HIGH IN THE MOUNTAINS, DEEP IN THE SPRUCE, ON THE SHORE OF THE LAKE, IT’S CAMP LITTLE MOOSE!!!!
High and Mighty
The villain had been debating entering the hero’s cell for what? Ten? Maybe fifteen minutes now? Graceful footing, yet awkward stance as they hesitated in front of the iron door.
It seemed like a terrible idea for the most part. But on the other hand, they owed the hero a visit.
When villain had been imprisoned, Hero had visited them more than once. Engaging in daily conversations and making sure they only received the best of treatments from the guards and other guests.
Yet after eight months of Hero’s capture, Villain couldn’t afford to visit even once?
They hated the feeling of owing a hero, but they hated the guilt of not showing up even more.
Villain braced themselves, placing a hand on the large metal handle. Whatever state the hero was in on the other side was not going to be pretty, eight months locked in an abandoned warehouse at whomever’s mercy was guaranteed to be a nightmare.
Even Villain felt sick when they saw the message shared throughout the villains community. Free use, Hero; tied up in a room full of tools, address is 2509 Pine Street, warehouse on the left, do what you please.
No note of who had caught them nor a tally of who had used them. Villain, honestly, did not want to know.
With one deep breath, trying their best to prepare themselves, and one steady push of the door, they were in.
The first thing to reach them was the smell, metallic and bitter. Bile rising to their mouth before they could see a thing.
Once their eyes had adjusted to the dim lighting, they noticed the stain on the floor. Maroon and sticky, not dried. Then the tools, shelves upon shelves of tools, ranging from dusty and never used all the way to dripping of fresh blood.
Villain wanted to swallow, but they couldn’t. Everything just got worse the longer their eyes stayed open.
“Hero…?” Their voice was tentative, like they weren’t even sure whether or not the person in front of them was who they thought. In the light, they definitely didn't look like their Hero.
The other didn't respond, lifting their face up slightly to catch a glimpse of the newest intruder, of their new torturer. But when their eyes landed on the villain--despite their multiple beatings--they couldn't wipe the grin off their face.
"F-Finally... took y-you a while, h-huh?"
Out of everything the villain had thought the hero might say, this was nowhere near their list. And the comedic aspect that they still managed to bring to the table only confused the villain further.
"What?"
Hero smiled even brighter, leaning their head back. "T-took you a while... 've b-been waiting~"
Villain didn’t trust their voice enough to respond. They were afraid it might crack or they might breakdown completely if so much as a sound escaped their lips. Guilt bubbled up inside them and seeped through their muscles into their bones, into their brain.
It hurt to see the hero like this. They couldn’t help but recoil even if just slightly at the sight. They had done this. They had allowed this to happen. And the hero had been waiting for them all along.
Unawarely, the villain’s eyes avoided the hero, it felt like the longer they stared, the more real it became. By a pure accidental movement, their eyes landed back on the many tools surrounding them. Hero flinched when they saw where the other’s attention had gone, but steeled themselves back over when the villain noticed.
“R-Ready?” Hero waggled their eyebrows jokingly, blood had crusted over them which took any and all lightheartedness from it.
“For what…” As soon as the villain had asked they regretted it. They didn’t want an answer. It was just out of habit to question.
The crime-stopper looked even more exhausted at this point. Having to explain to villain everything while trying to keep the mood light killed what little energy they had left.
Villain noticed for the first time just how small they looked, not all heroic anymore. Dragged by the hair off their pedestal to be ravaged by violent villains from all over.
“Kill me, Villain.” Their eyes began to water as their bottom lip shook. “Please, I-I can’t take this a-anymore—”
Hero kept talking, kept rambling through their emotions. Letting everything slip. Their steeled expression, cocky tone, hidden tears, everything.
Finally letting everything go.
The villain on the other hand, did not have the same idea in mind. “No.”
The mindless rambling stopped. Shutting Hero up so quickly that every word jumbled on their tongue. They looked shocked, but mostly betrayed. They had waited eight months for the villain, knowing they were the only one who would be willing to end their suffering.
And they had said no.
“I won’t kill you.” I can’t. “I’ll do you one better, I’ll kill whoever put you in here.” The villain stuttered, trying to get their thoughts in order. “You don’t deserve to be here.”
Villain took a step forwards, the way Hero flinched only fuelled their anger; their hunger to avenge. “Who.”
“Please, Villain…”
“Was it Supervillain? Superhero? It has to be one of the supers, you’re impossible to catch otherwise.” The criminal scoffed, discussing their thoughts out loud in hopes of the hero’s aid. Meanwhile, their hands got busy with untying the chain that restrained the other. Fiddling with the massive padlock at the end, they searched for something to pick it with.
Hero let their head fall, avoiding the villain at all costs despite having begged for their attention just before. Despite having waited for months for their arrival. Now they couldn’t face their own shame.
They didn’t even notice when their bonds fell to the floor, releasing them after so long. Only coming to when Villain’s hand gently took their chin and tilted their head up. “Who brought you here, Hero?”
Every muscle in their frail body tensed, tensed with shame and failure. The name felt like a bullet to the heart, “Sidekick.”
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