Chapter 4-No Time.
Dash eagerly walked up and knocked on Mirage's door at her work office. She opened it and smiled.
"Hello, Dash. What a pleasant surprise!" Mirage said.
"Hey, Aunt Mirage, I was wondering if we could spend some time together after you get done here." Dash said.
Mirage gave him an apologetic frown, "Oh, Dash, I'm sorry. I have some paperwork to fill out tonight. Maybe tomorrow." she said.
Dash looked disappointed, but smiled and said, "Okay."
The next day, Mirage got home and got a phone call from Dash.
"Hey, Aunt Mirage, are you free to hang out today?" Dash asked.
Mirage's eyes widened a bit before she groaned and rubbed them, "Sorry, Dash. Boss is on my case about something. I'll see about tomorrow, okay?" she asked.
"But, you said we would today!" Dash protested.
"I know what I said, Dash, but I really have a lot to do. Please, just wait until tomorrow." Mirage said, tired.
"(Sigh) Okay." Dash said before he hung up.
The next day, Mirage was filling out her paperwork when her phone rang.
"Insuricare. Mirage speaking." she said.
"Hey, Aunt Mirage!" Dash said.
"Hello, Dash. Look, if you're calling about what I think you are, I still can't hang out with you today. I have a lot of things to do after work." Mirage said.
This time, she heard no reply, just what sounded like quiet crying. Mirage's heart sank. She couldn't stand having her little nephew sad like that.
"I understand." Dash said before he abruptly hung up.
The following day, Mirage waited for Dash to call her, but strangely, he didn't all day.
She sent him a text, "You haven't asked me all day. Is something wrong?"
Dash's reply was, "I don't think I should ask anymore. Your boss is giving you all this work and I'm just being a burden to you through it."
Mirage gasped, "You've never been a burden to me, Dash."
"Just focus on work. I won't bother you anymore." Dash replied.
Mirage looked sorrowful. He poor nephew just wanted to spend time with her, and it had been made so hard for him, he was afraid to ask. Mirage then looked at the paperwork her boss had given her and looked angry.
Later, Mirage walked into her boss' office. He turned to face her.
"Sit down, Mirage." Gilbert Huph said. Mirage sat down.
"I believe you have a problem to address to me." Huph said.
"What gave it away? This disgusted look on my face?" Mirage said, annoyed.
"You watch your mouth with me, Missy! If you're not careful, you might find yourself in trouble!" Huph said, not liking Mirage's smart mouth.
"Listen, Mr. Huph, if it's all right with you, I'd like to take some time off." Mirage requested nicely.
"Time off?! Why would you want that?" Huph asked.
"You see, my nephew wants me to spend some time with him, but I'm so cramped with paperwork that I don't have time to. I was wondering if you could give me some more time on the paperwork and everything else so I can go see him and my niece." Mirage asked.
"What do I care if your family wants to spend time with you? What you need to be spending time with is your job and helping our people!" Huph said.
Mirage was shocked. She had heard about his behavior before, but she didn't think it was this bad.
"How could you say that?! The little guy just wants to spend time with me, and you've made it so hard for him, he's afraid to ask!" Mirage said in a strict tone.
"Well, let's hope we don't cover catering for some snot-nosed, selfish, little brat!" Huph said.
That was the last straw, because the next thing the greedy boss knew, he had been punched in the nose before being slapped out of his chair and into the window, cracking it before a furious Mirage grabbed him by the collar and dragged him out into the hall, people staring as he started begging to be let go.
Later, at the Parr house, Dash was asleep on his bed when he suddenly smelled something. He smelled... blueberry pancakes! His favorite! He shot wide awake and ran downstairs and looked to see Mirage cooking pancakes.
"Good morning, Dash!" Mirage said.
"Aunt Mirage!" Dash said as he rushed over and gave her a tight hug around the waist, which she happily returned.
"I missed you, sweetie." Mirage said as she lifted Dash into the air.
"I missed you, too, Aunt Mirage." Dash said as she set him in his chair and served him pancakes.
"Hey, Dash, guess what? I quit my job. We have more time to hang out now." Mirage said with a smile.
Dash smiled before he said, "That's good. Because I know someone I think you would gladly work for and get paid well, and still have time to hang out."
"Who's that?" Mirage asked.
"Winston Deavor. He helped us become legal again." Dash answered as he finished his pancakes.
"I've heard of him. But, right now, I just want to spend time with the sweetest little boy I've ever met." Mirage said before she kissed Dash's forehead.
Meanwhile, Gilbert Huph was being glared at by his former employees as his business was shut down and he was sent to prison with a rear end full of tacks. As the police car went by, Mr. Incredible saw him in it and smirked, saying, "Serves the little shrimp right."