader couldn’t stop them. Part of Villain wanted to enjoy the opportunity- to get back at them for hurting them so much, but the rest of them was appalled by the very idea.

Villain stared down at the knife, “Don’t suppose there’s a substitute punishment I can do?”

“Not this time. The heroes haven’t made you a goody two shoes have they?”

That was not the impression Villain needed to give right now. “No, no I’m just- this isn’t something I do. It’s a pretty personal punishment... I was just a thief.”

Other Villain pushed them forward. “And now you’re mine.” Villain nodded and approached with a deep breath. They didn’t want to test Other Villain’s patience. They cut Leader’s shirt away and Leader flinched badly at the movement. Their back was already marked in places, but not like what they’d been ordered to do.

“Nice big writing now, all across the back of their shoulders- and deep of course. We want it to scar.”

Neither of them spoke as Villain cut into Hero’s bared back with their hands shaking. Leader hissed and tried to arch their back, but the guards held them still. Villain could hear their haggard breathing, the hissing and grunting in pain, how it slowly turned into whimpering as Villain neared the end of their name. Blood dripped down Leader’s back like tear stains, soaking into their trousers. 

Villain tried not to take notice but it was impossible. They felt the heat of Leader’s skin beneath them, the way the knife sliced through so easily. Seeing Leader trying in vain to move sent Villain’s stomach rolling, like a snake coiling and writing around itself to escape from danger. Villain noticed everything and they hated the power they had in their hands, but no matter how hard they tried, there was the slightest whisper in them that loved it.

Villain finished their name and stood up quickly, their world spun. Leader let out one more whimper, “I’m sorry I hurt you.”

It took Villain greatly by surprise, especially the fact they’d waited until afterwards, how they hadn’t made a peep in terms of begging for mercy, they still didn’t, and they hadn’t tried to make it any harder for Villain. Then hit Villain like a hammer to the face.

Leader thought they deserved it. 

Other Villain plucked the knife out of their hands before they could drop it, but Villain couldn’t stop staring.

“Not bad for your first attempt, [Villain],” Other Villain said, making the point of reading the name from Leader’s back. “Rather shaky, but we’ll toughen you up quick enough.”

Villain yelped as Other Villain suddenly grabbed them by the cheeks and squeezed hard. Villain winced and struggled to hold back a whimper. They heard Leader shuffle on the floor.

”Hesitate or question me again, and you’ll be kneeling beside them. Is that clear?”

“Yes, sir/ms. I’m sorry,” Villain said quickly.

“Good. Now then, let’s see about removing that collar. I’ll warn you now since you’re being so good. I can put it back on just as easily as I take it off, and you really don’t want me to do that.” Villain smiled like a cat, showing their teeth. Villain couldn’t look away from the dangerous gleam in their eye. “I rather enjoy pushing buttons.”

“I was right to hand them over…wasn’t I?”“Of course,” their sidekick reassured them. “[Villain] is evil. They deserve what’s coming to them.”“Do they? Really?”“Yes.”“How can you be so sure?”

-----

“Here to get me out?”The hero shook their head. “Just to visit.”“Well, that doesn’t do either of us any good. Just makes you feel worse and me suffer more.”“…suffer?”“What do you think happens to defenseless, powerless supervillains in prison? It’s not exactly a walk in the park.”

-----

“They’re in the Hole. That’s it. It’s all finished. We’ll never have to see them again.”The thief stared unseeing into the distance. “You say that like it’s a good thing.”“It is! …Isn’t it? Isn’t it?!”

-----

The villain’s smile was almost, almost soft with pity. “This is the third visit this week.”“I need to- need to check you’re still here. Still, um, imprisoned, and-”“You’re worried,” they cut in. “It’s okay, I won’t shame you for it. We all know what happened to [supervillain] in here, what the pain turned them into. I don’t blame you for checking the same isn’t happening to me. In fact, I’m grateful for it.”

-----

The hero crossed their arms. “You’re lying. You’re faking it, acting, something-”The villain rasped out a laugh. “You can think what you like, hero. When I die of thirst in here, you’ll know the truth. There will be no way for you to lie to yourself anymore.”

-----

The villain’s lover sobbed on the hero’s doorstep, crumpled at their feet. “Please, please, just one visit. Just one. I swear, I’ll never speak to you again, never look at you, never ask for anything. I just need to see them, to- to say goodbye. Please, they’re the only person I have in the world. I’m begging you, I’ll give you anything-”

-----

"Where is he!" Hero yelled as she stormed into the hospital.

"Hero," came many concerned voices at once.

"Where is he?" Hero asked, close to tears now. She sunk down to the ground, wrapping her arms over her head. "Where is my villain?" She cried.

Hero entered the hospital room slowly. She tried not to look at Villain. She tried so hard, but failed. Her eyes took advantage of her emotions and looked for her.

A doctor was tending to the still figure on the bed. She waited. She waited for dreaded words.

When they didn't come, Hero said them to herself, how could I do this?

"How-how is he?" Hero asked, barely above a whisper.

The doctor startled and looked quickly at Hero. They pushed up their glasses and ran a hand through their hair before answering her question.

"Not good," the doctor said nervously. Their voice immediately change into a more professional tone as they started to list the many injuries that Villain had.

"He has a fractured humerus, snapped clavicle, and a shattered shoulder all on the same arm. The other one has a broken wrist and a hand that is broken in three places we believe-"

"What about his hips and back?" Hero asked.

"I-i," the doctor stammered. They then coughed to regain their demeanor. "Shattered."

"Shattered?" Hero squeaked, already feeling horrible.

"His hips are shattered in mulitple places and will need surgery to fix. His back..." the doctor swallowed. "He won't walk again."

Hero whimpered and wanted to sink to the floor and sob, but she stood upright and walked to Villain's bed.

He was literally covered in bandages, head to toe. His face twitched ever so slightly, causing some wounds to trickle blood.

"Villain," she whispered and grabbed onto his ever so limp hand.

"Don't expect much from him for a few days. He is heavily sedated right now and on painkillers," the doctor squeezed Hero's shoulder and left the two in peace.

Hero drew a chair and sat next to Villain, twiddling with his good hand's fingers. Other than the small muscle spasms in Villain's face, he didn’t react. She sighed, she was expecting some sort of response to her presence, but that must've only happened in movies.

Hero rested her chin on the bed, taking in Villain's smell. Blood was all her nose could detect. She swallowed, hoping, just hoping, that he would wake up and everything would be fine.

That everything would be fine...

"Stop Hero," Villain cried as her foot found its place on Villain's palm. The crack echoed throughout the room, but Villain didn't scream, he just pleaded. Pleaded for it to stop.

"Never," Hero growled and grabbed a sledge hammer from the wall. Villain whimpered and tried to back away, but Hero was faster. She swung the hammer and let it fall on Villain's hip.

This time, it was his blood-curlding scream that echoed throughout the room. Villain didn't even try to control it. Satisfied, Hero rolled him over and smashed the other.

"What did I do?!" Villain cried, something between a shriek and just a small, soft voice. "What?"

"Ask the people," Hero snarled. She leaned in close. "I hope that you will never have the strength to fight again." She raised the sledge hammer and hit him, once... twice... right on his back.

Villain curled up instinctively, only to find that he couldn't. Stars danced in his vision.

"I hope you never wake up from this," Hero growled, getting ready to hit again.

"Please," Villain whispered so soft that Hero had to crane her ear to hear. Without a second thought, she bashed the sledge hammer into Villain's head.