Luna-tic's presence in the Cocoon's command center seemed both surreal and fitting, her figure an unexpected sight in the usually henchman-filled space. It had been weeks since her little late night rendezvous with The Monarch. She settled into The Monarch's throne, her focus on finding the right pose of royalty, she seemed to momentarily forget her surroundings.
She hadn't even noticed the two henchmen looking on.
"Oh! Number 21, and 23. I didn't even see you there." Her grin was as wicked as it was spontaneous, and her casual acknowledgment of their presence carried an air of confidence.
"Hey there, Luna-tic," Number 21 greeted, his voice carrying a mix of curiosity and friendliness. "You look pretty comfortable in the boss's seat."
Number 24 chimed in, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Yeah, didn't know you were into power plays, huh?"
Sami's playful demeanor seemed to hold a sense of camaraderie; a connection formed from the shared world of villains they all inhabited. The sun's morning glow continued to cast a soft light on the scene, as if emphasizing the contrast between their villainous personas and the unexpected interactions that occurred in their secret lair.
"You don't know the half of it." She teased before running her hands down the arm rests of the Monarchs chair. She could hear him coming from a mile away as he scolded one of his henchmen in the distance.
She couldn't wait to see the look on his face when he realized she had to break in and steal his seat to get his attention.
As the sound of The Monarch's approaching footsteps reached her ears, Sami's grin seemed to widen. She could practically feel the tension building, the anticipation of his reaction fueling her amusement. Her plan to steal his attention was working, and she eagerly awaited the moment when he would realize what she had done.
As the Monarch approached, she gave him a small wave as he realized what was happening. The two henchmen watched with eagerness to see how the scene would unfold.
"Miss me?"
The Monarch's emerald eyes widened as he entered the command center and saw Sami seated on his throne. His expression shifted from surprise to a mixture of irritation and amusement as he processed the audacity of her actions. The henchmen's eager gazes seemed to intensify the moment, adding an extra layer of scrutiny to the unfolding scene.
Sami's small wave and playful greeting seemed to catch him off guard, the tension between them blending with a hint of friendship. He folded his arms across his chest, his own playfulness evident as he responded,
"Well, well, if it isn't the usurper of my throne. Miss you? More like trying to figure out if you are trying to take over my villainous empire?"
Luna-tic stood, brushing off her bottom as she descended the stairs to him.
"Come on, we both know I already...took over your empire." She teased, giving him a once over.
The Monarch watched as Luna-tic stood and descended the stairs toward him, her casual demeanor and taunting tone making it clear that she was enjoying their repartee. Her playful confidence seemed to resonate with him, the familiarity of their interactions creating a unique dynamic between them.
He rolled his eyes in mock exasperation at her words, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Oh, is that so? Well, I guess I'll just have to live in the shadow of your villainous prowess," he replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he played along.
As she gave him a once-over, he couldn't help but return the gesture, his emerald eyes holding a mixture of levity and something more.
"Now kiss!" Number 21 said throwing up his fists in encouragement. Luna-tic couldn't help but smile but The Monarch didn't share the amusement.
Number 21's enthusiastic exclamation hung in the air, creating a momentary pause in the playful banter between Luna-tic and The Monarch. The henchman's encouragement seemed to be met with a mix of reactions, Luna-tic's smile contrasting with The Monarch's more reserved demeanor.
Sami couldn't help but wonder how much he had shared with his henchmen about their late-night rendezvous and the developments between them. The tension in the room seemed to grow as the unspoken question lingered.
The Monarch's gaze shifted from Number 21 to Luna-tic, a mixture of irritation evident in his features.
"Number 21, can it," he scolded, his voice carrying a touch of annoyance.
Luna-tic laughed,
"The Monarch doesn't kiss and tell." She said before taking his hand in her own.
"I have something to show you." She whispered in his ear, hoping he would catch on to the fact that they needed a private moment to discuss her sudden appearance.
As she took his hand in hers, he met her gaze with a touch of intrigue. Her whispered words in his ear seemed to hold a deeper meaning, and he nodded subtly in response, his own voice lowered as he replied,
"Alright, let's go see what you've got."
When they were finally alone, Luna-tic got right down to business. She had all sorts of information about the Ventures and the compound. She had files of passwords, security protocols and the works. She was so wrapped up in her findings she hadn't noticed the Monarch looking at her.
Amidst the exchange of information, The Monarch's gaze seemed to linger on Luna-tic, his emerald eyes tracing the contours of her features.
He found himself caught in a moment of reflection, his thoughts shifting from the information before them to the woman who had become a surprising presence in his life. There was a determination to her actions, a desire to be useful in a world where their roles were often defined by rivalry and competition. As he watched her, a mixture of appreciation and a touch of something deeper played across his features, his own thoughts hidden beneath the surface of his expression.
"What is it?" she asked, looking up from her files. The look on his face puzzled her, and she wondered if she was not the only one waiting on the phone for him to contact her.
Sami's voice broke through The Monarch's reverie, pulling him from his thoughts as he met her gaze. The question in her eyes mirrored the curiosity in her words, and he found himself momentarily caught off guard.
"It's... nothing," he replied, his voice carrying a hint of hesitation before he shook his head as if to dismiss the thought. He cleared his throat, his usual bravado returning as he added, "Just wondering how much of my villainous empire you plan on taking over."
He attempted to inject a playful tone into his words, but beneath the surface, there seemed to be a hint of something more.
In that moment, Sami's presence seemed to be a reminder that amidst their roles as villains, there was room for genuine connection and understanding, even as they navigated the blurred lines between rivalry and something more.
"Oh." Luna-tic said a bit disappointed whatever he had been thinking of he had kept from her. The playful cover still brought a smile to her face, though she wished he would be more open with her. "Oh sweetheart, I don't need your empire. I could have my own if I truly wished to."
Sami's disappointment was evident in her tone, even as she responded with a spirited smile. The unspoken distance between them seemed to hang in the air, a reminder of the complexities that defined their interactions.
The Monarch's emerald eyes met hers, a mixture of appreciation and confusion present as he processed her words. Her confident assertion seemed to resonate with him.
"Ah, so you're saying you're my competition, huh?" he replied, his voice carrying a mixture of amusement and something deeper. There was a twinkle of camaraderie in his eyes as he continued, "Well, sweetheart, just remember who the true villainous genius is around here."
Sami raised a brow in challenge, she couldn't help herself.
"I wouldn't say competition, otherwise why would I be sharing all of this confidential information with you?"
She bit down on her bottom lip to keep what she truly wished to say at bay.
She wanted to tell him that she wanted to be alongside him, day in and day out. Something he had been adamant about needing time to decide. It was obvious that she loved him tenfold to what he could actually offer.
Sami's challenge was met with a hint of intrigue from The Monarch. Her words seemed to hold a deeper meaning; the unspoken complexities of their interactions reflected in her playful assertion.
He watched as she bit down on her bottom lip, the gesture hinting at something left unsaid. The unspoken tension in the room seemed to grow.
"Well, aren't you just full of surprises," he replied, his voice carrying a hint of playfulness.
"I guess so." She said feeling a bit foolish now. What had she really been expecting? That he would sweep her off her feet? Confess his undying love for her after one steamy night?
"I think I should go." She said offering up the manilla folder of information she had brought along.
Sami's voice held a touch of self-awareness, her words a reflection of the moment's shifting dynamics. As she offered the manila folder of information, a sense of finality seemed to settle over the scene.
The Monarch took the folder from her, his fingers brushing against hers for a fleeting moment.
"Alright, Luna-tic," he said, his voice softening as he used her villainous name. "Until next time, I guess."
As Sami prepared to leave, the unspoken question of what the future held seemed to hang between them.
Sami paused at the doorway, her hand on the frame as she looked over her shoulder at him.
"Hey Malcom?"
The pause at the doorway seemed to hold a sense of anticipation, the weight of their unspoken connection hanging in the air.
The Monarch's emerald eyes met hers, something deeper evident in his gaze.
"Yeah?" he replied, his voice soft.
"I just wanted to say..." Sami hesitated, the leap she was debating taking was one that was more difficult than any leap from a rooftop.
She laughed nervously, refusing to meet his gaze.
As her laughter broke the tension, The Monarch's curiosity seemed to deepen, his emerald eyes following her every move. But then, her words spilled forth in a rush, the confession leaving a sense of vulnerability in its wake.
"I love you."
She said quickly before departing before she could taste the sting of rejection.
The words hung in the air, a moment of suspended time where their shared world seemed to hold its breath. Sami's departure seemed almost abrupt, leaving a sense of unfinished business in the air.
The Monarch was left standing there, his thoughts racing as he processed the confession that had just occurred.
