Comics Cookies and Revenge
By Lejindarybunny
A/N: Okay fangirls and boys, we're into the double digits!
A profile pic of Vex, by me, is up in my deviantart gallery. Once again, greer-the-raven. I advise you to go check it out.
There are a few questions I have been asked by more than one person. I would like to take this moment to clarify a few things about CCR.
1. The main plot of CCR is Syndrome and his lieutenant going about trying to conquer the world, the forces that are in their way, and finding out a bit more about the supers.
2. Romance, while not the main plot is a part of the fic. Yes, I changed the genre from action/adventure/romance, to general/romance a while ago. The romance part did not change. I will not put more romance in because you want it, nor will I put less romance in because you want it. There is a set amount that I intend to be there. Enjoy it, tolerate it, ignore it, or read something else.
3. If there is a theme to CCR, it is the difference between the real and the ideal.
I hope this has cleared things up. I am not trying to offend anyone, or single anyone out.
The title of this chapter is in French. It means 'What will be, will be.'
Disclaimer: The Incredibles, Syndrome, and all affiliated characters and ideas belong to Disney/Pixar. Vex is my character, as is anyone you don't immediately recognize
Chapter 11: Que Sera, Sera.
All music, thumping with base, or tinkling and light, sounds the same when muffled from behind a series of thick doors, unpleasant.
Syndrome had tinkered with the computers for a few hours more, and repaired his damaged glove, before deciding that he absolutely needed to sleep. Even though it was technically only four in the afternoon. Whoever had invented time zones needed to die a horrible, horrible death, preferably one involving jetlag.
He had just wanted to fall into bed, simple, easy, quiet. Vex apparently had different ideas, according to the blaring of her music. Well, he'd just have to ask her to turn it down. He thumped loudly on her door with the back of his fist, hoping to be heard above the dull roar. She didn't answer, so he knocked even louder. Nothing. Growing slightly irritated, he kicked the door roughly, in hopes of finally getting her attention. No such luck.
Fine.
He tapped the password out on the terminal, and the door opened. Syndrome stepped inside, and immediately headed to the source of the racket, perched on the dresser. He switched the radio off, and was greeted, finally, by silence. He had expected Vex to protest, but she didn't even appear to be in the room…
Then, glancing over at the bed, he noticed, through the slightly parted curtains, that she was asleep. How on earth could she sleep through that? He wondered, with a bemused shake of his head. He had intended to leave right away, but he found himself watching her sleep again. All that was visible through the crack in the curtain was her face, and the top of her shoulder, which rose and fell slightly with her even breath.
He noticed that she'd fallen asleep with her glasses on. That couldn't be comfortable, he thought, approaching her bed. He lifted the spectacles gently off her face, and folded them up, setting them on the dresser. As he did so, he noticed a sketchbook lying there with a mechanical pencil on top of it. She must have been drawing before she went to bed.
He picked it up, knowing that he was technically quite impolite, but he was curious, and what could the harm be? After all, he'd been to her art page on line. He glanced nervously down at her, as he opened the cover, afraid that she was going to wake up.
Many of the drawings were the same ones that he had seen in her gallery, but uncolored. Also there were doodles, and other drawings that she obviously felt weren't worthy of posting. As he flipped closer to the back, past several sketches of Doctor Octopus, his eyes fell on something that quite startled him. It couldn't be, was that really a drawing of...him?
The first thing that struck him was how flattering the portrait was, in its own way, cartoon style, but without falsifying his features. The sketch had a kind of amusedly disdainful look, his cape flaring, as he beat of the same rats that Mikhail had summoned. At the top of the page a 'chibi' doodle of Vex watched the antics in awe.
Syndrome stared in similar wonder and bemusement. Was she really so impressed with him as to draw 'fanart'? He chuckled softly, and was reminded of his own childhood obsession with Mr. Incredible. The nostalgic memory quickly turned bitter, however, remembered his hero's words of rejection.
"Fly home Buddy... I work alone."
The redhead's face twisted in bitter anger, as he closed the book roughly, and put it back in its place. His expression softened when he looked down at the innocent, sleeping form. He brushed his fingers against her cheek softly, "I won't ever turn you away," he whispered, "You're my lieutenant."
Vex smiled, and stirred in her sleep, starling Syndrome. He turned around quickly, and headed back to the door. Midway across his boot hit a squeaky floorboard.
Vex groaned, and turned over, muttering, "Turn down the stereo…"
Syndrome wasn't sure whether to laugh or be annoyed.
000
Sharon was late for breakfast. She had to hurry to put her clothes on before her parents left without her. Stumbling down the stairs, still pulling her shirt down over her stomach she found her mother looking disapprovingly at her.
"Where have you been?" she demanded, hands on her hips. "I was getting worried!"
"Oh, sorry," she shrugged. Something nagging at the back of her mind.
"Well, come on, come on. We haven't got all day," her father muttered. "You know I'm very angry with you."
"What, why?"
"I told you to invite a friend along. You need more friends."
"I don't have any friends," Sharon muttered.
"That's nonsense, what about that nice boy from school, don't you like him?"
"Oh. Mikhail. I killed him."
"Well, that wasn't very polite of you young lady," her mother scolded as they bundled into the car. "Why on earth did you do that?"
"I don't remember."
"I'm sorry miss, that is not a valid menu choice," the waiter bot droned.
"Oh, in that case I want-"
"My apologies, but all menu options are now closed."
"Looks like you'll just have to stick with what you've got kiddo," her father said, patting her on the shoulder. He laughed, shoving a piece of blackened toast and a bowl of gruel at her.
"But I don't want-"
"You call this caviar?!" the redhead demanded, throwing it at the waiter.
"Oh, there he is," Sharon squealed, attempting to get up from the table.
He mother grabbed her wrists and held her. "No dear. I'm afraid you have to sit with your family today."
"Let me go! I have to get to him! Can't you see he's in trouble?"
Syndrome was fighting off rats that just kept coming.
But her mother wouldn't let go of her wrists.
"He's going to die!" she sobbed.
"Since vhen do you care about life?" Mikhail demanded, helping Sharon's mother hold her down.
Sharon reached up and pulled the knife out of his chest, and cut her own hand off at the wrist, freeing herself from her mother's grasp.
She fell, toppling down the flight of stairs, and landing with a hard thump.
000
"Syndrome!" Vex gasped, jolted from her dream. She pulled her eyes open in the semidarkness to find her arms locked around one of the large pillows, and most of the blankets thrown from the bed. "What a horrible dream," she muttered, squeezing the pillow tightly, and closing her eyes again.
Her time sense was completely screwed up. She had no idea whether she should let herself go back to sleep or not. She could have been asleep for an hour, or for twelve hours. The dream had left her with a bitter, slightly dizzy feeling, and so she let herself luxuriate under the covers for the moment.
She brushed the loose strands of hair from her face. She wished she knew what time it was, or what time it had been when she'd fallen asleep. She remembered that she'd been drawing, listening to music, and had just shoved the notebook out of the way when she'd been too tired. So why wasn't the CD player still on? She didn't remember getting up to turn it off. Which meant that some else must have come in and done it, and there was only one other person in the whole complex, and that was Syndrome.
She grew slightly embarrassed, and was glad she'd closed her drawing before going to bed. What if Syndrome had seen it? Well, then she'd just have been really embarrassed, since it was him she had been trying to draw.
She must have started four or five different times, but she couldn't seem to get it right, so that she was happy with it. Either the jaw was wrong, or the eyes were slightly off, or it just didn't look good enough to meet her standards. She wasn't usually this picky about her artwork. She'd torn the bad ones up, after she finally had an acceptable one.
She sat up slowly, and pouted at the offending notebook. "It's not that funny," she muttered at it.
The spiral volume continued to mock her.
Vex yawned widely, and stretched, leaning up against the large headboard of the bed. The curtains that surrounded it made her think of the Harry Potter books, but the Siberian complex was hardly Hogwarts, now was it?
She rolled her eyes at herself. Here she was, far from home, the minion of a super villain, and she was still being all fangirly. Well, it was her nature to do so, she guessed.
Feeling a little bit stiff, and kinda grimy she wished she'd had the forethought to at least undress before passing out from exhaustion. Sleeping in her clothes two nights in a row was unpleasant at best.
Well, at least she didn't smell.
Deciding that she was well and truly awake, independent of what time it was, she swung her feet out of bed and onto the floor. She stretched a little more, and stood up, pulling at her shirt and trying unsuccessfully to get some of the worse wrinkles out.
With a heavy sigh, she slipped on her shoes (at least she'd taken those off!) and headed out the door, with the vague thought of finding something to eat for breakfast.
She wandered down the hall, and as she got to the stairs, found Syndrome, once again in normal clothes, coming up them at the same time. It wasn't the same outfit as before, however. Today he was in a green long sleeved shirt with heavy cuffs.
"Oh, hi!" she said, moving aside in order to let him pass.
He stopped though. "Oh good, you're up. I was just about to come and get you."
"How long was I asleep?" she asked curiously.
He shrugged. "Donno. At least fifteen hours."
"Wow," Vex marveled. "I hadn't realized it I was that tired!"
Syndrome chuckled. "Jetlag will do that to you."
"So...were you going upstairs?"
"Just to wake you."
"Then should we go... downstairs?"
They headed down stairs, and Vex made for the kitchen. She was starving, again. If this kept up, she was going to start loosing weight.
So, she wondered, what was there to eat?
Syndrome seemed to read her mind, not that it was hard to tell what someone in a kitchen was thinking about. "You like pop-tarts?"
"Yeah, definitely," she agreed.
He pulled a box of them down from a shelf, and fished two packages out, keeping one, and tossing the other at Vex. She caught it deftly, and inspected the packaging. The label was in Russian, of course, but other than that, it was perfectly normal. She opened the shiny mylar, and took a bite. Mmm, it was the smores kind.
"So," she asked between bites, "what's the plan for today, boss?"
Syndrome swallowed, a few crumbs of toaster pastry stuck to his lower lip. "We're flying to Paris. Maurice agreed to fit you with a uniform."
"Wow, okay," she nodded, though inwardly a little apprehensive about more plane rides. But it looked like she was going to have to get used to it.
"Don't worry though," he said, "France is only a couple of hours away."
"Oh good."
"Just to warn you, Maurice is a bit...kooky, but we won't be there the whole day. He'll take your measurements and stuff, and the we'll just hang around the city til it's done."
"Like buying a pair of glasses, only more so," Vex mused. "Eye example, pick out the frames, then hang around the mall while they do the lenses."
"Exactly," Syndrome nodded.
"Oh, hey! That reminds me," Vex said, setting the remains of her breakfast down on the table. She hadn't had a chance to tell him about the money she had found in Mikhail's room. "You remember how you paid for the base?"
"Yeah?"
"Well, the money's still here, ya know. I found it in Mikhail's room."
"Oh, okay, that's fine." He went back to eating his pop-tart.
"So, uh, what do you want me to do with it?" she asked, watching his nonchalant repose.
He shrugged. "Keep it."
"What?" Vex demanded, sure she hadn't heard correctly. "You mean, keep it for now, right?"
He look at her incredulously. "Of course not," he said, sounding mildly insulted. "Take it as a gift, okay?"
"But, but...Syn, it's two and a half million dollars. Don't you need it, or something?"
"If I needed it, how could I have paid it? I wasn't planning on killing the guy ya know."
She just kept staring at him. Syndrome was trying to give her two and a half million dollars, as if it was nothing. As if they were at the grocery store and the clerk had given back too much change.
"Vex, don't be a dork. Do the words 'unlimited funds' mean anything to you?"
"Unlimited?"
"Virtually."
"How much money do you have?"
Syndrome smirked. "You know Bill Gates?"
Vex just couldn't come to grips with this. "You're as rich as Bill Gates?"
"Not exactly."
She sighed relived.
The redhead grinned evilly. "I'm richer."
000
Syndrome watched in gleeful amusement as his lieutenant tried to come to grips with the fact that the money he had paid Mikhail, and which was now being given to her, was nothing. Not that he really blamed her. If he hadn't made all of it himself, as an international arms dealer, he wouldn't have believed it either!
"But, it's too much. I don't think I could even spend all of it if I tried."
He was amazed that she was still so reluctant to take the money. Mirage had always loved it when he'd given her money, flying off to who knows where and coming back with heaps of expensive clothing. And then asking for more money a week later...Which kinda irritated him now that he thought about it. Maybe she had really just been in it for the money and prestige all along.
"Alright," he agreed. "I'll just have to help you spend it then. After all we are going to the most expensive city in Europe."
"Well, okay," she agreed finally. "So when are we leaving?"
"As soon as you're ready," he nodded.
"Oh, okay, then. We can leave now I guess." She hopped up cutely from the chair, and dusted the crumbs off the front of her shirt. "Should I get the money then?"
"Don't worry about it, I have a credit card," he assured her.
"But then-" she began to protest, but then her shoulders sagged. "Whatever you say, boss."
Syndrome rolled his eyes, and clapped her around the shoulders. "Geez, cheer up, will you You are the first girl I have ever heard of, who is upset about spending large sums of someone else's money."
She giggled. "Well, when you put it so eloquently," she grinned amused, and seemed to lean closer to him, but then pulled away quickly. "Well, are we going to go? Don't want to keep them waiting in Paris!"
Syndrome didn't understand her. She liked him, didn't she? She had drawn fanart, even let him kiss her, that once. But other than that, she seemed so nervous around him. Was he intimidating her? He didn't know how he could possibly act more casually. But what if that wasn't it, what if he was reading her all wrong? Maybe she had just gone along with the kiss so that she didn't humiliate him in front of the prisoner. Considerate, certainly, but, he discovered, not exactly what he was hoping for.
Well, he'd see what happened in Paris, after he took her shopping, and maybe to dinner. Yeah.
Decisively, he followed after her to the hangar.
000
Vex wasn't sure whether Jared had left and flown back, or stayed the night in the plane, or what, but he stood waiting for them in the hangar bay, pilot suit freshly pressed, and eye-patch firmly in place. Vex still wasn't sure whether or not he was actually blind in that eye. She tried not to let it bother her, since Syndrome seemed to trust him, but still, a half-blind pilot, or even one who pretended to be half-blind, did not exactly inspire confidence.
"Good morning, miss," Jared greeted, and Vex realized it was the first time that he had spoken directly to her.
"Uh, good morning Jared," she acknowledged, and looked around for Syndrome. He was a little ways behind her, but he was coming. Vex felt suddenly embarrassed by the way that she had rushed away like that. She had just...panicked. The dream had set her on edge, she guessed. That, and the same apprehensions she'd had the night before.
The villain caught up with them. "Everything ready to go Jared?"
"Yes sir," Jared said, opening the door for them.
After the fifteen hour plane ride, the site of the small, plush interior wasn't exactly a welcome one for Vex; she collapsed in the same chair as she had the day before. "Well, here we are again," she said, rather wearily.
"Still don't like flying?" Syndrome asked with a smirk, sitting down beside her.
"Hey, in my own defense, I've only done it once before," she protested.
"True, true."
Unless of course, you counted when Syndrome flown her up to her bedroom window. She glanced over at him awkwardly.
"So," she asked, fishing around by the seat, "What did I do with that crossword puzzle?"
Syndrome had been right, it took a surprisingly short time to reach their destination, a private landing strip just outside of Paris, and thanks to a phone call he had made en route, their was another car waiting for them. Vex didn't know what it was. Exactly, some kind of expensive French sport's car.
Of course Syndrome drove again, Vex didn't even know how to drive, something she was beginning to regret on her second time riding with her boss.
"Why don't you hire a chauffer?" she asked, as they whipped dangerously around a corner.
"I like driving," he said. "Is that an problem?"
"No, no," she reassured him. 'I just don't want to die, is all,' she thought to herself. But then again, there were probably a lot more likely ways to die as the lieutenant of a super villain than due to his poor driving skills.
Vex imagined the headline. 'Car wreck rids world of Syndrome Menace: Super villain causes three car pile up.' She giggled.
As they drove through the city of Paris, Vex couldn't help but be amazed. She had taken French class for several years in high school, and had always been disappointed that her parents couldn't afford to send her on the annual trip abroad.
Actually, Vex realized amusedly, as they drove past the Arc De Triumph, she technically had a project due for the class on Monday. There was another point in favor of running away from home! She giggled.
Syndrome looked over at her. "Well, you're feeling better."
She was about to respond, when she noticed that they had drifted into the other lane, and there was oncoming traffic. "Syndrome! Watch out for the-"
He swerved hard, and they were back in the proper place of the road.
"Hey, no worries," he said casually.
Vex glared at him half-seriously, clutching her chest. "You... are going to give me a heart attack."
He just laughed.
A few minutes later they pulled up in front of a shiny new building with an antique façade. The front part, Vex thought, probably was the age it looked, while the rest had been rebuilt.
"This is it, then?" she asked.
"Yep, come on, he's expecting us."
She followed the redhead out of the car, and up to the door, which opened obligingly.
"Syndrome!" burst an exuberant voice, thickly accented in French, "Eet is so good to so you again, no? I was 'orrified to hear you were dead!"
The man who rushed into the room was tall and quite thin, with a long main of golden hair hanging in delicate face. He wore black dress pants and a ruffled blue silk shirt. He grabbed Syndrome's hand, and shook it soundly, and, before the redhead to escape, gave him a quick, tight hug.
Syndrome, forcing himself away as quickly as possible without actually shoving the frail man, looked back at Vex with a sheepish sort of 'Oh god, why me?' look.
"It's good to see you to, Maurice," he muttered.
Vex tried, and failed, to suppress a fit of giggles, and the French designer quickly turned his attention to her. He put his hands on his hips. "And zis must be the lady friend, mais oui?"
"Maurice, this is Vexxation, Vexxation, Maurice," he sighed painfully at the look he was being given by both parties, Vex's terribly amused, and Maurice's vaguely furtive.
"Enchante, cherie," Maurice greeted her.
"Et moi, aussi, monsieur," she replied, shaking his hand, and putting the bit of language she knew to use. "Ca va?"
"Ah, bien, bien!" he seemed delighted. "Il semble que le garçon a un certain goût chez les femmes, après tous."
Vex giggled as she understood what he had said. 'It seems the boy has some taste in woman after all. "Ah, merci bien, mais, vous me embarrassez avec votre flatterie."
Syndrome stood there, looking very out of the loop.
"Il ne parle, français?" Vex asked Maurice, gesturing to her boss.
"Pas du tout, certainment," he assured, "So, perhaps we have best switch to English, no?"
Syndrome looked very put out. "It's about time," he grumped.
"Zo, we are here to outfit you, non, mademoiselle?"
"Yes, it's for me," she nodded.
"Come with me, come with me, mon cherie, ev vous," he pointed at Syndrome, "Go. Amuse yourself elsewhere, I must have privacy if I am to create a masterwork for zis belle dame. I can not 'ave you 'anging about, vous lichieres pautonnier! Allez, allez!" Maurice said, giving him a shooing gesture.
Vex couldn't help being highly amused. Maurice had called Syndrome a 'lecherous villain', and that wasn't as good as the resigned attitude that poor Syn had. He seemed almost scared of the petite man.
Syndrome held up his hands. "Alright, alright already. Not like I'd wanna hang around this place anyway. When should I be back?"
"Trois heur, you will give me trois heur, before you set another foot in this shop. Out!"
The villain winced. "See ya later, Vex," he nodded, and added sarcastically, as he ducked out the door. "Have fun!"
Maurice tapped his foot impatiently. "Honestly, zat man eez such an oaf." He turned his attention to Vex. "Come with me to my office, cherie."
To be continued...
Okay, reviews...
Deep Freeze Flareon: I'm glad you like the fic!! What do you mean you've never seen the Incredibles? If that's true, how did you find the fic? I'd love it if you did fanart!
Artymas: I hope there has been enough hilarity for you. There should be more in the next chapter, too. :P I'm glad you liked the chapter!
Dark Fire Angel: Hehehehe. Mikhail...is not quite out of the story yet.
CD Anders: As previously mentioned, that was not a flame. You are allowed to your won opinion, though the fic is not G rated, it's rated PG13.
Maya Beebop: Yes, chapter 10 was slower than the others, this is because certain things need to be established to build plot. Not every single chapter can be a whiz bang of action and excitement, though, I'm glad you weren't completely bored with the chapter. Yes, Maurice is gay. How could you tell?
Shadow Fox Forever: Go check out my gallery to see her costume!
RavensHaelo: I'm glad you liked Vex's reaction; I tried really hard to make it work realistically. She didn't regret it at first, because she had not come to grips with it.
See you tomorrow!!