Work Text:
It was uncommon for villains to have multiple encounters with the same hero. It’s even more uncommon for them to make it out of these fights without being arrested. That is, not unless you’re a big shot just like the villain named ‘BloodBlade’.
‘BloodBlade’, often shortened down to just ‘Blade’, was a villain that’d been around and free for years. He’s done a range of crime from a simple chain store thievery to something as drastic as murder of a government official. Each time he got away near enough scot-free, only ever being arrested once just to break free not even half an hour later.
Then there was his hero counterpart, the hero that was ‘destined to stop the dreaded BloodBlade’s reign of tyranny’. That hero was named ‘Phantasm’, a man excelling in hand to hand combat, only matched by ‘BloodBlade’ himself. So it made it obvious that they’d be known to all as rivals, as counterparts forever meant to fight until the other falls.
Something that neither the public nor anyone else really knew was the truth. The truth being that these two ‘rivals’ on opposite sides never really thought at their max strength against each other. They respected each other, at least to a degree, enough to keep their fights going and enough to make sure neither goes out of commission any time soon.
Techno was ‘Phantasm’s rival, the one villain that he had faced and never came out fully on top. They both knew this.
Yet here Techno was, hearing through the grapevine that his…no. That ‘Phantasm’ had gotten knocked out and then kidnapped by the common filth of villainy. The ones that had kidnapped his rival were nothing but dirt beneath Techno’s leather boots yet his nemesis seemed to have shown a weakness to said scraps and paid the price.
“Truly, I can’t leave him alone for a second..” Techno gruffly whispered under his breath, strapping on his cloak and then following this action by placing a crown of bone upon his head. These were the classic accessories to his villain outfit, a boar skull quickly joining them. He used it to cover his face, to hide his civilian identity from his rival even if it didn’t really matter to him.
The braided hair flew behind the man as he left the warehouse, jumping rooftop to rooftop towards the only location that mattered. The lower districts where these petty thieves would probably be hiding, too cowardly to face Techno after stealing what was his. ‘Phantasm’ was his hero, the only hero he could and would ever enjoy fighting with while still holding back.
Their banter was the highlight of Techno’s week, other than succeeding in his crimes of course but it comes real close. ‘Phantasm’ was strong. His power wasn’t combat focused but the way in which he used it was unique and beneficial for him. The power of illusions. One would first think that it’d be used for stealth missions, if hero work at all. Yet the way in which ‘Phantasm’ integrated it into his combat style helped to create a challenge for even the strongest of villains.
He was the only one to ever give Techno a challenge. The only one that ever made the fights balanced and not forever in the villain’s favour.
That was why Techno couldn't let those pathetic worms lay even a single finger on his hero. He increased his speed, skipping rooftops and gaining ground towards the lower and more abandoned areas of the districts. He was close and he knew it. He knew exactly where ‘Phantasm’ was and he’d be the only one to save him.
A loud crash echoed through the dark hallway, the metal door in which Techno had just kicked down crumbling beneath his boot’s heels. Far into the distance Techno heard the murmurs of voices and a clicking sound of loaded guns. He didn’t hesitate however, walking down the hall with power in each step, a strong determination to save the hero in which Techno’s mind had claimed as his and his alone.
From the end of the hall the guns began to shoot. Bullets travelled towards Techno just to be stopped centimetres before they hit his skin, falling to the floor as the casing hit his invisible field. Beneath his skull mask, a wide, sadistic smirk found its way onto the villain’s face watching the pathetic little things realise just how worthless their effort was.
In an instant Techno had slaughtered them all. Well, all but one. The smallest, weakest little thing that was left trembling like a leaf in the wind after witnessing the death of all of its comrades.
“Y’know…you and your little friends took something of mine. And now, I expect you to take me to him. Do I make myself clear, or do you wish to join your little…friends?” Techno’s condescending voice echoed through the now desolate hallway, the terrified filth nodding its head rapidly and scurrying up onto its feet.
The superior villain was slow in his movements, following far behind the pathetic thing yet close enough to watch its movements, ready to act on moments notice. Luckily for the lesser being, it didn’t have to come to that as it took Techno directly to where he wanted to be.
As he entered through a grand set of crimson doors, his eyes lay rest upon the main target of this ‘mission’. Sat down tied to a chair with nothing other than second hand rope was the rising hero ‘Phantasm’. It seemed that the lesser villains, if Techno’s pride as a villain himself would even allow him to call them that, had yet to remove his iconic mask.
It took but a swift moment for the remaining filth to fall to the ground after Techno struck it, leaving the villain and ‘Phantasm’ alone. Just as it should be. Only Techno and ‘Phantasm’. No other villains nor heroes to intervene or interrupt. Just the two of them.
“Hey, is someone there?! Why the hell am I tied up?!” ‘Phantasm’ called out into the darkness, or, well, it was darkness for him. Not so much Techno who just stood there shaking his head and letting out a fond sigh.
“Just how dumb are you Phantasm? Seriously, you, my rival, being kidnapped by some common crooks! My reputation Phantasm, my reputation!” Techno jokingly whined as he made his way closer to the tied up hero, walking behind the man to help untie him.
“Blade? That you dude? Thank fuck man! Hurry up, untie me. I help out a random guy one time and here I am! Trust me, never again” The man in the chair rambled as Techno paused his movements. From behind he looked down at the hero before him and let his mind wonder. Only for a moment.
But it seemed that that moment was long enough to persuade all of Techno’s being into doing what he had previously only listed as an intrusive thought. A fleeting feeling that would never be fulfilled.
“How can I let you go if I can't even trust you to keep yourself safe…” Techno murmured beneath his breath, his hands drawing back and away from their previous position on the rope. He didn’t truly think before he spoke in that moment but that misspeak seemed to be the final push he needed.
“...What? C’mon Blade stop joking around and untie me already. Once we’re outta here, wherever here is, then we can go back to normal. We’ll spar or fight or whatever we call it, just untie me first” It seemed that the masked man began to shuffle in place, nervous chuckles leaving his hidden mouth almost as if he was…scared of what Techno was going to do.
Techno’s hands made their way back onto the rope but this time instead of loosening it, he tightened it. His rival was incapable of keeping himself safe, always being rescued by either another hero or Techno himself so it was finally time for the villain to act.
“Listen, Phanta-…No that doesn't sound right…” He paused for a moment once again, looking down at the man. He walked to stand in front of the herp if only for a moment. His hand rose from its place on the rope and was then promptly planted on the mask, shifting it aside to reveal his rival’s face to him.
“I care about you Dream and that means-” Techno began to talk again, his tone softer than before, but was then interrupted by the tied up hero.
“How the hell do you know my real name?!”
Techno’s hand snapped to Dream’s face, holding it as he used his other hand to take off his own mask. His blood red eyes glared daggers right into Dream’s own before he spoke up once more, as if talking to a disobedient child, “Don't. Cut me off, Dream.”
“I care for you, as a rival and as a friend. But,” He took a step closer to the dirty blond, lowering his head down so it was more in level with his rival’s own, “I can’t trust you. I want you safe and sound, not in the grasps of some…disgusting filth.”
There was silence as fear seemingly filled Dream’s eyes. Techno stepped back, holding his arms outstretched and smiling at the tied up hero, “So I’ll keep you with me instead. I’ll keep you safe, away from anyone that would hurt you. Maybe I’ll let you see your friends, your family every so often once I determine them safe enough.”
“You’re insane…” Dream let out in a pitiful whisper. It didn’t suit him at all so Techno would definitely have to work on that. It seemed that the kidnapping was more traumatic than he initially thought if it rendered Dream this insecure.
“No, I wouldn’t say so. You’ll realise that I’m just looking out for you, Dream. That I care for you as my rival and my friend“ Techno smiled and it wasn’t filled with anything malicious or cunning. He smiled because he was happy. Finally, he’ll be able to keep his one friend safe, he’ll be able to keep Dream far away from all harm.
And Dream would see this.
“Soon enough.”