Marek looked around his room, trying to figure out if he was forgetting something. After tonight, he was never coming back here.

It made him all sentimental. He'd spent over a decade living here. SOPISOC had been good to him, taking him in and training him since when he'd turned fifteen.

But had it ever been good? Marek couldn't help but wonder about that more and more.

He was so tempted to say that things had changed, that this was a recent development. But the truth was, he had been a kid when he'd joined, and then he might have been too close to everything to notice the problems.

But either way, he couldn't stay here anymore. Especially not after falling in love with Varen. If Marek didn't run off first, he'd get banished anyway.

He was so sick of hiding and sneaking around. It made his heart hurt. Especially the fact that his friends would reject him if they knew.

Marek finished packing everything into his duffel bag, before walking over to his table, where he'd left a note.

It wasn't very long. But it didn't need to be. He'd made sure to mention to Aira and Nerry that he loved them, that he would miss them a lot, but he just couldn't follow Darreley's leadership anymore.

Marek felt a little bad about not mentioning Varen. But his former teammates didn't need to know about that. They'd probably think Varen brainwashed him, or something silly like that.

As if that would have ever been necessary. Marek had loved Varen since that time he'd interrogated him once. Or that time Varen had chased him only to make out in an alley with him while everyone else was fighting.

Marek nodded to himself as his heart fluttered, throwing the duffel back over his shoulder. This was the right thing to do.

He couldn't be in SOPISOC while dating Varen. And if he had to choose one, the choice was obvious.

Marek took one last look, sighing a little bit. It was time to say goodbye to everything he'd ever known and start a new life. It would be terrifying, but Marek knew he could count on Varen to hold his hand through the transition.

Hopefully literally. Marek really wanted to hold the other man's hand. They hadn't gotten much of that at all given the fact that they kept having to hide.

The best they had gotten was a few stolen kisses, a few far too quick quickies, and an encrypted chatlog all the while they pretended to be enemies.

It had been wearing on them both so much. But now that would be over at last.

Marek's heart fluttered, so excited for the future. No matter what, he'd be getting to be with the man he loves. Cuddle, sleep in the same bed, wake up together without being terrified of being discovered, have breakfast together—

Marek's dreams might have been small, but he'd never wanted anything more in his life.

Now he just needed to leave the SOPISOC headquarters without anyone getting suspicious.

It was the middle of the night, but there were always some night owl stragglers about. He doubted he could walk around with that duffle bag without people asking questions, but luckily he was only on the third floor.

His belongings could take it. Hopefully. It was mostly clothes, so that would soften the blow.

Marek opened the window and looked down at the dark grass beneath. Deciding not to think about it too much, he chucked the bag out of the window, watching it fall, grimacing at the soft but still very audible thud it produced.

Okay, now he needed to sneak out.

Shutting the window, Marek quietly crept out of his room, closing the door behind him. The hallway beyond was bathed with soft light, the place silent and empty.

Marek was very pleased about this, rushing down as fast as he could without his boots waking up everyone on this floor.

He quickly made it to the staircase, and down to the first floor. He could see the door now, so close to leaving forever. So close to meeting up with Varen, who was waiting just down the street.

"Where are you off to this late at night, Mar?"

Marek froze when he heard his friend's voice, turning to face her. Judging by Aira's short black hair sticking out at all angles and her pajamas—the lightning-themed ones Marek had gotten her for her last birthday—she wasn't planning on going outside.

"Oh, I, er, just can't sleep. Thought I'd go for a walk," Marek said, hating that he was lying to his best friend. And so relatively easily too.

"Nightmares?" Aira asked, grimacing with sympathy. Without wanting to, Marek made an unhappy grimace, but he was hoping she'd understand it as him confirming her suspicion.

"Yeah, I've been going on these walks a lot lately," Marek said. It was barely a lie, too. He had been sneaking out to see Varen. "It helps me clear my head."

And suck his head too. Gods, Varen was good at that.

"Right, okay." Aira smiled at him, patting his shoulder. "If you ever need to talk, I'm here. Okay?"

Marek nodded, smiling too even as he died a little inside. She was going to be so pissed with him after she read that letter.

He wanted to say goodbye right now, but he couldn't manage it. Couldn't force the words out. And even if he did, what then? She would try to stop him, especially after she found out that Marek wasn't planning on only ending his superhero career.

"Thanks," he finally got out, smiling more. "I'll see you later then."

Aira yawned as she nodded. "Right, okay. I'm going back to bed. See ya in the morning."

Marek nodded, dying inside a little more. Fuck, he really hadn't needed this. But with a sort of goodbye in place, he decided to just go, his eyes stinging a little bit.

He was going to miss her a lot. But he'd made his decision. And nothing about it had changed.

Finally making it outside, Marek breathed in the crisp, night air, taking a moment to calm down.

He looked back at the mansion, sighing. "Goodbye, old me." Then he turned back to the garden and streets beyond. "Hello, supervillain me."

Saying that made him think of Varen again, which reinvigorated him immediately. With a spring in his step, he ran to his window, grabbing the duffel bag before making his way down to the gate.

As he unlocked it and stepped outside, he took one last, fond look at the mansion beyond before locking the gate up again and throwing the key over it. They would find it, he was certain.

Throwing the duffel bag over his shoulder, Marek excitedly ran off toward the spot he and Varen were to meet, not stopping until he saw the man's black car waiting for him under a street lamp.

The street lamp, in fact. The one they'd had their first kiss beneath. And to think Varen liked to pretend he wasn't as hopeless a romantic as Marek himself.

"Baby!" he couldn't help but cry when he ran up to Varen and hugged him so tight, dropping his bag as he did. He was panting from running all the way here, but he didn't care about any of that. All that mattered was his beloved.

"Love." Varen immediately hugged back, melting in his arms a bit. Marek would never get tired of the way this tough, scary supervillain was such a soft, little sweetheart on the inside.

Marek kissed the top of the shorter man's head, embracing him tighter. They were together now. Forever. How amazing was that? It made his eyes sting with happy tears.

He was so giddy he couldn't help but pick Varen up, spinning him around. Varen made a little cry of surprise, but it soon turned into a laugh. God, his laughter was so beautiful.

"Is everything in order?" Varen asked, making Marek chuckle.

"I ran away, yeah," he said, kissing Varen. "About as official as I can make it."

Varen snorted, shaking his head even as he grinned. He wasn't usually this outwardly happy. Marek would do his best to make those blue eyes sparkle like they were now as often as possible.

"You ridiculous man."

Marek grinned, kissing Varen again and humming. "You love me."

Varen smiled, so fond and relaxed. "I do."

Marek let out an excited squeak. "Me toooo! We have so much in common."

Varen laughed, shaking his head. "Just so ridiculous." He leaned in to kiss Marek's cheek. "Come on, let's go to my place, hm?"

Marek made another excited noise. "Yesss. Wait, but does that involve having to stop carrying you?"

Varen smiled. "Tragically yes."

Marek laughed, but he was actually fairly upset about that. He wanted to carry Varen everywhere. And he didn't care that Varen could technically fly. He would still carry him to the ends of the earth.

"Fine," Marek grumbled, gently putting Varen back on the ground, and then ruffling his hair. "Cutie."

Varen hugged him tightly once more, surprising even Marek because usually, he would have made a show of fixing his hair instead. "I'm so happy we will be together now. Without shame or judgment."

Marek puppy eyed Varen, stroking his back. "Never again, sweetheart. We're together till the end of time."

Varen nodded, smiling at Marek, leaning up to kiss him. "Good."

They got into the car, with Varen in the driver's seat, Marek settling down next to him.

He lay his head on Varen's shoulder as the other man started the engine and drove off into the night.

"You need to get an automatic," Marek said to Varen, chuckling.

"Manual gear shifting is perfectly fine," Varen replied, which made Marek grin.

"Can't hold my hand while you're driving that way," he pointed out, knowing full well that Varen would have no comeback to that.

And indeed, Marek watched him frown in silence, his brain processing, only to, in the end, say nothing. And that was how Marek knew Varen recognized he had a point.

Marek hugged Varen as best he could, sighing happily. This was already perfect, and it would only get better from here.

As long as Marek managed to avoid his former team members. But hey, that was a bridge to cross at some other time.

For now, he would focus on enjoying spending his time with Varen. And learning how to be a supervillain. Being a superhero had been getting boring anyway.