#submersion

"Bossman, honey? Need a hand in sector 4. Got a hawt broad trying to make off with more 'classified secrets.' Again." "Who let her in?" Supervillain asks. Villainness looks guilty but waves it away. "You gonna do something about it or am I on my own?" Rolling their eyes, Supervillain gives Villain a warning look, "Don't let her loose again. Not until I say she goes loose." "Yes, boss," Villain nods. Supervillain rests a hand on Villain's shoulder. As they head to the door, Villain speaks up, "About the breathing apparatus we mentioned, boss...?" Supervillain looks toward the tank, where Hero is now straining to keep her chin above water. "No, make her work for it. If she's too comfortable, she'll think of a way to escape." Once Supervillain is gone, Hero begins to struggle. It's to be expected, but Villain still feels annoyed she waited until Supervillain left. He doesn't want to unpack that just yet. As the doctor checks the tank scanners monitoring the various pressures, he notices Hero's wide eyes fixed on him. "Oh, don't look at me like that. You broke perimeters and damaged important equipment," Villain winces when his bandaged shoulder strains too much. "You're lucky Supervillain agreed to only put you in that thing." "I can't be in here." Her voice is way too stoic and deep, like she's trying to mask another emotion. Villain jots some notes on his clipboard. Their main function is make him appear occupied. "Should have thought of that when you had a comfortable mattress to sleep on. And only two wrist straps." "N-no, you don't understand, I can't be in water--" "You've been in there an hour. You're fine." Why does he keep talking? She's banking on it to weedle into his sympathy and get him to let her go. "Look--I didn't mean to, to hit your shoulder--"

The doctor barks a laugh, shaking his head in disbelief. The rich brat must be desperate to throw a half-hearted apology at him. He's offended she's already forgotten the 3,822 volts of electricity she blasted into his chest. The Doctor reaches into the water, pulling Hero up by the hair until her shackles don't let her go further. Water drips from her face. Deep down she hopes they disguise her panicked tears. "Listen, you darling, plasma-infected little shit, I can't do anything for you," he said, "This is the safest configuration of this tank. You're only in danger if you panic. So ride this out and if you actually behave, maybe Supervillain will agree to let you out." His grip on her hair loosens.

"No, no, no, don't let me go," Hero begs, limbs thrashing to keep her head in his palm, "I think--I think I got a concussion." "Already checked. You're fine. You might not have noticed, but one of my shoulders was recently imbedded with nature's version of a blank. I'm also the only doctor on site, so I really don't have time to babysit you," he mutters under his breath, "especially if one of Villainess' dates has gone pear-shaped again." His fingertips are barely holding her head. Villain takes a step back from the tank. "W-wait, but--but you need to ask questions, right?" she fumbles, her tone a quivering mess as water splashes against her neck. "Need to learn more about what--what meds I take?" He smirks, "I can learn that through the blood sample I took, Starflower," he leans against the tank edge, "That might give me more reliable results." A slight edge bites his tone. God, that terror in her eyes almost makes up for the smarting numbness in his chest. She's babbling something now, trying to negotiate even though she's godawful at it. Something about the water terrifies her. And while he really doesn't care, he also doesn't care to be bothered by it for another twelve hours. Villain leans against the edge of the tank. "Alright, we're going to solve this here and now. Hold your breath." Hero screams, begs, thrashes even. But Villain pulls her head underwater completely. It's not long, hardly more than ten seconds, but she's a mess when he lifts her back up. "Stop--s-stop, please--!" "No, no, you're doing great, Starflower. Just relax," He pulls her under again. This time she gulps a breath just before the water closes over her head. He keeps her down there until he feels the telltale twitch of panic, that jolt in the chest when the lungs are screaming for air. Villain draws her up. She drinks in oxygen with a shrieking sob. "Wh--why are you doing this?" "Because it makes no sense that something as basic as water completely debilitates you," Villain says. He tilts her head back so her eyes are submerged. "And I want to find out why." She's caught began defensive anger and abject terror, "You already said my--my powers don't work!" "And you said they do," he jerks her down abruptly but then lifts her up before the water can fill her mouth. "So who's in the wrong?" "Fuck you--" she says, convulsing with panic. "you villains are all--the fucking same--" "Is that your own opinion or is that another thing Superhero planted in your head?" He can feel the twitch in his pupils and sees her shrink in disgust. She must have seen it, the look. "Listen, I tried to be nice, Starflower," he supports under her neck, tilting her head a little closer, "But it's amazing how much three thousand volts to the chest can really piss a doctor off, y'know? And if Supervillain wants to keep you trapped underwater, well...then I guess I'm not done teaching you how to swim."

Just when I thought I was toast the game broke in my favor

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