A Hero's Hero

He knew he was the villain of their story.

She was lady luck, the superhero of the city, from saving stray cats to catching thieves—a.k.a. Mister Misery. They were on opposite sides of the law, but even if they were sworn enemies, he held a fond spot for her.

She was his hero and he was her villain. That was what was, what is, and what will be.

So to say that he would find his hero beaten and bruised in front of his doorstep was the last thing he expected.

There was a ring on his doorbell as he was in the middle of plotting his next heist. Puzzled as he was not expecting visitors at this hour, he opened the door—only to be greeted by the sight of his hero. She was covered in bruises, leaning on the wall as she cradled her right arm. Her clothes were disheveled and he had an ugly feeling at the pit of his stomach.

"What happened?" he demanded. "How did you find me?"

She focused her eyes on him and mumbled, "...didn't know where else to go."

And with that, she collapsed. He surged forward, catching her just before she could hit the floor. Being careful with her right arm, he carried her inside and into the guest bedroom. As he set her gently on the bed, his mind was racing with various scenarios on how she had gotten hurt this badly; barely controlling the bubbling rage inside.

He may be her nemesis, but he had never actively hurt her physically, perish the thought of even giving her a beating to the point of broken bones. To think that there were those types of people still living in this world—made him look like the good guy compared to them.

Taking off her shoes and setting them under the bed, he tucked her in and pulled out his phone, calling the family doctor.

"I have an emergency situation."

...

"So?" he asked impatiently. "How is she?"

"She'll heal," his doctor said as she tended to the last of Lady Luck's wounds. "But to think that a hero would find refuge in a villain's lair—now that's something you don't see every day."

He grimaced. The more the doctor joked, the more it was serious. "How long until she's all better? What happened?"

His doctor gave him a long look. "Are you sure you want to know?" When he held her gaze, she continued, "There was an attempted sexual assault. From the bruises on her back, arms and inner thighs, it looks like she was handled roughly, but it didn't get any further than that. She fought back."

"Will she be okay?" He asked quietly. "Physically...mentally?"

"She's safe and sound now. It'll take around 2 months for her to properly heal," the doctor said. "She just needs plenty of rest."

He nodded. "Thanks, doctor."

"No problem," she said as she packed away her kit. "Just be patient and gentle with her first the next few days. She may be a hero, but she is still a girl."

He nodded. Giving her one last glance, he walked out of the room.

The doctor watched him as he closed the door quietly behind him, only to hear a door slam at the end of the hallway. With a sigh, she turned back to her patient. She said quietly, "You really are lady luck. You've made your greatest enemy into your undisputed ally."

...

It took him several days to go into the guest bedroom. When he did, she was already awake. She looked up as he closed the door behind him, mixed emotions dancing on her face that he couldn't decipher. Standing a small distance away, the two nemeses eyed each other.