Chapter Text
“I’m giving you one last chance Mad King!” X-Ray shouted at his adversary. “Surrender now, or we’ll be forced to use drastic measures.” His declaration echoed around the vast room, met with silence as the Mad King stared at the hero, his expression quizzical.
“I’m sorry, what?” the Mad King replied at last, breaking the silence. X-Ray gave a frustrated sigh.
“I said-”
“No no no,” He interrupted, holding up a hand. “I heard what you said. I’m just at a loss as to how you expect to do anything to me if you’re currently strapped to a table with a death ray aimed at your idiotic face.”
X-Ray stared cross eyed at the rod like contraption positioned an inch from his face. He followed the length of it to where it connected to massive metal body with a control panel full of buttons and levers. The Mad King currently stood by the control panel, his hand resting on a lever that X-Ray assumed would turn on the ray. The hero shrugged, the motion pulling at the leather straps holding him to the metal table he had woken up on after being knocked out by one of the Mad King’s goons.
“Wing it?” X-Ray suggested. He had no other option. With his hands tied he had no way of reaching his glasses. He and Vav had tracked some of the Mad King’s men to a warehouse outside the city. Upon arrival the two had split up to search the compound, a bad idea in X-Ray’s opinion seeing as how it had led to him being knocked out only to wake up in one of the warehouse’s empty office rooms strapped to a slanted table with death staring him in the face. His only hope at this point was to distract the Mad King long enough for Vav to find them.
“Well, instead of thinking about how you can 'wing it',” the Mad King made air quotes with his free hand. “Perhaps you could answer a very simple question for me.” X-Ray glared at him and the Mad King gave him a smug smile. “It’s not like you can do much else at the moment.” He reasoned. X-Ray pulled at his bindings again to no avail before sighing in defeat.
“Alright, shoot.” X-Ray tensed. “Wait no, don’t shoot. Please don’t shoot dude.” The Mad King chuckled and it made X-Ray pause for a moment. The chuckle didn’t sound evil…at all. Like, no hint of crazy in it. It sounded like a genuine laugh, something that would come from a friend after a good joke. And somehow that scared X-Ray even more.
The Mad King took his hand off the lever and began to pace around the machine and the table X-Ray was strapped to. He avoided eye contact, his hands clasped tightly behind him, and instead stared out one of the many large windows scattered on the walls of the room they were in. The adrenaline of being so near death must have been getting to X-Ray because he swore that the villain seemed almost nervous. The Mad King stopped his pacing right beside the table. X-Ray glanced over at him, unable to move his head, but the Mad King was still looking away. There was silence but before X-Ray could utter a smart remark his nemesis finally spoke.
“Would you like to have dinner…sometime,” the Mad King finally looked over and made eye contact with X-Ray. “…with me?”
X-Ray blinked and watched the Mad King’s face. The villain’s expression gave away nothing but genuine curiosity with a hint of what looked to be fear.
“Hold up,” X-Ray replied. “Maybe these glasses finally gave me mega cancer in my ears but did I just hear you ask me out on a date? You, the Mad fucking King just asked me out to dinner while your death ray is being pointed at my face.” He looked pointedly back at the ray for emphasis but his eyes darted back over when he heard the Mad King let out a disappointed sigh.
“Is that a no?” He asked, his tone that of a man facing defeat. X-Ray raised his eyebrows and glanced at the death ray again.
“Are you gonna shoot me if I say no?” He asked, looking back. The Mad King frowned as he looked at the giant metal contraption.
“I’ll admit the death ray is an unwanted pressure.” He reached up and plucked the cracked golden crown from his head. “I didn’t intend for it influence your answer.” With a grunt he threw the crown at the main control panel. The crown lodged itself in the panel, forcing the metal to cave. X-Ray listened to the sounds of the machine shutting down as its control panel sparked and hissed, smoke rising from the gaping hole that had been created. His eyes darted back over to the Mad King who was once again looking at him expectantly.
“So…what? If I say no you’ll just kill me anyway with a different weapon.” X-Ray argued. The Mad King simply shook his head and reached towards X-Ray’s face. The hero flinched but slowly relaxed when he realized the Mad King was just undoing the bindings keep his head strapped to the table. X-Ray stared at him as he worked trying to find some sort of tell in his features, some indication that this was all a joke or a taunt. “What’s you game plan here dude?” He finally asked when the Mad King finished undoing the bindings. “You seriously expect me to believe the Mad King wants to take his nemesis out to dinner?” The Mad King reached over and pushed the rod of the now demolished death ray away from X-Ray’s face.
“You’re overthinking this. Take the villain versus hero business out of the equation.” He implored. “Think of it more as the CEO of Monarch Labs asking a normal civilian out to dinner.”
“You’ve gotta be kidding me.” X-Ray scoffed.
“I assure you I’m being completely serious.” The Mad King promised as he reached now over to undo the bindings keeping X-Ray’s legs strapped to the table.
“You could have just tied me up for that. Why the death ray?”
“This was all pretty spur of the moment.” The Mad King admitted with a shrug. “We were doing weapons testing in here and I could just as easily have captured your British partner instead of you.”
“I just-” X-Ray starts, pulling at his wrist bindings again. “Why?”
The Mad King began undoing the bindings at X-Ray’s wrists and shrugged. “I’m not the Mad King 24/7 just like how you’re not X-Ray 24/7. We each have a civilian side and just like many other people on this earth, the civilian side of me craves…intimacy.” He grimaced slightly, like his word choice wasn’t ideal but it would have to do. “The Mad King side of me lives to create chaos but the Ryan Haywood side of me…finds you very attractive and hopes you’ll agree to a date.” The last part was rushed, words tumbling quickly from his mouth. With his arms and legs freed X-Ray slowly slid off the table, the Mad King backing up to give him room.
“Ryan…Haywood?” He asked as he rubbed at his sore wrists.
“You could have gotten that name with minimal research.” The Mad King…no, Ryan, claimed with a wave of his hand. “Prestigious CEO of Monarch Labs, face plastered on every official website, name found in a handful of published papers.” Ryan looked at X-Ray and could tell the hero was still very hesitant. He turned and held his hand out, his crown forcing itself out of the control panel and back to him. He snatched it from the air and placed it back onto his head. “Your answer won’t affect our villain-hero relationship. Whether you say yes or no I’ll let you go for now and we’ll continue our fighting another day.” He promised.
“But you hope I’ll say yes.” Ryan gave a slight nod and X-Ray pondered the situation, going back over the argument Ryan had given in his head when a certain sentence stuck with him. “Wait, you think I’m attractive?”
Ryan quickly turned his face the other way but it was slow enough for X-Ray to see the blush rising on his cheeks. Ryan coughed into his hand, clearing his throat, and began walking toward one of the large windows in the room.
“I suppose you could say I find your features very aesthetically pleasing to the point that they mask over the annoyance you evoke through your constant meddling in my business but…” He paused when he reached the window, undoing the latch to let the panes swing open. Cool night air flowed in and cleared away the stuffiness of the warehouse. He turned to face X-Ray. “Yes. I find you quite adorable.”
It was X-Ray’s turn to blush. Similar thoughts had certainly crossed his mind before but the thought of ever acting on them had always an impossible reality. At least, that’s what he had thought. But now his sworn nemesis was standing before him, a look of hope on his face gradually morphing into one of despair as X-Ray took longer and longer to answer him, asking him on a date. A date. Like they were awkward teenagers or friendly coworkers in an office. And X-Ray honestly had no idea how to respond.
“Can I think about it? Is that an option?” X-Ray hesitantly asked. Ryan blinked, at a loss for words and in a state of shock that X-Ray had somewhat agreed. Well it wasn’t exactly an agreement but it wasn’t a no either.
“I…yes! Yes, yes of course!” Ryan quickly assured, a grin spreading across his face. X-Ray chuckled a bit at how excited the villain looked. If X-Ray didn’t know any better he’d think he was talking to a completely different person. The genuine happiness on Ryan’s face was a stark contrast to the looks of blood lust he had seen so often on the face of the Mad King.
“Then…I’ll think about.” X-Ray promised, rubbing at his wrists. A thought occurred to him. “But I’m gonna tell Vav, that’s a definite. We don’t keep shit from each other.” Ryan gave a slight nod, accepting the decision like it was something he had already expected.
“Understandable.” He agreed. X-Ray tensed as Ryan put a hand inside his suit jacket but all he pulled out was a simple black card. He offered it to X-Ray who reached out and took it. Turning it over in his hands he realized it was a business card of sorts but with only a number printed in gold ink on one side. “Call or text that number when you’ve made your decision.”
“Okay…so I guess….we go our separate ways now?” X-Ray asked, taking a step towards the open doorway of the room. He needed to go find Vav and make sure he was okay. Ryan may be giving him a free pass here but that didn’t mean that his men knew to leave Vav alone.
“Yes. Regardless of your answer, I’ll likely see you next week.” Ryan answered as he stepped up onto the ledge of the open window. X-Ray frowned.
“What’s next week?” He asked. Ryan looked over his shoulder at him.
“I’m not sure yet. Maybe I’ll rob a bank…or just blow it up, it’s not like I need the money.” Ryan mused, his Mad King side showing itself as Ryan’s eyes lit up with a manic excitement.
“You weren’t kidding about the chaos thing, were you?”
“I never kid, X-ray.” Ryan assured with a smile. X-Ray chuckled.
“Right, and uh, Mad K-” He stopped himself and took a breath. “Ryan?” He tried again. Ryan looked over his shoulder at him. “My civilian side is Ray, by the way.” He confessed. Ryan smiled.
“Ray.” Ryan repeated and nodded like he approved of the name. “I look forward to hearing from you Ray.” With one final wave he took a step out of the window and fell from sight. Ray rushed over to the window and peered out only to see the villain had been caught by some sort of levitating platform and was already speeding away into the night. Ray let out the breath he didn’t realize he had been holding. He looked down at the card in his hand for a moment before tucking it the utility belt he and Vav now preferred wearing on missions. He gave one last look out the window, Ryan now just a speck on the horizon, before hurrying out the room.
Gotta find Vav. Gotta find Vav. Gotta find Vav.
Ray sprinted through the warehouse on the search for his partner. After checking at least half of the main rooms and finding them empty he could only assume that all of the Mad King’s goons had left when their leader took off.
At least, that’s what Ray hoped.
“Gavin! Where the hell are you!?” He took a risk and shouted. His voice echoed and bounced off the rusting walls of the warehouse. Silence embraced him as he stood still and listened for a response. After a few moments he took another breath, prepared to try shouting again, when Gavin finally appeared.
“X-Ray!” Ray’s head snapped up to see the blue and red clad superhero leaning over the railing of a catwalk up above. The brit was glaring daggers at him, clearly displeased. “What are you doing using my real name, you donut?”
“To be fair I just shouted a name. You were the one to say it was yours.” Ray argued. “Now get down here, I need to tell you something.”
Gavin climbed over the railing and jumped down, the thirty foot drop made possible by the upgrades Hilda had made to their boots. High powered shock absorbers were one of many perks Hilda added to their suits aside from the utility belts. Gavin landed with a soft thump, dust on the warehouse floor billowing out in a cloud around him.
“I think all of the Mad King’s men are gone.” Gavin reported as he walked over to Ray, eyes scanning the visible walk-ways of the warehouse. “They just started high tailing it out of here for some reason. I slow-moed a couple of them but they’re gone too. Where’d you end up anyway?” He turned his attention to Ray who had been fidgeting where he stood. “Did you catch anyone?”
“Not exactly.” Ray admitted, his face heating up again when he thought about where he had been, the conversation he had just had. “The Mad King caught me. I was tied down with a death ray aimed at my face.”
“Wot?!” Gavin’s voice cracked as he looked Ray over, concern clear in his face. “Are you alright? How did you escape?”
“That’s the thing.” Ray started. “He, uh…he sort of let me go.” He muttered the last part but Gavin still heard him.
“He let you go?” Gavin asked in disbelief. Ray just nodded. “Why the hell would he just let you go?” Ray shrugged and looked away, not wanting to look Gavin in the eyes for what he was about to say.
“Because he wants to take me out to dinner.” He answered softly. He expected Gavin to erupt in a chorus of panicked squawks at the news but there was nothing but silence. Ray looked back at his partner to see him staring back with a blank expression. Gavin blinked.
“You’re completely mental.”
“Gavin-” Ray sighed. He had expected this. As compliant and spontaneous as Gavin was there was no way he would just accept something like this at face value.
“Did the Mad King do something to your head?” Gavin grabbed Ray’s head and brought it down to look for scars or cuts. “Did he stick something in your brain? Maybe he-”
“He didn't do anything to me.” Ray argued, pulling away and taking a step back.
“You said he pointed a bloody death ray at you!” Gavin flailed his arms for emphasis while Ray's remained crossed in defiance.
“Yeah but then he destroyed it, let me go, and asked me out to dinner.” Ray pulled the business card from his belt and showed it to Gavin. “He said to contact him with this.”
“Wait, you didn’t answer him?” Gavin asked. Ray shrugged and put the card away.
“It’s a lot to take in all at once. He’s a villain, we fight him at least every other week. I shouldn’t be going on a date with him but…” Ray trailed off. But what?
Their first encounter with the Mad King wasn’t exactly the best one and it certainly wasn’t something that encouraged a peaceful relationship. They had to rescue ORF and facing off against a villain they had never met before who was also Hilda’s boss made the severity of the situation high. But X-Ray had quickly realized this wasn’t like the movies where one bad guy gets defeated and goes down for good. After that first fight it was clear that, despite beating the Mad King, apparently the villain was here to stay. After defeating Corpirate he and Vav continued fighting as two of the city’s most well-known heroes, taking down robbers and crooks alike. But it only took a few weeks before they faced off against the Mad King again. Their encounters became regular, happening nearly every week. And each time X-Ray and the Mad King managed to get into a sort of battle of quips as they exchanged banter between blows. He couldn’t deny that he considered the Mad King to be attractive and his mesmerizing icy blue eyes always managed to distract him. But he could never act on those feelings. X-Ray was a hero and the Mad King was a villain, one of the worst. But now he wasn't just the Mad King, he was Ryan. He was Ryan and he asked Ray out to dinner and goddammit Ray wanted to say yes.
“What do you think I should do?” He finally asked Gavin who was still looking at him like he just announced he was going to set his Xbox on fire
“I think you’re daft.” Came Gavin’s answer and Ray looked down in shame. Gavin sighed. “But whatever you decide I’ll support you. You know that right?” Ray’s head snapped back up and he watched as Gavin gave him a small, reassuring smile. Ray smiled back.
“Yeah.” He agreed. He and Gavin began to make their way out of the warehouse.
“Just out of curiosity, what have you decided?” Gavin questioned. Ray thought for a moment before realizing he had already made up his mind long ago.
“YOLO, right?”