Billy let out a sigh as he gazed over the two forms of the women. It had been three long hours since dinner and Lucy was laying on a pallet Moist and her had made while Lizzie had coiled up on the seat of his big chair, the albino snake laying precariously on the arm, just watching the girls. Moist had left, leaving Billy alone to himself which he spent fiddling in the lab. During his musing, he heard Lucy mutter something in her sleep, sounding like "can't produce body heat". It dawned on him that with reptile DNA, Lizzie couldn't make her on warmth. The thought spurred a need to help in his chest that he hadn't felt in six months but Billy acted on it without thinking and began fiddling with an old Heat Ray.
Once he was satisfied the new invention wouldn't malfunction, Billy took it over to the table next to Lizzie's chair-HIS chair- and set his prototype lamp on it, weary of the hissing snake. He flipped the switch at it's base and grinned as the red bulb lit Lizzie's curled up form, generating heat for the poor girl. Sthenno and Euryale shared a knowing look with their beady snake eyes before Billy himself retired to his bedroom to sleep. The night passed by in stillness with no occurrence while each person dreamed. Lucy dreamed of colors, so bright and beautiful that she whimpered out in yearning. Lizzie dreamed of snakes, lizards, and world domination that created a sleepy smile on her face. Billy didn't dream and instead tossed and turned in his bed as pictures of Penny's death flashed.
It was just before the brink of dawn when someone stirred in the evil apartment. Lizzie let out a yawn and stretched before her eyes slowly blinked up and widened upon seeing the sinister looking heat lamp. There was a warm feeling that blossomed in her chest, having nothing to do with the heat emitting from the lamp, that Lizzie was completely unused to. It felt...nice...She shook her head once to clear the emotions before uncoiling herself from the oversized chair and hopping up to slink towards the lab stationed in the kitchen. With a sneaky glance at Lucy and Billy's bedroom door, Lizzie began fiddling around with the things, a plan formulating in her head. The albino snake watched in amusement before slithering down to Lucy and curling up under her blankets with the sleeping girl.
Billy awoke with a start as Penny's last words echoed in his head. Heart ache stabbed at his chest, leaving him shaking and tense while he stood up from his bed. He changed from his pajamas into a more casual choice of jeans and a t-shirt before heading out, eyebrows scrunching together in confusion as he caught a glimpse of a formal black cocktail dress flitting around in his kitchen. Things slowly came back to him and he glowered at the woman who merely grinned mischievously, "How do you like your eggs?"
His eyes shifted to the frying pan she held over a lit Bunsen burner and the carton of eggs on the counter. "That's not meant for cooking!"
"I couldn't work the stove, and I was hungry." Lizzie countered with a satisfied smirk.
Billy growled in frustration, "I cannot wait until you two leave, you are insufferable!"
"Oh, big word, Doctor! Did you learn that at villain college?"
"I have a P.h.d in Horribleness!" Billy snapped.
Lizzie stared at him for a moment before letting out peals of laughter, waking up Lucy in the process. Lucy rubbed sleep out of her eyes while Lizzie put eggs on to plates and ushered the fuming Dr. Horrible to his chair, turning off the lamp in the process. "Here, you two eat. I'm going to the bathroom."
"Third door to your left." Billy muttered. He watched her go before grudgingly starting to eat. "I hate that girl," he mumbled.
"She isn't so bad." Lucy said around a bite of eggs. "Oh, and thank you by the way, it's been ages since she's shown any emotion." Billy raised an eyebrow in question and the scientist charged forward, "See, her mother was killed in a fire and since then she's just...Been. But now Lizzie's so lively and it's nice."
Billy didn't say anything though a small smile played on his face while he ate, one that he didn't even realize he had. Meanwhile, Lizzie washed her hands in the bathroom sink, not daring to look into the mirror for fear of not liking what she saw. Just how much did the chemicals mutate her? The anxiety knotted up her stomach until she couldn't help but to meet her gaze in the mirror and staring-not in disgust like she thought but in utter awe. Her hair, a sheet of black silk, remained the same as well as her green eyes though her pupils has turned thinner and less circle-shaped. The shape of her lips had changed, the bottom had plumped out while her top had thinned, and so did her teeth. Both sets of canines had thinned out to a point and became snake fangs, an effect that gave her smile a sinister edge. Turning her head to the side, Lizzie noted the red scales crawling up her left shoulder and along part of her jawline.
The whole change was quite the shock but Lizzie decided that she preferred it. But she detested the state of her dress, it was torn and crumpled and unacceptable for the plan she was setting into motion. With an evil thought in mind, she ducked out of the bathroom and into Billy's room where she plundered through drawers until she found a white coat. Putting her new claws into use, Lizzie snipped and ripped it into shape before slipping it over her shoulders and admiring her handy work. She had managed to shorten it to mid-thigh and had gotten rid of the sleeves, leaving the buttons over her shoulder. It fit her well enough and she walked out, her grin only growing at Billy's shocked face. In truth, Billy wasn't mad or shocked, he was nervous. When he caught sight of Lizzie in his old costume, his heart beat increased and he felt something in his stomach that was all too familiar to the hopeless romantic.
"Well, I'm heading into town to run some errands, I'll be back with dinner."
"Wha-You can't leave." Billy stuttered as he stood in protest.
"Doc., I have no choice. I mean, Lucy and I have no clothes, you have no food here, and I sincerely doubt you want to go buy tampons." Lizzie said with mock pity.
Billy's face blanched, "Fine, but be back at six. Sharp! And don't let anyone see you, or I'll-I'll..."
"Kill Lucy?" The girl offered and Lucy nearly choked on her eggs.
"Yeah!"
"Thanks for throwing me under the bus!" Lucy pouted in Lizzie's general direction.
"No problem, love." Lizzie grinned before flouncing out of the apartment and on to the sidewalk, heading for the nearest department store. What she didn't know is that there was someone watching her and following her the entire way.
She hummed quietly to herself on the way, noticing with a jolt there were flyers posted around of her and a MISSING caption. Who would be searching for her? The answer hit her as fast as the dread washed over her when a familiar voice reached her ears. She ducked into an alley and watched as macho Colonel walked past, "I will find this lair of Dr. Horrible's and rescue my serpentine. He will not get away with kidnapping her!"
"And if she's hurt?" A reporter asked.
"I kill him."
Lizzie's stomach dropped and she hurried away from them, worry seeping in. She didn't understand why, it wasn't like she cared for Billy. Shaking her head, Lizzie quickly walked into an air conditioned superstore and bought necessities before rushing back. On the walk home, a woman in an old wedding dress approached Lizzie, making her stop apprehensively. The woman smiled as four others appeared around her and she held out a hand, "I'm Fury Leika, you're Lizzie, correct?"
"Yes...Fury Leika as in E.L.E's Fury Leika?" Lizzie raised an eyebrow as the four women took the overflowing bags off of her hands.
"That's the one. Glad my reputation exceeds me. Come, we can escort you back to Dr. Horrible's lair." She began walking down the side walk and Lizzie followed behind in suspicion.
AUTHOR'S NOTE- I'd personally like to thank my first follower, Chrissy! I appreciate it immensely! Also, I'd love to have my readers thoughts on where the story should go and how I'm doing so far in portraying Billy and other characters. Thank you for reading!