You think you could write a prompt about a tall scary villain who is actually a big softie towards their sunshine hero. Maybe a hurt/comfort scenario with a bit of fluff? I also really adore your writing, keep it up!
Villain hadn’t expected their phone to ring in the middle of the night, and they especially hadn’t expected Hero to emerge on the other side of the line. They picked up lazily, lips turned down on instinct, “What is it?”
A sigh escaped Villain’s lips and they tried to hide the concern in their voice, “Anyone there?” The words were laced with a fake annoyance. It was all Villain could do to keep from slipping into worry. Quiet, so soft it was near silent, a choked sob emerged on the other side of the line.
In an instant they were on their feet, phone pressed close to their ear as they muttered a small, “Hello?”
On the other side Villain thought they heard tears. They tensed, turning to demand that Henchman shut up so they could catch what Hero was saying. Villain could hardly make it out, a choked whisper on the other side, but the moment it clicked Villain had dropped the phone and ran.
When they arrived the room was in shambles. Chairs overturned and clothes cast on the floor. Villain’s stomach dropped and dread flowed through their veins. “Hero?” They called, voice laced with worry, “Hero, where are you?”
A shape in the darkness, curled up tight and trembling. Villain rushed forward. As they grew closer they managed to flick on a light and truly took in the sight of their dear Hero. They were almost unrecognizable.
Hero was sobbing, tears flowing thickly down their cheeks as they struggled to breathe. Their hair was caked with dust, tangled while several tears left their uniform mangled. Villain’s first thought was to search for wounds, eyes trailing over Hero’s shaking form in a panic- but there were none. Hero was unscathed, and yet they still trembled.
“Hero-” the words made their nemesis flinch as if they had only then noticed Villain’s presence. They glanced up with red rimmed eyes and another choked sob escaped their lips.
Confused, Villain raised a brow. They reached out but Hero only recoiled, “Hero, what-”
“I didn’t mean to- I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, I swear!” Hero buried their head in their arms, pulling their knees closer to their chest. They held themself as if they may fall apart with the slightest touch. “I didn’t mean to.”
Hero looked so small this way, smaller than normal. Villain hated the absence of the bright smile that usually graced Hero’s features. The laugh that made everything seem okay. Whatever had happened- Hero never deserved to have that smile taken away.
Slowly, Villain tried again to reach for their partner. This time Hero didn’t pull away, though they still winced from the touch. Villain would never admit how such things sent a pained jolt through their heart. “Darling, I need you to breathe for me, can you do that?” They looked at the Hero even when the other wouldn’t fully meet their gaze. Slowly, Hero nodded.
They followed along as Villain tapped a gentle pattern upon their back. In, and out. One breath at a time Villain continued to trace their breaths upon Hero’s back. Their tall form enveloped the smaller’s, warm in their embrace. They could feel Hero’s heartbeat against their chest and released a breath of their own when it slowed to a regular pace.
“I’m sorry,” Hero muttered into Villain’s shoulder. “Too close, they got too close and I-” They sucked in a breath. “I hurt someone.”
Amidst the de-escalation of their panic their arms had slipped around the Villain’s waist and their head remained buried in the Villain’s shirt. They looked up now, regret shining in their features. “Your shirt-” Hero picked at the material, soaked through with tears, “I ruined it.”
They sat up and tried to wipe the soot and tears from the fabric. All too quickly Villain could feel the Hero’s heart begin to race again. They took in their lover’s distraught expression and wished to smooth the wrinkles beneath their brow, the downward quirk of their lips. Villain couldn’t stand to see Hero suffer this way. They reached out and gently grabbed the Hero’s wrists, enough to startle the crimefighter. “It’s alright,” Villain said, barely a whisper, “You haven't ruined anything.”
“Nothing a trip to the washing machine can’t handle.” Villain smiled softly, “I think the same may go for your uniform too darling. Would it feel better to get all that dust off, and then if you want, you can tell me what happened?”
Hero looked at the Villain and their hands slipped from Villain’s shirt before they nodded.
“Alright then.” Villain stood and did their best to ignore the look of pain that crossed the Hero’s face in their absence. Hero had always been one for physical touch, hugs from behind when Villain least expected it, a peck on the cheek on Villain’s hardest nights. Hero always managed to wipe away the hardened intimidation that Villain put up. Only for them. Only Hero got to see what was truly inside. Villain was quick to grab what they needed in hopes of not leaving Hero alone for too long.
They returned with a garment in hand. Villain had shed the hoodie upon entering the room, no longer in need of an inconspicuous disguise. Now they held the thick fabric in their hands and with a smile, offered it to the Hero.
“Why don’t you go and get that stiff uniform off, and I’ll get a washcloth for your skin. Sound good love?”
Hero was silent for a moment. They stared at the hoodie in Villain’s outstretched arms. The words that came out next were quiet, almost as if embarrassed. “I don’t want to be alone.”
“You want me to stay with you?”
“Alright, I’ll stay right here,” Villain offered a gentle smile and placed the hoodie into Hero’s arms. Upon the nervous glance from their partner, Villain turned to face the wall. “I won’t look,” they promised. A moment later they heard the shifting of fabric and soon there was a tap at their shoulder. Villain turned back around and nearly melted at the sight before them.
The fabric of the hoodie swallowed Hero’s form, pooling below their knees and hanging off their wrists. They looked so small, so much so that Villain hoped the garment wouldn’t overwhelm the crimefighter, though their worries vanished when Hero pulled the fabric close and smiled.
“It’s so soft,” they hugged the hoodie close to their form and for a second, Villain caught the flicker of sunshine they were so used to seeing with the Hero. “Thank you.”
At that moment Villain was rendered speechless. They couldn’t help the smile that graced their own lips, so overwhelmingly filled with endearment and love. God, they wanted to frame Hero’s bright eyes and shining smile, make it last forever. “It looks good on you,” was all they could manage to say.
They both were silent, trapped in each other’s eyes. Hero was the first to break their stupor. Drawing the long sleeves up over their forearms, their gaze fell back to the linen closet. “I think- can we go get a washcloth? This is better but I- I can still feel the dirt…”
“Oh, yeah of course,” Villain nodded. They resisted the urge to rush and grab it for Hero, instead remembering their previous request and opting to stay close by the Hero’s side. They walked together to the linen closet, where being the taller of the two, Villain retrieved a washcloth from the uppermost shelf. They moved to wet it under warm water, then offered it towards the Hero. “Here, this should help.”
When Hero stood frozen, an awkward silence settled between the two. It took a beat for Villain to catch the hint of longing in Hero’s eyes. Something they wanted to say, but could not find the words for. Villain didn’t hesitate any further.
With slow movements, they brought the washcloth to Hero’s cheek and began to brush the soot from their skin. They had made sure the cloth wasn’t overly hot, and even so checked to make sure the Hero was still comfortable. Soon the dirt had gone, replaced with the fine blush that never seemed to leave Hero’s cheeks. Bright, and pink like peonies. Newly cleaned, it seemed as if a weight had been lifted from the Hero’s shoulders. Without warning, they lunged forward and enveloped the Villain in their arms.
“Thank you,” they whispered, squeezing tighter, and then- “I love you, I love you so much.”
It was enough to make Villain’s heart skip a beat. They had always been a mess around the Hero, unraveling with the slightest smile. Hero was the only capable of doing such things, of dissolving the cold resolve the rest of the world knew so well. Now, something new cracked in the Villain to reveal something pure and undying. Love, in its deepest form.
Villain cradled Hero’s head to their chest and carded a hand through their hair. They were like this for a long while before Hero’s breathing slowed, so much that Villain thought they had fallen asleep, only to be caught off guard by Hero’s gentle whisper.
“Will you stay with me tonight?” They asked. “What happened- I really didn’t-”
“Shh,” Villain held them closer, “You can tell me about it tomorrow, right now you need to sleep. And yes- I’ll stay with you. I’ll stay however long you need, forever if you ask me to.”
“Forever and always my dear.” Villain felt the squeeze of a palm around their own, shielded by the thick fabric of the hoodie. By the time they had looked down to identify it as the Hero’s, their partner had already drifted off to sleep. Finally at peace, Villain was quick to follow. They would deal with the challenges that arrived in the morning, but for now all they needed was each other.
