Chapter Text
Everything felt… heavy. Everything around him blurred into a mess in his gaze, the pain blinding his mind. Thoughts were hard to form, he was even beginning to forget who he was. He was a villain, right? Yes, he was a villain.
Perhaps this was fitting then. In every story the villain always lost, they were always banished away to their lair and some even… killed. Villains never got happy endings. And this was his ending: sinking deeper into the darkened depths, the light floating away from him, farther and farther out of reach. This was it. His eyes closed, feeling the weight grow until everything faded out.
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“Robbie Rotten!” He would hear that every day. The kids and their gasps and disapproving glares. It all scratched his defenses, breaking him down piece by piece. It was already bad enough that he himself broke him down, but to have others made it worse—the ones he tried in his own ways to be part of their group. Even as an adult, Robbie had troubles fitting into social situations.
They made him anxious, nervous to the very core. Yet, he still had the human want for company, to have somebody there for him in his darkest times. There was always his fear that held him back from just approaching them and asking if they wanted to be friends—fear stopped him from admitting his feelings to Sportacus.
The only way he knew how to make attention to himself was his disguises. He would become somebody else—somebody who wasn’t so rotten, in hopes he could make friends with them and get rid of Sportacus. That hero couldn’t stay, for the sake of the children, and for his own sake. The villain couldn’t stand looking in the mirror without being disguised about his attraction: how could such a perfect hero as Sportacus even care for an imperfect villain as him?
It would all build up to a crushing weight on his body. At times, he didn’t want to get up—not because he was tired, but because he just didn’t want to do anything. All he wanted to do was hide away, hoping that he would just rot away in his lair. Nobody would miss him, right? Nobody misses the villain when they vanish.
Today he was foiled again, dressed as a sailor. His hopes were to trick Sportacus to join him on a little cruise on the ocean—only that the boat was remote controlled. When they were far enough out he would abandon ship, and steer it all the way out of Lazy Town, Forever! Only drawback was the kids came along, making things difficult.
Ziggy tripped over one of the lines, causing things to spill onto the ground. Robbie himself ended sliding on the wet surface that came from the spilled fish barrel, landing in a crate of fish. The hat fell off his head, the children realizing who he was.
He winced as they groaned his name, their eyes rolling and judging him. Sportacus stood beside them, arms crossed over his chest with a disbelieving look. That’s all they did: judge him and pity him. He didn’t need it! He was a villain! Every day they fell for his disguises and tricks until he screwed up and needed saving.
A huff escaped Robbie’s chest as he pried himself out of the crate, a fish flopping around inside the jacket, “I guess I could sea this one coming,” he let out a nervous laugh. Their expressions didn’t change.
Still judging. Robbie growled to himself, taking the fish out and tossing it back into the water. His nerves were jittering, feeling the gazes burning through him, “I’ll just…” he pointed to the side, “Go this way.” A nervous laugh as he swung his arms a bit by his sides, “Yeah.” Giving a small nod and a mumble on his breath the tall man turned to leave.
Behind him he heard Sportacus speak up, “Wait.”
What did that sports elf want now? Embarrass him more—that would be an achievement. A snort came from the man, not halting in his walk, “I don’t want to hear it Sportacus,” he called him by his name—no nicknames, no parody of his name. He was serious, “Don’t waste your breath.”
A few voices came out, the kids talking to each other. Probably talking about him. That’s what they always did anyways: after he left they would gossip about him, more than likely mock him and ridicule him for his failed plans, for the fact he was so… rotten. His heart felt heavy, a sobbing sigh escaping him.
Behind him, Sportacus raised his head, his lips forming into a deep frown. He heard the sob, and could feel the emotions flowing off the villain. It was worse than the times before, his crystal gently vibrating against his chest. Trouble was coming.
Robbie held his breath, yelling at himself internally for letting a few tears streak down his face. He just wanted to get away, to crawl back into the comfort of his cold, lonely lair and cry away all the nasty feelings. He just wanted to sleep. Forever.
Then, his footing was lost, slipping on the slimy ground where fish had slid across previously on their way off the side of the boat. All he tried, his couldn’t catch his balance. Further he slid, approaching the edge of the ship. No, no, no! A shrill screech of panic came out of his throat, right as he flipped over the side of the stern.
“Robbie!” All kids and Sportacus called out in panic, rushing to the side of the ship. A few bubbles floated up to the top as his figure sunk into the consuming blue waters below. Slowly, the bubbles ceased, his form completely gone.
Stephanie turned to look at Sportacus for help, before seeing his figure dive into the water. Beside her Ziggy mumbled low, “Is he going to be okay?”
None of them could answer that.
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All there was in his mind was darkness. Emptiness filling the void further and further as it grew in his consciousness. For once, he felt light. Each weighing thought of loneliness, sadness and fear left him. The only thing that remained was a strange comfort.
Inch by inch he sunk deeper and deeper, and inch by inch all his negativity was gone. It didn’t feel like he was sinking, it was more like he was rising out of the murky darkness that clouded his mind. It was peaceful, something he hadn’t felt in a long time.
He never learned to swim, and even if he knew, did he really want to go back to the surface? All he’d be returning to was a life of being alone. That was his worst fear come true: being nothing, just a lonely person who had nobody beside him, nobody to comfort him. Why go back to the nightmare when he could leave it behind?
So, he relaxed everything, feeling himself fall deeper and deeper. Nothing hurt, it was just a tingle along his nerves. Even when he breathed in a gulp of water into his lungs it didn’t burn. He didn’t even feel the arms wrap around his waist, or the change as he was drug upwards towards the light. There was no overstimulation of his senses down here.
It all was nice and calm as he slipped away.
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Sportacus surfaced in what felt like minutes, holding Robbie’s head above the water. The calls of the children turned his focus to the boat, swiftly pushing himself and the other to the side.
“All of you take Robbie,” He nearly commanded, his voice thick with worry. The kids complied with a nod, each one holding some part of Robbie’s upper torso. Together they hoisted the man up onto the wooden surface of the deck.
Not too far behind Sportacus pulled himself out of the water, letting copious amounts of the liquid spill onto the ship deck. Sliding to the villain’s side, he pressed two fingers against his neck. Begging silently, he searched for a pulse, anything that would show signs that the man was still alive.
Nothing.
Sportacus repositioned himself to be angled over the quickly growing colder villain, beginning to compress his chest, “Come on Robbie!” He compressed a few more times before applying mouth to mouth. Breath in, compressions. Breath in, compressions. This process was repeated, his heart growing heavier every repeated step.
The elf paused for a moment to check the pulse. Still nothing. By now Robbie’s body was cold as ice, all color drained from his face. His mouth hung open, a hauntingly peaceful expression spread on his face.
He continued trying: giving his breath to the villain and compressing his chest, leaving marks on the cold flesh over the man’s chest. He couldn’t give up, he wouldn’t! Robbie couldn’t be gone, he couldn’t! Sportacus never failed to save somebody.
He had to tell Robbie how he really felt! He wanted to make everything right for Robbie, to get him through every rough moment, to comfort him on his worst days. He wanted to be Robbie’s everything, just has he was Sportacus’ everything.
Without him the world was empty.
Sportacus’ movements slowed down, until he rested his hands upon Robbie’s still chest. He failed. His body started to shake, feeling weak all over.
A chocking sob escaped the hero, before he wrapped his arms around Robbie. Bringing the man’s upper body up onto his lap. The hero held him close, wishing he could hear that racing heartbeat. Wishing that Robbie would wake up and laugh that he finally tricked them. He wished to finally say those words he had meant to say so long ago.
It was too late now.
“Sportacus?” Stephanie whispered, her eyes starting to water, “Is he…?” She didn’t want a response, she could see the pain in his blue eyes when he looked up to her.
Beside her Trixie gasped, tears starting to seep down her cheeks. Stingy remained silent, trying his best to hold back his tears. Pixel lowered his head, tightly closing his eyes. Ziggy took it hard: he fell to his knees, slowly crawling over to the villain.
“Robbie?” The youngest boy called out softly, gently poking the man’s cheek, “Robbie please wake up.” He pulled a lollypop out from his pocket, poking the man’s face with it, “I’ll give you my lollypop, just please, wake up.”
“Ziggy…” Stephanie put a hand on his shoulder, before pulling him into a hug. She didn’t need any words. Ziggy cried into her shoulder, the others solemnly lowering their gaze to the floor.
Sportacus sat, ugly sobs slipping out as tears streamed down his face. The droplets fell onto the cold face in his arms, gently falling off the skin. He leaned down, planting a soft kiss on Robbie’s forehead. He was so cold.
“I’m so sorry Robbie,” Sportacus whimpered, “I could have stopped this, but I was too afraid.” The children glanced over to the hero hearing his words, “I was afraid you wouldn’t accept my affection so I let my fear stop me. I didn’t want you to reject me.”
He pressed his own head against the man’s chest, closing his eyes, “And now,” another sob came out, his voice raising to a lament, “Now I’ll never be able to tell you! I wasn’t fast enough to save you!” Quickly the hero crumbled apart, “I’m so sorry Robbie. I love you so much and now I’ve lost you forever. Please…”
Sportacus raised his head, kissing the villain on the lips, “Please don’t leave me… I don’t way to say goodbye before I’ve even properly said hello…”