The Incredibles
All's Fair in Love and Glory
Chapter ThreeMirage sat by the telephone in her room, eager for the clock seated next to it to ring two. The instant it did, she lifted her phone from its cradle and punched in the number she had memorized.
As soon as it rang, she lost all the confidence she had mustered up. She smoothed down her skirt and hoped that Helen would be answering.
"Parr residence," said Bob, in a bored tone.
Oh dear. So it was Mr. Incredible. Mirage thought furiously of something intelligent to say, but nothing came to her but the following stupid greeting:
"Mr. Incredible!" she squeaked, unable to hide her excitement at hearing from him again.
"Mirage? What a nice surprise," he greeted her. "Why'd you wait so long to call? Man, it's been a long time. You know, you should really come down and pay us a visit sometime…"
He sounded much less flustered than she felt.
"Oh, I couldn't," she said quickly. "I'm sorry. It's just that things have been… difficult."
"I understand," Bob replied sympathetically.
"So, ah, where's Mrs. Incredible today?" she asked, uneasy.
"Oh, Helen? She's out picking up the kids from school," Bob responded.
"That's nice."
"Yeah. So… how have you been? Why didn't you call?"
Mirage hesitated.
"I didn't think it was really appropriate. After all, when Helen saw us, like that, it was clear she got the wrong idea…"
"Because she socked you," Bob said flatly. "Well, I think she was just a little surprised. But don't worry, she knows that it was just a friendly hug. Of thanks."
"Right." Mirage frowned. "Well, I just didn't think it was necessary, at the time, I suppose. I mean – just… as time went on, I realized that I missed having someone around. That I needed someone else to help me run the island. I was more than just a secretary, you know." So much more, she added to herself. "Everything's just so different… with…"
"It's all right," Bob said quickly, not wanting to create an awkward situation.
"Mainly, I just wanted to call to thank you," she added hastily.
Bob raised his eyebrows.
"Thank me? For what?"
"For… for not hurting me… that night." Her eyes flashed as she remembered it. How he'd almost gotten her killed, and acted as though it were nothing.
"Oh. Well, really, I wouldn't have done it. Couldn't have. And I didn't mean to scare you. I just lunged for something. I was so angry…"
"You had every right," Mirage growled. "You thought he'd taken away everything from you." She paused. "I wouldn't have blamed you. I told him, afterwards, that you weren't weak. He hated me for defying him."
"Stop feeling guilty," Bob snapped. "He got everything that he deserved. I'm glad you don't have him in your life anymore."
"D-don't say that," Mirage said fiercely, her voice breaking.
"I'm sorry, but he could have gotten you killed!" Bob roared.
Mirage knew this. Had known it. But she didn't want to, and definitely didn't want anybody else to, either. She had to stay strong. She shook her head, angry at herself for getting upset in front of Bob.
"You saved me," she finally realized.
"You would have done the same for me," Bob replied, quieting.
"I'm afraid I wouldn't have," she said slowly, seeing how close-minded she'd been in Syndrome's grasp. "I was a part of… of all of it. Didn't you see that?"
"Eventually," he admitted. "But that's all forgiven, since you got us out of there. You're one of the good guys at heart," he added.
"Just to make up for what I did." She didn't want him to be nice to her – not after what she'd helped Syndrome do to him. "You should have just killed me. But you didn't. You're too… you're too much of a 'good guy' yourself."
He smiled appreciatively, but Mirage was serious.
"If chivalry were dead, Mr. Incredible, I would be too."
Bob mulled this over.
"And, as my knight in shining armor," Mirage continued slowly, "I need to ask you another favor."
"Shoot."
"I need you to come back to Nomanisan Island. Tomorrow."
Bob's mouth dropped open. How could he possibly…? He looked over at the door, knowing Helen would be coming through it with the kids any minute. There was no way she'd let him go back there, after all that had happened last time. Still, now he could trust Mirage, and there was no super-villain waiting for him this time. And after all the secrets he'd revealed, he could afford to keep one.
Mirage sensed his hesitation.
"There's plenty of money left from Syndrome's little… projects. I insist on paying you for your troubles. And I can send the private jet to the spot where you were picked up for your last visit."
"I'll talk to Helen," he lied, "but I know she'll approve of me going."
So he hasn't told him I called, Mirage thought, feeling slightly disappointed. She must not have forgiven me yet. Which means she won't want him to go. She sighed, not wanting to think badly of Helen. Maybe she just forgot. And… even if she doesn't want Bob to go, something tells me he'll come anyway, seeing how as she didn't even know last time. She doesn't have to know…
"Really? Wonderful," she purred. "I'm already looking forward to your visit."
Bob looked over – the door knob was turning!
"Sounds great. I'll be waiting for the jet tomorrow at six," he said quickly, and hung up.
The door opened.
"Oh, hey, honey," Helen said, looking anxious. "Sorry I'm late. Lots of traffic coming back from school. So, ah, did anyone call while we were gone?"
Violet shot Dash a look, noting the tension. Jack-Jack gurgled in Helen's arms.
"No," Bob said quickly, trying to sound innocent. "Were you expecting one?"
Helen shook her head. She was pretty sure Mirage wasn't brave enough to call after the way she'd treated the woman yesterday. Still, Bob was looking a little suspicious… but if she questioned him, he would know that they'd had a conversation, and that would ruin Helen's plan for a private investigation of the island, of her own. She turned away to go put the groceries in the pantry, reminding herself to call Snug and ask for another jet. Sure, she had ruined his last one, but—
"Oh, honey, and guess what?" Bob called, now grinning. "I got a job today!"
"That so? That's great, Bob!" She set Jack-Jack down and extended her arms to give Bob a hug.
Dash raised his eyebrow at Vi, who followed him upstairs then.
Perfect, Helen thought. Now, when he's gone, I can go to Nomanisan on my own. I just have to be back by tomorrow night so he's not suspicious.
Perfect, Bob thought. Now that I have an excuse for being gone, I can go to Nomanisan. I just have to be back by tomorrow night so she's not suspicious.
When they'd gotten home, Helen and Bob had promised never again to keep secrets from each other.
But things changed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mirage ran her finger gingerly over one of the many portraits of Syndrome she had collected. She had arranged them around his bedroom, where she had taken to sleeping. She had spent many nights there, and while the room was quite changed in its emptiness, signs of him lingered. She would draw the sheets close that she had he had lain under together; caress the pillow, and the crease where his hair had indented it. She would smell both of their scents mingling on the various linens and pieces of furniture he refused to ever wash.
She smiled sadly at the memories, knowing full well that Syndrome's irresistible passion had also been his downfall. He had been so reckless and impulsive. That had almost killed her, she remembered. A frown darkened her features suddenly.
She'd slap him, if he were still alive – that selfish, stubborn, sonuva—
No, she wouldn't. Couldn't. Tears filled her eyes even as she considered it. IF he were alive, she'd... she'd grab him up and press into him until he would forever be a part of her, and they'd be inseparable…
God, was she moody! It was annoying.
He'd been dead for over three months, after all. Why was she still grieving?
She didn't have time to sit back and think of him – she had Mr. Incredible's visit to prepare for! Because of Syndrome and his stupid ideas, her life would never be the same. But now she had things to take care of that he'd left behind. She didn't have the time to sit and mope about the past. So she swallowed her self pity and strode to the giant window that looked out on the island. Then she stripped off the black curtains and let in the light.
