Okay I’ll be honest, I nearly had an aneurism trying to figure out how to write this part. The anon request was for a time skip forward, where the villain and hero were good friends and now the villain was “clingy” to the hero. The problem was, I’ve been trying really hard to make this a healthy relationship. I think I finally figured out how to tow the line properly! Enjoy!
The villain lurched awake, some cry coming from their throat as they did. Their fists clutched the blankets tightly, angrily, as they pinned their eyes shut. This was the first nightmare they’d had in weeks. It also just so happened to be the first night that the hero wasn’t sleeping beside them.
They groaned, running their fingers through their hair. This was pathetic. They were a villain! Or at least, they used to be. They weren’t quite sure what they were now, but regardless, people used to cower in fear in front of them! A hero sleeping next to them should NOT be something they needed!
In the back of their mind, they found themselves wondering how much better the hero was fairing. Did they miss sleeping next to the villain?
No. Miss was the wrong word. The villain did not miss the hero.
Everything was just so different now. The villain agreed to give heroism a try, so the hero let them tag along for some of their smaller missions. It was fine until other people showed up. Strangers come to thank them, other heroes, all of which still looked at the villain warily. Their instinct was to go back to being scary. If the villain wanted people to hate them, everything was simple. Things like the opinion of others meant nothing to a villain. But now, suddenly, with people genuinely thanking them, showing gratitude, even looking relieved when they showed up with the hero, it made the villain’s insides twist. It felt right and wrong all at the same time. The worst part was it was unknown. They were entirely out of their element, and sure, the fighting was the same, just on the opposite team, but everything else? Unknow. And like most unknown things, it felt dangerous.
They were happy, though, happier than they could remember being, having someone like the hero in their life, no longer running from the law or being afraid of being stabbed in their sleep. Still, it was unnerving, all the change. Helping people for a change felt good. It was nice to have friends, have people who cared for you. It was just… a drastically contrasting change.
So.. yes. Maybe the villain clung to the comfort the hero’s presence offered.
The villain huffed out a laugh at themselves. Clingy. Oh, how the mighty had fallen.
They flopped back down into the bed they shared with the hero. Once the villain was fully healed, they agreed to move in with the hero. Not that they needed much convincing despite how much they acted like they did, the villain didn’t really want to leave. The hero made them happy, sue them.
They had their own room in the hero’s house. The villain had their own bed, though it wasn’t like they ever used it. Whenever they tried, the hero would pout until the villain caved and agreed to sleep with them again. Yeah, that was the only reason. That’s also why they were in the hero’s room while the hero wasn’t even home. Yep. Definitely.
The villain huffed, had they become reliant on the hero? They didn’t think it was that bad; they could survive on their own again if they had to, though they really didn’t want to. The villain had just lost so many things in their life already. They really didn’t want to lose this too.
Great. There were two reasons the villain was getting clingy: the hero made them feel safe and grounded, and the villain was afraid to lose them.
Suffice to say, they didn’t get much sleep that night.
The next day when the hero returned, the villain was more relieved to see them than they would like to admit.
They exchanged their usual greetings while they got ready to make supper.
The regular house routine was much more domestic and mundane than one might expect after hearing a hero and a villain lived there. If they both weren’t pitching in to make supper, they would take turns. The hero would do the dishes while the villain cleaned up the table and leftovers. There was small talk, usually about the weather or the next job the hero had, and when the hero thought the villain could come along.
The hero, however, noticed something was off tonight. The villain was shakier than usual, fidgeting and quieter. They were doing the thing where they tapped their toes against the floor rhythmically, which the hero had realized early on was a tell-tale sign the villain was nervous or stressed about something.
It wasn’t until later that night, when they were just climbing into bed for the night the hero decided to broach the topic.
“So, what happened while I was gone?” the hero asked, brushing their fingers through the villain’s hair.
The villain, who was lying in their normal position against the hero’s chest suddenly tensed.
“Nothing interesting,” they replied casually, shrugging, “business as normal,"
"We both know that’s not true,"
"I’m not going to force you to tell me,” the hero reassured, “but I can tell something is off,"
"Is it really that obvious?” the villain muttered under their breath, fidgeting with their sleeve.
The villain sighed, turning over onto their back, their head resting more on the villain’s upper arm now than their chest as they stared at the ceiling.
"Alright, now I know it’s important if it’s enough to bring out that old ‘big bad’ persona,"
The villain groaned in mock annoyance, but the fondness in it was apparent. They had grown a lot more comfortable around each other in the last few weeks, and joking around with each other had become a lot more normal.
Still, the villain let out a relenting sigh, knowing their silence was only going to worry the hero more.
"I just had another nightmare last night, that’s all, nothing special,”
“Damn,” the hero replied, gliding their thumb back and forth soothingly along the villain’s side where their hand lay, “That’s your first one in a while, isn’t it?"
"It’s only the second one I’ve had since I started sleeping in here…” the villain practically whispered.
“So you were in here last night! I was wondering about that; which bed you’d end up in,"
The villain sputtered, blushing, "It was just- like- out of habit!"
"Mhm…” the hero hummed, twirling the villain’s bangs through their fingers aimlessly.
“Shut up,” the villain muttered, which made the hero laugh.
“Do you wanna talk about it?” the hero asked after a moment of silence.
“Is that a 'not really’ because you don’t want to talk about it or because it’s embarrassing?”
The villain could feel themselves blushing. It was completely unfair how good the hero had gotten at reading them.
The villain sighed, “Promise you won’t laugh?"
“I…” the villain hesitated but continued when they felt the hero’s hand brush through their hair encouragingly, “I dreamt you got hurt and didn’t come back, okay?!” They blurted out before they talked themselves out of it.
The following beat of silence was deafening until the hero spoke again.
“oh…” they whispered, barely audible.
Suddenly the arms around them tightened, but the villain just kept going, determined to 'get it out' before they changed their mind.
“It’s just- I’ve lost so many people, so many things, I’m just so accustomed to it, and I don’t wanna- well- lose you too,” they nearly choked on the words but forced them out none the less, “especially right now since I apparently can’t sleep soundly without you being next to me, which is the stupidest thing I've ever heard because you have far better things to do than hang around and babysit me all day-"
"And yet the selfish part of me still wants you to stay close by anyway, just so I don’t start worrying about you, which is stupid to be doing to begin with,"
“It’s stupid.” the villain huffed, “It’s all just… stupid,"
"There is absolutely nothing stupid about any of that,” the hero replied sternly yet softly. Suddenly the arms around them pulled them upward, and the villain let out a surprised squeak as they were drawn to be up against the hero’s chest again. They settled comfortably, though, subconsciously snuggling closer to the warmth of the hero next to them.
“First of all, there is a lot changing in your life right now. If you need to be 'clingy’ for a little bit while you adjust, I don’t mind at all. If anything, I’m pretty flattered my presence makes you feel safe, sense I know trust isn’t something you give easily. You make it sound like I wouldn’t want the excuse to be around you more often,” the hero laughed before continuing, “Secondly, it’s normal to worry about people you care about, even more so given the dangers in our line of work and especially when you’ve lost people in the past. If it makes you feel any better, you weren’t the only one who had trouble sleeping last night. I was laying in bed worrying about you, despite the fact you are more than capable of taking care of yourself,"
"Mhm,” the hero hummed in reply, running their fingers through the villain’s hair again.
“Let me start coming with you on all your missions,” the villain offered.
“What!?” the hero replied in shock.
“Think about it. We’ll be with each other and protecting each other, so we aren’t as worried,"
"I’ve kicked your butt more than once; you and I both know I’m more than capable of holding my own, especially against other villains,"
"Come on,” the villain encouraged, rolling over onto their stomach so they could look at the hero, “I’m getting bored. If this hero stuff doesn’t pick up soon, I might have to go rob a bank,” they joked.
“Okay, okay,” the hero chuckled quietly, “Maybe I’ve been getting protective too,” they admitted, “What if you come with me tomorrow?"
They both got a much better night’s sleep that night.
Master Tag list
@llamaly @why-am-i-on-this-website-anyway @literally-just-kirby @larinzz @sharraus @asrasmysoulmate @kaiwewi @akawrites000 @sunflower1000 @aroacewitchyacademic @bleeding-watercolors @lbelle0527 @trappedgoose-in-a-writblr-room @freefallingup13 @enemies-to-idiots-to-lovers @homosexual-having-tea
