Villain Retirement

"That… meeting went well, right?"

"That was a meeting? Wasn't it more like Riley bullying his way through his victims? Anyway… what are we doing in front of this store? It's closed."

"I suppose we have to wait for grandmother."

Riley and his group were currently in front of the Korean Shaved Ice store— but alas, it was currently closed. Considering Charlotte was included in the meeting, it would seem she shut it down.

"Well, you guys wait here. Elliot and I will try to see what else is in this place," Ellie shrugged as she started walking away, "I thought this place would be more… lively, you know? I was actually supposed to enroll here when it was announced a few years ago— good thing I didn't."

"...We're in the middle of a crisis, sis," Ellie commented, "If you didn't notice, there are refugees around us. And if you enrolled in the Academy, I am sure you'll also join the Dark Millenium, pft."

"...You might be right about that… and I'll be dead," Ellie then said as she glanced at Riley. Most people don't know it yet, but Riley and 2 others killed all the students they tried to recruit from the Mega Academy. Perhaps joining the Dark Millenium early on actually saved her life.

"..." Ellie then slightly raised an eyebrow as Riley also glanced at her. Come to think of it— she joined the Dark Millenium thinking Darkday was their leader, but it was just based on some lies and propaganda set up by a deranged clone of Megawoman that escaped from the Government.

No, the reality was way more complicated than that. The mind of the clone was distorted and faulty, but she was mildly right— there are threats coming from outside the planet now. A lot has happened since then that it almost felt like a lifetime ago, and perhaps for her, it was.

She has a new identity, and she is now even working directly below Darkday himself… in all actuality, she was technically back in the Dark Millenium— it just has a different name, Paige and Paragon Superhero Agency.

"Go with them, John."

"..." Ellie's thoughts were then disrupted as she heard Riley's words.

"Are you sure, boss?"

"Yes."

"Hm, alright," John nodded, before gently pushing Ellie and Elliot away, "I know this place like the back of my hand, I'll tour the…"

"Did you wish to go with them, Paige?"

"Oh, no," Paige, who was watching as John and the others faded away deeper into the mall, quickly shook her head as Riley talked to her, "It's just… weird."

"What is?"

"The world, this…" Paige started to back away as she stretched her arms to the side before she slowly spun and started looking everywhere, "...All of this. The world feels weird now, don't you think? There's so much death and tragedy, that it almost feels like we've accepted it as our reality. Like how Empress decided that you're just a part of Earth's reality."

"..."

"I know we will get over this. We're actually already starting to and it hasn't even been a full day since the House of Super were eradicated," Paige sighed, "But that is what's weird. We always just move on like nothing happened. Nobody really addresses why it's happening."

"That is just the way it is, Paige," Riley tilted his head, slightly confused as to what Paige meant by her words, "Humans are used to tragedy, it is in our history. It is how we advanced as a people."

"But we don't have to be," Paige then said as she stood in front of Riley, "We don't have to be. You have the power to make that happen, Riley. You can prevent any wars from happening, you can stop any oppression— you can even make it so that there would no longer be any villains. You… 

…can rule this world, Riley."

"..." Riley didn't really say anything, and just returned Paige's gaze; the two of them, staring at each other's eyes even after seconds.

"..."

"..."

"...Pft," Paige then almost let out a small snort as she looked away from Riley; before tugging on his sleeves and resting her cheek on his chest, "I was joking, Riley. Don't actually do something stupid like that. You're already getting minus points to your sister, you don't want to add up any— !!!"

Paige could not help but almost take in a deep gasp as Riley suddenly placed his hand on her hair, slightly brushing it before resting his chin on top of her head. But before Paige could even say anything, Riley already pulled himself away; once again just walking in front of the store and just…

…staring at nothing.

"What… was that?" Paige whispered to herself; her chest, almost thumping from her clothes as she looked at Riley's back, 

"What was that!?" She then raised her voice as she leaped towards Riley and embraced him from behind, "Don't… don't tell me you're starting to like me, Riley?"

"I have always liked you, Paige," Riley did not hesitate as he glanced back at Paige, "You always say what is on your mind, no matter how the world would perceive it. It… reminds me of Hannah and Aerith."

"Hm…" Paige squinted her eyes before letting out a teasing giggle, "...Do you like anyone that just slightly resembles your sister? I think I got your type now, Riley boy."

"I do," Riley once again answered without any hesitation.

"Pft, you're cute whenever you're like this," Paige burrowed her face on Riley's back.

"You know, I met my mother yesterday."

"Hm?"

"Both of them," Riley whispered as he just stared at the padlocked store in front of him; his eyes, almost reflecting an image.

"...When did that happen?"

"Minutes before I destroyed Mars."

"...Oh," Paige couldn't really remove herself from Riley's back after hearing his words, "...I thought both of your mothers are like… gone?"

"Well, Diana just disappeared. Alice was supposed to be dead, but it turns out Diana is trying to revive her."

"...That's weird."

"It is, no?" Riley breathed out, "But can I ask you a question since you are used to having hallucinations, Paige?"

"...What?"

"Which sounds more probable for you— inheriting your mother's illness, or her showing herself to you since the two of you are connected and because she is slowly being revived?"

"...Well, the former sounds more possible?"

"...Then do you see the woman standing in front of us right now?"

"Huh?" Paige finally pulled herself away from Riley as she quickly looked to where Riley was pointing… only to see a door.

"I… don't see anyone?" Paige blinked a couple of times, "Are you… seeing someone there?"

"My biological mother."

"What!?" Paige took in a deep breath, "What… what is she doing?"

"Just whispering…" Riley sighed, "...Kill everyone, hurt everyone, a monster, you're a monster, just the usual."

"What do you mean just the usual!?"

"Oh, I've always heard the whispers," Riley shrugged, "It's only just lately that it gained a face. My other mother said that it was possible that I might have inherited my mother's illness."

"What… does that mean?"

"Alzheimer's, or whatever my biological mother really had. Oh, it's gone now," Riley then said as he finally looked away from the door.

"Wait… what?" Paige's eyes quickly started to redden, "What… what do you mean Alzheimer's?"

"Oh, nothing is confirmed," Riley blinked as he noticed the tone of Paige's voice shifting, "I, for one, actually think she's just showing herself to me since she is slowly being resu—"

"Is what you said true, Riley!?"

And before Riley could finish his words, Hannah suddenly appeared behind them.

"..." Riley and Paige quickly turned around, only to see that the rest of the Baby Crew were also there; their heads, slightly leaning out from the corner of one of the other stores. Riley ignored Hannah, and instead turned his eyes towards Silvie,

"I thought you didn't like using your abilities to eavesdrop, Ms. Savelievna?"

"That…" Silvie couldn't really come up with an answer as she and the others just started showing themselves one by one, "I… I wanted to make sure you weren't up to something bad."

"I thought Empress already gave me immunity. There is no use in—"

"Do you think I agree to—" Bella quickly covered Silvie's mouth before she could say anything else.

"We… we're cool, right… Riley?" Bella then took in a small gulp as she pulled Silvie away.

"I suppose we are, Bella," a hint of a smile appeared on Riley's face, "I never had a problem with you."

"T… that's what I thought," Bella chuckled, before also grabbing Gary, who seemed to want to say something, "This is not the time to be stupid. What the fuck are the two of you doing?"

Bella could feel Gary's breath even just by holding his arm. She couldn't blame him, of course. After all, his father was one of the people that died in Toronto. No, each of the people here right now was one way or another affected by Darkday's reign of terror.

But Empress was and is right— they just have to accept the situation.

"Forget about all of that, is what you're saying true!?" Hannah then stepped forward as she blocked the rest of the Baby Crew from Riley's view.

"Which part, sister?"

"Everything! Is… is mother alive? And how is she involved in all of this!?" Hannah screamed, her voice almost cracking.

"No one has told you yet about mother?" Riley blinked a couple of times, "I thought we already discussed this before I went away. Didn't Empress already tell you?"

"Tell me what!?"

"Mother is a Themarian."

"...What?"

***AUTHOR NOTES***

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