Villain Retirement

Darkness.

The horizon that was once bathed by the violent rays of the sun was now surrounded by nothing but darkness. The sands on the beach that would tickle you with their warmth, now as cold as a winter's bed.

There were no stars, not even the moon was allowed to grace the endless ocean with its presence; if one were to shut their ears and not hear the whispers and calls of the water, then one might actually think that one had their eyes closed.

There was one, however, that almost glowed in the darkness— a silhouette; his long white hair just flowing with the wind.

Riley had been staring and living inside this darkness for a while now, not even letting his breaths break the silence for hours… until he was approached by Katherine, that is.

"Riley, can we talk?"

"No."

"..." Katherine just stood there as she was instantly rejected by Riley. Still, she did not leave and just stayed behind him— waiting for him to actually turn around and look at her. But even after another hour, Riley just remained silent.

He didn't even glance, not even a slight gesture or movement that told Katherine anything; but even then, she didn't leave and just stood there.

"Can we talk now?" And after another hour had passed, Katherine once again asked. And this time, Riley nodded.

"I wanted to talk about Karina."

"..." Riley slightly turned his head to glance at Katherine, before focusing on the darkness, "Are you going to give me the reason why you didn't abort her, Katherine?"

"...Let's just talk about us," Katherine then let out a small sigh as she took a step forward and stood right beside Riley,

"I know we don't really have any relationship, and what we had was just… a strange moment of weakness. I got carried away and did things that I wouldn't do. I was a hero… and then just all of a sudden you came along and I wasn't anymore."

"..."

"You have this weird effect on people, Riley. You make people do things they would otherwise never do. Like an incubus that drains people of their own free will. It's like everything you touch just becomes rotten."

"Hm."

"But I'm not blaming you for anything that happened to me," Katherine then said as she looked at Riley, "You were just a boy and I was already a full-grown woman capable of her own thoughts."

"I blackmailed and threatened you, Katherine," Riley breathed out, "I remember telling you I would cut your mother's tongue and place it under your pillow while you sleep."

"And I could have jumped off the train anytime I wanted. I was going to kill myself, you know? At first, I thought the reason why I didn't go through with it is that I was a coward, but no," Katherine shook her head, before walking in front of Riley, blocking his view of the horizon with her eyes that stared directly in his eyes,

"The reason I didn't kill myself is because I was stupid. Excited at the thought that my usually boring life finally took a turn into something exhilarating— I got off from the high of being by your side."

Katherine then very gently touched Riley's cheek,

"And I still do. I think I have gone completely insane— and just thinking about whatever it is you're about to do excites me greatly."

"..."

"Finish whatever it is that you have to do here on Earth. And after you're done…

…I will be beside you wherever corner of the universe you wish to go to."

"I will kill everyone, Katherine."

"When did I ever stop you?" Katherine let out a small sigh as she retracted her hand and started walking away, "But as your former teacher, can I offer you some advice?"

"..." Riley only nodded in response.

"Whatever it is you're feeling now; grief, regret… let them all out."

"I am not feeling anything, Katherine."

"You're wrong," Katherine once again sighed as she stopped walking, "I have never seen you more human than I have today. Despite what you think, Riley, you are a completely different man compared to the first time I met you."

"I can't change."

"Have you forgotten that I'm an empath?" Katherine let out a small giggle, "The only one in the entire universe that can directly feel what you're really feeling, Riley. No one else, just me."

"..."

"And one more thing…

…talk to your mother. She doesn't have long."

"I know, she told me."

"...Talk to her. You both need it."

And with those words, Katherine once again left her mark on the sand as Riley was once again left alone in the darkness.

"..."

"..."

The silence lasted only a minute, however, as flickers of light soon echoed through the darkness— a thousand fireflies, now suddenly dancing in the air and leaving not an ounce of darkness untouched.

And soon, a pair of arms wrapped around Riley from behind, tightly but very gently clasping on his chest. The owner of the arms did not speak, however, as she just rested and buried her face on his back; her slightly orange hair, turning brown from all the green particles floating around them.

"..." Riley slowly raised his hand; his eyes, staring at the light that quickly landed on his finger. Paige and Riley just stayed like this for an entire hour, not even uttering a single word or a heavy breath.

And then, once again, without any word or even as much as a whisper, Paige just walked away. The light, however, remained surrounding Riley; as if replacing the stars and moon that should have been scattered across the empty horizon.

And once again, Riley was left alone.

"..."

"..."

More and more minutes passed, and right when the silence once again almost permeated the darkness— a breath unexpectedly escaped Riley's lips.

"Mothers, I know the two of you have been hiding there for quite a while now."

"..."

"..."

"I told you, he knows."

Riley was about to leave the beach, but as soon as he made his first step, two silhouettes emerged from the sand a meter away from him— Diana and Alice.

"We've never really had to talk about death before, have we?" Diana was the first to speak as she patted the grains of sand that were resting on her shoulders.

"Because we don't need to, adoptive mother," Riley shook his head before looking Diana in the eyes,

"I am used to death."

"Not like this," Diana let out a small sigh, before approaching Riley and trying to wrap her arms around him— but alas, as always, Riley avoided her; still, Diana didn't seem to mind as she just sighed and shook her head,

"You have never experienced death like this before. I know… how much Diley—John meant to you… and it's okay to be sad, honey. You have emotions just like the rest of us, and the people that very much care for you can help you understand and deal with it."

"..." And while Diana was speaking to Riley without any boundaries, Alice could really only look to the side as she hears each of her words; wondering what she was even doing there. Riley had already lived an entire life without her… it was truly selfish of her to just jump into his life, no matter how short it would be.

"I know you've really only listened to your sister; and for some reason that Paige girl and Aerith," Diana slightly shook her head, "But I want you to listen to me now…

…throughout the thousands of species, creatures, and races in the entire Known Universe, there are many that can't process their emotions. There are species out there that are even born without them. But no matter how logical, no matter how emotionless they are made to be— Grief always exists in any creature capable of thought."

"Grief?" Riley returned his mother's gaze, "You also think I am feeling grief, adoptive mother?"

"Only you can answer that," Diana let out a breath and smiled, "But what I do know, is that grief makes people unpredictable, hurt. And if destroying worlds can help you recover from it, then do it— you always did have tantrums as a child, and the only one that could stop you is your sister."

"She won't be able to stop me this time, adoptive mother," Riley shook his head, "I have her abilities, making me immune to—"

"She'll try, you know how she is. She will stop you, but she will always be by your side, no matter what."

"And what about you, adoptive mother?"

"We'll see. I might just tag along, it's been a while since I travelled— I might need the vacation. We've also never had a vacation together, maybe this is a chance for us to bond," Diana let out a small giggle as her feet slowly left the sand,

"But the Universe is a very curious playground, Riley. I'm sure something will change your mind along the way…

…you're quite fickle that way."

"W… wait, where are you going!?" Alice could not help but look back and forth between the leaving Diana and Riley, "I thought you were going to back me up!?"

"I have already said my piece, you can talk to him alone, old friend. You should be stable for now."

"What!? But we— I need your motherly wisdom!"

Alice stretched her hand toward Diana— but alas, she already flew away, splitting the clouds that were blocking the night sky above.

"...Fuck."

And so, Riley and Alice finally had the chance to be alone.

"..."

"..."

"...What's up?"