How did Hench always end up in stupid situations like this? She was separated from Villain, nursing a probably dislocated shoulder, and dragging the hopeless new girl to safety.
She wasn't an idiot, Hench saw Marcy messing with the explosives right before the heroes showed up.
Coincidences weren't something she believed in. Marcy had most definitely caused the hiccup in their plan. Just peachy.
Hench yanked her behind a column, ignoring the way her stomach rolled with the surge of pain. "Stay here!" She snapped.
"What-? Where are you-?!"
Hench cut her off with a snarl. "I have to guard Vil, you stay here before you make another mistake." With that Hench ran back out into the fray. She dodged several of her coworkers getting thrown around for what felt like eternity until she saw him.
Villain was pinned down by Superhero. Without second thought Hench grabbed a chunk of building and aimed right for his head, nailing him perfectly.
With the new opening Villain threw Superhero off before calling a retreat. Everything was a bit of a blur after that.
After all the heroes had been lost and the henchmen that didn't get snatched reconvened Villain stalked along their lines with a dangerously calm look. "Can anyone tell me," He started in a light tone. "Why those explosives went off early?"
No one said a word. Hench glanced at Marcy, who begged with her eyes not to be ratted out. It seemed Hench was the only one to notice her strange behavior.
She knew she should speak up but she also…well she was a good read of character and Marcy didn't seem the type to sabotage anyone. Or…had she misread the other woman?
Villain didn't appreciate the silence. "Every one of you was a massive disappointment! You're all lucky I managed to get what we were going for. Get out of my sight!" Many would take the short lecture as a blessing but every one of the goons knew; they were going to regret this failure for weeks.
Hench waited while they all filed out, hiding a flinch as Villain strode up to her. His eyes were cold, hard. "How dare you leave my side." His hiss burned her ears.
"One of the new recruits-"
"I don't care if they were going to die! Your job is to keep the heroes off of me so that I can acquire the target!" Spit hit Hench's face but she didn't move back. "What matters on a mission?"
"You do."
"And what else?"
"Nothing, Villain. Just you."
Villain jabbed her chest with a finger. "You need to put everything under me for priority. The other henchmen, the target, even your own life Henchman. I am the only thing that matters. Don't EVER forget that again."
"Yes sir." Henchman bit back tears. She tried to convince herself it was only from the pain in her shoulder.
Villain turned away from her. "Go to the training room. I want you to practice your punches until your hands are practically bleeding. After that you move on to your basic sets. Then you go home."
"But-"
"NOW!"
She flipped around and sprinted to begin her punishment. It didn't matter that she was injured, Henchman had betrayed orders. Of course she would need to wait to see their doctor. Why would she be stupid enough to think otherwise?
---
Hero watched as Henchman shook from the pain, horrified by the fact that the other woman was slamming her fists into a bag so soon after a shoulder injury.
It hadn't been any use trying to talk to her, the woman was determined to make it through her punishment.
After another grueling moment Hero trailed towards the room Villain was in. Cautiously she knocked on the door. It swung open to a furious Villain.
"What is it?" He snapped impatiently.
Hero swallowed thickly. "Henchman is training-"
"I told her to. She needs to learn-"
"Her shoulder is injured!" Hero spat out, anger flaring. At the agency you were checked for injuries after a failed mission. Here you were forced to use the hurt limb apparently and that fact had her blood boiling. "She got hurt protecting me. I think her shoulder was dislocated. If she keeps going at this rate it will never heal!"
At this Villain's entire demeanor changed. His face fell to horror. "She's doing her punishment with a dislocated shoulder? What is she thinking?!" Hero stumbled as he knocked her to the side, running towards the training room. She followed closely. Not wanting to get her own punishment, she waited outside the door and eavesdropped on the conversation.
"Henchie!" Villain shouted. "Why didn't you inform me you were injured?"
"I- Villain? It's fine, I'm fine." The woman sounded very faint. "You told me to-"
"I didn't know your shoulder was dislocated. You can't practice like this."
"This is what you wanted!" Henchman's voice was desperate. Hero wondered how often Villain gave her mixed signals for her to sound so broken by her own confusion.
"You can't practice like this." Villian repeated much firmer. Seconds later the door pushed open. Henchman was led by Villain, bad arm cradled to her chest, face pale and expression one of agony.
Something about that sickened Hero. She distractedly stumbled her way through the rest of the day and back to the agency. What was waiting for her when she got there was a crowd of celebrating heroes. When they noticed her their cheers got louder. Superhero gestured her over.
"Hero! The lady of the hour!" He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and jostled her a bit. "We got over half his men in one go, you were brilliant. I trust no one caught you?"
She thought back to Hench's knowing looks and held back a flinch. "No, no one saw."
His smile was radiant. Eyes gleaming with pride at his protege. "Brilliant. Let's get you a drink huh? Can't imagine it was easy. Maybe next time we can get Villain himself." He didn't seem to mind the bandages wrapped around his head. Hero wondered what they were from.
