"We can't keep meeting like this." Villain tsks, thoughtfully as they eyed Hero. It's was just their luck that Hero had not once, but twice, been in a building taken hostage by Villain while in their civilian getup.
Last time was in one of the larger banks downtown two weeks ago. Hero had made the choice to not reveal their heroic persona, wanting to protect their personal identity, and the civilians in case a fought broke out.
Villain didn't look at them twice and did not recognize their nemesis. No casualties occurred, thankfully. Hero was able to walk away with their secret intact, and with Villain likely forgetting their face entirely.
Or so they thought. Villain eyed them now with light amusement. Did they know who Hero was? Or did Villain simply remember their face from the crowd of quivering hostages.
Hero gulped as they kneeled on the cool floor of the vital records office. They tried their best to blend in with the other civilians currently cowering low, but they couldn't ignore when Villain's attention was so directly on them. Curse their life. They only came here for a copy of their birth certificate.
"Um." They swallowed, licked their lips, and tried again to speak. Hopefully Villain wouldn't recognize their voice. "Yes I was -"
"At the bank." Villain finishes. "Do you have a habit of finding yourself in hostage situations?" They smirk wide, obviously enjoying toying with whom they believe to be an innocent bystander while waiting for the clerk to get the records they demanded.
"I...have had a string of bad luck lately." Hero chokes out. Villain laughs, voice echoing through the atrium. The other hostages flinch at the sound.
Villain rakes their eyes over Hero as they kneel. A bit of humor can be found in their expression.
"A bad luck streak, huh?" They look over to where the clerk is still scrambling to gather the documents and printing out more information. Undoubtedly, information that'll be used against Villain's enemies somehow. "Well, if we're all not too unlucky, I'll have what I want soon, and you won't be here too long."
Unable to stop the quip from falling from their lips, Hero responds in a tone unbefitting their nervous civilian persona. "Knowing the work efficency of this place, I'll still be here to nightfall even after you leave."
Villain laughs yet again. Not the same usual villainous laugh they have when tormenting someone, but a real laugh. Hero mentally chastises themselves, knowing they need to stop drawing attention themselves. Villain takes another look at the clerk before turning back to Hero and crouching down low, their eyes level now.
"What's your name?" Villain asks with an amused tilt of their lips. Their gaze holds Hero still, burning them in place. Hero's heart hammers in their chest.
They hesitate before finding a way out of answering. "Why do you need to know? Do you think my luck is so bad that I'll end up in a third hostage situation?" They retort, expecting many different reactions to this refusal. Irritation, anger, dismissal.
Hero has no way to predict what Villain actually says next.
"Maybe your luck isn't that bad, but maybe my luck is that good." Their smile widens. "Maybe I just want to put a name to a pretty face."
Oh God. Villain is flirting with them. Hero feels themselves blink in rapid succession as they try and process what is going on right now. Villain, their nemesis, is flirting with them. While holding them hostage. While not realizing who Hero is, to top it off. This is going to make their next fight very awkward on Hero's end.
Hero can feel the incredulous stares of the other civilians as their own face heats up.
"I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours?" Hero attempts. They try to ignore the heat in their gut at the way Villain's eyes hold them in place, their gaze almost hungry.
With a snort, Villain shakes their head. "Nice try. Maybe after a few dinners, I'll tell you my real name. Cute try, though." They say in a voice that doesn't sound sarcastic enough. Hero can't believe what their life is right now.
As if sensing Hero's continued hesitancy, Villain stands back to their full height. "Maybe our paths will cross again, and I can get you to agree later. To dinner or to giving me your name." They all but purr, before turning back to where the clerk is waiting fearfully with a thick looking folder. All the while, Hero's mind is reeling as they try and steady their heart.
The other civilians continue to look at them as if they've grown a second head.
Villain strides to the desk, taking the documents and giving them a once over. Whatever it is, they find it satisfactory, apparently, snapping the folder shut with a wicked grin after a moment.
"Your participation made this as bloodless as possible. Thanks for the cooperation." Villain's tone is full of mirth as they speak to the clerk one last time. Hero can only be thankful that, again, no casualties occurred. Small victories, they suppose.
Villain makes to walk towards the exit, but before they do, they kneel down in front of Hero, closer than before. Hero can smell the rich smokey smell of their cologne, as Villain grabs their chin gingerly.
They lean in close, speaking quietly enough that only Hero's ears can pick up the soft, almost affectionate words as their breath fans across their neck.
"It was nice to see you outside of costume again, Hero."
