A Villain's Hero

Chapter 1 - Matteo

Being tied to a chair was definitely not fun.

Matteo had been through it a handful of times, but he still felt just as stupid every time it happened. Especially now that his apprentice was sitting next to him in the exact same position.

"We don't feel so powerful anymore, do we?"

What Matteo hated even more were the speeches of the villains. Still the same and still just as annoying. Always bragging about how they outsmarted him, yet honestly, only coincidence played a role. He didn't pay attention for a moment, or he'd get surprised by something stupid, something he definitely wouldn't expect from an adult. Just like this time.

This fool was walking around them with his arms outstretched as if he was expecting applause at any moment, which of course never came. Matteo wouldn't be surprised at all if he was recording it and would add it later.

He was tempted to roll his eyes but restrained himself.

"What are we gonna do?" His apprentice leaned as close to him as he could, the moment the villain turned his back on them, and whispered.

The truth was that Matteo didn't have a complete plan yet. He couldn't use his abilities because he would hurt both himself and Speedsonic. Speaking of his apprentice, his ability also wasn't exactly useful when he was tied to the chair. Thus, they had no choice but to wait for an opportunity to escape.

But before Matteo could lean over and tell that to his partner, he noticed something unusual in the darkness. Something that looked all too much like eyes.

Their gazes met for a small moment, and the stranger in the darkness apparently needed no more to reveal his presence. A few steps were all it took, and Matteo knew immediately who he was looking at. And so did the villain.

It was obvious that he was pleased by his presence, judging from his huge grin, which very clearly betrayed the madness that haunted his mind. Matteo, on the other hand, snorted loudly.

"I knew you'd change your mind," the villain spoke, approaching the newcomer. While he looked more than satisfied, the mysterious man in the black costume, horns peeking out of his hood, didn't change his stance. Though his face was barely visible, his body betrayed that he was bored.

"Together we can dominate the wor-" He didn't get a chance to finish the sentence, prevented from doing so by a fist that landed on his jaw.

Matteo was shocked and he wasn't the only one.

"What?" There was a series of emotions on the villain's face, but before he could choose the right one, Revenger was at his side again and the next fist landed on his temple. It wasn't long before the masked criminal fell to the ground unconscious. And Revenger stepped over him as if nothing had happened.

"Never been a fan of villains' speeches."

"I thought you were working together." Matteo remained silent, recalculating the situation in his mind, but his apprentice was clearly too shocked to keep his thoughts to himself.

"So did he," the masked man replied without hesitation or interest in his tone. He even shrugged his shoulders as if it was a common thought.

He approached the two bound men and began to look at them as if he had never seen anyone restrained before. It was extremely annoying, and Matteo made sure to let it show on his face.

"What the hell are you doing?" Maybe it was because he'd been tied to the chair for too long, or maybe it was because his worst enemy was looking down on him, but Matteo couldn't keep quiet any longer and exploded.

"Ironically, I'm saving you," Revenger declared. "Now, how about you be good boys so I can untie you?"

"I don't trust you." Matteo continued to pierce him with his gaze, satisfied that his enemy had not taken another step forward, keeping an acceptable distance between them.