Usually, it's the heroes who were never really that good to begin with, or it's heroes who have had their morals twisted by something extremely horrible [https://img.wattpad.com/110a6607c331ba8ebef6d4b17e28eb6ebe4f33fd/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f645258506b494c363844377249673d3d2d313339303031393036322e313738653033353332313034623062353132373236363238313331362e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

Usually, it's the heroes who were never really that good to begin with, or it's heroes who have had their morals twisted by something extremely horrible. Jay is an outlier, he supposes. Not many villains can attest that they left hero work purely out of love...and it really is love that's motivating him now. Sure, the abuse from the Network didn't really help, but he knows that if it wasn't for Gannet he'd still be trapped in their delusion.

Still, he can't quite be a hero or villain until he recovers. So he puts on a brave face as the doctors examine and prod the dark shape on his chest. They can't make much of it, so they call in the big guns; Professor Zenith. Jay swallows thickly as the super enters the room. Can he keep the truth a secret from Neo Houston's Brightest mind? The very man who discovered Compound Z?

Can he keep the truth a secret from Neo Houston's Brightest mind? The very man who discovered Compound Z? [https://img.wattpad.com/b2ca7b7f7d45a248ab96f32ef86c9d43f62431ab/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f306d6d50313232796277772d41413d3d2d313339303031393036322e313738653033326661633062306634393737333837353238393333362e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

Jay sighs, feeling a throbbing headache begin to brew. It's too early for this crap.

"Good morning, Quickwit."

"Good morning professor."

"I just have a few questions for you. How are you feeling?"

"Tired, achy...but that's about it. Pretty amazing, since it's only been like three days since I was stabbed."

"Interesting, you're healing rapidly. Have you noticed anything...different about yourself since your encounter with Stygian?"

Jay raises an eyebrow. "Besides the fact that I have a giant handprint on my chest now? No, not really."

"You haven't observed any effects of his powers on your body?"

"No. Unless you count weird dreams?"

Zenith's eyes narrow. "Weird dreams?"

"Yeah ah—I was dreaming I was like, floating in a void, and I was seeing weird words in the sky."

"What did they say?"

"Uh—"

Jay pauses. He's pretty sure it was nothing but a fever dream induced by trauma and drugs, but it was probably a good idea to not share anything he didn't have to.

"I don't really remember."

The professor nods, writing something down. He steps out into the hall, returning a moment later with a doctor and two nurses. "If you can hold still for a moment, Quickwit, I'd like to check something."

The super strides to Jay's bedside, directing the doctor to apply the nodes to the sidekick's chest. Immediately, an image appears on the screen nearby; it's Jay's heart, inky blackness swallowing up nearly half of it.

"Is that..."

"Yes. It seems your heart was fatally injured by Techtra. You can see exactly where the damage was repaired..." The green super studies it intently, unwrapping a scalpel.

"Uh, what's happening?" Jay asks.

"Remain calm, I'm just testing a theory."

The scalpel nears the darkened skin, the tip barely breaking the surface painlessly before an inky tendril shoots out from Jay's chest and snaps the instrument in half. The blond watches in mild horror as the wound instantly closes itself as the tendril recedes.

Professor Zenith examines his snapped scalpel. "Congrats, Quickwit. You have gained a new superpower; invulnerability."

"Shit...is this going to affect my class ranking?"

"Most likely. You might even be able to manifest powers similar to Stygian eventually. But I wouldn't worry about that; Quickwit, it's my advice you retire from hero work."

Jay's eyes narrow. He can't do that, he needs to keep up his status as a hero, at least for now while he and Gannet investigate the Network...

"If I have a new power, shouldn't I use it?"

"It's not that simple. We don't know what exactly Stygian's goal is, doing this to you. It's very possible he intends to torment you with this, or he could even try and control you with his powers. I've discussed it with Darius, and we've decided to offer you a position at Netscie."

"What does Netscie want with me?"

"Regardless of whatever nefarious intentions Stygian has for you, Quickwit, this is essentially a medical miracle. If we could learn from it, we could replicate it. We could save lives."

The blond has to withhold a scoff. No doubt the Network would do a lot more with this power than just save lives; they'd turn Jay into their lab rat...experimenting on him like they did with Gannet.

Hatred burns bright in Jay. He lets it fester, attempting to use it to speak his next lie confidently.

"I can't do that, professor. He tricked me, I need to get my revenge. I need to take Stygian down myself..."

The Professor averts his eyes, directing a doctor to remove the nodes from Jay. "What exactly was your relationship with him?"

"I loved Gannet," Jay's voice trembles, "I thought he loved me too."

The Professor adjusts his coat nervously, seemingly uncomfortable with the emotion dripping from the statement. "I understand. But if you intend to stay a hero, you must at least consent to regular examinations. This alteration to your body could turn dangerous quickly."

"I understand. Was there anything else you needed?"

"No. I'll leave you be now...you have a visitor waiting to see you."

Jay quirks a brow. A visitor? Who else besides Gannet would care enough to visit him?

The Professor leaves the room, the doctor and nurses following close behind. There's only a few moments of peace before there's a quiet knock at his door.

"Come in."

Pixamena enters the room, clutching Pixiepuff to her chest as always. She looks a fright with a bare face, dark bags under her eyes, and her long pink hair tied in a messy bun.

"Hi Quickwit..."

Jay sits up in his bed, suppressing a groan at the dull throb in his chest. "Pixamena, hey. I didn't expect you would be the one waiting to see me."

The magical girl's face crumples, pain clear on her face. Pixiepuff gives a whine as a few fat tears roll down her cheeks.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

Jay pauses, shocked. "Wait...for what?"

"It's all my fault! Everything! I didn't believe you—I should've listened when you said he was a villain..."

"He tricked us both—"

"No, he tricked me. You pointed out the truth and I convinced myself it was a lie. Then I went on and I—I convinced you it was too."

The heroine doesn't stop sobbing, setting Pixiepuff down on the bed. The Pomeranian whines as he cuddles up to Jay. The sidekick pets the purple dog, startled at this sudden show of remorse.

"Pixamena, it's not your fault. I doubted myself, that's why I'm in this situation. I should've just reported him, but I wanted to make sure my suspicions were true. I got caught up and forgot my goal."

The woman looks up from her hands, rage in her watery eyes. "I'm going to kill him, Quickwit. I want you to help me bring him down. He can't do this, he can't just—play with people's emotions like this!"

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An uneasy pit opens in Jay's stomach. He hadn't thought of how Faye would react to the news that her best friend is a villain. "Are you asking me to be your partner again?"

"Yes. As soon as you're well again."

Jay anxiously grips the covers. He contemplates his options; deceiving Faye when she's already experienced a horrible betrayal feels wrong...but does Jay have a choice? He still needs to find a partner or the Network will fire him. And if Pixamena is so hellbent on taking revenge on Stygian, it's best to keep her close.

"Alright. I'll do it."

Pixamena nods, but before she can say more, alarms start to go off in the hospital.

"What's happening?" Jay asks.

"It's a villain attack! Prepare yourself!"

Immediately, the magical girl tenses, summoning a lavender waraxe. Just as planned, Stygian bursts into Jay's hospital room with a flourish of shadow. Pixamena gives a roar, charging at her former friend. Stygian gives a startled whoop, ducking as he avoids near decapitation. He sweeps his leg, knocking Pixamena to the ground. A wave of black pins her to the wall, leaving her struggling in rage.

"Gannet if you touch him—"

The magical girl is cut off as a tendril gags her. Stygian huffs, crossing his arms. "I'm wearing the mask and suit. Don't call me that if I'm in my villain outfit, guh!"

He turns to Jay, grinning sharply. "I didn't expect you to have company, Witty. You're getting popular now...don't forget who your number one fan is, though!"

"Fuck you Gannet!" Pixiepuff barks, charging.

Stygian yelps as the Pomeranian jumps from the bed, thirsty for blood. The pooch is quickly bundled in black tendrils, joining Pixamena on the wall. "I always was a cat person..."

The villain turns his attention away from the wall, giving Jay a deranged smile. He grips the bed, effortlessly wheeling the sidekick out into the hallway. The blond yelps as Stygian jumps on, laughing as he uses his powers to ricochet them both down the hospital hallways at ludicrous speeds.

Nurses, patients, and doctors alike scramble out of their way, shadows pinning them to the side if they're too slow. Bullets whiz by as security attempts to stop the sidekick's abduction, but none are successful as Stygian tilts the table and careens the bed around a corner.

Finally, with a crash through the glass doors, they zoom onto the street. Jay is scooped into the villain's arms and with a flap of dark wings, they're off into the sky.

Climbing higher and higher inspires an unpleasant wave of vertigo in the sidekick. The blond looks down, watching clouds pass over the sprawling metropolis below. Even though he'd been preparing for this, it's still a little scary to be back up so high once again. He flashes back to tumbling from Techtra's airship, freefalling...

A coil of darkness sweeps across his cheek, redirecting his vision to his lover's face. Stygian grins, eyes twinkling.

"Which one is more scary? Being up here, or me?"

Jay laughs, hugging on tighter. "You're not scary."

"Don't wound my ego like that! Being intimidating is a villain's whole livelihood!"

"Should've thought of that before you stole my heart...literally."

Stygian giggles wildly, cheeks pinkening.

The city fades away until they're flying over rolling fields of crops. Finally, they reach their destination when they land at what appears to be a quaint little farmhouse. Jay admires the little potted plants at the door as Stygian knocks.

The door opens to a lean, dark-haired man wearing flannel. But that's not the interesting part; the man has two short bull horns. It's Taurrage.

Unexpectedly, he smiles widely. He looks Jay up and down with a whistle. "Well damn, I really thought you were yanking my chain, Stygian. You two are really working together now?"

Jay flushes, nodding. Taurrage's grin grows. "Well, come in—I've got some coffee brewing for you."

Hesitantly, they step inside. The interior of the little farm house is just as quaint as the outside, featuring rustic decor everywhere possible. Jay even spots a collection of porcelain horses on the mantle—-he wonders if they belong to the centaur or minotaur. As he enters the living room though, he spots Texas. The centaur is sprawled out on the couch fast asleep.

"Don't mind him," Taurrage says, covering his husband with a quilt, "he's been working the herd all morning. I'll wake him in a moment."

Jay nods, taking a seat in a plush leather lazy boy. Stygian sits on the arm of the chair, crossing his legs as he grins down at Jay. The look causes nervous butterflies in the sidekick's stomach. Although he had approved of this plan, is Stygian correct in assuming that Texas and his husband will be willing to assist?

Taurrage enters the living room a moment later, placing a pot of coffee and some mugs on the table. Jay closely watches his foe take a sip from his own mug before accepting his own.

"So," Taurrage starts, "you want to be a villain, Quickwit?"

Jay scowls, looking down at his coffee. "I don't really agree with that label, I just can't work for the Network anymore."

Texas groans, cracking open an eye. He glances at the two strangers in his home, grumbling as he grabs a coffee off the table. Taurrage ignores his husband, steepling his hands.

"Nobody is forcing you to be a hero, right? And If you don't want to be a villain, you don't have to be. But if you intend to oppose the Network, that makes you a villain. So I'll ask again; do you want to be a villain?"

Jay grits his teeth. "Yes. They can't go unchecked anymore. I need to show them there are consequences for their actions."

Texas laughs, slamming down his coffee. "So you finally got tired of being treated like shit?"

"It's not just that. I have knowledge that the Network has been doing some...highly unethical things. Possibly for decades now...

"I don't see why that means we should join forces," Texas scoffs.

Gannet sips his drink delicately, raiding the sugar cube jar when he finds it lacking sweetness. "You should join us because our goals are basically the same. Once we amass enough support from the other villains, we can take the Network down. That's what you want, right?"

"What I want is to show the Network they made a huge mistake firing me! I was their best hero!"

"Wait, you got fired? I thought you left because you fell in love with your nemesis."

"He got fired because he was saying a lot of toxic shit online about Pixamena. They tried to make him her sidekick," Jay clarifies.

"Exactly right Quickwiz! They fuckin' tried to make my theme fantasy so I would fit in with their poofy pixie princess," Texas growls.

Stygian deflates a little. "So you didn't leave out of love?"

Taurrage laughs. "That came later, after we both crashed the rodeo at the same time."

"Aww! A villainous rodeo meet-cute!?"

"Eyup."

"That's so romantic!"

Taurrage preens. "It is, isn't it?"

Jay's cheeks heat, getting an idea. Texas doesn't seem easily swayed, but Taurrage seems a tad sentimental...

"Um, we also have that in common."

The centaur tilts his head. "What do you mean?"

"A major reason why I can't be a hero any more is, um, I—"

Jay stutters, losing voice for a moment, but a warm squeeze on his shoulder from Stygian breaks him out of it. They're going to be facing a lot scarier things together, this is nothing...

"I fell in love with Stygian. I need to destroy the Network to protect him."

Immediately, red eyes shimmer, a dopey smile crossing Stygian's face. The blond yelps as shadows pull him into an abrupt kiss, his lap suddenly full of maniacal villain.

Taurrage's eyes widen in shock, but the centaur just scoffs. "So what? I don't care who you kanoodle with, doesn't mean we have to help you!"

"¡Samson! ¿No estás viendo que están en las mismas que nosotros? Ya, pequeño pony, ten un poquito de compasión." Taurrage scolds.

Heat rises to Texas' face. "Baby, but—"

"No buts! I have been doing what you want for our entire relationship! You said I am your equal, right?"

"Yes, of course..."

Taurrage grins, turning to Jay. "Good. Then we agree to your proposition, Quickwit. On one condition..."

"Yes?" Jay asks.

"We want some assurance that this isn't an elaborate scheme. Reveal your identity to us."

Stygian's hackles raise, eyes glowing. "He doesn't have to do jack shit. The fact I'm here should be proof enough that what he's saying is true!"

"Aren't you friends with Razzmatazz? How do we know she's just not taken Quickwit's form?"

"I wouldn't kiss Razzmatazz!"

"Prove it then. She can't shift into a form she doesn't know, make him take off the mask."

Stygian opens his mouth to argue further, but his words are halted when Jay gives a reassuring squeeze to his lover's hand. He takes a deep breath, taking his mask off.

"You already know Gannet. I'm Jay."

Taurrage smiles at the action. "Nice to meet you, Jay. Now that you've properly introduced yourself, I'll share our names; this is Samson and I'm Sebastian.

The centaur scowls, standing up from the couch. "I don't give a shit about who you are, as long as you refer to me by Texas. Only friends and family call me Samson."

Sebastian huffs. "Ya, ya. ándale, vete a la cocina por un té helado, pareces escuincle."

Jay leans over to Stygian, whispering in his ear. "Can you understand him? What's he saying?"

"Pretty sure he just called Texas a brat."

Texas scowls more, crossing his arm as he storms into the kitchen. Sebastian simply rolls his eyes, refilling his coffee mug.

"Ignore him. I'll give you our numbers so we can plan our next moves."

Jay grins sharply. "Sounds like a plan."

The blond moves to get up, but doubles over as sudden sharp pain in his chest spears through him. He's moments away from face-planting when strong arms suddenly catch him. Sebastian looks down at the sidekick, stoic face now twisted into concern.

"Christ, boy! Should you be out of the hospital like this?"

"I'm fine, I just twinged a muscle..."

"Well you can't leave like that. You can stay in our guest room. No sense sending you out to get more injured."

"Thank you! I'll take him from here," the dark-haired villain chirps.

Immediately, Stygian's shadows take the weight of the sidekick, already dragging him to the aforementioned room. Jay struggles a bit, feeling coddled, but relaxes as he's placed down on a downy quilt. Like the living room, the guest room is also full of rustic charm. Jay huffs, staring down a portrait of a rooster on the wall.

"You didn't need to carry me, I'm not that injured."

"Yes I do! Jay, you're hurt, are you sure it's a good idea to be out and about? I can take you back to the hospital."

"I'm fine, I told you I'm just sore. Besides, when you saved me you gave me a new power..."

"What? Really?!"

"Invulnerability. I confirmed it this morning...it's great, Gannet. I'll be able to finally be a super worth taking seriously."

The villain sits on the bed, hands running over the hand stitched quilt. "I know it's selfish, but I don't want you to change...you were already a great hero before you met me. I wish people would see that."

Warmth grows in Jay's chest. He scoots on the bed to lean against the villain. "You've made me a better super in more ways than one. I'm so glad I met you, Gannet."

Jay laughs as the dark haired man sniffles, clinging on tighter.

"Did you mean what you said in there? Do you really feel that way?"

"Yes. I love you..."

Stygian grips Jay's hands in his own, turning wide red eyes toward his lover's. "I love you too, I've loved you for years now."

"Creepy," Jay smirks.

"Wha—No it's not! It's romantic!"

Jay leans in, giving his villain a kiss before pulling back with a chuckle. "It's okay. I like your creepiness."

" [https://img.wattpad.com/da5e7f7ea7208d2041bef786dc16669c8bfb4183/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f5067706971494277636a646d67513d3d2d313339303031393036322e313738653033346632666636376436363430393932363234303731382e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]