It Started With a Ransom

In the Open

Mad King sucked in a breath as you came to the conclusion. He was outside, listening to your thoughts. He didn't mean to invade your privacy, but, hey. He was a villain. Sue him.

As you came to the conclusion, he bit his lip. All his feelings for you flooded his mind, and he reached the same one.

He was in love with you.

Mad King clenched his fists and narrowed his eyes. Despite knowing ahead of time, he couldn't help it when he was around you. When the man held the knife to your throat, he was worried. When he cut you, he had been more angry than he ever had before. When he was cleaning your wound, he was gentle. He wasn't usually gentle. He couldn't help it around you. He growled. This is not how it was supposed to go.

You were starting to dose off when Mad King slammed open your door. You yelped in surprise and sat up. He stomped over and glared down at you. You shivered.

"Stop it." He growled. You looked at him, confused. "S-stop what?" You stuttered. "Stop making me act different." You stared at him. "I-I'm not-" "Stop being interesting." He interrupted. "Stop being brave. Stop thinking about me. Stop being cute. Stop making me love you!" He screamed the last sentence. You looked at him, wide eyed. "You... love me?" "Yes!" He snarled. "I do! But I'm not supposed to! I'm supposed to trade you for the Lads' powers, then take over the city! I'm not supposed... to fall... in love..." He trailed off as he stared down at you. You were shaking from fright. He sighed. "This is what I meant." He sat beside you on the bed. "When you do these things... act so helpless... I stop being the Mad King. I feel protective. I'm... not used to that." He reached out and pet your hair. Instead of flinching away, you didn't move. "But I can't help myself around you. And..." He sighed. "I heard you think you love me." You looked up at him. "Y-you did?" You stammered. He nodded. "It's what made me... do this. It helped me realize that I love you as well." He grimaced. "'I love you'..." He repeated. "I've never said those words before." He subconsciously started stroking your hair, running his fingers through it. You closed your eyes. You enjoyed his touch. He noticed this and stopped. "We can't get close." He stood up and went to leave. "You are the hostage, and I am your captor. This is a recipe for disaster." "But..." You started. He turned to you. "But?" You bit your lip. You hadn't meant to say that out loud. Not that it matters; he can read your thoughts. Mad King chuckled, then sighed. "No. I'm just going to have to stop reading your thoughts." "It saved my life!" You pointed out. Mad King nodded. "True..." He raised an eyebrow. "Do you... want me to continue to read your thoughts?" You bit your lip again. "Did it come out that way?" You asked meekly. Mad King sighed. "You're so cute..." His eyes widened when he realized he said it out loud. "You've said it before..." You told him, though you were still blushing. He shook his head. "This isn't going to work, is it?" He walked back over to you. "This... hostage/captor thing." You shrugged. "I-I don't know." You replied nervously. "I do like you- which is bad. And... I guess you like me..." "...which is also bad." He finished. He looked down at you, and his blue eyes shined. "But I don't think I care." Before you could reply he lifted you off the bed and pinned you against the wall, his arms on either side of you. Your eyes widened in surprise. "I...I-" He cut you off with a kiss. It took you a moment to regain your senses. You knew this was wrong. But you did like him. And he liked you as well. You thought 'fuck it' and kissed him back, earning a chuckle from the Mad King; either from your thought or your actions you didn't know. His hands went to your hair, and he ran his fingers through it. You moaned, and his tongue found its way into you mouth. Your hands went to his hair, and you accidentally knocked his crown off. Your eyes widened and you started to reach for it, but Mad King grabbed your arms and pinned them to the wall. "Leave it." He growled. You shivered, but not from fear. His mouth was back on yours, and you closed your eyes. He started to nibble your lip, and you moaned. Suddenly he pulled back. You opened your eyes. He looked worried. "What's wrong?" You asked. He sighed. "Your friends." He said. You tilted your head to the side. "What about them?" He bit his lip. "When they get you back... what then?" "You're assuming they trade their powers." You pointed out. He raised an eyebrow. "Of course they will. They care about you." "But this city needs them, and they know it." You said firmly. "They're the only good superheroes in this whole city. X-Ray loves me..." You sighed sadly. "So he obviously wants me back. But Vav and Mogar can convince him what the right choice is." You smirked at Mad King. "What would you rather have; three superheroes and their powers and me here; or three powerless idiots, but no me?" He laughed and let your arms go. "You're assuming I care about you that much that it would be an option." But he grinned at you lovingly. You picked up his crown and handed it to him. "And you're assuming I would even want to stay here." His eyes locked on yours. "Would you?" He asked quietly. You looked away. "I don't know... I'd miss them... and I doubt I'd be able to visit weekends... but..." You looked back up at him. "I'd miss you, too." The Mad King grabbed you and kissed you. He pulled away and placed his forehead on yours. "I'd miss you as well." You smiled. "It seems your plan backfired." He laughed. "Yeah. It did."