Whumpee could barely stay upright. Their legs felt like lead, each step was labored and heavy, their head sinking further against their chest with each angry shout from the crowd.
“TRAITOR!” A voice screamed, as a stone hit Whumpee’s leg, and they stumbled, before they were quickly yanked back upright by one of the guards escorting them through the streets. The chains around their wrists clacked against each other loudly, the sound echoing through the packed streets, seeming to overtake the voices of hundreds.
Whumpee’s face burned red with embarrassment as they were pushed along. Whenever they were going too slow for the guards’ likings, a rough shove would force them forwards. The stone streets cut into the soles of Whumpee’s bare feet, leaving a trail of bloody footprints behind them.
Whumpee blinked slowly, trying to clear their blurry vision, as they staggered forwards another step.
“Murderer!” Another voice cried, another stone sailing through the air, narrowly missing Whumpee’s head.
“It wasn’t me!” Whumpee wanted to cry, as the guards pushed them along. But their tongue sat limp in their mouth, every last bit of their energy going into staying upright.
Hero’s face burned in shame as one of Villain’s henchmen clasped a pair of cold power inhibiting cuffs around their wrists.
The city was Villain’s, left to the mercy of the criminal mastermind Hero had spent half of their life trying to stop. Thousands of people would die, and it would all be Hero’s fault. Maybe if they had tried harder, been a bit quicker…
Maybe if they had delivered the finishing blow when they had the chance.
“What are you thinking about, darling?” Villain’s hand darted forwards, and grabbed Hero’s chin, forcing them to look up from the ground.
“Nothing,” Hero’s cheeks flushed in embarrassment, as Villain’s thumb brushed over their cheekbone, moving down to trace their lips. The touch was humiliating, and they wanted nothing more than to rip their head away, or maybe to spit in Villain’s face, to wrap the very chains that were clasped around their wrists around their neck-
“Aren’t you excited?” Villain asked, lightly tapping Hero’s nose, chucking as the other glared. “I know I sure am.”
“Why am I here?” Hero bit out, forcing their temper to stay in check. An outburst would get them nowhere.
“Because, I want everyone to see my perfect little pet,” Villain’s nails dug into Hero’s jaw, as they pulled their face up, forcing eye contact. “I want everyone to see what the mighty Hero has become.”
Hero gasped as something cold clasped around their neck from behind, choking as it was tugged right against their throat.
“Thank you, Henchman,” Villain chuckled, grabbing the chain connected to the ring of metal that now adorned Hero’s neck.
“What is this?” Hero gasped, their bound hands raising to claw at the metal ring.
“It’s a collar,” Villain answered so nonchalantly, Hero choked on their own spit, and broke down coughing. “All good little doggies wear them.”
“I’m not a dog!” They choked out, stumbling forwards straight into Villain’s chest as they gave the metal chain a harsh tug.
“Perhaps not, Hero, but you are my pet, and there isn’t much of a difference there.”
“You- you’re crazy!”
The slap took Hero by surprise, the sheer force knocking them right off their feet. They weren’t allowed to stay on the ground for long, however, as Villain gave the ghain another rough tug, and they were forced to scramble to their feet.
“I have no doubt that you’ll learn to hold your tongue,” Villain turned their back, and began to walk towards the large parade float, giving Hero no choice but to follow.
“Villain, this is too far,” It felt like the collar was crushing them. It was too tight, they couldn’t breathe. “Please, Villain, take- take it off!”
“No.” Villain answered simply, as they climbed aboard the large float. “Positions!” Villain yelled, sharply tugging Hero’s chain, grinning as the other fell right into them. “You, you’re going to kneel right here,” Villain shoved Hero to the float’s floor, right next to an eccentrically large throne. Even for Villain, that was a bit over the top. Villain clasped the chain they held to a little ring nailed into the float, forcing Hero to stay kneeling as the float began to move.
Hero’s face felt like it was on fire. Hot shame burned deep in their gut, and they kept their eyes down as the parade passed the first of many civilian’s, innocent civilians who were now all subject to Villain’s cruel rule, forced to watch as the processions passed.
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