It was late may, almost 2 months since they found out the shocking news. They're uncle was murdered. Maddie was slumped down on a bench backstage, Dr. Cube talking quietly to her.
"Are you okay?" he tried make her feel better, but nothing worked. She sighed, and he put his hand on her shoulder, comforting her. He knew what it was like to lose one's family. His creators had died in the fire that destroyed the labs he was created in. He hugged her, and she leaned her head toward him. He loved it when he held his love. It was the only time when he could forget that others saw him as a monster, that others saw him as evil. She didn't care. Not at all.
"I love you, you know that?" she smiled softly.
"I love you as well, for I cannot hate someone who cares for me the way you do." He kissed her softly. She broke away, and leaned her head on his shoulder, still in his arms. She felt safe, it was her sanctuary. She closed her eyes and breathed in his scent. She drifted to sleep and nuzzled deeper into his arms.
---
The show had ended. Louden stepped through the curtain and glared at Cube. He was still Cube's enemy, but he tried not to fight with Cube in front of Maddie. He was happy that she was happy, but he wished she could be happy with someone else. Every guy in the Hero Intern program wished they could go out with her. Hero Intern '08 especially. He glanced at her sleeping form and saw why. Even though she was stereotypical and a little hot headed, she could be sweet and lovable. She reminded Louden of a fallen angel, a demon to some cultures and a blessing to others. The MC saw the way Cube looked at her, the way she was changing him. He was becoming considerate, but that meant more people liked him. The posse was becoming more than 45% of the fans. Louden sighed and passed on to his dressing room.
-----------
Later, Maddie sat next to Cube in his office, he was trying to work, but she kept distracting him. "Maddie, dearest, I love you, but you are distract-"
"What does your face look like?" she asked innocently.
"Huh?" he was sure he didn't hear her right.
"What does your true face look like?" she repeated.
"Uh, well, you know..."he shrugged and tried to get back to work.
"No, I've only seen it from your lips down. I want to know what your eyes look like." she pleaded.
"I wear this mask because I screwed up my face a long time ago. You know that." he refused to look at her.
"I don't care." she started to say something else, but stopped. She knew he kept his mask on so others wouldn't run from his face. She laid one hand lovingly on his neck. "I-I promise I won't run. I will always love you, no matter what." She lifted hi mask off, and she saw many bandages wrapped around his face. She saw a bit of his face here and there, but not enough. She began unwrapping the bandages, occasionally touching his hand to let him know she was there. When she finished, she gasped.
"I told you. I'm-I'm a freak," he turned from her, expecting a scream or a remark or the sound of running footsteps.
"What are you talking about? You're the most handsome guy I've ever met," she placed her hand on his forearm to emphasize her point.
"What are YOU talking about? I'm-" At that moment, she pulled him up and led him to his bedroom. He was confused, and then he saw what she wanted. He had a mirror on the desk in his room. He looked in the mirror and saw a familiar face. It was from before he screwed up his face. The guy he saw in the mirror had short, black hair, blue eyes, and the expression was shock. He looked like those stupid boys on the covers of teen magazines. He couldn't believe it. He was...handsome. He rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
"I-I haven't seen this face since the '60's. The potion must have caused all the scar tissue to die and let new tissue to grow. But the acne is gone which means...the surgery worked! Ha ha! I knew it!" He had a smile of surprise, and then turned to Maddie. He kissed her and ran down the stairs to his office to record his find in one of his journals.
----
"Thanks for dropping me off. Love you lots!" she kissed her boyfriend goodbye and stepped out of the car. It was a black Ferrari, and today was it's first drive. Dr. Cube was so ecstatic about his face; he insisted that he and Maddie go for a night on the town. They had headed all over New York, and this morning was the end of their adventure. She smiled at him as he drove away. She had a toothy grin on her face as she unlocked the door to the Penthouse. Louden and Maddie and been living their since the murder.
"Louden? Brother? Where are you?" she called. She went to the Living Room and she saw her brother passed out on the couch. Obviously, their had been a party that she hadn't been invited to. And by the look of the scene, it was a Kaiju party. She sighed at all the Royal Jelly and Beer cans all over the room. Her brother was a mess, and had lipstick on his collar. She shook her head in disappointment. Well, not exactly. She knew this would happen. Her brother was a party guy. She wondered if he was so drunk he knew what had happened. Underage drinking was something he had been doing a long time. Martinis mostly, but tonight he had gone under his usual standards. She half-wondered if the heroes were here last night. Probably only a few. She grabbed a blanket from the closet and laid it carefully over her brother. She brushed the hair out of face lovingly. Her brother was the most important thing to her.
She went to her room and made sure no one had come in. It was obvious at least two people had found her hideaway. The sheets were messed up, and a few things had been knocked off the shelves. She cleaned up her room, and made sure it was locked before she set off to find her brother room.
Louden's suite was twice the size of his bedroom in Boston. It was completely messed up. This was probably make-out city for him. Her brother the playboy. She wished he had been more responsible. She cleaned up a few things, but soon gave up. One thing made her frown; his prized photograph album had been strewn across the floor. It was supposed to be for the Kaiju archives when he retired. She put them back in order and placed the book carefully back on the shelf. One picture had made her think. It was of a man dressed in silver. He had a rounded head, and was standing next to a space girl. She wondered who they were. She pondered this as she went back to her computer.
-----------
"What?!?!?" Natalie exclaimed. Maddie had just told her about the party. "How come I wasn't invited?"
Maddi stared at her friend and then shook her head in disbelief. She loved Natalie dearly, but sometimes she was a little hard to understand. She exhaled sharply and put her fingers to her temples.
"Can we just forget about it? My head still hurts." Louden was in a chair, his head in his hands.
"'Kay. I'm going to find out what time we're starting. She walked off, leaving Natalie and Louden alone. Natalie went to sit next to him, and laid a hand on his shoulder. He glanced up and groaned. She rubbed his back. Louden was a friend, and a cute friend at that. He didn't mind her being around. She hugged him quickly to show her affections.
"Are you okay?" she asked quietly, her hand still on his back.
He looked up to her, and smiled. "I'm fine. I always feel better when you're around." She blushed slightly.
They heard a knock on the door then, "Louden, you're on!"
Natalie kissed him on the cheek, "Good luck."
He got up and slid on his jacket. He left his dressing room with a small smile on his face. He fed off the energy of the fans cheering. He took a quick breath, and then announced the beginning to the battel.
----------
It was Half time and Cube, Louden, Jingi and Beav were out in the Danger Cage. Maddie was sitting on the stage behind them. Strange music suddenly erupted from the speakers, nothing they had ever heard before. Louden looked up to Dave, the sound guy, who was trying every trick he knew to stop the music. Louden looked to Dr. Cube who shrugged and shook his head. It was Cube, Beav, Jingi or anyone else. Who could have done it?
Suddenly, a silver clad being jumped from the doorway and everyone's mouths dropped. Everyone minus Maddie. She stared with her head cocked and a confused looked on her face. He snapped his head toward Cube in resentment and began to tell his side of the story:
(Never Again by True Vibe)
The sun was rising in the sky just like the day before
Just another normal day not knowing what's in store
It's naturally you found a way to creep into my mind
You're whispering, I'm listening, how'd you get inside?
Listen up, I've heard about enough
That's right, I've turned my life around
Never, oh no, never again
Will I fall for your schemes
Will I fall for your plan
Never, oh no, I won't give in
This game's gotta end
'Cause I'm not turning back, never again
I was not a stranger to the lies that you had told
I have been in danger of desires taking over
Everything that I believe and all I know is true
Hypnotized, compromised, all because of you
So listen up, I've heard about enough
Sick of the lies you told me
Don't you know I've turned my life around?
Never, oh no, never again
Will I fall for your schemes
Will I fall for your plan
Never, oh no, I won't give in
This game's gotta end
'Cause I'm not turning back, never again
Never want to see your face
Sick of being in this place
Why can't I just live without you on my mind
You were mesmerizing, I thought
Now I see through all the lies I bought
Oh never, never again
Will I fall for your schemes
Will I fall for your plan
Never, oh no, I won't give in
This game's gotta end
'Cause I'm not turning back, never again
Never, oh never, never again
Will I fall for your schemes
'Cause I'm not turning back again
Will I fall for your plan
Never, oh never, I won't give in
This game's gotta end
'Cause I'm not turning back, never again
Oh never, never again
Oh never, I will never fall again
Never, oh never, I won't give in
This game's gotta end
'Cause I'm not turning back, never again
Never again, never again, never
The man dressed in Silver pulled out a knife from his belt and ran toward Cube, once he had Cube in a submission hold, he raised the knife and was about to plunge it into the mastermind like Cube had made him do long a go to a harmless plantain. Something caught his hand in mid-air and pulled it back.
"Don't touch him!" someone hissed in his ear. He turned to see the girl who was looking confused at him. He backed off, because this girl obviously meant business. He jumped back onto the side of the Danger Cage while the teen that had stopped him helped Cube to his feet. He heard them talking quietly.
"Are you insane? Who the hell are you?" she yelled.
"Who am I? She's kidding, right? Listen, little girl, if you were supposed to be here, which your not, you would know. And in case you didn't realize, that man," he pointed to Cube, "has ruined my life! My girlfriend resents me, I killed a fellow hero, and I was dumped on the other side of the universe. Of course, I wanted to kill him! -"
"SilPo, uh, things have hanged a bit since you, er, left. How you alive anyway? We all saw you get killed!" Louden tried to distract him from the rant that would probably just make his sister mad.
"Cube decided, in case he ever needed me again, that he dump me on the other side of the universe, with no food, water, or protection. I fought my way back! He decided to dress a minion up like me and have the zombie kill him. It was a good switch, but he forgot I could come back. And I have a few questions, but how about recapping the few most important things for me?"
"Okay, uh, Call-Me-Kevin had the belt, this is my sister Maddie, the commish is dead, uh, Jingi, am I missing anything?" The referee shook his head. "That's about it then..."
"Mark my words Cube, Pablo WILL be avenged!" Silver glared at the man responsible for his heart's coloration to black.