There was nothing more Billy desired than to touch Penny's hair. To inhale the scent of floral lavender that invaded every red ripple of the cascading hair. To look at her inviting green eyes as he mumbled something inaudible that she would smile at and continue laundering.
Billy stayed up countless nights, goggles astray on his forehead, his red lab-coat wrinkled in every crevice imaginable. He forced himself to think that Penny's death was a somber warning in trying to lead a double life. It would result in tragedy, just like what happened to Penny. What if he lost Moist next? He didn't love Moist in the same way he did Penny, but the thought of losing him was unbearable. Moist was the only person who ever truly understood Billy and his actions. Moist was lucky enough to be called Billy's best friend.
As predicted, Billy hadn't seen one newspaper that starred Captain Hammer since the death ray incident. He figured that a "superhero" calling for his mother, or someone maternal, was not the image of a true superhero. Billy found this funny, seeing as he'd known this for quite some time. The fact that Penny was fooled made him hate Hammer even more. How could Hammer make her believe such lies? Penny wasn't dumb, Billy knew that through and through. But why would she choose Hammer of all people?
Billy leaned over in his unusually large chair, flattening out the latest newspaper in front of him. Dr. Horrible Strikes Again! is the headline on the front page, and Billy stares at it, a tiny forced smile coming into play. On the outside, he's as happy as ever; on the inside, he's bluer than the sky.
Billy lets his goggles slide down to his eyes. He lets out a sigh.
For the time being, Dr. Horrible was out for a little spin.
Maybe one day Billy would be able to resurface without feeling a pinch of guilt gnawing endlessly at his gloves.
He hoped it wouldn't be too long.