It Started With a Ransom

In the Open

It was that night, and the Lads, Hilda, and Rusty were going through every bit of information they could come up with. It wasn't much. "We have to find something!" X-Ray exclaimed. Hilda looked at him sympathetically. "We will." She promised. Before X-Ray could respond, their door slammed open. "Vav!" Ash called. Vav quickly ran over to her. "Ash! What did you find?" X-Ray groaned. "You got her working on this?" He complained. "She's just a reporter." Ash crossed her arms. "I happen to have powers as well, X-Ray." She told him. "Oh, you know when I'm lying, I'm so scared!" X-Ray retorted. "She's just a human lie detector. I don't get why you're ok with dating her, Vav! She's just like Y/N! You should be worried!" "I am worried about her!" Vav snapped. Everyone turned to look at him. "I love Ash, do you not think I would be?! But she can fight... Something we should have taught Y/N." Everyone was quiet for a moment. Ash cleared her throat. "I...uh...found something..." Everyone automatically perked up. "What is it?!" X-Ray exclaimed. "Well way way way on the other side of the city, the police found the body of a robber." X-Ray narrowed his eyes. "And?" "And he looks just like the guy Vav described as the one who held Y/N at gunpoint." She pulled out a picture of the body, and the Lads perked up. "That's him!" Vav squeaked. "Who killed him?" Ash smiled. "The police don't know-" "Then why mention this?!" X-Ray raged."This is nothing!" Ash glared at him. "-but." "Oh." X-Ray said quietly. "Look at this mark on his chest." She pulled out another picture. It was a close up of the robber's chest. There were five welts on it. "So?" Rusty asked. But everyone else got it. They turned to Mogar, who grimaced. "What?" Rusty asked. The bear vigilante sighed and pointed to his chest, where five faint marks, similar to the ones on the robber, were visible. "The Mad king's crown." He explained. "It hurts like a motherfucker." Vav turned to the picture. "So if the Mad King killed this man..." "Then we have an idea of where to look." Ash finished with a smile. Vav grinned and lifted her in the air. When he placed her down he kissed her. "I love you so fucking much!" He said. X-Ray sighed. "Thank you, Ash." He mumbled, smiling. "No problem. I want her back, to." "We'll get her back." Hilda said confidently. "But we all need to sleep." Everyone nodded in agreement and left, Vav giving Ash one more kiss. "We'll find her." He said when she left. "X-Ray smiled. "I know."

It was the next morning, and you woke up to the smell of pancakes and bacon. You looked up just in time to see Mad King walk in with a tray. On it, a plate of pancakes and bacon, along with toast and orange juice. "Good morning." He said, smiling at you. You sat up and smiled back. "Good morning." You replied. He handed you the tray. "This is new." You noted. "I like it.""I just thought you could use some breakfast." Mad King shrugged. He sat beside you as you picked up the fork and took a bite of pancake. He kissed your cheek and you blushed. He chuckled. "You're so cute." He whispered as he gave you another kiss. "So you're no longer afraid to say it?" You whispered back as he kissed your neck. You felt him smirk into your neck. "Not at all." You shivered. "I-I'm trying to eat." You said. He chuckled. "Go ahead." He kissed your ear and you shivered again. "I'm not stopping you." You picked up your fork and tried to take another bite, but Mad King kissed your neck and dragged his lips delicately across it. You closed your eyes and moaned. He laughed lightly. "S-stop." You mumbled. "I-I'm trying to eat." "Am I distracting you?" Mad King asked with a smirk. You opened your eyes and narrowed them at him. "Yes." Then you smiled softly. "But... maybe later?" Mad King's eyes lit up. "Is that an invitation?" You smirked. "Maybe." "Don't be a tease." He growled with a smile. Suddenly he frowned. "What's wrong?" You asked. "What are we?" He questioned. You bit your lip. "I don't know." You admitted. "We're more than hostage and kidnapper, right?" "Yeah. I don't know what we are... but-" You put the tray to the side and kissed him on the lips. You pulled away smiling. "-I don't even feel like a hostage anymore." He looked at you lovingly. "God, I wish we had met on different circumstances." He muttered. You nodded sadly. "Me, too." After a moment of silence, Mad King stood. "Finish eating. Then meet me in my office. You remember where that is, right?" You nodded. Mad King smiled as he left. You grinned happily as you ate.

The Mad King was working on paperwork when you walked in. He smiled when he saw you. "Y/N. Sit." He gestured to a chair, and you sat. He sighed. "Have you decided... if you'd be alright if the Lads didn't choose you?" You bit your lip. "I thought you were sure they would?" You asked. "I am." He told you. "But... I really, really like you." You tilted your head with a smile. "And I you." He grinned. "And... I decided... against better judgement..." He sighed, then smiled brightly at you. "I'd prefer to have you here." Your eyes widened. "B-but your plan-" "I can make a new one." He interrupted. "But you... I'll lose you. After they give their powers, I know they'll move you out of my range of fire. They'll probably take you out of the city, so I won't be able to take you back." "I could come back." You pointed out. "I doubt they'd let you out of their sight. But it's up to you. Do you want to stay, or go free?" You sighed. "My freedom comes with a price." You reminded him. Mad King nodded sadly. "I know. I'm sorry that you have to make this choice." "And how exactly do I make the choice?" You asked. "While I believe they will choose you, I also believe if you give them a small speech about how important they are to the city, they'll choose their powers." You nodded, thinking. "They'll ask what you'll do to me if they don't choose me. If you say you'll kill me they'll choose me for sure." "But if I say I'll keep you forever, they'll either find it fishy, or choose their powers and never stop trying to find you." "X-Ray and Vav would would do the latter." You told him. "But Mogar would be suspicious. And if they bring Hilda, then you'd be in trouble." Mad King put his hand on your shoulder. "But as I said; it's up to you. Do you want to stay?" You looked away and bit your lip. Mad King sighed and removed his hand. "You have until tomorrow to think about it. You can go." You stood to leave, but before you did, you kissed him. "I wish I didn't have to choose." You whispered. He nodded sympathetically. "I'm sorry I got you in this." "No. Thank you." You kissed him again. "I'm glad I met you." He kissed you back. "I'm glad I met you, too. No matter what you choose... I love you." Your eyes sparkled when he said it. "I love you, too." God he just made this a lot harder. He kissed your neck. "I'm sorry."