SLACKERS

EPISODE XXIII

SINS OF THE FATHER

CHAPTER FOUR - THE REQUEST

With bellies full of pizza, Misty and Amanda set about getting their makeshift beds ready. Obviously Misty couldn't share with Mihalis because of his comically bandaged state, but she had no problem sleeping on a rollaway bed, while Amanda was small enough to take the couch. Sometimes it blew Misty's mind how a big, husky guy like Mihalis could come from such a small woman. It made her shudder at the thought of giving birth to his baby, remembering that she would likely wind up here again in another five or six months for that reason.

Amanda went to the bathroom to change into her pajamas, while Misty changed out of her sundress in front of her boyfriend. They'd been together nearly 19 years at this point, but seeing Misty in her underwear was a sight he would never get tired of. Often times she'd do little dances or make suggestive comments for him, but she wouldn't be caught dead doing something like that with his mother only one door away. It was also for this reason that she decided to dress a bit more conservatively, wearing one of his shirts and long pajama pants. Decency without sacrificing comfort.

When Amanda emerged from the bathroom, she and Misty began their bedtime routines. Amanda took a pill, brushed and flossed her teeth, and had a large glass of water. Misty did some of the same, except for the part where she was bent over a toilet for a few minutes, feeling like she was going to puke without anything actually happening, all while silently cursing Sakura. Anyone who's had a hangover can tell you that this feeling is pretty close to the literal definition of hell.

Once the nausea had disappeared, and the bright overhead fluorescent lights had been shut off, all that lit the room were two small, warm lamps. The queasy Misty carefully sat down on her bed while Amanda sat up on her couch.

Mihalis smiled at his two favorite people in the world, three if you counted the baby.

"I'm glad you guys decided to stay. It's nice having the company."

"You mean company that won't try to get your limbs all discombobulated?" asked Misty with a playful snark.

"Something like that," he said back, grateful that he was finally getting the chance to relax and fall asleep in a quiet, loving, peaceful atmosphere.

Amanda started to say something: "I don't know about you kids, but I think I'm ready to..."

She was interrupted by a nearby phone ringing. It was Mihalis's phone, and based on the generic tone, it wasn't anybody in his contacts. He reached for it.

"Come on, let's just go to bed already," whined Misty.

"Hang on, this could be Mew calling from out of town."

"They have phones in outer space...?" she asked blankly.

"Who knows," said Mihalis, doing his best to shrug, despite his contorted state. "Maybe he figured out how to make calls without a phone, I dunno. But just in case..."

He answered the phone, putting it on speaker due to his restricted range of motion.

"Hello?" he said like a robot.

"Hello, Mihalis."

He froze.

He recognized the voice.

Five seconds of silence.

"Anyone there?" beckoned the voice.

He looked slightly panicked, and a bit anxious.

"Y-yeah, I'm here..." he managed to say.

Then came the confirmation.

"It's Giovanni."

Now?

Now it was Amanda's turn to freeze. She looked like she had just seen a ghost. It couldn't be him. There was no way.

Mihalis and Misty could only imagine what was going through her mind. She rarely spoke of her former lover, and never in a positive light. Then again, neither did anyone else. Most of the world knew the man as the villainous leader of a large international crime syndicate. Mihalis was the most confused of all, after his ties to the man were revealed by the man himself.

But, for Amanda, she was hearing Gio for the first time in 32 years. How could she ever forget how much time had passed since then? Had she really moved on from the heartbreak, or the catastrophic way everything had come crashing down? Although, on the other hand, how was she supposed to know how she'd react if she ever heard his voice again?

Decades of confidence were dashed by three digital lines coming from the speaker of their son's phone.

But Amanda would never show that collapse. She hadn't been strong enough to stand up for herself all those years ago, but she knew she could stay strong for the son she gained from it. She had to. Mihalis loved her. He depended on her. He needed her.

And he knew right now he needed to be strong for her as well, so she could depend on him the same way.

Mihalis looked at his mother, regained his composure, and ordered confidence back into his voice.

"What's going on?" he asked Giovanni.

"You don't sound too well, son. Are you feeling alright?"

Apparently confidence was feeling rather disobedient, sending the voice of the victim of a go-kart crash in its stead.

"I'm in the hospital."

"Again? What happened this time?"

The low, digitized voice sounded like it actually showed concern for a moment, but it didn't take long for it to revert back to its commanding nature. Misty couldn't stop watching Amanda, whom appeared to be analyzing the tones in that digital voice with great care.

"Long story," was all Mihalis cared to say.

"You'll have to enlighten me soon. I was hoping to get the chance to see you."

"See me? Why?"

"I need your help with something."

Mihalis took a look at his mother to make sure she was okay. At the same time, mother and son pleaded with the other for emotional dependence, and swore to the other they would be strong for each other. She gave her son a solemn nod, silently permitting him to continue the conversation.

"What do you mean? What do you need my help for?"

"I'm on the hunt for my old Pokemon."

"Old? What, did it run away or something?"

"I wouldn't be that brash, but that's more or less correct. Until nearly 20 years ago, I was in possession of the most powerful Pokemon of all time. I've been trying to track him down for years, but after all this time, I've obviously come up short. You were a successful trainer like I was, and since you won't help the team, I thought you might be interested in helping with a personal favor for your father."

"Most powerful Pokemon of... all time..." he said to no one in particular.

Even more powerful than Mew?

"I'm not sure I'd call your definition of success the same as mine," Mihalis said, unsure of what to call the man on the other line and subconsciously avoiding having to think of it.

"Please, Mihalis, let's not compare philosophies right now. That'd be a better conversation to have at your bar, wouldn't you agree?"

"Ehhhh..."

Misty shuddered at the thought of the boss of Team Rocket coming by Slackers for a beer.

Giovanni continued, "It's taken a long time, but I'm going to get my old Pokemon back, whatever it takes. I'm asking you for your help, not as its owner, but as your family."

All Mihalis heard was the sound of an entitled old man trying to guilt-trip the son he had no hand in raising.

"And what do you plan on doing with this Pokemon once you catch him?" the son asked.

"That doesn't concern you, son. Not as long as you won't support our case."

"With all due respect, Father," the last word used very loosely, "it reeks of something Team Rocket would do. You're always about stealing strong Pokemon for your own use. If you managed to get your hands on the most powerful Pokemon in existence, who knows what you would do with that kind of power. I couldn't sleep at night knowing I was a part of it."

And thus, he had decided he wanted no part in this whatsoever.

"Think about what you're doing," warned the voice on the other line.

Mihalis paused, then continued. "My answer is no. But I won't stand in your way, either."

They heard an exasperated sigh coming from the phone. Amanda recognized it even 30 years later. It was the noise he made when he expected somebody to behave a certain way for him before being disappointed that he didn't get his way.

She rested her hands in her lap, then looked down. She had been around those kinds of controlling figures the first 20 years of her life. She knew them from a mile away.

"Fine, if you insist," he said coldly. "You're my son, and I will not sacrifice our relationship in an attempt to sway you. But I will not tolerate any interference from you, either. I hope our next conversation will be more pleasant, Mihalis."

A beep, and the phone call was done.

Misty, the only one without direct ties, was easily the most emotionally stable of the three. She sat up, slowly, from her bed, and sat down on the couch, close enough to bump hips with Amanda. She rested her head on the shaken woman's shoulder, conveying she was there for her, and that she wanted her to feel like the rock she was trying to be.

Amanda managed a half-smile, the exact same one Mihalis used, as she put an arm around Misty. Once they knew they were okay and feeling supported, they fixed their attention on the hospitalized delinquent they loved.

"You okay, hon?" asked Misty.

He nodded. "I guess I just didn't expect him to reach out to me like that. Especially... especially in front of Mom."

Misty kept her eyes glued on Mihalis as she nuzzled Amanda's shoulder. She wanted him to see how loved his mother really was. It helped.

"You don't need to worry about me," said Amanda, giving Misty a squeeze. "That was a long time ago, and I'm proud you were able to keep your composure the way you did."

Mihalis gave a weak smile and looked down, while Misty looked up.

"Are you okay, Amanda?" she asked.

"I'm fine, sweetie," she responded, and she meant it. "I think sleep would do us all some good."

The others agreed. Misty walked to Mihalis's side, kissed him goodnight, and turned off the lamps, rendering the room completely dark. Mihalis hated how he wouldn't be able to roll over and sleep on his front, being forced to stay on his back. He already had a hard enough time sleeping this way, but that call with Giovanni flooded his mind with stress.

The most powerful Pokemon of all time? What the hell could something like that even be?

And why did he want his help? And why did this have to be in front of Amanda? How would this affect her, having heard his voice?

It took about an hour for the intrusive thoughts to finally leave his mind and allow him to fall asleep.

And Amanda thought about Giovanni... really, really thought about him... for the first time in 32 years.

Here it is, dysfunctional family drama! I gotta say, despite the soapy theme we're going with, I actually had a lot of fun deciding how the whole Mihalis-Giovanni-Amanda thing would come to a head. All I can say is it definitely will before this story's over.