Villain swallowed, audibly, and they opened and closed their mouth a few times, trying to come up with an excuse. A story. Whatever they had in their head that made them make the switch from one side to the other. From light to darkness. From good to bad. "Does it even matter?" they asked, voice shaking a little. "The only thing that matters is that we're on opposing sides now. And my job is to take you down."

"Which of course you want to do so badly," Hero said with snark in their tone.

"I do!" Villain said. "It's my job!"

"Well, then I suppose it's my job to defend myself. And my city. Our city."

"This city has never treated me like its own," Villain spat, and for the first time, Hero heard real vitriol in their voice.

"Yes, yes, the outcast to villain pipeline. Very unique, very special," they said, and once again, they saw shame cross Villain's face.

"What do you know about being an outcast? You're revered," they shot back anyway.

"And I revered you. If you needed help, if you needed a friend, anything to keep you from going down this path, I was there. But you never reached out."

"It doesn't matter," they concluded. "I'm over here now, and you're over there. This was inevitable."

"Oh, Villain… What do you know about inevitable? You really think this was your fate? Your destiny? Don't be stupid."

"Just shut up and fight me!" Villain snapped. "Quit the monologues and come at me! I have hostages! I've committed crimes! It's your duty to just— just—"

"Okay," Hero said, gentle. "I'll fight you. I'll make you release those hostages, and I'll bring you to justice. But just know, I'm still here. You can still reach out." Villain mumbled something, and Hero took a step closer. "What was that?"