Coal

OOOOO I LOVE THIS IDEA OMG YES

Let’s get straight to business.

(The build up to the whump is a bit long, my apologies <3)

Cw: kidnapping, noncon drugging, restraints, knives, scars, torture, stalking, breaking in, noncon touching

Hero’s life had finally begun to calm down.

Getting out of the business had been a long, exhausting process. It seemed as if any time they tried to formally submit their letter of resignation, some new villain would arise and start wreaking havoc in their city, delaying them another month. Between all the formalities and legal issues, from the time they submitted the first notice to the day they were clearing out their office in the agency, almost a full year had passed.

It had all been worth it, however, when they collapsed onto their bed and woke up feeling rested for the first time in what seemed like forever.

Being a hero had been fun at first, an impulse decision that they had made as a broke graduate, drowning in student loans and finances. The agency had covered everything, from their apartment contract to their grocery bills. Hero had had everything they could ever dream of owning, and all they had to do was dress up in some fancy armor and watch over the city a couple hours each day.

It was easy, back then. Rarely any problems, the worst threat they had encountered was some bastard trying to break into a corner store. It could barely be considered a fight, the man armed only with a baseball bat.

But as the days passed, things got worse and worse. Petty thieves turned into full on supervillains, individuals armed with weapons of mass destruction and no morals to prevent them from pulling the trigger. Between the police reports, interviews, crime fighting and talk shows, Hero was exhausted.

In the beginning, they had wondered why anyone would ever not want to be a hero.

By the end, they realized why the face of the city’s defender changed by the month.

It took them a while to tie up all the loose ends, but they couldn’t have been more relieved once it was over. They worked a normal job, with normal hours and fair wages. They spent their free time reading, wandering the city streets; just enjoying a life that wasn’t constantly in danger.

It was so wonderful.

They almost weren’t surprised when that all came crashing to an end.

• • •

It had been a day like any other. Hero got up with the sun, made themself a quick coffee and took a jog around the block before getting ready for work.

Their job as a host to a local diner was easy. Say hello, seat the tables, make a bit of small talk until the waiters came to take over. Usually business was slow, but that was okay, leaving Hero lots of time to relax.

This, too, was a rather slow day. Only a handful of customers had stopped by in the morning, and they didn’t stay long. By four in the afternoon, after the small lunch wave, Hero found the diner empty except for themself and their coworker.

“I’m taking ten,” Coworker called, untying their apron and tossing it over the coat rack.

Hero nodded, not looking up from the book which they were reading. “Enjoy.”

And as Coworker retreated into the back, Hero found themself alone.

Usually they didn’t mind being by themself- they enjoyed it actually. Peace and quiet, just them and their thoughts. But today.. something felt off. The moment they heard the back room’s door shut, a sense of unease pricked their gut, the hairs along the back of their neck standing on end.

Hero looked up, a sour taste settling in their mouth as they quickly closed the book and got to their feet.

If there was one thing their years of heroism had taught them, it was to always trust their instincts.

And now, their instincts were telling them something was seriously wrong.

Their skin began to crawl as they did a quick once-over of the diner. All that met them was scuffed floors and empty booths.

A few moments later, they shrugged it off. Maybe something was happening outside, an accident or a robbery. But as long as it wasn’t within the four walls of the diner, as long as it wasn’t within Hero’s little sanctum, it wasn’t their problem.

• • •

The nagging feeling seemed to follow them home that night, as Hero got off their shift half past eight. They were on edge as they walked home. Though the streets were busy, bustling with people and crowded with cars, Hero couldn’t help but feel isolated, picked apart from the crowd by some unseen force. They could almost feel eyes burning into their back, following each little movement they made, but each time they looked up they were met only by a sea of moving bodies, faceless people that maneuvered past them with ease.

It was beyond unnerving.

The feeling didn’t shake as they returned to their apartment, taking care to deadbolt the door and lock all the windows. But even after they snapped the curtains shut, blocking off their last bit of connection with the outside world, the sensation persisted.

They decided to sleep in the guest bedroom that night, a kitchen knife conveniently clutched under their pillow. The room was likely the most secure in the house, with only one alley-facing window. Furthest from the front door, it’s entry tucked in the corner of the living room, one wouldn’t notice at first glance.

Though the precautions were minimal, and in hindsight, quite futile, they allowed Hero a false sense of security, just enough to lull them to sleep without a second thought.

One thing that had changed in their years since hero work, Villain noticed, as they slowly slid the syringe’s needle into Hero’s neck and depressed the plunger. They slept a lot heavier than before.

Convenient for them, Villain shrugged, waiting a few moments until they were sure the drugs kicked in before hefting the sleeping Hero over their shoulder. It sure made their job a lot easier.

• • •

When Hero came to, the first thing they noticed was how cold it was. A deep chill seemed to have settled in their bones overnight, stiffening their body and clouding their mind.

They were never sleeping in the guest bedroom again…

A small groan slipped from their lips as Hero began to raise their hand to rub their eyes, only for a sharp pinch to catch their wrist, splitting the skin.

They hissed in pain, eyes flying open and squinting against the light. It took a few moments for the world around them to shift into focus, a palette of blurred greys sharpening to a vast floor of concrete.

Ahead of them, for a good twenty feet, a room stretched out, lit by flickering bulbs. Cement floors connected to cement walls, little divets and grooves in the flooring being the only thing they could see.

Hero’s brows furrowed, their lips parting in a slur of confused, incomprehensible sounds as they looked down.

Their hands were bound tight to the armrests of a chair, leather restraints pinching their skin at the buckles. Their shirt was in tatters, the sleeves ripped clean off to expose the numerous scars that littered their arms, reminders of their days in the business. The fabric was sliced clean down the front, cold air having full access to their exposed skin.

What the fuck..

Hero tried to twist their head, a confused cry for help tearing from their throat as they quickly discovered that their head too was restrained, a strap across their forehead forcing their head straight. Rough leather dug into their ankles as they kicked and thrashed in vain. They could barely move as it was, their efforts quickly rendering them exhausted.

“I can’t say I’m not disappointed,” A voice from behind them sighed, the sharp clicks of heels echoing as a figure stalked around their chair. “I expected more from you, Hero.”

“Wha- who are y’hh?!” Hero’s voice dragged out, still affected by whatever drug that must have been coursing their system.

The figure sighed, stopping just in front of them. Though their face was clear in sight, the stark lighting casting deep angles across the stranger’s face, Hero’s mind drew a blank when it came to recognition.

“Are you serious?” Their kidnapper growled, shoving their face close to Hero’s, watching as the other’s eyes widened in fear. “Two years, and you’ve already forgotten me?!”

“…Oth’rvillain?” Hero’s voice came out a mere squeak, riddled with terror as they shrunk back in their chair.

Villain’s face darkened, their hand flying before they could fully register what they were doing, striking Hero hard across the face.

“You better be fucking joking,” They spat over the Hero’s pained cry, reaching forwards to grab them by the jaw.

“Shh-‘id- Villain-” Hero gasped, cringing as Villain dug their nails into their jaw. “Ff- sr’ry-”

“Oh god you’re pathetic,” Villain hissed, pushing their face so close to Hero’s they could feel their breath, hot and sticky against their cheek. Their entire body stiffened as Villain reached back into their pocket and pulled out a knife- the very dagger that had haunted their dreams since Hero’s resignation. The one that they could so clearly remember splitting their skin and slicing their muscles in the midst of battle, just the sight makings their mind go into a panic.

A terrible sinking feeling brewed in the pits of Hero’s chest, their stomach flipping as Villain slowly raised the knife to their chest, tracing the tip of the blade over an old scar with just enough pressure to scratch but not split the skin.

“It’s been a while, darling,” Villain whispered as they leaned in close, brushing their lips against Hero’s ear. “I’ve missed you.”

Hero squeezed their eyes shut, a small whine dying in their throat as Villain dragged the blade down, carving a shallow gash across the length of their chest. Warm crimson blood beaded against their skin, an uncomfortable heat rising to the surface of the wound.

“Well,” Villain chuckled, eyes sparkling with amusement as they pulled back, watching as Hero’s blood began to spill. “I’ve missed your screams.”