After all, villains aren't likely to respect the sanctity of a legally mandated holiday [https://img.wattpad.com/4d53eec26fc4b2714fd5912b7e58842e3174199e/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f39794a6664347879496d705038413d3d2d313334313136363037332e313736643336383636353363306633623832323137373230313238392e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
After all, villains aren't likely to respect the sanctity of a legally mandated holiday. In fact, a lot of times villains like to thematically fit their crimes into whatever event is going on at the moment. Luckily, with the Fourth of July being such a minor celebration, Jay is hopeful he'll have an uneventful day.
And he jinxed it, didn't he?
The makeup artists crowd around Scoops as he sips his water. "Quickwit, right? You ready to try out reporting?"
"Quickwit, right? You ready to try out reporting?" [https://img.wattpad.com/2e6b5bc777edb15428714611c82164b2b1e248d2/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f544963386c6f75303766767774413d3d2d313334313136363037332e313736653932656237633832396665303930383338303233373338302e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Jay nods wearily [https://img.wattpad.com/6a3a61b1049ce002882818dd7499bc318687bed4/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f64313763716771616a5f565664513d3d2d313334313136363037332e313736653933346235636433633737303138393733383833393739362e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Jay nods wearily. "As ready as I'll ever be. But to be honest, I don't think you should expect anything from me. I'm not much of a public speaker."
"Don't worry about it," Scoops stands, stretching, "I'm not exactly looking for a sidekick, I just need the Network to see I'm trying to find one. So you can leave most of the talking to me—you can just be the comedic relief."
"Comedic relief? wha—"
Scoops grins ear to ear, long cape flowing gracefully as he floats a few inches off the ground. He turns to the camera drone as it reads out a robotic three, two, one, live.
"Goooood morning Houston! It's your favorite hero and reporter, Scoops! I hope you're having a festive Fourth of July. I'm here to bring you a special new segment."
The dark-skinned man turns to Jay, holding a golden microphone to his face. "Witty, can you tell the good folks at home what you're doing today?"
Jay tenses as he's compelled to tell the truth by the alien artifact. "I'm interviewing people in memorial park with my new partner. It's too hot and I want to leave."
Scoops laughs, turning to the camera drone. "Eager to be home watching the fireworks, huh? Relatable. But as long as crime is rearing its ugly head in our great city, Scoops is here to report on the news! Let's go, sidekick!"
Jay scowls under his mask, slinking behind the exuberant hero as they begin to interview the citizens milling about the wooded park.
Most are thrilled at the chance to give their thoughts. Though Jay can't help but raise an eyebrow at some of the questions Scoops has prepared. Some are mundane, but some are...interesting.
"Ma'am, can you give your opinion on Haxton's proposed Exposing Villainy bill?"
The older woman smiles, setting down the hotdog she's grilling to take the microphone. "I think it's a great idea. If you have nothing to hide, there should be nothing to fear—the only people who'd want to hide their super status are the people who'd like to become supervillains!"
Scoops nods, grinning brightly as he turns to the camera. "What a passionate response! And I have to say, I agree! We need to do anything necessary to keep our citizens safe from villains."
The sidekick grimaces. He's not exactly a fan of this new bill. Not for his own sake, the Texan government already knows exactly who Jay Martin is...but because he knows how a law such as this could be abused.
Despite his better judgment, he decides to voice his opinion. "The actual rates of death and injury caused by villains is surprisingly low. Thanks to the hard work of heroes all across Texas, citizens are much more likely to die from heart disease, cancer, and firearms—if we want to keep Texans safe, your tax dollars are better suited toward healthcare and gun control."
Scoops huffs, crossing his arms. "You didn't think I'd air that, did you?"
Jay blinks, confused. He glances at the drone—the light is shining red, indicating the feed has been cut to a commercial break.
"What did I do wrong? We're interviewing people, right? Can't I give my opinion?"
Scoops sighs, rolling his eyes as he directs Jay away from their interviewee. "Quickwit, my man, I love your gusto but you gotta remember who we're working for."
"...The citizens of Neo Houston?"
The hero smiles, shaking his head. "No man, you work for the Network and therefore, the Nobis family—they run the channel. That means we need to keep them happy and report what they want. You read the paperwork I sent you, right?"
Jay clenches his fists. Is this what the Network stands for? Intimidation tactics? "I suppose you're referring to the rule instructing me to never portray villains admirably? I wasn't saying villains are good, I'm just pointing out the fact that you're clearly fearmongering."
Scoops pats Jay on the shoulder, causing the hero to twitch at the unwanted contact. "Trust me Quickwit. I was just like you when I took this job, but once you sign that contract you gotta read between the lines. The Network has a pretty black-and-white philosophy; calling villains anything less than pure evil is, to them, portraying them admirably."
"But why would they want to do that? It's illogical."
Scoops crosses his arms, raising an eyebrow. "The Network keeps the lights on by government contract. If the people stop thinking villains are a threat, that funding dries up."
"So you're okay with lying?"
"It's not really lying. I mean yeah, most villains are just going to get defeated in the end, but there's always another chance we'll get another Calamity. Isn't it worth it to make sure there's never a villain that strong again?"
Jay grits his teeth. He can't say it's not a horrifying thought, the idea that Neo Houston could be leveled into dust once more by the destructive force of a single S-Class villain...but still, there has to be another way, right?
"Do you really think that this will prevent another 12/20?"
Scoops shrugs. "You're supposed to be the smart one, right? I don't know what the right thing to do is all the time, but I know I'm helping people. It can be hard, walking that line—but regardless of the politics, we're saving people. That's all that matters, so just hang in there, okay?"
Jay sighs. "Yeah, okay. Let's get back to work."
For the rest of the day, the blond assists the hero. With each lie the man speaks, it seems as if a little bit of Jay's soul dies. He finds himself counting down the seconds to the sunset, eager to join Gannet and Faye at their picnic.
Honestly...while he wants to tell himself he only has heroic intentions, deep down he knows there are other reasons why he's excited to see the villain. Once he'd gotten over the initial shock and had some time to think on it, he'd become shockingly okay with his current predicament...
Because sure, it wasn't ideal to have a supervillain obsessed with you, but damn if it wasn't satisfying to hear someone wax poetic about what a terrific hero he is. Because really, after being forgotten by everyone, detested by his partners, and lately ranked worst sidekick on SuperNewsWire, isn't he allowed to get a little giddy to see someone text him "you did amazing," every day? To have someone finally cheer him on? Ignoring the creepy smiles and shirt-snatching was a fair trade-off, in Jay's opinion.
He'd just have to remember to keep his distance emotionally...Gannet obviously thought of them as friends, but there was no way it would last. Jay already knows that he will eventually have to confront the man about his villainous alter-ego.
The man may not be the dastardly mastermind the hero once thought he was, but the hero can't picture the villain wanting to remain his fan or friend after discovering Jay had been deceiving him. Even If he's successful in convincing Gannet to give up his life of crime, the hero has to be prepared for that inevitability...
Still, as the sun sinks down on the horizon and the city lights of Houston begin to twinkle, Jay can't help but smile as he pulls up to Gannet's apartment.
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The villain greets him at the stairway, toting an ice chest. "Quickwit! What do you have there?"
Jay holds up the grocery bag. "Sweet tea, a citronella candle, bug spray, napkins, a flashlight, and solo cups."
"Ooh, prepared! I just brought fruit and a blanket!"
The hero begins to ascend the metal staircase, chuckling. "You didn't even pack bug spray? Were you just going to let the bugs eat you and Faye alive?"
"I was generously going to share my delicious blood with nature."
Jay laughs. "Well that's fine if you wanna do that, but y'all can go ahead and use some of mine if you like."
Gannet sighs as they reach the roof. "She had to cancel again actually. One of her dogs escaped and she has to find it before the fireworks start."
Jay nods. It was more likely that she was called to go deal with Texas—the centaur was on the news again, this time for attacking a fireworks stand that refused to sell to him.
"That sucks. I hope she sorts it out soon."
"Me too."
Gannet begins laying out the blanket, pulling out the food and plates. Jay joins him, lighting the candle and pouring them both a cup of cold tea. All set, he crosses his legs and starts digging into the fruit salad.
He pauses for a moment, wondering if it's wise to eat food made by an obsessive fan, but seeing Gannet dig into his own portion is reassuring enough to convince him. They enjoy the refreshing snack together as darkness overtakes the city.
Soon, as they finish up their plates, the first fireworks are launched into the sky. They pop with a dramatic boom, boom, boom, rattling the air.
"It's not too loud, is it? I can grab you my headphones from my apartment if it is..."
"Oh, that's...that's really thoughtful. But I'll be okay."
"Okay." Gannet grins.
Jay decides to lay back on the blanket, enjoying a cool breeze as he watches the sky illuminate with shimmering trails of fire.
Gannet emulates his hero, lying beside him. But he's not watching the fireworks...Jay's heart races as he feels the man's eyes on him, staring.
A good five or so minutes pass before the hero braves a look. Jay is expecting the Gannet to avert his eyes, but instead, their gazes meet.
The blond can't help a sharp intake of breath at the intensity reflected back at him. Immediately, he's transfixed with how the colors of the sky are illuminated in the man's irises.
With others, Jay has discovered eye contact is an uncomfortable experience. He often has to time himself—counting down the seconds until he can look away. But here, with this villain, he feels secure. There's no anxiety because there's no hidden expectation for Jay; Gannet isn't looking at him to convey some hidden meaning, he's simply staring because he wants to.
The blond stares back, watching the colors and lights bounce from Gannets eyes. It makes Jay shiver. He feels seen...in more ways than one.
"Am I creeping you out?" Gannet whispers.
"No. You're fine."
The villain smiles, gripping the picnic blanket. "You're strange."
A laugh is startled out of Jay. "I'm strange?"
"Yes. I think most people would have distanced themselves by now."
Jay turns his eyes back to the night sky. Overhead, a burst of purple and red shimmers brightly. "Why?"
"Because I'm creepy. And obsessive. And I don't know how to turn it off," Gannet sighs. "Do you really not think I'm weird?"
Jay hums, wondering how he should phrase this...would it be okay to be honest?
"You're definitely weird. I think you might've, uh, had a parasocial relationship with me before we met."
He returns his gaze to Gannet's. "But I'm kinda weird too, and since we're actually friends now it's fine...I think."
The villain's eyes shimmer with emotion. "I'm so happy to hear that. I was worried that maybe—maybe you were just indulging me...you really consider us friends?"
Jay smiles. He remembers Razz asking a similar question. "Yeah."
They lay in silence together for a few moments—Jay watching the night sky, and Gannet watching Jay.
The villain falls into a fit of giggles, covering his face. He peeks through his splayed fingers, a sharp grin complementing his wide eyes.
Jay huffs. He's slowly becoming immune to Gannet's demented facial expressions. "What?"
"I'm sorry for being selfish, but it's not enough."
Jay's heart does a little skip. "Not enough...?"
"I'm sorry...but ever since I've become your fan, I've been thinking of you in...not so platonic ways."
Heat starts to rise in Jay's face. Was this really happening? "Are you messing with me?"
The villain seems to shrink back a little, smile fading a tad. "If I'm making you uncomfortable I won't talk about it anymore. I can—I can keep it to myself..."
The blond's heart is galloping now. How could this be happening? Jay is—he's a nobody! How can this powerful man who can crush a car with the flick of his wrist be saying he—saying he has feelings for Jay?
"I just—I don't—" Jay stammers, "you know I'm just a sidekick, right? My power is hardly anything more than a party trick..."
"I don't like you because you're powerful. Having a lot of power doesn't mean—" Gannet sighs, "it doesn't mean you're a good person. You are a good person, Quickwit. You care so much—"
Gannet reaches across the blanket, hand lightly caressing the hero's. "I want you to care about me, too."
Jay feels like his entire face is on fire. His mind races as he attempts to come up with an escape plan. He needs to leave, run away, and never face this unpredictable man again...!
But he doesn't move. He remains quiet as polish-tipped fingers glide over his knuckles.
Jay doesn't usually like to be touched. But this feeling it...it makes him want more. Against his better judgment, Jay turns his palm upwards. Gannet takes the invitation immediately, lacing their fingers together and squeezing gently.
Hands interlocked, Jay closes his eyes and focuses on the feeling. He hadn't realized how touch-starved he'd become until now.
They remain like that for a while before finally, the fireworks start to slow. Gannet sighs, releasing Jay from his grip. "I should probably get back now. I have work in the morning..."
"Yeah. Me too. I'll walk you back."
They pack their things together, carting everything downstairs. At Gannet's door, Jay pauses as the villain fiddles with the lock and steps inside.
"Goodnight, Gannet."
"Goodnight..."
Jay turns to leave, but a soft "wait..." stops him in his tracks.
Gannet pauses, eyes darting away. "Do you wanna come in before you leave? I can get you a quick drink..."
It's a bad idea, a terrible idea. You don't follow obsessed villains into their apartments!
"Okay..."
Gannet grins as he opens the door to his lair. "Do you want a beer?
Jay steps inside, despite his better judgment. He walks to the window, watching the last stubborn explosions of color. "Beer sounds good."
Gannet joins him a moment later, handing the hero the ice-cold drink. Jay just grips it tightly as he gazes outside, not even bothering to open it. He's not dense enough to not understand the real reason he's here.
Light flashes through the window as a particularly large firework explodes, casting a golden hue across the apartment. Jay glances at the man beside him, enjoying how the color dances across Gannet's skin.
His heart jumps a little when the villain turns away from the window, meeting his gaze. Jay averts his eyes, face flushing as he sets the beer down.
Gannet smiles. "You're turning pink."
"Huh?"
"I can barely see any of your face, but I can see you turning pink under your mask."
Jay's heart thunders in his chest. "I'm just thinking."
"Thinking about what I said?"
Jay nods, unable to find his voice.
Gannet sets his drink down, coming closer. Jay swallows thickly as the man brushes a hand down his arm.
"Do you want to kiss me?"
The blond's heart flutters like a caged bird.
He needs to push the villain away, tell him that he would never see him like that, and leave. It didn't matter if it meant this strange arrangement ended, he'd already gotten what he wanted. There was no need to drag this out any longer now that he knows the truth.
But having common sense doesn't mean you'll use it. So instead, Jay opens his mouth and warbles out a "yes..."
Gannet bites his lip, flush deepening on his pale cheeks. The intense expression returns, irises blown wide as he leans in closer.
Soft lips brush against the fabric of Jay's mask, the union of their mouths only impeded by the thin material [https://img.wattpad.com/3f0a4c6e467fe468512f15b204bbfce332c80a56/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f4f5441783358714965495a7873413d3d2d313334313136363037332e313736643336373663346639666633313137353337343332303737342e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Soft lips brush against the fabric of Jay's mask, the union of their mouths only impeded by the thin material.
Jay squeezes his eyes shut, focusing on the heat of the villain seeping through the fabric. It's not enough...he needs much more.
Gannet traces the edge of Jay's mask with his fingers. "Can I take this off?"
"No I—" Jay's heart is racing in earnest now, he's craving it just as bad as Gannet. "Just, just leave the top half covered..."
Obediently, Gannet lifts the mask until only Jay's mouth is freed. He smiles, eyes glinting in the dark as he traces the hero's lips with his fingers. "When we first met, did you ever think we'd end up here?"
Jay thinks back on his menacing introduction with Stygian. Did the villain feel this way, even then?
"No..."
Gannet's hand trails down the side of Jay's face, fingers coming to play with the sensitive skin of his neck. "Did you have any suspicions about how I might feel? "
"I saw you wearing my shirt. I thought it was a little strange..."
The villain pulls Jay in close, their bodies flush against each other as the dark-haired man whispers in his ear. "Did you think of all the things I might be doing with it?"
Jay tightens his hold on Gannet, goosebumps breaking out all over his skin. "I am now..."
Gannet giggles again, pulling back just enough to bring his lips to Jay's. He sighs into the hero's mouth before turning the kiss into a passionate affair of teeth and tongue. When Jay pulls back for air, the villain is grinning as he guides the hero into his bedroom. He pushes the larger man onto the bed, eyes narrowing salaciously as he climbs atop his lap.
"You've done so much, worked so hard. Let me reward you, Quickwit."
Again, Jay is given another out, another chance to return to his senses and reject the man atop him. But he's reveling too much in this worship to stop now.
So instead, he just grips Gannet's thighs, marveling at how the small action causes the villain to shudder.
"Yes..."
Gannet licks his lips, leaning over the blond.
Gannet licks his lips, leaning over the blond [https://img.wattpad.com/46924aa9997a3d36f3ebf1c59e9615974fc2d122/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f36654379694c75426474495f48773d3d2d313334313136363037332e313736643336623361393433393033663131383631373337333431302e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]