That video would have been so cool. I would have doubled or even tripled my sub count. Iseult giggled.

“I do not need to commit ‘real crimes’ anymore. To tell you the truth, I had gotten my revenge long ago. The hero who had kidnapped my brother died a horrible death, but you were right, I did not gain satisfaction. I wanted more, to right all injustices with directionless violence. When I look back, my actions did nothing.”

He sat up, sending balls flying.

“I think my real wish was to save people from my fate. Heroes burned me, so I burned them. But if there are heroes like you, maybe I should give them a chance. Now, rather than killing heroes, I wish to save people directly.”

“I’m glad you’ve found your way.”

He reached out a hand.

“You should join me.”

“In holy matr—”

“You already made that joke.”

I chuckled.

“I don’t save or harm people. I’m chaos. I do what I want.”

“But you do save people. If someone is in danger, you protect them. You cannot claim villainy when convenient.”

Geez, this conversation unnerved me. The thought of being called a hero again made me want to hurl. Memories of stress and death choked me, and my heart rate sped up.

“I won’t be a hero.”

“You do not need to. Villains can also help people. I have known many kind villains in the past.”

“That’s an oxymoron.”

But he had a point. I did want to help people, just not as a hero.

“But I killed your partner and so many others. Do you still want to work with me?”

“That was not your fault. You did not know.”

He was wrong. I should’ve done better. They didn’t need to die. Iseult sighed.

“If it is your fault, then it is also my fault.”

“No. You didn’t trap the scientists or pour the methyl mercury. That was all me.”

“The building fell because the beast chased me. We can play the blame game all day, but when we work together, we share culpability equally. That is what it means to be partners.”

This guy, why was he like this? I’d killed his partner. My face itched and my chest constricted. No tears, please.

Maybe I’d always wanted to hear this. As a leader, I took the blame when something went wrong. If Iseult shared this burden, working with him didn’t seem half bad.

“What would be the benefits?”

“Pardon?”

“For working with you.”

He grinned.

“Nothing big. Safety in numbers is one thing. I would also help you with your youtube channel and—“

“Deal.”

Iseult’s eyebrows rose. I badly needed an editor. Hehe, prepare to edit hours of nothing.

“Wow, I’ve never been in a supervillain league. This’ll be fun. No rules and all that.”

“I would not call us supervillains. We are quite average.”

Debbie downer. I was exceptional.

“We can have a secret base and everything. I call having it at my house.”

“You have a house? I assumed you lived under a bridge.”

Rude. I could steal a house if I wanted.

“Yeah, it’s huge. You should check it out.”

“It might make a good base. Where do you live?”

“With the governor.”

Iseult dropped his head back to stare at the paneled ceiling. Too bad. It wouldn’t tell him the meaning of life. He peered at me.

“Would it be legal for the governor to host a fucking villain’s secret base?”

“It’ll be fine. Su casa, mi casa. She’ll warm up to you and remove your bounty if you tell her you’ll be good.”

“I have a bounty?”

“A minor one.”

He nodded his head in thought. Even with blood covering his face, his glamour blinded me. I could never follow Surah’s request and send him to prison. Everyone knew the fate of pretty boys in prison. As if he could sense my thoughts, Iseult met my gaze.

“What?”

“Just admiring you.”

He rolled his eyes and groaned.

“What the fuck do you even like about me?”

“You’re hot.”

He threw a ball at my face. I smirked.

“It’s true. I’ve never been able to tell when people are good-looking, but you’re a ten. You’re the first person I’ve ever been attracted to. If it’s alright with you, I want to take this new emotion as far as it will go.”

Iseult tapped the ball pit’s edge. The plastic rang hollow like a faraway clock. My heartbeat quickened. He’d shown a positive response earlier, but that could have been a heat of the moment thing.

No, stop. Overthinking crippled progress. Let both good and bad come as they wish. I would be ready for any response. But the wait strangled me. His finger stilled. My breath stilled with it. By the time he spoke, my lungs burned.

“I might not be opposed.”

Sweet baby Jesus, you’ve answered my prayers. Iseult held his hand up.

“However, only tentatively. I have never considered a relationship with a man, but if it is you, perhaps this could work.”

I felt the exact same way. My chest heated, and butterflies exploded through me. Electricity buzzed in my head as excitement took over. He said yes—a temporary yes, but a welcome one. I expected to take this feeling to the grave.

Balls parted to give me safe passage through the fierce sea. No riptides could pull me under. I checked our surroundings to make sure we wouldn’t be disturbed again. Everyone in a 1km radius around McBurger King found themselves pushed to the area’s boundary. Nobody could interrupt us now.

I made my way to him and slipped my fingers through his hair. He held my waist, brought me closer, and….

“Ow.”

The steel bar in my arm caught on his leg and the pain flared. He glanced at it.

“You should get that exami—“

“Shut up.”

I forced him closer and our lips met. Sweet taste. Gunpowder smell. Our relationship was truly chaotic.