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I’m smiling at the battlefield, the carnage around me. I was waiting. Waiting for my precious sidekick to come to me. I suppose for your sake I should backtrack a bit. Explain how it’s gotten to this point.
You see, I am a super villain who has fallen for someone I shouldn’t be able to have.The sidekick of my greatest enemy. Cyclone was well known in this area as the top hero, so it was only fair I, as the top villain, made him my nemesis. The man was ridiculous with his sky blue and white bodysuit and extended monologues as we fought. He monologued more than I did, which was impressive.
He also went through sidekicks at a ridiculous rate. To be fair, I had killed a few of them, but far more just couldn’t keep up with the demand, with all the things he forced them to do. It was always blamed on me, said I scared them off or turned them evil. Probably not completely wrong, but more often then not I just gave them the little nudge they needed to see this line of work wasn’t for them. So when this newest sidekick appeared, I had low expectations. Very few lasted longer then a few months at most, and those that did often wound up somewhere they shouldn’t have been. Those were the ones that had died at my hands.
I didn’t like bringing innocents into fights that didn’t concern them. The hero system, the whole system to begin with, being corrupt wasn’t their fault. Most would never see beyond the destruction I caused, and that was just fine. It meant the people I sent to help those affected could never be linked to me. The “private charity” that helped them wouldn’t be tied with this side of me. It also meant that very few recognized how few lives had truly been lost to my hands.
Actually, up until I met my little sidekick, my darling, it had only been two people not directly related to me who had noted how little blood I had spilled. They made three, a lovely number. They had pieced together how often Cyclone caused more damage than me. They pieced together so much more then I had ever thought someone would. And they questioned me about it.
Our first true interaction, the first that was more than just keeping them in the corner of my eye in a fight to ensure they weren’t caught in a war not their own, was interesting to say the least. They more or less interrogated me as we threw half-hearted attacks. They questioned everything no one else had cared to. It made me smile to see their thirst for knowledge and the truth. I had no problem answering their questions truthfully. By the time Cyclone got to that particular fight, his little sidekick had much to think about, and even more research to do.
From then on, we started to talk. They made it their goal to be at fights before their boss to get some time to question me. I finally had a name, albeit a false one. Still, Spitfire was a fitting name for them. They definitely were a spitfire, always having a comeback or sharp comment on the tip of their tongue, and always ready to refute something I told them if their research said otherwise. I just kept feeding that energy, that curiosity.
Why Spitfire stayed a sidekick even once they knew how corrupt the system was, I would never know. Perhaps they were hoping to chage it from the inside. It was a valiant goal, but ultimately a useless one. The whole system needed to be torn apart and rebuilt from the outside in. Either way, eventually the topic of conversation changed as their research ran out.
Soon it was like a normal conversation around fights that were more sparring matches then anything. Spitfire opened up to me, and in turn I them. It wasn’t planned. I had never wanted to fall in love with someone, let alone someone on the opposite side as me. But over time, my heart became theirs. Especially when they mentioned their insecurities in passing once.
It had been ment as a joke, a comment in passing. I had known better though. Those kinds of jokes had a base in truth. Those self-deprecating jokes came from a place of insecurity. Of uncertainty in oneself and abilities. After all, did I not make them daily to my minions? To the people who cared to know me better than most ever would.
But Spitfire had no need for that, they were perfect. The more I got to know them, the more certain of this I became. And I was finally ready for them to know it as well. To know what those conversations we had, those forbidden talks in the midst of combat, had become. What they had made me feel. Who they now were to me. I would put it all on the line for them today, even if they didn’t choose me. They deserved to know.
I was jolted back to the present by Cyclone landing in front of me, Spitfire a few feet behind him. They looked exhausted, which concerned me. They had said training was getting harder recently, but they looked like they had just come from another villain fight that I knew hadn’t happened. It made my heart clench as I watched them. I wanted to tear those trainers to shreds. But that could come later, once I knew they were fine. Once they were safely in my arms and I no longer had to hold back.
I turned my attention back to Cyclone as he started one of his monologues, using the time to center myself for what I was going to say next. When he finally shut up, I smirked with confidence I didn’t have and spoke. “I’m so glad you could come in time for my confession. I was getting concerned you wouldn’t show.” I spoke, looking at Spitfire over the shoulder of Cyclone. They looked concerned. I opted to ignore it and get this overwith, for better or worse.
I watched Spitfire carefully as I spoke. “I have come to care for you over the time of our fights. It wasn’t what I expected or planned when I first met you, but it has happened. I wish to see your face daily, to bring you joy. To make your favorite meals, take you to your favorite places. Come home with me. Please, I will devote everything, my all to you. Please.”
Cyclone, the obtuse bastard, thought I was talking to him and looked completely appalled and disgusted as he replied before Spitfire could. “I would never love a monster such as yourself.”
I cut him off before he could continue his line of thought. “It’s a good thing I wasn’t talking to you then, isn’t it.” I turned my attention back to Spitfire, who looked completely shocked and lost.”
“I-I’m just a sidekick. I’m not- Why me?” They were already stepping closer even as they asked.
I smiled gently at them, holding a hand out. I waited until Spitfire was safely in my arms to respond. “You are much more than that. You are kind, and noble, and caring, and gentle, yet tough, strong. You have a brilliant mind and an amazing sense of humor. And I intend to show you that every day. If you’ll let me?”
They looked shocked still, likely still processing everything but slowly nodded. “Yes. I want to spend everyday with you too.”
I smiled softly at them before Cyclone decided to interrupt our lovely moment. “You’re choosing that monster willingly? You’re just going to betray everything we stand for? Everything we are working towards? For what, a few sweet words? Spitfire you are worse than I ever thought you could be. If you pick That, you’ll become public enemy number one.”
Spitfire turned to look at their old boss. “No, you work for a corrupt system. You choose people who only care for money and publicity, and you’re just like them. I’m picking the side that actually gives a shit about the people.” They turned back to me with a little pleading look. “Can we go now? I can’t deal with him right now.”
I smiled at my sidekick with a nod, proud of them. “Of course. Let’s go.” I held them tightly around the waist as I teleported us to my home. And if I ensured the kickback was strong enough to maim or even kill some of the strongest of heros? Well, noone needed to know it was intentional that Cyclone died that day, leaving the government without their figurehead and scrambling to deal with the backlash of the media storm from Spitfire choosing me.
I smiled down at my little love, content. I had ensured the schedule was clear for the day, and for however long they would need me to adjust. After all, a new villain would soon join the field by my side to tear apart the system that failed them and so many others. But for now, we would rest and celebrate, and heal. For today was a day of joy.