#“Villain vs Supervillain”

[spacefaxy]

"I'm sorry, he should've been here by now." Dr. Lain said, tapping their foot and checking their watch. "He's NEVER this late..."

Lain pulled up a chair to the monitor and started flipping through news channels while I watched, only lightly gagged with a clean, breathable cloth. News about my absence was sparse. Dr. Lain's shoulders eventually slumped, and they sighed.

"Are you hungry, thirsty? Or would you rather just go home?" They asked as they untied my gag and other restraints.

"Yeah, dinner sounds nice actually," I reply, stretching out my arms and legs before standing up.

"Come then," they gesture, and we walked through their lair.

After stepping into the elevator, I turned to the Dr. and asked them, "Where do you think he's at?"

Dr. Lain's composure broke slightly for a moment before returning with a slight scowl. "I don't know. I have drones out looking for him. He should've been here, on time, as he usually is, it's how this whole thing is supposed to work. I kidnap you, he comes over, we fight, he wins, and you go home. It's like my one social interaction for the week."

Lain rubbed their temples as the elevator door opened, revealing a decently comfortable looking, though small, apartment. "Make yourself at home, I suppose," they said quietly, taking off their coat, revealing a surprisingly feminine form I hadn't noticed before, and hanging it up by the door before proceeding toward the kitchen. At the threshold, they stopped suddenly, and turned back to me. "Why?"

"Huh?"

"Why stay here instead of going home? Even if just for a meal?"

"I don't know. I should hate you for the frequent kidnappings, and the havoc that's been wreaked over my life as a result, but despite that you're the only one who's ever been nice to me."

Dr. Lain tilted their head, puzzled.

"Like. Okay. Kidnapping someone is super bad, right? But you've always made sure my home is either undamaged, or fixed by the time I get there. You've always used really comfortable restraints, when you could've used cheaper, less comfortable stuff. You've never actually hurt me."

"I try not to, it's not you I'm after," they spoke quietly, leaning against the wall.

"I know."

"But you don't hate me?"

"No, it's usually fun actually. My friends don't believe me, keep telling me I need therapy and such. Stockholm Syndrome or something. Maybe I should, but not for this."

Dr. Lain had folded their arms by now, listening patiently.

"I actually don't like it when the hero 'rescues' me. He's rough about it. He drops me off wherever, and I have to make it back home from wherever I am in the city."

"He doesn't even make sure you get home safe?" Dr. Lain stood straight again.

"Nope! And that's not even talking about his presentation when he gets here. You've got this elaborate smoke and laser show, a music playlist, your drones do background choreographed dancing during the fight, it's a fucking spectacle every time. But this hero can't even be bothered to try to match that? It's kinda disrespectful if you ask me."

"I know right?" Dr. Lain perks up suddenly, and returns to the kitchen. They pull some plastic containers from the fridge and toss them into the microwave for a couple minutes. "I put so much work into making it a grand show for anyone watching, and to hype him up for the fight, but it's like he's just going through the motions."

I ponder that last sentence for a minute.

"Dr., do you think he's okay..?" I ask quietly.

There was silence, save for the hum of the microwave. A few moments later, it beeped, and Dr. Lain grabbed some silverware, bringing the food out to a dining table. They grabbed an extra chair for me from the closet. Not the most comfortable thing.

"No. Let's have some food first, and then we can go to his hideout and check on him."

The food was pretty basic. Veggies and rice with a light sauce, and grilled chicken.

"You know where it is?"

"Yeah. He doesn't know that though."

After food, we took a ride back down the elevator, down further than the normal lair. The garage it seems. There were a few different cars in there. Some damaged from battles with the hero, some new and waiting for their turn to shine. And one in the corner that appears to be a normal car. It's a decades old Japanese sedan - the paint is worn, one of the wheel covers has fallen off a long time ago, leaving a black steel wheel exposed to the elements. There's spots of rust here and there, along with a few dents and scrapes.

"We're trying not to grab the attention of the police," they winked. "Get in!"

I was surprised by how smooth the door operated. No rattles or squeaks. Dr. Lain turned the ignition key, and the car started right up. I leaned over and peaked at the odometer - 595,678 miles. Woah.

"My grandpa bought this car as a gift for my mom, who then passed it on to me when I was old enough. I've been driving this every day for 19 years."

"You must take really good care of it."

"I do! I'm saving up to fix the cosmetic defects, and totally restore the car in the next year or two. It's the most reliable thing I've ever owned."

The drive was peaceful and quiet. The rain was clearing up, and the setting sun peered beneath the clouds, lighting everything up in brilliant shades of red, orange, and violet. It felt like driving through a real synthwave music video.

It was well into twilight when we arrived at the hero's hideout. Lain looked concerned as we approached, slowing down and dropping into 2nd gear. They leaned forward in their seat, scanning the place as we came to a stop at the gate. Even though it was open, Lain stopped the car before the threshold and got out. Hurriedly, they got back in and without putting their seatbelt back on floored it and drove up the way, tires screeching a bit. "That gate should never be open, why the FUCK is it open?!"

I started getting nervous. How long had they known each other anyway?

We finally arrived at the hideout. It's a simple farmhouse on the outside, light blue paint, green shutters, and a tile roof. Lain slams the brakes and we stop just beyond the stairs. The shut off the engine and pull the trunk release latch. "Come on, we have to figure this out."

I follow them to the back of the car and they remove a false floor. Inside was a shotgun and a handgun. They hand me the pistol and a spare magazine, and grab the shotgun for themself and a bandolier with shells. "Is this necessary?"

"It might be," Lain said, marching up the stairs to the door. It was left cracked open.

We go in, and Lain pulls a small light from their pocket, supporting the shotgun on their forearm as they sweep the room. It's dark inside, but Lain spots something in the dining room.

"Cover me," they say, and proceed into the house. I follow them, and keep my gun pointed into the dark.

There's a note on the table, folded into a tent shape so it can be spotted more easily. It's addressed to Dr. Lain specifically, and they read it. I've never seen them go so pale before.

"I'm gonna need your help," they say.

"What happened? What's going on?"

"We've got a rescue to pull off. Let's get back to the lair and prepare. It's not every day you're challenged by the nation's biggest supervillain."

You are kidnapped by the villain regularly, but you’re starting to look forward to it. You know they won’t hurt you, and are simply being dramatic. It also doesn’t help that you are the only person they ever kidnap. This time, the hero doesn’t bother trying to save you.

[spacefaxy]

oh man this doin numbers fr fr

[locusfandomtime]

i'm OBSESSED with minister of ministers ren... he is someone who wants SO BADLY to be the manipulative leader in control of everything, never lifting a finger and making others work for him, but it doesn't work because nobody takes him seriously. except, at the same time, it kinda does work because people do what he says, but because they're his friends and find it funnier to do what he wants and be annoying about it, than not do it at all. I like to think he doesn't realise this, thinking his manipulation tactics have worked, not realising that people are mining resources and improving infrastructure for him out of Friendship and Pity. he'd be annoyed they don't take him seriously, but internally think "hm! these PLEBEIANS don't realise they are falling right into my trap!" completely unaware of the trap he's about to fall into due to his own mistakes (exploded by creeper whilst sorting chests + cleo's prank). he never learns though, he just keeps going, the lesson never sinks in for him.

it's an interesting comparison to ren the king - someone who was originally (somewhat) respected but his ego got the best of him and the more he tried to gain power back, the deeper the hole he dug himself into. they both want power but lack it, but in such different ways. king in a country tired of monarchy vs project manager as an anime villain (and both of them are pathetic)

[izunias-meme-hole]

Gideon Graves Appreciation Post

3 Separate characterizations, and all of them are 3 different tiers of bastard that's fitting for each adaptation.

[belethlegwen]

The Scars We Leave Behind

Written by: @adjacentperception and @belethlegwen

What's left of a hero when everything is taken from him? What's left of a villain with no identity?

What's left of a man who has no choice but to save the symbol of a system he's fighting against?

Within a city constantly besieged by a super-power fueled war between Good vs Evil, a hero is captured by powerful villain and their secret organization and forced to play part in a twisting and enigmatic plan; to tear down the systems in place that keep the League of Heroes in an ultimate seat of power to rival the government itself. But… is the system as good as it projects itself to be? Are the villains and their henchmen really as evil as the media says? Is it truly as simple as tearing it down, or does that simply open up space for a new, worse system to enter?

Is the harm we do when we believe we're helping mitigated merely by our wishes to be better? To create something more? To fix what we believe is broken?

Do we hold blame for creating the evil we think we're fighting against, regardless of our intentions?

This work features descriptions of violence, abuse, neglect, and uses adult language, as well as mentions of nudity and sexual topics.

[chaotic-orphan]

Vendetta (IX)

Read part one here // Continued from this part here

*~*~*~*~*

Hero ducked under outstretched arms. Feigned left, lunged right. A flash of colour to their left, then heat. Hero sidestepped the tendrils of fire that shot out from the villain’s hands. They weren’t quick enough. The flames caught Hero’s shoulder and they faltered with a cry, their hand going to the burns, but they grit their teeth and kept moving forward, charging Fire Villain.

Hero grabbed Fire Villain’s wrist in a death grip, nullifying their ability. Their hand chopped through the air going for the throat. Fire villain gasped, doubled over, struggling back a step, clicking their fingers for flames that wouldn’t ignite. Hero yanked them closer by the wrist and crunched their elbow into Fire villain’s nose, eliciting a shriek of pain. Hero finally let go, sweeping fire villain’s legs from under them. Stomping on their ankle as they fell, then their face and bolted again.

Ahead of them shouts of encouragement only harshened the headache pounding in Hero’s ears, pushing themselves faster. Their shoulder burned as the wind caught it, but Hero kept pushing forward, gritting their teeth against the pain. They had to get to Superhero. They had to stop Supervillain.

They had to stop the war right here, right now.

Hero barrelled through the crowd of villains, undetected by the group whose attention was fixed on Superhero and Supervillain in the centre.

Superhero’s eyes widened when they met Hero’s. Supervillain took the opportunity to dash forward, swinging Hero’s sword down in an arc. Superhero barely had enough time to cross his arms in an X shape over their head, catching the blade on their vambrace. Supervillain tossed his lazy gaze over his shoulder, keeping the pressure on Superhero’s arms with ease, icy eyes landing on Hero.

A horrible grin stretched across his face as Hero pushed into the circle with the pair. “Ah, Hero. Come to enjoy the show? Out of your cuffs and everything. Naughty, naughty. Superhero… you should’ve raised them with better manners.”

Superhero threw their arms up while Supervillain was distracted, pushing the sword away and sidestepping the edge. He lunged on the inside of the blade, batting it away with his forearm and kicking Supervillain back to the edge of the tight circle of villains. Hands reached out to keep Supervillain up, ensuring he didn’t fall.

“Hero,” Superhero said, a muscle in his jaw tightening as Hero stepped towards Supervillain. Supervillain backed up to keep both Hero and Superhero in his vision, swinging the sword in his hand.

Hero narrowed their eyes into a burning glare, catching their breath from running through the battlefield that stank of blood and shit. The group somehow smelled worse, pungent heat mixing with sweat.

Hero’s mouth was dry from running, but they pushed through everything in their body that was telling them to stop. To lie down and go home. That told them this was too hard, they should give up now. You’ve done enough now, Vigilante is gone. Give up fighting, nobody will think less of you.

“That’s my sword,” Hero told Supervillain, ignoring the intrusive thoughts screaming in their head. They put their hand out, palm up. “I’d like it back now.”

Supervillain tsked. “Hero… it’s kind of concerning that you want my attention so badly. Clearly Superhero’s opinion of you has gone to your head. You’re not everyone’s sweetheart.”

A pop behind Hero and something was shoved into their hands. Another pop and Hero glanced down to see their sheath with their secondary sword. Hero wanted to close their eyes and pray, thank the Gods for Teleport, but instead they drew their sword, dropping their scabbard to the ground. Wiping their sweaty palms on their trousers, Hero tightened their fingers around the hilt to get a better grip.

Supervillain smirked at the pair of heroes ahead of him.

“Two on one is a little unfair, wouldn’t you say, lads?” A cheer around them. Hero and Superhero retreated, back to back on instinct, looking warily around them.

Hero saw a flash of Supervillain’s toothy grin as he stabbed Hero’s sword into the dirt, leaning his weight on top of it like it was a cane and crossing his legs. Entirely too casual, his voice dipped, darkening as he said: “How about we even the odds?”

Another cry and the swarm of Villains descended like a plague of locusts upon them. Hero kicked out at the first Villain that ran at them, leaning on Superhero’s back to get more force behind it. The next one lunged while someone pulled at Hero’s shirt, trying to yank them to the right and away from Superhero.

Hero jutted their arm up sharply, deflecting a blow with the flat of their blade, but they were too slow. A fist crunched into Hero’s face from the left and they stumbled and then there were hands on them. Hero kicked out, thrashing and raging against the hands holding them. They were sharply pulled to the left, the hands on them unrelenting, but Hero kicked out at the Villain trying to body check them on the right.

A villain sprung up in front of them and Hero barely dodged the knife going for their eye. Hero punched them in the solar plexus and the Villain folded, but they didn’t get to fall.

Blood splattered across Hero’s face, and they flinched and froze for a split second, stumbling back into the hands of villains. The taste of iron infested their mouth, heightening the stench of blood and metal that surrounded them. The villain that they just punched— their head was ripped open and their deadweight fell on top of Hero. Hero fought back a retch, struggling to push the body off them.

Two bright yellow eyes the colour of pus gleamed down at Hero, a wicked grin on a pretty face and they were speaking but Hero couldn’t hear them over the cacophony of sound that assaulted their senses. Her face was covered in blood too, blood that she licked from her fingers, as if it was sauce leftover from chicken wings.

Hero threw their arms up in defence, not hearing anything over the pounding of their thundering heart.

The girl stumbled forward, her mouth falling open, frozen in shock. Hero only distantly realised the hand that was through her chest, roughly pulling out after the girl fell like a rag-doll to the ground, motionless. The look of surprise etched into her face forever.

Superhero was in front of them then, grabbing Hero and yanking them up, their hand like a vice around Hero’s arm. Hero flinched when their eyes met Superhero’s. There was a horrible sense of urgency in them that Hero couldn’t feel, their body felt numb. Did they have pieces of that Villain’s face on their—

“Hero! Hero! Snap out of it!” Superhero cried, but Hero’s eyes drifted down to Superhero’s hand, slick with blood. Superhero moved like a blur around them. One Villain stepped towards the pair and Superhero whirled, both hands finding the villain’s head. A swift movement and the villain’s neck snapped and they fell.

“Hero!” Superhero screamed, glancing behind him at the still comatose Hero who was just standing there. Another Villain went to attack Hero, but Superhero got there first, breaking the Villain’s arm, then ripping it from the socket. The Villain screamed as Superhero smashed their foot against the Villain’s knee, crippling them and shoving them away.

Hero blinked at Superhero, recognition flashing in their eyes. “Hero- we have to—”

A crackle of electricity behind Superhero and Hero’s body moved before their mind realised it. They shoved Superhero out of the way and lunged forward, grabbing the electric villain’s arm, and nullifying their ability before they surged their sword arm forward and up, under the Villain’s armour. Their sword poked out of the villain’s mouth, who stared at Hero with a horrible knowing they were about to die on their face. Don’t think about it, Hero told themselves. Keep moving. Don’t think. Keep moving. Blood splattered across their face as Hero pulled their sword out, kicking the corpse back into another group of villains.

And more were coming.

It seemed like every Villain they cut down, four more took their place, and the circle was getting smaller and smaller and Hero could barely catch their breath between the bodies.

Don’t think. Keep moving.

Slice. Block. Superhero’s fist cracked and crunched into Villains behind Hero, but they kept fighting.

Kick. Punch. Another haunted expression. Don’t think. Don’t think. Don’t think.

They had to win.

Another death at Hero’s hands. Keep moving.

They had to stop Supervillain here.

Another body fell and three more Villains surged forward with cries of bloodlust. Hero cut them down like weeds. Don’t think.

They had to end the war. End all the fighting, all the dying.

Just stop, Hero. Give up, nobody would think less of you. The thought made Hero pause in their movements. A mistake, they realised too late.

A hand clamped down on Hero’s hair and they were dragged back. Hero let out a startled cry, losing their footing as they were yanked back. Hero swung their sword at the Villains coming towards them.

“Hero!” Superhero cried from somewhere in the masses. Hero adjusted their grip on the sword until the blade was aimed behind them, grabbing the hilt with both hands they drove it backwards and up. A sudden, piercing scream and Hero jerked forwards, their hair still heavy.

Hero whirled. A villain was standing clutching a bleeding stump and screaming. Hero shook, their entire body trembling as they reached for their hair and found the hand still bunched in their hair. Hero ripped it off, the smell of piss and sweat overwhelming them as fell back, the ground growing slippy. Tears sprung to their eyes, but Hero had to get up. They had to get up or they’d die.

Hero dug their sword into the ground and pulled themself up with an effort. It felt as if all of Hero’s energy was zapped from them as they got to shaking feet.

They barely had the chance to catch their breath before a villain was rushing them. Hero didn’t think, they lifted their sword and let the Villain impale themselves. The Villain didn’t die immediately, and horrifically Hero’s sword got caught between the Villain’s ribs when Hero tried to yank it out. Hero planted a foot on the Villain’s pelvis, yanking on the sword but it didn’t budge an inch. Instead, Hero kicked them back into the masses of bodies, unarmed.

Shit they should really find—

“HERO!”

Superhero… Hero turned to Superhero’s voice. Their mind a fog. It felt as if their eyes were too slow to catch up with their surroundings that seemed to zoom past them. A sudden pit opened up in their stomach, their mind screaming DANGER! But Hero was turning towards Superhero, exhaustion pulling at their muscles. Tiredness pulling at their eyes.

Chocolate brown curls fell over a pair of cool, cold eyes that flashed with malice. Hero barely had time to process before something hard slammed against their jaw. Hero’s head whipped to the side and was righted by a cold hand, before it hit them again in the same place.

The world spun around them as Hero spluttered out a gasp, raising their knee to try and dislodge Villain from them. Villain smiled a cold smile. A flash of metal and the breath was taken from Hero who folded around the object, their legs giving up on them.

“Shh, Hero,” Villain cooed, running their hand through Hero’s matted hair. “It’s okay. You fought well, Vigilante would be proud.”

“HERO!”

Hero let out a loud cry, spitting blood, thrusting their elbow up towards Villain. Their strike went wide, Villain parrying with his gun and hit Hero over the head again. Hero would have fallen if Villain wasn’t holding them up, they realised, with how heavy they were leaning on Villain’s arm. They wanted to throw up, they wanted to sleep.

They needed to end this war.

A cold mocking voice piped up from the back of their head: you’re going to end this war? With what?! With who! The war won’t be finished by some half-conscious, possibly concussed, disarmed mess that needs someone else to hold them up!

Hero winced. The voice was so loud, their shouts echoing around Hero’s dumb head like a cavern.

A thick, cold shadow crawled from Villain’s fingertips around Hero’s neck like a collar and leash, choking them. Hero gasped, hands flying to their throat to try and dispel the shadow but nothing. Villain yanked their hands down, tying them in front of Hero with his whip and yanked Hero forward again.

Hero followed because they couldn’t not, they didn’t have the energy to pull against Villain, their legs shaking as Villain paraded them through the crowd of villains. The heat from the bodies squeezing Hero on all sides threatened to knock them out from pure exhaustion and lack of air. Everything was too much, it was all too much.

The air smelled of smoke and vomit, and iron. Hero gasped on no air, struggling to breathe with the little leeway that Villain granted on Hero’s neck pulling tighter the more Hero resisted. They weren’t trying to resist they just couldn’t… their body didn’t want to move anymore, they could barely fucking see straight. Everything was reduced to whirling colours, a deafening ringing sounded between Hero’s ears, blocking out all other sounds. Or could everyone hear that?

When they finally emerged into the middle of the significantly thinned circle of villains, Hero’s eyes went to Superhero who was fighting Crow. Hero yanked against the whip in Villain’s hands. They had to get free. They had to help Superhero…

Villain only pulled the whip sharp in reply and Hero was yanked forwards. Their feet couldn’t gain purchase fast enough on the wet ground and they slipped, hands out to catch themselves. Villain yanked on the whip at the last second and Hero’s plunged face-first into the blood-stained mud. They shot up immediately, spewing and sputtering out the taste in their mouth.

Hero’s eyes shot to Superhero who was covered in blood, his hands stained to his shoulders with the dried, flaked crimson and fresh blood dripped from his fingertips. Someone kicked Superhero in the back of the knee and Superhero fell to his knees.

“No…” Hero mumbled, their tongue fat in their mouth. They army crawled forward. “Superhero… no… get up.”

Villain grabbed Hero by the hair and yanked their head up so they could get a better view of their fallen leader. Supervillain stepped in front of Superhero, Hero’s sword coated in blood already. For a single, heart breaking moment, Superhero’s kind eyes met Hero’s. Something sad pulled at the edges of his smile.

Hero mirrored the frown, needing their brain to process what it meant. What was happening? What were they looking at?!

Hero struggled against Villain’s hold, more out of instinct than anything else, but they didn’t get anywhere. They stiffened when the gun pressed against their temple.

“Here is the great Superhero,” Supervillain yelled. “A symbol of the old world order. A symbol of powered individuals forced to live in hiding. Told that we’re freaks, and dangers to society!”

Supervillain turned in a circle, looking every member of his captive audience in the eye. “Well I say no more.”

There was a chorus of cheers.

“I say NO MORE!” He screamed, and the cheer turned to screams and riotous applause. It exasperated the thundering headache that threatened to burst Hero’s skull. They slumped against the gun at their temple, but quickly perked up with a hiss when Villain yanked on their hair again.

Supervillain smirked at Hero, on their knees, shaking their head. “Supervillain… please… don’t… don’t do this.”

“I’m so glad you’re here to witness this, Hero,” Supervillain told them. Hero felt bile rise in their throat at the elation in his voice. “Let it serve as a reminder of what happens to those that oppose me.”

The ringing got louder as Hero’s desperate eyes went to Superhero’s. Superhero still smiling sadly at them. Hero lurched forward with a cry of protest as Supervillain turned.

“It’s okay, Hero,” Superhero said. “Everything will be—”

The sword plunged under Superhero’s armour. Hero watched as blood gurgled up and over his lips, a small trickle at first. Then, a waterfall. Supervillain twisted the sword before yanking it out, scraping against bone and wet flesh. In the distance someone was screaming.

Hero blinked at the scene, flinching when some of the blood from Supervillain’s blade flicked back onto them. Superhero… that was… that was Superhero’s blood. Hero didn’t lower their gaze from Superhero’s face. At one point Superhero fell forward. One of the Villains behind Superhero grabbed him and pulled him up so Supervillain could plunge the sword in again.

This time it ripped. Villains still cheered, someone was still screaming. Hero couldn’t take their eyes off Superhero’s face, the same sad smile echoing back at Hero.

Frozen. This was how Superhero’s face would remain forever. Like all the Villains that Hero killed today. This was how his face would stay. A sad, knowing smile on his face. Nothing shocked or terrified, Superhero greeted death with a smile on his face. A smile that was to reassure Hero, to make Hero feel better.

A smile that said: it’s okay. I know. We tried our best and we failed, and it’s okay.

That wasn’t how Superhero was supposed to greet death.

Not… not making an expression to comfort Hero.

That can’t be how Superhero dies.

It seemed as if the entire world rushed by Hero’s ears, bringing them back to the present with a renewed laser focus.

That can’t be how Superhero dies!

Hero sucked in a breath as the sword squelched out of Superhero. Someone said something, Supervillain gestured. He pulled out a dagger and sliced an arc down Superhero’s face. Hero struggled in Villain’s hold, roaring:

“GET OFF HIM!” Hero screamed, surging forwards but they were wrenched back, their voice going hoarse as they struggled in vain against Villain’s hold. “DON’T TOUCH HIM! STOP! STOP!”

Something hard hit the back of Hero’s head and they jolted forwards, collapsing onto their elbows, crying into the dirt. Twin streams of spit, snot and tears fell onto the ground under Hero’s head and they squeezed their eyes shut, not wanting to see it anymore. See Supervillain cutting Superhero’s body because… because Superhero… Superhero didn’t lose.

Superhero didn’t die with a smile.

Superhero never lost. Superhero may have cut it close every once in a while but he always walked away from a fight. Superhero wasn’t—

A sharp tug in their hair and Hero was yanked to their knees again, then to their feet. Hero threw their elbow back, catching something but what they didn’t care as they bolted towards Superhero.

They fell to their knees beside his body, their hands reaching to Superhero’s pulse. It was faint, but it was there.

Hero turned wet eyes to Supervillain, pleading. A black figure from the corner of their eye advanced on them, but Supervillain held a hand up, stopping them.

“Plea— p-p-please,” Hero whispered, sniffing, their voice hoarse and quiet, but Supervillain heard. He tilted his head, eyes drinking in Hero’s broken state. “Please… don’t kill him, please… please. I’m— i’m begging you, Supervillain. I’ll do ah-anything.”

Superhero can’t die with a comforting smile on his face. That wasn’t his death, that can’t be his death. Always looking out for someone other than his stupid fucking self! Superhero deserved to be selfish in death! At least in death!

Supervillain leaned back, pursing his lips as if he was chewing Hero’s words, tasting them, trying to find some flavour within them to his liking. He leaned forward, cupping Hero’s cheek in his hand and thumbing away the trails of tears and dirt and blood.

Hero shook in his hold but didn’t dare pull away. “Would you show me the same consideration?”

Hero blinked, sniffing. “What?”

Supervillain’s expression wasn’t mocking or cruel, he looked genuine. Patient, even. “If the roles were reversed, Hero. If Superhero had won and I was on the ground, dying, would you let Superhero kill me here? In the dirt?”

Hero’s breath hitched, their eyes drifting to Superhero’s face, his lips stained bright red with blood. Unnatural. Superhero’s lips were never bright red. Supervillain gently tilted Hero’s head back to him.

“Would you?” He asked, voice soft.

Hero’s bottom lip quivered. “I- I don’t think an-anyone should d-die like this.”

Supervillain smiled. It was kind, without malice. Hero swallowed the lump in their throat. Not daring to let themself hope but- but what if?

“So what would you do, Hero? Take me prisoner? Have a trial for my crimes?”

Hero shivered. “Yes.”

Supervillain paused. Hero held their breath as Supervillain pulled away and got to his feet with a grunt. He surprised Hero by walking over to them and helping Hero to their feet too, gentle movements all the while. Not too fast, trying not to spook the trembling Hero. Hero protested leaving Superhero’s side by Supervillain shushed them.

“It’s okay, Hero,” Supervillain coaxed, whispering sweet nothings into Hero’s matted hair. “There we go. Villain?”

Two more hands grabbed Hero’s shoulders. “Be gentle with them,” Supervillain told Villain as he pulled away.

Hero grabbed Supervillain’s arm before he could. Burning eyes met ice cold glaciers that smiled warmly at Hero. “You’re- you’re not going to k-kill him?”

“No, Hero. I won’t kill him.” Supervillain said softly and Hero’s legs went from under them in relief. Villain held them up while Hero cried, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.

Supervillain spread his arms out, bending down to scoop Hero’s sword from the dirt. Villain held Hero loosely to the side, their eyes never leaving Superhero’s body.

“My friends!” Supervillain boomed, his voice carrying over the battleground. “We’ve won!”

The field erupted into applause and cheers, villains roaring their triumph and chanting Supervillain’s name.

“Hero has begged me to spare Superhero’s life,” Supervillain bellowed with a grin, turning to face Hero again and winking. Hero flinched at the chorus of boo’s and mocking aww’s, jarring and vicious. “So I will not kill Superhero.”

Hero risked a baffled smile, though it probably looked pathetic. Maybe Supervillain was telling the truth. Maybe he did want to stop this endless violence between heroes and villains. Hero’s eyes got their determination back and they nodded at Supervillain, who returned the gesture with a smile of his own.

His arms still spread to his rowdy crowd, Supervillain’s icy eyes turned sharp, cunning twisting the side of his lips up and when he looked at Hero again there was something off about the picture. Something that told Hero there was something wrong. What were they missing?

What were they missing?

Grieves walked from the crowd that parted for him, walking up behind Supervillain. He plucked the sword from Supervillain’s hands who never took his eyes off of Hero. Grieves didn’t break his stride as he turned Hero’s sword upside down, walking towards Superhero on the ground.

Hero’s eyes widened too late, their face pulled from peace to horror in the space of a second. They lunged forward while Grieves slammed the blade of Hero’s sword through Superhero’s armour and into his heart.

Arms locked around Hero as they sprung for Supervillain, an animalistic shriek pulled from deep within their bones. “YOU FUCKING MONSTER! YOU BASTARD! YOU SAID YOU WOULDN’T—” Hero screamed over the cries of victory and celebration.

Supervillain walked around Grieves to Hero who was practically foaming at the mouth, blood-stained-spittle flying as they screamed. “YOU’RE A LIAR! YOU’RE A LIAR!”

Supervillain pinched Hero’s chin jutting Hero’s attention towards him. His arctic gaze freezing Hero solid. “I didn’t lie, Hero. I held up my end of our bargain. I said I wouldn’t kill him. And I didn’t,” Supervillain said very matter-of-factly, as if he were speaking to a child throwing a tantrum. Though his wide smile betrayed his joy and malicious intentions. “Grieves killed him.”

“You fucking MONSTER! I’ll kill you!” Hero vowed, their promise coming out guttural, voice hoarse with grief and despair; broken. “I’ll—”

“Promises, promises,” Supervillain said, dropping Hero’s chin. “Superhero had to die, but that was only half of the main event, dear Hero. Now to the good part.”

~*~*~*~*~*~

Continued here

Orphanage roll-call: @micechomper @aarika-merrill @silentpotat0 @dutifullykrispyland @gloriousqueen101

[suff0cationpit]

OH BOY HERE WE GO AGAIN!!! PENGUIN OBSESSION GOING HARD RN ILY POOKS 😍 (THIS IS A WIP,, OBVIOUSLY)

[savage-kult-of-gorthaur]

RE-CREATED TO BE THE DARKER SIDE OF WOLVERINE -- THE RIPPER FROM HIS DEEPEST NIGHTMARES.

PIC INFO: Mega Spotlight on Victor Creed, a.k.a., "Sabretooth" character art by Naoto "Bengus" Kuroshima, from "Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes" (2000) crossover fighting game, developed & published by Capcom.

"I am an animal who dreamed he was a man. But the dream is over and the beast is awake. And I will come for you, because it's my nature."

-- SABRETOOTH to Wolverine (Earth-616)

Sources: https://x.com/nbajambook/status/1320897278878621696, Pinterest, Fighters Generation, various, etc...

[neonbuck]

i thought i didnt like super hero media very much but lately ive been watching invincible and the boys. and well i still dont think super heroes are very cool unless they are evil (not to be That Guy but well. im that guy some times sorry) but ohhh i want to be a super villain now

[cowboysuperhero]

threw together a banner for my profile on artfight! my username over there is stanley!

[enchantingepics]

Story Prompt 103

There stood a figure shrouded in darkness. Their desire for power and domination eclipsed any semblance of virtue or morality. They had watched as the so-called heroes paraded through, their lust for glory blinding them to the consequences of their actions.

"You!" the figure's voice echoed through the desolate landscape, cutting through the silence like a knife. "You heroes, with your hollow promises of justice and righteousness. You label anyone who dares to oppose you as villains, but I am more than just an obstacle in your path. I am your ultimate challenge, your final test."

The heroes, caught off guard by the figure's bold proclamation, exchanged wary glances amongst themselves. One of them stepped forward, their voice filled with defiance. "You think you can defeat us? You're nothing but a twisted version of what a hero should be."

The figure chuckled darkly, the sound sending shivers down the spines of those gathered. "Oh, but I am so much more than that. I am the embodiment of your darkest fears, the culmination of your own hubris. And unlike your childish games, in this battle, I will emerge victorious."

With a menacing grin, the figure extended a hand, summoning forth shadows that twisted and writhed at their command. The heroes braced themselves, knowing that this confrontation would be unlike any they had faced before.

As the battle ensued, each clash of steel and surge of power only served to fuel the figure's determination. They fought with a ferocity born from years of resentment and bitterness, their every move calculated to outwit and overpower their adversaries.

"You may have bested others before me," the figure taunted, their voice dripping with contempt, "but you will find that I am not so easily defeated."

[murdercide626]

[lonelywretchjervistetch]

Character Profile: Mano

First Appearance: Adventure Comics #352 (1967)

Background

The planet Angtu was a polluted, filthy world. Surrounded by space owned by the United Planet, Angtu was mostly ignored by the senators and government officials whose policies still governed the planet due more to coincidental location than political agreement. However, the people of Angtu are adapted to this pollution to a certain degree, and use suits full of polluted and corrosive air. One of these was a mutant and outcast, known as Mano, whose power was greater than anybody realized.

Not much is known about Mano's past, save that he was a mutant with a destructive touch. Specifically, Mano had the ability to tap into the Anti-Matter universe, channeling its power through his right hand. Once he realized this, he saw a way to enact vengeance against those who had scarred and shunned him all his life, becoming more unstable and psychotic over time until enacting his ultimate revenge: destroying the entire planet with a touch. Some people claim that the planet's populace was already dead, as a result of the pollution spread by off-world influences and heightened industry, or by a chemical weapon-fueled war of some kind. Allegedly, Mano was simply an innocent who destroyed the planet out of anger and frustration. But regardless of the true cause, Mano was now alone in the world.

Wearing a protective outfit containing his atmosphere (the last real remnant of his world), Mano left his dead and remote world, and began a rampage of destruction across multiple planets. Eventually, he was apprehended by the Science Police (somehow), and taken to Takron-Galtos. There, he was released from his heavy containment cell to help the Legion and other super-powered individuals defeat the Sun-Eater, then escaped and became a powerful member of the Fatal Five.

Other Incarnations

Mano usually acts as a bit player in his adaptations. In fact, only one of these incarnations ever actually speaks, or has character outside of his destructive touch. Mano from Justice League Unlimited, in the episode "Far From Home", is little more than tool, albeit a dangerous one. Same can be said for the Legion of Super-Heroes version, although it's one of the few that gives him a skull-like head beneath the dome.

Justice League vs. the Fatal Five puts him into a unique role for the character, in that he's the leader of the group while Emerald Empress is imprisoned, as well as her romantic partner. As such, this Mano is devious, dangerous, and determined to free the Emerald Empress by any means necessary. This also ends pretty poorly for them, since that destructive touch of his isn't exactly conducive to affection. Outside of this, though, Mano is more of a force to be reckoned with than a character in his own right.

Thanks for reading!

Check out my currently ongoing Legion of Super-Heroes essay series ( Part One | Two | Three | Four ) on a proposed television series if you're interested!

[nonbinaryphantom]

enamored by the idea of a vlad and danny roleswap because im fascinated by how it would happen and how they would change under different circumstances

[thel0calg0blin]

King Cobra: He/Him, superhero suit is made of a flexible material and had a pattern of a king Cobra, he had a cape and boots made of snake skin as well.

FrostBurn: He/She/They, suit is a pale blue with dark red accents. Dark black boots go to their knees. Will protect his son with her life.

The cities favorite “hero��, King Cobra, had taken the cities “villain”, FrostBurn, only child, Anthony. How King Cobra knew of his son was unknown. Much like FrostBurn’s heritage.

”Oh, look here, you’re child! He’s guilty of crimes, stealing, lying, battery-“ King Cobra was cut off by a livid FrostBurn.

“HE WAS AT SCHOOL!” FrostBurn shrieked, she was boiling with rage.

King Cobra covered his ears at her unearthly loud scream, a little uneasy. “Well.. How do you know that?”

This comment made FrostBurn chuckle. Laugh, sort of. It was.. odd. Awkward.. no, forced. Maybe malicious though. “Cause I’m the one that sent my Angel there.” They said, walking to King Cobra across the highway. His boots clacked against the pavement. She started growing a little taller. Their skin was getting more bluish-gray, ashy even. Leathery. Wings sprouted from his back, dark blue and purple. Her neck even grew a bit, moving at awkward angles. The fact it was closing into dusk didn’t help either. His eyes white white, and another, in the middle of his forehead, popped out. It was bright red with a shiny gold iris. Their pupils reformed into a reptilian-like appearance. Claws, yellowed from age and use, emerged from his hands. A slashing tail appeared, spiky and dangerous. The last touch before she reached her destination was that her head kinda just.. readjusted. She looked like an alien, a demon.

King Cobra gulped, hiding his fear. But his eyes betrayed him, being full of horror, tears and nonexistent courage. He opened his mouth as if to say something, before FrostBurn grabbed him by his neck with her long claws. “I know where he was because I see everything.” They reply in a dark, demonic voice. Staticky, perhaps. And unbearably loud.

King Cobra was losing breath, and Losing it fast. “T-take your son-“ he choked out before his head popped clean off, much to the horror and disgust of the entire city. Blood fell among her claws, but they didn’t care. He turned his head slowly and crookedly, looking at the people.

“who is next.” They ask, before his son comes running up and hugging her tall, dislocated in appearance legs.

You’re a villain, but you typically hold back. You’re into villainy for a quick robbery, or just some laughs. But not any more. Today is the day to show them that making you mad is a BAD idea.

[sunderwight]

A fun prospect for Superhero-themed SV AU's that I don't often see is genre dissonance. Like, Luo Binghe as this edgy 90's style antihero who just straight up kills his enemies and sleeps around and is driven by selfish motives (revenge, ambition, etc) rather than altruistic morality, vs Shen Qingqiu as this kid-friendly supervillain who is "evil" mostly in terms of aesthetics and his ability to make inconvenient problems that are reasonably safe for child heroes to solve. Something like Punisher vs Team Rocket in terms of vibes.

Maybe the reason they meet is because some big publishing house akin to Marvel or DC just bought up the rights to whole bunch of older, discontinued comics titles, and decided to do a Justice League/Avengers style mash-up with a bunch of nostalgia properties and their most recognizable heroes and villains. Which means lots of crossovers condensing several titles into a handful of series.

Luo Binghe's origin always features him as a teenager, so he reboots as the youngest Avenger-equivalent team member in the new continuity. Even in this reboot, however, the writers still mostly go the gritty and dark route with his plots and stick to the same key developments -- his abandonment as an infant, his adoptive mother's tragic death, his tough life on the streets, abusive mentors and backstabbing "allies", and so on.

But Luo Binghe's life suddenly starts experiencing periods of dramatic change in his life when he's brought in for appearances in the lighter, friendlier world of the Junior Heroes continuity. After all, he's a natural choice for tying the two continuities together thanks to his youthfulness. Luo Binghe isn't consciously aware of the fact that he's moving between different titles and different writers. All he knows is that sometimes, when he hangs out with the bright and talented Ning Yingying, he's drawn into "conflicts" with Shen Qingqiu -- the kind of "villain" who will call for tea breaks, never actually hits anyone when he shoots his ray gun, leaves clues for all of his crimes, and can't seem to stop from imparting genuinely helpful advice in between his witty quips and taunts.

When Luo Binghe fights Shen Qingqiu, somehow he never actually gets hurt. Neither do any of his friends. The world in general seems brighter and lighter, as if there is some secret barrier protecting everyone from all the evils Binghe knows only too well exist in the rest of his life. Luo Binghe is increasingly convinced that Shen Qingqiu is the source of this mystical safety net. After all, for an allegedly powerful genius who is able to fool half the world about his wicked aims, he's never won a single fight against a kindhearted but somewhat ditzy teenager and her ragtag bunch of friends!

So what's he spending his actual energy on?

Luo Binghe is pretty sure it's keeping the real evils at bay. Making himself the biggest bad in town, and in doing that, making it so that the "biggest bad" is nothing worse than a slightly judgmental teacher in a pretty costume.

It's not long before Luo Binghe doesn't want to go back to the Justice League equivalent, to his world of misery and strife, even after his visits with Ning Yingying are supposed to be over. Especially as the global stakes of various heroic activities start getting higher, and it becomes clear that the boundary between Shen Qingqiu's safe world and the grimdark reality of Binghe's usual life are getting thinner...