Amy: Monster 1.10

“Hey you’re up early.” Mark commented as you breezed into the kitchen smiling a little as you did. “Something good happen?”

You smiled.

“Nay, I guess I just woke up in a good mood.”

“I guess that’s infectious.” He replied, a genuine smile adorning his face as he rose up from the table, pointing directly at the kitchen counter as he did. “I made enough for everyone... or at least I hope I did. Either way, I guess I just wanted to get something extra done.”

“I guess today is a good day then, huh?” You let your grin fold into a gentle smile.

“Ah… Yeah. I guess you could say that. I’ve been feeling way better for most of the week. I’m going to grab Carol and surprise her tonight. Maybe do something romantic.” He smiled again, this time with a look of contemplation looming over his face. “Best to make the most of the times that you can.”

That stabbed you where you lived.

You’d cured the man, the biological entity. But you hadn’t really changed anything for him yet. No not until the moment when he realizes himself free of the curse which had hung over his life, and even then without proper reassurance you can’t be certain that even then he won’t always have the vague worry at the back of his mind.

You could almost see the way it all fit together.

Still, you’d done it for him, you’d made him better. And that couldn’t easily be taken away from the man. You’d MADE him better.

You liked that idea.

“So how do you plan on spending the day?” A look of quiet curiosity crossed his face even as you stuffed yours full of what turned out to apparently be blueberry goodness drizzled with honey and simmered in maple syrup.

You took a moment or two to swallow. “Ah… Just out and around.”

“Oh? You are sticking to the safe spots right? It’s been hectic out there... well you should know that well enough.” He leaned up against his arms, cradling his chin with his hands in an awkwardly childish manner.

You rolled your eyes. “I’m just fine, Mark. You should know that even in a gunfight no one shoots at Panacea.”

“And yet someone still hit you. You... you may not be my child…” It sounded almost painful for him to admit. “... but I always did try my best to be there for you. It worries me, a lot. You worry me a lot. As safe as it is for you compared to the rest of us, it’s easy to see someone trying to get you just for being you, trying to kidnap and take you away. Hell... I don’t know if Carol ever told you, but it almost happened once.”

Ok, so that was news to you. You just nodded the negative, trying to hide the surprise as that revelation.

“Carol dealt with it. Harshly.” He smiled again, clearly at a memory of the matter, starting to tell the story of how some idiot got it into his head that kidnapping and ransoming The Grand Panacea could be a great way of making all the money he ever wanted in order to sit back and live easy. Quickly he detailed just how badly that plan had gotten derailed by the fact that he'd actually posted his plans on Parahuman's.net... which quickly got a message to Carol about the plot... “The guy never even got near the school to try it. Carol showed up early, and the light show was Amazing!"

You giggled a little remembering the particular event, though you'd never known the actual cause behind it.

"Look kiddo. I know I've never been the best to you... But your safety is always my concern. And friday got me thinking about it especially."

"And not Vicky's?" You tilted your head and quirked an eyebrow.

"Victoria is solid as a rock and ten times harder to hurt... you can forgive me for not being as much of a worry wart about her." He smiled.