Nothing Under The Mask

by Ms. Kinnikufan

Disclaimer: I own no one.

"There's nothing under the mask! You'd be horrified if I ask you to take off your face!" It was true, thought Universal Man. There was nothing under his mask. At least, nothing worth seeing.

That was what his parents (Cosmic Captain and Atomic Lass) had taught him and his sister. In fact they were the ones who named him "Universal Boy" (it was changed to Universal Man at his 18th birthday) and his twin sister "Universal Girl". They had them wearing much smaller versions of their costumes since they were a few days old.

Cosmic Captain and Atomic Lass has stressed the importance of being super-hero from childhood: "There is no point to a secret identify. It's a secret, so who cares?"

Needless to say, neither the NSA or the social services were not pleased about this and tried to intercede on Universal Boy and Universal Girl's behalf.

Universal Boy didn't understand why the NSA and the social services were trying to take them away from their parents. Weren't Cosmic Captain and Atomic Lass (they didn't like being called mommy and daddy) just trying to teach them on how to be good superheros, right?

Universal Girl felt opposite: "Damn it, mom and dad are-"

"You mean Cosmic Captain and Atomic Lass, Universal Girl?"

"That's just what I mean brother! Mom and Dad are trying to turn us into freaks. We're suppose to have secret identities so that we don't collapse from the total stress!"

"Cosmic Captain and Atomic Lass says that the stress is just one of the responsibilities of being super."

"They're-they're like trying to brainwash us brother!"

"No! Only bad people try to brainwash children! Our parents are supers, and thus they're good and thus what they're doing is right!"

"My brother, you are the biggest fool I've ever known."

His sister run away from home shortly after their argument. She was only 12 years old at the time.

Soon afterwards, Cosmic Captain and Atomic Lass were killed while fighting Baron Von Ruthless. The NSA then took him in and tried to force "a secret identify" on him.

It didn't take. Really didn't take. His love of his "super" identity (his only identify) got him kicked out of many foster homes. They didn't want to be put into danger.

It was a relief when he turned 18 and could work with the NSA full time. But not for long.

"It was Universal Man you have to have a secret identity" this, and you'll put everyone you'll love in danger without a secret identity" that.

Ha. Every girl wanted to see what was under the mask. He told them there was nothing. They didn't believe him. And that's when the arguments began, which would lead to the breaking of delicate objects and the breakups.

The only love ones that he had were his dog and his sister, wherever she might be. His dog could pretty much could take care of himself, as evidenced by "the incident" with the Bad Bomber (who really wasn't much of a bomber, he was much more of a "shoot missiles into theme parks" sort of guy).

He hoped the super ban wouldn't go through. It couldn't possibly go through, who could imagine a world without supers?

"It's time for their secret identify to become their only identify. Time for them to join us or go away!" the lady on the TV was saying.

She looked and sounded familiar. No it couldn't be, she looked so much older, way older then she should look. Then again, she always complained about how the stress from being a super was making her prematurely age...

"Universal Girl?" he asked the TV.