Okay so there has been some confusion as to WTF is going on. For those of you beautiful new comers to Syx's world- if you are a tad confused, please read my previous fic for Megamind titled Temptress. It is also a Horror/Romance and only 50% AU- following the movie. Boring right? NO! Actually I got many people telling me it was great- still think they are tapped in the head for enjoying my writing- but well ILU GUYS/GALS!-

So, if you are confused and maybe have time? Please check it out;Temptress will no doubt shed some light on the dreams that will continue to happen in Syx's story.

Thank you and now back to the story!

Chapter 4: Endless Ocean

The wind rippled along his leather gloves; he could feel the chill air of the evening seep through the rough material. He was doing a 'routine' patrol of Metro City, and more so than usual, Syx was on edge. Someone familiar had been stalking him all day. Rather, that was what he had first assumed.

It was halfway through the day when Syx realized what was going on. He was quite content to enjoying his day at the new school with his new 'friends', which was until he spotted the coat. The bastard was actually wearing the same clothes that he'd seen him in a night ago.

He was being targeted again? How could they have located him this fast? He began to calculate the possibilities as Roxanne and Bernard sat next across from him. It was lunch C and the three were pleasantly surprised to discover that they shared the same lunch. Candice sadly had lunch B, so after homeroom was over she'd promised to meet up with them later.

"….ink?"

Syx looked up into two pair of confused faces. "I'm sorry what was that? I was distracted for a moment." He admitted sheepishly.

"I asked what you thought. Bernard invited us to go to his place after school so that his Dad could take us back to the shore to get homework. We have to have several types of seaweed for our tanks next week, and I would like to get some shells." Roxanne was mid-bite with her grilled cheese and Texas toast sandwich.

"I'm sorry. I have a previous engagement this evening." He admitted grudgingly.

"A previous engagement? Do you talk like that often? Are you sure you're only fifteen, Tynon?" Bernard quipped, pushing away his half eaten lunch with a look of disgust.

"Oh- I'm sorry. I'm a bit advanced in my language studies. I was home schooled when I was younger. And as you know I was bumped up a few grades for good marks so... I'm not used to…well anyways- I'm going to be busy tonight with my –Father- he wants to make sure I'm well rested after my first day at a new school." Syx covered.

"That's too bad. Maybe we can wait until Saturday?" Roxanne turned to Bernard, who merely shrugged.

"I don't care. We live pretty close to the Beach anyways; my Dad probably won't mind- especially since it's for school and all. He loves when I bring home friends. Especially 'girls'." A roll of the caramel-haired teen's eyes followed the statement, leaving an invisible question to linger.

Roxanne spoke up before Tynon/Syx had a chance to ask said question. "That's great, I appreciate you doing this. I can just ride my bike and catch the city bus to your place. It's not too far, and I've got my bus pass."

"Yes. Saturday, how is ten?" Syx asked taking the hint from Roxanne that it would be better to leave sleeping dogs where they lie.

"Ten, oh man you really aren't a normal guy are you? What teen in his right mind gets up at ten on a Saturday?" Bernard sighed lifting an eyebrow inquisitively. "But yeah, I guess. I mean if you are taking the bus- you'll have to get up earlier. So, sure. My Dad will be thrilled that I'm up earlier than expected."

"What time do you normally get up Bernard?" Roxanne asked.

"Never, if I can avoid it. But I usually can't, my family forces me awake about noon. My mom says it's unhealthy to sleep past noon for a 'young person'." He raised his fingers to make invisible quotation marks in the air.

"Perhaps it is." Syx joked. It was at this moment he turned his head to look at Roxanne as she giggled, when he noticed the man. He could see through the glass, the man was standing behind a tree outside. Not really hiding behind it, so much as using the tree to mask half of him. It was obvious without being so; the man would have stuck out like a sore thumb if he would only bend down to properly spy.

Was that really someone from the government? Were they aware of him?

A bell chimed making him jump.

"Dude, you're really out of it today. What class do you have next anyhow?" Bernard asked him.

"Oh- advanced Trigonometry."

"Oh." Roxanne and Bernard said in unison, both made a face.

"I've that next also."

"But Roxanne- you hate Trig." Bernard laughed remembering that just last semester when she was taking regular Trigonometry she nearly failed. It was through no sleep, sheer determination and will power that she managed to scrape by with an A minus.

"Why are you taking Trigonometry if you don't like it?" Syx was curious now too.

"I don't really have much of a choice. I promised that I would try my best to get the most out of High School for my parents. I want to be a journalist but they keep hoping I'll change my mind. I made a deal with my Dad that if I take advanced Trig- he'd have to let me also take my journalism classes and also let me be a part of the school paper. So, it's a compromise. Is that the same for you Tynon?" Roxanne asked turning the conversation to him, as she was becoming uncomfortable.

"Oh, no. I like Trigonometry."

For a second time that day, his new friends stared at him with awe and disgust. Bernard was the first to react; "You like Trig? I believe my face just exploded." A warning bell chimed and Bernard jumped up then snatching his bag he jogged down the open hallway. "I'll see you guys later. I have German and then English/Lit!"

"C'ya! I have class with you after this!" Roxanne waved. Then, turning to Tynon, "What do you have after Trig?"

"Same, English/Lit, not my forte." He made a wincing motion; he always seemed to be mis-pronouncing words. No one had ever thought to tell him the correct pronunciation of things growing up. They'd been more preoccupied with how he learned. Not so much as what he learned. Which he supposed, was their first mistake.

"Oh? Well, This I'll have to see."

Syx glanced around looking for the 'stalker'. He was gone. Was he still after him- or Roxanne? He probably knew that she had a photo of him in her Camera. Syx hoped that wasn't the case, but he knew it was wishful thinking.

Henry Stuart woke with a start, a scream fresh in his throat. He glanced rapidly around his bedroom. "Hello?"

"What is it Hal?" his sister opened the door to his room, "You're always so loud. And you missed school today."

"Kathryn! I'm okay? I'm home!" he fist pumped the air, then he began to rapidly feel all over his body, as if to make sure everything was still intact. He didn't feel any different.

"What are you talking about? You didn't go anywhere- Dad said that you were conked out all day!" the offended twelve year old scoffed.

"What's your deal? Mad cause I was allowed to stay home?"

"Don't act all superior because you're older. JERK! You still don't have a girlfriend!" his sister stuck her tongue out and slammed his door.

"Oh yeah? Well, forget you! I do too have an...almost girlfriend! BRAT!" he yelled after her. He sighed frustrated, then jumping up from his unkempt bed he ran over to his mirror, nothing appeared different.

He proceeded to undress, looking at himself in the mirror. Still same sorry excuse for a human. He was overweight and gaining. He could see some stretch marks on his lower stomach. Working out really didn't help him much. Oh, he had muscle in his arms, and he was getting into shape as best he could with what he had. But for some reason all of the fat his body accumulated seemed to go straight to his stomach.

He poked at his belly button in silent frustration, and sighed through his nose. So much for school. Ah, who cared anyways?

Oh- it was the beginning of the new semester. He figured that there was going to be new classes that he may have a chance to have Roxanne in.

She was usually in the higher classes which always bothered him. He tried to study as hard as he possibly could, but only ever managed to pass most classes. He often entertained himself with video games when he wasn't taking videos of everything.

Hal liked documenting the world. The trees, the people- no matter how many times he seemed to look at the world. There just seemed to be something that was missing from his life. Was it so different for other people? He could never understand how the 'rich people' of the world lived. Try as he might, he knew that his fantasies never amounted to much.

The rich he assumed were able to eat whatever they wanted and be able to just get surgery to take off the extra weight that they didn't want. Rich people could buy whatever they wanted also. Hal liked to imagine that he had all the money he could ever possibly want or need. Then he may have more friends. He might be able to buy better camera recording equipment.

He may be able to win Roxanne Ritchi's affections. Ever since last year when he'd first moved to Metro City and having been depressed about leaving what little friends he did have, he was happy that the first person to have ever talked to him in Metro City- had been her. She was beautiful too. Blue eyes, long hair- glasses he didn't mind so much, but she could always get contacts he supposed.

Hal pulled on fresh cloths- or after smelling them, he figured they were as fresh as any. Running down the hallway he emerged into the living room, to find his father still asleep in his chair.

"Hey Dad." he said dryly to the snoring figure.

Why did he even bother? It wasn't like the old man was going to move from that spot until night fall anyway. And then he would be up again and out running around looking for more booze. He shuffled to the kitchen and pulled out some left over tacos from the previous evening, grabbed his bag from near the end of the table and headed for the door.

"Hey- where do you think you're going?" his sister Kathryn was luckily much better off in looks than he was, he mused. Bright ginger hair, only her's was wavy near the end. Her eyes were the same dull chocolate colored brown, and her face was covered in red freckles. But her nose was drawn up like a button, eyes were larger and doe like in appearance. If it weren't for her sour attitude she'd probably do well for herself even now.

"None of your business, so bug off pip squeak." he said around a mouth full of taco.

"I wouldn't pull on that if I were you, Hal." she warned from behind him as he twisted the knob to the front door.

He glared at her before making an over exaggerated pull of the door. It opened in a big sweeping motion, and he stepped outside.

Syx pulled his Tuono off to the side of the Gulf. He wanted to have a better look at the area. Wondering how it was so easy for the man who he believed to be tracking Roxanne originally- to throw sheet metal while he was riding at well over 80 miles an hour. Surely making him a small target. That and the fact that he was almost completely in black, it would have been hard for him to be visible.

Sans a dark red lightning bolt that covered most of the front of his spandex suit. He liked the red, and hoped that it wouldn't draw suspicion. Many of the 'riders' he'd seen in the magazines he'd once read had warn clothes similar and they usually matched their bikes.

Syx had decided to wear red rather than his favorite blue, because he didn't want to chance anyone connecting him with the alien child who had landed on Earth fifteen years ago. Sure some tabloids printed him in their papers- but he tried to keep a low profile. Only helping those in need when he was near an impossible situation.

Earlier this evening he managed to stop a robbery in progress at the local jewel store near his hideout. The idiots had tripped the alarm of the store and were scrambling to pack all of the valuables into their satchels. He'd disarmed them and detained them efficiently. Leaving a note for the police. Making sure to hide nearby until they had arrived to escort the 'bad guys' away.

And on his way over here, he'd prevented three nasty muggings and stopped a purse snatcher. Yes, it was a long evening.

He kicked the stand out on his bike and walked down to the edge of the water, turning around and looking back at the road he observed the scene that had occurred a day or so ago. He'd been tailing the later revealed 'Government Official' because he'd assumed the man was stalking the teenage girl. Later, he found out- it was Roxanne Ritchi, the woman-girl- from his dreams.

The sheet metal had flown from a 45 degree angle, and if he would have been going just a few miles slower, it may have cut him in half. But something was off about everything. His skin was normally more resistant to impact than that. It had taken serious force when he was being experimented on, to even obtain a scratch.

Visions of when he was in the 'white rooms' ran through his mind. The 'scientist's' we're testing his 'durability'.

"Be careful Ace. We don't know if he'll react negatively and while he heals quickly, I'm not sure if he can recover as fast from the force."

"Don't worry about it, King. I've got this under control."

Syx knew that he was about to lose something, but he wasn't quite sure what it was until the shotgun's echoed into the room.

His body was thrown against the white wall, his shoulder was bruised from the impact, and the gunshot had fractured his shoulder. It would remain thus for a few hours. He'd screamed out in howling pain, but the scientist's never batted an eyelash as they laid him down for examination.

"Hm. Seems as if he can take more and more every day. Yesterday, we'd nearly shattered his humorous. Today, it's only a fracture." Syx could detect a note of annoyance in the man's voice as he leaned over to poke at him as if he were some type of specimen.

He tried his best to hold back his tears- but failed as a few stubborn streaks of liquid edged their way from the corners of his eyes.

Some of the few times he cursed who and what he really was, was when he could remember even the most minute details about his past. He could look at events and study them to exhaustion. But until he came to a conclusion, the 'movies' of his memories would continuously replay themselves.

He had to train his brain to pause these memories and to place them in temporary holdings inside of his brain so that he could focus on other things. But he could always feel them there, pressing against the insides of his mind, yearning for his attention.

Tonight was such a night. He pressed the pause buttons and pushed with annoyed gusto at the memories that threatened to spill forth from his brain. Shoving them back into the proper holding areas Syx was able to clear his mind enough to continue his observations.

When the small hairs on the back of his neck began to stand on end. He turned around looking everywhere; he dashed over to his Tuono. Where was the person... he felt them watching him. Looking up and down the buildings, it could be in any window. The streets weren't empty, cars drove to and fro, but from his vantage point he would be nearly invisible to them.

Syx turned around in an almost full one-eighty before his eyes landed on a figure cloaked in darkness not too far from him- they were climbing on some rocks near the water. He carefully dropped his body to the ground, maneuvering in a cat-like crawl along the soft white sand. His legs creeping out from under him advancing his body forward, he ducked his head low to the ground, lifting his body up with only his fingers, slowly pulling forward. It was fairly dark out, the moon was his only light, but there wasn't anything to hide behind, so he'd have to be careful.

The person wasn't even looking in Syx's direction, but was more focused on the ocean. Strange, he was sure that they'd been facing him a moment ago.

Syx jumped forward and landed as nimbly as he could behind one of the large rocks closer to him. The person was walking down a cement walkway clearly marked 'DANGER DO NOT CROSS THIS PATH.'

What an idiot. He pulled himself forward after making sure that he wasn't being noticed. And slowly he began to walk behind the individual. Was it just some random person who'd decided to go out for a late night stroll? There was something familiar in the way the shadow person moved. But he wasn't sure how to pin it down.

The ocean slapped against the cement wall as they walked along it. Hitting roughly and forcing sand onto the shore, only to smother it back into the watery depths. The cold night air was sinking into his leather spandex, and he was grateful that Minion had given him a hot pack before he'd left.

The figure in front of him stopped, and a flash of lightning exploded against the night sky in the distance in front of them. Syx continued to walk forward until he could get a closer look at the person.

The figure turned around suddenly and spotted him, they let out a cry of surprise at the same time slipping forward towards sharp rocks, and nasty wounds. Without a second's hesitation he darted forward and wrapped his arm around the figure.

"Phantom!" the familiar female voice cried as he pulled her away from the dark abyss. Thrusting her against his chest. Her hair slapping into his helmet blocking his view completely. They were dangerously close to the edge of the water, he was about to back up when her voice had brought him to a realization.

"Roxanne?" he was surprised to say the least, but after a second he became angry. "What did you think you were doing? Didn't you see the 'Danger' sign?"

"I did but I just needed a clearer picture. The area where you were attacked the other night is blocked by the road and that overpass." she pointed to the overpass behind him. "There was no way anyone would have seen what happened- and also no way for me to get a good photograph of the area." she took a second to breathe, then snapped, "I know what I'm doing."

He was more annoyed that she wasn't afraid of him. He frowned under his helmet- though she couldn't feel it; he knew she probably guessed that he was doing so.

"You knew what you were doing? Then should I just leave you to it?" He let his grip on her waist go slack, causing her to fall forward again, he held onto her shirt balancing his weight out so that she could dangle at his mercy over the icy water.

"NO!" her arms flailed, and her camera slipped, she twisted to catch it before it fell, her fingers barely missing it. An anguished cry flew from her lips the exact moment Syx shifted his weight again, still holding onto her and using her body as momentum to spin himself off of the edge of the cement walkway, he leaned himself dangerously over the edge and reached out- grabbing her camera's strap. He then continued in a semi-circle, spinning her into his arms again. He set her apart from him and handed her camera out to her.

"Th-thanks-" was all she could manage, as she pulled her blowing hair continuously away from her face, righting her glasses.

"So, like me- you've returned to the scene of the crime to 'investigate.'"Lightning continued to torch the night sky, Syx sniffed the air, and the rain was getting closer. Perhaps five minutes away. They'd both be soaked.

"Yes, exactly." her voice held confidence again, and he could practically see her lifting her chin in the air defiantly.

"And what if, Miss Ritchi, it wasn't I who decided to creep up behind you- but the man who'd attacked me the other night?" Syx questioned, and he felt her head sink, and her shoulders lift.

"I- I was safe."

What a lame come back.

"Just because the city believes me a Phantom- doesn't mean I can be everywhere at once. You could've been harmed." he turned abruptly and started to walk back. There was hardly any light as it was, the rain would make it near impossible to see.

Roxanne followed after him, and he heard her grunts as she slid and jumped down rocks.

"Who are you- really?"

"You're quite nosy. It's rude to ask personal questions." he said turning half way around to glare at her again. Also annoyed that his face wasn't visible to her, but she took the hint.

"I saved your life." she pointed out.

"And, I repaid you a moment ago."

"I wasn't going to die-."

"You may well have, Roxanne. If I had let you fall, the rocks below would've had their way with you- and who knows how strong the current is right now? There's a storm coming in, and by the smell of it- it won't be a 'light shower'. You could have been pulled out to sea, and drowned from said injuries." His voice was rising, he fought to keep control. Seeing her carelessly wander out along the cement pathway like a stupid tourist had irked him. And possibly scared him, a little.

"I do this all the time. I had things under control. But- thank you for saving me." she crossed her arms and he could feel her thoughts rush into his mind as easily as if he were slicing bread.

"Don't freak out- I don't intend you harm. Or else I would've let you drown." he started to walk away again.

"Wait- Phantom! Don't you want to continue to investigate? I mean I'm already here, and two sets of eyes are better than one." she asked running after him.

"Are you deaf? I just said there was a storm coming." Why was he still angry? This made him angrier to know that he was still annoyed.

"I know that. I knew there was one before I came out here, my things are over there." she pointed to a bench further up near the road; he could see an umbrella and a small bag.

He paused for a moment, thinking.

"How are you getting home?"

She looked surprised at first and then, "I was going to take the late bus. The last one is at nine." she spit her hair out as it blew into her mouth. Syx walked back to where she was and rolled the offended hair between his gloved fingers.

"You really should cut your hair, if you keep deciding to have these little adventures." his tone was lighter than a moment before, and he noted that she was focused on his helmet. Trying to see into it.

"What's the big deal about hiding your face?" she asked suddenly, her mind was screaming her fear of him touching her hair, and yet she forced her body to stand still.

He pulled his hand back. "You are confusing me. Stop over analyzing every move I make. You're giving me a headache." he dodged her question and continued his ascent to his Tuono.

"You're the second person today who's told me to cut my hair." Roxanne remarked.

He froze. Dammit. Earlier he'd said something similar to her...

"Then perhaps you should take good advice when it's offered."

nice save.

"Maybe. What if I do cut my hair? What would it matter?" she mumbled more to herself than him.

"Well, for one- it won't get in your way." he reached his bike and turned to face her, propping gently against its cool surface.

"And, what is the other reason?"

"It can really bring out your pretty bone structure of your face and your eyes. It would be especially flattering when you smile, forcing people to notice those freckles."

Roxanne blushed, and fidgeted with her camera sling, she had asked him to tell her the reason. She just didn't think he would find such a bold answer.

"Oh, uh...thank you."

he paused to look at her, dressed in a dark hoodie, with blue jean Capri's. Her shoes were the same brand of Puma's he'd noted earlier- but this pair were almost brand new. Purple animal representations running across the sides with thick stripes below it.

"Why do you wear Puma's?" he couldn't stop himself for asking.

"Hm?" she seemed surprised that their topic of conversation had now turned to her shoes. "Oh, because I like the feel on my toes. They are a bit pricy, but comfortable and they last about a year or two for me. These are my new pair."

"Hm. I never figured shoes mattered so much. I always just wore whatever fit." he wondered if there were many types of shoes.

"Well I believe in comfort over style. These seem to have both though and there is nothing wrong with that." she starred at him again. "So you really aren't going to tell me anything about yourself are you?"

Was he? Should he? Would Roxanne be surprised to find out that he was blue, that his skull was twice the size of an average human? Maybe another time. Maybe never.

"Nope. Do you want a ride? I'm leaving. I could drop you off."

"Oh, no thanks." She waved the offer, "I'm going to do some homework, and I still have an hour or so."

"Home work? By photographing every aspect of the crime scene? I think you should just come with me. Then, I don't have to wait and follow you home."

She backed up quickly at his comment. "What do you mean?"

"Don't jump to conclusions nosy photographer. I had to take you home a few nights ago remember?"

"Oh, yes. You knocked me out." her face was pouting, lower lip out eyebrows down set angrily.

His eyebrows rose and he doubled over in laugher. "Knocked you out? It was hardly that."

"Well in any case, if your 'offer' of taking me home involves the same kind of 'treatment' I would really rather take the bus thanks." she turned and started to walk away.

He waited for a heartbeat before adding, "What's the problem- don't you trust me?"

Roxanne turned back to look at him, he was now standing straight, his right hand offered out to her. Small metal spikes on his arms were screaming you shouldn't but the way he was so carelessly positioned made her feel... safe.

"I don't know if I should." she walked over to him and after a pause slid her hand into his leather clad one.

Syx was more pleased than he should have been. Roxanne, girl of his dreams was holding onto him in trust.

He sat on his bike and pulled her onto it behind him; she wrapped her arms around his waist tentatively.

"Hold on, Roxanne." He revved the engine, and pealed out purposefully fast so that she would be forced to grip is small frame.

"Ah!" a cry of alarm was heard from her as she did so, he laughed at her as he drove by the bench where her things were, he reached out a hand and scooped them up, umbrella and all, just as the rain started to pour, fast and heavily down on them.

Hi all! FluffyFurball is SO busy – like me! And she's still in the process of beta'ing (is that a word?) this up, so if there are any mistakes please forgive them, I made a promise to have this up today!- and I deliver, it's a bit long to say sorry again as you know school is owning my life! When I get the fixed version back from her I will then upload to fix this. :3

Also, don't be afraid to criticize or critique my work- I can take it! And also let me know what you want to happen or what you think will happen! It's so much fun to read! XD

As always Circus Candies for you lovely readers and thanks so much!

UP NEXT: More of the mysterious 'grey boy'- the scientists- and- just what is going on in Metro City? Can Phantom stop it, or will it stop him? Find out next time!