Alex sighs, Venomous had really been giving him more paperwork lately. He was almost convinced the reptile was getting back at him for something, for what though, he didn't really know.
If anything he noticed Venomous was keeping a closer eye on him. Now, he wouldn't be worried about this. Annoyed? Yes.
But when you're a hero in secret, working for the villain, while he's unaware...That's when it's a problem. Alex had been finding it harder to do any hero work, just from how bad Venomous had got.
He leans back in his chair, slowly his eyes closed, desperately wishing to rest. And he found himself almost drifting off.
"I didn't take you for a slacker, Alex."
Alex blinks, sitting up and looking over. "you ever knock?"
Venomous gave a low chuckle, the sound distorted slightly through the monitor on his gauntlet as he stepped fully into the office. The overhead lights caught against the sharp edges of his visor, one claw tapping idly against the doorframe.
“I did,” he replied smoothly. “Twice. You ignored me twice. I figured either you were asleep…” His visible eye narrowed faintly. “…or hiding something.”
Alex gave annoyed look at him, eye twitching. "Well, maybe if you didn't give me more work, I could get proper sleep." The brunette hissed back, glaring at the light purple man in the doorway. He turned his attention back to the paperwork, intending on at least, finishing it.
"Shouldn't you at least be talking to Boxman, y'know delivery stuff? Parts for machinery?"
Venomous walked fully into the room, his claws in his lab coat pockets. "Oh, he's babysitting Fink." Venomous explained. A small shrug, standing right next to Alex.
Alex felt the villain pat him on the back, "Well, I might need you later, gonna try using that ray on that Plaza today and I hate to leave a mess."
Alex sighed, "you...want me to clean up a building, you're gonna destroy...how?"
“Oh, Alex.” He leaned down slightly, voice lowering into something almost teasing. “I’m not destroying the building.”
A beat.
“I’m repurposing it through aggressive structural persuasion.”
Alex stared at him flatly.
“…That is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”
“And yet,” Venomous continued smoothly, “you understood exactly what I meant.”
The pat on Alex’s shoulder lingered a second too long before Venomous finally pulled away, pacing around the cramped office.
"Something that bothers me however, no matter what I do...He's there."
Alex sighs, "Hammer Box, someone whose being a hero is their job?" Venomous rolled his eyes in response, "Don't you find it odd, that every time he's there? Every time, right there as soon as I try anything." Venomous spoke, "it's almost suspicious, wouldn't you agree?"
Alex gave a nervous look, "I... suppose so.."
Venomous’ claws tapped idly against his arm as he stared at the holographic display.
“Not just there,” he continued. “Prepared.”
The image shifted—Hammer Box diving into frame during one attack, then another, then another.
Different locations.
Different times.
Always fast.
“Too fast,” Venomous muttered.
Alex tried very hard not to react.
His stomach twisted tighter with every clip.
“Well, he’s a hero,” Alex offered weakly. “They probably have like…alerts or something.”
Venomous’s eyes narrowed.
"arriving on time for one or second time is one thing, doing it every time is a different story."
Alex looks away nervously, "oh uhh, ya I guess that might be suspicious...?"
The room was filled with awkward silence, then a sigh left Venomous' mouth. "Well, I need to get back to work." Venomous said, as he walked off.
Alex stared at the door for a minute, before turning his attention back to his work. Looks like he needed to start arriving at different times now..lovely.
The door hissed shut behind Venomous.
Alex stayed perfectly still.
Only when the footsteps fully faded did he finally exhale, shoulders slumping forward as he rubbed both hands over his face.
“…Great.”
That had been way too close.
He looked toward the security monitor mounted in the corner of the office, half expecting Venomous to suddenly pop back into frame just to say “Aha!”
Nothing.
Just static and dim hallway lights.
Alex groaned softly and dropped his forehead against the desk. that had been close....
