#thank you for the fill
Inspired by this promptfrom@nuttynutcycle
After Villain’s lover turns power-hungry and betrays them, Civilian provides the shoulder to cry on.
Hurt/comfort, mostly dialogue.
Words: 300-400
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“A seven-year relationship. Ended, just like that.” The villain didn’t sound particularly choked up. Only tired. Weary.
Sitting beside them, illuminated by the dim yellow glow of the street lamp, a civilian listened quietly, with an expression bordering on sympathy. “I’m… sorry that happened to you.”
The villain sighed and leaned back on the bench. “It was bound to happen. I’m the most powerful person in the city,” they said matter-of-factly. “No one approaches me without trying for a taste of it.”
The civilian was quiet again for a moment. “That’s awful. I can’t imagine how lonely it is to look at every relationship like that.”
“Lonely? Ha,” The villain barked out a laugh, loud enough to momentarily drown out the ache in their chest. “It’s a small price to pay to be at the top. You wouldn’t understand.”
“You’re right. I wouldn’t understand. If it were me, I don’t think I could ever sacrifice my relationships for power…” The civilian mused, half to themself. “It’d be too painful.”
The words, spoken at a subdued tone, sounded abnormally piercing to the villain. They sneered, “What do you know about pain? You’re just a kid.”
“I’m a grown adult.”
“You’re a kid because I say you’re a kid.”
The civilian wanted to retort, but nothing came to mind. Instead, they returned to the main topic. “I’m not a therapist or anything, but… I don’t think it’s healthy to enter relationships expecting to get betrayed.”
“Is that so?” The villain drily asked.
Losing the fight with words, the civilian said nothing for a few beats.
“… Do you think I’m after your power, too?”
“You? You’re just a piddling brat. Too near-sighted to see that high.”
“Then, at the very least, you know I wouldn’t betray you. So, you can be yourself around me.”
It doesn’t work that way, the villain thought, but they didn’t voice it. Didn’t think they could make it sound compelling enough around the lump in their throat.
The silence stretched between them and wrapped around them like a blanket. The lamplight felt less like a spotlight and more like a force-field at that moment, isolating the two people from the rest of the sleeping city.
