PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE ME HANGING FOR UR WRITING SNDNND. I loved ur recent one, where Villain finds that Hero doesn't care for their sidekick and their disgusted at that. Could u do a follow up? Maybe Sidekick gives villain the info and hero rages on them or SMTH idk
Thank you for asking for a follow up, I enjoyed writing this SO MUCH.
Part 1
TW: Cussing, mentions of past abuse, imprisonment
Word count: 841
The hallways were dark and quiet. That was how Villain had always liked it, an extra punishment for anyone unlucky enough to find themselves amongst the cells. They were never cleaned, either, rotted food littering the cells of those that refused to eat, the smell of waste lingering from the toilets. There were soft moans from those that had been there too long, screams and cries from those who hadn’t been there long enough.
It had taken a good amount of time to scrub the blood off of their arms and face, they hoped it would be worth it. Being covered in their mentor’s blood was hardly the way to make them feel safe.
That is, if Sidekick even looked at them at all.
Villain reached the cell, unlocking it with one of the keys at their belt. They pushed the door open carefully, the metal screeching as it scratched the concrete floors. As soon as it opened, cold air surrounded their body, sending a familiar chill through them. They were used to the cold down there, the temperature never changed. Still, they took a deep breath before taking a full step in.
In the far corner, a crumpled figure lay curled up on the mattress, shaking, pressing the sandpaper-like blanket against their flushed cheeks. They could see the whites of their eyes peering up at them, following Villain as they walked into view.
“I’m not telling you anything,” the kid shifted on the stiff mattress, puffing out their chest as much as they dareed. It was an act, the confidence. They were still scared. Villain could see their tense shoulders, the way they shook, the way their voice quaked as they spoke.
“I’m not here to get information from you.” Villain stalked closer, hands balanced in front of them. Sidekick shuddered anyway as Villain sat on the cold floor in front of them, keeping a wary eye on them as they sat back up. It took all Villains strength to not pull Sidekick into a hug right then and there, but they knew that in this situation, they were the predator. Sidekick was the small, weak prey, like they always have been. “I only wish to talk to you. Whether you would like to participate in the conversation or not.”
Sidekick eyed them still, remaining silent. They knew the reason for this was not just because they were in Villains presence. No, most heroes and sidekicks yell, insult, scream, spit, make whatever noise they can. A pointless endeavor, really, but this time Villain was practically begging for it, letting the silence linger in the air way too long between the two. Sidekick's gaze soon faltered, meeting the floor.
They sighed, “Hero has… done things to you, haven't they?” The Sidekick’s gaze snapped back up to Villains, shaking, for a split second. They hurriedly returned their gaze to the floor, and the criminal could nearly hear them beating themself up.
You showed weakness again. A crack sounds through the empty space of their brain. A phantom pain spreads across their skin. Damnit, can’t you do anything right? You’ll never be a successful hero. You're worthless. Go. Out of my sight.
The criminal brought a hand to their face, rubbing the tingling of unshed tears away. “Kid, I know they’ve hurt you. What are you, fourteen?” Villain wiped their hands on their jeans, leaning in closer to the shaking form in front of them. Even the slight touch of Villain's hand on their cheek made them jolt, but Villain held them steady, pulling them into their chest. “You’re not a failure, kid. You’re not worthless. Hero is.” They didn’t know if they were talking to their prisoner or themself, but they did know that the younger of them started crying, silently, as Sidekick clutched Villains cloak like a lifeline.
“April 7th, 3:00 pm, at your underground base. They’re going after your weapons stash.” The voice was so silent, they were not sure if they heard correctly, but the kid kept going. “They aren’t taking prisoners. They’re going to- hic - kill ever-every single- fuck!” Sidekick pressed their head deeper into Villain's chest, clenched fingers pulling at the edges of their cloak, pulling Villain closer, to which they only held onto them tighter. “They’re a bunch of murderers! All of them!”
Tears were spilling down Villains face too now, faster than they could ever hope to stop. “I know, kid, I know. I know it hurts. I’m here, I won’t hurt you. You’re safe, dammit. Safe from them,” Villain sighed. “All of them.”
Neither of them moved, even as guards dragged a bleeding Hero down the cellar halls, past the open cell. Even as Hero yelled to Sidekick, calling them a traitor, weak, worthless. Screaming at Villain, incoherent, blurred words as they were lost to the suffocating air of their own suffering. It only caused them to hold each other closer, a child to their last hope, and a lost hero to their past.