Warnings: reality manipulation, mentions of repeated deaths (in many lifetimes, sort of), poisoning, drugging, revenge & murder. idk if half of these even are warnings, but just in case.
When Villain said that eight months would fly by, Hero did not comprehend just how fast that would be. In the course of the seven months, Villain had told them about every redo of their relationship, all of the weddings they'd had - a big traditional one, an impromptu ceremony at a carnival, a public Hero & Villain wedding at the city hall, no wedding at all, a wedding in a park, and many more. Each and every one of their weddings had been different, yet every life of theirs led to the same result - Villain watching Hero die by nightfall on that godforsaken day. Always poison, with no explanation where it was coming from. Villain wasn't stupid and tried any food or drink before allowing Hero a taste. At the very least, they should have died as well. A much more preferable outcome, if you ask them.
It was lucky Hero always retired about seven months into their relationship, although the asshat of a mayor never seemed to stomach it well. Villain had no need to disrupt public peace anymore either - the aforementioned asshat was enough on his own.
Though the trauma of it all was taking its toll on Villain, who became more paranoid as the date approached. There was only a month left to their thirteenth wedding, and the realisation hit Villain stronger than ever. They grew more suspicious of every person around them, not letting Hero out of sight for longer than a few minutes. They barely left the house leading up to the dreadful day, barricading inside as if fate could be impeded by the walls Villain built around them.
With only twenty-four hours of their shared life remaining, Hero had had enough. They look up at Villain sitting on the couch across from them. With a huff, they get up, strolling over and all but falling in Villain's lap. This earns a light chuckle from their betrothed, but Hero isn't deceived by it in the slightest. They see the stiffness in Villain's shoulders and notice the harsh line settled between their eyebrows. With an overly enthusiastic smile, they intertwine their fingers before speaking.
"Come with me?"
Villain's surprise is tangible. They squirm under Hero, twisting to wrap their arms around their lover's waist. "Where to?"
"Does it matter?" Hero questions, nuzzling into the crook of Villain's neck. Villain shakes their head, a soft sigh leaving their lips before they press them to the top of Hero's head. "Then come. I want to take a walk."
"Hero," there's a warning in their voice and underlying concern, both overshadowed by Villain's willingness to follow them anywhere. As long as we're together.
"Cut the bullshit," Hero's voice intrudes their thoughts harshly. "I won't stay locked up anymore."
"Just one more day," Villain pleads, arms drawing Hero's form flush against their chest. "One more day to keep you safe."
"No," they attempt to sound determined. Villain can tell they are. To think they found that stubbornness charming once! That was before Villain had to watch them die twelve fucking times. "Come with me, or I'll go alone."
"Not a chance, love," the words barely roll off Villain's lips when Hero springs up, pulling them to follow.
"I knew you couldn't say no to me," Villain knows there's a smug smile plastered on their beautiful face without even looking.
"Not fair," they whine, which earns a near-cackle from their beloved nemesis. "You are not supposed to use that against me."
Hero glances at them over their shoulder as they lock the door and grasp Villain's hand again, dragging them along. "I never played fair, did I?"
"You're the hero!" Villain exclaims, but there's no offence taken. Villain knows they are being silly, but their dramatics are well loved by Hero.
"So what?" Hero is as nonchalant as one gets when they shrug, tilting their head to the side with a taunting wink. "I'm an asshole, deal with it."
Villain laughs, drawing them close and leaving a lingering kiss on their temple. "God, you're lucky I love you."
Hero can't help the smile stretching their lips. "You sure I'm the lucky one here?" They muse before taking a turn and coming to a halt in front of a small chapel tucked discreetly between taller buildings. They lead Villain towards it.
"What are we doing?" The barely forgotten concern resurfaces in Villain's tense tone. Their eyes dart between Hero's face and the chapel in front of them. "Hero, why are we here?"
"For a secret matrimony, of course," they state matter-of-factly. Villain is very much speechless. "Something we should have done from the start. Say you still want to marry me."
Villain wants to argue, but a look into Hero's eyes tells them it's pointless. "Of course I do."
Less than an hour later, they are back on their couch, wrapped in Hero's arms, their face pressed against Hero's chest so they can listen to the steady beat of their heart.
The morning of their 'wedding day' comes inevitably soon. Villain wakes up to a soft kiss on their forehead, tears immediately welling in the corners of their eyes. They blink those back and swallow the lump in their throat, wallowing in a haze of apprehension. They are already married, and Villain would be relieved had they not experienced it precisely like this before.
"Promise me something," Hero's hand wraps around their neck, demanding their full attention. It's almost noon, and Villain cannot calm the tremor in their lungs.
"What?" They dip their head, their forehead is cold from nervous perspiration as it comes to rest against Hero's warm one.
"Don't try to save me," despite the softness of their tone, Villain jerks back, eyes stinging at the slap of words thrown their way. "Let me go."
"No way in hell," they don't even have to think, their mouth acting on instinct as their hold around Hero tightens, sure to leave bruises over their sides.
"It's okay," Hero caresses their cheek, eyes never leaving Villain's. "I've been the happiest for eight whole months. And many more that I don't remember. That's more love than I ever hoped for."
"No," Villain repeats, shaking their head to hide the angry flush rising to their cheeks. "I can't. Never."
"Please, Villain," Hero's voice cracks at the sight of Villain's crestfallen face. "You need to move on."
"No," their eyes are watering, but Villain cannot bring themself to care anymore. "No, Hero."
"You can't keep living stuck in a loop," Hero reasons, their point falling flat because Villain doesn't care. "It's been 8 years, Villain! You need to let go."
"No!" Anger flares to life in Villain's eyes. Their entire body shudders at the thought, trembling hands clutching Hero as if that will keep them in place. Right next to Villain, where they always belonged.
"Villain, please," Hero watches the first of many tears roll down Villain's cheek, their eyes softening. Their hand moves to wipe it away. "I love you. More than you will ever know. But you need to let me go. There's no other way."
Need?
Not once in the eight years they've been fighting for Hero did they consider that. They cannot believe Hero would even suggest such a thing. Unless... Oh.
"I won't watch you die again," Villain claims, seeming to regain their composure, strange coldness overtaking their features. They meet their spouse's eyes with newfound determination. "This time around, I'll be the one going."
"Don't say that," Hero begins, an uneasy feeling settling deep in their stomach. Dying couldn't possibly hurt more than watching Villain crumble.
But, before they can continue, Villain interrupts. "I mean that. If one of us has to die then it'll be me."
With a shake of their head, Hero collects their thoughts and does their best to sound stern. "You can't do that. I won't let you."
"Just like you've been doing all this time?" The statement catches Hero off guard. They freeze in Villain's arms, lips parting in shock. They cannot have... "Whatever do you mean?"
They know they gave themself away the moment their high-pitched question reaches their own ears.
"It seems to me the reason I fail to save you in every damned life is because I take heed of everything but one key component of this day," Villain's voice is eerily calm, almost serene in its rage. Their eyes tell a different story, failing to mask the tempest storming behind them. "You."
"Villain..." Hero's chest must have caved in because they fail to inhale no matter how hard they try. The air around them feels scalding hot, burning its way up their nose and down their throat, watering their eyes and threatening to rip free in harsh sobs.
"You didn't remember," Villain states, seizing Hero's wrists to keep them standing close. "But each time, you chose me over yourself, didn't you?"
It's not truly a question because Villain knows. It's in Hero's power, for god's sake. Taking away others' pain, wounds and injuries, inflicting them on their own body instead. It makes up half of their sacrificial personality, and yet Villain couldn't fathom they could take it this far. It took them eight years of their fucking life and twelve do-overs, but they figured it out. Fucking finally.
"Not this time," when the handcuffs clink shut around their wrists, Hero's knees buckle under them. Power dampeners. They clutch Villain's arms, pleading wordlessly, their vocal cords trembling too hard to make a purposeful sound. Villain shakes their head, unrelenting. They envelop Hero in their arms, and Hero leans into their chest as hot tears break free, spilling out in crashing waves. Villain caresses their hair, not letting go. "Not this time."
"Villain, please," Hero's plea is cut short when a needle pierces their neck. Their vision blurs, the light slowly fading from around them. "Sleep, my love. Just one more night."
***
The sun dances against their eyes, spilling past open curtains and making Hero frown in confusion. They never leave them open - neither does Villain because they know Hero cannot sleep unless it's pitch black in their room. Hero was the happiest person on Earth the first time Villain did that for them, made the effort to remember.
They stretch their arms up, allowing their muscles to snap into place as they yawn, still groggy from too long of a sleep. They peel one eye open and turn to glance at the clock when a sharp jolt of pain runs through the side of their neck. It's when their hand flies up to press over the sore spot that they remember the events of the previous day. With a toscin booming in their ears, they sit up, panting as they watch the ring on their finger.
No.
Please. No.
The room starts spinning at an ungodly speed, with them caged in the very centre of it as the walls seem to close in on them, threatening to crush the roof over their head, burying them under the debris of what their life could have been.
This cannot be happening.
They couldn't have slept through Villain's death. They couldn't.
Not after saving them twelve times. Not after draining the poison from their lover's mouth into their own every damn time.
Hero's mind flashes with years' worth of recollections, all following the same route.
It's them kissing Villain at their first wedding as they cradle their head, sobbing uncontrollably. They made sure to leave a little bit of poison in them that night so Villain wouldn't remember.
Them kissing Villain in the middle of the ceremony before the priest allows that one time when it was the wine at the church that was poisoned.
Them kissing their spouse in the car as tears streamed down Villain's face 'cause that wound was nowhere near fatal. Hero was supposed to be fine, which they were. Villain was not. Hero had to kiss their pain away - that's what they do. Over and over again until their body collapses.
A choked cry escapes their trembling lips, the sound of their laboured breathing filling the empty room. Tearing their gaze from the ring that feels unbearably heavy around their finger, Hero covers their mouth, allowing tears to stream down their face and clutching the sheets when their hand lands on a lump next to them.
"Oh, my god," Hero jerks back, but as they begin to process, the lump moves, turning around with a half-asleep expression plastered on their face.
"'My spouse' would suffice, but as you wish, my love," they mumble, still out of it. Hero squeals as realisation settles in.
"Villain!" They grab Villain's shoulders, shaking them awake with an impossibly wide smile on their tear-stained face. Villain's eyes widen as they take everything in. "Wake up, you idiot, we're alive!"
Villain chuckles at that, smiling at them adoringly before pulling Hero down onto their chest.
"We seriously need to stop saving each other," Hero mumbles into their skin. Villain cannot help the tears of relief that escape them. They will tell Hero they had to murder the mayor in the most slow and deliberate way possible for all of the years of their suffering, making them choke on their own poison. And Hero will not oppose or jail them. In fact, they might even thank them. But that can wait. The whole damn world can wait as they move forward with their life because they... they've waited far too long.
Villain wraps their arms around Hero's form, shaking with happy laughter as they pepper kisses onto their hair until the sun is well over the horizon, marking the beginning of a new day.
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
Masterlist
A/N: And here it comes, the final. I did not anticipate this story to turn out they way it did but oh well, sometimes they have minds of their own xD I hope you enjoy this and thank you for reading! xo Sunny
