THE MOMENT
"John...," he didn't stir. Majesty resorted to a light slap on his cheek and tried again. "John!"
"I'm awake!" He opened his eyes wide, then blinked several times to try and keep them open. It didn't work; his eyes stayed closed after a third blink. Majesty slapped him again.
"Do I need to call your daughter in here?" she asked. John opened his eyes wide again and shook his head.
"I'm awake, I'm awake," he replied. John got to his feet and yawned while he gave a tall stretch. "How much longer..?" he asked.
"It's only been three days...," Majesty smiled. She wrapped her arms around her husband and kissed his cheek. "..maybe get halfway before you start asking 'how much longer'?' John hung his head and sighed.
"The record's only four days... I can quit after one more day...," Majesty let go of him and tilted her head.
"You must be exhausted...," she said. "I know you're not going to let L.S. down like that. The record for villains is seven days. You can't quit before that; he's your best friend," she reminded him.
"Yeah.. yeah...," he nodded but his head rocked in a gentle motion and his eyelids closed halfway. Then a high-pitched alarm blared from the livingroom. After a rush of footsteps, two pre-teen girls appeared at the door to Majesty and John's bedroom.
"My dad started robbing the next bank," one of them said. Majesty nodded at her, then turned to John. She gave him another light slap.
"John, L. S. is robbing a bank. You know what you have to do?"
"Stop him!" John nodded but his eyelids didn't open any wider. ".... and then… let him go to the next one….," his head fell forward.
"John!" Majesty said.
"FOR 10 DAYS!" John yelled. "It's a record..," he chuckled. Then his eyelids started to droop again. He stared forward through his wife. She sighed and shook her head.
"Royalty…," she said. Her daughter approached and looked up at her mother. "... Help your father stay awake please." Royalty hesitated for a moment, but her mother gave her an encouraging nod. Royalty turned and looked up at her dad.
"You don't feel tired, daddy," she said. His eyes focused instantly and he smiled at her. He put a hand on her head and nodded.
"If you say so," he laughed, then took in a deep breath. "Electra..," he looked over at his daughter's best friend. "Tell your dad I'm on my way to stop him."