Had he even passed out? It was so odd, truly, how the consciousness could fool a person. Pain, so much pain, screams, bright light… then slip into darkness for a split second only to have your eyes jerked open and you're on the floor, in deep horrible pain, and the screaming is gone only to have an insane amount of quiet. And hair. Deep red hair, almost matching the stains on the smock... he loved that hair. He had spent all morning playing with it.

After his shower Billy and Penny had snuggled on his couch enjoying the simple toast Penny had made them. She had tried to make something real to eat; however, Moist had managed to turn the carton of milk into mush, making it so that she spent most of Billy's shower cleaning up the spilt liquid. They had to start buying their drinks in the plastic cartons. There was just no way around it. So they ate their simple breakfast, Penny mentioning how they should repaint the main room. They had to clean it first, and that made Billy change the subject. The thought of having to cram everything back into the lab wasn't one he wanted to play with right now, he was too tired.

"You're hiding something from me."

"Huh?" Billy was leaning against Penny today, head on her shoulder. One hand rested around her back, on her hip, holding her close. The other twirled the copper hair that gave her the beautiful name. Penny, Penny, he would never take the coin for granted again.

"You're hiding something from me. We promised not to do that, remember?" He was so tired; she could hear it in his voice as he muttered against her neck.

"Yes, I remember. That was the day you told me that you were Dr. Horrible."

"Mhm."

"So how does that mean I'm hiding something from you?"

"You told me that you were from the Midwest, that you lived on the street. The way you told me, it was odd."

"Odd?"

"Yeah. Odd. You just rambled it out. Like you were over it, or it was painful, or false. No one just dolls out their past like that. Well, not that kind of past. You're hiding something from me."

Billy might not have been the most social of creatures, but there was no doubting the fact that he was, indeed, a genius. He could figure things out if he wanted too. And he had figured Penny out. Not that she had made it hard. Billy had to work up the guts to tell Moist even about his mother. Plus all the stuff about his long hair… yeah, that took a lot. Penny just kind of rattled her story out. Like it didn't mean anything to her.

And now she was quiet. The thoughtful kind of quiet that was supposed to come when you're asked about a painful past.

"Well?"

"You haven't told me your past."

"I know. It never came up. I plan on telling you, at some point. If you ask for it, I'll give it to you. But willingly? It took a very long time for me to tell Moist, let alone someone I love."

"Love, huh?"

The tired blue eyes met her green ones with a look of "shut up" to them before they closed again and he nuzzled closer to her.

"Well?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Okay. You don't have too. But the story you gave me, was it true?"

There was quiet again. Her hair wasn't the softest in the world. It was kind of oily, like she hadn't washed out all the conditioner when she last showered. If she combed it today she didn't do a good job, there were knots in it. But he didn't mind. It would be so awkward if she had perfect hair; always washed, always brushed, always in style… that's not why he loved her hair. He loved it because it fit her. Red, fiery, full of life. It was perfect for her. It wasn't perfect, no. But it was for her.

"Part of it."

"The part that you've come to terms with."

"Yes."

"But it's still painful, right? That's why you spit it out so quickly."

"… Yes."

"Promise to trade back stories one day?"

"Deal."

Deal. Such a deal, such a promise. A thick one, one that had a lot of meaning to it. A secret promise, in a way. He thought of it now, looking at the hair, looking past it to the green eyes that held so much love in them. But not now, they had fear in them instead. Brought back to the world of now, and out of the world of that morning, Billy sputtered and simpered in pain. He knew this kind of pain. About three months after taking on Moist as his henchman, Hammer had kicked Horrible in the chest. He had broken three ribs. One of which had punctured his right lung. It was a deep pain, a pain that was beyond description. Moist had gotten him to their apartment, not knowing what to do. His boss couldn't breathe! In a panic he had set Billy in the giant chair before giving a nonsensical call to Conflict Diamond. Who promptly arrived, threw Billy into a car, and got him into the hospital. He survived, obviously. But the pain he was in now was the same. Deep, dark, and untouchable.

"Hold on Billy. Stay with me, come on, we had a deal."

"Penny?" Something filled his mouth. Copper, he knew that taste. How many teeth had Hammer loosened, how many times had he bitten his tongue, or split his lip? Yes, he knew what blood tasted like. This was thick, this was real. It wasn't the watery thin kind that lived in the skin… it was the murky stuff that kept your core alive. Lovely. He hadn't tasted that in a very long time. He had always hoped that he'd never taste it again. Something grabbed his hand. Grabbed it hard. Fuzzy eyes found her polished nails, connected to fingers so much softer than his own, taking off his glove and gripping is hand. She kissed his forehead.

"Please, stay with me."

"I will." Don't make promises you can't keep Billy Buddy. But at least she was safe. At least she would be okay. And the ELE should be happy, they got their blood.

"You, you saved us?" Penny's head snapped up, allowing Horrible to see the mayor. What was he doing over him? Kneeling, the man touched a very tattered shoulder in gratitude. His fingers came away red. "I don't understand it. But you took that to keep all of us safe. You, young man, are a hero."

"N-not hero. V-v-villain, Doc-doc-" He was cut off by himself, coughing hard and trying to curl into himself. Penny and Moist held him down, panic clear in their faces. Someone had called on a phone for help, where was it?! Billy, Penny's whole world now revolved around Billy. Moist didn't want to lose his friend, his first friend, his truest friend… he just couldn't do that.

"You beat him." The words just poured out of him like water did from his skin. He didn't know where it came from, just that it did. "Some of the stuff, um, the splinters and stuff. Yeah, they hit him. He was thrown back too. And it hurt him! He ran out of here, he was crying and stuff. He was hurt Doc. You hurt him. You showed him what it was like for once!"

Pride filled Horrible. He had put that bully in his place. Sure he had to hurt someone to do it. Which wasn't okay. He hated hurting people. But he didn't think it was the kind of hurt that mattered. It might have been a scratch, if that. Probably more like a soft bruise if the idiot bruised. But it was payment. Finally, he had won.

"Ain't I a stinker?" Quoted the author. Stand by for Chapter 10.