I’m Not a Villain, I Just Absorb Women’s Powers

A woman walked briskly down a dimly lit street, her heels clicking against the pavement.

The only light came from the occasional streetlamp and the cold blue glow of her phone screen.

"No, I don't care if he's your cousin, Marcus," she snapped into the phone. "You told me I'd get paid last Friday. It's Monday."

She paced as she argued, her voice low but sharp with frustration.

"I don't care about his sob story. I did the job, I want my cut. You always have an excuse."

A pause. Her eyes rolled.

"No, don't give me that tone. I'm the reason he didn't end up face-first in a hospital bed. If anything, he owes me double."

She slowed her steps as she listened, jaw clenching.

"You know what? Keep the money. Just don't ever call me again, Marcus. I'm done."

She ended the call with a sharp tap and shoved the phone into her coat pocket.

But just as she looked up, her breath caught in her throat.

Two figures emerged from the shadows ahead of her, blocking the sidewalk. Dark clothes, hoods up, faces hidden.

She froze.

Then, she heard the faint scrape of shoes behind her.

She turned her head slightly.

Two more shadows stepped out from the alleyway behind her.

Four in total.

She was cornered.

Her body tensed as the four shadows closed in, their shapes more visible now under the weak streetlight.

Men.

One of them whistled low. Another chuckled darkly.

"Well, well... what's a fine thing like you doing out here all alone?" one of them said, his voice greasy with mock concern.

"She ain't answering, bro. Must be shy," another added, grinning.

The woman's heart pounded in her chest. Her breath caught, and her instincts screamed.

She stepped back slowly, one hand slipping into her coat pocket, fingers brushing over her phone.

"Back off," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. It came out firmer than she expected, but not firm enough to hide the fear behind it.

The men didn't stop. They moved with slow confidence, like they'd already decided how this night would go.

"Aww, don't be like that. We just wanna talk," one said, flashing yellowed teeth.

She looked for a way out. A door. An open shop. A passing car.

Nothing.

Her eyes darted between them, throat tightening.

"Get the hell away from me," she said louder now, taking another step back.

The one behind her laughed. "You're not really in a position to tell us what to do, sweetheart."

Her hand gripped the phone tighter, thumb hovering over the emergency button.

Come on. Someone. Anyone. Please...

Before the woman could press the emergency button, something crashed into the man standing behind her.

The sound was sudden, violent. A heavy thud followed by a grunt of pain as the man was yanked backward into the shadows.

The remaining three froze.

Then they turned.

A figure stood tall over the downed man, boot planted firmly on his back. The stranger's face was shadowed, his stance calm, completely unbothered.

"W-what the hell?" one of them stammered, stepping back. "That a hero? No way, shit, we gotta bounce."

The biggest of the three scoffed. "Stop being a pussy. There aren't any heroes in this dump."

The third guy nodded, trying to stay tough, but his hand trembled slightly as he reached into his jacket.

The woman stepped back slowly, watching in disbelief. The figure didn't move. Didn't speak. He just watched them, completely still, like he was daring them to try something.

The man beneath his boot groaned, still conscious, but unmoving.

"Yo," the big one said, trying to puff up his chest, "you better back off, or you're gonna be lying next to him."

The figure tilted his head slightly, just a small movement, but it sent a chill through all of them.

Something wasn't right.

The figure moved.

Fast.

One second it stood still, the next it dashed forward, nothing but a blur of motion and shadow. It didn't punch or kick. It looked like a simple shove… but it had force behind it.

The nearest man stumbled back, but managed to catch himself, and as the figure stepped into the light, they all froze.

The silhouette was unmistakably feminine.

She went to shove the larger man again, but he caught her by the wrists, gripping tight.

"Hah! Got you now," he laughed, tightening his hold.

Another man circled around and reached out, ripping the mask off her face with one swift tug.

Brunette hair spilled out. She glared at them, breathing hard, eyes sharp with defiance. Young, maybe mid-twenties. Pretty.

"Would you look at that," one of the men sneered. "She's actually hot."

The third one chuckled darkly. "Just another one lookin' for trouble. Feisty too. I like that."

The woman didn't flinch. But her glare burned hotter.

"Well, I'll take this one, you take that one," one of the men said with a sick grin. "What a lucky night for us."

The women were overwhelmed, shoved to the ground, panic in their eyes. The men hovered over them, drunk on power.

But then—

Gunshots.

Sharp, loud cracks cut through the night. Not one, but several.

A voice shouted from the distance, laced with rage. "Back the fuck off!"

The attackers froze.

"Shit," one of them muttered, scrambling up.

"I don't wanna die over this. Let's go!"

They backed off quickly, then took off running into the night, leaving the women behind on the ground.

Out from the shadows, a man stepped into view. He held a pistol in a steady grip, eyes sharp and alert. He approached quickly, scanning the area before lowering his weapon.

He looked at the closest woman, the one who had first been cornered. "Hey. Are you okay? They didn't…?"

She shook her head quickly. "No… they didn't."

"You shouldn't be walking around this late," he said, pulling out a badge from his pocket. "I'm a cop. Off duty, but that doesn't mean I can't help. Come on, I'll give you a ride to the station, file a report."

She nodded, still shaken, and began gathering her things with trembling hands.

She looked around, then turned toward where the masked woman had been, the one who'd stepped in first.

"Thank yo—"

But she was gone. Vanished without a sound.

The cop glanced back at her, thinking the words were for him.

"No worries," he said. "It's a cruel world out here. I do what I can."