The hero stared at the supermarket shelf, their mouth agape. It was nothing more than another cruel joke that got in line to torment them today.

Everything seemed to be conspiring against them — being late to work, getting their ass kicked for a solid hour and now, the chocolate they craved on top of the shelf. Theoretically, the hero would be able to reach it, but their stitches were still fresh and their bones ached persistently.

On top of that, the supermarket was playing heartbreaking songs. Although it did fit the hero’s overall mood, they would have welcomed something more upbeat.

“Long day?” They looked at the person next to them and to their surprise, their nemesis was standing close by. They wore a hoodie and a cap, hiding their face and physique rather well. At first, the hero frowned, looked away, but then their eyes found the villain once again.

Their bottom lip was swollen. Their knuckles bruised.

“Kind of,” the hero said. Their voice was embarrassingly hoarse, so they cleared their throat. “Definitely exhausting.”

“Yeah, I get that.” The villain took a bar of chocolate from the shelf and turned it in their hand, examining it arrantly. Their nose wrinkled. Suddenly they turned towards the hero and lifted the bar in their hands. “Putting mint and chocolate together is an actual crime, like…who the fuck thought that would be a good idea?”

They shook their head and basically threw the bar back to where they had taken it from.

“What an absolute loser bullshit.”

And the hero, for whatever reason, the hero had to giggle. The villain seemed to be genuinely agitated by it and the hero couldn’t help but find it delightful.

“Sounds personal,” the hero quipped.

“Intrinsically personal, believe me.” The hero didn’t even realise how their smile was glued to their face until soft quiescence overcame the both of them.

The hero dared to look at their nemesis, but the villain’s eyes were on them already.

“You okay, though?” they asked, almost whispered the words. It was something out of a dream.

In the hero’s experience, most people didn’t really like those who were complicated. Understanding someone else is difficult. Challenging. Messy.

It is work and most people are already working enough for them to go crazy. So, demanding even more work was preposterous. It was ridiculous.

But when the hero was with the villain, it was so easy. All of it was so easy.

Barely any miscommunication. Mutual respect. Compassion. The hero swallowed.

Why did they have to be on opposite sides?

“Yeah,” the hero said. They stared at the shelf. “I’m okay.”

“No, be honest.”

“I am being honest.”

“Not quite,” the villain said.

The hero looked back at them.

“I…I am just a little mad at myself for being precarious, I guess,” they said eventually. “I suppose you took care of them, though?”

“Yeah, wasn’t pretty.”

More silence.

“Listen…you don’t have to—”

“Don’t give me that crap.” The villain’s eyes were on the shelf, as if it was the only way of communicating with each other. As if this shelf was the equivalent of looking into each other’s eyes. Both seemed to be really bad at that right now. “I make my own decisions.”

“Are you badly hurt, though?” The hero asked. They shifted a little bit closer to the villain until their shoulder nearly bumped against the villain’s biceps.

“Looks worse than it is.” The hero could feel their little finger brush the side of the villain’s palm. They pulled their hand away. “Don’t worry about me. You on the other hand…”

“I’m okay,” the hero repeated. Again. Their hand against the villain’s fingers. And the villain’s fingers against theirs. Testing the waters. “…did you follow me?”

“I know most of your routines, I figured you’d buy some stuff after such a big fight.” The hero kept staring at the shelf and the villain did the same. The hero didn’t even dare to breathe. They didn’t know what they were doing, didn’t even remember if they were allowed to do this.

“You’ll never beat the stalker allegations,” they joked. Somehow, their little finger hooked around the villain’s slowly. The villain’s fingers were warm. Oh so comforting.

“I’m not— I mean…really, I…you mentioned buying sweets after a big fight once, so—”

The hero giggled again. Their index finger brushed the villain’s sensitive knuckles carefully. Were they allowed to take their nemesis’ hand? Were they allowed to be this close?

The hero was losing their mind, but they supposed the villain was feeling something very similar.

“I was just joking, I know you’re very attentive…” They took in a breath but their chest hurt a little too much to inhale properly. “…thank you for checking up on me.”

“Of course. Always.”

Ultimately, the hero let their fingers intertwine, making their heart race in their chest vigorously.

They couldn’t remember holding hands being such a big deal to them. Big enough that they couldn’t even look at the villain now.

The villain’s thumb kept rubbing the hero’s cold skin. Gradually. Very gradually.

“I know it’s a lot to ask and you can decline anytime…but can I take care of your wounds?”

The hero looked at them and finally, their nemesis did the same.

“I’d like that,” the hero said. Their cheeks felt hot.

“Okay,” the villain breathed. They stretched out their other arm without letting go of the hero and grabbed the bar of chocolate the hero had eyed on top of the shelf. “This one is on me.”

The expression looked like a grimace at best.

"Villain," Hero ventured, "are you...not used to smiling?"

Villain hadn’t expected their phone to ring in the middle of the night, and they especially hadn’t expected Hero to emerge on the other side of the line. They picked up lazily, lips turned down on instinct, “What is it?”

No answer. That was odd.

A sigh escaped Villain’s lips and they tried to hide the concern in their voice, “Anyone there?” The words were laced with a fake annoyance. It was all Villain could do to keep from slipping into worry. Quiet, so soft it was near silent, a choked sob emerged on the other side of the line.

In an instant they were on their feet, phone pressed close to their ear as they muttered a small, “Hello?”

On the other side Villain thought they heard tears. They tensed, turning to demand that Henchman shut up so they could catch what Hero was saying. Villain could hardly make it out, a choked whisper on the other side, but the moment it clicked Villain had dropped the phone and ran.

“I need help- please.”

When they arrived the room was in shambles. Chairs overturned and clothes cast on the floor. Villain’s stomach dropped and dread flowed through their veins. “Hero?” They called, voice laced with worry, “Hero, where are you?”

Then they saw it.

A shape in the darkness, curled up tight and trembling. Villain rushed forward. As they grew closer they managed to flick on a light and truly took in the sight of their dear Hero. They were almost unrecognizable.

Hero was sobbing, tears flowing thickly down their cheeks as they struggled to breathe. Their hair was caked with dust, tangled while several tears left their uniform mangled. Villain’s first thought was to search for wounds, eyes trailing over Hero’s shaking form in a panic- but there were none. Hero was unscathed, and yet they still trembled.

“Hero-” the words made their nemesis flinch as if they had only then noticed Villain’s presence. They glanced up with red rimmed eyes and another choked sob escaped their lips.

“I’m sorry.”

Confused, Villain raised a brow. They reached out but Hero only recoiled, “Hero, what-”

“I didn’t mean to- I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, I swear!” Hero buried their head in their arms, pulling their knees closer to their chest. They held themself as if they may fall apart with the slightest touch. “I didn’t mean to.”

Hero looked so small this way, smaller than normal. Villain hated the absence of the bright smile that usually graced Hero’s features. The laugh that made everything seem okay. Whatever had happened- Hero never deserved to have that smile taken away.

Slowly, Villain tried again to reach for their partner. This time Hero didn’t pull away, though they still winced from the touch. Villain would never admit how such things sent a pained jolt through their heart. “Darling, I need you to breathe for me, can you do that?” They looked at the Hero even when the other wouldn’t fully meet their gaze. Slowly, Hero nodded.

They followed along as Villain tapped a gentle pattern upon their back. In, and out. One breath at a time Villain continued to trace their breaths upon Hero’s back. Their tall form enveloped the smaller’s, warm in their embrace. They could feel Hero’s heartbeat against their chest and released a breath of their own when it slowed to a regular pace.

“I’m sorry,” Hero muttered into Villain’s shoulder. “Too close, they got too close and I-” They sucked in a breath. “I hurt someone.”

Amidst the de-escalation of their panic their arms had slipped around the Villain’s waist and their head remained buried in the Villain’s shirt. They looked up now, regret shining in their features. “Your shirt-” Hero picked at the material, soaked through with tears, “I ruined it.”

They sat up and tried to wipe the soot and tears from the fabric. All too quickly Villain could feel the Hero’s heart begin to race again. They took in their lover’s distraught expression and wished to smooth the wrinkles beneath their brow, the downward quirk of their lips. Villain couldn’t stand to see Hero suffer this way. They reached out and gently grabbed the Hero’s wrists, enough to startle the crimefighter. “It’s alright,” Villain said, barely a whisper, “You haven't ruined anything.”

“But your clothes, I-”

“Nothing a trip to the washing machine can’t handle.” Villain smiled softly, “I think the same may go for your uniform too darling. Would it feel better to get all that dust off, and then if you want, you can tell me what happened?”

Hero looked at the Villain and their hands slipped from Villain’s shirt before they nodded.

“Alright then.” Villain stood and did their best to ignore the look of pain that crossed the Hero’s face in their absence. Hero had always been one for physical touch, hugs from behind when Villain least expected it, a peck on the cheek on Villain’s hardest nights. Hero always managed to wipe away the hardened intimidation that Villain put up. Only for them. Only Hero got to see what was truly inside. Villain was quick to grab what they needed in hopes of not leaving Hero alone for too long.

They returned with a garment in hand. Villain had shed the hoodie upon entering the room, no longer in need of an inconspicuous disguise. Now they held the thick fabric in their hands and with a smile, offered it to the Hero.

“Why don’t you go and get that stiff uniform off, and I’ll get a washcloth for your skin. Sound good love?”

Hero was silent for a moment. They stared at the hoodie in Villain’s outstretched arms. The words that came out next were quiet, almost as if embarrassed. “I don’t want to be alone.”

“You want me to stay with you?”

A nod.

“Alright, I’ll stay right here,” Villain offered a gentle smile and placed the hoodie into Hero’s arms. Upon the nervous glance from their partner, Villain turned to face the wall. “I won’t look,” they promised. A moment later they heard the shifting of fabric and soon there was a tap at their shoulder. Villain turned back around and nearly melted at the sight before them.

The fabric of the hoodie swallowed Hero’s form, pooling below their knees and hanging off their wrists. They looked so small, so much so that Villain hoped the garment wouldn’t overwhelm the crimefighter, though their worries vanished when Hero pulled the fabric close and smiled.

“It’s so soft,” they hugged the hoodie close to their form and for a second, Villain caught the flicker of sunshine they were so used to seeing with the Hero. “Thank you.”

At that moment Villain was rendered speechless. They couldn’t help the smile that graced their own lips, so overwhelmingly filled with endearment and love. God, they wanted to frame Hero’s bright eyes and shining smile, make it last forever. “It looks good on you,” was all they could manage to say.

They both were silent, trapped in each other’s eyes. Hero was the first to break their stupor. Drawing the long sleeves up over their forearms, their gaze fell back to the linen closet. “I think- can we go get a washcloth? This is better but I- I can still feel the dirt…”

“Oh, yeah of course,” Villain nodded. They resisted the urge to rush and grab it for Hero, instead remembering their previous request and opting to stay close by the Hero’s side. They walked together to the linen closet, where being the taller of the two, Villain retrieved a washcloth from the uppermost shelf. They moved to wet it under warm water, then offered it towards the Hero. “Here, this should help.”

When Hero stood frozen, an awkward silence settled between the two. It took a beat for Villain to catch the hint of longing in Hero’s eyes. Something they wanted to say, but could not find the words for. Villain didn’t hesitate any further.

With slow movements, they brought the washcloth to Hero’s cheek and began to brush the soot from their skin. They had made sure the cloth wasn’t overly hot, and even so checked to make sure the Hero was still comfortable. Soon the dirt had gone, replaced with the fine blush that never seemed to leave Hero’s cheeks. Bright, and pink like peonies. Newly cleaned, it seemed as if a weight had been lifted from the Hero’s shoulders. Without warning, they lunged forward and enveloped the Villain in their arms.

“Thank you,” they whispered, squeezing tighter, and then- “I love you, I love you so much.”

It was enough to make Villain’s heart skip a beat. They had always been a mess around the Hero, unraveling with the slightest smile. Hero was the only capable of doing such things, of dissolving the cold resolve the rest of the world knew so well. Now, something new cracked in the Villain to reveal something pure and undying. Love, in its deepest form.

Villain cradled Hero’s head to their chest and carded a hand through their hair. They were like this for a long while before Hero’s breathing slowed, so much that Villain thought they had fallen asleep, only to be caught off guard by Hero’s gentle whisper.

“Will you stay with me tonight?” They asked. “What happened- I really didn’t-”

“Shh,” Villain held them closer, “You can tell me about it tomorrow, right now you need to sleep. And yes- I’ll stay with you. I’ll stay however long you need, forever if you ask me to.”

“Forever?”

Sorry I'm rusty but I had a nice time working on this!

Part 1

Most people assumed that having ice powers meant Villain was immune to the cold. Surely being surrounded by her element only comforted and empowered her further.

What it really meant was that Villain had never truly been warm in her life. Always haunted by a biting chill that rooted in her bones and flooded her veins.

The summer months were easy enough for her to stay regulated in. Her body naturally fended off the scathing blaze of summer sun, meeting something close enough to equilibrium that she didn't have to shiver.

Winter was different. The scales dipped in one, unanimous direction. There was nothing to balance the overwhelming cold, steely and all-encompassing.

Thus, fighting on an icy rooftop, bitter wind stinging her cheeks, and frost clinging to her lashes, did not put her in a particularly amiable mood.

“Shouldn't you be wearing a coat?” she snapped at her nemesis, fighting off the urge to tremble as ice shot to life in her numbed palms. 

Hero landed neatly in front of her, blushy nose and pink ears the only indicator that the weather affected him at all. His lips bloomed in a too-pleased smile. “Nope. The new suit has intelligent thermal-regulatory technology. In other words, I'm toasty as…uh…toast. Shouldn’t you?”

Villain’s gaze flicked over him. She could see, now, the steam radiating around him from his stupid heated costume.

Her skin ached for a taste of that kind of blanketing warmth.

A coat did her little good when the cold stemmed from the inside out. She hated him for it. Her glare was as sharp as the icicles in her hands.

Hero stepped closer and his smug smile faltered. He looked her over in turn. “Are you….cold?”

If she could glare any harder, her eyes would bleed.

“My entire existence is cold, I have never not been cold,” she said through clenched teeth. “Now let's wrap this up, Sunshine, so that I can go home and set the thermostat to 85° and hope that maybe, just maybe, I can take the edge off this- this corpse-numb, never-ending, godforsaken winter!”

Her bones felt only distantly attached to her body, dull and torpid as a rotting log.

She took a step toward him and her knees buckled beneath her. Hands caught her waist, lowering her to the ground.

Her breath caught up in lungs scraped raw, mind sweeping blank. All she could focus on was the delightfully warm palms against her sides.

“Villain?” Hero’s brow knitted in concern. Pulling one of his gloves off with his teeth, Hero touched a hand to Villain's cheek before wincing and shaking the icy sting from his bare fingers. “Sh*t, Villain, you're beyond freezing.”

Villain was barely listening. She reached for him as if magnetized, clutching at the heat emanating from his chest. Something pathetically close to a whimper slipped free at the barest fraction of relief, dropping her face against the blazing hollow of his neck.

Hero hissed against the no-doubt unbearable cold of her skin against his. She couldn’t bring herself to care, and he didn’t shove her away. 

There was a pause.

“.....Let the record show that you’re the one cuddling me this time.”

Villain scowled. “Shut up.” Her fingers flexed against the smooth fabric of his suit. “This is- is just temporary, and then I’m going to stab you in the face.”

Fingers stroked her hair, brushing the accumulating snowflakes away. There was a click and shuffle as Hero shifted, wrapping her trembling form up in his cape. 

“Stab me tomorrow. We’ll rain check.” Scooping her into his arms, Hero stood up.

“Hey-”

“Don’t worry, babe.” Hero’s stupid sunny smile was back, teasing and prettier than she cared to admit. “We’re nemeses with benefits, I don’t actually want you dead. Most of the time.”

Villain’s cheeks might have warmed if she could feel them. Her teeth chattered. “Sp- Speak for yourself, Sunshine. And don’t say nemeses with benefits. You’re em- embarrassing me.”

Hero’s feet lifted off of the ground and they were moving through the air. Villain glanced down at the world below them before shielding her face from the abusive wind with his cape.

He could drop her to shatter on the pavement. Fragile as ice.

They touched down minutes later, and Villain didn’t bother to pull the cape away from her face to check where they were. Maybe if she pretended to be asleep, Hero wouldn’t put her down… She couldn’t imagine peeling herself away from the shallow reprieve of his body warmth.

Hero shifted Villain’s weight into one arm. Metal jangled, followed by the rustling of a doorknob. Pushing it open with his foot, she felt Hero cross the threshold.

Peeking through the threads of Hero’s cape, warm lamplight washed the room in a honey glow as he clicked on the light. He shut the door and locked it. 

Her ears perked up at the familiar crackle of flames dancing nearby. She tugged the cape down just below her eyes, still blanketing her nose and cheeks.

Hero chuckled. “That got your attention.” He pulled a chair in front of the fireplace and sat down with her puddled in his lap. His free hand smoothed back her hair, staticky from his cape. “Better?”

The glorious heat rolled over them in waves, and Villain bared her pink fingers toward it, eyes fluttering closed. “Mmm.”

Lips summer-hot and gentle pressed against her jaw. Warmth sparked low in her belly for an entirely new reason. Her breathing stuttered, turning her face toward his.

Hero took an icy hand in his, blowing warm breath against her knuckles.

The bone-deep ache began to thaw. Her eyes glued to his.

Her beautiful, insufferable,.. kind idiot.

She leaned in. “If you tell anyone about this, I’ll kill you in your sleep.”

A haughty and fond smile lit up his face. “Kill me when winter ends.”

Eyes flitting down to his perfect mouth, Villain caught his searing lips with her own. They chased the chill away together.

Neither of them wanted winter to end.

📖: 𝑵𝒐𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚'𝒔 𝒃𝒂𝒃𝒚 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆 (𝐶ℎ𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑔𝑜 𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑠 #3) 🍼🏈👩🏼‍🔬