A hero/villain piece.

The Hero fell to their knees. They coughed, spitting a gob of blood onto the concrete. Glass shattered, the flames leaping higher. At least smoke asphyxiation was  better than being torn to shreds. 

Their arms giving out, the Hero landed on their face. Everything hurt. But hopefully not for much longer. Boots appeared, stopping right before their nose. 

“Is this what you’ve come to?’ The Villain asked, voice impassive. 

The Hero craned their head up, glaring at their nemesis. 

“Come to…” they coughed again, more blood dribbling from their mouth and nose. 

“No, I’ve come to clean up the mess you made.” 

The Hero closed their eyes, sighing. 

“Why can’t you let me die in peace?”

“I never gave you permission to die.”

The Hero was about to reply when a hand rested on their shoulder, rolling them over. They cried out, cracked bones breaking, scabbed cuts re-opening.

“Oh please,” the Villain chided, gently sliding their hands under the Hero’s knees and shoulders. “It’s not like I haven’t put you through worse.”

Gritting their teeth, the Hero said nothing, surprised at the gingerness of the Villain’s movements. 

As the Villain scooped the Hero into their arms they sank to a knee with a grunt. 

“This would be easier if you weren’t so large. Heroes are so inconsiderate.”

The Hero choked out laughed at that and semi-reluctantly wrapped an arm around the Villain’s neck, hoping it would help. 

With a massive heave the villain made it to their feet and moved as quickly as they could through the burning building. 

As the cold night air replaced the smoke, the Villain gasped and nearly dropped the Hero. Sirens sounded in the distance. They continued to stagger another few feet before setting the Hero down as gently as they had picked them up. 

Unable to believe it, the Hero watched on awe as the Villain straightened, removed their coat, and wrapped it around their chest, tucking the edges in. 

‘God, if the cost of rescuing your pathetic ass is a thrown back, you’re gonna have to pay, get it?” 

The Hero was still too shocked to reply beyond an incoherent grunt. 

Cracking their back, the Villain turned and began walking away.

“Don’t get used to this, my nemesis.” They called over their shoulder. An ambulance rounded the corner, nearly blocking out the Villain’s last words: “Just know that when you die, it will be at my hand.”