Villain x Hero / oxo / closed

Solo had to keep himself breathing steady, not too attentively, but he did have to remind himself a few times to stay as calm as he was. He had quitted his own miniscule shaking as he felt Phantom sort of relax in his arms, but didn’t loosen his grip.
When Phantom looked up to him, Padlock let out the most diminutive melancholic smile he could muster, just letting the man know that he was completely okay. But when the reaction held more tears and additional shaking, he quickly reverted back to his more serious demeanor.
“Val, you don’t have to be sorry,” he said, almost choking out a stiffled laugh. “Please. I’m not upset, I promise you. I’m just glad you’re okay. I’m not upset.”
With that, he slowly started tapping on Phantom’s back with his fingers. He had read somewhere in some kind of half-scratched off magazine advertising some sort of a neurosience hoax medication, and the side passage had said something along the lines of ‘rhythm helps focus.’ It was a stretch, but Padlock saw the logic to it. It was like a metronome, to keep the mind elsewhere, and keep it tethered there so it didn’t wander. It was a tactic he had used many times himself, to the point where he barely noticed doing it anymore. His fingers would randomly tap on his leg, countertops, railings, if he was ever having trouble thinking. And for some reason, it always helped him. He guessed it was time to test the theory if it would for other people as well.

A wave of relief washed over Padlock as he held Phantom and the man finally calmed. It was as if the anvil that had been wrapping itself around his heart finally unraveled, and his stomach no longer churned with that paranoid nausea.
“Ph— Val, look at me,” he began, upon hearing the man’s words. He tugged back and slipped one of his hands beneath Phantom’s chin, lifting it up slightly so he could meet his eyes. He gave a shy smile, tilting his head to the side. “I’m not upset with you. And I don’t have the right to be. You called because you needed help. And you barely even yelled— you basically choked out my name through a series of couch cushions. I wasn’t sleeping anyway, it’s not like you woke me up. You needed my help, and I gave you my help, on my own terms. I’m not upset with you. For this, I could never be. You don’t need to apologize.”
He paused for a moment, dipping his head so he was eye-level.
“Val, you’re not being stupid either. You got stuck in a flipping couch. Now, I haven’t met many people who have done that, but I’d say this reaction is completely valid. You don’t have to feel bad.”
Pad kept his voice as steady as he could, his own breathing much more calm by now. Now, he wasn’t the best in the ‘social’ aspect of life and how to deal with people, but he had heard kind words from his father while he had been here, so he carried those with him.

“I swear to you I’m not lying,” he said, putting a hand up defensively. “And you aren’t annoying. Like I said, everything you’re doing is completely valid. And I’ll stand here holding you until you understand that. I don’t care how long it takes or how long it has taken, just let me help you without you feeling bad about it.”
With that, he slipped his hand back to where it previously had been, interlacing his fingers behind Phantom’s back.
With the man’s next question, Padlock shook his head, unable to keep himself from stifling a laugh once more. It was so abnormal that someone cared that much about him, so he almost found it funny.
“No, no, everything’s totally fine,” he said, voice genuine. “It’s just that I took a ‘nap’ earlier today so I was having trouble sleeping. Everything else was very nice. Your bed is very.. comfortable.”
Pad said the last line a little embarrassed, taking his hand and rubbing the back of his neck while he adverted his gaze. Now that he thought about it, he could go on and on about how amazing everything was. The clothes were light and nice, the bed was warm and smelled like Phantom, the windows were open just enough that a colder breeze blew in, and the moon made it light but not too light…
He shook his head, slipping his arm back.
“You don’t need to worry about me right now,” he murmured, blue eyes dancing across Val’s face as he smiled. “And stop apologizing for what I’m having to do. If I’m being honest here.. I’ve wanted to hold you this close for a while now.”

Now, Padlock was extremely bright. His mind worked in ways that many people couldn’t even try to comprehend. he was slow to things, but that’s because he took the time to take everything into full account. It took him weeks to finish puzzles, but he finished them. It took him weeks to unlock box puzzles,but he unlocked them.
It took time to plan out the overthrowing and ilfiltrating of the government, but he was getting there.

However, when it came to something like this, he was absolutely and utterly ill-prepared. He had no clue what to do in anything social-wise, and he was extremely dull when it came to cues, body language, or the like.
“More what?” he asked, genuinely confused as he glanced down to Phantom. “I’ll hold you as long as you need me too, if that’s what you’re asking.”
‘But ‘more’ in what sense? he asked himself internally, cocking his head in the slightest. He could hold on as long as the man needed, but he didn’t know if that’s what he had meant. Wait…
His face grew a light shade of red and he adverted his eyes, heart beating faster now even though the nerves of the previous situation had faded away.
“Wait, you didn’t mean—,” he began, then cut himself off, looking extremely flustered. “What?”

_{(Ah, sorry! I was out all night yesterday)}

“Phantom,” he asked softly, all of his nerves melting away as he moved a hand up, setting it gently on the side of his face. He curled in his fingers, making the man look up at him again. He gave another one of those smiles, shaking his head and trying not to laugh. “Shut up.”
He let his hand rest again on the back of Val’s shoulder, after he knew the man would continue to meet his eyes.
“While I’d be happy to oblige,” he began, still unable to cease his diminutive laughter, “you just woke up. You just had a nightmare, and you seem extremely emotional— no offense. Now, this isn’t me just acting like I’m a bad boy you randomly picked up from the drive-in movies, but I don’t want you to do anything you’re gonna regret in the morning.”
He held up one of his fingers, as if to hush any contradictory words Phantom presented before he continued.
“If, in the morning, if you still feel this way— then you tell me. But it’s the middle of the night, you’re tired, I’m tired, and I wan’t to make sure you’re telling the truth. Not just to me, but to yourself as well.
“In addition— I don’t care if you say ‘oh, Padlock, I’ve been feeling this way forever,’” the man carried on, mockingly making his voice higher to impersonate Val, saying his own name all drawled out. “It’s impulsive. And, hell, I’m extremely impulsive. But this is going to be the one time I’m not, because good god, there’s nothing I want more then to have you telling the truth right now.”

“I was actually just about to propose that idea,” Padlock murmured, much more casually than he thought he could. But— now that he had seen Phantom’s true colors, he felt much more comfortable. He trusted him, probably a little too much for his liking.
“And, if— or when, rather— you do feel that way in the morning, you tell me, and we’ll talk. If not, I’ll act like it was a dream,” he continued. “And it could be as if it never happened. Although, I’m not really counting on that. No pressure.”

He kept his stupid smile on his face, unable to wipe it off. In truth, it did feel like a dream he was having. If only his hands didn’t ache, he’d be completely convinced. Happily, that wasn’t the case, and he was actually very grateful he was moderately in pain. It meant this was real.
He gave Phantom another quick hug, then took one of his hands, figuring the man wouldn’t want him to let go just yet. Pad led him back to the room, his own eyes gazing tiredly over the messed up blankets, half on the floor due to him stumbling around and out the door. He slowly made his way over, sitting on the side of it and waiting for Phantom to take his pick of which side he wanted— if it even mattered.

Solo gave a smile, letting himself be flopped down onto the bed. In truth he was relieved, gleeful that he could keep Phantom close.
He couldn’t remember the last time he actually talked to someone, let alone held them in his arms. He was always convinced he didn’t need anyone, didn’t ever need someone with him or someone to hold— or to hold him. Now that he had it, it felt like he wanted it— needed it, almost— all along. He hadn’t understood the draw to it, always seeing some government file on who was with who, who was doing who, and never understood the draw of relationships. In politics, it just seemed they got in the way and caused trouble. In his own household… it seemed they did the same thing. What was the draw? It all seemed useles to him.
Until he found this. Until he saw Phantom the first time, did he actually begin to understand that yearning. It was odd, and he hated it at first, but Padlock was nothing but impulsive and got what he wanted, so he didn’t even think twice.
“Yeah,” he said, chuckling. “I’ll hold you. For as long as you need me too, Val.”

Now, Padlock wasn’t normally one to be very cuddly. He had never really understood the draw of it. But, like before, this was different. Very much so, considering he found that he wanted to stay right here, just like this, for as long as he possibly could.
“And I’d be fine with that,” he replied, shaking his head as he closed his eyes, burying his face into the pillow. “I don’t have to be careful at all, if this is what you want. And, plus, since when have I been careful? I jumped out of a window this evening. I jumped off a ladder after that. You really overestimate how much I think things through. I call myself smart but in all honesty, it’s just impulse. And the fact that I wanted to look all dramatic and cool.”
He paused for a moment, ducking his head down so his voice was muffled. He let out a long sigh, tensing up as he felt the ache from his shoulders appear again, and then relaxing once more.
“Now, shut up,” he said teasingly, his voice still stifled by the pillow. “Go to sleep so I can talk to you in the morning.”
He let out one last sigh before curling up around Phantom, and then he was out like a light.

(Yep, sounds good :)

Solomon had achieved yet another dreamless sleep, and good lord, he was so extremely happy to actually be in a bed. His cot was comfortable, sure, but by now, he would have already been up and to his computer, hunched over and following whatever he could.
Work.
He was on the cusp of sleep and waking, but that one word sent him over the edge. He had work to do. It was probably early morning, he was probably in his cot, in that stupid dark and cold maintenance room. He’d get up, have an energy drink, and rewire everything from the previous night of running through it to escape.
Wait. No. He wasn’t at his hideout.
There was somebody next to him. He usually didn’t bring people back… he actually never brought people back.
Suddenly, the previous night came washing back in little waves that he could pick up like puzzle pieces and put together, finally retrieving the whole picture. He was here, in Phantom’s house, and he needed to talk to him desperately.
He fluttered open his eyes, watching with a smile as the man fidgeted around.
“Morning, Phantom,” he said humorously, pushing himself up so he was sitting, while running his fingers through his hair. He winced slightly as the wrap shifted, biting his lip to hide the discomfort. “I take it you slept wonderfully trapped in my loving embrace?”
His words nearly dripped with sarcasm, him wagging his head tauntingly.

Padlock had to keep himself from shaking his head.
Is this what he wanted?
Yes.
Would he love to just… whisk the man away, off his feet like they said in movies?
Absolutely.
But… was it smart?
Absolutely… not.
Phantom— or Valentine, rather— had no clue who Padlock really was. He didn’t even know his real name. He didn’t know that Padlock had run away when he was ten, began his research at fourteen, faked his death at eighteen, and sat under the city by himself, hiding his identity since then. He didn’t know his backstory, or anything he was about. It made Pad wonder— how could Phantom like him this much if he knew relatively nothing? In fact, Padlock wasn’t sure if there was anyone in the entire world that knew of a living breathing individual going by Solomon Moss. And, until he got full confirmation that Phantom wasn’t working with the cops, he’d keep it that way. The second the law knew his real self… he was in trouble.
“What is there to ask?” Padlock murmured, smirking. Despite his teasing and relaxed manor, there was guilt about the whole thing tugging at his gut. Still, “I let you know my answer last night. Were you too out of it to remember, or do you just want to hear my confession again?”

Padlock had to keep himself from smiling and jumping around like an idiot, hit breath caught in his throat as he traced Phantom’s featured with his eyes. He was so happy. But so nervous. So scared. If not for the bigger issues, the smaller ones as well.
Maybe— just maybe— it was hard to believe, but Padlock… had never been in a relationship before. Hell, he had never even kissed anybody, let alone gone further. He didn’t know what he was doing, whatsoever. He just knew what he felt… even if what he felt was the most confusing thing in the world. On one hand, he was telling himself to go for it, because whatever consequence it brought him, he could handle. He had handled so much worse. On the other hand… what if he couldn’t handle it. What if he not only had to face a cold and empty prison cell, and a figurative guillotine, but also had to get his heart all broken in the mix? He hated it. Everything about the whole situation made his stomach churn with both guilt and those stupid, stupid butterflies. God, he despised those butterflies.
But, as he looked at Phantom— at Valentine— he only saw a person. Not a guy trying to foil his plans. Not the man who had been keeping him from doing what he wanted for the past four years. Not the man who had almost choked him out the other day, then tackled him right after. No, this was just a person, and one whom Padlock couldn’t seem to just forget about.
So maybe all those factors cancelled out the others.
“Fine,” he said, rolling his eyes exaggeratedly. “I agree. I also like you, idiot, and I would also like more.”
Before he continued, he held up a hand defensively.
“However… I need to know you’re absolutely positive. Just a simple promise.”

No words could make Padlock as conflicted as he was feeling now. No words had ever made him more simultaneously crestfallen, guilty, and exhilarated.
Phantom had never agreed with him. Well, he wouldn´t be surprised if Phantom didn´t even know what he was doing. The whole thing just made him confused. For so long, Padlock had been wonderful at puzzles. Wonderful at thinking not only outside the box, but outside the entire concept. But then it came to Phantom, and he had no clue. If Phantom had felt this way for a year now, then why had he continued doing what he was doing? Wouldn’t he have confronted him earlier on? Or… had he been hired to take him down? Now, that raised even more concerns. That meant Padlock had other enemies that Val had some kind of tie to, whether that be using Phantom to get to Pad, or some kind of blackmail situation.
Sure, some people would classify Padlock as smart. In reality, that wasn’t the case. He was just such a paranoid over-thinker, that someone would suspect he’s actually a genius.
His entire mind screamed for him to disagree— the fight or flight response desperate for flight. But… he just couldn’t bring himself to leave. Couldn’t bring himself to say no. For once in his life he just wanted to be weak— throw his paranoia out the window with the rest of his mission. Still, he knew he couldn’t. He had too much time invested in this, he was in too deep, and he’d finish what he’d started.
Maybe, however, just maybe… he could use this. Act like he let his guard down completely. Then he could get an insight on Phantom. Act like the man had earned his full trust. Then, see his real self. See if he was actually being truthful. Sure, Pad had had doubts of his whole ‘visage’ last night, but he had been tired, and he was back on his guard today. He wouldn’t let that happen again.
“Oh, are you now?” he asked mockingly. “Perhaps— just to spite you— perhaps I make you wait longer. Unless you take matters into your own hands, it seems as though you might just have to hang on a little while more. Because I am just that stubborn, am I not?”

Even though Padlock desperately wanted to get on his good side— like that was the entire plan— he couldn’t help but be god-awful stubborn. It was just who he was, and plus, it was fun toying with Phantom, just a little.
“I don’t know…,” he mumbled playfully, looking away exaggeratedly, pretending his attention was elsewhere. “Can I? I’m not sure.”
He would have almost been enjoying this if not for the string of profanities running through his head. There was all that stupid work stuff, but then there was the not knowing how this worked. Even down to the kiss, he was dreading it. He didn’t know how they worked. He didn’t know.. what to do. He was relatively scared, and normally, this never happened. The infamous Padlock had never met anything he couldn’t piece together. So why was this so damn difficult?
His cheeks grew noticeably redder as Phantom worked some kind of stupid magic, making his heart and stomach go all butterflies again. It made him all scared and sick and shaky, but god, it was addicting. And, in reality, he didn’t want to be anywhere else.
But of course, this was just for the plan. Pad had to keep repeating that part in his head. The man.. Val didn’t even know his real name.
Oh, but that could change, he thought, the thought more intrusive than he wanted. Just tell him. Just tell him Solomon. He doesn’t need to know the last name.
But who would he relay that information to? If he didn’t know that answer, then Phantom would continue to be ignorant.

Okay, time to abort the teasing mission. He needed to at least make himself believable.
He looked back over, still smiling. He was actually… having fun with all the mockery, because that was just him, mostly, and it was borderline nice to see Phantom start getting as antsy as Pad was feeling internally. At least he knew he wasn’t the only overthinker.
“You are so funny,” he mumbled with a stiffled laugh, crossing his arms over his chest. “If you can’t take my sarcasm, then I’m not sure how this’ll work out.”
His words were laced with sarcasm, even more so now so he could actually make his teasing somewhat clear.
“Of course. Of course to everything,” he answered, but leaned slightly forward, head at a tilt. “Although, just so we’re entirely clear and honest, I have a confession.
Perhaps your Padlock is not as much of a player as he may seem. Perhaps I haven’t made my rounds around the city with girls and guys falling my way.”
He paused, shaking his head. Why did he need to be telling Val this? It seemed stupid, and moderately embarrassing. He had literally been stuck beneath the city for five years. That didn’t present many love interests.
“I have… never kissed anyone before,” he admitted, laughing. He didn’t seem embarrassed by it outwardly, but inside, a flash of heat tore through his body. He said the words casually enough, though, as if it were a part of his everyday language.