Sage:
Opening my eyes groggily, Arty smiled lovingly at me. The finished black wolf mask resting next to her, the teal base of a bat's mask now rested in her palms. Kissing my forehead, a shudder of ecstasy coursed up my spine. My bracelet jolted me violently, an apologetic smile dimming her face. Shifting through a bucket of mixed teal and black diamonds, the way she stuck out her tongue while concentrating made her look adorable.
"Good morning, beautiful." I whispered gruffly, my muscles burning like the fiery pits of Hell. "Was that Tatiana who showed up? I forgot to tell you that you have a number one fan. She became my partner after you were promoted, and she wouldn't stop talking about you." Curiosity sparkled in her eyes, the back of her hand wiped the sweat off of her face. A knowing smile dawned on her lips, her eyes twinkling with joy.
"I see. That must have hurt to have to talk about me after not being around me twenty-four seven. At least I chose to remain in my apartment with you two." She expressed thoughtfully, placing the diamonds meticulously in a set pattern. "It was torture being apart from you, but I believe that they isolated me as much as possible to set her plan in motion." She spoke the truth, the hurt shattered my heart. Everyday I waited patiently until she came home. That was until one day she didn't walk through the front door. Mouse got arrested, that being one of the only times I was livid with Arty. Yet the anger soon faded when Mouse escaped only a couple of weeks later.
"I missed you with every fiber of my being." I admitted sheepishly, putting all of my angry thoughts aside. "I hid in my room and cried enough to drown us both when you didn't get home. Why did you have to arrest Mouse! Why did you have to leave me alone!" The hateful words left my lips, the mask clattering to the ground. Unable to stop the words flooding from my lips, her posture stiffened.
"Nobody told me that you went to jail for helping her break out! No one did! The day you arrested her it only hurt more that you didn't come back!" I continued venomously, her eyes welling up with tears. "Instead, another fucking demon woman shows up at my doorstep with a couple of bags in her hands!" Throwing me off of her lap, she leapt to her feet. Hurt dimmed her eyes, her lips pressing into a thin line.
"I didn't want to arrest her, but the president was breathing down my fucking neck!" She retorted bitterly, waving her hands around. "I did what I had to do. I entered that day to free Mouse and lost all of my freedom. After I arrested her, they kept me at work twenty-four seven. You could have just gotten together with Tatiana and lived a life of luxury compared to this!" All of her breath escaped her, the shock of her own words stunning her. Struggling to my feet, my hand wrapped around her waist. A snarl curled on my lips, her tears flowing faster than before.
"She wasn't you!" I returned brokenly, my voice cracking. "She wasn't you, and never will be! I could get over my sister getting arrested because I knew that you would free her. The hard part was not seeing you! You were the only one who kept me sane, the only one who made the pain of watching my parents getting slain in front of me go away. You were my rock, even though we couldn't be together the way I wanted to. Don't you ever think that anyone else would make me as happy as you!" Clutching her close to my chest, her fingers grabbed my shirt. Tears soaked my shoulder, every emotion that she had been bottling up boiling over. Melting into my arms, her fingers grasped her compass. Lifting up my chin with her finger, her watery eyes met mine.
"I don't deserve you." She exhaled in a shattered tone, my lips pressing against hers passionately. "I am a mess. You shouldn't want me. I couldn't even keep my mother alive. I took care of her after her miscarriage, only for her to die a few months after. From that moment on, I vowed to protect anyone I could. You could say the moment that I met you guys the light came back into my eyes. When they said that I would be your leader, I thought that I could make a difference with you guys. Well, you know how well that worked out. I separated you from your sister, and I am so sor-" Shaking my head, her words were nonsense.
"You did what you could, so don't blame yourself. You sacrificed your freedom, your innocence, and your happiness for her." I joked tenderly, her soft smile illuminating her face. "I bet she begged for you to go, but you probably didn't have time. Am I right?" The bright smile on her face told me that she was okay, my fingers wiping away her tears. Yawning, she must have watched me all night. Tucking her into bed, she pointed to the black bottle on the shelf. Opening the bottle, her quiet voice caused my ears to pop up.
"Take a couple of those pills and your fever should go away." She yawned tiredly, turning over. "I am going to get some sleep. I stayed up all night watching you to make sure you were okay. Good night." Swallowing the pills dry, my fever disappeared as fast as it came. Tatiana bounced down the hall towards me, her arms wrapping around my neck. Fresh tears flooded from her eyes, a nervous smile curling on my lips. She had always been a bit of an airhead, but always pulled through in the end.
"Hi, Sage!" She called out in a bubbly tone, my attention falling back on our room. "I am so happy to see you again. How are things with Arty? I heard you two are trying to have a baby and are engaged. I am so excited for you guys. You never shut up about her. I was wondering if you wanted to make her favorite meal and dessert. I am sure that she would love it." Rolling my eyes, she was the opposite of Arty in the sense of her light and happy personality. Arty tended to be more reserved, but motherly towards children. I guess in a way Tatiana really acted like a child sometimes. Snapping fingers woke me up from my trance, teal flashing in the corner of my eye. Chasing after her, she was an even bigger disaster than me in the kitchen.
"Don't you touch a damn thing!" I ordered desperately, knowing that she already wouldn't listen. Skidding into the kitchen, she chose to sit on the floor. Scratching the back of her head, Sunny wandered in. A look of disdain dimmed her eyes, her dainty hands gathering ingredients. Her eyes flitted between Tatiana and me, an impressed expression only stressing me out further than I was.
"I won't have you destroy perfectly good ingredients." She mused playfully, motioning for us to sit. "Aren't you in some form of a heat? You are in no condition to cook. Tell me Tatiana. How is that you came to worship the ground Miss Artica walks upon? I don't quite trust you, and what do you think you were doing hanging onto him like that? If she saw you, she would rip you off. Then you would be her plaything. Nobody wants to be her plaything. If you wish to be her loyal lapdog, I suggest you behave." Growls rumbled in my throat, my attention turning to my teal haired stalker. I didn't recall her until she was assigned to me that fateful day, yet Sunny recognized her slightly. Hoping the mystery would be solved soon, Tatiana cleared her throat.
"Well it was a dark stormy night and one of the corrupt officers broke into my home when she was fourteen." She explained blissfully, her trademark smile never leaving her face. "They attempted to kill my mother after they killed my father. You see, my mother was a prostitute. She ordered them to step down, her hands cupping my four year old hands. After they left, she made me dinner and bathed me while making my mother some tea. Hell, she even made us medicine for the wounds she had sustained. After that she showed up once a week to make dinner for us, and I always looked forward to it. Eventually, it became a daily thing. It really helped because my mother was working. It wasn't her fault. She even made me this." Pulling out a stuffed teal bat, flying noises fluttered from her lips with every flap of its leathery wings. Sliding down down to the floor, a quiet chuckle escaped my lips. Arty certainly brought the childish spirit out of everyone, the magical effect of her golden heart spreading further than the ocean.
"In fact she made all of the kids of prostitutes stuffed animals that matched all of their personalities." She continued jovially, embracing her bat. "Her dinners for us turned into a meal for all of us. She took the time to put us to bed, and never turned our mothers in. That is why she is my hero. Who else gives up their free time to feed a bunch of kids who were left to feed themselves?" Sunny laughed gleefully to herself, the soup she was making smelling amazing. My stomach rumbled, a cake already in the oven. The soup smelled amazing, the scent of ginger relaxing my muscles.
"I see. So she was the one who fed me that one time when I ran away from my father." Sunny admitted kindly, her eyes shining with pure joy. "She even gave me her portion. I couldn't help but stay for that one night. I followed her to each home, and listened to every story. It felt warmer than my own home when she walked me to the president's mansion. She crouched down to my level, and ruffled my hair as she told me that I would be welcome to any of those meals if I needed a break. So yeah, she is just awesome enough to be stalked." Rolling my eyes, the two of them were obsessing a little too hard. No wonder she had fans all over the city, her ability to go above and beyond without a second thought was one of many amazing traits.
"Okay. Calm yourselves. She loves you both in her own way." I teased lightly, watching the hall to make sure she was still in bed. "Thank you for your stories, it is nice to hear the reason why our dinners were always later on in the night. It also covers where she would go for a couple of hours, leaving me to wait on my own. She is amazing, isn't she?" Playing with her bat, the dull throb in my muscles returned with a vengeance. Tatiana and Sunny chatted for a couple of hours, their words fading in and out. Empty footfalls echoed down the hall, Arty entering with a pile of paperwork. A pen hung off of her ear, surprise dawning on her pale face. Smiling tiredly, her gentle expression lightening the air in the room.
"How lovely of you all to get along." She chirped cheerfully, catching the teal bat in her Tatiana's hand. "I remember you from those fun nights. Tell me, did your mother ever get better?" Her bat ears flattened, scarlet burning her cheeks. Crouching down to her level, her real smile brightened her face as she ruffled the top of her head. The way Tatiana snuggled her head into her hand only showcased every ounce of affection the two had for each other, my heart melting at the sweet sight.
"She got better and is living in a much better place. She even opened up her own restaurant." Tatiana admitted sheepishly, Arty wiping away some of the sweat dripping off of her face. "After you disappeared, she was able to feed us all. So don't worry." Cocking her head to the right, Arty adjusted her black tank top and black shorts. Releasing her hair from her ponytail, my heart fluttered at the sight of it cascading down her back. Did everything have to stun me with her?
"I am so glad she managed to get out of her situation." She said in a motherly tone, her hands cupping hers. "I am so happy to see you so healthy. Everyday in prison, I was worried for you guys. Do you mind if I sit next to you and work? It seems I am in need of someone with a bright and cheery aura. I can even teach you how to do the paperwork if you want to become my secretary. I know how bored you get. What do you say, Batty? I can even teach you some combat training if you desire." Nodding her head, Arty rested against the metal cabinets next to me. Pulling Tatiana's head onto her lap, tears welled up in her eyes. Setting the pile next to her, the pen twitched in her fingers. Seeing her be so gentle with Tatiana warmed my soul, her free hand playing with her hair.
"This feels like the old days where you would sing us to sleep." Tatiana sobbed softly, Arty's laughter twinkling in the air. "Our mothers really appreciated your help." No wonder Tatiana had acted like such a child around her, the bond between the two of them was rather special. A tender blush rose to her cheeks, my breath hitching at Arty's pleasant smile.
"I know they did." She uttered exhaustively, returning back to her work. "I didn't see what they were doing as a crime, but a necessary way to live. I figured feeding you and putting you guys to bed would help them out. It really wasn't a problem." Scribbling away, she barely looked up from her papers. Burying herself into her work, Sunny cleared her throat. Jealousy flashed in her eyes, her pride over her soup a refreshing scene.
"Eat something before you die of starvation." Sunny demanded sternly, hovering a bowl of soup in her face. "This is a ginger noodle soup. It should help with the nausea." Rolling her eyes, she set down her work. Accepting it graciously, she sipped a bit of the broth. Her eyes told me that it was awful, but she continued to eat it anyway.
'This is so good." She complimented oddly, Sunny tasting a bit. "I love it so much. The only problem is that I hate the taste of ginger. You made me like it." Lies, she was telling lies. Accepting a bowl, it tasted fine. Although not as good as her cooking, the ginger taste didn't bother me. Sunny grinned wickedly, her brow cocking.
"I know you hate ginger, but this was the only way to get you to take some medicine." She bragged boldly, Tatiana bolting up. "I have a bowl for you." Scooping her paperwork, the spoon clanked as Arty leapt to her feet. Washing up her bowl really quick, she sauntered down the hall. Blizzard crashed down the hall, alarm twisting his face. His daggers rested in between his fingers, blood dripping down his face. Bite marks covered his arm, blood pooling at his feet. Paper flooded to the floor, an alligator crawling down the hall.
"Blizzard!" Arty shouted venomously, her foot slamming into the snout. "Close the fucking door!" Bouncing off the wall, her slender fingers gripping the pipes. Dangling from the pipes, the alligator snapped at her feet. Her arms trembled, her muscles almost giving up on her. Pulling out my gun, the damn target was moving too much. Sunny sprinted towards the monster with her ax spinning in her palm, Dr. Wolfston popping up on the other side. Scalpels glinted in between her fingers, a psychotic grin darkening her face. Flicking her wrists, several scalpels bounced off the scales. Arty caught a couple of them, putting one in her fangs. Adjusting her grip, Sunny's ax wouldn't cut through the scales. Her hand slipped, my body smashing into hers. Electricity jolted us, my gun transforming on its own. The gears shifted into a high powered hunting rifle with a scope, groans escaping her lips. The alligator snapped its head towards me, Wolfston and Sunny distracting her. Shoving me off, she flipped toward the alligator. Landing squarely on its back, Tatiana tossed her a leather strap. Wrapping it around the jaws, it thrashed underneath her. Turning to Sunny, a snarl curled on her lips.
"Make sure that door is shut, and kill all of the rats that got in." She ordered sharply, stabbing the alligator in the eye. "Dr. Wolfston, treat your brother." Leaping over the chaos, Sunny crashed clumsily behind me. Slicing off the heads off of the myriad of rats on scurrying towards Arty. Scarlet splashed onto her face, the other scalpel quivering in its eyes. Dr. Wolfston rushed over to treat her brother. Flipping the alligator over her head, she held the head up.
"Shoot the damn thing." She huffed, the battle taking its toll. "Black lightning, strike the rats down." Aiming for its head, my finger pulled the trigger. The pop mixed with the crackling, black lightning traveling everywhere but where people stood. More blood painted her face, the bullet killing the damn thing. Rats dropped to the floor, all of them twitching one last time. Placing the tail on my shoulder, Arty helped drag it to the door into the tunnels. More dead rats rained down next to us, her lightning still doing the work. Dropping it to the ground, a cloud of dust choked me. Exhausted beyond belief, her body swayed slightly. Shaking it off, the dull expression in her eyes scared the crap out of me. She didn't usually get like this unless she had suffered too many double shifts in a row.
"Why did this happen?" I groaned bitterly, feeling the fever getting worse. "I hope our food supply didn't get eaten." Rolling her eyes, the metal squealed as she opened the door. Dragging the alligator into the tunnel, a sharp whistle left her lips. The sounds of tiny paws scurrying towards us, horror widened my eyes as the rats dragged the carcass off. A rat escaped past her, her foot squishing it into a steaming pile of blood and guts. Sprinting back through, she slammed the door shut behind her. Locking it shut, she leaned on the door. Taking a deep breath, her shaking fingers grabbed the broom off of the walls. How the hell was I going to fix her mood?