Chapter Text
The sound of bone grinding against teeth sounded throughout the empty alleyway. The sound of fat squelching was a nauseating thing for passers who didn't want any business with what was in that alley. This happened every night for the past few months, and no one wanted anything to do with it, so they ignored it or avoided the alley altogether. For the first week, people had assumed it was a wolf or a hyena. They lived close enough to the forest. But it wasn't an animal. It was a new villain, or so he called himself. More of a monster than anything.
Blood was splattered against the walls, concrete, and his body. Nightmaere, or Blue, as everyone called him, was face deep in a corpse. He pulled away as he pulled on a tendon. It was some dumb little hybrid. Too pathetic to live in this world. He used to be Diskuss' assistant, but then his left arm was paralyzed and he couldn't work properly anymore. He was useless. Besides, he was one of the more unfortunate hybrids. His kind of species wasn't particularly liked as much as all of the other ones. A snake hybrid in a city full of meaner predators. Like demons. Like him.
Nightmaere picked off the scales of the man's neck, watching as blood spurted out of it like rain. It was always so satisfying. Watching blood gush and pour, watching tendons and nerves stretch and pull, tissue breaking, organs dissected. The sounds were relaxing to him; they helped him break out of instinct. He long since turned his grief off. He no longer felt bad about surviving.
His ears twitched and pricked upwards as the sound of heavy footsteps filled the alley. A group of drunk teenagers, laughing and hitting each other's backs, like it was all an innocent night. Nightmaere let his eyes flick towards the two bodies. He'd had enough for one night. He snarled and slowly sank into the shadows, leaping over the brick wall and to the roof, disappearing into the distance, just as screams were heard across the city. He snickered.
(❁'◡'❁)(❁'◡'❁)(❁'◡'❁)(❁'◡'❁)
Diskuss stood on a stage, crowded by interviewers, fans, and haters alike. His partner, also the number one hero, Dream, was standing right next to him, trying to turn the people's attention towards him. They were asking Diskuss too many personal questions. But the main question stayed the same.
"Are you ever going to figure out who this new villain is?"
Diskuss had sighed for the uptenth time now. How many times had they asked the same question?
"Citizens! We promise to solve this case soon! We are doing the best we are able to, but for now, you need to be patient. You needn't worry." Dream smiled calmly, a mastered facade he had gained throughout his years of playing hero. Diskuss groaned to himself. Why lie? Why sugarcoat things? These citizens were going to die. It was inevitable. But the people seemed satisfied with the answer. Dream always did know the best way to placate crowds like this.
Once the interview was over and the crowd had dispersed, Tommy walked off stage and back behind it. He sighed and slowly unclipped his mask. For the first time in the past hours, he could breathe. He had been called that morning by a worried and devastated assistant, crying over the phone about how their friend had suffered a fate worse than death. And Tommy had to agree. He wouldn't imagine it would be pleasant to die by cannibalism.
This was a nightmare(pun intended). Why should he be the one assigned to the case? Dream was the number one hero, not him! It was so unfair being a hero sometimes. He was glad he had Dream though. He's been by his side since he was 10. Saved him from a group of villains. The syndicate. Nasty things. Half the reason he became a hero. The other half? He looked up to dream.
A hand landed on his shoulder. He didn't jump. He knew who it was."Hello, Dre." The hand tightened for a second. Not enough to bruise. A simple method of comfort.
"Hi, Tom." His name was sighed out, like Dream has had a long day as well. And to be fair, they both had. With the interview, the meeting with the heroes in a couple of hours. Tommy froze. Then he groaned. Fuck.... He had so forgotten about the meeting. Why can't he just sleep?! Is it forbidden for heroes?!
"Probably." It was like dream had read his mind. Or maybe he accidentally said it out loud. He does that sometimes."Either way, we still have to go. It's mandatory." Dream took off his mask as well.
Tommy sighed and leaned against the wall, letting his head fall on dreams shoulder. Life would be so much better if he had chosen to stay a citizen. Or stayed an accountant for the heroes. But those were useless. He didn't want to be useless now did he? He mentally cursed himself for thinking those thoughts. It was okay to be useless sometimes. He didn't have to have self worth every single day. That's what Dream told him. This is why he liked Dream.
"You know I do appreciate you."
"I know."