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The heroes were always meant to be the good guys. They were meant to stand as a beacon for peace and to help everyone, even at the cost of their own life. The news always made it out that way when they shared stories about them after all, between the tales about defeating villains to saving civilians. However, if you asked Tommy Innit now, he wouldn't say that at all as he watched the number one hero interrogate the latest villain captured under the tower. He was there for the capture process as well, and the hero despised every moment of it. Warden and Dream were ruthless to the villain, demanding answers in regards to their associates.
They didn't even bother to ask about food or motivation. Tommy despised the anger that grew on their faces as no answers were given, until they eventually left for the night. He let out a sigh as he slipped into the room, the villain heavily panting as they were slumped against the chair. He frowned for a moment before pulling out one of his protein bars, kneeling in front of the criminal. "That wasn't fair to you." He spoke behind the mask as the villain's head tilted up for a moment, smiling a bit to himself. "Is it okay if I ask you some questions?"
"Didn't you get your answers earlier?" The villain spat out as he glared up at the hero, Tommy thinking for a moment. "Well?"
"Not really." Tommy sighed as he stood up, hands clasped in front of him as the villain stared up at him for a moment. If he was going to be honest to anyone then, he didn't really want to focus on what was happening in front of him but he did get some bits of information from that terrible example of an interrogation. "Besides, I don't think Warden and Dream would want me to talk to you."
"You don't like them?"
"Warden is nice but he can be a bit too intense with his job." Tommy huffed out as he grabbed a metal chair for him to sit in, leaning on the back as he tilted his head at the villain. "And Dreams a prick. He just absolutely sucks."
The villain snorted at his words, an amused smile on his face as Tommy just grinned. "What's your name?"
"Call me Phoenix. And you're Orange right?" Tommy tilted his head at the villain as he straightened up at his title, resting his head on top of the seats back. He knew about the villains as of lately, he liked being in the know for the villains and their organizations. "I actually just had one question though! What's your motivation for being a villain?"
"You're not going to ask about the Outsiders plans? Or about what that Syndicate is going on?" Orange asked with a raised eyebrow, Tommy rolling his eyes at the two groups mention.
The Syndicate was a widely feared organization known by the heroes, from their connections between the other organizations as well as other villains to their powers individually. The group always had five main figure heads, although the public and media had always debated about who was the real ringleader of the entire group. Zephyrus was the only one that he knew more about, surprisingly, he was an ex hero who denounced the group and then went to become a villain.
He was only five when it happened after all.
Then, there was Ares. Heroes always debated about what his motivations were, or even what even his abilities were. They knew about the man having super strength and instincts, but that was almost all they had known about the man. Besides one thing, his brother. Chorus was known for his voice, for how the masked man would sway the public to his side with a lullaby and even cause some to go insane.
Then there were the recent ones, Ender and Nuke. Tommy knew a lot about them, they used to be vigilantes known only as Bee and Boo and had helped the hero during his starting years. He wanted to say they were friends, but the blonde never knew where he stood in their trio. Tommy knew they wanted to help people though, but they hated heroes.
"You're the exception, just don't turn corrupt on us." Bee had said once, with a feral grin growing on his face.
He wished it was still that way.
"Nope, I know enough about them." Tommy hummed, and it was the truth. He knew they wanted to recruit him to be a part of their organization, but he always didn't want to. Orange chuckled for a moment at his response, it felt like they were friends. "Listen, I don't think you should stay here. Those two shouldn't have done that to you, so I'll get you out. Just, answer my question please."
"Why do you want to know? Doing some weird survey with the other villains stuck here?" Orange asked, looking over the teenager as Tommy rolled his eyes at his words. As if. He just needed to know the motivations for it, just to see something. The villain sighed as he straightened up his stance, turning his face away to not look at the hero. "I want to find the truth. My friend, she's not involved in any of this, but something happened to her and now I want to figure it out why."
Tommy just smiled, standing up from his chair. "Do you think the heroes know something?" He knew that answer, there wasn't a thing in Esempi that the heroes didn't know about. Tommy knew that for certain, he used to sort their files before starting out after all. "I know someone who can come pick you up in an hour from here, I'm a bird of my word after all."
"Who?"
Tommy grinned, patting Orange's shoulder as he unlocked the shackles around his wrist with his free hand. "You'll see, my friend."
✨
True to Phoenixs word, someone did come to get the villain from his cell. He just didn't expect to see the leader of the Las Nevadas organization in front of him, rubies being used as buttons for his vest. Everyone knew Wonderland, he was easily one of the top villains in the districts after all. Owen knew who he was, he had sat through mission debriefs with the masked man countless times now. "Now how'd you get in this mess." Wonderland spoke, his voice showing amusement while he stood there with his arms crossed while Phoenix stood besides the top villain.
"Warden and Dream got to him during a fight." Phoenix spoke as he fished out a lollipop out of his pockets, unwrapping it as if it was normal. Wonderland raised an eyebrow at the teenager still being there, Phoenix looking back with a bored look of his own. "It was bad, they wouldn't let me come in until they needed him conscious and even then they kept at it."
"Shit." Wonderland cursed under his breath, a hand on his hip as he looked back at the wounded villain. "You're with the Outsiders group, right? Did you get everything you needed to do?"
"I just made sure Angel and the others got away." Owen answered, almost nervous but also filled with questions at the two in front of him. Las Nevadas hated the heroes completely, Wonderland himself had caused damage to the group for years now, planning full out attacks at the best moments and causing the heroes to lose equipment by the hundreds.
So why did Phoenix and Wonderland look so comfortable with each other?
"So it was just you who got captured?" Wonderland questioned as Phoenix rolled his eyes besides him, the shorter villain turning to look at him. "Oh you shut up. You're lucky I was awake at this time."
"I knew you would be, Wonderboy!" Phoenix said with a teasing grin on his face, the winged villain glaring at him except. It didn't look like a glare, Wonderland looked endeared by his antics. "But you both should head out now, I have to make it seem like this place got fucking trashed and then have to check out with Warden."
"Then hurry up and get to it, Phoenix. And stop binding your wings." Wonderland said with a sigh, picking up the much taller villain by the arm and bringing him to stand beside him. "Let's get going before Cell starts blowing up my phone."
"Literally or figuratively?" Phoenix hummed as Owen stood up, rubbing his wrists slightly. He didn't know what was up with this hero, he helped him out first but then he let him escape. With Wonderland of all people too, the same villain who ruined multiple heroes ' careers. Phoenix turned to look at him before frowning, dusting off his suit and making sure his face was clean from the blood. "Now then my good dude, stay off the heroes radar for a bit yeah? Maybe go to Swirls sometime if you need anything, I'm sure the owner will be more than happy to help you out!"
"Don't get captured again, it's already a mess trying to sneak in each time even if Phoenix covers for me." Wonderland complained as the hero rolled his eyes, pulling his hands away to stuff in some pockets. "Let's go before Flower kills someone for you not coming back on time."
Those two being able to work together never did make sense to Owen.
🌟
He couldn't believe it.
Wilbur glared up at the heroes in front of him as a camera from a news channel was pointed at him, the villain unsure how much longer he could take this. He wasn't even sure how it happened to begin with actually, a hero ambush and at their own base too. That stupid white mask stared back at him with two little soulless dots acting as if they were eyes while Warden stood besides the top hero. He hoped that he would be able to watch the two crumble if he kept his glare up, hoping for some reaction from the two but they just turned around to have a conversation with each other.
It was clearly meant for him not to hear, but too bad for both of them his hearing was immaculate.
"Should we get Phoenix in here in case he becomes difficult?" Warden asked in hushed tones as Wilburs glare just deepened, trying to suppress a warning hiss at the taller hero in front of him. "Having someone who can heal would be the best for someone like Chorus."
"Are you an idiot?" Dream hissed at his words, arms crossed while he glanced over his shoulder at the villain. "You and I both know that Phoenix being here will just make our job more difficult. He's too friendly with most of these pests."
That wasn't a lie, the blonde hero always did have a reputation as being a friendly person towards everyone. It was why the Syndicate had broken into Las Nevadas for information more than twice, Quackity threatening to stab them each time for evading his space. It was also why Wilbur felt a little bit possessive as his darling twin and older brother would always say, he did slaughter a news reporter for wanting to do an interview with the younger hero after all.
Tubbo wasn't too happy with that, but he didn't really care for what the goat hybrid thinks of it. He was a hypocrite too, the younger villain was also more than a little overprotective of the young hero if their first interaction was anything to go off of.
But hearing these two heroes talk about Phoenix as if he was nothing but a bother in situations like this? It made his blood boiled. The hero was good, he made things better just by being there. But maybe it is a good thing he isn't here actually, because then the little hero wouldn't get used.
"So we keep him away from the interrogations?" Warden hissed out as well, the man repeatedly glancing back at the villain as he watched them with an even glare. Wilbur couldn't wait until he could make them both suffer, especially once he gets the little Phoenix to come back with him. "He'll get curious. You and I both know that."
"Then let him. He needs to grow up." Dream hissed before taking a deep breath, turning back to the captured man. "You were surprisingly easy to capture, Chorus. I thought you'd be harder."
"Sorry to disappoint, Dream." Chorus growled out as he watched the hero walk closer to him, towering over the brunette villain. "But you should know me by now, I wouldn't let you get to the others while I'm still out there."
"You always were my most hated villain, you know that right?" The hero informed as he started to walk around the villain, Chorus trying to keep an eye on his movement. Techno would have been so disappointed at his words, or maybe he would be proud he's gotten under his rival's skin. "Not only have you had an impact on social media with everyone saying how you're a justified villain and all of that, but you somehow wormed your way into being sympathetic to a fellow hero."
"Am I to assume this fellow hero you're referring to is the little Phoenix? How has he been anyways, I haven't seen him in so long." Chorus hummed, a grin growing on his face at the mention of the blonde hero. "And is it truly my fault if the masses prefer me rather than you or Warden? That sure says a lot about who you two are."
"You won't get to learn the status of Phoenix, he's none of your business." Warden informed, his voice remaining monotone and almost static behind his gas mask. "We'll ask you questions, and right after that you'll be put into Pandora's Vault."
Wilbur stared at both of them, the villain gritting his teeth. Oh how he hoped that his family was already planning a prison break.
He'll need it.
✨
He hated his job.
That was the only thing that went through Fundys mind as he watched the news, filed down nails combing through his step sisters hair as they announced that a member of the Syndicate had been taken in. The shapeshifter wasn't too sure how they would have been able to do that to begin with, but the top hero spun a story about how they got tipped off to the Syndicates base of operations. They even showed the villain too, but had advised he didn't want to participate in their questioning.
He was just happy that Tallulah couldn't see the television through her overgrown hair. Fundy could tell who the villain was even with the mask still on his face, he could point out those golden eyes anywhere after all. It was Wilbur.
Fundy felt as if the world shifted a little bit to the left. The news was turned off quickly afterwards by his boss, Bads tail swaying behind him in an almost distressed pattern. "Fundy." Bad spoke but his voice sounded off, almost as if he was more panicked than what he showed. "Do you know what that means?"
"There's a traitor." Fundy answered as he gently stopped Tallulah from parting her hair, his tail providing a worthwhile distraction. "The villains have a traitor."
"I'll call a meeting with Quackity and Philza to see about narrowing it down. I want you to stay with the kids." Bad said as he made his way to the desk, grabbing his phone as Fundy just watched the taller man start to type. "You can call Baghera or Cellbit if something happens, just stay with the kids. Jaiden should be here soon."
"Bad. What do you think is going to happen?" Fundy asked as he moved his hands to cover the young dragon hybrids ears, the half demon turning to look at him. "We barely managed to get them comfortable here, and we only even managed that thanks to Karl and Phoenix."
"You and I will keep them safe. The heroes and most importantly whoever this traitor knows not to come for the kids." Bad reassured as he sent whatever it was. "I'll also try to arrange something with Phoenix too soon, I know Ares will hate it but we need to get Chorus back."
"Bad."
"I promised them I'll keep them, and you, safe." Bad huffed as he started to stride towards the door, grabbing his scarf on the way. "Just, stay here and don't tell the kids."
Fundy really hated this job. He felt restless but he knows better, but when he turned to look into the rest of the daycare he had a feeling it would be fine. But he also knew that they were smart, they sent messages through codes after all for them to locate the kids. "Mr. Fundy?" Tallulah spoke up as Fundy looked down at her, curved horns decorated with flowers and a bright blue bow.
"Yeah Tal?" Fundy asked, hoping the kid didn't notice the moment of fear leaking through his voice. He couldn't help it, his dad is with the heroes after all.
"Something bads happening, isn't it?"
She was just like Wilbur, and it hurts. "Something like that, but don't worry. Quackity and the others have it handled."
It hurts to lie even more to her.
🌟
The hero's life is…something. It was unforgiving to even those who do their best, only willing to go well if you were willing to stoop to new lows. It was a hidden secret for everyone besides only a handful of people, but Karl knows. He would be a fool not to know of it, he knew how the actions get pushed aside for power and how many people were hurt from it. He left that life after confronting a former friend, and now they were a top hero.
Dream was going to fall from his pedestal, and Karl knew that. He couldn't wait to see his attitude be turned onto him, but then again the brunette didn't want to feel that way.
But it was because of his insight that lead him to his spot now, stirring a pot of tea for the two villains that sat in the back of his cafe. Zephyrus and Wonderland can be a bit harsh on each other, both holding each other to a high standard and reminding them of what they're doing all this for. It didn't help that the two were elytrains, both sharing in their own instincts that can make it hard for them to be civil.
"They'll probably be holding him in one of their underground vaults." Wonderland spoke up first as he tapped his finger on his arm, staring down the man in front of him as Zephyrus wings were puffed up. "I can't get to him as quickly as I normally can, the only people who have access down there are the top ten heroes."
"But the point is you can." Zephyrus spoke, his voice hoarse from misusage with the human speech while Karl came back with the fresh pot of tea for the two. "You have a way in too, that little bird hero. Phoenix, isn't that right?"
"I can get to him by my fucking self, Zeph." Wonderland growled out, a small warning warble building up in the back of his throat. "I will not be sacrificing the one hero that actually has a heart."
"My son is in that cage." Zephyrus hissed out, claws tapping the table. "And if I'm the one who goes in then there will be a bloodbath, it won't matter if it is heroes or yours."
"Zephyrus." Wonderland hissed, Karl raising an eyebrow at the shorter man as the villains eyes narrowed in on the blonde villain in front of him. He knew that the man wouldn't hold back even if he didn't help, one of his flock was taken in. The villain sighed, the smaller wings on the side of his face twitching as the door opened ahead of the group. "I will help Chorus, he's been a friend of ours and even if I didn't I've been taking care of his kids. Fundy and Tallulah would break in for him."
Tommy was home. Karl knew by the way the blonde boy bounded through the doorway as he looked almost exhausted. "Tommy." He spoke up first as the boy immediately saw the two villains at the table. "How was work?"
"It was. Something." Tommy spoke carefully as he made his way to stand besides Karl, the older man smiling up at him. "Hey big man, I know you act as the mediator for these things but what happened?"
That's right. He didn't catch the news. Karl hummed as he leaned back, a cup of tea in his hands as the two argued and came with plans in front of the two. He knows Tommy is an acting hero, the man helped him with his training after all. "Chorus was captured by the heroes." He hummed, watching the boys eyebrow scrunch up. "And I had a question for you."
"Yeah?"
Tommy knew what he was thinking. He was a smart kid after all, of course he knows. "You know where the underground vaults are for prisoners, right?"
The two in front of him stopped, Zephyrus turning abruptly at the kid at the table as Tommy ignored the elytrians gaze while Wonderland coughed to cover up a warning warble that escaped. "I do. Am I being enlisted to help a jailbreak?"
"Karl." Zephyrus spoke up first, the man looked towards him as the elytrian kept his eye on the kid. "Who is this and why are you asking for his help?"
"This is Tommy, and he might be your best bet at getting Chorus out."
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