“What are you doing, Nesa?”

He continued to stroke the beautiful, but matted kitten. “She was hungry.” He pulled himself to his feet. The kitten brushed against his leg. He bent down to pick it up.

“We don’t have time for this.”

The wind was blowing incredibly strong through the city. People kept losing their hats and papers. He placed the kitten in the large inside pocket of his trench coat. It snuggled deeper into his pocket. He pulled his coat closed so it wouldn’t move around too much.

“You are not bringing that thing with us to the lair.”

“Oh come on Laya, how can you say that to a cute baby? I’m taking her home.”

Her confident expression shifted uncomfortably as she looked at his smiling face.

They walked into an abandoned building. He continued to play with the kitten as he walked. She stepped to the middle of the building and the floor began to descend around them. It lowered to their lair. Computers and large screens were everywhere. Countless gadgets laid around. She walked and sat down in front of one of the computers. He went to the kitchen and got out a smelly tuna sandwich to give the kitten.

“Oh yeah, I forgot he was here.” On one of the screens was the separate room. In it was a single chair. On the chair was one of the heroes. He was bloody from their fight.

“I’ll deal with him.” She got up and headed to the back. He watched on the screen. She walked into the separate room. He hummed a random tune as she repeatedly beat the hero. He smiled and petted the cat. She came back with blood on her hands.

“Didn’t get much out of him. Get rid of him.”

He looked at her and she flinched.

“Sure.” He got up.

She was always confused by him.

He was simultaneously the kindest person she knew, and the most wicked unfeeling monster she had ever met. He was always smiling with a cold look in his eyes that sent a shiver down her spine.

He walked to the the separate room.

The heroes face was bloody and swollen. He was no longer wearing a mask. He didn’t recognize him though. The only noise was the occasional drip from the wet cloth in his hands. He patted the hero’s face with it.

“Wh..why are you helping me. Just kill me already.”

He just stared at him. He slowly turned his head like a dog. “Do you want to die?”

“What?”

“I though heroes would always want to keep living.”

“I’m not gonna tell you anything. So just get it over with.” The hero’s chest heaved with the effort of talking. “Your Executioner right? Her sidekick?”

“I guess.”

“How can you stomach it? Knowing what she does?”

“…..What else is there?”

“You’re joking.”

“….”

“You’re not.” He looked at him like he just couldn’t fathom him. “You could be anything. There are plenty of things you could do that don’t involve hurting anyone!”

“Would it be more fun?”

“It could be.”

He stared at the wall. There could a storm of thoughts going on in his mind, but he didn’t show it.

“Can I bring my cat?”