Yin and Yang [A Superhero AU] - Book Three

Chapter Twelve - First Times

"Why are we even going out, Cry?" Dan asks as they head out into the streets.

"We have to get the heroes out here so we can hopefully beat them and get Jack back," Cry replies. "And, if the antiheroes show up, I have orders from my father."

Dan exhales and breaks off from the group, shooting flames at the nearby cars. The other villains spread out as well, cornering people, firing off guns, and causing the streets to fill with screams. The Brit grits his teeth as flames dance in his eyes, hating that he has to destroy things and make people's lives miserable. Sometimes, it feels like he's the only one who really opposes it. Everyone else just does what the boss tells them, and every day Dan wants to rebel more.

Out of the corner of his eye, he can see the heroes arrive. Phil pulls water into his hands and douses Dan's fires, but before the villain can say a word to him someone slams into his side. He tumbles to the ground and recovers, backing away from his attacker and forming a wall of fire around the hero. Through the flames he can see Mark, eyes filled with frustration at his inability to get to Dan. He takes a few steps back from the flames in front of him, sweat beading on his forehead.

"Dan, right?" he asks.

"How do you know my name?" Dan demands in return.

"I've studied a bit."

The Brit scowls and closes in the circle of fire more, and Mark centres himself in the middle of the ring. "Let Jack go."

Mark scoffs and swipes his sleeve across his forehead. "I can't do that."

Dan closes the ring of fire even more and Mark gasps, struggling to breathe through the heat. The Brit clenches his jaw and is about to loosen the barriers when he sees something over the top of Mark's head that makes him drop his wall of fire altogether. Mark crumples, gasping and coughing, but Dan pays him no attention.

Cry presses a gun to Matt's chest, every muscle tense as the antihero stares at him with wide eyes. His hands are raised in the air in surrender and yet Cry doesn't back off.

"Please, Cry, don't do this," Matt pleads.

"You and Ryan betrayed us and risked the lives of the other villains just so YOU could live in PEACE," Cry spits.

Matt winces. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry isn't enough! We've endured FIFTEEN YEARS OF ABUSE, and you think you can just LEAVE?! You were with us for TWO YEARS!"

Dan can't seem to relax his muscles as he watches the exchange, fear flooding his heart. He can see Mark glancing at him, but he doesn't look back. His eyes remain locked on Cry and Matt as the masked villain lowers his gun and steps away, his entire body shaking. Matt relaxes for a moment, but as he does Cry spins on his heel and pulls the trigger of his gun. The bullet shreds Matt's chest and he crumples with a sickening thud, blood oozing onto the concrete.

Screams ring out that Dan can't even focus on. His stomach churns and he nearly retches, horror and disbelief mixing into one horrible swirl of emotion in his heart. Ryan sinks to the ground beside Matt's body after realizing that his attempts to fight Cry are fruitless, his sobs shaking Dan to the core. Matt was their friend and Cry killed him. Sure, they were never as close with the other villains, but still! Two years of friendship and now, Matt has a ragged hole in his chest. The Brit's eyes flicker to Mark, and with strength powered by adrenaline, he yanks him to his feet and grips the front of his super suit. Dan realizes that his entire body is shaking, and he's certain that Mark notices as well.

"Tell Jack," he demands with a wavering voice. "Promise me you'll tell Jack." The Irishman deserves to know. He was their friend, too.

Mark nods, obviously shaken as well, and upon seeing the nod Dan drops him and races off. Stephanie follows him, shell-shocked. He reaches the institute and shoves the door open, his hands trembling at his sides. Cry walks down the hallway, pinching the bridge of his nose, and Dan races up to him and pins him against the wall.

"How could you do that!? He was our friend!" the Brit exclaims, one hand clenched firmly around the collar of his suit.

"My father-"

"You always listen to your father! Why don't you take control for once and disobey? He told you to kill someone and you did! At what point do you realize that maybe, you don't have to listen to him all the time!?"

Cry inhales sharply and shoves past Dan, heading to his room and slamming the door. The Brit runs his fingers through his hair and turns on his heel, heading straight for his room. He may not be able to spend the night at Phil's house due to the risk of the boss getting suspicious, but he can pack up and go there for the evening. His hands get hotter and hotter from the anger bubbling inside him, and he has to step back from his bag so he doesn't set it on fire. He takes ten minutes to just breathe before packing up his stuff and heading out into the streets. Phil probably isn't home yet, so he takes the long way to his house. The route he chooses includes a park, and although the fresh air and trees soothe his anger, it doesn't help the memories. The silence and solitude only serves to help his mind fester, images of Matt's death flashing through his mind, and by the time he reaches Phil's apartment he's nearly in tears.

He heads up the elevator and speed-walks towards Phil's door, tears flooding down his cheeks, and knocks. The hero opens it a second later, his work bag still in hand, and the moment he sees Dan he drops the bag and opens his arms. Without a word, Dan throws himself into Phil's embrace and lets himself sob.

"I'm so sorry, Dan, I'm so sorry," Phil murmurs.

"I don't understand, he didn't deserve that, and Cry isn't a bad person but he just listens so blindly," Dan rambles, his face pressed firmly against Phil's shoulder.

The hero pulls away and Dan wants to immediately pull him back and bury his nose in his neck, but he doesn't. Phil takes his hand and lifts his other hand halfway to Dan's face, but stops halfway there and lowers his arm again.

"Why don't we go to my room and you can play piano? It might calm you down," Phil says, and Dan nods. Playing piano would definitely be calming.

He lets the hero lead him to his bedroom, and Dan takes a seat on the piano bench. Phil sits beside him, so close that their shoulders are touching. The villain stares at the keyboard for a moment before resting his fingers on the keys, playing the first song that comes to mind. It's called Ingenue by Thom Yorke, and if he remembers correctly it's the first song Phil ever heard him play. As his fingers dance across the keys, filling the space with music, he can easily forget the horrors of the day. He closes his eyes, letting himself get lost.

Then, he feels the warm press of lips against his cheek. His fingers still and his eyes fly open, his brain unable to comprehend what just happened. Did Phil just kiss him?! He glances over and Phil's entire face turns red, his mouth opening and closing a few times. The villain can feel his face burning as well.

"Uh, sorry, that was probably too forward... um..." Phil stammers.

Dan says nothing, unable to say anything intelligible. So, he indulges in his desire and leans over, pulling him closer and pressing a kiss to Phil's lips. The hero freezes for a moment before melting into him, one hand trailing to his waist while the other cups his jaw. Dan's heart pounds out of his chest, and when they part he can't help the smile that brightens his face. Phil grins back, his blue eyes twinkling, and pulls him in again. Nothing Dan has ever felt has been this right before. Despite all the horrors of the day, kissing Phil makes his heart burst with joy. He doesn't want to stop, but unfortunately his need for oxygen makes him break the kiss. Phil laughs breathlessly and cups Dan's face in his hands.

"You're so much prettier when you laugh," he says.

Dan's face flushes red and he reaches up to cover his expression, but Phil takes his hands and stops him. They watch each other for far too long and Dan can't bring himself to look away. He leans forward, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips, before getting to his feet.

"How would you feel about a movie?" he asks.

"That sounds really nice," Phil replies, getting up as well.

The two of them head to the living room, and while Dan is picking a movie Phil makes popcorn. As soon as they're finished their respective tasks, they cuddle up under a blanket together and watch their movie in the dark.