Villain Retirement

"A… job? You were serious?"

"Of course, Miss Hera."

"...Why?"

There were so many things racing through Hera's mind right now, and she didn't seem to have any plans on hiding them from Riley as she looked at him with the most confused face she has probably ever made.

"Your dad is Whiteking, so I don't really see why this would even be a money issue," Hera squinted her eyes, "...And you could also rob a bank if you really need money."

"I do not rob people, Miss Hera—that's wrong."

"...You torture and kill people, Riley."

"I know, it is fun."

"You…" Hera could really only pinch the bridge of her nose as she looked at Riley from head to toe, "...Seriously, why me? You could literally ask everyone else in your list of acquaintances and they would be able to give you something. Empress would probably be ecstatic to hire you."

"I am not applying for a job due to lack of money, Miss Hera," Riley shook his head, "I am coming to you because throughout our moments together, I remember you always bringing out emotions in me that almost made me seem… human."

"...What?"

"Aside from wanting to experience a normal life, I am applying for a job here to be closer to you, Miss Hera. I can be your personal guard, or maybe even replace your assistant."

"Wait, wait…" Hera could not help but raise her palms at Riley as she made him stop talking, "...So you want a job here because you want to experience emotions that make you human?"

"I suppose," Riley shrugged, "Or at least help me pretend—pretend that I am not losing my mind. Because I can truly feel it, Miss Hera. If I do not learn how to control my mind, it will start going wild and wreak havoc that I do not mean to happen."

"...Because of Paige's abilities?"

"Yes," Riley nodded, "It… is not an ability for someone that does not have a sound mind. I made a mistake in wanting to acquire it."

"...Then why did you ask Paige to kill you?"

"Because I wanted to live in a lie, Miss Hera. I just didn't realize that I would forget reality by doing so—my lineage has a history of mental illness, I just did not expect it to be passed on to me."

"...Right," Hera let out a long and very deep breath as she allowed herself to almost sink into her chair,

"Why don't you just let me kill you, Riley?" She then blurted out, "You know what my ability is—I am not immune to sickness, but whenever I do get sick; it wouldn't last that long for it to even matter as my body would literally change over it."

"You want me to have your ability, Miss Hera?" Riley tilted his head to the side, "Are you not afraid of what would happen if I get it?"

"I don't know if you're just that dense, Riley—but you're already an unstoppable force. Adding my powers to your already ridiculous arsenal wouldn't really matter," Hera forced out a chuckle, "And I don't know if you realize it…

…but gaining Paige's power has literally made you some sort of god. That's some reality-warping level shit right there."

"I don't change other people's reality, only mine, Miss Hera. Paige's power only affects its holder."

"You've been changing people's realities since you've been massacring entire families, Riley. And you know what I mean…" Hera looked Riley in the eyes, "...You are capable of making those illusions real for other people too. Not in a sense that you're really changing reality, but you're creating… something temporary."

"..."

"Paige's illusions have their own independence, I know that much… and she's only grown better and more elaborate at using her abilities these 5 years."

"I still do not want to have your powers, Miss Hera," Riley shook his head, "I am already losing my mind. If I gain an ability that literally controls my body…

…then what would be left of me?"

"...It doesn't work like that," Hera's eyebrows furrowed.

"I know that it turns you into a tree that destroys anything that attacks it, Miss Hera."

"...That was only one time. And my life was in danger—yours will never be."

"I still don't want it, Miss Hera. I do not like losing control," Riley vehemently shook his head, "Even right now, I don't even know if I'm really talking to you anymore or if you're just a figment of my fractured mind."

"...So you really want a job?"

"Yes."

"You're Riley Ross, you will be recognized from a mile away."

"Your assistant did not recognize me, Miss Hera. And if you are suggesting that I change the way I look using Paige's ability, then I would have to refuse—I might turn into a different person altogether because of my illness."

"...What illness do you have, exactly?" Hera squinted her eyes, "What sort of illness can cause someone as mighty as Ms. Phoenix and Darkday to fall?"

"..."

"...And why doesn't the Shadow Mimic have it?" Hera placed her hand on her chin as she looked to the side, "Have you talked to your grandmother at all? This happened to her daughter once, maybe she learned something?"

"She was useless, and she is useless, Miss Hera."

"...Shit," Hera then covered her face; her sighs of frustration, seeping from the in between her fingers, "...What will you do to me if I don't give you a job here, Riley?"

"Nothing, Miss Hera."

"...Oh," Hera sat up straight as she once again looked Riley in the eyes. She was going to refuse him there and then, but realized that a massive opportunity was right in front of her.

An almost reality warper… working in the entertainment industry?

In truth, Hera had already been thinking about what sort of jobs Riley could do in her agency as soon as he mentioned wanting a job—she just couldn't believe it.

Working as an actor would have been the greatest outcome, as Hera knew that Riley could act—really act. But as soon as they see him on the screen, the trauma of the people of Earth would surely be triggered.

But then again, with all the stuff that has been happening the past few years, Riley Ross or Darkday hasn't even been mentioned in the news once. It was almost like people had forgotten about him.

Everyone's focus was outside—the Known Universe.

"Okay."

"Hm?"

"I am giving you a job here, Riley," Hera then took in a small but deep breath as she stood up, "You won't have a legit title and will just be working closely with me. Go home, for now—I need to think about what sort of projects I can put you in."

"I appreciate your help, Miss Hera," Riley also stood up and nodded, "I will tell Aerith about this."

"...What?" Hera blinked a couple of times; her face completely shocked by what she just heard. But almost instantly, her breaths became calm before they could even start becoming heavy,

"You know what, don't tell me anything. I don't want to know."

"Hm. I shall see you tomorrow, Miss Hera. Have a good night."

"Right. You… too," Hera sighed as she watched as Riley started making his way out of her office. But before he could step out, however, she could not help but ask her something,

"Riley."

"...Hm?"

"Are you not bored here on Earth?"

"I have only been back for a few hours, Miss Hera…" Riley blinked a couple of times as he turned around to look at Hera, "...Are you asking because you are?"

"...I am," Hera sighed and closed her eyes, "When we were out there, all I wanted was to get back home. But now that I'm here, everything just seems… boring."

"I thought your ability was to adapt to things?"

"Adapting to things doesn't mean you enjoy it, Riley. Adapting means you're forced to be something else," Hera breathed out, "Do you remember Nana?"

"..." Riley glanced at the door for a couple of seconds, before making his way back to the sofa and sitting again, "I do, Miss Hera."

"I've been trying to reach her," Hera also sat down as she let out a small but deep sigh, "I promised her I would let her see Earth, but…"

And as the night went on, Hera just ended up talking with Riley—losing track of time as she reminisced about everything that has happened to them outside Earth. It almost seemed like a completely different life, and perhaps…

…it was.

***

"What… the fuck is this?"

"Amazing."

"What do you mean amazing? This is fucking creepy, Dad. What the fuck?"

Diana, Bernard, and Hannah chose to go home—as Riley would most likely be there. But as soon as they entered the neighborhood, the night that made them completely disappeared; sunlight, seeping into their car as they drove through the streets.

But that wasn't all—their neighborhood that was supposed to only house them was now filled with strange people that kept smiling at them for no reason at all.

"Mom…" Hannah was feeling weirded out at first. But soon, tears quickly fell from her face as she covered her mouth when she realized something, "Are you… are you saying Riley's doing this?"

"...He is."

"For… for almost 5 years, he… he's been imagining a completely different life? He's… he was so lonely."

"He probably thinks he deserves it," Bernard sighed as he stretched out his palm to feel the heat of the fake sun—it… truly almost felt real,

"And he does. I do too."

"..." Hannah couldn't really refute; just staying quiet until they reached their house. But as soon as they did, her eyes quickly turned wide.

And not only her, even Diana quickly got out of the car as she saw the person casually standing in front of their house—Aerith.

"Riley, this isn't what we talked about…" Diana breathed in her frustrations; shaking her head as she looked at Riley, "...She's supposed to just be resting in—"

"Diana."

"...What?" And before she could grab Aerith's hand, Aerith suddenly retracted her hand and opened her mouth to speak.

"We need to talk."