A/N Hey guys, here's the next story! I hope you enjoy!
R&R!
Story Nine: Leni's Heart
Hello there. It seems that you have met my partner and 'husband' Delta. And my, my, has he left quite the story script for me to tell… On days like this I question our relationship, but I suppose it's only fitting I do a topic like this. Any other guardian would simply try to make this story more humorous or spin it more softly than I.
I make this promise to you right now, I take my as your narrator today seriously and I will not make a joke about the situation as it stands. I see this as the most serious story you will hear from us Guardians, and promise to treat it as such.
My name is Theta, the Guardian of Death, and I am your narrator for this story: the tale of the second eldest member of the Loud family, the young and quiet Leni Loud.
Soft moonlight filters through the bedroom window, falling upon a young blonde-haired woman. She rests in the oversized bed peacefully, as if nothing the world could bring could have effect on her.
Though the cuff she wears on her right arm says otherwise.
"No… please…" The young woman whispers, her voice filling with a desperation known only to those trapped in their present situation.
Suddenly, the young woman jolts up in a cold sweat. Her heart races in fear while she takes short, quick breaths to bring herself back to calmness.
"It was just a dream… it was just a dream…" she whispers, her voice still low, "That wasn't real…"
Then she pulls her right arm in an attempt to hold her pained head… only to feel the tug of the cuff he had forced her to wear for, as he put it, 'her own safety' or in the words of the people around her, 'insurance to make sure she didn't leave'.
"It wasn't a dream…" The young woman whispers, before she tiredly drops her arm and lies back. No doubt when her "lover" returns he'd have his way with her, just as he had done countless times prior. The next day they would go to get her tested… again. And make sure that the "couple" wasn't going to have any small surprises coming in nine months.
Even the young woman cannot help but tear up at the thought of having to go through that painful process over and over again.
*Beep* *beep* The nearby cell phone goes. Brad had left her with the device in case a pressing matter came up… though with the young woman tied up the way she was, no doubt that pressing matter would have to wait until she got permission.
With a soft sigh, the young woman answers the device, She flips it open and reads, "Hey Leni, everyone's been feelin' great lately, and I just wanted to know if the same was true for you sis!" -Lincoln.
Leni gives a soft smile, no matter how bad things got for her, the only thing that really matters is that her family was happy. And so, she types, "Yeah bro, everything's going all right here with Brad!" –Leni.
Immediately, the phone goes off again, "That's awesome sis! I texted because I wanted to know if you could come over for a visit or something. Lisa got Liberty her own body and she'd love to meet you in person!" –Lincoln.
"It's ok Lincoln, I'm busy for a while, you know, with that family and Brad and stuff." She quickly responds, while thinking, "Yeah… the family Brad doesn't want to have…"
"Oh…" Lincoln responds, before continuing, "Ok Leni, I understand. Can we at least video chat? She hasn't gotten the chance to see you without my being around to stop her. Liberty's really changed as our sister." – Lincoln.
Another soft tear rolls down Leni's cheek. Oh how she would love to come for a visit, to see the family she had left just a year prior to live with the dashing Brad Anima. "I'm sorry Lincoln," She starts typing, tempted to do something she should have done ages ago, "But Brad isn't a good guy…"
She erases the second half of her message and instead types, "I'm really too busy I would love to come along and spend time, but I just can't bro, I'm sorry." –Leni.
And with that, she places the phone on the nightstand once more, careful to make sure that it would not fall on the floor during the acts about to come. "I'm sorry Lincoln… I'm sorry guys, but… Brad needs me, and I need him. Without him I'm nothing."
The bedroom door opens with a soft click, and a young man in a custom-made suit, and a white button-down shirt steps in, "Hello Leni, did you miss me?"
Leni puts on a pained smile, "Yes I did Honey." Her voice is filled with a forced sweetness.
"Then do you know what comes next?" The young man continues, throwing off his sweater and undoing his tie as he does so.
The young woman nods, and with that, they move on to deeds that only the guardians of Life and Death would oversee.
Meanwhile…
"Hey Liberty, do you think Leni's been acting weird ever since she moved in with that Brad guy?" Lincoln asks, his voice filled with a child-like curiosity.
Liberty shrugs, "Not sure bro, I get relationships just as well as you do remember?"
Lincoln sighs, "Of course sis… I'm just worried about her you know?" Lincoln steps passed his twin and opens up his drawer, revealing the image of the Loud children just months prior, "Leni was so open before and now she never comes around!"
"Don't worry Lincoln… I'm worried for her too, but if there was a problem, she'd come straight to us, right?" Then she stands up next to her brother, Leni's probably fine…"
"Ok Liberty…" Lincoln whispers, before turning and lying on his bed, "So how about we hit the hay sis?"
"If it makes you feel better, my holo-projector's computer can track phones… maybe we could go and visit her." Liberty goes, cutting her brother off.
The young boy's eyes go wide in shock, "Really sis?!" He immediately jumps to his feet and grabs her arms, "You're not just saying that in an attempt to make me feel hopeful?"
"Lincoln, our minds are linked for one, and two Leni's my sister too!" Liberty responds, placing a hand on Lincoln shoulder as she does so, "So how about it, why don't we take a surprise visit to Leni's? Maybe bring her something for the family she's probably making right now!"
Lincoln's face goes red, "Liberty! What makes you think she's doing that right now?!"
"Well given how she was in a hurry to text us and basically said goodbye kinda makes me wonder what she's doing." The younger twin chuckles, "No problem though, I'm sure everything that's going on is fine!"
Lincoln gives a soft smile, "Well then Liberty, how about we get some sleep then? After all, we're going to need all of the energy we can get if we're going to keep up with Leni, after all, she had so much energy before she left!"
Liberty smiles, before tapping at the orange device that kept her form active, and ordering it to shut down for the night.
"Goodnight sis." Lincoln whispers, and Liberty responds, "Goodnight bro." And with that, the twins drift off into a peaceful sleep.
The next day…
The next morning can't come soon enough for young Leni. The acts she had… 'performed' with her partner the night prior had left her sore, though she knew better than to complain.
Brad wakes up just a few minutes after she does, and wastes no time getting ready for the day at hand, as well as ordering Leni to do the same with, "Well Leni, you know what comes next. Come on."
With that, the young woman stands up and follows her partner out the door. It takes them a few moments to reach the car and drive off toward a familiar place.
"I hate this… I hate having to do this…" Leni thinks as she stares out of her passenger-side window, "But I guess it just comes with the territory…"
And so they reach a small white building with the words, "Royal Woods Clinic" etched above the door. The young couple then heads inside and has a few tests run. No doubt some would make one squeamish if they were to go into further detail.
It takes the duo about an hour to emerge, with Leni seeming more downcast than before. "I wish I didn't have to stay… but he'll…" She fights the tears, he hates seeing tears. And with that, he brings her home and prepares to go out for work once more.
Later…
"Here we go Liberty." Lincoln declares, before knocking on the simple white door, "Hello, anyone home?"
"Coming." A soft masculine voice declares, and within a few minutes, a familiar man opens the door.
"Hey there, you must be Brad.!" Lincoln greets, while Liberty adds, "We're lookin' for Leni, have you seen her?"
"Leni huh?" Brad raises an eyebrow, "Who are you two?"
Lincoln doesn't hesitate to answer, "We're her brother and sister, we just wanted to see her since she's so busy and stuff."
The older man rubs his chin for moment, unsure whether or not to allow the children entry into his home, but instead of denying them, he gives them a soft smile, "Sure." Then he turns and shouts, "Hey Leni, you've got visitors!"
Upstairs, Leni lies curled up on the bed. Who could possibly visit her? She had no friends… no relationships outside Brad. Who could possibly want to see someone as worthless as her?
"Come on Leni, these two kids want to see you! Make sure you dress your best!" Her man ordered, his voice piercing her thoughts as it had done countless times before.
Leni sighs once more, 'her best' means the nice clothes he set aside for her just in case. And so she turns and rolls out of the bed, before approaching the closet. It takes her only a few moments to go through all the trinkets and objects the Brad had used on her either out of anger or… for other reasons, before she finally takes out the 'nice clothes'.
"Here I go…" She thinks, before slipping on the nice white, short-sleeved shirt and turquoise-colored sweater. "I hope I'll be able to do this quick."
And with that, she takes one final deep breath and walks out her room door, down the house stairs. Her head is down when she approaches the door.
"Come on Leni, don't look so down!" Brad cheerfully goes, and Leni immediately responds by looking up and her siblings and putting on a soft smile, "Hey guys."
"Leni!" The twins shout, before running over and hugging their sister. "We missed you so much sis!" Lincoln goes, while Liberty adds, "Yeah, you never come by to visit!"
"Sorry guys, we're really busy. I wish I could find the time to come around and stuff." Leni responds, fighting the tears she wished to let loose, "Don't worry though, I promise I'll find time to come around and say hi." Then she kneels down and takes a good look at her siblings, "Wow Liberty, you look way better than I thought you would!"
Liberty chuckles, "I'll take that as a compliment."
Then Leni looks at her only brother, "And you seem to be happier now too!"
Lincoln nods, "Yeah Leni, we're all lookin' up and stuff. We just wanted to come by and ask how you've been doin' sis."
Leni hesitates for a moment, unsure of whether or not to tell them the truth… "No… he's right here. He'll kill them if I tell them the truth! I don't want them hurt…" So she just lets her smile stay, with the hope that it would seem as sincere as the rest of her actions. "I'm doing well. Brad here has been a good partner and I'm sure that we'll make a great family together!"
Liberty and Lincoln both smile, "Awesome Leni, we can't wait to see them!"
"Now hurry along now, Brad and I are busy today, so we don't wanna be late!" Leni then stands up and nods at Brad.
The twins both smile with that, before turning and stepping out of the home. They take one final look at the place, before turning and heading down the front steps and making a turn for their own home.
"Hey Linc…" Liberty starts, putting her hands behind her head as she does so.
"Yeah Libs?" Her brother continues forward, not letting his eyes break from the road.
"Did Leni seem… off to you?" Liberty asks, looking up into the sky, "I mean, if I remember correctly, she never wore things that would could her skin up so much…" Then she turns to face her brother, "And why did she seem so eager to get us away? I thought she'd be more happy to see us again..."
Lincoln shrugs, "Well for the latter, I think she was excited to see us, but she did seem busy, after all, she does have a life with Brad." Then he thinks, "But for the second uhh, maybe he asked her to dress more moderately, after all, they are in a relationship…"
Liberty thinks again, "I'm still not sure bro… Remember, she seemed like she was trying to hide something more than she was just busy."
"Well..." Lincoln rubs his head, before shrugging, "How about we go ahead and just check up on them? That would probably help you out and stuff right?"
"Definitely bro." and with that, the twins turn around and make a dash for the home they had just left, in hopes that they would find their sister still waiting there.
"Ok Libs, you know what to do now." Lincoln declares, before standing in front of one of the home's windows and motioning for his sister to come over.
"On days like this, I'm glad Lisa made my body out of hardlight." The girl responds, before climbing on her brother's shoulders and simply peaking through the glass.
"What do you see sis?"
Liberty's thoughts fill with slight annoyance, "Remember the trade-off trick Lisa said we could do?"
"You wanna try it now sis? We've never done it before…" Lincoln nervously responds, though he makes sure his knees don't shake in fear.
"Come on, it could hurt to test out what we could do as mind-linked twins and stuff, and it'd make this a heck of a lot easier!" His sister counters.
The boy sighs, "Ok, let's do this." Then, the siblings close their eyes and concentrate. After a few moments of waiting, they open them once more, revealing Liberty now had a white and brown pupil as did Lincoln, "This is so cool!" Liberty thinks.
"Yeah it is sis, but man does this feel disorienting." Lincoln responds, closing his brown pupil as he does so.
"The perks!" Liberty mentally shouts, only for Lincoln to responds, "Whatever sis, let's look inside!"
And so the twins peer into the home.
"Why the heck did your siblings come by! You know what could've happened?!" Brad angrily shouts, his stance hardening as he does so.
"I don't know! I told them to stay away!" Leni desperately responds, her own voice filling with fear.
"Don't lie to me!" Brad shouts, before slapping Leni.
"He just…" The twins think in shock as the man raises his fists once more.
*Beep* *Beep* The older man's watch goes.
"Ugh, I have to go or else I'll be late for work." Then he glares at the young woman, "Make sure no one else comes around. Got that?"
Leni frantically nods in response. And with that, the man turns and steps out the door.
"Quick, hide!" Lincoln thinks, and the twins drop and sprint to the side of the home, hoping that they weren't spotted, and thankfully, they were not. They watch as the man that had been spending time with their sister drives off, as if nothing had just transpired in that home.
"Ready Liberty?" Lincoln turns to face his sister.
"You thinkin' what I'm thinkin' bro?" An expression filled with determination overtakes Liberty's face.
The twins nod, before the girl turns off her holo-projector. The boy carefully slides it under a nearby open window, with its timer on.
Within moments, the girl reappears inside the home.
She rushes over to the front door with that, and doesn't hesitate to open it for her brother. The duo then nods at each other and rushes up the stairs.
"Leni!" They simultaneously shout.
"Lincoln?! Liberty?!" Leni frantically shouts, "What's going on?! Why are you here?! I told you to go home!"
Liberty steps forward, "We got curious and decided to see what was going on with you sis!"
Then Lincoln continues, "What's going on?! Why did Brad slap you? Why are you so distant from us?! Why do you want us to go?!"
"I, I-" Leni goes, her voice filing with despair, before she looks down, "I'm sorry…" soft tears begin to flow down her cheeks, "I don't want you to get hurt though!"
"Leni, we're your family!" Lincoln throws his arms in front of him, begging for his elder sister to answer his questions.
"And we're not leaving until we get some answers!" Liberty goes, crossing her arms.
Leni tears up once more, "Please, go, it'll be safer that way."
Yet, her siblings stand by in silence, unwilling to let their sister go on the path she was on.
With a soft sigh, Leni continues, "It all started when I met him last year. He was the greatest gentlemen a woman could hope for." Her words fill with a motherly softness, as if she were trying to lie to herself.
"He… we met at the fashion class I went to. He offered to take me out on a date and I accepted. He went out of his way to impress me…"
"So why is he hurting you?!" Lincoln desperately shouts, "You deserve better!"
"Please…" Leni whispers, before sighing, "A few weeks after we first met, his father died and he, well, broke down. He started punching and hurting me, treating me like I'm… worthless…"
"Leni, why do you stay with him?!" Liberty goes, "Why do you stay with the man that threatened and hurts you for no reason?!"
Leni responds, her voice filling with desperation, "Because I want to change him, because if I don't help him no one else will!" Ten she looks away, ttthen she looks away, "And I'm afraid that he's going to hurt me and you guys if I leave him…" She then gazes out the window, "He has a stable job and life. He can make all of our lives better if I just stick through it…"
"But Leni, our lives are better now!" Lincoln goes, "Lisa's inventions are starting to make the family money! Everyone's becoming happier now!"
Then Liberty adds, "Fate has decided to be kind to us!"
"I'm sorry. I just can't." Leni responds, "Please understand that, I can't leave."
Liberty and Lincoln grit their teeth in frustration, before turning and leaving the home.
"We have to help Leni!" Lincoln thinks.
"I have an idea!" Liberty responds.
And with that, the twins jump up and hit the ground running.
One short trip later…
"Hey Lori, we need your help." Lincoln clutches the phone as both he and Liberty rush into the home. "You can be over in ten minutes? Awesome!" And with that he shuts the device.
"Guys, we have a code A-one thirteen!" Liberty shouts, before rushing up to the bedrooms.
Immediately, their sisters rush out, nearly trampling Liberty in the process.
"We have a code A-one thirteen?!" Lynn shouts, "Who's in trouble." Then she pounds her first together, "When I get my hands on them I'll tear him limb from limb!"
"Honey, what's code A-one thirteen?" Maggie looks at Luan in confusion, "And why does it sound so serious?"
Lucy suddenly appears, though no one flinches in shock for once, "It means that one of us is in trouble and that all of us need to be involved to help them."
"So who's in trouble you guys?" Luan asks, the young woman tightens her grip around Maggie's hand as she does so.
"Leni need our help." Lincoln's voice is filled with a soft solemnity, "A few days ago, Liberty and I decided to call and text Leni to see if she could pass by and have some fun with us." Then Lincoln looks at his twin.
"But, she said she was too busy to hang out and stuff, so we decided to visit her…" Liberty continues, only for Lola to cut in, "Get to the point you two!"
"Right…" Liberty goes, "Brad has been abusing Leni."
The girl's eyes go wide in shock, while Lincoln continues, "After we visited, we saw him slap Leni so hard that she fell to the ground and looked like he was about to hurt her more… if it wasn't for his watch going off!"
"Let's get him!" Lynn shouts, cracking her knuckles as she does so.
"Now hold on dear sister." Lisa cuts in, "We can't be too brash about this… yet." She adjusts her glasses, "We have to have a plan before we go in, and then when things get too bad, we'll move in."
*Ding!* The doorbell goes, and Lincoln opens it, revealing Lori and a pregnant Carol dressed in their bounty hunting gear.
"Hey Linc, you called, what's the situation?" She quickly greets.
"Leni need our help!" Liberty shouts, her voice filling with panic.
"I see." The eldest Loud Sibling goes, before shouting, "Code A-one thirteen protocol is now in effect people! Man your stations!"
And with that, the Louds get to work preparing for what was to come next.
A few hours later…
*Knock* *knock* the door goes.
"Hey Lincoln." Leni greets. "Why did you come back? What if?!"
"We heard the truth Leni." Lori goes. "And we're here to help."
The young woman's eyes go wide in shock, "But… how, I-"
"You don't think we'd leave you to stay in this stupid relationship did ya?" Liberty adds, raising her holo-projector.
"We're family." Luan nuzzles Maggie, "And we won't let you go!"
Leni begins to tear up, "Guys… thank you but… I'm ok… I'm."
"Leni, it's obvious you're not." Lisa declares, "Given your current mental state as well as the fact that you seem to be hiding something, I'm sure that you are desperate to hide what has been going on."
"We'll hide and be by when you do it." Lucy declares.
"No!" Leni shouts, "If he finds out you guys know, there's no telling what he'll do to you!" Her voice goes low, "He's… a misunderstood guy… and I'm the only one who can…"
"No Leni!" Lola goes, "You deserve better than this!" She steps forward from the crowd, "Please understand, he's a bad man!"
Lori then steps forward, "I'm a former bounty hunter, I've got contacts around the globe. Trust me, we'll be fine." Then she places a hand on her shoulder, "We'll stay nearby no matter which you choose."
And for the first time in months, Leni smiles, "Thank you." Soft tears begin to flow down her cheeks, "He wasn't always like this…"
"Most weren't." Lincoln goes, while Liberty finishes, "But what matters right now is what he's doing to you."
Leni looks at her family, their soft expressions are filled with determination and a sibling's concern.
A harsh air begins to overtake the group. It's as if their uncertainty and determination had come together, pushing Leni to make a choice.
"Please Leni." Luan begs, "We miss you. Are you happy like this?"
"But our monetary issues…" Leni looks away painfully. "He can... he can provide for me and you guys too! I... I just have to be there for him!"
Lisa speaks up, "They're handled Leni."
Suddenly, they hear the sound of a car stopping followed by its door opening.
"Quick, hide!" Liberty goes, causing the group of siblings to duck into any open corners they possibly could.
After that, Brad walks home, "Hey Leni."
The young woman hesitates for a moment, "Should I do it?" Her mind races in fear as she runs passed thousands of possibilities. And yet, she goes, "I know what I have to do."
And with that, she takes goes, "Brad, there's something I have to tell you." Then she nervously rubs the back of her head, before looking at the man with unwavering eyes, "This is your last chance Leni, you better make it count!"
"What is it?" The young man goes, his eyebrow raised in curiosity.
"I..." She hesitates. "This is a horrible idea. Just say you're gonna make him his favorite pie or something."
"Well?" The man's voice gains a gruff anger.
"But... what if I stay? What will happen to me... to my children? If I have any..." An unknown force compels her to continue, "I have to... I know what must be done." With her siblings nearby, a wave of determination overtakes her, allowing her to continue, "I want to break up, this relationship just isn't working out." Leni goes.
"What?" The man grits his teeth and glares at the young woman, "What did you say?"
Leni stands her ground, "I'm leaving."
"You seem to have forgotten your place." The man then raises his fist, only for a certain ex-bounty hunter to grab hold of his arm, "You've done enough to our sister for one lifetime."
Immediately, Brad throws his elbow back in an attempt to hit the young woman, only for her to easily catch it and throw him to the ground.
"You, where the heck did you-" The man shouts, only for Liberty to step forward and kick him. The man holds his injured crotch in pain for a moment.
"That's for my sister!" She shouts, only for Lincoln to respond, "A little far don't you think? He's already down."
"So?" She responds, "She hurt Leni!"
Lori then squats down and hits him in the back of the head, knocking the man unconscious. "And that's how it's done. Now let's get out of here. The cops will be here soon."
Leni looks upon the unconscious body of the man that had caused her so much grief for a moment, before tearing up "Thanks you guys. If it wasn't for you, I'd… I'd be trapped still…"
"No problem sis, after all, it's what we do."
And with that, the family pulls into a hug and breaks off once more. No doubt, Leni is finally free from her chains.
As promised, I made sure to be serious about the topic at hand. Now, I must take my leave. I am a busy woman and some clown named "Deadpool" is trying to date me… for some odd reason.
I bid thee adieu for now.
1 18-15-19-5 23-9-20-8-15-21-20 16-5-20-1-12-19 3-1-14 2-12-15-15-13 1-7-1-9-14.
A/N Guys, this by far was the hardest story to write for this collection. Mainly because there is so much more potential for it than I used, and that this is only a one-shot. If I ever expand one of these stories, it probably would be this one. Also, I thank Sunblast-X for looking this over!
I hope you guys enjoyed!