The Hero and The Villain

A/N: Don't worry, this is the first/last time Hero and Vi ever hit each other with the intent to do serious harm. 

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“I think I like you.”

The confession came from nowhere in Vi’s opinion. His eyes narrowed in suspicion as he glanced over at the bruised Hero being treated by the in-house nurse practitioner and deepened his frown.

“You have a funny way of showing it,” he finally muttered savagely.

“Well I’m sorry okay? It’s kinda been awhile since I had to tell anyone that.”

“Oh rub it in why don’t you?!”

“Hey shut up I was trying to be nice!”

“Nice my ass you ASS you stood me up!”

“And you wouldn’t talk to me about it!”

Before the shouting match could escalate further the nurse interrupted with a bellowing “SHUT UP!” Both men were shocked into compliance as she cheerfully finished her work and told them to both avoid physical altercations in the future. The glare she bestowed upon them before she left had them both fidgeting in their seats and muttering “yes ma’am” before the door snapped shut.

“Of course I wouldn’t talk to you about it, I was pissed off!” Vi hissed angrily.

“I’ve been trying to apologize for three days and the one time I catch you alone without your “bodyguard” around you haul back and hit me!” Hero reached up as if on cue to tenderly touch around his bruised eye.

He wasn’t completely innocent however, Vi had thrown the first punch and suddenly they were back in high school fighting over something. Both of them had thrown everything they had into their punches, Hero thinking that Vi’s had gotten more powerful over the years while Vi thought Hero’s had weakened. Still they were both able to beat up the other rather well before they were broken up and hauled to the nurse’s station.

Now they were both sitting here nursing bruised limbs and bruised egos and Hero decided to confess. Vi eyed him suspiciously, still not wanting to believe a word the other man said, after all it was his thoughtlessness that lead to the confrontation in the first place. It had taken Vi several hours to work though all his crying and another two days to emerge from his lair. Most of the latter two days had been spent working through the frustrations that had accompanied his situation. He was depressed that Hero had stood him up, berating himself for thinking that his former classmate would want anything to do with him because he wasn’t good looking enough, or talented enough or hell, feminine enough maybe for his tastes. Then he’d been disgusted with his line of thinking and vented his anger on more thoughts of how stupid Hero was for standing him up in the first place. Just to get back at him he’d nab the maniliest looking man in the entire cage and strategically place himself in Hero’s path where he was all sexy and provocative and Hero could see just what he was missing.

Hero did not miss the annoyance and suspicion his friend was putting off and steeled himself for another type of confession. The former high school “king” had thought long and hard about his behavior and analyzed his relationship with Vi from the very beginning. “Look, I…this isn’t easy for me because I thought a lot over the last few days and I…well, I have to like you. You’ve always been there for me even when your family was going through hell and stuff. I know we didn’t always agree and we fought and…mouthed off to each other but if I ever had a problem you were there for me. I didn’t mean to stand you up; I thought because I was already late you might have left. If I had thought you were still there waiting for me I would have come running. I know that doesn’t excuse my actions and I still hurt you. You don’t have to forgive me right now but I was hoping that eventually you could because…um…” Hero blushed at this and he noticed a slight change in his audience’s expression that bolstered his hope and helped him get through the next part.

“I really don’t want to fight with you, at least not for real. A show is one thing; I mean we gotta earn our keep somehow right? But I’d really like it…if when we were alone that we could…uhm…” Hero fumbled through the last bit. He was certain he said something along the lines of “date me.” But it was muffled under a suddenly assault to his lips as Vi threw his arms around his high school crush and kissed for all he was worth. It was ill-timed and a bit sloppy, teeth scrapping inadvertently against lips and tongue until they pulled away, Hero pulling the smaller man into his lap so he could simply hold him.

“You aren’t forgiven…not yet at least; I appreciated the apology though.” Vi began as he leaned his head against Hero’s shoulder. “I’ve liked you for a long time; I guess that’s why this is easy.”

“Um, when will I be forgiven?” Hero mumbled into the other man’s green hair.

“When you’re a better kisser.” Vi responded with a not so innocent chuckle. “I think we can make this work, or rather, I am willing to try for the sake that your incredibly heartfelt apology doesn’t go to waste.”

“Well I appreciate that, how about we start working on those kisses then?” Hero asked eagerly.

“Hold the phone there good buddy, I’m hungry lets go eat…I like garlic…” Vi teased as he slithered off Hero’s lap and sauntered away, the sway of his hips decidedly seductive.

“Oh see now you’re just being evil.” Hero protested as he willingly followed his new boyfriend from the nursing station.

Meanwhile….

In a plush, expensive office, President Piper Vaughn leaned back in her chair smirking at the dialogue fading from the screen she was watching, a decidedly evil chuckle escaping her lips as she realized her plans were working out after all. Sometimes it wasn’t about compatibility tests or innate attraction; sometimes it was all about a high school crush being realized years after the fact.