A Lot Of Pop Psychology Gets Thrown Around And Since I Already Have A Headache, Here's Preventing You

A lot of pop psychology gets thrown around and since I already have a headache, here's preventing you lot from making it worse.

Love-bombing: A manipulation tactic of increasing affection and grand gestures before or after doing something abusive, specifically to weasel one's way out of consequences.

What it is not: A streak of affection and generosity towards friends/loved ones.

Trauma-bonding: Knowingly traumatizing someone to take advantage of their vulnerable state, to then act like the "hero" or the one who cheers them up.

What it is not: Bonding over similar traumas.

Gaslighting: *Knowingly* convincing someone they cannot trust their own perception of a situation in pursuit of one's own narrative.

What it is not: Misaligned perception of events.

Narcissist: Someone afflicted with Narcissistic Personality Disorder, a traumagenic cluster B disorder, that struggles with self-obsession, paranoia, craving validity from the public, delusions of grandeur, and social disconnection.

It is not: Your rubbish ex that cheated on you.

Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.

-Xanthe

helluo....would u write a henchman who Really likes cats and villain who has cat based power (which technically means they also have the habits of a cat (i.e loaf, etc etc.)) . wirh the ears n tails n stuff

HENCHMAN X VILLAIN? SAY NO MORE!

Love this prompt, was a really fun write :3

Got fuckin sappy with this one (I mean tbf I have for most of them but you know)

Snippet #6

Henchman peeked up from their work again for maybe the thousandth time so far- they couldn't keep themself focused on the paperwork on their desk with that view constantly at the side of the room!

Villain was laying prone across one of the couches in the room. They were usually meant for people waiting on Henchman for meetings and whatnot but about an hour ago Villain just sat down and got comfy, idly batting around a small pet toy in front of them.

Henchman couldn't take their eyes off- they'd barely completed half a page of the stack in front of them since Villain settled there.

They just looked so goddamn cute!! Their fluffy little cat ears flicking around playfully, their genuine enjoyment of and intent focus on the toy in front of them despite their typical seriousness, their generally adorable face looking so content right now-

"Do you need something, Henchman?"

They snapped out of their daydream at Villain's firm voice calling them out for losing focus, still just as stern and precise as ever despite their adorably tonally unfitting current activity.

"N-Not at all, Villain!" Henchman hastily lied, directing their attention back at their paperwork.

"Then don't lose focus."

Henchman looked down at their paper, trying their hardest to keep their attention on it... but god, they couldn't take their mind off Villain. They so badly wanted to just... pet them, feel that soft fur, hear lil sounds of contentment from them...

After about a minute of failing to keep their mind on anything but their adorable feline boss, they sighed and looked back up.

They weren't sure if asking this was a good idea, but they figured it was either this or disobey Villain by continuing to get nothing done, and they'd rather do absolutely anything than disobey Villain.

"V-Villain?"

They looked up from the toy again to see Henchman... blushing. They weren't sure why, but it was honestly kind of adorable to see. "Yes?"

"I'm, uh... well- uh, I'm getting a little too... d-distracted to focus? Can I take a small break-?"

They hastily whispered something after 'break' that Villain couldn't quite make out. They cocked their head to the side in a way that made Henchman melt just a little more.

"What was that last part, Henchman?"

"O-OH, uh, well, it- uh, well, y'know, it's like- well, I mean-"

"Shh." Villain interrupted, causing Henchman to stop instantly. "Take your time."

It flustered Henchman even more, but they kept it together enough to take a few deep breaths and gather their thoughts.

"Okay... I also- well, I didn't mean to, but-"

"Focus."

"U-Understood. I... asked if I could maybe... pet you a little, too...?"

Henchman was both blushing like mad and was nervous as all hell. It was such a stupid thing to ask, especially to someone this powerful, notorious, and rather amoral. They braced for the reacti-

"Eh, sure. I've got nothing better to do."

Henchman blinked a few times in surprise, processing that they were actually just granted permission before being completely overtaken by excitement.

"REALLY?" They squealed embarrassingly loud, still trying to be careful just in case.

"Ow- Quiet! But... yes." They grumbled back.

"Q-Quiet! Got it!!" Henchman stuttered out, quickly and eagerly going around their desk to the couch. They kneeled next to the couch to be directly next to Villain's head laying on it instead of awkwardly sitting next to their sprawled form.

They took another quick deep breath when they got there to steady themself- they didn't want to be TOO overzealous and make Villain regret their decision. Keeping themself calm for Villain's sake, they gently reached a hand out to brush it across Villain's head... and they let out a gasp, almost melting on the spot.

It was so, so much better than they could've imagined.

It was soft. Not just Villain's precious cat ears, but their beautiful hair entirely! Villain's ears even twitched and they let out a small, adorable sigh on contact!

What got to Henchman the most, though was the temperature.

It was so... warm. Villain was so warm.

Henchman couldn't remember the last time they felt anything like it.

They reached their hand slightly forward to scratch behind Villain's ears. The little sigh that escaped, the visible release of tension as Villain felt the scratch... Henchman had never seen anything so precious in their life, they couldn't get enough of it!

They moved their other hand up as well to pet Villain with both, who let out a typical catlike drawn-out, squeaky yawn in response that almost brought Henchman to tears.

Still maintaining contact, they slowly went from kneeling by the couch to sitting on top of it just next to Villain... who pulled themself forward to rest their head on Henchman's lap.

So much built up serotonin flooded through Henchman, they felt like they could've died on the spot, but they were more than content with that happening by now. The feeling of Villain on their lap, accepting their affection like this... the immense, wonderful sensation of warmth wasn't just physically. They felt so, so comfortable. Safe. Content.

Minutes passed as Henchman cherished every passing second they got to spend like this. They didn't realize how much they'd been wanting... any kind of comforting touch at all, let alone from Villain.

Villain didn't expect to like it... but here they were, relaxed in Henchman's lap, feeling their touch, hearing their precious, flustered, loving, grateful little noises and reactions... they could get used to this. It felt amazing to make Henchman so happy.

As minutes passed, Villain slowly began to doze off. From another small yawn to precious little mumbles to the tiny, slow breaths of sleep, it was impossibly easy to drift off in an environment this comfortable.

It didn't take long for Henchman to follow.

The most peaceful, restful night of either of their lives followed... and even better ones were soon to follow.

Neither had felt so safe before.

...This was so lovely, iv read this all in scholjrwejgvjkewjbkirehjsbxiuhjertjksgnvfjkfadnvcjk entrcxbj,x w4jtd,bmyhb

I wouldve skippe dmy math test just to read this, it was so lovely

Sweet Dreams Epilogue

Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six, Part Seven, Part Eight, Part Nine

...

"I brought donut holes," Henchman said, thrusting out the Tupperware as soon as Villain opened the door.

Villain blinked at them, and for a flushed moment, Henchman wondered if they'd just ruined everything. Was it irrational? Yes. But was their heart also on the verge of pounding out of their chest? Also yes.

A sly grin crept up Villain's jaw. "It's nice to see you too."

Henchman blushed harder, but as they started to pull the container back, Villain caught it. Callused fingers brushed cocoa-stained knuckles and suddenly all Henchman could focus on were those shiny beetle eyes picking apart their soul.

"H-hi," they said lamely. It was the only amends they could think to make after not giving a proper greeting, but as soon as it was out of their mouth, they wished the ceiling would come down and bury them.

Villain's grin only grew wider. "Hi. Want to come in?"

They nodded, and Villain caught their arm in a tight, yet surprisingly careful grip. Henchman stared around at the massive apartment, all shiny and warm bathed in a dim orange glow. Was that mood lighting? Or was that truly as bright as the lights went? They couldn't imagine that being the case; it'd get annoying after a while. So did that mean Villain planned this because they were coming over? Because they actually liked--

Villain's hand left their arm.

Henchman blinked dazedly. They'd been so focused on their own thoughts they hadn't even noticed that they'd entered a new room. They were suddenly sitting on, quite possibly, the plushiest couch in the world, the soft brown cushions like quicksand, practically dragging them into deep, fuzzy relaxation.

"Are these homemade?" Villain asked, plopping down beside them and snuggling comfortably into their side.

Henchman barely stopped from flinching. Even being here was baffling and amazing, but this was almost more than they could take. That feeling of Villain's warmth against their own, the brush of breath on their neck, the comfortable solidness of weight on their shoulder.

"Um, is that ok?" they asked. Maybe they would have preferred something from a bakery.

"Of course, my dream."

This time Henchman did flinch. Villain was close enough that they probably felt the muscles leap because they tilted their head down at Henchman and stared at their wide-eyed expression with sharp-edged curiosity.

"What?"

Henchman wrung their hands. "Y-you've never called me that before."

"That can't be right; I call you that all the time."

"Dreamcatcher. You say, dreamcatcher...n-not dream."

Henchman stared determinedly at their knees, unable to look Villain in the eyes as they melted over a simple slip of the tongue. Why were they like this? They'd been furious at Villain a couple days ago, but now they'd laid their entire heart in their hands without hesitation. What happened to all that past carefulness? Maybe if they'd held some of themself back, they wouldn't be such a moronic mess tonight.

"I suppose I never asked if you liked nicknames," Villain said.

"N-no! I do!" Henchman replied hastily.

Villain raised one brow. "Honestly? You're ok with both of them?"

Henchman nodded. They would not squeak. Not right now.

"Good," Villain grinned, winding a lock of Henchman's hair around their index finger and kissing it. "Because you're both. A beautiful dream, and a loyal protector." Their eyes dropped back to the Tupperware on their lap. "What kind are they?"

Beautiful? Loyal? Henchman's brain was already floating away on the praise. It wasn't as if Henchman had done anything particularly noteworthy for Villain, not anything that anyone else couldn't do. Except well, the soothing thing. Was that what they meant? They wished they could get over this nagging feeling that Villain only did this because they needed them.

"Henchmaaan~."

Henchman forced themself back toward the ground.

"Oh, er, glazed chocolate. I know you like fillings, and I was going to do something with cream cheese, but then I didn't have time to go to the store, so I had to work with the ingredients in the staff kitchen, and we had a lot of cocoa for some reason, but maybe you don't like chocolatey things, I don't think I remember you asking for any, but I guess you do like chocolate milk so maybe--"

Villain pressed a finger to their rambling lips, and they came to a sputtering stop.

"I love chocolate."

"O-oh. Good." Henchman's voice mumbled against Villain's finger, and the criminal overlord pressed their lips tightly together, smothering a stubborn twitch in the corners of their mouth. Predatory eyes sparked and almost looked ready to eat them instead of the dessert.

But then a moment later, Villain cracked open the Tupperware and popped a donut in their mouth. Then another. Then two at once.

Henchman relaxed a little. They didn't need to hear praise. Villain's affinity for sweets couldn't be measured in words. On the road, they'd been able to tell which desserts were Villain's favorites by how fervently they ate. Apparently, they knew a lot about Villain by now.

"You know so much about me," Villain said between mouthfuls, as if reading their mind, "and I hardly know anything of you. Except that you're a great fighter, a hot temper, and obviously, a good baker. I know why you fight heroes, and I know you have powers, but I don't know the little details. Like what is your dessert of choice?"

Of course, that would be Villain's first get-to-know-you question.

"Probably ice cream."

Villain shot up so abruptly that Henchman's heart gave a little leap. They looked at Henchman as if they'd just said the most shocking thing in the world.

"But you never bought any while we were traveling."

"Well, we didn't have a freezer in any of the hotels, and even if we did, you never mentioned anything about ice cream, so I figured you didn't like it. And I was fine with bakery food, so..."

They weren't sure what else to say. Villain stared off at the wall like Henchman had just struck them over the head. Was it really that big of a deal?

"I don't have ice cream... Should I go buy--"

Henchman took Villain by both their shoulders and pushed a small pulse of soothing energy into their body. The criminal's muscles relaxed almost immediately, and they looked over at Henchman with calmer eyes.

"It's ok," Henchman said firmly.

"I bought a lot of things for tonight," Villain confessed quietly. "Things I hoped you liked. Because I'm self-absorbed enough to have never asked. To have let you dote on me for weeks and weeks. I wanted you to have a nice time."

Henchman's insides went mushy. Before they knew it, they were wrapped around Villain's neck. The blood coursing through their veins felt warm as waves of soothing power drifted off of them. It was an emotional response, and they should probably get it under control, but it was all they could do to share with Villain how much they felt.

"I am having a nice time," the murmured. "I didn't come here for my favorite dessert; I came here for you."

Villain's arms circled firmly around their waist. "There's that bold streak."

Henchman smiled. "Did you get skittles?"

"A big bag. You can have all the grape ones."

"Perfect. Should we watch a movie?"

"Not a slasher."

Henchman chuckled. "See, you're learning already."

***

The credits rolled across the screen, but Henchman basked a little longer in Villain's arms. They smelt like stone and sweet pine, and the steady rise and fall of their chest made Henchman feel safer than they had in the last month. Perhaps it just made everything more real.

After a couple quiet minutes, they finally forced their gaze up to Villain's wall clock and read the time: 11:45 p.m.

"I should probably get going," they said, lifting their head from Villain's collarbone and pushing themselves to their feet. "The buses will stop running soon..."

They trailed into silence, not exactly sure what they were expecting in return. An offer to walk them out? A last embrace? A...kiss?

"Stay."

Henchman hitched a little in their slow backward steps toward the door.

"On the couch," Villain said quickly. "Or the bed if you prefer. I can take the couch."

Henchman opened their mouth to respond, words still undecided on their tongue, when Villain hurriedly continued:

"You don't have to. But it's so late already; you might not make it in time. And I can give you a ride into HQ tomorrow. Next time I'll stay over at your place."

"In the barracks?" Henchman scoffed.

"What? You're embarrassed of me?" Villain grinned, regaining some of their usual composure.

"No overnight visitors in the boarding hall is your rule."

"That's the perk of dating the boss, we can bend the rules."

Henchman rose their brow skeptically.

"I can sleep in the bunk above you and hold hands over the mattress. Like old times. Hm?"

"If you say so." Henchman said it as casually as they could, but their brain was already swimming with images of Villain showing up in front of their whole team, in front of their team leader, and demanding a spot in the barracks. It made them want to smile and cringe at the same time. "I-I can stay."

Villain pinched their mouth shut once again. Wait. Was that their way of trying not to smile? They were so free with their sly grins, why were they so shy with the genuine ones? Maybe they were like Henchman. Scared of giving too much of themself in case it was rejected. Henchman never wanted them to feel that way.

"Then you can have the bed," Villain said, covering their mouth a little as the corners began to creep too far up.

"You...um...you don't have to take the couch." Henchman's stomach did a somersault as the words escaped their mouth.

"Your my lovely guest, dreamcatcher, I wouldn't imagine--"

"I mean...I don't mind sharing... I-if you want..."

Villain froze. Everything on their face washed blank, leaving their expression unreadable.

"Have you had more nightmares?" Henchman probed, mostly to prompt some sort of response from their sudden blankness. Did they hate the idea? Like the idea? Had they made them uncomfortable?

Something like understanding flickered across Villain's features. "Don't worry about that. it's enough having you in the next room."

They did not understand.

"I-it's not just that," Henchman said quickly. They cleared their throat awkwardly. "I...like sharing...with you. Everything feels...safer, I suppose. Better. A-and I like you." Then they added hastily, "Th-though we're already moving so fast. I really don't want to go any quicker, so um, if we did share, could we just..."

"Of course," Villain said, saving them from any further explanation. They smiled softly, this time doing nothing to hide it. "I only want to be near you. Nothing else."

It was like that that they ended up snuggled together in Villain's king-sized bed. No pillow barrier, no awkward terror, simply warmth. Simply comfort.

Henchman rolled onto their other side to face Villain head-on in the dark.

"You didn’t just miss me because of my power, right?” they whispered. For some reason, in this moment, it finally felt safe to ask.

Villain pressed a soft, sleepy kiss to their forehead. “I missed you because of your boldness. Because of your softness. For your listening, your care, and your determined loyalty. I missed your depth. Your understanding. I missed picking out grape skittles and sharing pastries. I missed holding hands and caring about someone more than I ever cared for anyone. And I really missed that adorable stutter."

Henchman sputtered for a reply, but in the end, they just pressed their hot face into Villain chest and let them resituate their arms around them. That protective aura washed over them full force, and in turn, they ardently shared their own soothing energy.

From that day forward, there were no more nightmares.

...

Thanks, everyone for the ride! It was a fun series to write and I only got this far because so many people supported it and motivated me to keep writing! Hopefully, this is a satisfying ending, as I wrote, it felt a little overly sappy, but oh well, I was trying to make the fluffiest fluff in the world with these two. They deserve it.

Master Taglist:

@moss-tombstone @crazytwentythrees @just-1-lonely-person @the-vagabond-nun @willow-trees-are-beautiful @cocoasprite @insanedreamer7905 @valiantlytransparentwhispers @whovian378 @watercolorfreckles @thebluepolarbear @yulanlavender @kitsunesakii @deflated-bouncingball @lem-hhn @office-plant-in-a-trenchcoat @last-ditch-entry @ghostfacepepper @pigeonwhumps @demonictumble @inkbirdie @vuvulia @bouncyartist @lunatic-moss-studio, @breilobrealdi @freefallingup13 @i-am-a-story-goblin @ryunniez

@hollowgast1 @eri-would-like-to-not-thanks

dang I want a villain to

This crap isn't fair.

I am so tired of the villain x hero trope. There's so much of it.

I need a damn fanfic where you're just a normal civilian who somehow caught the attention of a damn supervillain. I need that same supervillain to just propose to make a death ray together. AND I NEED US TO SAY YES. BECAUSE WHO THE FUCK WOULDN'T WANT TO BUILD A DEATH RAY???? I DON'T CARE IF I NEED TO DRESS UP ALL PRETTY OR EVEN DRESS LIKE A GOOFY GOOBER I JUST NEED TO BE NORMAL TURNED VILLAIN BECAUSE A VILLAIN

LIKES US.

Anyways, thank you for coming.

Hii I absolutely love your writing!

I know you just posted it..butt I was wondering in you could make another part of #270 ? The prompt From @some-messed-up-writing-for-you

(The one with the rich supervillain and the reporter who somehow knew the villain was dating sv for 8 months)

Thank you so much!! It's taken a couple days but here's part two!

For any new readers, you can read Part One here!

A steady wrap on Villain's steel door resonated in all four walls of their apartment, sending a vague little shock into their bedframe where it pressed against the wall.

Villain untangled themself from their mess of thick blankets and stumbled to the window, peeking warily from a space below the curtains. Supervillain stood on the landing in sunglasses and a white, double-breasted wool coat. If they were anyone else, Villain would have pegged them as lost or stupid for walking around this part of town so richly dressed. But seeing as this was Supervillain, they worried more for the petty thugs that might mistake them for an easy target.

Villain yanked the chain off the door, flinging it open wide enough that they could properly throw themselves around Supervillain's neck. "Supervillain!"

One of Supervillain's hands went to the small of their back and the other to their face as they dipped down and pressed their mouth to Villain's. Their shampoo, mouth spray, and cologne blended in a fragrant harmony of pinewood, peppermint, and jasmine that made Villain heady. They were roughly dropped back to reality as Supervillain abruptly pulled back.

"Did you just get up?" Supervillain asked.

"Yeah? Why?"

"Morning breath." Their nose wrinkled involuntarily as they said it, and Villain's face warmed.

They loosed their hold on Supervillain and scanned their apartment. Toothbrush, toothbrush. Before they got two steps, Supervillain reeled them back for a second, longer kiss. A few moments later they held them out in front of themself and thumbed some leftover foundation out from under their eye.

"And you're still wearing last night's makeup?"

"The bathroom was taken when I got home and I was tired." Between Villain and the complex's 7 other tenants, the bathroom was a coveted commodity. Since sharing was dicey, they often found different facilities, public restrooms and gym showers, but all of them were still always fighting for the convenience of a restroom right outside their door. Villain had not been in the mood for a screaming match through the door at 12:30 a.m. nor for sitting outside holding their place in line for who knew how many hours.

"Remind me why you won't let me put you up in a better apartment?" Supervillain said, passing over the apartment's threshold and flicking off their sunglasses to glance around distastefully at their stained floors and scanty furnishment.

"I like the neighborhood?" Villain tried.

"Ah, yes, the killers and cutthroats, wonderful neighbors."

"You're one to talk," Villain said.

Supervillain sat down in one of the wicker chairs at Villain's wobbly table and crossed their ankle over their knee. "Hm. I wonder if any real comparison can be made between a diamond and a stone. This place is a birthing place for mediocrity. Just chunks of worthless mineral crumbling off the same barren cliffside."

"Stones like me?"

"There's always a vein of gold mixed in with the gangue," Supervillain waved nonchalantly, then more intensely, "Why would you even say that? You seemed happy to see me a moment ago and now you're angry again? Is it still about last night? I know it was hard on you. Let me make it up to you."

"I'm not angry." Slightly annoyed maybe, but not angry. What right did they have to anger when Supervillain was about to find out just how massively they'd screwed up?

"What do you want?" Supervillain asked, surrounded by an air of confidence that they could provide anything Villain wished. "Clothes? Jewels? Car? You're always browsing those motor scooters on your phone. Oh! Do you want a new phone, baby?"

A part of Villain faltered at the temptation. It was just so easy for them. Two taps on their phone, and they could have Villain's dreams already ordered and shipped. But the part of Villain containing their pride resisted. The same pride that kept them in this dump and gave them a fighting chance with Supervillain when they were still nothing more than a feisty two-face in tired clothing. They couldn't bear being dependent on anyone. It made them feel small and pitiful. In any case, even if they could convince themselves that an expensive gift was payment for yesterday's torture, the guilt gnawing in their stomach wouldn't allow it.

"Supervillain," Villain said quietly. "I need to talk to you."

The self-assured curve of Supervillain’s mouth lowered into a frown, and their fist tightened on their knee. "If you're breaking up with me, I want my kiss back." They said it with humor, but the edges of their tone were sharp and chilling.

"No!" Villain seized their white-knuckled fist in both hands. "It's nothing like that."

Supervillain visibly relaxed, leaning forward on their elbows to cup Villain's jaw as they knelt in front of them. Their eyes urged--no, commanded--them to explain further.

"I..." Villain played with Supervillain's fingers. "I messed up. I really really messed up, and I should've said something last night, but I wasn't completely sure, but now... Supervillain, I'm so sorry."

"Love, you're not making any sense."

"Last night, when you left me on the balcony, a reporter talked to me. He was nice, so I let my guard down. At one point, he mentioned something about us dating for eight months. I didn't deny it. I didn't even realize until later that he'd said it. He knew, or at least suspected, and now because of me, he knows we were lying."

Supervillain reclined back in their chair in a fit of chuckles. "That's what you're so worried about? Villain, it's a reporter tactic. They trick you into agreeing in passing to something they've made up and then they blow it up in the papers. I do wish you'd told me yesterday so I could have gotten ahead of the press, little hope of that now, but if that's it, we can just deny it. Say you were confused. He can’t do any real damage.”

"Yes, he can," Villain moaned.

"No."

"He can. There's more."

"Ok, what else?"

"It was Dean Ashley. He works for Lime Light Magazine."

Supervillain raised their eyebrows. "Yes, I'm familiar with him."

Villain spilled out the rest as quickly as they could. "Eight months is a really exact guess. It made me wonder how he could have known. So I thought about everyone who knew about our real relationship. And the only option-- Well, I compared pictures last night. It's the same chin, same eyes. He uses different speech patterns as a civilian, but now that I know, his voice itself is practically unchanged."

"What are you talking about?" Supervillain said, stern enough to make Villain swallow and focus on the point.

"He's Hero."

Supervillain's reaction was like a kettle coming to a boil.

"You're telling me," he started calmly, "that you spoke to Hero. On the very night we dedicated to eradicating any and all public doubts, you spoke to Hero and CONFIRMED EVERYTHING?! YOU REVEALED OUR IDENTITIES? MY IDENTITY?"

"I didn't mean to!"

Supervillain ripped out of Villain's grip, looming over them like a winter storm. "DO YOU THINK THAT MATTERS? 'It was an accident.' 'I'm sorry.' Do you think 'I'm sorry' changes the fact that the only person who could actually prove something knows everything? It's only a matter of time before I wake up to my face plastered on every screen and magazine cover with a big bold headline: BILLIONAIRE BADDIE! You know to look for the tricks in people's wording! How could you have been so careless? Because he was nice?"

"I was tired!" Villain defended weakly, feeling the tears well hot in their eyes.

"It was one party!"

"It's not that easy for me!"

"Why?" Supervillain demanded. "You can pull an all-nighter for a flawless heist, hustle cops without batting an eye, build an explosive under high-pressure, what could possibly be so difficult about standing around and dancing?"

All the frustration Villain had swallowed yesterday, half-dissolved and unsettling their stomach like a disagreeable hard candy, rushed up their throat and burst past their lips. "I was tired of erasing myself for your reputation!"

Supervillain stopped short, contorted expression freezing in harsh lines. "What?"

Villain grabbed the legs of their sweats in handfuls. “I get it. Obviously, the real me is a horrendous match for [SV Civilian Name]. But I wasn’t expecting that I’d have to sell a person as well as story. I can’t turn my personality off and on the way you do. Being someone else is hard. Can you blame me for falling for the first trick that let me be me?” They held up their hands quickly. “And I’m not trying to excuse myself. I know that I screwed up. I just…well… It hurts being nothing but a coverup. Like I’m a hollow shell for show and nothing else to it.”

A poignant silence filled the air, accented by the shrill of cold wind coming through a space in the window. Villain couldn’t meet Supervillain eyes but they could feel their gaze boring into them.

“Villain,” they said finally. “Why do you think I told you to use your real name?”

“So I could use my own ID. Saves you from looking like your hiding something if anyone ever digs too deep. My civilian name is a dead end, but if they notice a fake name they might get too curious.”

"You really think a reporter could untangle an alias I’ve designed? If I wanted to give you a new identity, I would have given you a new identity.”

It was Villain’s turn to stare.

Supervillain crouched down in front of them, the ends of their coat spreading out behind them like the train of a king’s robe. “For the year I've known you, my life has been split in two. One public, one secret. No cross-over. It was non-negotiable. But putting you in the ‘secret’ category has always been my biggest vexation. You say it’s hard to be someone else, well, it was hard for me to treat you like something shameful. When the truth is...”

Villain awaited the next words hungrily, but Supervillain simply rubbed the bridge of their nose and started anew. The disorder of their thoughts was surprising. The master criminal was usually so expert and smooth at, well, everything.

“I needed big news for my reputation, that is true. But more importantly, I didn’t want to hide you anymore. I needed a way to insert you into my public life. A way to spend time with you anywhere I want without worrying whether it will all crash down on me. One carefully selected cross-over that wouldn't cause any harm--" They stopped again. "And that's what Hero noticed." They let out a long sigh. "It's not your fault."

"But I’m the one who talked to Hero. If I had been more aware—”

Supervillain wiped the remaining tears out of their eyes. “I’m the one that made him suspicious. If you hadn’t confirmed anything he would have kept looking.”

Villain’s bottom lip trembled, and they buried their face in Supervillain’s chest, the white wool scratchy on their cheek. A sudden thought jolted them out of the warmth.

“What about Hero?”

“Well, my little genius, I’m pretty sure he wasn’t expecting you to figure out his secret identity while he was uncovering ours. We’ll give Dean Ashley a little call. I wonder how he’ll react to the idea of his name being dropped to every villain in this city. I’m sure we can come to some agreement.”

Part Three

i love your prompts to

Villain x Villain prompts

1- "Please, you call this evil? I'll show you what's real evil."

"You're hot."

"Wh-"

"Just kidding."

"You're evil."

"I know."

"Wait no you just tricked me didn't you, you son of a-"

2- "You just ruined so many lives."

"I know."

"I've never been more in love with you."

3- "Every time you stab someone, I want to kiss you even more."

4-"If you die, I will make every person who was even remotely related to your death pay dearly."

"And that, Villain, is the best love confession I've ever gotten."

"Who else tried to confess to you-"

5- "I'm evil. I've made people do unspeakable things"

"I am wicked. I make everyone's life worse"

"I'm cruel. I torture people relentlessly."

"I am remorseless. I don't regret anything I did."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

6-"I'm a terrible human being."

"I'm worse."

"No! I'm worse-"

(Bonus-

Hero walks in, "Is being worse really all you aspire to be in life?"

"Is being annoying all you aspire to be? Can't you see I'm trying to court Villain?")

7- Supervillain- "I know you think I'm a monster, Hero. But I swear to everything, if you hurt Villain, you'll see how much of a monster I really am. You'll see how much I was holding myself back."

8-"I know we went our separate ways, Villain. But I'd be grateful if you could help me one last time, against one last hero."

9- "We've been fighting for so long, Villain. Imagine the terror we could reign together."

"You asking to be my sidekick villain?"

"What! No!-"

10- "What's wrong?"

"... Nothing? Why?"

"You haven't insulted me in a while. I was worried."

(tag me if you use these, plz id love to see what you come up with)