Someone knocks the door.

"Who is it?"

"I am the hero, please open up!"

"What do you want? I am retired. I had enough getting beaten by you and your team"

"I just want to talk. Please open up. I brought drinks!"

"What?"

The villain opens the door. The hero is standing there. Holding a pack of his favorite beers in his hands. Trying hard to give the villain a warm smile.

"What are you doing here? Can't a bad guy enjoy his retirement without you do-gooders bothering him?"

"Aren't you gonna invite your old friend inside?"

"Last time you guys almost killed me. Now we are friends?" The villain takes a look around. He does not trust the hero but he is curious to know what it is all about.

"Okay. Come inside."

A few minutes later, they are sitting at the table, watching football and drinking beers. They talk about roaring gas prices, inflation and the good old days when housing was affordable.

Then the hero changed the subject:

"We want you back!"

"Who is we?"

"Me and my team."

"Why is that? Don't you remember why I retired? You made fun of me. You Told me I am incompetent and stupid. You abused me emotionally. Now you want me back?"

"Well, you were kinda clumsy, let's be honest, but I admit we went too far." He continued: "The thing is, the new villain is just too good. He is ruthless, has zero red lines. Only uses practical plans. Not complex stupid ones, and he hates monologues, so far he killed three other heros. We thought he would play with them. Give us time. But he just killed them instantly. And he live streamed their death on social media."

The villain laughed: "Wow. You guys are fucked."

"You were fun. Kind hearted. As much as a villain could be. And had your rules. Like giving us time to rescue our friends, making cool but impractical plans, making last minute mistakes. you know. You did your shit, we did ours and the life went on."

"So to put it plainly, you are facing an unstoppable, ruthless, strong and smart villain and you want me back. Because I am fallible, indecisive, weak and stupid?"

"I would use nicer words.... but technically yes." The hero answered.

"Get the fuck out of my house!" The villain shouted.

"Wait...I swear we will not make fun of you, please. We will try not to beat you up too much."

"Get out!"

"We will pay handsomely. We will be nicer to you. No...no ..."

The villain throw the hero out of his house and shut the door. The hero kept talking from behind the door. There was a can of unopened beer on the table. The villain sat on the sofa, turned the television volume up, popped open the can and took a big sip. It was cold and delightful. Like revenge.