Nightfall knows what has to be done. She’s been fighting all her life. Even before she donned the mask.

But this decision is the most difficult of her life.

Despite all that he’s done to her, she still cares for Brainwash.

Part of her has to wonder if the hero used his mind powers on her. It would make sense on why she can’t ever squash her love for him.

But alas, she knows that her feelings are her own. No matter how bad things got between them, he never crossed that line. He can’t created feelings. At least not within her.

He may be the hero and she the villain in society’s eyes, but he is the one that has to be stopped.

The way he thinks he knows best for everyone is dangerous. With that logic, he can justify anything. She knows this all too well.

OoOoO

Now’s her chance.

Knife in hand. Brainwash in her sights. Back to her.

It’s the perfect opportunity. And she never misses.

Except when she never takes the shot.

Because when he turns around, there are those eyes staring at her from behind the holes of his mask. The eyes that used to light up at her mere presence. Now they were sharp, glaring at her.

Nightfall and Brainwash have a stare off. Neither moving and maybe not even breathing.

She’s high up in the rafters and he’s on the ground with a rare device in his grasp. Something that will surely help him in his not so heroic plan.

This isn’t their first encounter in costume, out in the field. The air between them feels different. Heavier.

Maybe he’s reading her mind. Maybe he’s telepathically controlling her to not take aim and shoot at him.

But Nightfall doesn’t shoot.

She lets him go.

Not because of psychic manipulation, but because of her deep love for him that refuses to be buried.

———

(This is the follow up to _Hero and Villain, Villain and Hero_. But it can be read separately. Have a nice day!)