Maybe it’s the time of year and I’m really getting in my emotions, but damn, thinking about Warren and Hypno is making me super emotional. Reread one of my favorite fics tonight to decompress and wow, I sincerely love them.
It absolutely shouldn’t work, their relationship. They’re opposites of each other in all the ways that lead them to complete the other - narrative foils as I keep saying. Hypno started off as a forgettable human that never reached high levels of fame or recognition, likely wasn’t considered attractive (the guy had been tricked and toyed with romantically a few times given his reaction to Mikey tricking him in Newsworthy), and is this humble and sweet guy that’s very sincere and also quite petty (choosing to ignore the attempted murder). Being mutated made him formidable, a memorable and dazzling act. He had nothing to lose and gained plenty in becoming Hypno-Potamus. He commands attention and is actively seen as a threat. The only reason someone wouldn’t remember Hypno is if he hypnotized them. Beyond that, he has quite the presence.
Then there’s Warren. He was a famous guy that starred brilliantly on TV as a news anchor, was actively being looked for as his disappearance was alarming, and considered an insanely attractive guy. Becoming a mutant ruined his life and cost him everything; a forgettable and unremarkable person that is easily passed over. He can call himself a villain all he wants but there’s nothing anchoring that title to him. He’s more blood-thirsty than Hypno, however (hell, he killed a guy on-screen and smiled as the ELOM clapped). Warren is loud and self-serving, putting on a show for himself, essentially, as no one else puts in the effort to even acknowledge his existence (even the camera pans away from him in Newsworthy, much to his chagrin). What was once a big shot reduced to a rain drop in the ocean.
The differences pile up in other ways. Hypno loves his animals, even going as far as to try and resurrect his previous hippo assistant, Doug, on multiple occasions. Warren got annoyed with a pigeon once and reduced it to ashes before laughing manically. Hypno is very into fashion (“who wears knit caps?! In summer! Who does that?!” As well as the entirety of The Clothes Don’t Make The Turtle). Warren’s a bit on the frumpier side, not expressing much of an opinion on clothes but very into keeping his hair in order. Hypno sticks to his promises and Warren picks betrayal.
They shouldn’t work. They almost didn’t! Their first meeting was full of animosity and Warren was the only thing keeping Hypno from killing four children. Yeesh. But, down the line, Hypno took Warren in and they made a domestic life together work. Falling into a rhythm, surprising the other with gifts and acts of service (Warren takes care of cleaning up around the house despite there being a chore chart, and Hypno made Warren a birthday cake and jumped out of it for him), encouraging the other’s acts and schemes, willing to do anything for the other. Hypno runs away the most out of any side villain in Rise, but took several punches for Warren just so his ‘roomie’ would be okay. They cry for each other, beg their enemies for help to make sure the other can be saved, that they could resume their lives and be together at all costs.
They’re so in love. They’d have hated each other if they met as humans, or at the very least would be unimpressed. They were too different as human beings in all the ways that make them perfect for each other as mutants.
To find solace in someone going through the exact pain as you, in a similar career field no less! Spending late nights making fun of game show contestants and enjoying the other’s company. And it isn’t perfect but they have each other, can relax in the security of their relationship and know that the other isn’t leaving anytime soon. They’re partners in crime, makers of magic, co-hosts as they take the airwaves by storm illegally, long term roomies, lovers, husbands even.
