The Incredibles
All's Fair in Love and Glory
Chapter Fourteen: Attack
The package came three days later.
Mirage quickly scanned over the directions on the bottle of pills and slipped the proper dose into Syndrome's lunch.
"This has four days to take effect," she reminded herself.
As if she could forget.
When she brought the plate of food to his office, she placed it gingerly atop his desk. He grunted a thanks and continued to work. For a moment, she stood and waited for him to eat it.
"You should eat," she encouraged. "It'll give you energy."
Syndrome grudgingly took a bite.
"Thanks, babe." He stretched to give her a kiss.
Smiling at her success, Mirage turned to leave. She knew she would be doing this for many days, until he would take the medication willingly.
"Kinda chalky, though."
Mirage froze.
"Oh. Ah, it's a new kind of sauce," she lied quickly. "Do you like it?"
He shrugged. "Pretty tasteless."
Mirage returned to her office, hoping she could still get in some time with Dr. Bocci to discuss their plan.
"Dr. Bocci?"
The man looked at her. His bloodshot eyes were wide with fear and he had just downed the contents of the large wine glass he was holding. He blinked.
"Are you all right?" Mirage asked, concerned.
Bocci wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and set the glass down. "I don't know if I can do this anymore. You don't know what it was like. I'm going crazy, stuck here – every day afraid." He poured himself some more wine and swiftly gulped it down.
"What what was like?" Mirage prodded gently.
Bocci was trembling.
"He was going to kill me. He had a gun. Big gun."
"The medicine came today," Mirage soothed. "And now that he knows I need you, you aren't going anywhere." We've had this conversation before… she added, to herself.
He looked up at her accusingly. "You. You're the reason I'm here!"
Starting to get uncomfortable, Mirage fumbled for the secret compartment hidden in her desk. It held a gun. It should be right there.
It was gone.
Suddenly, Mirage felt an arm around her throat, the hand attached to it reaching up to cover her mouth. She sighed inwardly, knowing she should probably, by now, expect to be snatched up and choked.
"Against the wall!" Bocci snarled, wielding the gun.
Forced into obedience, she let herself be shoved around. Bocci started mumbling to himself about how he could get out without being noticed, and how to keep Mirage quiet. She closed her eyes, focusing, and…
She was outside Syndrome's office. Her powers had worked! Crouching, she tried to make out what was being said.
"I have everything squared away now," he was saying. "I'm coming down there."
Who does he keep calling?!
"Gotcha," someone said.
Mirage glared up at Bocci.
"When you stopped moving, I figured out that it was just an image. You used your powers. Y'see, that's the problem with you Supers. You think you're invincible." He grinned wickedly. "Now I can keep you quiet." He leveled the gun at her head.
Syndrome burst out of his chair.
"Who's Super?" He looked at Bocci, then at the gun, then back at Bocci. "And what are you doing with that?"
Bocci froze.
"You were listening to my conversation?" Syndrome bellowed.
"I was just following her!"
He looked down at Mirage, cowered behind a cabinet. She winced as Syndrome reached into his weapon belt.
"D-don't shoot, or I will," Bocci stammered.
Expecting Syndrome to say "go ahead," she was shocked to hear him growl.
"Touch her and I'll blow your head off!"
Not wanting to risk anything, Syndrome picked Bocci up with his zero-point energy and slammed him back down. The gun flew from the doctor's hand.
"You belong in an asylum," Syndrome snorted, freezing him again. "Don't ever question me. Or threaten her."
In awe, Mirage let Syndrome help her to her feet. Then she watched him stalk off, dragging Bocci after him. She decided to follow.
"Syndrome. Wait."
He turned, looking annoyed.
"What?"
"I'm sorry for listening to your conversation. I just don't want you to get hurt again." She sighed. "Bocci told me everything. I'm sorry if that was wrong. I'm sorry for taking prenatal vitamins instead of birth control. I'm sorry if I just wanted you to commit to me. I'm sorry for falling in love with you. I'm sorry for being so unprofessional." She paused to take a breath, adding, "And, I'm sorry for letting Mr. Incredible go back then."
Syndrome had his back turned to her. To Mirage's surprise, when he turned around, he drew her to him and kissed her passionately.
"You're a good person," he said, completely calm. She realized immediately that the meds had worked. "And… And…" He struggled with himself for a moment. "And I love you, too."
Then, he knelt.
"Oh my God," Mirage gasped. "This can't be happening."
"Marry me."
Mirage slipped on his interface ring and threw her arms around his neck, crying.
Those are damn good drugs.
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Later that night Mirage went back to Syndrome's office with a candle, a lighter, and a sophisticated dinner. He must have been expecting her, because all of his "work stuff" was swept aside and there was an extra chair at his desk.
"Good evening," she smiled.
"So, how is my fiancé?"
"Better now." She seated herself and reached for his hand. "I figured you'd want your interface ring back."
"You deserve better," Syndrome insisted, taking her hand and kissing it.
"Of course I do," Mirage teased. "So… what'd you do with Bocci?"
Syndrome shrugged indifferently.
"Tonight's about us, babe."
So, he was still calm. Mirage smiled, partly because of this fact, and partly because she had put a very large dose of the calming medicine into his dinner – just to ensure that it wouldn't wear off any time soon.
"Of course it is. So, what do you think of the meal?"
"It's perfect."
She cleared her throat. "There was something I wanted to ask you about."
"All right."
"Who are you calling?"
The question caught him off guard. "I, ah… that's a personal question," he stammered.
Mirage narrowed her eyes.
"We're getting married. Nothing is 'personal.'"
"It's just a business associate."
"Mm-hmm."
"He's doing a service for me, and I'm paying him for it. Just a simple business transaction."
She was unconvinced.
"I heard you talking to him," she said softly. "You were contacting someone who could exterminate Mr. Incredible."
Syndrome looked at her, his eyes cloudy.
"Why? Why are you letting childhood disappointment rule your life? You've killed people because he was upset when you got in his way!" she cried. "And you got me involved too."
A stormy look passed over Syndrome's face, and Mirage could see him tense. But then his eyes softened in the candlelight.
"You're right. I've made a massive mistake." He shook his head. "I need to fix this."
"I'm going with you," Mirage insisted.
"You're staying safe though," he told her protectively, stroking her palm tenderly with his index finger. "And when it's over, we'll start our new life together."
Mirage nodded, almost shakily. It was like a miracle.
"Bocci's in Holding Cell Two down the hall. You have my permission to slap him around – if the guards escort you."
She smiled and leaned over the table.
"I love you."
Then they blew out the candle.
