Fish Stew
@dukexietyweek 2025 Day 4 - Superpowers +food
Word Count: 3480 (Ao3)
Rating: M
Characters: Remus, Virgil, Roman
Warnings/Content: ftm!Virgil, pre-transition pronouns used, blood, injury, major injury, amputation, death mention, gore, food mention, sex mention
Remus used to be a hero, but he hung up his tights after a tragedy and opened a seafood restaurant. It's funny how the past has a way of showing up at the most unexpected times
---
Being a superhero was tough, being a villain was even tougher, Remus of all people knew the former struggle well. It was too much to deal with on top of his mental health and his dream job, and he was not about to become a sexy Aquaman again.
He was happy with his life, serving up fresh seafood during the summer season and fishing in the off season. He ran a cute little tourist trap on the coast and the place could have a wait time of three hours some nights! Everyone loved his food, especially his caldeirada de peixe. Remus was proud of his work and he was happy.
At least until he showed up and proved Remus was wrong.
It was a cold fall day, the sky was overcast and threatening rain. Remus was bummed that it would be too dangerous to go out on his boat, but not completely miserable. As he leaned against the bar, idly waving his finger around, guiding soapy water over the floor, tables, and chairs, he tried to keep his spirits up and his restaurant tidy. They needed a deep clean, and he had the time and privacy. The restaurant was closed and no one would be out on the street with the storm brewing, so he didn't have to hide his ability to control water.
By chance he glanced out the window and his heart stopped. There was someone leaning against the window, slumped against it and breathing raggedly. He was drenched, bleeding from his head, and slipping as he tried to hold himself up.
Remus pulled all the water he was using away from the furniture and floor and sent it down the dish sink drain. He might not have been a superhero anymore, like his firebrand twin, but that didn't mean he was letting someone collapse on the street!
He rushed past the clean tables, the host podium, and the waiting chairs, hoping he wouldn't have to call an ambulance—or an uber.
“Hey,” he said as soon as he flung the door wide open, “Are you alright?”
The electricity in the air made his hair stand up, it was definitely not the way the man looked at him with those hazy, deep purple eyes. He knew those eyes, even when they were framed by blood oozing from the top of his head.
“I'll be fine. This looks worse than it is,” the man said. His voice was deep and raspy, but somehow familiar.
“You want to come in and clean up? Or I can get a cab to take you home. You don't want to be out in the cold rain, you could get sick, and then get sepsis and then your limbs’ll decay and you'll have to get them chopped off—” Remus rambled. He had no idea why he was nervous, but something about this guy had him on edge for no obvious reason.
“Dude,” the man cut him off and sighed, “if it'll keep you from spiraling, I'll come inside.”
Remus beamed and nodded rapidly, holding the door open for his guest. The man stumbled inside, not putting much pressure on his left foot. Was he in a fight? Would Remus have to don his old costume? Would it still fit? He was rounded in the middle since he gave up the alter ego.
“The bathroom is in the back to the left,” Remus said as he stepped inside, “Did you piss off a seal or something? You look like you just got knocked around by Frightening Gale or one of those assholes.”
The man froze and leaned on one of the tables. The electricity in the air got stronger. Maybe there would be a thunderstorm.
“Frightening Gale is dead. She died fighting the Phoenix and the Kraken. It was all over the internet,” the man said stiffly. Remus knew better, but he wouldn't correct the man.
“Cut it off! I don't need it!”
“I'm suggesting ridiculous things so you can deny them and tell me what happened if you want,” Remus shrugged. The man relaxed his shoulders and trudged to the bathrooms. So Remus might've stared at his butt as he stalked off—sue him, it was a juicy booty, he was not immune, and he needed to do something to distract him from the memories.
Rather than sit around waiting in the dining room, Remus went to the back and ran upstairs to get some dry clothes and a towel for his guest. Making himself busy was a great distraction. If only it could keep his mind from wandering.
--
They were so close to catching her. The Phoenix was determined to get his hands on one of the Golden Serpent’s top agents. Frightening Gale was acting out, causing petty issues, and it had to be a part of some reckless scheme the Serpent had planned.
Kraken was sure his brother was wrong. There were no connections between the crimes. Breaking into the Department of Records, destroying the administrative wing of a random hospital, hacking the Social Security System network—this reeked of a personal mission. And yet they found themselves in this distillery, of all places, on a dark, rainy night.
“Feenie,” Kraken muttered as they paced through the rows of steel vats. Something wasn't right. There was no reason for Frightening Gale to be there. Why would she choose to break into a place like this?
“What is it?” Phoenix muttered.
“I think—”
“So, you followed me again,” a cold voice came from the rafters. The twins looked up to see their target, dressed in her usual costume—a kevlar and rubber body suit and a mask with a beak that covered her entire face, except for her eyes.
“How could I not?” Kraken jeered, “I might be gay as fuck but I can't let a babe like you wander in these parts alone!”
“Sounds like you're just another creep,” she scoffed.
“I'm a creepy cuttlefish!” Kraken laughed, “And you're a bootylicious bird I have to get my hands on!” He blew her a kiss, just to be a little shit, though he would be more than happy to keep flirting with her if she was game. But he was driving Phoenix up a wall.
“Enough! You fiend! You will pay for your crimes!” Phoenix shouted and pointed up at her for emphasis. He was always one for dramatics.
“I don't have any fucks to give, so put it on my tab,” she scoffed, “And don't expect me to pay like some kind of porno—I really have zero fucks to give.”
Kraken knew she was trying to piss Phoenix off, the sex-repulsed aroace jock always lost his temper with any mention of sex regarding him. She wanted him to attack. This wasn't right.
Phoenix, of course, sputtered indignantly and shot a blast of fire at her without thinking. Thinking was not one of his strengths.
Frightening Gale dodged the blast and leapt to the ground, bolts of lightning surged around her exposed hands.
“So I'm supposed to pay with my life?” she taunted, “And you call yourself chivalrous.”
Phoenix snarled as his entire body burst into flames. He lunged at the villain, set on taking her down and arresting her.
“Dumbass!” Kraken shouted and pulled the water up from the floor drain. He doused his brother right before he could land a punch. Frightening Gale simply stepped aside and let him stumble.
“What the hell!?”
“We're surrounded by flammable liquids! Do you want to blow this—” Kraken shouted, “—Look out!”
A steel beam flew at him, levitating with electrical force. It collided with his head before Phoenix could react. He collapsed in a heap while Frightening Gale dusted off her hands.
“He'll live,” she said, staring at the flashy dumbass in manilla spandex and red feathers. Then she glared at the gremlin in green fish scale spandex and a domino mask. She was tense, waiting for him to make a move. Nothing pissed The Kraken off more than his partner getting seriously hurt. She was banking on his attack.
“What are you really up to?” Kraken asked, holding up his hands, “This doesn't seem like your boss' style.”
“What do you care? I just knocked your boyfriend unconscious. Shouldn't you be trying to kill me?” she responded warily and reached for her utility belt.
“One, he's my brother, and I've done worse. Two, it sounds like you want to die. What's this really all about?” he said and carefully took a step forward, ignoring the horrible flood of thoughts assaulting him. She immediately took a step back. It was obvious what was going on.
“You're trying to die. At least you want to kill the bird ego, right?”
“Stay back!”
“You just want to live a normal life, right? Let me help you. Everyone deserves a second chance,” he entreated. She kept backing away from him and created a forcefield to keep him from moving towards her.
“You can't help me,” she said and pressed a button on the thing in her belt.
BOOM
--
Remus jolted at the sound of thunder. He stepped out of the kitchen, holding a towel and clothes, and saw the rain pelting his windows. There was no way someone could go out in that torrent!
Then the man came out of the bathroom, still drenched and limping, but not covered in blood or bleeding.
“Shit.”
“Looks like you're stuck for a while,” Remus shrugged, “I brought you some stuff to dry off and wear. You can change in the bathroom and I'll get us some stew.”
The man looked at the bundle in Remus' hands and winced.
“I'll just go—”
“In this weather? With that limp? No way! You'll get swept up and blown away!—I’ll get some ice for your ankle too,” Remus cut him off and shoved the bundle into his hands. The man pouted adorably and sighed.
“Don't bother with the ice,” he said and lifted his left pant leg. Remus was shocked to see a prosthetic, but he wasn't going to judge. However, his mind would be reeling for a while.
“You go change and sit wherever you want. I won't be like my dick!”
“What?” the man yelped.
“I won't be long!” Remus giggled and trotted off. He made his way back to the kitchen and decided that he would serve up some delicious caldeirada de peixe and crusty bread. If he thought about food he wouldn't think about her, but he couldn't stop his mind.
--
Storage tanks exploded before his eyes, nearly blinding him as the shockwave rolled over him. He was fortunate that he could create an ice shield to protect him and Phoenix.
A shrill scream ripped through the air.
As soon as the dust settled, Kraken melted his ice wall instantly and surveyed the damage.
Jagged chunks of solid steel littered the flooded floor, some as large as televisions, some as sharp as katanas. And among the rubble he saw Frightening Gale close to the fire exit. She was stuck, her left leg trapped under a huge piece of metal.
He ran to her, not caring if she zapped him on his way.
“Hang on! I'll get this off you!” he said before he noticed the blood. A sharp edge dug into her calf, so far it sliced through the muscles and bones.
“There's no time! Just use your fancy splashes to finish the job! It's hanging on by a thread!” she gasped, trembling and crying behind the mask.
“I can take you to a hospital—the orthopedic surgeon owes me a favor, you won't go to jail, you can escape. You need both legs!” Remus argued, staring at the gory mess. His mind would have plenty of new material to torture him later.
“Cut it off! I don't need it!” she wailed, “I can cauterize it! Hurry!”
Kraken hated the way she screamed as he brought a blade of water to her injury. One clean cut and everything below her knee was severed.
“Fuck!” she wailed and brought her charged hands to her stump. She screamed as the electricity burned her flesh, stinking up the place. It was a miracle that she was still conscious and lucid.
“What are you gonna do now?” Remus asked both her and himself. After this mess, he was sure he would hang up the tights for good.
“Ah—fuck!—disappear,” she panted raspily, “Maybe I'll write a book or make a game—anything but work for that bastard!”
That was enough to ease some of the tension budding in the super splasher. She wanted to live.
She used her electric power to shape a different piece of scrap into a makeshift peg leg. Kraken would never stop being amazed by her talent, even if she used it for the wrong reasons.
“I'll make sure they know that you died. Enjoy your second chance,” he said and helped her to her feet. She was shaking and weak, but she was determined to flee.
“It won't be nearly as much fun without you,” she chuckled weakly, and summoned a piece of pipe from the rubble.
“Hold still and hold your breath,” Kraken said and surrounded her with a ball of spinning water. He washed away the blood and alcohol and let the water fall away from her.
“Thanks,” she sighed and balanced on the pole, shaking from the adrenaline.
“Don't mention it. Let me get you out of the building and then you can run wherever you want—or hop, or crawl, or limp.”
“Get your brother out of here instead. I'm blowing this place up and then you'll never see me again,” she said and hobbled toward the fire exit.
“That's not a good promise,” Kraken pouted, “I want to see you again, and when you find me, I'll make some food and we can catch up. I'd love to know if you like my caldeirada de peixe! It can warm up a yeti!”
She nodded and escaped out the door, into the rain. Kraken hoped they'd meet again.
--
Remus carried two bowls, spoons, a tureen of steaming fish stew, and a plate of crusty bread into the dining area on a serving tray. The storm outside was raging, pelting his windows while the wind howled. At least his mysterious guest was sitting by the fake fireplace, dry and exhausted, with his prosthetic under his chair.
Remus set the tray down and stood across from the man. He was curled up in the hoodie Remus lent him, and anxious.
“So what happened to you? Was it really a fight with a seal?” Remus asked.
“Do you see any seals around?” the man scoffed. Remus giggled and shrugged.
“I'll get to the point, did someone hurt you?”
“Why would I tell a stranger anything about that?” the man huffed.
“Oh! I didn't even introduce myself! I'm so silly! I go by Remus, and I run this joint,” he beamed, “Now I'm not a stranger anymore!”
“That's not how it works,” the man pouted. Remus giggled like he already knew that and pulled the lid off the tureen.
A warm, peppery smell filled the air, and Remus took a moment to enjoy it before grabbing the ladle and scooping some of the fish stew into a bowl. His guest was curious but hesitant, eyeing the reddened fish and potatoes.
“What is that?”
“Caldeirada de peixe, one of our best sellers and my personal favorite,” Remus beamed, “It’s fish and potatoes with peppers and tomatoes. I used sea bass in this batch. It'll warm anyone up in no time!”
The man stared at Remus with an unreadable expression. His eyes were glassy.
“Did you want me to fill your bowl or would you rather do it yourself?—You alright?” Remus asked as he grabbed the second bowl.
“Y-Yeah, you can do it,” the man stuttered and wiped his eyes, “Sorry, I had a friend who wanted me to try his version of this stuff. I haven't seen him in years.”
“Your friend has good taste,” Remus replied and filled up the other bowl. He set it down in front of his fidgeting guest and set a spoon beside it, before sitting beside him.
“Nah, he’s got weird tastes, except for food. He's a self-proclaimed creepy cuttlefish.”
Remus froze this time and stared at his guest. He only ever used that phrase with one person. He watched as the man pulled the spoon to his hand with electromagnetic force.
“I never did ask you your name, little birdie,” Remus said as a smile crossed his face.
“It's Virgil,” he said, fighting back a smirk.
“It suits you. Did you pick it out yourself?”
“Yeah,” Virgil said and scooped up some stew, “I decided to go with the name of my second favorite superhero.”
“Static Shock,” Remus mused as Virgil took a bite. He waited until Virgil finished swallowing before speaking up again.
“Who's your favorite?” he cooed, just to tease.
“The one who saved my life and gave me a second chance,” Virgil muttered, “The Kraken.”
“He's your favorite?” Remus asked, fighting back giggles.
“Yeah, you are,” Virgil said, finally making eye contact with him. Those eyes were so intense that Remus couldn't stop his cheeks from heating up.
“It's kinda funny,” Virgil continued, “I ran into some people from my old job and they recognized me, and then I ran into you. Is there anyone else around here who might know me?”
“My brother thinks you're dead, and that you're a woman—not that he would think that if he met you, he just remembers you pre-transition—he’s the only one I can think of, and he's back in the city.”
“You'll keep quiet about my past, right? I don't want to have to zap your memory.”
“I can do that, if you promise to stop by every so often. I'd love to have a gorgeous man visiting little old me!”
“I'll make sure I don't have to jump off a cliff and wash up on your shore,” Virgil smiled shyly and continued eating. Remus was right about his stew, it could warm up a yeti, and it certainly warmed Virgil up. Or maybe that was embarrassment from the way Remus gawked at him.
“How did you keep your metal leg when you jumped? The currents would have ripped it away,” Remus asked. He wouldn't put it past Virgil to do something reckless just to get away from trouble, in fact he thought it was hot.
“Electromagnetism and a great harness,” Virgil shrugged and grabbed a piece of bread for dipping, “This stuff is really good. You made it yourself?”
“I sure did! Caught and cleaned the fish myself and I made the broth from scratch,” Remus beamed, fine with changing the subject, “And I made the bread too. I'm glad you like it!”
“You can cook, you're smart, and you're kind. Your boyfriend is lucky if you have one.”
“I don't. I just can't seem to find someone to match my freak. I knew someone who could but there were some things that got in the way,” Remus said and poked at his food, “And I can't forget that avian personification of a horror sonnet.”
“Poetic,” Virgil mused and scooted his chair closer, “And a lot more refined than anything I'd come up with about my hero.”
“What would you say about the Kraken?”
“That he's the purest kind of hero and I want to corrupt him in the best ways,” Virgil admitted and stared at the table.
“I hate to break it to you, but I am corrupted!” Remus giggled, “And if you told me you want to thank me with your body, I would strip on the spot!”
“I'd rather just take you on a date and kiss you. But I should get going when the weather gets better. I don't want to put you at risk and I have to keep roaming.”
“You can stay here. It was worth the risk to save you the first time, and it's worth the risk now. I don't want you to disappear again. And you are taking me on that date, kissing me, and then you'll fall for me!”
Virgil cupped Remus' cheek and shook his head.
“Too late for that last one. Can I keep doing this in reverse?”
Remus nodded dumbly, letting Virgil lean in closer. His eyes fluttered shut as he pressed his lips to Remus'. It was a short, sweet kiss, but it had Remus reeling.
“Thank you, Remus,” Virgil mumbled and pressed their foreheads together, “Thank you for everything.”
“If you keep this up, I might have to take you upstairs to cuddle and watch horror movies until we pass out,” Remus jeered, despite his red face.
Virgil kissed him again and hugged him.
“After dinner. I found my new favorite food and I want to enjoy my boyfriend's cooking.”
