Interrupting this Broadcast
A Music Meister x OC fanfiction
Warnings: Angst, arguing, reference to being mugged
Tropes: Fighting with partner
Synopsis: Most significant others wouldn't be super keen on their partner being a criminal, much less a supervillain. Melody is no different.
Ships: Music Meister x OC
When Melody returned home that evening, she hadn’t been expecting Darius to already be home. Nor did she expect him to be by the TV, scowling at whatever he was intently watching. Curious, she silently walked to the couch and joined in his watching.
‘—and yet their security cameras nearby show nothing. All that is known is that the 129 civilians have no recollection of arriving or being on the premises as if their memory was wiped. We now go to a statement from Jim Gordon, Chief of the Gotham Police Department.’
Concern overtaking her, Melody finally spoke to break the silence and let her presence be known. “Hey, babe, what is this?”
Darius jolted up at the sound of his girlfriend’s voice. “Oh! Uh, just the news. I’ll change the channel for you.”
“No, keep this on. I’m invested.”
‘At this time, we don’t have much information. Very few minor injuries were found on these victims. The perpetrator has seemingly gotten away, taking around four hundred thousand dollars worth of goods and leaving about one hundred fifty thousand dollars in damages behind them. Most notably, the silver jewel-encrusted grand piano donated by the Chalumeau family is reported missing amongst others.’
Melody whipped her head at this last comment, her jaw gaping. “Darius!? What the hell did you do?!”
“What do you mean?” He asked, eyes rolling.
“What do you mean, ‘what do I mean’? You stole $400,000?”
“No, I simply stole an antique piano and some fancy dinnerware. And some money, I guess.”
“Darius Edward Chapel!” Melody chided.
“Melody, dearest, we’ve been over this,” The man sighed, rubbing his brow in exasperation as the chief of police continued droning, “It’s my whole thing!”
“But why?” She snatched the remote, turning off the TV, “Why do you do it? We’re well enough off, we don’t need that shit! If we were hurting for money, we can get a loan–”
“It’s not just about the money!” Darius shouted. She shifted away at this, her face a mix of frightened, disappointed, and fuming. He sighed once more, reeling back his own frustration. “I… you wouldn’t… I don’t know how to explain it…” he leaned his elbows on his knees.
“Try me,” Melody replied. She cocked her head at him, waiting for him to continue. He looked at her, trying to read her, and huffed as he glared at the floor.
“I just… it… started as a means of… some sort of escapism. Long before I met you. Everything was shitty back then. I had known about my powers for years and was no stranger to manipulating others. But…” Darius trailed off, shaking his head. He gazed to his girlfriend once more, hoping to find a semblance of reassurance to help him continue. A small nod from her was all he needed to continue as he stared once more at the ground.
“But, even then, I hadn’t done much other than get others off my back and maybe persuade some to do me favors. Until one day I was being harassed on the street by some random guy. He eventually pulled a gun on me, and tried to mug me. But as I used my hypnotic voice to get him away from me, he handed me a bag full of stolen goods. The tables had completely turned, and I didn’t even need to use violence. And as I continued to sing to get the guy to fully leave, some others got caught in my trance. I tried to get them to do what the mugger had done with his belongings, and they happily gave me their wallets, phones, and more. It was exciting, being able to steal so easily.”
Melody drummed her fingers on her leg. “And how is theft a form of escapism?”
“I-It wasn’t the crime, it was the extent of power I had over them. I soon began to chase that control I didn’t have in my life. It became a role to play. Charming others with song and dance until they showered me with praises and gifts, helpless to resist my powers. And, of course, as my performances grew in popularity and infamy, I had to protect my identity. So… I fully embraced my part to escape the boring and worthless life I lived.”
Darius lifted his eyes to Melody’s before she exhaled heavily. She opened her mouth to say something, before biting her lip in deep thought.
“I know that it’s wrong. I do. But, at this point, it’s a part of me.” he added, setting a hand beside him in hopes that she would take it.
“Do you still feel like your life is as bad as it was before?” Melody asked, shifting her eyes to her lap.
“Oh… Oh no, not at all! Ever since I first met you, my life has been truly wonderful. You have made this existence so much more amazing than I could ever have dreamed,” he assured, moving his hand to her leg.
“I just feel like I’m not doing something right if you’re still seeking your idea of ‘escapism’.” she breathed.
Darius squeezed her leg. “Melody, love, it’s not that. I’m in too deep– I’m caught in this facade of mine. You have done nothing wrong; this is my own doing. I’ve tried to change this part of me, I really have. I’ve yet to succeed…” He lifted her chin to have her look at him. “That doesn’t mean you’ll have to accept my villainy as morally just. It’s not. I may not be able to escape this path of mine, but I can try to do better for you.”
“How would you have me do that, Songbird?.”
At this, Melody smiled ever so softly. “Maybe try victimless crimes?”
Darius chuckled. “So, you’re not against crimes in general?”
Melody rolled her eyes. “You asked for help.”
