Robbie raised his head from the floor as he heard the sound of someone coming down the maze of pipework into his lair. He almost missed the muffled thud of a pair of feet as they touched down on the floor. A faultless landing from the end of the exit tube so far removed from those in which he seemed to specialise.

Pushing himself up into a sitting position he saw her standing there. Even in the dim light of his lair she was every bit as beautiful to him as she had been when he'd gazed at her on the surface through his periscope. She was watching him as he watched her. A thin smile curving her lips as she stood with her arms folded, her eyes tracing lines up and down what she could see of his body. He shivered despite himself as he reciprocated and his heart skipped a beat.

"Robbie Rotten, I presume?" The sound of her voice saying his name almost sent Robbie into a stupor but he fought it.

With effort he pulled himself up into a standing position, using the railings separating the pair of them as she took slow, methodical steps towards him. He turned, moving towards the steps to bring himself to the same level as her. With his eyes still staring at her he failed to notice his proximity to the steps and came tumbling down them, landing in a heap at her feet.

She raised an eyebrow as he lay there, staring up at her. He gathered himself quickly and stood in an instant, creaking as he did so. Answering her raised eyebrow with a chuckle he straightened his waistcoat and licked his lips.

"I am Rotten…Robbie….Robbie Rotten." The villain floundered, certainly less sure of his ability to speak than remain upright. "And you are Lily?"

Offering her most charming smile, Lily extended her hand and in an age old gesture Robbie took it, placing a soft kiss upon it. It was as much as he could do to release her hand, the softness of her skin noticeable against the roughness of his.

As a thought registered in Robbie's mind, he looked at the young woman before him and voiced it. "How did you know my name?"

Lily's smile grew slightly as she tossed her hair back, "Your reputation precedes you. My father, number nine, mentioned you on occasion from his time here. I'd never known him to speak ill of anyone until it came to you and your father."

'Yeah I bet,' Robbie thought, well remembering his run ins with his current nuisance's predecessor.

"Of course," Lily continued, her arms folded again as she moved away from him, "The two of you did give him a lot of trouble. The things he used to tell us about, everything you used to try to get rid of him. Digging holes all around town, traps and trying to lace his sports candy with cake."

Robbie couldn't help but relive the feelings of satisfaction these tricks had given him and his father before he realised they worked about as well as everything he was trying now, working alone. As much as he and his father had wanted to believe they'd driven Sportacus Nine away with his constant misdeeds they'd been well informed by the hero before their parting that they'd done little to force the hero's leaving.

Life had simply done what the two villains couldn't.

"Well, if you're looking for Biff, the old man's not here. It's just me now." His satisfaction at old memories faded as he spoke the words and felt the bitter pang of loss sweep him again.

It was a sadness he swallowed quickly as he had done so many times before and watched Lily as she came to a stop in her wandering.

Her head turned slightly in his direction as she stood with her arms still folded, "My father heard about his passing. The accident. It sounded pretty nasty."

Barely allowing the memory of that day to surface, Robbie nodded. "It was. I don't think it was the way he'd envisioned leaving behind his fifteen-year-old son."

Trying not to think about his father anymore and wanting to change the subject, Robbie shook himself. Tentatively stepping forward he followed Lily's footsteps and stood in the space between her and his fuzzy chair that had become the focus of her gaze. Her eyes flicked up to meet his and he ventured, "So what brings Sportafar-" he stopped himself, almost allowing himself a little chuckle at the nickname he'd used to use for Number Nine, but not wanting to offend this unknown, "Sportacus Nine's daughter down here to see me? You're not here to tell me off for trying to get rid of your father all those years ago? Or stop me trying to get rid of Sportasquirt the same way?"

A truly evil smile stretched its way across Lily's lips as she turned on her fullest charm. Robbie felt his knees turn to jelly and he stumbled backwards, landing in his chair and staring up at her. He couldn't imagine what he must have looked like to her, flopped awkwardly amongst the orange fuzzy mass of his prized position. His answer came as she threw her head back and released a peal of laughter that seemed to echo around his lair. Not knowing whether or not to join her, he remained quiet and took in the image of her humour.

Ceasing her laughter and tossing her hair vivaciously, Lily levelled her intense eyes at the still prone villain and shook her head. "On the contrary, dear heart. I'm going to help you."

Whether out of relief or shock, Robbie chuckled lightly. His chuckle deepened into a laugh as he sat himself up and resisted the urge to throw himself at this irresistible enigma. What her motives were he didn't want to know. All he felt at this moment was that she was everything he'd been wishing for.

Clapping his hands on his thighs as he calmed himself, Robbie smiled up at his new ally. As she extended a hand he allowed her to pull him up and he stood. Looking down into her eyes he could see a plan already formulating within their depths. She was so bad it was good. It was very good.

Together they were going to get rid of Sportacus.

Forever.