Dr. Horrible Fanfic: Know Thy Enemy (Gen/Het-ish) PG

[caffienekitty]

Title: Know Thy Enemy
Warnings: Spoilers for all of Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog.
Word Count: 760-ish words
Disclaimer: Joss Whedon is the eeeeeeevil overlord on this 'verse.
Rating: I think it's GEN, but some might think it's HET-ish? PG13
Characters: Johnny Snow&OC
Summary: Johnny Snow's girlfriend is not pleased with his choice of arch-nemesis.
A/N: Part of the same continuity as my previous Dr. Horrible fic, Everything I Ever Wanted, even though it's not obvious. Because when I started it kind of wasn't, but it wedged itself in a toehold. There may be more in this continuity. There may not. It may be soon. It may not. *is enigmatic* (cross-posted to horrible_fic)



Know Thy Enemy
by CaffieneKitty
-

Johnny Snow stumbled out of his bedroom in search of a cup of coffee and the hockey scores when something flew at his face. He froze it with an ice-beam out of reflex, which didn't help because the solid block of ice hitting his face hurt way worse than it would have if it was still an unfrozen newspaper.

"Ow," he said as he rubbed his nose and looked down at the paper on the floor. Through its new icy surface, Dr. Horrible's face leered up at him.

"Johnny!" shrieked a familiar female voice. Not a normally shrieking voice, but there were memorable moments. Apparently this was one of them.

"G'morning, Maggie. You're by early." He picked up the paper and scowled back at his uncooperative arch-nemesis before looking up at Maggie.

"That!" She said, pointing at the frozen paper. "That's that lunatic you've been taunting for months now, isn't it?"

"Dr. Horrible, my arch-nemesis, yes. He didn't show up last night, again. Wasted night." Johnny put the ice-encased paper in to the microwave and set it to thaw. "But I stopped two muggings, and a-"

Maggie had crossed her arms. That was a bad sign.

"You don't want to know about my night, do you?"

Maggie's dark eyes narrowed. "Your 'Dr. Horrible' wasn't there because he was across town at that homeless shelter opening, killing Captain Hammer's girlfriend!"

Johnny snorted. "Figures. He's always got more time for Captain Hamm-" The rest of Maggie's statement snapped into clarity. "Wait, what?"

"He. Killed. Captain Hammer's. Girlfriend."

Johnny shook his head. "But-"

"This is the psycho you've been taunting? That could have been me dead if you'd got him into doing that 'arch-nemesis' thing you're after him for!"

"But-"

"Nuh uh," Maggie said, waving her finger. "No no no. You do not say 'but' to me, Mister Johnathan David Snow." She stomped over to the beeping microwave, pulled the mostly thawed paper out and slapped it flat against the kitchen table in a spray of melty slush. "It's right there, black and white with some tasteful spots of blood-red for emphasis."

Johnny dropped into the kitchen chair and started peeling the pages apart, the bits of ice that flaked off as the pages flexed dribbling into his lap. "But, that can't be-"

"Oh, it is." Maggie stood at the end of the table, arms crossed again. "You know, if you want to break up Johnny, just say so. Don't go agitating," her breath hitched, "girlfriend-murdering villains just to get rid of me."

"What?" He gaped across the table at her. "No! Don't be crazy! I-"

"Then stop antagonizing this freak! I told you! You don't need an arch-nemesis to be a hero! That could have been me there, dead! Or you!" Maggie's crossed arms shifted from angry to upset and vulnerable. "I don't want to see you dead in the headlines this guy is making."

"You don't understand, Maggie," Johnny said, frowning back down at the lurid photos. "I didn't just pick Dr. Horrible's name out of a hat as arch-nemesis material, I did some research. I picked Dr. Horrible as my nemesis because he doesn't kill people. He cares about kids and bystanders and crap like that. He doesn't do collateral damage, and he's not a murderer."

"He is now." Maggie dropped into the chair next to Johnny. "I worry, John. You treat this hero business like a game, but it's dangerous. People get hurt and killed."

Johnny reached over and squeezed Maggie's hand. "I know. And hey, I'm careful. I even got the parka lined with Kevlar last month, remember?"

Maggie scowled. "You're not as careful as you could be. Just... Promise me you're not going to keep nagging this guy, alright? He really scares me."

He squeezed her hand again. "I promise."

"Honey?"

"Yes?"

"Cold hands."

He released her hand which was developing a lightly melting coat of frost. "Right, sorry. I'm not with it."

Maggie rubbed her hands together and blew on them, offering Johnny a shaky but relieved smile. "Had coffee yet, babe?"

"Not exactly, I was just waking up when you threw the paper at me."

"I'll make some then." Maggie moved through the kitchen, chattering about the price of coffee and how Johnny needed to stock his fridge with something better than donuts and Canadian beer.

Johnny stared back down at the front page photo of Dr. Horrible, letting Maggie's now calmer voice fade into the background of his awareness.

Dr. Horrible, killing someone? That wasn't in character for him at all. Something was wrong with his former-potential-arch-nemesis, and Johnny Snow, 'Poser in a Parka', was going to find out what.

But without annoying Dr. Horrible, now that he didn't want him as a nemesis anymore. Or the Evil League of Evil. Or Maggie. Somehow.

- - -
(that's it... sort of)

Post A/N: So, yeah. Likely to be more in this continuity, not sure what or when, or even who or why. It's all a mystery! Yay!

Post post A/N: Next in sequence.

Comments

[quettalinde.livejournal.com]

Teehee! Love your characterization of Johnny Snow! :D And, of course, his reasons for choosing Dr. Horrible. And the very appropriate, true-to-spirit-of-canon opinions of Maggie. Nice work!

[caffienekitty]

Thank you! :-D I was a bit worried about doing a character that had only appeared in reference and an OC so I'm glad it turned out okay.

[quettalinde.livejournal.com]

I find there's a lot more leeway with what you can do with minor characters, because they get less characterization in canon. And OCs get a bad rap they don't really deserve. If a writer knows how to write, their OCs are good ones. Everyone's just paranoid about having their character labelled a Sue (and some readers go completely overboard on what they define as a Sue, which makes matters worse).

Long story short too late!, I think you worried for nothing, but then, so do I.

[liliaeth]

aww, I definitely want to see more of this

[caffienekitty]

If the bunnies keep biting, you will. :-)

[anniehow.livejournal.com]

HAHAHAHA *breath* HAHAHAHA

LUURVED Jonny and his long-suffering girlfriend! And his mismanaged powers!.

(Dude, imagine him battling Moist!)

[caffienekitty]

LUURVED Jonny and his long-suffering girlfriend! And his mismanaged powers!.

Thanks!

(Dude, imagine him battling Moist!)

*koff* Yes. Imagine that. *hides notebook* *looks innocent*

[bugeyedmonster.livejournal.com]

OH, god! That would be soo funny!

[caffienekitty]

*hides notebook again some more*

[kitty-poker1.livejournal.com]

"...tasteful spots of blood-red for emphasis."

Oh yeah, please do continue with this. Johnny, the 'Poser in a Parka' *g* and Maggie are irresistibly hilarious.

[caffienekitty]

I hope to, as long as the bunnies keep biting :-)

[lily22.livejournal.com]

Aw! I love your Johnny Snow (and Maggie)! How is Johnny going to find out the truth? XD I'd love to see more from this continuity.

"Honey?"

"Yes?"

"Cold hands."

He released her hand which was developing a lightly melting coat of frost. "Right, sorry. I'm not with it."

[caffienekitty]

Thanks! :-D

[madripoor-rose.livejournal.com]

Oh, I just love this!

[caffienekitty]

Yay! \o/ Thank you!

[fairest1.livejournal.com]

Aw! Johnny Snow's both nicer and more insightful than anyone would've guessed! And he's right, a guy who worries about kids and innocent bystanders isn't likely to target girlfriends.

[caffienekitty]

I was a bit worried about digressing from what little we heard about Johnny in canon, but I figured Dr. Horrible would hardly be one to emphasize Johnny's good points. :-)

[fairest1.livejournal.com]

We don't really know a lot -- he's a guy without a lot of status in the super community, though rather patient (waiting 45 minutes in the park?) and there's a lot of room for motivation to be applied to his decisions . . . you did good work.

[caffienekitty]

Thank you :-)

[mrdave2176.livejournal.com]

Musical Cue as Maggie is making coffee:

It's cold out there,
and people don't care
if you die on the job
somewhere out there

There's a wind that blows
through the city at night
nobody cares
if you try to fight

Chorus:
You try to bundle up against the cold
You try to find a hand that you can hold
You try to find a person who will stay
You try to find the one who will say
I care

{Music continues to Johnny Snow putting on his uniform}

It's cold in here
'Cause if you care
the people can't see
what you do out there

There's a feeling that grows
through the city's soul
someone cares
and that's the goal

{Johnny enters the kitchen and it is yellow and warm with fresh coffee and eggs - sunny side up. Maggie smiles and the light radiates from her}

Chorus
(Johnny): You try to be the light that shines so bright
(Maggie): You try to see through the darkness to the light

(Johnny): You try to the things you know are right
(Maggie): You try to hold your own against the blight

(Johnny): You want to be for justice and for good
(Maggie): You hope that you won't end up as dog food

(Johnny): You want to be the one ...
(Maggie): I want you to be the one ...


(Together): Who will say. I (you) care

[caffienekitty]

Dude! You wrote me a song?!! Holy crap!!! Thank you!!! :-D

[mrdave2176.livejournal.com]

hehe...they just jump into my head. I can't help it. Yours is the second fan-fic I've done this to (not counting the songs I've written for my own)

[caffienekitty]

Well, I'm honored! Thank you! :-)

[bugeyedmonster.livejournal.com]

That was good. I'm impressed!

[puckhiggins.livejournal.com]

Wheee, awesome!

[caffienekitty]

Gah! I meant thank you. *whaps LJ for being crazy*

[puckhiggins.livejournal.com]

Haha, it's okay! Though I was very confused at first when you said "I'm hoping to, if the bunnies keep going". Haha!

[caffienekitty]

Hee! I live to confuse. :-)

[oneiriad.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is fun. I hope you'll let us see more of Johnny and Maggie :-)

[caffienekitty]

I'm hoping to, as long as the bunnies keep going

[mrdave2176.livejournal.com]

I am blaming others and pointing the finger here: http://community.livejournal.com/dr_horriblesing/59584.html

But Danny Strong as Johnny Snow would Rock!

[caffienekitty]

Hehe, cool. I have no idea where that pic is from but it's cool that NPH has played with giant weaponry before. :-D

I actually found a pic I'm using for Johnny (and one for Maggie) from one of those stock photo places. I'd post them but there's a huge watermark.

[july-july-july.livejournal.com]

Laughed my ass off, especially with the newspaper bit. Thank you!

[caffienekitty]

Glad you liked it!

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

I like it. um... a lot? :D Very enjoyable extension of the throw-away name drop character. I liked Maggie's "you idiot, that could have been us!" complaint. And I really, really liked that for all Dr. Horrible ridiculed Johnny Snow, maybe Johnny Snow wasn't just "a poseur in a parka" but had picked Dr. Horrible out of a twisted kind of respect. His girlfriend is right, however, about making it all a game. Fits with the so-called "lesson" of the show.

[caffienekitty]

Hee! You already found it! Silly me for not checking all my comments before responding. Thank you! Like I said, things may continue. Not exactly sure where or how far, but the bunny is nibbling.

[bugeyedmonster.livejournal.com]

I just love the way Maggie corners Johnny Snow. LOL! I love tough women. Funny the way he quickly caves into her wants, demands, whatever.

(^_^)/
BEM

[caffienekitty]

Thank you! :-)