"I told you. I told you." Hero muttered over and over to themselves. "I told you it wouldn't work."
Villain simply watched them from their cell, following their movements with a bored look. Both of them were captured and locked in Supervillain's dungeons, each in different cells. Which were facing eachother, so even if the villain wanted to ignore the hero's complaints and ramblings, they couldn't. Not with the other stomping left and right and mumbling to themselves.
"The plan would've worked," the villain grumbled through their teeth after a while, "if you did as you were told."
Hero jolted to a stop and slammed their hands againt the bars. "If I did as you said, countless of lives would have been los-!"
"Oh, please, not this again." The villain stood up and walked near the door of their own cell. "How can a hero like you not be prepared to make sacrifices-?"
"I am a hero BECAUSE I don't make sacrifices."
"Don't you yell histerically at me." Villain exhaled impatiently, rubbing their temple with their fingers. "We both knew my plan was perfect. You were just too much of a coward to follow it." They turned their head away. "Seriously," they growled, more to themselves than the fuming hero, "what did I expect?"
"You can't just ask me- oh, forget it." Hero slumped in the corner of their cell. "Not like you'd understand."
They stayed like that for a moment, their uneven breaths filling up the silence.
"Fighting won't solve anything right now." Hero said after a while of calming themselves. "I suggest we wait for Mentee to come and rescue us. They're good at tracking people down and there's not much we can do anyw-"
They were cut by Villain's barking laughter. "Are you serious? That piece of twig?"
Hero's eye twitched. "They're our only hope right now."
"No, you were our only hope." The villain spat. "And you blew it." Then, they let out a scoff before laughing again. "Oh, gods. My fate rests in the hands of that fucking, useless orphan."
"Hey," Hero narrowed their eyes, pointing a shaky finger at their nemesis, "you watch what you say about them."
"Don't you point that fucking finger at me."
"Oh, my apologies." Hero lowered their hand, their voice strangely soft. ".....Would you prefer this one?" And raised the same hand to give the other the middle finger.
Villain sighed, pulling their head further between their knees. They closed their eyes and relished the stretch in their sore muscles. Soft brown curls framed the corners of their vision as they blinked until alert and sat up slowly. The locks of hair fell away as they rolled their neck, hauling themselves onto shaky knees.
"What are you doing?"
Villain huffed and crossed their arms tighter over their chest. They glared daggers at Hero. "Stretching before a fight," they said, "I'm no gymnast."
Hero chuckled, stepping out of the shadows and running their finger over the ladder next to them. They flicked the hair out of their eyes before leaning on the ladder. It tipped and fell with a crash next to them. From the corner of their eye, Villain noticed a light flicker on, likely to be curious about the noise.
Villain coughed awkwardly, trying to fill the silence.
"This is really awkward."
"Yeah."
"Wanna get coffee?"
"Yeah."
Hero held out their arm with a charming smile. They trailed their eyes over Villain's body and smirked before hooking their elbow in Villain's. The pair walked silently, crossing the empty road and stopping next to the 24-hour diner.
"You know what's sad?" Hero asked.
Villain tired their head to the side. "What?"
"You were so close."
Anxiety settled in the pit of Villain's stomach. They shuffled their weight from floor to foot. "Close to what?"
"Winning."
Pain sprouted from the back of villains head. They fell forward from the momentum of the blow, dragging Hero down with them. They scrambled back, disgusted, pulling themselves to their feet with a cold smile.
"oh, darling Villain," Hero said. "I guess life is just a head of ghosts."
Villain couldn't reply. Their vision was hazy and their tongue felt too heavy in their mouth. They blinked furiously to clear the dizzy spell, but their limbs wouldn't cooperate. So the took one last look at Hero before finally succumbing to darkness.
"What do you think?" The hero asked excitedly. "I made this all for you. The curtains took the longest, but the gardens are my favourite."
The villain listened with a smile half-heartedly plastered on their face. The queasiness in their stomach pulsed in time with the blinking bracelet on their ankle.
A low level henchman is sent undercover to Hero’s facility to check in on Villain who is being kept prisoner.
But when they find them they are surprised, they expected cuts and bruises, not a version of villain who can’t keep their head up.
When they sneak into the cell they are being kept, Henchman tries to shake them awake, “Villain, villain, it’s me henchman, what’s wrong with you? What’s wrong?”
Villain struggles to open their eyes but eventually acknowledges them with a look that immediately tells them they’re not all there, “... Hero likes me better like this, says the drugs make me easier… to handle-” they get out with no bitterness, only exhaustion.
Could I request a villain getting chloroformed and waking up all groggy and dizzy?
I just love things like that.
Thank you! I can't believe I don't see more chloroform around
CW: Hero/villain whump, knocked unconscious with chloroform, tied and strung from a wall, trying to convert an unsuspecting victi- I mean sidekick to the villain side.
Villain crossed their arms as they checked their phone one last time just to ensure this was the right spot. They were supposed to meet this 'mystery person' who swore they had personal information about hero.
They sighed as they climbed back into the car, annoyed that they probably just got pranked. As soon as the belt buckle clasped, two hands shot from the backseat, one arm pinning their forehead back while the other held a damp cloth against their face.
Villain gasped, which was their first mistake as they only inhaled a breath of pure chloroform as they desperately wrangled the hand around their face. They let out one last choking muffle as their vision blurred into darkness... ---
Villain's eyes fluttered open, their head spun and their ears rang. "..mmhph?" Villain groaned, squinting as they saw an overjoyed face staring up at them.
"I-... I did it! I actually did it!" They cheered, hardly containing their excitement.
"D-did wha-?" Villain grogged, blinking a few times as they found themselves tied against the wall with their feet off the floor in some old warehouse.
"I caught you! I wasn't even sure if you would fall for my message, but you actually did! Ahaha! How about that, Hero!? I'm not so weak after all now, am I?" They struck a pose with their chin up.
Villain let out a long sigh. "You're hero's sidekick..."
"You bet I am! And when they find out I captured you all by myself, they're going to have to accept me back!" Sidekicked snapped.
"Accept you... back?" Villains' brow arched as a lightbulb donned in their head. "So they threw you out, mm?" They mocked.
"I-... Sort of? They told me I was too chaotic to be-... It doesn't matter! They have to recognize me after I turn you in!" Sidekick exclaimed, pacing back and forth under Villains strung form.
"Okay, well good job, you caught me, yaaaay." Villain rolled their eyes. "But what I don't understand is if you're so chaotic, then how did you not only find my number, but lure me to an abandoned parking lot? Come on sidekick, you didn't get abandoned because you were weak. It was because you were good. I know Hero, I know that must have burned them to the core knowing their Sidekick was smarter than they are. But if anything, this plan of yours will only get you into some more hot water." Villain tried to cross their legs against the wall, but was quite unsuccessful.
"That's not true! You- you're just trying to get in my head!” Sidekick accused.
“Am I now? Okay then. Turn me in.” They grinned, watching in glee as Sidekick froze, their eyes darting back and forth as they looked back into memories and questioned Hero’s motives.
“Go on, get on with it.” Villain jeered. “Shut up! I’m thinking...”
“Why are you thinking? You should know this for sure, Sidekick.”
“I SAID SHUT UP!” They shouted, their hands digging in their hair.
“You know I’m right, don’t you? And if I’m right, then you know what Hero will do when you turn me in. For all you know, our roles could very well become reversed.”
Sidekick let out a defeated sigh as their arms fell to their side, their hand slipping into their pocket as they threw a knife above Villains head, cutting the ropes as they fell to the floor. “-.. Ouch.” Villain grunted, crumbling to their knees.
“Just get out! Go!” Sidekick barked, pointing to the exit as they shamefully turned their head away. Villain rubbed their wrists as they watched their expression, seeing tears stream down their cheek and their lip quivering. “Hey, I could really use someone like you.” They said.
“I- I’m not a bad guy.” Sidekick sniffled, wiping their tears away. “Who said I was bad?” Villain tilted their head until they made eye-contact.
“...Hero did.” They crossed their arms, looking like their whole world was flipped upside-down. “Awwww, did they now? Well, I’m going to head home now, I have a wonderful base to return to. Lovely meeting you.” They smiled, watching Sidekicks face twist with conflict as they purposely walked as painfully slow as they could just to drag it out.
Villain hesitated at the exit, twisting their head back one last time. “Oh, and by the way, I’m swinging by McDonalds on the way back.”
Sidekick gasped, perking up “W-wait! Wait for me! I’m coming with you!”
December 25th, already 4 pm and still no-one had walked into the room. The special room of the facility, built to keep Supervillain inside. The room was empty except for the small box of the forcefield in the middle and the clock above the door. The clock showed not only the time but also the date, which was why Supervillain knew what day it was.
Christmas... They had been looking at the clock all day. Waiting for the door to open, for their family to come inside. For their friends to greet them happily or maybe just their sidekick that wanted to know how they were doing after almost one full year of imprisonment, alone in an empty room, where no-one came.
The villain sat on the ground, their back leaning back against the forcefield, their knees close to their chest with their arms around them. They had been in this position all day, watching the time pass by, as this day slowly, but surely came to an end, just like every other day. There had been food that came out of the ground like every other day. And the empty dishes went away at the same spot, going down to wherever they went.
Supervillain hadn’t seen a single person since they got locked up in here, after they burned half the city down, leaving nothing more than ashes for the city to rise from under their power. They could have created a whole new world, a good one if that stupid hero hadn’t stopped them, if their sidekick hadn’t ran away.
It was lonely in here and at first that had been fine. It was quite peaceful, but eventually, Supervillain longed for a good conversation. for something to stimulate their senses. They wanted something else than the ticking of that stupid clock or the white room with the buzzing of the forcefield. There was literally nothing. They had nothing, except for their pants and underwear. Their captors thought they were too dangerous. They weren’t allowed to have anything and even if they had something they weren’t able to hide it so they could keep it.
6 pm.. still no-one came. Supervillain sighed, slowly letting their eyes slide to the door, hoping to see it open in a few seconds.
‘Please don’t forget about me,’ they thought. ‘I don’t care that you didn’t come on the other days, I won’t be angry, but don’t leave me alone at Christmas too.’
Supervillain remembered the last Christmas they had celebrated with their sidekick and henchmen. It had been so much fun, with a lot of delicious food and presents. Of course, most of them had been stolen, but for Sidekick they had bought one. Supervillain didn’t mind doing a bit more work for them and seeing that smile, on the face of the only person they cared so much for, was more than worth it.
That same sidekick had only shown themselves once. That same sidekick apparently didn’t care.
‘Well, it’s still early, maybe they come later today.’
But time passed by, nothing faster than it did before, nothing was different. Supervillain didn’t dare to close their eyes, scared to miss that one time someone would show themselves. But as it got later, their eyes slowly started to slip shut. Their head dropping once in a while to immediately look up at the clock again, scared that they had fallen asleep and missed their friends.
Almost 12 pm, half an hour left. Supervillain bit their lip as they lowered their head on their knees. They could barely keep their eyes open and they started to feel sick.
‘Would they come tomorrow then?’ Supervillain thought. ‘But there are so many people that could have came, and no-one came.’
They waited a few more minutes. One minute left as their chest knitted together and they had to try and swallow past the lump in their throat. They shook their head in disbelief. It had been less than a year and they had forgotten about them. They left them all alone, even on a day like this. What would they do tomorrow? And with their birthday? Weren’t they human too?
They watched the clock.
December 26th, 00:01.
And the first tear ran down their cheeks.
Part 2 of the Villain who Faked His Death to Become a Hero/Sidekick!
Here’s the 1st part :)
@igotthesmellofbooks who requested a continuation, and @poisoned-by-royalty who prompted the first. Also, @whatwhumpcomments as per usual :) Alright on with the story now!
***
Usually, Villain could ignore his fear of walking into the old capitol building by simply admiring the way it looked on the inside. Even the outside had some kind of haunted beauty to it, but that was exactly why he couldn’t stand to be in there now. This place was haunted. Haunted with all of the people he killed for the Boss.
Villain couldn’t help but wonder if there were people in the lowest levels now- if they were being tortured for information, or tortured just for the hell of it. The thought was terrifying, and Villain would have liked to stop thinking about it altogether, but how could he continue to consider himself a hero if he did that? He had to acknowledge his faults, had to acknowledge what horrors he committed. Otherwise he was just as bad as the Boss.
“You didn’t really think we wouldn’t figure it out at some point, did ya?” The Boss clapped Villain on the back, stubby fingers digging in between the nervous and sore muscles of Villain’s shoulder.
He groaned, more so at the pain than anything, but otherwise said nothing.
“I mean, really, boy.” The Boss laughed, pushing his fingers impossibly further into Villain’s person. He felt like crippling in that grip. “You are the strongest damn thing I know.”
Thing? I’m still human.
The Boss finally let go of Villain and he released a heavy sigh. Although, while the Boss’ hand was there, he hadn’t been thinking about the dreadfulness of his surroundings. But again, Villain deserved to be swarmed with the negativity of his actions, didn’t he? Even if everything Villain did was forced, he could have spoken to Hero about getting help so, so long ago. This was his fault.
“-sending men out for years, and no one, no one has been capable of the things that you are. You know how many buildings I’ve gotten away with destroying because of you. Incredible. Incredible!”
They were going to the Discussion Chamber, Villain was sure. He didn’t look forward to it. He said, “If you send me on another mission, you know I won’t do it without trying to leave again.” Perhaps it was a stupid statement, but the Boss would be awful stupid if he hadn’t thought the same thing already.
“Oh, I know that. But I also know this...” He smiled and Villain felt his stomach drop- as if it could drop any further than it already was. “You faked your death, kid. And I’m going to hold that over your head. You know how?”
The Boss’ hand was on Villain’s shoulder again, stopping him in the hall they were walking down.
Deep breaths. Deep breaths. Just keep breathing, Villain. That’s it. In and out. In and out. Maybe he should have been listening to what the Boss was saying, but it was likely just a bunch of threats. He already knew this jist of it; Villain faked his death, which meant he wanted to live. But the Boss couldn’t kill him because he was valuable to the operation. So, instead of killing Villain, he’d just threaten to tell everyone who he was- an old threat, but a good one, especially now that Villain had a bigger secret to hide.
“Let me call Hero. Let me tell him I’m okay. Please, Boss.”
“What would I get outta that? Huh?”
Villain said, “I’ll work with you. No- no...” What was he trying to say dammit! “If you don’t give me this, you’re going to have to do to me what you do to everyone else who is forced to walk into this building. And by the time I crack, I’ll be broken. Who knows if I’ll even be able to do what you want?” He explained further, “But if you let me have this- just this one call- I’ll do as you wish. No struggling, or even arguing. I’ll be one of your men.”
“Tempting, but you forget that I still have leverage over you.”
He shook his head. “You don’t.” Villain watched that look of suspicion rise on the Boss’ face, then proceeded. “I have you for protection. Even if you did tell everyone who I am, what I’ve done for you, I’ll be under your roof. You won’t risk putting me out there. So, no. You don’t have leverage; I do.”
The Boss smiled, laughed. His shoulders jumped with each sound that bubbled from his chest and throat- a guttural and choking sound if you asked Villain. “It’s rare some kid outsmarts me. This is why I can’t afford to lose you.” Another laugh. “I’ll give you one minute on the phone.” The chuckles ceased in the next moment, all amusement gone. “You say whatever you want, but remember who you work for now.”
***
“Who is this? Where is Sidekick?” Hero’s voice warmed Villain’s heart. He took a deep breath, which sent Hero into a frenzy. “Oh my god. Oh my god, it’s you. Where are you? Where are you?” The last sentence was very punctual.
“I don’t have long. I’m safe. Nothing bad is going to happen, but listen to me-”
“Villain-”
He shushed the hero. He had less than a minute now. Glancing at the Boss, Villain took as deep of a breath as he could in two seconds. “I was afraid before we left; I know you saw it, and I know you know I have a dignity problem. That’s besides the point.” He couldn’t think. Couldn’t think, couldn’t think, couldn’t think.
How many seconds left? Dammit, it doesn’t matter!
“Remember how you asked where my family lived? They’re on Altipoc Street. A pretty scrambled name, I know. It was named after a tribe of Native Americans that-”
“Time’s up.”
“Tell them I’ll fix their radio when I can,” Villain said with a tiny chuckle he barely managed. There. That’ll make it sound reasonable to the Boss.
The phone was ripped from Villain’s hands. “I said that’s enough!”
On the other end, though Villain couldn’t hear it as he was shoved into a wall, Hero was yelling, asking what the hell was going on.
Villain scorned himself in the meanwhile, face hot against the wall, waiting for the Boss to come beat the crap out of him as he’d undoubtedly want to after Villain took advantage of a few extra seconds. If he hadn’t spent so much time thinking, he could have given Hero more clues. Hopefully Altipoc- ‘a pretty scrambled name’- would be enough to catch onto. See, Altipoc unscrambled was Capitol- as in the Capitol building Villain was in now. The radio hint might have been less clear, but Hero was smart. Surely, he could figure it out.
“You went three seconds over the time I gave you. That’s two seconds I would usually say you need to make up, but”- the Boss laughed- “I think you’ve given me enough.” He held up the phone, and the realization dawned on Villain.
“No. No, Boss, please. Leave him alone.” Villain hadn’t thought about network tracking. They would be able to find where Hero was whenever he took the call. They’d find him and track him down, use him against Villain. “He has nothing to do with this operation. You can’t-”
“Oh, but my boy, he has everything to do with you.” The Boss held the phone over his shoulder, no longer in need of it, and said, “Take it. Do what you need with it- if anything. I don’t know how these things work. Don’t need to. I have fellas to do that for me.”
Villain jerked against the wall, trying to peel his head and shoulders away so that he could launch at the Boss. Never had he felt so blatantly defiant until now- until his love was at risk. This was going too far.
“What can I break easily in two seconds that can heal rather easily?” The Boss hummed while Villain fought harder. “Ah, I don’t know. How about we go with a finger? I’m sure pinkies heal fast, right?”
Without being able to stop it, Villain’s head was dragged back, then cracked against the wall in front of him, his body falling limp just a second later.
Worse than not being able to help himself, Villain couldn’t help Hero. He was the reason Hero was in danger. Maybe he truly was a villain, after all.
