*I do not own Dexter's' Laboratory. But I do own a pair of fancy purple surgical gloves, so…?
Chapter one.
"We're proud of you, Manny, but…"
He knew the tone, he'd known it for years. The same 'we're this, we're that', all of it leading to only one thing;
"…We can't make it."
Mandark sat on the hood of his car, slipping his hand into the pocket of his slacks and letting out a slow, quiet sigh, "I know, mom."
"Your father and I are going to have a look at the resort- the brochure looks wonderful."
"Mom, it's a nudists colony."
"It's a clothing optional resort," his mother corrected, "We've talked about this before, dear."
"Yeah, yeah."
"So, you'll be alright going up to the university by yourself?"
"Yes, mom."
"We love you, Sweetie. We'll be sure to visit, to see how you're settling in, okay?"
Mandark tossed his dark bangs from his face, "Yeah. Bye, mom."
"Goodbye, Mandark."
At least they had stopped calling him Susan.
He'd been so sure of his parents shirking of him, the back of his crappy, used dodge four-door was packed with cardboard boxes of files, equipment and clothes- truthfully, he did not know what he was going to do, with his long-acquired lab equipment, but the thought of leaving it, abandoned, in his vacant lab when his parents sold the house had been intolerable. So he had wrapped it as best he could with packing peanuts and newspaper and crammed it into the back, set for the long trip up to the university.
Mandark snapped the phone shut and slid it into his pocket, rising from his half-seat on the hood and stretching, his spine popping every now and again- he was too tall, for his car, and imagined that he looked something like a clown, climbing in and out of the cab. But the insurance wasn't bad, and he'd already driven the poor thing to death, so he found himself fond of it. Mandark pulled open the slightly creaky door and folded his long legs inside, bowing his lanky form into the seat and shutting the door. He started the engine, and sighed again.
He'd never been to see his room, in the dormitory, and was only slightly surprised to find it rather spacious. Two windows looked out onto the campus opposite the door, and the place was furnished with two hardy, worn work desks and steel-framed twin-sized beds. The room was perfectly symmetrical, and the simplicity of the place felt refreshing.
He set to moving in his things, ignoring the upperclassmen passersby as he hauled box after box up the stairs and down the hall, stacking them first on the featureless mattress, and then onto the desk and floor. He knew he could not begin to unpack his delicate instruments until he had secured a place for them, away from the eyes of what was certain to be a clueless roommate…
At last Mandark lowered himself into his swivel desk chair with a sigh, sweeping his bangs away from his eyes and pushing his thick-framed glasses up the bridge of his nose. So, this was it. The beginning to end his hellish childhood. It was the future, now; he had nothing but to look forward to expanding his genius, having at last escaped from the tyranny of peers that mocked him, a family that did not understand him, and a rival-
"What does this button do?"
"Dee Dee, do not touch my instruments!"
Mandark blinked, and jumped as the door burst open to bang against the wall sharply. He gaped in horror at the short, red-haired boy that stood on the threshold, his arms loaded with moving boxes of his own, gaping with similar shock through glasses identical to Mandark's own. It only took a few moments for his identity to click into place-
"YOU-!" They both burst simultaneously.
"Can't you leave me alone?!" Dexter demanded in his traditionally fiery Seribian accent.
"Me?! I was here first!" Mandark replied angrily.
"As if! I chose this room-" the boxes jolted from his arms as he let out a cry, stumbling forward, Dee Dee forcing her way inside.
"Hiiiiiii, Manny!" She chirruped cheerfully, "Wow, this room is neat!"
"Dee Dee! Watch where you are going!" Dexter snapped, pushing his glasses back onto his face and beginning to scoop up his boxes.
"Ooh, what a pretty view! Wood floors? What a cute smoke alarm! The walls are kind of boring. Is the bed comfy? Gee, this is neat!" Dee Dee continued, ignoring her brother as she brushed her long, blonde tresses over her shoulder, circling the room. Mandark stared as she came to stop before him, leaning down to smile at him, accenting just how well she had filled out, during high school, "How are you, Manny?"
"G-good…"
"I demand that you get out of my room!" Dexter said, vexed at being ignored, "The both of you!"
"You're going to take care of Dexter for me, aren't you?" Dee Dee questioned, and Mandark thought he saw actual concern, behind her bright smile.
"Okay…"
"I do not need to be taken care of! I need to be left alone!" Dexter cried, his face nearly as red as his hair, "Dee Dee, get out of my…" he paused, "…room!"
"Thanks, Manny!" Dee Dee said, planting a small kiss on his cheek and bouncing up again, "I've got to go, Dexter! Play nice, now!"
"Yes, fine! Just go away!" Dexter grumped, crossing his arms across his chest.
"Call me if you need anything, 'kay?" She said, mussing his orange bangs until he pushed her hand away.
"'Kay," he replied, much of his malice faltering.
Dee Dee looked back at Mandark, "I'm counting on you, Manny! Bye!" and she left the room.
"Stop staring at her, you creep," Dexter growled, and Mandark flushed.
"As if. Childhood crushes mean nothing- I'm beyond it." Mandark replied, finding himself falling back on his old condescending tone.
They watched each other in silence for a few moments.
"So where have you been, then?" Mandark questioned cynically, "You disappear junior year, and now you're back to annoy me? What, they didn't make robes small enough?"
"Where I was is none of your business. I see you managed to become valedictorian and still end up being the biggest moron on the planet," Dexter turned away from him, beginning to pull open boxes and stack books onto the barren shelves over the desk, "Fancy that."
Biting the inside of his cheek, Mandark got to his feet, beginning to rummage around in his own things. It seemed that life wouldn't cut him a break, after all.
xXx
