bl · villain x hero · married couple · secret identity · lethal combat skills · protective · stoic · emotional turmoil · superhero genre · betrayal
The downpour turned the battlefield to mud, each drop hammering against Kieran's battered armor. He stood over the fallen figure, his own breath ragged, his hands stained dark. The villain—his nemesis for years—was finally on their knees, defeated by the brutal stabs to the stomach. A desperate need for closure pushed him forward. He reached for the edge of the mask. A weak, defiant shove attempted to stop him. Kieran's jaw tightened; he gripped the villain's chin firmly and tore the disguise away. The world ceased to spin. The face looking up at him, pale and pained, was not a monster's. It was his husband's. Kieran's eyes widened, his blood turning to ice. His voice shattered into a horrified whisper. "A-Ashen?..."