[WP]A retired super villain is in the bank with his 6 year old daughter when a new crew of super villains comes in to rob the place.

"Chicken, Potatoes, Beans, Flour..." Dr. Schultz's thoughts trailed off, seemingly dispersed into the nothingness that was his day-dreaming consciousness.

A younger shade of himself would have once despised slow days like today. He could be pillaging museums or robbing banks just like the one he was standing in, dammit. The irony of that last thought materialised in a brief chuckle as he stood in line, relishing in the monotony that came with super-villain retirement. It wasn't a pretty lifestyle, there was no superannuation or no long-service awards; just sour looks from passer-bys and fearful ones from every cash-handling employee in the city.

"Flour, Strawberries, Iodine, Sulphuric Acid..." Wait. No that was the recipe for the pipe bomb that first expelled him into the throes of villainy. What a crazy life. The brilliant mind that once birthed great acts of villainhood is now trained to remember the shopping list for dinner.

Schultz looked down to his right, breaking his stream of thought, "Are you alright Charlotte?"

Big hazel eyes looked up and met his, pundits and film directors could not have written a more absurd screenplay. Arguably the greatest criminal mastermind of the 23rd century, tamed by a brunette supermarket cashier and her infant daughter. For the past 6 years, Schultz stayed true to that plot, raising Charlotte with a strict but loving disposition. Household rules were often broken however, many bedtime curfews were delayed due to 'one more story please Daddy'.

"I'm okay, just bored."

"You should never be bored! The world is a magnificent place! Even your mind is a complex machine that you should explore." Schultz said, secretly hoping that one day similar powers could develop in her.

Although he would have loved sewing a child-sized spandex villain costume for her, it was certain she would use her powers for good. She had a pure heart, just like her mother. After all, the ability to control every atom in the known universe would be amazing for mankind. He was just too old for that responsibility.

"Don't forget to sign my permission slip later, I have to go to..."

Charlotte's voice was drowned out by a loud bang from the front door of the pseudo-historical bank building. The resulting crumbling of debris and rain of glass triggered a reminiscent smile from Dr. Schultz. That used to be the sound of success, the precursor for adventurous exploration of bank vaults and the "borrowing" of precious artifacts that would never be returned. Today, that smile quickly faded into worry.

He had heard of these fiends on the news. While he robbed banks and ravaged museums for his love of money and fine art, this group didn't. They just liked causing pain and suffering, they simply did it for fun.

"EVERYBODY TAKE YOUR CLOTHES OFF AND LIE DOWN ON THE GROUND"

Dr.Schultz glanced at Charlotte once again but no fear was present on her face. She already knew what was going to happen next; maybe she did have his powers after all!

What a crazy life indeed. Today, Dr.Schultz becomes a superhero.

/r/WritingPrompts Thread