Shadowcat Ep. 4
[sorry it took so long to upload. I wanted to update my old stories first before coming back to this one. Expect more frequent updates! :) please review!]
Berlin, 1990
"Concentrate."
"I can't!" Mercedes whimpered.
Her foot started to shake.
"I'm going to fall!" Mercedes cried.
"Ignore what's under your feet! It doesn't exist! Now walk!" Will yelled.
Eight-year old Mercedes took another step on the tightrope between the church and the chapel. Beneath her feet was a clear four-story drop to the pavement.
Will stood behind her.
"Keep going," Will said.
Mercedes started to hyperventilate.
Will rolled his eyes and took Mercedes' arm.
She screamed but then calmed down when she felt Will pull her back to the roof.
"That's enough for today," Will said, throwing Mercedes a bottle of water.
Mercedes sat on the ground rooftop while Will went back on the tightrope.
"…How do you do it?" Mercedes asked, as she watched Will walk back and forth on the rope with ease with his hands in his pockets.
"You have to change your mentality my Shadow-cat," Will said. "You fear the ground. It is your enemy. But the tightrope is not your enemy. You must remember that the rope is what's keeping you from the ground. Trust your rope, trust your body, trust your balance and everything will fall in place."
Will did a flip back onto the roof.
"Or…I could just put a cookie on the other side of the rope. I bet you would lose all your fear then," Will said playfully.
Mercedes threw her water at him. He dodged it and chuckled.
"Alright. Now we must practice your French," Will said.
"Why do I have to learn French, or Russian, or Japanese? What does that have to do with being a thief?" Mercedes said.
"Do you know what the true art of stealing is?" Will asked.
"My guess is stealing?" Mercedes said smartly.
"Just for the sass, you have an extra hour of training tonight," Will said.
"Fine, what is the true art of stealing?" Mercedes asked.
"Façade," Will said. "It's the ability for someone to look right at you and not even see you're there."
"…Wouldn't that be invisibility?" Mercedes asked.
"No. Invisibility is gaudier than façade. Invisibility creates a missing space; something that's not there that should be there. It's suspicious. Façade creates and illusion. People can't detect an illusion while they're being deluded. In fact, they won't notice anything was strange till you're gone. A true thief can walk up to a man, introduce herself, take his hat, and have that man thank her for taking said hat, without his even considering he's just been mugged." Will explained. "That my lady is façade, and why you need to practice your French."
"Oui," Mercedes replied halfheartedly.
"Vous êtes mon cœur ma plus grande création, » Will said.
"What did you say?" Mercedes asked.
"If you practiced harder, you'd know," Will said, helping her up from the ground.
Mercedes followed behind Will slowly.
"…Will…do you think I'm fat?" Mercedes asked.
Will stopped walking. He turned around.
"No. Who told you that?" he asked.
"…Kurt Hummel," Mercedes said.
"The altar boy? Kurt's a strudel head. The next time he callz you fat, slap him across the fucking face. Never let yourself be disrespected," Will said.
Mercedes had never seen Will angry before.
"…okay," Mercedes said.
"Let's go Cat. To your lessons," Will said, continuing to walk.
Mercedes followed him.
β
The sound of birds singing woke Mercedes from her slumber. She rolled out of bed. She walked to the sink and splashed her face with water.
She looked into the mirror. As she observed the tiny bags under her eyes, it took her a few seconds to spot a fully dressed Mike standing behind her.
"Imposter," he said.
Mercedes, who felt like her arms were being weighed down, could not stop Mike from grabbing her by the throat and slamming her into the wall. Mike watched Mercedes intently as he choked the life out of her.
He smiled at her.
"You should have killed me when you had the chance, Aurora," he breathed.
Mercedes eyes popped open as she sat up in her bed.
It was still night time.
Her heart was beating so hard the sound filled her ears.
She pulled her gun from under her pillow and waved it around in the darkness.
She got up.
The room was empty.
With the gun still in hand, Mercedes left her room and went to Santana's.
She opened the door. Santana was sleeping soundly.
Her heartbeat regained its normal pace.
Mercedes put the gun down on a nearby dresser.
Attempting to not make any noise, Mercedes crawled into the bed next to Santana.
Santana's eyes popped open when she felt Mercedes' cold foot brush her.
Santana turned around.
Mercedes had already fallen asleep behind her.
Santana turned around to face her.
She affectionately moved a lock of Mercedes' hair away from her forehead.
Not wanting to take her eyes off of her, Santana stayed awake till morning came.
β
Puck walked to the kitchen wearing silk pajamas.
He stopped when he spotted Sam.
Sam, who had the radio in the kitchen on danced to New Edition.
Puck stifled his laughter as Sam did the cabbage patch.
Tina soon turned up in her pajamas. She also stopped when she saw Sam.
She laughed out loud.
Sam turned around.
"What are you doing Sam?" she said through her laughter.
"Making breakfast bedhead," Sam said cheerfully.
"Oh my god. We cannot leave Havana or Samarella is going to turn back into a pumpkin," Tina said teasingly.
"No eggs for you," Sam said, who started doing the electric slide.
"Shit, hook me up with an omelet bro. I am so down with you getting your groove back," Puck said, making Tina laugh again.
Sam passed Puck a plate.
"Pass the hot sauce," Puck said.
"My eggs don't need hot sauce," Sam said indignantly.
"You're supposed to eat eggs with hot sauce. You're so white Sam," Puck said.
"Since when am I the token white guy in this group? Last time I checked, Jews are white too," Sam said.
"Yeah…but we got flava," Puck said.
" No," Sam said.
"I'm liking this new sassy Sam," Tina said. "I wonder if ANYONE in particular has anything to do with it," Tina said between obvious coughs.
"Perhaps you're right Tina. I mean Sam does have glow this morning," Puck said teasingly.
Sam rolled his eyes.
"Okay, first, grow up. Second, Mercedes and I are friends. That's it. I've known her for what? A week?" Sam said.
"The mayor's wife asked me over for dinner tonight. You think I should invite the princess?" Puck asked.
"Sure, why not. The worst she could say is no," Sam told him.
"Not to mention while your schmoozing the princess, Sam can keep Mercedes company," Tina said.
"Would you give it a rest?" Sam said.
β
Berlin, Germany 1990
Lightning struck as the rain continued to pour from the heavens.
Will's eyes popped open.
He sat up in his bed.
"…Mercedes. You have to sleep in your own room with the other children," Will said.
Will leaned over the banister, lifting up his bed sheets.
Mercedes slept under the small bed.
She opened one of her eyes.
"Can't I stay here?" Mercedes asked, her cheeks stained with tears.
Will, with little effort, pulled Mercedes' from out under his bed.
He picked her up and placed her on the mattress.
He yawned. It was three in the morning.
"What's wrong," Will asked halfheartedly, struggling to keep his eyes open.
"…I had a dream. I was hiding when the man came for my father. I saw him kill him, and I did nothing," Mercedes said.
"…you did the smart thing. If you had tried to help your father, you would be dead too," Will said.
"…I don't deserve to be alive," Mercedes said.
Will rubbed his eyes.
"…no one deserves to be alive. You can't spend your time wondering if you should be here or not, because there are many dead who would take your place if they could," Will said.
"…Have you ever killed someone?" Mercedes asked.
"…Yes," Will answered.
"…What did it feel like?" Mercedes asked.
"I don't know. I was very young and very frightened," Will admitted.
"Are you ever afraid anymore?" Mercedes asked.
"Sometimes. But fear can be a good thing. If ever the moment comes when you hold someone's life in your hands and you are not afraid, then you have truly lost yourself," Will explained.
Will took his blanket and pillow.
"I'll sleep in the kitchen. You stay here," he said.
Will tucked Mercedes into the sheets.
"Danke," Mercedes said.
"But tomorrow night, you sleep with the other children, understood?" Will said sternly.
Mercedes nodded and yawned.
"Sweet dreams," he said.
Will quietly went over to the kitchen table.
He ordered the chairs in a neat row and placed his blanket on them. Will slept on the uncomfortable chairs with his pillow under his head.
After twenty minutes, when Will finally fell asleep, Mercedes quietly snuck over to the kitchen and laid under the chairs. The sound of Will's heavy breathing comforted her in the storm and she fell fast asleep on the floor.
β
Mercedes opened the door for Puck.
"Noah, so nice to see you," Mercedes said.
Mercedes wore short shorts and a Havana University sweatshirt that hung off of her left shoulder.
"Whoa…you look like a super hot coed," Puck said.
Mercedes smiled.
"Thanks. That's the look I was going for," she told him. "Did you want to speak to the Princess?"
"…Huh what? Yeah," Puck said, bringing his eyes back up to Mercedes' eyes.
Puck laughed.
"My bad. I was ogling you," he said honestly.
Mercedes laughed.
Out of the very few people Mercedes actually liked, Puck was one of them. Yes, he was crude, but she appreciated his inability to be dishonest. It was a rare quality.
"I'll get the princess for you," Mercedes said, going upstairs.
Mercedes found Santana in the bathroom, blow-drying her hair.
Mercedes poked Santana in the ribs, making her turn around. Santana stopped blow-drying her hair.
"Noah's downstairs. I think he's going to ask you to go to dinner with him," Mercedes said. "Say yes."
"Do we have to go?" Santana whined.
"We're not going. You're going. I have work to do here," Mercedes said.
"I'm not sure I'm okay with you pimping me out for the night so you can go on your little adventures," Santana said.
"I'm not pimping you out. If I were pimping you out, we'd have the codes by now," Mercedes replied.
"I'm glad you're so confident in my vagina," Santana said sarcastically.
"Hurry up and go downstairs," Mercedes said, pushing Santana in her bathrobe out the door.
Santana and Mercedes stepped downstairs into the living room where Puck waited quietly.
"Hello Noah," Santana said.
Puck bowed.
"Princess. It's lovely to see you again. I'm having a dinner at the mayor's mansion and I was wondering if you'd like to accompany me," Puck said.
Santana glanced at Mercedes and rolled her eyes before turning back to Puck with a smile on her face.
"I'd love to," Santana said.
"Awesome," Puck said. "I'll have the driver come pick you up at eight?"
Noah kissed the hands of both ladies before leaving.
Mercedes closed the door.
"See. Was that so hard my young padawan?" Mercedes said mockingly.
"One, do not patronize me, and two, I hope you enjoy your evening with Mike," Santana said.
"What do you mean?" Mercedes said.
Santana smirked.
"Oh, did I forget to mention that? I was supposed to help Mike find a birthday gift for his mother tonight…which means, you will be doing that in my place," Santana said gloatingly.
The smile had gone from Mercedes face.
"Oh, and wear something black. He likes that," Santana said, before going back upstairs.
β
Mercedes sat in one of the lecture halls at Havana University.
The Physics professor was giving a lecture on aerodynamics.
She scribbled down the formulas on the chalkboard in her notebook.
The boy to her left seemed stressed beyond belief. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead as he tried to comprehend what the professor was saying.
Mercedes smiled and continued to write.
The guy on the right side of her was making a paper airplane.
Halfway through the lecture, Mercedes closed her notebook and left quietly.
As she walked down the large steps she spotted Sam snapping photos of the bronze statue of the Alma Mater.
Mercedes walked down to him.
Sam spotted her out of the eye of his camera and smiled.
"Hi," Mercedes said.
Sam, still holding his camera, snapped a picture of her.
"I didn't know you were a student," Sam said.
"I'm not. I just wanted to catch a lecture," Mercedes explained.
"It seems more like you snuck into a lecture by the looks of it," Sam said, putting down his lens.
"Enough about me. What're you doing here?" Mercedes asked accusingly.
"I took the bus thank you very much," Sam said.
Mercedes laughed.
"Well look at you trying to slum," Mercedes teased.
"How bout I buy you coffee this time," Sam said.
"Sure. Then maybe you can tell me why you think I'm a virgin," Mercedes replied.
Sam chuckled
"Still mad about that huh."
Mercedes and Sam walked together.
"Umm, I wanted to ask you…" Sam began.
"What about?" Mercedes said.
"The other night…I'm still having a hard time remembering what happened. It's funny because I've never blacked out while drinking," Sam said.
"Hm," Mercedes said, attempting to not look guilty.
"Did I…say anything to you?" Sam asked.
"Well. You told me that I was your dream girl and you asked for my hand in marriage to which I told you that I was taken. Then you started crying. It was really uncomfortable for me," Mercedes joked.
Sam laughed.
"Well, as long as I didn't humiliate myself," he said, playing along.
"No, of course not," Mercedes replied.
Sam took Mercedes' hand so she'd stop walking.
"I…um…I'd like us to be friends," Sam said.
Mercedes' eyebrows rose curiously, for she genuinely did not know what being friends with someone entailed.
"Friends," Mercedes repeated. "Sure."
Sam smiled.
"Cool," he said.
The two stared at each other awkwardly.
"Um…Do friends usually hold hands?" Mercedes asked.
"Oh right, my bad," Sam said, letting go of Mercedes' hand.
She smiled.
β
Mike sat in his office going over CAI's files.
When he reached the files from 1987, he found blacked out passages.
He turned the page. The name of the client was blacked out. The only detail unmarked was merchandise retrieval.
Mike put down the file and went to 1986. The files were blacked out as well, including the client names.
Mike picked up the phone.
"CAI headquarters please," Mike said.
Mike waited as he was put on hold. Finally someone answered.
"This is Agent Chang on location in Havana. I requested our business history for all the fiscal years, but I'm missing information starting from 1987 and backward." Mike stated.
"Yes, I'll need that faxed immediately," Mike said.
Mike's eyes narrowed as he listened to the receiver on the other end of the phone.
"What do you mean, that's classified information? Do you know who you're talking to? Put my father on the phone…What do you mean my father authorized this? Get me the VP"
β
1990
After evening mass, Will stood at the doorway of the church as the citizens were ushered out. Some of them he smiled and shook their hands.
His happy expression immediately vanished when the head nun, Sister Sylvester, passed him.
She gave him a cold look and followed the other church members out.
"Evil wench," Will muttered.
"Father."
Will turned around.
Emma Pillsbury stood behind him quietly.
She was one of the newer nuns who just arrived from a sister church. Unlike the other nuns, she was much younger and wore a simple black dress instead of a tunic. Her red hair could be scene from under the scarf on her head.
"Sister, how may I help you?" Will asked.
"It's about Mercedes, Father," Emma said.
Will's smile disappeared.
"I know she sneaks away from her bed at night, but you just have to give her a chance to get used to sleeping with the other children," Will began.
"What? I wasn't going to talk to you about that," Emma said.
"…You weren't? Then what exactly is the problem?" said Will.
"…Did you tell Mercedes to hit Kurt?" Emma asked.
Will couldn't help but chuckle a little.
Emma gave Will a disapproving look.
"You think that's funny Father?" Emma said.
"No, of course not," Will said, biting his bottom lip so not to laugh again.
"Mercedes slapped Kurt so hard his filling came out. His parents had to take him to the doctor's," Emma said.
"Really? I'm so sorry," Will said, attempting to not sound impressed.
"Father, I have no doubt that you know what you're doing, but you have to remember these are children. And Kurt probably teased Mercedes because he likes her." Emma explained.
"Uh huh," Will said. "I'll talk to her about it."
"Thank you," Emma said.
Will watched the young nun's backside as she passed him. He smiled smugly.
β
Mike sat in the bar at the country club.
He was working on his second scotch when he checked his watch.
He heard someone clear their throat behind him.
"Princess, you know I hate to be kept waiting-"
Mike stopped mid-sentence when he turned around.
Mercedes stood before him in a cream colored dress that stopped above the knee. Her breasts rested above the sweetheart neckline of her dress while her short sleeves failed to stay on her shoulder, resting seductively on her arms. The dress clung for dear life at Mercedes' thighs around her coke-bottle waist, leaving absolutely nothing to the imagination. The outfit was finished with matching cream-colored pumps that increased Mercedes' height by a few inches.
"I know I'm not what you were expecting," Mercedes said as she raised her chin regally.
Mike stood up and placed his glass back on the bar counter.
Unashamedly, he circled Mercedes slowly, taking in her presence.
When he had had his fill, Mike faced Mercedes again.
"The princess couldn't make it?" he asked, though his tone showed no signs of disappointment.
"She sends her apologies," Mercedes replied.
Mike smirked.
"So, it's just you and me this time," Mike said.
"I'm only here to help you find the gift for your mother. Do not mistake the situation. I'm not your present," Mercedes said.
Mike smiled and raised one eyebrow playfully.
"With all due respect, you probably should have worn a different dress then," he replied.
Mercedes licked the brim of her lips and smiled.
"Let's get this over with shall we?" Mercedes said.
β
When Sam entered the house, the first floor was empty.
He followed the noise coming from upstairs.
Sam stopped in front of Tina's room which was covered in store bags.
Puck and Tina attempted to organize the chaos.
"Looks like somebody bought up the whole of Cuba," Sam said, entering the room.
"Thank god you're here. My arms are getting tired," Puck said, taking a seat on the bed.
"Where'd you go today?" Tina asked, while at the same time modeling her new clothes in the mirror.
"The university to take a few pictures," Sam said.
"You went without me?! Well at least I got some shopping done. I had this sudden realization that my wardrobe is half the reason why I keep attracting losers," Tina said.
"That and the fact that you're smarter than any guy likes," Puck added.
"Some men like smart women," Tina said indignantly.
"Not ones who remind them of it every minute of every day. You have to expand your conversational skills," Puck said. "This is you. Hi, I'm Tina and I have a Masters. What's your name?"
Sam chuckled as Tina stuck her tongue out at Puck.
"At least I'm not like 'Hi, I'm Puck and I have a yacht,'" Tina retorted.
"Oh Come on! Like you wouldn't be impressed by that," Puck said.
Tina considered it for a second.
Puck winked at Sam.
"Girls love yachts," Puck said.
"I don't need a yacht," Sam replied.
"How else are you going to get Mercedes to give you a lap dance?" Puck said teasingly.
"I bumped into her today. And we agreed to just be friends," Sam said.
"WHAT?"
Both Puck and Tina wore the same look of complete incredulity.
"Please tell me you did not friend zone her," Puck said, lying on the bed with his hand covering his forehead.
"She wanted to be friends too," Sam said.
"But did she bring up being friends, or did you?" Tina asked, trying to get the facts straight.
"We joked about the other night, and I asked her if she would like to be friends," Sam said.
"I have lost all respect for you as a man. I now see you as a female. You have to use the ladies restroom the next time we go out," Puck said.
"As horribly sexist as that statement is, I have to agree with Puck," Tina added.
"Would you guys cut me some slack? I just got out of a-"
Tina and Puck's harmonious groan drowned out the rest of Sam's statement.
"QUINN DUMPED YOU OVER A YEAR AGO! GOD!" Puck exclaimed. "She's not thinking about your dumb ass."
"So, what do you expect me to do?! Form a relationship with a girl I barely now, and then bail on her when I go back to Ohio?!" Sam said.
"No one's asking you to propose to Mercedes. But, whether you're aware of it or not, you are so into her. She causes you to make breakfast in the morning for crying out loud," Tina said.
Sam slumped into a nearby chair.
"Well shit," he said. "What do I do now?"
"I don't know dude. That was pretty retarded of you, especially since we're all going to Juventud together and you've already made it clear you just want to be friends with her." Puck said.
The stupidity of Sam's actions finally sunk in.
"Damn," he said.
"Uh huh," Tina said, picking up another outfit to try on.
β
Mike opened the door for Mercedes when they entered the posh jewelry store.
There were women dressed in pastel colored dresses wearing large hats and drinking tea by the window.
The walls were lined with glass cases filled with diamond encrusted pieces.
Two men in black suits and wearing sunglasses stood on either sides of the entrance, clearly serving as security.
Mercedes smirked, thinking of how easy it would be to relieve the store owner of his seemingly well-secured merchandise.
A woman also dressed in black with her hair in tight bun walked up to Mike. She eyed him, starting from his shoes to his well-manicured hands to his perfectly quaffed hair.
She smiled.
"May I help you sir?" she asked, revealing her British accent.
"I'm looking for something for my mother," Mike said straightforwardly. "Please show us your newest sets. Now."
The woman raised eyebrows at the "now", intrigued by how forceful Mike was.
She swiftly went behind the case and pulled out some of their best pieces.
Mercedes, who wasn't paying attention to Mike, had her eyes on a square-shaped garnet necklace set in diamonds. She smiled as it reminded her of a necklace her mother used to wear when she was a little girl.
Mike cleared his throat.
"Are you going to help me or not?" he said.
Mercedes turned from the necklace to stand next to Mike.
Twelve exquisite pieces were rested on top of the glass for Mike to examine.
Mike seemed unimpressed with most of them.
"Does your mother prefer pearls or diamonds?" the jeweler asked.
"…Both," Mike answered, already annoyed with the situation. He hated shopping for other people.
Mercedes rolled her eyes at Mike.
"We'll look at this one," Mercedes said pointing at the emerald pendant.
"I've never seen my mother wear emerald," Mike said.
"Good, then she has nothing like it," Mercedes told him.
Mike held up the necklace to the light. The light refracted off the emerald and danced across his face.
And yet, he stood there unimpressed, unable to make up his mind.
"Ahem."
Mike looked at the jeweler.
"You know…if I may be so bold…it may be easier to make up your mind if you let someone model the emerald for you," she suggested.
"…That makes sense," Mike said.
The woman smiled, unbuttoning her black blazer so Mike could put the necklace on her.
"Mercedes, turn around," Mike said.
Mercedes did as she was told as the jeweler leaned over the glass in front of Mike.
Unexpectedly, Mercedes felt Mike's hand on her neck as he gently moved her hair out of the way. When she realized what he was doing, she moved his hand and held up her hair for him. With both his hands free then, Mike placed the necklace on Mercedes slowly faceting it in the back.
Mercedes let go of her hair, letting it fall back into place. She turned around, revealing the glowing pendant resting perfectly on her chest.
Mike looked at it and smiled, feeling satisfied finally with the gem.
"Well, it may actually be better for you to compare the gem on a skin tone closer to your mother's," the jeweler said, watching Mercedes and Mike.
"…I'll take it," Mike said, keeping his eyes on Mercedes.
Mercedes shook her head and smirked.
"Okay then," she said, taking the necklace off and putting it back on the glass.
"Wait outside for me," Mike told Mercedes.
Mercedes continued to fix her hair as she went outside.
She leaned against the store.
The sun was starting to set. Santana was probably on her way to have dinner with Puck.
Mercedes touched her chest where the necklace was. Though she owned more gems then anyone she knew, she rarely wore them. No doubt, she had become a very rich woman, and yet, she regarded herself still as that orphan girl with nothing. Will never let her wear expensive things as it would draw attention to her and she took that lesson with her.
Mike finally came out of the store.
"Take this," Mike said, passing her the bag. "I'm hungry."
Mike, not waiting for Mercedes, got into the limo.
Mercedes sucked her teeth and followed him.
β
Mike pulled out the chair for Mercedes to sit down in. She took a seat in another chair.
Mike smiled.
"Fine, have it your way," Mike said, sitting in the seat next to her at the hotel restaurant.
Mercedes looked at the menu, ignoring Mike.
"I guess I should thank you for helping me today," Mike said.
"The princess asked me to assist you. I do as I'm told; nothing more," Mercedes said.
"If the princess and I marry, then technically you'll be working for me too, and then you'll have to do what I say," Mike said, taking a sip of water.
"I don't think that'll happen," Mercedes said.
"Why? You don't think the princess will have me?" Mike asked.
"She'll have you. I'll just hang myself before the nuptials," Mercedes said.
"You hate me that much, huh," Mike said.
Mercedes smirked.
"I may not be as bad as you think I am," he told her.
Mercedes put down the menu, leaning forward towards Mike.
"You…are exactly what I think you are," Mercedes whispered.
Mercedes smiled and leaned back in her chair as the waiter came to take their order.
"Give us another minute," Mike said before the waiter could speak.
The waiter shuffled away leaving Mercedes and Mike alone.
"You know nothing about me," Mike said.
"I know you're selfish, prejudiced, privileged, unfaithful, elitist, violent and greedy," Mercedes said calmly as if she was calling off a grocery list.
Mike laughed.
"…So you have been watching me all this time have you," he said.
"Don't flatter yourself. You're just easy to read," Mercedes told him.
"So you don't like me, but apparently this Sam fool deserves your attention," Mike said.
Mercedes smiled.
"Maybe," she said.
"What's so great about him?" Mike asked.
"Well, he's not a sociopath for one," Mercedes said.
Mike smiled.
"Not that I'm telling you anything you don't know, but you're not his type."
Mercedes licked the bottom row of her teeth seductively.
"I'm nobody's type…until of course they find out they want me," she said.
Mike picked up his glass of wine.
"Too true. But Sam is a hopeless case. That guy was born to marry his high school sweetheart; some bubbly Midwest cheerleader who is nothing like you."
"Really," Mercedes said. "Shadowcat doesn't fall under the Midwest category and yet he seems bewitched enough from her."
"Sam's never met Shadowcat. No one knows what she looks like. In his mind he probably thinks Shadowcat is Victoria Secret model wearing a lace mask and red lipstick," Mike responded. "When in reality, there's nothing attractive about her."
Mercedes narrowed her eyes in suspicion.
"I heard you saw Shadowcat; you were actually face-to-face with her. You're telling me that you saw this hot cat burglar and didn't even feel a little turned on by her?" she asked.
Mike sipped his wine then put it down.
"Honestly…Shadowcat could blow me for two hours, and I still wouldn't get as big of a hard-on if I just stared at you for two minutes," Mike told her.
Mercedes' looked down at the tablecloth and smiled. She wasn't insulted or discussed. Mike was always frank with her like this. And yet, Mike had made her very aware of herself, though it was not his intention. He had put a crack in the façade that was Mercedes.
Mike noticed Mercedes did not respond as she usually did to Mike's vulgar compliments. By no measure did she look hurt to him. Instead she looked merely…softer.
The waiter came back to take their order.
Mercedes breathed in and turned to smile at the waiter.
"Hi, may I have your summer special?" Mercedes asked. "But please, no oysters. My friend here gets a boner just by looking at me and I don't want to increase his chances of a hernia by feeding him aphrodisiacs."
Mike, who rarely laughed out loud, coughed into his hand as the bewildered waiter left the table.
Mercedes giggled as she covered her lips with her fingers.
Mike smirked.
β
Berlin 1990
"Are your arms tired yet?" Will asked.
Mercedes held a hand stand on the edge of the orphanage roof.
"No," Mercedes replied stubbornly.
Will smiled.
"Are you punishing me for hitting Kurt? You told me to you know," Mercedes said.
"Come here," Will said.
Mercedes flipped back onto the roof.
She rubbed her aching arms as she walked up to Will who wore a serious face.
"…Do you like Kurt?" he asked.
"No. Boys are gross," Mercedes said.
Will chuckled.
"One day…you may not think that," he said.
Will took Mercedes' hand.
"In a few years you're going to turn into a woman, and that stage will be very difficult for you because you will also be a thief. Being a thief is like being a nun in the sense that…you can't have relationships," Will said. "Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Genuinely confused, Mercedes shook her head.
Will exhaled.
"In simpler terms, my cat, Love to a thief is like fifty-pound weights tied to your legs... It will kill you."
A frightened look appeared on Mercedes' face.
"But…But you love me," Mercedes said.
Will smiled, affectionately touching one of Mercedes' curls.
"Yes, this is true. But… there are two kinds of love," he attempted to explain.
"Two?" Mercedes said.
"Yes, there is another kind that well… let's just say it makes you do stupid things," Will said. "I don't love you in that kind of way."
Though she still felt some confusion, she was relieved. The last thing she wanted was to be responsible for Will's death.
Will wiped his forehead. Being only twenty-one at the time, he wasn't exactly an expert himself in explaining these kinds of things to children.
"We're going to practice your Judo tomorrow," Will said, walking to the exit. "Come along Cat."
β
It was ten o'clock.
Mike's driver pulled up to Puck's mansion.
Mercedes waited as the driver got out and opened the door for her. Before she could step out of the car, Mike grabbed her hand.
"Here, take it," Mike said, handing her the jewelry case from the jewelry store.
"This is for your mother," Mercedes told him.
"No," Mike said, pulling out a flat velvet jewelry box from his suit pocket. "This is for my mother. That's for you."
Mercedes opened the case and indeed there was another black velvet box in there.
"And don't even think of not taking it because it's non-refundable," Mike said rudely.
Mercedes looked at Mike who kept his eyes forward.
Mercedes took this as her cue to leave and stepped out of the car.
The driver closed the door and got into the front seat. Mercedes watched the car drive off, before looking back the box.
She pulled the black velvet case out. Looking over her shoulder first, she opened it. In it was the square-cut garnet diamond necklace she had been staring at in the jewelry store. Mercedes turned around but Mike's car was already long gone.
She looked back at the necklace. She closed the box.
While some girls would be delighted by such a gift, all Mercedes could think of was her nightmare of Mike finding out her true identity. What the necklace meant to her was Mike was watching her perhaps more intently then she had originally assumed. Mike was not to be underestimated; but then again, neither was she. Mercedes smirked.
"You don't know what tree you're barking up sir," she said.
Sam opened the front door.
His first sight was Mercedes leaning on the giant pillar and gazing up at the stars.
The night was hot and small sweat beads sparkled on her neck. Mercedes moved her hair to one side of her neck and turned to find Sam. She smiled innocently.
"Hi," she said softly.
It was strange for Sam. Did Mercedes not know that it was practically a crime to stand in someone's doorway looking like a beautiful work of art.
"…hey," Sam replied.
"Hi, sorry to bother you. Is the princess here?" Mercedes asked.
"Oh, she and Puck are still at the mayor's house I think. Do you wanna wait here?" Sam said, holding the door open for her.
Mercedes smiled.
"Sure, thanks."
Mercedes moved from the pillar. She bent over picking up Mike's present.
Sam watched as Mercedes' dress rode up her thighs, miraculously stopping before he could see her underwear, though Sam was very sure that underwear couldn't be worn with a dress like that anyway.
Mercedes walked passed him into the mansion.
Sam followed her, closing the door.
While Mercedes had her back turned, Sam quickly checked his breath. He looked down and noticed the crumbs on his t-shirt. He dusted them off then tucked his shirt in his pants.
Mercedes turned to look at Sam.
She noticed the minor improvement in his appearance and chuckled.
"Um, would you like something to drink? I was just making some ice tea" Sam asked.
Mercedes followed Sam into the kitchen.
Mercedes took a seat on the stool by the island.
Sam opened the fridge and pulled out a pitcher, then got a glass from the cabinet.
When he set the pitcher on the island, he noticed the case in Mercedes' hand.
"What's that?" he asked.
"Oh. It's a necklace," Mercedes said.
Sam took the case from Mercedes.
"May I?"
Sam opened it inquisitively.
Sam's raised one eyebrow, clearly impressed.
"That's not a necklace. That's a statement," Sam said, holding the piece to the light.
"And what would you know about it?" Mercedes asked.
Sam smirked.
"Well for one, this particular gem is a dark garnet native to Sri Lanka. Judging by the clarity and the emerald cut of the stone, I'm guessing the price was around $1,000 per carat. So...yeah, I would call this necklace a statement."
Mercedes widened her eyes, obviously fascinated by Sam's expertise.
"I didn't realize you were a jeweler," Mercedes said.
"I minored in geology and archaeology in college, so I might of picked up a few things," Sam told her, handing her back the case.
Sam poured the ice tea for Mercedes.
"You know… you can tell a lot about a girl by the jewelry she wears," he began.
He handed Mercedes a glass of ice-cold tea.
"Really? Do enlighten me Mr. Evans," Mercedes said.
"The actual chain of the necklace is made out of diamonds. Diamonds represent someone who is fearless, dynamic, diplomatic, and loves attention," Sam began. "But then we have the large garnet in the center…Garnet tells a whole different story. It represents someone who is sensitive, dark, very reserved and very calculating."
Sam's eyes moved from the necklace to look at Mercedes who didn't seem intimidated in the slightest. She rested her chin on her hand and continued to sip her tea with her other hand.
"In other words…this piece represents a girl pretending to be something she isn't," Sam concluded.
Mercedes smiled.
"That's interesting…especially since Mike bought this, not me," Mercedes said
Sam furrowed his brow.
"…Oh," he said, not seeing that coming. "For who?"
"…The princess," Mercedes told him.
Sam huffed.
"Really" he said.
"…I would never lie to you…" Mercedes said, looking him dead in the eye. After all how was Sam supposed to know which princess Mercedes was talking about?
"Why do I find that hard to believe?" Sam said, making Mercedes laugh.
Sam sighed.
"Uh, I love your laugh," he said suddenly.
Mercedes instantly stopped chuckling and blushed.
Sam's cheeks went red, realizing he had said that out loud.
"I'm sorry," Sam said, realizing he had embarrassed Mercedes.
"…No one's ever told me that before," Mercedes said honestly.
"…It's a great laugh," Sam admitted as he bashfully scratched the back of his head. "…It sounds like…a little kid playing in the rain."
Mercedes bit her bottom lip in an attempt to hide her smile.
"…Thanks," she said.
Sam picked up the pitcher and put it in the fridge.
"Could I use you restroom?" Mercedes asked.
"Sure! There's one upstairs," Sam told her.
Mercedes smiled and walked upstairs slowly.
When she reached the second floor she knew where the bathroom was passed it.
Mercedes took her phone out of her bra.
There were no messages from Santana.
"Must be a good sign," Mercedes assumed.
She closed the phone and continued to walk down the hall.
Her eyes went to Sam's room, which still had the light on.
She softly pushed the door open and stuck her head in. She took two steps inside then stopped.
Her eyes immediately went to the stack of magazines and cut-out articles on his desk. On the wall was taped certain articles of Shadowcat and artifacts she had stolen.
Mercedes crept towards them stack of papers on the desk.
She picked them up.
SHADOWCAT STRIKES PARIS
Mercedes's eyes scanned the other papers; all about her. She had to admit to herself; even she had underestimated Sam's fascination in Shadowcat. The next thing she picked up was a sketchbook with the title 'DARK ANGEL' written across the top. Mercedes looked at the back of a sketch book. A black and white sketch of a shadowy figure was on the back.
"What are you doing in here?"
Mercedes turned around.
Sam stood in the doorway.
Mercedes could tell by the look on his face, he was not happy she found his Shadowcat collection. Sam stood speechless and insecure.
Mercedes smiled innocently.
"I'm sorry. I never knew you were so talented," she said sweetly.
Sam's worried face eased when he realized Mercedes wasn't freaked out.
"Um thanks," Sam said, coming towards her.
He took the sketch book from her.
"What is Dark Angel?" Mercedes asked.
Sam took a seat on his bed.
"…It's a graphic novel I've been working on. It's an origin story of Shadowcat," he told her.
"Really? Can I see it?" Mercedes asked, taking a seat next to Sam.
"Uh well," Sam said, starting to blush. "It's not really ready yet."
Mercedes touched Sam's arm.
Her eyes bore into Sam's.
"…Please?" she asked nicely.
Sam smiled, cautiously handing Mercedes the sketchbook.
"I warned you. It's pretty lame."
Mercedes opened and flipped the sketch book to the first page.
There was a black and white smudged picture of a train station. It was dark and it was raining.
Sam took Mercedes hand, guiding her through the picture.
"It's a cold night," Sam began. "This shadow in the corner is a little girl sitting under the train tracks. She's crying but no one can tell because it's raining. People pass her but they can't see her."
Sam turned the page.
"The little girl walks through the cold city. She's hungry and alone. She steals food to eat and sleeps in alleyways."
Sam turned the page.
It was a sketch of a dark hand coming from the abyss.
"This person. I'm not exactly sure who he is, but he sees the little girl. He takes her under his wing," Sam explained, turning the page. "He teaches the little girl everything she knows. Like how to fight, and how to outsmart people-,"
"And how to steal," Mercedes said, finishing Sam's sentence.
Sam nodded and smirked.
He turned the page.
"He gives her the name Shadowcat," Sam continued.
Sam turned the page.
This page was all black except for the outline of grey tears.
"One day a mission goes wrong…the mysterious man dies," Sam says.
Mercedes closed her eyes. It took all her strength not to flash back to that moment in her life.
Sam turns the page again.
"A vigil ante is born," he said. "Now Shadowcat seeks justice."
Mercedes opened her eyes and looked at the picture of the skyscraper. On top of the dark tower is the shadowy figure of a woman.
Mercedes smiled.
"A vigil ante?" she said.
"Yeah, why not?" Sam said.
"Nothing, just…Shadowcat doesn't really seem like the good-guy type. She's a thief." Mercedes told him.
Sam smirked.
"Shadowcat is still in her origin story, still lost, still angry. Even she doesn't know…" Sam said.
"…Know what?" said Mercedes.
"…That she's meant to be a hero," Sam's said.
Sam and Mercedes' eyes locked. At that very awkward moment, they realized their hands were still touching. Nervously, Sam moved his. Mercedes looked at the floor and smirked.
"So," Mercedes said, breaking the tension. "How come you haven't drawn an actual picture of Shadowcat?"
"Well, the obvious answer is I have no idea what she looks like," Sam replied.
"Oh come now. You're an artist. You can't possibly tell me when you've been coming up with this story, you've never pictured what she looks like in your head," Mercedes taunted.
Sam sighed and ran his hand through his hair.
"Okay…so I may have drawn a rough draft of what she looks like, but you can't laugh at it," Sam said.
Mercedes gnawed at her lip as Sam leaned over the edge of his bed to get the picture from his closet. Mercedes could hear her heart beat in her ears as she nervously waited. Was Sam really a threat to her? Was it possible he had figured out Shadowcat's secret? Sam found a folder and flipped through it till he found the drawing.
"Here it is," Sam said handing it to Mercedes.
Mercedes took the page. She flipped it over, expecting to see her alter ego.
Mercedes slowly un-bit her lip when she scanned the picture. Sam's Shadowcat was tall, slender, had dark green eyes, chestnut hair, and pale skin. She was dressed in a black catsuit with matching black lipstick.
At that moment, Mercedes' conversation with Mike annoyingly returned to her mind.
"Well, at least the lipstick's not red," Mercedes murmured.
"What?" Sam said.
"Nothing," Mercedes replied with a polite smile. "It's a really nice picture."
Mercedes laughed at herself internally. Of course he thought Shadowcat looked like that. After all, Mercedes was the one who told Santana that Sam was in love with Shadowcat, not her, and for all Sam knew, they were two completely different women. He simply just drew the type of woman he preferred. A feeling of relief swept over Mercedes. She really liked Sam and did not want to have to harm him. But as Mercedes continued to look at the picture, she could not help but feel a slight twinge of resentment. Mercedes was the one doing all the work, and yet this Barbie with brown hair was taking all the credit. She was jealous actually jealous of an imaginary person.
Though Sam wasn't an expert on reading women, he could tell Mercedes wasn't as cheerful as she once was.
Mercedes got up from the bed.
"So, what's Shadowcat's real name?" Mercedes asked.
"Clair," Sam said.
"Is Clair your ex-grlfriend's name?" Mercedes said teasingly.
"Ha-ha very funny. No, I just thought it was a nice name for a French girl."
Mercedes tried to keep a straight face but this time couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"…You think Shadowcat is French," Mercedes said, biting on her lip.
"Aren't most cat burglars?" Sam replied.
Mercedes smiled.
"Sure," she said, continuing to giggle.
"Way to break your promise not to laugh," Sam said sourly.
"I'm sorry," Mercedes said.
"Just give me back the picture."
Sam made to snatch the drawing but Mercedes moved her hand.
She smirked up at Sam, waving the sketch at him.
Sam tried to snatch the picture again but Mercedes was too fast for him.
"…Nice reflexes you have there," Sam said.
"I've been told," Mercedes replied.
"I played varsity football for two years so I will tackle you," Sam said casually.
"Sam Evans, I'd like to see you try," Mercedes said, backing away.
Sam lunged at Mercedes. Even though she was in high heels, Mercedes darted out of Sam's way with ease. Just as Sam was falling he grabbed Mercedes' hand dragging her down to the bed.
Mercedes lay on top of Sam. She smiled down at him.
"Were you second string?" Mercedes asked tauntingly.
Sam would have laughed if not for the fact that he was being straddled by a gorgeous woman and was resisting every temptation not to suck every ounce of breath from her waiting lips.
He gulped and licked his dry lips as Mercedes continued to sit on top of him.
"…About what I said earlier today…" Sam began, his eyes slowly roaming Mercedes' body.
"I get it, Sam" Mercedes said.
Sam eyes shot back up to Mercedes' smiling face.
"…You do?" Sam said.
"Of course. You just want to be friends," Mercedes told him.
Mercedes' words hit Sam like a sucker punch to his gut.
Mercedes knew very well that's not what Sam was going to say, but she decided it was the best thing for them.
Sam lifted up his hand and moved a strand of Mercedes' hair that was hanging by her mouth.
"…Friends," Sam said.
Mercedes heard the front door open and shut.
"That's probably the princess."
She slowly climbed off of Sam and straightened her dress.
"I didn't hear anything," Sam said.
"ANYBODY HOME!" Noah called from the foyer.
Mercedes smiled.
"You have pretty good ears along with those reflexes," Sam said.
Mercedes smiled and helped Sam from the bed. She folded the picture, sticking it in her dress.
Sam followed her downstairs as he straightened his shirt.
Mercedes and Sam found Puck and Santana waiting for them in the parlor.
"Hey! Mercedes, I didn't know you were here,' Puck said. "I hope Sam was treating you well."
Mercedes smiled and glanced at Sam.
"Of course he was. He's a complete gentleman," she replied.
Santana got up to leave.
"Don't you want to stay for a night cap?" Puck offered.
"No thank you. I think it's been a long enough night for me," Santana told him.
Puck got up and kissed Santana's hand.
"Till we meet again," he said charmingly.
Puck also went over and kissed Mercedes' hand.
Santana looked at Puck before her eyes caught Sam watching Mercedes. She passed Sam up without saying goodbye.
Mercedes stood in front of Sam who held out his hand.
"Goodnight," Sam said softly.
Mercedes smiled and took his hand. Leaning forward, she stood on her toes and planted a kiss on Sam's cheek.
Santana watched as Sam closed his eyes when Mercedes' lips lingered against his warm cheek.
Mercedes pulled away, letting go of Sam's hand.
"Goodnight Sam," she replied.
Puck and Sam stood in silence as they watched the two women leave.
When the butler closed the door Puck turned to Sam with a devious grin.
"Goooodnight Saaammm," Puck said in a girly voice.
Sam pushed a laughing Puck in his shoulder.
"So, I'm guessing you fixed the friend-zone problem," Puck said.
Sam shook his head as he took a seat on the couch.
"I tried to bring it up and she cut me off. She said she got my message and she was okay with being friends," he explained.
Puck sat across from Sam.
"Dude, I may not be the smartest guy in the world but BELIEVE ME, anyone can see Mercedes has no interest in being your friend. She wants you man, and she's waiting for you to stop being a lil bitch and tell her what's up," Puck said.
"But then why would she lie about her feelings? Why would she be all over me one night and then couldn't care less the next day?" Sam asked.
"Lightning never strikes twice bro," Puck replied. "She initiated and you shot her down. Now you have to make the next move and it has to be fucking bold."
"I don't know…" Sam said, leaning back in the couch.
"Enough about you and your failure. The princess has officially accepted my offer to go to Juventud with us to see the construction of the museum," Puck said. "This could be the trip to do it."
"…What about Mike?" Sam asked.
"What about him? Mike's my boy and all but let's be real, the dude does not give a crap who the princess is talking to," Puck said.
"What about the necklace he got her? Mercedes and Mike picked it out today," Sam said.
Puck scoffed.
"Somebody must've lied to you. I know Mike's game. The only time he buys something for a girl is when he wants to hit that. He's already got the princess so he wouldn't buy jack shit for her," he said.
Sam remained silent as Puck walked over to the liquor cabinet by the fireplace.
β
Santana and Mercedes waited to talk till they entered the penthouse.
"I don't like how that Evans boy is looking at you," Santana began, as she kicked off her heels.
"And how would he be looking at me?" Mercedes said, as she unzipped her dress and walked to the kitchen.
Santana followed her and sat on top of the island.
"…He's looking at you like you belong to him or something," Santana clarified.
Mercedes smiled.
"Don't worry about it," she said.
"He's a liability," said Santana.
Mercedes opened the freezer and pulled out a tub of ice-cream.
"He's not a liability. He's a little boy with a crush on a girl who doesn't exist," Mercedes said.
"What makes you so sure he won't figure you out?" Santana asked as Mercedes pulled out a spoon from the drawer.
Mercedes stuck the spoon in her mouth and she peeled her dress off of her skin and let it fall onto the kitchen floor.
"I'll tell you why," Mercedes said, pulling the spoon out of her mouth and sticking it in the ice cream.
Santana tried with great difficulty not to stare at Mercedes glistening skin.
Mercedes reached in her bra and pulled out the folded picture. She handed it to Santana.
Santana opened it.
"…Who's this?" she asked.
Mercedes smiled.
"That's Shadowcat," she said.
Santana looked back up at Mercedes.
"When Sam or anyone else closes their eyes and thinks of Shadowcat, they see that woman scaling walls and fighting off security guards…and as long as they see that woman, you and I will be okay," Mercedes explained.
Mercedes drew the spoon out of the tub and licked the vanilla ice-cream off of it.
While Santana continued to look at the drawing Mercedes left and came back with the velvet black case.
She slid it over to Santana.
Santana looked at it and picked it up.
"What's this?" she asked.
"From now on…you're going to wear that," Mercedes instructed.
"Why?" Santana said, opening the case that held the emerald-cut garnet necklace.
"Because, I need to send a message to Mike…and Sam," Mercedes said.
Mercedes picked up the ice cream and went upstairs, leaving Santana alone.
Santana closed the case, unsure of what message Mercedes was referring to.
To be continued…