Test of the heart.

Englishwitch.

The Incredibles.
Chapter 9- Continence.

Disclaimer- I do not own The Incredibles, it is a Disney/ Pixar animation motion picture.

*Vanisher Hospitalised*

It was on the front page of every newspaper in the city. The reports told of how Violet had been injured while rescuing hostages from a bank robbery. But all of them failed to mention that she was fine and had only broken a couple of ribs and had gone home the same day. In fact they seemed to give the impression that she was in a near comatose, critical condition.

Violet slammed her locker shut and yawned loudly. She had to work hard through the night, but she managed to get her homework done. She only hoped she could stay conscious long enough to hand it in.

A small group of girls walked by, stopped and stared at her for a second and walked onward down the corridor giggling loudly.

The news of Violet and Tony breaking up had spread like wildfire. Every girl, and a couple of boys, was under the impression that Violet had gone insane. Also every girl was making her plans to win Tony's heart.

Violet hoisted her bag over her shoulder and winced as a bolt of pain shot across her left side. Two broken ribs resulted in either a dull throbbing, or a lightning bolt of pain when she performed any activity that involved bending, lifting or carrying- Just getting dressed in the morning was a challenge. Superhero work was out of the question, for a couple of weeks anyway.

The school day was almost over, only one more class to go, history. Just the thought of her teachers slow, droning voice made her feel sleepy.

*What's the point?*

The thought came so suddenly that Violet was taken aback by it. That wasn't her usual way of thinking, not at all. Violet hesitated for a moment. Why had she thought that? Also, why did she feel that it made so much sense? What was the point of school? She was a superhero and always would be. She didn't need school, not really. She wouldn't need to get a job, saving people was her job and anything else would just be for show.

Violet turned and began to walk toward the main entrance. For just a moment she intended to walk out. She got five steps before she hesitated again. What was she doing? Supers had been banned once before, it could happen again and if it did she would benefit from an education. Besides, her dad was going to pick her up after school. She needed Ms. Mode to do a patch job on her suit and if she wasn't there when he arrived…

She dropped the train of thought and went off to the classroom.

***********************

"Violet?" A voice rose through the darkness, she ignored it.
"Violet?" There it was again, more demanding this time. This voice did not want to be ignored.
"Not again Tony. I'm too tired."

Loud laughter threw Violet out of her dream and back to reality. She looked around and grew hot and red with embarrassment. Violet realised that she ad fallen asleep in history class, her teacher had been trying to wake her up and she had muttered just loud enough for everyone to hear.

Janet, a girl sitting in front of Violet, turned to face her.
"That why he dumped you Parr? Supply couldn't meet demand?"

Violet glared angrily as Janet turned, laughing to herself.

After an eternity the final bell rang to signal the end of the day. Violet gladly packed her things and ran out of the school.

A sleek black, sporty yet practical car was waiting for her. Her father sat in the front seat. Violet dived into the passenger side and took the briefest of glances back at the school. Pupils were laughing and pointing at her and Violet knew it wasn't over her dads' mid-life-crises car.
"Something wrong?" He asked her sweetly. Violet shook her head.
"Just drive." She said quietly.

Edna's home seemed to glare down at them as they pulled up to the laser gate. Like it's owner, the house seemed to have a personality ten times larger than itself. Bob pushed the intercom button and a young man in his thirties appeared on the videocom screen.
"Yes?"
"Bob and Violet Parr to see Ms. Mode."

The guy checked a list and nodded.
"She's expecting you." He buzzed them through and drove them up toward the house.

Edna was waiting in the kitchen with a cup of coffee for Bob and a glass of milk for Violet. She obviously didn't entertain young guests much.
"I heard what happened darling. How are you?"

Violet patted her left side.
"A couple of ribs, I'll live." She said, ignoring the milk. Edna smiled widely.
"Spoken like a true hero. Now, what can I do for you?"

Violet dived into her bag. Right at the bottom, under all her books, was her super suit. She pulled it out and handed it to Edna. The small woman looked over the outfit with her usual intensity.
"Second generation mega mesh, with polymer base." She muttered to herself. "Fire proof, bullet proof, virtually indestructible." Then she found the three slashes on the belly of the suit. "You've managed to tear right through it."

For a moment Violet was convinced that Edna was going to hit her. Nothing major, just a disapproving clip across the back of the head, Instead Edna looked thoughtful and drifted into a deep daydream.
"I suppose you want me to fix it?" She asked in a dreamy voice?
"Please." Asked Violet quietly. She was still slightly afraid Edna would hit her and was also mildly surprised that it hadn't happened yet.

Edna jumped her seat and walked toward the door
"I'll just be an hour darling. Wait here."

***********************

Violet put the newly mended suit into its secret compartment within her closet. It was a great patch up, you had to look close to see the stitches.

The suit loved so unloved just hanging, abandoned in the back of her closet. With a sigh Violet closed the door.

She turned and stared at herself in the mirror and gasped in shock and her appearance. Her hair was hanging in front of her face, showing only one eye, she looked so miserable. She had put on dark jeans and a black top; without realising it she had gone backwards almost a year to her quiet, withdrawn self.
"Hello stranger." She muttered.

Her ribs throbbed dully and he pulled up her top to get a look. Most supers were invulnerable to all but the most extreme damage, such as a train or bullet. But even then the wounds were small and all supers healed quickly. Violet was no exception, by next week she would be fine. Already the bruises, which had been a deep and sickening purple to a brown and yellow along most of her left side.

Violet took no comfort in this fact. She turned away from the mirror, still disturbed by the person she had seen. What could have happened to make her take such a step backward?

But even as she asked the question to herself she knew the answer.

Both her personas, Violet and Vanisher had suffered great losses. Violet had lost The love of her life while Vanisher had lost fighting against a powerful villain.

How had Shifter managed to break out of her field? She didn't know, all she knew was that she had felt slightly light headed for a moment then she was waking up in the hospital.

The pain of both losses was thudding in her chest like a lump of lead in her heart.

She opened a draw in her dresser and pulled out the only photo of Tony she had. Falling onto he bed she ignored the dull throb of her ribs while she looked at him.

Why couldn't she keep her promise, she had promised one weekend. He was right to dump her. She had thought about someone else so clearly that she had pictured Psychewave's head on top of his body. She had freaked out and ran into Vanisher. As Vanisher the problems of Violet were left behind, the pain of Violet could be ignored. Only the problems of Vanisher were something to be concerned about.

Now both sides were hurting and Violet didn't know where to turn.

Something had to give.

Something had to go.

****************************

Tony was just sitting down to enjoy his lunch when a shadow fell across the table. Probably another girl asking his out. He glanced up and his jaw dropped.

It was Violet. But the Violet he used to look at in passing in the halls. Black top, dark coloured jeans and hair in front of her face. Before she changed and became the vibrant girl he went out with.
"Tony, can we talk?" she asked quietly. He was so shocked at her appearance that he found himself following before saying a word.
"Beg all you like Parr. He won't take you back." Someone yelled behind him.

Violet took him to the bleachers in the gym that looked over the basketball court where Tony often played for the school. He place was empty and their voices and footsteps echoed off the walls.
"I understand why you left me. I really do." She said quietly.
"Violet-" He began, but she interrupted him.
"I really do. I made a promise and I couldn't keep it. I tried to juggle you, school and my superhero life and often you were dropped. I know that had to be hard for you, and when I couldn't even stay out of my suit for one weekend… I didn't deserve you."

Tears swelled up in her eyes and Tony felt helpless. He wanted to comfort her, to tell Violet it was all right, or even that she was wrong. When he had heard that she had been injured, he had almost called her, even gone around to visit. But he managed to stop himself because he remembered the pain.

Whenever she had gone out he worried about her. Sleepless worry that made his chest feel like a lump of ice that wouldn't thaw until she returned. He had barely been able to cope, he didn't know if he could go through it again.

Before he could do anything however, Violet wiped her eyes and continued.
"It was my super life that was wrecking everything. But if you would take me back, give me a reason for doing this- I would hang up my suit for good. I would just be Violet for good and never be Vanisher again."

Behind his back Tony pinched the skin on his arm; to make sure he wasn't dreaming. Then he had to look over his memory to make sure he had heard her right. Was Violet really offering what he thought she was offering?
"You would stop being a hero for me?" Violet nodded and slowly began to lean in. Her eyes closed and Tony tilted his head forward to kiss her.

Something seemed to click in his head and he had a realisation. He pulled his head back and put a finger to her lips. Violet opened her eyes and stared at sadly.
"I won't lie to you Vi'. I would take you back in a second...if I thought you could keep that promise."

Violet tried to interrupt him, but Tony wouldn't let her.
"It's not about the trust that you broke when you ran off to do hero work. not about that at all. You're a super Vi' and saving people is what you do. You say you'll give it all up to be with me and I believe that you'll give it a try. I believe that if you see a report on TV or hear one on the radio about an emergency, you'll stay with me. But I can't let you do that. You were miserable when you had to pretend to be normal and were happier only when you were allowed to be a hero." He rose from his seat and moved off, leaving her behind.
"Whether you're with me or not, I don't think you'll be happy if you can't be yourself. I can't let you do that, I won't."

Then he was gone. His footfalls died as echoes on the walls and Violet felt the tears welling up in her eyes again.

To be continued.