#villianxhero

“Goodness. I’ve heard of ‘trembling in fear’ but you’re practically shaking.” The villain grinned as they prowled towards the person weakly pointing a sword in their general direction.

The unknown person took a deep shuddering breath as the city burned around them.

“I… I can’t do this…” they sank to their knees, the blade clattering away as they hugged themselves and shivered.

The Villain's grin faded as they moved in closer. That wasn’t the voice of someone fearful so much as… as… Either way they paused over the person who was chattering but staring blankly at the ground.

Villain knelt and cupped the unknown’s chin, turning them to look up. Villain peered into their eyes. Shiny with fever. Villain felt their forehead. Very hot. Not yet dangerous but still.

“By the gods what are you even doing out of bed?” They couldn’t keep the astonishment out of their voice.

“Well, you know… town’s burning down… thought I’d go warm myself up and… maybe try to stab you since, that’s my job… stop the bad guy…” they replied listlessly, then tightly coughed, trying to hold it back.

“What do you mean it’s your job? I’ve never laid eyes on you and my minions never mentioned anyone of your description.”

“I j-joined the adven-ven-” they could barely get their words out, “ Ven- Guild… last m-month. Haven’t h-had a m-mission yet.”

A newbie?

“Huh.” Villain mused, straightening back up. They had meticulously planned this two part attack to draw the Adventurers’ Guild and guards out of the city, and then sweep in unopposed, “Who knew one of you was still here? What irony. The sick one faces me and can’t even keep themselves up.”

The villain felt a tug on their cloak and looked down to see the newbie wrapping themselves in it.

“What are you..?”

“C-cold…” they replied weakly, “T-to c-cold to c-care.”

This was… disturbing in an undefined way. Had no one stayed behind to watch this newbie?

“Isn’t anybody taking care of you? Anybody around?”

“City’s burning, idiot, ya think people are j-just gonna g-go about their d-d-... day taking care of one p-person?”

Villain had to admit the newbie had a point.

“Still, who left you alone?”

“I don’t know… there was a lot of chaos… Someone said they spotted you and I figured.. I could at least trip you up as I collapsed or something… I don’t know, cough on you? I can’t th-think.”

Villain stared down at the newbie, contemplating. Villain had to admit it was impressive the newbie even picked up a sword as if hoping to make some kind of impact. Surely this newbie had known they couldn’t to do a damn thing to stop the Villain?

And really who in their right mind let this kid run in the wrong direction? Or walk, or stumble, or however they got here?

“Well. First things first,” the villain commented as they took off their cloak and knelt to wrap up the newbie,. Next they swept the newbie up bridal style, “City’s taken so let’s just get you back to bed, eh? You were very brave but you are also very sick. Come along. To my new castle. I bet you’ve never seen the inside of a castle before!”

“I… no… I h-haven’t.”

The Villain strode along. Easiest captive they had ever taken. Not even a protest! This newbie could serve a purpose.

Maybe…

Well, first see to this newbie’s needs and be sure they didn’t become dangerously hot. Just wouldn’t due to lose them. Hopefully this fever wasn’t too serious.

“I never cared ok!”

The hero let it slip before they could stop it. They didn’t dare look at the villains face.

“I didn’t care.” They said more quietly this time. “It never mattered to me, and I never bought into what they told me about you. You’re nothing like what they said.”

The hero felt a hand on their cheek and they looked up to see the villain standing in front of them, the kindest smile on their lips, none of the bitterness and snark that they’d grown familiar with over the years.

“I should die just to spite you,” the hero laughed weakly, a trickle of blood coming out of their mouth.

The villain pressed their hands onto the wound on the hero’s chest. “Not happening. Not on my watch. If you die it will be on my terms.”

The hero tried to laugh again but instead an aggressive cough rang through their body. “I always knew you weren’t so bad.” They said, their eyes beginning to close. “They were wrong about you.”

Send me an “Excuse Me” and I’ll tell you my muse’s reaction to being Interrupted while…

1. In the Shower

Anna didn’t hear Hiro come in before it was too late and he had opened the bathroom door. She jumped and spunaround. “Hiro!?” She yelled at her friend in surprise, slipping in the shower and landing hard on the shower with a yelp.