The Dark Tales of Farie: Peter Pan
By C.D


Chapter 2: Faries in Fishnet


Number three. Order's up. I said out into the empty pizza parlor. Well, just Peter and some other guy.

The man sitting beside Peter on the barstool blinked and looked at his ticket.

I said slowly.

He raised a brow and ran his finger along the piece of paper as if reading a long sentence. I rolled my eyes.

Three. Order. Now. I said shoving the pizza box in his face, Enjoy sir. Have a nice day.

He nodded me a thank you and was on his way. British people...goodness. Before we left, we salvaged some of Trestand's clothing for our new found guest. He couldn't very well walk around town with bloody clothing, now could he? Speaking of which- I leaned over the counter to him just in time to see him eying his food like it was going to do a trick.

You seem much better this morning, Peter. I commented, Fast healer?

I wouldn't know. he replied cluelessly, I've never been hit before.

Peter touched his chest before lifting his shirt up enough to reveal the moon shaped gash. Perhaps he was a fast healer. It had reduced itself to no more than pink, puffy skin. One could tell it was growing stiff though, he couldn't move about very well.

I wrinkled a brow, You really aren't used to pain, are you?

He shook his head, his gold and silver eyes looking as innocent as a person probably could be. He looked presentable today, if I do say so myself. He sat wearing Trestand's only pair of warm khakis and a white button down shirt. I couldn't help but wonder if he was getting bored waiting for Trestand and I to get off work. Yet he seemed content- aimlessly playing with the slice I gave him an hour ago.

came my room mate's voice, followed by the sound of a bell, Why the ell are we making all this food anyway? It's not like anyone ever comes in on rainy days anyway.

I was about to respond when I noticed a small bit of cigarette ash fall from his little white roll of paper, to the pizza he held in his hand. I grimaced.

Would you put that out? I sincerely hope you haven't poisoned any of our few customers today. I said, Regardless of the fact that we -have none.

Yet that was when I was proven wrong. The soft chime of the bell by the door echoed throughout the room. As if caught in some sort of cliche-like slow motion, I saw the dark figure enter the room. Her high heeled boots clicked against the red and yellow tiled floor, and she looked up at us through the stringy black dredlocks she called hair. Mascara ran freely onto the floor- yet an enormous amount managed to stay on her eyes.

The girl looked up at us revealing a truly scary human being. And she pushed her hair behind her ears and checked her dark purple lipstick before strolling up to the cash register- at which I stood. I blinked resisting the urge to stare at her black almost renaissance dress- yet it became obscured by the tattered skirt and fishnet hose.

Good day. I said, How may I help you?

The woman stared at me for a good long while before her black eyes shifted to Peter. A devilish smile crept across her pale features as she set a hand on his shoulder, sending the unsuspecting dimwit leaping in the air. And leap he did- freezing and levitating a good five inches before he got a look at who she was.

He gaped, wide eyed.

You maniacal bastard. she snapped in that oh-so-familiar accent, Where do you come off ditching me back in that shit hole of a home we live in?

I'm sorry, luv. I really am. You see I had a run in with-

Sorry nothing, dip shit. Now buy me a drink. her voice was gruff and sawed off like she had been screaming for days.

I stuttered, You're Tinkerbell?

Of course. Peter chirped.

Who the fuck did you think I wos? she retorted, digging through her ratted black purse.

She's a real sweetie when she's all sobered up. I promise. Tink, this is Cleo. The pirates nearly did me in, so she had to take care of me once I got here. Peter explained, pulling up a chair next to the bar.

Tinkerbell stared at Peter for a while before growling in a monotonous, uncaring voice, Where's my bloody drink?

It's a pleasure and all, but ah- I said, How did you get here?

Unfortunately I'm stuck to the lucky bastard by bonds humans like you couldn't comprehend. she said dropping a soggy box of cigarettes on the bar top, Wherever he goes, I have to be within a certain amount of miles.

Nevertheless I was wondering when you would get here. Can she stay with us Cleo? Please? Peter asked me. I watched the gothic farie of the underworld take out a lighter and actually managed to make an orange glow at the end of the soggy roll.

Fuck that, Pan. I've got a room booked at the Holiday Inn down the street. No way in hell I'm staying anywhere near your scrawny arse. No more than I have to anyway. Was her reply. I sighed in relief. We didn't have that much space, and I knew what the alternative would be...

Me and her, sharing a bed while Trestand and Peter played sleep over in the other room. She would look over to me and ask, Mind if I light up a midnight joint? in that gruff, cancer filled voice.

I shook the daydream out of my head and got back on task.

Cleo and I were going to have a night on the town tonight, Tink. Would you like to come along? Peter asked inquisitively. I inwardly groaned.

Like I have a bloody choice. she growled.

Great! We can make a party out of the situation, huh? He grinned. I smiled at his pronunciation of situation becoming sit-chee-ation'.

Suit yourself, Pan. She grumbled, standing up and heading towards the back, I'm gonta go powder my nose.

Just as she was out of sight, I let my smile drop. This was strange indeed. How could someone as free spirited as Peter end up with such a sadistic creature such as she. Not that I was jealous in the least, but I found it hard to wrap my mind around.

Isn't she great? Peter asked me with stars in his eyes, And now that she isn't five inches tall, Tink's become a real beaut.

I forced a fake smile,

Peter waited a few moments before giving me the pleasure of a warm chuckle, I'm fooling with you, luv. and a wink for good measure.

I grinned in response, I should have known.


***


The rest of the day was interesting. Tinkerbell and Peter sat at the bar, exchanging stories from Neverland and what not. Well, he did all the talking anyway. She had luckily salvaged a bottle from the liquor store next door- so I guess the farie was content.

And soon, five o'clock arrived and my co-worker Roger stepped in to take my place. Trestand and I retreated to the apartment to clean up a bit first. Peter and his side kick were left in the lobby- which was more of a run down atrium than anything. My roomie slipped on a pair of khakis and a black button down shirt while I rummaged through my small closet.

When I finally emerged, I looked him up and down.

Dressing up tonight, are we? I asked.

He took the white roll away from his lips and slicked his white blonde hair back, If you consider this dressing up, why not?

I shrugged, a bit surprised he had heard me let alone reply with a witty retort. When we both felt we looked presentable, we headed downstairs.However upon the long elevator ride down, I couldn't help but comment to my favorite Brit, Nothing is too important to make you shave, is it?

he shrugged before gracing me with his jagged smile. I paused before laughing lightly.

I slipped on a khaki colored jean jacket over my red top just before we left. I think it helped in pulling the rose colored skirt I picked out too. And perhaps the tennis shoes where a nice touch. Not that I'm usually one to become finicky over fashion, but I couldn't very well let my dead head roomie show me up. Sure enough when the rickety gold doors opened, there they were.

Tinkerbell sat on the concrete ledge next to a bunch of plants while Peter blabbed on and on with the person across from her. Our flying friend from another world had certainly talked up a storm with Old lady Whethers. And for the first time in my life, she looked as if she were horribly confused. Much like the way people look at her when she begins her ramblings.

...So that was the day I almost lost my boyish virginity. But then I figured out that it wasn't TigerLilly at all! It was a tree stump the entire time! Oh! Funny, ay? Peter paused upon her frozen stare, Ma'am? Ello? Good God Cleo! I've killed another one!!

I raised a brow, Peter, how can you kill someone by talking too much.

Believe me. He's done it before. replied Tinkerbell, he speech slurred by the cigarette between her lips.

In the name of all things holy, Cleo. Find some help for the lad. He's gone stark raving mad. came a soft voice which was Lady Whethers'. I wanted to laugh outloud. Leave it to Peter to bring an old eccentric woman to her senses.

Feeling lucky I had missed the whereabouts of his story, I sighed just in time to hear Peter leap off the concrete ledge and make his way over to me. Of course he allowed himself to levitate a bit, his toes mere inches off the ground. Peter grabbed my wrist and leered me off to the side.

So what are we gonta do tonight, Cleo? Explore a lost cave, catch a mischief making beast, or maybe, he covered his mouth in excitement, -find buried treasure!

Eh- you're not in Neverland anymore Peter. We don't have any of those things around here. But we do have lost of things that might interest you just the same, if not more. I tried to compensate.

He blinked for a moment, before those little flecks of silver and gold spun around his eyes as if in a whirlpool, Great! I like it! Tink! We're gonta have some new adventures tonight! Isn't it great? he shouted behind him.

A brash voice replied a ways back, I don't care you little pest.

Wull come on! We don't have all night! Peter said before grabbing my hand. He entwined my fingers ever so quickly before running out the door- dragging me along with him.