#villain x protagonist

[the-modern-typewriter]

The sands devoured the landscape in every direction, a gaping yawn of yellows and reds. The protagonist's throat scorched dry. The last drops of their water bottle had been drained two hours ago.

They staggered another step forward on the dunes, squeezing their eyes shut against the breeze that somehow did nothing to alleviate the heat. They raised a hand to shield their face.

When they opened their eyes again, the antagonist stood in front of them. They looked as cool as ever, untouched by blistering day or the surprisingly freezing night.

"How is your great escape going?" the antagonist asked. They flicked their fingers, magic summoning a sweet pool of water into the inviting cup of their palm. "Are you ready to come home yet, darling?"

Option A: The protagonist shoved past the mirage, for it had to be a mirage, in silence. "I'm not your darling," they snapped, all the same. And they knew they could never go home again.

Option B: The protagonist's gaze dropped, despite their best efforts, to the tantalizing promise of water. It was all they could do not to drop to their knees there and then. The antagonist's smile shimmered across their face, glinting in their eyes. You can have it," the antagonist said. "If you ask nicely."

Option C: The protagonist's hands shot up, drawing up a protective ward. Their heart hammered. It was impossible that the antagonist was standing there, wasn't it? The citadel was barely in sight anymore. "Oh," the antagonist clicked their tongue. "That badly, huh? Poor thing."

Option D: "How are your desperate attempts to find me going?" the protagonist returned. "Ain't nothing but sand to see." "If you come back now, I won't be angry." The protagonist snorted. "I've got my own anger to contend with, after what you did. What do I care about yours?"

Option E: "Do you really think?" The antagonist stepped closer, holding their watery hand up to the protagonist's lips. "That distance alone would be enough to shatter the connection between us? This is silly. You know I don't like to see you suffer." The protagonist let the antagonist feed them a drop of water. A moment of weakness, perhaps. Or maybe just the familiarity of them, of the bond rattling in their chest. The thirst and the hunger. "Then close your eyes, love," they replied. "Look away and you won't have to."

#idk what this is #writing #experiment #writing experiment #poll #writing poll #creative writing #hero x villain #antagonist x protagonist #protagonists and antagonists #i wish the poll choices could include more text

[the-broken-pen]

“Oh my god—“

“Not quite, love” The antagonist smirked. “If you ask nicely, however, I may be inclined to play along.”

“You’re—“

“A villain, yes.”

The protagonist tried to stop their hands from shaking as the antagonist looked them up and down.

“Why are you in my neighborhood bodega?” The protagonist said finally, and the villain quirked a brow.

“Even famous people need to eat,” the antagonist tucked their hands into their exquisitely tailored suit.

The bag of chips in the protagonists grip crinkled, and the villain inspected them.

“Not the healthiest choice.”

They gave an unamused laugh. “The cheapest.”

The antagonist’s eyes ran over their face, as if taking in their slightly gaunt cheeks.

“Heroism doesn’t pay well, it seems.”

The protagonist looked them up and down.

“Villainy does, it seems.”

At that, the antagonist chuckled, eyes glimmering like they had finally found something to peak their interest.

Behind them, the check out counter beeped and spit out a receipt, which the antagonist promptly crumpled and threw away.

“I’ll be watching,” they said with a nonchalance that did not match the threat of stalking, and disappeared out the sliding doors.

The protagonist stood in front of the machine, slightly awe struck and slightly afraid, until a clerk sidled up to them.

“Old friend?” The clerk asked.

The protagonist glanced over at them, then back towards the door.

“Not quite,” they answered.

They paid for their chips and left, hands pink with cold by the time they got to their apartment.

Attached to their door was an cream colored envelope full of money, and a note in elegant handwriting that simply said “Buy yourself more groceries. Your fridge is a tragedy.”

The protagonist never quite got rid of the antagonist after that.

#writing #writing community #creative writing #snippet #heroes and villains #fic writing #ficlet #writing prompt #writblr #protagonist #villain #writers #original writing #gentle #soft #no bad things #protagonist x villain #y’all are going feral for this one oh my god

[trusthevillain]

"You saved them. Again and again and again. But that's enough. I won't watch as you die for these cockroaches. You saved them countless times, but I'll only save you once. I will make sure none of those who hurt you survive."

#villain prompt #villain arc #villain #villain x hero #hero x supervillain #hero x villain #angst dialogue #villain caretaker #villain protagonist #protective prompts

[navigatorwriting]

24

"Hold this for me." Before the hero had a chance to object, the villain shoved the bloodied axe into their hands and dropped to rifle through their bag.

The hero squeezed their eyes shut and took a shaky breath, trying not to think about the smell. Oh God, they were holding the villain's axe. The blood was probably still warm. The hero's chest tightened. The stench was overwhelming. They thought they might faint.

"It's not going to bite you," the villain said.

The hero's lower lip trembled. "P-please take it back."

The villain sighed. The hero felt the axe lift from their outstretched hands. They opened their eyes.

The villain was looking at them, a mix of understanding and impatience in their eyes. "If you're going to vomit, let's get it over with," they said, "but don't faint on me. You're no good to me unconscious."

They started to cry instead.

The villain let out an exasperated sigh and stooped to pick up their bag. "Cut that out, I don't have time for that." They hoisted their axe over their shoulder. "If you're not going to vomit, let's go."

"Why are you doing this?" the hero choked out.

The villain looked them up and down. They had already noticed the hero was small; it was why the villain chose to spare them. But there was more that the villain hadn't realized immediately... they looked frail. Shellshocked. And, frankly, too young for this kind of setting. They had a feeling the hero wasn't too loyal to their team's cause, or at least that's how the villain wanted them to feel. It would be easier to earn the hero's trust if their morals weren't in the way.

The villain blinked. Were they going soft?

"It's business," the villain said finally, furrowing their eyebrows, mildly irked at how protective they suddenly felt. "And it should be for you, too."

They grabbed the hero by the shirt collar and pulled them face to face, startling them. They'd be damned if they went soft on the hero already.

"Because I'm your best shot at getting out of here alive."

#writing #fiction #snippet #writeblr #hero #villain #hero x villain #protagonist #antagonist #protagonist x antagonist #villain x hero

[abrokenherocomplex]

in the dark

“You know? Hostage or not, sometimes it’s just nice to be held.”

The villain nearly jumped six feet in the air. They’d just flicked on the old light in the lair basement, not expecting to come face-to-face with their old nemesis. At least not on a Monday morning. Clearly their villainous co-conspirators had other plans and now deemed Monday mornings were for hostage-taking.

“Jesus Christ,” the villain swore, nearly dropping the boxes they’d been carrying.

“Nope, just me.”

The villain resisted the urge to roll their eyes.

Their golden little hero was indeed tied to a chair in the now-dimly lit basement. A gag lay discarded on the floor where the hero had evidently spit it out. The villain raked their gaze over the hero, taking in the scene. It really wasn’t fair how the hero still looked so golden after a, well, kidnapping. A bruise bloomed on their jaw and their eyes were a little too bright, as they usually were when faced with an obstacle. Or a fight.

“See something you like?” the hero drawled.

The villain rolled their eyes this time, setting down the boxes. “I came down for cleaning supplies. The lab’s a mess.”

“Hmm… I'd help but I haven’t had a chance to look around.”  

The villain snorted.

The hero continued, prattling off while the villain gathered up Windex and Clorox. “I asked your coworkers for a tour of the rest of the building. Particularly those shiny labs you lot are always monologuing about.”

“Ah, and what did they say to that?”

“I think I was actually getting through to them this time! That is, until they sedated me.”

The villain shook their head in mock sympathy. “Tough crowd around here.”

“Evidently.” The hero leaned back in their restraints. “It wore off quickly though. Do you have the time, by any chance?”

The villain frowned. “What are you doing here, exactly?”

“…you took me as a hostage.”

The villain regretted asking the question as soon as the hero’s face lit up like a Christmas tree at the realization that the villain was in the dark about this specific operation.

“You weren’t behind this, were you?” The hero asked. Though, it was less of a question and more of an easy deduction. Amateur on the part of the villain, to let that slip. They now fought the urge bury their head in their hands.

“I wasn’t behind this,” the villain confirmed.  

The hero smiled gleefully. “I knew you had a soft spot for me-”

“That has nothing to do with-” the villain took a centering breath. “I wasn’t behind this, believe it or not.”

“I should have known. I mean, other than you screaming like a little girl, they didn’t even use the right dosage to keep me out. It’s honestly a blessing you came along when you did. At least you know how to properly drug me.”

The villain stilled, narrowed their eyes. “How long have you been awake?”

“The whole night, probably.” The hero caught themselves. “Not that it was a problem or anything-” They added quickly.

“You were here? In the dark?”

Anyone who knew the hero knew their… phobia for lack of a better term. Back at university, before the villain and the hero were ‘the villain’ and ‘the hero,’ the villain had deemed it nyctophobia. The Greek word for night, and well, phobia. Fear of the dark. They’d had to keep a night light on in their university dorm. The villain had teased them mercilessly for it, until they’d finally found out why.

“I was fine, really.” The hero assured them. “I can handle it.”

“Uh huh.”

What the villain had been taking for pure cockiness – joy derived from prattling off aimlessly in the direction of the villain – was actually... relief.

The hero cleared their throat, evidently wanting to move on as quickly as possible. “Do you happen to know why I’m here? Obviously, you didn’t know I was here, but now that you’ve found me. Are there any… plans? Or anything? Anything ring a bell?”

“I fear I’m in the dark as much as you.” As soon as the words left the villain’s mouth, the door to the basement slammed shut with a bang that caused the villain to jump another six feet into the air.

Then, the lights flickered. And went out.

“Shit.”

#heroes and villains #hero x villain #antagonist x protagonist #every now and then i come back and add to the hero villain canon #villains and heroes #though i fear this is not my best work #it's midnight #whatcha gonna do

[thepenultimateword]

Prompt #183

“You’re smaller than I expected.”

“Yeah? Well, maybe you’re just abnormally tall.”

#hero x villain #villain x villain #prompt #protagonist x antagonist #this is actually so vague #it could be anything #writing prompt #dialogue prompt #writblr #writeblr #tol and smol

[yourheartonfire]

The pass itself was quick: enter the bar, spot the contact, slide into the booth, exchange the flash drive for an envelope of cash under the table.

The fallout was longer though.

"Don't open it here," the antagonist said out of the corner of their mouth. So of course the protagonist immediately ripped it open and started thumbing through the stack of bills in their lap.

The antagonist sighed and took a sip of their drink. They were drinking a wine spritzer. The protagonist had never seen them drink a wine spritzers. "You are such a child."

"Child who gets paid." Wasn't it convenient to have an excuse not to look the antagonist in the eye? "You taught me that."

"You're still mad?" the antagonist said incredulously, as if this indicated something deeply wrong with the protagonist. "I'd thought you'd have figured out by now this -" they gestured to the two of them "- wasn't personal."

The protagonist abruptly lost count. The bills crunched in their hands as their fists clenched. Gravity itself lurched - just like it had that day last spring where the antagonist had announced it was done and abruptly gone from lover to ex.

"Wasn't personal?" the protagonist said, trying to match the chill in their former partner's voice. No, not chill. Something worse. Indifference. "It felt pretty personal when you straight up shattered my heart after two years together."

"It was 18 months," the antagonist muttered into their drink, looking exhausted.

"21 months," the protagonist countered. "And three weeks, four days. You..."

Their voice failed. How could they say it? You were the center of my world. I thought I was the center of yours.

"Well, that's the other reason we're here," the antagonist said, rubbing at the bridge of their nose. "You've been looking for me. Looking into me. Stop."

"Why? Am I embarrassing you in front of all your cool friends?"

"No." The antagonist crossed their arms. "You're going to get yourself killed."

Something about the utterly detached way they said it killed the protagonist's snark in their throat. The antagonist's gaze flicked across their face and they gave a small nod. "My clients don't like loose ends or complications. I've had to put out fires on you twice. Pass you off as some crazy ex."

"I am your crazy ex," the protagonist snapped back. "Crazy for thinking something was wrong, that you might be in trouble when your whole personality shifted overnight. And not in, like, a professional shift, like when you're working a mark-"

"No," the antagonist said with another sigh. "It was exactly in a professional way."

The protagonist blinked. "What the hell does that mean?"

The antagonist stretched their hands out, forearms on the sticky bar tabletop. The protagonist didnt even have time to think before their own hands dropped the cash, snaked their way into their lover's grasp. "Honey," the antagonist said, staring deep into the protagonist's eyes. "I'm trying to tell you that you were the mark."

The protagonist stared. "What?"

They tried to pull back. The antagonist's grip on their wrists tightened. Their face smoothed back into the protective, devoted partner. But the eyes, the eyes were so empty. "It wasn't personal because you were a job," the antagonist said in awful imitation of their past self. Their kind self. Their... fake self?

"No." The protagonist yanked harder. "No! Bullshit. You didn't take anything from me!"

"No? I took you. You for... what was it? 21 months, three weeks?" The antagonist's lips curved. They traced their thumbnail across the delicate skin of the protagonist's inner wrist. "You really are incredible at what you do. A one of a kind skill set."

"No!" They were loud enough a few heads turned. They were smart enough now to clock the heads that didn't. The waitress. The bruiser at the bar. The couple at the next booth over. "We were partners!"

"On jobs I picked, where you never met the other team members?" The antagonist let go. "I secured exclusive use of your services, and I kept you off the board from any other players. Then the job ended. I cut you loose. Now you know. Is that enough closure for you to let this go?"

They asked like it was so reasonable. The antagonist had always had a way of making anything sound reasonable, sensible, the inevitable course of action. The protagonist stared at their own hands still lying on the table and tried to think.

"Why are you telling me this?" they asked.

"I told you my clients don't like loose ends-"

"Neither do you." The protagonist leaned back themselves. "Why are you warning me?"

"God, [protagonist], I'm not a killer. I don't want you dead." The antagonist shifted, hand drifting down to their pocket. "Bad for business, leaving bodies in the wake."

"You did leave a body in your wake," the protagonist said quietly.

"No." The antagonist gathered up their sunglasses, their jacket. "I left a broken heart. People recover from those everyday. You will not recover from what my clients will do if they decide you're a threat."

They stood and - to the protagonist's shock - bent to brush a kiss against their hair. The protagonist flinched.

"For what it's worth," their former partner murmured, "I had fun. Hope you did too."

And once again, they were gone, leaving the protagonist to pick up the pieces and the bill.

#my fiction #hero x villain #thief x thief #thief x hacker #thief #hacker #hacker protagonist #ouch #angst

[creadigol]

Hey y’all! Here’s a little snippet of something that was rattling in my mind. Hope y’all like!

It can be complicated to make sense of family. Hero knew this. Hero had always known this. With how their life was growing up Hero doubted there were many who could understand this concept as well as they did.

But this was just ridiculous.

“The answer is still no,” Hero tried very hard to keep their voice level and calm.

“Seriously? I don’t understand what your problem is!”

The voice over the phone held the tone of one who had already decided they were right and there was no chance of changing.

“It’s not that I have a problem…which I don’t,” Hero ground out. “It’s that I just don’t feel like inviting him.”

“And why not?”

Hero resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of their nose. One, it was a bad habit which showed how frustrated they were; and two, it would loosen their mask. God, couldn’t their sibling have called earlier? Hero really didn’t feel like having this conversation on the roof of a bank at 11pm.

“I don’t need a reason. It’s my call and I don’t want him there. End of story.”

“No, not end of story! This is completely unfair! Why am I always the one trying to hold this family together? You think it’s easy being the responsible one when…”

Hero let the rant commence as they held the phone a few inches from their ear, Sibling gradually getting louder and more hurtful with each word. They looked up at the star bedazzled sky and tried to tune them out until they could jump back in again.

It’s not that Sibling was wrong, it’s just that Hero could only take being called absent and holier than thou so many times. It was the same speech every time a major event happened in Hero’s life. And at the end of every speech, Hero always caved and let Sibling invite the whole family…well not this time.

‘...and out of everyone, you of all people should take the high road on this…”

That did it.

“Me of all people? Why? Shouldn’t it be the other way around? Dammit, I’m tired of being the one to take the high road! For once would it kill him to apologize? Or better yet, clean up his fucking act?!”

Sibling was making sputtering noises on the line when another voice joined Hero on the roof.

“Well, I must say I’ve never heard words like this before coming from our fair Hero.”

Hero froze, their sibling yelling into the receiver, and turned.

Villain stood, arms folded, looking incredibly smug.

“I’m going to have to call you back,” Hero said softly. They hung up before Sibling could protest.

Shit, they would hear about that later.

Villain sauntered closer, “Having a little domestic are we? I’ve never seen you that agitated before.”

Hero glared, “Coming to rob the bank?”

Villain chuckled.

“I was, but this is so much more interesting. Come on, what’s happening in the world of the Golden Hero?”

“None of your business,” Hero stood tall. “Now are you breaking the law or not? I have a long patrol tonight.”

“Oh yes, I heard you were taking the long shift tonight. Something about needing time off…wait…that couldn’t be what you were arguing about on the phone was it? Vacation plans gone wrong?”

Hero felt a vein popping in their forehead.

“Why must you alway insist on being a prick? And why do you know my shift schedule?”

Villain shrugged noncommittally, “I have people.”

They walked right into Hero’s space, doing their best to intimidate with their towering stature. Hero refused to move and met their gaze head on.

“You’ve never taken a break before.” Villain stated.

“Never needed to until now,” Hero responded as if Villain had asked a question.

Villain gave them a once over.

“What’s the need?”

God, was Villain always this infuriating?

“Like I said, none of your business. I’m sure you’ll survive a substitute hero for the next few weeks.”

Villain frowned, “Few weeks? That’s a lengthy time.”

Hero rolled their eyes and nodded. They weren’t falling for Villain’s way of fishing for information by not actually asking a question.

“A few weeks and a family member who’s not welcome…if I’m to interpret that phone call correctly. My, my, what do you have planned?” Villain finally took a few paces back to lean on the wall, “Can’t say I’m too thrilled. Other Hero’s are such tight-asses.”

“If you mean that I’m lenient then, yes, they’re not as nice as I am,” Hero smirked.

Villain outright laughed.

“I would describe you as many things Hero, but straight up nice has never been one of them. Seriously, why the vacation? Family reunion or something?”

If Hero’s Sibling had anything to say on the matter it would be.

“Not as such,” Hero relaxed their stance now that Villain was a few paces away. That and it seemed Villain was more in a talking mood tonight. It was rare that they just talked rather than taking on their usual ‘Hero vs Villain’ roles. Rare, but it had happened a handful of times over the course of the last four years. Whether this was professional or not, Hero chose not to think about.

Villain folded their arms in thought, “Birthday? No, yours is in March…A celebration for another medal from the Mayor? No, he’s out of town until next month…” Hero tried hard not to smile as Villain ticked each possibility off their fingers, “Oh I know! You’ve finally graduated high school!”

Now Hero did laugh. It was a running joke with them and Villain’s Henchman that Hero must be younger than they seemed due to their young sound voice. Of course there was no way to tell due to the mask, but Hero estimated they were about the same age as Villain. Something they were sure Villain had put together as well seeing as the Hero Agency didn’t employ anyone under the age of 21.

It didn’t stop the quips though.

“Afraid I did that long ago,” Hero supplied.

“Well then I’m at a loss,” Villain got up and leaned into Hero’s space once more. “Other than medical leave I can’t think of anything else. And I assume you wouldn’t be fighting about invitees if convalescence was your goal.”

“Guess you’ll just have to live with uncertainty,” Hero shrugged and turned to leave the roof. Before they could take a couple of steps a hand was on their arm.

“You really not going to tell?” Villain asked softly. “You seemed upset and not the kind of upset like when you're on the job.”

Hero felt their heart rate increase and their cheeks warm. Why did Villain have to go and ask like that? How could they go from the city’s terror to a caring person with humanity and feelings? Perhaps Hero could tell them…the event was happening down in the Bahamas anyway. Not like Villain could figure it out…

It would be nice to talk to someone not expecting anything from them.

“I have a celebration happening and I don’t want my father to be there…it’s caused rather a ruckus in my family.”

Villain’s hand remained on Hero’s arm. “Well, if it’s your celebration it’s your choice. I don’t see why anyone else should be involved.”

Hero laughed and patted their hand. “And you’ve just summarized the entire argument I’ve been having for the past month.”

Villain released their arm. “I’m smart like that.”

Hero nodded with a warm smile. They turned towards the fire escape.

“Seeing as how you don’t seem to be robbing the bank, I have places to be,” They turned so they were facing Villain while standing on the ladder. “Thanks Villain. I’ll see you in a few weeks if you manage to keep yourself alive.”

“Say that to your replacement hero.” Villain hesitated, “Hero?”

Hero popped their head up from their descent, “Yeah?”

“What is the celebration?”

Hero smiled softly at them.

“I’m getting married,” they whispered.

And then they were gone. Down the fire escape and into the night.

Villain stood stunned, not knowing why the words made their heart freeze and their eyes water.

#writers #creative writing #writing community #writing promt #character creation #creadigol #heros and villains #original writing #villains and heroes #dialogue prompt #villain x hero #hero and vilain community #heros #hero x villain community #protective villain #hero and villain #hero x villain #not a prompt #protagonist x antagonist #heroes and villains #protective #protagonist #will continue if requested #heroes and villains community

[amethysts-prompts]

Prompt #224

“You- you helped me.”

“Must have forgotten I was the villain. Don’t start gaining any expectations of me; this is a one-time thing.”

******

Main blog: @amethystpath-writes

#whoops #this has been in my drafts for over a month #my bad #hero x villain prompt #hero x villain #villain x hero #good villain #good hero #or like citizen or protagonist #idc #i just write the prompts #heroes and villains #prompts by dee #prompt #prompts #writing prompt #writing prompts #dialogue prompt #dialogue prompts

[writtentodeath]

can you do one where the protagonist gets overstimulated and the villain helps them deal with it? if you're still taking asks that is. I love your work so much and have missed seeing you! thanks!

They took a deep breath. “It’s called overstimulation. Maybe you’ve heard of it.” 

“From the noise?” 

It was mostly the noise. Protagonist gestured around them. “From everything. I feel like that should be obvious.” 

Stupid, stupid. Way to antagonize the guy with the gun, 

Villain paused, considering. “Do you have earplugs?” 

Uh oh. Red alert. Not good. Not good. 

“I forgot them today,” Protagonist said, trying to focus on not snapping or biting or hitting their head on the ground. “Bad luck.” 

“I have extras,” Villain said smoothly, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a pair that looked just like theirs, 

“That’s- that’s-” oh, screw it- “That’s a bad idea, for me,” they said. 

Villain quirked an eyebrow. Shockingly, he looked genuine. “Why?” 

“I won’t be much of a conversationalist if I put those in,” they said, trying very hard for a wry smile. It didn’t feel natural. This keyed up, nothing felt ‘natural’. It was never this bad. 

“You can still hear me.” 

“Yes, but- well-” 

“It’ll be easier to keep up a conversation if you’re not resisting the urge to kill me,” Villain said. “As fun as it is to watch.” 

Protagonist clenched their jaw. Their ears were ringing and their head hurt and there were pebbles on the ground under their hands. “If I,” they started, rubbing their hands against the fabric of their pants, “If I put those in, it’ll stop the noise and I’ll- crash. No more conversing for me.” 

“Crash. Explain.” 

“I’ll. I won’t be here anymore.” 

“You’ll freeze?” 

“No, no, I’ll just be- mindless.” They cringed at the last word. This was a terrible idea and they couldn’t stop themself from spilling everything. “I can’t think, or talk or- or do anything but listen and do, if I can understand what I’m hearing. It’s rote.”

“So you’re saying,” Villain said slowly, “that if you put these on right now, you’ll quit talking back?” 

Protagonist reached up to pull at a strand of their hair. Anything to focus on other than that voice. “Yes,” they managed eventually, not even worrying about the safety of lying. “But-” there was something they needed to say that was important, something to stop Villain, and even though they could see the shape of it in their head and feel the words in their mouth nothing came out. They squeezed their hand into a fist, nails biting crescents into the palm of their hand. “I thought you liked having someone to entertain you.” 

“Don’t worry about me right now,” Villain said. “Put them in.” 

They stared at the ground. 

Villain caught their chin- skin on their skin, hot and they could feel it and it needed to stop- and pulled them into eye contact. “Put them in.” 

They couldn’t think. Why were the lights so loud? And Villain’s eyes… relentless.

I’m gonna crash anyway. May as well control it.

Protagonist took the plugs gingerly, trying not to touch Villain’s hand. Tilting their head from one side to the other, they put one earplug in and then the other, settling them. 

Their tension didn’t fade immediately, but it stopped growing. The noises and the lights and the feelings stalled in their mind, and settled. Everything paused, and went sluggish. 

Villain was still staring at them, but they didn’t feel like parsing out the expression on their face. Or really even looking at them. 

“You can hear me?” Villain said. 

They didn’t say anything. It didn’t really matter. Villain said not to worry… 

“Stand up,” Villain said.

Still staring into space, Protagonist stood up. The movements were slow and jerking, like they were pulling their body upright with marionette strings.

I made a… mistake. Mistake. Shouldn’t have done that. Mistake- they tried to grasp onto the thought, pull it back and figure out a solution, but it slipped away. What? 

I want to sleep. 

Villain was saying something. With some effort, Protagonist dragged their eyes up to Villain’s shoulders. They weren’t doing faces right now. 

“-did warn me- you’re totally out of it, aren’t you? Like a lightbulb.” 

They wanted. They wanted something. They opened their mouth- and didn’t say anything. 

Hands steadied their shoulders, and Protagonist leaned into the warmth. It felt so good. They wanted more. 

Something inside their chest reared up, pressing danger into their nerves. They shivered, and the arms wrapped around them, holding them against something warm and solid. A chest. It rumbled with laughter. 

“...do this more often,” the voice said, muffled and distant. 

They shook their head, squeezing their eyes shut. What were they so worried about before? 

Something lifted up their legs, then they were being cradled against that warmth. What were they afraid of? They could just go to sleep… 

Danger, something whispered. Protagonist didn’t pay it any attention. They were already half asleep, cradled in the Villain’s arms. 

#hero x villain #protagonist x antagonist #writing #my writing #snippet #writers on tumblr

[nuttynutcycle]

Prompt fill for @epiclamer prompt fill game! “Okay I know it was literally JUST posted but what about a switcheroo, tall villain and short hero :]'

“Little one,” he hummed, “Come out of your hiding place.” His grin sharpened as he reduced a pine tree into splinters and broken branches. “I won’t bite.”

That was less than reassuring. The protagonist clutched the stolen plans closer to her chest, barely daring to breathe. 

The antagonist had sneered when he found the empty case, smiled when the protagonist barrelled out of their hiding place through a window and laughed as she ran into the forest. Equal parts leisurely and methodical, the glint in his eyes riveled the one lining the axe.

“Leave the plans behind. Still time to escape.” the antagonist cut down another tree and the protagonist winced. She curled her body and crawled under a fallen tree, moving as quickly as she dared.

After weeks of preparation, three bribed guards and nine bypassed levels of security, leaving the plans was not an option. Her breath hitched when she saw the electric fence come into view. The buzz in the air meant the antagonist had gotten the power back on before she had predicted. Stomach on the ground, she wiggled into a rotting log. Gross, but effective.

“I know your face.”

She unrolled the plans and winced at another tree crashing through the underbrush. Her eyes flickered over the diagrams, committing as much as she could to memory.

“One of my more impressive talents is my ability to find people,” the antagonist said as casually as having a chat about the weather. “And those they care about.” Another tree fell, skewering the moss below. “Can you really protect everyone?”

No, but that’s a problem for later. She took one last look at the plans, counted to three and crawled out of the log and into plain sight. The sticks hurt her hands and the dust made her cough.

The antagonist grinned, eyes shining through the haze. 

“Are these your plans?” She held up the plans in mock surrender. “I thought they were your diary. My bad.”

He twirled his axe. “Giving up that easily is a disappointing end.” 

 “What can I say?” Her shrug did nothing to hide her tremor. “You make very effective threats.”

“One of my many talents. Drop them on the ground.”

“I’d like to make a deal,” She swallowed dryly. “I give you the plans, you turn off the electric fence for the next ten minutes.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Counteroffer – I put my axe in your knee and take the plans before your first scream is finished.”

“Shame, I was on track to win the ‘Best Legs’ contest at work.” The protagonist slowly backed away.

The antagonist laughed at that, some mirth entering his grin. The tip of the axe rested against the ground. “Alright, have it your way. As soon as my property is back inside, I’ll turn the fence off for ten minutes.”

“…I have your word?” The antagonist was many things, but in their line of work, his word was as close to honourable as you could get.

The antagonist nodded. 

Maybe the protagonist would regret this, but she tossed the plans to the antagonist. The antagonist reached up and casually placed the plans on an overarching tree branch – out of the protagonist's reach. 

“Thank you for returning my work.” The antagonist’s expression shifted, eyes sharpening and smile hardening.

Welp. “This was nice.” She struggled to keep her voice steady as he matched her backward scramble step for step. “But my team is waiting for me, I really must be going-“

“It was foolish,” his hand slammed into a tree beside her, sending splinters and wood chips flying, “to memorize my property.”

The protagonist’s voice faltered. “We have a deal.”

“And as soon as you’re secured in a cell and the plans are in their case, I’ll cut power for ten minutes. I’m a man of my word.” He levelled the axe at the protagonist, and this close, the bloodstains were clearly visible. “Walk.”

The protagonist’s breath hitched as she turned back towards the imposing building.

“Don’t be upset.” The antagonist said from behind, axe twirling. “Desperation suits you.”

#my writing #writing #prompt #prompt fill #snippet #writing snippet #heroes and villains #hero x villain #protagonist and antagonist #sorry this took so long! #no editing we die like men #sorry for the crappy writing

[the-modern-typewriter]

The villain stopped, attention zeroing in on the blood on the protagonist's lip. The very air, the clouds, the universe seemed to stop moving.

"Who?"

"It doesn't matter."

"Give me a name or I'll take it out on all of them."

The protagonist's jaw clenched. Their hand rose, smearing the blood away.

The villain was at their side in an instant.

If it was only pleasure at the excuse to cause pain - which it was - then maybe it would have been easy. But it wasn't just that. It was never just that.

"If I tell you, you have to promise me not to hurt them."

The villain cocked their head and raised an eyebrow. Chiding, but gentle enough. They both knew that wasn't a compromise the villain would make, just as they both knew the protagonist would not tolerate mindless sadism.

"Fine," the protagonist said, "you have to promise not to hurt them for more than -" they floundered - "ten seconds."

"Deal." It was too quick, too easy, and beneath the churning guilt the protagonist's heart swelled for such fierce protection.

They swallowed.

"Who?" the villain asked, again, soft.

They gave the name.

The villain, it turned out, could make ten seconds count for an awful lot.

#idk what to tell you #it popped in my head fully formed as these things sometimes do so I thought I'd share #protective villain #villains and heroes #heroes and villains #hero x villain #protagonist and antagonist #antagonist and protagonist #ficlet #fic #writing #short fiction #writeblr

[the-broken-pen]

Six months ago, when the protagonist had first appeared in the middle of the villain’s compound, scrawny and half feral, the villain hadn’t thought much of it.

And then it happened again.

And again.

The villain thought something of it.

“Let me work with you,” they had begged. The villain was almost certain the protagonist was homeless. “Please, I have powers, I can—”

The villain said yes.

Maybe it had been whatever remnants were left of the villain’s stupid heart. Maybe it was the chocolate donut they had that morning. Maybe it was the desperation coming off the protagonist in waves.

Maybe they were just bored.

They paid it no mind.

The protagonist did have powers, but they were minor. The kind you see in small children, the first in a bloodline to mutate powers. Their great grand children would wield enough power to level buildings, be heroes and villains and everything in between. But for now, they sat in preschool classrooms and summoned the tiniest spark of flame.

The protagonist, trembling like a fawn, sweat slicking their brow, seemed to be one of those children. Albeit an older version.

Not useless, exactly. They had a startling affinity for picking locks—which explained the ability to get into the villain’s compound—a willingness to fight anyone, and a lack of fear. But they weren’t exactly the most useful sidekick the villain could have picked.

The villain wouldn’t trade them for anyone else, though.

Their stupid, half dead heart, it seemed, cared for the protagonist.

So, when the hero set out to kill the protagonist, the villain knew they would do anything to keep them safe.

They caught the hero’s hand, twisting to shove them backwards a step, and they felt rather than saw the protagonist wince.

“Violent today, aren’t we?”

The hero was seething, and it unsettled something in the villain. The hero was unstable, yes. But the villain had never seen them try to kill someone before; they hadn’t even considered the hero might try.

They dodged another blow, the hero’s power blasting apart a building behind them. Their spine prickled, and they dropped to avoid the next hit.

“Just itching to go to prison for homicide, hm?”

When the hero didn’t even attempt to respond to their half-assed banter, the villain’s gut roiled.

“Protagonist,” they said between breaths. “Leave. Now.”

“No.”

They managed to throw the hero to the ground, risking a glance at the protagonist. They were covered in dust, supersuit dirty and torn across one calf, but their feet remained planted, shoulders set. “You heard me. Go back to the compound—“

The protagonist’s eyes widened, and the villain knew they had turned away for too long.

The villain went down hard, ears ringing, as the hero shook out their fist.

“Stop it,” the protagonist’s voice cracked. They took a step forward, wavering like they weren’t sure if they should run or fight.

“Go,” the villain coughed, and the protagonist flinched. They rolled onto their back, struggling to stand as the hero’s power flickered dangerously.

The villain knew, innately, that the next hit would kill them.

The villain sucked in a painful breath.

The hero lunged.

And the protagonist, voice wrecked with fear, screamed, “Dad.”

The villain’s heart stuttered.

There was a flash of light.

In front of them, panting for air like they would never get enough, was the protagonist. The hero’s fist was planted against their chest still, and the villain could tell it had been a death blow. Anyone, even the villain, wouldn’t have survived.

And yet—

The protagonist stood, unharmed.

“Dad,” they said again, and the hero didn’t quite flinch, but it was close. “Stop.”

The silence was deafening.

Something in the hero’s jaw tightened.

“Move,” the hero said lowly. The protagonist didn’t falter.

“No.”

“Don’t make me say it again.”

“What exactly will you do to me if I don’t listen,” the protagonist gave a sharp laugh. “Hit me? You tried that already.”

The hero sucked in a breath.

“I am your—“

“You are my nothing,” the protagonist corrected. “Certainly not my father. You lost that right when I was eight.”

The villain managed to push themselves to their feet.

“That was stupid,” the villain murmured, but it didn’t have any heat to it. “You couldn’t have known that would work. You had no idea if you could survive a hit like that.”

The protagonist very pointedly did not turn around, shoulders tense.

“I did,” their voice was strained. “He lost the right to fatherhood when I was eight, remember?”

The hero didn’t say anything, but the villain thought that might have been shame creeping its way across their face.

Oh.

Oh.

The hero—

The villain had been harboring the child of the most powerful being on the planet for six months. A child the hero had tried to kill, or at the very least, hurt.

Their heart stuttered.

They had been harboring the most powerful being on the planet, their mind corrected. A drop of blood slid its way down their spine. Power grew with every generation, and with the hero already so powerful, any child they had would be something close to a god.

“You said you had mild telekinesis,” the villain said numbly. The protagonist half turned to look over their shoulder, eyes shiny.

“My mom,” the protagonist. “I got it from her. The rest…”

From the hero.

The protagonist scanned the villain’s face.

They were searching for signs of violence, the villain realized. The protagonist wasn’t afraid of the hero anymore; no, the protagonist had seen the worst they could do. But somehow, the protagonist had begun to care for the villain. And they were terrified the villain—the person they trusted the most—was going to hurt them over a secret. The villain could see it all, scrawled across the protagonist’s face clear as day.

The villain was going to kill the hero. Painfully.

“Protagonist,” the villain kept their voice even. Gentle. Slow. “I’m not mad. And I’m not going to hurt you.” Their eyes slipped past to the protagonist to the hero.

“Him, however, I will be.”

The protagonist worried their lip between their teeth, and the villain watched as their power—their true power—sparked along their shoulder blades.

The villain stepped forwards—

“Don’t,” it was little more than a whisper.

The villain stopped.

The protagonist slid in front of the villain once more. “Just,” they raised a hand, as if taking a moment to choose their next words. “Stay.”

The villain stayed.

When the protagonist’s attention turned back to the hero, it was bloodthirsty. It spoke of war, and hatred, and revenge.

“You’re going to leave,” the protagonist’s voice was sharp enough to cut skin. “And you aren’t going to come back. I don’t care if it’s because you don’t want to, or because you know that if you do, I will kill you and I’ll like it—you won’t come back.”

The hero swallowed.

“The city needs me.”

“You are a plague to this city, and I am ridding it of you. Get. Out.”

The hero stumbled a step backwards, as if they had been hit. Their expression twisted.

“You wouldn’t.”

“I would,” the protagonist seethed.

They all knew the protagonist meant it.

The hero was halfway down the block, news vans and reporters scrambling their way onto the scene with cameras raised, when the protagonist called after them.

“Oh, and Dad?” The cameras snapped to them, and the protagonist grinned. It was vicious—it looked like the villain’s. “Parents who abuse their children don’t get to be heroes. Especially not you.”

They waited a beat, two, three.

The press exploded.

Above the din, power crackling around them, the protagonist mouthed two words.

“I win.”

#writing #writing community #angst #snippet #heroes and villains #hero whumpee #hero whumper #good villain #protagonist #hidden powers #betrayal #abusive father #abusive hero #fic writing #ficlet #writing prompt #hurt/comfort #hero turned villain #villains and heroes #protagonist x villain #writblr #creative writing #powers #child abuse #bad parenting #found family #villain you’ve got a kid now #oopsie

[trusthevillain]

"It's my fault, isn't it?"

"Yeah. It is.", Villain declared. "But I'll help you fix it. Come with me, we have a lot of work to do and a lot of people to kill."

"Okay. Wait, Wha-"

"I'M KIDDING! There's not a lot of work."

#villain prompt #villain arc #villain #villain x hero #hero x supervillain #hero x villain #angst dialogue #villain caretaker #villain protagonist #villain and hero

[navigatorwriting]

21

The villain found them on a rooftop on the west side of the city. They landed a few meters behind the hero with a soft thud, just loud enough to announce their arrival. The hero didn't turn around, only stared straight ahead, gently swinging their legs from their seat on the edge of the building.

"Hey," the villain said quietly. "I heard what happened today."

When the hero didn't respond, the villain sat down next to them and continued. "I'm sorry it had to be like that. We've all been there."

The hero nodded slightly. Good, the villain thought. A reaction. That meant the hero wasn't completely numb.

"Do you... want to talk about it?"

The hero sniffed, the corners of their mouth tugging downward ever so slightly.

Well, it was worth a try. The villain patted the hero on the shoulder. "You made a hard choice. It's okay if you can't come to terms with it yet."

The villain was about to stand up and leave when to their surprise, the hero put their hand on top of the villain's, holding it to their shoulder. The villain froze, unsure what to do next.

The hero stared straight ahead, eyes unfocused on the setting sun. "I knew it was possible." They tilted their head thoughtfully. "And it was bound to happen at some point. I know I'm taking a risk with everyone I tell, it just...." They took a breath. "I just hoped it wouldn't be them."

The villain said nothing. There was nothing to say.

They remembered their own failed confession, a lover who couldn't come to terms with their split life. The villain had felt guilty for weeks after the incident. They still couldn't shake the image of their lover's horrified expression as the agents dragged them out of their shared apartment. The worst part was when the villain still had to break up with their lover after the mind wipe; the two of them met in a cafe and the villain had to pretend like nothing had happened. They gave some made-up excuse to end the relationship, and they could do nothing but sit there as they watched their lover's heart break for the second time in two days.

"Who was it?" The villain asked.

The hero took in a shuddering breath. "My mom."

Ah.

Wordlessly, the villain pulled the hero into a hug and held them against their chest. The two of them sat like that for a long time.

#fiction #snippet #writing #writeblr #hero x villain #hero #villain #protagonist #antagonist #protagonist x antagonist #villain x hero

[abrokenherocomplex]

(prequel) before the dawn

prequel to in the dark

The villain stirred awake, blinking to adjust their eyes to the darkness before they clicked on their bedside lamp. Illuminated opposite them, the hero thrashed in their bedsheets crying out wordlessly. The villain shook their head as if to be sure it was not a dream. When was the last time they’d seen their roommate in their own bed?

The villain had assumed the hero had been sleeping somewhere else. Chez some paramour or other – the hero certainly wasn’t lacking in that department. This was different. And certainly not a dream.

Their feet hit the cold floor before their brain could keep up. They approached the hero’s side of the room as the hero thrashed again with a wordless cry.

Wincing, the villain shook the hero’s shoulder. At the touch, the hero gasped awake, sitting up with such force that the villain stumbled back a step. The hero looked around wildly, trying to take in their surroundings.

“It’s okay, you’re alright,” the villain’s first instinct was to sooth, approaching softly. “Uh, you’re in the dorm,” they tried.

Sweat slicked the hero’s brow. They trembled, though the rise and fall of their chest slowly evened out after a moment.

“I-” they managed. “I was dreaming, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t worry,” the villain replied cautiously. “Are you… alright?”

“I’m fine,” the hero replied, rubbing a hand over their tired eyes. “Really, you can go back to bed.” They pointedly didn’t make eye contact.

The villain raised their eyebrows. “So, you can wake me up with another nightmare?”

“I don’t need you to sooth my nightmares.”

“Fine. I take it you’ve been sleeping well, then?” The villain pushed.

“Oh, shove off.”

“I’m just asking. Since I never see you, you know, actually sleep.”

The hero was silent.

“Do you want to talk about it?” The villain asked against their better judgement.  

The hero gave them a half-hearted glare.

“No soothing nightmares, I got it.” The villain replied, their hands up in surrender.

“You’re mocking me.”

“I’d never.”

The pillow hit the villain’s face before they could react. Even at – they glanced at the clock – 4 in the morning the hero had impeccable aim.

“Fine,” the villain said, shoving the pillow back towards the hero. “Good night.”

The hero turned over, grumbling something about roommates and minding their own business.

It wasn’t ten minutes after the villain had switched off the bedside lamp that the hero was awake again, jolting up in bed and gasping for air like it was their lifeline.

“What the fuck,” the villain said, switching the light back on and sitting up in their own bed. “What is going on?”

The hero pointedly ignored the villain’s stare as they forced breaths in and out.

“Fine, don’t tell me. Just interrupt my REM cycle why don't you - ” the villain deadpanned before they caught the hero’s gaze slide to the bedside lamp. “… Do you want me to keep this on?”

“That-” the hero caught their breath, nodding. “That would be good.”

The villain laid back down, studying their roommate. “Huh. You know everyone’s afraid of something. Nothing to be ashamed of.”

The hero squeezed their eyes shut, as if willing themselves to be anywhere but here. “Ah yes, the dark. Terrifying.” They attempted a light joke. It fell flat. “What are you afraid of, then?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?”

If anything, that seemed to snap the hero out of their semi panic. They glared at the villain; a challenge posed. “I would, actually.”

“I’m sure you’ll find out.” The villain turned over. “Go to sleep.”

Surprisingly, the hero did.

~

@excessive-vampires kind of what you wanted?

@written-by-jayy a tag for you <3

#heroes and villains #villains and heroes #hero x villain #antagonist prompt #whump #nightmares #villain #my writing #snippet #continuation #antagonist x protagonist #antagonist #protagonist #hero