𝐍𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐀𝐌𝐄 || the simpsons

Chapter One: Not Meant to Be

It was a beautiful morning outside in the city of Springfield. The sun shone through the fluffy clouds, and you could almost hear the sound of a celestial choir singing from the sky. Below, the town was busy with the hustle and bustle of the residents walking, and the sound of cars driving along the roads. Everyone had someplace to be, something to do. 

At the center of the city stood an imposing structure: the Nuclear Power Plant. The two tall towers rose up above the rest of the buildings, spewing black smoke into the sky. Barbed wires ran around the perimeter of the Plant, confining any means of entrance...or escape...to the gate. 

And it was here that Waylon Smithers felt at home.

The time read 6:30 as he took his place in the line of cars attempting to gain access to the Plant. The gatekeeper let each of them in, one by one. As soon as the bar was raised, Smithers sped to his designated parking space, which was closest to the entrance, praying that no one had stolen it. They hadn't, of course, knowing what would have happened if they had. Everyone that worked in the Plant knew that failure was not an option, for even the slightest misdeed would be reported to the boss, Monty Burns. And no one wanted to get on Burns's bad side. Ever. 

Smithers stepped out of his car and watched as the employees walked into the building. As he took his place at the back of the mass, he saw Burns leaning against the frame of the door, watching his subordinates entering with a slightly bored expression on his face. Waylon smiled as he saw his boss and only friend standing there. Burns was the only reason that he continued to work at this dead-end job, not that he could afford to get another job. Many of the things that he had lost in his life had been replaced by Burns. He'd lost his father at a young age, and since he was...well...different, he'd had no friends. Monty had become a mentor to him, and had offered this job at the Nuclear Power Plant when it seemed like there was no hope.

As the last of the employees stepped through the door, Smithers strode up to Burns.

"Good morning, sir." he greeted.

"Hello, Smithers." Burns replied, looking up at his second-in-command. "You seem in a good mood today. Why?"

"I'm not, really," Smithers told him. He wasn't lying. "I'm just glad to be here, working alongside you."

Burns scoffed. "Good God..." he sighed. "Anyway, come along. We have much to talk about."

The two strolled down the hallways of the Plant, talking. Along the way, they passed Sector 7-G, where three men appeared to be hard at work. They weren't, though. They had been deep in conversation, but stopped, and pretended to be doing their jobs when they saw their bosses. But the second they left, they continued to talk. 

"Jeez, that was close..." Carl Carlson said in a low tone.

"Man, do they ever separate?" asked Lenny Leonard. "Really, have you ever seen one without the other?"

"Nope, never have." Homer Simpson replied, taking another bite of his donut. 

"Have you ever considered their relationship, though? Like, have you really thought about it?" Lenny asked. "Cause I'm beginning to wonder if their more than coworkers."

"What, you mean like friends?" Homer queried.

"No, I mean like...more than friends." Lenny said, raising his eyebrows and grinning mischievously. 

"What? Burns and Smithers?" Carl laughed. "Lenny, you've said some pretty stupid things throughout your life but really? They'd have to be gay for that to even be considered, and I can assure you, neither of them are gay."

Oh how wrong Carl was. 

It hadn't been easy for Smithers to admit to himself that he was gay, but eventually he grew to accept himself after a long period of time. He attempted to remain in the closet, although several people were able to read the signs, therefore causing his lack of friends. He had never felt true love...that is, before he met Monty Burns. 

Waylon had never understood his feelings for his boss until about a year ago. And it was on that  day that the world was on the brink of collapse. It had seemed that an angel had foretold the apocalypse, and that the end was to come at sundown. Everyone in town had been there, on that hill, and emotions had been running high. A million thoughts had raced through his head, but a certain feeling had stood out. And as the town had begun to count down the seconds until the end of the world, Smithers, acting on impulse, had pulled Burns close, and kissed him.

As the two had made contact, a million more emotions flooded through Smithers, and it was at this moment that he knew that he was in love with his boss. Unfortunately, these feelings were not reciprocated. Burns had been shocked and appalled by the actions of his second, and when he had pressed him, he'd said that it was merely an action showing respect towards him. Burns had accepted this explanation, but had still been suspicious. 

Now, over a year later, these thoughts played through Smithers's mind as he and Burns entered their office. All those feelings...that day had been the greatest of his life, but had started him down a long path that there was no going back from. A path of regret and depression. Smithers knew that Burns could never love him back. Even if he was gay, no one could ever love someone like him. He was nothing more than a waste of space that could never do anything right.

But even so, he couldn't help falling in love every time they see each other. The way he walked around, spreading fear into everyone near him, the way he spoke, in that low and husky voice, the way he tents his fingers all the time...it was all just perfect to Smithers. But time continued to wear on, and nothing had changed. Nothing could change. Every day was the same. And it was doomed to stay that way, forever. 

It just wasn't meant to be...