Find your tribe in a Sea of Creativity
By @writingpromptsworld
When the villain woke up, they did not expect to find themselves tied to a bed, their hands and legs binded. Their eyes shot out of their sockets, eyebrows frowning, as their hands twitched by their side to be let free. Panic. They could make out a patient gown that they were wearing for reasons unknown.
They struggled against the heavy metal chain that somehow seemed to wait more by the passing second. However, it wasn’t long before footsteps could be faintly heard coming towards them. Realization.
They held their breath, frozen, and their head throbbed in response. The hero. It was the hero, with a grin well too ingrained in the villain’s head, it was impossible to erase it.
They clenched their jaw at the sight of smiling teeth, and snatched at the chains again which in response tightened, and they let out a scream.
The hero shook their head with a sigh. “Don’t. Don’t try to be free of them, they’ll only strengthen in result.” They said.
The villain stayed silent for a moment, after stopping the fumbling around. They breathed heavily, looking at the hero. “Let me go.” They said, weakly, however the hero could detect the underline of threat they were trying to seep into their words. It didn’t work.
“No. I’m having way too much fun seeing you like this. Finally under my control.” The hero mused, smirking slightly.
“Let. Me. Go.” The villain repeated themself, clenching their jaw which increased the hammering of the headache.
The hero simply sighed again, as if in disappointment. They lightly treaded the ground until they were in front of the villain. “How about you stay still and wait until the scientists come, mhmm? They should be here any moment.”
The villain’s heart raced further, fear and confusion and anger filled their eyes, and they couldn’t help but grab at the chains again in order to espace. “What do you mean?” They asked, voice high but at the same time so afraid. And if it were anyone other than the hero, they wouldn’t have detected it. The hero did, however. And they took great pleasure in it.
“They’re going to experiment on you a little. See what goes in that little head of yours.” The hero smiled, delighted.
The villain’s anger only grew, and they tried to wrestle the chains again. It didn’t help, only made them cry out in sheer pain. They threw curses at the hero. Threats, promises to destroy the hero and the city, but it wasn’t enough. The hero had left by the time the villain was too tired to fight. And they had drifted off to sleep, more like fainted of dizziness.
The drugs did work, the hero pondered, walking out of the room.
If the hero was angry previously, they were furious now. They had gotten to the place where the villain had planned to fight them, on a rooftop of some burned looking building. It wasn’t what the villain went for usually, because in their opinion, it was more “fun” to damage the skyscrapers. But that’s not the reason the hero is mad. They are mad because the villain still hasn’t arrived. It has been two hours, almost three in less than 15 minutes. Honestly, where were they?!
They gazed at the empty sky that was darkening by the passing seconds. They were about to get off the floor, and leave, when they heard footsteps behind them. They stopped, their expression hardening as they frowned determinedly. They were going to make sure the villain knew that they didn’t have all day for them. They turned around, and their frowned fell just as quickly as it appeared as they saw the villain.
The villain was in no condition to fight, in fact, they looked like they might pass out the next minute. The hero’s eyes faltered and they quickly went to the villain’s side. The villain grimaced, their right hand clutching their left arm. They were breathing heavily, and the hero swore they could hear their heartbeat. Their eyebrows knitted in concern and confusion. “What happened?” They asked, willing the villain to sit down slowly. The villain winced at the uncomfortable movement, and sat down.
The villain could barely make out the words, as they whispered it: "Your fellow hero friends took the liberty of hunting me down, and beating me to death." They mumbled, the left side of their lip a little bruised, and pinkish red.
The hero's eyebrows pinched together in concentration. “Why didn’t you fight back?-” The hero started, tracing circles on the villain’s back in a gentle motion. The villain glared in response, their eyes like burning out fire, barely there, but the hero could see it. They flinched.
“Because I thought you’d come. I tried to fight back, I tried. But, then I couldn’t. And I waited and waited for you but you never came to save me.”
“I didn’t know.” The hero replied, now frowning in somewhat of a fury of their own. How could the villain blame them? They had done nothing wrong, they didn’t even know the villain was being tortured by those heroes.
“That’s not the point! You knew where my hideout was, you could have! Besides, how did the other heroes find me? Only you knew of my location…oh my god, please don’t tell me you gave them my location.” The villain’s furious face was now turning into one of a sad and terrified. The realization that the hero could have betrayed them makes them want to die right then and there. Of course, it was an assumption, but that made it all the worse. The fact that they could even think as far as that.
The hero’s eyes widened in disbelief that the villain could ever think of such a thing of them. They would never do that. “I would never. Why would I do that? I didn’t do it. I promise.” They said, softly.
The villain swallowed, and looked down. This was all getting to their head right now. The injuries, the wounds, the pain. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking…of course you wouldn’t.” They said, meeting the villain’s eyes again, but this time with more calmness and understanding.
The hero nodded slowly, even though the villain could trace hints of sadness in their eyes at the assumption the villain made. The villain gently cradled the hero’s cheek. “I’m so sorry.” They whispered again. The hero nodded, smiling slightly.
“Let’s get your injuries treated.” They said, and lifted the villain up in their arms.
(Pathetic villain x confident hero👀)
“You know…you’re pretty pathetic.” The hero said, as they bandaged their wounded hand, ready to fight. The villain’s eyebrows perked up, they eyed the wound on the hero’s arm before meeting their eyes.
“Excuse me?” They said, a little sharply, their eyes narrowing. They took a few steps forward to the hero.
The hero chuckled. “You are, villain.”
“No, I’m not.”
“You follow me, you make sure I don’t go on dates with other people, you make sure that I eat and sleep. And make sure that I’m safe. You know…I’m not a baby.” The hero mused, their eyes tumbling, and their mouth drawn up into a smile.
“Well, what does that have to do with me being pathetic?” The villain asked, frowning. Their lips turned upside down in confusion. They were so so adorable, the hero thought. And so so wrong.
“It’s pathetic that you think all of those things are going to make me yours. That I would stop having a normal life and be with you.” The hero revealed, glancing up. Their smile was gone, leaving a cold expression, and even colder eyes.
The villain didn’t move, it was as if their world stopped. Their time faltered, and their breath slowed, almost to a degree to where they struggled to breathe properly. This revelation…was not what they wanted. Not what they expected. No. That couldn’t happen. They wouldn’t let it happen. They wouldn’t let the hero slip through their fingers. They were theirs.
They glanced up, their eyes horrified at hero’s words. The hero came forward, their hands behind their back, with a blank yet smug expression on their face. It was as if they knew just what kind of effect they had on the villain. They stopped inches away.
“You will be with me. You belong to me.” The villain defended angrily like a child not wanting to let go of their favorite toy. The hero shook their head. The villain fumed even more. “No…No, you’re going to be with me. We’ll be together forever. You can’t possibly do this to me!”
The hero only perked their eyebrows up, amused. They don’t say anything for a while, making the villain even more anxious and furious. The hero spoke up after a moment: “You know…the first time we fought, I could see you falling. Not only from that building but also for me. I was delighted, because then I knew I could make the strongest villain fall to their knees for me with a snap of my fingers. You were so easy. And I used that to save thousands, if not millions.” The hero finished, their voice carrying hints of pride that the villain could pick out.
The villain’s head was heavy with the realization, confusion, and so much sadness and rage. They fainted.
part 1
By @writingpromptsworld
The hero's heartbeat sped up, their eyes widening. Their child tapped on their shoulder from behind. "Who is it?"
The villain was looking around, taking a knife out of the knife holder and examining it closely. The hero gulped, they couldn't let their younger one see this. They turned around, and tried to muster up a smile.
"Stay here, okay? Don't make a noise, I've got this. You'll be fine, I promise." The hero said, but the teenager shook their head, not convinced at all. The hero put their hands on the other's one shoulders, and squeezed lightly. "Do you trust me?" They asked. The fourteen-year old nodded their head quickly.
"Of course, I do. But-."
"I'll be cautious, I promise. Just stay here, alright?" The hero questioned, and then threw a glance behind them. The other one nodded hesitantly and hero planted a kiss on their forehead before motioning for their child to go upstairs. The other one followed the hero's instructions and made it upstairs without a noise. The hero turned around.
The villain stood in front of them, inches away. "Oh. Hi, old friend." They murmured, voice low, their mouth stretched into a wide smile. The hero's stomach churned, their heart clenching and unclenching.
The hero stayed silent. The villain took a step forward. "Long time no see, huh?" They asked, their eyes glinting with the same excitement as they did back in their college days, but now, it was different. Everything was different.
The hero scoffed, glancing away, even though not wanting to. "Long time no see, indeed." They replied.
The villain raised their eyebrows. "How have you been?"
The hero frowned, the question making them visibly cringe. How had they been? Really? They were acting so normal, like two old friends meeting each other after a long time. But they weren't friends (or anything more for that matter) anymore, they were enemies. The villain looked at them expectantly for an answer.
"How have I been? Funny you ask that. Because I've been very well, unlike someone else." The hero tilted their head, lips pressed tightly. A challenge in their eyes.
The villain nodded solemnly, their head suddenly bowing down. "Of course not, I've been very well too."
"Is that so?" The hero questioned, taking a step closer. The pang in their chest tightening by every minute passing.
"Yes." The villain sighed. They lifted their head up, and the hero could make out the watery glint that shone from their eyes.
"Well, if you've had enough greeting me, then I advice you leave."
"Not yet. I want to talk to you-" Before the villain could even finish, sirens ran outside the hero's house. The hero's eyes widened. The villain looked at them as if they had betrayed them. The hero stood their confused. Who had called the police? The realization struck them when their child came running down the stairs.
The villain's eyes moved to the fourteen year-old and then back to meet the hero's eyes. It would be another few days before they could finally talk, like the villain wanted to.
The villain took their flee before the alarmed police could catch them.
Again, mention/implication of SA. Nothing graphic, as usual. Last episode! Hope you like it.
The day he was brought in, he made the whole block go silent for a minute. A murderer– that was what he was in for. Which he quietly but sternly denied every time someone questioned him. It was hard to believe him though, as he looked built to kill. Six feet tall, at least, a mountain of muscle, and a look that silenced even the worst convicts. He never needed to use his fists to gain respect from all. And fear.
For Lull, it was the latter. A dull, resigned fear. It was just another shoe in his ribs, another hand fisting his hair, another voice laughing at him.
His name was Garrett. Not that it mattered. But the name stuck with the dreamwalker, after one particular day.
Lull was limping back from to the cellblock, his hair damp from the shower. Cold water, as always, since he had found that inmates would leave him alone if he was late enough. The water left was freezing, but the situation was still much better than the alternative. He was struggling to keep his eyes open, desperately staggering forward. He had to reach his bunk before the lockdown bell, or else the guards would kill him. Not literally, that would be too merciful. But he could feel his muscles turning to cotton, his head pounding with the overwhelming need to sleep. Before he knew it, he was falling.
Hands grabbed his shoulders, his head hitting a soft surface instead of the floor. Lull flinched away, his movements sluggish, but someone held him back. He froze, meeting the other man's eyes, and immediately abandoned the fight. It was that new inmate, Garrett, towering three feet over him.
Lull sagged in his grip, going limp in anticipation. He knew how to be away, when it would happen. Hurt less this way.
But this time, the man held him up instead of letting him crumple. The former villain risked an eye contact, and met a frowning face. Bad. Bad. It was always worse when they were in a bad mood.
"Hey. You can't stand or what ?"
Lull's face did something complicated, before settling on confusion. What ? His knees were weak, but he managed to stay on his feet. Garrett's hands were still tight on his arms.
"Are you gonna collapse again? Coz the late shift guards are gonna kill you if you don't make it to the block."
As if he didn't already knew that. Still trying to catch his breath, and to keep his eyes from closing, he reluctantly accepted Garrett's help, leaning on his shoulder for balance. The corridor seemed to be moving, even though he was the one swaying unsteadily on his feet. It was only after a few steps, when the bigger man's hands stayed where they were supposed to be, that Lull started to relax. For some reason, it seemed that the other inmate was genuinely helping. However, the dreamwalker knew better than to hope. Eventually, everything always had a price.
With Garrett's help, he stumbled and collapsed on his bunk bed. The other man didn't comment, taking a few steps away, toward his own cell. Through the bars, Lull could see a group of familiar faces, hovering nearby. Their gazes were aimed right at him, their smiles sharp. Full of unwanted promises. But he was already slipping, unable to resist the tug of sleep. Once again, he would be helpless. Once again, he would wake up covered in bruises. Humiliated, broken.
The mattress bent under someone else's weight. Garrett, still there. He had noticed the other inmates too.
"Hope you don't mind, I think I'll sit here for a little while. The mattress is comfortable."
It took a few seconds for the words to register in Lull's sleep deprived brain. But when it did, his eyes widened slightly in surprise –and wariness. But in his state, there wasn't much he could do but pray, and he quickly fell into oblivion.
It was his first peaceful night in months.
When he woke up, he was alone. As usual, he checked himself up, his surprise growing. No new bruises, no sore points or body aches. Garrett had... Had actually protected him. But why ?
Throughout the day, Lull noticed that Garrett was watching him. Not the creepy kind, when someone would follow him until he couldn't stay awake anymore. Just... Watching. The others must've noticed as well, since no one made a move to approach him. That man was not someone you'd want to cross.
Lull fell asleep during unlock time, in the courtyard. One second he was awake, swaying on his feet, and the second, he was collapsing to the concrete floor. Before anyone could take advantage of it, Garrett sat down on the bench nearby. The others took the hint. Although a lot of them glared at him, muttering curses. Hovering. Waiting. They wouldn't let go of their favourite toy so easily.
It happened during work detail; Lull was sorting clothes for laundry, and Garrett was working in the workshop. Too far. Three men pushed him in a corner. They didn't bother with gentleness. When they finally left, Lull was barely conscious, his breathing hoarse and painful from the new bruises etched on his chest. He was surprised to find that's he was crying. He couldn't feel anything, numb to the world, but tears ran down his face nonetheless. His body remembered what his mind refused to.
The guards found him like this, and didn't bother with questions. They hauled him up, his legs too weak to hold him. And when they dropped him on the floor of his cell, Garrett was there. Waiting. His arms were crossed and his expression blank, but Lull could see the anger in his eyes. As soon as they were alone, he approached, and let out a sigh.
"How did you survive that long in here ?"
Lull eyed him warily, pushing himself up on shaky hands. His vision was going in and out, as he struggled to keep his eyes open.
"Why did you help me? What do you want from me ?"
"Nothing."
The former villain didn't believe him. But it didn't mattered. What did were the hands pulling him up with surprising gentleness, and taking him to the bunk bed. It was the last thing he felt before passing out cold.
Things changed quietly. None of them was very talkative, and it was often in silence that Lull would fall asleep without fear. Garrett didn't need any warning to catch him before the fall. At night, they'd huddle together. Then, they could speak. Just a few words, whispered.
"I'm innocent. Never killed that guy."
Lull had sleepily hummed, and nodded.
"I know."
It was all they needed. And if the former villain sometimes flinched away from his touch, Garrett never commented on it.
They knew their relationship was fragile, and could shatter at any moment. But for the moment, they were together. And that was the closest thing to happiness Lull had ever experienced. He would never dream again, but maybe he could live.
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