Later in the day, we were all hanging out in Stan's room. Kyle was busy helping Cartman with his math homework while Stan was listlessly checking his email on his computer. I sat on the bed reading a favorite magazine of mine, but every now and then I kept casting worried glances over at Stan. After the events this morning, I was able to drop my Mysterion disguise and become Kenny McCormick once again. When I caught up with Stan, he was looking utterly heart-broken. I haven't seen him this sad. Only this time… I was the one who made him feel rejected and unwanted.
I felt like shit. How could I say all those awful things to Stan? He was only trying to help me. He didn't mean any harm. But the truth was; I got scared. And like a coward, I said all those hurtful things just to make him go away. Stan probably hated Mysterion now… I couldn't stop thinking about it. I knew I was going to have to make it right. Besides, it would really complicate things if Stan liked Kenny but hated Mysterion. Makes sense, right?
Kyle also kept throwing concerned looks over at Stan who sat gloomily at his desk. "Are you still brooding? I've already told you before; Mysterion only wants you to be safe. He was looking out for you. It's nothing personal," Kyle tried reassuring Stan.
Stan let out a sad sigh. "I'm such a fool. I can't believe that I actually thought I meant something to Mysterion. I just wanted to help him. I didn't mean to get in the way. But I saved Mysterion's life. And instead on thanking me, the guy bites my head off! He says he never wants to see me again! Did I really do something wrong?"
"No you didn't," I told him firmly. "Mysterion doesn't like seeing you in danger. He wants to protect you. I'm sure he didn't mean to be so hard on you."
Cartman however begged to differ. "Quit being such a pussy, Stan. I've been trying to tell you all along that that Mysterion is a no good, heartless, selfish glory-hound! He doesn't give a crap about anyone. He was probably using you all along. But it's alright, bro. You can do better than that self-important asshole Mysterion!"
"No don't say that!" I protested. "You've got it all wrong about Mysterion. He would never take advantage of Stan. He's trying to protect Stan from coming to any harm. Mysterion's not a bad person. I'm sure Stan understands that Mysterion was only doing what was best."
Poor Stan looked as if he didn't know what to think anymore. "I should have known," he said in defeat. "You were right, Kyle. Why should I mean anything to Mysterion? I'm not the only fan he has. For all I may know, he's probably seeing other fans too. I'm so stupid for thinking I was special."
"But you're wrong," I argued. "Mysterion would never…he didn't mean…," suddenly I was at a loss for words. I felt so guilty. I've brought it on myself. I've given Stan all these doubts. What a shitty mess I've created here. How can I fix this?
"Say Kenny… Why are "you" sticking up for Mysterion, eh?" Cartman suddenly eyed me suspiciously. "Don't tell me you're one of Mysterion's whores!"
"Don't be ridiculous. Of course I'm not," I said irritably. But even so, Stan continued to harbor negative thoughts. And he was assuming the worse of Mysterion now. I couldn't ignore this any longer. I had to correct this somehow. Would I even be able to pull it off?
It was a clear blue night; the stars were twinkling as dark clouds swam by a luminous full-moon. After having dinner, grabbing a shower and finishing his homework, Stan found himself wide awake in his bed. It was late. He really should be getting to sleep since he had school tomorrow. But Stan couldn't stop thinking about Mysterion. Besides, it was pointless. He shouldn't be losing sleep over the likes of Mysterion. If the mysterious crime-fighter no longer wanted to see him, then Stan ought to respect his wishes. But the heartache wouldn't go away. He wanted to see Mysterion again.
Stan kept twisting and turning, but Mysterion's face continued to haunt him. So many nights he would secretly masturbate in his bed, imagining that Mysterion was the one touching him. Feeling his gloved hands exploring the most sensitive parts of his body, seeing those vivid sky-blue eyes looking down at him with desire, and then him reaching up both hands to finally pull back Mysterion's hood and mask to reveal his face. But sadly that was where the fantasy ended… As Stan laid there staring at his digital alarm clock, suddenly he heard a strange sound at his bedroom window.
Lifting his head up from the pillow, Stan heard another rustling sound coming from outside. Then he saw a shadow move by his window. Now Stan sat up from his bed and immediately became alarmed. Someone was out there. Pulling the covers off, Stan got out of bed and cautiously began to approach his window. Once he arrived there, Stan looked outside and then a face seemed to appear from the darkness itself. Stan would know that enigmatic expression from anywhere… It was Mysterion himself. The caped crime-fighter stood on the branch of a maple tree and was staring back at him.
It was like his wish had been granted. Mysterion had returned to him. Either that or maybe this was a dream. With the moonlight cascading down upon him, Mysterion almost looked unreal. But when he held out his hand to Stan, he seemed to come to life. His sky-blue eyes lit up, his tight lavender-purple suit fitted his lean body like second skin, and his expression was kind and gentle. What was he doing here now?
"Stan…," Mysterion whispered softly. "I had to see you. I really need to talk to you. Come outside and meet me by the side of your house."
But Stan had mixed feelings for the vigilante. "I don't know. You told me to stay away. You have some nerve coming here in the middle of the night like this, Mysterion. I'm really not sure I want to see you. Not after all the horrible stuff you've said to me earlier today. Good night to you."
Stan grabbed his curtains and was about to close them. "No wait! Please don't go!" Mysterion begged. "You're right. I did say those things to you. But I feel bad. I never meant to hurt you. Just please…come outside so we can talk. I promise I won't take up much of your time."
Stan crossed his arms and turned away grumpily. Part of him was still sore, yet the other part of him wanted to give in. After a moment, he made his decision. "Fine. I'll come out to see you. Wait for me, okay?"
Turning away from his window, Stan went to go put on his socks and shoes and his brown jacket before heading out of his bedroom and into the hall. His parents were fast asleep in their room so Stan was able to sneak downstairs unnoticed. He unlocked his front door and stepped out into the chilly night. Going around to the side of his house, he found Mysterion patiently waiting for him there. Stan's heart burst with pure happiness at the sight of Mysterion. For an instant, he forgot that he was angry at the crime-fighter. Stan decided to give Mysterion a chance to explain himself.
"Well I'm here now," Stan said, he leaned against the side of the house, crossed his arms over his chest and eyed Mysterion coolly. "So what is it that was so important you couldn't wait?"
Stan noticed a change in the crime-fighter right away. Mysterion was no longer wearing his usual stern scowl, his voice didn't sound serious and gruff. In fact, Mysterion looked like a normal person with regrets. He gazed into Stan's eyes and he seemed to be struggling to find the right words to say. Suddenly he didn't look like some mysterious hero running the streets and saving innocent lives. Mysterion was a human-being like any other. Some people often forgot that underneath the mask, Mysterion was a person too.
Finally Mysterion spoke. "Thank you for coming. I don't blame you for being mad at me. After all the hurtful things I've said, I'm the one who doesn't deserve to see you. But I "had" to see you, Stan. I want to apologize for my insensitive attitude. I felt that I owed you an explanation. Will you listen to what I have to say?"
Stan nodded and became interested in spite of himself. "First off, I want to thank you Stan. For helping me at the Sunrise Café. But I really wished that you hadn't. As this town's protector, I've become responsible for saving many lives. I never ask for anything in return. In my line of work, I've been through a lot of traumatic events. Most people wouldn't be able to handle the things I've witnessed. That's why I think I'm better off going through it alone. I don't like exposing people to the dark side of life. So I do what I can to shield them," Mysterion explained.
"I get that you're being selfless," Stan said understandably. "But it must be very lonely for you. It's like you have no one. Why is it so wrong that I want to be with you and help you? I valued your life; I couldn't just stand around and watch you get killed."
Mysterion was deeply touched to hear Stan's genuine concern for him. He reached out and gently gripped Stan's shoulder and brought him closer. Stan's eyes widen in surprise when he saw Mysterion's eyes water with tears and were filled with genuine emotions. He never knew this side of Mysterion existed. The vigilante had always seemed so self-possessed and fearless in dire situations. But here he was, revealing his weaknesses for the first time ever to Stan Marsh. It was the most beautiful thing to see…
"And I didn't want to see you getting killed either!" Mysterion confessed. "I got angry when I saw you doing something so foolish. I thought I was going to lose you! What if you had died? Don't you ever go scaring me like that again, Stan!"
Mysterion embraced Stan in his arms and meant every word. He couldn't fight his feelings anymore. There was nobody he wanted more than Stan Marsh. This highly beloved boy who always stood by his side no matter what. Stan wrapped his arms around Mysterion's waist and returned the loving embrace with equal passion. He fought the urge to keep his hands from roaming over Mysterion's sexy thighs. Instead he drew back and smiled warmly into Mysterion's masked face.
Mysterion sadly looked down at the ground and said softly. "I was wrong. I had no right to yell at you like that. I was such a jerk to you. But it was only because I was so afraid that you didn't trust me enough to protect you. I want you to believe in me. I want you to know that I'll always be there for you. I'd give my life for you, Stan. Never forget that."
"I've never stopped believing in you," Stan assured him. "But you know what, I don't think the problem here is me. It's you Mysterion. Don't you see? You're the one who doesn't trust me. I know you have your reasons, but I'm tired of it always being one-sided between us. I want you to have faith in me too. You should know that if you're ever in any trouble, you can come to me, Mysterion. I won't ever turn my back on you."
Mysterion stared deep into those midnight-blue eyes, he lifted his gloved hand and caressed Stan's face. He was consumed by his longings for Stan. Without realizing what he was doing, Mysterion leaned over to kiss Stan. The sudden sound of "clicking" caused Mysterion to stop and look over Stan's shoulder. In the distance, he could make out someone standing in the shadows across the street. It was somebody taking pictures with a camera, but Mysterion already knew who it was. The vigilante became pissed and swept past Stan to run across the street with amazing speed. The guy hardly had a chance to run off this time. Mysterion was able to grab Patrick Dugan by the collar of his shirt and furiously got in his face.
"I knew it! So you're still following me, are you?" Mysterion said angrily to the journalist. "I don't know what your intentions are but I don't fucking trust you! Let's get one thing straight. I don't like you collecting any information on me. If you know what's good for you, you'll let some things stay a mystery around here, pal!"
"The town of South Park has a right to the truth." Dugan argued. "Aren't you tired of people ridiculing you all the time? It's because they don't know your real story. This is your chance to put a stop to all the rumors, gossip and accusations. Everyone wants to know once and for all. Who is Mysterion?"
"Fuck you!" Mysterion took the camera out of Dugan's hand and proceeded to smash it onto the street where it broke and shatter into a couple of pieces. Then he turned to glare threateningly at the meddling journalist. "Get out of here. Don't ever let me catch you spying on me like that again. And another thing…stay away from Stan Marsh!"
"You two seem awfully close. Just what is your relationship with him? I've never seen you showing your emotions in public. Something about you has changed, Mysterion. But what is it?" There was an unsettling smirk lurking on Dugan's face as he took out a cigarette from his inside coat pocket.
"I'm serious, Dugan. Leave now or I'll kick your ass here and now. And send what's left of it to the nearest hospital," Mysterion snapped impatiently. Turning away with his cape swirling gracefully behind him, he began making his way back over to Stan's house.
"What about your "secret"? Does Stan Marsh know about it? What do you suppose his reaction might be if he knew what you were really capable of?" Dugan's ominous words followed Mysterion. "Perhaps another time? See you at the next rescue mission." Patrick Dugan collected his broken camera and had no choice but to disappear into the night.
Stan watched as Mysterion walked back to him and he noticed something was troubling the crime-fighter. "What just happened? Was that Patrick Dugan again? Honestly, the guy is a real pain in the ass. What's wrong?"
"Wait a minute… You've met Patrick Dugan, too?" Mysterion asked him, and judging from his tone of voice, he sounded worried for some reason.
"Yeah. A couple of days ago. He literally ambushed me," Stan explained. "He wasted no time asking me questions about you. I don't know what that guy's deal is but I didn't tell him anything. I don't trust him either. Why is he so determined to get information on you, I wonder?"
"I wouldn't worry about it," Mysterion said matter-of-factly. "He's just another journalist trying to look for a good story. Just promise me that you won't tell that pesky Dugan anything about me, okay?"
Then it happened…Mysterion smiled for the first time ever. It took Stan's breath away to see the crime-fighter smiling so cheerful-like. He looked like a totally different person. In fact, he smiled just like… Stan was suddenly filled with déjà-vu when he realized that Mysterion reminded him of someone. But who? Not only that, this wasn't the first time either. There was something odd about the crime-fighter… Something so familiar about him. Stan gazed into that handsome masked face and began to wonder.
Mysterion's smile faded a little when he noticed Stan eying him strangely. "What is it?" he asked.
"You remind me of someone… Tell me the truth, who are you really?" Stan dared to reach out and try to remove the mask from Mysterion's face.
But Mysterion grabbed Stan's hand to stop him and actually smiled tauntingly at him. "Don't you know better than to ask me that?" He humored Stan.
With that, Mysterion blushed his soft lips upon Stan's warm cheek into an almost kiss. Stan closed his eyes and shivered from the most intimate moment he got to share with the elusive vigilante. Nothing else mattered, except to listen to the beat of his own heart. When Stan opened his eyes, he realized that Mysterion was no longer with him. Mysterion must have distracted him on purpose so that he could slip away. Typical…it was so like him. Stan had a close relationship with Mysterion now. The only other person who ever brought him so much pleasure had been…
"Hmmm… it can't be. How can it be?" Stan murmured to himself. Feeling more confused than ever, he decided to go back into the safety of his home. All the while he kept trying to figure Mysterion out. And that was when he came to one conclusion. Whoever Mysterion was…maybe it was someone he already knew.