Chapter Text
Sunlight streamed through the mostly fixed window. There was still one corner where unfiltered sunlight streamed through, lighting up part of the office. Black Hat glared at the spot of sunlight. He often let his control of the weather loosen to give the villains on the island false hope he was getting weaker. He would send the hat bots out later for some much needed street cleaning. Forcing himself to look away from the sunlight he grinned to himself. The town needed a reminder anyway, this place and the world was starting to think he was weak. He hadn't been active since…
Black Hat looked down at the paperwork. A small white feather rested on the corner of the page. He frowned, Flug had been in the office two hours ago. Just an update on his projects. Production was going well and it was not affected by the forced hiatus.
Black Hats frown deepened and he brushed it off his desk. Looking up at the entrance he saw more feathers, around four or five of them blowing gently in the breeze coming from the hole in the window. The demon blinked at the feathers. He only had Flug in the room for five minutes. He was beginning to consider making him wear the vest again.
He pushed away from the desk and glared up at the ceiling. “I’ve tolerated you here for long enough to get out.”
There was a thud and then the air vent in his office opened. Demencia jumped down, giggling madly. “Sweetheart, you know I just wanted to spend time with you.”
“I thought Flug blocked those vents.”
“Oh he did but I broke them. Only took me a month! Crafty angel!”
Demencia spun around proudly, numerous feathers falling from her hair as she did.
“What are the doctor's feathers doing in your hair?”
Demencia paused her spinning to pull a small feather out of her hair. “Oh yeah the nerds leavin’ ‘em everywhere. Fives have been cleaning ‘em up all day. I hugged him and they got all over me.”
Black Hat hissed. “You’re getting them everywhere,” he growled, gesturing to the office.
The lizard girl laughed. “Oh cutey I thought you liked them.”
“Why in the seven sins would I like the feathers of my enemy?!”
“Well you wear one ‘n your hat. And Flug bugs are not our enemy. He’s too much of a coward to be a double agent.”
Black Hat’s eye twitched. They still couldn’t know that. “Go get the feathers out of your hair and send the bear up to sweep the rest of them. If he touches anything else I will turn him inside out and stuff him with the very feathers Flug keeps leaving everywhere!”
Demencia swooned at the threat and scurried out the door, giggling as she went.
Black Hat turned, as the scenery shifted from his office to the lab his eye narrowed. The scientist who caused the mess in question was taking notes on the venus fly trap as it digested someone. A leg stuck out of its mouth as it wiggled happily at the attention it recived.
Black Hat cleared his throat, making an ugly screeching noise.
Flug jumped, whipping around to stare at him. “Oh sir I was just-”
“You fixed this one then?”
“I was using citizens before it only eats heroes evidently,” Flug muttered. Some of his eyes narrowed as they glared at the plant while the rest stared widely at Black Hat.
“Well not a complete failure.”
“Do you need something sir?”
Black Hat frowned at the wings dragging behind the scientist, small feathers fell loose as he shifted his stance nervously. He huffed and grabbed Flugs shoulders, turning him around so he could see the wings closer. Flug made a startled noise and tried to step away. Black Hat was faster however, grabbing his wing and staring at it. “Is that gum?”
“What?”
Black Hat made an almost offended noise and stared at the offending thing tangled in some of Flug’s feathers. “Why is there gum in your wings?”
Flug looked away from his boss. “Dementia must have done it. She’s been making a game of how much she can stick in there without me noticing.”
Black Hat studied the wings, unknown liquids had crusted and patches of feathers were missing. It seems Dementia had been putting more than just gum in there as some slime and gummies were also stuck between feathers.
Black Hat let out an unpleasant growl and gripped the alula of the wing, forcing Flug to open it to around half its span. More feathers drifted to the floor and a single screw fell from the wings.
Flug squeaked and tried to yank himself away but Black Hat held firm. “You aren't taking care of these.”
“Sir I-”
“You should take care of these.”
Flugs eyes blinked out of turn.
“What?” he whispered.
“Do not throw away the gift of these just because you're a lazy doctor. Flying is a gift.”
Flugs breath caught in his throat. “Sir?”
Black Hat let go of Flugs wing and stepped back with a sneer. “Lest I tell lord Beezlebub you’re squandering zer pupils' gift.”
Flug went stock still, his eyes grew wide. “Zer pupil? Wait was-”
“Fix your wings you imicilic pigeon!” Black Hat screamed, jaw splitting oven to reveal tendrils and teeth that thrashed at Flug.
Flug threw himself backwards and propelled himsefl out of the room.
Black Hat remained alone in the laboratory, save for the hero eating plant who continued to munch on the hero.
The demon hissed a curse to himself.
The gift of flying was precious.
But what was more precious was the one who had gifted it.