"We really shouldn't." They sigh, without any real protest.

Villain snorts against their jaw. "I disagree. You said that last time too." They nip Hero's neck, as they let out a surprised sound.

Hero's hands slide further, brushing against a cold handle. They pull it out suddenly, dangling the dagger in front of Villain warily. "Again? I thought we agreed no weapons."

"Sorry love, force of habit." They say, hand curling around Hero's, prying their fingers so the blade falls to the ground with a thump, kicking it away.

Before anything else can be said, Villain is lifting Hero by their thighs and pressing them back once again, only to feel a hard object. They lift the back Hero's shirt delicately with their cold hands and pulls out the revolver.

"You're one to talk." They retort. Villain unloads it before tossing it to the nearest surface.

"Okay, that's different, I always carry that." Hero said. They didn't spare the weapon a second glance, leaning in closer while pushing Villain's jacket down their shoulders. The heat was rising between them, and right as their lips met, Hero felt something else strapped to their back.

Pulling back suddenly, they unholster yet another weapon.

"Okay, a taser is just excessive." Hero admonishes, holding the small black device between them.

Villain doesn't appear the slightest bit sheepish, taking it from their grasp gently.

"It's the bare minimum, truly." They say, as if its the simplest thing in the world.

"Wow, kinky."

"Oh hush, not for that." Villain responds, shushing Hero playfully, with a finger to their lips. "I forgot to remove it before this rendezvous. Speaking of which, we're getting off track."

Leaning in, they press their lips to Hero again, drinking them in as they hold each other closer. They get lost in each other's taste and swallowed sounds, until Villain's hand strays under Hero's shirt, and is met with the feeling of something bulky.

They interrupt the kiss yet again, pulling free another item.

"Is this a damn dartgun?" Villain asks, their voice genuinely colored with surprise at this point, though still a bit breathless.

Hero groans. "I'm telling you, you never know when you need one." Their heart is still thrumming like a rabbit kicking inside their chest.

"Okay genuinely, how many weapons do you have on your person." Villain finally asks.

"After removing the knife and dartgun?" They pause for a minute before finally answering. "Six... No, seven. How many do you have?" They add, brows furrowed suspiciously.

Villain lets out a small huff of a laugh. "Oh well, I have you beat. I still have nine."

"Yeah well, my second knife is probably bigger then anything you got." They say, suggestive smirk slowly forming again.

"Care to bet on it? I'll show mine if you show yours." Villain replies, already turning and tossing Hero onto the nearest surface, pouncing above them immediately.

Villain checks their restraints, tightening them as need be. "You're not in your right mind." They frown. "Whenever your team comes to rescue you, you should probably see a therapist."

Humming softly, Hero pauses a moment before responding. "But what if I want to stay?" They look up, meeting Villain's eyes through their lashes. "You treat me well."

Villain's frown deepens, ignoring the way Hero bats their eyes. "If you're trying to reverse psychology me into letting you out of the restraints, it isn't going to work."

"I mean it." They murmur, voice even softer. "I like it here."

"Ah, well. That's more concerning." Villain looks them over with a more critical eye. "I'm a villain. You shouldn't like being held captive."

Hero keeps ahold of their gaze. "Are you going to make me leave when they come? If they come?"

"Jesus, yes. I think they're going to have an issue with me keeping you. And they're definitely coming for you." Villain pinches their face, ignoring the almost begging expression on Hero's face. "Do your job benefits include therapy?"

Ignoring the last question, Hero continues. "I'm not sure if they're coming. You should just let me stay."

Villain turns away, unable to take anymore of their pleading. "I really can't deal with this today." They let out a long, heavy sigh. "You're going with your team when they come."

"But-"

"That's final." They snap, firmly. "And you're getting some sort of help. I can recommend a therapist for this... hostage syndrome you seem to have."

Hero is quiet for a long moment, making Villain briefly believe they're finally coming to sense. Until their voice breaks the silence, even more of a whisper, but laced with humor.

"Deal with it a lot from captives, do you?"

Villain can hear the grin in their voice. They turn to Hero in a frustrated flash.

The mechanical sounds, the obnoxious overhead lights, and the sterile smell of the hospital were slowly driving Hero to insanity. If they thought they could so much as stand, they'd have already broken out due to boredom alone.

Contemplating their current dreariness, they almost don't hear the door creak open. Hero's eyes flick up, and find the gaze of the person who put them in this hospital bed looking back.

Villain enters the room wearily, closing the door with a quiet click. They don't say a word, approaching Hero slowly, carefully. Like Hero is a dangerous thing, a cornered animal, instead of bedbound and doped up patient.

They stand at the edge of the bed, looking down at their nemesis for a long moment, before Hero finally breaks the silence.

"Come to gloat?" They rasp out.

Villain flinches ever so slightly at the sound of their voice. Their face contorts for a second, gone before Hero can blink.

"Don't be ridiculous." They finally say, carefully sitting themselves down at the foot of the bed, being careful of Hero's leg.

"How'd you manage to sneak in? I'm pretty sure my sidekick has been standing guard day and night." Hero asks, eyes meeting Villain's.

Villain sighs, exasperated. "Your sidekick did catch me. We spoke, actually." They begin to run their fingers over the soft cotton of the hospital blanket as they speak.

Blinking in surprise, Hero watches Villain's movements as they respond. "She didn't kick your ass? What did she say?"

A snort escapes Villain. "She warned me." Their fingers trail closer to Hero. "She said we need to figure out if we're enemies or not, before one of us ends up dead."

"A little dramatic." Hero says, hand catching Villain's. They loop their fingers around each other, as Villain is careful not to disturb their IV. "Though I have to admit, she gave me a similar speech when I woke up."

Leaning closer, Villain meets their eyes, raising a brow. "Do you think she might be right?" Their voice is something contemplative. "How long has this gone on for?"

Hero frowns. They feel their hackles rise in the urge to defend, deflect. "Don't tell me you have an issue with our relationship now. What, is the foreplay too intense for you?"

Their hand is let go, the florescent light above blocked. Arms are suddenly boxing Hero in against the bed, Villain angled over them. Despite moving closer with a quick suddenness, they remain careful of Hero's injuries.

"You almost died." They begin slowly. "Your injuries could have killed you. I could have killed you." Their lips form a thin line, a crease begins between their brows. Hero can feel the warmth of their body, the breath fanning across their cheek. Despite the pain they're in and the drugs in their system making them sluggish, Hero feels a familiar heat in their belly at the proximity.

Grabbing Villain with one uninjuried arm, Hero pulls them down onto of them.

"You loved every second of it." They say quietly. "This stopped being about right or wrong a long time ago." They trail their hand down Villain's neck, their back. "You and I both know, nothing quite gets you going like our fights, and we also both know I'm the same way."

Villain feels a pleasant shudder travel down their back, despite their guilt. They brace themselves above Hero, careful not to jostle them.

"I don't want to lose you. She was right, we need to figure out what exactly we are to each other."

Hero sighs. Their hand tightens in Villain's shirt. "I'm here now. I'm alive." Their fingers begin to dance lower. "We can figure the rest out later." Their flirtatious and light tone informs Villain that they have no plan to revisit this topic later.

Hero angles their head up just enough that their lips brush the side of Villain's mouth.

A sigh escapes them. "You really are trying this now, in the hospital?" Villain says, but they feel their will slowly being plucked away.

"We've been bolder than this." Hero's free hand travels back up, cupping the back of their nemesis' neck. "No cameras, either."

Villain almost wants to roll their eyes to the back of their skull, but they can't deny the want in their chest currently. "You're injured."

"I trust you can be careful." Hero smirks, knowing the effect they're having on them.

"You're ridiculous." Villain huffs, but they're already leaning closer, pressing Hero gently against the pillow. They make sure to keep their weight off of Hero's injured limbs as they press a deep kiss against their lips.

Hero is the first to break the silence, though they don't turn around to face Villain. "We can't keep doing this." They focus on the spot on the wall opposite the bed, not wanting to admit how much they enjoy the feeling of Villains splayed hand across their torso.

"Well you certainly weren't complaining earlier. Or the last two times." Villain's voice is soft, as they gently brush hair away from the back of Heros nape, pressing a clammy kiss there.

The sheets rustle underneath them, Villain's warm and sweat sticked skin pressing against them, the warmth so inviting that it chips away at Hero's resolve. They wet their lips before speaking. "People are going to start getting suspicious, if I'm caught with you my reputation would be ruined. They would think I'm working with you."

"Ah, this is a reputation thing, is it? Let them think what they want." Villain's face is buried in their hair, arms pulling them even closer. In truth that's only part of it. The countless crimes and atrocities Villain has committed play over and over in Hero's head until they feel sick, head spinning and stomach weak.

There's been more than one occasion in the past, where after one of these not well thought out hookups, that Hero found themselves emptying the contents of their stomach in the toilet, guilt clawing at their throat. They think of how much blood is on those hands that feel so nice against their skin, how much those same hands that brings them so much pleasure has brought untold amounts of suffering to others.

Villain's hands rub soothing circles into their skin, and Hero feels the bile starting to rise. Quickly, they sit up, pulling themselves away from that soft embrace and pulling a sheet around them.

"I can't keep doing this, I need to leave, and I don't want you contacting me again." Hero's words sound frayed, erratic and worried.

This doesn't deter Villain in the slightest though, their voice still honeyed, as if their tongue was a weapon that could disarm them immediately. "Darling, come back to bed. If this is a guilt thing, don't get worked up over it. Nothing you do or don't do would have saved any of them." Hero simply shakes their head in response, still not facing them.

With a sigh, Villain sits up and reaches over, firmly pulls them back. They bury their face into the crook of Hero's shoulder, pressing slow opened mouthed kisses against their pulse. Hero's stomach twists and they don't know what from this time.

"You wouldn't be able to stay away from me if you tried." Villain's lips trail down their shoulder, before traveling back up to their jaw line. Each kiss sends a spark through them, twisting another knife in their gut.

"Dear, if I was truly cruel, you would have long been dead." They finally answer, voice steady, even and practiced.

"Maybe you haven't killed me, but how many others have died at your hands?" Hero snaps. They don't know why they're bringing this up now. Letting their surge of guilt ruin the quiet afternoon the two were spending together. "And you may not hurt me, but you say cruel things all the time." Hero babbles on.

At this, Villain sits up fully, eyes trained on Hero's face. They move Hero's legs off their lap, their expression wary.

"And what are the cruel things I say to you?" They ask, voice almost a hiss at this point.

Hero swallows, trying to find their words before they lose their nerve.

"You speak so callously. About the loss of life, like you don't care when you're responsible for others suffering. Also, when you talk about my career and my hero friends, like it's all beneath you." They try to keep their from shaking. Their breath rattles as they try to keep their emotions in check. "Like you don't respect me."

At this, Villain leans closer suddenly, invading their space. They bracket their arms around Hero.

"You're one of the only people in this cold world that I have an iota of respect for." They seethe. Their eyes are intense, burning into Hero's gaze. "Don't doubt for a moment how I feel about you. I'd lay entire bloodlines at your feet, bring civilizations to their knees for you."

They lean closer, to the point where Hero is pressed firmly against the cushions of the sofa.

"Do you understand?" They ask, mouth a firm line. Hero nods shakily, unable to bring themselves to answer verbally. Villain searches their gaze for a moment longer before continuing. "It's true, I have a sharp and cruel mouth. My hands bear the blood of countless. You knew this from the beginning, you knew this is what I offer you."

Hero's eyes brim with emotion. "But-"

"I am not a vessel for your good intentions." Villain interrupts. "I am cold, capricious, and cruel. Are you okay with this?" Villain questions, grabbing Hero by the chin. Not roughly, but not gently either. "If you have an issue with who I am, then I can leave. You'll never have to worry about my sharp tongue, or the blood on my hands again."

They lean closer, voice lowering to almost a murmur. "Are you fine with that? With who I am and what I offer?" Their gaze almost softens. Hero knows what they mean.

Hero knows the depth of their loyalty when given, how much they would do for Hero. Hero also knows the other side of the proverbial coin. Knows how ruthless their lover can be. Knows the price for Villain's unwavering fealty. They'd lay the world at Hero's feet, but they wouldn't lie to or hide the suffering involved from them. Wouldn't pretend to be anything but a villain. But they'd be Hero's.

After a long moment, Hero gives a shaky nod as tears threaten to spill over their lashes. As cruel as Villain was, Hero was weak.

"Y'know you didn't have to kidnap me, right?" Hero sighs. They struggle against their bindings yet again, fruitlessly.

Villain takes their eyes off the road momentarily, glancing over at Hero in the passenger seat.

"Agree to disagree." They say simply, returning their attention to driving. "Now hush, I'm not trying to get pulled over with a famous hero tied and bound in my car."

"Cops would probably think I'm into it." Hero quips. "Could say we're coming back from a BDSM c -"

Hero is interrupted as Villain swerves, making them yelp.

"Serves you right." Villain huffs. They don't miss how red in the face they've gotten. "You probably are into it. You've barely struggled the whole way."

Villain looks over to them, glancing from the side of their eye. They wait to see if Hero has any more retorts left before continuing. "Or maybe you realize I was right. You need to take a break." Their voice is slowly veering to a more serious tone.

Scoffing, Hero rolls their eyes. "Don't assume. Maybe I'm simply am into being tied up." They make a show of struggling again, though without much effort. "I don't need a break."

"Yes, you do." Villain pauses. "And you probably are, you little deviant."

"I'm perfectly fine." They snap, voice more biting now than before. "You can't just kidnap me because you think I'm overworking myself - that's not how it works. It's now how we work."

Villain sighs. The teasing mood from before is starting to evaporate. Resisting the urge to make another joke, they speak with a calm and firm undertone.

"You're working yourself to the bone. I'm not stupid, I can see it for myself." Their fingers drum against the steering wheel, a rhythmic tapping as they continue. "If you're not careful, you're going to end up in the hospital because of it. Or dead"

"It's none of your business." Hero speaks as they keep their eyes trained out the passenger side window, watching as the light they're at turns green.

"It's always my business when someone is endangering my nemesis. Even when it's them endangering themselves." They look at Hero again, gaze sharper than before. "That's how we work."

Hero doesn't miss the tension in Villain's jaw, the way they grip the wheel harder. The slight flush in their face from Hero's earlier teasing is gone now. They don't understand why Villain cares or why their behavior vexs their nemesis, but they're aware it does.

"So what, you're just going to keep me captive until you decide to let me go?" They huff as Villain turns down another road.

"What I'm going to do is take you back to one of my safe houses, where you will rest, god so help me, for the next few days."

Hero opens their mouth to argue, but Villain raises a hand in a silencing manner, no patience for arguments. Hero scoffs and settles back into their seat, letting the quiet settle around them uncomfortably for the next several minutes.

After a few more turns, Villain pulls up an unmarked dirt road, vehicle slowing to a crawl as they reach the intended destination.

As they lean over and undo their seatbelt for them, Hero feels Villain's warmth and smells their sweet fragrance. They try not to react as Villain's hands graze their side.

Finally, Villain breaks the silence, still not leaning away from them.

"You won't be bored if that's what you're worried about. I have plenty of movies and books to keep you entertained." They speak in a more hush tone now, still close. "I won't cage you either. Once we're inside, I'll take the rope off you."