pyronicpathogen

[pyronicpathogen]

DID U DIE??? U HAVENT POSTED IN A YEAR? WHTA HAPPENED??? DID YOU GET MARRIED??? LOSE UR PHONE? HAVE CHILDREN??? GET HIT BY A CAR??? GET DIAGNOSED WIH A TERMINAL ILLNESS??? FORGET YOUR ACCOUNT PASSWORD??? WHAT HAPPENED

I'm okay lmao?? I just have no inspiration atm

[pyronicpathogen]

Stumbles out of google docs covered in blood

[pyronicpathogen]

Knife To Meet You

    Villain had been staring up at the suspended hero in disbelief. The net swung from the hook on the ceiling with Hero inside. How long they had been here was a question Villain couldn’t answer, but given the sawed hole nearly big enough to squeeze through it must have been a middling time frame. Villain spotted a reflective metal on the floor from the sunlight streaming in through the window. It was a knife they assumed the hero dropped. They were likely here for longer than originally thought. 

    “That’s quite the pickle you’ve gotten yourself into.” Villain sipped their morning coffee, indifferent to the hero above them. 

    Hero offered a defeated sigh, falling lax in the net. 

    Villain strolled off out of sight, returning with a vibrant keyboard the Hero knew controlled the base systems. Security, heating, lights, the entire property managed by this orange clicky keyboard. An arrow key pressed and the hero was being lowered, but not to the floor. No. They were still a good several feet from the ground, only now the villain was within arms reach of them. 

    Villain set down the keyboard and strode over. “Do tell me how you got in here without my security noticing.” Their demeanor was sweet, but their words spoke murder. The glint of hostility in their eyes did nothing to curb the hero however. Not even when the villain bent over and picked up their knife, pressing it against the jugular in Hero’s neck. 

    Hero grinned like a fool. “I can think of some other things I could be doing here.”

    Villain narrowed their eyes. “Such as telling me how you got in here?”

    “How about telling you how pretty your eyes are when you’re trying to put together a puzzle?” Hero felt heat crawl up their cheeks. Villain scrunched up their nose. “Or how photogenic you are? I saw your article in the news yesterday. The photographer did very well to capture your good side.”

    “Or how you got in here?” Villain refused to let up as the knife twisted against their skin, blood beading forward. Hero swallowed, thinking of a way out of this sticky situation. Not that they wanted to escape the villain.

    “I could tell you,” Hero paused, “over dinner.” 

    “Why do I get the feeling you won’t tell me then, either?” Villain was crossing their arms at this point, twirling the knife in their fingers. The knife was gone from their throat. Hero willed their pounding heart to be still. 

    “I do get so lost in your eyes so easily.” Hero smiled only to have Villain turn their back to them. “It’s easy to forget the world with you here.”

    Villain walked over and typed something into their keyboard. The hero fell from their trap with a heavy thud. Their coccyx bruised and throbbing now as Hero tried to free themself from the net once more. Did Villain need to drop them like that? They blinked open their eyes to see Villain standing over them with keyboard in hand. “You promise to be there at the date?”

    Hero’s heart stuttered. A date? They were actually going on a date with Villain? The one villain that held their heart in a vice grip and let it bleed dry until the only emotions they had left for the criminal were  limerence and fanfiction worthy pining? 

    “Well?”

    Hero sputtered. “Oh-! Yeah of course, how about eight tomorrow night at the tepanyaki place downtown?”

    “Only if you hand over that crucial information,” Villain nodded. “Don’t be late now. First impressions are awfully important.” They smiled cheek to cheek, and before Hero could react they were sent tumbling through a trapdoor into the dumpster behind the building. Their knife soon landed to the side of them.

    Covered in trash and still restrained by the net, they couldn’t focus on anything but the date tomorrow. 

[pyronicpathogen]

In case you didn't know, I have a Writing Discord! <3

Mostly for writers of the hero x villain community, but everyone is welcome! Writing advice and help, or just general goofing around, come hang out with us! <3

[pyronicpathogen]

Here. We. Go! AU-gust 2022 prompt list just dropped! Go on and spread the word!

What is AU-gust? It stands for Alternate Universe August, and it is a creative challenge for everyone. Writers, artists, fans; anyone can join! Be sure to check out our FAQ for more answers! Join us on Twitter, AO3, Discord and under the tags #AU_gust and #AU_gust_2022.

Special thanks to yaoyorozoops for creating this year’s graphics!

[Image ID: 31 days challenge prompt list as follows: 1 Underwater, 2 Artist’s Muse, 3 Countryside, 4 Dinosaurs, 5 Teachers, 6 Fairies, 7 Science Fantasy, 8 Literal Hell, 9 Coffee Shop, 10 Space Academy, 11 Twisted Fairy Tale, 12 Candyman, 13 Reboot/Fresh Start, 14 Food Truck, 15 Hanahaki Disease, 16 Psychological Horror, 17 Annoying Neighbour, 18 Choir, 19 Spies & Assassins, 20 Space Colonisation, 21 Ghosts, 22 Surfers, 23 Infinite Loop, 24 Childhood Friends, 25 Mad Scientist, 26 Paparazzi, 27 Adoptive Family, 28 Unicorns, 29 Where It All Went Wrong, 30 The Good End, 31 Two of the above. You have three Jokers: Soulmate AU, Theatre AU, Yandere AU]

[pyronicpathogen]

Sleepless fixings

Villain wasn’t paid nearly enough for this. Papers lined their desk, some even fell to the floor from the number of files occupying the small space. Supervillain had stolen these from Hero Corp. and tasked Villain with reading through them all for information that could be used against the heroes. They scribbled down more notes from the file and pulled up the next crime report. 

They blinked and glanced at the clock hanging on their wall. 2:04 am. Supervillain wanted a full report by tomorrow morning and Villain was tearing up at the seams just to get this done. They were going to pass out at Supervillain’s feet with the report in hand at this rate. 

That’s if Supervillain would let them sleep at all.

They were in the middle fantasizing about stabbing Supervillain to death when their window slid open across the room. Villain spun around to see Hero frozen midstep through the window. Hero plastered on a smile, starting to climb back out to the fire escape. “I thought you were asleep.“

“I wish I was asleep right now.” The villain admitted as they stood. Crossing the room, they grabbed Hero’s arm and pulled them back into the room. “That doesn’t mean you are going anywhere.” They fought on pulling Hero into the room, Hero reaching forward and slapping the Villain to no benefit. Hero yelped as they were pulled into the room and the window slammed shut. So much for a stealth mission. 

Villain pinned the Hero to the floor with their bunny slippered foot which squeaked. “Now tell me why you were here in my home?” Villain paused. “How did you find my home?” They grabbed a fly swatter from their window sill and pointed it at the hero. 

Hero held up their hands in defeat and looked up to the sheep pajama clad criminal. It was difficult to take them seriously like this, even when Villain’s eyes stared death down at the hero. “I— what do you think a fly swatter is goin-“ Hero felt the bitter bite of the flyswatter across their face, splattering bug guts across their cheek. 

“How did you find my home?” 

Hero frowned and looked off to the side. “I followed you home from your day job at the uh, the uh..”

“Wendy’s?” Villain looked unenthused. That was the worst job of their life. Fast food had hallowed their soul more than villainy ever could. 

“Yeah, that.” 

Villain contemplated quitting their job and living off of bank robbing more times than Hero had beat them down. Exhausted out of their wits, they lowered the flyswatter and returned to their desk with a deep sigh. “What are you doing here at this time of night anyways?” 

Hero stood and wiped the bug splatter from their face. Sitting on the bed’s strewn sheets, they turned to Villain. “I should be asking you the same thing,” they gestured to the papers the villain picked up once more. 

“Can’t sleep.” Villain scribbled something down on a post it note. 

“That’s not what I meant.” Hero crossed their arms. 

“I know.” Villain didn’t particularly care to answer Hero’s true question, and they didn’t have time to deal with Hero’s antics. Villain turned around to face the hero and nearly jumped out of their skin. They hadn’t heard Hero approach and stand just behind them. They steeled their nerves and turned back around. They were too tired to tell Hero to back off.

Hero scanned the documents and tsked. “Stealing confidential documents?” They shook their head in mock disdain.

“I didn’t do it. Go complain to Supervillain about it if you’re upset.” Villain was reading another paper when hands were on their shoulders. Villain froze up as strong fingers massaged at the tense muscle. Villain brushed the hands off of their shoulders, only to have them reappear drawing circles into their shoulder blades. Villain felt goosebumps rise from their skin.

“What are you doing?” Villain was going to turn, but Hero turned their swivel chair back towards the desk. Hero didn’t answer, only tracing gentle lines into Villain’s clothed back. “I asked you what you’re doing.”

“Can’t sleep, huh?” Oh god, was this what this was? Villain rolled their eyes and crushed their back to the chair. “Come on now. Lighten up a little bit.” Hero gently urged them forward and ran their fingertips down their spine. Their heart fluttered, heat creeping up their face.

Villain yawned before they could stop themself. 

“What was that? Hm?” Hero leaned in and Villain shoved them away. They should get up right now and push the hero back out of that window. 

“Nothing, leave me alone.” Villain was gathering up the documents when Hero had scooped them up into a bridal carry. Villain struggled from the foreign hold, kicking in the air and punching Hero’s jaw. Bruises and welts would form within the next few minutes. 

Dropping Villain on the bed, Hero shoved them down onto their back and began to tuck them in. “You need to sleep.”

“You can’t make me! I have a paper to write and-“ Villain was going to explain when the hero had reached down and began to massage Villain’s shoulders. Villain shuddered at the touch and tried to pull the blanket over themself in an attempt to hide from the Hero. It worked. For only a moment however.

The bed dipped as Hero climbed into bed with them. Hero pulled Villain close and rolled them onto their side so they could card their fingers through the villain's hair. Villain opened their mouth to complain when Hero hushed them. “Are you going to tell me to stop? You smile so nicely when I do this.” Villain buried their face into the hero’s chest when Hero combed their hair with their fingers. 

Villain yawned again. Curse Hero for their sweet words and their warm embrace and the magic fingers luring them to sleep. They would never admit Hero was having an effect on them, though they were sure the other already knew. They couldn’t fight forever as droopy eyelids dropped and bone deep exhaustion caught up with them. 

The hero smiled at their now sleeping villain. They leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to their forehead. “Next time, don’t push yourself too hard.” They would most certainly need to speak with Supervillain, possibly exchange fists rather than words. For now, they watched the villain softly slumber.

When the villain woke the next morning, they found Hero missing from their bed, and the report and files all missing from their desk. “Fuck.”

Tags: @annablogsposts

[pyronicpathogen]

ATTENTION

If you see this you are OBLIGATED to reblog w/ the song currently stuck in your head :)

[pyronicpathogen]

Closeted

    “You’re stepping on my cape!” The heroine struggled against the taut fabric.

    “You keep elbowing me! I hardly see how your cape is the issue when my kidneys are writhing on the floor.”

    The Villainette and Heroine were upset to say the least. Tied to each other with rope and locked in a cramped janitor’s closet, the two had been squirming and bickering for the last fifteen minutes. “Stop being so overdramatic.” Hero felt like she had been locked in this closet with Villain for an eternity, and her whining wasn’t helping the matter at hand. 

    Villain rolled her eyes and continued to squirm in their bonds, making the scratchy rope tighter. “Kidney injuries are serious, Hero. One punch to the kidney and you could be incapacitated.” She hiked up her boot again, trying to reach for the knife lodged in between the black leather and her sock. It was hard with a whole other human being behind her and bound hands. 

    “Do you want me to demonstrate?” Hero had been trying to reach for the hedge clippers on the floor in front of her, but with Villain’s disagreements it was virtually impossible to reach any further. And it didn’t help that Villain was still standing on her cape. 

    “What are you even doing back there, darling?” Villain sneered ignoring the other’s question, fighting against bending over backwards.

    The villain had been a flirty type. She never meant it, the Hero was sure. Surely she was like this with all of the other heroes in her team when they battled. Right? Still, her cheeks flushed. 

    “Well, since you asked, I’ve been trying to reach for these clippers over here so we can get out of these ropes.” Hero spoke so matter-of-factly with a sarcastic edge to her tone. “You know, the ones tying us together?”

    “Just get the fucking knife in my boot. We don’t have to bend ourselves into pretzels to reach it.” Villain reached down again only for her knife to be just out of reach from her wiggling digits. This was becoming unnecessary back breaking work.

    Hero was dumbstruck. That’s what the villain had been doing this whole time? She thought the other was just being difficult. 

    “Here, it’s in my boot. I’ll raise it up again and you grab it, okay love?”

    “Wow, Villain willingly working with others and helping them out? Who are you and what have you done with the real Villain?” Hero’s sentence was punctuated by a heeled boot kicking into the back of her knees. She yelped as she fell forward, bringing Villain crashing to the floor with her. They both sighed unanimously.

    Hero was feeling down Villain’s leg in search of the boot, and the other inhaled sharply. The villain spoke through their face being pressed against the wall. “This isn’t Seven Minutes in Heaven, as much as I would love it to be.” Villain kicked back the boot once more and she felt Hero slip the knife out of her boot. She tried to pull away from Hero to give her the space needed to cut their bonds.

    Hero was sawing furiously at the ropes in hopes that it would distract her from the heat rising in her face and chest. “How about you shut up and stop moving before I accidentally stab you?” Hero could hear the feigned shocked gasp behind her.

    “You would never do such a thing. You’re too kind for bloodshed.” Hero could hear the grin in her voice, though Villain was correct. Blood made Hero squicky, they were more of a diplomatic type. Except Villain infuriated them to no ends at times and was just asking for a good sock to the nose. 

    A rope snapped and the two immediately began to wiggle their ways out of the loosening ropes. Hero cut the ropes tying her hands together before standing up. 

    “Won’t you be a doll and undo my hands too?” Villain could only see the vague silhouette of the other staring down at them in what was probably ‘no.’ “Unless you like seeing me tied up, I don’t mind so much.” Villain smiled hearing the Hero’s briefly stuttering breath. 

    “Just shut up already.” Hero cut free Villain before trying the doorknob. Locked. She sighed. “You don’t suppose you have something for this?”

    Villain rubbed at their wrists covered in rope burns. “Of course I do. How else would I sneak into your precious organization and steal secrets?” She pulled out what looked to be a credit card, before sliding out a hidden compartment holding lockpick tools. “Do you have a light?”

    Hero shone her phone’s flashlight on the lock and watched the villain get to work on the doorknob. “What do you mean steal secrets?” Villain shushed Hero. “Don’t shush me! I asked you a question.”

    “And I asked you to be quiet so I can hear when the pins are set.”

    She was clearly dodging the question, but the deadpan face told Hero to ask later. As if Villain would answer it then. Villain would probably run off or go on some other tangent to avoid the question. 

    The door swung open and Villain strode out, stretching. “Ah, how I missed the fresh air and not the musty mouth breathed closet air.”

    Hero pursed her lips and crossed her arms in annoyance. 

    “Hey now, I never said I hated being in there with you. I would love to be trapped in a closet with you again sometime, say 8:00 tomorrow?” Villain was mostly joking. Hero shoved her and walked past only for Villain to laugh and chase after her.

    “I’ll take that as a yes.”

Tags: @annablogsposts

[pyronicpathogen]

Snippet #1.1

AN: I wanted to split up this story into two parts because it was a bit much for one post

[part 1]

[Trigger warnings: human trafficking, kidnapping, blood, gunshots, drug mentions, murder mentions]

   

    Hero had been pacing their hotel room with a toothbrush in mouth and pajamas on their person. When was Sidekick getting back from snacks? They had been waiting for the better part of thirty minutes. They guessed that Sidekick had gotten lost within the hotel and messaged them the room number as well as a “R U there?” The messages were left delivered, but unread. Sidekick was glued to their phone every waking moment, even in meetings making Leader fume. Maybe someone else had seen them?

    They decided to call the front desk. 

    “Hello, this is Desk Attendant at Small Town Hotel. How may I help you today?” It sounded practiced like she had said that thousands of times before.

    “Hi this is He- Civilian in Room 203, have you seen my friend around? I think they’re lost.” Saying this, Hero realized they were fully capable of walking around the hotel in search of their sidekick. Not that it would help with the next words of the desk attendant two floors below.

    “I watched them get arrested by an officer. They were asking about you too.” There was a pause on the other end while Hero was shocked. “Are you a criminal or something? I will call the cops.” 

    “Wh- no. No ma’am I am not. Thank you.” Hero hung up before she could threaten law enforcement any further. 

    Pulling on their civilian clothing once more with their uniform underneath, this time with their agency issued tactical gadgetry and Hero ID, they raced downstairs and flagged down a cab. Climbing into the yellow car, the Hero made way to police headquarters. Once this misunderstanding was cleared up and Sidekick was back at the hotel, they could sleep soundly.

——— 

    Sidekick was pulling at the cuffs bruising their wrists. They wracked their brain for different ways to escape simple hand cuffs. These were easy to lockpick, but they didn’t have their lockpick kit with them. They could dislocate their thumb and slip out easily, but that was a last resort. Even if they got out of their handcuffs, they wouldn’t be able to open the door or crawl out the window. They glanced up at the unconscious officers beside them in the backseat and in the passenger seat. As well as to Villain-disguised-as-officer in the driver’s seat. They used chatter over the police radio to avoid other cops.

    “You know, it was kind of hard to believe that someone from the big city was sent here to investigate me. Didn’t think I was worth the big leagues, kiddo.” They glanced into the rear mirror to see Sidekick scowling back at them. “Big leagues or not, you will do swimmingly.” Villain’s smile was not unlike a child finding a cookie jar hidden from them.

    Villain parked on the side of a mostly empty street on the edge of town. Rounding the car, they opened the door and dragged out the Sidekick from the collar, abandoning the other two officers there. Pulling Sidekick into a bar, the villain waved to the bartender. The bartender nodded and continued drying cups as the villain strode behind the bar and opened up the wine cellar. Shoving Sidekick down the ladder, they disappeared below the bar to no one’s concern, the hatch closing behind them.

———-

    Hero stepped out of the cab, tipping the driver, and stepped into the police station. Walking up to the front desk, they knocked on the wooden desk. There was an assistant typing onto the computer while a convict sat cuffed to a nailed down bench nearby. Hero pulled out their ID and slid it over the desk to the attendant. “Excuse me, I’m here because I was told my partner was arrested.” Pulling out a photo of Sidekick’s photo, the attendant glanced at the photo before looking unimpressed at Hero.

    “Your partner isn’t here.” The attendant went back to their business on the computer.

    The hero furrowed their brow in confusion. “Can you at least look them up and make sure?” 

    The attendant glanced over again, clearly ready to go home, before typing something into the computer. “What’s their name?” 

    “Sidekick.”

    Clicking on the keyboard filled the silence aside from an overhead fan. “They aren’t here, I’m sorry.”

    “Is there another police station in the area? Or anywhere else someone would go when they’re arrested?”

    The attendant shook their head. 

    The hero pursed their lips in frustration. If they couldn’t find their sidekick then they would have to file a missing person’s report. Though their business here wasn’t finished. “Well, I need to speak with the sheriff or one of your superiors about some dire information. I was sent here from Metropolis to investigate Villain.” 

    The attendant smiled and reached under the desk. The door to their left opened with a loud buzz. “Good luck with Villain. They’re a slippery fish to catch.” They went back to their work with Hero free to step into the back offices. 

    Hero asked around for a First In Command or a Sheriff of some sort, being pointed to a room in the back. They were warned that Sheriff didn’t like people showing up unannounced so patience was crucial. 

    Hero knocked on the door before stepping inside. The sheriff was in the middle of a phone call when they stepped in. Hero waited patiently as Sheriff frowned at the intrusion, finishing their call. “Who let you back here?”

    “I apologize for the inconvenience, but I have two pressing matters. I’m Hero from the Hero Agency in Metropolis, and I was sent here to investigate Villain and get them under control.” Hero took a chair when Sheriff nodded and motioned for them to sit. 

    The sheriff kicked back, resting their feet upon the desk. “I got a call about you. It’s good they sent one of the big dogs to check Villain out, though I’m not sure if the mayor will be so happy about this. Don’t let Mayor catch wind of you being here.”

    Hero was thankful the sheriff wasn’t upset, but felt the familiar twinge of confusion from before. They read that the town was appreciative of their villain, but the mayor? “I’m sorry? I don’t understand.”

    Sheriff took a sip of now room temperature Vanilla Cola sitting on their desk. “Mayor and Villain have a special deal. Villain kicks out any of the other big criminals in town and Villain will get free reign to do as they please. Though it has gotten out of hand with civilians going missing and turning up dead weeks later.” The sheriff opened up a file cabinet beside them and sifted through the manilla folders, passing files and cases over to the hero. “There’s suspicions of drug trades and human trafficking. Though these claims have no conclusive evidence.” 

    Hero looked through the files handed to them. There were photos of people who were either missing or dead. Autopsies and statements noting that these people all died of different wounds in various locations, though they all had one thing in common: they were all seen getting arrested by what looked to be an officer in an older, outdated uniform before their disappearances. 

    “The mayor won’t let up on the deal because ‘The town is safer this way.’ Even when presented with the facts, Mayor won’t let up.” The sheriff shook their head solemnly. 

    “These people were arrested before they disappeared?” Hero looked from the files with concern. 

    “Yeah, we think that it’s Villain playing as an officer.” 

    “Well that brings me to my next order of business here. I believe my partner was arrested, but the person at the desk said Sidekick wasn’t here.” Hero frowned at the papers in hand. “Do you think you might know where Villain may be hiding out?”

    Sheriff looked shocked at this revelation. They wiped the shock from their face and sat forward with newfound seriousness. “We aren’t sure. No one has been able to or refuses to identify Villain if they have seen them. Much less, where they go.”

    Hero thought back to the hotel. “Can I look at the public CCTV records?”

————

    Villain had returned to their new captive in a different uniform, the one from the case file they saw at the agency. If being chained to a pipe wasn’t worrying enough, Villain standing before Sidekick made their stomach twist and sour. It didn’t help that other civilians were tied down to pipes and chairs around the room. “Remember what I told you.”

    “Smile and- and act pretty?” 

    Villain nodded at them with a generous smile, ruffling their hair when the hatch opened up once more. Various people stepped down the ladder, each of which wearing clothing far more expensive than the beat up car that Sidekick owned. Sidekick was desperately attempting to piece together the situation. They listened in on the conversations between Villain and the other visitors. 

    “Now this puppy is worth a pretty penny,” the villain said, grabbing the sweet girl by the hair. “She’s very selfless and kind. She knows how to play violin and dances for her fans on social media. She told me she’s a doctor on our little date in the big city.” The others nodded and asked questions while the girl began to cry, makeup streaking down her cheeks. Sidekick started struggling, but the sharp glare silenced him and stilled his nerves. 

    They were being sold off to strangers. Trafficked.

    Prices were being discussed when the hatch opened once more. “You have another one, Villain,” the bartender called down. Down the ladder stepped Hero still in their civies. Hero straightened their shirt. “Sorry I’m late, didn’t realize what time it was.” They looked out of place with their tshirt and slacks as opposed to silken white suits made from Brazilian silk worms or whatever Sidekick thought the wealthy folks wore.

    Villain looked on in skepticism. “Who are you?” They were ready to fight or flee at a moment’s notice. 

    “I’m… Charlie. One of your sources said you would be here.” Everyone was silent while Sidekick looked on in silent plead to get out of here. Hero fished out their wallet and pulled out the only hundred they owned. “Sorry, I’m new to this sort of thing. Please continue.”

    Villain’s eyes were tight with suspicion. “Of course you are.. if that’s all you have,” they gestured to the Benjamin Franklin in the Hero’s hand, “then I can show you one of the scraps in the back. Otherwise I would get out of here if I were you.” Villain discreetly reached back for a gun strapped to their belt. 

    Hero eyed the Villain’s movements as the others watched on. 

    “Are you a cop?” One of the perusing shoppers asked, bills likely amounting to thousands in their shaking hands.

    There was a silent moment between the group. Villain had let go of the girl’s blond hair by now, who was thankful to have a moment where her life wasn’t being priced like some antique roadshow. “Answer the question, Hero.” Hero was shocked to have their hero name spoken aloud, and slipped their wallet and dollar back into their pocket.

    Villain whipped out their gun, only to have Hero tackle them to the ground. They wrestled around for the weapon, punches and blows being exchanged. Everyone else were either fleeing or struggling in their bindings while Villain was occupied. 

    Sidekick shook and shimmied until their chains were sliding to the floor. They glanced back to the scene to see Hero having their temples brutalized by the butt of the gun, blood waterfalling down their face. Rushing over to the others tied up, they worked on untying ropes and undoing chains. “Hold it there!” A gun clicked and Sidekick looked up to see Villain pointing their gun at them, when Hero pulled out their collapsible baton and beat Villain from behind, distracting the criminal once more.

    The sidekick was working as fast as they could to free the other three captives. A gunshot rang out and the villain had shot the hero in the leg. Hero let out a shrill cry as blood gushed down their leg, pooling on the concrete flooring. They swung the baton only to have it intercepted and snatched from their hands. “I thought you big leagues were better than this. They should’ve sent a superhero. They would have done some real damage.” Villain grinned down at the Hero, failing to notice the sidekick wrenching a loose pipe from the wall. Water gushed out onto the floor. 

    Villain turned to face the sidekick once more to receive a pipe colliding with their jaw with every bit of force the sidekick had in them, staggering and stunning the villain. Teeth and blood went flying to the floor as Sidekick beat Villian until they collapsed to the floor, unconscious. The girl watched in shock, but was ultimately concerned for Hero. 

“Villain said you were a doctor?” Sidekick turned to the girl after examining the bullet wound. She nodded and the sidekick helped her out of her ropes. She immediately ran over to Hero and was cleaning up the wound with a bottle of wine from the many lattices. Using clothing as makeshift bandages, they were going to need gauze and disinfectant later on. This would do for now however.

“What about them?” The girl pointed to Villain. Her hippocratic oath said she needed to help anyone injured, and that included heinous criminals. “I need to help them.”

“Then do so, either way they’ll be put in custody once they receive care from our medical experts at the agency,” Hero remarked plainly. Sidekick took the agency issued cuffs and cuffed Villain’s hands behind their back. They also confiscated the gun and searched Villain for any other weapons. They winced from standing, with the doctor’s help. Hero thanked the doctor and made a phone call to the sheriff. 

Hero could not wait to crawl into bed tonight.

Tags: @annablogsposts

[pyronicpathogen]

Home Is Where The Heart Is: part 2

[tw: mind control, breaking bones/ mild body horror, gore, referenced past vivisection and unethical medical practices]   

[part 1]

The last few days for Sidekick had been fading in and out. The supervillain had visited their cell once or twice, but the memories were fuzzy or blocked out altogether. Hero may have said something to them, but Sidekick could only close their eyes once more. Today was no different. 

 ��  Bleary eyes peeling open much to Hero’s relief. The concrete ceiling greeted them once again before a familiar face swallowed up their vision. Sidekick attempted to sit up, only to be met with the searing pain in their torso. Hero was there to help them up, supporting their weight in each arm. “Easy now. Are you feeling any better today?” Sidekick’s eyes were focusing on Hero’s face, a step of progress compared to the empty stare the last few days. They could only manage a noncommittal sound.

    Sidekick was trying to stay awake this time around. Hero wasn’t sure if that was good or not, but it meant Sidekick was making steps towards recovery. The memory of Sidekick’s innards on full display made Hero’s stomach lurch. They did their best to focus on the now. “Supervillain said we were going to leave as soon as Leader completed their side of the deal. We will be leaving soon.” Hero didn’t know what ‘The Other Side of The Deal’ entailed, but they could only pray it was something like ransom. The other suggestions Supervillain gave weren’t too appetizing. “Their lives for yours,” echoed in Hero’s head. They shuddered. 

    “..We’re going home?” Sidekick’s tired gait perked up a bit in hope. Hero nodded, whether it was true or not had yet to be guaranteed. It was likely however. Sidekick stared across the corridor at the empty cell. Struggling to their feet, they made it to the cell bars with Hero’s help. “Is there anyone else here?” Sidekick looked down one way to see countless more empty cells, down the other they could see Supervillain striding down the hall. Sidekick immediately kicked back from the bars and crashed to the ground, landing on their back with no concern for their injuries. They crawled away from the bars in panic. 

    Supervillain stopped in front of their cell, whistling upon seeing Sidekick awake and kicking. “No. I don’t normally take prisoners long term. It’s unethical afterall.” The dastardly surgeon revelled in the Hero’s glare piercing them. Of course nothing else they did was ethical, but it amused them to see Hero uselessly up in arms. “And for your previous question, you will only leave if your superiors care about you enough to post your bail,” they idly picked at their nails in feigned disinterest. “So far, it’s looking bleak~” Supervillain spoke in a teasing sing-song tone. 

    Sidekick’s hope was stomped out like embers from a campfire. They kept to the corner, refusing to say anything to their captor. “It’s good to see you awake. There’s no use bargaining with a corpse.” They smiled at Sidekick and leaned closer to the bars. Sidekick gave no response, emotional or conversational. Supervillain pursed their lips in wait. “You better say something before I take your teeth and grind them into dust.” Their golden eyes bore into Sidekick, ready to weaponize their hypnotic suggestions. 

    “N-No, I’m good.” Sidekick hugged their knees tighter to their chest.

    Before Supervillain could turn sour at being told ‘no’, Hero jumped up and reached through the bars, grabbing Supervillain’s collar and slamming them against the bars. “Why won’t you just let us go?! Why are you doing this?” 

    Supervillain’s cheek pressed between the bars, though it did nothing to stop their glare from turning venomous. “If you do not let me go this instant, you won’t have a life to let go.” Their tone was low and cold. Their glare stabbed knives into Hero’s skull as gold took over the hero’s vision when they didn’t immediately let go. “Break your friend’s legs.” Hero looked zombified, empty stare and thoughtless movements when they turned to face Sidekick. 

    Sidekick shrieked, taking their shoe and throwing it at the unfazed hero. “Wait wait wait!” Sidekick held out their hands in a feeble attempt to hold back Hero and shook their head wildly. Why weren’t they stopping? Hero stepped forward and stomped down on the other’s lean legs, bones crunching under their heeled boots. Sidekick wailed and tried to escape as Hero bashed and beat their legs until they were bent wrong and splayed incorrectly. Fat globs of tears trailed down the younger’s pale cheeks as they sobbed and pleaded. Hero was released and Supervillain chuckled, “Be good little doggies,” leaving the two alone in their cell once more. 

    Hero immediately collapsed beside Sidekick and was looking at their fresh injuries in horror. First, Sidekick’s jokey and bubbly demeanor had been stolen along with their humanity, and now the hero had directly contributed to their suffering. “I’m sorry-! I didn’t want to- didn’t mean to-“ Hero was horrified at what they had just done. Sidekick could only lay on the floor and wail into the concrete flooring. 

    Hero gingerly pulled Sidekick into a comforting hug, careful of their legs, and Sidekick didn’t fight. They wrapped their arms around their friend and drew calming circles into their back with their fingertips. Hero mumbled “I’m sorry I’m sorry” over and over into Sidekick’s shoulder. Sidekick didn’t blame them for something they couldn’t control. Their fury was for Supervillain and their stupid pet, Right Hand. 

    Sidekick didn’t know if they wanted to visit a hospital once/ if they were out of this shit show of a prison. Supervillain being a surgeon meant they likely worked at the local hospital and would visit Sidekick again when they were vulnerable and healing. They were afraid what the future held if their hero friends didn’t come for their rescue. Not that they could escape on their own with the condition of their being. 

A door swinging open and the squeak of wheels echoed down the hall. Both Hero and Sidekick jerked their heads over to the corridor. Sidekick’s heart thundered in their chest. Right Hand stepped into view with a table full of tools. No scalpel this time. Hero had known that Right Hand hardly talked, whether they were any kind of mute or shy was unknown. Either way, they stepped into the cell without a word and shut the door behind themself. 

Sidekick pulled Hero tighter against themself, nearly crushing the other’s ribs out of fear for what may happen. Hero put themself between Sidekick and Right Hand, only to be grabbed by their telekinetic abilities and thrown into the far wall of the cell. Hero’s world lit up with stars and the ground swayed dangerously beneath them.

Right Hand grabbed one of Sidekick’s legs with their magic fingers, and was straightening out the bones. Piecing together the bone shards like a jigsaw puzzle with an unseen force, Sidekick clawed at the floor and hollered hoarsely with agony. The shattered legs were straightened and realigned, allowing Right Hand to tightly bandage them. 

“Why are you doing this?” Hero mumbled out all the while fighting to stay conscious. 

The Right Hand only glanced over with indifference. They mumbled something about a hippocratic oath Supervillain had to follow. Didn’t that also include “Do No Harm”? Hero was too dizzy to wrestle with the logic of the situation. 

“Boss’ll be by soon to put your legs in casts.” That was the first full sentence Sidekick had heard the other utter with confidence. Though they had no mind to dwell on that as they sniffled and wracked with pain, clambering to get away from Right Hand once they were released. The subordinate stood and turned, cleaning up the gauze and scissors. 

Once they were alone once more, Hero made to lay down beside Sidekick. They should’ve known not to take this mission when they were told that rescue would be near impossible. Hero was grateful that Supervillain was “generous” enough to spare their lives in return for some other thing they wanted. 

Time began to blur as the two sat in silence, save for the hiccups coming from Sidekick. Sidekick couldn’t sleep while Hero purposefully stayed awake knowing they likely suffered head trauma. Hero knew that sleeping now could mean they possibly wouldn’t wake up, not for an unhealthy amount of time at the very least. 

Through the light filtering in through their single barred window, Hero made note that it was sunrise of the fourth day. Another tally joined the wall next to their toilet, the only other thing in here besides the window. 

Elsewhere in the base, Supervillain was bickering with Superhero and their Legion of Losers.

“You broke their legs?” The Leader was furious at the new revelation, slamming their fist down on the oaken table. “We agreed that they both would be kept in as pristine condition as possible. We will have to lessen the deal for your actions-“

“Now now, are you in any place to make terms and conditions about our agreements? If things aren’t up to my liking, I could simply end their lives with the snap of a finger.” Supervillain remained cool and collected, leaning back in their creaking swivel chair and propping their feet up on their desk. “And what then? You can’t stop crime with the deceased. Right?”

Leader was red in the face from the situation, upset and perturbed by the earlier and current events. Despite what they wanted, any wrong words could lead to two more innocent lives being lost. Two dear friends at that. They spoke through grit teeth, “fine. We will speak with the mayor about those royalties you wanted. Please. Let them go.” 

Superhero didn’t look too pleased with the events at hand either, but they could burn bridges when problems arose later on. Gnawing through their bottom lip, they were emailing the mayor at light speed. Supervillain wanted privileges. They wanted power and freedom to do as they pleased, and they were able to barter it down to only a few set freedoms.

Though they were talking about a plan behind the scenes to stop these freedoms in the future. When they knew the lives of innocents weren’t at stake.

For now however, Supervillain was pleased enough to hand over their colleagues. They ended the video call right as someone in the background spoke up, trying to convince them to lower their demands further. 

“Fetch me the little one. Get the other ready for departure.” Supervillain spoke without making eye contact to their right hand, noting the door closing a moment later. They were pondering what they could do with these newfound rights. The authorities may come in to stop them, but they could never stop Supervillain before. How would they manage to do so this time around? 

Sidekick could be heard fussing down the hall, writhing and possibly tearing open any stitches they had. Supervillain frowned at that thought. It was such a hassle to keep stitches closed on many patients, and this one was no different with their squirrely attitude. 

Once the brat was seated and forced to hold still, Supervillain got to work on their casts. The molds were fitted and hardened around the injured extremities. “Why did you make them break my legs?” Was all Sidekick could ask. “Why are you helping me now?”

“It was a warning.” They held the cast still so the fiberglass could dry and harden. “And I need you in your best condition if this deal is to go through. That being said, you need to be good if this deal is to go through.” Their golden eyes met Sidekick’s own soft brown gaze. “I am not afraid to silence you if you prove to be too much trouble.”

“But I thought doctor’s weren’t meant to hurt people?” 

“It’s funny because as far as the public is concerned I am just a normal doctor helping the good people of this city. They don’t know about the things I put in or take out of them. They don’t know of the things I do here, or that I am even a villain.” They held the sidekick’s leg a bit tighter to punctuate their next words. 

“And you won’t tell them because I will know if you say something. It will not end well for you if you snitch, and I can promise that here snitches do not get stitches. They are met with their cold graves and eternal rest.” Supervillain was stern, and Sidekick couldn’t help but think that the threat wasn’t clever or didn’t even rhyme.

Sidekick couldn’t pale anymore than they already were. They could only nod from the threat placed on them. They wondered if Hero could be the one to deliver the news, but they got a nagging feeling that the blame would fall on themself and the same threat would apply. Or perhaps Hero would be put into an early grave. Either way, they felt sick. 

“Now go rest and let these casts dry. You have a big day tomorrow.” Supervillain gave their Friendly Doctor smile, leaving Sidekick to be wheeled out to their cell. 

Tags: @emcscared-whumps

[pyronicpathogen]

I love me a good vivisection >:) @onlywhump

[part 2]

[tw: Vivisection, surgery without anesthetics, gore, talk of selling organs, ask to tag]

Home Is Where The Heart Is

    Nothing had prepared the hero for what today would bring.

Tasked with surveilling Supervillain’s base, extracting any information if possible, and then bailing before Supervillain could even catch wind of intruders, Hero and Sidekick were moving through the thick shadows outside of the base’s walls. If this mission was to prove successful in finding and extracting any possible prisoners trapped deep within, they needed stealth and heaps of luck on their side. If all failed, they were warned that a rescue mission was likely impossible given the level of Supervillain’s danger. Many had come in and none had yet to leave alive. Aside from Supervillain and their underlings of course.

    Hero had pulled open the panel to the front gate and was fiddling with the wires while Sidekick kept watch. The guards weren’t going to circle around the corner for another few minutes at least. The gate opened and they slipped through into the courtyard leading into the building. They followed camera blindspots around the back where they would climb the fire escape up the levels. Stopping at the fifth floor, they snuck through the window and checked for traps.

    Technology flashed and flickered with an immense amount of buttons and screens. Wires lined the floors between machines and monitors showed various statistics and news articles. Sidekick cautiously slithered through the room to a computer while Hero scanned for files and plans. Sidekick was left unbothered, but Hero had made one wrong step onto an invisible tripwire and a steel cabled net snatched up the hero. They hung and swung from the ceiling as adrenaline spiked from the sudden event of capture. It was silent for a moment before Sidekick came rushing over.

Hero was out of reach as they jumped up to grab onto the trap. Their fingers inches from brushing the net. “Are you okay?” The hero nodded while glancing around for a way out. The net had cinched closed effectively trapping the hero. They were both looking for a wire or a switch that led to the netting. “Try that button,” the hero suggested. Sidekick glanced at the big red button at the side of the room.

    “Don’t you know that big red buttons usually mean doom? Have you ever seen a cartoon?” Sidekick was mostly joking to lighten the situation, but deep down they were panicked. They scanned the various buttons and switches hoping anything was labelled “trap”.

    “I don’t see any pulleys holding up the net. It has to be one of those buttons.” Hero pulled out a knife and was hopelessly sawing at the net.

    “I’m not seeing anything over here.”

    “It has to be over there, I swear if it isn’t-“

    “Well if you know so much about Supervillain’s organization and traps, how about you come down here and push it yourself?”

    “Now isn’t the time for attitude!”

    “I can’t find the button though!”

    “It’s the little green button next to the door,” a third voice interjected. Hero ceased their sawing at the steel cabling and Sidekick’s veins turned to ice, freezing them in place. “For future reference of course.” Supervillain stood in the doorway with Right Hand just behind them. The sight was enough for Sidekick to want to run for the hills, leaving their partner behind in a desperate attempt to preserve their life.

    Sidekick couldn’t move from their spot, rooted with fear.

    Supervillain slammed their fist down on the aforementioned big red button, and the entire building was put on lockdown. Metal shields shuddering down over windows, red alarms blaring through the building for a solid minute before ceasing. No one was leaving. No one was coming in nor out. What happened now was between them and the gods. Supervillain approached Sidekick, gripping their jaw and lifting their averted eyes to meet their own. They studied the young face. “Yes you will do nicely. So very kind of you to deliver yourself to my doorstep.”

    The nimble fingers gently holding either side of their jaw had now clawed into Sidekicks cheeks, dragging them out of the room. Sidekick struggled against Supervillain, swung any gadgets they had (a set of keys and ) uselessly, anything to be freed. “Have the other brought down as well. I want them to watch.” Right Hand nodded at the order and set about relocating the Hero, who was now struggling wildly to escape the trap.

    Down and down the spiral stairs, the four descended into what would be known as Hell. Hero, still stuck in the net, was pulled down every stair. Thump thump thump. That was surely going to bruise, not that it mattered now. They fumbled with their phone, thump thump, sliding it out of their pocket, thump thump thump, only to have it plucked from their grasp. Thump

    “Ah ah.” Right Hand wagged a finger at them and dangled the phone over the railing, letting it fall several stories to the bottom where it would crunch against concrete. There was no getting that back the hero realized with diminishing hope. Glancing over, Sidekick wasn’t faring much better as they continued to flail and squirm in the supervillain’s iron vice. 

    They stopped on one of the countless, possibly infinite amount of floors. Beeping from the dial pad and a scan of Supervillain’s thumb, and the heavy metal door before them squealed open. The blast door only closed behind them and cut off any light previously pouring in from the stairwell. A breaker flipped and fluorescent lights turned on, relieving them of the darkness. 

    Though the hero and their sidekick wished they didn’t have a view of the horrors in front of them. Metal tables and chairs splattered with old, brown blood that would screech along the linoleum flooring when moved about. A tray adorned with gore spattered tools shone in the artificial lighting. Sidekick was going to be nauseous at the sight of it alone. 

    “I’m sure you both have heard stories about me, and I’m sure they are all true. And do know,” Supervillain picked up a scalpel and studied the gleam of the fine blade, “that me telling you all of this does spell your last days here. No one gets the sweet privilege of having information on me and living to tell the details. Just last week, a sweet girl was in here, a reporter, under my expert care.” 

    Supervillain spoke sweetly, calm, and collected as if they weren’t slamming Sidekick down on the table in the center of the room and strapping them down with thick leather straps. Tools and bedpans crashed and clattered to the floor with the impact of Sidekick against the gurney. “I found her snooping around my guards out front, asking questions like there weren’t consequences for sticking her nose in my business. Can you guess what happened to her?” Both the Hero and Sidekick shook their heads, more out of not wanting to know and less out of not knowing. 

    Once Sidekick was strapped down and immobile, the master villain had grabbed a remote from one of the many tables littered with metal tools and devices of torture. A click of the button turned on the overly large screen adorning the moldy brick wall. The hero turned green and many other colors much like the stages of grief. 

    Pictures of what was assumed to be the reporter flashed on the screen like a slideshow. Her insides were torn open and ripe for viewing. Her cranium had been sawed open and brains shoved into a meat grinder. Hero could see the very same industry grade meat grinder off to the side of the room. They looked away before bile had a chance to bubble up. 

    “You need to stop!” The sidekick bit out before clamping their mouth shut, realizing their mistake as the Supervillain glanced down at them. The villain looked to be without worry while Right Hand watched on like children watching a peer be dragged to the principal's office. Sidekick craned their neck up to see the hero being hoisted up to the ceiling once more, Right Hand using their telekinesis as an aid. “Please let us go,” the young hero whined out.

    Supervillain feigned thinking about the question deeply, tapping their finger on their chin. “Hmmmmm no. You already know too much.” Picking up the scalpel once more, they sliced the sidekick’s uniform open leaving an unobstructed view of their chest. “Where shall we cut, dearest accomplice?” 

    Right Hand came over wordlessly and began to draw long lines along Sidekick’s skin with a black sharpie marker. Sidekick was now realizing that Right Hand hadn’t said a word their entire visit. Though their visit was beginning to look like imprisonment. 

    “Will I ever leave this place again?” It was a bit of a stupid question on Sidekick’s part given the small lecture and gruesome powerpoint earlier, but they wanted any grain of hope they could get their hands on. 

    Now that was a question the villains truly pondered. “Maybe.” They ran the edge of the scalpel against the Sidekick’s cheek, cutting off any peach fuzz they had. “I could use you both for ransom. A bargaining piece with the other heroes for benefits. Or perhaps a trade, your lives for theirs? Not that I need anything from your organization of clowns and circus acts. If I wanted something, I would have taken it already.

    “But I will humor you. Keeping you alive could benefit me.” Right Hand held Sidekick’s squirming head still while Supervillain began an expertly precise incision on their abdomen. Sidekick cried out as the clean blade pierced their skin. 

    “STOP!” The hero reached out from their spot high up, only for Supervillain to return an unamused glance to the captive. They had spent the last several minutes spamming SOS on their fancy watch the Heroes Organization had issued them, and yet no one was returning the call. They could only pray that it was the lack of the signal reaching the organization and not the lack of people answering the call. 

    “Or else what?” The supervillain challenged before returning to their suffering captive on the table. “Please clean up the blood there,” they spoke to Right Hand before continuing their long incisions. Right Hand grabbed a clean rag and cleaned up the blood beading out of the wound. The flaps of Sidekick’s skin were now being peeled open and clipped back. 

    “I will call Superhero.” Hero put on their best stern face, pretending the visible viscera wasn’t bothering them. 

    Supervillain perked up, though with a smile and not horror. “Oh that is a jolly good idea! Right Hand, get the court jester on the line please.” 

    Right hand nodded and wrestled with the remote, punching in numbers on the screen. 

   

    Secretary sped through the halls, busting into Superhero’s office. They looked like they had seen a ghost, jabbing a thumb back to the conference room. Superhero and Leader had glanced back at the frightened intern. “It’s for you,” was all they said before speeding off. 

    Superhero, Leader, and various other heroes and employees were gathering around the large table in the conference room. They all heard that Supervillain had personally called them. Even the tech nerd that talked to no one had shown up to see what all the hubbub was about. 

    Leader flicked on the large television to be greeted by the sight of Sidekick having their intestines pulled out and hung on a large hook, much like a surgeon would do. “Oh good day you lot, Hero had the wonderful idea of calling you. Let me say you all sometimes have the most exciting ideas.” 

    Other Hero and Tech Nerd had left the room to vomit while others guaked in horror at the scene before them. They were speechless. What would anyone respond to this kind of situation with? 

    “You can come and get them if you would like. If any of you dare try.” Supervillain was speaking still as they began to slice into Sidekick’s liver. Removing astounding amounts of the vitamin rich organ and setting them aside for everyone to see. Sidekick was wailing and sobbing every second, nearly drowning out Supervillain’s talking. “Or we can discuss things later. Hand them over safely, without issue.” 

    Hero watched on as the sidekick squirmed in their bonds. Their eyes focused on something behind the horrific scene, spotting a medical degree. The supervillain was a licensed surgeon. This monster of a human being was out in the world doing who knows what to innocent lives in public. 

    And right now, they were removing one of Sidekick’s kidneys. “Oh yes, this will sell nicely in the market. Very healthy.” Supervillain ordered Right Hand to store the organ away in a foam box in the freezer. “Your organs are very healthy,” the supervillian observed, “You don’t smoke or drink. I can tell.” They patted the sidekick’s lungs and they audibly wheezed with effort trying to breathe against the shock of their internal organs being patted. They jolted when their lungs were nudged aside and their heart was openly handled. The beating muscle in gloved hands strained, fighting for life. “I think your kidney will sell for more too, having been in a young hero’s body.”

    Sidekick was beginning to disconnect from their surroundings, dissociating in a desperate attempt to cope with the situation at hand. They were jolted out of their reverie when cauterizing iron burned the open wounds closed. “Scalpel.” The scalpel was pressed into their hand once more with the Right Hand confirming, “scalpel.” 

    Next was the gallbladder. Flesh put up no resistance to the pristine blade of the scalpel finely slicing through. Sidekick pulled against their leather restraints, growing weak from the operation. “If your little superiors want you back, they better say something now. I might just keep going. Afterall, the organ donation waiting list is very very long. Especially for hearts and lungs.” The heinous surgeon prodded at the beating heart once more. 

    “What are your terms?” Superhero choked out. They all had seen horrific scenes and people in gruesome states, but not like this. Not one of their own much less.

    The supervillain held up a finger before grabbing the cauterizing iron and hook needle with thread. Disinfectant cleaned the wounds thoroughly before the intestines returned to the body cavity and flaps closed. Sidekick’s world was growing dark at the edges, the last thing they remember was being closed up and carted off to some dark corner in the base where they were locked up with Hero and let themself sleep. 

[pyronicpathogen]

Snippet #1

(first writing bit to start off the blog, i got a bit carried away with it)

[part 2]

[Tw: murder mention, kidnapping, vivisection mention, car bombing mention]

The new report Hero had been assigned to left them dumbfounded to say the least.

A day prior, the case file had been dropped on their desk by their superior. The beige cover holding the sparse contents was nothing different from their usual work. Their superior, Superhero, walked in with the file saying “Have fun getting this one under control,” before leaving for lunch break. Of course Superhero would give them work right before their own lunch break, giving them work on their thirty minutes they wanted away from their day job.

Hero mumbled an acknowledgement, picking up the file, and heading downstairs to the break room with a frozen microwave burrito. Watching the frozen food rotate in the microwave made Hero wonder why the heroes weren’t paid more for their backbreaking work. Opening the file, the report started as any other: A villain in the relatively small town that neighbored their wondrous metropolis. The usual bank robberies, the occasional kidnappings, some murders here and there, and a single case of the mayor being held hostage. The microwave beeped and they took their food to one of the few seats in the room.

Skimming the details, their sidekick leaned over their shoulder to read the tiny script in the hero’s hand. “I overheard Superhero talking about that one with Leader. Turns out the villain is a pretty strange case, or at least the community surrounding them is bizarre.” The younger sat across from the hero and ate their own peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Sidekick’s mom likely packed it with other veggies and fruits on the side in their colorful lunchbox with a spaceship in space decal on it.

Glancing up, the hero set down the few papers in hand. “Is this another Supervillain case? Where they have an endless army of simps and fangirls salivating over them on social media?” That was a memorable case. At some point the authorities had to get involved when civilians would message Supervillain on various social media platforms pictures of the heroes and their whereabouts, trying to stop the heroes from entering the skyscraper the supervillain called a base, and even went as far as openly harassing the heroes in the streets for doing their jobs. Twitter had shutdown the #SupervillainSimptopia tag in attempts to keep the situation under control.

The sidekick made a ‘kind of’ gesture with their hand. “From what I heard, no one is actually throwing themselves at the villain’s feet. I heard the population there is a bit protective of the villain however.” This piqued Hero’s curiosity.

“Why would they be protective of someone like that?” the hero spoke to no one in particular. They caught a glimpse of Sidekick’s shrug out of the corner of their eye as they scanned the documents more thoroughly. The villain was being described as territorial and refusing to cooperate with other criminals of any kind. Their only accomplice was Henchman. Any other villain was chased out of the town and any criminal was threatened into retiring their criminal streak. One minor villain had even been put into Witness Protection.

“I dunno. Maybe the town is small enough that it’s an ‘Everybody Knows Everybody’ type deal? Though, if I knew a villain personally I would avoid them at any cost.” Sidekick popped a ranch dipped carrot into their mouth. Hero doubted this with the population being no more than five thousand, though it wasn’t entirely out of the question.

Hero and Sidekick had packed their bags that evening to visit their neighboring town.

It seemed normal at first glance. Supermarkets, a mall, fast food chains, gift shops, cars dragging along the streets going to and fro. The town was big enough that public transport was a common method of commuting, though the bus looked old with a long extinct fast food chain being advertised on the side. The duo had asked people on the transport about Villain, though everyone was uneasy discussing that with what was clearly an outsider. “Just invest in as many insurances as you can,” they would be told in regards to Villain’s activities. Hero and Sidekick found their way to a hotel in their civilian identities. Hero made small talk with the desk attendant saying “We’re just traveling. I heard that a villain is pretty much a celebrity here, never heard of that before. It probably brings a lot of tourism.”

The attendant glanced up from her keyboard and monitor, obnoxious gum chewing filling the space between the three of them. “I guess. We get more attention from nasty folks than tourists. Some people try to step up to Villain, whether they’re a vigilante or another antagonistic type, but they always go missing before the local newspaper can cover the fights.” Some typing on the keyboard as Sidekick perused the magazine rack next to the desk. “I feel bad for anyone trying to play hero here though. It’s always someone with a big dream and none of the technological means or government protection to keep them safe from Villain.”

The desk attendant handed the set of keys over to Hero. “But between you and me,” her voice hushed and low, “I’m glad Villain is here in this little town. They keep us safe from any of the other baddies that try to make their home here, even if they’re a bit criminalistic themself.” Hero nodded and archived that information for later. A little off put from the fact that someone would openly admit to being grateful for a villain of any kind, Hero took Sidekick by the arm to the room upstairs.

Two beds in a cheap room. The faded floral wallpaper was peeling at the edges, the carpet was stained and moldy, the bathroom tight and clean despite the foul odor coming from under the sink. Sidekick set their things on their bed before turning on the tv, flipping to the news. The tv was much too quiet, except for the commercials blaring at top volume that made their neighbors bang on the walls to keep it down. From what the two could see, Villain’s most recent escapade involved stealing a priceless diamond from the museum downtown. “Who knows what they might be planning,” the man on tv questioned.

“Did you hear what the lady downstairs said? ‘They keep us safe’? Do you think this town even has a police force?” Sidekick was taking notes from the news reports of Villain’s and other criminal activities arising.

The hero nodded. “The case file said that there is a police force here, though they can only take care of the more minor crimes.”

“And what about us? She said that previous heroes and vigilantes have gone missing after approaching Villain.” Sidekick had looked up to Hero by now, the pen and notepad at their side. Sidekick was growing anxious as they thought about it. “I promised my mom I would come back home safe.”

“I’m sure we will be okay. After all, we can call for SOS and have Superhero rescue us, unlike those others that went missing here. And we aren’t some Joe off of the street with big ideas, we have formal training for these situations.”

Sidekick seemed more at ease, though not completely relieved. They mentioned something about a vending machine downstairs before leaving the hotel room. Hero stayed up here, going over the case file again with the newly gained information and news reports pulled up on their phone.

Sidekick wondered what happened to the people that went missing as they navigated the corridors and stairwells. They and Hero had dealt with particularly nasty villains before, leaving only the worst memories to haunt them at night. They had a vivid recollection of being strapped to a table with Supervillain standing over them. “It’s not an autopsy table if you’re alive,” they had said. “Otherwise it’s a vivisection table.” Thankfully Superhero had bust in not a moment later, giving Sidekick a chance to escape when Supervillain was more occupied. Sidekick still wondered what would’ve happened if Superhero hadn’t had astounding timing. Vivisection probably.

Standing in front of the vending machine, the colorful wrappers brought them out of their reverie. A crumpled dollar pulled out of their pocket and flattened along a corner of the vending machine, Sidekick mused their selections.

A little ways away at the attendants desk, someone was chatting with, questioning rather, the attendant. Sidekick couldn’t help but eavesdrop.

“-no I didn’t see anything outside when the accident happened. Though there were some people that came off of that bus, they were asking about Villain.” The woman was speaking to a police officer taking notes. They were asking about a bomb that had detonated blocks away on the bus that Hero and Sidekick had been on not an hour earlier. “I think that’s one of them over there.” Sidekick glanced up to see the lady pointing at them and the officer staring them down with the sharpest eyeliner the sidekick had ever seen on anyone.

“I’m going to ask that you come with me.” The officer was rapidly approaching the sidekick.

Red alarms blared in their mind and their feet moved before their brain could catch up. Feet sprinting up the stairs and through the halls, snack forgotten in the receptacale. Sidekick felt something was off about this officer, the few years in the Heroes League had trained their mind to spot danger in even plain sight. Their survival depended on it far too often in their line of work. They could hear footsteps behind them, hot on their trail. “Stop!” The other called out. “I just want to ask questions!”

Flying through corridors, speeding faster than they had ever fled before, Sidekick made it to the floor they resided on before a hand clamped around their wrist. Sidekick spun around to meet the officer face to face. Said officer was staring them down while Sidekick was desperately recovering their breath from the short chase. “I just want to ask you some questions.” Sidekick was cuffed and dragged back downstairs against their will.

Sidekick flailed and shouted before going boneless to inconvenience their captor as much as possible. “This isn’t correct police code of conduct! I didn’t do anything!” The desk attendant watched on as Sidekick was removed from the building. The officer glanced back at the girl, and she swore she saw an amber hue to their eyes.

The same hue of Villain’s eyes they saw on the news just earlier that morning.

[pyronicpathogen]

PINNED POST/ MASTERLIST

I’m Pyro, any pronouns

I write about Heroes and Villains in the whump community

[REQUESTS STATUS]: Open (no smut please, mild suggestive content ok)

Masterlist below read more

Home Is where the Heart Is: [part 1] [part 2]

Sleepless fixings: [x]

Snippet #1: [part 1] [part 2]

Closeted: [x]