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One way to be successful as a villain is to be verbally disabled, as in mute.
Everyone knows the villain always loses because the hero baits them to monologue, giving them time to make an escape plan. We have all watched Phineas and Ferb as kids, and we know Dr. Doofenshmirtz could never take over the Tri State area because he always monologued to Perry The Platypus.
Not our boy Vengeance tho, no one could trick him to reveal his plans and secrets to any captive hero. When the world ran on the magic of gifted children, Vengeance, or Taylor, was gifted yet mute.
Now, there is a boy in front of Taylor.
No, not a boy, a villain.
No, not a villain, a hero, as people call him.
Sitting on a chair, hands tied to his back, mouth covered with a black cloth, Crimson Blade, Vengeance's arch nemesis.
The Hero Society had specifically appointed Crimson to rival Vengeance. His powers were manipulating plants while Vengeance's was manipulation of Air and Water. The two things a plant needs.
The room they were in was 60 feet above the ground, with no plants nearby. However, there was a bucket of water conveniently placed outside. He was sure Crimson was aware of it.
Even though Crimson was in a place of no power, his eyes showed that he was anything but defeated.
Vengeance slowly approached the hero and snached the cloth that covered his mouth. There was a frown on Crimson's face, like he was mildly annoyed at best.
"Untie my hands." The hostage said loud and clear, like he wasn't the one who could die at Vengeance's commands.
"You must have a lot of confidence to say that, considering your position." Another voice boomed in the room. Vengeance's henchman, Rival. Rival did the talking for Vengeance, and Vengeance always made sure she wasn't aware of the whole plan so she couldn't monologue.
"Well yea, I may not be wearing sleeves but I do have tricks up—"
"QUIET!" said Rival, "Remember where you are Crimson Blade, you are not safe with those dogs who always follow you. You are alone and powerless, and in our mercy. If you negotiate properly, you may leave unharmed. If not, may whatever God you worship be by your side."
Crimson was quiet. It seemed like for the first time since he was awoken in this room, he was scared. Vengeance signed at Rival to continue.
"Since we want peace, let us trade. Jaque Williams retires from the presidency, and we don't blow up the House. It's either he leaves in peace, unharmed, or he dies a painful death." Rival moved forward, so that Crimson could see her now. A smile formed on her face. "We will be letting you go, but you need to sign a treaty too. If Jaque Williams does not retire, you will retire from your position as a hero. Say, what is the point of being a hero if you can't protect your president?" Rival chuckled.
Crimson looked uncomfortable for once. He knew there were probably around five heroes looking for him at that moment, he could drag the time enough for them to find him, but he would have to get tortured. Vengeance looked at him like he was asking him whether he agreed to the deal or not, and Crimson hesitated.
"Why do you want the president to retire?" That was the safest option. He would not only know the reason, but also waste some time.
"Why do you want to know period pad boy? It's private and you don't need to know it." Well fuck there goes his plan outta the non-existent window.
"Well- well how will I know if the paper I'm signing is not a guarantee of my death?"
Both Vengeance and Rival looked judgmentally at Crimson and then he realised that he had eyes. Crimson watched Vengeance sign at Rival to bring the paper, and Rival soon disappeared from the room.
It was time now. Crimson had a trick up his sleeve and it was time to reveal it. Rival entered the room again with a paper. She placed the paper on a faraway table and dragged the table towards Crimson. Vengeance signed a quick thank you and Rival left the room again, hopefully not coming back anytime soon. Rival was terrifying.
Vengeance moved behind Crimson and slowly untied his hands. Crimson felt Vengeance's nails on his wrist and felt something in his stomach. A diamond decorated pen met his neck as Vengeance moved in front of him, the table between them. He was still tied to the chair by a rope on his waist.
The pen was then placed over the paper. Vengeance bended and rested his elbows on the table, his face in his hands, slightly tilted in a suggestive way. As if he was asking 'Well?'
Crimson had never seen anything more pretty than him.
But he had other, more important things to do.
Like this :
Instead of picking up the pen, he signed a hi with his hands, showing that he knew sign language. Vengeance's eyes went wide, like Crimson was the first person who had given him a present.
Vengeance swiftly straightened, like trying to contain his composure. He signed a 'u know sign?'
Crimson signed back a 'yes.'
Vengeance looked at him in disbelief. Crimson took this as his chance to continue.
'Hear me out, my entire team is looking for me right now, so please make this quick. Why do you want the president to retire?' Crimson signed.
It seemed like Vengeance took some time to process that he could finally communicate with Crimson, but he immediately signed back 'As Rival said, it's nunya business. It'll be better for you if you sign the papers, or even God won't know when your hands will separate your body.'
Okay. Crimson could do that. Getting dismembered wasn't on his To-Do list today. He gave a thumbs-up to Vengeance and picked up the pen, reading the paper.
The paper summarized that Jaque Williams must leave his presidency within the next 5 business days, or he, Crimson Blade, Top Hero of the Hero Soc, will be leaving the Society with a pension.
"Seriously, why do y'all hate him so much anyways?" Crimson mumbled, looking up at Vengeance.
Vengeance looked at him like he had said the stupidest thing ever. Then pointed at the paper.
'I'm just curious.' Crimson signed. "I would like to know the reason for me signing this paper." He said, looking Vengeance in the eye, like a challenge. Vengeance loved challenges.
'Did you not hear about the Disability Act? The one that banned Mentally and Physically disabled people from attending education above school?' Vengeance asked. Crimson's eyes widened as he spoke, and he shook his head.
'I had a sister,' He continued. 'She wanted to make the world a better and easier place for people like me and her. She wasn't allowed further studies because of her ADHD.' Crimson noticed a glossiness in Vengeance's eyes. 'She left us soon after that.'
Crimson stared and stared and stared at Vengeance. Time moved slowly, and he was sure that the sun, which he couldn't even see, had stopped in its tracks. Vengeance looked back weakly at Crimson, and he felt that he could read Vengeance like a book.
Then, the harsh and challenging look returned. 'Will you sign that?' he asked, threateningly. Crimson simply nodded, and picked up the pen again. He didn't realise when he had put it down.
Before he could even click the pen, the door jolted open, revealing Rival and startling the men in the room. They both looked at Rival, and Rival looked back. She looked panicked. "Has he signed it yet?' she asked, huffing.
Vengeance shook his head as he met Crimson's gaze again. "HIS PEOPLE ARE HERE!" Rival screamed at them. Vengeance's eyes widened, panic sweeped into the room.
Crimson quickly signed the paper. He knew it's for the best. He's a hero, his job is protecting the people. What is the point of being a hero if you can't protect your people from their own government?
A sound of something crashing followed, and Rival quickly turned away, most likely to check what happened and fight any hero that caused the havoc. Immediately, the wall of the room they were sitting in broke too. One of Crimson's coworkers, Justice, stood there. She looked tired but not defeated. Their eyes met.
'Wait I'm safe!" Crimson announced, before either Justice or Vengeance could do anything. Both of them looked at Crimson like he had said the craziest thing ever, like saying pineapple belongs on Pizza.
To be fair, he was getting a lot of those looks today.
"See! I'm not even tied to the chair! I'm just sitting because my legs are tired! They offered me a chair, see how nice they are!" He said, trying to convince Justice to not harm Vengeance.
He doesn't know why he's defending his kidnapper, but life takes twists and turns that none never expect.
"You are literally tied to that chair with a rope." Justice deadpanned. "Only your hands are free, and what is that paper?"
As soon as she said that, Vengeance moved as fast as he could to grab the paper and evict the building. And just like that, it was over.
No villain was found in that building afterwards. Crimson Blade was rescued. The paparazzi was informed, and he was surrounded by people trying to make money out of his kidnapping.
However, his mind constantly reminded him of the Disability Act. He had searched it up as soon as he got home that night. Crimson did not have social media, only Instagram, that he opened once a blue moon.
What he had seen about the Act, and the response to it, had been horrible. He could not believe that he didn't know about it. It was like taking away rights from women just because they were born a different sex. Stupid.
The day after his kidnapping, he received several letters and emails, from paparazzi and from The Hero Soc. However, one particular letter caught his eye. It was a big one, as if it contained a big piece of paper that could not be folded. It was a little thicker too.
But, it wasn't those that caught his eye. It was the Black Crow emblem, Vengeance's emblem, he realised, that had caught his eyes.
The letter has two printouts of the paper he had signed the previous night, and a letter. It said :
Dear Crimson Blade,
Do not ask me how I got your address. I have my ways. The purpose of this letter is to thank you.
Thank you for signing the paper, I didn't even notice when you did it. But I know I did not force you to do it. For that, I thank you. I knew you that good in your heart, that is why I picked you. You have not disappointed me.
I want you to reveal the news now. For any further information, you can call (please text) xxx-xxx-xxxx. That's my number, it should not be revealed to anyone. Neither should this letter be revealed.
Vengeance
Crimson chuckled. He opened his phone, saved the number, and sent him a quick text.
Hey :)
I'm Elliot by the way
Or as you know me, Crimson Blade
A chat bubble immediately popped up. Crimson smiles at it.
Hello Crimson Blade
Good to know my letter reached you safely
Your sign sucks btw
Oh really?
How about you teach me then?
Maybe i will
Elliot looked at the printouts. Vengeance's job was done, it was his turn to right the wrongs now.
After all, he was a Hero, and his partner, Vengeance, was widely regarded as The Invincible Villain, because he never monologued and never revealed his plans.