He zipped up his outfit and pulled on his gloves and shoes.

Every day it felt as if he were going slower and slower but he just kept telling himself it just because he had a lot on his mind.

With a sigh, he stretched upwards and groaned as his back cracked softly.

Maybe he was starting to get too old for this?

. . . . .nah.

Jackie looked at himself in the mirror, putting his hair up neatly in a small pony tail.

Without realizing it, he let out another heavy sigh, running his fingers through his beard.

'Gotta go by the station this afternoon. Hopefully Abe's got something for me'

Of course he was a vigilante but Abe never turned him down on something he could clearly help on that wouldn't get him into too much trouble.

He latched on his belt that had a few hidden accessories and cleared his throat, 'I guess now's better than never'

Rolling his shoulders back, he went into his little kitchen and pulled out some milk and an apple, 'Hen would kill me if he saw this was all I was eating for breakfast' he chuckled to himself.

That didn't mean he didn't know how to cook but when did he ever have the time?

Chomping into the fruit, he chugged down the milk quickly and only slightly wished Chase was there to make his pancakes for him. Throwing his backpack over his shoulder and heading out of his apartment, Jackie's stomach threatened to growl but he ignored it. He'd eat better later that night.

Instead of taking the front door, however, Jackie opened his window. He unzipped his backpack and took out his grappling hook, twirling it around and hooking up the other end to his belt.

Placing his feet flat on the wall of the building, Jackie looked down with a smirk. He knew most of the others would absolutely HATE this. He jumped off the building with a shout and made his way around the town with his hook.

Every once in a while, he used to see a kid looking up and see him and wave up at him but that hasn't happened in a while.

When he reached the station, Jackie slipped into the alley and put his grappling hook back up away from prying eyes. He was still in his uniform of course but he felt that by now it was okay. Most people knew him this way anyway, mask and all.

Biting his lip, Jackie nervously trotted to the front of the building and waltzed right in without trouble. Most people in the building knew him, after all.

Officers and people at desks used to smile and greet him, though. Not anymore.

Jackie situated his backpack on his shoulder and knocked on Abe's office door.

No response.

He sighed and tried again, "Hey Abe, you in there?"

Nothing.

Someone behind him cleared their throat and Jackie turned to see one of the officers at their desk doing paperwork. She smiled politely at him.

"He slept in there all night last night. You should probably just walk in, Jackie"

"Again?" he snorted, "Thanks Pam."

"No problem!"

Jackie opened the door carefully only to see that she was right. He was most definetly there. At his desk. Sleeping. Practically drooling, really.

Jackie felt tempted on snapping a picture but knew Abe would kill him.

Calmly, the vigilante unzipped his backpack and took out a small toy water pistol just for these occasions.

Just as he squirted it at him, the man shouted, slamming his fists on the desk with his mouth agape.

Abe stared at him, eyes narrowed, "Fucking asshole. Haven't I told you to stop that!?"

Jackie shrugged, "I think you like it"

The detective growled at him but changed the subject, "One of your little friends got picked up last night. Been filling paperwork out all night to save their ass"

Jackie sighed, "Who was it?"

"Who do you think? He may be a magician but he's shit at escape plans"

"Marvin" the hero deduced, "I'm sorry, Abe. Want me to get him out of here or-"

"Get him the fuck out of here now or else the next time he tries to sell illegal weird ass shit, he's going to court!"

"Got it. You're the man, Abe. Thanks, dude!"

Abe snorted, "Whatever. I'm taking an early day today. Get frills out before anyone asks any questions. . . .. Your doctor friend take house calls?"

Jackie shrugged, "Sorry, man, I wouldn't know. Barely get to see him myself unless I'm sick"a chuckle left him, "Thanks again. See you tomorrow?"

The detective rolled his eyes, "I guess. I'll have something for you then."

"Thanks"

"And remember. Next time you shoot me with that stupid fucking water gun, I'm bringing in a super soaking and dousing your ass"

"Well it is summer and I do get sweaty in this thing" he shrugged, "Thanks for thinking of me"

Before Abe could retaliate, Jackie practically sprinted out of there, rushing for the holding cells.

'What the hell was Marv selling this time?' he thought to himself, 'I'll have to ask. Hopefully nothing too dangerous.'

As he approached the door to the cells, he nodded to the guard who just rolled his eyes, "Go on in. I'm sure you'll hear him before you see him"

Without another word, Jackie trudged on in and sure enough, he could indeed hear his brother.

"Is THIS your card!?"

There were a few murmurs but they all seemed pretty uninterested.

"Aw the hell with ya! You all are a bunch of sour-pusses!"

"Says the kitty himself" one of the inmates snorted.

"Fuck off, Johnny, else ya want to disappear"

Already, Jackie could tell Marvin had been drinking a little and he wanted to groan. Usually Marvin wasn't like this but he must have been thrown off a gig again.

"Ah well if it isn't the great Jackieboyman!" someone in the cells laughed, "Come to throw someone else in the brig, robin-hood!?"

"Hey Reggie, you learn your lesson yet? Looks like not."

"Ah!" the man just scoffed, "Fuck off ya freak"

Finally coming up to Marvin's cell, the magician saw him, "Oh hey, Jackie! You look as brightly clad as ever!" he hung himself over and in between the bars, "How's the hero work going!?"

"Just as thrilling as ever. I mean look, I'm getting to see you again, bro" Jackie crossed his arms, not sounding at all thrilled.

Marvin just grinned, "Bailing me out, are ya?"

"Not this time. It was Abe. You owe him, you know"

The guard came over and unlocked his cell. He went to uncuff him but Marvin drew his hands apart as if by magic, "Oh wow! Look at that! Magic!"

The guard didn't look impressed but took the cuffs without a word. He looked tired. Marvin must have been doing a lot of repeated tricks to annoy everyone.

"Come on, Marv. Let's get you out of here, huh?"

"Where we going?" Marvin twirled around in his flashy cape but suddenly halted, "WAIT! Where is my mask!?"

"It's on top of your head, Marv"

". . . . ." he pat his head, "Oh. Thanks, Red"

"Uh-huh"

Once they got out of the building and into the alley away from anyone that could see them, Marvin snorted.

"Thanks for that, I guess" he may have been drinking the night before but he was well sober now. It appears he had just been messing with everyone.

"Why'd you let yourself get caught, Marv? Hell, why in the fook were you selling illegal shit anyways?"

The magician shrugged, "It wasn't THAT illegal. Black market stuff. And what did you want me to do? Run?"

"You could have easily altered their memories and got off scott-free"

"Ah but that wouldn't have been the right thing to do, right?"

"Not really. But you could have also just looked for another gig instead of going to the black market"

Marvin waved his arms around, "There's no winning with you, is there? Maybe I'm tired of that shit?"

Jackie rolled his eyes, "Look man just try and stay out of trouble, alright? Abe can't help you again and I sure as HELL can't. Please?"

The magician crossed his arms, ". . . . .Yeah whatever. I'll be more . . . .careful."

"Good" he went to walk away but Marvin chuckled, following him.

"Where you going? Can I come?"

Jackie shook his head and sighed again, "Whatever man. I don't have anything fun to do today so don't expect anything magnificent"

"Oh haha. Very funny!" the magician pulled down his mask, following his ego brother.

He winced as the water hit the floor over and over again. Dripping constantly.

It was a rundown shit-hole but it was home to him. What did it matter anyway? He never stayed there long throughout the day. Always out and about stalking his prey like the predator he was. Hacking his way into their lives.

He had been watching the single father lately. It was interesting to him how much trouble he went through just to take care of his demon spawn. Why not just let their mother take them instead?

Not to say that he hated children. They had their uses. Like delivering messages for instance. 

He'd never forget the horror on Chase's face when his daughter showed him the fucked up voodoo doll he made of him. And the little girl didn't think anything of it! She wanted to keep it for herself!

Anti had been rolling on the roll laughing for hours! 

Of course messed around with the other egos here and there too but Chase was currently his favorite. Sometimes he'd mess around with Jackie and get into a little fight with him but lately that hasn't been as fun. The hero just didn't seem as into it as he used to.

Anti sighed and laid back on the bed, the quiet dripping fading into the background. He also had a fan on helping to relax him, too. It sounded like white-noise. It was soothing. It was hot in California today, too, so he was lucky he found a working fan when he did. If not, he'd overheat and his glitching would get worse.

He thought about what he'd do today but nothing really sounded fun. Maybe he'd be lazy today? Plan a problem for the hero to solve tomorrow?

Yeah, that sounded good.

It's been a few years since they all congregated to Los Angeles from the UK. It's not where Anti wanted to go but he wanted to follow the other egos. Haunt them and slowly drive them mad until they gave into him. All he wanted, after all, was to kill Sean.

Poor Sean. . . .

He didn't even know any of them existed.

After Anti broke out of him, the others unwillingly followed. The glitch had attacked Sean but luckily, Henrik was able to save him and they called an ambulance. Marvin apparently had the idea to run off and disguised them all so they'd all look different to other people.

Then they ran off and hid away to California. Convenient for them since the Iplier egos also lived nearby right under Mark's nose. No so convenient for Anti but he made do. He followed in secret at the time only to make himself known a bit later, attacking them one by one.

But like he thought a little bit ago, things have been different lately. Everyone was more . . . . relaxed. Especially Jackie and he didn't like that. 

'Yes, I'll have to do something special for the hero tomorrow' he thought to himself, 'Can't have them thinking I've disappeared all of a sudden'

With a small smile, Anti cuddled back into his bed, enjoying the cool air while he could. Tomorrow would be a hard-working day, after all.

"Ugh, why are we here?"

Jackie chuckled, "What? You're the one who wanted to follow me. I have nothing else to really do today. If you want to go home then you can"

Marvin rolled his eyes, "It's fine but if he starts going on and on about his kids again, I'm going to throw something"

"Come on, Marv, he's been working super hard to get them back and he finally won. He deserves to be happy for a change, don't he?"

"I guess but it's been over a year now. He can stop gushing"

"That'll never happen. Just be thankful he hasn't asked you to babysit yet"

"He knows better" Marvin huffed, "He'd come home to the brats walking on the ceiling from an anti-gravity potion"

"They'd probably like that"

The magician just scoffed, "So where's he at? You see him?"

"Chase said he was cameraman 5 near here working on a shot. I texted him but he probably still has his eyes glued to the camera."

"Not anymore I don't, dudes!"

They turned around to see the father grinning ear to ear, "Sup, bros!?"

"Hey, Chase!" Jackie smiled but wasn't ready for the hug Chase barreled on him.

He was about to do the same to Marvin but stopped short, "You okay, Red? You don't seem as psyched as you usually are"

"Probably because its you" Jackie elbowed Marvin to shut him up.

Chase snorted, "Sup, Marv? You look like hell. Jackie just bail you out of jail again?"

"Why yes, he did. Thanks for asking"

Chase rolled his eyes, "Dude. . .  why do you insist on selling that shit? You'll just get in trouble again"

"I don't just sell stuff, Chase.  . . .I buy, too"

"Oh because that's so much better"

"Like you can talk! You bought those potions from me that one time!"

"Okay" Jackie stopped the argument, "Anyways . . . how're the kids doing?"

Chase beamed, "They're great, man! Sammy seems to have taken after you, Jackie. Won't stop wearing a cape since last you visited. And Kallie won't stop trying to practice magic tricks" he gave Marvin a look.

Immediately, though, Marvin melted a little. It wasn't as if he hated the kids after all. 

"Anyways sorry to cut this short but I gotta get back to work, bros. Boss will have my ass if they catch me slacking. Call me up sometime and we can hang out. Get Hen and JJ in on it, too! Haven't seen them in a while"

"Will do." Jackie nodded, "See ya later, Chase"

"Later dudes!"

Marvin snorted as he ran off, "Later dudes" he mocked, "He already just sounds like he's lived here all his life."

"We kind of have"

"Oh shut up." he shoved him, "I think I'm gonna take off. Go set up a new account or something."

"Just promise me you won't sell any weapons, Marv"

"Well that's no fun. I know a lot of people that would-" he stopped at seeing Jackie's serious face, "Nevermind. You got it. I'll try. See you later?"

"See ya. Behave yourself, will you?"

"Now that, I CANNOT promise!" Marvin laughed and with a spin of his cloak, he was gone!

Jackie was not really all that impressed though, "Of course not"

Later on in the day, Jackie flung around the city lazily with his grappling hook. He knew he looked like a wannabe spider-man but it was the fastest way for him to get around.

He had actual powers but he saved those for when he fought Anti.

Speaking of which, he hadn't seen him in a while.

Jackie managed to swiftly duck inside his apartment window and flop onto his bed carelessly, listening to the noises of the city.

'Must be plotting something.' Jackie rolled his eyes, 'Can't he ever chill out? We'd probably get along if he wasn't such an asshole trying to kill us all the time.'

But of course that was the obvious crutch.

Jackie yawned heavily and rubbed his eyes, though. He just didn't feel that into it. 

He used to revel the challenge in fighting Anti. Now it was more of a grueling task he had to take care of like mowing the lawn or something.

Just like the rest of his hero work. He used to go out day and night looking for crime and putting a stop to it. But he just felt so tired now.

Life like this just wasn't exciting anymore.

It wasn't what it used to be.

The spark in his heart he usually felt when helping someone in need was fading. There was something missing and he could feel it. 

But what was it?

So this is the first chapter of 'Understanding the Villain'! What do you guys think?I promise things will pick up quickly in the next chapter. What does Anti have planned for Jackie? Anyways, I'd love to hear your guy's thoughts so far! 💚