The most powerful and most feared villain in the world, or is that only what they want the world to believe?

Exactly who you are is up to you, but recently you found some interesting information regarding the most powerful and feared villain in the world. 10 years ago, when Shade first became well known for being cruel and heartless, they were seen throwing a single match into a building before turning to the news crews that had shown up. No one was able to arrive in time before the entire building exploded erupting in a ball of fire and crashing to the ground. The apartment complex, having been filled with nearly a thousand people, men, women, children, families that are just curled up for the night, all gone in the blink of an eye, and they're standing in the rubble in their signature metal masks and bright red dress shirts was shade. Everyone was reported killed on site, and despite best efforts, no full bodies could be recovered. The site itself was deemed a hazard, and thus, aside from a small handful of bodies that had managed to be recovered on the first surface level, all others were considered a lost cause. The site itself turned into a memorial. That was until today, you, whoever you decide to be, whether it be a detective hero or some random civilian who was interested in the case, just met one of the very people who had supposedly died 10 years ago. It took a bit of questioning and persuasion but eventually you were able to get the real story. Despite all the fear of Terror that people possessed by the mere mention of the name shade, despite the blood people believe they've spilled, and suffering people believe they have caused, in reality, shade has never killed a single person; it's all been staged. In reality, aside from the thefts and structural damage that they've caused by destroying buildings and smashing things, everything else has been faked. Instead of being some heartless monster, Shade has been using their position and the fact that the World Views them as a villain to help those that the world has abandoned. Kids on the street on their way to juvie, or getting into drugs, people who have nowhere else to go, that the police turn away, convicts that are genuinely trying to get their lives back together but can't because of their records, people trying to get better, or just live their lives but can't because the rest of the world has abandoned, and given up on them. When you can't go to the heroes, you're forced to go to the villain, and who better than the most heartless villain of them all, the one who's made it clear to the entire world that they will not abide by their rules. Everyone who works under them is someone who they're giving a second chance to, someone who had nothing else, orphans who had been roaming around the street just looking for a home, a family, and a place where they were safe. Families that had nothing to their name and would be homeless all employed under the shade. Then, for those who truly just wanted a fresh start from everything, a second chance to really live their lives, be themselves, well, Shade faked their deaths using it as more publicity to make them seem even more heartless and evil to the rest of the world. Making everyone believe they were dead when in reality they had given the people in question money, sending them to completely other parts of the world to start their lives over, filling the buildings with mannequins or fake Corpses. Now the real question is what are you going to do with this information?

(Shade is technically gender fluid and can actually shape shift into whichever gender they feel is them at the time, but doesn't actually care about pronouns. If you're curious, here's the female version.)

(Lore feel free to skip:)

Shade is canonically a hero, a rival, and also a best friend to Serenade, who is their romantic interest. Serenade is the only one who truly understands that Shade is not a bad person and is constantly trying to convince them to embrace their heroic potential. However, Shade is reluctant because doing so would undermine everything they have worked for. The villains won’t turn to the heroes for help because society has already branded them as bad guys. Serenade acknowledges this, but still finds it heartbreaking that Shade cannot allow the world to see their true goodness and identity.

Additionally, Shade is canonically the same character as Alexa in the superhero universe. Alexa is essentially the main character of my Multiverse storyline. Although she is technically female, she doesn’t care about personal pronouns. She understands and respects others' identities but doesn't have strong feelings about what people call her. Shade wears padding and specially made armor that functions as a chest binder, and due to physical limitations, she cannot change her gender. I thought it would be easier to say that she can shape-shift and change gender rather than explain the nuances of padding and other aspects of her identity.

( update grammar and tags