THE WORLD I LOVE, THE TEARS I DROP TO BE PART OF THE WAVE, CAN’T STOP.
They were trying to be quiet—they really were—but the sound of their heartbeat pulsing against their eardrums was deafening and they couldn’t keep their focus. It was only one small slip up and the next thing they knew they were flying head first down a flight of stairs.
The crash was so loud Civilian was convinced even the villain’s neighbours heard their tumble. And if it was loud for the villain’s neighbours, it was even louder for the villain themselves.
A hand landed on each of the civilian’s shoulders, hauling them up, spinning them around, and slamming them into the wall. When their dizziness subsided, the breath was knocked from their lungs once more at the sight of Villain’s all-too-friendly smile right before their eyes.
“Well, it’s about time I caught you, pretty. You’ve been sneaking around my base unpunished for far too long.”
Civilian’s tongue turned dry, they were never supposed to get caught. One heaving breath later and they were part way through a plea and a choked sob when the villain switched their hands, both of them coming to grab Civilian by the throat; effectively shutting them up.
“God, you’re going to break so prettily.” The criminal smiled and cocked their head, eyes boring into the other’s skin. “Sorry, I’m getting ahead of myself. What’s your name, darling?”
Civilian nearly collapsed in fear, knees just about ready to give out if it weren’t for the villain’s hold pinning them to the wall. “H-Hero—” They gasped out, prying at the fingers locked around their neck.
The villain looked them up and down quizzically, as if they were trying to solve a puzzle that wasn’t quite adding up in their own head. “Funny. I didn’t peg Superhero as the kind of person to hire scaredy cats.”
“V-Villain, please—”
“Begging already? Our fun hasn’t even started. What a shame it is that Superhero can’t see you now…” Villain’s chokehold tightened, Civilian’s nails dug through their suit and into the other’s hands. It was a last ditch effort to keep air and blood circulating through their body.
The criminal’s grin widened at their increasing desperation, the way they scrambled, and the way their eyes pleaded silently for mercy. It truly never got old.
“Let’s get a good look at my latest victim, shall we? The newest face to be plastered across the newspapers.”
Before Civilian could register what was happening, their mask was ripped free from their suit, revealing their raspberry red face to the enemy. They spluttered, a little more air coming through now that the mask wasn’t blocking any extra intake, and made somewhat of a whine as they looked into the villain’s… shocked gaze?
No, they had to be mistaken.
The villain dropped them. Not bothering to budge when the wheezing civilian collapsed at their feet, struggling with every burning breath they could swallow.
When they had quieted down, Villain lowered themselves to a crouch, tangling one hand in Civilian’s hair and pulling their head up. The villain analyzed their face, the tear tracks running down their cheeks, their quivering lip and half-lidded eyes.
“You’re that pesky reporter. The one who always somehow gets the insider scoop on me. You’re not a hero.” Civilian winced, Superhero was going to kill them for being found out.
“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.” They rasped, throat still on fire from their previous strangling.
“No, no, don’t try to fool me.” Villain scoffed, clearly insulted. “You’re the reporter who works for the Daily News Downtown. You’re always up in my business and now suddenly you wear a costume too? Dancing around pretending to be a hero? What’s going on? Who has you in this get-up?”
A lump caught in their throat, Civilian wasn’t about to just give everything up were they? Spew all of the details about Superhero and their threats? They couldn’t. Their family, friends, and career all depended on them getting this information back to Superhero.
Villain’s expression morphed in return to Civilian’s silence. “If you’d like to take a moment and think on it, I have a very beautiful cellar that could use a little company.” All at once, ratting out Superhero didn’t seem like such a bad option after all.
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