Hero X Villain

hospital bed.  His legs ached from his workout, but it was well worth it.  Baron forced him to stop after an hour, but Nic was still satisfied that he’d got enough time in.  He didn’t have much choice otherwise.
Mr. Business sat next to him on the bed in all his shark glory.  Nic gently stroked his head as he flipped through his book on stoicism.  It helped him feel a bit better about his situation, but it wasn’t enough.  Nothing in this room could soothe the unending ache that sat in Nic’s chest.  Whether it was the profound loneliness or the guilt from killing a nameless man, he didn’t know.
He sighed and set the book on stoicism aside on the side table.  There was no way Nic was going to be able to focus tonight.  He laid back and wondered where all the cameras were.  Every time he’d dared to look, he was certain they were moved again.  The whole thing unnerved him so much that he simply pretended they weren’t there.
To the next key lime pie… Nic held his hand out as he stared up at the ceiling.  He wondered how long he’d be able to make himself live with only a simple goal as that, but he was curious.  He was curious to live.  Maybe someday he’d dare to even dream again, as foolish as that seemed.  Nic let his hand fall.  He rolled over and resumed petting his toy shark, which was admittedly his most prized possession now.  A soft sigh broke from his lips and he curled up with it.
There was a hand on his back then, someone to soothe him.  Nic looked up in shock but Crane soothed him.  “Shhh, little dove, it’s just me.”
“Why are you here?”
“Because you’re lonely,” Crane said as he lay down next to Nic and pulled him close.  Nic rolled back over so they were facing each other, his eyes blazing as he stared into Crane’s.
“You took me.”
“From a League who doesn’t seem to care or want for you, yes.  From a world that didn’t care when one of their heroes vanished, yes.  I took you, and now you’re here with me.”  Nic didn’t have a response.  Sebastian Crane was right, of course.  He was right, and Nic couldn’t bring himself to hate him for it.
“I’m lonely,” Nic admitted.  He had no idea what he wanted.  He had no idea what he even needed, but Crane’s presence made him feel better.  Nic wasn’t sure what that meant, but he felt better.  Maybe it was the Emperor's ability to will things into being.  Maybe it was his charisma.  Or maybe it was the soft look in Sebastian Crane’s eyes as he gently stroked Nic’s face.
“I know you are,” Sebastian said.  The sweet, gentle look in his eyes didn’t fade.  “I think you have been for a long time, even before me.”
Nic blinked and nodded.  Crane was right.  He had a knack for that, it seemed.
“Will you stay with me tonight?  At least until I fall asleep?”  Nic wasn’t sure why he was asking.  He liked the way Sebastian took his hand and held it.  He liked how warm Sebastian felt, and the way he smelled like fresh baked pie.
“I won’t leave you until you wake, little hero,” Sebastian said.  Nic nodded and he fell asleep in his enemy’s arms.
It felt like he belonged there.
-fin?-

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