Leonora Atena, better known as the unstoppable Athen, walked down the quiet city streets in her causal work attire. She had been spending the last few weeks more in her alter ego persona ever since the criminals had been scared off by the Doomsday Bomb. Thankfully her and the other members of the Eternity Brigade had been able to shut it down with ease, but still, things had been quiet around Shivedale lately. It was nice.

Her grey heels clacked against the sidewalk, small bits of rain from the night before kicking up around her. The grey skirt and and blazer helping to hide some of her curves, but still left her very appealing. At least it wasn’t as bad as the miniskirt and corset she wore for the job, but at least it kept her popular enough that if she smashed a building, men were too busy arguing about her outfit to care about the damages. Her long black hair that typically waved in the wind was pulled up tightly into a bun behind her head. She was actually enjoying spending life without the need of fighting a crime every night. That being said. Being invincible did have its perks.

She rounded a corner stopping right outside of a nondescript bar. “Finally.” She opened the door to Lucy’s, one of the few gay bars around town that wasn’t a club. The whole place was done with a classic brown wood and red curtain vibe, nothing fancy, but with the dim lighting kept it just private enough for anybody. Even though the world was getting better, a lesbian superhero just still didn’t seem on the table for Athen this century. But at least Leonora could be herself.

She walked inside, closing the door behind her and immediately felt like herself. She crossed over to the bar taking one of the open seats. The place was relatively quiet, then again, it was a Tuesday night. The bartender, Lucy, with her short and dyed red hair smiled. “What can I get you tonight Leo? The usual?”

“The usual would be great. Thanks Lucy.” Leonora smiled and leaned on the bar. Within a moment, a small glass of whiskey was placed before her. Leonora smiled and raised it taking a sip.

“So the usual huh? Frequent this place often?

Leonora put down her glass and turned to her right. Standing there, leaning against the bar next to her was a beautiful woman. Her bright blue lips and eyeshadow only drew contrast to the pale skin and brilliantly blue eyes. They almost shined. Leonora glanced her over, the long legs clad in skintight black leather pants that reflected the light off of them, the matching sleeveless top that went up wrapping around her neck where a small blue pendant sat only made her more alluring. And then her short blue hair that cut off just below her chin, streaks of black running through it, just like the villain Mesmarina had…

Leonora’s mouth went dry. “Are you, are you Mesmari-“

The woman quickly covered Leonora’s mouth with her hand cutting her off. Leonora quickly tried to flinch away but was stopped by the woman gripping her wrist with her free hand.

“Please. Don’t. My name is Mari. Just Mari. I’m gonna take my hand off now okay.” She leaned back putting her hands up in the air.

Leonora stopped. This was Mesmarina, the villain she had locked away at least a dozen times over the last few years. Why was she in this bar and so afraid of using her name?

“But you are…”

Mari nodded her head and slid into the seat next to Leonora. “Yes. I am. But, please don’t say anything. I’ve been kicked out of almost every gay bar in town because they won’t serve” she leaned in “villains.”

“We’ll maybe don’t be one then?”

“It’s not that easy.” Mari sighed, waving for a drink.

Leonora looked at her. This woman, the same one who wore a swooping ocean cape and dress, gems adorned across her face, and had put her under her hypnotic sway, as well as dozens of others for her evil deeds, the woman who always had such confidence, was sitting here, so vulnerable.

“But can’t you control people with your voice? Isn’t that your super power?” Leonora said taking a sip from her drink.

“Yeah. It’s just not that super.”

“I’ve seen you on the news though. Fighting Athen. You even controlled her, forced her to steal for you.”

“I didn’t want that. I just wanted, I was just trying to get a bracelet, something small enough that I could pawn it for money. And then things escalated. They always do when Athen is involved.”

“But she’s a hero. And you were-“

“Have you ever considered how hard it is to get a power like mine? Especially after all the “heroes” championed their little registration act. I wake up one morning and then suddenly everyone around me has to wonder if I’m just using my power to control them. What if their thoughts aren’t theirs? Suddenly you can’t get a job or meet people.”

Leonora sat there stunned. She had never thought of it that way.

“Sorry if I interrupted your night. I just thought you were kinda cute, but if this is too weird.”

“How do I know you’re not going to use your power to take control of my mind.” Leonora said softly her hand reaching out to stop Mari from leaving.

“My powers only work if some part of you wants to let me take control. I can’t, I won’t force that on anyone. They have to want it too.”

Leonora’s jaw dropped. “Wait so you’re saying that somewhere deep down Athen wanted you to take control of her mind?”

Mari laughed. Her voice sounded so happy, so free. Leonora wondered if this was the real person she was talking to, not the villain, and if so, was she really so bad?

Mari tossed her hair back looking up at Leonora. “I guess so. I mean all of that weight to be a hero, probably just wanted to let go of it all. Can’t blame her for that. You know you kinda look like her. Are you a fan girl or something?”

“Me? Hah! No just an admirer. Superheros are cool.”

“What’s your opinion on villains?” Mari asked, walking her fingers over Leonora’s arm.

Leonora’s brain stopped. What were her thoughts? She looked into Mari’s eyes searching for any chance this could be a trap and to her surprise found none. “I think I’m opening up to the idea of them.”

“Do you want to get out of here? My place isn’t that-“ Mari’s voice cut out. Leonora looked down at her arm. Mari’s fingers had pushed up the sleeve of her jacket revealing the golden armband wrapped around her wrist, the part of her costume that she needed for her transformation. 

Both women’s eyes looked up at eachother, both equally full of fear.

“Mari wait! I can-“

Leonora’s brain went silent as she fell backwards into the void. She could see Mari’s mouth move, her eyes glow subtly, her lips speaking silent words to her. But all she knew was that she must obey, she must give in, she must submit. Slowly, everything went dark as she fell into Mari’s control.

Leonora awoke with a start. The last thing she could remember was she was at Lucy’s and there was this girl. No. Mari, or Mesmarina, was talking to her, and then everything went dark. And now she was who knows where. She looked around her surroundings to see a small, dimly well lit apartment. In fact it looked pretty standard for a low income apartment in town. She pushed herself upright to realize she was laying on someone’s couch.

She rubbed her forehead. “Where the hell am I?”

“You’re in my apartment.” Mari said walking out of the hallway two bottles of beer in her hands.

Leonora jumped up and raised her arm bringing her wrists together. Immediately her outfit changed, her formal dress wear suddenly replaced by her superhero garb. Gone was the meek looking Leonora and there in her place stood the toned and rugged warrior of peace, Athen.

“I come in peace.” Mari said stretching a hand out with a beer but not taking a step closer to the hero.

“You kidnapped me and you expect me to believe you.” Leonora shouted finger outstretched judgingly.

“I didn’t kidnap you. I merely suggested we take this conversation somewhere more private, like my place a few blocks away.” She raised her beer to her lips taking a drink. “I promise, we got back a few minutes ago. I even videoed the whole walk back on my phone if you want to take a look.”

“How am I supposed to trust you Mari, if that even is your real name.”

“Because if I wanted to I could’ve used you to rob a dozen stores, atms, and banks on the way here. I just wanted to talk somewhere where we were in private.”

“Really.”

“If you want to leave, I won’t stop you. But like I told you at the bar, some part of you wasn’t fighting me. Otherwise I expect you could have thrown me through the bar the minute you knew who I was.” She shook the beer with her outstretched hand.

Leonora raised her wrists banging them together and once more, her alter-ego replaced the once tall standing hero. She stepped forward and reached out, taking the beer with her free hand.

“So, who would’ve guessed the unstoppable Athen was really gay. I could’ve sworn you had a thing with Titanman.” Mari walked past Leonora taking a seat on one end of the sofa, gesturing her guest to the other.

Leonora looked at her host and sat down on the couch. “He’s too much of a muscle brained moron. Promise me you went let the news out. I- It’s not something that needs-“

“I would never do that.”

“Thank you.” Leonora took a sip from her drink. “Do you really want to be a villain?”

“I never wanted to be anything but a person. But sometimes the world wants to hate the person that you are. But you wouldn’t understand that, would you? After all, you’re perfect in every way.”

“Do you really believe that? If I do anything wrong I get a million people calling for my head. I can’t even be the person I really am without hiding myself.”

“Then is this the real you?” Mari asked placing her drink down on the table.

Leonora looked over at her and reached down placing her drink down as well. “Why are you being nice to me instead of using me for your evil needs?”

“Do you want me to do that? I’d rather know the real you without the powers.”

“But what if that is the real me?” Leonora said timidly, hands gripping her skirt tightly as she stared at her lap.

A hand reached up slowly pulling the ponytail out of her hair letting it fall down freely. “Tell me who you really are.”

“I can’t.”

Mari took Leonora’s chin in her hand, slowly turning her head to face her. Leonora could see her eyes glowing softly, pulsing a rich blue. She could feel the effect immediately wash over her. It was as if she was falling into an ocean of deep blue waves rolling over her.

“I won’t force you. But I promise, you are safe with me.”

Leonora, no Athen, no, all of her, felt safe, but it wasn’t Mari doing it with her power. She wasn’t forcing her will, she wasn’t doing anything except asking the deepest part of her to show itself. She didn’t feel threatened, she didn’t feel scared, she felt, safe.

“Will you hurt me?” Leonora said through a cracking voice.

“Only if you want me to.” Mari said smirking and leaned backwards. Leonora didn’t know when the glow had faded from her eyes but still she could feel herself swimming within those deep blue waves.

Leonora stood and raised her arms in front of her chest. Taking a deep breath she gently pressed her wrists together. Instead of transforming, her clothes slowly faded away in the soft glow leaving her standing there bare naked in front of Mari. She trembled softly, knees shaking. Her large breasts stood hidden just behind her arms, but even so, she felt herself grow excited. Here she was standing naked in the room of a super villain and it aroused her.

Mari smiled and bit her lip. “How should I address you?”

Leonora looked confused. “I- I’ve never done anything like this before. How do you want to address me?”

Mari’s eyes flashed blue and immediately Leonora felt a wave of control wash over her. She could feel Mari probe her thoughts, digging through her. She felt so vulnerable, so weak, so excited. Mari could sense the thoughts of arousal and her eyes fluttered for a moment as the arousal washed through her. Leonora had to fight the amusement it brought her.

Suddenly like a lock clicking in place Leonora cried out, her knees buckling under her as she fell to the floor on all fours. A wave of emotions roared through her but at the forefront of them, the need to submit. It rippled through every cell of her body leaving her trembling.

Mari gasped the contact breaking immediately as she rushed over to Leonora’s side placing a hand gently on her back. “Athen. Speak to me. Tell me you’re okay. I didn’t mean to push that far, you just started pulling me in deeper, giving me more and more of you.”

“Not Athen.” Leonora whimpered through ragged breaths.

“Huh. Are you okay then Leono-“

“Slave.” The hero whispered, tilting her head upward to look at the villain. “Call me Slave.” She smiled, finally feeling like she was herself.

Mari looked into the once strong hero’s face, every part of her smiling as if she had finally been set free. The villain smirked and cupped Slave’s chin tightly between her fingers. “Then you shall be mine Slave. Let us begin your training.” Her eyes began to burn bright blue as excitement began to roar through both women.