For heroes, it seems that changing your "brand" is common, if not expected. Jay supposes from the outside looking in, he has transformed from dorky sidekick underling to a mysterious, brooding, heartbroken antihero. As a result, he's been the talk of the town lately.

Although it should make him happy that he's being taken more seriously, being considered a "real hero" is actually starting to grind on his nerves. He hates the stupid high-level meetings about Paradoxico and his obviously never-gonna-work schemes, the constant interviews from Supernewsdaily asking him inane shit like rating the hottest female super, and his fans constantly haranguing him for signatures and selfies. The fans especially get on his nerves—a sizable chunk of his "fanbase" appears to be what they "Stygwit fans," or superfans who seem to really enjoy Jay getting into compromising situations with Stygian. Most are polite, though some of the illustrations he's been given have made him red in the face (and what's worse is Gannet has been saving such "artworks" to fawn over them.)

When it comes to villains though, it's harder to change public perception. Villain's find their niche and rarely do they ever leave them. Of course, there were outliers, there was the occasional henchman-redeemed-antihero. However, even then, they didn't become official heroes under the banner of the Texan Hero Network. They were still relegated as degenerates and a threat to public safety.

Unfortunately for Stygian, that meant he had a new role in NeoHouston; the ultimate big bad. There was no way to rebrand after being awarded that title. After all, the last class-S was Calamity. Stygian couldn't just go back to being the goofy, glamorous, silly menace he used to be. Though, it seems he didn't get the memo...

Jay is in his car, staring down at his phone with confusion as he watches the "Villainous Dance Workout Routine Livestream!!!1!" Stygian is gyrating his hips provocatively, with Razzmatazz following his example. With a swell of music, they both drop down before coming back up to a bent over position. Jay scowls as Razzmatazz takes on his appearance to twerk rapidly.

Pixamena looks over from the passenger seat, making a snobby expression of disgust. "We tracked their location. Let's go."

Jay buckles up, stowing away his phone in his pocket as she sets up the GPS. The van starts up with a roar and they speed down the road as he turns up the thermostat. Although Jay isn't sensitive to the cold, he knows Faye is. Even if she glared at him for suggesting she wear jeans under her dress.

Disregarding the nip in the air, they speed down the frosty highway. The traffic is incredibly sparse today. Jay figures it's the slight amount of snow drifting down from the sky—Houston rarely gets any, and Texans treat any sign of frozen precipitation like a sign of the end times. Or they just drive 30 miles per hour in the left lane. With their hazard lights on.

Luckily Jay doesn't find any obstacles on the road, and they're able to get to their destination in time. They come to an abandoned overpass, the location spotted in the video. But as Pixamena and Jay approach, there's no sign of Stygian and Razz.

"Do you think they caught on that we were coming?" Pixamena asks.

"Not likely. Even if they knew, they're not the type to run—"

A blade of shadow cuts off Jay's words as it heads straight for his face. He yelps, ducking back as Stygian emerges from under the overpass, wings flapping as he cackles in the air.

"Foolish heroes, you fell right for my trap! That was no livestream, it was a pre-recorded video!"

He lands, heels clacking against the frozen concrete. Jay's eyes widen at the sight of Stygian's new look. Gone is his classic attire, replaced by a striking ensemble; a long ponytail flowing down his back, a purple and pink suit adorned with a revealing diamond-shaped window over the chest, and two sleek black thigh-high, heeled boots. Even his horns have changed, now taking on the shape of two petite, pink daggers that complete the fit.

Even his horns have changed, now taking on the shape of two petite, pink daggers that complete the fit [https://img.wattpad.com/c20a784e31c4e46a39a150c98e959c408e82fbe9/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f44376a7a473573355566476843513d3d2d313431383233323137362e3137616561373963313635613234393038373534333639303932382e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

Starstruck, neither Pixamena or Jay have time to realize Razzmatazz had also been latched to the underside of the underpass. She lunges while the duo is distracted, capturing Pixamena in two bear-like, outstretched purple-spotted paws. Pixamena wriggles in the tight grasp, enraged, and Pixiepuff barks uselessly.

"Let her go you miscreant!" he yelps.

Stygian giggles, unrepentant. "You just got here, though. We can't let you go that easily."

Jay readies his weapon, eyes narrowed. He genuinely wasn't expecting an ambush today, though it didn't seem out of Stygian's wheelhouse to pull such a stunt for the hell of it. "What do you want, Stygian? What exactly is your plan?"

"He doesn't have a plan, he's just freaking out and being an idiot," Razzmatazz says.

"Wha—hey! Shut up, Razz!"

"You literally just stayed up all night and then went on an hour-long rant about how you can redeem yourself by becoming an internet star."

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"It could work!"

"The video got 100 views, that's pretty good, right?" Jay says.

"Not really," says Pixiepuff.

"Influentia responded," says Razzmatazz, looking at her phone. "She said to bring the heroes to the Post Oak Hotel."

Pixamena laughs, head bowing over. "You're trying to become famous so Houston won't think you're a villain? Through Influentia? Are you an idiot, Gannet?"

Stygian huffs, eyes narrowed. A wave of purple-black tendrils dart forward, restraining Jay and Pixamena and throwing them in the back seat of Jay's own van. Stygian jumps in the driver's seat, with Razzmatazz claiming shotgun with Pixiepuff placed forcefully in her lap.

"Wait, seatbelts!" Jay yelps as the van turns onto the road abruptly.

"You don't need them, I'm right here," says Stygian

"On average, 47% of people who die in car accidents weren't wearing their seatbelts!"

Stygian rolls his eyes, waving his hand. Simultaneously, all the supers are securely buckled in. Pixamena huffs, glaring from the side-view mirror. "I think that's the least of our worries, Quickwit."

"Yeah yeah," Stygian huffs, breaking several traffic laws as he speeds down the highway, "super evil villain in the car, oooh so scary."

"You really want to pretend like nothing's happened now? We know the truth now! We know exactly what you are!"

"Okay you know what, fuck you! You don't know shit! Nobody has asked me for my side of things."

"Oh, like you were going to share any of this with anyone?"

"How was I supposed to tell anyone, huh? They made an entire fucking task force to fight me because I stopped people from going to Sephora for five minutes."

"They made a task force because you're a class-S super who's been plotting from the shadows!"

"Oh goddamn it—you really believe that shit?"

"What, you're going to claim it was someone else's magic purple tentacles eating a fucking mall!?"

Jay yelps as the van takes another sharp turn, causing the wheels to screech loudly. "Is this a productive conversation, guys!?"

Razzmatazz cackles at the insanity, petting Pixiepuff roughly. "I should've bought popcorn."

The van lurches as it comes to an abrupt halt. Jay peers outside, seeing the towering bulk of the Post Oak Hotel casting a shadow over the car.

Stygian unbuckles, turning around in his chair to face Pixamena. "I'm not claiming I'm not S-class. I'm claiming the Network is full of bullshit. If they really think I'm as big of a threat as I am, why are they sending you of all people? I was expecting the Dawnbreakers not Mariposa, Flutterbitch fairy."

Pixamena balls her hands into fists. "Someone needs to keep you in check, Gannet. They know who I am—if you kill me, it's a sign."

There's a tense pause in the car as Stygian stares, aghast. "You really think I'd do that? I've been trying to call you, you know. If you'd let me explain—"

"I already know everything. I know that Gannet isn't in control. Not enough, anyway."

Pixamena tenses as Stygian's eyes glow a deeper red for a moment.

"If you're so willing to be sacrificed, then you won't care if I hand you over to get a new member of the Alliance."

Suddenly, the doors of the van are thrown open and Jay and Pixamena are pushed out roughly.

"Hey! Stop—"

"Razz, take her inside please? I need to torment her sidekick a bit before handing him over to Influentia."

Razzmatazz manhandles Pixamena into a princess-style carry, a third arm sprouting to carry Pixiepuff like an angry, fuzzy, basketball. "Don't take too long, I hate her."

Pixamena yells and struggles fruitlessly as she's carried into the hotel, two burly brainwashed bellhops opening the doors for her. Jay watches them go before turning his head back to Stygian. He waits until the shadows destroy all the hovering camera's before speaking his mind.

"You should've consulted me on this plan," Jay hisses.

"I panicked, okay! Everyone thinks I'm a mass-murderer!"

"Nobody thinks that—"

"Supernewsdaily just wrote an article about the Top Ten Ways Stygian Will Kill Us All!"

Jay sighs, rubbing his temples. "What are we even doing here? We're recruiting Influentia?"

"Yes—look, it's easy. She just wants to make some reaction video or something, we can get her to join our side. I uh, I have a past connection with her so I think we can get her to help us out. Maybe we can use her networking to track down where Echo and Frame are being held."

Jay pauses. He hadn't even thought about dealing with Influentia, she's such a wild-card that he'd already written her off. "If you want to try it, I'll go along with your plan. Next time, tell me before you start a scheme."

"I will! I promise! It's gonna work I just—I didn't expect them to just send you and Faye...do you think she's telling the truth? Do you think the Network has told her everything?"

"No. If she got the whole picture, she'd be helping us."

"Are you sure?"

"No. But I'll make her understand, if I need to."

Stygian nods, taking a deep breath. "Alright. Let's go."

Shadows constrict around him once more, lifting him off the ground. Stygian opens his wings wide and carries Jay upwards. They fly up, up, up, until they reach a lavish balcony high above the streets of Houston.

Jay gets tossed roughly into the hotel room—landing conveniently on a plush, lavender couch. The expansive room is decorated to a unique style, with green checkerboard floors, fake plants, a large chandelier on the vaulted ceiling, and even what appears to be a cubic fountain. Razz is in the corner, sipping a cup of lemon water, hands free after passing off Pixamena and Pixiepuff to two brainwashed goods. Influentia looks up from her cup of "flat tummy tea" in surprise.

"Stygian! You finally made it!" she squeals, standing up from a pink beanbag.

"Sorry I was late, I just needed to blow off some steam."

"Aww you should've told me! That would've made great content!"

Stygian rolls his eyes. "Not before we have our deal in place. I brought you the heroes. You wanted to make a reaction video, right?"

"Yes! With you and Razzatazz as the stars! It's gonna be great, we're going to be trending for months."

"Not to rain on your parade, but we've fought them both before. It's not exactly news."

Influentia laughs, setting her drink down on a glossy marble countertop. "No, no—this time you'll kill them."

Both Razzmatazz and Stygian freeze, glancing at each other. "Kill them? Like kill the heroes?!"

"Styggy, you're class-S, you're not going to lose."

"Not the point! I didn't agree to that!"

Influentia rolls her eyes. "See, this is why I broke up with you. You have so much potential that you refuse to use."

"I broke up with you and—look this isn't why I'm here."

"Wait, you two dated?" Jay asks, horrified.

Influentia flips her hair, grinning. "Jealous, sidekick? What we had was real—a passionate romance between two villains! Before he turned gay, I mean."

"You mean you dated me because you wanted to do a big reveal about who you were with for content. And I didn't turn gay! I've always been Bi!"

"Details."

"Influentia—"

Before Stygian has a chance to say more, Influentia whips out her phone. Her eyes swirl with power as she faces the camera. "Hey guys! Today I'm going to be reacting to something crazy! My ex boyfriend fighting my simps to death! The winner will get a date with me!"