[MANHATTAN - 29 October 2019 - 06:30 Pm]
Jayson is lounging on his couch feet propped on Felicia's thighs, reading manga to try and stave off his boredom. Felicia unlike him is busy on her graphics tablet trying to finish an order for a client even though the deadline is about a week away she would rather have it done early and have it out of the way.
As they are enjoying a quiet evening one working and the other being his normally bored self, there is a knock on the door of the apartment. Jayson ignores the knock reading his manga, while Felicia looks toward the door and then at him. "You expecting someone?" She asks looking at the door as there is yet again another knock. "Nope," He says casually not taking his eyes off his entertainment.
There is yet again another knock harder than the last two. "Maybe we should go and see who it is," She sighs placing her graphics table on the coffee table, and tries to get up but is stopped by Jayson locking his legs around her waist and keeping her seated on the couch. "No we don't," He says with an edge to his tone still not looking up from his manga.
"Why not?" She asks looking at him questioningly as there is another round of knocks on the door. "We just don't," He shrugs ignoring the knocks. "Jayson! Open up you bastard," There is a shout from the door. "You owe someone money?" Felicia asks while sneakily trying to break free from his hold. "I wish," Jayson scoffs.
"Jay! Come on, open up will you?" Another voice shouts exasperated. "They'll go away eventually," Jayson mutters. "We're not going away! So open up!" The first voice shouts again followed by a round of knocks. Jayson sighs releasing Felicia from his hold and gets up making his way to the door with her following behind him.
"Must you always be so difficult," A man with short light brown hair, blue eyes, and a trimmed stubble beard scowls at Jayson. He's wearing a dark green button-down shirt with the top two buttons undone, an unzipped brown leather jacket, black slacks, and black casual shoes. "Only on the weekends," Jayson deadpans stepping aside for the two men to enter. "Nice place you got here," The second man with short blonde hair, green eyes, and a clean-shaven face compliments. He's wearing a red bomber jacket over a grey shirt, brown slacks, and red sneakers.
"I would hope so since I bought it for him," The light brown-haired man says taking a seat in one of the black armchairs. "Sure," The blonde-haired man drawls taking a seat in the other armchair. Jayson and Felicia take a seat on the couch, with Jayson propping himself on the arm of the couch and staring at the two men in annoyance. Felicia observes the men curiously wondering who they are.
"Aren't you going to introduce us?" The blonde asks gesturing to Felicia. Jayson stares at him for a moment and then sighs, "This is my girlfriend Felicia Whitlock,". Felicia gives a wave to the two men. "And these two insufferable idiots are my childhood friends... Oliver Hyde and Barry Sutter,"
[Flash Back End]
[MANHATTAN - 7 August 2009 - 11:32 Pm]
"What you thinking about?" Black Cat asks walking up to the ledge and sitting next to Red Hood. "Nothing much," He shrugs spinning and twirling a dagger in his hand. Black Cat leans her head on his shoulder gazing at the sky. "How you holding up?" He asks as he stops playing with the dagger and sheaths it. "...Better than yesterday," She says softly. They sit in a long comfortable silence with her cuddled up to his side and him rubbing her shoulder comfortingly.
"My grandpa died of cancer when I was 15 years old..." Felicia blinks at the unexpected information and looks up at him with a frown. "Almost every single one of my family members on my dad's side and also some people I didn't know was at the funeral... It was impressive to see the number of people that actually loved and cared about him come to pay their respects..." He clears his throat and looks down at the street below.
"It was an open casket funeral, where people would get one last time to look at him before he takes the big old dirt nap..." He chuckles mirthlessly. "...I remember watching every single person start crying their eyes out the moment they laid eyes on gramps peacefully in his casket... Grown men and women just balling their eyes out... But when it was my turn..." He sighs.
"...I didn't feel anything. No sadness, sorrow, or grief. Nothing... This didn't make any sense to me since most of my childhood I spent living with my grandparents since my parents were always so busy with work... Even when we moved to New York I would always ask my dad if we could go and visit gramps... I did love him. I know I did..."
"...It was weird standing there feeling nothing while looking at all these people crying around me... After the funeral, while everyone was mourning I just went on with life as if I hadn't just lost someone important to me..." He looks down at her and caresses her cheek. "...I would like to say I know what you're going through but I don't and I probably never will... I was never good at expressing or dealing with my emotions which is probably what I guessed happened back then..."
"...I don't have any comforting words to say and make this better, cause anything I say will just be hollow and meaningless... So I might not be able to help you through it... but know I'll always be here,"
Black Cat stares at him smiling softly and says, "I know,"
[CHICAGO - 9 August 2009 - 08:12 Am]
"Sorry I couldn't make it, to your funeral," Felicia says putting flowers by Lola's gravestone. She stands there with her hands in her jacket pockets fidgeting for a moment. "...I'm sorry that I wasn't there to protect you," She lowers her head and takes a shuddering breath. "I'm sorry I wasn't there to save you... I'm sorry..." She chokes out wiping the tears from her eyes. She takes a moment to cry and then takes a deep breath, exhaling slowly. "I'm taking a break for a while... I'm letting Black Cat have a little Cat Nap, while I figure some things out..."
"I'll come and visit you whenever I can... Since Jason and I decided to graduate early and he is now focusing on running WayneTech over in New Jersey, I'll probably help out with that while he's off doing his thing... I worry about him sometimes but I know he can handle himself just fine..."
"...Well I better get going. Don't want to keep him waiting..."