Superheroes VS. Super Villains (A Collection)

Mr. Darcy

I'm sorry guys, he's just my favorite. I told myself I was going to leave room between Malcolm Darcy stories, but I can't do it, I love him so much! My aggressive little munchkin!

~

"What do you think of 'Black Night'?"

Malcolm rolled his eyes, and leaned his chair backwards to look at his boss. "I told you, I don't want a stupid monicker I'm going to regret in 50 years."

"If you don't give yourself one someone else will give you one, I suggest you not risk it."

Malcolm grimaced and leaned his chair all the way back so it fell over with a crash. He then did a backwards summersault and pushed himself to his feet, all in one swift motion. His boss glanced up at the sudden noise, but quickly dismissed it as Malcolm simply being unable to sit through an entire conversation.

"Sit," his boss glared at him, gesturing to the chair in front of his desk. "You need to get used to sitting still."

Malcolm grunted his displeasure, but complied. "Why can't I just go as Darcy forever?"

"You really want to go as Darcy?"

"Yes."

"Forever? Accepting all repercussions?"

"Yes, why is this a big deal?" The young man grumbled. His boss raised an eyebrow, but continued with a slight smile.

"Alright, Mr. Darcy, do something for me first."

"What?"

"Go down to the library-"

"Is this one of your 'dont be active, be proactive' drills, because if it is-!"

"No, calm down little hot head, no one's forcing you to be still and quiet."

"That's literally what you're doing right now." He deadpanned.

"And yet you're being neither still nor quiet."

Malcolm's fidgeting froze and he shut his mouth to listen.

"As I was saying, go to the library and find a book called 'Pride and Prejudice'. Then ask the librarian about it."

"Why?"

"You don't get paid to ask why, you get paid to do as your told." He said, returning to his papers.

"You're not paying me at all." He said as he slid out of his chair.

"Of course not, why would I pay you to not do as I say?"

Malcolm glared at him, but eventually left got the library. It didn't take long at all to find the book, but picking a version was not easy. There was the original, the remastered, the rewritten, the reinvented, every kind of cover you could imagine. He eventually just grabbed one and ran for the front desk.

"Hey there!" She whispered in a high, childish voice Malcolm was all too used to. "You need help buddy?"

He ignored her misinterpretation of his age and simply lowered his voice.

"Yeah, I came to ask about this book."

Her face immediately turned to shock as she studied his short frame, blinking in disbelief.

"Oh, um, I'm, uh, I'm sorry sir. I hadn't meant to-"

"Whatever, I don't care. Somebody told me to find out about this book." He said, shoving the book onto the counter.

"Oh! Pride and Prejudice, a true classic."

Malcolm's eyes narrowed. What's he trying to get at?

"Have you ever read it?"

"Uh... No." He said cautiously. "Should I have?"

"Well, most boys don't find it very interesting, but I can see you're a man of class. I think you'll be glad you read it." The woman replied with a smile.

"What's it about?"

"It's a beautiful romance set in the 1800s, between a lovely lady named Elizabeth and a perfect gentleman named Mr. Darcy-"

Malcolm choked on his spit. "The love interest's name is Darcy?"

"Yes, it's a terrific book!" She exclaimed, handing it back to him.

He carefully set the book down, the shock of sudden understanding washing over him.

"Actually, I have no class whatsoever, and I won't be needing this book."

~

"Malcolm, I heard you were were back. I thought you went to the library?"

Malcolm slammed the door to the office with a look of underlying disgust.

"You know you could have just told me here."

His boss shrugged with a smile. "But you learn so much better when you do things for yourself."

Malcolm pulled up his old chair. "This may not have dawned on you, but I'm 17. I've been out of training for a year now, Boss."

"You never finish training, you just come out of the program. You'll be learning from people older than you for the rest of your life."