This one is a little shorter than previous two but I decided to cut the scene that appears later and leave it for the next chapter.
Either way, this is also the first chapter from Gru's POV and, boy, is it rough. We have some bullying and some fatphobia, with self-loathing added to the mix. But this is a set-up for some bonding in this and in next chapters.
Please review!
One really bad day
Gru had a really bad day.
In fact it was so bad that he wanted to just go to his lair and forget himself in supervillainy. Normally he would be picked up from school by Steward, Kevin and Bob (wearing their usual disguises of Gru's unspecified relatives); and normally – after seeing him leaving the school, visibly upset – they would try to cheer him up.
But just this morning he asked them not to come because he wanted to go home on his own. He said that because – as much as it was nice to see someone waiting for him – he was kind of embarrassed by them, especially since his classmates finally started to notice there was something odd about his "relatives". They seemed down by this arrangement but they didn't argue.
Now he regretted this decision. He would really use some company.
At the same time he felt like being alone with his thoughts. He sat on his bike and started the engine. He looked one last time at the other kids being greeted by their loving parents, and immediately he thought about how unfair it was. These kids will go back to their homes, eat tasty dinners made by their mothers, then maybe play in the backyard with others or watch TV, as if nothing ever happened. As if they didn't do anything wrong… This thought actually made him want to cry, but he just clenched his hands around bike's handles and started to drive.
On his way home he tried to think about all the projects waiting for him, but somehow all his enthusiasm about supervillainy was gone. Instead he kept on remembering the events of this horrible day and felt like crying even more.
Hey, look what Gru did!
Their jeers were echoing in his mind.
Give it back, Mason!
Why would I, fatso?
Gru recalled an image of Mason's sweaty hands grabbing piece of paper Gru was working on. Then he remembered all his tormentors happily greeting their parents – parents that actually bothered to come…
He was used to feeling lonely in school. After multiple failed attempts to make friends, he reconciled with the fact that nobody liked him. Then came Minions and made him feel a little less lonely – in fact he was looking forward to the end of the classes, so he would spend time with people who actually wanted to spend time with him. Still, it didn't change the fact that nobody liked him in school and that only made being there a bigger torture.
He fought with this urge to cry all the way home – he was supposed to be the future great supervillain, Felonius Gru. He wasn't just a kid anymore. Crying at the age of twelve wasn't something a dignified baddie did.
He actually was relieved when he finally got to his house without bursting into tears. After parking his bike on the yard, he quickly went up the stairs, to his bedroom. Once he reached for the knob, the door to the room on the other side opened and his mother's head leaned out of it.
Gru didn't move. He only looked at her. She gave him one, long glance and said:
"You're more gloomy than usual."
"I had a bad day."
He didn't know why exactly he said that. He stopped to expect her to act motherly long time ago, after too many hurtful words. But maybe he needed to say it to someone…
"Well, I've had a crappy day too. Not everything is about you." Was his mother's reply and right after that she retreated to her bedroom.
As always, he didn't expect much and he wasn't disappointed.
Gru opened door to his own room and entered it slowly. He put his backpack on the bed and directed his steps to the secret elevator. To be frank, he didn't feel like scheming either. He would much rather stay in his room and just do nothing. Alas, Minions and doctor Nefario probably waited for him whole day to get to work on all the projects he wanted do…
Hey, look what Gru did!
It was like something broke in him. He started to sob as he recalled the events of that day.
What this is supposed to be? A death ray?
No, this is gruties ray!
Give it back, Mason!
Why would I, fatso?
He reached for his pocket and quickly felt the texture of little paper scraps. Even if he wanted to put it back together, he was certain that many of the pieces were lost forever.
When he opened his wardrobe, his eyes landed on the mirror hanging on the inner side of the right door. He looked at his reflection and got reminded how chubby he was. His pointy nose, slouched stance and long, scrawny legs made him look like some kind of weird bird. That, on the other hand, brought up an older memory.
Eww! Gru touched Lisa! Gru touched Lisa!
In the hindsight he maybe should have expected it to happen…
Lisa's got gruties!
Who would have liked such a hideous boy like him…
I'm afraid, you're too late, son. NASA isn't sanding monkeys anymore.
Even his own mother couldn't love such a hideous boy…
Suddenly he heard his door opening behind him. He turned back and saw his mother staring at him.
"You know, for an evil mastermind you're quite a crybaby. Seriously, your crying is disturbing my beauty sleep."
Gru took a deep breath and quickly wiped his eyes. He pulled himself together and replied:
"Go away, mom!"
"Normal supervillain would have already started to plan his revenge plot or something. You, on the other hand, just sit here like a loser."
Her words hurt… as always. But he knew that she was right, at least to some extent. It was time for action.
Not even bothering with response, he shot a cold glare and pushed the button for the secret elevator. Soon his wardrobe revealed metallic door and he, still not moving his eyes from Marlena, entered it.
Once the door closed and he started to ride down, a thought crossed his mind. Maybe his mother was right. Maybe he really was a loser. For all his talk about becoming a supervillain, he wasn't able to protect himself. Once again he remembered how the same kids that were making fun of him, were now with their loving mothers, and he felt tears forming in his eyes.
He was going to wipe them off, but suddenly the elevator stopped, the door opened and Gru was faced with all of his Minions.
Of course, it was obvious he will meet them down here, but he expected to get ahold of himself before this happens; before they will see him this way. Gru was new to this whole leader thing, but he definitely didn't want them to witness him crying his eyes out over school bullies. He wasn't baby anymore and Minions looked up to him – it would be better if they didn't see him so weak.
The Minions surrounded him, visibly worried, and then Kevin came closer and asked in Minionese if Gru is fine. Before the boy could respond, Bob ran to him and outstretched his arms towards Gru, presenting him with his teddy (presumably so his boss would hug it and feel better). Soon other Minions were trying to cheer him up by doing tricks and making faces.
In of itself, it was so sweet of them. Gru was actually touched by the fact that they wanted to make him feel better. However, seeing them doing everything all at once was quite overwhelming. Not only because he didn't know where to look at; not only because he wanted to move from his spot, but also because he wished to be left alone. That's why he wiped his tears and said with a light smile:
"I'm fine, I'm fine. Thank you, guys, but we have a work to do."
Some Minions seemed to be satisfied by this response, others – like Kevin, Steward, Otto or Bob – didn't seem to be convinced by his words but, thankfully, didn't push it.
Only when Gru started to walk deeper into his lair and Minions went back to work, he saw the two adult men in the lab part of it, staring at him with worried expressions. Nefario was sitting at the workbench, while Wild Knuckles was in the middle of doing push-ups, but stopped and stood up. Gru didn't want to show weakness to them either. After all, doctor Nefario was a professional and Wild Knuckles was a hardened criminal. What would they think of him, if he start to cry in front of them, just like that?
So Gru tried to act as if nothing happened – he approached them with his usual stooped stance. Then he asked:
"Doctor Nefario, how's the work going?"
After a short moment of hesitation his mad scientist replied:
"Everything is going according to schedule." Then he said, still worried: "Did something happen, Gru?"
"You know you can talk to us, kid, right?" Wild Knuckles added.
Gru stopped and looked at them. He kind of wanted to tell them everything right here and now… but, on the other hand, he wished for this horrible day to end and forget it altogether. So he just looked at them and said:
"I don't want to talk about it right now."
And they respected his decision. Nefario just moved aside so Gru could take the seat next to him, and started to discuss their latest projects.
But the first blueprint he showed to his boss was of their new, improved freeze ray. And it reminded Gru of his own ray project. If only the inspiration struck him during lesson and not recess… if only he was a bit more careful, when he was drawing it… The ge wouldn't have come empty-handed and he could be presenting his idea to doctor Nefario right now.
New tears started to form in Gru's eyes. He tried to fight it by keeping his eyes wide open. But this strategy proved to be futile – his nose betrayed him, involuntarily releasing a sniff.
"Damn it." He whispered and wiped his eyes violently.
"You know what, Gru," Doctor Nefario started, turning to him. "it's obvious, you don't feel well. Let's do it later."
"No, no, everything is fine…" The boy replied but his voice was cracking.
"Not, it's not, kid." Wild Knuckles cut in. "You're too distracted to think about work. Come on," He took Gru by the hand and smiled devilishly. "let's go blow off some steam."