#no.28

Villain thought if that were to happen, they would never be able to do what they planned. They nuzzled their head into the pillow in lieu of reminding themself and felt the switchblade under it.

They stared at each other for a moment, tension a tangible thing between them, before Villain finally yielded and shook their head.

“That won’t be necessary.”

“Figured,” Hero quipped, biting their lip to keep themself from laughing. Villain felt their heart clench as they looked at Hero’s dimpled smile. They knew they had to do this, that was the end goal of the whole plan after all, but it didn’t make this any bit easier.

“You’re such an asshole.”

“And you love it.”

Villain’s breath hitched imperceptiblly at that.

They didn’t, did they? They didn’t love Hero’s wide smile, their hearty laughter, the lilting of their voice, their sharp mind, or intelligent eyes. They didn’t adore their playfulness, their cockiness and their mocking smirks. They weren’t enamoured with the way they always checked if Villain was okay, and how adamant they were about aftercare.

They despised it all, didn’t they?

Hero’s hand started trailing down their chest, fingers brushing over the various love bites they had diligently placed, painting constellations on their pale as a canvas skin, and getting dangerously lower.

Villain lightly slapped their hand away, “Stop seducing me.”

“If I remember correctly, it was you who seduced me.”

Villain did not answer, they just threw their head back on the pillow and groaned in frustration. Both at Hero and at themself. Of all things that could have gone wrong in this scheme, getting attached was the least expected. How did they manage to get fond of the very person they’ve sworn to defeat, whose affiliation stood in opposition to everything Villain stood for?Whose very existence was a hindrance to their goals.

This ends tonight, they vowed.

Even in their own mind, they sounded unconvinced.

Hero placed a hand on their cheek and brought their face to them again, “So what? Cuddles and a film?”

“I’d like that.”

Hero smiled at them and turned around to get off the bed. That was their chance. Swiftly, they slipped their hand under the pillow and brought out the knife. They took a swipe. This was it. The culmination of months of work, months of seducing and manipulation. Of lying and scheming.

The knife was mere inches from Hero’s back when something stopped them.

Not something, someone.

A hand encircled their wrist in a vice grip, squeezing so hard Villain was forced to let go off the knife.

“Oh darling,” Hero cooed, their voice lilting in that silky familiar way Villain loathed to love.

In one swift movement, Hero swiped the knife from the bed and buried it deep in Villain’s gut.

They let out a loud scream, curling in on the knife as pain shot through them. Hero was on top of them, just as they had an hour ago when they’d whispered filthy things and sweet nothings into Villain’s ear. Now they towered proud over Villain, face lit up in mocking amusement.

“You didn’t really think this would work, did you, love?”

Villain didn’t respond. They couldn’t. Pain like soundwaves pulsated from the stab wound and through their whole being, making it impossible to breathe, let alone talk. Their head spun, their eyes unable to focus on the figure above them.

How had Hero known? When could they ever realise? Villain was the living embodiment of stealth, the best spy among criminals. They were always discreet in their pursuits, always treading lightly while getting information from Hero, always having an alibi for when they sabotaged Agency’s missions. They thought they had Hero wrapped around their finger.

Apparently, their lover was playing a game of their own.

“You really thought I wouldn’t realise?” Hero’s face was adorned with a smirk, sharper and crueler than the one they had sent them mere minutes ago, when they had been only two lovers in bed and not deadly enemies, “Love, your reputation preceeds you. I, myself, dealt with the aftermath of your scheming plenty of times. I would never underestimate you.”

They twisted the knife, forcing a scream, much like the ones they brought out during their heated moments, out of Villain’s mouth. Tears streamed down the criminal’s face from the sharp pain. Simultaneously, Hero placed a kiss on their forehead.

“Though, I have to admit your act was very persuasive. I did catch myself at times forgetting what we had wasn’t real. You make such a good lover, darling,” they caressed Villain’s tear stained face.

“But, I could always see straight through you.”

They twisted the knife again. Villain’s vision went white for a second. They felt close to passing out.

Villain desperately tried to get their bearings under control, tried to reason with Hero, to get themself out of this wretched situation, but the only thing that came out of their mouth was, “H—, Hero, please—”

Hero stared at them with the same fiery expression they got during nights spend together. They put their hand over Villain’s throat, squeezing lightly, not cutting off their air ways but reminding them that they could.

“God, darling,” Hero muttered, “You know I can never refuse your begging.”

They leaned in, kissing them roughly. Villain kissed back, relaxing a little at the familiar sensation.

After a while, Hero slid off Villain once again, thankfully leaving the knife in, and tossed them their phone that laid on the nightstand.

“Call your Henchman, maybe they’ll be able to get to you in time,” Hero remarked. They leaned in one last time, whispering into Villain’s ear, “Never try to cross me again or I won’t be as forgiving, understood?” Villain gave a shaky nod, fumbling for their phone.

Hero walked away. Once at the door, they turned around and surveyed Villain one last time. Their mouth twisted in the smirk Villain knew all too well.

“You look hot covered in blood, you know? Maybe we should try knife play next time.”