The Incredibles
All's Fair in Love and Glory
Chapter Eleven: Dangerous Weapons
Syndrome threw open the door to Mirage's hospital room and stormed in. Normally the sight of her frail form lying lifeless in the bed stilled his heart. Now it just enraged him.
"Get up!" he howled. His flaming face nearly matched his hair.
Slowly, Mirage's eyes fluttered open.
"Guards!"
The men came in, dragging Bocci with them. Mirage sat up immediately, already aware of what this was about. She started to get up from the bed, but Syndrome pushed her back onto it – probably, she thought, just so he could look down at her.
"This man is saying things. Tell me they're lies."
Mirage's wit had momentarily left her, so she stared at him coolly. She had just been rudely awakened and needed a moment to gather her thoughts. Silence would buy her some time.
"Well?" Syndrome demanded.
"I'm not sure what you're talking about," she replied evenly.
"I think you do," Syndrome said, his voice growing surlier by the syllable.
"I think I deserve a civil conversation."
Bocci quietly watched Mirage, awed and impressed by her audacity. He wished he could help her, but knew he was powerless.
"How could this happen?"
Mirage raised an eyebrow. "Like you don't remember."
Syndrome clenched his hands into fists.
"Is it… mine?"
"For God's sake, of course it is!" Mirage cried. "How could you think otherwise?"
Syndrome looked away. "I was gone for a while."
"Of course this conversation had to lead to you." Mirage crossed her arms and glared at him. She could feel her whole life unraveling as she spoke. "It's always about you. I don't know if there's room for a child here."
"Of course there isn't," Syndrome snapped. "I've told you that many times."
"I thought it would be good for you – help you settle down."
"I don't need to settle DOWN!" Syndrome shrieked.
Everybody in the room went silent and still. Syndrome wrung his hands out nervously and stepped toward Bocci. The man was beginning to feel things again, and didn't think he could withstand another blast of the stun gun. He cowered in the presence of Syndrome, who was currently leaning in to speak to him.
"I want an abortion done tonight, Bocci," he said quietly.
He heard Mirage gasp.
"I – I'm not qualified to perform such a procedure. Sir," the doctor managed, not meeting Syndrome's eyes.
Syndrome fingered his weapon belt.
"Then I'll do it myself."
"No," Mirage cried, standing. "Syndrome, please…" She placed his fingers on his chest, right over his heart. "What happened to you?" She turned away, withdrawing her hand. "What happened to Buddy?"
Syndrome closed his eyes. He couldn't let her have control of him like this. He wanted sometimes to be Buddy again, but so much of him was… not.
"Buddy's gone," he said quickly, opening his eyes.
Mirage wasn't about to cave.
"And Syndrome almost was, too. I thought I would lose everything. I—" She laughed slightly. "I know I'm being unprofessional. It feels so good." She paused. "But if Buddy who cared about me and cared about this baby, I would tell him that I… that I love our baby. And that I love him too."
Syndrome blinked.
"I thought that you thought that love was invalid. Impossible. Unnecessary."
"I did. But then I met Buddy."
After a moment, his eyes softened. "I… I'll go talk to Buddy." He looked over at Bocci. "That procedure won't be necessary. You may retire to your quarters now."
The doctor inclined his head, relieved, and struggled to his feet.
"Guards, dismissed."
Syndrome turned to leave, a sudden peace washing over him. Then he felt a hand on his back. It was Mirage.
"I'm glad you're back," she whispered, placing a gentle kiss on his lips.
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For once Violet was anxious to get to her science class. She really wanted to talk to Tony.
"Tony, I wanted to say I'm sorry," she blurted out upon meeting him.
"Really?" Tony asked. A tentative smile tugged at the edges of his mouth. "Well, these are for you," he told her, producing the (now rather crumpled) bouquet of red roses.
"Tony!" she gasped. "You're so amazing! How did you know red was my favorite color?"
He shrugged, grinning.
"Lucky, I guess."
"Look, I know I've been acting pretty weird lately, but—"
"I'll say," Tony interrupted, frowning. "Like hanging out with that Nic kid. What's his story?"
Vi looked surprised. "How did you know about Nic?"
"Uh, I saw you put his arm around you earlier today."
"Oh," Violet murmured.
"Didn't you see me?"
She shook her head.
"He was talking to me, and then he left, and the bell rang."
"I walked right by," Tony insisted.
"Sorry – I just didn't notice you."
"Well, he sure did," he snorted. "He told me that you were fine without me, and you- you agreed." He looked hurt.
"I-I honestly don't remember…"
"Well, whatever happened, I'm glad we're friends again," Tony said, carefully.
"That's it?" Vi pushed, grinning. "These roses are too pretty and I'm too sorry for you to just settle for that."
"So… we're back together, then?"
Violet smiled and kissed him.
"I'll take that as a yes," he grinned.
After class, Violet almost skipped out to lunch. She almost ran right into Nic.
"What are you doing out here?" she wondered. "Class just ended."
Nic looked flustered, but shrugged.
"I had a little chat with the attendance clerk that day you were up in the office," he replied breezily. "It's taken care of. You look happy – what's up?"
"Me and Tony made out. UP," she corrected herself hastily, blushing.
"Oh. That's… nice," Nic said, stiffly.
"Look, Nic, I'm sorry things didn't work out between us," she murmured, looking down. "I mean, if there was anything, ever… well, you know. It kinda seemed like—"
"Relax, sweetheart. You gave me everything I needed."
"Oh. Uh, okay…?"
"Why don't you just…" His intense eyes looked onto hers. "…forget me?"
Violet's eyes shot wide open and she stood perfectly still for a moment. Then Nic turned and left, and she staggered backwards into a locker. Tony caught her shoulder and supported her.
"Vi, you okay?"
She shook her head quickly and smiled brightly.
"Yeah, I'm great. Let's go eat!"
"All right," Tony replied slowly, unconvinced.
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Feeling better a while later, Mirage slipped out of her room and went to go check on Syndrome. He had taken up working in an office nearby so he could keep a constant watch on her.
When she entered his workspace, he was crouched in a large chair, facing away from her and talking in a low voice. She turned to leave, but then stopped.
"Look, kid, he's been here. I told you that you needed to do it faster. Look – I'd do it myself, but I'm taking care of some personal issues right now, all right? I've given you everything you've wanted, haven't I? That's right. I'm taking care of you. So don't screw this up for me. I want Incredible dead."
Mirage's heart skipped a beat. She stealthily snuck away and found a phone. Knowing her conversation would be automatically recorded, she used one of her nails to sever a wire.
"Mr and Mrs. Incredible," she whispered, "you won't believe this.
"Syndrome's alive."
