"Why are you still working?"
It had been a quiet night- one muffled by snow that shut out the busy city they brought havoc upon day in and day out. Now, only the crackling fire and clink of ice in Villains drink filled the silence.
That, and the sound of the upstairs office window as it slid open.
"Why aren't you?" Hero retorted as they slowly stepped into the light.
"It's a holiday," they hummed before taking another sip of their drink. "Can't have my crew working today- really, I'm not a monster."
While Hero could've begged to differ, they knew Villain would only make them beg. The city clean up crews were still handling their last altercation. Yet, something in Villains easy composure and solemn voice didn't sit well with Hero.
"You don't seem like the... sentimental type to do that," Hero noted.
Villain shrugged, and polished off the rest of their drink. "'Tis the season, I guess." They held up their glass, and nodded towards the bar.
"Get me another, would you, dear?"
Hero was hesitant, but not resistant to Villain. They drew closer, and Villain took their full liberty- as they always did- admiring the way Heros fitted black tactical gear hugged their body in all the right ways. It wasn't much different than how Villain looked when given their success, and it made Hero feel the same gut-twisting flutter each time.
Hero took their glass, and returned to the couch a moment later with two in their hands.
"Now, you never answered my question," Villain continued as they took the glass while fingertips grazed against one another. "Why are you working?"
Hero stalled in their sip, and glanced to Villain.
"Because you're always up to something, Villain, and I thought that, maybe, you would try something when most people were at home with their family. A bank heist, or something."
"Or something, Hero?" Villain chuckled. "And you say my plans are half-baked."
"Then what is your plan now?"
Hero went quiet as they took in a bigger drink than intended. Villain watched contemplative brows knit together as they sought out the right words.
"Because you're not working, are you?" Villain set their drink down on the table, and shifted to face Hero.
Either Hero had to be a lightweight, or something else brought a warm hue to their cheeks. Their eyes averted from Villains, and looked to their drink.
"How do you know that?" Hero didn't want to know what gave them away, but it maybe they could salvage a bit of pride.
"No gun, no radio- just empty holsters." Villain hummed as they watched Hero. "The only thing I can't figure out is why- out of all your adoring fans, you're here."
The fire in front of them warmed the living room well, but Hero was certain it was more to do with how Villain drew closer. Every word, every exchange, seemed to pull them closer until Hero could feel their knees touching and feel the smooth rumble of Villains voice.
"We can't have what others can," Hero said after a long moment. "Anyone close to me, you could kill. Anyone close to you, I could leverage out on you. It's lonely, isn't it?"
Something in Villain twisted. Not out of anger, not out of rage, but of the truthful pain of the life they both lived. To hear it aloud only solidified it the endless ebb and flow of their nature.
"But..." Hero set their glass down on the table. "We can have each other, if just... for tonight?"
The words seeped warmth, just as Heros hand did when it intertwined with Villains. Despite the reality of the never ending obligations of their work, at the end of the day, it would always be Hero. Regardless of the tyranny and havoc, Hero always knew it would be Villain behind it all.
In the end, it was always them.
Their breaths mixed together the taste of sweet amber spice, and kept one another warm long after the fireplace was reduced to dim, glowing embers. When the morning came, Villain awoke on the couch alone, yet not to the sight of Hero, or their two long forgotten drinks from the night before.
But to two, steaming coffee mugs.
