Music for this chapter: "A little pain", Nana OST
Note: "Arigato" means "Thank you" in Japanese. About the "real" names of the guys of the Doom Syndicate: Psycho Delic = James, Hot Flash = Carrie, Puzzler = Steve, Destruction Worker = Peter, and Lady Doppler = Beth. There are more members, but I'm still working on them.

Chapter 11: A Little Pain

It was a rainy evening. With my feet on the table, sitting in my armchair, I was switching the TV's channels, searching for the KMCP 8 News. In any moment, the best news of the day would appear...
A crisp sound captures my attention.

"It seems that your rescue operation was something easy, right?", I comment, smirking at Hot Flash, who opened the door. Her pink flames are brighter than usual... maybe because her mission had been a success. Next to her I can see the main subject that reunited all our group again... Hal Stewart. I thought he was... taller. And stronger. Not this terrified fat guy, who has written "loser" all above his face.
It seems that Carrie already made him scream a lot, because he's out of breath.

"Too much easy. What did those police officers learn in the academy these days?", she snorts, and kicks that kid's butt, making him fall to the ground. "So this thing was Tighten, some months ago."

"I'm not a 'thing'!", he answered, with a small mouth.
At least he has guts to answer. Maybe this guys isn't really that stupid.

"Shut up!", she cuts him, with one of her typical threats, showing him a pink fire ball in her hand, "Or I'll burn your throat with some of these! Would you like it, eh?"

"Not my throat!", he covers his head, surrendering.

I see. Really he is THAT stupid... Better for me.

"Fine, I'll let you live.", she pets his head, as if he was a dog, and gives me a glare. "Today we were going to have a reunion. Where are Puzzler and Destruction Worker?"

"Steve went to steal the Defuser Gun. And Peter... Fighting Megamind is his new hobby, with bombs, earthquakes..., you know, his stuff. They'll be here, sooner or later."

"Yeah, sure. Those two never know when to stop, but I'm going to stop here, or I'll start to ramble again. What about Lady Gaga... I mean... Lady Doppler? Long time no see her face."

I take a cup from the coffee machine, ignoring her mischievous expression. She's jealous of her youth and her beauty. It's incredible how the simply thought of my girl can get the best of me. And I hate the fact that makes me feel good. I truly HATE that feeling.

"Oh, Beth, my Beth... She won't come with us soon, you should know already..."

"Oh, PLEASE.", she groans, "Still behind Metro Man's ass?"

"Yeah, two months and a half more. I wonder when he will leave that fantasy world, inside his own bubble... I guess we'll have to break it..."

Hal tries to get up, raising his eyebrows with a surprised expression on his face.

"What's going on? I thought Metro Man was dead... He's dead, isn't he...?"

This is the first moment that he faces me, and the sight of my face makes him gasp in terror.

"You.. YOU'RE A...!"

"A purple skeleton, yes."
To create a good effect, I kneel before him. Our great plan starts now, putting the greatest power that the man has ever known on this idiot's hands. Oh God, how I love to be bad.

"Psycho Delic, at your service... my boss, Titan.", the last words burned my throat.
We'll make him believe he's our new boss... but the power will remain in Carrie and me. He'll be just a puppet. A very useful one.

"Boss...? I like how that sounds!"

"Arigatō!", after this, she ran with her friends, showing them my autograph. All them giggled and started to whisper things about me. My jaw dropped out when I heard "yaoi" in their conversation.

"Wayne, are you alright? You seem shocked..."
As always, Bernard tries to comfort me. I can't help it but smile when I see his concerned expression.

"I'm perfectly fine, no worries!", I tried to disimulate the best I could, "So... about our gig..."

"It's going to take place tomorrow, at night. Yoyogi Park is a great place for our concert, more if we're going to keep your songs acoustic, as always..."

Why he keeps talking about MY songs, when almost all them were re-done with his help? Modesty, perhaps? I don't know, but his voice makes me enter in a state of inner peace, as we walk through Shibuya's district. This neighborhood is full of very different people: executives in business suits, some women wearing traditional clothes (maybe for a wedding?), young skaters showing their abilities, a group of ganguro gals testing a new makeup in front of Hachiko's statue...

And my cellphone starts to vibrate, with my song "I have eyes". It can be only one person ...

"What the...?"

"Shhh, Bernard! I must answer this call!"

And now, my super-ears will suffer the worst yet beloved squeal of one of the persons I love the most in this world.

"WAYNEEE, LOVEEE!"

"Hi mom."

Bernard seems anxious to know who I am talking to, so while she starts to explain the details that she picked for our following concerts, I get some time to whisper my mother's name.

"You mean... Linda Scott, right? Your mom, the richest woman of Metro City..."

"Yeah, she is! Shsssh!"

Sometimes it seems that my mother also has a super-hearing sense. Or a highly developed maternal instinct. Both ideas are a little terrifying at some levels.

"Darling, is something wrong? Who are you talking to?"

"Oh, don't worry mom, I'm just here, talking with my friend Bernard..."

"Oh, honey, your manager? He's such a nice guy, so patient and kind... The girls of your fanclub ADORE him, but they started to talk about something called 'yaoi' between you two, do you know what is that? A new song? And you know, you should invite him to a dinner in our mansion after your tour, don't you think? It's a nice way to thank him all his effort..."

Sometimes I believe that everything would be easier if my mom wasn't the president of my fanclub. And yaoi? Really? WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY FANS? Sigh... It will be easier if I just ignore their comments. After a facepalm, I'm feeling strong enough to answer.

"That 'thing' isn't a song, mom... And trust me, you don't want to know what is it. About the dinner, I like that idea, it sounds nice... So, back to our concerts..."

So this is the reason why Lady Scott called his son: she sent us more money, new clothes and food supplies. All the packages are waiting for us in the branch of Scott Corporation. It only took us 23, almost 25 minutes to arrive here, Shinjuku's district. A young, very polite man delivered us the packages. Despite his appearance (slanted eyes and pale skin) he gave us his best wishes in our concert, with all the love of the Scott Corporation, all with a perfect English. Wayne muted a little, before answer with a little "Arigato".

In moments like this is when I feel that I still need so much to learn about him. He really loves his mother (he was all cheerful and happy before, talking with her)... but when it comes about his father, he always tries to avoid any question. Maybe he didn't get along with him, I know. But Lord Scott died so many years ago... There is no reason to reject questions about him now. So, this makes me wonder, what happened between you two?

Shinjuku's night is a glowing nocturne paradise, filled with bright colored squares. From the window of the hotel room where I stay, all those lights remind me of a sea of stars. But, at this moment, I'm willing to dive in the bath and just forget the world...

Under the shower, all the sounds are turning lower. I really needed this, some free time to put in order my thoughts. But it always happens: everytime my mind goes blank, that empty space soon is filled with his image, his smile, his voice...

The bathtub is large enough for two persons, but I'm alone right now. Hugging my legs, that umpleasant emotion full of concern and fear grows in my heart.

There are many things that we'll have to do after our return to Metro City. Surely he'll help Megamind with his powers to defeat the Doom Syndicate, and eventually the city will know about his dramatic charade. But when? And how? A part of me knows that he never had the guts to face their parents at his youth and tell them the truth. I can understand that feeling... because I suffered the same experiencie with my own family. But the rest of Metro City won't forgive him. I won't deny that he played his part winning fans's hearts since his early chilhdood, but hey, all the kids want to be noticed, and he was pleased being the hero. But life goes on, and he grew a lot. Some people might think now that his decisions make him too much and selfish... but I don't care. He followed his heart, for God's sake! Is that SO BAD? Besides, Megamind was so bad trying to be the greatest villain ever... I can understand Wayne's point of view.
Reflecting of the past, he explained me the reasons why he decided to leave his former job... but I only can remember a few...

Sometimes I'd like to live forever like this: always travelling around the world, by his side. I was just a zero to the left in Metro City... and things won't change when our journey could finish. After all, what am I? Without a super brain, without an incredible strength, without super powers, without an amazing beauty.
Just an average ex-museum curator.
A nerd with glasses.

A ramdom citizen...

"Do you mind if I come in?"

"WHAT? You can't come in!"

"Bernard, please! I need to go to the toilet!"

"NO, YOU CAN'T COME IN! Besides you have your own toilet in your room... why you always want to use my toilet..."

"Arg! OK, OK! Sorry, sorry!"

And he leaves me again, with my silence. And I regret my words, but I can't do anything.

Sigh... Moments like this are the only ones that make me hate him a bit. When he forgets to go to the toilet before my sacred bath hour. When he eats a lot of candies without problems for his weight, and I have to stick to my salads. When he steals my attention with his smile, making me forget everything but him...

Darn. I've got it bad. But what can I do? I'll never be an option.
He deserves someone strong, kind and honest, able to make him happy... maybe he would like to have a daughter or a son of his own, and definitely with me that never would happen (that makes me wonder, can aliens as him ever reproduce with humans?). Any of his fangirls would be better than me...
I need to destroy these feelings for him, or I'll suffer a depression... but that won't happen, for sure. I'll be happy with our friendship... I just need time to rip out these feelings of my heart, and time will heal these scars.

My face sinks into the water, and my tears can't even differentiate what they are not, because they remain, falling inside my soul, as an eternal rain.

I'll try to forget this love.

I'll do it for you, Wayne.

Because you deserve the happiness that I'll never have.