Warning: heavy body dysphoria/dysmorphia, and another fantasy sex scene.

Black Hat couldn't stop smiling. Not if he tried. Not even if he wanted to would he be able to stop that smug grin from plastering itself on his face.

Because that was absolutely perfect.

As Black Hat got back in his car and began to drive to his own home, he couldn't resist the triumphant little chuckles that forced their way from his throat. Because what just happened...oh sweet jesus what just happened. The way Flug had none of his usual hesitance, no apprehension at all in fact. How he was oh so willing- no, no it went far beyond just being willing. Flug wanted to suck his cock. No question about it. He was so eager to lower himself down and wrap his lips around him and suck like he was a dying man and Black Hat's dick held the key to salvation.

Black Hat regretted driving him home just when he was getting started. Of course, he'd known that it would add a bit of a thrill to it. Flug wasn't fond of public acts, so fearful of being seen and witnessed. Black Hat thought it would make him all the more pressed to give it everything he had. And oh how he did. But Black Hat could only hear the show, like being right outside a concert and just a tad too short to peek over the fence and see the good stuff.

Oh OF COURSE he ran into a red light now! Where was this back when he had Flug with him?! How he longed to look down for longer than a few brief seconds and see more than just those messy brown curls bobbing up and down and see for himself what he was feeling and what actions were producing those heavenly noises-

Fuck he was getting turned on just thinking about it.

He was glad that it had been Flug who brought up that that wasn't much of an encore to the performance he'd given earlier. Black Hat feared that if it had been he who said it, he would've seemed a bit...ungrateful, perhaps. Like he was demanding more before Flug was ready. Although, he seemed pretty fucking ready right then and likely all it would take would be for Black Hat to give him just a little-

No. Black Hat shook his head. He'd already made up his mind that he wouldn't push Flug into sex. Oh he'd tease, he'd tease and edge and maybe get a little underhanded with how he went about things but the ultimate decision would be left up to Flug. Flug would come to Black Hat. Clearly it was going to be well worth the wait. He couldn't go and jeopardize things now, when it seemed like Flug was so close to throwing caution to the wind entirely.

Close, but not quite there yet.

Oh it had been nothing short of a surprise for Flug to ask him to pull over and then jump on him like a hormonal teenager. It had been simply astounding when Flug had lapped up his own cum off of Black Hat's gloved hand. But having him promise that he would do whatever Black Hat wanted?

Beautiful didn't even begin to describe it.

Still, Black Hat could see how conflicted Flug had been the further it had gone. That little make out session had to have been a spur-of-the-moment thing that Flug just couldn't contain, and he had looked so unsure of himself when he brought Black Hat's hand up to his mouth and gave it a few experimental licks. He gained some confidence upon seeing Black Hat's reaction though, and oh how he got into it! That vixenish smile, those pleasurable little moans as if he was lapping up melted chocolate, how he'd sucked his fingers and practically begged his Master to fuck him right then and there-

Until his Master had to go and spoil things.

Because as much as he wanted his precious little Pet to bare everything, he couldn't do the same. Not even meeting him halfway really. Black Hat just...he wasn't there yet. Not to say he never took his gloves off, it wasn't like he showered with them on and he'd removed them earlier while eating. It was just...he knew what was going to happen. Like any other time he undressed, there would always be that pause as his partner's eyes inspected him. For the most part he was used to it but...his hands always gave them the most pause, even took a few out of the mood completely. He didn't want that. Not that nearly wringing Flug's neck didn't have the exact same effect. What had he been thinking?

Oh, wait, he hadn't been. Obviously. It had been a knee-jerk reaction, plain and simple. Black Hat sighed heavily, now his baggage was getting in the way. How irritating. But this was just how things were. It was what it was and he didn't have the luxury of changing it. It wasn't as it he could ever actually show Flug-

It was then, as Black Hat was finally pulling into his parking space, that he noticed something that simultaneously made his heart stop beating and made it beat about a thousand times faster.

His gloves...were torn at the fingertips.

Curving obsidian claws poked out.

Not their full length, barely even a whole inch, if that. But still. They were there. They were out. They were exposed.

...

...

Oh no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no nononnononononononononononononononononononononononononononononoononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononoonononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononoononono NO fuckshitbitch go back in go back in GO BACK IN!

At a grueling pace that seemed much slower than usual, the claws retracted back into his shaking fingers and left him back with his guise of somewhat normalcy. Black Hat sat there for a few minutes, trying to steady both his breath and his heart.

He tried desperately to calm himself but his mind kept dragging him back to how and when this could've happened. Did it happen just now? What caused it? Typically he had great control over his claws, he had forced himself to develop such control so that scenarios like this didn't happen! How could he let himself lose his precious control? When had he lost focus? When tonight had he let his guard down and-

Wait...perhaps...with Flug? When he...

Oh no no no no no please tell him he didn't do something as stupid as accidentally unsheath his claws when he came? God, that hadn't happened in years. He thought he had enough control over them to keep them suppressed at times like that, as he had everything else. How could he have been so careless as to allow his claws to unsheath themselves, and in FLUG'S presence no less?! Flug hadn't seen them, had he!? Was it possible he hadn't noticed, as Black Hat hadn't? Had they really been exposed for so long and he only now realized it!?

Flug hadn't seemed to notice that anything was off. He seemed to be in rather good spirits when they parted. So maybe he hadn't noticed, too caught up in the moment as Black Hat had been.

If that was the case, then...great. Everything was fine. Everything would continue to be fine. So long as Flug was none the wiser, every little thing would be perfectly fine.

Everything.

Was fine.

When Black Hat finally forced himself out of his car and did everything in his power not to sprint into the elevator and towards his front door, the second he entered the privacy of his own home he immediately dropped the act; removed his gloves, monocle, coat and hat and went to the bathroom to splash his face with cold water. Ignoring Lil' Jack completely in favor of getting a hold of himself.

He pressed deep into his eyes, trying to force all those body-racking emotions back down wherever he suppressed them to before. He ran his bare, dripping hands through his hair, pulling at it and making it squirm in his grip involuntarily. Fuck it. Fuck his hair fuck his hands fuck everything he had grown to hate about his body and needed to hide from sight lest anyone else see what he really was. His eyes were both shut tight, as if that would somehow make it all disappear. He hated himself at these times and needed to get back to forgetting about that and put the hat back on put the monocle back on put the gloves back on and regain that confidence he'd worked so hard to build up for himself. He slowly opened his eyes and looked at himself in the mirror.

Fear. He had seen Flug wearing it tonight as well. Fear at his own suggestion. It was clear on his face, obvious in his body.

Black Hat was touched that he would so much as try to put himself in such a vulnerable position as he had. Hmm, perhaps "touched" wasn't quite the word that described what had stirred in him when Flug basically offered himself up on a silver platter. It sounded far too innocent. It gave the impression that it left Black Hat feeling humbled or soft or some such backward thing. No, that was not the case. It left Black Hat feeling...sanctioned. It was, in essence, Flug putting his body on the line. He said he wouldn't refuse, no matter what. Black Hat was amazed Flug would do that to himself. He'd thought he'd have to maneuver a complex series of events to lead to Flug's inevitable surrender. He hadn't thought that Flug would present the opportunity on his own. It made Black Hat feel truly like his Master. Like Flug was his to do with as he pleased, and Flug accepted it as fact, fueling the dark thoughts that bubbled up in Black Hat's mind. Thoughts of Flug surrendering not because Black Hat had set him up to, but because it was what he wanted. Because he needed to be under Black Hat's thumb. And parts beyond. He belonged beneath him.

Even when Black Hat had tried to test him, to see if he would break as the reality of the situation set in, he went along with it. He stood by his claim that he would do anything Black Hat wanted, he wouldn't say no. He was his after all.

Black Hat braced himself on the sink, breathing heavily. He was feeling a bit nauseous. His head was swimming and it was all he could do to keep himself standing. His thoughts remained on Flug and what he'd said in the car. It helped him to have something else to think about. Something that he could use to pull himself out of the pit he was sinking into. He probably could've asked him for sex and Flug would've at least tried to go through with it.

He could see it clearly, oh so very clearly as if it had actually transpired; Flug, so adorable, so frightened about his inexperience and so very worried about doing something wrong. That scarred little face that just pleaded for Black Hat to come and soothe it, touch it's body, make it bend to his whims, mold it into whatever suited his needs.

He would've told Flug to get in the backseat. It might've been less roomy than the trunk, but more comfortable. Even if only marginally. He would've watched him get out, on probably trembling legs, and hold open the backdoor to see if he really would obediently get in knowing full well what would happen if he did. Last chance to back out, Rocinante. Although Black Hat liked to believe that he would climb in, and look to Black Hat for further instructions. Black Hat would tell him to undress, and watch him pull his shirt off with shaky, unsure hands. Still so scared but trying so very hard to be a good, obedient little Pet for his Master.

Black Hat wouldn't help him undress. But he would watch. Hawk-like, drinking in Flug's every movement, every little twitch and tremble, until Flug was left in nothing but his underwear. Black Hat imagined that he would stop at that point for a moment. Perhaps looking to Black Hat again to confirm that he was to take them off, perhaps just to work up the courage to do it himself. Black Hat would offer a small nod, and push him onto the seats once the last bit of clothing was gone. Gently, gently, there was no reason to be forceful when his Pet was trying so hard to obey him. He was beginning to see that Flug responded better to tenderness. He needed to be eased into things. Black Hat could oblige. He would coax him to relax and relent, It's ok, I've got you, leave everything to me, my dear little Pet, let me take care of everything.

Black Hat, however, had no plans to strip. He would unzip himself from his pants, but that would be it. And he would look Flug in the eyes, probably nervous, probably holding lots of fear and apprehension, probably wanting so badly to trust that Black Hat wouldn't hurt him (too much) as he pushed himself in. Black Hat imagined those eyes shutting tight, maybe starting to tear up as the man allowed himself to be entered. He imagined the little whimpers as he pushed in inch by inch, he imagined how Flug would cling to the edge of the seat, how desperately he'd grab for support, how labored his breathing would get as he forced his body to remain still and take his Master inside. It would be painful for him. It would take some time for it to be anything but painful for him. Black Hat imagined how hard it would be for him to lie there and take it, and how he'd make himself.

Oh that wonderfully subservient expression on his face. So strained, so deliciously subjugated. And those high pitched whines which would be forced out of tightly pressed lips with each thrust inside him, trying severely to keep as quiet as possible. How hard it would get as Black Hat increased the speed, the force. Face scrunched up as Flug did everything humanly possible to keep himself holding on and allowing it to continue. That downright delectable expression that told them both that Flug. Was. Black Hat's. He was his Pet, and what a good little Pet he was. How compliant, how pleasing, how well-trained. Black Hat would take it so much farther as time went on, and see that face outside of his mind's eye. How badly he wanted to see that face right now.

But, in all honesty, Black Hat wasn't sure it could compare with how Flug had looked after he had gotten him off.

It probably didn't compare to how Flug had looked when sucking his cock either, but Black Hat hadn't been able to see that for himself. He knew how he had looked after; calm, content, giddy even. He seemed so...comfortable with Black Hat. So at ease with him. So tranquil, and even proud in a way. Proud of what he had done. Fulfilled...that he had given some fulfillment to Black Hat. He thought he might like that look on him better. Like when he killed their test subject, once he got his footing he held nothing back. Confidence looked good on him.

He was ultimately glad that he had seen that at the end of the night instead of that scared face. As much as Black Hat did enjoy that look on him, he was beginning to think that he didn't want to see him afraid all that often. Afraid of him. What he would do to him. That was, in truth, why he hadn't asked for sex. Even if Flug would've done it, right then and there, Black Hat wasn't sure anymore that he wanted to see Flug afraid during it. He was starting to think that maybe he'd like to see that calm, comfortable face on him for that.

Assuming he would, in fact, have him for that.

Honestly though...there was no one else but Black Hat. Of course it was going to happen. Just a matter of time. Or rather, timing. Just had to wait until the time was right, the mood set, and they'd be on each other in a heartbeat. Tonight proved it. Just had to get those emotional walls down and those passions high and he'd have his little Pet all to himself. That was all it was. Just had to get the timing right. He'd have what he wanted. Then, maybe he could calm down.

Wait, no, he needed to do that now. He just saw Flug kill a man like he was born to do it, just had a big meal, just got a blowjob, life was good. He'll sleep in tomorrow, maybe take a bubble bath, maybe go to that sushi place that serves the stuff alive, he'll just have a day to himself. Won't that steaming hot water feel nice? When was the last time he ate something while it was alive? He's been drinking Flug's blood, but evidently it was not enough to keep himself in check. There were just certain things he needed to do, a few needs he had to satisfy or he'd start to slip. He promised himself he would not slip. He would contain himself, he would control himself, and he would not let something as insignificant as this ruin everything he's worked towards.

He would not let himself come undone.

His breathing evened out. He stood up; perfectly straight, shoulders back, arms folded behind him, feet firmly planted on the bathroom floor. His hair corrected itself, not a single strand out of place. His reflection was the image of dignity and poise, exactly how he liked it. This is what he wanted everyone to see. This was everything he wanted to be. The simple act of dropping his arms to his sides seemed to disrupt the image somewhat, so he tore his eye away. He stared at his slightly damp hands, angular and leathery and almost downright scaly on the palms. It took little conscious thought on his part to unsheath his claws again, to see them grow from his naturally pitch black fingernails to their full length, about the same as his fingers.

He ran them against each other and was graced with the sound similar to a pickaxe being dragged across asphalt, pick down. He regarded them for a moment, one of his most detested features. Ones he'd fought to tame and control, overcoming primal instinct that wished to unleash them at the slightest hint of a threat. He hated them, but he couldn't deny how useful they were. How often their existence had aided him. Probably saved his life more times than he'd like to admit. What was the word for that feeling? For how one feels towards something they loathe, yet rely on so heavily?

He felt nothing positive towards them. Beyond mere fact, he had nothing to say. Nothing more than their objective functionality. They had their uses, they served a purpose. They were sharp, durable, very efficient at slicing through flesh and carving into bone. If there were anything left of his victims, it would look as if some terrible monstrosity had savagely torn them apart.

Which...honestly now...was essentially what had happened, was it not?

Black Hat gave his reflection a bitter half-smile and dragged himself to his bed. He kicked his shoes off, something a bit out of character as he was usually so careful with his things and didn't risk scuffing or otherwise damaging them. He made a valiant attempt to get his tie off without slicing it, but it proved futile. So what if he had more, it was the principle of the thing. He was tempted to go ahead and change but decided he didn't really want to see any more of his body than he needed to for the night. The farthest he could put himself through was a few buttons undone down his chest. Sliced through, he didn't have the patience to try unbuttoning them like this. Going to have to mend those later. Tentacles shot through his sleeves, tearing multiple holes in the shirt and pulling the covers down and over him as he flopped into bed.

Sometimes he wondered why he even bothered.

He laid in the middle of his bed awkwardly. He was having some trouble sleeping as of late. Odd, because you would think such an expensive mattress and comforter would guarantee nothing but peaceful nights spent in slumber. Typically he enjoyed having the full expanse of the massive thing all to himself, basking in every comfort it provided. He'd chalked it up to nerves, Flug's defeatist demeanor getting to him and going so long without fresh meat. Both of those were taken care of, not to mention he just got his dick sucked. It was well past three in the morning now. He should be ready to knock out. More than ready, in fact.

He curled up, claws digging into him a bit as he held himself together. The tint of fear in the air making him hyper-aware of everything. The slight shake of his arms, the clench in his toes, the tightening of his throat, the painful overload grounding him to reality. No one could know. No one could ever know. No one could ever see what he was. He had to hide it. Even thousands of miles away, away from the narrow corner of the world he'd grown up in, he needed to hide it. Hide. Hide it all away so that it was never seen by anyone. No one could ever know. Not anyone ever. Not under any circumstances. Not even when he died. Anyone who saw needed to be taken care of, immediately. No one could know. No one could see. Never. Never ever ever. No one ever. He couldn't so much as tell anyone.

Not even if maybe he thought he might want to tell someone. Tell them, so that he could perhaps show them and maybe it wouldn't be so bad. Maybe they wouldn't scream and flee in abject horror. Maybe they wouldn't think that he should die just because he existed. Because of what he was. He'd much rather die for all the death and property damage he'd caused, rather than some accident at birth.

No, no it could never be. He could never tell anyone. Much less show them. That could never happen. He could never tell anyone. He could never allow anyone to know, to see, to witness him as he was. Would not happen. Could not be possible. Not even if he wanted to, which he wasn't saying he did. He could never do something so...revealing.

Not for anyone.

Not that there was anyone. There was no one that Black Hat would even so much as consider revealing himself to. Revealing his true self. He could never do that for anyone. No one could ever know about him. Not in that way. Never. The very thought of it made him feel like he was about to seize up. He could never let it happen. Under no circumstances could he allow anyone to see him like that. Like this. No one could know.

Admittedly, though, a few people had come close. Had caught...glimpses. Tom, Il Ratto, he'd caught on. Maybe he'd always know there was something Black Hat was hiding. Black Hat never had found out just what he'd seen when he stumbled across him in that alley. Whatever it was, it hadn't been enough. Tom had wanted to know what it was. He'd wanted to see what could possibly be so bad that Black Hat would try to keep it from even him. He, who'd done so much for him. He, who took him in and gave him a place in his organization. He, who had taken a massive gamble on a complete stranger and made him into who he was.

He, who tried to kill him.

He hadn't wanted Black Hat to leave. They'd had a good thing going between them, and when Black Hat wanted to move on, it hadn't sat well with him. Tom wasn't stupid, he knew there was more to it than just Alberto's death and the hero who'd gone after the two of them. He was smart enough to piece together that it probably had something to do with whatever it was Black Hat kept from the world. And the Rat had decided that either Black Hat would reveal it, or he would die.

The ocean of gore at Black Hat's feet and the obliterated weaponry scattered between the two of them said otherwise.

Black Hat was bloodied, bleeding, full of holes opening and closing and only just keeping himself from completely losing control. Still very much alive. Tom didn't have a scratch on him, just some heavy blood spatter and the shocked face of someone who just witnessed one unarmed man take out thirty highly trained mercenaries with assault rifles.

Well, perhaps unarmed wasn't technically accurate. His entire being was his weapon. He was never truly defenseless.

Tom had been spared much of the gory visuals. Hadn't seen him, not really. Had just seen what he was truly capable of, just a hint of what he actually was. Between the gunfire, the smoke, the screams, the blood, the sound of shattered bone and muscle tissue as they were sent flying all the way up to the ceiling, and the remnants of what had once been living breathing people...it was a lot to take in. Anything Tom had seen of Black Hat's true form had to have been amorphous, nothing that could be recognizable even from one who'd known him for years. Tom had been frozen, unable to process what had happened. Black Hat considered killing him as well, just for having the gall to try and betray him like that, but didn't.

"I'm leaving, Tom." Black Hat had said to him. "I'm going back out into the world. Maybe I'll come back one day, and be your equal." And as he'd turned to walk out, leaving the man on his knees among the carnage, he called over his shoulder. "But if you ever try something like that again, I will kill you and take the mantle for myself."

If the aftermath of the slaughter didn't scare him into submission, the threat of having everything he'd worked his whole life to claim ripped away sure did. The man murdered his own flesh and blood just to have the mantle of the Rat, and had only hinted at what he had done over the years to keep it. The utilization of actual rats, a time honored tradition, still kept up through the generations. Though Tom always had a knack for taking things further than his predecessors. Black Hat had liked that about him. Funny enough, he'd rather enjoyed Black Hat's handiwork when he'd been doing it for him. Always saying, "You have got to show me how you leave so little behind."

Well, Black Hat hoped it had been all Tom had dreamt of. Even if Black Hat hadn't shown him everything. That little peep he'd gotten had probably been more than he'd ever bargained for in his life. According to Syren, who had gigs back in Italy fairly often, the Rat changed a lot after Black Hat left. He went out far less and didn't seem to take as much joy in his business as he used to. People had briefly began to talk. Though, a good show of strength shut down any rumors of the man behind the maze losing his touch. Apparently he hardly flinched at anything these days, desensitized to the point of indifference long before anyone would've expected.

If only they knew what his eyes had seen.

Black Hat wondered, would Syren be stateside by April? He hoped he would. He had the most beautiful voice, which you would hope he would given that he called himself "Syren". Not strictly a villain, but anyone who could keep their composure among murderers and thieves as if they're any other audience was someone in a fair bit of demand. Moreso when they're actually talented. They weren't especially close, Black Hat didn't know him out of his persona, but he was nice to drink with. Always had a good story to tell. He was useful for keeping track of what was going on in the world. Him and Maestro. She would definitely be there, she was a local after all. Oh, the two of them together, no one would be able to resist the song. Dr. Morte would probably get them both. He liked haunting melodies and supernaturally forcing people to the dance floor.

It was going to be a great party. They were going to have such a good time. He'd get to reconnect with old friends. Get to show off Flug and his brilliant mind. They had a few months to put together more fiendish devices, and to get Flug used to acting on his crueler tendencies. There was such a bright future ahead of them. No matter what came, Black Hat would handle it and he would make his dreams of capitalist totalitarianism reality. Just had to get through the night. Just had to make it through tonight and he'd be able to face the world again.

Black Hat felt his phone vibrate. It happened a few more times. Three maybe? He used his tentacles to pull it out of his pocket and bring it to his face. He squinted at the brightness, turning it all the way down before seeing his notifications.

No less than fifteen texts from Dem.

sooooooo I hear date nite was a sucess!

heard SOMEONE got it gud ;)))

but thats abt all i heared

ur bf can b such a lil tease i swear

its always the quiet ones aint it?

the ones that turn out 2 b total freaks

ngl tho he is adorkable

how long were y'all at it 4?

hellooooooooooooo?

u there fancy pants man?

ya boi woke my ass up at 2 in the mornin an i cant go back 2 sleep

gonna keep texting till u answer meeee!

hey

heyyy

heyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

Flug, what did you tell her this time?

Black Hat turned his phone off before he went and gave in to her mad ramblings. He didn't have the energy to deal with her right now. He was too busy wallowing in despondence to concern himself with whatever stupid shit she got into her head now. She was not a calming distraction. She was a loud, messy one. The personification of visual noise. That on top of his own personal bullshit was just too much to handle at once. Merely admitting that felt like a failure in and of itself. Black Hat curled up again, burrowing into his sheets. Just had to make it through tonight, and he could deal with everything later. Things would be alright, he would be alright, just had to get through the night and in the morning he could start to make things alright. That was all it was. This was not the first time this had happened, it may not be the last, he'd made it through every other night before and he'd do the same now. Just had to get a hold of himself, had to maintain control. No one knew and he would keep it that way.

He could never reveal what he really was to anyone. They couldn't handle it. Once they saw, that was it. Nothing more to it. All he could do was make sure he was the last thing their earthly eyes ever beheld. There could never be anyone he could possibly show. No one who would ever see past what he was once they saw it for themselves. No one who would ever see him as anything more than an inescapable creature from the abyss.

Not that he wanted someone to. Not at all. Why would he want that? What did it matter? What would it change? Nothing, that was what. There was no changing anything. No matter what he felt. So it was pointless to want. An impossibility. His time was far better spent on more productive desires. Ones that were actually attainable.

There was nobody. No one could know. No one needed to know. No one would ever know. That was just reality. He'd faced up to it years ago, he shouldn't be reduced to such a state now. Not from such a small slip.

He also shouldn't have slip ups. At all. He was better than that.

He was better than this.

Black Hat sighed, he was so tired. He formed more arms, effectively ripping his shirt to threads, and held himself even tighter like some kind of bizarre body-straightjacket. It helped him calm down a bit more. All he wanted was to drift off into sleep so he could have a few hours of peace.

He gazed out at the window letting in the bright shining moonlight. He wished he could just turn the power off for the entire city right now. Maybe the country. Or entire planet. Snuff out the sun, leave the world to the darkness, and let the natural starlight be the only illumination. That was the one thing, the one thing he missed about his home country. His meager life of worthlessness. He had nothing to his name and no one to care for or to care for him. But he had his stars. Soft, shining, distant. Cosmic. Nowhere in any developed land had he been able to see them again. The knowledge that they were still there regardless being of little comfort. He wished he could see that star-riddled sky now. The one that offered him solace on cold nights with an empty stomach, little more than shredded rags to warm himself with, and far too many things weighing on his mind.

The same sky that gave just enough light that he knew what he was doing, but kept the world just dark enough that he didn't have to see himself. Dark enough for him to blend in, to become just another shadow of the night, where even he didn't have to look upon himself. And others could remain blissfully unaware of what it was that had taken their life.

Not even in the far reaches of the Mexican desert, where his evil lair would one day stand, had he found something that compared. Sure, there were far more stars visible away from the cities and towns and their artificial lights, but it just wasn't the same.

He closed his eyes, and found himself thinking about Flug and how he'd sounded seeing them. How amazed he'd been, how he'd said he'd never seen that amount of stars before, that awestruck tone of surprise and wonder in his voice. He wondered what Flug would say if Black Hat told him that it was nothing compared to the skies he'd grown up with. To the galaxies that had served as his nightlights.

Black Hat covered his face with a clawed hand, where exactly it came from was subject to debate. He hoped he wouldn't add to his own idiocy by ripping his face off in his sleep or something. Even with all he could heal from, he didn't want to have to see the scars it would leave.

What was going on with him? Why was he feeling this way now? Less than an hour ago it was like his birthday came early, he got Flug to kill for him and then Flug sucked him off. And he was actually pretty good at it. Black Hat was surprised. Not to say he'd expected Flug to be bad but...how often had he done that before? He'd been so self-assured, right in his element. It had been great. Why did this happen? He had just eaten an entire man. He should've had more than enough to keep himself in check. This really hadn't happened in years. His meal at least should've kept it at bay. It almost seemed like it had made him too relaxed. He'd grown too comfortable, and he slipped. Even considering the "circumstances", shall we say, that was unacceptable. Completely unacceptable.

He would do better. He would tighten his control. This would not happen again. Certainly not when he was with Flug. He had too much potential for Black Hat to risk losing his composure around him. He still wanted him, he could not lose himself like he had tonight. He would remain hypervigilant. He would keep himself subdued. It was hazardous to Flug's health for Black Hat to lose himself. And not just because of what would need to be done if he caught on. Imagine what could've happened had Black Hat's claws fully protracted while holding Flug's head. His life ended so quickly, he wouldn't even realize what had happened.

They had a contract. Flug would supply him everything he desired for his evil conquest, and Black Hat would protect him in kind.

And would do everything in his power not to kill him like he had the last one. Though it had been real fucking interesting to discover his vomit, and assumedly the rest of his digestive juices, were made of goddamn superacid.

Admittedly, it had been a little funny to find out that the actual scientific term was "superacid".

Translations:

Il Ratto = The Rat (Italian)

Notes:

I got one more for ya after this. Not to say this fic is ending, definitely not, but I feel we've reach a point where we can stop. Rest. Digest. And come back in another few months to do another emotional triathalon. Hopefully we'll have some more canon Villainous content by then ;)

I hope you're all looking forward to what comes next as much as I am X)