Chapter Text
y’know, considering that he was facing capricorn, nook should not have been there. permafrost should have also not shown up but, hey - the heroes must have been desperate, because here he was, fighting all three of them.
alone.
and winning.
he’d just finished making an absolute fool of capricorn, quite literally stepping out of the way and watching him topple into a pile of rubble, when permafrost reached for him.
permafrost, who was very close, and who could freeze things upon touching them.
uh oh.
on a whim, he dived forward, ducking under the man’s arm into a roll just in time, skidding his left foot out to stop his movement, then using the other leg to push himself forward-
well, not him. a copy of him, really. the actual him stood up and walked away, heading into the half-collapsed store (oops) for a drink, finding a monster and cracking it open.
he watched from where he was sat on a piece of rubble, sipping his monster, as the three heroes tried to fight his ever-evasive clone, who wasn't actually there.
if permafrost wasn't there, he would totally be enjoying kicking their asses, but permafrost was a risk purpled could not take.
“oh for f- just stay still! come on man!” capricorn roared, annoyance and exhaustion clear in his tone. purpled snickered at the ram hybrid, before slipping his mask back on and making his clone disappear.
their confusion was delightful.
“what-”
legs crossed, monster still in hand, purpled washed his illusion from himself, and before long, the three heroes were facing him once more, various shades of shocked, enraged and embarrassed.
“don't know about you, but i haven't moved an inch in, what, three minutes?” he taunted, tossing the can over his shoulder.
“you little,” capricorn snarled, charging at him once more. with brief alarm, he sprang to his feet, dashing out of the hero’s immediate trajectory.
he gets that their aim is to ‘capture, not kill’ but purpled wasn't quite certain if maiming wasn't on the ‘not-to-do-list’.
“god, you three are such a bore! send someone more fun next time, please? christ, i’d take specie over you-”
purpled should have looked where he was going. that’s on him. he hasn't faced off against nook in a while, so he forgot to check his feet.
that is how he ended up running head-first into the hero, who surged from his small stature into some 7-foot beast that could probably pick him up by his head. luckily he didn't, but purpled stared a tad too long at the man, confounded.
“boo,” he said, and purpled frowned.
“oh, ha ha. very funny, bitch.” he snapped, stomping on the hero’s left foot as he spoke and stomping hard.
as he bent over slightly in reaction, he was able to bring his knee up and slam it into the man’s… abdomen, ish, and scamper away-
until capricorn grabbed him by the hood.
“not so fast, you little fucker,” he growled, lifting him an inch or so above the ground.
fuck them, really. purpled is not some toddler. this is bullshit.
adults.
“oh come on, man!” he groaned, not too unlike a child throwing a fit. he’s going to absolutely punt george when he gets back. if he gets back, the deeper worries of his mind nagged.
“not today, delude. you’re coming with us.” capricorn goaded, sounding all too pleased. purpled scoffed.
“yeah, yeah, schlatt.” he retorted, glaring at the hero over his shoulder. the man couldn’t see his frown, but he could see the malice and taunting in his purple eyes.
and purpled could see the hero’s body stiffen, and liked to imagine his eyes went wide beneath the ram-faced mask.
“what?” he hissed, body still rigid as purpled giggled despite being held by the hoodie. they’re going to stretch the fabric! or tear it! bitches.
“you seriously think you’ve caught me? schlatt, i’m delude! you can’t catch me,” he taunted, watching as nook and permafrost jogged their way over, cuffs in hand and fingers flexed at the ready.
purpled whined, “oh, for the love of god, hey - no, fuck you! fuck you, michael! don’t touch me!” he snapped at the ice-hero, who stopped in his tracks and stared, as nook - with a stutter in his step - pulled his hands behind his back and cuffed him.
“these are inhibitors. no funny business.” inhibitors? shit. purpled really hates these guys. why do they think he beats them up?
wait. inhibitors? that means that-
“nope! nada! you are not turning those on,” he spitballed, dropping into a ball and throwing all his weight down so that capricorn lost his grasp on him. from there, he used the momentum to launch into a forward roll - slightly messy, due to the fact that he was handcuffed, but a roll that got him away nonetheless.
he then started to sprint.
“terrigen! terrigen, any time, dude! terrigen!” he hollered, jumping debris and dodging chunks of broken building, before he-
“oompf!” smacked right into someone else.
“fucks sake, nook, can we not-” he started, turning to look at what he assumed to be the hero-
“it’ll be fine, delude.” mimic said. purpled exhaled in relief, letting his body sag.
“you know where-”
“yes,” mimic cut him off. “don’t worry about me.” he assured, before disappearing. turning, purpled saw that - shit - he had to run because capricorn was charging again oh fuck-
and tackled him, clicking the cuffs on. purpled waited for an agonising moment, as his illusions started to melt away.
he thanked his lucky stars that it was only the ones he put on himself that worked, and not on his surroundings. that would be awkward.
thank god for mimic,
what he was less pleased about, though, was the face that capricorn had him by the hands now, and was free to see his tail, antenneye, scars and all without his illusions to conceal them.
“look what we have here, boys,” capricorn snarked, eyes gleaming with malice as he looked down at purpled.
he snarled, a poor attempt at a smile.
“a giant, dottery twat and a kid in cuffs?” he spat right back, eyes gleaming at the hero.
his face darkened.
“i could unmask you right now. what would you do about that, hm?” he threatened, leaning his head in closer to utter the words quietly. it was a threat that, admittedly, sent a chill down his spine, but capricorn was an ass. he couldn't stay scared for long.
“bite you.” he fired back without hesitation, lunging his head forward as if in a mock-bite, which had the hero reeling back slightly.
“rabid fuckin menace,” capricorn muttered, dragging him away. purpled could see the armoured van with the hero agency’s emblem on the side, doors open - waiting for him.
purpled is still in denial that he had been caught. don’t talk to him.
“in you go,” the hero hissed, pushing him to the floor of the van.
“ow.” he said bluntly, when he hit the metal floor of the van. he had to roll over quite awkwardly and use his core muscles to get into a sitting position, and out of spite, he didn't move himself to sit on the benches. he stayed right where he was on the floor.
the entire time.
it took a little while - maybe a half hour? - before they stopped, and capricorn opened the doors to haul him out.
“now you really look like a moping toddler,” he remarked, and purpled just glowered at him, tail lashing from side to side.
purpled has guns. its true; he had two small pistols in his utility belt. he also had like, two daggers and eight throwing knives. how havent they unarmed him?
capricorn dragged him into a small room, before he split the inhibitor cuffs so they were still activated, but allowed him free movement of his arms.
“alright, delude. any and all weapons you have come off.” he said easily, crossing his arms in a lax manner.
purpled stared at him, unimpressed.
“now.” he clipped, growing impatient. purpled sighed, and began to remove his weapons from their various places.
four paper-thin blades from his harness. one vial of dart’s poison. two daggers from his belt. two pistols. two throwing knives. five throwing stars from his cargo pants. another knife from it’s sheath on his leg. a wire from it’s place attached to his belt.
capricorn just stared at him when he stopped, and purpled could tell that behind the mask, he was shocked.
purpled grinned, though the man could not see it. purpled prided himself on many things, and the number of weapons he’d mastered and managed to conceal on his person was one of them
“... all of it.” the man tried, and purpled huffed. they knew him so well.
he brought the end of his tail to his front, fiddling with the ornate silver and purple jewellery he had adorned it with, until a small blade popped out, and he removed it.
silent, he held it out to the hero, who took it after a few seconds hesitation.
“how-” he whispered to himself, and purpled had to try very hard not to burst out laughing.
the hero grumbled something, before rejoining his cuffs and dragging him along to another room, this one with a table and a one-way mirror. capricorn brought out an extra chain and clipped it to his cuffs and the table, so he was stuck sitting there.
purpled grimly recognised it as an interrogation room.
capricorn said something about waiting there, and purpled sighed after the door shut, leaning back in his plastic chair and crossing his legs.
he really wasn't meant to get caught. terrigen was meant to show up and get him out of there, but george must have made an executive decision to send mimic in instead to cover his illusions, lest he be inhibited.
like he has been.
he glowered in his seat, tail lashing from side to side. without his illusions to hide it or the sounds it made, purpled could hear it jingle and clink with every movement. tommy had been adamant that he had some glam, and purpled wasn't against it.
from near the base of his tail to its tufted tip, rings, chains and purple jewels - all of incredibly high value - adorned the appendage. each piece of silver was crafted beautifully, engraved with intricate designs of flowers and stars and the moon.
the purple gemstones simply matched the rest of his outfit. and his name.
purpled spent his time staring at himself in the mirror, the one he knew had heroes stood behind, watching him closely. purpled couldn't see them, but they could see him.
still, purpled looked at his reflection- admiring his outfit. what could he say? sapnap and tommy had good outfit ideas. he looked dope.
decked out in his delude entourage, he had on some simple grey cargo pants with deep pockets, and a strap-on sheath on his lower right leg. purpled wasn't the most intimidating villain to look out, wearing a simple black turtleneck and purple hoodie, but his utility belt and chest-harness made him very dangerous.
he also bore a mask, which covered him from his nose down. it was fixed with a cloth that covered his neck, and was entirely black.
purpled was sat, staring at his own image, for a long while before someone came in.
and that ‘someone’ was the captain.
“hello, delude.” she greeted politely.
purpled grinned.
“puffy,” he acknowledged in return. the woman in question stared at him, blue eyes wide as she halted in her footsteps, knuckled going white as she clutched a file.
“how did you-” she started, but purpled cut her off, tone bored.
“im a villain, i know more than you think i do, blah blah blah, just get on with this interview” purpled wanted to get it over with, so he could go the fuck to sleep and bother the hell out of george.
he also wanted to taunt the heroes. always an added bonus.
the hero cleared her throat, and sat in the other chair. she placed the file down and opened it, clicking a pen before clasping her hands in front of her and smiling sweetly.
“alright then. what’s your name?”
“delude,” he responded easily. he could see a frown try to pull at her lips.
“real name?”
“none of your goddamn business,” he smiled, making sure it reached his eyes.
“fine then. age?”
“old enough to know you’re a priss, that’s for sure.” he snarked, looking at his nails and picking at his cuticles. he didn't want to damage the nails themselves, he’d spent weeks growing them out so that karl could paint them. which he had.
“what is your role within snowchester?”
what the fuck sort of question was that?
“y’know, i really think this would work better with someone who wanted to be here. not a hostage. are you not going to threaten me?” he pressed, growing tired of the silly questions.
“i’m usually much better at this,” the hero replied smoothly, fixing him with a curious sort of glare. “i’m not sure why exactly it isn’t working on you.”
ah, so her power is glitching. wonderful!
“there’s no shame, puffy. everyone experiences… performance issues sometimes. it’s only natural,” he commented snidely, snickering as the hero’s face flushed red as she fixed him with a look mixed with embarrassment and outrage.
she huffed, collecting herself and shutting her file.
“fine. i’ll go off the books. you are a known member of snowchester,”
“that i am,” he said, filling her pause and earning another glare.
“- and are solely responsible for fifty-four of the seventy-two casualties caused by snowchester.” she continued, unblinking as she spoke. purpled didn’t bother matching her unblinking stare, instead drumming his nails against the table.
until she got her numbers wrong. how dare she!
“fifty- seven, actually, three of dart’s ‘kills’ were me; i have a vial of his poison on me at all times.” he corrected, meeting her eyes.
“kills?” the hero parroted, looking disgusted. purpled hummed, tilting his head.
“what of it?” oh, purpled wished she could see his wolfish smile right now, but he’s still masked, so she can’t.
she inhaled, clearly trying to regain her composure, before continuing with her… deceleration? statement? what was she trying to accomplish?
“you have caused millions in property damage, millions in healthcare and thousands in damage to heros.” she finished, face unkind. purpled bounced his leg, tilting his head like a perturbed cat.
“i’m… still not getting it.” he remarked, enjoying every second of anger and annoyance that spread across the hero’s face as a result.
“why? why do you do it?” she spat, finally meeting the end of her rope. purpled stared at her a while, unblinking.
why did he do this?
he’s a villain, he’s a maniac. the public fears the mention of his name, they scramble when they spot his figure on the roofs or in the street.
he causes anarchy and chaos.
“it keeps me busy.” he settled on. and, oh, if that didn’t make the hero fume. purpled bets that, if it wasn’t illegal or against their ‘moral code’, puffy would absolutely beat the shit out of him.
“innocent people die!” she hollered, and purpled spoke louder to match her volume.
“and it keeps me entertained.” it was partly true. really, his entertainment was the heros, not the civilians. taunting them and messing around with them was his literal favourite thing to do, and beating them up? some of them were like, twice his age.
it was funny.
“you are the first snowchester member we’ve caught,” she started again and ouch, that was a sore spot. you don’t need to remind him! he’s livid enough at himself already. “we are going to make a public example of you. if they demand it enough,” she hesitated, “we’ll keep you around. other than that, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
-
so they thought they were going to put him to death, didn’t they?
“execution?” she made no move to correct him. “any way i can opt out of that? i’m a busy man,” he commented, glee curling in his very soul when the hero’s eye twitched in annoyance.
purple sighed.
“funsies. can i get out of this room now? it’s so bland.” he quipped, tilting in his chair to look around the hero. “did anyone ever teach you not to stare?” he yelled, knowing for a fact that there were probably like, 14 heroes on the other side.
the captain almost growled. “one other question, delude,” she managed. purpled made a ‘by all means’ gesture - as best as he could with the cuffs - and arched his eyebrows. “how is it that you know our names?”
-
oh this is too perfect.
purpled knew a lot. he knew a lot about a lot of people, including the heroes. all of them. he could tell you their names, their mother’s maiden name, and what time they were born.
he spent a lot of times on the streets taking hits when he was younger. people pay lots for information, especially on public figures.
“i have my ways, puffy. also, you heroes should be so much more careful than you are. it is so easy to find things out about you.” a lie, but any stress and worry he could force upon the heroes was a win for him.
sighing in - what purpled saw - an admittance of defeat, the captain got up and left, allowing another hero - bloodhound - to drag him to whatever cell they planned on keeping him in.
until they decided they wanted him executed, that is.
purpled doesn't think he’s going to reach that point, though, because snowchester can’t function properly without him for very long. there’s only so much karl can do with his mimicking powers.
“dont try to enjoy your stay,” the hero remarked as he pushed him into the cell. purpled turned to him, unimpressed.
“will i be getting the right to move my arms, or am i just stuck like this?” he quipped, rolling his eyes as the hero merely locked the door and left. arse.
alone - sort of - he could actually pay attention to his prison. there were no windows in the entire complex - probably because it was in the basement - and the structure was unlike anything he’d ever seen before. he had a plain mattress, as well as a more walled-off area next to it in the corner for privacy on the toilet and in the shower.
two of the walls were concrete, and the other two were bars. the wall with the door he got tossed through was iron bars, and the one next to that, where his bed was propped, was also barred.
it was an odd setup that let him see, talk to and probably interact with the person in the next cell over, if not to a very minuscule level.
purpled hoped for a moment that it would be just him, but no luck. across from his cell he immediately recognised the caged person to be a vigilante from the lower districts, parrot. there was also a woman he didn't recognise in the cell directly next to his, and a few other people he couldn't quite see.
purpled also spent a couple minutes being amazed that he still had his mask on. how had they not confiscated it?
“oh, lookie here guys, a newbie!” parrot called, watching purpled from within his own cell. purpled arched a brow, unimpressed.
“ooh! another vigilante? are there any of us left on the streets at this fuckin’ point?” came an irish voice, and purpled had to crane his head slightly to spot the man who had spoken.
“the hero's are going to have a much harder job if they’re clearing all of us from the-”
“i’m no vigilante,” he snapped, interrupting the vigilante. he stayed quiet for a moment, frowning.
“so you’re a villain?” he asked, sounding disappointed.
purpled tried to make his smile audible. “in the flesh.”
“oh come on, man! this is so unfair. we aren't gonna hear the end of it from-” the man in the cell purpled struggled to see complained, before he was also cut off - this time by some nefarious sounding giggles.
“who’d y'a work for, hmm? is it twitch? or 100 thieves? snowchester? the hype-”
“snowchester,” he affirmed, watching the woman. here eyes were widened, and she looked… pretty deranged. “who the hell are you?” he asked bluntly, uncaring for tact.
she smiled, and it was wicked.
“the valkyrie.”
this was the infamous valkyrie? leader of twitch? purpled would fangirl, if it hadn't been 3 years since her disappearance - or, well, capture, as he’s putting together.
“this is where you’ve been all this time?” he remarked, watching her lips twitch in an unhinged fury.
“unfortunately,” her voice sounded strained, as if she wanted to scream and shout.
the valkyrie was a menace, purpled thinks he’d have the time of his life beating up heroes with her.
“tell me, tell me little villain, how is twitch? how are sable and shifter? how much anarchy have rabid and memento mori caused? how much damage has the wrench done?”
those were some pretty old names, for the most part. purpled grimaced.
“we lost a lot of valiant people that week, valkyrie.” he tried for. her sinister smile dropped.
“twitch disbanded, shifter and sable were the only survivors that we know of.”
valkyrie looked shocked, then angry, then sad.
she looked crushed.
“so they’re - they’re dead?” she spoke quietly now. purpled had to nod.
“that we’re aware of, yeah. they didn’t make it.” his tone was somber. purpled looked up to the villains when he was small, they were his idols. purpled’s pretty bummed that he never got the chance to work with them ; every now and again snowchester teamed up with twitch, but they couldn’t anymore.
it was actually pretty sad.
lots of old twitch members defected to snowchester, though, if 100 thieves didn’t take them. purpled went from admiring them, to working with them, to having some of them work for him.
it was pretty lit.
“and… i’ve spent that time cooped up. in here.” uh oh. purpled has seen the movies, and if this wasn’t a ‘i’m boutta crack and go crazy’ moment, he didn’t know what was.
“before you loose your shit,” he interrupted, earning a glare, “can you wait till after i know if imma be broken out or not?” he asked. she gave him an ‘are you fucking kidding me’ look.
“i have my ways to talk with my people. can we save the outburst for like, maybe tomorrow? if at all. i can probably convince them to break you out too,” he tacked on. is this bribery? he was always the one getting bribed. he’s not too good at this.
“what’s your name, little villain?” she settled on.
“delude,” he answered, smoothly and swiftly.
the valkrie’s lip quirked.
“you’re new,” she commented.
he scoffed.
“two years running, talk of the town. they tremble when they hear my name.” he snarked right back. purpled isn’t going to get talked down by some cooped-up former villain, supervillain as she may be-
“what can you do, little villain?” she pressed, eyes unnaturally unblinking. her vibes were all off, but they’re villains. purpled can’t say his vibes are immaculate, he punches heroes on the daily.
“we get out of here, i’ll show you.” he settled on. he’s not going to explain how his powers work, not when there are cameras in his cell and the hall, almost certainly with audio recording.
he wasn’t that dumb.
“tease,” she grumbled, slinking back to her cot. purpled scoffed, laying down in his. now, all he needed to do was contact nighthawk.
if he pranced around and screamed enough in his dreams, the older would come running; waking or asleep.
perks of the power.
so, with that ideal in mind, he shut his eyes, trying to ignore the discomfort of his mask on his face, and tried to fall asleep.
purpled was kinda really tired - he outwitted three heroes for like, three hours earlier today, and had like an hour long interrogation.
he fell asleep fairly quickly.