What makes one a hero? 

Was it their compassion for every living being? Or their saviour complex? 

Who decided that they were good enough to be called a hero or bad enough to be called a villain? Was it because of their personality? Looks? Quirks? 

Quirks could be as small as lighting a match stick to as big as causing nuclear explosions. They were said to be gifts bestowed upon them by god but Sergio begged to differ. For him, it was a curse chaining him to unwanted responsibilities. Those responsibilities burdened him just as they had burdened his mother. 

His mother. His sweet, sweet mother. She was kind as she was caring. She always tried to look at the good in people. The very same people who demanded things beyond the capacity of her quirk. And she did it, following through the whims and demands of those people, for she was a hero, and a hero was supposed to save everyone. In the end she had paid for it; with her life.

Who had decided that heroes were supposed to save everyone? Who had decided it was their duty? His father had once mentioned in the passing but it had stuck and engraved into little Sergio’s mind.

“Heroes are just ordinary people who make themselves extraordinary for others.”

His mother was an ordinary housewife, just like any other. Only difference was that she had a powerful quirk, but didn’t numerous people have that? 

Were heroes always good people? Were villains always bad people?

What made an ordinary man, with an ordinary life, an extraordinary hero-

Crash.

Sergio was brought out of his musings by a loud noise from his bedroom. His thoughtful expression morphed into a soft knowing look. 

Ah, he was finally here. 

Sergio had started to worry due to him not visiting in so long.

The other party had tried to be discreet every time he broke into Sergio’s house through the bedroom window. Alas, he'd always end up knocking something or other over, alerting Sergio of his presence. It was endearing, really. 

The man who had broken in was none other than his lifelong crush. 

Yes. Crush. 

Sergio Willow, the hero lauded as one of the most powerful heroes of all time, had a crush on Nikolai. A red head with the most expressive emerald eyes. He was a cute fumbling idiot and Sergio loved him for it.

Nikolai Hughes. A villain.

Inside the bedroom, Nikolai was in an intense wrestling match with the blanket. The evil blanket had somehow managed to wound itself around Nikolai's lower torso, making him trip and knock over the bedside lamp. 

He had always known that this blanket was plotting something, but he never expected it to be this sly. 

Tears of frustration pooled in his eyes. He was making such a fool out of himself in front of his crush. 

Sergio was handsome. There was no doubt about it. His grey eyes were piercing and fear inducing but the smooth blonde locks that framed his face softened his frightening image to a handsome, rugged look. But what drew Nikolai in, was his personality.

Couple of years back, both of them were present when a theft occurred. Sergio had swiftly dealt with the villains causing a ruckus. 

A little girl, no older than 5, had shyly held out a paper to Sergio. It was a sloppy-but-passable-for-a-child stickman drawing of Sergio protecting people. 

Sergio's face had melted into the softest expressions ever and he had looked at that piece of paper as if it was the most precious gift. Nikolai had burnt this reaction into his heart. That was when Nikolai realised that he wanted Sergio to look at him like that too. As if Nikolai was the best thing that could have ever happened to him. 

Sergio wondered what was taking his Nikki so long. It had been a good fifteen minutes since the crash had resounded and Nikolai still hadn't left the bedroom. 

He made his way to his bedroom and the sight that greeted him was hilarious. Nikolai was sprawled on the floor with his long scarlet hair in a disarray with Sergio’s blanket tightly wrapped around his lower torso. 

Sergio would have found the scene even funnier if it wasn't for Nikki’s quivering lips and teary eyes that looked up at him pitifully. 

Sergio carefully picked Nikolai up and let him lean on his shoulder as he untied the blanket from around him. As soon as he was done untangling the blanket, Nikolai scrambled away from Sergio as if he had been scorched. 

Sergio tried not to let the hurt show. He held out his hand to help his Nikki up but Nikolai ignored it. Sergio let his hand awkwardly hover for a while before dropping it back to his side. 

Meanwhile, Nikolai, unaware of his companion's emotions, was desperately searching for the gift he had prepared for Sergio. He was sure he had kept it in his front pocket but he couldn't find it. It probably had fallen out during the tussle earlier. 

Argh, that wicked blanket!!

After thoroughly patting himself down, Nikolai found it… in his back pocket. 

Guess the blanket wasn’t that vile. 

Sergio suddenly spoke up and his words sent him into a panicked frenzy, “What brought you here, my dear friend?”

It wasn't like he could tell Sergio that he had come, just to catch a glimpse of him, could he? So he stammered out an excuse that surely sounded convincing. 

“I-I came to schedule our monthly spar. Yeah. That's why I came.”

For the record, Nikolai had never beaten Sergio in a fight; with or without quirks. 

“As far as I remember, wasn't this the exact same thing you said when you visited last week?” Sergio's sentence had an underlying tone of amusement. 

Nikolai cursed under his breath, why did his crush have to have such a good memory that he even remembered their interaction from a week ago. What Nikolai didn't know was that it was precisely because it was him that Sergio remembered. 

Nikolai quickly searched for a distraction as he couldn't think of more excuses, “A-Anyway, did you hear? I robbed the Zaya jewellery store. It has one of the hardest security systems.“ Nikolai looked up at Sergio, his eyes sparkling with expectation to be praised. 

Too cute. Sergio's heart turned mushy at how adorable his Nikki was. 

Sergio had a strong urge to pinch his cheeks. He reached out for Nikki’s face, only to change directions at the last moment and placed it on Nikki’s head. As shameful as it was to admit it, he who had faced the probability of death without batting an eye had chickened out at the last minute from touching his crush’s face. 

“Well, what did you steal then?” he asked, a loving smile unknowingly adorning his face. His hands unhurriedly started threading through Nikki’s shiny scarlet locks. 

Nikki bashfully lowered his head and brought out the gift box from his back pocket. He had taken his time in choosing this necklace and was sure it would suit Sergio. The necklace even had a cute skull charm to match Sergio’s necromancy quirk.

He presented the box containing the necklace to Sergio who took it with a puzzled expression.

“... After going through so much trouble breaking into Zaya, THE Zaya, this is all you stole?” Sergio questioned. His tone was harsher than he intended. He regretted it immediately.

Nikolai's eyes widened and turned misty right away. He hadn't expected that the gift he lovingly chose for Sergio would make him so angry.  His colleague had ranted about how good the jewellery in Zaya was and he wanted to give his crush the best of the best. 

“I- uh… Yeah. T-That's all I stole. It was meant to be a gift. F-For you”, Nikolai whispered, choking back tears.

“For me?” Sergio was taken aback. He totally wasn't expecting it to be a gift that was meant for him. Now, he felt even more remorseful for using such a tone with Nikki. 

Sergio slowly stretched his arms out, tugging the smaller male into a hug. He had given Nikki enough time to push him away but Nikolai just stared at him with glassy eyes. 

He nuzzled into Nikki’s neck and rubbed small soothing circles on Nikki’s back. Sergio wasn’t sure whether he was seeking comfort or if he was comforting Nikki. Nikki hesitantly placed his arms around Sergio’s waist. Happy with the response, Sergio gave him a little squeeze. 

Sergio slowly pulled out from the hug to stare at Nikki. Although his eyes were still red, Nikki no longer looked like he was going to cry right away. He looked up with such dependence and trust that Sergio felt his heart swell. 

He was a hero. He wasn't supposed to feel this way towards a villain; the very same he fought on a daily basis. But here he was, falling harder and harder for one particular sweet villain. 

The desire to confess welled up within him and Sergio impulsively acted on it. 

“Uh, You-, I-I-”

Sigh

“I love you”

“I loved you even when I wasn't supposed to and will continue to love you.”

Sergio paused to take a deep breath. He was having a hard time putting his feelings into words. He just wanted to convey to Nikolai that he would always be there for him. 

“I-It’s okay, you don't have to feel pressured to say anything in return. I just wanted you to know that someone will always love you and that there is always a person to lean on when things get too difficult. I'll always be here if and when you need me. A-And…Gosh I'm rambling, Im sorry-”

Nikolai stupidly blinked as Sergio, the oh-so-great hero, nervously rambled. Was he hallucinating? He wanted to but still couldn't believe the words that left Sergio’s lips. 

His crush liked him back.

Before he could stop it, tears were pouring down his face. 

Sergio was alarmed when Nikki suddenly burst into tears. He panicked and pulled Nikki into a bone crushing hug while running his fingers soothingly through Nikki’s vibrant red strands. 

Sergio hadn't meant to upset Nikki with his confession. If he had known that his words would distress Nikki then he wouldn’t have confessed in the first place.

A sentence barely above a whisper halted Sergio’s agitated apologies. 

“Lowe you too”
[Love you too]

Sergio was ecstatic but confused, “then why are you crying?”

“I-I.. sniff… I don’t know w-why I’m cwying. I’m just soo habby that you like me back.”

Awww, Sergio cooed. His Nikki was such a darling. 

“Hey hey, it’s fine. Cry it all out”, Sergio said, hugging Nikki impossibly close. He tried to look at Nikki’s face but Nikolai buried his face further into Sergio’s shoulder.

“Hey! Stob it. Stob twying to look at my face!!” His whine was muffled by Sergio’s shoulder. 

Nikolai’s sniffles soon slowed to a stop but they remained in tight embrace, clinging onto each other, as though letting go would make the other disappear forever. 

“Soo… are we a thing now?” Sergio voiced, still skeptical of everything that had just taken place. 

“Mhm, unless your peasant self doesn’t want to be this Highness’ boyfriend?” Nikolai questioned, his tone filled with mock offence. Boyfriend, huh. It rolled off his tongue pleasantly. He really could get used to this status. 

“It is my honour, Your Highness”, Sergio played along. 

“Hey, you don't mind that I'm a villain right?” Nikolai probed in a timid voice. He hadn’t chosen to become a villain but it was the life he led now. 

“Of course I don't mind darling. My grandfather had once said, ‘there is no hero without a villain.’ Similarly, there is no me without you. I. Love. You. The you who would cringe at the sight of blood. The you who would tug on your hair when you got nervous. And the you who squint while smiling only when your guard is completely down.”

Nikolai blushed at the endearment, he had gotten used to being called Nikki - although personally he felt that the nickname didn't suit him - but words like darling were a totally different matter. 

Nikolai then remembered the necklace they had neglected at the heat of the moment. The necklace, at some point in time, had fallen to the floor from Sergio’s grasp. 

He beckoned for Sergio to bend before securing the necklace around his neck. The thin silver chain really stood out against Sergio’s bronze skin. Nikolai was proud of himself for making such a good choice. 

Sergio looked down at the necklace with a soft gaze. He picked up the skull charm and gave a chaste kiss. This had Nikolai blushing beetroot red. 

Sergio then looked up at Nikolai, his affectionate gaze further softening when they landed on his Nikki. 

Ah, this look. This was it. This was how he had always wanted Sergio to look at him; like he was Sergio’s whole world. How could he have been so blind until now that he overlooked such a blatant sign of affection from his crush. 

“I’m sorry Nikki, I don't have any gift to give in return,” uttered Sergio, with a hint of remorse. He would definitely shower his beloved with the best of gifts but he was remorseful that he had nothing to give his boyfriend to commemorate this moment. 

“You have given me a gift; a priceless treasure that I will protect with my heart,” Nikolai pointed at Sergio’s heart and continued, “You. You are now completely mine just as I am completely yours”, mumbled Nikolai, voice dripping with honey. 

Sergio could feel himself getting emotional, his Nikki really was the best. He cupped Nikki’s face and slowly leaned forward. Once he was a hair’s breadth away, he requested, “My beloved Nikki, may I be granted the opportunity to taste your lips?”

Nikki giggled at the way his boyfriend worded the question. “Of course you can, silly. In the future you don't need to waste time askin- oof” the rest of Nikolai's sentence was muffled by the kiss.

Sergio didn't immediately deepen the kiss, only nipping and licking Nikki’s lips. He placed butterfly kisses all over Nikolai's lips. 

Taking it a step further, he softly probed for entrance and Nikolai parted his mouth with a groan. 

Nikolai melted in Sergio’s embrace as they deepened the kiss. The kiss was slow and full of their repressed love; the love that they hadn't expected the other party to reciprocate. 

Nikolai let out a nasally groan before he abruptly broke away from the kiss. He looked so solemn that Sergio did not question why he did so and instead waited patiently for him to explain. 

“I might be dying”, Nikolai dropped a massive bomb on Sergio.

“WHAT?!” Sergio practically screeched as he shook his beloved back and forth. He had just gotten together with his crush and now the said crush might be dying?!

“WHY-?! HOW-!!!? We need to visit a doctor. NOW!”

Nikolai was surprised by his boyfriend’s outburst but obediently followed when Sergio grabbed the car keys and dashed out of the house. 

***

Dr. Meyers directed a deadpan stare at the buffoons who were sitting in her clinic. They had rushed in here, wrecking havoc. The blonde guy had demanded with a shriek that his boyfriend be admitted in the ICU because he might be dying. The said boyfriend looked perfectly healthy, not including his swollen lips and red rimmed eyes. 

Dr. Meyers had a quirk that helped her determine the health status of any individual so she knew for fact that the red head wasn't anywhere near dying. 

Nevertheless, she sent the red head, Nikolai, for a full body scan and the results had just arrived. 

One look at the results and Dr. Meyers couldn’t believe that being such an idiot wasn’t illegal nowadays.

“Mr. Hughes (Nikolai), did you really go around telling people that you were dying?”

“Yeah, I mean, It hurt so bad. How could I not assume I was  dying?! Whenever I ate, my mouth would hurt real bad. An-And then, whenever I opened my mouth for too long, it would sting all over!! There is something living inside me and is out to kill me by starvation!! It wouldn’t even let me talk for a long time as it is afraid I would reveal its secre-”

OWWW

“See? I told you-”

“Mr. Hughes, you have cavities. 7 of them.”

“Oh,” Nikolai stupidly uttered. 

Sergoi’s face turned red from suppressing his laughter. He finally let loose and laughed till his tummy ached. Ah, his Nikki was just too cute. He tugged his beloved into a slow, sweet kiss. 

Sergio couldn't help but wonder if his beloved was so naive, was he really a villain? Between the two of them, who was truly the hero and who was the villain?

All these questions led to one big question Sergio had been thinking about since his childhood.

What makes one a hero?

bubblebunnytea

The story cover, synopsis and story seem to have no relation to each other so I'm sorry if I tricked you into reading it XD. 

Anyway, happy reading~

[Edited by Heart]

Chibi by Rat >.<
TYSM, its so cute