Say Yes
They saw it before the hero answered.
No. A simple word that could shatter the villain entirely if they weren’t quick enough to intercept.
“I see.” They said, rising from their kneeled position and snapping the box shut, the light from the shining ring dying.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, but we can’t.”
“Can’t or won’t?” The villain asked with a raised eyebrow.
“It isn’t like that!” The hero reached for the villain, but was left stranded when their counterpart stepped back. “It isn’t like that, Villain. I love you, I do.”
“Not enough to say yes.” They shot back, being sure to keep the distance.
It was just, wasn’t it? Of course it couldn’t happen, of course they would say no. A hero and a villain—it would never work.
“I’ll have my things out by tomorrow. We clearly don’t have the same goals anymore.”
“No, no!” The hero began to chase after the villain. “I don’t want your things out, I don’t want you gone!”
“We don’t always get what we want, Hero, if today was any indication.” They shrugged away each time the hero reached out to them.
“Believe me, I do want this, I want you for the rest of my life–”
The villain whipped around, hurt written across their features. “Then say yes!” They laughed. “If I have to beg…goodbye, Hero.”
“I’m not allowed!”
The villain stopped. “Not allowed?”
“To be married. To be in any sort of relationship, actually. I’ve been in breach of contract for the last few years.” The hero wiped away their tears quickly. “The most wonderful years of my life and I couldn’t tell anybody.”
Breach of contract?
The villain wished they could have been confused, but everything made sense, so much sense. All the closed off behaviors in public spaces, the way they shut down if they thought they heard a camera shutter, never visiting friends, even the way they compulsively closed the blinds.
They were going to lose their job as a hero if any sign of a relationship was seen.
“Hero.” they spoke softly, not knowing exactly how to feel.
Anger? Mild betrayal? Apologetic?
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I didn’t want you to feel like a secret. And if we were married,” They smiled at that, only to lose the feature just as quickly, replaced by mourning. “If we were married, nobody could know. I couldn’t have any big wedding with you, couldn’t invite my friends, family, couldn’t wear that gorgeous ring, and couldn’t legally record it. They have everything on me, all my personal documents, that would include a marriage license.”
This time, the hero succeeded in grabbing the villain’s hands. “I can’t marry you because I will lose everything.”
That mild betrayal roared to life, even as the villain gently caressed the hero’s face. “But me. You would lose everything but me.”
“And if I asked you to give up being a villain, to settle into civilian life, would you?”
They both stayed in their embraced position, still and silent, thinking.
“You’re right.” The villain conceded after a moment. “I’m sorry. Damn a marriage license to hell, Hero, damn a big wedding, damn the ring. Yes, I want to marry you and let the world know that you are my partner as I am yours.”
“Please say but.”
“But none of it really matters, so long as I have you with me.”
The hero let themselves melt into the villain’s arms.
“Alternatively,” they began, voice muffled. “Hypothetically, I mean. Say there were no contract, say any hero business suddenly turned free range, say a hero such as myself wasn’t connected to any organization.”
The villain started to laugh, only to realize that this hero in their arms was serious.
“Are you suggesting villainy? Please say yes.”
“Yes.” They drew themselves up again, staring their love in the eyes. “Yes to everything. Give me that ring. I want the biggest wedding of the century.”
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Latest Writing Blog Post is Live: Feb 2024
It was a struggle, and it ended up relatively shorter than most of my other posts, but my latest blog update is live.
Happy Leap Day (Thanks, 2024, for the Extra Day to Write This Up)
Est. Read Time: 15min
I talk about my current writing drought and general burn-out. But wait! I also talk about some new manga I started reading... so... that should be entertaining! I also give some thoughts on the ATLA live-action series on Netflix.
.... and I included a LOT of bitmojis (those cartoon versions of me) to add length 😅....
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