Waylon had never, and could never have, expected for things to go the way they did. All he had wanted to do was pass time in its usual matter: serve his employer to his every need. Whatever Mr Burns wanted, Waylon would get it.
He rarely felt discontent as he spent each day in the company of Mr Burns, who, despite his demeanour, enthralled Waylon simply by existing.
Rain fell that morning; it alerted Waylon as soon as he woke in his dark apartment to the sound of thunder. The rain stayed as he exited the building to go to his car and to Burns' home and stayed still.
"Sir, it's time to wake up," he said softly, not wanting to startle Burns.
"Wha- Oh, Smithers."
"Good morning."
Burns listened to the rain for a moment. "Drat, it's raining."
"It's alright, sir."
"I will be cold... Smithers, do fetch my coat when we leave..." He sighed.
"Of course, sir."
Burns didn't say anything more on the topic; instead, Waylon caught him with a faraway look in his eyes. He wondered what he was thinking about. But they couldn't be late for work.
"Sir..."
"Smithers! Don't just stand there, you imbecile!" Burns snapped suddenly, breaking out of his apparent trance.
"Yes, sir." He went onto his next task.
The rain trudged on as Waylon drove himself and Burns to the power plant. He turned the windshield wipers on, which somehow added to the gloomy atmosphere. Neither of them spoke. Waylon wondered if Burns were angry with him. He couldn't figure out why that would be, though. Burns hadn't seemed more irritated than usual with him, just preoccupied; with what, Waylon didn't know.
Around lunchtime, Waylon went to Burns' office, nearby his own, to check on him and give him lunch. "Sir, how's the coffee?"
Burns looked up from his papers. "Fine, Smithers."
"It's... time for lunch, sir," Waylon reminded.
Burns looked at the clock. "So it is. What have you for me today?"
"I ordered you a sandwich and soup from that place you said you liked when we went there."
Burns stared. "Well? Where is it?"
"Oh, right here, sir." Waylon set the items on Burns' desk and opened them. Burns surveyed the contents and sniffed, then tasted the soup with a spoon after blowing on it slightly. "If you don't like it, I'll get something else."
Burns set the spoon down. "That won't be necessary. This is sufficient."
Waylon nodded.
After assisting Burns with his lunch, Waylon returned to his office to fill out a form authorising the use of a new steam generator, one of the forms Burns had given to him to sign off on.
"Smithers!"
At his name, Waylon rose and entered Burns' office again, where the older man surveyed his wall of television screens, his eyes narrowed, watching the incompetent lackeys stumble around.
"Smithers, who is that wisenheimer?" he demanded now, pointing at one screen in particular. Waylon leant forward.
"That's Homer Simpson, sir. One of your useless flesh-bags from sector 7-G."
"Simpson, eh? Blast it, he's the imbecile who nearly blew up the plant!"
"That's right, sir."
Burns studied the screens a bit longer. "Why do I allow these underlings to thrive?" he muttered, "they should all be fired!"
"But sir, then there won't be anyone to run the plant."
"Horsefeathers. Well, get Simpson up here. I don't know how he's not fired yet."
"Actually, sir, there have been a few times-"
"Just get him, don't waste my time."
"Yes, sir." Waylon used the PA system to send for Simpson.
The large man stumbled into Burns' spacious office unceremoniously. Burns sat at his desk, fingers steepled in a trademark fashion. Waylon stood beside him.
"Simpson! Come here," Burns ordered.
"Mr Burns! What did I do?" He looked frantic.
Burns rolled his eyes. "You are quite possibly the most incompetent worker at this plant. I don't know why you're still here."
"Are you firing me?"
"Yes, you fool. You're severely under-qualified." Burns skimmed through Simpson's file. Then he turned his attention back to the nervous man. "Will you come quietly and leave, or must I release the hounds?"
"Ah! No, sir, Mr Burns, I'll go."
"Yes, yes. Out of my sight. I never want to see you again."
YOU ARE READING
New Reflections (Burnsmithers)
Fanfiction[Complete] One day, Mr Burns wonders what it would be like if he and Smithers were closer in age; if he, Burns, were younger. The next morning is as usual until Waylon discovers Burns has undergone a drastic change overnight- one that affects them b...
