Scorched Earth [ONC 2024]

Chapter 10 - Together Again

Marek had not stopped touching Varen since rescuing him. He would have preferred a full, constant hug, but that wasn't always doable so touching his shoulder or holding his hand had to be enough.

But now they were alone in Varen's car again, so he could pull the man into his lap and cradle him to his heart's content.

SOPISOC was in an outrage after they'd brought the highest leadership after Morrey the evidence. They'd locked him up immediately while allowing Varen to leave without also being imprisoned.

That had made Marek very annoyed. They should be welcoming him back with open arms after what that bastard Morrey did. It made Marek's blood boil to think about it. All this time, his poor Varen was dealing with such a horrible betrayal and pain, and Marek had had no idea.

"I'm so sorry about what happened," Marek said, grimacing as he held Varen tighter. "I had no idea."

Varen smiled sadly at Marek, kissing his cheek. "I know. I never told you any of it."

Marek sighed. "If you had, I wouldn't have a hard time deciding if I should leave SOPISOC."

Varen nodded and looked away. "Perhaps I also didn't know how to tell you. I...I don't know. I wasn't ready. But I suspect I never would be if not for Morrey capturing me."

Marek gritted his teeth as he stroked Varen's hair. The fact that Morrey was still alive greatly infuriated him. He needed the man to die. No, not man—monster. Hiring people to hurt others to make SOPISOC look better was horrible, but killing Varen's mother just to make him want to join?

Morrey shouldn't be alive anymore.

"I'm okay now," Varen said, smiling. "I wanted justice for my mother's death. And now Morrey is ruined."

Marek put his chin on top of Varen's head, nuzzling. "He sure is. Fucker. Hope he rots." Or burns to death, Marek added internally. He would kill Morrey one day soon. But for now he simply held Varen. "But what do we do now?"

Marek blinked when someone tapped on his car window. He looked over, only to see Aira and Nerry looking in.

His heart clenched. They were probably here to say goodbye, or something. Though with what they'd talked about earlier....

He rolled the window down. "Hey, guys."

Varen nodded at the twins in acknowledgement, staying true to his mysterious bad boy self. Oh, how Marek loved him.

"Hey!" Nerry said, grinning. Aira was smiling too.

"So," she said as she leaned on the car door, sticking her elbow inside the car. "Where are you guys gonna go now?"

Marek shrugged. It was a good question that he didn't have an answer to. He looked at Varen, wondering what he was thinking.

Varen sighed. "I don't...I don't think I want to be with the Undertakers anymore. I just...I thought Morrey acting this way meant that the other side was the better choice. At least they don't pretend to be something they're not." He took a deep breath. "But I don't...I don't want to be a villain. Not really."

Marek kissed the top of Varen's head, squeezing him a bit. "Hey, being a hero isn't all that great either."

"True." Varen hummed. "But where does that leave us?"

Marek waved Aira and Nerry in, and they took the backseats, leaning forward to hear his point. And what a point it would be.

"Hear me out," Marek said, grinning. "We become vigilantes."

Varen raised an eyebrow. "That...hm."

"Right?" Marek beamed, very proud of himself for thinking of this. "Being a supervillain should be fun! Not whatever the hell the Undertakers have going on."

Aira nodded along slowly. "So we'd just...do whatever?"

"We'd still help people, right?" asked Nerry, his puppy eyes in place.

Marek smiled. "Yeah, course. But without SOPISOC telling us who we can save and how and why. And we could make rich bastards' lives harder too, for example, help people that way."

Varen hummed. "I suppose we can try. Since none of us want to particularly stay in our current positions." He looked at Aira and Nerry for confirmation. Both of them shook their heads. "Very well. Then we shall try vigilantism."

"Nah, supervillainy," Marek corrected him, beaming.

"You just described being vigilantes," Varen protested, but Marek just petted his head.

"Supervillains are cooler," Marek said, nodding wisely. "And we'll be the coolest supervillains. The Nature Force, they'll call us."

Aira and Varen raised their eyebrows at him while Nerry grinned, seemingly very happy with the name.

"We'll work on the name," Varen said. "But this concept could have merit."

Marek cooed, leaning to whisper to Aira. "Isn't he the cutest?"

Varen flushed, clearly able to hear him.

"He is!" Nerry confirmed, frowning in thought. "But where do we stay? We'll be criminals, right? We need a hideout."

"We can use mine for the time being. If you do not mind. It is well protected," Varen said, avoiding their eyes. Marek kissed his temple. His poor love was probably still thinking the twins don't like him. But they would love him by the end of the week. Marek was sure of it.

"Great, yeah!" Nerry nodded, clearly pleased.

Aira gave a nod too. "But we are making our own clubhouse, dammit." She pointed a finger at Varen. "And I'll be giving you the 'hurt Marek and I'll kill you' talk later."

Varen blinked, nodding slowly while Marek beamed. This was a dream come true for him—his best friends and his boyfriend getting along with each other. And things would just get better from here.

He leaned in to hug them all, just so, so happy they were all together as they hugged back.

They would be okay now. And they would become cool, fun supervillains, doing things the way they wanted to, helping who they decided to, and righting wrongs that SOPISOC refused to.

It was time to put on new masks and start new lives. And Marek was so giddy.