Words All The Way Down

Inspired by the following prompt: [WP] You are a powerful villain that has control over many things, including your own private life. You have a normal job, and a great partner that you’re in love with. However, after several years, your partner decides to reveal a secret: they are a hero. But not just any hero, it’s your archenemy.

Kurt’s partner, Lisa, plopped down next to him on the bed, wrapped in a towel after exiting the shower. The steam seeped into the bedroom from the bath; the fan droned on in the background. All those details ceased to matter when Lisa asked one simple question, “Hey Kurt, you have a moment to talk? I have something I want to talk about.”

Does she know, Kurt thought. Or, does she only suspect. I know I’ve been pulling some late nights recently planning my next bank heist, but she’s been out and about nearly as frequently. And, he thought this relationship was going so well.

He managed to croak out, “Sure honey. What do you want to talk about? I’m all ears.” Surely I can use my job as cover if she asks anything, he thought. Yeah. That’s it. They’ve just been keeping me for some late nights. New project and all that.

Lisa started, “Thanks!” Then, with much less enthusiasm, she continued, “this relationship has been going on so long that I wanted to say something so you didn’t worry. I’m sure you noticed that I spend a lot of late nights out, and I want to be very, very, very clear that I’m not cheating on you. In fact, I trust you a lot.” She took a moment to clear her throat. “So, just to keep you from worrying, I wanted to tell you that I’m the super hero Jummane.”

Kurt’s train of thought was obliterated by another coming in the opposite direction. Scraps of metal flew everywhere. Chunks on the ground burned. There were no survivors. Kurt coughed.

Lisa spoke quickly before he could start, “I know it crazy, but, please, just hear me out.”

He stood up from the bed and started pacing by the foot of their bed. “I’m listening. I just need to stand up.” An firetruck was now at the scene of the crash trying to do what it could to put out the flames. “So, how’d it happen?”

“Well, you know how I worked at the chemical factory a few years ago? It was right before we met.” Lisa got up from the bed and started to get ready for bed. “One day, the stereotypical hero thing happened, I fell into a chemical vat.” She shuddered a bit at the memory then seeming decided not to describe it further. “Next thing I know, I can fly and have super strength. From there, one thing lead to another. So, yeah, I’m Jummane. Please don’t be mad.” She laid back down on the bed, this time float slightly above the mattress to really have the point sink in.

Well, Kurt thought. This just made planning for the next heist a whole lot easier. He squatted down to bring his eyes to the level of a mattress pretending to process the fact that Lisa was now floating. The biggest problem from the last heist was that Jummane caught one of the getaway cars. He got back up and started pacing again, noting that Lisa was staring at him nervously now. In fact, Kurt thought, this will be great. I’ll just take Lisa on a date during the next heist and just make sure she’s somewhere she can’t be contacted. There’s this hike I’ve been meaning to take her on without cell service anyway. I’m going to be rich.

Kurt turned off the bathroom fan, stopping the background humming noise. He closed the door and slowly got into bed beside Lisa. He wrapped his arms around her and planted a kiss on her forehead. A feeling of contentment washed over him. He said, “I’m not mad at all. In fact, I’ve never been more proud to be your partner.”