Being tied to a chair was definitely not fun.

Matteo had been through it a handful of times, but he still felt just as stupid every time it happened. Especially now that his apprentice was sitting next to him in the exact same position.

"We don't feel so powerful anymore, do we?"

What Matteo hated even more were the speeches of the villains. Still the same and still just as annoying. Always bragging about how they outsmarted him, yet honestly, only coincidence played a role. He didn't pay attention for a moment, or he'd get surprised by something stupid, something he definitely wouldn't expect from an adult. Just like this time.

This fool was walking around them with his arms outstretched as if he was expecting applause at any moment, which of course never came. Matteo wouldn't be surprised at all if he was recording it and would add it later.

He was tempted to roll his eyes but restrained himself.

"What are we gonna do?" His apprentice leaned as close to him as he could, the moment the villain turned his back on them, and whispered.

The truth was that Matteo didn't have a complete plan yet. He couldn't use his abilities because he would hurt both himself and Speedsonic. Speaking of his apprentice, his ability also wasn't exactly useful when he was tied to the chair. Thus, they had no choice but to wait for an opportunity to escape.

But before Matteo could lean over and tell that to his partner, he noticed something unusual in the darkness. Something that looked all too much like eyes.

Their gazes met for a small moment, and the stranger in the darkness apparently needed no more to reveal his presence. A few steps were all it took, and Matteo knew immediately who he was looking at. And so did the villain.

It was obvious that he was pleased by his presence, judging from his huge grin, which very clearly betrayed the madness that haunted his mind. Matteo, on the other hand, snorted loudly.

"I knew you'd change your mind," the villain spoke, approaching the newcomer. While he looked more than satisfied, the mysterious man in the black costume, horns peeking out of his hood, didn't change his stance. Though his face was barely visible, his body betrayed that he was bored.

"Together we can dominate the wor-" He didn't get a chance to finish the sentence, prevented from doing so by a fist that landed on his jaw.

Matteo was shocked and he wasn't the only one.

"What?" There was a series of emotions on the villain's face, but before he could choose the right one, Revenger was at his side again and the next fist landed on his temple. It wasn't long before the masked criminal fell to the ground unconscious. And Revenger stepped over him as if nothing had happened.

"Never been a fan of villains' speeches."

"I thought you were working together." Matteo remained silent, recalculating the situation in his mind, but his apprentice was clearly too shocked to keep his thoughts to himself.

"So did he," the masked man replied without hesitation or interest in his tone. He even shrugged his shoulders as if it was a common thought.

He approached the two bound men and began to look at them as if he had never seen anyone restrained before. It was extremely annoying, and Matteo made sure to let it show on his face.

"What the hell are you doing?" Maybe it was because he'd been tied to the chair for too long, or maybe it was because his worst enemy was looking down on him, but Matteo couldn't keep quiet any longer and exploded.

"Ironically, I'm saving you," Revenger declared. "Now, how about you be good boys so I can untie you?"

"I don't trust you." Matteo continued to pierce him with his gaze, satisfied that his enemy had not taken another step forward, keeping an acceptable distance between them.

"I've never needed your trust, Citadel." Revenger's reply was again short and simple as if he wasn't doing anything unexpected.

A shiver ran down Matteo's spine as he heard the deep voice say his nickname.

"How do we know this isn't a trap?" Speedsonic decided to start his own interrogation.

"You don't." Another short answer, followed by a shrug.

Matteo knew that his apprentice, not used to situations like this, would not last much longer, and he wondered what to do. Trusting the Revenger was foolish, but then again, he couldn't think of a plan fast enough when he was standing right in front of him.

The horned masked man meanwhile sighed and seemed to have run out of patience. "Do you want me to untie you or not? Because I have better things to do."

Both heroes remained silent.

"Looks like I got my answer." Without another word, Revenger turned and walked towards where he had emerged from the shadows earlier.

"Wait!" Matteo regretted his words the moment he said them, but it was too late to take them back. Revenger stopped but didn't turn around, so it was clear he was waiting for more.

"What do you want in return?" Matteo knew that villains never did anything without getting something out of it. But he still had no idea what his nemesis was hoping for.

"Would it surprise you if I said nothing?" Revenger turned to face them again but didn't come closer like he had before.

"Bullshit," Matteo replied immediately with a scowl. A villain who helped someone out of the goodness of his heart? What would come next? Flying pigs?

Revenger chuckled, but the depth of his voice made it sound almost sinister.

"We both know that the moment I untie you, you'll use those powers of yours on me. So all I want is for you to leave me alone. We'll be even."

His request was simple, but it still managed to make Matteo's blood boil. What annoyed him most about Revenger was that he always managed to elude them, despite having no powers. No matter how hard they tried, he always outsmarted them, and they remained the laughingstock of the city.

"How do we know you'll leave us alone?" Speedsonic asked when Matteo failed to answer.

"I came to save you, didn't I?"

"But you're a villain," Speedsonic reminded him as if it was necessary.

"I like a good revenge and he got on my nerves." Revenger sounded amused as he turned his head to let everyone know who he meant.

"You're having fun, aren't you?" Matteo found his voice. This conversation was exhausting, and it was only a matter of time before the unconscious man woke up, but he still hadn't come up with a better plan. Revenger was proving to be more of a distraction for him than he would have liked.

"You don't want an honest reply, C." Again, he sounded more than amused and Matteo gritted his teeth. He always called him C just before he slipped through his fingers. He hated that nickname.

The masked man tilted his head as if thinking and then made a satisfied sound. Matteo was immediately alerted and straightened up as he started to approach them again.

"I would love to just leave you here, but the thought of it makes my heart ache." Revenger touched his chest to underline his words, though everyone in the room knew he didn't mean them. "So I have an idea. Here."

Matteo's eyes focused on the knife in his hand, flashing in the reflection of the lights.

"What are you doing?" Speedsonic asked, and although he tried to sound neutral, his voice betrayed him.

"Granting you your way out," he replied, moving closer again, but instead of stopping directly in front of them, he walked around them and stood behind the red-suited hero.

Matteo turned his head as far as he could to see him, deciding whether to use his powers, even if it was risky. Revenger, in his judgement, was planning to harm his apprentice and he couldn't let that happen.

But before he could alter the gravity of the room, Revenger did something unexpected. He put the knife into Speedsonic's hands.

"Fingers crossed for you," said the masked man, and as if it was a normal day, he began to walk slowly towards the door.

Matteo almost shouted at him to come back but stopped at the last moment. They no longer needed his help, and it was more important that they concentrated on their escape.

"Can you guide me?" His apprentice's words brought him back to reality and he immediately began to give instructions. Time was running out and Matteo didn't want to spend another second in this room.

…

He couldn't even remember when he'd had such a bad day. Being saved by his own archenemy. It was ridiculous.

The blonde gripped the bottle of wine tightly in his hands, but immediately took a deep breath and loosened his grip. There was no point in making an unnecessary mess in front of a door that wasn't even his.

He was in desperate need of a break, and he knew just where to look for the right kind of relaxation.

Before his own dark thoughts consumed him again, he raised his hand and knocked on the door.

It wasn't long before a handsome man appeared with a foxy smile on his lips. They both knew why Matteo had come to see him, and neither tried to hide their excitement.

Dark eyes fell for a moment on the wine in Matteo's hands but then returned immediately to his face.

"Come in."