Chapter Text
“It’s not real,” Morgan muttered in their sleep, shifting on the couch. Alex looked over, mostly to ensure they weren’t about to fall off. “It’s not real…”
Alex furrowed their eyebrows, turning off the stove and moving to crouch in front of their partner in crime.
“Wake up, it’s not-”
Alex placed a hand on Morgan’s arm. “It’s not real, Morgan.” The other villain started, calming only when their eyes met Alex’s golden gaze. “It was just a nightmare.”
Morgan breathed a sigh of relief, dragging Alex onto the couch with them. “My parents- I could think for myself but I couldn’t- my body wasn’t mine to control. They made me into a sidekick. Chad’s sidekick. Again.”
Alex ran a hand through their hair, shorter than they usually liked it. “That part was real.”
“Wh-Alex-”
“I got you back. You’re safe now.” Alex pressed an ear against Morgan’s chest, listening to their heartbeat. Nodded to the coffee table. “That’s the device. I figured you’d want to take it apart, but it’s fried. No longer functional.” They paused for a second. “I didn’t kill them. I really wanted to. I really want to kill them, Morgan.”
Morgan was quiet, but holding tightly to Alex. Tightly enough it would have hurt someone else. “And I-I’m awake now? This is real?”
Alex didn’t answer.
“Alex. This is real, right? This is real. You got me out.” They were still quiet and Morgan shut their eyes tight, willing the tears not to come. “Shit. Shit, shit shit. Alex, this has to be real. You have to get me out. I can’t-I can’t-”
“My Sidekick!” Chad’s voice was at the door. No. Morgan looked around. Chad’s voice was coming from where the television was. “It’s time to get up and fight crime!”
“I will.” Alex finally spoke, Morgan fighting the control that was taking over their body. “I’ll get you out.”
Morgan woke up, realizing where they were, remembering where Alex was. Where they put them. “No.” They wanted to say it out loud but their mouth remained shut. The tears felt hot against their face but they were walking around like they hadn’t just trapped their partner in crime in the one place they couldn’t escape on their own. Just snap them back. One motion. One motion and they’ll fix this. “This isn’t real…”