Hello, all! So! Exciting thing! I was just about to post this up to fanfiction when there was a massive blackout! DX Horrible, I know, but since I fell asleep early, it's the middle of the night and I can't sleep anymore, so I'm posting this! XD Took me forever to think of a name, though. Still not sure if it fits. Definitely not what I had in mind, but I may grow to like it. Tell me what you think in a review. ;)
Note: This is a sequel to "Superstitions," which I co-authored with bleedingcrimson, and a part of our series "Big City, Small World," which contain several interelating fics. "Superstitions" is posted on bleedingcrimson's account and is the first in the series. There are some important characters and events from that story that are alluded to or directly mentioned in this, so I would recommend reading it. However, for the first couple of chapters, you should be fine with this, and I will mention in the author's note when "Superstitions" will begin to play a larger role.
Also, this fic will contain several forms of trigger, so if you don't want to risk it, then please don't read. There are some topics that are mentioned here that have had direct influence on my life, and I feel compelled to write about them. If I ever mis-represent something, and it comes across as being offensive or just plain wrong, please tell me so I can correct my error. I want to be as realistic as I can to keep the integrity of this story and honor the real-life victims of some of these events. I would prefer no flames, but I will understand if you do for this particular fic.
This fic is dedicated to Sidney Sussex and Morgan Stuart for inspiring me with their incredible depictions of Lestrade (if you haven't read them, then you are missing out on some of the best writing you will find on this site), and to everyone who has suffered directly or indirectly from events like the ones that take place in this fic. Also, a shout-out to the wonderful bleedingcrimson for beta-ing this, writing the incredibly hilarious Pandora, and being an awesome friend (there's your sap for the year, Alin. Take it or leave it. :P)
The characters in this chapter all belong to me, but from then on, canon characters belong to ACD and BBC.
Thanks for reading that really long author's note! The rest of the beginning ones shouldn't be that long! XD Now, without further ado, here is:
Chapter One: The Girl With a Box, a Book, and Brass Knuckles
September
Terra Li walked onto the campus and stared up at all the buildings in awe. She had been here a few times already to get settled in, but that didn't make the sight any less overwhelming. So many new people, new classes... Terra Li stopped in her tracks, closed her eyes, and inhaled deeply to calm herself.
You're going to be fine, she told herself. Unfortunately, she had halted in the middle of the walkway, and someone accidentally rammed into her from behind. Terra Li whirled around to see three tall, well-built upperclassmen glaring down at her.
"Sorry!" she apologized quickly. The guy in the middle -obviously the ringleader- stepped forward.
"Oi, watch where you're going, bint..." he snarled. After giving her a once over, though, he changed tactic. "So, uh, what's your name?"
It was obvious that he was patronizing her, but Terra Li chose to ignore it. Instead, she extended her hand, replying, "Valentine, T-"
"Valentine?" the male on her right sniggered. "Do you have a brother named Halloween?"
Terra Li felt an arm fold around her shoulders and tensed involuntarily but otherwise did not show her surprise. The person behind her faintly smelled of smoke. Out of the corner of her eye Terra Li saw what appeared to be a black and silver bracer around the stranger's forearm.
"Er- ah, no. It's a sister, buddy-boy. Get yer conjectures right the first time and per-haps I, ah, won't have'ta crush yer face in with my fist here." The voice, obviously female, was low and had been roughened with smoke, yet somehow it carried a strange smoothness as well. Terra Li looked up to see a small, heavily ringed fist make itself visible from behind the stranger's face, which was pulled into a fierce smirk as if she were looking forward to a fight.
"Were you three, ah, perhaps, makin' fun of my dear sister here?" the person challenged. Her tone was laid back, but her stance, the fierce look in her eyes, and that savage grin told the boys that the remark was a threat that this person had no problem of making good on.
"Eh, no. We weren't making fun of her at all," the jock to Terra Li's left quailed. The female behind Terra grinned even more, which made the boys recoil in fright.
"Now that's, ah, exactly what I was thinkin'. Now scram!"
After the guys left, Terra Li turned around to get a better look at her rescuer... if that's what she could be called. The girl was taller than she (most people were) and was dressed mostly in black. In addition to the bracers, she wore an overlarge black leather jacket with too many studs and zippers and metal accents to be strictly necessary; form-fitting black collared shirt that had two rows of buttons that slightly resembled a bellhop uniform; tight black skinny jeans; black combat boots; two black belts with studs that hung just so off her hips; and a sliver chain choker from which hung black feathers.
"Thank you," Terra Li said after a few seconds of awkward silence. Her voice was quiet and unexpectedly low, lending it a serene tone that could easily become cold if she wished. She was unsure if she should proceed to shake the stranger's hand and introduce herself, but seeing as this punk clothed girl had saved her from what could have escalated into a nasty situation, she decided to at least give the female her name. Once again extending her hand (albeit more hesitantly, this time), she murmured,
"My name's Terra Li Valentine. Yours?" The tone in her voice said that she'd really rather not go through this exchange, but the stranger grinned once more, though it was less feral than before and simply spoke of amusement rather than violence. The black-clad female chuckled, grabbing her hand and shaking it forcefully.
"I'm Pandora Doyle, and I have a box." Pandora's voice was less deliberately rough and had turned into a most ordinary accent, unlike that harsh Brooklyn one from before. Terra Li had met many strange people over the years, but she had never heard an introduction quite like Pandora's -however, at this point she was just about ready to expect anything from this strange person. With a name like that, Terra Li wondered what other awful (or perhaps wonderful, but probably not) surprises lay in store if she continued to become friends with her.
Terra Li Valentine, she's obviously not quite right in the head, she told herself. However, the other, less sensible, half of her argued, Yes, but odd people are always the most entertaining.
"Nice to meet you, Pandora. Pardon me, but I've no wish to be late to class. Have a pleasant day."
As she sprinted to class, Terra Li sighed. She pondered about such the odd person who had actually saved her from harassment. Perhaps she's not so bad after all. Only time will tell, I suppose.
Behind her, Pandora said to herself, "Hn, I guess she didn't get it. And I had her pegged for a well-read girl, too. Ah well. You win some, and you lose some."
)o0*0o(
Terra Li was all too eager to get to lunch. Her first day hadn't been bad, per se, but it had been rather dull as the first day of school usually was. She found a nice, secluded spot under a shady tree and took out her lunch: tuna and biscuits, a juice box, and an apple. Simple, yet nutritious. She retrieved a well-worn volume from the depths of her book bag and perused its contents whilst eating. Suddenly, a figure plopped down casually next to her and began munching away on their lunch. Terra Li turned her head and nearly jumped at the sight of Pandora Doyle lounging only a foot away from her as if she had been there the entire time. The redhead wasn't sure whether to be happy or distressed at the young woman's reappearance. Pandora glanced at the words over Terra Li's shoulder.
"What're ya readin'?"
"The Secret Garden."
"The Secret Garden? Isn't that a kids' book?"
"Mum and Dad gave it to me when I was starting primary school, so I suppose so. It's a story about hurting people who think they're alone and don't realize how much they're loved until they find each other and strengthen one another." Terra Li chuckled under her breath. "I sound like a sap, don't I?"
"Eh. Saps aren't the, ah, worst people in the world," Pandora replied with a shrug. "Personally, I, ah, prefer mythology or dark classics, like Edgar Allen Poe."
"I liked 'The Tell-Tale Heart.'"
"His poem 'Annabelle Lee' is my favorite poem of his, but I like that story as well as 'The Fall of the House of Usher.' 'The Masque of the Red Death' is, however, my favorite of his stories. "
"I haven't read his poetry."
"Well, then," Pandora replied with a devious grin, "we'll just have to remedy that..."
)o0*0o(
The next day...
"Alright, ah... you see this here? This is my, ah, 'Complete Collected Works of Edgar Allen Poe.' Now, Imma let you borrow this, ah, here book, 'cause you're, ah, in need of some edumacation 'bout classical works. But there're, ah, some rules." She lightly tossed the beast of a book, at least as thick as her hand, onto the table as she sat down next to Terra Li during their lunch break.
"So, rule one." She suddenly dropped the accent even though people were nearby, something she usually reserved for private conversations. "Rule one, take care of my books. Rule two, my books never touch the ground or particularly dirty tables. Rule three, any dog-eared pages I find will be taken from your hide. Rule four, any damage I find, even a crease in the spine that wasn't there before (and as you can see, there are no creases whatsoever) will likewise be taken out of your hide. Got it? Understand? Wakarimasuka? Capice?"
Terra Li nodded. Her new acquaintance intimidated her, but she wasn't about to show it. After accepting the tome, she flipped to "Annabelle Lee" and began reading. She was enraptured by his imagery, and by the time she reached the last stanza, she was thankful that she wasn't the type who cried easily.
"And so, all the night tide, I lie down by the side
Of my darling -my darling- my life and my bride,
In her sepulchre there by the sea,
In her tomb by the sounding sea."
"That's so sad!" Terra Li whispered after a few breathless seconds.
"Yeah, but it's quality Poe right there. Sad, depressing, angsty, and d) alla the above." Pandora grinned. Terra Li shook her head, but Pandora could tell that inside, the redhead really did like the poem. Terra Li glanced sideways at the "punk" and thought,
Maybe she's not so bad after all...
)o0*0o(
A week later...
Terra Li smiled when she saw Pandora lying in wait under the tree. The latter gave her a look that said, "Took you long enough." Terra Li responded with a look of her own- "I couldn't help it."
"Are, ah, those punks messin' wit' ya again? 'Cause ya know I could, ah, very well put them in their, ah, place right here."
The punk formed a fist to help get her point across then pointed at her feet with a smirk. Terra Li's smile widened. She'd never admit it, but she always loved it whenever Pandora used that harsh Brooklyn accent, which was pretty much all the time except when it was just the two of them. Pandora never let normal people know that she was actually really well-read and could speak properly, preferring to keep up her reputation as a 'dumb punk' as she put it. The redhead had come to appreciate Pandora's her unusual sense of humour. Terra Li sat down and handed Pandora a grocery bag.
"What's this?"
"Food. Eat."
"Food? I already have-"
"Real food, Pandora, not that overly processed junk you insist sustains your insanely fast metabolism."
"Are you a hippie or something?"
"Or something."
"Is this how you flirt, too?"
That got Terra Li's attention.
"What?" she asked in confusion. "I'm not flirting with you."
Pandora smirked. "I know that. I wanted to know if you use that tone with guys, too."
"Oh. I don't know. Does it work?"
Pandora began laughing at Terra Li's naïveté. It was rough like she was but obviously genuine. She doubled over, her entire body shaking, and her face turned red. Soon she was laughing so hard that it made no noise. Terra Li wasn't sure if she should laugh along with Pandora or be offended... She decided to smile and wait for her friend's mirth to subside.
Somehow I have the feeling this is going to be a great year.
)o0*0o(
Alright! First chapter done! I hope you liked it! ^-^ Please review! And for those of you who are disappointed because of no Lestrade, just keep reading! He's next chapter. ;)