"I said that's enough now." She caught hold of the hero's wrist as he tried to keep fighting, tossing his weapon aside before drawing him close. Arms wrapping around him in an embrace that would have been comforting if not for the restraint of the shackles. "There we go, easy now. You've been hurt enough for one day."

Thrashing against the hold did nothing but exhaust the hero, and eventually, he gave in. They sank to the ground in a tangle of limbs, rocking slightly. You hurt me, he wanted to scream. This is your fault.

"Shh," she murmured - warned, he didn't even know anymore. "It's enough. You've done enough, you've fought so bravely but just listen to me. There is no shame in surrendering and living another day, alright?" She cooed as she caressed his hair.

His breath was ragged and contrasted the calm atmosphere.  She loosened her hold around the hero. He sagged, almost unconscious from all the energy he wasted. The shackles around his wrist felt like lead weights now. Lights ran across their faces through the gaps in the wall as a car drove past.

 Soon, the hero slept. Slowly, the villain slipped from under his body and agilely avoided the chains that linked to his wrist. She wondered how long it would take his mother to realize he was gone.

She drifted by his discarded sword and lifted it from the ground. It was a katana with a simple handle and very similar to her own, but definitely a much less dramatic story behind the crafting.  She tossed it just out of his reach.

It's a shame she was having to hurt his mother. When they were children she was always so kind. Her son was kind too, but you can't have the fact that your enemy is your best friend get in the way of your reputation. She made that very clear when she pushed him off of that water tower a few months ago. 

She sat down in front of her computer and pulled up an empty missing person report and e-mailed it to the hero's mother. She locked all the doors to the abandoned apartment and went to her room. 

It was early in the morning when the villain awoke. The summer heat penetrated the apartment, despite the fact that it was still dark. She filled a small bucket of cold water from the neighbor's hose. Slowly she walked in the door and locked it behind her. She slumped against it. Giving herself a second to rest. She pulled herself up and carried the bucket to the hero.

"Anemoi, wake up." She said softly. She lifted the bucket and casually poured it over his head. At first, he didn't move, then, suddenly he thrashed under the water and gasped. The water ran out and she put the bucket down. 

The cold water dripped off his messy black hair. In his blurred vision, he could hardly make out the girl standing in front of him.

"Jaden?" He asked as he blinked drearily. The girl pulled the cloak tighter around her.

"Anemoi of the winds, or Cyrus if you prefer." She bowed.

"Sorry, Miss Death." He corrected spitefully. The chain on his wrist rattled as he ran his hand through his hair.   

"Its Valkyrie, and don't call me Jaden. It's weird." She said, rebuilding her dark disposition. She noticed his hand creeping to the side.

"Why am I here?" He asked. Her attention returned to him.

"Because you are the symbol of hope for this city, and I am just another name whispered on the street, even though I am the greatest. I don't want that." Anemoi's face lite up, "I want to be feared, Anemoi. Feared by all." She said watching his hand through the darkness of her hood.

"Did you just monologue?" He asked. Valkyrie whipped her head o him, clearly offended to be paired with such a simple and efredscxi.

"What, no. That's-" She sputtered, embarrassed to think of herself to be in any way similar to the sub-par, pathetic excuse for villains. Anemoi made a lunge for his weapon that had been cast aside. His hand was inches away when it violently jerked back. The unyielding chain had reached its end.

He laid about a foot away from the katana, sprawled on the floor. Valkyrie waltzed by with a smug look on her face. She bent down to inspect the pain on his face. He still seemed stunned by the sudden deceleration.

"Wow. That had to hurt." She lifted his wrist. He winced. There was a gash where the cuff dug into his skin. She mocked worry as the dark blood ran onto the cuff.

Valkyrie grabbed the katana that he was reaching for while still inspecting the cut. She looked at Anemoi. "I have been meaning to ask you about this." She said, bouncing the handle of the katana in her hand. Anemoi watched the tip come dangerously close to the hand that she was holding.

"Where is it from and where did you learn to handle it?" She slowly dipped the tip closer to his hand, pretending not to notice. Anemoi tugged at his hand, but she held it tighter.

"Amazon." He spat as she twisted the handle in her hand. She clicked her tongue in disapproval.

"Seriously Anemoi." She scolded without looking up.

"I am being serious. Youtube and Amazon." He laughed. Valkyrie shook her head, trying to hide the smile creeping on her face. He was so hard to stay serious around.

"Well, that explains a lot." She chuckled, remembering how he lost balance yesterday and almost stabbed himself. She looked at Anemoi, laid out on the floor with his torn, blood-stained clothes on, his bleeding hand in hers. Their eyes met for a second. Valkyrie noticed the water in his eyes. Were those tears or the remnants of her drenching version of an alarm.

She wanted to laugh at the awkwardness of the situation. At any point, they could expose each other, but instead, they played their little game of tag, both running circles like the high-schoolers they were supposed to be.

Valkyrie let his hand go and tossed the katana cross the room. Anemoi pulled his hand into his lap, testing the bones for further damage.

She wished that she could tell him the real reason she would not let him go. There are people after you. They may not be as smart as me, but they are just as crazy, Anemoi, she would say. They don't want to hurt you, they want to kill you. Please just stay here Anemoi.

Anemoi sat up. Valkyrie stood. "Are you hungry?" She asked. Anemoi nodded slowly. "Okay. I'm going to go rob a Starbucks. I'll get you some coffee." She nodded as she walked off.

"Please pay for my coffee." Anemoi shouted after her. She waved her hand in dismissal.

The cloaked woman, Valkyrie as they call her, flew through the window of the coffee shop. Screams erupted as the shattered glass rained on the whole store. Everyone froze. She calmly walked to the pickup area and grabbed two drinks and a bag.

As she walked to the door she sighed, turned around, and handed a five to the stunned man at the register.

"Anemoi of the winds insisted that I pay for his." She said sarcastically as she held out the bill. The man didn't move. She shrugged and placed it on the counter. She walked out the door that a stunned older man was holding. After nodding thanks she flew off.